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Kevin Smith Gets Bupkiss For Green Hornet Comic (UPDATE)

Published Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:50:51 -0600

Last updated Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:57:16 -0600

How much would it cost for movie writer/director Kevin Smith to write you a comic? How much for him to sit his ass down in front of that keyboard and tap out ten issues, two-hundred and twenty pages worth of comics for you to publish? And then add on top the Kevin Smith marketing machine, tweeting to his 1.6 million readers, going on about how good a comic it is?

Priceless it seems.

Because Kevin Smith is getting nothing for the Green Hornet comic, out yesterday in the US, out today in the UK. The comic has been adapted by layout artist Phil Hester directly from the movie script that Kevin Smith wrote, that was never used. And the publication deal is between Dynamite and the owners of that script The Weinstein Company. So Kevin Smith doesn't see an extra penny beyond what he was paid for that original script.

Which, admittedly, was quite a lot.

Still, it does mean that whatever support Kevin Smith is showing the project, is support that he doesn't actually have to give, or will benefit from financially in any way.

Isn't that nice?

UPDATE: Nick Barrucci, publisher of Dynamite Entertainment writes;

To the fans who think Kevin is not doing anything but handing in a script, I'm sorry, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Let me state a few things first. The process begins, evolves and ends with Kevin being as involved as possible. It is different than the way comics are thought to be written, and probably more intense. Kevin could just have handed us the script and said "have fun", but he did not! Instead, he painstakingly reviews the breakdown of the script in to issues, looks at the thumbnails, makes comments, sees where there's a story element that can be expanded (or can be reduced if he so chose), and is in contact with our editorial team of Phil and Joe. He reviews as much as he can given his schedule, and is very meticulous, and very giving of his time. Keep in mind, Kevin has already been paid for the script, he could just walk away and said "have fun". The man has given us one of the most personal scripts he's ever written, and you'll be able to tell that from reading the series. He's putting his time in because he cares about the character and the story. It's important to him. He's not an absentee landlord and any negative posters who are hitting his previous track record or being personal should give it a break. You have no clue how much time and effort Kevin is putting in to this, and should not assume. It's frustrating to me, seeing the sh*! fans are posting, as I know how important this book and The Green Hornet himself is to him. Forget how much money he made from the script, Kevin didn't go through with the project, even though it would have meant millions for him as a director (hey, it was an $80 Million Dollar Budgeted Film), and the residuals from the Writer's Guild and Director's Guild over his lifetime would have been many millions more.

And he cares about this becoming a comic. What does that tell you?

Kevin cares so much, that the guy is going out there Twittering 888 -comic books and sending links to the comic shop locater website. He's making it his mission.

Kevin has written an extremely passionate and reverent story, and coordinates to give his thoughts on how the books should come together. Phil (Hester) has come on board to help with the layouts and give his editorial guidance, and is in communication with Kevin. Jonathan (Lau) is pouring his heart and soul in to each page. Everyone from the colorist to the letterer (and Kevin also goes over the letters with Simon Bowland, that's how committed he is to the project) to the entire editorial and graphics team at Dynamite has pulled together to help present the best work possible, for it to come full circle for Kevin to proof it one last time, whether it's something that is important to him, such as adding the credits page to the splash page instead of the inside front cover, or adding two more pages of story and art featuring Britt and his wife having a personal moment, as Britt tells her the Hornet is retiring, he is involved. These pages were not in the original movie script because of budget and running time, and he felt this would come across great in the comic, made the request, and we all agreed. Phil and Joe were really happy to see those two pages added in. Kevin made it so to make it a better comic.

All I can say is this. It's a free world, and anyone can say what they want. If you buy the comic, and read it, and don't like it, that's one thing. But if you're posting about Kevin or this book without trying it, as most have been, it's just not fair, nor right.

Peace!

Nick

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