posted March 28, 2003 02:56 PM               

2. What is a crossover and what is not?

3. What to do with issues published in previous archives or which might be considered for publication in another title?

The rules DC has created so far:

A. They create GA archives based on the series (Batman, Detective, World's Finest)instead of mixing them chronologically in a simple GA Batman Archives or not (Wonder Woman/Sensation/Comic Calvacade).

B. They are willing to temporarily skip some stories (solo stories in All-Star Comics 1 & 2).

C. They are willing to skip ahead ( Dynamic Duo and World's Finest)

D. 80-page Giant issues are given a photo (JLA Archives)

E. Team-Ups are skipped over (Batman/Black Canary B&B appearances)

F. Some SA characters solo adventures are published Chronologically despite the book they appeared in. (Flash/GL/Atom had Showcase/Series) (Hawkman had B&B/ Mystery In Space/series) (Aquaman had Adventure/Showcase/World's Finest/Detective/series)(Dynamic Duo had Batman/Detective)

G. If a crossover affects a story, that story will be reprinted (Green Arrow story in Aquaman archives)

H. All-Star Archives is the only title based on an anthology title, not a character.

Based on the above:
1)If a crossover is apparent or directly linked to the Featured Archive's character's storyline, then it should be reprinted. Even if it has to be reprinted in another volume.(i.e SA Green Arrow story in Aquaman Archives which would have to be reprinted in a SA Green Arrow volume.)

2)Reprints of all-reprint issues will have only a cover shot to preserve continuity.

3) A Batman B&B Team-Up only volume makes sense since they would not fit into Dynamic Duo.

4) DC will have to decide on the content of a B&B Archive or Showcase archive series. Some people who buy these may have passed up on the 1st volumes of Flash/GL/JLA/Hawkman/Atom/Aquaman.

Reprint B&B chronologically starting with #1 and skipping the Batman Team-ups. For the buyer of all things Archive, there should still be enough material within the volume to make up for seeing the JLA or Hawkman stories again. DC could then decide what to reprint in a Showcase Archive based on B&B Archives vol. 5/6 sales.

My Conclusions:
DC will likely create a Batman Team-Up only volume.

Archives will focus on characters or teams. The All-Star archives should have read JSA in All-Star Comics archives or JSA Archives, since this is the only volume whose title is focused on the comic book title, not the team or character.

The other B&B team ups might get their own separate volume.

Viking Prince is probably the only solo B&B hero likely to get a volume. They can reprint his graphic novel as filler.

A Showcase only Archive unlikely at this time.

DC will reprint stories directly tied into a storyline.(i.e Green Arrow/Aquaman in Aquaman Archives)

There will not be reprints of reprints.

DC will self-create a continuity within their Archives series. SA reprints could be based on Detective 225 cover date. Aquaman archives has probably set the benchmark. SA archive appearances should be centered around this date or based on the Character's first appearance after this date.

posted March 28, 2003 03:08 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by IndianaBoo:
I am happy that DC has the Archive format. But 24-36 months from the initial printing on an archive, a cheaper format or price is needed for that 10-14 year old collector.

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posted March 28, 2003 03:11 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by NecessaryImpurity:
What 10-14 year old collectors?

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posted April 06, 2003 03:04 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by NecessaryImpurity:
What 10-14 year old collectors?

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posted April 06, 2003 10:33 PM               

Sorry to get off topic, but the manga doesn't sell well compared to comics, neither do Archives, essentials, or most the paperbacks.

If kids could get classic material in a cheap format, they would buy it. I found out about Captain Marvel through Library books, which led me the Shazam from the 40s to 70s, and the realization that Cap just wasn't one of those lame made for tv characters.

DC has a true treasure trove, and I for one would love to see their library reprinted more efficiently.

The problem is that the comics aren't being catered to kids. Why was the Spongebob magazine not a comic book? It was a comic book in everything but size?

I work in retail, and people do buy the Archie digests. Disney has finally noticed this, but why are they charging six dollars instead of three for their new digest?

Anyway, back to Brave and the Bold. Why just reprint the Batman teamups, reprint all the teamups. Where else are we going to see Metamorpho vs. the Metal Men, or Atom and the Flash, Hawkman and Aquaman. 54 is a problem, but reprint it again anyway, since it was a team-up and not the Teen Titans yet. JLA, Suicide Squad, Metamorpho, Teen Titans. Besides, after one volume, #50-60, very few of the teamups don't feature Batman.
Even Strange Sports stories warrants a volume of its own, with the 70s title of course.

One of the reasons the DC archives are popular for collectors is that many of the stories are impossible to find. When I was a kid in the early 80s you still could afford alot of DC silver age (Everything but early Flash and Green Lantern) now maybe only silverage Superman is affordable. Marvel on the other hand, has reprinted their silver-age stuff to death, any serious collector has read most of the best silver stuff.

Oh, and about Black Canary. Why would her teamups with Batman be put in the archives? They were guest appearances. The Starman teamups were "Star" ing roles.

posted April 07, 2003 12:27 PM               

Reklen[/B][/QUOTE]

posted April 08, 2003 02:05 AM               

I also think the Legion Archive should end with the end of the Baxter series, since every take since 1989 has been a revival (if they ever get that far, but hey they are ahead of anyone else.

posted April 08, 2003 08:17 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by REKLEN:
I don't understand why they put all the Legion appearances in their archives. The Jimmy Olsen/Supergirl/Superman teamups don't belong there, neither does Karate Kid #1.
So far, the Supergirl archives makes sense. It reprinted the prototype Supergirl story, and the Supergirl backups from Action. I doubt they'll reprint her teamups with Wonder Woman and from the Brave and the Bold.
The Legion archive should only reprint the group in guest stories before the feature began. So yes Adventure #247 needs to be reprinted, but not New Adventures of Superboy #50 where they guest, or their appearances in Brave and the Bold or DC Comics Presents.

I also think the Legion Archive should end with the end of the Baxter series, since every take since 1989 has been a revival (if they ever get that far, but hey they are ahead of anyone else.

Reklen

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As you probably know, including the early appearances and crossovers was a trend began when they collected the Legion stories for ADVENTURE COMICS DIGEST and later BEST OF DC DIGEST. I wouldn't mind the inclusion of B&B (#179) and the three DCP team-ups but, of course not when it comes to one-page appearances in 70s and 80s Superman books. They included KARATE KID #1 after the topic came up last year at Comicon and it was agreed to include only the Legion issues rather than all of KK #1-15. Similar judgment should be used for guest appearances and there aren't all that many of those.