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Added by G-Man on May 29, 2009

I saw this news yesterday when I was away from my computer.  Thankfully, Nighthunter sent me a pm and reminded me about it.  There has been some complaints over some of the things that McDuffie has been doing lately.  Regardless, getting fired isn't cool.  But business is business, right?

Why is McDuffie no longer the writer for JLA?  On his message boards, he was straight out asked if it was because some people were complaining.  He replied that wasn't why.
Nope, it was my own doing. I was fired when "Lying in the Gutters" ran a compilation of two years or so of my answers to fans' questions on the DC Comics discussion boards. I'm told my removal had nothing to with either the quality of my work or the level of sales, rather with my revelation of behind-the-scenes creative discussions.

I have to say I'm a bit disappointed, because next summer was planned to feature a JLA-driven crossover, where my book's story line would have been the driving force. I'm distressed by where I left Black Canary, as my intention was to use the current subplot to strengthen her character and relationships with the new membership, and instead I'm leaving her at the bottom of a hole I'd intended to rebuild her from. I was also just about to get a regular artist for the first time since I've been on the book, which would have been nice. That said, I'm sure DC's going to put together a creative team that will generate major excitement around JLA, which is as it should be.

Bottom line, it sucks.  It makes you wonder, what was going to happen next.  Maybe it's just me but I have wondered where would certain characters go if they were written by different writers.  How would they evolve.  Could McDuffie added new depth to Black Canary?  I suppose we'll never know (unless he reveals all that he had planned).

What are your thoughts on this?  Are you glad McDuffie is off the book?  Do you agree with the way it was handled?


56 Comments

Kurrent
on May 29, 2009
I don't like that the guy got fired. I really don't wish that on anybody but JLA is the only book that I have ever dropped. I've  had it from the #0 issue and I just can't get into it anymore!

SUNMAN
on May 29, 2009
This sucks man! Guess I won't be reading JLA for a while, nothing good seems to be happening right now, and now DC has to start over with a different writer in some random direction. 

inferiorego
on May 29, 2009
I dropped the book an issue or two after he started writing it. I didn't like it anymore

Psychotime
on May 29, 2009
So he was a mole? Understandable.

Never read any of his stuff. Anyone recommend anything?

Arach-Knight
on May 29, 2009
Sucks that he got canned, writing is such a personal thing.  On the flip side, JLA has been horribly boring of late, although I never could put my finger on whether it was the actual writing or just the lineup that bored me.  Maybe they should can this group and just focus on Hal's new team.

AtPhantom is online
on May 29, 2009
truth be told, McDuffie's run sucked. Nothing worth notice happened with the JLA since he came on board. I don't know if it was his or editorial fault, but hopefully his replacement will not have such issues.

AtPhantom is online
on May 29, 2009
Psychotime said:
So he was a mole? Understandable.Never read any of his stuff. Anyone recommend anything?
Justice league unlimited cartoon. He wrote that.

Gambler
on May 29, 2009
"Nope, it was my own doing. I was fired when "Lying in the Gutters" ran a compilation of two years or so of my answers to fans' questions on the DC Comics discussion boards. I'm told my removal had nothing to with either the quality of my work or the level of sales, rather with my revelation of behind-the-scenes creative discussions."

What the F does that even mean? So because he engaged his fans and was completely open with them the powers that be canned him? Or am I misreading this? Anyways, the DCU's been messing up on a couple fronts in my opinion so this shouldn't be surprising.

G-Man
on May 29, 2009
Gambler said:
"Nope, it was my own doing. I was fired when "Lying in the Gutters" ran a compilation of two years ... [more]
I'm not really sure. This is what he said.  They say there's three sides to every story.  He did say with wasn't because of his work or sales.  Must just be politics of the industry.  Maybe there was a clause in his contract against talking about certain things?  That's why I'm glad I'm my own boss.  I'm just curious what he would've done. I know some people haven't been happy but maybe it was all leading to something great?  Not all writers can be 100% awesome all the time.

Zoom
on May 29, 2009
Shouldn't Dan Didio fire himself?  He seemed to be doing a good portion of McDuffie's writing for him.  Remember the "park" scene with Black Canary?  The one that definately wasn't a graveyard except that it obviously was?  The entire run was plagued by Didio going and changing crap at the last minute or halfway through a storyline.

That being said, McDuffie's writing isn't exactly stellar.  I especially hate what he's done with Arsenal.  Then again, I've hated just about everything done with Arsenal in the past 10 years.
Newsflash: Roy wore that EXACT SAME COSTUME years ago.  Nobody cared.  Don't expect me to believe its gonna bring tears to Black Canary's eyes when he adds a belt with a red 'R' on it.  Do some freaking character research.

Not that anybody else in dc does character research either...

Sha of Infinite Forevers
on May 29, 2009
Arach-Knight said:
Sucks that he got canned, writing is such a personal thing.  On the flip side, JLA has been horribly boring ... [more]
I agree. I haven't picked up a JLA issue in ages

Hawk
on May 29, 2009
I have no feelings on this subject.

Psychotime
on May 29, 2009
G-Man said:
Gambler said: "Nope, it was my own doing. I was fired when "Lying in the Gutters" ran a compilation of ... [more]
There always is.

johnny spam
on May 29, 2009
JLA has had problems because a couple of years ago major things happened in JLA any time something like Sinestro Corps War, Final Crisis New Krypton or now Blackest Night would happen it was the League that dealt with it now they are more part of the background. I like those big storylines but it should be the JLA dealing with those events from their point of view. Besides from Grant Morrison's run on JLA it is clear that JLA is to big for breakups and characters angry at each other and that's where McDuffie shines maybe he was just the wrong choice.

pixelized
on May 29, 2009
Dinah needs some healing, someone save her

geraldthesloth
on May 29, 2009
pixelized said:
Dinah needs some healing, someone save her
The JLA does.

Ninja Lad
on May 29, 2009
Coooooldblooooddeeeeeed~

pixelized
on May 29, 2009
geraldthesloth said:
pixelized said: Dinah needs some healing, someone save her The JLA does. [more]
they left her

DMC
on May 29, 2009
his plans to have a JLA centered crossover is an awesome idea. It would be sweet if that project can still be used.

AtPhantom is online
on May 29, 2009
Zoom said:
Shouldn't Dan Didio fire himself?  He seemed to be doing a good portion of McDuffie's writing for him.  Remember the ... [more]
I think Brad Meltzer wrote that part.


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