Kenny at the Forbidden Planet International blog confirms something I’d long suspected from the countless “OMG i luv you gerard” comments generated by any Umbrella Academy-related post: Gerard Way may be the answer to how to attract more teen girls to American comics.
I’m only partly joking. Kenny noticed the draw of the My Chemical Romance frontman on Free Comic Book Day, as a large number of girls flocked to the chain’s stores:
So what had the descending hordes wanted? — the latest Spider-Man movie tie-in would have been the one you expected I’d guess — but no it was The Umbrella Academy, the Dark Horse comic written by Gerard Way — the lead singer and frontman in the hugely popular band My Chemical Romance. Now this was crossover in action — OK Stephen King might bring his readers to buy his comic but I personally doubt many of them will be coming back for more comics past the next Stephen King one but the Gerard Way crowd now that’s a different matter. Gerard has stated he loves comics and now he has his own and his fans who are devoted, in a way very few fans are, will no doubt want to buy the comic and WILL try other comics if they like this one. I can imagine these girls buying into the new Minx line from DC and various Manga titles. If Gerard recommends other comics I could see them checking them out.
The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, the six-issue miniseries by Way, Gabriel Ba and Dave Stewart, debuts from Dark Horse in September. No word yet on a “Gerard Way Presents” imprint of graphic novels.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:50 am
What is your source? How do you know the name of the series and that it debuts in September?
May 10th, 2007 at 11:53 am
From Dark Horse’s solicitations for August/September/October.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Well, I guess gerard wrote a book, but it isn’t Umbrella ACademy, it may have the last name Way, it doesn’t mean that gerard wrote it
P.S.
I’m a girl, that;s just mah nickname, my reall name is Michael