Chris Ryall offers Apology for Errors in Spotlight Grimlock

[tfbot]

IDW Publishing's Editor in Chief Chris Ryall has issued an apology over the various errors and problems encountered in he recent release of "Spotlight: Grimlock" over on the IDW Forums.

You can read the full apology below:

"my job, everything I've worked toward in my life, the thing I care about most, is words. So while it doesn't help you since its your money buying these comics, at least you should know that these errors hurt me to a degree far worse than they do you. That doesn't make it right, it just means I'm with you. We all are. None of us work the hours we work with the express purpose of delivering inferior product. So first, I'm sorry these happened. I always am. GRIMLOCK is a book that many people, including Simon, have patiently waited for, and to finally put it out with careless errors is unfortunate, to say the least.

How do these things happen? Many reasons, not least of which is the sheer demands required to produce comics every month. That's not an excuse, just explanation that with so many things happening on deadline at once, human error is going to be a factor at times. So if a project like this doesn't have someone's full concentration, things can slip by. The balloon placement slipped by at all levels, from editorial to licensor. It happens. You can have 20 people see a book and an error can slip by, or one person can handle a project and it can come out fine.

Denton wasn't even with the company when this issue was approved to print. He's blameless (this time!). And editorial flux isn't a good excuse, but it is a good reason.

This particular book was running incredibly late, and in order to get it done and out, multiple colorists pitched in, leading to variances in style. But I'm not pointing fingers at an editor or a colorist or anything else, I'm just saying we try our best and sometimes our best needs tuning up. I think we're at a good place now, and Denton is a great asset. So is Mowry. So while it's foolish to say this won't happen again--printing errors happen at all levels, up to and including menus, bibles, and probably this post--it's not foolish to say we're doing what we can to fix any past problems.

By the way, don't think I have any problem with anyone pointing these things out. You pays your money to buy our comic, you earns yourself the right to whatever opinion you have, as long as it's expressed politely here. These things, regrettable as they are, serve as flashpoints to remind everyone not to slack off and to try that much harder.

I'm sick of saying "we'll fix it in the trade," but we do our best to fix errors when we find them. We have no idea if anyone will care about the Beast Wars Sourcebook TPB, but man, did the editor on that, Justin, and the production person spend a lot of time--as did Ben Yee--doing their best to make it right this time around.

Let me just reiterate again that I hate letting you guys down. We certainly try our best not to do that and to prove worthy of your hard-earned cash."

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