Dynamite GOLD KEY relaunch - Turok, Magnus, Solar and Dr Spektor

[Shadowras]

GK Jan 2015 solicits:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/10/...ey-characters/

[md62]

Thanks. Good to see the line continue. Still think #12 will be the last issues for each book.

[Dylan Davison]

GK Jan 2015 solicits:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/10/...ey-characters/

Yay! Guess this means that Solar is not canceled.

Thanks. Good to see the line continue. Still think #12 will be the last issues for each book.

Idk Frank seems to have plans for Solar, they have not even hinted at the line ending, and they are not selling that bad right? Late 5k to close to 7k depending on the book. It's not good, but it's not bad. Chaos line is selling worse, I don't even see them in the top 300. I am a optimistic person I guess.

[md62]

...they are not selling that bad right? Late 5k to close to 7k depending on the book. It's not good, but it's not bad.

My fear? Each month they lose 500-600 so by #12 they would only be around 3K.

[Captain Craig]

Glad to see Dr. Spektor popping up in Solar #10, that he hasn't been forgotten.

[Shadowras]

Glad to see Dr. Spektor popping up in Solar #10, that he hasn't been forgotten.

Yeah, we are finally getting a glimpse of a shared universe.

[fumetti]

March sales figures for Gold Key titles:

Turok #2...11,296. Down from 30,722 for #1.

Magnus #1...27,497.

Sales of Dark Horse Gold Key (2010-11):

Solar #1 - 22,630. #2 - 13,715. #3 - 10,115. #4 - 8677. #5 - 7778. #6 - 7046. #7 - 6833. #8 - 6229.
Magnus #1 - 17,729. #2 - 11,168. #3 - 8890. #4 - 7795.
Turok #1 - 12,607. #2 - 8,015. #3 - 6821. #4 - 6257.
Samson #1 - 7814. #2 - 4914. #3 - 4359. #4 - ?

I dropped Solar because the character was switched to a female. I don't buy these kinds of books just for the logo--I want the character.

I dropped Magnus because it wasn't very good. Didn't feel right. I think it had too many "tv" elements to it.

I dropped Dr. Spektor because it was nothing but a tv show. I hated every panel.


I disliked this launch so much that I have now officially abandoned any interest in any more Gold Key revivals. I guess Shooter's Valiant line was a fluke. I haven't enjoyed any of the efforts after he left the first time.

IMO, nobody seems to want to bring back the originals so much as exploit their looks/logos/name recognition. I've had enough of that.

I've already given these away. I don't want them taking up space in my house.

[Ed Love]

I dropped Solar because the character was switched to a female. I don't buy these kinds of books just for the logo--I want the character.

I dropped Magnus because it wasn't very good. Didn't feel right. I think it had too many "tv" elements to it.

(SNIP)

IMO, nobody seems to want to bring back the originals so much as exploit their looks/logos/name recognition. I've had enough of that.

You do recognize the contradiction in your statements? This is far closer to Shooter's Valiant version of Solar in spirit than his was to the actual original Gold Key take.

Otherwise I agree with you in spirit. I'd like to see a book that actually was the continued adventures of Dr. Solar, the Man of the Atom. Yet, I find the writing and art in these books to be strong and appropriate to the titles and amazingly consistent, no real strong artist on the first issue and a degradation in quality with each subsequent issue. Magnus especially is an amazingly complex book, there's some subtle stuff going on that I almost think that there is some depth to the robot culture/society that is there by accident: the sentient robots go out of their way to act MORE robotic, even when they are mimicking humans, it's following programming and orders and not out of expressing free will or choice and the society actually represses that mark of sentience to the point of actively destroying the robots who don't follow the orders and their programming ie the ones that are truly displaying they are sentient and not simply robots. The attitude so influences everything they do, that their "sins" are part of their programming and not of real desire, that you have to question how much of the political power struggle is real or just the individuals following along their programmed behavior. I'm not sure a total reboot of Magnus was needed to tell this story... it could have been a remote robot society that the Gold Key Magnus finds himself stranded in. Still, it takes a lot of tropes I generally dislike (such as the Jar Jar Binks robot with his annoying anachronistic racial based speech patterns) and turn it into a compelling read each month. I have to keep reminding myself these books come from Dynamite and not Dark Horse. Not following either Dr. Mirage or Spektor... I think the original versions of these were a bit unique and bot books shun that. I liked the first arc of Shadowman, but with the new writer and artist, it was taking it down a much darker path than I was interested in.

This is probably the best and most intriguing version of Solar since Shooter was kicked out of Valiant. He/She has all this power but is very prone to making human mistakes in interacting with people. The interpersonal conflicts of personality, points of view, and history of resentment and detachment is all well done. I don't want to like the book, I've yet to add it to my pull list, but I find myself compelled to buy it each month waiting for it to cross the line. I am especially glad to see the writer have new issues of "The Five Ghosts of Fabian Gray" coming out (don't know why Dynamite didn't get them to do Dr. Spektor as their style in Five Ghosts is perfectly suited for it).

[Geralt of Rivia]

Magnus and Leeja finally bonding fighting a common threat in the latest issue was quite welcome, and Van Lente's way of having her realize she's been living a lie through a novel about freedom is something I can quite agree with. Im really enjoying the book so far, hope it'll last.

[midas73]

Magnus and Leeja finally bonding fighting a common threat in the latest issue was quite welcome, and Van Lente's way of having her realizing she's been living a lie through a novel about freedom is something I can quite agree with. Im really enjoying the book so far, hope it'll last.

I'm really enjoying this book too. As with everything he's done lately, Van Lente is writing a deep story with lots of crazy elements, like the robots' religions. That's some great stuff that I don't think just anybody could pull off.

[Captain Craig]

Magnus is clearly the standout title, that we all seem to largely agree on.
I will say after being down on Turok it's finally coming around. Still not my favorite iteration of the character though. It's battling for last place with the Acclaim version.

[Geralt of Rivia]

I'm really enjoying this book too. As with everything he's done lately, Van Lente is writing a deep story with lots of crazy elements, like the robots' religions. That's some great stuff that I don't think just anybody could pull off.

Oh sh!t I mixed up Van Lente with Pak

Fixed :P

[midas73]

Oh sh!t I mixed up Van Lente with Pak

Fixed :P

Hah! I didn't even notice that. I went in and fixed the quote too!

[Shadowras]

Sad news Turok and Magnus ends in February!
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/11/...g-in-february/

[hondobrode]

Yeah but Magnus was hinting at perhaps something else later.