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Yes, Paul Levitz sent me a very nice check after my work was specifically mentioned as a chief inspiration for the show, in a New York Times article about SMALLVILLE.

Only for the first season, tho. . .

(It should be noted that Paul always made a point of sending me any of the toys/statues/merchandize specifically based on my work. Other creators too, I suppose.)

You know what?  If I was given a smart assed remark like "You have a better chance of winning the lottery than working at Marvel again."  And then two of my creations were used in blockbuster movies, I would be pissed off too.  I know we're only getting one side of the story but Jim Starlin has a very impressive body of work they are drawing from. 

What have these current guys CREATED?  I don't like people that I have respected and who's work I have admired since I was a kid treated like this.  When people work together, there are going to be differences that come up.  You don't make insulting and petty comments like that just because you can.  It's unprofessional-- and to put it in language they can understand-- punk-ass.

But Starlin has to APOLOGIZE? Seriously???

Cry me a frickin' river!!

Some of you may recall a brief discussion hereabouts, when X-MEN FOREVER was announced. The idea was what would I do with such a book of my own. The title kicked around was X-MEN EVERMORE. I played with some ideas. I said it sounded like it could be fun.

Someone -- I shall not name names, since they sort of overstepped their bounds -- reported this to Breevort, who said if I called Marvel to SHOW I WAS SINCERE they might consider this.

Let's compare that to…

Assigned to IRON FIST because the production manager called me.

Assigned to THE CHAMPIONS because the EiC offered it to me.

Assigned to X-MEN because the EiC offered it to me.

Asked by the EiC to develop ALPHA FLIGHT in their own book.

Assigned to AVENGERS because the editor offered it to me - twice!

Assigned to FANTASTIC FOUR because the EiC offered it to me.

Assigned to WEST COAST AVENGERS because the editor offered it to me.

Asked by the Associate EiC to develop SHE-HULK in her own book.

Assigned to SPIDER-MAN: CHAPTER ONE because the editor offered it to me.

Assigned to THE HULK (second time) because the editor offered it to me (at the request of the artist).

And that is NOT a comprehensive list!

Once upon a time, part of the editors job was to solicit new products, find combinations of titles and talent and set them up, MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. Not sit upon his lofty throne and wait for freelancers to approach, hats in hand, doing their best Oliver Twist impressions.

(And some people still wonder why I won't work for Marvel!)