Commitment

[Nshima]

Not to sound abusive or anything, but does anyone else wish the Joe Mad would just pack in all this games development rubbish and just get back to putting out Battle Chasers?

The fact that Dragonkind has been cancelled really frustrates me as he could've produced at least two more issues in that period of time - he could even have integrated some of the Dragonkind characters into BC (the boy with the dragon arm would have looked great alongside the rest of the cast!!).

I'm just worried Exarch is going to turn out the same way, and to be quite honest, I don't think the Dragonkind and Exarch concepts he's produced have been anywhere near as good as his work on the last two issues of BC; the attention to detail and the style are there, but the characters (I think) just look lame. One guy in particular just looks like a clunkier version of Akiman.

If it's a matter of money to Mad, he should take a look at how financially well Todd McFarlane has done. All it takes is a little (well ... a lot!) marketing and producing the right products and Mad could turn BC into a franchise. How many times was there mention of a Calibretto action figure? A BC anime movie? Even a litho? Not one of the above were ever produced.

Sorry, I'm venting!! I'm not trying to start a Joe Mad hate-mail revolution or anything. It just bothers the hell out of me how many fans Mad's let down. At the very least I would like to see an end to the current BC story arc - even if the entire cast die at the end of it... at least there'd be closure.

Although I've ranted away, I'd really love to hear other people's thoughts on this subject... Madman?

[LabSOUND]

I know how you feel. I felt the same way for a while now, but recently I just decided to wait it out. There are alot of great books out there to read until "when"or "if" BC will ever come back.

If he decides to come back to BC, the sales will never be as big as they were befor. There are alot of people boycotting the book mostly his old fans. That's why if mad ever comes back to BC, the book has to come out when it's suppose to,cause if he drops it one more time I doubt he will have any fans left.

[Madman!]

Here is how I feel about it. I read tons of message boards and all the comments on Joe Mad. The thing that bothers me is people post saying they are huge Joe Mad fans and they have so many of his books like BC 1,2,and 5 and thats it and that they're so pissed because he isnt doing anymore BC art and don't even realize there is a game art. I even hear it on art message boards from artists that have had their art in like 2 magazines and they think they're more productive then him how? I'd say if your really a Mad! fan then you wouldn't really care if BC came out or not just as long as art is coming out. If you believe he is being lazy just take a look over at the checklist I think there is alot more art than BC on there.

[Biroons]

Hey...
good words Madman
if you are a MAD!fan frist of all you had to respect he´s desitions, the art work is there exarch, dragon kind, variants, whatever hes art is there.
an original huge fan of Mad! are the one´s who dont post stuff like this
If Battle Chasers come out some day, I´ll be there waiting, even I had 100 years old, the important here is the Mad! work

[Nshima]

Like I said, I don't want to start a Joe Mad hate-mail forum here. I also don't want to start a debate that's going to end up as more of an ugly argument than anything else. I was just looking to see what the general feeling was on the subject.

I never said Joe Mad was lazy (although I'm sure many former fans out there are saying this!), I realise he's putting in a lot of work on the projects he's attached to.

If you look at it from my point-of-view: I'm a big fan of Joe Mad... however, I'm a BIGGER fan of BC; the primary reasons I love BC so much is because a) I think it's the best artwork Mad! has ever produced, and b) not only do I get to enjoy his art, I also have the pleasure of reading the stories he creates. With concept art for games such as Dragonkind and Exarch I just don't see the point as none of his artwork will feature in the finished product anyway.

Also, I live in the UK. We don't have issues of PSM over here; we'll be lucky if Exarch is released over here; the only places I ever heard of Dragonkind were on Mad! websites.

My point is that as a Mad! fan I understand that he's consistently producing work, the problem is I don't get many opportunities to appreciate it; and as a BC fan I am frustrated that I have to wait so long to discover the next chapter of what could be, in my opinion, the greatest comic of all time.

At present I'm striving to break into the comics industry. I have a project of my own creation: characters and stories I want to tell. I don't think I could just walk away from that.

I apologise for ruffling any feathers; it wasn't my intention. And just to set the record straight I WILL be buying the next issue of BC, and the one after that, and the one after that, whenever that may be. I'm still a fan, I'm just not a very happy one at the moment.

[Madman!]

you can say whatever you want about Mad! here I don't care.

I just don't understand when people say he is lazy or that he somehow ripped them, cause he canceled the series. If it's your dream to go into video games, I wouldn't ask my fans for their permission to make my dreams happen. It's also like now people don't have to sit and wait and whine about when the books is out and they dont have to pay money, so it's like he did them a favor.

