DC Comics Gutted After Massive Firings: Here’s Why It Happened
DC Comics is only a shell of its former self after parent company WarnerMedia announced massive layoffs Monday at the legendary publisher.
The layoffs at DC are part of a larger corporate restructuring at WarnerMedia, which includes the total elimination of DC Collectibles. The video streaming service DC Universe also saw massive layoffs, according to Variety. Hundreds of executives at WarnerMedia companies are among those laid off.
Among the cuts at DC Comics are most of the senior staff, including editor-in-chief Bob Harras, editors Brian Cunningham, Andy Khouri and Mark Doyle, senior VP of publishing strategy and support services Hank Kanalz, VP of marketing Jonah Weiland, and VP of global publishing initiatives and digital strategy Bobbie Chase.
Legendary artist Jim Lee is no longer publisher at DC, but will stay on under the title Chief Creative Officer.
Journalist Asher Elbein characterized the cuts as an “absolute bloodbath.”
Variety reports that WarnerMedia plans to expand the DC brand, although it appears the focus will be through movies, TV, and streaming. Comics books do not appear to be a priority.
DC properties have done well at the box office recently, and HBO Max has seemed to be the preferred channel for the animated “Harley Quinn” and the live-action “Doom Patrol” series, which both made their debut on DC Universe.
The CW is home to a number of DC shows, including “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Stargirl,” and the upcoming “Clark and Lois,” among others.
Among other notable cuts at WarnerMedia are Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution President Jeffrey Schlesinger, and Ron Sanders, president of Warner Bros.’ worldwide theatrical distribution and home entertainment and executive vice president of international business operations. Kim Williams, EVP and CFO of Warner Bros. Entertainment, is also gone.
Bad Decisions
Although corporate layoffs and cutbacks have been common this year due to the COVID-19 shutdown, DC Comics has been in trouble for some time.
A number of editorial blunders in recent years has cost DC dearly. Their “New 52” reboot event, which reset the numbering of their flagship comics and redesigned iconic heroes like Batman and Superman, was not well received.
In recent years, DC Comics, like many comic publishers, has taken a hard left turn into social justice issues. That turned off many long-time fans, leading to a significant drop in sales. Mainstream comics now sell only a fraction of issues that they once did. Even though DC and Marvel still dominate the industry, their book no longer resonate with most fans.
Former DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver has been an outspoken critic of DC and their social justice agenda in their books. He pointed out that one of the editors fired today (Andy Khouri) was cheering a recent Wonder Woman cover, which depicted the superhero has an nonathletic, overweight woman, because it promoted body positivity.
DC Comics has not commented on today’s layoffs.
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