How did a broke comic shop clerk build a billion dollar empire?
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- Опубліковано 22 вер 2023
- Robert Kirkman was dead broke. Then he changed the entire entertainment industry.
Links and Reading Guide
The cheapest way to read Invincible and the Walking Dead is usually the compendiums. They are all linked here:
Invincible 1: amzn.to/461obnv
Invincible 2: amzn.to/44WfuJW
Invincible 3: amzn.to/3LsNXZt
Walking Dead 1: amzn.to/3talEsv
Walking Dead 2: amzn.to/44ZZzu3
Walking Dead 3: amzn.to/4516xPx
Walking Dead 4: amzn.to/3RN318D
If you prefer trades and hardcovers, here are the links for those as well.
Invincible TPB 1: amzn.to/48mCMvn
Walking Dead TPB 1: amzn.to/48oQNIP
Invincible HC 1: amzn.to/3PqhbcP
Walking Dead HC 1: amzn.to/3PtC1rB
If I did my job, you now also want to read Savage Dragon. They have been collected cheaply in Black and White
Savage Dragon 1: amzn.to/46fljmA
Savage Dragon 2: amzn.to/3ELqrDg
Savage Dragon 3: amzn.to/3EMibD5
(10 volumes in print so far, thru issue 250)
Also, Spawn: amzn.to/3LyWtGC
Other Image books (probably should be its own video):
Chew: amzn.to/3ZqjgtO
Deadly Class: amzn.to/3sUhHrR
East of West: amzn.to/3Pv4FJa
Monstress: amzn.to/3EOVVZg
Prophet: amzn.to/3RvjcqX
Saga: amzn.to/45Z12Ck
Stray Bullets: amzn.to/3t2NW8t
Nailbiter: amzn.to/3RqeL0t
Descender: amzn.to/3PzCjh0
(As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Sources & Further Reading
Robert Kirkman Interviews:
www.wtfpod.com/podcast/tag/Rob...
• The Walking Dead's Rob...
podcast.robliefeldcreations.c...
id10t.com/podcast/episode-92-... (Trickery & Deceit)
• The Robert Kirkman (Wa...
• Robert Kirkman Discuss...
screenrant.com/comics-like-in...
www.polygon.com/features/2015...
web.archive.org/web/201108200...
• Creating Invincible Wi...
Tony Moore Interviews:
• Welcome To Zombie Coun...
• Tony Moore (Cynthiana,...
Charlie Adlard Interviews (most of this got cut):
• The Art of The Walking...
• Charlie Adlard: The Wa...
The Kirkman Manifesto:
www.cbr.com/baltimore-the-ben...
www.cbr.com/year-in-review-th...
wordballoon.blogspot.com/2019/... (the original manifesto video is gone, but the audio survives here)
Frank Darabont:
web.archive.org/web/201603031...
TWD TV Show:
www.hollywoodreporter.com/bus...
Lawsuits:
www.vice.com/en/article/ppzgg...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/bus...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/bus...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/bus...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/bus...
Photos/Image Credits
Photos of Robert Kirkman & Todd McFarlane, including thumbnail photo, are copyright Gage Skidmore
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
www.flickr.com/photos/gageski...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
www.flickr.com/photos/gageski...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Photos of Robert Kirkman, Jim Valentino, Brian K Vaughn, Ryan Ottley & Gale Anne Hurd are copyright Luigi Novi
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gale_An...
Photo of Cory Walker copyright Niccolò Caranti
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Wa...
Spider-Man Sketch Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/diegopi...
Wolverine Sketch Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/marthou... - Розваги
I'm curious to hear from you guys: how do you feel about the Kirkman Manifesto? The idea that creators should stop working for DC and Marvel and go creator-owned. Is that realistic or is Kirkman off his rocker?
I actually 100% agree with him. I do believe creators should have ownership over what they create but I think an issue that Kirkman ignores is that the audience who buys comics mostly just buy from the big two. It is changing slightly but it’s still an issue of the audiences still being stuck in its old ways.
It's very realistic. And with the output DC and Marvel have been making in recent years...audiences are craving for new stories told by someone else. Umbrella Academy, Invincible, The Boys, Kick Ass, Hellboy (not the recent one lol), Spawn, The Walking Dead, TMNT, etc. are all evidence of how you don't have to be the big 2 to work and grab people. There'll be a lot of shit comics and dead businesses with the influx but I think it's the risk the artists and writers have to take.
I also think marvel, dc, dark horse, or who ever else should invest in motion comics. It's no secret the comic industry has gone down while the adaptations have been wildly successful. People aren't reading comics. But there's this niche on UA-cam explaining comics and having Ai/actors act the lines of the characters and so on. Some of these videos have MILLIONS of views. I don't think that should be glossed over.
It can be a financial risk, but in the long term, it can work out if the content is well received.
