Archie Comics: Dark Circle Comics (2015)

[Captain Craig]

Fox #1 was indeed tonally different and that's a good thing, as it shows some variety in their line. Visually it was fun & yet the art was still to my liking. The sense of a family dynamic had me instantly thinking of Animal Man in that regard. Waid laid out several threads to revisit and follow up on over the course of the next few issues if not arcs.

So I'm curious where on the tonal scale then Shield and Hangman will fall? Somewhere between each of these or push the scale further in each direction?

[Dylan Davison]

Fox #1 was indeed tonally different and that's a good thing, as it shows some variety in their line. Visually it was fun & yet the art was still to my liking. The sense of a family dynamic had me instantly thinking of Animal Man in that regard. Waid laid out several threads to revisit and follow up on over the course of the next few issues if not arcs.

So I'm curious where on the tonal scale then Shield and Hangman will fall? Somewhere between each of these or push the scale further in each direction?

I am thinking The Shield will be in between a bit. Its doing to be lighter then Black Hood, but I am sure it will have its moments of darkness. And darker then The Fox, but may have light moments. Its going to be a superhero spy story. I am super excited for that to start in June!

With The Hangman, who knows. It may end up being darker the Black Hood. After all he hangs people.

[Bslythegamerguy]

Yeah.....

Didn't love it. The art was stylized for the kind of comic it is but it was poor, reminds me a lot of early Invincible from Image. The story was dull too and every page was a chore, I don't know what it is but this book just didn't hit home whatsoever.

[Javasaurus]

Yeah.....

Didn't love it. The art was stylized for the kind of comic it is but it was poor, reminds me a lot of early Invincible from Image. The story was dull too and every page was a chore, I don't know what it is but this book just didn't hit home whatsoever.

I can see the logic in your summary of this issue; but for me it hit home on several levels. Being a father, the interaction between the Fox and his son was pretty interesting to me; so was the encounter between The Fox and his old girlfriend.

Considering all of this, I just see it as a sign that the publisher is trying to position different titles across the spectrum so that any reader can find something to appreciate in at least one or two books of the product line. It's not a bad thing. What would be bad is trying to make any particular title something that appeals to every possible type of reader. That's a recipe for failure IMO.

The bottom line for me is that I'm willing see how the rest of this opening arc goes to see if I want to commit long term. I already have three other titles on my pull list that have the whole family dynamics thing as an element. So the Fox is going to have to shine in order to earn a place. If is does a good job, then it may bump one of those other titles.

[Dylan Davison]

Preview for The Black Hood #3!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...mics-2015-2015

[Bslythegamerguy]

The preview for The Black Hood #3 looks fantastic, can't wait to be able to read it shortly. I am so in love with this book.

[Javasaurus]

I just finished issue #3 of the Black Hood, and I like where this story is going. Swierczynski really knows his craft IMO. The way he develops and progresses characters makes it easy to get caught up in the story. The ending of this issue was pretty clever; ending with strong sense of tension that makes you really want to see what happens next.

[Aomalle27]

Ditto.... Duane is just utilizing all his skills to craft this book. This issue furthers the plot points; delves deeper into Hettinger as a person, and the demons he struggles with; and leaves the book on an awesome not with that final page. ( though I did see that coming from a mile away; waaaaay to many movies and pulp novels under my belt) Didn't like the grindhouse cover but the cemetary cover and the redbook covers were both amazing. Hoping this line thrives cause Im loving it so far. Hoping they stay on this more adult oriented rift too; don't wanna see it go all cartoony. Any news on when Hangman drops? Or the Shield for that matter?

[Dylan Davison]

Ditto.... Duane is just utilizing all his skills to craft this book. This issue furthers the plot points; delves deeper into Hettinger as a person, and the demons he struggles with; and leaves the book on an awesome not with that final page. ( though I did see that coming from a mile away; waaaaay to many movies and pulp novels under my belt) Didn't like the grindhouse cover but the cemetary cover and the redbook covers were both amazing. Hoping this line thrives cause Im loving it so far. Hoping they stay on this more adult oriented rift too; don't wanna see it go all cartoony. Any news on when Hangman drops? Or the Shield for that matter?

