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It’s been quite the (heartbreaking) 24 hours, and we’re still working through it, but after the dismissal of Vertigo Executive Editor Shelly Bond yesterday, many have wondered if this is just a smokescreen to do away with DC’s edgy imprint entirely. While it doesn’t answer all the immediate questions, senior editor Jamie Rich, who is taking over the line while reporting to Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, did tweet the following today:

 

https://twitter.com/jamieESrich/status/723202692235976704

 

https://twitter.com/jamieESrich/status/723202800604180481

 

https://twitter.com/jamieESrich/status/723202895332560896

 

I’m hearing that Vertigo is indeed sticking around as a separate imprint, at least for the near future. The tv success of Lucifer and iZombie haven’t been forgotten at WB, and it’s still seen as an IP source.

And while you can talk about a lot of things re Bond’s dismissal, the reason is pretty simple: the books were losing money and had been for a while. Some people have pointed to Vertigo’s near shutout in the Eisner nom’s as a sort of final straw, althugh DC as a whole was just as ignored. Certainly, in past years a book like Sandman Overture would have been guaranteed a bunch of nominations.  For whatever reason, this year’s jury went in a different direction. While the Eisner timing does look significant, I’d also been hearing  about changes at Vertigo personnel for some time.

As for Shelly, I’m told she’s taking the situation like the pro she is. If you look up the word trooper in the dictionary, there’s  a picture of Shelly next to it.  No one ever worked harder or cared more. She was actually one of the first DC personnel to move out to LA, heading out nearly a year before everyone else. While everyone has been speculating on her contract timing, once again, that’s a bit more complex than it seems.

At any rate, I’m sure she’ll land on her feet in some other creative position where her passion and eye for talent can be taken advantage of.

And as I predicted, there was an endless tweet storm of praise for her, thoughtfully compiled in a Storify. Obvously more to come on all of this.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Wasn’t Shelly Bond announced as helping oversee Young Animal just a few weeks ago? Has the restructuring/firing been that recent a decision?

  2. I don’t recall any mention of her regarding Young Animal, except that Gerard Way was getting help from her in putting creative teams together (which, of course she would be doing).

  3. Shelly Bond has always been a top notch person and any company can only be better with her around. DC is a very weird company.

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