Please, Pull My Thing... HARDER! (+first 3pgs of Kieron and Laura's art for THING#6)!

[ampersand]

(psst, you avatar? the cover to Fables Vol 1? it's by James Jean.... who does most of his work coloring on the computer)

True, but I'm not saying I hate digital coloring, just that there are way too many cheap photoshop effects used in comics. Color should be used to convey things like mood, setting and in some cases light source (depends on the artist). I think Dave Stewart does a great job at that in the Hellboy and BPRD books.

 

[DBM]

Notice that the quote given was their REVENUE, not their profits. Plus, you have to factor in how much of that is merchandising and movie revenue. I'm pretty sure Marvel makes more in other areas besides comics.

Well, I quoted revenue because it's the easiest number to pull of the shareholder reports that could be compared and that most people understand. Plus, "profits" is a much more fluid term than non-business people think. There are lots of ways to report "profits" so comparing two companies' "profits" aren't necessarily equivalent unless you know the methods that they used. Revenues are generally figured one way only, so they make for a better comparison. I should note that Marvel refers to revenue as "sales" but it's the same thing.

And you're right about the comics not being the main area of revenue. Marvel only brought in $92,000,000 in revenue from their publishing areas. The rest of their revenue, $298,000,000, came from licensing (including movies) and toys. So only 24%, less than one quarter, of Marvel Entertainment's revenue comes from publishing.

Simply put though, from a business standpoint, Marvel's publishing cannot allow a book to be "carried" if it isn't selling well. And it's not about the "profitability" of the comic. It's about the cash flow. The publishing section of Marvel would rely on the cash flow being brought in on the weekly/monthly basis froms it's comics in order to fund the production of other comics currently being produced. If the cash flow isn't coming in, then the comic has to be dropped in order to get costs down so other comics can be produced.

The only time Marvel might allow a comic to continue with a negative cash flow is if they can justify the comic as a "loss leader" for a future product, such as a TPB. But this is unlikely to happen because historical sales data shows that if the comic doesn't sell well as single issues then it won't sell well as a TPB. There are exceptions of course, but they would be rare.

I'd also point out that all these numbers I'm tossing around are from Marvel's website. You can find the info in the Stockholders' Annual Report.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

What about DC's cash flow? As I understand it, the fact that they're owned by Warner Brothers is immaterial because they've gotta basically stand on their own and generate their own cash flow in order to fund their comics production, just like Marvel does.

 

[iloveclones]

Plus, "profits" is a much more fluid term than non-business people think. There are lots of ways to report "profits" so comparing two companies' "profits" aren't necessarily equivalent unless you know the methods that they used.

DBM, recently I've been going round and round on this subject of advertising, and Marvel's seemingly misplacement of ad money. I'm not a business type person, and would like to hear your thoughts on the subject (you can move the discussion over to the Business thread if you want.)

 

[DBM]

What about DC's cash flow? As I understand it, the fact that they're owned by Warner Brothers is immaterial because they've gotta basically stand on their own and generate their own cash flow in order to fund their comics production, just like Marvel does.

I would assume that's accurate. Typically business units in a larger corporation are at the very least run as independent entities, if not even set up as seperate legal entities altogether.

The only reason that I can think of (off the top of my head) as to why DC might be able to get around the cash flow problem is because some of their business needs could be met "internally" through Time Warner's larger corporate structure such as the printing, licensing, marketing, etc. This could (and I stress the could) allow them to spread out costs over a longer period of time and defer the negative cash flow out so that they could in turn use it as positive cash flow projected on future returns.

I can't say for sure though, I don't work for Marvel or DC. My opinions are just that opinions. But they are informed opinions. I have an MBA specializing in Accounting and Management and my business knowledge is fairly extensive.

 

[DBM]

DBM, recently I've been going round and round on this subject of advertising, and Marvel's seemingly misplacement of ad money. I'm not a business type person, and would like to hear your thoughts on the subject (you can move the discussion over to the Business thread if you want.)

I think I will move it over there. This thread has gone way off topic.

 

[Elijya]

yeah, but at least it's staying bumped

 

[Varient]

Okay,.. I'm slow,.. I admit it,..No ego here,..

How EXACTLY does Marvel believe that depending on the ordering habits of comic store owners can determine the popularity of certain comics?

Dan Slott is so popular here in San Diego County that no one has to explain who he is in any of the comic stores in the Tricounty area,....

The Thing comic series is being passed around like reread newspaper,...


But because the numbers on the a series with almost NO AVERTIZING isn't high enough,.. it's not a viable book?

HOLY SPIT!!!!!!!

I just don't get it,.. plz be insulting if it's what you need to get your point across,.. but SUMBODY EXPLAIN IT TO ME!!!!

 

[Assassin]

PULL MY THING! HARDER!

ttyl
Dan

I'll pull your thing if you pull mine..

what?


I bought #1 and 2 and dropped it, sorry not my thing (no pun intended) and i'm too broke to keep buying something just so you can feed your kids..lol j/p but hey, i started to pick up she hulk

 

[Roughneck]

Well I added it to my Pull list and put it in my sig.

I'm gonna start a pull list at another store and put the Thing on that.

And send an E-mail. And I'm gonna tell Wizard to feature it as Book of the Month. It's overdue

 

[deemar325]

Well, July solicits are up...
And now you know, I'm not kidding!
THE THING'S in trouble!
So? What can save the day?

***BACK TO PRESS NUMBERS***

You want to show up on Marvel's radar?
That's what it's going to take.
There are three issues coming up:
#6 guest starring SPIDER-MAN,
#7 with a fun THING/HERCULES battle,
and...
#8 featuring the first ever MARVEL SUPERHEROES POKER TOURNAMENT... ...and a top secret Marvel First!

Please PULL them!

