Gary Friedrich dead at 75
I'd almost missed this news from nearly a week ago, but Gary Friedrich, the creator of Ghost Rider in the early 70s, passed away at 75 years of age.
I think the saddest part is how in the past decade, Marvel studios screwed him over for royalties when they were making the films based on the supernatural hero, forcing him to pay money, one of the reasons why the sequel's failure was deserved. I know he appealed the ruling, but I'm not sure if he ever won, and artistically speaking, Marvel decidedly made things worse by changing GR into a teen protagonist built on pretty much the same social justice pandering as other steps they took, and still are.
If there's any case where Marvel's modern hijackers really wronged a veteran contributor, it's with Friedrich, who deserved far better than the ill-treatment they gave him several years ago, and still don't see repentant about.
I think the saddest part is how in the past decade, Marvel studios screwed him over for royalties when they were making the films based on the supernatural hero, forcing him to pay money, one of the reasons why the sequel's failure was deserved. I know he appealed the ruling, but I'm not sure if he ever won, and artistically speaking, Marvel decidedly made things worse by changing GR into a teen protagonist built on pretty much the same social justice pandering as other steps they took, and still are.
If there's any case where Marvel's modern hijackers really wronged a veteran contributor, it's with Friedrich, who deserved far better than the ill-treatment they gave him several years ago, and still don't see repentant about.
Labels: Ghost Rider, good artists, good writers, marvel comics
