A new model to make comics good

[casual Bat Fan]

I have no clue where to put this but this is from my (for now) dormant blog and I thought it was worth some thought:

I've just recently gotten back into comics. I was never really a big reader of the superhero genre but I did read a few Batman, Spiderman, Superman issues as a kid. I've now started buying comics again and I find the industry more confusing then ever. So this post is going to simplify DC IMO and lead to a more consistent DC Universe as well.

I send questions to Mark Fossen over at Focused Totality/Operation Sports about the comics industry and such. Last night I asked if we'd ever see a boom period again and he basically said "not in the current format" tho he did mention that Trade PaperBacks and Graphic Novels are going through their own little boom. This got me thinking about how I would run DC to bring on better sales and such because as Fossen also said to me, the readership is aging rapidly.

So here's my model for DC Comics:

It's a 3 tier model with a "sandwich" tier between Tier 1 and Tier 2. There'll be different pricing for each tier and within the first Tier there's sub-divisions.

TIER ONE: Monthly Issues

First of all, I think the monthlies are far too skimpy for what they charge. 22 pages is NOT enough. I'm one of those people that likes to take their time reading but i've found that i've blown by the monthlies i've bought in 5 minutes or less! This, coming from a guy who likes to study the panels and such before flipping the page. So what needs to be done is simple. I think there should be a 48 page format and nothing less. There's also the issue of how many books should a character have. It seems to me that Batman and Superman have far too many books associated with them so a new rule i'd institute is "2 books associated with a character". That way you don't have to go all over the place to follow one hero's storyline and whatnot.

As i've said Tier One is subdivided:

1A) This is your main DC universe titles of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman JLA, JSA, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow and whatever else you want to put in there. These would be priced at $2 a pop. One thing i'd like to see in the main DCverse is a return to making the characters matter and less emphasis on the creative teams. This would mean giving any writer a bible to work off of for the title they're working on. That way they'd be forced to write good stories rather then putting in their little quirks on the table.

1B) This is my revolutionary idea. As we all know the comics readership is aging so I think a GENIUNE Silver Age/Multiverse imprint should be instituted. It'd also allow the writers to be creative and have fun with the characters. The All-Star line was SUPPOSED to do this but well Frank Miller went all dark with Bats and while i've heard the Superman one is actually a good nod to the Silver Age it's still pretty much rooted in Bronze Age stuff. So this imprint would be the answer. I'd like to see someone who worked in the SA handle editorial duties on this imprint.

Also in this tier would be an Elseworlds imprint, again it would allow the creative teams to really let their imagination run wild while not having to be tied down to continuity. I think this imprint wouldn't necessarily be a regular monthly but it'd come out enough that a seperate imprint is needed.

1C) This would be the DC Animated division. It's more or less the animated versions of the main DCverse as well as the Cartoon Network books. These would be in the format we see them today of 22 pages and the same price as well.


"SANDWICH"

Basically this'd be where you release mini-series and crossover events. One word about this tho, DC needs to have more clarity with their Mega Events. I know that Infinite Crisis is a once in 20 years kind of event but do we really need a what seems like 4-5 different mini-series surrounding the main event of Infinite Crisis? I mean this is just overkill. This event is supposed to bring new readership but when you have all this other stuff going on it's kinda hard to hook new readers when they have to buy 50 books just to follow the damn thing! (i'm exaggerating but i'm pretty sure that number is pretty accurate)

Anyways these mini-series and crossover events would then convert over Tier Two a year after the mini has fully been published. That way the TPB doesn't take away the sales of the mini. Even then a mini-series would be up for TPB form but that doesn't mean you have to publish it straight away.

Again these would be 48 pages and the price would go up to $2.50 per issue.


TIER TWO: TPBs and GNs

DC has a wealth of comic book goodness in the vaults that ache for a TPB/GN treatment. In fact, I have an idea for a TPB series. We all know that some writers have slavish fans so i'd like to see a Writer X TPB series where you'd get the full run of your fave writer on a book. To make my point clearer how about something like Marv Wolfman's run on Teen Titans. So if you're a fan of Wolfman you'd see a series of TPBs of his entire run of that title.

I like the pricing for these things so i'd keep it as is. I know TPBs and GNs have become the "in thing" so i'd like to see WB (which owns DC) to strike a deal with a major book chain to sell them exclusively or something. I know they sell TPBs at some major chains but I think it'd be more profitable to make it a permanent thing.


