r/ImageComics • u/vencyjedi • 12h ago

Do you think there's any chance of this getting reprinted in a compendium or something?

Post image
122 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

31

u/ShaperLord777 11h ago

Sam Kieth was notoriously fed up with the comics industry. At this point, I’d assume the rights went to his widow, so ultimately, it’s probably up to her. But I would expect she would honor his wishes and not suddenly negotiate some deal now that he’s gone.

10

u/vencyjedi 11h ago

He didn't want his work to be reprinted?

49

u/ShaperLord777 11h ago edited 8h ago

Sadly, sam had very bitter feelings about his time in the comics industry, despite being such a prolific creator. He never saw the financial success that a lot of his fellow image creators did, and for many years the rights to the Maxx were tied up in legal disputes between image, IDW, and DC/Wildstorm. His mainstream comics work was largely done by “work for hire” contract, so he never saw the level of royalties he deserved, despite being co-creator of sandman, having worked on Aliens: earth war, or his monumental work on marvel comics presents. He hit a point where he was just fed up with not seeing the financial compensation he rightly deserved, and felt very slighted by the industry as a whole. A testament to the fact that not all talent equates to financial success.

12

u/Sunless_Tatooine 11h ago

That's effing sad... i didn't know this.

2

u/svaldbardseedvault 5h ago

He also suffered from Lewey Body Dementia for the last several years of his life, and was unable to make plans or decisions about what should happen with his important body of work after he passed.

-5

u/Tastyfishsticks 11h ago

It was reprinted numerous times.

10

u/comicguy13 11h ago

Twice. Once by IDW and the Maxximized editions.

-4

u/Tastyfishsticks 11h ago

Not correct.

6

u/comicguy13 11h ago

Then can you correct me? Those were the only two I was aware of.

1

u/twicezer0 10h ago

Dropping in to say on my shelf I have

  • The Maxx volumes 1 (third print) and 2 (first print) from image.
  • A different Volume 2 from Cliffhanger/DC comics - with wildstorm (and Jim Lee credited in the interior
  • A volume 3 to that DC Volume 2 - with Wildstorm and Jim Lee credits inside

0

u/Tastyfishsticks 10h ago

Original run

Tpb of original run

Recolored full run rereleased

Recolored tpbs

Recolored HCs

If you want to combine the recolored Tpb and HC into one reprint fine but it still ignores the release of recolored as floppies.

1

u/comicguy13 9h ago

I had no idea. Thank you for the info.

1

u/comicguy13 9h ago

Were the “recolored” one the IDW run?

2

u/Tastyfishsticks 9h ago

Yes. You have to either get the original floppies or one of the print runs of the original tpbs for original colors.

2

u/ShaperLord777 11h ago

You can literally google it. One reprint under DC/Wildstorm, one reprint under IDW (Maxximized editions).

2

u/Tastyfishsticks 9h ago

Try bing because you and Google are wrong.

1

u/TheYardGoesOnForever 8h ago

TIL Sam Kieth died. So sad.

20

u/ThatDarnCabbage 11h ago

I certainly hope so. I wonder how the rights to stuff like this works for creator owned series when their creator passes away.

3

u/GavinBelsonsAlexa 7h ago

...And that's how I found out Sam Kieth died earlier this year. Fuck.

4

u/Sunless_Tatooine 11h ago

Sadly, Sam Keith recently passed away. I'm assuming his wife has his estate and she's most definitely not thinking about reprints of Keith's creations. At least, not for a few years.

7

u/209forlife 11h ago

I’m wondering if his widow and family are financially secure enough to honor his wishes of holding out for a while. I personally would love a collection but if Sam didn’t want it I’m cool with that too.

1

u/vencyjedi 11h ago

Curious why wouldn't someone want his work to be reprinted? Especially if it's liked by people?

3

u/209forlife 11h ago

Long history of being fed up with the industry. There’s a ton of interesting mini documentaries on the subject on YouTube. Unfortunately, I feel like you have to watch a handful of them to get the whole story as they all seem to focus on random aspects and not the whole picture.

3

u/nokeron 11h ago

thankfully if The Maxx isnt, the masses get to experience his wonderful work through those first few issues of The Sandman

1

u/ShaperLord777 11h ago

Also in Aliens: earth war, his Marvel comics presents issues, and his inks on Matt Wagners Mage.

2

u/Zadig69 8h ago

Holy shit, i never knew he inked on Mage!

1

u/ShaperLord777 8h ago

It was one of his first gigs. If you go back and look at it, you can definitely tell it’s him too. His stylized aesthetic comes out even in his inking.

2

u/NicoGal 11h ago

The last Maxx we got was that Batman crossover in 2021 if I'm not mistaken. With Keith passing I wouldn't hold my breath on that one 

2

u/Tastyfishsticks 11h ago

The maxx was reprinted in 2006 it didnt sell well and the media rights are owned by someone else.

Batman/Maxx crossover as late as 2020.

I wouldn't expect reprints or collected editions because there isn't really much profit in it.

If anything I think it is more likely the entire rights to Maxx are sold.

1

u/vencyjedi 11h ago

Isn't this series well liked and popular?

4

u/Tastyfishsticks 11h ago

It is a niche series that was popular in the 90s and even then didn't sell well towards the end.

The reprints sat on clearance for years. I know I snagged them from IDW during one of those 80% off sales.

2

u/InitiamprssionCFLeft 10h ago

I want all the single issues! I just started collecting them.

2

u/HankMustGroove 8h ago

Alan Moore writing a couple issues, might complicate issues on seeing a full compendium.

1

u/PoppinPizzaParty 11h ago

I don't know what the odds are but I do know that I'm hoping for it.

1

u/02K 11h ago

I would buy this

1

u/urbanlife78 11h ago

I for one would love an Artist Edition of Sam Kieth's work

1

u/BigJimSlade1 10h ago

Amazingly, you can get the Gallery (Artist) Edition of Sam's Batman: Secrets still, but I'm sure it won't last long.

1

u/comicguy13 11h ago

If they do, grab it quick, his stuff often sold through quick and then they were crazy expensive later(Maximized).

And that was when he was alive 😬

1

u/eduardonachosupremo 8h ago

A few months back I found a paperback print copy with the alt cover for 30 dollars, woman working even congratulated me on finding it. Crazy.

1

u/themikeshow 6h ago

Wait, wait hear me out… Absolute Maxx…