Joe Illidge Open Letter To Industry

[otomo]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat- ... ry-1169082

Well this claims it "explains his exit" but it very much doesn't. A weird letter nonetheless. What do you make of it?

[IMJ]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat- ... ry-1169082

Well this claims it "explains his exit" but it very much doesn't. A weird letter nonetheless. What do you make of it?

That is a very weird letter.

Littered with engineered positivity about the current state of the industry while producing examples implying the author's hand in this status, only to end with "for the better days ahead". It winds up feeling like a failed broadcast letter for a guy that needs work and is trying to spin the hiring manager twice: First with false-positive bravado, and then again with phony airs of self.

What I make of it is that this guy might've been better off just going and working on his indie projects without his "open letter to the industry".

[jmatt]

It's a job application cover letter. Can't blame the guy for flying his flag. Good luck to him.

[TheFerg714]

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

[Shadowman99]

Dunno, reads to me like he felt he wasn't able to flex his creativity to a satisfying enough extent at Valiant for whatever reason, and as a result is moving into independent work where he might be able to that which he wasn't able to at Valiant. Putting the open letter out there so that any independent creatives who might want their work published will touch bases with him.

[TheeBaldMoose]

Dunno, reads to me like he felt he wasn't able to flex his creativity to a satisfying enough extent at Valiant for whatever reason, and as a result is moving into independent work where he might be able to that which he wasn't able to at Valiant. Putting the open letter out there so that any independent creatives who might want their work published will touch bases with him.

Yea, got that same feel. He tried getting getting his message out through Valiant, and I think they just received way too much negative feedback. Was there any successful books that he flew while under his leadership? Also, Kind of sounds like maybe he realizes his message wasn't well received while at Valiant...

[greg]

Dunno, reads to me like he felt he wasn't able to flex his creativity to a satisfying enough extent at Valiant for whatever reason, and as a result is moving into independent work where he might be able to that which he wasn't able to at Valiant. Putting the open letter out there so that any independent creatives who might want their work published will touch bases with him.

Yea, got that same feel. He tried getting getting his message out through Valiant, and I think they just received way too much negative feedback. Was there any successful books that he flew while under his leadership? Also, Kind of sounds like maybe he realizes his message wasn't well received while at Valiant...

I know nothing about what happened, but I don't think there was enough time to determine what his impact was. If the original mindset for the Valiant creative process remains "best idea wins", then I could see a scenario where big Valiant planning sessions and mapping out multi-year strategy could have had more Valiant staff votes to do "not Joe's plan" than support for "Joe's plan"... and at that point you'd be trying to achieve someone else's vision, knowing that your own vision wasn't good/popular enough.

[kinggirlfriend]

Dunno, reads to me like he felt he wasn't able to flex his creativity to a satisfying enough extent at Valiant for whatever reason, and as a result is moving into independent work where he might be able to that which he wasn't able to at Valiant. Putting the open letter out there so that any independent creatives who might want their work published will touch bases with him.

Yea, got that same feel. He tried getting getting his message out through Valiant, and I think they just received way too much negative feedback. Was there any successful books that he flew while under his leadership? Also, Kind of sounds like maybe he realizes his message wasn't well received while at Valiant...

I know nothing about what happened, but I don't think there was enough time to determine what his impact was. If the original mindset for the Valiant creative process remains "best idea wins", then I could see a scenario where big Valiant planning sessions and mapping out multi-year strategy could have had more Valiant staff votes to do "not Joe's plan" than support for "Joe's plan"... and at that point you'd be trying to achieve someone else's vision, knowing that your own vision wasn't good/popular enough.

I agree. That seems to make the most sense.

I feel bad for Joe. I'm not sure he had a chance to prove himself.

[Dallow Spicer1]

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

Yeah, I interpreted this to mean “I used my opportunity at Valiant to progress my agenda at using unknown creators for (possibly) political reasons instead of bringing in top creators to make the best books we can”.

[Serpentor]

I've read many letters such as this one over the years. It basically amounts to, "The demand for my talent and vision has diminished, but I'm going to write this letter to give the appearance that I am still relevant." Sorry if that is harsh, but it's accurate. Those with the vision and force of personality to steer this industry do so. They don't have to write open letters on the way out, because they are busy being effective at what they do.

