NYCC AIM Roundtable

Being as how I had to skip NYCC largely due to a domestic emergency (more on that when I get the pictures uploaded), I decided to hold a bit of a roundtable discussion of the news coming out from the convention amongst some online friends to see what they were thinking.

So...what is the biggest announcement from the convention as far as you're concerned?

[18:38] Steve: i'd have to say the restructuring of the Ultimate line.
[18:38] James: biggest announcement for me? hrm... yeah
[18:38] James: the Ultimate Relaunch
[18:39] Greg (Anderson, of Bludblood.com & The Minds of Greg): Me personally didn't care much for announcements going on. Was more excited hearing about the new stuff coming from Radical Comics
[18:39] Schwapp!!!: what in particular about that relaunch makes it so high on your list, Mud & Steve?
[18:39] Schwapp!!!: Any particular project that Radical caught your eye with, Greg?
[18:39] Steve: Ultimate Spider-man is constantly in the top 25 sellers as far as i know. it seemed odd to relaunch a bestselling book
[18:39] Aaron: I'd say, for me, the Batman news. But there wasn't that much that seemed like big news to me.
[18:39] James: ultimate spider-man was the comic that brought me back to comics after the late 90s drove me away (in particular astonishing x-men v2 issue 2 was the end for me)
[18:40] Steve: though i'm happy as long as i get more Millar on Ultimates/Ultimate Avengers (with Pacheco, yay!)
[18:40] James: so now.. the book that brought me back... even with it coming back.. it feels like leaving school.. like when you graduate junior high, becaue yknow your friends are still gonna be with you in high school
[18:40] James: but it will still be different
[18:41] Steve: U. Spidey brought you back to comics?
[18:41] James: yup
[18:41] Steve: that's cool.
[18:41] James: ultimate spider-man 13 to be exact
[18:41] Aaron: brb -- bladder about go nuclear
[18:41] Schwapp!!!: Aaron, what is a particular Batman nugget that caught your attention?
[18:41] Greg: Well, theres FVZA and Rider of a Storm by David Hine, Hotwire by Steve Pugh, their upcoming Aladdin book, Steve Niles' City of Dust, new Hercules, Rick Remender's The Last Days of American Crime, Cholly and Flytrap
[18:42] Steve: i've heard similar stories before. Ultimate Spider-man is one of those books that converts people.
[18:42] Greg: seems Radical Comics are literally gonna be knocking stuff out of the park
[18:42] Greg: great writers and just superb art
[18:42] Schwapp!!!: Ultimate Spider-Man grabbed me at the time, too...not sure it brought me back, but it kept me in the shop.
[18:42] Greg: heck, Hotwire by Steve Pugh was so much darn fun, 30 something pages for only 3 dollars?
[18:42] Steve: Hine is at Radical now? i may have to check that out..
[18:44] Aaron: I found it interesting that they are trying all these diff. books.
[18:44] Aaron: I'm not sure how it's going to work, but they're definitely giving it a shot, to run off the RIP and movie momentum.

What are the top three projects you're looking forward to that were showcased at NYCC?

[18:43] Greg: Damn... hmm
[18:43] Steve: i tend to ignore press releases for companies i'm unfamilar with. perhaps i should pay better attention...
[18:43] James: hrm.. gimmie a sec on this one
[18:44] James: Okay The Marvels Project by Brubaker and Epting
[18:44] Greg: Well, FVZA by Hine, Image United by the original Image dudes, Aladdin: Legacy of the Lost from Radicals
[18:44] James: thats prolly my number one right now
[18:45] Aaron: The Spider-Woman motion comics thing has the POTENTIAL to be huge, like we talked about. But it could also flop like a used tampon.
[18:45] Schwapp!!!: ...
[18:45] Steve: Hickman on F4 with Eaglesham, Millar and Pacheco on Ultimate Comics Avengers, and Morrison doing new Seaguy
[18:45] Schwapp!!!: You have a way with words.
[18:45] Aaron: Why thank you!
[18:46] Steve: What excellent manners you have, Aaron!
[18:47] Aaron: Oh!
[18:48] Aaron: DC FINALLY coming out with something significant on Free Comic Book Day: Blackest Night #0
[18:48] Steve: whoa...blackest night zero?
[18:49] Steve: color me intrigued.
[18:51] James: The Bronx Kill is another book that I'm looking forward to btw
[18:51] James: Peter Milligan and James Romberger

Any strong feelings on iTunes getting the Spider-Woman motion comic 2 weeks before the comic shops get the traditional comic?
Do you see the potential for spoilers as a huge drawback?
Or not worth being concerned about?

[18:46] Greg: Heh, that's what they're doing?
[18:46] Greg: Hmm, undecided
[18:46] Aaron: I don't have strong feelings, no. And I understand why they're doing it that way.
[18:47] Greg: As long as it gets new people to check out some books.
[18:48] Steve: i'm okay with iTunes getting the comic 2 weeks early
[18:48] Steve: though i won't be reading/watching the book anyways.
[18:48] Greg: I'm one to avoid spoilers like the plague if it's a book I'm reading
[18:48] Steve: SUCK ON THAT, BENDIS! ;)
[18:48] Aaron: Hux, it might be more trouble for the people running the boards than for anyone. :)

Would your opinions about the move be different if it were a more high profile property?

