Alright, since you all are so concerned about your favorite artist's girl-friend's health issues.  During the 70's and 80's, were there NO writers or artists who had family crisis or personal health problems?  Sure there were.  I don't have any specific examples, but one would have to be naive as hell to believe that there weren't any.  Yet somehow those comics continued to be published on a monthly schedule. 

I remember when there was a Superboy and the Legion issue that came out in the late 70's featuring a gorgeous Starlin cover and I was surprised to find a Swan reprint inside.  There was an editorial from Al Milgrom on the inside cover apologizing for the fact that he had just taken over the editing chores and the first issue under his reign was a reprint due to a schedule problem.  THAT was a professional response to the problem. 

I have my own response to late books.  I don't buy them anymore.  I've quit many titles that I was really enjoying because I hated having to wait for these so-called "professionals" to complete their CONTRACTED work.  

Added Red Sonja to that list yesterday when I read a remark from the writer that he would rather the book be late than rushed.  Damn shame.  Makes me wish the place I work for was as relaxed as many of these comic companies.  I would love to not have to produce my work on time and work at whatever pace suited me on that particular day.  And still be revered and worshiped by my customers the way the fanboys eat up the "roses".  Hell, they might even make up excuses for me, too. 

Bottom line for me is: I'm tired of being lied to. 

Right in the indicia of IRON MAN #3 (the last issue I bought until the creative team changes), it says: Published monthly by Marvel Comics.

Monthly. Meaning once a month.  Look it up.  Honest, that's what it means.  It'll be October in a few days, and we've seen four IRON MAN issues total, only three of which were actually published this year.

Anybody that tells me it's worth the wait needs to pull their head out of their butt.

I also think the audience for the Ultimates would be quite happy to wait too, if the order numbers for the series are anything to go by!

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But can M***** editorial even comprehend the concept that if they could get "star" creative teams to actually produce 12 issues a year instead of 3-6, the profits would be much higher?  Sure, the order numbers are great on many of these books, but how much are they losing overall?

Wes Wescovich: Makes me wish the place I work for was as relaxed as many of these comic companies.  I would love to not have to produce my work on time and work at whatever pace suited me on that particular day.

Yeah, that would be great!  I worked 63 hours this week, including half a day today on Sunday because I have a engineering quote due to Lockheed Martin by the end of business tomorrow.

Time was against us from the get-go since they wanted the request expedited, so I knew the requirements going in, and took the necessary steps to insure that the customer will get what they asked for when they asked for it, because if I didn't, our company would lose a potential multi-million dollar deal.

It's called being professional.

This is what I mean about how dangerous it is to work to the actual deadlines, instead of creating your own that are in advance of what the office is asking for. So, not wishing to seem unsympathetic to Brian Hitch and his girlfriend, but where was he on deadlines before the problems set in?

"But you could have made. . . .   never mind."

<<Do you have his exact words?>>

No, Thomas.  This was through a few emails five years ago.  I wish I had kept them.  He was right though; anyway he put it, Marvel's editorial practices weren't my business.

Marvel is not alone in this, but I think they aren't concerned about giving the customer what he wants.  Marvel wants the customer to buy what they have to offer.  Joe has stated more than one time that he wants creative talent that already has a cult following (his words).  In this case the talent is more important than the work.  Having, say three Warren Ellis Iron Man's per year is more important that having a namby pamby 12 issues a year by some no name who isn't a star creator or doesn't write for a TV series.

I might come across as crazy for saying this, but I don't think producing comic books, at least not the way they did 20 years ago, is important to Marvel.  Two issues of Tom Clancy's Iron Man gets Entertainment Weekly and Hollywood's attention.  12 issues by Roger Stern and Herb Trimpe are just blips in Previews.