The Energon Pub

Newsworthy, methinks?

New interview with Lee Funana

I had a wonderful experience creating and working with Simon, and I think we had a good relationship.. I did my best to let the creative team know what was going on, but everyone is entitled to his or her opinion on what transpired.

I don’t recall firing Alex [Milne]. I expressed to him via email in May 2007 that I understood he was paid in full. I also expressed to Alex that DE had always tried to pay him promptly, which the company did. He was the first artist to get paid because frankly he was the best comic penciler on our roster at the time. I enjoyed working with Alex and I would have wanted to keep a relationship with him, not screw him over. He was my friend and there was no intention to let him go. Again, there are always going to be multiple perspectives based on each person’s personal experience on the matter.

The man should get into politics.

By the way, Mr. Fantastic should be literally impossible to goof up artistically, but Pat Lee manages it. That is a truly impressive level of suck.

Wow, Rich Johnston asked some pretty hard hitting questions. Not surprised Pat Lee skirted around the issues.

I'm also curious how/when he'll pay back all those creators.

Supreme Convoy wrote:Wow, Rich Johnston asked some pretty hard hitting questions. Not surprised Pat Lee skirted around the issues.

I'm also curious how/when he'll pay back all those creators.

Yeah, what was that alien compendium crap on the side? It looks like an Alien watched the matrix one too many times, and is trying to do his best Neo impression.

Dreamwave. In their prime, they looked to be bringing Transformers back to popularity since the acquisition of the license in 2001. In their decline, then subsequent bankruptcy and closure in early 2005, that feeling of success was long forgotten. Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool interviewed Dreamwave owner Pat Lee, and grilled him with some hard hitting questions. If you're interested in the Dreamwave bankruptcy saga, then this interview is certainly something you need to check out! A snippet is posted below, while the entire interview is here.

Rich Johnston: Pat, Simon Furman, the man who wrote Transformers, tells me that a month before the bankruptcy announcements, you were enthusiastic with him, even though he hadn’t been paid, assuring him that everything was rosy and asking him for more work. That was a conversation between you and him, not anyone else. And other creators agree with this assessment that you, personally, were assuring freelance creators that everything was fine, despite late payments, without any indication of tough times. The accusation is not that you weren’t talking to creators, but that you were lying to them.

Pat Lee: I am unable to account for everyone but as far as I know, most creators at Dreamwave were aware that we were going through financial difficulties. We didn’t announce it, but people were not being paid in full, and it was pretty obvious. When things got really tough, I tried to keep the team and myself motivated and push on with production. I had a wonderful experience creating and working with Simon, and I think we had a good relationship.. I did my best to let the creative team know what was going on, but everyone is entitled to his or her opinion on what transpired. I respect that.

Seibertron.com - The Ultimate Transformers Resource!

He still couldn't answer(or wouldn't) answer them hard hitting questions.....bad Pat really bad as the truth will always set you free.

He's like a little girl, skirts all a'flutter as he dodges the issues at hand.

Wow ... just wow.

I've never liked the bloke since the Dreamwave collapse, i've never been a fan of his artwork, and I truly didn't think I could think any less of him, until I read that.

I get the "allegations" of money siphoning, he's attempted to explain that many times, never really believed a word of it.

But to claim credit for that Silver Snail variant cover and not know who really drew ... what sort of bloody idiot was he and why the hell was he running a company when he couldn't keep track of who was doing what?

Sorry, but that's just sheer stupidity! It's a comic book company, when he set it up one of the first documented procedures should have been on how to ensure the correct artist is given credit!

Pathetic, absoloutely pathetic!

Good or bad, DW really did put TF back into the map back in the early 2000. Too bad it's headhoncho was such a sneaky creep. But, well without it, we wouldn't have been introduced to the pencilling wizardry of DonFig,Guido Guidi and the rest of the gang............honorable mention to well...... Pat too......a little

'I was lying but everyone knew I was lying so it's okay.' What a dick.

this is incredible. my computer suddenly smells like bull sh*t. anyone eles getting this?

Pat Lee would be a good fit over at Fox News. He has all the qualifications of one of their employees: disrespectful to the medium he works in and the ability to skirt around the issues and present BS as news.

I recall a Dreamwave art contest for Transformers in which a requirement was you had to draw "in the Dreamwave style." Nine times out of ten that meant Lee's blocky, bulky way. After reading this I can't help but wonder if that was a tactic to draw in another sucker whose work Lee could again claim was his. Also, could this have something to do with Don's announcement at the beginning of the current TF ongoing series that he never liked drawing TF's with the G1 style? IMO, there's no way Lee could truly lay claim to Don's artwork because D was simply that much better. However, if the boss tells you to work the way HE wants you to work . . . sort of leaves the door open for taking the credit as happens everywhere with managers and underlings. And if he had the brass to claim Milne's work was his, why not Don's as well?