[18:49] Greg: I actually never get the mentality of people wanting to be spoiled when it comes to a book they enjoy
[18:49] Aaron: Hmm.
[18:49] Aaron: I would just have to be more careful to avoid stuff, I guess.
[18:49] Aaron: But I AM looking forward to Spider-Woman. So I hope I'm not spoiled on it.
[18:50] Steve: i might respond with unbridled fanboy rage and write a hate-filled post on a message board if it was a higher profile book
[18:50] Steve: but that's about it.
[18:51] James: spoilers do not bother me...
[18:51] James: i mean i sometimes actively seek them out, if i dont then what happens happens
[18:51] Steve: certain spoilers bother me. like the big reveal of a mystery character, unexpected deaths
[18:52] James: my only concerns for this iTunes model - is exclusivity and format
[18:52] James: exclusivity wise i dont want to see a digital version of diamond here
[18:52] Aaron: Good point.
[18:52] James: and format... i have concerns about how much of a COMIC will be kept.. i watched a very interesting digital comic today
[18:53] James: http://balak01.deviantart.com/art/about-DIGITAL-COMICS-111966969
[18:53] Greg: I really hope comics dont go full on digital.
[18:53] James: that I think would be much better than a step between animation and still life
[18:53] Greg: I know TokyoPop is going to start releasing some of their stuff digitally and I absolutely hate that idea
[18:54] James: I would have those concerns regardless of whether or not it was Amazing Spider-Man 600 or if it was Vigilante #8

Do we think that this move with Spider-Woman is a sign of comics moving closer to regular digital delivery?

[18:56] James: i think its too early to say, but i think it - along with things from tokyopop (like Greg hinted at) is a push towards taking it seriously
[18:56] James: the watchmen motion comics seem like pure novelty let me cash in on this movie
[18:56] Aaron: Well, it's an experiment. Like in that digital comic James linked to.
[18:56] Steve: i do think that is where everyone seems to feel comics should go, but i'll always prefer reading an actual book in my hand with paper.
[18:57] James: and if you look at the digital comic world - i mean torrents and hubs teeming with such a large percentage of the entire comic industry - its a market that is there
[18:57] James: it does fascinate by the way that right now marvel and DC have people finding, scanning and cleaning up digital files for them for free of ultra obscure material digitally
[18:57] Steve: i thought the same about the Watchmen motion comic, James.

Thinking of the Watchmen motion comic, how do you feel about the likelihood of voice overs accompanying motion comics? Is this an added value or a drawback?

[18:58] James: definite drawback
[18:58] James: with a cartoon or a movie having the character have a specific voice is one thing
[18:58] Greg: Wow. Hearing this stuff is news to me.
[18:59] James: but doing it to a comic - it starts getting, in my mind, a conflict of styles
[18:59] James: and i also thing it further fills in that bastardized animation/comic middle ground
[18:59] Aaron: Also, that completely alters the way you interact with the comic.
[18:59] Aaron: IMO
[18:59] James: no, you are right
[18:59] James: now its MORE PASSIVE
[19:00] James: and who the hell is gonna deliver grant morrison written dialogue? :-D
[19:00] Aaron: HAHA!
[19:00] Greg: The thought of not going out to buy comics from a shop, not having it in your hand and having to read on computer screen just irks me
[19:00] Greg: People are getting damn lazy
[19:00] Aaron: Yeah, where's the motion comic complete with voiceover and sound effects of FC? :)
[19:01] Steve: Who's going to deliver Grant Morrison dialogue? The answer is Matt Fraction.
[19:01] Steve: or Gerard Way.
[19:01] Steve: Both are mini-Morrisons.
[19:01] James: no no.. i mean the actors Steve
[19:01] Aaron: Shit there's a 2-page spread in Alias with Luke and Jessica with 51 text balloons.
[19:02] Steve: oh...i should probably go back and read all of the stuff before i comment on things after i've been afk :P
[19:02] James: hehe :-D
[19:02] James: Aaron - must of them are "the hell?" it be like a remix album
[19:02] James: "the hell?" "the hell?" "the hell"?
[19:02] Aaron: LOL

Who in the group has read comic books in CBR or CBZ formats, downloaded via torrent?
Is the difference in experience worth the cost benefit you'd likely get if they were offered legally?

[19:02] James: ill say i have
[19:02] Aaron: I have once. And it was a pain in the ass.
[19:03] Steve: I used to before i officially started buying comics.
[19:03] Steve: Now the only comics I will read digitally are Miracleman and Flex Mentallo, and I plan on buying those if they're ever reprinted.
[19:03] James: most things I DL are out of print older stuff and/or books that i have purchased and do not have access to at that time..
[19:04] James: for instance, when i was up in dallas for 4 months, towards the end i was jonesin

Is the difference in experience worth the cost benefit you'd likely get if they were offered legally?
Obviously, you're not paying for the current CBR/CBZ offerings. If offered from publishers, they'd certainly cost less than the physical product. Would the $ saved compensate for the difference in the experience (electronic vs. in your hands on the toilet)? ;)

[19:04] Aaron: Hux, I seriously doubt it.
[19:04] Greg: I can totally understand people torrenting titles that are long out of print like Miracleman and Bishop: Last X-Man, or Milligan's Enigma. I mean, where else are you going to get them?
[19:05] Greg: Heck, I'm still wondering each passing day when Marvel will finally release Priest's full Black Panther run.
[19:05] Steve: the difference would be worth it
[19:05] Steve: Paper books ALWAYS >>>>>>> digital
[19:05] Greg: And dammit! I wish I thought of that to ask Joe Q that at the con
[19:06] James: so for me, as long as i can still buy a trade of certain material eventually, i would switch like that ::snaps fingers::
[19:07] Steve: I will always prefer the physical product. Even if it costs more.
[19:07] James: if i had legit low cost CBR/CBZ files for issues, but could get trades? done!
[19:07] Aaron: I'd hang onto the paper as long as possible.
[19:07] James: can i add one thing to this whole digital comic thing, Khux?
[19:07] Greg: I do like, though, when certain sites let you read an issue for free as a way to test out the book
[19:07] Schwapp!!!: you all can feel free to add whatever you want to the discussion, so go ahead, James
[19:08] James: i wont name names or places, but i can say without a doubt that some of the most excited, passionate, well-tempered friends ive ever encountered have been in hubs
[19:08] Greg: Like Image Comics. On their site they have a lot of the first issues of their books up and you can just read them and see what's your type of book before jumping in.
[19:08] James: i have seen discussion in there that blows away anything on message boards - especially in terms of respect for each other
[19:08] James: if you could keep THAT aspect with the digital comics, i would be even more happy
[19:08] Schwapp!!!: By hubs, we're talking about torrent sites? or usenet?
[19:09] James: dc++ hubs
[19:09] James: direct connect servers
[19:09] Schwapp!!!: ah, OK