[WrathOfArmstrong]

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

Yeah, I interpreted this to mean “I used my opportunity at Valiant to progress my agenda at using unknown creators for (possibly) political reasons instead of bringing in top creators to make the best books we can”.

Right on.

This letter is embarrassing. I rooted for him. But he seemed agenda heavy. What I loved about Valiant was that I could promote it as being diverse without being forced diverse...the 'look at me we have 'x'!' mentality of the other publishers rubs a lot of people the wrong way. Valiant always felt natural. Naturally inclusive, naturally progressive without being about trying to grab a few bucks. That's what I related to.

I wish him the best. But... this letter.... I mean, I was really hoping he tore DMG a new one. I hoped he explained HW2. But he just blows smoke...

[IMJ]

I've read many letters such as this one over the years. It basically amounts to, "The demand for my talent and vision has diminished, but I'm going to write this letter to give the appearance that I am still relevant."

That's exactly correct. Exactly. Any other points of view on these things yields the kinds of people that those very tactics work on.

It's a crapshoot, you either hope you get a naive hiring manager, or you hope that you don't get the kind of judgemental *SQUEE* that has made letters like this happen in the workforce in the first place. Either way the entire thing makes me sick because it reinforces how we live in a society where people judge your truth, and so you are forced to BS. This is the very core as to why I have these kinds of judgements about said letter in the first place.

[Sven the Returned]

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

Yeah, I interpreted this to mean “I used my opportunity at Valiant to progress my agenda at using unknown creators for (possibly) political reasons instead of bringing in top creators to make the best books we can”.

Oh bloodsquirt...

What i feared.

Dinesh...

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

Yeah, I interpreted this to mean “I used my opportunity at Valiant to progress my agenda at using unknown creators for (possibly) political reasons instead of bringing in top creators to make the best books we can”.

Right on.

This letter is embarrassing. I rooted for him. But he seemed agenda heavy. What I loved about Valiant was that I could promote it as being diverse without being forced diverse...the 'look at me we have 'x'!' mentality of the other publishers rubs a lot of people the wrong way. Valiant always felt natural. Naturally inclusive, naturally progressive without being about trying to grab a few bucks. That's what I related to.

I wish him the best. But... this letter.... I mean, I was really hoping he tore DMG a new one. I hoped he explained HW2. But he just blows smoke...

That last issue of Gen 0...

[nycjadie]

The letter reads “I was fired” and I’m going to do my own thing for people who are interested in creating great stories. I know tons of folks that have done the same. Pretty common in tech. Some day, you will see mine

He was fired, or his job was so difficult and painful, he quit. Doesn’t really matter which. Management thought he wasn’t working out. From a reader standpoint, it’s difficult to know his impact positive or negative. All I know is he wasn’t given a chance, and he is now freelance. And the tone of his letter suggests a real constraint on what he tried to do.

[jmatt]

Management thought he wasn’t working out. From a reader standpoint, it’s difficult to know his impact positive or negative. All I know is he wasn’t given a chance, and he is now freelance. And the tone of his letter suggests a real constraint on what he tried to do.

In agreement on this. He wasn't there long enough to really sum up the quality of his tenure.

And cut the guy some slack on the letter. I've been reading a lot of resumes lately and you wouldn't believe some of the puffery people sling around when they're trying to impress a potential employer.

[IMJ]

And cut the guy some slack on the letter. I've been reading a lot of resumes lately and you wouldn't believe some of the puffery people sling around when they're trying to impress a potential employer.

Oh God, the conversation you and I could have about the theory of all of this.

[kjjohanson]

The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal that Illidge is moving into freelance editing, with the aim of only working on creator-owned properties moving forward.

This sounds very similar to Kindt and Lemire's statements about working on corporate-owned super-heroes. Taking all of this together, I get the sense that DMG wants corporate marketing to guide content, rather than leave it to creative types. I fear that Valiant is going to become a clone of what corporate *thinks* makes Marvel and DC successful

[Sven the Returned]

The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal that Illidge is moving into freelance editing, with the aim of only working on creator-owned properties moving forward.

