Looks like the test was successful. From Marvel’s last round of shipping updates to retailers:
Starting with the 06/06/12 On-sale items, all 32 page Marvel Universe comics that don’t carry a digital code will be printed with 50# Coated interiors and will be Self-Cover.
That’s this week’s books, for those bad with calendars. It’s odd that that is starting so soon, considering the “All $3.99 books get digital codes” policy isn’t scheduled to start until next month. What I’m curious about is whether or not we’ll see more 24 page $2.99 books a la the recent Fury’s Big Week…
May 7th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Neat idea. Will the crayons be included?
May 7th, 2012 at 8:13 am
Great, if it keeps prices down/Marvel’s profits up. Mind, I’m old and would rather have a nice glossy cover and less posh interiors.
Well done DC, for holding the line at $2.99 and keeping the paper feeling fine.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:32 am
Next they’ll take away the paper and try to sell you something like a digital file, or summat…oh.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:47 am
i don’t really mind the cover paper
May 7th, 2012 at 9:38 am
“Starting with the 06/06/12″
“That’s this week’s books, for those bad with calendars”
“This entry was posted on Monday, May 7th”
Yeah, I think if I need help reading a calendar you won’t be my first call…
May 7th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
“…for those bad with calendars.”
The irony, it burns!
May 8th, 2012 at 6:00 am
IIRC, the last time this was done on more than an occasional title was during World War II, and that was due to paper shortages.
And the books were 64 pages for a dime (68 if they weren’t “self-cover”)…
May 10th, 2012 at 4:24 am
All the $2.99 books have been self cover since the start of April. Journey into Mystery, X-Factor, Daredevil, Punisher, Battle Scars, Scarlet Spider – all the April issues were in self-cover format.
This seems to be saying that the paper stock is being changed to 50#. Whatever that is.
May 13th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I’ve seen the self cover books that Marvel is putting out. It’s terrible what they’re doing. There’s no excuse for a company so big and profitable as Marvel to keep cutting corners on their books. It’s bad enough that the $3.99 books only have 18-20 pages of story. Shame on you Marvel !!! It’s one thing to be in business to make money, that’s fine. But price gouging and cheapening the lower priced product is not right !!!