If the companies started to offer more of their comics digitally, would their availability to you earlier in digital format than in physical format influence you to adopt digital sooner?

[19:11] Greg: I don't want to accept digital reading.
[19:11] Greg: As I stated before, maybe an issue to preview a whole series
[19:11] James: for me? not so much :-D
[19:11] Aaron: Take for instance these Batman books coming out ...
[19:12] Greg: but I can't get myself excited at all for that
[19:12] Greg: Actually
[19:12] James: im like the anti-Greg here :-D.. or Greg of earth 2
[19:12] Greg: I'm looking at it wrong
[19:12] Greg: I'm looking at it as digital replacing the solid product entirely
[19:12] Aaron: If they were $0.99 each on iTunes, I would consider getting some of them that I wouldn't buy for $2.50 at my LCS. But it wouldn't be a complete shift.
[19:12] Greg: if they can do both solid paper and digital, by all means
[19:13] Greg: but if digital is to replace the solid product, I'm against it.
[19:13] Aaron: But I'd still buy Blackest Night in actual paper form.
[19:13] Aaron: I'm with Greg.
[19:13] Schwapp!!!: but you still wouldn't personally be in the market for the digital, Greg?
[19:13] Greg: Me? No.
[19:13] Aaron: I'd just have to wait until the trades, honestly.
[19:14] Steve: The availability would of digital comics would not affect me.
[19:14] Steve: I'd also wait for the trades, like Aaron.
[19:14] James: ill say one thing - digital pull lists like podcast subscribing would at least mean you never miss an issue :)

If the publishers offered a model where you purchased trades in advance but received digital delivery of the chapters while waiting for physical delivery of the trade, would that interest you?

[19:14] James: Khux i would sign up for that right now
[19:15] Aaron: Yeah, I could see that.
[19:15] Aaron: I usually buy stuff I already know I'm getting anyways.
[19:15] Greg: Man, watch comic readers really get fat due to them not taking the steps to go to a comic shop to buy the actual books. Everything now is ordering online.
[19:15] Aaron: And that way, I wouldn't have to worry about being spoiled.
[19:15] Aaron: Heh
[19:15] Greg: I'm one to prefer going out and tracking down my stuff.
[19:16] Steve: I'd be okay if I received the digital comics in addition to the paper books.
[19:16] Aaron: If I get the collected edition in the end, I'm ok with it.
[19:16] Schwapp!!!: So, Greg, you'd miss the thrill of the hunt?
[19:16] Greg: Hell to the yeah
[19:16] Aaron: Of course ... that would make dropping a book problematic. :)
[19:16] Steve: I'm with Greg 100% on this one.
[19:16] James: dude there is going out and tracking things, and then getting fucked over because your comic shop forgot to pull something for you and know its sold out diamond - as my previous shop did MULTIPLE times
[19:16] Greg: Only time I ever ordered a comic was Elephantmen and that was because the site was giving about a 40 or 60% discount
[19:17] Steve: The thrill of the hunt through shop after shop and longbox after longbox is part of the draw of collecting comics.
[19:17] Greg: The thing is, when my LCS don't have my books, I got elsewhere to where they do have it.
[19:18] James: and that can be occasionally fun to track down the holy grails.. i did that with certain back issues (first beta ray bill)... but no other industry is okay with bad service sparking an adventure
[19:18] James: if the adventure is personal, it is of course different

With the TPB/digital idea discussed above, would you expect to pay less than full price for the TPB, regular price or have to be additional for the added value of digital delivery?

[19:17] James: between a dollar less to a dollar more
[19:17] Aaron: I'd still expect to pay less.
[19:17] Steve: Well personally I'm not big on the digital thing, so I'd only get it if there was no extra charge beyond the regular trade price.
[19:18] Aaron: Wait. No, that's not true. I'd be willing to pay list.
[19:18] Aaron: Because it's still (usually) cheaper than buying the floppies.

Unless anyone has some thoughts they want to add, I think this is pretty good for the first experiment

[19:19] Aaron: Glad to help. :)
[19:20] Greg: heh, was kool
[19:20] James: all i will add is that if they move forward digitally they need to remember that the content will become more and more important
[19:20] James: i could download a million comics any time i want, and yet i still dont read spider-man :)
[19:20] Aaron: HA!
[19:21] Steve: I'd just like to say hi to all of the ladies out there, and that despite what the doctor says, the rash is NOT contagious.

What are your thoughts?

Ultimate Comics Walk-Up Sales For Nov 5th, 2008

From Lee Newman of Ultimate Comics, the list of top-selling books at one of their locations in North Carolina for what was released on 11/05/08. Pull lists are not included, as this is meant to capture what is being bought off the shelf.

1. Sandman The Dream Hunters #1
2. Ultimatum #1
3. Amazing Spider-Man #576
4. Final Crisis: Resist
5. Justice Society of America #20
6. Marvel Zombies 3 #2
7. Cable #8
8. Civil War: House of M #3
9. Adventures Comics Featuring The Guardian #1
10. Trinity #23

Commentary:

1. Woo Hoo, Sandman. 20 years later and still a phenomenon. Beautiful book + great character + great story = great sales.

