Uncle Rog (man that feels weird),

I'm a long time comicbook reader and a big fan of your work. Thanks for all the hours of enjoyment you've given me.

Anywho - I've noticed in some newer books (Ultimate Spider-Man hardcover) and in interviews with creators about recent books that it seems like the editors are making the stories, and the writers are secondary to that. What I mean is, the editor says: "OK - here's what's going to happen with Joe Schmoe for the next year. We need you to hit this point in issue 4, be here by issue 8 and at issue 12, this is where Schmoe will be."

My question is - was it always this hamfisted? Seems like the 80s Marvels (my personal Golden Age) weren't that way. Maybe I'm wrong. It just seems like the creators back then were allowed to, you know, create.

As far as editorial mandates go these days, I'm a bit out of the loop.

Back in the day, editors certainly made suggestions, and sometimes asked if I could include in one of my stories a scene that touched on events in some other title. It was usually no trouble, and I was happy to do it. If there was ever anything I felt uncomfortable doing, I said so.

Of course, I was occasionally fired, so...

--- Uncle Rog

Since you mentioned occasionally including events from other titles I'm curious about something. What was your take on Secret Wars (both versions)? Avengers #266 was a special epilogue to Secret Wars 2 and I was slightly surprised to see it done in the Avengers. Was #266 something that was requested from above? How did that issue come about.

Thanks (belatedly - I've been out of the loop for a while) for the info.