DC Comics, Warners and our position in the cycle.
badbad
but I feel I must reflect.
If anyone remembers the movie advertising campaigns that Warners did in
the mid-90s I would like to jog your memories.
I find that the way the Clooney Batman movie was marketed is quite
similar to the last couple of years of DC comics. I am quite struck by
the movie poster and print ad campaign that followed the Batman & Robin
movie and its similarity to both Final Crisis and the upcoming Villains
comics.
The teaser posters for Batman & Robin displayed the villains with
individual posters which I feel are similar to the Sinestro Corps/Final
Crisis/Villains advertising. Single splash images of Sinestro, Mongul
or Libra could be interchanged with images of Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy
or the Governator as Mr. Freeze. I suppose that a marketing guy would
say that they are personality (that is 'stars') rather than story. But
not even the central character was as lovingly displayed as Ms Thurman
in green tights. Anyone could see that feeling was being sold over any
content. When I see a picture of Libra (or Mongul or whatever) and a
single word like "hate" I am struck by the faint remembrance of bad
comics movies gone by.
I think there is a similarity to that period and the current 2+ years of
marketing campaigns from DC right now. That is only my opinion and it is
not based on any deep critical analysis but rather a feeling of someone
who has lived through the period.
I only bring this up because a sort of apotheosis for superhero movies
was reached around the time. After that movie, comics adaptations had
to take a breather for a while.
Does anyone think that Final Crisis, Secret Invasion, etc are inviting a
backlash by being pure marketing efforts? I am not trying to say that
comics will go away but I am wondering if there is going to be a
retrenchment if sales flip in a significant way. My pull list for
Marvel and DC is quite small nowadays - some weeks I only buy ONE title
in total from both companies. I do have some disposable income but like
my cable TV box, I can see a hundred choices but nothing worth watching.
Everyone here has been witness to at least one bust cycle in comics.
What are your predictions as to when the next one will happen?
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badbad
black...@aol.com
Will it happen because were in a recession, or because the material is
lower quality, or a combination of both?
badbad
> Will it happen because were in a recession, or because the material is
> lower quality, or a combination of both?
I am a believer in cycles. I do not think the recession is the primary
factor but it could be a co-factor.
I was just thinking that the type of marketing during that period is
similar to what I see currently at DC Comics. I was struck because that
period was the final straw for me and for comic-based movies. Never the
twain should meet til Spider-Man in 2002. I think a lot of people felt
that way.
I do not think $3.99 comics will increase sales or offset the loss of
marketshare. I do not think the current type of event comics will
generate enthusiasm from the fanbase. I believe the event comics are
pure marketing events and eventually the market gets tired if there is
no true reward (or substance) to the product they purchase.
I only wonder if we are witnessing the beginning of the "Issue #0,
foil-cover-limited-edition" cycle or the end?
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badbad
Ken from Chicago
"badbad" <us...@example.net> wrote in message
news:4jK1l.6234$8_3....@flpi147.ffdc.sbc.com...
Comics should be MORE like roller coasters.
Yes, that's right, MORE like roller coasters.
Roller coasters have major exciting dives--but also have periods of REST,
where you relax from the major dive before going into the next one. Comics
have gotten away from that by having year-long events with no breaks
inbetween to live with the consequences of the last Event before diving into
the next one.
-- Ken from Chicago