Iron Fist and Ghost Rider Announcements Coming Soon

[Midnyte_Sun]

I was browsing through the Marvel forums and one of the moderators mentioned:

"Posted: 09.11.2009 8:00am
."
Apparently there is a big announcement concerning the future of Ghost Rider and Iron Fist coming shortly. I forget who said it (maybe Tom or perhaps Quesada) but it was said.

So keep your eyes peeled..."

-

What are your thoughts? Are they going to combine the two comics into one? Are they going to be relaunched?

[venom892]

Hopefully it means each is being relaunched after their current minis are over.

[Steel Thunder]

Actually they're combining them into "Ghost Fist". It's a completely new angle...

[TheCorpulent1]

Hmm, I wonder what it could be. Relaunches seem logical, but that would be a bit boring.

Maybe they really will combine them into a street-level supernatural comic, along with Blade and some of the others. Nightstalkers/Midnight Sons revamp, perhaps? That could be cool.

[venom892]

You know what would be an intersting mini concept is the various Ghost Riders and Iron Fists shared history.At some point I'm sure several different ones crossed paths.

[kguillou]

Whatever they do can they please bring David Aja back to drawing Ironfist? I havent really been digging Ironfist as much since he left.

[NDX]

I only really want to see an Iron Fist relaunch. Could do without Ghost Rider for a few years after Heavens On Fire (and it still has 4 more issues to go).

[Iron Fist]

I'd be happy with an Iron Fist relaunch.

[hippie_hunter]

I'm thinking relaunches with original numbering down the line.

[Dread]

Marvel has been trying to dip into DC's renewed interest in back-up features to "save" some titles. SAVAGE SHE-HULK and AGENTS OF ATLAS are due to live as back up strips. The latter will be a strip in INCREDIBLE HERCULES, a book that usually could use an extra few thousand readers as well.

GHOST RIDER and IRON FIST's sales usually were about the same, about 20-23k per issue and usually dropping slowly and steadily. IIF's sales lost their steadiness once Brubaker and Fraction left the writing chores, while GHOST RIDER saw a slow steady decline for a while, also getting worse when Daniel Way left; the fact that Jason Aaron salvaged the book quality wise didn't matter.

A relaunch for both seems to be the best option, but it depends on how Marvel plans to utilize them. Iron Fist has been part of NEW AVENGERS for years now but that doesn't seem to have dramatically helped him hype wise. GHOST RIDER's star isn't nearly as bright as it was after the 90's and whatever buzz from his film launch is long over. The fact that his latest volume, once the HEAVEN'S ON FIRE mini is done will have 41 issues of material is something in today's age. GR ended at issue #35, which is usually the longest that most ongoing title launches last these days without needing a relaunch or being canned from low sales. We all can think of books that didn't even make it 12 issues, or 16 issues.

I don't see the goal of "merging" the two since the characters are not related and honestly their audiences are small. If not a relaunch then the best way to do a back up strip is to attach them to a book that is selling well or at least decently.

I also am curious if this could be a case of EXILES type mishandling; by letting no time pass between cancellation and relaunch, there is little demand built up and usually the new launch will return to the same sales that the dead ongoing was at, and then fall lower.

[NightBeetle]

http://www.marvel.com/boards/viewtop...91d4767f6a5a8c

Posted: 09.12.2009 1:59pm

All that has come out is that it is on hiatus, and Iron Fist will be returning with a partner. It hasn't been said if Immortal Iron Fist will be continuing, might be an Iron Fist comic with a new title.

Clues?

[Dread]

Maybe Iron Fist and Luke Cage will be sharing a book again. Or Misty Knight will be headlined or something.

[NDX]

Weren't they hinting at a revival of their Heroes for Hire throughout the IIF series?

[IFryKids]

I could see a double-feature comic series with the two, ala Marvel Comics Presents.

