The Chicago Sun-Times has announced it’s one of 122 newspapers nationwide that will begin running reprints of some of the original Spider-Man comic books in its Sunday editions.
This Sunday, the Sun-Times will insert a reprint of Amazing Fantasy #15, from August 1962, followed by Amazing Spider-Man #1 from March 1963. The reprints will appear through December.
The reprints run as part of an agreement announced last November between Marvel Entertainment and News America Marketing, a division of News Corp.
According to the original press release, “the comic book will have a circulation of 10 million across major metro markets throughout the U.S.” However, it isn’t clear how that figure was determined. News America boasts a network of more than 1,100 newspapers, but according to the Sun-Times story just 122 will participate in the reprints. So I’m guessing the actual circulation will be quite a bit lower.
Still it’s nice to see newspapers return to comic-book inserts. Very retro.
Of course, I also wonder who the audience is for the reprints. Do kids even read newspapers? And if they do, how will they respond to the quirks of 40-year-old comic storytelling?
Related: Another newspaper announces inserts, gives Spidey-primerÂ
August 16th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
I think kids would respond to ‘40 year old comic storytelling’ because 40 years ago the storytelling was more straight forward, not decompressed like it is today. Most of these storys were done in one issue. This is a good thing.
August 16th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Yeah, I don’t think there’s any “quirks of 40-year old comic storytelling”.
The kids were the target audience back then, so the storytelling is very clear.
As you well know, Kevin.
August 16th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
“As you well know, Kevin”? Did I miss something?
August 17th, 2006 at 7:00 am
The whole “quirks of 40-year old comic storytelling” thing.
You make it sound like 40-year old comics are hard(er) to read, when we both know that storytelling back then was generally more clear than what we’re getting today.
August 17th, 2006 at 8:51 am
I didn’t say anything about 40-year-old comics being “harder(er) to read.”
August 18th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
I’d say you implied it.
But maybe we just have different views on the word “quirks”.
August 18th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
That may be it.
August 18th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
August 21st, 2006 at 10:10 am
Strange… every article I find online about these free comics says it’s only through dec 17. However, my local paper will be including them through august of next year (46 issues total).
August 21st, 2006 at 10:38 am
I’ve seen other, later articles from other newspapers that will carry the inserts longer.
Maybe the Sun-Times is only running them for a limited or trial period.