Comments on: On “New” vs. “More”

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:45:05 +0000

This is a non issue. Stephenson actually insults comic buyers by implying that we’re being forced to buy books we don’t want to. I buy books I like. If Uncanny X-Force, a book that I like, ships an extra issue, then good. I buy the book because I like it. So why wouldn’t I want more? If I had a financial restraint, then I would, like a mature adult, re-evaluate my purchases and adjust accordingly. I’m not being forced into anything, and if I didn’t want to buy it, I wouldn’t. So why piss and moan about that?

Also, of course comic book clashes between superheroes is a way to make money. You think Marvel does this for free? Because they just enjoy writing stories without having bills to pay? They’re a business. If you don’t like the story, that’s fine. If you’re not a fan of the creators or characters, great, skip it. But complaining that a story is only being told only to make money is like complaining that the only reason your boss pays you is because you work for him. Grow up.

By: Joseph V. Smith

Joseph V. Smith — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:30:04 +0000

I think that the concept of comic book clashes between super heroes is a way to make money. I am having no part in this and I am not buying the books. Bottom line.

By: jidasfire

jidasfire — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:03:29 +0000

I don’t know. I can’t personally say it bothers me, seeing as I only read a couple of Marvel books, and when they come out extra times a month, that means I get more story. Honestly, considering how often comics come out late or not at all or just plain get canceled, seeing more of a book I like doesn’t bother me.

Also, I don’t really get why Image wants to throw themselves into a Marvel vs. DC war. Image is the leading (or one of the leading anyway) indie publishers in the country, and they offer things Marvel and DC simply don’t, except for maybe Vertigo. Honestly, their best move, instead of bashing, is probably to point that out for all the people who are sick of retcons and “event comics.”

By: Joe S. Walker

Joe S. Walker — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:15:09 +0000

Watch out for flying sparks from that grinding axe!

By: Dave S

Dave S — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:21:50 +0000

Sour Grapes. His comments would have more impact if Image were actually capable of putting out event books or capable of shipping more than 12 issues of their comics in a year. A while back Image tried doing a big Marvel-style crossover in “Image United.” Fast forward a few years later and here we are still waiting for issue 4! It’s hard to put out more than one issue a month when you can barely do one issue a year.

By: Nathania

Nathania — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:54:52 +0000

When companies who have marketshare make desperate moves, I tend to think it must be b/c their rates of growth are slowing and the projections don’t look good. Perhaps Marvel is attempting to beef up the cash coffers to adjust the changes occurring within the publishing industry at large.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:01:15 +0000

Is it bad that I actually kind of enjoy the double shipping? If it means I get more complete story arcs from a title before its creative team changes or half of the characters get shuffled around due to the latest big event? The first team of New Avengers got about 25 issues to create team chemistry and stories before the team was shaken up. The Heroic Age Avengers (Bendis and JRJr) basically had 12 before Fear Itself came along. And one of those stories mostly stared the Illuminati. While I agree that it might cost more per month, I feel that I get more personal satisfaction.

By: Ivan Brandon

Ivan Brandon — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:36:50 +0000

I’d wager the problem is we’ve continually targeted an audience that has never expressed anything more than a desire to see the X-men fight the Avengers strictly because the content they enjoy is also printed on paper in the same basic size dimensions with the same kinds of staples as what we’re trying to sell.

We have doubled and tripled down on the idea that we have any claim at all to those readers by virtue of form and not content and then been frustrated when reality didn’t follow.

And y’know- I’m as guilty of it as anyone. But it doesn’t work. It never did.

By: Simon DelMonte

Simon DelMonte — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:43:58 +0000

He has a point, though I will note once again that he seems to enjoy tearing down DC and Marvel in a way that seems to insult those of us who prefer DC or Marvel to Image.

But, yeah, Marvel does seem to be running in circles. It really doesn’t have to. Amazing Spider-Man seems surprisingly fresh these days. X-Factor is always a breath of fresh air. There are lots of ways to stick with the tried and true and yet be innovative. Eight months of the Avengers and X-Men fighting each other isn’t one of them.

DC, though, does seem to be doing things that are a little less repetitive. Have we ever seen anything like Demon Knights? Has anyone really done what Lemire and Snyder are doing in tandem with the Red and the Green? New? Maybe not. Something different? Yeah.

By: Jane A

Jane A — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:07:37 +0000

Ultimately the readers vote with their dollars as always. The transition to digital will make this even more apparent, no comics left in the stores to collect dust that way.