One of the least-surprising (and more industry-oriented) predictions for the new year is the state of the professionals who work in comics. Right now many continue to follow the work-for-hire model thats been the standard since the dawn of funnybooks, as writers and artists work on a freelance basis that has them netting as much cash as they can work for, without ever being tied down by contracts. The upshot of such a model means that creators can work for multiple different publishers at a time, and try their hand at lots of different kinds of stories. The downside is they could get dropped from a book at any moment and they dont really have any financial security, with many of the brightest and boldest from the Golden and Silver Ages now struggling with lack of health insurance or money to retire on in their old age. In light of all of that, expect next year to see even more creators opting to sign exclusive deals instead. Its still technically work-for-hire, but signing exclusive deals with publishers allows for a little more job security than the freelance gamble. Deadpool's Gerry Duggan just signed an exclusive deal with Marvel (meaning his Arkham Manor for DC has been cut down to a mini-series instead of an ongoing), and much of the March cull is down to Charles Soule doing the same thing.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
