I hadn’t visited the Forbidden Planet site before.

Hope it won’t prove too disappointing to anyone out there that I’m not one of the columnists who’s walked!

Mike’s been as affable as Dez always was towards me as a columnist; and with my other hat on, as a retailer, it’s been refreshing to have been consulted so extensively in advance about what I’m being asked to sell.

I don’t, however, happen to recognise the picture painted of Dez as anti-retailer. For a start he hired a retailer to talk about retailing, and my very first column was to warn about the power of bookshops, not to support them. I’ve never wanted comic shops to become book shops, but I have for a long time perceived the dangers if the comic shops don’t match the book shops’ standards. In fact, I’ve written several since on why comicbook retailers like Gosh!, OK Comics, David’s Comics, Close Encounters etc. can the best source for service and should be the wisest receptacle for the paying public’s money: use ‘em or lose ‘em.

I’ve also written about cooperation – we’ve always cooperated with Forbidden Planet in Nottingham, especially when Steve was at the helm there – and can I just publicly thank Josh at Gosh! for all the hard work he’s been putting in to help smaller retailers get better discounts from publishers? Lastly, if I remember rightly, the column for CI #201 (it was written shortly before the invention of the telephone), talks about a great initiative OK Comics in Leeds is using to help customers.

Because the most important thing in our industry is to put the reader first. Readers should expect the best, and get the best – from comics, comicbook magazines, and retailers alike.

The Dez I recognise believed all that, supported all that, and although we have from time to time disagreed fundamentally on which road to take or which means to use, all I recall Dez ever wanting was a healthier industry.

Also, I’ve said in public – as recently as Comics International #200 – that the magazine is a far cry from the one I’d put out personally, but I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Mike has in mind, and being a part of that for as long as he wants me, or until I learn how to shut my mouth.

Which probably isn’t going to be any time soon, is it? ;)

Cheers,

Stephen

Stephen L. Holland
owner/manager

Page 45
9 Market Street
Nottingham
NG1 6HY
0115 9508045

page45@page45.com

http://www.page45.com

http://www.myspace.com/page_45

Of course, I might be totally incorrect and these might be another two contributors, but if indeed the rumours abounding are the ones about me, I have to say that actually guys, that isn’t quite correct, and as much as I respect and love Mike (he really is a hell of a guy) I need to contradict this.

In January, we were discussing what to do with the column from #201. It was decided to run it for three more issues, until #203 and then renegotiate rates etc for the continuance. At no point was it even suggested that after #203 the column would be ceasing. At this time however, news of my promotion as Group Editor at Markosia came out. Mike sent me an email on the 22nd Jan saying he had concerns about me continuing the column due to this promotion, due to the perception of bias (Self promoting my Markosia works a bit too much) coming back and hitting Comics International. Although I had been doing pretty much the same in my previous columns for Dez, I understood where he was coming from. However, in the same email, he also told me that because of this, and in the circumstances, he couldn’t see how we could keep it running beyond what already been agreed, #201 – #203.

So, in one email he informed me of the issues related to my promotion and explained how he couldn’t continue the column. In all technical senses of the word, I was indeed ‘let go’, or ‘fired’, and my notice was three issues.

As it was, I replied and said that if this was the case, then I should stop there and then rather than peter out until #203, as I had another outlet to run columns from and I’d rather start there immediately so to not cause any further issues. So, technically it can be said that although I was let go, I also asked for my contract to be terminated early. But this was after I was informed that it was being terminated. If I have never been given notice, I would never have offered to leave early.

There were no misinterpretations of the email as Mike says, as it was quite succinct and to the point. I wasn’t writing for Comics International past #203. End of conversation.

It was not, as the rumours still insist anything to do with any disillusionment that I may have had at the time with the 2007 Eagle Awards.

I still class Mike and his family as friends and look forwards to drinking with them at the Bristol Comic Con. My column can now be read at http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com under ‘Two Drunk Guys In A Bar’ with Dan Boultwood.