2. They turned out to see the Ultimate Universe die. OF course, selling it for half price didn't hurt!

3. Spidey just bounces around the list. Stability would be nice.

4. I wonder how many people were confused when they read a Checkmate book? Perfect coda to a great book (Checkmate not Final Crisis) by the way.

6. The fans like this Zombies much better then the last.

2. Half price will do it. I don't know how many #1 issues I ordered from DCBService.com simply because they were 75% off cover. Too bad it seems like Loeb gave readers 75% less story.

3. Wonder if Lee's heard from any of his customers as to why they keep buying Amazing Spider-Man off the shelf rather than pull-listing the book?

4. You know, I was of two minds on that. It's kinda like rooting for the Rough Riders in Canada. I was kinda happy it wasn't really about Final Crisis, eh...but I was, also, bummed that it wasn't really about Final Crisis.

5. I think Geoff Johns did himself and the book a disservice by sticking the Power Girl resolution stuff in the middle of the Gog/Magog arc. I understand that it was the mechanism used to shuffle her off to Earth-2, but it wound up feeling more like something that delayed resolution in the larger arc. Not that it effected sales or anything, here...but I felt like mentioning it.

8. I'm still mystified at how the House of M event has such life in the TPB market (direct and bookstore) that it makes financial sense for Marvel to keep pumping out more mini-series in that world.

Ultimate Comics Walk-Up Sales For Oct 29th, 2008

From Lee Newman of Ultimate Comics, the list of top-selling books at one of their locations in North Carolina for what was released on 10/29/08. Pull lists are not included, as this is meant to capture what is being bought off the shelf.

1. Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns

2. Presidential Material: Barack Obama

3. Avengers: The Intitiative #18

4. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

5. Ultimate Captain America Annual #1

6. Spike: After the Fall #4

7. Hellboy: In the Chapel of Moloch

8. Spawn #185

9. Amazing Spider-Man #575

10. Thor #11

Commentary:

Despite online grumblings about Astonishing X-Men Ghost Boxes and its price, the fact that we were short shipped had more to do with this book not being on the list then the price point. The few folks who did get ahold of it seemed to have good things to say about it, in store. Online is another matter altogether.

1. Johns is the MAN!!!! We knew this would sell well and despite it being short shipped it still brought people in the door. That is a book with huge potential. Why it doesn't translate into sales I haven't figured out, but with the hardcover of Secret Origins hitting the shelves early next month, maybe the book will get the boost the fans and almost certainly DC wants.

2. We weakened and did one last reorder. I, also, pulled them off the shelves from two of my other stores. (Wednesday saw a run on the Ross Obama Tee)

3. Skrull Kill Crew seemas to be full of win this time around.

4. People really liked One Brand More Day... it probably helped that this story pretty much came out of the Secret Invasion tie in series.

5. Kevin may be right, people may want to see this universe end, we'll know for sure next week.

6. This book like Amory Wars and Umbrella Academy seemed to pick up the further it got along until at the end you had people coming in to buy the whole thing in one fatal swoop. I don't know if there is a disconnect with reaching the fans in a timely matter like the Who Wants to Be a Superhero book a couple years ago or if they just don't like the monthly thing (which I don't see reflected in Buffy or Angel).

7 & 8. Put the original creators on their books and people will check them out. The key now is to retain that interest.

9. Hmmm. Amazing Spider-Man has dropped another slot in the top ten. I'd be curious to know if it is because more of the walk-up purchasers have added it to their pull (thus not counted here) or sales are returning to normal after the New Ways To Die arc.

5. I'll be just as shocked as anyone if I wind up being right about something. ;)

4. Wait wait wait...what? They named the annual story "One More Day"? I don't know whether to call it ballsy or retarded.

2. Barack Obama: helping the economy before even in office. I wore my Ross OBAMA shirt to the polls...before being reminded I couldn't wear a shirt seen as campaigning into the polling place. Had to turn it inside out before going in the building.

1. FINAL CRISIS on the cover and being a key part of the set-up to BLACKEST NIGHT? Yeah...that's a recipe for success cooked up by Geoff.

Note to Retailers: If anyone out there would like to provide similar information regarding sales at their store, I'd love to have it (with or without commentary). A link to your store's online presence will be included in any installment that uses your data. More data = more gooder.

Ultimate Comics Walk-Up Sales For Oct 22nd, 2008

From Lee Newman of Ultimate Comics, the list of top-selling books at one of their locations in North Carolina for what was released on 10/22/08. Pull lists are not included, as this is meant to capture what is being bought off the shelf.

1. Final Crisis: Submit
   
2. Secret Invasion #7
   
3. Final Crisis #4
   
4. Superman: New Krypton Special #1
   
5. Aetheric Mechanics
   
6. Unknown Soldier #1
   
7. Hulk #7
   
8. Amazing Spider-Man #575
   
9. Invincible #54
   
10. New Avengers #46

Commentary:

1 - Um... this is why walk up sales are more interesting, shear numbers wise Secret Invasion and Final Crisis CRUSHED this book, but for folks who didn't commit to something this sold better. Part of the reason is the nature of the FC tie-ins themselves. Most of them seem so periphial to the book itself that a one off would seem undesirable. However, this is where working in a chain or really big shop gets a hand up. I get to read a number of books Tuesday night. I am no dummie, so I read books that aren't going to sell them selves, I can check out Final Crisis and Secret Invasion in the quiet hours of the morning at the shop to avoid spoilers, but knowing that Submit was a bridge into FC #4 allowed me to tell people and get the book to walk out the door. Product knowledge is key.

