Steven Bates of Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn, Ohio brings his experience with the parties involved to the Bill Rosemann/Matt Ragone situation (see 'Rosemann on Ragone's Departure'):

As a retailer who once had very close ties to Marvel Comics' Marketing Department (thanks to the efforts of Rich Hernandez, now with Apple Computers), I've 'known' Matt Ragone for years.  More accurately, I know Matt's reputation, his activities, and his professionalism.  Matt's vacating Marvel is definitely Marvel's loss.  After Toy Biz purchased Marvel and scuttled the Marketing Department, replacing the staff with Toy Biz analogs, I feel that customer service suffered.

Matt remained, and what little contact I had with him in the past few years was always positive and productive.  I hate to see him go.

That being said, I've met Bill Rosemann a few times, had some very constructive interaction with him, and never got the impression that he was a malicious or spiteful person.  In fact, he seemed TOO optimistic for Marvel in the Ron Perelman/Carl Icahn days.  Bill's energy was always set on high, his enthusiasm unquenchable, and his face-to-face dealings with me were always friendly and productive.  Though I'm not always the best judge of character, I'd venture to say that Bill probably wasn't being snide or coy when he discussed Matt's leaving

Marvel.  Take the man at his word--after all, as anyone who has ever being stuck in the middle of corporate power plays knows (remember a little battle called 'Capital City vs. Diamond?' Mr. Griepp?), sometimes its best just to smile and keep your mouth shut.

Steven Bates, Manager

Bookery Fantasy