The biggest issue that Marvel and DC have that Image or manga in general don't have is progression and continuity. The stories reach an eventual conclusion with one writer, two at most, and everything isn't reset after a big event to keep the status quo
You’ve got to do a Spawn video
In 2006 the company I worked for installed windows in Robert Kirkmans house. He was really cool. Most people won't even offer you a glass of water when you are working in their home. He bought us pizza and gave us signed copies of Walking Dead, Invincible and Tech Jacket.
Dude that’s so awesome!!!! That’s such a great story!
That’s really cool lol
Lucky, damn dude my job sucks
Please tell me you still have them. That's so badass
Wow!!! He is a great guy
I wish they make an official animated adaptation of "The Walking Dead" comics, considering how greatly the tv show differs from Kirkman's work. I know there is the audiobook adaptation, but a full animated version would be the SH*T
wait they havent!?? wild, id be great for the franchise since the series has a long credibility as the games in media is
It’s a separate story, but Telltale’s Walking Dead series (at least the first season) felt MUCH more in-line with the pacing and vibe of the original comics, def worth checking out if you haven’t
And they should make it 100% accurate to the comics. No darly dixon, nothing like that
Maybe TWD could get the Scott Pilgrim treatment
@@jovanbijelic4345
Pretty curious how Daryl, the most beloved and popular character, doesn't exist AT ALL in the comics
This video felt like it was telling a MUCH larger story and then abruptly finished right as it made its first point. I'd love to see a follow up on how this type of behavior also led to a lawsuit from Bill Crabtree, who colored the first 50 issues of Invincible and had ownership stake in the series at one point.
Like a Comic Book
Next Issue
The Frank Darabont lawsuit/judgment also merits its own episode
Same here! For someone who hasn't followed the drama, I had a hard time finding the never-ending lies and fraud. I mean, okay, he lied about alien invasion so he could get his comic published. And what else? He says tony Moore did work-for-hire? Not clear if it is true or not. ..I'm probably missing something but it looks far from his whole success being built on .
yeah, seems like a stealing lying manipulator, and let us not forget, he seemed to be ok when they TV Series Really went off Comic more then once. I mean, bigtime in some cases
That's so true, I remember thinking... hey man, they're fucking up your baby here and you seem totally fine with it. As an aspiring Indie comic who has been massively influenced by TWD and Invincible this video hits hard. @@deathsee
From what I got, Darabont wanted to do limited episodes like season one, with big budget moments. AMC wanted to milk this cash cow by actually lowering the budget and drag out the seasons and story. It seemed Darabont wanted to maintain the quality, and AMC wanted quantity. What’s confusing that the show differs greatly from the comic AFTER Darabonts exit so I can’t see Darabont being the one to change it all up after a extremely faithful season one…
Yes I agree the show definitely dipped after his departure and they killed off the Lori actress early because she was outspoken about his removal. And honestly it’s sad because it could have been been as grand as the hight of GoT
@bonejuice4280 not sure that it was too early. In comic, Lorie dies during Governor attack, not long enough after Judy's birth, by being brutally shot in the stomach while running with Judith on her arms (she dies too btw). May be she would've been killed off in the first half of season 4 with T-dog, Merle, Hershel and others.
@@thetimkazakh.624she would have been in the series for almost an entire extra season if she stuck around until she was supposed to die when they flee the prison so definitely a bit earlier than she would have otherwise.
Well, they definitely milked it
For me personally, it ended when Rick Grimes left. It was such a fulfilling episode, I stopped watching and haven’t watched it ever since. And I do agree, that after Darabont left, the same quality we had on the first episodes of season 1, went downhill, and yet, I couldn’t stop watching.
I remember reading the "shock" moment in Invincible. I was lucky that nobody spoiled it. I had it in my pull list, I remember liking it because it was cozy it reminded me of a modern Peter Parker. I just couldn't believe that moment. Been reading since the late 70's and it's hard to find something that shocked you like this series did.
is the "shock" moments the same in the first episode of invincible tv show?
@@youssefwael4639 the dad "secret"
Then as the series went on it got worse
@@aaronnilestoussaint5672 Reminds me Season 2 upcoming.
@@aaronnilestoussaint5672 lol what? Just no, the series got BETTER as the series got on, it didn’t get “wOrsE” AT ALL here in the slightest. Stop with your nonsense.
This is my favorite channel that I've watched this past year. Keep up the great work!
Exactly. This guy and YOU are 2 of my favorite! Keep up the great work as always Austin, can’t wait for that cinematic universe you’re working on.
Fancy seeing you here 😂
You should get Nebula to add Mattt to their roster. They need more comics stuff. You're doing your part, but you know that's not enough
Oh hello Austin
Same, this has been such an amazing find and Ive never seen a UA-cam Channel with ONLY quality and depth.