1,2,3,4,7,8,10 - event books... hmm event fatigue huh? If it actually existed I would see other books creep into the top ten. I include Hulk and Spidey in this category because they are buzz books which in the end is just as good as an event or crossover.

5. Warren Ellis. We love him here at Ultimate Comics.

6. Unknown Soldier was a bit of a surprise for us. There is a genuine disconnect, I feel, in the marketing of comics. If you follow my comments around the intrawebs, you will see that I think Kids books are being woefully mismarketed. I think the downfall of Minx was evidence of this. The comic book industry markets to itself and as a result, it stays a niche market.

Now this book was handled quite the way I think it should be. It was previewed in House of Mystery, certainly the most successful of the Vertigo books in the last few years. There was quite a bit of buzz in the market and outside it about this book and its social consiousness. While I was excited about the return of the concept and interested in this new take, the customers did not respond in kind. Instead, the same two guys were on the card for the book, so we ordered conservatively.

However, all that marketing worked and the demand was bigger than our supply. I don't know how to correct this disconnect between marketing correctly and getting the customer to say they want the book.

A few weeks ago, I talked about the success of No Hero #1 and how people wanted this book before it arrived. Would a zero issue have helped this book? I don't know, all I know is that there was demand here that we could not meet because it was not expressed. Maybe bagslicks like Ellis did with Doktor Sleepless, I don't know. I certainly hope that the folks who read this have some ideas, because I would dearly love to know how to tap into what happened here.

9. I think this is a result of kind of a lite week overall. Sure there were big books and it was an average sales week overall, but there was not a large amount of titles like this current week or the previous week.

Well, it looks like either Lee perfectly called it on the demand for the Presidential Materials books or he just didn't have enough left in stock for it to crack the Top 10. ;)

Amazing Spider-Man still doing noticeable walk-up numbers, but it drops to 8 this week where it had two entries in the Top 6 last week. This seems to suggest that Paul C (a reader of SCHWAPP!!!) may have been right to say the book got the Colbert Bump last week. At the same time, any week where ASM is in the Top 10 of walk-up sales has to be a positive sign that sales might be going back up for the title.

I only read Unknown Soldier #1 this morning, but I believe it merits every bit of attention it has gotten. Like any book with a completely brown skin cast, it makes me happy & sad at the same time. Happy for the diversity it brings to the shelves, sad for the potential of a cancellation clock already ticking in a market with a customer base that rarely seems to reward this sort of diversity.

Ultimate Comics Walk-Up Sales For Oct 15th, 2008

From Lee Newman of Ultimate Comics, the list of top-selling books at one of their locations in North Carolina for what was released on 10/15/08. Pull lists are not included, as this is meant to capture what is being bought off the shelf.

1. Presidential Materials: Barack Obama
2. Amazing Spider-Man #573
3. Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #2
4. Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge #3
5. Presidential Materials: Flip Book
6. Amazing Spider-Man #573 Stephen Colbert Variant
7. Ultimate Origins #5
8. Presidential Materials: John McCain
9. Scooby Doo #137
10. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special #1

Presidential Material - JUGGERNAUT!!!! Yay, unfortunately this will slow down as I will not be reordering any more, the time is past. If I could guarantee delivery and sales for before the election I would, but to reorder at this point would be fiscally irresponsible (editor's note: did political debate talking points slip in here?)

Amazing-Spiderman - Despite what the interwebs say, when you take Peter Parker put him in his proper setting and thro in Venom and the Green Goblin to boot, he sells comics. Since the Colbert variant was a seperately ordered item all together we had ample quantities and I tracked as if it were another title.

Final Crisis Tie-Ins, these are the best of the bunch and written by Johns, none of the others perform as well. Wonder why that is?

Scooby Doo - Kid's books, if you buy them, they will come. This one often makes the top ten as does Tiny Titans. Now if I could just convince more kids to buy Billy Batson.

Jimmy Olsen - Yeah, have Robinson write a phenomenal comic book and it sells well, even when it ties into the odd Atlas Arc.

Not mentioned in Lee's notes: looks like maybe some readers that left the Ultimate titles are wandering back to see its death and rebirth.

How NOT To Relate To The Public

Steve Wacker on fan reaction to Guggenheim's Spidey/gay marriage comment:

Not to stop the clutching or pearls and the dizzy spells of strained outrage, but is it possible that anyone out there’s getting a little too worked up? Is it possible that Marc just said something screwy and is still a smart guy? I can vouch for him being both, if it matters.

“The argument isn’t valid!” Ha! No kidding!

Guy says something goofy on internet…Film at 11! (To the younger ones out there, back in the 80s we used to watch those network newscasts that are on during the Seinfeld reruns)

Okay, gotta get back to ruining your childhoods! ALL YOUR POGS ARE BELONG TO US!!!!!

Love, Steve.

You know...I can understand some of the nose-thumbing about fan reaction to One More Day/Brand New Day. But trivializing this issue? Ugh.

For what it's worth, I'm sure that Guggenheim is a screwy and smart guy. But that Wacker response can't help make things better...likely only worse...

Was that ACTUALLY Wacker stepping in just to defend a non-sensical statement? Seriously?

Because nothing’s more pathetic than someone making a stupid statement via the internet… unless it’s people wasting their time griping about it… UNLESS someone else actually goes even further to take those statements seriously and deride the people who make them while at the same time defending the original statement that was so stupid in the first place.

If that’s actually Wacker, then screw him, I’ll drop Amazing Spider-Man, which I was just starting to get into, and excited about, especially the upcoming Dematteis, Waid, and Stern issues. Although I seriously doubt that was actually him.

Oh well...

