Yesterday, a new blog appeared called the Comics Equity Project spearheaded by legendary comics creator Gerry Conway. The goal of the blog is to request that fans attempt to contact creators when characters the creators brought to life are used in DC Comics projects.
Time for a Call to Action!
Precursor to the Comics Equity Project
Back in the 1970s, DC Comics went down a revolutionary path by stating that creators of comic book characters could share in a piece of the pie. A small portion of money made by characters would be given to the creators.
Why is the Comics Equity Project Needed?
DC Comics does not spend time contacting comic book creators about how their characters are being used. Hence, most creators don’t know when their characters are being used. In Gerry Conway’s case, some of the characters he created were being used on the TV series, Arrow on The CW. He would not have known about the characters being used if fans had not alerted him.
What the Creators Get
When a creator contacts DC Comics to prove one of his or her characters is being used, DC Comics will give the creator a part of the money coming in from the character as long as the creator holds that type of contract with the company. This money is not retroactive, so the creator is only owed the money made after he or she contacts DC Comics.
The Comics Equity Project Remembers Creators
Even though we hold many comic book creators in high regard – as far as even considering many as heroes – most do not make money hand-over-fist. The Comics Equity Project gives us (the fans) the opportunity to show our support of comic book creators and to remind them that we are thankful for the characters and stories they created over the years. The Comics Equity Project is our call to action to support those which have given us countless hours of entertainment over the years.
To learn more about the Comics Equity Project, or to contact creators whose characters are being used at DC Comics, please follow this link.
