Rob Liefeld Quits DC On Twitter, Names Names And Points Fingers

Rob Liefeld has quit DC Comics. What's that, you say? He did that last month? Well, yes - but that planned 2013 departure has been moved up significantly "to preserve my sanity," he told Twitter yesterday.Citing "too much BS," Liefeld announced that his final DC issues would appear next month instead of some time in 2013, explaining "I believe in what DC is doing, but had to preserve my sanity. I walked off all 3 books. Can't wait to see any attempts to spin. I have every email" (Tweet 1, Tweet 2).

Juggling an overall enthusiasm for his time with the publisher - "Never thought the Image section of my book would be topped. This last year was a humdinger. The DC52 chapters will go top all of it," he said, adding later that "I loved all the work I did there regardless of the struggle. I think the DC 52 was/is positive for comics" - and disdain for his personal experience ("Next time a little DC editor wants to show me how big his little pecker is---oh, right that's over for good," he tweeted, going on to identify the editor in question as associate editor Brian Smith), the creator described his reasons for leaving earlier than intended by saying:

Reasons are the same as everyone's that you hear. I lasted a few months longer than I thought possible. Massive indecision, last minute and I mean LAST minute changes that alter everything. Editor pissing contests... No thanks. Last week my editor said 'early on we had a lot of indie talent that weren't used to re-writes and changes ... made it hard.' Uh, no, it's you.

(Tweet 1, Tweet 2, Tweet 3).

The titles that Liefeld will be leaving are Deathstroke -which he both writes and pencils - The Savage Hawkman and Grifter, both titles he plots and provides cover art for. Issues for all three books have been solicited with Liefeld's involvement through November.

Talking about what he'll be doing instead of the DC work, Liefeld promised a return to his creator-owned work with the Extreme line at Image, saying "Bloodstrike, Brigade and a new title are in my future. And there is another media component yet to be released...."

With this tweet storm, Liefeld becomes just the latest high-profile creator to quit DC's New 52 in recent months (Others include George Perez - who left Superman over editorial constraints and last-minute rewrites, although he is currently drawing World's Finest for the publisher - Grant Morrison and Chris Roberson), but also one of the most vocal critics of the current system at the company. Not that he thinks it'll do any good. When a fan suggested that Liefeld's comments would bring about a positive change at DC, he responded, "I assure you, it will not."