Tuesday, June 03, 2008

SCHWAPP!!!: J'Onn J'Onzz: Failure Of Conventional Wisdom

Part One: Reflecting on the squandering of the sales potential for Martian Manhunter solo projects during the JL/JLI/JLE era of the character:



Part Two: Reflecting on the squandering of the sales potential for Martian Manhunter during the Grant Morrison JLA era of the character (with a bonus from Mr. Morrison at the end):

6 comments:

  1. Another great vlog Kevin. Kudos! I especially agree with your point that the take of the character has never been commercially suitable.However, this is not always the case. How about Arkham Asylum, a book that was pretty much totally uncommercial and for a while was the best selling GN of all time. I realise that Batman is a character that doesn't need the grounding though.
    They have really been messing with J'onn since they changed his look. What did you make of that makeover?
    Is that Gerard Jones series out of print cause it sounds really interesting.
    RIP J'onn even if you are gone for only a short time.

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  2. Thanks, Langer.

    I can understand taking divergent takes on some properties. You can take chances with Batman and Superman properties that have a large, established audience. Not only are they solid franchises, but the safer, more popular take on those characters is still simultaneously available.

    You need to start out with your strongest take to establish your product. The Ostrander/Mandrake series started out with the more bizarre stuff and eventually came around to more mainstream stories...but it's hard to win back an audience who has already tried and passed on your product.

    The makeover was bad. Changed so much with little explanation and little possibility for figuring out a way to explain so much of it. I could pitch a story that would take the lemons and make lemonade, but I'd likely have to break one of my own rules about how to launch a series for a character like Martian Manhunter. ;)

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  3. Ever notice that with his bald head and beard, Khuxford looks like the head of a penis?

    -Duckula666

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  4. Ever notice how much time you spend looking at my bald head? ;)

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  5. Well, Duckula, that's because you are what you eat.

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  6. Like many who imagined I did a vlog nude when all they could see were my bare shoulders, you're engaging in wishful thinking, Anony.

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