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| Author | Topic: DC buys |
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Bart Allen Member |
posted March 14, 2003 10:57 PM
  
WHy is dc going out of its way to buy other people characters and give them archieves? THey have so meny of thier own who need them worse. ELFQUEST -yuck BUt yet they refuse to do SUGAR AND SPIKE IP: Logged |
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Wayne1776 Member |
posted March 14, 2003 11:16 PM
Take a time-out Bart. Seriously, DC makes money from these non-DC properties. I don't know how much, of course, but be assured a profit of some sort will be made. If no profit is made, or too little, then past the initial contract I would assume the line would die. The Sugar and Spike Archive, although seemingly a popular choice of plenty of the DC UNIVERSE ARCHIVE BOARD posters, does not seem to trip any triggers at DC. I don't know how they do their marketing research, but for some reason this idea is treated without being taken very seriously. So, the likelyhood of Archives treatment is extremely low to nonexistant. However, I would buy an Archive of this sort in a second. Also, for the nth time in the hopes that someone at DC will read it and have an epithany, I will say that these characters could make DC profit - trade paperbacks, an animated show, something - But whatever it is - that something should be aimed at the proper target audience which is children and parents of children who read to them. IP: Logged |
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vze2 Member |
posted March 14, 2003 11:49 PM
I don't think DC has gone out of its way in any case except for Elfquest. 1. The Spirit When Kitchen Sink went bankrupt, The Spirit was going to go somewhere. I'm sure Eisner approached DC, not the other way around. Even if I'm wrong, there are three good reasons for DC to do this. Reason 1: From what I've heard, The Spirit routinely outsells every other Archive, and we haven't even reached the good stuff yet. Reason 2: What company wouldn't want to be publishing the newest work by the person who is arguably the most important living creator in comics? Name of the Game and future work by Eisner was probably offered as a package deal with The Spirit. Reason 3: Why let Marvel have an obvious money-maker? 2. Tor Kubert is one of the most important DC artists ever, and Tor is arguably Kubert's favorite work. It's only 3 volumes. 3. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. This is a highly respected series. I'm 35, and I suspect that most comic fans who are at least as old as I am are well aware of this reputation. Also, I don't think DC approached the guy who owns this series. If I recall, someone on this board said that a middle man approached DC. 4. Elfquest I'm not a big fan of the fantasy genre, so I won't be buying this one. DC, and almost everyone, is trying to capitalize on the manga market. Because this is a reprint, it is a relatively cheap way to enter the manga market. Also, Elfquest is a proven property, so this is a relatively safe move for DC. IP: Logged |
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NecessaryImpurity Member |
posted March 15, 2003 12:07 AM
I'm a big supporter of an S&S Archive, but I have no problem with DC publishing other properties. These non-DCU Archives have introduced me to material I knew only by reputation. I don't regret a single cent I've spent on Spirit or THUNDER Agents. My disapointment with Tor is limited to the fact they didn't give us both the 3-D stuff and the same material reworked into regular 2D color comics. If I had my way, DC would be issuing Archives of Classics Illustrated and Uncle Scrooge and Black Terror and Vault of Horror and, yes, Spider-Man, in addition to the DC properties. Why? Because DC does a terrific job. They've got it figured out and I know the end result will be a high quality product. That said, I hope DC takes notice of the fact that I bought Spirit and THUNDER Agents based on reputation only. I wonder how many others have done that? How many people would buy a Sugar & Spike Archive, based on the reputation? Quite a few, I would wager. C'mon, DC! Time to roll the dice! IP: Logged |
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quincyjb Member |
posted March 15, 2003 01:37 AM
I am a huge Sugar and Spike fan, and I don't think the archives are the right format for this material. A series of tpbs would be perfect. With a little luck, it might get plugged on Oprah or somewhere similar, and take off. I plan to buy the THUNDER Agents volumes, at least to try one or two, based on the strong reputation of the series. Not enough money quite yet. But soon. Spirit -- I will start at volume 11, when Eisner makes his post-War return. If I enjoy it enough, maybe I'll start working my way back through earlier volumes. Elfquest -- eh, I'll pass. I read a friend's copy of the first two trade paperbacks. It's okay, but just didn't do much for me. And I am a fan of fantasy and sword and sorcery. Tor -- not enough money. I thought about buying this, but the low page count eventually convinced me not to. Mad -- the material is brilliant, but I've already read it. So nope, not for me. As long as DC keeps giving us a dozen GA and SA volumes a year, I won't complain too loudly about other material showing up. IP: Logged |
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Corrosive Kid Member |
posted March 15, 2003 01:48 AM