My biggest issue with what Kirkman has become is that he basically made himself the biggest hypocrite in the universe by having the Skybound contracts explicit state and share ownership between the creators and the publisher, the very thing he left the big two because of.
Kirkman's a great writer and all, but to me he comes across as less wanting to help the medium grow and change through creator-owned work, and more that he wants to become Mr Comics. It's a fantastic issue, but I really do think publishing Transformers - a comic Skybound owns and a property Hasbro owns alongside setting it in the same universe as Void Rivals, which Kirkman fully owns and building that up as a brand through association, is a great example. Kirkman's practicing these exact business practices, whilst also using them to promote things he owns and therefore profits ontop of.
I dunno, it's just a bit shitty - high quality of the comics aside
How is that hypocritical exactly?
If you want to make it as a solo creator, you have to take a massive risk, like Kirkman did. Why should he then be responsible for footing the bill for others to come and create for him, and then let them also keep the rights to their creation as well? I’ve never really understood this particular issue. If you hire a writer to write a TV series for you, they don’t get the rights to the show and everything in it, because you’re taking literally zero risk by working for a big company. They pay you to work for them, they pay you regardless of if your creation is a colossal success, or a massive failure. The company takes 100% of the risk, so they retain the rights as well.
Why should Kirkman foot the bill for upcoming creators, take all of the risk, and let them keep all of the profits?
Everyone is a hypocrite
It just comes with being human:)
He's also a solo creator, you have to be shrewd in a business that will inevitable fuc you, like it did GRRM, Rowling, etc. Make sure you get paid, and keep getting paid, while creating excellent work. None of you on here are above that.
@@vandalg282GRRM is a multi millionaire and executive producer of 2 shows with more on the table. He in no way has gotten screwed over.
It’s so cringe when someone sells their stake in a business, that business further succeeds without them, and then they come back demanding more money. Smh
At Least he earns more money than you.
@@GamblingHusker you're so salty lmao
@@GamblingHuskerImagine shilling for someone who doesn’t care about you? Pedestal syndrome much?
Walter White energy in the worst possible way
Yeah fr like he sold them already, it’s not his anymore but he demand more money anyway.
Your uploads aren’t always as frequent as other comic channels but the quality and depth is off the charts and you always manage to hit us with the most obscure and unknown content.
We can tell you’ve spent time on your videos and really threw yourself into them. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
This channel is the very example of quality over quantity.
I dunno if kirkman is exactly obscure, but mattt really is just an impeccable storyteller that really fleshes out the details in each plot that he unravels, plus some smooth editing as a big ole cherry on top and just generally amazing presentation
Could you please recommend other comic channels
@@nsn3715 I personally enjoy Mullet-man comics, Comic Drake, Danco comics and Casually Comics in that order. They each have their different style and topics but I like mullet-man best for his shorter and easy to consume videos though he mostly does comic breakdowns.
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.11
After watching the first season, I bought the entire Invincible library and read it through in a few days. He really is an incredible storyteller. And unlike other deconstructions of the genre (the boys, watchmen) it's not overtly cynical, and actually loves the comic tropes it deconstructs, and takes the time to put that deconstruction back together.
It's a _reconstruction._ It introduced comic book idealism to a more gritty, grounded story and shows that heroism still has a place in a flawed world
@@kagakai7729 You're absolutely right, thanks for the correction!
@@zxt5148so The Boys doesn't 'love' the tropes that it reconstructs or deconstructs...
i swear both of you especially the other Drones don't know what you're even on about...
@@kagakai7729also you can't determine and actually abide the concept of 'Heroes' and 'Villains' in actuality...
@@godzillazfriction I specifically said it doesnt love them, because the author specifically said he hated comic book tropes.
I swear you don't know what you're even on about...
I met Robert (and his artist and "friend" Tony Moore) a few times when he was making Battle Pope for Funk-O-Tron (self publishing basically) and he was clearly someone without well developed social skills or a strong ethical compass. He came off as being pretty abrasive and I actually remember thinking that Tony better have some sort of contractual agreement giving him rights to what he created with Robert or he was going to get royally screwed (and he did get screwed) because Robert was exactly the kind of writer who thinks their co-creating artist "just draws the pictures", etc.
Unfortunately people don't get to be billionaires by not being horrible people in most cases.
Tony had rights. He signed them away because he didn't truly believe in Walking Dead.
@@peepo1460 My understanding is that Tony had rights to the print version but zero rights to the TV show. If he signed any rights away well... guess thats on him.
The fact that he takes the media rights of the comics he publishes shows he's not extending the ladder to help people up who are following after him in the industry, not someone to look up to really (and a lot of his most recent stuff feels pretty calculated/souless)
Ive never heard a good story about kirkman from anyone who worked with him in the early days. Sad
As an aspiring indie comic artist, stories like these always inspire me to continue on with my passion and to hope that I can also contribute something to the medium. Thanks for these!
