tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post4157203362723166061..comments2024-03-01T22:51:37.916-05:00Comments on John Rozum.com: Why I Quit Static ShockJohn Rozumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03626209473214085436noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-19331108739748283142021-07-05T01:04:32.376-04:002021-07-05T01:04:32.376-04:00Its unfortunate that you had that experience with ...Its unfortunate that you had that experience with DC, while on Static. However, the N52, roll out was problematic for a lot of the creative teams on books. As someone stated before, "they were flying by the seat of their pants", no real planning for the long term with a lot of the books, characters and creative teams. However, it takes two to tango. We really don't know what impact the Dwayne McDuffie estate had in not allowing the Milestone brand to get off the ground. Its easy to blame DC, who doesn't have a great track record when it comes to black heroes. The latest roll out took sometime but was it due to Mcduffie's wife, who overseas the estate along with other stakeholders? Mr. Mcduffie, did so many things while at DC comics,from books to tv. And for a black-man to have that type of power and pull in the media is very rare, he had a lane that very few we able to drive into. He opened doors not only in comics, for animators as well. DC management is always looking for the next big thing, that "DeadPool, Thor, or X-Men, series of books. Young Justice was a hit with fans but, DC decided to cancel it due to poor toy sales, again, another missed opportunity. In conclusion, you will have many more chances to write other books. I see a lot of your peers are self publishing, doing online campaigns to get books in readers hands, so all is not lost. Take this as a learning experience, to uplift yourself and reach out to other professionals in the business.But, make certain you do your research before signing on to any new project with any company. katarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01375581158401087975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-5001452791077508862016-04-18T21:15:26.395-04:002016-04-18T21:15:26.395-04:00John,
You and I exchanged a few letters (back in ...John,<br /><br />You and I exchanged a few letters (back in the snail mail days) during Xombi's original run. <br /><br />It's still among my favorites of all time. <br /><br />I'm sorry you had a bad experience on this comic. I will tell you now what I told you 20 years ago... I'll buy ANYthing with your name on it.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />J.C. Macek III JCM3 (WorldsGreatestCritic.com)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05307520816370970429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-2632439330948904182015-04-29T16:26:59.990-04:002015-04-29T16:26:59.990-04:00I'm going to be a little harsher on you and it...I'm going to be a little harsher on you and it is not for the sake of being a jerk. I hope that possibly what I say will be considered and allow you to have further succes and avoid such situations as this one. Honestly, this post could have a greater negative impact on your career then a comic run that did not reach its potential. A short run that did not find succes is just one source of material. Wether or not you had any part of those initial 4 issues is a small reflection of you as a writer either way. You have other material that shows your strengths and greater succes. That series does not define you as a writer. Your concern was being associated with the material but a potential employer is more likely give an opportunity and chalk it up to a stumble. By not shining a huge Spotlight on Static Shock all your material is considered by a potetial employer and it is judge based on your merit as a writer. However, that ship has sailed. With this article you effectively given potential employers reason for concern completely separate from your writing. Now your ability to work with others, your character, and wether you are liability will be a concern. I have no way of knowing if everything you say is completely true. However, let's just say that all of it is 100% accurate. Employers with doubtless be more skeptical but let's just say the way you see it is correct. I am personally inclined to take your word for it but by no means does that make it all acceptable. First off, it is bad form to bad mouth a co-worker's material. It is completely unprofessional to be as negative about his static shock writing. It's one thing to not approve of his behavior towards you as a co worker but intirelly another to repeatedly talk poorly of his skill as a writer, how he lacks the ability, doesn't know what he is doing, and how his material in static shock was terrible. You don't see other writer behaving that way towards other writers in DC. At least not the ones that are successful or still employed. Nobody wants to hire someone who has a history of bad mouthing his co workers on the same book. This isn't management. These are the people working woth you. If none of Static Shock is your own then obviously there will be concern over your ability to teamwork, overcome opposition, problem