Since there was discussion about MJ, PM and the Beatles catalog, I found this from an article on John Branca:

FAME: MICHAEL JACKSON GN

STORY BY

Wey-Yuih Loh

ART BY

Giovanni P. Timpano

COLORS BY

Erick Marquez

LETTERS BY

Jaynes Reed

COVER BY

Micha Szyksznian

PUBLISHER

Blue Water Comics

COVER PRICE:

$7.99

RELEASE DATE

August, 2011

In time for the King of Pop's birthday. Michael Jackson's reign as the King of Pop is celebrated in the latest biographical comic book from Bluewater Productions. The newest addition to the publisher's critically acclaimed library features a cover and foreword by artist and friend of Jackson's Giuseppe Mazzola. The life of the world's most popular entertainer was infused with fantasy and tragedy. His discography is legendary. His legacy is complicated and unparalleled. This special graphic novel edition has a bunch of extras.

To millions he was the King of Pop; one of the world’s most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute in October to his memory and legacy with a special collectors edition biography comic.

The newest addition to the publisher's critically acclaimed biography library will trace Jackson's rise as a musical prodigy with the “Jackson 5” through last Thursdays sad end. The book will feature highlights from his storied career and cover his enigmatic private life.

“Michael Jackson's music served as the soundtrack to countless lives…including mine,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, “His influence on our culture has been profound.”

“TRIBUTE: Michael Jackson, King of Pop,” features a wraparound cover and foreword by "The Official Michael Jackson Fan Club’s" Giuseppe Mazzola. Mazzola was also Jackson's personal friend. The issue is being written by Wey-Yuih Loh, (Political Power: Colin Powell” and “Political Power: Joe Biden) and illustrated by Giovanni Timpano (Vincent Price Presents). Noted cover artist Vinnie Tartamella will also provide an alternate wraparound cover.

“This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans,” Davis said. “Although the book won’t shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar and as a complex person.”

Davis noted that he initially waffled at producing a tribute comic, but after receiving dozens of emails and phone calls he knew it was the proper way to show respect and give fans a lasting remembrance.

In recent months, Bluewater has become one of the leading producers of biography comics. Launched earlier this year, Bluewater’s “Female Force” has featured influential women such as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Princess Diana, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey. A follow-up series, "Political Power" launching in July is set to turn the spotlight on politicians like Colin Powell, Barack Obama, and Al Gore.

Bluewater’s biography titles have drawn considerable media attention, including features on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” It has also been featured in such periodicals as People Magazine, LosAngeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today and thousands of blogs and other media outlets.

[Edited 8/10/11 11:17am]

[Edited 8/10/11 11:23am]

NaughtyKitty said:

Since there was discussion about MJ, PM and the Beatles catalog, I found this from an article on John Branca:

A generation earlier, it was a client of Branca who made headlines with one of the most famous and controversial music deals of all time: Michael Jackson's acquisition of the publishing rights to ATV Music, which included some 250 Beatles songs, including "Yesterday," "Help!" and "Let It Be." When the deal came down, there was some public grumbling from Paul McCartney, but the artist never seriously bid for the catalog, and later he and Jackson remained friends. John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who also didn't bid, remarked that she was happy the rights now belonged to Jackson, a fellow songwriter.

http://www.callawyer.com/...amp;evid=1

Hmm... interesting.

armpit said:

I'm bored enough to actually do the dumbest shit ever, right now.

Yes.

That.

I'm...going to an MJ fan forum.

THE FUCK?! Oh and if you get into a swarm of fanatics don't think me or bboy will help your ass. You on your own.

NaughtyKitty said:

Since there was discussion about MJ, PM and the Beatles catalog, I found this from an article on John Branca:

A generation earlier, it was a client of Branca who made headlines with one of the most famous and controversial music deals of all time: Michael Jackson's acquisition of the publishing rights to ATV Music, which included some 250 Beatles songs, including "Yesterday," "Help!" and "Let It Be." When the deal came down, there was some public grumbling from Paul McCartney, but the artist never seriously bid for the catalog, and later he and Jackson remained friends. John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who also didn't bid, remarked that she was happy the rights now belonged to Jackson, a fellow songwriter.

http://www.callawyer.com/...amp;evid=1

Laughable.