If everytime a friend changed their mind on what they said they were going to do and I hated them for it, and never would buy their book or whatever there would be no one to talk to ever again. People make mistakes and he did, but it's time for people to grow up and get over it. If you don't want to buy his book anymore fine,but move on from getting into a post where someone does like him. If you still like his artwork thats fine too. I dont think cause he canceled a book from before that would make someone stop buying his stuff. If you enjoy something why keep yourself from getting it.

i'm not saying this directly at your it just alot of other people say stuff.

[LabSOUND]

You're right Madman, the Joe is lazy thing is getting old, but if the fans are still angry, you can't really blame them. I am not angry that Joe canceled his book, I could really care less, that's his book he could do whatever he wants with it.

The only thing I disagreed with Joe was soliciting issue 10, then when the realease date showed up, we got hit with bad news, that wasen't professional. Now if he realeased 10 then decided to go to video games it would of been fine with me.

Some fans might feel that Joe ripped them off or owes them something, thats just their point of view, and I think we should respect their opinion.

I'm not starting a hate joe thing here. I love joe's art. I have at least 90-95% of his stuff ( I even have 7 of his original x-men pages ) and I would buy BC as soon as Joe decides to realease it. I don't care how long I have to wait, as long as a get cool Mad! art I'll be cool .

[Madman!]

well thats the thing right there, they never respect my opinion ever so why should I respect theirs(yeah I know cause I dont want to go to their level). When I go onto a message board and I post hey check out this new Mad! cover. There is alot of people say oh man I love it, but then there is someone that always jumps in and ruins my post with Joe Who? to be funny f**k that. I'm not gonna stick around those boards anymore, cause they're ruining something I enjoy. Sure it's their opinion, but I remember hearing if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. why can't they ever just move on and let the people who do enjoy his stuff talk about it.

The reason I think, is cause their childish and their opinion is a very uneducated one. Why does that Mad! making a release date then braking reason for them to pregnant dog. Im sure when the game oppurtunity came up those guys that helped him were like sure we'll wait until your done doing you comic book while we starve, thats something your only gonna maybe get once in a life time. It's also if your friend had to do it at their job their friends would understand.

People seem to forget that he can do whatever he wants. Just becuase they throw down 2.50$ they think they own him. I'm not not just saying that for him cause I'm a huge fan. I'm saying it cause thats they way the world is. Why do some people get away with it and some don't. I brought this up on another board and people got pissed, but I'll do it anyway. Michael Turner has done the same thing now as Mad!. I'm not including his cancer that was a terrible thing and I understand that he had to take time off, but now he stops fathom and moves into his new company making people wait, do I care no, because he can do whatever the hell he wants I will just have to wait. Yet other fans seem to love him still is what I don't get what is the difference bettween him and Mad!....nothing. yet there is no trash talking about Turner on any posts i've seen I think thats pretty funny..no wait more like f**king retarded.

[LabSOUND]

Well, Turner does a couple of covers while is doing his other projects, not to mention the guy was really sick, and he still managed to do his book while on therapy. Also, I don't think joe should be conpared to Turner at all. Turner has 2 big projects plan that he's going to draw himself. Not only that we get to choose wich comes out first. Joe on the other hand, we don't really know when we will ever see a full comic drawn by him again, cause we have no idea when he's going to be done with his video game project.

Everyone used to be angry at Campbell. Danger Girl was always late, everyone hated him for that. Now, more and more people are cool with him cause he's s**ting a load of covers and a couple of oneshots while working on a new project. Now, if Joe would of done what campbell did, I bet you all these negative things you've seen on other boards would decrease. Joe needs to show that he's still alive in the comic world somehow if he wants his game to really succeed. I know alot of people who passed on Gekido and Darken Sky and were ready to pass on Dragonkind cause Joe somehow pissed them off.

Now my opinon is, if Joe wants his games to succeed, he needs to put out covers, pinups or oneshots at least once bimonthly. He needs to get all the people that are angry at him on his side again. Also I personally think he could put Battle Chasers out quaterly or even bimonthly and still do his video games projects.

[Madman!]

uh michael turner was off his was back from his cancer stuff in november 2001 and he released 1 issue and the 1/2 which he had done before the cancer. Since then he has only shown those 2 previews for the new comics. Which isnt cool it's a joke, cause he now gets to sit around while people get to vote. Which is just so he has more time to draw. What the f**k does it matter if I vote they are both gonna come out. Here is an idea why not put both out at the same time, instead of covering up the lazyness.

