From: MHANNINEN@finabo.abo.fi (Mika H{nninen Inf)
Subject: Re: $$ Comic Book Creators $$
Organization: Abo Akademi University, Finland
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 06:34:21 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.23

In <1992Sep28.190051.8789@morgan.ucs.mun.ca> cwelsh@morgan.ucs.mun.ca writes:

> In article <28SEP199212364407@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> sewon@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (WAYNE WONG) writes:
> >Some loose quotes from previous posts (sorry, don't recall the posters):
> >>>  ... McFarlane and his Millions ....
> >>>  ... Alan Moore got a $100,000 signing bonus for writing Spawn #8 ...
> >>>  ... McFarlane is estimated to make 3-4 Million dollars this year ...
> >
> >Huhh?  How much do comic book creators make these days?  I'm sure it 
> >depends on the popularity of the creators and the popularity of the books, 
> >but Millions?!! I had no idea comics could be such a lucrative profession.
> >Are the creators paid some flat fee plus an additional royalty for each 
> >book that is sold?  What's the percentage?  How much do the following 
> >make on an average book?
> >  1) writers, 2) pencilers and 3) inkers
> >
> >Most artists can only crank out one book a month.  On the other hand, 
> >comic book machines like John Byrne writes several books, pencils and inks 
> >a couple, and even does his own lettering.  All in one month.  Quallity 
> >work too IMO.  With Byrne's popularity, I would guess he's among the most 
> >$uccessfull.  Any guesses on how much he makes?  
> >X-Men #1 had a print run of over 8 million copies.  How much did Jim Lee 
> >make off of that one book (actually, 5 books)?
> >
> >Just curious,
> > - Wayne.
> >
> >P.S.  Hold your flames. :)  I'm not being nosy, I think Byrne and Lee would 
> >be a good gauge to measure the potential salaries of comic creators.
> > =========================================================================
> 
> The quote on McFarlane and him making 3-4 million is mine. It is taken
> directly from the CBC program "Venture" which recently did a special on
> the comic business and focused on a creator trying to peddle his at the
> San Diego Con. They did a brief interview with McF and they (Venture,
> not McF) said that he stood to make 3-4 million dollars this year. I
> think he is the exception. Only the very top creators make a lot of
> money. Most of the poor shmucs out there are fighting to make a living
> just lie the rest of us.
> 
> As for Byrne, "Next Men" is creator owned, so he lives and dies by the
> sales, but I would imagine he is doing well. I thin DC paid him $500,000
> a year while he was doing Superman.
> 
> Perhaps how much they get paid is none of our business. But seeing these
> people mae that much money in a year for doing a comic book is amazing.
> Makes me wish I had some creative talent. Oh well.
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, the rac.misc.consensus seems to be that this has nothing to do with 
Liefield`s talent, or rather lack of it, and then there are those who say
that talent is the *only* thing he does have...Go figure

> 
> 
> *************************************************************************
> * Craig Welsh                  *    "I'm a few bricks short of a       *
> *                              *     load, but a full load always      *
> * cwelsh@morgan.ucs.mun.ca     *     hurt my back."                    *
> *                              *     "Crazy" - Barenaked Ladies        *
> ************************************************************************
> * "Homeboy from Hell." Screw that. I'm the Waiter from Hell.           *
> *  You figure out which is scarier.                                    *
> ************************************************************************
> 

		-Mika