Even in the 70's we have Black Mariah (Luke Cage 5)

IMO- I feel absolutely no obligations to atone for the actions of anyone other than myself. I also feel no impulse whatsoever to marginalize, exploit or debase anyone in the process of telling a story. Okay, with the possible exception of evil corporate globalists. So, for me this is a moot point.
I find it impossible to discuss the production frequency of individual creators without examining the effects of the American reader's buying habits coupled with the publishers methods of doing business.
I find the American comic book industry to be very self-referential, ie, a monthly publishing schedule dominates because the buying public seems to demand it.
I know quite a few artists who simply must take other gigs to fund their pet projects. There should be room for a guy like Adam Hughes to take his time with a project, considering the quality is one deserving of a "European Album" treatment.
It appears that change comes slowly to the American market because the industry as a whole spends a great deal of time looking over it's shoulder in an incestuous relation to what has come before.
That and the fact that E.L. pointed out, that no one wants to get "Fingered" anymore.

Possible. But highly doubtful that nobody noticed the coverage about the Obama variant cover for Savage Dragon on cbr or newsarama.
Plus, confronted with the issue, Joe Quesada acted not really like he didn't know what the fuss was all about.

HA!! Could NOT have happenedto a better person!!

liberal Larsen has been sporting Obama's milk can for months...He tried to ride the band wagon only to be run over by his happy days are here again liberal thinking.

See Erik, we conservative folk do not stand for this type of thing. However, your kind does..You should be supporting Marvel for stealing your ideas...they have the same take from the rich agenda as your main man Obi.

I hate that we have to see comics drop to these lows to sell their issues ( even though my LCS never did sell out of the Liberal Dragon Obi issues ).

Congrats Erik...You got exactly what you wanted!! ENJOY!!!

Same here in regards to the Spider-man variant/return of the spectator thing. Marvel's a big company with movies coming our all the time. Sad they can't rely on quality to sell in volume.

But I don't get your criticizm of Erik Larsen. It makes sense giving the location of the story. Besides, if anything, the Savage Dragon might sell a little more based on this attention.

Would it have been okay if Larsen was conservative and had McCain on the cover?

How many graded issues did Marvel / Wizard have listed on eBay yesterday? we know that they don't care one bit to spit in the face of the fans and shop owners by selling their own books at an obviously high grade. Just remember Captain America 25.

Nobody is fooled by this. The local shops here in East, TN refused to order the special covers due to the fact that so many NON-fans had been calling to reserve multiple covers.

The owner at Mountain Empire comics stated that if all of his customers who wanted one couldn't get the cover, then someone from the street looking for eBay sales would get it. So, he didn't order ANY Obama covers! GOD BLESS HIM!!

Well that's actually pretty cool. I hate variant covers aimed at spectators.

You had to just see how Erik talked to people over at Newsarama during the election. he was way up Obama's political rear as well as pushing his own views onto people.

No, I would not want any President used in this way. It is CHEAP and pathetic.

Erik loves to bash but WATCH OUT!! If ever he feels attacked, he will sulk and cry.

I have hoped for nothing but bad luck for savage dragon since he acted the way he did in a very public forum.

In reality, it was ignorant for Erik to think that Marvel wouldn't do this on a much bigger scale. Of course, the scale is bigger because there is a slight difference between Spider-Man and Savage Dragon.

What DC did with their political book was much more American and far more polite to the readers.

How many copies did you buy of the Sarah Palin variant?

How was he "up Obama's rear" as compared to simply expressing his support for Obama? I doubt that Erik Larsen and Obama have met, or that Obama read the Newsarama interview or the Obama issue of SAVAGE DRAGON, so it's not like Larsen was literally kissing the man's ass. Since that sort of thing aggrieves you so, you shouldn't read it, either.

Me, I don't care who a comics pro endorses in an election, other than in a casual "Huh, that's cool" sort of way. I'm told that Chuck Dixon, for example, is politically conservative and not shy about talking about it. But I've never sought out his views, as much as I do enjoy his comics work.