Accepted Quote by Jack Kirby
“An artist has to be humble, an editor must be officious, and a publisher must be somewhere out in the galaxy enjoying godhood. It was a caste system, pure and simple. And it was accepted that way. Nobody thought of contracts, nobody thought of insisting on better deals.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Comic Book Industry, Jack Kirby, 1975
The publishing hierarchy places artists, editors, and publishers in distinct, often unequal roles, creating a rigid caste system.
In simple terms: Industry roles are hierarchical and unequal.
Challenge the entrenched hierarchy for fairness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- comic creation
- publishing negotiations
- creative collaboration
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can creators gain more equitable power?
- What reforms could balance creative and business interests?
Changing entrenched structures can meet resistance.