DC Comics sets deadlines

Attempts to drag comics publishing to the big-boy table. [Link]

According to several people close to the situation, many of the new books have been underway for only a couple of months; that’s a tight deadline for such a massive undertaking. And DC is taking no chances. In recent days a memo from co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee has gone out warning freelancers that three issues need to be ready by launch day, August 31st. Or else…

It is our goal to have three completed issues of each series in the can by August 31st, no exceptions. If that criterion cannot be met, we’ve instructed Editorial to begin work at that time on material that will be able to meet the deadlines for the series.

David Finch, this is your life.

Many would say that Lee himself, artist of the flagship JLA launch, is also a likely suspect for editorial remand, given his recent track record.

We’re told that this sternly worded letter was not met with universal joy by artists, some of whom have only just gotten issue #1 scripts.