Keep It Simple Spider-Man

Found over on http://muller-fokker.blogspot.com/ (be warned: NSFW)

Mark Waid On BRAND NEW DAY

Now, I like Mark Waid. I know, I know...he's cussed me out and all...and I've pointed to several of his flubs. But he's human, thus prone to the occasional mistake or a flare up of his temper.

But he said something (in a Newsarama interview) that makes me think that he must be reading a different BRAND NEW DAY or skipping most of the Dan Slott issues:

They're very careful and very respectful, whether the hardcore fans believe it or not; the team that I've seen on the Spider-Man books is very respectful toward them in terms of not going out of their way to thumb their nose at the readership, or try to make fun of them or mock their concern.

Slott has gone out of his way to put little nose-thumbing bits somewhere in every one of his arcs, thus far. From the opening of BRAND NEW DAY immediately showing Peter kissing someone (which even Quesada said was a way to slap the reader across the face, I believe) to MJ saying "it's magic, you don't have to explain it" to a bit or two already in the current arc.

So that bit, along with him guarding J. Jonah Jameson's relation to his upcoming story as if his life depended on it, yet giving away what happens with Venom in this current arc for no apparent reason, counts as a noticeably large mistake.

San Giacomo's BND Editorial @ Newsarama

Mike San Giacomo is taking some shots from pro-BND readers over on Newsarama that, largely, hold no merit (the shots, not the readers). I was going to respond over there, but I got long-winded enough that I felt it wasn't appropriate to basically blog in the comments section. So I brought it here.

First, the comments that triggered my response:

RJT wrote:

Honestly? You've read all the Clone saga issues, the horrid Howard Mackie-John Byrne issues, and you honestly are dropping the book now? Because it feels like "things don't count"? Spider-man is a fictional character, and everything that happens to him is fictional. It all "counts", or none of it "counts". What a ridiculous statement.

I don't think you should buy any comic that you don't want to, but this wringing of the hands and "oh, precious continuity" seems a bit much.

evilGonz wrote:

@RJT: I'm 100% with you.

Clearly, dropping ASM was a big decision for the writer, partly fueled by not enjoying BND. But the article leads us to believe this decision comes only because he was not enjoying BND, which would therefore make it (gasp!) worse than *anything* since issue 1. And yet the article betrays other reasons why the title was dropped. He was older, he was (clearly) bitter about OMD (which I understand), and how knows what else? So doing our ooh's and aahhh's and look-quesada-told-you-so's at him dropping ASM after 550+ issues is just a little inane, and becomes the focal point of an article that I was hoping would be a bit more objective (just a bit).

In other words, RJT, I'm 100% with you.

How does someone giving a book 18 issues before dropping it a sign of being clearly bitter? And objective? IT'S AN EDITORIAL!!!! DO YOU NOT GET THAT EDITORIALS AND REVIEWS ARE NOT OBJECTIVE THINGS???

Some of the readers are missing his point: the stories feel vapid and insubstantial to him. On top of that, he seems to find the way BND was launched and its failure to demonstrate being part of the larger Marvel U to imply that things might not be as they seem. So it is hard for him to muster interest in stories he thinks will be retconned or explained away in a matter of months (as part of a plan).

And all stories count or none count? No...when companies tell you that stories never happened, were just a dream sequence or have been wiped from the memory of every fictional character so as to have no impact on them...a story can "not count". Now, if you enjoyed them originally, you'll still have those happy memories.

But if you're not thrilled by a story that appears to have no long term bearing on the character, why bother buying it?

There are really two reasons people buy their franchise super-hero books:

1. For good, entertaining stories.
2. To find out what happens to the characters.

If a book isn't doing it for you on #1, you might keep buying it for #2. I know I've had trouble dropping a book because I just needed to know what happened with the characters I like (Winick's Outsiders & Lieberman's Martian Manhunter come to mind).It's that soap-opera-like addiction.

But when you get the feeling that there's really nothing of consequence happening in the books or that everything will be wiped out again soon, #2 doesn't push you to buy the book anymore.

And that, folks, is what I think San Giacomo is trying to say. He ain't bitter. He ain't taking his books too seriously, either. He has an opinion that he is entitled to and one that doesn't resemble what the peanut gallery are trying to ridicule him for.

Dan Slott: Bet Welcher?

Over on The Beat, people were discussing the performance of Brand New Day Spider-Man when someone brought up the bet that Dan Slott had made with a fan about the book staying over 80k sold per issue four months after the launch.

"Somebody" provided links back to the old Newsarama boards where the bet was made.

justice~!

I'll take your bet - kind of. How about this:

4 months from now, I'll subscribe to Spider-Man if it has managed to keep itself above 80K copies per issue. If not, how about just a little bit of public humiliation or apologies in the way of an "Ode to me" from Dan Slott?

Sucker bet, man. Obviouisly since ASM has legs it should be well above 80K per issue right?

Dan Slott

I'll take that bet. And I will write an AWESOME "Ode to You" if we don't clear 80K on month four. PM me and we'll set this up.

Somebody

I've tried to do a Google search for Dan Slott and "ode to", but it turns up nothing other than references to the bet, with nothing about the outcome.

It has been about a month and a half since the bet was lost. How long does it take to write an ode? ;)

I Know, I Know...But Still...

The way they teased the next issue was funny, though. Can't wait to see if anyone gets their panties all in a bunch over that. ;)

Quesada Still Saying Its Magic

From the Wizard World Philly coverage of the BND panel over on Newsarama:

Asked if the "missing time" between OMD and BND will also address what was going on with Spider-Man in other titles, Quesada said that the more detail that you go into, the more complicated things can become. As a result, the plan is to keep things as clean and as simple as they can.

