As we read comics everyday, once in a while you start to wonder, what goes on at the publishers' offices? What must it be like to work at a place whose main goal is to provide fun and entertainment for the world? With all the deadlines top secret meetings, it's possible to believe that the offices must feel like a cold factory, determined to crank out product after product. We can happily say that isn't the case.
A couple weeks ago, we got an invitation to read the BEFORE WATCHMEN comics. All we had to do was make our way to DC Entertainment's Burbank office. Since we're located in San Francisco, it's not that far by plane. Entering the lobby and being allowed in by security, we made our way to the second floor where immediately you'll see a rack of comics by the elevators. Walking into the lobby of DC's floor feels like you're stepping into something similar to the Fortress of Solitude.
This isn't your average office. The lobby area is filled with different DC Comics memorabilia. You could easily hang out here for a while and not get bored. There's so much to see and this is just outside the elevators.
== TEASER ==
Just as seen at DC's booth last year at San Diego Comic-Con, there are actual costumes on display. Besides Superman/Clark Kent, there's also a Green Arrow costume from Smallville and Heath Ledger's Joker costume. There's plenty to do in this waiting room area including a chess set with DC figures as well as some DC Comics-themed arcade and pinball games.
Around the corner is an impressive display on the wall of the DC, Vertigo and Warner Bros characters. Opposite this is a shelf with several copies of comics. If you're working for DC, it makes perfect sense that you keep up with what's going on. There's also the kitchen which has a Wonder Woman theme to it. Just like Wonder Woman, this kitchen/break room kicked ass. I drooled a little over four framed Mike Allred Wonder Woman pictures from the recent cosmetic line from MAC Cosmetics.
There are cubicles in different areas. The sound of that might make you cringe a little but these are like super-cubicles. Everything is well lit and everyone has a ton of action figures, statues and collectibles all over the place. Some are products from the DC Collectibles division (so much cool stuff there) and others are personal pieces belonging to the person working there.
Those that have offices are in for a treat. The offices have sliding glass doors with an image of a character on them.
What's inside each office? Depending on whose office it belongs to, we got glimpses of DC Comics and all sorts of collectibles. Trade paperbacks, statues, action figures and comic art could be seen everywhere. Check out this shot of an interior of an office.
Besides all the collectible decorating each worker's cubicle, you can find several items on display all over the place. Whether it's giant Batman figures simply sitting on a table next to some magazines, life-sized replicas of Dr. Fate's helmet or a break down of the different stages in creating an action figure on display, there is so much to be seen everywhere.
It was funny but while on our tour, there was talk of several "secret rooms." Of course it makes perfect sense for an office dealing with superheroes and secret identities to have secret rooms. One cool room we got a peek into was where they take pictures of upcoming products. Of course we didn't see anything at all in there…or did we?
There's also a sweet media room where people actually have to play video games to ensure the characters are being used properly in the video games. We have LEGO Batman 2 to look forward to next month and it's a great feeling knowing that they take the use of their characters seriously rather than simply let them be used.
Another cool thing is simply all the framed art and posters everywhere. There's some vintage art here and it truly gives you a sense of exactly how long DC has been doing this.
All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. There was also the digital crew pit where several people are working on the digital comics as well as the converting process. There was a secured library with a lot of old books and comics inside. And of course those other secret rooms and who knows what else. The DC Entertainment office is in a great location and has to be a remarkable place to work. I can't wait until I get to visit again.