So because a journalist wrote that, I'm supposed to buy it?

I go based on what McCartney himself, did and said, not what a random writer typed up about it, probably as spin at the demand of some PR guy. Paul himself was (understandably) bothered enough by it that he actually mentioned the whole thing publically (which is almost unheard of, for one artist to bring up something like this involving another in the public domain), and after it happened he and MJ never worked together in a professional capacity again, and definitely weren't seen hanging out together anywhere, so 'remained friends', my ass.

I'm a fan too, but I hate it when other fans try to make excuses for shitty behavior on MJ's part. Yes, sometimes MJ was an asshole too. Deal with it. Even Liz Taylor said in the HIStory booklet that MJ was 'cunning'.

armpit said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Since there was discussion about MJ, PM and the Beatles catalog, I found this from an article on John Branca:

Laughable.

So because a journalist wrote that, I'm supposed to buy it?

I go based on what McCartney himself, did and said, not what a random writer typed up about it, probably as spin at the demand of some PR guy. Paul himself was (understandably) bothered enough by it that he actually mentioned the whole thing publically (which is almost unheard of, for one artist to bring up something like this involving another in the public domain), and after it happened he and MJ never worked together in a professional capacity again, and definitely weren't seen hanging out together anywhere, so 'remained friends', my ass.

I'm a fan too, but I hate it when other fans try to make excuses for shitty behavior on MJ's part. Yes, sometimes MJ was an asshole too. Deal with it. Even Liz Taylor said in the HIStory booklet that MJ was 'cunning'.

this fan doesn't doubt that he could be "cunning" and smart. People forget it now but in his prime years he had a reputation for being a softspoken but tough boss. I recall the enquirer (yes I know, the enquirer) saying he would fire people in a heartbeat if they kept fucking up with a "you're fired". He lost that rep during the 90s but I remember. I don't really see the Beatles thing as any big deal whatsoever but let me tell you, I've heard rumours that he did what he could to have Terence Trent D'arby sabotaged and if those rumours are true, then that is truly being an asshole in that instant.

You know what's hilarious that some people don't think we know Michael was cunning. DUH!

By the way, most pop-rock stars do have a cunning side when they know how to do business. Paul did the same thing so two can play that game and I'm starting to dig Paul as a musician now so HA!

armpit said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Since there was discussion about MJ, PM and the Beatles catalog, I found this from an article on John Branca:

Laughable.

So because a journalist wrote that, I'm supposed to buy it?

Yes you have to buy it. Its the law of the internet. If you dont buy whats posted on the internet by journalists, there will be serious consequences!

^

Timmy84 said:

You know what's hilarious that some people don't think we know Michael was cunning. DUH!

I know right? Michael wouldn't have lasted as long or achieved as much in the business if he wasnt cunning.

NaughtyKitty said:

Timmy84 said:

You know what's hilarious that some people don't think we know Michael was cunning. DUH!

I know right? Michael wouldn't have lasted as long or achieved as much in the business if he wasnt cunning.

And he lasted 40! If he was a PUSSY, he'd move on to something else but no Michael KNEW what he wanted. People say that he was inherited with Joe Jackson's assholeness in how to do business lol but I think Michael had his own mind on what to do. Plus it wasn't like he kindly asked Paul, he told him straight up: "Paul, I'm getting your songs." Paul just thought Michael was joking as usual because Michael always joked. When Paul realized he was serious, he just went "oh." But when Michael took his and John's songs to commercials, that's when he tried to pull the Riot Act...and failed miserably. What also didn't help his case was Yoko Ono co-signed with Michael to use it since "Revolution" was really a John Lennon composition.

Timmy84 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

I know right? Michael wouldn't have lasted as long or achieved as much in the business if he wasnt cunning.

