DC Relaunching Everything?

[Tron Bonne]

I would really count on that as a guarntee. Dark Horse Digital and others have been selling issues at around those prices and, as far as I know, there hasn't been any digital revolution that has put comics so much ahead. Ultimately, even more so than price, there needs to be a widespread interest in actually following comics as well.

 

[Pyro Man]

Yeah, it does. I guess it could make for an interesting idea, having two different ideals clashing and such, but like I said, I don't see how you can do that with giving in one way or the other in the end.

See I think they could integrate a select few characters into the universe, maybe all of them keep the same attitude maybe some don't who knows, but a large scale merger of adding in all Wildstorm characters will not work.

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

I would really count on that as a guarantee. Dark Horse Digital and others have been selling issues at around those prices and, as far as I know, there hasn't been any digital revolution that has put comics so much ahead. Ultimately, even more so than price, there needs to be a widespread interest in actually following comics as well.

Its Dark Horse. This is the Justice League by two of the highest profile guys in comics. Even in the regular market alone it's gonna sell 250 k at least. With a huge marketing push all summer long maybe, it will sell like hot cakes.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Its Dark Horse. This is the Justice League by two of the highest profile guys in comics. Even in the regular market alone it's gonna sell 250 k at least. With a huge marketing push all summer long maybe, it will sell like hot cakes.

250K? In the regular, direct market? No, I don't think we've seen numbers like that there in years....

And it doesn't matter if it's Dark Horse, it still applies. If there was just this dam of customers awaiting to consume comics in mass and all it takes is a lower price, then they should have had a huge spike. So far, both their's and Marvel's have done okay, but nothing so significant to suggest that's all it's going to take. I know some people see digital as the instant messiah of the industry, but honestly, I don't see it.

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

250K? In the regular, direct market? No, I don't think we've seen numbers like that there in years....

And it doesn't matter if it's Dark Horse, it still applies. If there was just this dam of customers awaiting to consume comics in mass and all it takes is a lower price, then they should have had a huge spike. So far, both their's and Marvel's have done okay, but nothing so significant to suggest that's all it's going to take. I know some people see digital as the instant messiah of the industry, but honestly, I don't see it.

A Spider Man comic with president with Barack Obama sold way more than that. It's very doable. The thing about what DC is doing is that they have three things. First they Superstar characters. Second their doing day and date shipping which is huge. And third their gonna advertise the hell out out this thing to general public. They have too.

 

[Tron Bonne]

A Spider Man comic with president with Barack Obama sold way more than that. It's very doable.

That particular instance is a huge expectation. Point me to a regular comic that didn't have some gimmick like that that saw half those sales.

The thing about what DC is doing is that they have three things. First they Superstar characters. Second their doing day and date shipping which is huge. And third their gonna advertise the hell out out this thing to general public. They have too.

Like I said, I get this idea that people have that digital is the instant messiah, but I also think that you're going to be fairly disappointed in the end. Like I said, price is an issue, sure, but the much bigger issue is general interest, and whether or not that's there in the mass that you believe it to be is very much up in the air.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It should probably be noted that Obama appeared in several other comics that didn't sell anywhere near as well as that Spider-Man comic, too. Who knows what brings people to comics these days? Certainly not anyone at the major publishers.

 

[Tron Bonne]

It should probably be noted that Obama appeared in several other comics that didn't sell anywhere near as well as that Spider-Man comic, too. Who knows what brings people to comics these days? Certainly not anyone at the major publishers.

Oh, I know, and we all know, but American Comic fans dare not utter its name

 

[Anubis]

What? Disinterest in reading?

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

That particular instance is a huge expectation. Point me to a regular comic that didn't have some gimmick like that that saw half those sales.



Like I said, I get this idea that people have that digital is the instant messiah, but I also think that you're going to be fairly disappointed in the end. Like I said, price is an issue, sure, but the much bigger issue is general interest, and whether or not that's there in the mass that you believe it to be is very much up in the air.

You have to go back three years to Secret Invasion 1. It sold 250 k.
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2008/2008-04.html
Yeah it's been three years but you can't tell me why a Justice League book written John and Lee can't match that.

Digital is gonna change the industry. Just wait and see.

 

[Anubis]

Yeah, whatevs.

 

[Tron Bonne]

You have to go back three years to Secret Invasion 1. It sold 250 k.
http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2008/2008-04.html
Yeah it's been three years but you can't tell me why a Justice League book written John and Lee can't match that.