This sounds very similar to Kindt and Lemire's statements about working on corporate-owned super-heroes. Taking all of this together, I get the sense that DMG wants corporate marketing to guide content, rather than leave it to creative types. I fear that Valiant is going to become a clone of what corporate *thinks* makes Marvel and DC successful

I have no idea what makes them successfull, for long streches they can do anything they want and still be the big 2.

if they were dead serious about stopping publishing for an entire year fans would send money not knowing it will matter, begging them to keep publishing.

[TheFerg714]

At Valiant, we courageously opened the doors to emerging creators, in order to elevate characters to new heights.

Yeah, I interpreted this to mean “I used my opportunity at Valiant to progress my agenda at using unknown creators for (possibly) political reasons instead of bringing in top creators to make the best books we can”.

Oh I was just laughing because he didn't accomplish anything he set out to do...
Harbinger Wars II- Heiserrer was an emerging creator... No character was elevated. Livewire just came off like a crazy terrorist.
Brittania III- Robert Gill seems to have already "emerged," seeing as he's working at Marvel frequently now. Ryp actually is an emerging creator, and he was replaced. I'm not complaining, it was good, but still.
Faith: Dreamside- The one character that didn't need elevation (pun intended). This mini is obviously failing. I don't know what he expected to happen. However, MJ Kim is great.
Bloodshot PRS- Nadler and Thompson were a good pick, but I think they had already emerged through Marvel, and Ken Lashley was already a notable name. Oh and also they were all replaced.
Livewire- ...remains to be seen...
Incursion- Diggle and Braithwaite were already household names (to Valiant fans). I don't know what could be considered "emerging" about them.

So Kevin Grievoux, Alex Paknadel, and Vita Ayala... These three people are the only creators that fit his mantra...

[nwoslave]

it amazes me he was an editor to some extent and yet his format in writing hasnt changed since his CBR days.

I was not happy he got a job with Valiant as exec editor because of his history. he is horrible at his job. i fully expect him to get a job at marvel. they seem like a good fit.

oh and livewire, garbage. great hire there illidge. did you hire her because she was the same color as Amanda, sure seems like it.

[leonmallett]

it amazes me he was an editor to some extent and yet his format in writing hasnt changed since his CBR days.

I was not happy he got a job with Valiant as exec editor because of his history. he is horrible at his job. i fully expect him to get a job at marvel. they seem like a good fit.

oh and livewire, garbage. great hire there illidge. did you hire her because she was the same color as Amanda, sure seems like it.

Wow, racist view there?

[Dallow Spicer1]

it amazes me he was an editor to some extent and yet his format in writing hasnt changed since his CBR days.

I was not happy he got a job with Valiant as exec editor because of his history. he is horrible at his job. i fully expect him to get a job at marvel. they seem like a good fit.

oh and livewire, garbage. great hire there illidge. did you hire her because she was the same color as Amanda, sure seems like it.

Wow, racist view there?

Woah! Let’s not get hysterical and drop the R bomb on people. In the current climate we don’t know the motivations behind hires. I don’t think it’s beyond the realms of possibility that there was political motivations behind Illidges decisions. Why didn’t they bring a more high profile writer on the book?

That said, as long as she writes a good story and keeps her personal politics out of the books then I’m not concerned.

[Chiclo]

I have never met Joe Illidge but I did follow him on the twitter for several months because I wanted to learn more about this guy they had hired as the Executive Editor. Listening to what he said, seeing the kinds of things he responded to on twitter and his reactions to things, I fully believe that he made it a priority to find a woman of colour to write Livewire. Many would describe that preference as "representation", others might be quick to point out that an author was picked to match the skin tone. Further, it is even possible to note that an author was selected based on the similarity in skin tone to the character in question without the observation in and of itself being racist.

Honestly, if she writes a good story and captures the character well, does it matter? Like Dallow Spicer, I hope she doesn't get too preachy one way or another.

[kinggirlfriend]

White guys can hire white guys and it's never deemed political. The second a black guy hires a black person it's called political and all the bigoted white people with thin skin come out of the woodwork. Grow up. Or better yet, grow some thicker skin snowflakes.

[nycjadie]