If that doesn't reaffirm JMS's statements that Quesada wanted to fall back on "it's magic, we don't have to explain it", I don't know what does.

There continues to be inconsistency in their statements regarding the Spider-Man changes...inconsistencies that only get worse with each time they open their mouth to answer questions.

I think they've taken the worst approach possible in their attempts to have their cake and eat it, too.

Marvel decided they wanted to make some significant changes to the character. That's great. That's their right. Take it and run with it.

But when you make significant changes like this, you're going to invalidate some stuff that went before and piss off some fans. Accept that as the cost of doing business instead of trying to say everything happened (when it couldn't possibly) and that you didn't really change anything other than the wedding not happening (when, again, that isn't possible).

As long as they continue to try to make it be everything to everyone even when that flies in the face of logic, they're going to find that this continues to be thorn in their side. Just make what sense of it that you can...cutting out what really can't fit in continuity...and move on.

And, for God's sake, don't try to compare the unanswered Spidey questions to how things are done in LOST...

ASM BRAND NEW DAY SPOILERS: Dig? Thumbing Of The Nose? Or Just Being Cute?

As discussed, the last page and a quarter plays on the JMS saying that Quesada's answer for everything OMD was, "it's magic; we don't have to explain it!"

Is it a dig at him? Is it kind of thumbing their nose at the situation? Or is it just meta-cute?

You make the call!

Brand New Slott

Back in March, Dan Slott said the following over on Spider-Man Crawlspace:

On a personal note, I want to profusely thank jeffgamer for his support around the net. Back in December, jeffgamer's internet-wide dissent of OMD got the notice of NEW YORK POST writer Dareh Gregorian, who wrote an online piece about it: "Spidey Swings". http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292007/news/nationalnews/spidey_swings__153114.htm The article even wrapped up with a quote by jeffgamer: "jeffgamer, wrote: 'The Spider-Man I've loved and read about for 34 years is dead now. No matter how well written or well drawn what comes next may or may not be, it is being built upon the corpse of something that I, and many other readers, cared about deeply.'" That put this phenomenon on Mr. Gregorian's radar. And on January 7th, Mr. Gregorian wrote a follow up story which appeared on PAGE 3 of the actual NEW YORK POST, "Spidey's Smooch Scandal", which showcased the cover to the first BND issue, #546, and plugged it two days before its release! You can't BUY publicity like that! The next day USA TODAY, the wire, and, in turn, local papers around the country picked up the story. The USA TODAY piece was what caught the attention of Howard Stern. The buzz from there grew and led to BND stories on ABC, CBS, CNN, NEWSWEEK, and local evening news shows around the country. So to jeffgamer I say "THANK YOU!". You might just be the butterfly who flapped his wings on the internet, caused a hurricane in the real world, and gave ASM #546 the attention it needed to spike and reach the #1 spot in January! You might just be the guy who brought new readers in off the street, helped major retail chains sell out, and made us go back to press for a second printing on #546! Keep up the good work!

After some negative reactions from posters on the board (which really wasn't worse than anything Joe Quesada used to say on New Joe Fridays), he followed it up a week later by deleting that message and replacing it with the following:

It's been pointed out to me how "snarky" my original post sounded. And if that's the case, then I'm sorry. At the same time, I'd also ask for a little understanding and for you to try to imagine how things look from this side of the equation. After a few months of being on a book like ASM , I'm starting to understand how this works. Passions are always going to run high with fans-- both for & against. Here on the internet it can get pretty vocal. And in the past, I've seen myself as a fan too-- able to spout off just as much as any of you guys. I think I get it now-- that's NOT the case. I get paid to do this. I get the privilege of working in this industry. And part of being a "professional" is that you have to act like one. You guys can say whatever you want and goof up from time to time-- and no one's going to shine a light on it. The trade off is-- I don't get to do that anymore. I think I can live with that. So again... Sorry for being a little too "human" back there. It won't happen again. In the future, when posting here and around the net, I'll strive to take a more professional attitude-- one that you, as consumers, deserve from the people whose work you support.

In another thread on that board, he doesn't seem to deal well with a BND colleague getting praise where he isn't receiving the same:

Seriously? If you liked Zeb's issues of ASM (which kicked much ass), something to keep in mind, was that Zeb got to play with BND when all the pieces on the board were already set up.

Funny that backhanded compliment thing there. Or, if you prefer, trying to make an excuse as for why people might think Zeb's arc kicked more ass. There is the fact that, from what I'm aware of, the arc didn't really have anything that would make it stand out as being a BRAND NEW DAY story versus a plain ol' Spidey story.

Shame that Zeb wound up off the book and never seemed to have been highlight in the promotions for BRAND NEW DAY as much as the others involved in the book.

I think that comment came before Slott's epiphany about watching his words over the internet. Of course, I have documented irrational behavior from him directed at me after his supposedly coming to the understanding of how a professional is supposed to act. Professional or not, he does slyly try to invite people from that board to come over to his spot on 606studios.com (where he can, you know, delete or edit anything he doesn't like).

This ain't exactly bitching and moaning with fans, but it's a bit unprofessional to try to defend your own work from poor reviews that you suggest came from people just flipping through in the store and then slide a few digs in at a competitor's book and the creators involved.

From his message board on 606studios.com:

Thought for the day...