I'd love a McFarlane episode! He's such a firebrand, and I have tons of respect for his acumen, and yes, even though he has his flaws. I think that's what makes him so compelling to me. We've seen his bad side reflected in stories, from his understandable hatred of Marvel to his legal battle with Neil Gaiman. There's enough to do more than one McFarlane mini-docu, so I hope you don't feel the need to cram everything into one! This is an excellent channel, btw, everything you've produced has been an absolute joy to watch and even rewatch.
A McFarlane episode would definitely be awesome.
Can we talk less about McFarlane? He gets plenty of press and accolades already, boring.
He did one. It’s splendid. Do The Boys! If you haven’t already…
@@Michael-tn9wpcope
One story not mentioned here: at SDCC 2006 when his star was really on the rise, Kirkman attended the Todd McFarlane Productions panel as an audience member, and during the Q&A he asked McFarlane if he planned to create any new comics, since he hadn't in many years (which was true - at that point, McFarlane was only in industry news for his toy company and for a messy legal battle with Neil Gaiman and Miracleman). McFarlane didn't recognize him and responded that creating an iconic character like Mickey Mouse was enough, he didn't need to make Donald Duck and Goofy too. Kirkman persisted, and one of the other panelists informed McFarlane that this was the writer of "that Walking Dead comic you like." Eventually Kirkman straight-up challenged McFarlane to collaborate with him on a comic, and McFarlane directed him to talk to editor Brian Holguin. Ending the conversation, McFarlane said "and thanks for making money for Image," to which Kirkman retorted "someone has to." I remember people buzzing about this moment - it was a remarkably confrontational stunt in an industry usually built on shy politeness, but it also tapped into a widespread perception that McFarlane had turned his back on comics and that some of the Image founders had turned from artist-owners into just owners, coasting on their past success and exploiting other artists. Maybe they made him a partner partly because they realized he was right. But of course, as your video points out, Kirkman himself was not immune from that same process.
Thanks for the add, was a interesting read.
Yes! I was there, I was 13 and the first time Ive been at comic con, it was a bit uncomfortable at the moment because it felt, as a polite confrontation/challenge but Todd handled it really well, I didnt think it would actually materialize into something, it looked like just something he would agree to in the moment to get it over with.
I've met Kirkman at a meet & greet a couple times. He was rather rude until he saw I bought an original panel from Ryan Ottley. Another time I tried to chat a little explaining how comic books get printed and published in my country, not as single slim booklets but coupling a major title with "minor" stories in the same book, and tried to explain I think it's cool because it allows for "lesser stories" to be read as well, and he cut me short and said "yeah, it's free shit".
Doesn't nececessarily mean he's a bad person, but he certainly is pretty blunt.
what I love about Kirkman is that every comic he writes is a book that most comicbook nerds have dreamed about, and he does them well
LOL that's awful strong language to say that people are dreaming about these things
@@jacquestuber628Not strong at all. Creatives are constantly dreaming of fantastical things that they wish they could see out onto the page.
Growing up as a nerdy kid obsessed with mythology and fantasy, I came up with countless concepts for stories of gods and magic and barbarians. And as I got older, that spread to stories of people surviving a world of ghouls and alien invasions. This isn’t hardly strong language.
@@Patch.of.clover you haven't contradicted me, I guess I would say that the dudes post is overly romantic. If that makes you feel better. It reminds me of when young people say you wish when you say something like hey I heard something happen and they go oh you wish. I said well why would I wish that?
@@jacquestuber628 Firstly, please learn to use quotes, that final sentence was very painful to parse without knowing something was being quoted. Furthermore, I fail to see the correlation between the discussion and the final sentence.
He wasn’t being “overly romantic” he was simply being romantic. He was expressing his deep passion for this topic, one that is shared among many others. Your comment was made with no greater intent than to undermine that passion, for what reason? You may not feel as though you’ve committed some grave slight, but nevertheless, you bear witness to someone feeling strongly about something and then assume it is now your place to suggest that their passion is misplaced? That others don’t feel as strongly as they do? Does that bring you pleasure?
@@Patch.of.clover you're definitely a woman
Kirkman participated in the system; compromising morality and respect for success. He got to show what could be done as a Creator, but at the cost of a lot
God PLEASE give us a Todd McFarlane video. I dont even really read comics but i love the way you tell these stories.
Short answer: nerds don't have families to waste money on
@williampearson6299 this has nothing to do with my comment but ok
I also would really like a Todd McFarlane video
There are many good interviews with Todd. The best recent video is by Tim Ferriss. It's 4+ hours long.
Mattt, as someone who’s been working on publishing their own comic, this video was just what I needed and was such a MASSIVE inspiration! I learned so many great tips and lessons from this video! Thanks dude! Keep it up!!
