MARK MILLAR: Black Wed wasn't caused by a state-controlled Bank of England. The Bank ALWAYS told the government where to peg the pound and what interests rates should be. He just wanted to avoid the sterling crisis that's greeted every labour govt of the 20th century by showing that they were as fiscally prudent as the Conservatives. What he did was take our economy away from elected reps and hand it over to unelected bankers (paving the way for a nightmare superstate), but that's another argument.

He's just been prudent like MacMillan or any other previous Chancellor (with the poss exception of Lawson), but we're a cork on high seas. The UK economy is entirely dependant on the world economy and, for every boom there must be a bust. It's just the way it works to stop things getting too out of control or else we end up with hyper-inflation and so on. It's also the way banks work and, like every other business, comics. Accept the boom and bust. It's the way it is and Brown's economic naivety is that he thinks he can control all the random forces that exists outside his red box. Four planes have made a serious dent in the insurance industry in New York. Multiply this by ten (not unfeasible) and you could f#@! things up quite royally. Likewise, when Bush goes for Syria or North Korea.

Speaking of celeb comic fans, wouldn't it be great if we outed all the movie and TV stars who dig this stuff. Stick a pair of 400 dollar sunglasses on Keanu and everyone wants a pair. Why don't we let people know that Keanu, Winona, Sam Jackson, Tarantino, etc, etc, etc, are major comic fans? I think this should be the brunt of our ad push. I'm pals with documentary film-makers over here and they've wanted to do something about comics. Wouldn't this be a great angle and loads of free publicity??

[Nick, as always, was still after some free publicity for himself.]

NICK BARRUCCI: With all due respect, if you guys can help send this out to as many sites as possible, it will carry a lot more weight then just me. As an industry, we need this to work. Please send this too as many sites as possible. I'm not trying to be pushy, but I am asking for your help to spread the word!

[And then to Joe Quesada's concerns.]

NICK BARRUCCI: Joe - you're right, the industry is full of self-loathing, resentful retailers that are pissed that they're not making tons of money (at least the ones that are left that started from 1990 to 1993). The rest of the self-loathers are just that.

The personal attacks on anyone in this industry are totally uncalled for.

Let's look at the bigger picture. You'll see in part 2. In the distributorship situation, only Marvel or DC can change that. But we can get retailers to band together and have constructive meetings with the publishers every quarter. That's the topic of part 2 hitting this afternoon.

Let's get there guys!

JOE QUESADA: Yeah, you're right Nick, we'll just do that later behind close doors. I calls them as I sees them. You want the self-loathers to walk around with impunity then don't point them out.

NICK BARRUCCI: No - that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that calling out anyone in this forum is just being kindergarten bullsh*t, and that's not what this is trying to be (at least not by me). So, I'd rather have the constructive criticism or support of my peers. Nothing else.

JOE QUESADA: What the hell are you talking about?

This from the guy who decided to tell everyone what was wrong with their Free Comic Book Day attempts? I see, with you it's constructive criticism but with me I'm calling people out.

For those unfamiliar with the way Nicky and I barb, we don't actually hate each other. I do spend an inordinate amount of time in my life busting his balls, however.

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