And he lasted 40! If he was a PUSSY, he'd move on to something else but no Michael KNEW what he wanted. People say that he was inherited with Joe Jackson's assholeness in how to do business lol but I think Michael had his own mind on what to do. Plus it wasn't like he kindly asked Paul, he told him straight up: "Paul, I'm getting your songs." Paul just thought Michael was joking as usual because Michael always joked. When Paul realized he was serious, he just went "oh." But when Michael took his and John's songs to commercials, that's when he tried to pull the Riot Act...and failed miserably. What also didn't help his case was Yoko Ono co-signed with Michael to use it since "Revolution" was really a John Lennon composition.

[Edited 8/10/11 12:04pm]

Please. We all know Michael was a cunning ass. Remember when he got rid of Terence Trent D'Arby? That was some mean ish.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Please. We all know Michael was a cunning ass. Remember when he got rid of Terence Trent D'Arby? That was some mean ish.

Exactly.

I havent heard the story about Mike and Terrence Trent. What happend there?

NaughtyKitty said:

I havent heard the story about Mike and Terrence Trent. What happend there?

I have to look up on it in the archives but I'm sure someone would post it here. My memory's not good with that story. He also allegedly had problems with George Michael and Bruce Springsteen too lol but it was all in relation to their music careers. Anyone that was a competitor with his massive sales I reckon.

NaughtyKitty said:

I havent heard the story about Mike and Terrence Trent. What happend there?

Basically he was jealous so he made sure that Sony didn't promote Terence's second album, and threatened that if they did he would leave Sony.

smoothcriminal12 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

I havent heard the story about Mike and Terrence Trent. What happend there?

Basically he was jealous so he made sure that Sony didn't promote Terence's second album, and threatened that if they did he would leave Sony.

Yeah! That was it.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Basically he was jealous so he made sure that Sony didn't promote Terence's second album, and threatened that if they did he would leave Sony.

Yeah! That was it.

I've always thought of Invincible as "karma" for that incident.

the terence thing would be bad if true. I loved terence and considered him in the same league as an artist. However, I honestly thought there were more factors. The market was changing, Terence was still toying around with prince and Mj's 80's stuff in an era where hip-hop and grunge were taking over. And Terence cannot blame anyone but himself for the miscalculation of his second album. I loved it but it was too premature to make a concept album, and his mouth didn't help him a bit. I honestly think it was more due to timing that TTD did not do more, he was really about 5 years too late.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah! That was it.

I've always thought of Invincible as "karma" for that incident.

It's odd though, I mean the album was released like 12 years after the fact. I still think it might've been unrelated but who knows?

mozfonky said:

the terence thing would be bad if true. I loved terence and considered him in the same league as an artist. However, I honestly thought there were more factors. The market was changing, Terence was still toying around with prince and Mj's 80's stuff in an era where hip-hop and grunge were taking over. And Terence cannot blame anyone but himself for the miscalculation of his second album. I loved it but it was too premature to make a concept album, and his mouth didn't help him a bit. I honestly think it was more due to timing that TTD did not do more, he was really about 5 years too late.

Yeah, the album was way too pretentious and artsy fartsy to ever succeed.

Timmy84 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

I havent heard the story about Mike and Terrence Trent. What happend there?

I have to look up on it in the archives but I'm sure someone would post it here. My memory's not good with that story. He also allegedly had problems with George Michael and Bruce Springsteen too lol but it was all in relation to their music careers. Anyone that was a competitor with his massive sales I reckon.

i'd be curious as to what sort of problems he had with springsteen.

mozfonky said:

the terence thing would be bad if true. I loved terence and considered him in the same league as an artist. However, I honestly thought there were more factors. The market was changing, Terence was still toying around with prince and Mj's 80's stuff in an era where hip-hop and grunge were taking over. And Terence cannot blame anyone but himself for the miscalculation of his second album. I loved it but it was too premature to make a concept album, and his mouth didn't help him a bit. I honestly think it was more due to timing that TTD did not do more, he was really about 5 years too late.