Like I said before I understand the cancer, but he annoucned that he was back almost almost a year and a half ago. I think it pretty d**n fair to compare the two and thats the thing people just bring up the cancer, he shouldn't announce that he is better then and then not produce anything sounds like he is saying one thing and doing another just like.....Mad! If your pissed at Mad! its fair to be pissed at Turner and if you say about the cancer don't cause it's bullnuts I said I'm not counting that time. I'm so sick of people letting him slip by.He Promised something and hasnt delivered just like Mad!.

but that still doesn't mean I jump on someone's message boards and say crap about him. Thats me though I give people respect for what they enjoy, but people don't do that when it comes to Mad!. Tuner is like my top 3rd favorite artist, so it pains me too that he is doing this to his fans. There isnt any negative posts about him though( my post isnt negative, just the truth). I mean look at this thread even, do you think that cause I made this board and site that I want to hear peoples nuts about Mad! and late stuff that happened like a year ago. I should just delete this thread cause I'm so sick of this nuts. actually I get emails from people who just complain about Battle Chasers WTF! is that. It almost makes me want to shut the whole site down.

with Campbell sure he has more stuff than Mad! but a whole video game alone no make that 2 games. Even if Dragonkind wasn't made there was alot of art for it. Mad! only did the covers and promo stuff for Darkened Skyes and Gekido he had nothing to do with those games other than that, so if people passed on them just shows how stupid they really are. Why would someone pass on game cause of him if he had nothing to do with it.

I think what Mad! needs to do is say f**k all these whiners and continue making the game and thats it. When the game is over then come back to comics if he wants. He shouldn't have to win people back over. Art is Art period. there is no time on a drawing when it's done it's done, you either enjoy it or you don't. Mad's art alone should win them back over on whatever it is he is doing. why does it matter if it's on another project, does his art get better all of a sudden cause it says Battle Chasers instead of Exarch. I loved Tuner's Fathom so I guess since he is doing a new book his art now sucks. That's stupid I love the new project just as much. I personally think that seening Mad's art style move around in a game is sweet just as interesting as Battle Chasers.

[Biroons]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
People shut your angry down::::
Stop sayin negative stuff of Mad! read the name of the web site joe-mad-fan and that means we are the joe real fans and that means we had to give him our supoort on he´s decition, not matter what that be.
If Battle Chasers was put in hold, so what BC is just a little part of the Madworld! (Ok maybe a big part) but that not matter if BC not exist you would kill joe, comoon, grow up. He is free to do whatever he want, is he´s creation, is he´s life. you may try to get over of somethig happend more than a year ago, Mad is alive we all know that, we are the real fans so we should start to act like that and we had to stop posting stuff like this on this place, what ever Joe do (games, comics, covers not matter) I will wait for that because I´m a real fan and I spect you are too, so please stop saying bad stuff about joe.
Madman
Whit all my heart, please never shut down this page
plase.......... this is the best site and the only one whit the latest information of joe news please......................
I know every body feel in that way and I know you understand us.

I hope this post don´t get more longer, if you want know what we think about, I think you allready know so goodbye

LIVE THE MAD! ART FOR EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PERIOD.

[LabSOUND]

I never said anything negative about Mad! personaly. All I said is that I disagreed with him soliciting a book then he didn't deliver. I also think he should be making more covers or one-shots like Campbell does, or do Battle Chasers quaterly, just to shut people up about him being lazy. I know he can do it. I don't want this to be a Mad! hate thing. Anybody that knows me know that I'm a huge Mad! fan. As I said before I have 95% of his stuff and couple of original art, and a list of books signed by him. If that dosen't make me a fan, I don't know what will.

[Madman!]

I never said you did say anything negative about him. I'm glad your on the boards and having the opinion that you think Mad! made a mistake is fine. I'm talking about people that have nothing better to say than he is lazy, cause that has nothing to do with him droping BC and moving to video games.

He never was lazy before BC and it's funny cause people think he just did UXM and deadpool. They make comments and don't know about the other comics he has done. It's like what I said about Turner if you dont agree then fine, but on my comment hopefully people notice I never said he was lazy. I know he worked hard before that and still is we just haven't seen much from him lately, so in that they're the same, but there should be no one saying Mad! is lazy or e-mailing me or posting it on a message of people who enjoy it, specially when they don't know anything about the artist.

