An Open Letter To Diane Nelson, by Michael Davis – Straight No Chaser #133

September 11, 2009 Michael Davis 4 Comments

Ms. Nelson, my name is Michael Davis. Among other things I’m a comics creator who has managed quite a decent career outside of comics. We met some years ago at Warner Consumer products; I still have your card.

I want to congratulate you on what; to many of us who work in comics is the coolest job in the business, heading DC.

You are now the keeper of the greatest array of characters ever created, the DC Comics Universe.

The comics industry is a magic industry and the creators in the field LOVE what they do. That has been lost on most comic book companies, unfortunately to many DC is included in that.

Mike Richardson who runs Dark Horse LOVES his job and runs his company accordingly. Mike takes chances on projects when they offer little or no return. That, Ms. Nelson, is the magic of comics.

I’m fully aware that DC is a business. I have run entertainment businesses before and fully understand that revenue is the bottom line. In my career I have been President / CEO Motown Animation and Filmworks. President Animation Magic Media a Magic Johnson company- Co founder Milestone Media, which did the biggest comic book joint venture in history with DC.

I’m a fairly smart guy I have a PhD etc, etc, blah, blah.

I’m going to tell you what no one else will. Why won’t they tell you? Fear. Fear of pissing you off, fear of not working at DC. Fear of looking unprofessional. Fear of whatever.

I have no fear, Ms. Nelson, because I can pay my mortgage without DC comics.

But man, would I love to work with DC again.

2010 will be a banner year for me. I’m writing three books that deal with Black America and I’m writing (and I’m the creator or co-creator) two TV shows. I’m doing OK without a check from DC and frankly DC can’t come near the kind of cash I’m making or will make from the projects I’m doing, but DC is DC.

I raised my voice in anger when I was wronged and have been banned from working at DC. That’s OK. Really, it’s OK. Here’s what I want to tell you that no one else will…comic creators LOVE what they do and would gladly do it for free. Comics creators will spend days debating who would win and why in a fight between Superman and the Hulk. For us THAT is the issue, for us THAT is the reason we do comics.

I’m lucky enough to be friends with some of the greatest creators in the business. Every time I’m on the phone with Len Wein or Marv Wolfman or Mike Gold or Mike Grell I hang up and pinch myself because I know them.

That is what the Hollywood people don’t get, we love what we do and even when we achieve a bit of money, fame or both the work is what’s important the fantasy is what we talk about.

At my college graduation I was reading Mike Grell’s  ‘Longbow Hunters’ while waiting for my name to be called for my diploma. Some years later when I worked with Mike I felt like I was on drugs.  I still remember talking with Mike until the wee hours of the morning about comics.

When my sister was killed it was seven comics that made the pain a little less. I remember the seven comics; I still have those seven comics.

There is a wonder of comics that is even more wonderful for us that work in comics. Mike Gold gave me a shot doing comics because he knew that’s what I really wanted to do. Was I ready? No. Did I get ready? Hell yes!

That is the magic of comics. We want it.

To us Superman is not an icon, he’s real. The Fantastic Four is not a movie; they are a dysfunctional family that we can relate to.

I have no right to tell you anything, and I’m fully aware that I run the real risk of alienating you with an open that letter that says I think the Fantastic Four is real.

I get that.

I also get that the country music industry has a lock on their audience and that they tend to expand their reach rather than continue to look to a shrinking fan base that comic book companies look to.

I wish you nothing but success. I wrote this with but one objective and that is to let you know that we are all behind you. All of us regardless if we can work at DC or not we want you to do well.

We really do and we are here if you need us.