Recently on Earth-N:
Andy Kubert got it together and started turning out a consistent 22 pages a month again. Shortly after proving his commitment to timely production of work he returned to work on Batman, this time working with writer Alan Grant. This team produced a two year run on Batman that is largely considered to be the definitive Batman story.
Dan Didio went back to working in television, Geoff Johns took over as Editor in Chief, while maintaining writing chores on two books a month.
DC and Marvel, seeing a future where current comics formats would require a $4 cover price to continue, adopted a number of cost cutting initiatives including;- Single issues have largely become a thing of the past. Japanese style anthologies are now the norm. 300 pages for around $10 each issue, covering 10-11 different titles.
- Coloring practices no longer allow for extreme embellishment on the part of computer colorists. Coloring jobs are simple and complimentary to the art, instead of complex and dominating the art.
- DC and Marvel each secured a news stand distribution agreement that placed the monthly comics anthologies at point of sale locations next to Archie Digests, and celebrity gossip rags
- The mature readers lines, Vertigo and Max, were transitioned into OGN business, with releases ranging from 48 page one shots on nice paperstock with cardstock covers, to 200 page hardcover over-sized graphic albums.
John Romita Sr., Joe Kubert, and George Perez now provide a certification for comic book artists for entry into the CBAG - the Comic Book Artists Guild. Certification can be obtained by portfolio review or by successful completion of a three month intensive study course in sequential storytelling. DC and Marvel hire ONLY members of the guild. While many independent studios hire non-guilded artists, they often work with new artists to help them obtain membership.