quote: Actually, DC isn't buying anything. They're licensing these characters, which is the same as renting. Guess you weren't around in the eighties when George Perez, Keith Giffen, Dave Cockrum, Steve Ditko, Jerry Ordway, et al. were responsible for some damn fine Thunder Agents material. To help you out, follow the following links: Speaking personally, I want to see the continuing adventures of those Thunder Agents than the rebooted version which DC is launching. I'd say that there are more people who have seen those issues first hand than have seen Wally Wood's material, and they're ignoring both audiences. IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted March 15, 2003 02:13 AM
It's very likely, Bart, that all the non-DC properties that DC has done archives of so far are things that are pretty much handed to them on a plate as far as production, labor, etc. are concerned--little if any restoration required, all the coloring, etc. already done. All DC has to do is wrap them up in a nice package, slap the DC logo on, take orders from stores, and print 'em up. It's not quite that simple, but it's surely something very much like that. The thing to remember is that not only do these other archive NOT reduce the number of DC Universe Archives that we get, but because they may in some cases be more profitable because the technical and labor costs are less, they may encourage DC to print more and more high-end hardcovers of their own features. Instead of worrying about which properties that DC is collecting originally belonged to DC and which didn't, be glad that DC is expanding not just the numbers of archives published but the types of material that gets archived--because the more they branch out there, the closer the day will be when somebody in an editorial meeting will say "Hell, almost everything else we've tried has worked; let's go for it with Sugar & Spike, too!" Although I still think that S&S ought to be done in the Tintin/Asterix format and aimed primarily at the kid's books market. That's waaay bigger than the whole comics industry. IP: Logged |
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jape Member |
posted March 15, 2003 09:53 AM
Licensed characters have always been a big part of DC's business: Fu Manchu and Mutt & Jeff were running before Superman or Batman. Tarzan, Bob Hope, The Shadow, Masters of the Universe, and Sgt Bilko are just a few of the great licensed comics DC has produced over the decades. The non-DC archives are just an extension of a long established and proven business model. The wider and more diverse the range of material DC profitably publishes in its hardcover formats, the better the chances for Sugar & Spike. But don't hold you breath. IP: Logged |
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Unknown Question Member |
posted March 15, 2003 10:27 AM
Thats the way I feel basically. If its not impacting directly on the number of DC Archives produced why worry? Its not like there is only going to be 20 archives a year and we are subtracting stuff and leaving only x for DC material. These are addition products in the Archive like format. Infact they enhance the whole line and add diversity to the material produced, which means more people will see Archives, keeping them going overall as people try other things and leading to the possiblity of more niche/risky/cult based material been reprinted. IP: Logged |
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Bart Allen Member |
posted March 17, 2003 12:02 AM
quote: How did the lat few year of ElfQuest do ? IP: Logged |
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Bart Allen Member |
posted March 17, 2003 12:05 AM
one day i shall learn to use the quote button correctly to put responces in between line Maybe bearnie the brain can teach me IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted March 17, 2003 12:39 AM
The thing about the upcoming Elfquest project to keep in mind is that it isn't going to compete very much (if at all) with other DC Archives, and therefore isn't anything to worry about as far as its effect on the Archives program is concerned. It doesn't crowd out other material in the production process because Wendy and Richard are going to give DC pages that are ready to print. It doesn't compete significantly with other DC hardcovers or trade paperbacks in the stores (the way, for instance, THUNDER Agents does) because the people who will be most interested in it aren't likely to be the same people who buy very much DC superhero or Vertigo material. So why worry about it? If you like it, buy it--if you don't ignore it, because it really isn't affecting you. IP: Logged |
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Bart Allen Member |
posted March 17, 2003 02:40 AM
but i still see every archieve done as "NOT SUGAR AND SPIKE" IP: Logged |
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NecessaryImpurity Member |
posted March 17, 2003 03:07 AM
And every Scribbly fan, and every Red Bee fan, and every Metal Men fan, and every Kamandi fan, and every Sandman fan, and every Metamorpho fan can say the same thing. And have. What's your point? That if DC suddenly stops publishing Spirit and Tor and Mad and THUNDER Agents and Elfquest, you will get S&S? Not hardly. This isn't a zero-sum game. DC is slowly expanding the pie, and eventually there should be a piece for everyones favorite strip. Well, maybe not Red Bee (sorry Marty Show a little patience, man. Five years ago, in March 1998, there were only 27 Archives. The lines were: Superman, Batman, All-Star, Legion, Dark Knight, Justice League, Shazam!, Green Lantern, Flash, Superman in Action, and Wonder Woman. Not exactly a diverse line, eh? Today, there are 77, a gain of 50 in 5 years. This year, we expect 14, and we've seen such additions as Sgt. Rock, Blackhawk, Enemy Ace, and the forthcoming Challengers. We're getting there! Again, have some patience! IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted March 17, 2003 04:14 AM
