There’s no getting around it. The big news of this week was Marvel’s Digital Comics Unlimited program launching, beginning a move of their back catalog online for subscribers to rent and read. Everyone was talking about it, everyone had an opinion about it, and the mothership went after creators for theirs. Keith Giffen, for example:
I guess, deep down where I live, I don’t care. Sound a bit harsh? Yeah, I guess it does. Something like this has been, pretty much, inevitable so it really comes as no surprise to me. Marvel wants to see if it can utilize the web? Good luck to them.
(To be fair to Marvel, Keith’s disinterest was a line item in his new, DC-exclusive, contract.)
As would be expected, retailers also had an opinion or two; Vaneta Rogers took note of those:
“I think it’s a natural knee jerk reaction by the retailer to immediately get defensive about this announcement,” said [Jason] Pierce of Alter Ego Comics. “In a way it does feel like a slap in the face by Marvel, but ultimately I don’t think this will affect the local comic store significantly…..yet. If circumstances change then that is when retailers should take a stand and fight back. ComicsPRO is out there and this is a great example why retailers should join and be prepared to fight for our industry.”
ComicsPRO’s very own Brian Hibbs also had something to say about the matter:
I think what I’m hoping for from this is to reach out to people beyond the existing markets, to draw more people into the hobby and medium – but that will take a fairly large promotion and advertising initiative, and Marvel has typically been adverse to spending money to make more. But it seems to me that this program is unlikely to work without reaching way past the existing readers.
And, it seems to me, that if that can be done, then we’ve got a good shot at creating new long-term readers who learn that they actually enjoy the form of comics, and will seek out the physical copies. That can’t help but be good for everyone.
(As a side note, Brian’s store is called Comix Experience. It’s pretty well known, and a pretty great store. You can tell that it’s been an inspiration to former Marvel editor Andy Schmidt, who’s named his new educational venture Comics Experience in its honor. Andy on his new gig: “Comics Experience is the only place to get access to the skills and tools that a creator needs to get up and running on his or her own two feet. It’s not just about becoming a better writer or artist - although that’s clearly a huge part of it - but it’s also about the industry, about how to network, how to connect, how the business is run, and how to find the other people you need to get off the ground… Comics Experience is the only place to get your career started now.”)
Elsewhere this week, it was all about change. DC took the lead in market share in October! Although, don’t worry, Marvel fans - they’re working on making their books prettier by bringing in artists like Daniel Acuna and Rolan Boschi and winning the aesthetic dollar. But back to change: Love and Rockets shifts to an annual schedule and longer format! Hasbro starts looking for a new publisher for the GI Joe license! And most terrifyingly of all, the Hulk’s new son has a stupid name!
Thank God Hollywood never lets us down. Variety’s Tom McLean stopped by this week with three reports from the set of the far-forthcoming movie based on Will Eisner’s The Spirit, talking with writer/director Frank Miller and producer Deborah Del Prente about bringing the classic strip to the screen. Or, if you prefer your classics to be more rugged and flawed, then we also had Bruce Campbell for you:
It might be best to let the pundits analyze the evolution of a motion picture persona… Leave it to say that I am attracted to sassy, off-kilter material with odd stories and buffoons for lead characters. I like flawed, jerky people. Hollywood types were a great character study, in that regard. It’s all put there by fans. I never try to influence what people think of me. My job is to entertain the audience the best way I can and give them good value for their dollar. What happens beyond that is completely out of my control.
What’s that, you say? You thought Newsarama was a comic site? Well, that would explain the interviews with Gail Simone, Brian Reed and Ted Naifeh. I’m not sure how Michael Chabon talking about his latest novel snuck in there, though…
Maybe the best news of the week for non-Marvel Zombies with money to spare who are permanently hooked up to the internet, though, was this:
Dynamic Forces today announced that the company will be sending checks totaling at least $2,300 (with a personal contribution from Nick Barrucci of $1,000.00 and a corporate donation of $1,300.00) to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund as a result their pledge to donate 10% of all sales from November 1 through today to the Fund.
“Nick Barrucci & Dynamic Forces’ donation is coming at just the right time,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “When Nick announced DF’s pledge to donate proceeds to the Fund, we were expecting to be finished with the Gordon Lee trial by now. Nut now his check will now go towards paying for last week’s mistrial, and helping us prepare for the next steps in this ongoing case.”
Ah, Dynamic Forces. Say what you like about their signed variants and related nonsense, but this kind of giving back to the industry thing should always be applauded.
