Editors?

[Vendetta]

You know... I really dont know what they actually do or what it takes to be one. I am on a desperation job hunt presently and it crossed my mind along with a bajillion other things.

The thing is... I have wanted to be in the comic book industry for years. First as a penciler, now as a writer and I really dont have a grasp on what the heck an editor does. So I thought I ought to ask.

Thanks

[Steampunk]

well, some things i know editors do are:

~harass creators to meet their deadlines
~bounce ideas off of writers, soemtimes even providing the springboard for a story
~arrange which pages will have ads
~continuity check
~um...edit? ;)

and much more i'm sure...stuff i probably know but can't recall...cool topic though, editors probably receive less attention than letterers :O

[Vendetta]

Edit? Come on... now your just being silly :p

I read an article in Wizard a couple issues ago about one of the Marvel Editors (sorry, dont remember who) In the article he was talking about how editors have to "harass" but how he has such a good relationship with his creative teams that they never mind calls from him. Yeah right! Keep dreaming :D

[Inkthinker]

Proofreading, spell-checking, looking for items which may cross the line as far as taste or somesuch, check for continuity errors, coordinate evryone else's jobs, as well as deciding who to use for what.

Most editors work on more than one book as well...

[Steampunk]

it was axel alonso ;)

[Vendetta]

that was him. No doubt he is good... he does do some high profile titles... but really... who ever wants to hear from their "boss"?

[Steampunk]

Originally posted by Vendetta
that was him. No doubt he is good... he does do some high profile titles... but really... who ever wants to hear from their "boss"?

i enjoy hearing from my boss, especially when he tells me i'll be making 3 dollars more per hour...BOOYAH!!!

mmm...$11.50....sooo swweeet!

[biginjapan]

Originally posted by Vendetta
You know... I really dont know what they actually do or what it takes to be one.

The first rule of Editing, is you don't talk about Editing.
The second rule of Editing, is you DON'T talk about Editing.
The third rule is.... well, you get the point.


*btw-the 'assignment' of being an editor is actually quite simple. Be a total dick and you're in. ;dvl; <whoa, it's that one mofo, Matt Hawkins....kewl...heh.

[Vendetta]

oh cool. I like pissing people off :D

[Mike]

You sure do, you son of a bitch.
just kidding

Isn't there some sort of prerequisite (sp?) for getting an editor job in comics? I know that most of them have either been editors elsewhere or were artists or writers...

[Steampunk]

or as interns

*how do you take your coffee mr alonso?*

[Elayne Riggs]

The role of an editor varies depending on the hierarchal structures in place at a publisher at any given time. There are a number of Big Two editors who have been instructed by higher-ups to "rubber stamp" creative input and therefore basically act as traffic managers, making sure everyone gets their stuff in on time. Some have a good deal more in the way of input and direction on the titles they shepherd. The editor is the publisher's representative to the talent, and the talent's representative to the publisher. The best editors do their job so seamlessly that the readers don't even notice - all they see is that they're reading great stories. These editors concern themselves with story consistency (which is not necessarily the same as continuity) and everything else that goes into putting out a quality product that will appeal to as many readers as possible (and if you're talking about the Big Two you are talking about comics as a commodity). They also handle the business end of things like keeping track of schedules, putting through the creators' invoices, etc. Hope this helps.

- Elayne

[Vendetta]

OH YEAH. That's great info. Thanks.
you get a thor
;thor;

[Elayne Riggs]

I'm up to my wazoo in Thors at the moment (you'll know why when you see next month's Previews :) ), but thanks!

- Elayne