Digital is gonna change the industry. Just wait and see.

Yeah, three years ago, and even then look at what's below that. Something that just sold barely over 100K. I could see maybe Johns and Lee's JL breaking 100K, maybe even 150K, but in nowadays market when the big, epic events barely sell over 100K...I don't know.

And, it's not like I'm saying digital won't have importance at all or anything, just not going to be an instant messiah. If I'm wrong, well, that's cool. I'd like to be wrong and such, because it'd be cool to see comics selling like that in any form, but I'm just being practical.

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

Hell if you go back to 2006 Civil War was selling almost 300k per comic. You can't tell me Johns and Lee(THE GUY WHO SOLD A MILLION COPIES OF XMEN) can't get guys who haven't read in a few years to come back and pick that book up. Add in the digital audience and well like I said I guarantee it sells 500k. This will a Death of Superman, Spiderman meets the president, Civil War, etc type of comic. This will be a comic you have to get.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Hell if you go back to 2007 Civil War was selling almost 300k per comic. You can't tell me Johns and Lee(THE GUY WHO SOLD A MILLION COPIES OF XMEN) can't get guys who haven't read in a few years to come back and pick that book up. Add in the digital audience and well like I said I guarantee it sells 500k. This will a Death of Superman, Spiderman meets the president, Civil War, etc type of comic. This will be a comic you have to get.

Well, I'm willing to bet the average non-comic reader doesn't even know Johns. Lee may have sold 1 million X-Men comics, but the market was vastly different at that time, it's literally not a comparable beasts. I mean, did All Star Batman & Robin sell that much? Did Superman: For Tomorrow? And besides, like I said, you're looking way too much at exceptions for a lot of these books, but hey, you can keep your expectations sky high and we'll see what happens when September comes.

 

[Drz]

Geoff Johns won the MTV awards from teen choice best writer thing, so i'd say there is a chance the average person might know who he is.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Eh, I still kind of doubt it. Most people probably just left when they mentioned any awards for material that required reading.

 

[Anubis]

When he went up there, how was the audience reaction? Was it a Jay-Z just showed up with Beyoncee, Lil Wayne, and 300 strippers ovation, or was it more like a, Oscar for best Sound guy ovation? Cuz I"m guessing it was more like the latter.

 

[Bad Superman]

IMO this relaunch is unnecessary. I hate the changes for Superman's suit.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Well, it's like this for me. If it ends up selling like that, I'll gladly eat my own words, and I do mean gladly, because that means there was a helluva lot more general interest in following comics than I actually thought. So, it'll be cool. But personally speaking, I really think that when September comes and we see the sales number roll in, a very different picture is going to be painted.

 

[Anubis]

It will be a definitive indicator whether or not the industry will finally tank.

 

[HighFivingMF]

When he went up there, how was the audience reaction? Was it a Jay-Z just showed up with Beyoncee, Lil Wayne, and 300 strippers ovation, or was it more like a, Oscar for best Sound guy ovation? Cuz I"m guessing it was more like the latter.

Well if I saw Lil' Wayne on-stage I'd throw things and make fire.

 

[Lord Valumart]

You know what? I'm not bothered.

If they give me good stories where Bruce is Batman and Barry is Flash then I'll be happy.

Sure it's the most random thing that I can think happening and I don't see why they feel the need to do this. I assume that DC actually has a plan behind all this and aren't stupid enough to just go with it.

 

[Tron Bonne]

It will be a definitive indicator whether or not the industry will finally tank.

Well, at least then American comic fans can migrate to manga

 

[Anubis]

I'd rather cut out my eyes.

 

[TheIncredibleSk]

Well, I'm willing to bet the average non-comic reader doesn't even know Johns. Lee may have sold 1 million X-Men comics, but the market was vastly different at that time, it's literally not a comparable beasts. I mean, did All Star Batman & Robin sell that much? Did Superman: For Tomorrow? And besides, like I said, you're looking way too much at exceptions for a lot of these books, but hey, you can keep your expectations sky high and we'll see what happens when September comes.

ASBR sold 300,000 its first issue and other issues dropped in sales because it never came out but it always top DC sales chart every time it came out. For Tomorrow sold 100 k for every issue Lee was on. This news has been 6 years in making. People have been craving this for a long time. I know this will bring back old readers and bring in new ones.