It's Three A.M. Do You Know Where Your Art Is?

There is a very disturbing bit of legislation being reviewed by Congress that should bother every artist and creative type. The Orphan Works Act is going to make it much easier for people to use someone else's artwork, illustrations, etc. from online sources without paying the artist. Illustrator Tom Richmond does a great job of explaining the dangers of this law and what it will cost artists if it's passed. Check out his website for more information: http://www.tomrichmond.com/blog/?p=56 Not to oversimplify the legislation, but basically if someone has made a "reasonable effort" to find the creator and isn't successful, the work is considered orphaned and is FREE to use in the public domain. That "reasonable effort" is open to interpretation, though, and could take on many different definitions based on how lazy or cheap the researcher is. Tom Richmond contemplates what would happen if the principle of the Orphan Works Act was applied to cars and other personal property. And he makes an excellent point. For more information on how creators are fighting this check out the Illustrator's Partnership website http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185

Avengers Assemble in 2011! Casting Call

Much like the first X-Men movie, Iron Man has started the ball rolling toward a combined on-screen appearance of even more Marvelites! The upcoming Hulk movie even features the first cross-over, on-screen cameo of another Marvel character (Tony Stark/Robert Downey Jr.). I remember reading fans' hopes that this would eventually happen in the movies, but copyrights and movie studio territorial battles seemed to indicate it wouldn't. Until now... Marvel is no stranger to cross-over events. These days, with scribe Brian Bendis at the helm of so many titles, readers can buy multiple titles that intertwine and feature their favorite character appearing in several different locations every month. Why not bring this connection into the films? Marvel.com has officially announced its plans to do just that, and if you stuck around until the credits ended for Iron Man you received a prophetic foreshadowing for your patience!!

Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, and Avengers movies all hitting the big screen in 2010 and 2011! With plenty of time to decide who will fill the additional roles, I've decided to help the directors put the right people in the right roles. See photo.