Archie comics publisher responds to controversy over lack of credits
An exhibit at New York’s Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art turned into an occasion for controversy when comics fans pointed out that it neglected the artists: the “Art of Archie Comics” show included many examples of comic book art, but no clear indication of who drew any of them. The museum responded defensively to the fans’ objections, pointing out that they were simply using the material they were given by the company, and due to a “logistical snafu” the pieces were delivered without credit; they put the artists’ credits into a brochure. The new CEO of the company, Jon Goldwater (son of the original publisher, John Goldwater), had a different reaction: he told Publishers’ Weekly that he didn’t know, up to now, that classic comic books had a policy of almost never crediting the artists. He vowed that under his leadership, his company’s reprints will change their policy: “every writer, every artist, and every penciler, every inker—whatever the credit may be—in every digest will be credited. It’s absolutely insane that it wasn’t in the older digests.” Since his father, like many Golden Age comics publishers, openly refused to give credit, this could be viewed as a case of father-son rebellion.