solve, and work things out. Even with a stubborn co writer who wants to do it differently employers are going to want somebody who can still find a way to work it out. They don't want to pay you do just let the other writer take control. You are an adult. I find it difficult to believe that this was the only possible outcome. That there was just no possible way to contribute. Your co workers were hired. They were working for DC. How is it possible that they made it anywhere in this industry with and additude of I'm writing this my way and screw everyone else. Maybe you just need some team building exercises or a boost in confidence so you can stand up for your ideas. Unless you were okay with being shut out. Unless you didn't have a problem not being a part of the book until you realized it wasn't having succes. These are all things that potential employers might not know much about or have nearly as much information about if you hadn't fealt the need to stand up for yourself and basically say. I had no hand in Static Shock so therefore I cannot be blamed for how terrible it turned out. However, you do hold partial blame. If it was taking such a poor direction do something about it. even if your co workers were so extreme you could not find any solution within the team then be proactive. Go over them and express your concerns about the direction of the book and your frustration over not being a part of it.how does this article help you? You end up quitting before trying anything different and then when there is backlash you heap all the responsibility on everyone else. You take no part in it and excuse yourself while simultaneously portraying your experience and co workers in a negative light.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-773115575788264972014-11-29T03:02:46.983-05:002014-11-29T03:02:46.983-05:00Anonymous #3: DC's constant love of old concep...Anonymous #3: DC's constant love of old concepts like <i>Batman '66</i> and the selling of that to a dwindling older fan-base is getting tiresome. There are young people of color that want to see a <i>Static Shock</i> title, and if it's well-written (and promoted), will pay through the nose for it. I don't know anybody that cares for shit (and it <i>is</i> shit) like <i>Batman '66</i> (how many Batman books does the world need?) I don't blame said buyers for being pissy.<br /><br />My hope is that with the recent appearance of an online only <i>Static Shock</i> book, that Static can get his due, and that DC can see how wrong they were in micromanaging the offline book so that it would be cancelled.Lionel Braithwaitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05251435131708623589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-35465834793254609402014-05-18T15:08:39.128-04:002014-05-18T15:08:39.128-04:00It's horrible that the way they treated your i...It's horrible that the way they treated your ideas. Especially since Harvey never read a Static comic book or watched the show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-79442953178612589332014-02-15T19:50:02.735-05:002014-02-15T19:50:02.735-05:00My heart weeps to discover that the people working...My heart weeps to discover that the people working on the Static Shock comics never watched the show and would not listen to the man who worked with his creator.This confirms what I have suspected for some time now. DC is hiring idiots and firing or back burning the geniuses already in employ. I really wish you could get a team together and start making the cartoon series again. That would make me SO happy! Barring that, making your own Static Shock Comics. I would totally pay $10 an issue if you did!A fellow writer and big fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-9089035258284791552013-03-20T12:23:39.181-04:002013-03-20T12:23:39.181-04:00And I say to you what I said to Scott McDaniel: de...And I say to you what I said to Scott McDaniel: devoting thousands of words of blog post to a character and comicbook as minor as Static is like writing a Master's thesis on why Marvel changed the colour of Razorback's costume from turquoise to green.Oliverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15219572144160281548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-69487734845926966032013-03-14T02:18:41.557-04:002013-03-14T02:18:41.557-04:00I am far late to this discussion, but I loved Stat...I am far late to this discussion, but I loved Static Shock in general, and I loved his old, brass, persona from the old TV series.<br /><br />I did notice the drastic change of writing in the middle of the 52 reboot, and thought maybe the writer was deliberately changing tone- and the twin sister thing was just confusing.<br /><br />I'm not one to straight-up hate the new comic, but I was sad that it didn't live up to my expectations, and the whole arm-thing was really goddamned weird.. and never explained.<br /><br />I hope it comes back, but I hope a writer like you will actually be able to write it next time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-62192506484169988662013-02-03T09:44:56.214-05:002013-02-03T09:44:56.214-05:00How will like to own the rights to static shock I ...How will like to own the rights to static shock I will like to buy him. I want to revise him. As a real live person I want to make a movie of the first 5 episode of it n make it a hard core action movie. Call me 404-966-8568. Founder of LAMEMUSIC ENT PRODUTION my name Josiah lyricq I am a music artist n actor. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364689443926487049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-91044427895837738492012-09-26T13:11:08.353-04:002012-09-26T13:11:08.353-04:00i highly doubt this was racially based guys, im su...i highly doubt this was racially based guys, im sure it was more so that they didnt know what to do with static. we have the mcduffie source material to go on, and then of course the bruce timm universe made future static out to be the single most powerful being in the DCU. so its like how do we take him from little virgil hawkins to static, the man who can rip open space and time with his electricity? i know, lets give him a bunch of crazy new abilities and a new lab and new friends and a new city. i mean there were a few things i really liked (his ability to see in different wavelengths, the static bubble around him that protected him from bullets, hell even the arm reattaching if they would have explained it)those were all great ways to evolves his powers, but they didnt go anywhere, and the two sharons thing was just ridiculous. hopefully static will get a reboot in the near future and get some writers who can do him justice, no offense john i know it wasnt your fault, so present company excluded.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-91971386617471922182012-08-27T13:53:15.563-04:002012-08-27T13:53:15.563-04:00Well i am of the younger generation of readers, so...Well i am of the younger generation of readers, so when it comes to art i don't know much. story and over all awe at a static comic compelled me to buy and read them. i love the character like family. the show taught me so much. i still have the series and still watch it today. thats when it hit me that something was wrong, with the show i watched one episode and then the whole season and my afternoon is consumed with Static/Virgil. i picked these comics and read them once and never touched them again. this shocked me and which i comes to this post. and i know it probably be a waste of time but can you make a fan-fiction(which if enough people liked could be the new unofficial-official story in which i would read for years to come.) to show us what you intended to make the character to be. Obviously you probably want to move on but i don't want static to end this way and i am sure that i am not the only one.<br />p.s. from all the posts i read this xombi comic sounds awesome so i will be trying to find book one and start from there. good luck on ur future endeavors and hope that u r never put in this situation again. glHuge static fan...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-47267476269663268452012-08-24T13:04:42.855-04:002012-08-24T13:04:42.855-04:00I stopped reading after issue 2. I disliked the ar...I stopped reading after issue 2. I disliked the artwork and the stories did not have a recognizable (i.e., fun, dynamic, interesting, and introspective) Virgil/Static. I was very disappointed, because I had enjoyed the character in his original Milestone run (I loved most of the Milestone comics, especially Static, Hardware, and Icon) as well as his cartoon series.<br /><br />From the hints and suggestions you have made, it sounds like I would have enjoyed your (actual) take on Static. That was the series I was hoping to get. Instead, I got something bland and dis dispirited -- two words that should never be associated with one Virgil Hawkins!<br /><br />Good luck with your future endeavors.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17493644294458801139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-30054226551270433902012-07-28T19:25:45.007-04:002012-07-28T19:25:45.007-04:00as a huge static shock fan, i appreciate you atlea...as a huge static shock fan, i appreciate you atleast trying to bring back the character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-57761895289051268012012-04-30T19:26:06.386-04:002012-04-30T19:26:06.386-04:00I hope you don't mind my input. It is not so m...I hope you don't mind my input. It is not so much a comment on Static, buta comment on the Dc relaunch so please bear with me.<br /><br />Justice League was the book they pushed that was the big opening to this grand new universe. It contained: poor dialogue (disguised as being hip, cool or modern); Slow pacing (Batman and Green lantern wasting a lot of time talking about fashion sense among other things for the first issue); average storytelling (at least Mr. Lee git his perspective correct except for the cover); and poor characterization (I didn't care whether these people succeeded or not).