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 Questions for Bob Greenberger (Page 9)
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| Author | Topic: Questions for Bob Greenberger |
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Marty Raap Member |
posted November 20, 2002 03:56 AM
 
By the way, it's very nice to read that DC is committed to the Archives line and views it -- appropriately, I think -- as the best way to preserve the company's history. I always assume that's the case, but it's nice to see someone in charge stating so. In my mind, that also reinforces the idea that the goal is to reprint everything as much as possible (i.e., preserving history). Also, I believe I've said this before, but I totally support the fact that the Archives are exclusively hardback. I think Mr. Greenberger's dead on in saying that the Archives are special in preserving comics history in library-quality editions. I wouldn't object to paperback versions if I thought they wouldn't harm the hardback versions' chances of staying in print indefinitely as they do currently, but it's hard for me to see that being the case. IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted November 20, 2002 04:10 AM
Damn. That's two posts in a row that I can't find any fault with. I absolutely agree with what you said on both major points. Despite not considering consecutivity as crucial as you do, or completeness as likely to achieve, I'm strongly in favor of preserving as much comics history as possible. We just prioritize it a bit differently, is all. And yeah, I'm not sure why anyone who's had it explained can't see the importance of preserving the hardcover-exclusive format. Maybe I've been too close to the business for too long.... IP: Logged |
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James Friel Member |
posted November 20, 2002 04:12 AM
Hey, I just noticed that this isn't the thread where we were arguing, Marty. My last response doesn't entirely make sense in that context. I think I'll go to bed... IP: Logged |
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Lee Semmens Member |
posted November 20, 2002 06:03 AM
quote: Did the news site also misspeak about this being a slimmer volume, Bob? IP: Logged |
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Osgood Peabody Member |
posted November 20, 2002 09:14 AM
quote: This is how those 3 volumes will probably shape up: Volume 1 Detective 370 (12/67) (cover only)
Brave & the Bold 86 (10-11/69) 24 pages "You Can't Hide From a Deadman" (Batman/Deadman)
Detective 412 (6/71) (cover only) I'm a little light on the last volume, but I bet there's plenty of other promotional Adams material from the '70s that could be included, and whatever other surprises Bob may have in store, right? IP: Logged |
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Bob Greenberger Member |
posted November 20, 2002 09:16 AM
There must be some web site that has a Neal Adams index that should give you some idea what would go into these book. And of course, a complete listing will be made at time of solicitation. Right now we're thinking annual for the three books but maybe a little shorter duration if sales and interest warrant. Neal's been working with us on the first book--there are some errors he wants fixed and we're doing what we can to accomodate him. As discussed on other threads, the Challengers project was conceived to address the desire for Jack Kirby material in addition to allowing us to experiement with a thinner and lower priced format. The idea came up when it was clear the four SHOWCASE and first eight issues would make two finer thin volumes than one pure-Jack and one not. If this sells well, great. If not, we've learned a lesson and the fans still get Jack's stories. On the issue of trades, we do a lot of analysis breaking things down by category (i.e. Superman, Batman, Vertigo, Wildstorm, ABC, DCU, etc.) and comparing number of titles in each category from preceding years. Bob Wayne comes with feedback from retailers while Rich Johnson comes in with feedback from bookstore buyers. Dale and I have prepared a category by category wish list of projects (assembled with editorial input) that exceed the number of slots assumed to be available. Then, lots of us gather around a table and we go through the list. Eventually, we winnow it down based on all the factors above plus our gut-level instincts. We leave several third and fourth quarter slots marked TBA, knowing we get surprised. For example, we're rushing FABLES and Y collections based on their strong sales even though both were scheduled for later in 2003. That gives us some slots that need filling later. And as new DCU, WildStorm and Vertigo series debut, we'll decide to collect or not collect. DCU has high hopes, for example, for HERO so if we're right, we can collect that later. The bookstore buyers help detemrine if something like QUIVER should be a hardcover. Others are slam dunk decisions such as DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. And at the recently conlcuded RRP meeting, we held a session addressing frwquency, formatting and related issues for the Archives and Collected Editions programs. Those results will certainly have influence on how 2003 finally shapes up. And hey, my first trades are finally out and I'm a happy guy. I think BATMAN YEAR TWO: FEAR THE REAPER looks pretty snazzy and am thrilled with both JSA: RETURN OF HAWKMAN and BATMAN: BRUCE WAYNE - FUGITIVE VOL. ONE which you guys should be seeing on the shelf next week. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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doesitmatter Member |
posted November 20, 2002 04:58 PM
Actually, nealadams.com has a pretty thorough index of his work. It's alphabteical though, not chronological so it's much harder to figure out the organization. By the way, I'm fine with annual or shorter releases. I just want them. And if we're finally getting Challengers, where's New Gods? IP: Logged |
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GaryUK Member |
posted November 20, 2002 05:03 PM
As a lover of hardback books, I would love to see more hardback releases of 'recent' series, for example I would love to have seen the Batman Year Two collection released as a hardback, as well as the Frank Miller Year One to compliment it, (similar to the recent Dark Knight books). IP: Logged |
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Donna Troy Fan Member |
posted November 20, 2002 06:35 PM
quote: Year one was available in hardback, don't know about the year 2. Really year 2 was crap if you mean the Alan Davis stuff with the Reaper. IP: Logged |
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? Member |
posted November 20, 2002 08:41 PM
With a "thin" archive format now, is it more possible to eventually get an "All-Star Comics Volume Zero" to finish up the complete run of that book? I know others have talked about the possibility of filling out the extra space with another comic to make a full-sized volume, but I would prefer "pure" All-Star. IP: Logged |