I hope you make it, man.
Have faith and work hard 👍
Work hard and keep your finances healthy. This guy made a ton of bad decisions and was fortunate.
@@jerbear7952 Yup! Will do! Thank you!
whats it about?
Thank you for this information here, as a comic creator myself I’ve wanted more definitive information about his come up, essentially it really is “Who you know” that makes all the difference
I discoverd your channel a few days ago and I already consider it a big inspiration. You tell stories about people who sacrificed so much to follow their dreams and I feel I can relate to some parts of their stories because it took me soooo long to stop listening to all those reasonable people telling me what to do and just fight harder to fulfill my dream of becoming a comic book artist. These videos show that the risk is worth taking and although it'll be hard it may pay off. I have a good script, I have some skills - it's time to start the work. Thank you!
I would love to see a part 2 of the story. I feel like the end left things kinda incomplete. Especially considering the inevitable fall of the tv show. Apart from that, great video dude and i'm glad you are back.
I mean it lost numbers but it most definitely didn't fail even in current day walking dead still makes money. Amc will squeeze as much profit as possible lol
Also, Moore returned to make a variant cover for TWD #150
They are running 2 spin offs right now.
Yeah, ratings may of fell. But still damn good. Good enough to warrant 2 spin-off currently airing and another one coming. Like, AMC is still happy.
I really hope one day, Rob And Tony can mend their friendship 😢. Don't get me wrong his "never give up" attitude is inspiring but loosing a long time friend? That's gotta be rough.
they were sooooo close, its really heart breaking to see that. Kirkman been a dick, toney far as i've ever seen was a really nice guy. damn to have a good friend do that.... i can't imagine.
lol william crabtree one of the artist for invincible is suing kirkman for being deceptive.
Rule #1 Don't be business partners with your friends or your significant other. It never ends well.
Nah, b/c that guy would have sabotaged him. If you look at TMNT history they had to hire an illustrator to have something out monthly That friend not sure if he worked to his best ability, but he was just unrealistic with doing a Meh do 6 a yr thing. Comics are going downhill b/c artists don't wanna work enough or realize their is more money with just designing covers, so sales have gone downhill. Meh...
@@Zyllo5164noted
Hearing his story every once in a while restores my confidence in my comic. I really hope Image decides to take a chance on me
I love hearing the stories and nuances behind the people who’ve created such iconic stories. One thing I really appreciate is how you don’t portray one person as “the bad guy” and the other “the good guy” you just state what happened and the decisions they made. You’re honest about the fact that these people have done amazing things, but have also made some shitty decisions along the way. You leave it up to us to decide how we feel about it and I really like that.
Another fantastic addition to the catalogue. You genuinely are making some of the most captivating videos on UA-cam lately.
Awesome stuff so far, and good wishes on taking this thing full time!
You beat me to it. 😁
Too true! We need that Macfarlane ep😅cant wait
To summarize:
1. Be a decent comic writer(not hard when you learn the cold truth that most comics are ass)
2. Be good to your fanbase
3. Don't lose your cool at the pitch meeting
4. Be a team player in the complicated unforgiving game of production
5. Profit
Really interesting story! I know pretty much nothing about the behind-the-scenes stuff in the comic book industry, so I’m always totally fascinated to watch videos like this. It’s so incredible the chances that people take, the risks, the personal loss and failures, and for a few very lucky people, the great success! I hope you continue to do videos like this. I really enjoy these deep dives.
A video about the history of Todd McFarlane or the works of Sam Kieth would be great, it would be part of Image Comics history at the same time.
I'm loving your channel.
PLEASE
You need all teh likes!
This deep dive into Sam Keith is great: ua-cam.com/video/23MfaAu6-SY/v-deo.htmlsi=kwISUr96PEvmOPY1
You know it's a good day when matt uploaded new video
FACTS!!!
My day got so Much Wroser After Reading this
Thanks
World-class content again. Although I've been a fan of Invincible for many years, I just realized I knew very little about Kirkman himself.
This is the first video from you that I've watched, and it's fantastic. It's very informative. I look forward to checking out more from you.
Invincible is one of the best series I have ever read. I absolutely love it. Great video, as always!
You're really good at presenting these small yet detailed stories of the industry. I get excited when I see your vids pop up in my feed. Easily becoming one of my favorite creators to look forward to
We need a part 2! This was great
This was EXCELLENT. Subscribed.
Matttt will always be a good source to learn more about comics.
Absolutely the best comic channel on UA-cam, you do such a great job telling the narrative of the industry while simultaneously being fair and balanced to everyone involved. Looking forward to the issue by issue recap of entirety of Spawn, deadline is in one week.
I seriously love these videos so much. They are so well made, so interesting. Thanks so much for making these.
I’d kind of like to see more looks at comic creators like Mark Gruenwald. Not studio-creators or modern giants or historic legends.
