Dwayne McDuffie Off JLA

[oshizzle]

Maybe leaving DC might not turn out good. But It could also be the chance for Milestone to shine on its own, with new characters, comics, etc. This could be Milestones chane to prove their might.

Greetings to all!
First of all I would like to say that's a honor to me to be part of this rorum. That being said, I will deliberate and than ask a question regarding the future.

As we all know, DC brought back the milestone characters, and was reintroducing them. It's obvious the lack of good sens of DC's Boss (DAMN Didio) with killing, mistreating, underuse of various characters. Now that you, Mr Dwayne, is off the JLA ( VERY UNFORTUNATELY I MIGHT ADD) which will be the future of these characters? Will we see a "Black superman" on JLA? Static will shine again?
Will we see new comics regarring our beloved Rocket, Gear, Static, Icon, etc?
And the most important: Will you still being part of the DC?


Thanks for the opportunity

[Wise Son]

Dwayne will probably answer this, but the existing Milestone characters cannot leave DC. Dwayne holds the creative rights on them, but DC holds teh distribution rights. DC can't produce stories with the characters unless Dwayne OKs it, but Dwayne can't have those characters appear anywhere without DC's permission.

Of course, brand new Milestone settings, continuities and characters could be launched anywhere else, as they would have no connection to the rights of DC. Dwayne came close to this with Dark Horse at one point a few years back. He could also do this while the existing characters appear in the pages of DC.

[Geoff Thorne]

Of course, brand new Milestone settings, continuities and characters could be launched anywhere else, as they would have no connection to the rights of DC. Dwayne came close to this with Dark Horse at one point a few years back. He could also do this while the existing characters appear in the pages of DC.

[url=genre19.blogspot.com]GENRE 19[/url] is ready and able to step up to this plate the second the Maestro says "Go!"

Any time. Any place.

[leonmallett]

Extremely disappointing news. It has appeared to me that you have been asked to write the top-tier DC team book with one hand tied behind your back (externally enforced cast changes, externally enforced plot chnages) in a way that others have not had to accomodate. Morrison got to largely use the JLA he wanted (Hawkman excepted), those after him followed his template in many ways; Meltzer seemed to get pretty free reign; yet you Dwayne have had to suffer the opposite.

I think DC have treated you shoddily in relation to your tenure on JLoA, and for that I am deeply sorry. I'll miss the voice that you brought to JLoA, Dwayne.

[Hypestyle]

It would be poetic justice (pun intended) for the Maestro to helm a splinter League (like Hal/Ollie), only this time:

Icon, Hardware, John Stewart, Firestorm, Vixen, Xombi, Dr. Light, Rocket, black lightning.

I would also love it if he were to return to Marvel, and helm some minis and ongoing series, including some neglected characters he could boost up.

Team book: Michigan-based Avengers Initiative Group-- Avengers Detroit!!

"A list heroes" that could be cooler written by Maestro- any of them, but in particular: Thor, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Punisher, Daredevil, Storm, X-Men..

Other characters to play with: Pulsar/Monica Rambeau, Blade, Falcon, Brother Voodoo, War Machine, Kasper Cole, Cloak & Dagger, Cardiac.

[kick]

Dwayne will probably answer this, but the existing Milestone characters cannot leave DC. Dwayne holds the creative rights on them, but DC holds teh distribution rights. DC can't produce stories with the characters unless Dwayne OKs it, but Dwayne can't have those characters appear anywhere without DC's permission.

Of course, brand new Milestone settings, continuities and characters could be launched anywhere else, as they would have no connection to the rights of DC. Dwayne came close to this with Dark Horse at one point a few years back. He could also do this while the existing characters appear in the pages of DC.

Plus, Dwayne's still going to need DC/WB's resources to elevate those characters. For example, one of the reasons Static is big name right now is because of a WB-animated cartoon, in addition to an appearance in JLU.

[Bruno Diaz]

It would be poetic justice (pun intended) for the Maestro to helm a splinter League (like Hal/Ollie), only this time:

Icon, Hardware, John Stewart, Firestorm, Vixen, Xombi, Dr. Light, Rocket, black lightning.

I would also love it if he were to return to Marvel, and helm some minis and ongoing series, including some neglected characters he could boost up.

Team book: Michigan-based Avengers Initiative Group-- Avengers Detroit!!

"A list heroes" that could be cooler written by Maestro- any of them, but in particular: Thor, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Punisher, Daredevil, Storm, X-Men..

Other characters to play with: Pulsar/Monica Rambeau, Blade, Falcon, Brother Voodoo, War Machine, Kasper Cole, Cloak & Dagger, Cardiac.

I think Minoriteam would look ridiculous in the DC of Marvel Universe, unless, y'know, the White Shadow pops up, along with Corporate Ladder, White Frankenstein and the rest.

[groovysuperhero]

Dwayne,

This sucks in the sense that you're a great writer and under any other circumstances would probably be in the middle of an amazing, groundbreaking run on JLA that we'd all be talking about for years to come. On the other hand, I know from experience that there is nothing quite as aggravating as putting your heart and soul into work of creativity, only to have your supervisors turn into something completely different and horrible, and then put it out in the public your name printed in the credits. its like insult to insult, to injury.

I'm sorry you're off the book, and I'm also sorry that editorial made you bear the brunt of every ill-conceived, half-assed attempt at integrating IPs into the DC Universe. I'd love to see you back on the book again soon, writing without your hands tied behind your back.

Best,

Groovy Superhero (Matt Sager)
http://www.groovysuperhero.com



Speaking of editorial goofs, am I correct in my belief that your script called for Zatanna talking to Black Canary, not Wonder Woman, in this panel from JLA #31?

[Dwayne McDuffie]

Damn. It's not much of a consolation at all, but Ive always appreciated your forwardness when it came to behind-the-scenes sort of things. I was so very excited when you jumped on the title, and I'm sorry to find out that most of your stories never reached fruition because of the company politics.

Is it too early to ask if this will have any impact on Milestone integrating into DC?

No, the Milestone/DC difficulties predate the JLA stuff. I wouldn't worry.

[Dwayne McDuffie]

egads!!

What about the Milestone peeps that I wanted to join up with the JLA? Icon, Hardware, Xombi, Wise Son..

I have to say, I'm extremely ticked at DC editorial.. I want the Maestro as the maestro of JLA for many years to come.. bah! If Geoff Johns and Grant Morrisson and Brian Bendis and Mark Millar and the like can more of less get free rein on the books they want to inhabit, then the same should go for Mr. McD..

My hope is that fan protest is so loud that DC editorial will have no choice but to bring back the Maestro in the near future..

Thanks for the support, but it would be foolish and counter-productive for DC to bring me back, they have a publishing operation to run, and many other factors to consider. It's their book, they can hire and fire for whatever reasons they wish.