No news on Hangman yet, but The Shield starts in June! Which I am excited for. I hope you guys check it out.

Also don't forget the free comic book day issue out May 2nd. It may show us more Hangman info, but it will have a awesome preview for The Shield in it.

I have yet to read The Black Hood #3, final few weeks of my college is a lot of work haha. But I am reading it before bed, so I will post about it then!

Edit:
Read it! I thought it was amazing, things are really moving forward for Black Hood and it's really a great tale that Duane is telling for the character, the art and coloring just work so great for it as well. I can't wait to see what happens next! And man that last page, I need a poster of that!

[Bslythegamerguy]

Picked up my copy of The Black Hood #3 and holy $&!? this book is seriously the best thing since hot lesbian porn! Seriously though, it's damn good. This issue was my favorite yet with little things such as his arrest and booking coupled with his day in work life was fascinating to me, but seeing The Black Hood in action toward the end of the issue was what truly blew me away. I'm starting to feel like I really am getting to know the main character and it's really cool, he's becoming like a friend to me.

I still think he's going to bang his speech coach, but maybe that's just me....

[Javasaurus]

Picked up my copy of The Black Hood #3 and holy $&!? this book is seriously the best thing since hot lesbian porn! Seriously though, it's damn good. This issue was my favorite yet with little things such as his arrest and booking coupled with his day in work life was fascinating to me, but seeing The Black Hood in action toward the end of the issue was what truly blew me away. I'm starting to feel like I really am getting to know the main character and it's really cool, he's becoming like a friend to me.

I still think he's going to bang his speech coach, but maybe that's just me....

Dude, I almost laughed and spewed my coffee while reading that comparison.

The story and the character really are unfolding in a good way. I'm with you in thinking that there is something brewing between Hettinger and his speech therapist; I'm just not sure what it is or where it's heading. But that's part of the fun.

[Bslythegamerguy]

Dude, I almost laughed and spewed my coffee while reading that comparison.

The story and the character really are unfolding in a good way. I'm with you in thinking that there is something brewing between Hettinger and his speech therapist; I'm just not sure what it is or where it's heading. But that's part of the fun.

They definitely have hinted at it already with the way she is keeping up with him and seems to believe in him. Also, the scene in issue #3 where they touch hands and he mentions she seems to look past his disfigured face when talking to him shows that we may see something happen in time. Good stuff!

[Bslythegamerguy]

I gotta say, with The Black Hood being phenomenal and The Hangman looking like it's going to be a fun book too, coupled with the hope of seeing this line expand with The Crusaders and other characters in their bank I'm thinking Dark Circle is going to be successful in that they will profit from these books. It's all in the back end and if they're not paying licensing fees (which they aren't) and if they have a good printing deal worked out where it isn't costing them an arm and a leg to produce these books than I could see this line lasting a very long time, if not indefinitely.

If the books are profitable despite low orders than I sincerely hope they can look past the order numbers and try to increase them instead of cancel the books and enjoy what profit they're making. Let's be honest here, Archie isn't a bestselling book month in and month out yet it's been in print for decades, the Dark Circle books should be in the same boat but with possibly higher orders than older Archie digests. Time shall tell.

[Aomalle27]

Actually; Archie does a brisk business on newsstand; which isn't included in Diamonds nukbers (ie comichron)
Plus with digital; you have another market then you also have the trades... So numbers can be misleading. Im just wondering what % of the comic purchasing is done by people under 20; thats where the industry needs for it to thrive;10-20 yrs old should be the Majority of their readership otherwise the whole industry is in trouble.

[Starchild]

I'm obsessed with this Black Hood book. It's like X: The Remix


I have yet to check out The Fox though. I haven't enjoyed Waid's recent work.