The kind of people who strongly kept things going, who had unique voices, but unknown influence and whose names tend to not be known, either back in the day but especially to modern audiences.
Also I think it would be interesting to take a look into the “alt publishing” imprints within the big publishers.
Which is to say I really just want someone to go deep into DP7 and the New Universe effort. 😝
As someone who is sort of casually into comics and hasn't read them consistently since my childhood, I really love your "mini-biographies" into the history of the great creators. You do great a job making the stories of these people interesting, and presenting nuanced pictures of them as people. I always look forward to your next one, and it makes me want to go out and read a lot of the ones I missed because I was so much more casual about it in the 2000s and 2010s. Keep up the great work.
This is by far the best channel for comics and history. Keep it up!!!
I love these videoes, dude! Your narration is great and easy to follow. I also think the way you use reference images is outstanding, really showing of the uniqueness of the artists and comics. Watching this video I had to rewind a few times, because seeing all this great artwork made so inspired and made me start doodling on a piece of paper while watching, and I suddenly realized I had fallen out of the story you were telling!
After reading and loving Tech Jacket as a kid I started reading everything Kirkman did, it was amazing to see Invincible and the Walking Dead blow up like they did
I was like "Wait.. the Battle Pope guy???"
I love your in-depth stories and how you pace them. Lots of great information in a captivating format. Excellent work!
Love this channel. Came out of nowhere but every video is a banger
I've been a fan of his work, and it's an honor to have had the opportunity to contribute to them.
I don't remember if I have commented about your channel before Matt, but it is pretty obvious that you are very skilled on creating these types of videos. They are very well done and the narrative is always gripping. I find myself enjoying them a lot. I would guess that you work/worked on these mediums before.
I would really enjoy a McFarlane episode.
As for Kirkman, I believe he really bet on his vision at every opportunity and won every time. Even the Haunt comic covers looked really interesting to me, and I had never heard of it (though that is McFarlane more than him).
He seems more humble and aware than a trickster or a fraud, and the response he gave to that question mirrors it: He is not boasting, just making a joke at his own expense.
But the manifesto comes across as naive. You can reach a very wide audience today, but you cannot do it without an organised company if you want a physical medium as opposed to a digital one. Some people just want to draw and not be bothered by the logistic or financial aspect.
Man, you've been knocking it out of the park with these videos! I stopped reading comics, but your channel is starting to bring me back in!
Also yes to a Todd McFarlane episode.
Wow, so many details that really made me rethink my image of Kirkman! Thanks so much for putting this together!
This vid was top tier. I didn't know anything about Kirkman, but you locked me in till the end. Inspiring story.
I don't normally comment, but I need to take a moment to appreciate these videos. I've seen a lot of comic book video essays (and video essays in general) and I've started to get used to all the general lines and conclusions from these types of videos. But matttt takes it to the next level. These videos are not only extremely well researched on topics not often covered in the comic book community, but the storytelling here is incredible. The way matttt narrates these events leaves me on the edge of my seat, hooked to the screen wanting to know what happens next. If matttt wrote a book about comics or really anything I would buy it asap.
Anyway that's all, just wanted to praise your work since you pretty much came out of nowhere five months ago and have created some of the best content I've seen from the comic book community. Keep up the good work man
👍
Thanks for not revealing how the plot twist was revealed in the Invincible comic. I saw the show, but I am reading the paperbacks to see how it happens in the comic. This was a very good story about Kirkman's work. I love stories about self-made creatives.
You know i am currently strugglin in life and i am unemployed, this kind of stories is really motivating to follow dreams or try to figure out what to do in life finding something you love and have fun. Thanks for the video i enjoy it!
Excellent video!
Invincible is one of my favorite series' of all time
I don't have much interest in western comics, but you always manage to pull me into the story regardless. Nothing but praise, and good luck going full time!
PLEASE keep making content!!!!!! I adore the brilliant juxtaposition of the commentary you provide with the emphasis on historical significance in all your videos! Your analysis has a palpable weight to every subject you tackle. As an artist that dabbles in the medium of comics I love the nuanced, technical approach to your breakdowns that has me literally hanging on every word. You rock, please carry on.
Glad to see your back bro!
Great video, glad I found your channel, best videos to follow in my opinion and you break things down very well, and your visual element is great, love it. A must watch for any comic lover in my opinion.
Thank you so much for the hard work you put into this!
This is top notch stuff. Quality.
Thank you so much.
If you are taking requests for videos, I would love one on Herge and Tintin. Such a fascinating creator, filled with contradictions. But what a comic series! Still my favorite comics to this day.
Herge was a nazi. It is better he stays in the trash can of history
Such a great channel. You're going far my friend!
The way this guy tells a story is just *so damn engaging!* With his videos...once I start, I can't stop. He makes video Pringles.
