In 1978 Comic Book Artists Wanted Over $1000 Per Page Led By Neal Adams, Jim Shooter, Frank Miller & More

In 1978 Comic Book Artists Wanted Over $1000 Per Page Led By Neal Adams, Jim Shooter, Frank Miller & More

Back in the 1970s, comic book artists attempted to unionize themselves led by Neal Adams with notable names such as Jim Shooter, Frank Miller, Cary Bates, Howard Chaykin, Chris Claremont, Steve Ditko, Michael Golden, Archie Goodwin, Paul Levitz, Bob McLeod, Carl Potts, Marshall Rogers, Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman also on board.

Seems the Comic Book Creators Guild, as they called themselves, put together a recommended payment guide for publishers, which in today’s dollars comes to over $1000 per page. Add it up, and that’s 20-30 thousand per book per month.

While the group didn’t pan out, and the following are “recommended” rates, the Comic Book Creators Guild is said to have played a part in getting Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster their well-deserved dues from DC Comics.

Here are the rates as they would be today (counting for inflation):

Art: $1,074.40

Script: $358.13

Lettering: $143.25

Colors: $250.69

About Matt McGloin

Matt McGloin is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Cosmic Book News, the independent entertainment news site he founded in 2008. He covers movies, comics, TV, video games and pop culture and has reported major industry scoops over the years, including revealing the Avengers: Endgame title ahead of its official announcement. Through Cosmic Book News, he helped Marvel Comics promote Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova through exclusive previews, artwork, and interviews, with the site also quoted in solicitations and on comic covers. He also reported on Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again retooling before it was later confirmed by the trades.

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