The Energon Pub

News Credits: 972 · Tue May 06, 2008 12:47 am

Thanks to Sharky Sparky of TAAU for pointing this out to me:

This was taken from the IDW Forums where Chris Ryall has posted an apology of sorts concerning the quality issues with Spotlight Grimlock:

"my job, everything I've worked toward in my life, the thing I care about most, is words. So while it doesn't help you since its your money buying these comics, at least you should know that these errors hurt me to a degree far worse than they do you. That doesn't make it right, it just means I'm with you. We all are. None of us work the hours we work with the express purpose of delivering inferior product. So first, I'm sorry these happened. I always am. GRIMLOCK is a book that many people, including Simon, have patiently waited for, and to finally put it out with careless errors is unfortunate, to say the least.

How do these things happen? Many reasons, not least of which is the sheer demands required to produce comics every month. That's not an excuse, just explanation that with so many things happening on deadline at once, human error is going to be a factor at times. So if a project like this doesn't have someone's full concentration, things can slip by. The balloon placement slipped by at all levels, from editorial to licensor. It happens. You can have 20 people see a book and an error can slip by, or one person can handle a project and it can come out fine.

Denton wasn't even with the company when this issue was approved to print. He's blameless (this time!). And editorial flux isn't a good excuse, but it is a good reason.

This particular book was running incredibly late, and in order to get it done and out, multiple colorists pitched in, leading to variances in style. But I'm not pointing fingers at an editor or a colorist or anything else, I'm just saying we try our best and sometimes our best needs tuning up. I think we're at a good place now, and Denton is a great asset. So is Mowry. So while it's foolish to say this won't happen again--printing errors happen at all levels, up to and including menus, bibles, and probably this post--it's not foolish to say we're doing what we can to fix any past problems.

By the way, don't think I have any problem with anyone pointing these things out. You pays your money to buy our comic, you earns yourself the right to whatever opinion you have, as long as it's expressed politely here. These things, regrettable as they are, serve as flashpoints to remind everyone not to slack off and to try that much harder.

I'm sick of saying "we'll fix it in the trade," but we do our best to fix errors when we find them. We have no idea if anyone will care about the Beast Wars Sourcebook TPB, but man, did the editor on that, Justin, and the production person spend a lot of time--as did Ben Yee--doing their best to make it right this time around.

Let me just reiterate again that I hate letting you guys down. We certainly try our best not to do that and to prove worthy of your hard-earned cash."

Great to see the head honcho admit that mistakes were made. The IDW team earns my respect when they admit they are after-all only human and do make errors. Certainly a better approach than pretending they are perfect and never make mistakes.

News Credits: 3 · Tue May 06, 2008 5:45 am

Apologiy accepted Chris, it can be hard to admit a mistake, just like in "Garbage In, Garbage Out"

News Credits: 2 · Tue May 06, 2008 7:21 am

It's great that he apologized, and that he really meant it, but yeah, there's no excuse for the poor quality of that book. I noticed the errors immediately. He must've heard a lot lot lot of complaints to write an apology like that.

News Credits: 23 · Tue May 06, 2008 1:40 pm

Still waiting for Pat Lee's apology...

News Credits: 1014 · Tue May 06, 2008 2:41 pm

Prime Evil wrote:Still waiting for Pat Lee's apology...

lol, (insert Alex Milne joke here).

Tue May 06, 2008 6:16 pm

what errors did the book have

Tue May 06, 2008 6:47 pm

First Gen wrote:
Prime Evil wrote:Still waiting for Pat Lee's apology...

lol, (insert Alex Milne joke here).

LOL

News Credits: 38 · Tue May 06, 2008 7:24 pm

A true man can admit that he made a mistake and appologied. Thanks CR. You're all good.

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 06, 2008 7:26 pm

ghostscream127 wrote:what errors did the book have

That was my first question...um, and only question. I can't say any errors jumped out at me because I was glued to the story. Perhaps I should go back and double check.

News Credits: 1014 · Tue May 06, 2008 7:39 pm

Blackstreak wrote:
ghostscream127 wrote:what errors did the book have

That was my first question...um, and only question. I can't say any errors jumped out at me because I was glued to the story. Perhaps I should go back and double check.

I know of one sore thumb where the word bubble was on the wrong character. That one stuck out the most to me cuz I had to read it a couple times before I figured out is was an error.

Tue May 06, 2008 7:45 pm

scans? i didn't get the book but hey, CR did a great thing. i just want to see the errors

News Credits: 335 · Tue May 06, 2008 7:48 pm

Human Error, plain and simple. All is forgiven. Those dudes all try really hard for the fans. Mistakes happen every minute of every day.

I for one am not upset or put off by it.

But then again, I stuck by DW.

Tue May 06, 2008 8:02 pm

I stuck by Dreamwave as well. I miss the coloring techniques used in their work that made Lee's work pop & gave Don's work even more life. Still, kudos to Chris for owning up to a mistake... again. Personally, it doesn't matter too much to me since I collect all the covers and the Trade Paperbacks; i read the issues once, then get the trades for continuous reading & references, plus the added develpoement sketches in the later pages of the print. The corrections are just an added bonus. IDW has yet to TRUELY let us down like Dreamwave did.

News Credits: 668 · Tue May 06, 2008 8:05 pm

I'm not a comic fan, nor do I read or buy them. That being said, even I must commend the guy for standing up and admitting to the mistakes and apologizing for it.

I also like that he didn't just take it on the chin and let the people walk all over him.

I like how he said they weren't excuses, but legitimate reasons. That's realistic and even more honest.

IDW is cool in my book, and I don't even read their's.

News Credits: 972 · Tue May 06, 2008 8:08 pm

Blackstreak wrote:
ghostscream127 wrote:what errors did the book have

That was my first question...um, and only question. I can't say any errors jumped out at me because I was glued to the story. Perhaps I should go back and double check.

Smaller gripes:
- Multiple colourists, so there are colouring inconsistencies
- Misplaced Speech Bubble

Large Gripe:
- Parts of pages in many issues cut off from printing error. No content is really cut out, but the page is on an angle, and it looks sloppy, again not really an IDW problem.

Tue May 06, 2008 8:49 pm

Another apology for another book'o'mistakes. Colorful band-aid on a self-inflicted gunshot.

News Credits: 6 · Tue May 06, 2008 9:12 pm

i_amtrunks wrote:Large Gripe:
- Parts of pages in many issues cut off from printing error. No content is really cut out, but the page is on an angle, and it looks sloppy, again not really an IDW problem

Ah, so it wasn't just mine.

Mine also had hideous streaking at the tops of some of the pages.

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 06, 2008 10:55 pm

Mine only had 1 color streak and the obvious word bubble glitch. The color on a couple of pages was rather muted compared to the pages that followed it but it didn't jump out at me till I gave it a second read. The action was so intense throughout the whole book that it took my mind off nitpicking entirely except for the impossible to miss text buble screw-up. That I dismissed just because I know some independent comic writers/artists and know what they have to go through when they have a deadline to meet. A liquid diet of Mt.Dew and Starbucks with Dominoe's # at the top of the speed dial 'cause they can't take the time to cook. Still, very cool of Chris to make the formal apology. Can't say as I have seen any of the other companies go to that kind of effort.
And just like Prime Evil, I'm waiting for an apology from a past company that I know full well will never come. (even tho they got a ton of my money, it wasn't enough to keep 'em afloat.

I had my own business once, s*** happens!)