finally -- a dc showcase presents ...

[dan bailey]

... that doesn't excite me in any way, shape or form --

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=83723 --

though i'll undoubtedly pick it/them up anyway. probably i'd feel differently if i'd been reading comics when these came out in the '80s ...

oh, well.

[Slam_Bradley]

Agreed. Of course I still have the originals. But even if I didn't, I wouldn't be picking them up.

[Lone Ranger]

Strange choice by DC - I guess they are just following Marvel's lead as they did in the 80s.

I'll not be buying - where the hell is my DC Showcase Presents The War That Time Forgot?

[zilch]

Okay...

now i'm about a quarter of the way through scanning ALL of DC's Whos Who pages (from the original series, updates, looseleaf and all of the Secret Files and Origins pages) and THIS happens.

As a great philosopher once said

"D'Oh!"

[Scott Shaw!]

Are you guys kiddin'? I'm delighted -- because I've got a bunch of pages in those WHO'S WHOs! Lessee, there's...

-- Alley-Kat-Abra
-- Captain Carrot
-- Fastback
-- Little Cheese
-- Mr. Mind
-- Pig-Iron
-- Rubberduck
-- Yankee Poodle
-- The Zoo Crew (two-page spread)

Hmmm...I wonder if they're paying reprint fees? Thanks for the head's-up, Dan!

Aloha,

Scott!

[quidproquo]

I was pretty young when Who's Who was published and I loved it. I will buy these Showcase volumes, but I would have rather seen them reprint stories!

[MDG]

Hmmm...I wonder if they're paying reprint fees? Thanks for the head's-up, Dan!
I thought I read somewhere that royalties due on books after 1970-something made it unprofitable to produce them in the Showcase format.

One of the joys of picking these up off the stands was seeing what (unexpected) artists contributed. I remember some really nice surprises from Dave Gibbons and Dave Stevens.

But I don't know how many of the character histories in them are still "true."
MDG

[MWGallaher]

I thought I read somewhere that royalties due on books after 1970-something made it unprofitable to produce them in the Showcase format.

One of the joys of picking these up off the stands was seeing what (unexpected) artists contributed. I remember some really nice surprises from Dave Gibbons and Dave Stevens.

But I don't know how many of the character histories in them are still "true."
MDG
Apparently the nature of this particular publication necessitated a different sort of royalties arrangement than their other comics of the era. My guess is that each issue featured 30 to 40 different artists (a quick check of one issue turned up 30 pencillers and inkers!), which would make *any* individual royalties minimal, anyway, but I'd guess it would also be a probitive barrier in the accounting department.
The art's the selling point for this book. While the Marvel Handbook Essentials might have as great a variety of artists, those artists were limited to small, boring, repetitive and stiff poses (intended to document costume details, primarily, rather than to be engaging pictures as DC's were), which prevented most of the artists from instilling the illustrations with their own artistic flair. I think it could be a fun addition to the Showcase library.
(I like to play "Who's Not Who", spotting characters unfairly overlooked by the series, like Odd Man and Space Marshal!)

[Bill Angus]

Although a relatively usefull resource for artists (albeit for countless out-of-date costume/character designs), though I'm a little concerned about presenting the colour hold portions of the art in greyscale. I'm not sure how well that'll actually translate. It sounds good in principle, but...

I'd certainly have to see it before I'd consider spending any money on it.

Of course, it would be nice if they were instead talking about a whole new edition (following the same basic design from back then - which I found vastly superior to Marvel's approach). I still woudn't necessarily buy it, but at least it would have up-to-date information & character/costume designs.

[swinebread]

Of course, it would be nice if they were instead talking about a whole new edition (following the same basic design from back then - which I found vastly superior to Marvel's approach). I still woudn't necessarily buy it, but at least it would have up-to-date information & character/costume designs.

Perhaps they are testing the waters to see if there is a desire for a new set Who's Who comics.
http://www.newsarama.com/Baltimore/06/DC/SPwho_v1_cvr_comp_t.jpg

[Josh S]

You know what? I don't mind the SHOWCASE/ESSENTIAL line being B&W in the least. But for WHO'S WHO and OHOTMU, I'll pass because they aren't color.

[Loren]

I'll not be buying - where the hell is my DC Showcase Presents The War That Time Forgot?

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7051/showcasetimelw8.jpg

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT VOL. 1
Collects Star-Spangled War Stories #90-117, 122-137

[Sir Tim Drake]

This series is bargain bin fodder-- I have all the original issues and I don't think any of them cost me more than a buck. I don't see why this Showcase Presents is necessary.

[Pól Rua]

Frankly, even though I have most of this series (if not all), it's a great guide to the Pre-Crisis DCU. Besides, as has been mentioned earlier, there's some really superlative art from some quite surprising artists in this series.
Plus, I prefer trades, especially for something I'm going to be referencing frequently, so I'll definitely be grabbing this one.

[Agentum]

I have all of those plus updates, easy to get.

I wan't something to read.

[K'Nort]

I have no interest in the Who's Who, but I'll certainly be buying the New Gods hardcovers.

[Mr. Palmer]

So, does this put to rest the rumor that DC wouldn't be doing any Showcase volumes past the mid-70s?

[Josh S]

So, does this put to rest the rumor that DC wouldn't be doing any Showcase volumes past the mid-70s?

Maybe. Maybe not. Some have suggested that since so many people worked on WHO'S WHO that it's not subject to the same royalties rates that other titles are. I hope they're wrong, but it does make sense.

[DDM]

I'll buy it. I love Who's Who.