Posted in: Comics | Tagged: dc, geoff johns, Gerry Conway, Titans

Gerry Conway Calls Out DC, Geoff Johns for Failing to Credit Comic Creators on Titans

Published Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:00:41 -0500

Last updated Sat, 13 Oct 2018 17:24:01 -0500

Legendary comic book writer Gerry Conway took to Twitter on Saturday to call out DC Entertainment for the failure to credit creators including Marv Wolfman, George Perez, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, Arnold Drake, and Bob Brown in the credits of the new show Titans, which streams exclusively on the new DC Universe streaming app.

Here's what Conway had to say:

F**king disgusting that @DCComics did not give screen credit to @marvwolfman and @perezartist for creating half the characters in Titans, only "based on characters from DC" as if DC created them. Yet lots of space for SIX Executive Producer credits.

— Gerry Conway (@gerryconway) October 13, 2018

Would it have cost you anything to give credit where credit is due, @DCComics? "Based on characters from DC," that's just pathetic. Fix this. Do the right thing. Stop being jerks. Because this is jerk behavior.

— Gerry Conway (@gerryconway) October 13, 2018

Strong words.

Conway speaks out during the same week where Chuck Wendig spoke publicly at length about his firing from Marvel, joining fellow Marvel firee Chelsea Cain and now Conway in decrying the way the comics industry treats its creative talent. Other comics legends with names ending in Way like Jerry Ordway joined Conway in the condemnation, calling out DC executive Geoff "Jeff" Johns specifically.

Those movie / tv credits came in with Geoff Johns when he was in charge of DC filmed entertainment. Maybe they left with him when Warner moved him out? Especially sucky on a DC streaming site that was laser targeted at comic book fans.

— Jerry Ordway (@JerryOrdway) October 13, 2018

The characters and stories are created by magical elves, in a room in Burbank:)

— Jerry Ordway (@JerryOrdway) October 13, 2018

He's also an Executive Producer on the show, which in TV could mean anything; at the least he should be a loud voice for creator credit. Waiting to hear him speak up. https://t.co/wFUKkqGNlv

— Gerry Conway (@gerryconway) October 13, 2018

Ordway went on to blame "the fear based restraint publishers exercise over creators" for creators who agree with Conway being afraid to speak publicly due to fear of losing work, one of the key differences for Wendig and Cain, who make their primary income and impact outside of comics.

Sad commentary on the fear based restraint publishers exercise over creators: most pros agree with me about the behavior of @DCComics regarding creator credit but won't say so for fear of losing work. Since I'm retired I can say what they can't. Spread the word. https://t.co/fydMNuQH27

— Gerry Conway (@gerryconway) October 13, 2018

But it isn't just comic book creators who are often unwilling to fight back against the megacorps that control the superhero-industrial complex. There are quite a few comic book fans out there who likely agree with Conway, or with Wendig and Cain, but will that stop most of them from watching Titans or reading Marvel comics? We'd guess: probably not. But let us know in the comments how you feel about the whole thing.

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