It's really sad that comics retailers that are already struggling with a pandemic and shutdowns/lockdowns now have this to stress over.
It's really sad that comics retailers that are already struggling with a pandemic and shutdowns/lockdowns now have this to stress over.
That's not going to be worth it. Why would anyone pay £8 for a copy of Detective Comics in the shop when you can get it digitally for £3? If Panini were to expand their Collectors Editions line (which currently comprises six Marvel titles and one DC one), they'd be undercutting the US releases too, at £4.50 for a mag that reprints two comics (so equivalent to £2.25 per issue).
Yeah, Ms. Marvel's getting a live action TV show and has been in several cartoons. She didn't exist yet seven years ago. And look at DC Super Hero Girls. It's cast includes Jessica Cruz - who debuted only five years ago (in the final year of New 52 Justice League). If there were no new comics, those characters wouldn't exist. So yeah, R&D for other media is definitely a reason to keep them going.
Appreciation Thread Indexes
Marvel | Spider-Man | X-Men | NEW!! DC Comics | Batman | Superman | Wonder Woman
Good news! I hope. Someone at DC is thinking innovatively. I'm old enough to remember when comic books could be found in places other than comic shops, or graphic novels stuffed away in the magazine section of Wallmart.
That being said, I think innovative ways to get digital downloads to the public is important, (My idea; a link to a Black Lightning comic that could be found on the netflix Black Lightning tv show) comics have to be made more accessible and visible to non comic fans.
I worry about DC, they seem to have owners who are willing to cut them loose, and not willing to put a dime into DC Comics, despite the fact that the licensing of their intellectual property, has made AT&T billions of dollars.
I think it's a stone cold move to pull right now when a lot of shops are struggling and not sure if they'll be able to overcome their losses from the shutdown.
But I also think that, for DC itself, this is as good a time as any to branch out and try something different.
Whether it's good or not....time will tell. This will just be one aspect of a larger shift, and I don't think we'll be able to tell if it pans out or not until everything is said and done.
I definitely think that had a part to play. I think the timing and composition were just a little off, and I think fans expected too much too. Those of us who read the original series probably look at it with rose colored lenses and demanded more from the new book than was likely reasonable (I did anyway; I was blinded by the idea of getting the YJ4 back together and didn't think about all the issues I thought were just "meh"), and fans of the cartoon didn't get much that they recognized....assuming those fans are reading comics in the first place.
That's my suspicion. I think DC wants to push into bookstore OGN's. Easier to produce, longer shelf life, etc. I'm guessing they're looking at doubling down on digital too, from the way they're shifting books to digital first. That one will be interesting; we can look at trade sales and manga and see a pretty clear indicator of the potential success there, especially with some marketing effort behind it. But digital is still largely a unknown factor; no major publisher has really tried to adapt to the structure of the format, they've just made regular comics and scanned them into a file instead of printing them. It'd be interesting to see a serious push here, with changes to production models to match.
Hasn't Marvel straight up said as much? And I'm pretty sure Jim Lee did too, after taking over as sole publisher. The goal now is larger media adaptation.....with a evergreen trade on the shelf as a very, very distant second, and quality product for the Wednesday Warrior trailing behind in a shuffling third place.
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
~ Black Panther.
To the people saying that physical comics are dead. They make to much money and are large enough they wont get cut.
As for the stores saying they'll drop DC comics, let them go under their is no god dam way DC dosent offer discounts to match or other ways of compensating for the change so complaing about cost shouldn't be a problem and the extra work should be trimmed down as time goes on.
As long as this forces the industry to finaly adapt to the current climate we're taking a win
Don't forget other media has used guys that have lived in limbo or the scrap heap.
Look at Rocket Raccoon-he had a FAILED mini series in the 80s. Now look at him.
Remember Jamal Igle said Dc has made 5 billion for WB. You can cut monthlies and toss out OGNs all you like and still R& D.That or R&D. When you look at how much modern comics have had an influence on a lot of the movies and TV shows (both Marvel and DC), that's probably a major factor in why they're still published despite not bringing in a whole hell of a lot of money.
EVERYBODY has said that. Look at all the low selling and even HATED by a certain group books that are getting movie and tv deals.Hasn't Marvel straight up said as much? And I'm pretty sure Jim Lee did too, after taking over as sole publisher.
No one is saying they are dead. However the package they come in will change.To the people saying that physical comics are dead.
You can't keep using a monthly floppy to justify not doing certain books.
It's is NOT the fault of DC that a solo book starring Black Lightning can't sell in a comic book store. Book quality be DANGED.
I saw a HORRIBLE book called Black Panther World of Wakanda-outsell on Amazon (BEFORE that movie) every DC Rebirth book including Batman and did it for almost 2 years.
That is the one thing about trades-you can have a CRAPPY book but one movie or tv show can get it sales-see Coates Black Panther.
Considering they several store wanted digital issues to not only go up in price but be delayed 3 months and have trades only hold popular issues of the run(and cant go past 4 volumes) because why adapt when you can alienate everyon who dosent by single issues and view those comic fans as lesser/outsiders makes watching them squirm worth it. I dont care if this makes me come off as psychotic, the reasion manga and web toons are so big is they pushed for a massive ease of access and there material can be gotten anywhere. Diamond's hand in creating that mentality caused more damage to the industry the this change ever will
The BC article basically said that the cost of printing is getting too high to keep doing. They aren't getting a return on their investment. Do I think the big names like Superman and Batman will be cut right away? No. But the experimental books are probably gone. They just cancelled a bunch of dollar books and reprints and some sources are speculating the Wal-Mart books line is finished and already moving to all digital. Keep in mind, AT&T is a telecommunications company that inherited a publishing division. That doesn't mean they want one.
Assassinate Putin!
They want the IPs and potential content. From the gossip it’s not that they want to stop print, but they want change how they print.
I wish I could collect everything DC and IF they put out LESS titles with BETTER quality overall I WILL
The very idea that they're trying to run away from monthly books is pretty chilling because I can't see a real interconnected universe surviving that changeover. It's not the continuity so much as the connectivity that I'd miss.
I was planning a trip to my shop in the morning and I'm curious on their thoughts. Worst case scenario, I get my DC books online and get my indies from them. I'm sure they'd hate that, but if they decide to boycott DC I'll just have to split my business. Hope it doesn't come to that, I really love my LCS.
Pretty soon WB and Disney won't even bother basing movies and TV shows on comic book characters. They will just start creating them onscreen and say it's IP from the comics.
Appreciation Thread Indexes
Marvel | Spider-Man | X-Men | NEW!! DC Comics | Batman | Superman | Wonder Woman
I've been lurking but don't really get it but this I get. Thank you.
This I don't. Isn't this hurting themselves because they bought them at full price?
I don't mind this since from a new or less well-to-do reader perspective, the less book in a shared universe the better because it's easier and cheaper to keep up, while for authors and editors it's easier to manage consistency, while the less profitable but popular characters can go to OGN or digital
Last edited by Restingvoice; 06-06-2020 at 02:41 AM.