Although G and I bowed out of working full-time for Gemstone in the Spring of '04 and returned to the freelance life in AZ, we stayed on as contributors to the Disney comics. G edited and midwifed the Takealongs, while I continued to do color for stories and setting up/coloring the covers for Uncle Scrooge, WDC&S and others. It all went well for a few years but in 2007 the cracks in Gemstone's facade started to turn into canyons, and by Spring of '08 late payments had turned into non-payments.
We weren't the only ones not getting paid by Gemstone, and while the amounts were significant to us, they were small compared to the outstanding bills they had with bigger vendors (and probably still do). So we cut our losses, gave our sympathies to long-time friend and co-worker John Clark, and were totally not surprised when Gemstone Comics was eventually given the boot, along with most of its remaining employees.
As the saw goes though, it was fun while it lasted. Sort of. Doing Disney comics with Gemstone as compared to doing them at Gladstone/Another Rainbow was the difference between going to a big chain cafeteria and dining at a small family-run diner: the big cafeteria is shiny and seems to have endless choices and potential, but nothing tastes good, the restrooms are skanky, the tables are never bussed and you have to wait forever to get the check. The diner has good days and bad days, but the food always shows up on time, somebody's paying attention in the kitchen, the servers are attentive, and while the owners may have the occasional meltdown (okay, fairly regular meltdowns), they care about the business and always pay the staff.
As to the image of Uncle Scrooge 338 pictured above, it's one of the covers I colored during happier days for Gemstone. Since it was a Valentine's cover I added a background image of cascading hearts and was quite pleased with how the whole thing came together. (I'm sure some people hated it, which is fine.)
However, I never received a copy of the issue and according to John, neither did the editorial department. I knew from personal experience that stuff meant for the editorial department, like proofs and original material and preview copies from the printer, often got sidetracked or 'lost' on its way through the maze of the Diamond in-house delivery system. (Usually into one of Steve's many offices.) The printer copies of this issue met such a fate. Or maybe they fell off the truck, who knows. I think all that stuff had to go through Jersey. (Kidding, Jerseyites.)
If anyone out there reading this has a copy of Uncle Scrooge 338 and wants to trade, let me know. I've got a ton o' stuff, I'm sure we can come up with something.
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