From: mickey@brahms.udel.edu (Ernest McCarter)
Subject: PEOPLE:  Mike Leeke on Comico and Valiant
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 15:37:11 GMT


I had the opportunity to talk to Mike Leeke, who was in Olny
Maryland this past Saturday.  I learned a few things I shall now
share with you.

COMICO:  Leeke was very disappointed over how things ended up at
Comico.  He was always a big fan of the Elementals and enjoyed
working on the book immensely.  His last issue of the Elementals
is #24, which has yet to be released, although he finished it back
in January.  He doesn't know who will be replacing him permanently,
although he suspects we will see more of Tony Akins' stuff (blech!).

Jack Herman was scheduled to replace Bill Willingham as writer, but
then got upset and left.  Comico cut a deal with him and he returned.
According to Leeke, Herman has Elementals plots going through the
next year or so (but at this point we have to wonder if they'll ever
see print with Comico's financial problems).

Rumors are true about Comico employees going to extremes in order to
get paid.  Leeke himself had to refuse to submit his artwork until
he got his checks.  Normally, there is an honor system where an artist
will get paid for his work after he has submitted an entire issue.
Leeke resorted to sending photocopies of his work with a big X across
it to the Comico offices in order to prove that he was ready to submit
it when they paid him.

Rumors seem true about Comico owner Andrew Rev as well.  Leeke says
that (at least at the beginning of this year) Rev knows nothing of
the comic industry, but is only interested in making money off the
big gimmicks that sell for Marvel and DC.  Rev wasn't interested
in what got the Elementals its cult audience (decent characterization,
etc.) but only in profits.  That's why Strike Force America is planned
to spin-off.  Leeke says they are cardboard characters that were
thought up in one afternoon just to be killed off in the Oblivion War.
Once Rev realized that he owned these characters and could establish
an "Elementals Universe," he changed Willingham's plans and watered
down the Oblivion War a lot.  Rev's addition to Comico seems to
be glow-in-the-dark covers, Strike Force America #0, and a lot of
poor creative teams.

VALIANT:  Leeke enjoys doing X-O Man-of-War for Valiant.  He still
lives in Philadelphia and commutes to the Valiant offices in New
York at least twice a week.  He says they are normally working only
one month ahead on X-O Man-of-War, but with Valiant this feels
comfortable.  The work atmosphere is much better and everyone gets
the respect they deserve (as opposed to Comico, where Rev treated
many people badly).  Leeke also gets paid more at Valiant.  For
Comico, he made about $70 a comic page, while at Valiant he makes
$85 per page (and doesn't have to fight for his paycheck :> ...)

So that's about all I discussed with him.  He says that he personally
will continue to follow the Elementals if Comico is ever able to
put it out.  However, prospects seem dim for its quality.  If I
wasn't estranged from the title before, I guess I am now.

Leeke was at Zenith Comics in Olny, Maryland on July 25 from noon to
3 pm.  After an appearance in San Diego, he plans to hold another
signing session at a comic shop in the Pennsylvania area near his
home, but details were not clear on this yet.


Mick

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