Yeah I definitely think that played more into why Terence's second album bombed the way it did. The music scene definitely was changing that even WITH the promotion it wouldn't have done what Hardline did and Terence was quite cocky himself saying his debut was as great as Sgt. Pepper's.

mozfonky said:

Timmy84 said:

I have to look up on it in the archives but I'm sure someone would post it here. My memory's not good with that story. He also allegedly had problems with George Michael and Bruce Springsteen too lol but it was all in relation to their music careers. Anyone that was a competitor with his massive sales I reckon.

i'd be curious as to what sort of problems he had with springsteen.

I read the tabloid newspapers online. I think it had to do with Bruce's sales figures. I'm sure bboy has the link.

mozfonky said:

Timmy84 said:

I have to look up on it in the archives but I'm sure someone would post it here. My memory's not good with that story. He also allegedly had problems with George Michael and Bruce Springsteen too lol but it was all in relation to their music careers. Anyone that was a competitor with his massive sales I reckon.

i'd be curious as to what sort of problems he had with springsteen.

He was successful.

It's odd though, I mean the album was released like 12 years after the fact. I still think it might've been unrelated but who knows?

Oh, I know it was unrelated, but I meant that it was like God's way of "paying back" Mike for what he did to Terence in a way. (Although I don't believe that). Then he knew what it was like to be mistreated. He was no longer the breadwinner for Sony.

smoothcriminal12 said:

mozfonky said:

He was successful.

It's odd though, I mean the album was released like 12 years after the fact. I still think it might've been unrelated but who knows?

Oh, I know it was unrelated, but I meant that it was like God's way of "paying back" Mike for what he did to Terence in a way. (Although I don't believe that). Then he knew what it was like to be mistreated. He was no longer the breadwinner for Sony.

Good point.

Timmy84 said:

mozfonky said:

the terence thing would be bad if true. I loved terence and considered him in the same league as an artist. However, I honestly thought there were more factors. The market was changing, Terence was still toying around with prince and Mj's 80's stuff in an era where hip-hop and grunge were taking over. And Terence cannot blame anyone but himself for the miscalculation of his second album. I loved it but it was too premature to make a concept album, and his mouth didn't help him a bit. I honestly think it was more due to timing that TTD did not do more, he was really about 5 years too late.

Yeah I definitely think that played more into why Terence's second album bombed the way it did. The music scene definitely was changing that even WITH the promotion it wouldn't have done what Hardline did and Terence was quite cocky himself saying his debut was as great as Sgt. Pepper's.

And I do recall when it came out, it was covered well, I was a fan so I know. I still have the intereviews and stuff. MTV gave him another documentary but it seemed that it just wasn't going to work. All great artists do work (in my opinion) which often rivals or surpasses any of their popular stuff but it just doesn't get anyone's attention. I think the Fish album had some great stuff on it, but so have a lot of Prince's and MJ's later albums, sometimes it just don't matter. It has to be frustrating for the artist and I'd assume that's where they get the quibbles with their companies but listen, if rap and hip hop could take over without any real help, radio play or any of that, it goes to show, the hype only matters so much. You have to have an audience ready to hear you too.

mozfonky said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah I definitely think that played more into why Terence's second album bombed the way it did. The music scene definitely was changing that even WITH the promotion it wouldn't have done what Hardline did and Terence was quite cocky himself saying his debut was as great as Sgt. Pepper's.

And I do recall when it came out, it was covered well, I was a fan so I know. I still have the intereviews and stuff. MTV gave him another documentary but it seemed that it just wasn't going to work. All great artists do work (in my opinion) which often rivals or surpasses any of their popular stuff but it just doesn't get anyone's attention. I think the Fish album had some great stuff on it, but so have a lot of Prince's and MJ's later albums, sometimes it just don't matter. It has to be frustrating for the artist and I'd assume that's where they get the quibbles with their companies but listen, if rap and hip hop could take over without any real help, radio play or any of that, it goes to show, the hype only matters so much. You have to have an audience ready to hear you too.

I agree with this. This was the start of Terence's troubles with the industry also.