Most of the people I get e-mails from or have seen posted go on to say stuff like I have his BC stuff, but do any of you guy's have the PSM's covers and this and that pretty much everything, oh and I'm his number one fan even though I just have the regular covers of just BC. Those are the people that I'm getting sick of. If you only a couple issues and still like him thats fine your a fan, but don't say that stuff then say he is lazy, plain and simple those people are not fans but they still have to ruin it for everyone else and make negitive posts. That is all I'm trying to say.

Sorry it just seems that this post was aimed that way to start something. I know you said you didn't mean it Nshima that way, but I think it could've just been left out since it does sound negative. Specially from the games development rubbish and how he let fans down comments, this is directed at you but if people thing he let you down and I know people don't want to believe it but it's not true, he never let you down, its just whining. I'm 100% sure he never got into comics for you in the first place nor did any other artist they did it cause they enjoyed it's that plain and simple. They might have thought about what fans like to see when they are drawing and enjoy that people like their books, but they are not at your command they work and draw for themselves.

[Nshima]

Look, I'm not going to apologise again - I've already done that.

Good for Mad! that he is still keeping work coming out; I would never want or expect him to stop doing what he loves. Like I said: "I never said he was lazy" - I realize he's still putting stuff out.

But I'm not a computer game fan... I'm a comic fan. If you think I have a poor Mad! collection of comic art you're wrong. I wasn't whining, I was venting frustration as a comic fan who just wants to be entertained and inspired.

I'm not a Michael Turner fan, which is why I don't complain that he's taking so long to put his stuff out... if I was, I would.

I would never have turned this into a Mad!-bashing thread; I still have respect for the man and his work. I think my post was constructed in a very neutral manner and if some people want to take it in a different context then I can't stop them.

As LabSOUND said, Mad! gave comic fans the expectation of a BC issue #10, he even whet our appetites with a stunning piece of preview art, and then... nothing! No more BC. And as a comic fan that is where he has "let us down" as I said. I'm not talking Mad! fans, I'm talking BC fans; this is the BC chat board after all - if I was out to slate Mad! I would have posted in the "Mad!" chat board. Some BC fans probably don't even know Mad! puts out other works. For a series with such potential and originality in terms of characters, stories and art, it makes me very sad to think I may not see another issue.

I retract my "games development rubbish" comment. I'm glad he's still drawing, and I appreciate a site like this where I can view art I didn't know he'd done - that's great, but I would rather see BC back on the scene. For me it was the finest works of his career and I'm sick of seeing so many BC carbon copies trying to cash in on Mad!'s absence.

And in response to the closing comment, I disagree. I believe Mad! (and Turner, and Campbell and every other creator for that matter) got into comics for me... and Madman, and LabSOUND, and Biroon and every single fan out there. Because they're doing what they love: inspiring and entertaining us.

The number of times a day I'm told from people who see me draw how much they wish they could have my talent... I inspire others and that, to me, is the greatest compliment I can ever receive. And I think any other creator would say the same.

This thread went exactly the way I DIDN'T want it to go, so maybe it would be best if you did delete it. And sorry for the extensive use of the word "inspire"... I've just finished watching 'Jerry Maguire'!! ;D

[Madman!]

First my comments about having a little Mad! collection were not directed at you Nshima or anyone that has posted on the boards.

Second this isnt a BC boards it's the Joe Mad! boards, this just happens to be the BC section. If you post anything thats related to Mad!, why wouldn't it aply to everything? If Mad! let you down on BC then your still saying Mad! let you down. That doesn't really make it any better cause it's in the BC section. One is directly connected to each other.

Third you saying that you would rather have BC than the game is a good opinion. I personally like designs for the game and I loved BC. It really doesn't matter to me his art is what I love. I do feel the same about it being all on the computer, but I don't control Mad! so if he is doing games now then thats the way it goes. If you want just call him up and tell him to go back to BC it shouldn't matter what he wants cause it's all for you. If that's what you want I'm sure he'll go right back to drawing BC.

it's great that artists inspire others to draw, but that isn't why they got into drawing. If you don't like drawing for yourself and it isn't the number one reason you draw you should just stop drawing now, cause your never going to please or inspire everyone and you'll get burnt out real fast. It's not the first thing they got into comics for. They loved to draw it and it made them happy first and foremost and then got into the bussiness. Then got fans thats the way it has to go. How would someone have fans if they never done any artwork before? You're right I'm sure they love that others enjoying their artwork and are inspired, it's just not why they started drawing.

I'm not going to close this topic I was thinking about it at first, but I want people to post and sometimes a heated topic gets more people to come in. Eventhough I don't agree with the way people talk about him somehow disappointing his "Fans" by stopping BC. I do want people to enjoy this site and not very many people are posting on the boards.