Cross Gen's Code 6 deal....

[Agent Fire]

Has anybody read what Cross Gen's is doing?

I thought it might be cool to have another indie comic company to fall back on.....BUT!!!

The link to the FAQ for Code 6... It's really all the info you need.. (http://www.crossgen.com/cgentertainment/code6faq.asp)

They want you to give up 75% of the ownership. And they claim that they get so many submissions that they can take up to two months to get to your submission.

Soooooo! What does eveybody think about this?

I personally think they are asking...No! demanding too much. If it were half it would be different(hell! I think that's too much also).

The worst part is the fact that they can "Fire" you from your own project, if they feel that your work is, "Unsatifactory!"

I usually don't bash any company, because "To each his own" but I find this to be just ridiculous.

Any thoughts.

[thespian]

They are paying for everything and still giving you a percentage of the profits. I think it's a decent deal (not only that, but giving you a percentage of the ancilliary profits as well!)
Compare it to working at Marvel and creating a new character. You give up all the right to that character, so if that character is made into 4 ongoing series and a movie, video game and toys, you get your page rate - that's it! If you get fired off the book featuring that character, you get nothing. Code six's deal is way better than that!!

[Agent Fire]

I was looking for some reason to consider code 6.... You helped. Alot!!!

[Chris Piers]

I think it's a fantastic offer. They'll take care of all the costs and coordination of publication and all you have to do is write and draw a comic and get a quarter of the profits. Then you have a book on the stand for prospective fans to sign.

Sounds great to me.

[Inkthinker]

You don't own your creation... this is my only real concern. It's certainly got a lot of benefits to it, I'll say that.

[Chris Piers]

Yeah, you give up the rights to it forever. But you'll always be paid 25% for any projects it's used on, even if you're not involved.

If you're a person with a lot of ideas, using one to get your name out there isn't such a bad thing.

[muthmaniac]

I think that it all comes down to how badly you want to be published.

For one, you have to realize that Comics is a BUSINESS. The way they have laid out the FAQ's for Code 6, I think covers most general questions, and does so very well. Unlike, say Image, Code 6 covers all expenses in the production, printing and distribution of the book. While you, get paid a page rate AND get 25% of the royalties.

That's quite a nice deal. Especially, considering that they are now one of the five premier publishers, hence they'll be paying a nice premium page rate. And 25% of royalties include everything from poster and comics sales, to t-shirts, and possibly/eventually movies! Let's say your property sells for 2.5 million dollars. (I think that that is a nice medium price, not too high, and not bottom dollar. And especially right now with comics properties being "IN") that means that you'll get a nice check for $625,000. Now, I'm not sure how much that'll be after taxes and whatnot are taken out, but that is A LOT of money!

Whether or not you actually have a piece of paper that says, you own all of your property or not shouldn't be that important, unless you HAVE to be greedy. As it says, you might be pulled off the actual creation of the book, but if someone is then signed on and makes the book even more popular than what it was before. 1. You'll get more money and 2. Chances are you'll be proud to see your characters doing well.

Also, most people that are going to be interested in the book, at least as far as other publishers go, will know how Code 6 works, and therefore will know that it's you that's the brain behind the idea. So, if you're worried about Code 6 getting all the recognition or something, I think that it's an unfounded fear...Even today, when Editors are becoming more visible, most of the credit goes to either the writer or the artist. No one knows how much input Alex Alonso is putting into his books...and the same will be the deal with you and your work.

You people seem to be jumping at shadows far too much these days. *I'm referring to the previous thread about the E-Bay auction.* CrossGen, is a company that is trying to make money. The sole reason of them signing on to one of your projects would be to make money for themselves, and as long as they also have to cut you a check, I don't know how much they'd want to screw you over.

The history of the comicbook industry is full of stories of creators being ripped off by companies, being kicked off their books with NO royalties, and left broken and battered. I think that CrossGen knows this, and will probably do their best to not go in the same direction. Of course, this is also a pretty optimistic view-point, so who knows. :)

If you plan on pitching something to them, I wish you luck and hope to see your project on the shelf!

[Inkthinker]

Excellent points, good argument. Well said!

[GroundHog]

I have always liked crossgen but I just think, if you make your own creation, self publishing is the way to go.

[muthmaniac]

I don't remember where I read it, but some respectable, professional comicbook creator *maybe it was Will Eisner, maybe Frank Miller* said something to the effect of:

"Why would you want to self-publish when there are people that will give you money to publish your stories?"

I agree with that. I'm broke...incredibly broke actually. So, I can't even self-publish...Being given a chance to get paid for creating the stories that I want to create is such a mind-bending concept to me!! I mean I would do this stuff for free, and right now I am, as online comics! But, being given money by someone else to publish my stories...Wow!!

honestly, I couldn't care less about how much someone says I own of my creation, I know that I created it....That's good enough for me. And fortunately, my ego isn't so large to think that I'm the only one that could do my stories the best way...True, they'd be completely my vision, but if *for instance* Code 6 wanted to have another talented writer and/or artist work on the book besides me...I wouldn't object just because it wouldn't be my creation any longer! No matter what, MY NAME will be on those books, as the creator.

Again, this just might be me...but, I'm thinking even more about getting together something to submit to these guys! Unfortunately, we live in a time where money is more important than creative freedom, and I got bills to pay! :)

-John

[Agent Fire]

You have an interesting way of looking at the whole of the situation. And a very good one.

I, personally, am a man of many ideas and even more characters. I believe you have a point about wanting to be published. I too have the fear of not being held responsible for a great idea. And I also am not in it for the money. I am an entertainer, I've been an entertainer since birth. I now look at it like the whole Marvel-DC-Image thing. Lots of creators left their prospective publishers so that they could have credit for the things they created.

Looking at what you said Cross Gen is being what Marvel and DC had refused to be. They offer all the benefits of working with a big company(ie. not paying for publishing, advertising, and shopping you property around for movie and tv deals) while letting you create and maintain the credit for creating. Then the also, to top it off, offer to pay you a premium page rate while you are creating. Not to mention the fact that as long as the property exists(whether you are still attached or not) you get 25% of what ever it makes. I think I have to think hard on the deal.

Though it pains me to sell one of my ideas and a bunch of my characters, it might also be the best thing.

Hmmmmmm! You just never know.

[thespian]

I think it's like a band and a record company. As I understand it (and I did quite a bit of research into this area when I was in a band trying to get signed a few years ago) the record company fronts the band the money to record and market their album and usually they keep the master tapes and in some cases the copyright to the songs. That's why you see a song or artist appear "courtesy of..." on a different label. Code 6 sounds like it works similarly.
They front the money for you to make the comic and pay you 25% of what you make in sales, all for a 75% share of your idea. So really, you still have a share of your creation, and you get profit from it; it's just not a controlling share. Code 6 stipulates that they get 75% of the creation so they can "expend the energy and resources" shopping it around for ancilliary deals (movies, video games [as an aside, wouldn't that be a kick -- playing your character on PS2!!], rpg's trading cards, etc) as a means to make more money. If you felt they weren't doing a good enough job of that, you might be able to take them to court to win the rights back. People have gotten out of contracts before. Just make sure you get a lawyers opinion before you sign anything!!