I have a bone to pick concerning your article detailing the late shipping bugaboo which has struck our industry since the mid eighties.

You've got it all wrong.

The reason for the late shipping is one thing and one alone:

unprofessionalism.

It's the offspring of ineffectual, lenient editors coddling immature and temperamental talent who believe that their artistic 'expression' is being stifled if they're kept to a schedule.

No book would need a fill-in or a reprint if anyone at the top level of

the industry would put his foot down and set guidelines for what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Those who cannot live within those parameters can take a hike and work elsewhere. There will always be artists and writers who are good, need work and are professional enough to also be on time. Likewise there will always be new generations of talent who can be indoctrinated into the work ethic and reliability of the previous generations who defined our industry.

I've been buying comics since the mid sixties and up until the pampered 'superstar' era of the 80s, I NEVER remember a book being late. I can likewise count on one hand the times when Marvel or DC were forced to substitute a reprint for a regular series title.

If writers, artist and editors can turn out great work on time for fifty years, then this generation should be able to as well. All it takes is a firm hand and very few compromises. Once the talent knows the new paradigm, they will adapt or move elsewhere. To those I say good riddance, regardless of their 'importance'.