[TheCorpulent1]

If it's a Heroes for Hire series with Luke and Iron Fist--i.e. the Heroes for Hire people actually want to see--I'm all over it.

[Syn (Mercenary)]

I'd be up for an Iron Fist/Ghost Rider book. It'd be weird to pair those two together, but I'd probably still pick it up. Though, for what it's worth, doubt that's the news they're hinting at.

[Teardrop]

Originally Posted by Dread

Marvel has been trying to dip into DC's renewed interest in back-up features to "save" some titles. SAVAGE SHE-HULK and AGENTS OF ATLAS are due to live as back up strips. The latter will be a strip in INCREDIBLE HERCULES, a book that usually could use an extra few thousand readers as well.

That's what I was thinking as well

Originally Posted by NightBeetle

http://www.marvel.com/boards/viewtop...91d4767f6a5a8c




Clues?

Returning with a partner? I wonder what context partner means

[TheCorpulent1]

The sound of it heavily implies Heroes for Hire, but it seems too obvious. Bendis seems to have first claim on Luke for New Avengers, too.

Maybe Heroes for Hire with Iron Fist and Misty?

[Teardrop]

I'm just wondering if they mean partner as in partner in another book that's already out there or one that may be launching soon, like as a back-up. Heroes For Hire would be good, too.

[Dread]

Ghost Rider and Iron Fist haven't met too often, especially not the John Blaze version. I vaguely recall a MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS story in the 90's where the Ketch rider teamed up with Fist to fight something, but aside for that, nothing. It would make little commercial sense to merge the two into one title. A back-up strip only makes sense on a book that is actually selling a decent deal better than the book being canned. INCREDIBLE HERCULES, for example, usually sells 5-10k better than AGENTS OF ATLAS, so it makes some sense for the back-up. The goal is to keep AOA lively while maybe adding an extra few thousand readers to IH and justify a $4 price tag, which will allow IH to bring in more revenue in the short term. In August 2009, two issues of INCREDIBLE HERCULES sold 32,000 copies and 27,000 copies for the second, while AGENTS only sold barely over 20,000.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST and GHOST RIDER, though, are not selling well even with their "hiatus" mini's. GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN'S ON FIRE #1 sold under 22,000 copies; right about where the ongoing series was selling, only a buck more expensive. Fist ended not far behind that. The two merged would be lucky to sell 30,000 copies at DEBUT.

For Iron Fist, the time for a proper HEROES FOR HIRE series is a bit overdue. Luke Cage may still have some rep from NEW AVENGERS, albeit not as much as he may have had, oh, four years ago when it was really "new" (a title that is almost 5 years old is hardly new). Now, I've liked the IMMORTAL IRON FIST series and the focus it gave to Rand, but it's hardly like Luke Cage or the Daughters of the Dragon were especially absent from that book; they were still the regular supporting cast there about as often as Orson Randall or the other "weapons". They just weren't on the title.

As for Ghost Rider, Jason Aaron's run is coming to a close and I am hesitant to remain on the book without him unless I have faith in whoever is replacing him. They launched that title in the wake of the film and after saving Heaven the Rider might need some time to refuel before another launch.

[Iron Fist]

Edit.

[Iron Fist]

It's probably Misty, or someone we least expect.

[hippie_hunter]

If it's an Iron Fist relaunch I'd imagine that they'd put Brubaker and Fraction back on. The title had some nice sales when they were on and spiraled down when Swierczynski came on even though he was a very decent follow up. It's pretty obvious that most people only bought the book because of them.

If it's a new Heroes for Hire title, I can't imagine anyone but Bendis doing it if it's the traditional team of Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Misty Knight, and Colleen Wing. Luke Cage is Bendis' baby and I can't see anyone else trying to tackle the character.

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, on the plus side, it'll probably sell really well. But Iron Fist will probably be a mute, if his tenure on the New Avengers is any indication.

[Themanofbat]

Maybe it's their return with the $1.99 comics we've been hearing about...