Wow, interesting reactions from the peanut gallery. It's pretty obvious that the majority of you folks have never owned and operated your own business and that you also seem to have blinders on and got only what you wanted to read out of that interview. Yeah, the guy screwed up but he wasn't alone in it. He was the public face that took the heat for it all but it was a team effort that drove the company into the ground, not just 1 man. Aww, screw it... it's a waste of time trying to explain it to you people. Like I said, you all see only what you want to, not all of what's really there.

Oh, I think we see what's there clear enough.

The man claimed responsibility for other people's work. That's being a dick.

The man refused to pay his best and brightest artists and writers. That's being a dick.

The man siphoned money off his company to another company to protect his money, rather than pay off the people he worked with, on a day to day basis. That's being a dick.

The man looked people in the eye and said "don't worry." Because of this, many lost MONTHS worth of work and payment. That's being a dick.

The man flaunted his Porsche around after the company went bankrupt. His "friends" were out tens of thousands of dollars, but he, personally, was fine. That's being a dick.

The man has screwed over so many people, that he can't even remember the names of the people he screwed over (duh... I dunno who drew that piece of art I claimed was mine... duh...). That's being a dick.

The man fired people when they began to get upset over not being paid. That's being a dick.

I may not have ever owned my own business, but I know ETHICS. The man (I won't even use his name) has no ethics. He isn't sorry. He has no plans to pay back what he owes (duh... I paid Alex Milne, really... duh...). He is not repentant. If given a chance, he will do the same thing again.

Do not support him. Ever. Not one dime.

morphobots wrote:I recall a Dreamwave art contest for Transformers in which a requirement was you had to draw "in the Dreamwave style." Nine times out of ten that meant Lee's blocky, bulky way. After reading this I can't help but wonder if that was a tactic to draw in another sucker whose work Lee could again claim was his. Also, could this have something to do with Don's announcement at the beginning of the current TF ongoing series that he never liked drawing TF's with the G1 style? IMO, there's no way Lee could truly lay claim to Don's artwork because D was simply that much better. However, if the boss tells you to work the way HE wants you to work . . . sort of leaves the door open for taking the credit as happens everywhere with managers and underlings. And if he had the brass to claim Milne's work was his, why not Don's as well?

No Don had that art style before he joined Dreamwave, in fact it was due to his art that he was hired in the first place and I believe it was also as a way of saying "Hey you guys! If you're good at drawing we're totally going to give you a job as a TF artist!"

The reason Don decided to do a different art-style for the Ongoing was simply because he felt like he must evolve as an artist and wanted to further develop himself and his work. And not because he hated the G1 style.
Also Don was the most beloved TF artist at the time with a huge fandom who recognized his style, making it impossible for anyone taking credit for it.

T-Macksimus wrote:Wow, interesting reactions from the peanut gallery. It's pretty obvious that the majority of you folks have never owned and operated your own business and that you also seem to have blinders on and got only what you wanted to read out of that interview. Yeah, the guy screwed up but he wasn't alone in it. He was the public face that took the heat for it all but it was a team effort that drove the company into the ground, not just 1 man. Aww, screw it... it's a waste of time trying to explain it to you people. Like I said, you all see only what you want to, not all of what's really there.

You obviously need to read up on Pat Lee.
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Pat_Lee
While there is quite a bit of snark in the article it does give you a background on what you're missing here.

Seriously ... I was one of the people who really liked Pat's style... even the big breasted prime... I was really excited about getting new tf books... and it really helped get me into the hobby that has engulfed my lifestyle... I just can't stand the guy now... I realize that I don't know what its like to run a big or even a small company... but I can tell you if i did... i would pay my people and be more outright and tell them what was going on if the company was in a downfall... tell them to try and take cover... not cover up my funds, and try to get away and run with what ever i could... And if he didnt do anything wrong and was some great guy... why is he STILL SKIRTING QUESTIONS? If he did nothing wrong... he should have nothing to hide... I am just happy that IDW is keeping stuff alive... and even keeping the talent involved... Its funny... I had completely forgotten about this... and now... I am back to my. feelings toward DW. If Pat had wanted to keep the company going then why didnt he try to keep getting books out... even the last TF issue was like 3-4 months late? This is just a perfect example on how NOT to run a company.