Imagine helping out a brother left behind to rot in his hometown and have him turn out to be the real life monopoly guy who will sack you the moment his thirst for success becomes greater than your friendship… rough
He didn't sack him. He bought him out, amicably and legally, with lawyers present, and replaced him.
Buddy was just butthurt afterwards that he wasn't sucking down that sweet sweet AMC money that he never earned because he wasn't able to ink one comic a month.
@Vesdus Bingo. Fact that the guy wouldn't even TRY to push himself and ink one, not multiple comics, but ONE comic a month tells you where a lot of the problem comes from. Someone didn't understand their obligations to the business side of things.
@@jamesm2550the job of an artist is much harder than you think, depending on what is demanded by the story and writer, things can get hectic with multiple redrawings.
Finding an artist for your story is hard, and rightfully so. The artist have to work so much more compared to the writer and have when the book is does well, the artist gets the short end of the stick.
@@S3rkist So he found someone who was willing to actually TRY to push himself and meet a deadline. Perfectionism is often an excuse for procrastination. I get that it isn't easy but many artists, if not the VAST MAJORITY of artists, are drama queens. Also, he had an obligation to the business of comics. Not meeting deadlines really screws things up for that pesky thing called profit. Which is what allows you to keep making comics.
Fun fact: Robert Kirkman authored Marvel Zombies Dead Days and the limited 5 issues of Marvel Zombies and had creative input for Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness.
Great job sir! So much vapid, loud, meme edited comic related content out there, & only 2 or 3 enjoyable & informative, speaking as a 40 yr old artist/creator. Found one more! Subbed 😊
I needed to see this video. Thank you kindly. I'm going to risk it all. Subscribed.
Your content has an incredibly positive impact on my quality of life. Watching your videos inspires me to make more free time for reading the books on my backlog.
This is a semi related anecdote: I was able to become a comic book fan because of a wonderful high-school English teacher who had a free library of graphic novels on a shelf in his classroom. He wasn't even ever officially one of my teachers, but I was still allowed to read through his whole collection. What mattered most to him was inspiring someone's desire to read and learn.
He unfortunately passed away a few years ago, only in his late 30s. But the legacy he left with the students he interacted with lives on forever.
I know he would have loved your content just as much as I do. More so; he'd be grateful to you for the service you provide the world through education and inspiring people to read more comics.
So thank you for continuing to produce these videos.
Dude really should make a patreon, love his videos and sure many would love to show their support for these projects that he has put so much time and effort into making.
I enjoyed this video so much! Instant follow thanks for the work
Quality content of something that you dont see or hear about if your not a diehard comicbook fan. Keep it up !
I really enjoy Kirkman's work. Invincible and the Walking Dead are both fantastic. I also really enjoyed the Astounding Wolf-Man.
I love Kirkman, he is an amazing writer, he is true to the fans of his work and he is really healthy for comics.
I am so sad about gis rift with Tony Moore.
I love your vids so much man, would really be interested in seeing you cover the history of Grendel and Matt Wagner soon!
Love this channel. Great work. As for Kirkman, I liked Invincible and also his team up with Spider-man. Very well done. Especially when he was teasing Parker about the super-hero names. "Spider-man, Iron-man? Isn't that a bit lazy?" Not exactly verbatim, but the gist of it. LOL
I have nothing against the man but I used to get so annoyed by how delayed Invincible was
I'm not a huge comic fan. I've never read any of the stories mentioned in this video or even seen their adaptations. Despite that I'm enthralled by your content each time a video drops! Great work again!
You should get a compendium of invincible or walking dad You will get hooked there great
Another great episode, keep'm coming
Hey Matt! Man, I loved this episode. I am also a big Tony Moore fan and I think it would be awesome if you did an Episode on him, especially his work on Fear Agent, my favorite comic. Anyway, thanks for the vids, Please keep it going.
Well, holy moly, what an incredible channel I have found! I watched your Liefeld video first, and that led me to this. You are an incredible storyteller my man! Great information, editing and writing. I can see the time and effort you put into this and that is a testament to its quality! Great job! I want more content like this! 😊😊😊
Give me that sweet comic Book drama and gossip!
Thank you Matt for covering one of my all time favorite writers. This filled me with a mixed bag of emotions. Doing a video on Matt Kindt, Rodney Barnes, or Michael J. Straczynski would be super cool to watch.
I learned a lot from this video. Savage Dragon, Super Patriot, Spawn fan here from the beginning, not that i kept up or anything after a few months. There was too much goi going on as a teen. I really enjoy the Invincible animated series and didn't know Kirk was linked up w/ Image. Hoping to see more videos in the future.
As for the Manifesto, most folks w/ steady paychecks working for major companies that support their families and lifestyle, aren't gonna take the risk. But maybe someone that is creatively frustrated, w/ no children, no mortgage, young, w/ nothing to lose, and all to risk, much like Kirk, would join.
