Back in July, we interviewed Atomic Robo co-creator Brian Clevinger on his newest Marvel project, an all-ages Cap series in the vein of Thor: The Mighty Avenger called Captain America: The Fighting Avenger. At the time, we asked, “What can you say about the format of the book?” and he gleefully responded, “It’s ongoing! My first ongoing title with Marvel. My plan is to drive it like I stole it so we’ll have had a great time with the title before they realize what a horrible mistake they’ve made!”
Plans changed — in this week’s Marvel April solicitations was clearly listed as a one-shot. Lest you think that’s just a clerical error, Clevinger clarified on his blog:
You may recall that this was intended to be an on-going series. It was downgraded to a four issue mini-series and then two issues — you get both of ‘em in this one-shot.
It’s not totally surprising for a couple of reasons: there’s a lot of Captain America material out there now as is, and with the critically beloved Thor: The Mighty Avenger canceled, a comic intended to be essentially performing the same function probably didn’t stand much of a chance long-term. Further in the post, though Clevinger makes it clear that he understands that this kind of thing happens given the nature of freelance work, he’s a bit bummed about the message it sends for the future of Marvel’s all age comics:
Captain America: The Fighting Avenger will be one of the last “all ages” issues of anything Marvel will produce for quite a while. Because they “aren’t profitable.”
What I mourn here is the largest comics publisher in America giving up on fun and accessible comics.
Both covers of Captain America: The Fighting Avenger — one by interior artists Gurihiru, one by Barry Kitson — are after the jump.
January 21st, 2011 at 4:01 pm
What a same. it was one of the series I was the most trill about! But I understand, it’s all about money in the end.
January 21st, 2011 at 4:49 pm
i really love the costume, i think the first cover is just wonderful
January 21st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
the second image looks as if he has the puerto rican flag
http://blog.newsarama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/capafa001b_cvr_02.jpg
January 21st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Inaccessibility is not an issue in any book today, new or old. Want proof? Pick up any issue of any book you have never read before. Start reading on the tenth page and finish the book. Take whatever questions you have to the internet. Ten minutes later you have as good an understanding as anyone who has been reading the book for years. If paste pot pete has his own wikipedia page then you can get any info you want online. Inaccessibility is simply an excuse.
If the comic isn’t selling enough it gets canceled no matter how many people like it. The thing I would like to see Marvel try is simply dropping color from one of their books that isn’t selling well. Dropping the color & paper quality will cut the printing cost in half and may translate into a fairly cheap and profitable comic.
January 21st, 2011 at 5:53 pm
At least they announced it was canceled this time and we didn’t have to wait to see if it was missing from the solicitations.
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:52 am
right on..I would not have liked to have gotten to an eight issue and be slapped in the face by Not so MARVELous with it saying it’s a limited series like they did with Thor TMA..and throw in another relaunch of the main Thor book..if they relaunch CA and ASM I’m just about done with the mainstream Marvel stuff
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:14 am
I wonder if this means Clevinger will write more Atomic Robo.
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:51 am
If what Clevenger says is true, Marvel is really shooting itself in the foot by not making any more all-ages material. They make no effort to bring new blood into the readership,and instead keep peddling more variations on the same theme to the already graying audience. They’ll keep losing those loyal readers bit by bit, through attrition, until they don’t have a big enough fanbase to sustain them, and yet another generation of kids will have grown up who never read Marvel comics.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:18 am
George, I think you really highlighted the problem with this move by Marvel. Yes, all-ages books are low selling, but they serve as a way to introduce new (young) readers to good comics. Not to sound cynical, but if you can hook readers early, they’ll likely be with you for years to come.
If Marvel is trying to use the Thor, Captain America, or Avengers movies as ways to attract new readers, logic says that their best bet is to get young readers and not some 25-year-old that’s never picked up a comic before. It just seems that Marvel’s target audience is former comic readers that they’re trying to lure back. That’s not finding new readers; that’s merely trying to avoid losing too many old readers.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:55 am
@Matt not Matthew: He never stopped writing Robo. There’s a new mini coming out now. Robo has always been the number one concern of Clevinger and Wegener.