<br /><br /> It seems to me like editors do not know how to direct or edirt the material or even give paramenters with which you can play. i recall Dick Giordnao's hands off policy. As an example using the Batman titles he dited, he wanted Commissoner Gordon fired and then rehired and a restoration of Wayne Manor as the main home for Bruce Wayne. I also recall Julius Schwartz involved with the plotting and letting the writer go with what was a brainstorming process. <br /><br />It seems like neither of these things were done. My impression with the relaunch is that Dan Didio was failing, and corporate pretty much put him on the line to come up with something quick, or find a new job. With that premise, it just doesn't surprise me what happened. The fact that McDaniel is lecturing on writing after things were "approved", then the editor didn't do his job. Look through some old Image comics and tell me that isn't the route DC is going. Also inquire about Louise Simonson and her incidents with Rob Liefeld on X-Force which among those included her stuff rewritten in order to have characters in civilian clothing changed to costumes so Liefeld can sell his original art for big bucks. Welcome to Image and '90s Marvel, Mr. Rozum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-7178537109109902342012-04-30T06:50:24.354-04:002012-04-30T06:50:24.354-04:00DC comics is no longer in the market today. But in...DC comics is no longer in the market today. But in the 90's they were boom in the kids collection series, even adult too.Social Media Managementhttp://www.theadminhub.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-26137601617370630262012-03-31T21:22:17.522-04:002012-03-31T21:22:17.522-04:00Mr. Rozum-
I just finished reading Mr. McDaniel...Mr. Rozum-<br />I just finished reading Mr. McDaniel's account of events.<br /><br />Despite your (pl) protestations to the contrary, it seems to me that you both were treated poorly by DC and not given conditions where most people could reasonably be expected to succeed. Neither of you should have been placed in that position... or played off one another as was clearly the case.<br /><br />It is unjust that either of you should be judged by a project hadn't been given the proper attention needed to ensure it would work. (As the New DCU marches forward, I think you will find more and more of your fellow professionals in the same situation, which should lessen any potential stigma.)<br /><br />But honestly- it really sounds like what they had was a publishing deadline instead of a comic.<br /><br />Best of luck on your future endeavors.Carlos Millannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-77410078109711425402012-03-04T22:21:51.799-05:002012-03-04T22:21:51.799-05:00This is fairly close to what I felt when I was rea...This is fairly close to what I felt when I was reading this series. I wrote my own review, and noted specifically I was barely able to see your influence on it.<br />So to hear that this was the case is kind of a huge relief in a way. Thanks for all you tried to do, the appearance of Hardware was pretty much the best thing that happened in that series, it gave me so much hope that I'd see more Milestone popping up in the DC Universe.<br />Now I can continue to say that I've never read a comic written by you that was anything less than stellar. When the Xombi series last year first got announced, all I could think was 'Oh hey, Milestone stuff is coming back.' Then I read it, and instantly I decided Xombi was the Milestone series I wanted to find back issues for the most. I hope someday soon you'll be able to continue David Kim's story, and hopefully still with Frazer Irving.The Mighty Monarchhttp://www.comicvine.com/myvine/the_mighty_monarch/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-32953910846378662592012-02-22T08:27:52.480-05:002012-02-22T08:27:52.480-05:00I really appreciate your honesty. I hadn't rea...I really appreciate your honesty. I hadn't read any of your work prior to Static #1, and... apparently I still haven't read any of it. Best of luck in your future endeavours.Snakebytenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-21351820545950514052012-02-09T16:28:41.389-05:002012-02-09T16:28:41.389-05:00KH - The move to NYC did derail my original plans,...KH - The move to NYC did derail my original plans, but was not something I thought was disastrous. I felt that it presented its own opportunities. It did unfortunately have an impact on the schedule giving us all less time to work with it than was ideal.<br /><br />OD - I owe you a great deal of thanks for your enthusiastic endorsement of Xombi (which is quoted on the cover of the TPB). I prefer to work with my collaborators trusting that I know what I'm doing, just as I do with them. This usually means that our collaboration is stronger and suggestions going in both directions are more harmonious and lead to stronger material. Frazer Irving was the perfect collaborator for me and I'd work with him again in a heartbeat. I'd be happy to go back to doing work with Vertigo and have not ruled that out.