>>91167089>the issues that got Sega to step in and put their foot down on Penders bullshitI love this meme, because it makes absolutely no sense.
First, Ken willingly stopped working for Archie according to everyone involved. According to the man himself, (although he wasn't as blunt about it) he was butthurt that he got shoved off main writer for a newbie. Given it was the third time in ten years he was given the reigns for several months only to have them snatched back the second someone else showed interest in taking the slot, his fruatration is understandable.
Second, Ken isn't even behind this story's concept and tone.The former editor, Justin Gabrie, sold the company YEARS worth of inventory stories under a pen name, which led to his immediate firing and the promotion of his assistant Mike Pellerito to editor. Pellerito let Bollers' final story of consequence (Return to Angel Island) run its course and gave Ken a few extra issues to wrap up MXYL, but from 145-170 each issue was mostly burning through Gabrie's stories while Mike was working with a new intern (Ian) to sort out continuity and soft relaunch the book. As a result, up until 171 the non-inventory content was Mike giving guidelines on cleaning up continuity problems and creating flash in the pan stories to boost sales and mask the inventory burn. So Ken gets told he has to write "4 issues of Sonic v Shadow v Metal Sonic" or "We need to retcon out Antoine's characterization and get over this Sally engagement subplot." The execution is his fault, but not the idea.
Third, Ken has nothing to do with the cover. That's between the artist and the editor.
Cont.