How can you help?
3 things:

1) Keep pulling. And keep spreading the word about the PULL MY THING campaign. But PLEASE keep this in mind:
It's okay to BUMP a PULL MY THING THREAD, but please DON'T create a new THING and/or PULL MY THING THREAD if one is already up on a message board (with the exception of reviewing a specific issue-- that's fair game). And please don't knock other titles while promoting THE THING. You don't have to tear something down to prop THE THING up.

2) If they're out of THE THING at your comic shop, TELL someone, and ask them to please order some more.

3) Remember how I said a grass roots PULL campaign could do more than a letter writing campaign? Okay... Screw that. If you're liking the THING and you want more-- start writing in. NOW. Hey, if it works for the SPIDER-GIRL supporters, maybe it can work here too. Seriously! Go all SPIDER-GIRL on Marvel's collective butt! Let 'em know that you want your THING!

It's not time to throw in the towel! There are STILL issues of the THING coming out! Send these books BACK TO PRESS and you will be sending Marvel one HELL of a message! You want this book to keep going? You're going to have to FIGHT for it!

Keep this team on the schedule, and we PROMISE to give you our BEST work! Stories with heart, action, and fun! Stories that embrace continuity-- and yet remain new reader friendly! Stories that take place across the entire SPECTRUM of the Marvel Universe-- and REVEL in it!

If you don't want that out of your Marvel Comics? Fine. That's cool. Just keep in mind that there are people out there who enjoy it-- and are trying to mobilize and do something POSITIVE here: save a book they WANT TO READ.

Okay...
Now for some goodies! Starting with the April 26th issue, one of my favorite artists, KIERON DWYER, comes on board! And to whet your appetite, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at Kieron and colorist, Laura Villari's first three pages!

Here we go...

Whatcha think? Pretty darn cool, right?! That's THING #6 on sale April 26th (and guest-starring SPIDER-MAN)!
So? What are you gonna do when you go to the comic shop this week?

PULL MY THING! HARDER!

ttyl
Dan

Dude my wrist is worn out.

Cool pics!

 

[Varient]

I read it,.. I enjoyed it,..

What did ben do in that store to have him working Sundays FOR YEARS?????

 

[Darthphere]

I'll pull your thing if you pull mine..

what?


I bought #1 and 2 and dropped it, sorry not my thing (no pun intended) and i'm too broke to keep buying something just so you can feed your kids..lol j/p but hey, i started to pick up she hulk

You pick up New Avengers dont you?

 

[gildea]

I would assume that's accurate. Typically business units in a larger corporation are at the very least run as independent entities, if not even set up as seperate legal entities altogether.

The only reason that I can think of (off the top of my head) as to why DC might be able to get around the cash flow problem is because some of their business needs could be met "internally" through Time Warner's larger corporate structure such as the printing, licensing, marketing, etc. This could (and I stress the could) allow them to spread out costs over a longer period of time and defer the negative cash flow out so that they could in turn use it as positive cash flow projected on future returns.

Yeah their fixed cost savings offer a huge advantage over marvel.

 

[Dread]

True story, I tried talking two guys into buying THE THING at my LCS yesterday. They didn't have much money but spoke of returning on the weekend, hopefully I made an impression.

Shame about sales figures, though. I guess RUNAWAYS would be that "exception" as the digests supposedly sell well (monthly, it sells better than THE THING anyway). How about "loss" books that are writer-pet titles? MTU, a great book, sells almost as poorly as THE THING, but may have earned a reprieve since Kirkman gave Marvel a hit with MARVEL ZOMBIES. Plus, the 2nd trade sold within the Top 30 trades, which isn't bad considering they're all competing with Manga now.

 

[Elijya]

trade sales will come too late to save Thing, methinks

I've tried talking a few people into the book to no avail

 

[gildea]

right lets get guns and make people buy the thing.

heck the press alone would double sales of the book

 

[Elijya]

...

ya know, you have a point....

 

[Assassin]

You pick up New Avengers dont you?

sometimes

dropped it a few times and then i go back when its a new arc, like i bought the whole 1st arc, dropped sentury and ronin and came back last issue of ronin, dropped it because the bull **** issue with alpha flight, then got it becaus ethey were in highland park detroit, and its been good the last 2 issues

 

[deemar325]

right lets get guns and make people buy the thing.

heck the press alone would double sales of the book

I have guns..

 

[Varient]

I apologize I really enjoyed #6.

I've already requested a double pull for 7 & 8.

 

[Elijya]

woohooo!

 

[deemar325]

Just bought Thing #6 it was damn good yet the art was kind of jarring, but I'll get used to it.

 

[GNR]

Just bought Thing #6 it was damn good yet the art was kind of jarring, but I'll get used to it.

In my opinion,I think the book will suffer without DiVito on art.I mean the book is selling poorly and editorial decides to pull the artist in favor of a new artist whose style is different.I can just see people beginning to pick up Thing after seeing DiVito's art and being disappointed when they see the guy isn't doing art chores anymore.

 

[Roughneck]

This past Wednesday I did my Part.

I added a second pull to my box. I saw another guy picking it up of the shelf and I got him to add it to his pull.....I talked another uy into picking it up.....he didn't want to so i got him to read #1 off the back shelf. He bought #1-6 and added Thing to his Pull.

I talked to the guy that runs the store. He doens't really read a lot of comics nor is he a fan boy, to him it's just a business, but he's good ****. He told me that The Thing sells really really well. But I told him of it's Looming Doom (pun intended? ) He told me that he was gonna start pushing it harder on people and if he sells out of #6 that he will push up his orders for 7 and 8.

I went in today and Thing #6 was on a mini rack sitting by the till (as well as a few left of the racks.

So I did my part.

And for the rest of you that don't read it.

Start. Slott is gold.