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Old Dude Member |
posted November 20, 2002 08:53 PM
quote: I must take exception to this. Batman Year 2 was an excellent story, and Alan Davis' art, though not up to the level it is today, was nowhere near "crap." The final issues that newcomer Todd McFarlane drew were disappointing, I grant you. However, I would recommend the new TPB to anyone who doesn't have Batman Year 2 in some form. It's really good. IP: Logged |
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Donna Troy Fan Member |
posted November 20, 2002 11:11 PM
quote: Sorry about that. It wasn't the art I found to be bad, but the story. Just really bland. No where near what year one was. IP: Logged |
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JeffD Member |
posted November 21, 2002 09:07 AM
Bob, I hope these questions have not been raised yet...so here goes: Any chance that DC trades will upgrade their paper stock? I can understand if the monthlies are on newsprint, but I would think the collections should be more permanent. Just look at what Marvel is doing. Also, as with DVDs, do you foresee more "extras" in the trades and hardcovers? I, for one, was a little disappointed we didn't see more "behind the scenes" stuff in the Dark Knight hardcovers. Thanks, as always, for your help! IP: Logged |
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GDL Member |
posted November 21, 2002 12:13 PM
quote: I second this nomination! ------------------ IP: Logged |
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stoter1 Member |
posted November 21, 2002 12:22 PM
quote: I'm all for upgrading paper on HC's. Marvels recent Hc's have been beautiful, and it seems of late that the archive paper has gotten thinner. I mean Sgt Rock was on excellent paper, but all star 8 seemed to be on thinner paper. I do not favor glossy paper for trades reprinting old material. I like the newstand paer for trades like Supes in the Seventies. When Marvel tried using slick paper to reprint old Byrne Fantastic Four, it just didnt look right. IP: Logged |
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fbalkin Member |
posted November 22, 2002 07:45 PM
Marty and James - sorry, but I'm not dissuaded. I think paperback versions remain a good idea. Perhaps DC could test the waters by printing a paperback version of ONE of the Archives editions released later this year, whether concurrently or a few months later, to see if a)all it does is reduce sales for that collection overall or if b)as I suspect, it increases sales, because people like me who might be "on the fence" about buying a $50 hardcover might go ahead and purchase the same material in a less expensive format. IP: Logged |
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vze2 Member |
posted November 22, 2002 08:18 PM
How much would this hypothetical paperback cost? IP: Logged |
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vze2 Member |
posted November 22, 2002 09:19 PM
I just found your original post, where you suggest $18-$25. From what James and others have said, production costs are extremely high for Golden Age material. If I understand correctly, a $25 Golden Age paperback would almost certainly lose money because it would take a phenomenal number of sales to cover the production cost. Based on other posts, I believe that a fairly-priced Golden Age paperback would cost at least $35, probably $40. Could a Silver Age Archive be sold as a $25 trade? As an individual volume, I think the answer is yes. However, again based on posts by James and others, there appears to be what you can think of as a tax on Silver Age Archives that subsidizes the Golden Age Archives. Is this fair? Maybe not, but if the Archives were priced fairly (let's say $60 for GA, $40 for SA), I think that the GA Archives would stop being published. Since the SA would not exist without the GA, I think that the tax, if you want to call it that, is fair. My budget is hurting, so I'd really like cheaper Archives, but based on everything I've been told, the price is fair. IP: Logged |
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Mike Falcon Member |
posted November 23, 2002 03:03 PM
I just finished reading The "A Seperate Reality" Dr. Strange TPB. It's great! I love that stuff from the 1970's (and 80's).I bought it when it came out but school and life kept me from starting it. Now that I have finished it I've come to conclusion that Marvel's TPB program has gone to hell. Last spring Marvel was pumping out great 1970's trades and now, after looking at the Marvel previews for Jan. And Feb. I see nothing! The earliest stuff they are offering is from the early 1990's! Only really good thing they have had recently is the Daredevil trade of 1980's (non-Miller) stuff, and maybe the G.I. Joe trades. So, Bob what would Marvel be putting out now if you were still over there? And will DC make me happy this year? IP: Logged |
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Mike Falcon Member |
posted November 23, 2002 09:29 PM
Hey Bob, here's a link to something you might find interesting: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=739065468&category=64 Maybe it would be a good idea for DC to reprint this? IP: Logged |
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Mike Falcon Member |
posted November 25, 2002 01:32 PM
BUMP IP: Logged |
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Cloneranger Member |
posted November 26, 2002 11:10 AM
Hey Bob, Over on the Shazam Book Club thread, I got to thinking. I assume there is a limited pool of people who can perform the work needed to prepare Golden Age comics for archiving. Approximately how many man-hours are involved in putting an Archive together? How many Archives could DC physically produce in a year? IP: Logged |
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Cash Lone Member |
posted November 26, 2002 11:50 PM
Mr. Greenberger, Looking forward to the Neal Adams Batman collection. I really hope the subsequent volumes are released sooner than annually apart (2005 for volume III? nooooo!). How about a release every 6 months? Would there be any plans to release all three volumes in one large slipcase (maybe including a reproduction poster of one of Mr. Adams covers)? Again, very excited about these archives! IP: Logged |
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Donna Troy Fan Member |
posted November 27, 2002 09:28 AM
Bob I see that New Teen Titans 1-5 will be in tpb form next year. Will this be part of a Titans month event. Can we expect a second Archvive? Love your feedback. IP: Logged |
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Mike Falcon Member |
posted November 27, 2002 01:45 PM
quote: I think the key phrase is "our current schedule for 2003." This could mean anything. Maybe they have only part of next year actually "scheduled" and the rest is just "TBA". IP: Logged |
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