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Likely To, make of the sort of infighting and inbreeding that makes Comics 2001 the sort of mess it is now? I mean, there are a lot of strides-forward being taken, here and there, yes. But it seems like the corporate jugger nauts are no longer leading the charge towards innovation and are instead entrenching against Positive Change. MF: Aw, Shucks. The aforementioned Corporate Juggernauts are all play ing at being Microsoft, aren't they? They can't really innovate, so they gob ble up those who do... And then can't figure out why grafting new ideas into old thinking gets you jack shit. The good news is that lots of great cats are getting new eyes on their work -- Jon Lewis writing Robin ??! Gilbert Hernandez at DC?!? Peter Bagge on Spider-man ??! but at the same time... You know, sigh. I want to care about that kind of bullshit, I really do. By and large I just feel like I’ve got noth ing to say with characters and stories that aren't my own, you know? So honestly, as great as it is to see some insane hiring polices in effect and know that Good People are behind the scenes... But where's the new??! Where're the balls? Where's the pop and crackle that comics so direly need? It's there, it's out there, sure, but it's not coming from the big guys. This might be shallow, but this infighting bra-and-panty slap-fighting just fucking slays me. Let the big frigates fire at one another so smaller, stealthier vessels can navigate right on through. So: better distribution, blah, blah, blah. Greater outlets having comics available, blah, blah, blah. Tell me: How do you and your family suffer for Your Art? This is optimistic naivete at its finest, but: there are so many fucking prob lems with the industry that do we really still need to stare in awe when, say, Jimmy Corriga n goes huge? Hmm. Let's see: it was made OUTSIDE OF THE FUCKING SYSTEM. Great Books produced by those with a spring in their step and gleam in their eye will Find A Way, always. Look at Channel Zero , right? Organic mutant viral marketing, nonlinear thinking, and a great fucking book (to totally polish yours and Bri's knobs for a second) will get your work Seen, Bought, and Read.

Having Power Man skinnin' the duker and slapping the word MATURE on your cover insures nothing, no matter how good the book is.

Anyway: me and my work. It's my job. It's what I do. I meant to tell you this, actually-- but I was talkin' to Mamma Fraction the other day, right as I was about to start this One Thing that I had to get wrapped fast, telling her about the Thing and she says, I swear to god, "So shut the hell up and get your ass to work." I love my moms. The point, though, is I have a real-

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