New Edition in October

[Shifty]

DC’s Novel Ideas
Special incentives for retailers and a new edition of the graphic novel will help comics publisher capitalize on Watchmen fever

With Zack Snyder’s big screen adaptation of Watchmen due out in March 2009, sales of the Watchmen graphic novel have been building steadily since the film was announced.

Watchmen was the best selling non-manga graphic novel in American bookstores during the month of March and would have continued to be the bestseller in April and May if it wasn’t for the new hardcover edition of Alan Moore’s Batman: The Killing Joke.

Sales are expected to grow as the premiere of the Watchmen movie gets closer — and DC has a few plans to ensure those sales go through the roof.

In a recent press release, DC Comics and Diamond Comic Distributors announced that they are kicking off a three-part series of special consignment offers for the Watchmen trade paperback, allowing retailers to meet the demand for the tome as interest in the upcoming movie builds.

The first part of this consignment series of offers will run from June 18th until September 1st, and will allow comic retailers that use Diamond as their distributor to reorder the Watchmen trade paperback with no up front charges. It seems that DC wants to ensure the shelves stay packed, and that anyone who wants this book will be able to find it. There are no details yet on the other two offers.

Also, DC Comics will be adding a “just right” edition to the Watchmen collection priced at $39.99, right between the $19.99 trade paperback and the $75.00 Absolute Edition. The new 436-page hardcover edition will have a brand new cover illustration drawn by Dave Gibbons and will be released in October, the same month that Titan Books will be publishing Watching the Watchmen, Gibbons’ account of the creation of what is likely at this point, the most popular graphic novel of all time.

The new hardcover edition will contain the high-quality, recolored pages found in the Absolute Edition, which were restored by WildStorm FX and original series colorist John Higgins. Also included will be selected bonus sketch materials and original Alan Moore script pages.

A hardcover edition was originally planned for a 2001 release, to coincide with Watchmen’s 15th anniversary, but was cancelled due to a disagreement with the co-creator of the series, Alan Moore. As off this article’s posting, it is not known if Moore’s approval was needed by DC in order for them to publish the volume at this time.

6.20.08 Source: icv2.com, Comic Book Resources

Might spring for the this new hardcover edition since I don't own any copies. Quality like Absolute yet not huge and heavy. Read both versions, Absolute is the best way to read Watchmen.

 

[Sawyer]

I'll buy this. My copy's only three years old, but I wouldnt mind a good quality hardcover, especially with a kickass cover like that.

And I love your sig, BTW. I miss AD...

 

[jewing3]

I'll probably buy this since I don't actually have my own copy of Watchmen yet. My roommate had the Absolute edition so I didn't really see the need. This will be much better on my wallet than the absolute edition too

Your sig/avy/location combo is great. I always love to see fellow Arrested Development fans.

 

[Hush]

I just bought the Absolute and they release this! Damn those fiends at DC!

 

[Lauryn2000]

I just picked up the LAST paperback edition at Barnes and Noble this evening....and there's another one I have to get?
RATS!!!!

 

[TheVeidtMethod]

This will be my third purchase of Watchmen, fourth if you include the original issues. I own my original paperback as well as the Absolute Edition, which I love to death. I will also scoop this up, if for nothing else than the new cover by Gibbons.

I am looking forward to all of the great behind-the-scenes Watchmen stuff to come. I only wish Alan Moore would partake in the celebration of one of his greatest works, but I get the impression that even if he did want to partake, he'd find a way to be cynical and miserly about the whole thing.

Gibbons' enthusiasm reflects my own right now, and for that I am thankful.

 

[inflames]

sorry im ignorant and new to watchmen, what is the different between the absolute and standard?

 

[Shifty]

sorry im ignorant and new to watchmen, what is the different between the absolute and standard?

Standard is just your regular soft cover graphic novel. Absolute is a giant hardcover graphic novel with plenty of bonus material such as the original outlines, sketches and promotional art. If you have the money its the one to get but don't plan on taking it with you, its too big and heavy but the standard graphic novel does the trick.

 

[Superboy-Prime]

i was going to head out tomorrow and buy myself a new copy of The Watchmen because my ex decided to steal it about 5 years ago along with my Watchmen badge which i owned for 10 years... so all this is coming out in october? GRR

SB-P

 

[deadgoon697]

I will be buying this for sure, considering the fact that the Absolute version is nowhere to be found but on Ebay now.

 

[Hurm...]

Bump!

Any pics, scans, news on this?

 

[O'Haire]

Bought the Absolute Edition a few days ago. Well worth the money.

 

[Hurm...]

Bought the Absolute Edition a few days ago. Well worth the money.

From WHERE?!?!

Been looking for it for a decent price everywhere.

 

[Gexmeister]

I'm off to buy this new version tomorrow. I'm still reading my old, beat up, swedish original issues XD