Comics Union

yes, comics could definitlely use a union---will it happen? i kinda doubt it- i guess i've been around enough to notice these things are cyclical- back in the 70s neal adams campaigned for unions, royalties, and compensation for creators- for all the things people may have bitched about with jim shooter, at least he got freelancers royalties, insurance, and (some) creators rights- neal got seigal and shuester (sp?) some compensation for creating superman, and j byrne and j staton took a stand for the industry that says that publishers owe freelancers nothing but payment for the work they were hired for---
i left comics in the early 90's for personal reasons and have just jumped back in to try to freelance again- what do i find- well, there's no more insurance for freelancers (unless your a contract player), dave cockrum died or complications from diabetes , having spent most of his illness in a VA hospital- only when it was painfully close to the end did marvel capitulate that maybe they should help a guy that practically singlehandedly resucitated the xmen (and marvel ) in the 80s-not to mention giving marvel one of there biggest cash cows- and that the big 2 are even more corporate than ever-
has it made me reconsider wanting to jump back into freelancing- no, like any other business, theres the nature of the beast- i love the work and the characters, and the inner child in me wins out- theres nothing else i would rather do to make a living---
and, sadly, the shirts know this and exploit it- wether your a veteran or a newcomer- there only mistake is they think our love of the craft is stupidity to be taken advantage of- but we know better