---

Reading a comic in the store is like trying to watch an entire movie on the display monitor at Blockbusters. Reading a comic in the store on Comic Day is like trying to watch an entire movie on the display monitor at a crowded and noisy Blockbusters. Reading a comic in the store when the store owner or manager is there... (Because you KNOW they don't like you doing it. And NO, you're not their favorite customer that they have a "special relationship" with. And No, they're not cool with it. That's an urban myth. Like your girlfriend from... Canada.) ...well, reading it like that means that you're reading it as quickly as humanly possible. Wonderful. Now you're the guy who's not only trying to watch an entire movie on the display monitor at Blockbusters, you're also the guy who's flipped open the control panel, hit the FAST FORWARD button and is watching that movie at 16X speed. Awesome. I'm sure you're totally following the plot, the snappy dialogue, and all of the extra little touches. Meanwhile... On the same trip, you've purchased a copy of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #whenever-Grant-Morrison-and-Frank-Quitely-felt-like-finishing-it. But with this book you've cradled it in your arms all the way home, read it in your Queen Anne chair in front of a roaring fire, and all while enjoying your snifter of port. Jeepers, I really wonder which comic you're going to like more?

Yeah...people enjoy someone else's work more than yours because of the ambiance. Right.

I've heard about a little bit that will be appearing on the last page of tomorrow's Amazing Spider-Man. It comes off as a dig at JMS's recounting of how Quesada said OMD made sense (it's magic), from what my sources say. This points out that either the full script went in after a certain date or scripting was done after the finished art.

That's important because I thought for a second the following panel was taken from my interaction with Slott...then I said, "nah...the script had to have been in long before that!" Maybe not...

That's something that was expressed to me by Dan several times. Like when he was stalking me for a phone call and I indicated I'd only call him if I could record it and put it up on the blog (because he was trying to twist anything he could to attack Newsarama at the time and continues to try to twist facts in any argument). But maybe there are other people he had a mad-on for that he said the same to...given how far gone he was for a month or so there.

Still Missing Peter & MJ...and 'Ringo

MJ almost looks like she has a John Romita, Jr, influence going on. Great pic. Really apropos. For that and so much more, Wieringo will always be missed.

Kevin Huxford Is A Big Fat Snitch

I've been reading responses to my reporting Marc Guggenheim to the WGA and publicizing Dan Slott's private e-mails asking me to call him so he could tell me how I got my review of his Brand New Day work so wrong. I've had a fair share of supporters, but I've clearly had more detractors.

They're bringing their frustration (some eloquent, some idiotic, some ignorant) to Newsarama, Shotgun Reviews, YouTube, and even here.

Being that I'd at least like for my actions to not be a headache for Matt Brady or Troy Brownfield, I'd like to create a place for you to bash me to your heart's content where it really should be: DIRECTLY SAID TO ME, WHERE I'M AVAILABLE TO BE BASHED AND RESPOND, WITHOUT IT IMPACTING INNOCENTS.

You can come with the ridiculous commentary, like Kirk Warren who compared my reporting Marc Guggenheim to a student accusing a college professor of rape (and other extreme and inappropriate examples), as it could ruin their career, regardless of the veracity of the accusation.

Problem is: I reported Marg Guggenheim's public support for Joe Quesada's appearance on The Colbert Show and declaration that it is OK to watch a strike show as long as you don't DVR it or have a Nielsen box. There is no question as to whether he did it or not. There was only question whether it was wrong of him, as a WGA member, to publicly state such an opinion. He claimed that it wasn't and that my stance on the whole issue was merely because I wasn't aware of all the nuances of the issue. I merely directed the issue to people who WOULD be aware of the nuances: WGA leadership.

Call me a snitch. That's fine. Accuse me of trying to hurt someone's career maliciously? Suggest I'm libeling or slandering someone? You're way off on the facts. I never made anything up. At one point, I misinterpreted Marc's statement as being that he went so far as to give Joe the thumbs up BEFORE his Colbert appearance. I acknowledged that mistake and it was NOT part of anything stated to the WGA.

I'll be your snitch. In societies with a rule of law, there is a fine line between public service and snitching. Same goes for organizations, especially those centered around the ability of all to come together in unity so that they may collectively bargain as one. I'm pretty sure most of you calling me a snitch here have never had to worry about some weak link in your group's chain fucking things up for you.

It happens in union and non-union work. I've had co-workers nearly lose a contract I was working on, because they didn't care what they said in the presence of the client. Whether publicly proclaiming that he'd be able to do his job better if he actually knew what he was doing and got some training to unprofessionally insulting another contractor present on a conference call, my ability to be gainfully employed was out of my hands to some extent. The same can be said for a WGA member (and, let's not forget, PRODUCER with a possible conflict of interests) who tells the public that it is OK for you to keep watching struck shows or become a part of struck shows.

Let's not forget that Guggenheim and I were having a fairly productive discussion until another party showed up. I had actually missed Guggenheim dismissing my opinion out of hand at the end due to my not being in a Hollywood union until Slott had to chime in during his chasing me around (more on that in a separate blog).

After my post pointing out Slott's questionable actions of late (like e-mailing me repeatedly to have a phone conversation about my "wrong" review of his work), I was bowing out. There was nothing to be gained. I had received e-mails from friends that confirmed the wisdom of my decision to bow out, but they were after the fact.

Then, it would appear, someone decided to bring the attention of others into the mix. They did this quietly, while scurrying through the shadows. How could they publicly admit to doing so when they'd lose any mistaken shred of moral superiority on the issue? Forget that the act was pretty much transparent, despite their lack of owning up to it. Forget that an astute observer can pretty much tell who went crying to daddy when they felt I crossed the line. They didn't go to an organization I was a part of, either.

I'm not saying it was Guggenheim. I know it wasn't me. Hmmmmm.

I found it hilarious (and tacky) that the next interview that ran with Guggenheim at the 'Rama was done via a phone call while he was on the picket line. Screamed of damage control to me, but then the interview might have already been conducted before his error in judgment where he supported Quesada's appearance on The Colbert Show. With a week between his gaffe and his picket line interview, pardon me for being suspicious.