<br /><br />RGE - Speaking badly of a collaborator was not something I set out to do, nor was it an easy decision to make. As I stated, I only went forward because work that I didn't do, but was presented as being responsible for, was impacting my professional life. <br /><br />I tried to keep my statements as polite and factual as I could, and did not elaborate with details which would have, while being true, been unnecessary and served no function other than to be petty and vindictive, which I am not. I found both named parties to have been entirely unprofessional in how they dealt with me regarding my role in the work, and felt I needed to explain the basic manner of what went on to explain in what manner this was done. <br /><br />My feelings for Scott's writing, or the resultant finished issues of the book are from a personal standpoint and are not meant to suggest that I find him to be a bad person in general or a substandard penciller. I thought Static Shock was a poor product and in no way represented anything I would have written if left to write the series. As I said, if people liked the comic, then great. Let Scott know how amazing you thought his work was. I have no problem with that. <br /><br />My issue is that it's represented as something I wrote and I did not. Even if I thought STATIC SHOCK was an outstanding comic book I will still feel the same way. It's not my work. I shouldn't be credited with it, or blamed for it. That is all.John Rozumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03626209473214085436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-23586462399358046412012-02-09T09:40:31.974-05:002012-02-09T09:40:31.974-05:00I find it unfortunate that one would choose to spe...I find it unfortunate that one would choose to speak badly of a collaborator; in order to try and salvage one's creative reputation.<br /><br />If any would be at fault in this situation... I would say that would be the editor; in that he makes the final decisions.<br /><br />As for the rest of it...<br />Rhetoric of integrity to the character and etc...<br /><br />Life is politics.<br />Play the game or go home.Robert Gordon Eichernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-57008099368165699622012-02-09T09:20:53.907-05:002012-02-09T09:20:53.907-05:00Thank you for posting this John.
I did my fair s...Thank you for posting this John. <br /><br />I did my fair share of reviews on XOMBIE (some quotes of which made it to the covers) for Ain't It Cool and I absolutely bought STATIC SHOCK because of that work.<br /><br />I didn't fault STATIC SHOCK for not being XOMBIE, but it was eminently clear that the voice was drastically different. <br /><br />My 2 cents, you work best in an unfettered state -- your universe, no baggage. <br /><br />Vertigo would be smart to get you working in their disparate universe of titles. <br /><br />Optimous Douche - Ain't It Cool News (robpatey@comcast.net)Optimous Douchehttp://www.aintitcool.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-1895120116114799602012-02-08T22:58:29.490-05:002012-02-08T22:58:29.490-05:00It seems to me that the move to NYC was the uninte...It seems to me that the move to NYC was the unintentional start down the spiral to ruin for the book. If you didn't have to jettison what you had originally prepared for issue #1, then Richards and McDaniel wouldn't have had the opportunity to take over on the writing side.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05734361945694475981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-48185273472078321102012-02-07T13:05:38.000-05:002012-02-07T13:05:38.000-05:00wow you wouldn't believe this but I just went ...wow you wouldn't believe this but I just went online to buy Static Shock 1-6 and now I discover this news. Think I'll try it anyway but thanks Mr Rozum for the heads up.<br /><br />I'm a BIG fan of the Milestone line and have nearly every issue in storage (if my ex-wife have not thrown them out)so I feel compelled to grab everything Milestone no matter what. Good luck on all your future projects.daingermouzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05240048037873270010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-42457320286290578762012-02-01T08:56:08.448-05:002012-02-01T08:56:08.448-05:00Hi John,
As an aspiring comic book writer and a bi...Hi John,<br />As an aspiring comic book writer and a big fan of Static I really appreciate this post. Static was the first of your work that I thought I'd read, and honestly from the get go it was off... It felt too ham fisted in its writing; the point you made about Scott and Harvey trying to make the series all-action is something I noticed early on and perceived as trying too hard. Static did deserve better than the crap that was spewed out... Although I am still curious to see how they tie up the series.Kwesihttp://aconstructofnothingness.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13190497.post-18252440963552786592012-01-31T18:58:12.299-05:002012-01-31T18:58:12.299-05:00Static Shock #1 is the only DC52 comic that I'...Static Shock #1 is the only DC52 comic that I've read. I thought it had potential and even when I heard about the cancellation, I was thinking "Hey, maybe it's a cool 8-issue arc and I'll finish it out." After reading this though I'm thinking otherwise. Hopefully when/if the next launch comes, it'll take all the good elements of previous incarnations. Good luck on your endeavors, John. The 2nd review down is my full write-up on the issue - http://senseofrightalliance.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/the-new-52-as-read-by-non-dorks-part-6/Mark Hnoreply@blogger.com