Comments on: Publisher of Mouse Guard to be purchased.

By: Eva Hopkins

Eva Hopkins — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:55:29 +0000

I have seen contracts within the comics industry shift frequently. Why, one of the biggies has a clause that grants them Universal rights to the work. You know, for the huge comics audience on Mars. Mark Smylie of ASP is a longtime friend of mine & one thing I can vouch for 100% is his honesty. I don’t think he would strong-arm anyone. Both of us had witnessed another indie publisher do that to other artists. If Mark says that the contract he came up with for Archaia artists was the direction the industry is headed, then I am sure that is his experience. Image is (to my knowledge) the only major *comics* publisher with a contract as creator-friendly & rights flexible as it is.

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Oct. 15, 2008: Inquiring minds want to know

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:54:21 +0000

[...] [Publishing] Christopher Butcher wonders what the looming sale of Archaia Studios Press means for David Petersen’s Mouse Guard. Is the lack of new issues a result of Petersen riding out the non-compete clause in his contract, Butcher asks? [...]

By: George Rohac

George Rohac — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:21:58 +0000

Amazingly well put together Chris. This makes me want really want to approach Ptersen and just ask for a confirm or not on the situation.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:08:50 +0000

This is exactly what I was thinking. Petersen only mentioned on his blog that he has faith in Mark Smylie, but I was wondering about any publisher wanting to buy ASP without Mouse Guard. I hope he goes the route you described: I like ASP, but that entity is pretty much gone now, and I can’t see the whole “industry standard” contract being any good for Mouse Guard.