I started buying MTU at issue #7 and haven't stopped since. I even got the first trade of the first 6 issues of "The Golden Child".
iloveclones said:
The unique thing about MTU is that on any given issue, it could pick up a reader here or there. Old Power Pack fans. Or people who don't get their Blade fix. Most of them would probably only buy for the issue their favorite character is in, but maybe some would stick around if they like the format. I'll be interested to see if there was any hold-over from the bump that Invincible gave them.
You also have to note that INVINCIBLE is hardly in the Top 25 itself, although for a book outside the "big two" it sells very well.
Ironically, #8, the Blade/Punisher issue, was probably the issue I liked the least. It was very slow and talky, like the sort of thing Bendis has made a career out of. Blade came off like a blabbermouth compared to Punisher, and that seemed awkward, least from what little I know of Blade. But, it was still unique in a way.
But I see your point; MTU exists to expose readers to a lot of various Marvel characters. Historically it has almost always been a Spider-Book, although within 12 issues Kirkman at least has been able to not star Spidey in EVERY issue, and manages to poke fun at the Marvel universe with his adventures (like having Wolverine "pop out of nowhere" on Titannus or Chronok's men lemant about the sheer number of X-Men, or even how Cap fits a shield on his back). Which is PRECISELY why Marvel needs to assist MTU as a title.
I've always maintained that one of the reasons they keep Spider-Girl around despite low numbers, is that it's one of the few comics that appeals to that elusive pre-teen girl group. Same with Arana (although any book gets cancelled when it gets too low). I would hope that Marvel would have a little lower "sales" tolerance for MTU, since by it's nature, it does something every month that other titles don't: introduces the reader to other characters (that they might now be interested in reading.) For example,you're absolutely right about Terror, Inc stealing the show. I'd be interested to know more about him!
You'd be surprised by how quickly execs will abandon that "elusive" market. The cartoon series X-MEN EVOLUTION, which ran for 4 seasons at 52 episodes on Kid's WB and spawned X-23, was a decent ratings hit overall (it was no POKEMON or anything), but was a VERY strong hit with the pre-teen girl group. And what happened? Supposedly because of some nasty internal scuffles, it was canned after 52 episodes, their last 12 episodes were never reaired on CN during the time they were running reruns and gaining more fans, and it's been over a full calander year since the last DVD was released (last one was on Nov. 2004). One would think Marvel would be pushing whoever owns the rights (WB? Disney?) to release more, especially with all the money WB is making on their box sets. People always whine to me about how "Marvel is a business" and all that when they do some things, so I always get irked when I see what a LOUSEY business Marvel can be at times. Then again, Marvel likely sees itself as wanting to be something akin to Disney, a business that thrives on franchises, and we all know that Disney can be pretty lousey at business themselves.
You're right, from a business standpoint, MTU has a purpose; maybe someone who likes Gravity and Speedball here may buy Gravity's digest or the inevitable NEW WARRIORS trade when it comes out (even if it is garbage, they won't know that). And it has a bit of cult status, and about 50% of the time Marvel can listen to the cries of a vocal minority.
