Next week we're getting in a Dark Tower comic, by Stephen King. Well, "BY" meaning he had some input. We don't know exactly how much, just as we don't exactly know what the story is going to be.

It was supposed be an original story, a 'prequel' to the first book, and an 'origin' story of the Gunslinger. The art is by Jae Lee, which is a great choice, and actually is more encouraging in some ways than the supposed involvement of Stephen King.

I don't know why, if King loves comics so much, he doesn't just WRITE the damn thing. At least the first couple of issues.

It bugs me when the big media types feel like they are doing us a favor by deigning to involve themselves with comics.

Kevin Smith started writing for Marvel, and he was pretty good. Turned out a very well written Daredevil. So he announced another couple of mini-series; we ordered massively. We got the first issues......and then, nothing. Four years later, he finally finished the one 4 parter, and we've yet to see a second issue on the other series.

What does he care? He's a big time movie director.

He went on David Letterman in the midst of all this, supposedly to talk about his comic writing, since he didn't have a movie on the works at the time. Stock up, Marvel said. Kevin Smith is going to give a big national boost to comics.

He goes on the show, immediately gets sidetracked, and doesn't mention comics once.

One of the creators of the show "Lost" Damon Lindeloff, starts writing a high profile series. The first two issues show up, and then....nothing. Two years later, we don't know if he's ever going to finish.

Frank Miller (of the '300' and SIN CITY fame) and Jim Lee announce a series called, All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. We get the first 4 issues over a years time, and then one issue last year, and now....nothing. A once every 6 weeks comic has become an annual.

About the only guy who has followed through, so far, is Joss Whedon of Buffy and Serenity. He's supposed to write an 'eighth' season of Buffy, and based on his work on the Astonishing X-Men (slow, but not killer slow), I'm willing to take a chance ordering more than normal.

I think the comic industry needs to quit prostituting itself to other media; if the 'high profile' creator wants to play be different rules, tell him or her to take a hike.

I'm actually not sure that it does us that much good. What if I get 50 Stephen King fans in the door. Does it become something they read and like and are they willing to try something else? Or does it get shoved in a plastic bag, as yet another Stephen King item, like all those Death of Superman comics that are floating around.

We need readers, not collectors.

But if J.K. Rowling ever expressed an interest.....you know we'd be bowing and scraping in an instant.