Hey, I understand. I see every new volume as "Not Adam Strange". I think Sugar & Spike will be reprinted--maybe not as archives, but reprinted nonetheless. In fact, S&S are different enough from everything else that DC publishes now, either new or reprint, that I don't think ANYTHING is displacing it or competing with it for space on the schedule. IP: Logged |
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Drumore01 Member |
posted March 17, 2003 04:19 PM
<<The Sugar and Spike Archive, although seemingly a popular choice of plenty of the DC UNIVERSE ARCHIVE BOARD posters, does not seem to trip any triggers at DC. I don't know how they do their marketing research, but for some reason this idea is treated without being taken very seriously. So, the likelyhood of Archives treatment is extremely low to nonexistant. However, I would buy an Archive of this sort in a second.>> I think it has been taken seriously. According to the DC TRADE panel in San Diego, it has been looked into but the SUGAR & SPIKE material that was reprinted in the past few years (Millenium Edtion, and was there another?) did not sell well. So if the numbers on a cheap product werent good, it's too much of a financial risk for the expense of a $50 product. IP: Logged |
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vze2 Member |
posted March 17, 2003 05:54 PM
quote: The basics: However, there are six parts, if you count the actual message. Codes are in brackets. The off version has a slash in front of it. I don't know what other people do, but I cut and paste the codes to make it work. Since the codes are simple, sometimes I type them myself. Occassionaly, I screw up and you see a message that wasn't quite the way I intended. The text is all there, but it might not be formatted properly and some incorrect codes may be visible. Advanced info that I hope I can state clearly: IP: Logged |
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vze2 Member |
posted March 17, 2003 05:55 PM
Obviously, the second 5 should be a 6. IP: Logged |
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Joe Pacheco Member |
posted March 17, 2003 08:39 PM
A thought and a question. Elfquest started in 1978. I know that's recent memory for a lot of people, but it was actually 25 years ago! Of course it's old enough and important enough to be reprinted. (Bronze age fan rant over) Why is Elfquest considered a manga book? Aside from the big eyes of the figures (which look to me more like Frank Thorne's Red Sonja than Robotech), the art (pacing/figures/layout) is very American. In addition, the story doesn't have much in common with Lone Wolf & Cub, Akira, Nacaussa (sp.), Astro Boy, Crying Freeman, Uzamaki, etc., etc. The story is pure fantasy which I think would work for Vertigo fans of Sandman, Withcraft and Books of Magic. By the way I do know that Wendy Pini was influenced by manga, I just don't think Elfquest reads like any manga I've read. Joe IP: Logged |
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Drumore01 Member |
posted March 17, 2003 08:56 PM
I also have a feeling that ELFQUEST at DC may be just part of a large deal with Warner, possibly trying to do an Elfquest movie, or other merchandise? IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted March 17, 2003 09:14 PM
I don't think Elfquest is considered a manga book, but there's a high overlap between manga fans and Elfquest fans, and a much higher incidence of women and girls among each that in comic readership at large, so I think the feeling is that it appeals to that market. Of course, in the '70s, the same was said about Elfquest and X-Men, of all things.... IP: Logged |
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Joe Pacheco Member |
posted March 17, 2003 10:51 PM
quote:
At the time, about the only books close to the mature reader smart sexy (as opposed to Heavy Metal stupid sex) vibe were Master of Kung Fu and Tomb of Dracula, and later Legion of Superheroes (at times), Daredevil and New Teen Titans. All books had intelligent writing,adult situations, strong female characters and great slick almost sexual art as oppossed to the Kirby/Buscema standard (I know TOD doesn't fit the art comparison, as it was more fluid and romantic). Other pre-mature readers books: IP: Logged |
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Dr. Van Thorp Member |
posted March 17, 2003 11:56 PM
I remember thick Elfquest compilation books being sold at Waldenbooks when I was in Jr. High back around '82. They were ahead of their time. IP: Logged |
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Bart Allen Member |
posted March 18, 2003 01:12 AM
I would think that a $50 archieve would have almost the same sells as the$2.95 #1 reprint (small but loyal). ANd how well did TOR sell? IP: Logged |
) Plenty of us think DC isn't expanding fast enough, but I'd rather they did this cautiously than over-expand and kill the line's profitability.All times are ET (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
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