Share A Bad Memory They Said....well, it is Sunday

 

John Nordland III, I think I remember that rightly, contacted me as I'd been recommended by people at US conventions. He wanted to expand Blackbird Comics to include the UK and me as editor and he (a printer to boot for many small US publishers of comics) as publisher. He wanted a bulky comics news, interviews mag and it was all going great -I was the editor.

We had four long phone chats. I was happy with what was on offer and he was after all also in the printing business.

 One day he writes and says his pal has done the front cover (which had NOTHING to do with contents) and the one I'd put together was dumped. I thought I'd let him have that one. THEN he tells me that he and his pal have put together several articles -including an interview with his pal (a wannabe comic artist). I pointed out that I was the editor and had to take responsibility for the contents. 

Ineeded to see the articles. 

"No" he told me over the phone. "I am the PUBLISHER". 

I tried to explain what editors did and how they were morally and legally responsible for a magazines content. 

Response "You don't need to see it" I was told. I was also told about all the features -FEATURES mind- he and his pal put together for issue 2. 

I VERY politely said I could not be editor if I was not responsible for the content. He wrote a snotty letter telling me that all the comic line I had put together would now NOT be published. I tried to phone to find out why but he was always out. That is why Creature Features and about five comic titles never saw print.

I tried but if I have to take responsibility (a couple things I heard were going on COULD have ended in lawsuits) for contents but cannot see contents before printing I'm out.

Sad end to a very promising project --and a LOT of hard work again for nothing as I was never paid.