I had always reserved judgment when it came to Pat Lee b/c I hadn't come across his response to the allegations before.

Now that I have, it looks like the allegations have a lot of merit, especially when he outright avoided answering MANY of the questions posed to him.

It's a shame Dreamwave was run by such an incompetent & deceitful guy. Being in your 20s is no excuse for the latter.

It's sad not only for the employees who didn't get paid, but for the fans since I much preferred DW's TF comics over IDW's.

As for what he owes to who, I'll leave it to him and the others. I do know one thing: this pretty much confirms that the main reason DW went under was because they stretched themselves too thin. They started too many projects. Should have stuck with TF and a maybe 2 or 3 others. Hell, sticking with TF and making sure it was a quality product on all fronts would have made it a successful company, even if it didn't represent as big a profit. I bet if he could do it again, Lee would just take that and stick with a smaller operation.

fenrir72 wrote:Good or bad, DW really did put TF back into the map back in the early 2000.

No, they didn't. The 80's nostalgia fad can be credited for that. HASBRO decided to capitalize on that and bring Transformers back into comics form, and Dreamwave won the license. Lee was in no way responsible for the idea of new Transformers comics.

But, well without it, we wouldn't have been introduced to the pencilling wizardry of DonFig,Guido Guidi and the rest of the gang

Granted, but that is the only thing he did right.

T-Macksimus wrote:Wow, interesting reactions from the peanut gallery. It's pretty obvious that the majority of you folks have never owned and operated your own business and that you also seem to have blinders on and got only what you wanted to read out of that interview. Yeah, the guy screwed up but he wasn't alone in it. He was the public face that took the heat for it all but it was a team effort that drove the company into the ground, not just 1 man. Aww, screw it... it's a waste of time trying to explain it to you people. Like I said, you all see only what you want to, not all of what's really there.

I spent over a decade working for an Accountant helping people manage their business and taxation affairs, i'm not the Financial Controller for a local engineering firm employing 25 people with a turnover of nearly $5 million. So I think I know how a business is run.

Yes, he screwed up. But come on, read that article closely. The guy avoids certain questions. He even admits to getting others to do artwork for him for which he then claimed the credit.

That alone is deplorable. Taking credit for another artists work. So please, explain to me how he did nothing wrong there. Because my blinders are off and I can see clearly how much of a thief he is, because he admits it himself.

Dr. Heavy B wrote:this is incredible. my computer suddenly smells like bull sh*t. anyone eles getting this?

I thought that was just me...

Good lord, what a piece of **** he is. And I like(d) DW's plot and direction too, back in the day.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

Dr. Heavy B wrote:this is incredible. my computer suddenly smells like bull sh*t. anyone eles getting this?

I thought that was just me...

Good lord, what a piece of **** he is. And I like(d) DW's plot and direction too, back in the day.

I still do. Just because Pat Lee is an ass, doesn't detract from the (unpaid) work done by others in the company before it went kaput.

JazZeke wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

Dr. Heavy B wrote:this is incredible. my computer suddenly smells like bull sh*t. anyone eles getting this?

I thought that was just me...

Good lord, what a piece of **** he is. And I like(d) DW's plot and direction too, back in the day.

I still do. Just because Pat Lee is an ass, doesn't detract from the (unpaid) work done by others in the company before it went kaput.

Good point. They still deserve something for their work/time.

@JazZeke, let me be clear, let's give credit where credit is due. No matter what fan nostalgia there was available, if the comic sucked...........well it will continue to suck. DW presentation was kick @ss for it's time. The computer effects reminded me of an anime on paper, heck, it even rivaled the 1986 Movie at one point. And show cased a lot of talents from the fan base.

This does notlet Pat Lee off the hook though........he is and will always be a creep to put it lightly.

P.S. I remember a few years back when George Perez did rough pencils for his War of the Gods before full pencils by another artist. It was a female artist who did the finished pencils who was acknowledged properly. Pat should have at least done something to that effect and not take all the credit himself.

fenrir72 wrote:@JazZeke, let me be clear, let's give credit where credit is due. No matter what fan nostalgia there was available, if the comic sucked...........well it will continue to suck. DW presentation was kick @ss for it's time. The computer effects reminded me of an anime on paper, heck, it even rivaled the 1986 Movie at one point. And show cased a lot of talents from the fan base.

Except that "Prime Directive" did suck. If you look back you'll find mostly negative reviews once the "holy crap TRANSFORMERS ARE BACK IN COMICS!" rush had dissipated. As soon as the 80s nostalgia fad passed, sales plummeted so badly they couldn't keep up.