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[Cat-Scratch]

.........Prima donna artists, is this decade the one for prima donna writers?

The thought recently crossed my mind after thinking about Grant Morrison, Mark Waid and Frank Millar.

[Keb]

Yes definitely. Writers have a huge impact on the biz right now, and a lot of them act like superstars and divas (Morrison and Moore really do a lot, I think).

Still, can't discredit their talent.

[Starlord]

Interesting theory, actually. I'd say Morisson and Moore would be good examples of that, as would Chris Clairmont (who I finally got to meet and was horribly disappointed). Not sure about Waid.

[KING King Impulse]

Frank Miller or Mark Millar?

[Starlord]

wow, that's a great question. I'm going with Frank because he's not only a tad more arrogant (probably), but he's gone way over the deepend and doesn't even know what he's writing anymore.

[KING King Impulse]

wow, that's a great question. I'm going with Frank because he's not only a tad more arrogant (probably), but he's gone way over the deepend and doesn't even know what he's writing anymore.

I'd say Mark because

a) Frank's been doing this for like 25 years

b) Mark Millar, while I love him, is just full of self importance and hype. He invents facts and awards to make himself sound more important

[Cat-Scratch]

Here's a strange bit, of sorts.

I think one can be a prima donna but still deliver.

Of three I mentioned, I think they can, but I'm not that keen on what was, since they have left me more entertained then they have at times of late.

Morrison's Batman is a mixed bag for myself. On one hand I find it interesting with the fusing of silver-age "bits", but the present RIP storyline is leaving me thinking he's just repeating previous stories and doing so at expense of the characters. Add to that a feeling, perhaps unfounded, that he's back patting himself and saying "Oh I am soo clever!", which I don't think the story is in any form.

Mark Waid's interview excerpts left me thinking he couldn't accept for himself or other writers, mistakes in judgment concerning characters or concepts and was piling all the blame on the editors. Again, perhaps unfounded, but that's how I felt.

As for Frank, he seems to be "tossing-off" onto comics pages with such work as Dark Knight Strikes again, All-Star Batman and the upcoming Spirit film. He comes across in way to me, that reminds me of an interview with Todd McFarlane years ago. McFarlane claimed he could "toss-off' onto a comic page and fans would stupidly buy it up. Add to this Frank's inability to stop going on and on about how if we don't like the upcoming movie, then we don't know good, Eisner or The Spirit. That sounds very prima donna to me, but one more time, could be unfounded by my part as not being there for the whole of the interviews or just seeing the work or knowing the fellow personally.

It does seem that more and more, the writers are being treated as super-stars, and poor behavior or ego trips are being easily forgiven. This is, as I can recall, the same as the 90s with comic artists. Some do deserve to be celebrated and enjoy it happening to them from time to time, but to these extents? Is it harmful for the industry, as it's been suggested about the 90s? I'm not really sure, except to say that I'm finding less and less to enjoy about today's comics as time goes on.

[Juan Cena]

.........Prima donna artists, is this decade the one for prima donna writers?

The thought recently crossed my mind after thinking about Grant Morrison, Mark Waid and Frank Millar.

You forgot Geoff Johns.

[zombiemichaeljackson]

I think it's definitely the age of the prima donna writers, but I also think that's why comic books are better than they've been in a long time, if not ever.

[Zechs]

I think it's definitely the age of the prima donna writers, but I also think that's why comic books are better than they've been in a long time, if not ever.

Yeah but it's also a problem of comics. Things are becoming too much like the past and not of the future. We have Spider-Man no longer married and stuck in the 70s, Lex Luthor evil scientist, golden age Flash, possibly a soon to be dead Kent like the Golden Age and movies, Hal Jordan GL, a Batwoman, and Batman books in reflux.

Not to mention them trying to kick out the 90s tier new legacy characters (Cassandra Cain, Connor Hawke, Bart Allen, Conner Kent, Kyle Rayner, and more but those just that come to my mind).

[zombiemichaeljackson]

Yeah but it's also a problem of comics. Things are becoming too much like the past and not of the future. We have Spider-Man no longer married and stuck in the 70s, Lex Luthor evil scientist, golden age Flash, possibly a soon to be dead Kent like the Golden Age and movies, Hal Jordan GL, a Batwoman, and Batman books in reflux.

Not to mention them trying to kick out the 90s tier new legacy characters (Cassandra Cain, Connor Hawke, Bart Allen, Conner Kent, Kyle Rayner, and more but those just that come to my mind).

I think most of those issues are due to editorial more than the writers themselves, and I'm not sure all of those are bad things.

[Zechs]

I think most of those issues are due to editorial more than the writers themselves, and I'm not sure all of those are bad things.

But look at the writers who've did mostly that. Johns being the biggest one of that. I mean sure it's helped GL and all. But still.. him not just being the Spectre is enough? (Johns did that too)

[Keb]

I find it funny that when a writer successfully brings back a character or changes them, the fans say the writer did a great job and give him praise, but when something bad happens in character change, the writer casts the blame on editorial.

[Zechs]

I find it funny that when a writer successfully brings back a character or changes them, the fans say the writer did a great job and give him praise, but when something bad happens in character change, the writer casts the blame on editorial.

Or when something is changed after the controversy it's all part of the plan.

[fieldy snuts]

when people like mark millar hype themselves like they do i dont see them as primadonna's. its only when they start getting whiny about "why im so great and should be respected by you peasants" that they'll be primadonnas.

mark millar is great at selling himself (in a nonsexual way) so he hypes his work saying "its great you'll all love it!!! did you know (random crap facts here.)" frank miller and alan moore seriously went off the deep end. not anything against their talent but as people they really became bitter and cynical caricatures.