Savage Dragon is one criminally underrated epic saga of a comic series.
@@kbuttstadt It was great but Erik got way too far up his own a@@ with politics and became obsessed with hating Trump 24/7.
Your videos are so good! Thank you for making another one.
Lots of people have creative visions and ideas, but Robert Kirkman seems to have a singular drive to make his visions happen. It's fascinating how some people have such faith in themselves that they'll do whatever it takes (like going $40 000 into debt or enduring decades of rejection) to make their ideas come to life.
Great channel. Would just add the letters pages are a definite thing in Kirkman comics and with that the sense of community and engagement with what are as a rule incredibly well written comics.
Another great video, Matttt. It's sad to know how a lot of comic book partnerships and friendships come to an end in the industry.
That's what business life does, hence why it's healthier to keep personal and professional life seperate.
The interview comment from Mark Waid made me realize how much I'd love to see you do a video on CrossGen and the behind the scenes mess that went down compared to what could have been with that universe.
Oh yes! I'd love to see him do a video about CrossGen, the comic book publisher and the shared universe "Sigilverse" were so fascinating that sadly they went bankruptcy.
You had me with the Kirkman video. I subscribed with that promise of a McFarlane video
An Amazon warehouse in mid 90s sounds interesting in of itself. Love your stuff!
Well made video as usual, you came out the gate strong and you're keeping it up. Glad you went into Kirkman's scummier side, that man is such a weasel 💀
Three things:
1) this is the first time seeing your videos, and I freaking love it.
2) The X-Force splash page Stryfe reveal broke my brain as the kid. I was fully invested at the end of the new mutants, and was an avid Cable fan.
3) Please make a Todd McFarlane video!’ But before you read Spawn, please consider going back to read his Spider-Man run also. Those issues are some of my all-time favorite art and writing.
Wow what an amazing video summary. I'm a huge fan of TWD AMC show and the spin-offs fear and dead city and Daryl Dixon and read the comics. I always wondered why it was black and white only and you explained it was cost. I always thought it was an artistic choice. Also I didn't know there was a rift between Frank Darabont and Kirkman. Always thought it was AMC that had an issue with his huge budget request. I have a lot of respect for Frank as a director and wonder what the show could have been with him in charge. The first season was truly a masterpiece shot on a small budget.
What a video! I can’t believe I’m only now finding this channel!
Hi Matt. As a filmmaker I appreciate and respect all of the work that goes into your videos. Many do not realise the days and weeks of research and editing. Great job.
Great video, you put a crazy amount of effort into these. I would love a video on you at some point, to learn more about your process and how you manage to put so much detail into these videos so quickly.
Great research, Mattt!
i don’t dream of being a comic writer, but kirkman’s story is inspiring to kinds of creators
Yes Todd McFarlane epsiode! Also your work, structure and dedication to bringing quality content is really amazing. Thank you for your hard work.
12:43
Speaking of the preference to make the panels per page larger in size and fewer in number to emphasize the art more than the story, I believe that the effectiveness of that method varies enormously depending on the story it deals with. On the one hand, the abundance of one and double page panels in "Infinite Crisis" works very well, since that saga is full of many epic and transcendental moments that are very well conveyed when drawn in a very large size. On the other hand, the awful "All-Star Batman & Robin" series constantly abuses the use of the gigantic panels even in completely casual situations that do not require any type of epicness, to the point that you could literally read an entire issue in less than 10 minutes. Without a doubt, the worst example of "All-Star" is the SIX-page panel that shows a very standard Batcave. It's pretty obvious that Jim Lee did what he could trying to make that piece of sh*t epic 😅
Despite the criticism against All Star Batman & Robin, Jim Lee's artwork and panelling for that series IS always fantastic to see, as usual, for all of the work he's done.
@@Gadget-Walkmen
Jim Lee's artbis amazing, but he abused the use of large panels too much in "All-Star". Not every single panel must have the size of two entire pages
@@OptimusMaximusNero I don’t see that at all as his big panels are will spaced out and understandable for MOST of his comics, at least for his modern ones like Batman hush and justice league. Don’t know about his 90s comics much in terms of paneling but his artwork there still looks fantastic!
@@Gadget-Walkmen
I am only referring to his panels in "All-Star Batman & Robin". Frank Miller forced him to make too many unnecesary one and double page panels. He generally distributes them well in other works
@@OptimusMaximusNero fair enough.
wow this is alot of info. I appreciate these mini docs. I had no idea Kirkman was doing this stuff. I used to talk with them all on pencil jack. Tony moore is a really amazing artist cory walker too. battle pope and ink punks and walking dead would not be the hits without those artist.
Great video! Quite the roller coaster. My opinion of Kirkman fluctuated throughout the video, and it continues to do so.