January 22nd, 2011 at 9:03 am
I wish marvel would stick to it’s bloody choices. I’ve seen this with other titles too. It’s disappointing and frustrating and not just for the fans, I’m thinking of the creators too. Here they are possibly planning arcs and what-not then the PTB say, scap it, re-write it we don’t care, you’ve been downsized.
This happened to Oeming’s Omega Flight at the end of Civil War too, he had plans laid out for an ongoing then had to rewrite it as a 5 ish mini which then looked unprofessional on his end because of the change in plotting. Marvel needs to make a decision BEFORE they hand out the work, it’s a jerky thing they do.
January 22nd, 2011 at 10:02 am
The Alonso Era has officially begun.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Good for Marvel. Clevinger is a mid level talent at best.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I’m bummed that Marvel has determined that all-ages don’t sell. Ridiculous. They might sell…if they are (a) promoted and (b) available in more outlets.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Captain Ameripants!
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:56 pm
@Russ – If you have to take to the internet to fill in the gaps in a story then the writer is doing a crap job of telling the story. If the writer is doing a crap job of telling the story and I have to go to the internet to fill myself in then I doubt I would bother wasting my time on the research or the comic.
How much does the paper quality and coloring process add to the cost of a comic? Do you know it would reduce the costs by half? Unless you are in the comics or print industries it seems like you are making assumptions based on a total lack of evidence.
Why is it that “all ages” has come to mean a comic is written for a young audience and drawn to look like a cartoon? Most of the superhero comics I read as a kid were geared towards “all ages” and that truly meant “all ages”, not “kids”.
January 22nd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
last of anything all ages crap I guess there goes Pet avengers I love that series it has the best funny animal art of any comic on the stand. truth is I hope we will still see them there still a few cartoon animal fans out there
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:42 am
It is NOT TRUE that Marvel is ending the All Ages line. Marvel Director of Sales himself David Gabriel responds to this comment on this message board: http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/topic/15976 DDD
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 am
It truly saddens me to think that Marvel isn’t planning on any All Ages books. They have to do something to entice new readers.
My idea has always been for more All Ages books and to actually get them back in supermarkets or other venues where people can actually get them easily. I know very few people who got into comics because of a comic shop. Most people I know started with newsstand comics.
Anyway, sad to see AA Marvel go. I’ve enjoyed them for a while.
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Godammit, I was really looking forward to going and buying this every month, *sigh*.
I hope this sells out, maybe Marvel will reconsider.
January 24th, 2011 at 6:06 am
Too bad about this series…I bet it would’ve been a pretty good ongoing (or at least a full limited series).
As for Marvel stopping “all ages” stuff, I hope that’s not true. My kids love the Marvel Adventuers line of books.
In reference to Brandon R’s statements about getting comics back into supermarkets and other venues, I believe moves are being made to make that happens. I’ve seen issues of comics in some gas stations, and just recently, I was in a grocery store (Publix, I believe) and they had issues of Thor and X-Factor that I at least saw visible on their magazine aisle.
January 24th, 2011 at 9:32 am
What you all fail to realize is that Marvel isn’t concerned with new COMIC readers because actual comics are a fraction of their revenue. Do you realize how many issues of Iron Man it takes to make the amount of money the movie did? It’s all about movies, toys, licensing, etc. Comics are now last on the list of priorities.
I do agree with whoever said the comment about “all ages” meaning pandering to kids and drawing everything like a cartoon. Maybe the reason they don’t sell is because they’re aimed directly at children. Give kids some credit. When I was 10 I was reading Alpha Flight. It didn’t look like a cartoon and it didn’t talk to me like I was a child. However, it also didn’t have profane language and crazy violence (well…a little violence). You don’t have to make a book that panders to children, just tone it down so it’s not as “adult” in the “Adult Content” sense of the word.
January 24th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
You definitely don’t have to pander to kids to make a comic kid friendly.
And while I do realize that comics aren’t Marvel’s big cash cow, they are the genesis of the ideas. Without an Iron Man comic, we don’t get an Iron Man movie.
And I’m glad to hear that there are comics out there in the grocery stores. I know one local grocery store does have comics and it makes me happy.