George Pérez Signs Exclusive Agreement with Crossgen
Posted by Beau Yarbrough - 16:01 PST
Official press release
Comic Legend To Work As Full Time CrossGen Employee On Bi-Monthly Title
TAMPA, FL., December 18, 2000 - CrossGen has added one of the comic
industry's most revered talents to its ever-growing roster. Penciler George
Pérez has agreed to join CrossGen on a permanent, exclusive basis.
Beginning immediately, Pérez will join CrossGen and finish his highly
anticipated four-issue run on CrossGen Chronicles. After the completion of
these four issues, CrossGen Chronicles will then become a bi-monthly title
that will only be penciled by George Pérez.
Said Pérez on joining CrossGen, "CrossGen offers me a chance to do something
other than the superhero stories I've worked on during my one quarter
century in comics. After reading all the CrossGen books, I saw the unified
universe and liked what I saw. Then, when I spoke to Mark Alessi, I liked
his attitude and philosophy. Mark has a great vision and a means to pull it
off. I can't see myself moving anywhere else. I'm here for the duration."
Pérez will continue to work from his home in nearby Orlando, making
regularly scheduled stops into the CrossGen office to meet with other
members of his creative team. Because of his recently publicized health
problems, CrossGen is relaxing its in-house policy for this unique
situation.
"It's been quite a while since I've felt this wanted by a publisher," Pérez
said. "CrossGen has gone out of its way to support my unique needs. I've
never felt this much a part of an organization."
CrossGen's flexibility regarding Pérez was the right thing to do according
to CrossGen Publisher Mark Alessi. "When one of comics greatest all-time
stars wants to join your company on a permanent, exclusive basis, you do
whatever is reasonable to accommodate them," Alessi said. "In this case,
George's health became the paramount and overriding issue. There was no way
we were going to turn him down because he couldn't come here daily to work.
This is a health related exception that only very few could garner. George
is definitely one of those few."
The only possible exception to Pérez's exclusivity to CrossGen is the
long-awaited JLA/Avengers crossover. In the unlikely event that Marvel and
DC can ever come to terms on the publication of this historic event,
CrossGen will allow Pérez a temporary release from his exclusive agreement
to draw this project.
"There's been talk of this project for 18 years," Pérez said. "The prospect
of this crossover is the reason I've been reluctant to sign an exclusive
agreement. I'm very grateful that CrossGen as comics fans, are allowing me
the leave of absence I'll need should this finally come to fruition. If it
never happens, I'll be perfectly content right here with CrossGen. I really
enjoy the fantasy genre and feel it suits my style."
Again, Alessi believes allowing Pérez a temporary release for the
JLA/Avengers crossover is the right thing to do. "This project is just too
historic not to happen," Alessi said. "The fans want it, the retailers want
it, heck, all of us here at CrossGen want it! So if it actually comes to be,
we'd be more than happy to allow George the opportunity to do it. For
comics' sake, let's just hope it happens."
The first George Pérez penciled CrossGen issue is CrossGen Chronicles #2, on
sale February 21, 2001.
George
Pérez will be joining the CrossGen staff at this year’s convention appearances.
Look for them at MegaCon,
Comic-Con International: San Diego
and Wizard World Chicago.
CrossGeneration Comics is based just outside of Tampa, Florida. Since their
initial launch on May 24, 2000, CrossGen Comics has set unprecedented sales
records for a new start-up comics publisher by debuting their first six
releases on the comic book industry distributor's Top 100 sales list. Since
then they have grown into the comic industry's fifth largest publisher.
Their unique and innovative approach to comic book publishing is sure to
make them a company to watch out for well into the new millennium. The
CrossGen Comics, The First, Mystic, Sigil, Scion, and Meridian are available
now in comic book specialty stores everywhere, with a different one on sale
each Wednesday. Their next monthly title, Crux, will be available starting
in April 2001.
Source: CrossGen Comics