TIER THREE: Archives Editions and Specialty Items

I truly love the Archives Edition program at DC and hope to see even more of these bad boys. Yes the price is exorbitant but just look at the quality you're getting. It's money well spent. I think that DC could also put encyclopedias, artist specific artbooks and CD-Rom versions of the Archives Editions. The CD-Rom idea comes from the Marvel CD-Roms i've seen which offers full runs of the Avengers, Spider-man, Fantastic Four and the X-Men. Now unless those were not liscenced by Marvel then this is a great idea for DC to get at the tech crowd.


So there you have it, my idea to make DC more viable. DC also has a great parent company in WB. I think Warners should really ramp up the DC properties in other media. The cartoons have been wildly successful and the live action TV side seems to be doing well. I've even heard they're doing an Aquaman series! The movies are only now starting to get going again with the new Batman films and Superman coming out this summer.

The only thing WB needs to do more of is to actually, you know advertise DC a bit more. There should be more synergy with the TV and movie incarnation of the characters.

So my ideas would do this:

1. Simplify, while at the same time diversifying the DC Universe

2. Emphasizing character rather then the creative teams behind them

3. Put an emphasis on catering to the divergent fanbase: a streamlined DCverse for the ongoing series and a Silver Age/Elseworlds imprint for the older crowd who wish for simpler and lighter entertainment.

4. Make the TPB/GN side of the business at the forefront for mainstream exposure.

5. Synergy between the different incarnations of the DC properties.

*************************************


Granted this was written April 22nd of last year.

Anywho I hope this post doesn't get moved around :(

I'd love to hear what you guys think of this.

[Generic Eric]

TIER ONE: Monthly Issues

48 page comics for 2 dollars. There's no market for such a title. Nope nada. Too small of a price to hire competant artists and writers. I'm all for trying new formats. Let's just not throw out the baby with the bath water.

The big boom in comics right now is really teenagers and young adults buying manga digests. I don't think the comic industry your thinking of needs another big boom. Slow and steady growth seems to be working well right now.


I know TPBs and GNs have become the "in thing" so i'd like to see WB (which owns DC) to strike a deal with a major book chain to sell them exclusively or something.

Are graphic novels the 'in' thing? I always just thought of them as books. Striking big deals to get chain book stores to carry graphic novels has lead to bankruptcy for comicbook companies in the past. Crossgen and Tundra to be exact. The strategy that's getting alot of graphic novels in stores is producing good comics. Books that sell because they are good.

[stealthwise]

48 page comics for 2 dollars. There's no market for such a title. Nope nada. Too small of a price to hire competant artists and writers.

That's very contentious, as there are a ton of talented individuals who will work for low wages for a chance to prove themselves.

But you're better off having 64 pages or so and charging 4 dollars. Or hell, 128 pages, and print it in black and white. The Japanese have the right idea with the large, disposable anthology volumes that are mass-distributed.

[founder81]

I like the pricing for these things so i'd keep it as is. I know TPBs and GNs have become the "in thing" so i'd like to see WB (which owns DC) to strike a deal with a major book chain to sell them exclusively or something. I know they sell TPBs at some major chains but I think it'd be more profitable to make it a permanent thing.

Marvel did this. They struck a deal woth Barnes and Nobles. BN had exclusive softcover versions of Marvel Masterworks, (same paper quality). These cost $13 instead of the $50 price tag on the Hardcovers.

I'm not sure any of the series got past #4. Spider-man got to Vol 4, Uncanny X-men got to #3. I think maybe Fantastic Four got to Vol 4 as well.

The hard covers for most series are up to Vol 7 or 8. Hell even Warlock has a Hardcover Masterworks.

These books failed, no more are made and they are out of print. There is obvisouly a demand for this older content. I believe they failed BECAUSE they were a BN exclusive. If these had been available through comic shops and Amazon,, etc., the softcovers would be along side the hardcovers.

[Generic Eric]

That's very contentious, as there are a ton of talented individuals who will work for low wages for a chance to prove themselves.

Yeah they really shouldn't. If they have the talent maybe they should work for an industry that can pay them a living wage than to work for very little just because they love the industry. Besides this is work for hire not creator owned. Sure ther are alot of talented creators. The other factor of competance would be meeting a deadline. There are many stories of talent not turning in work on schedule or even returning phone calls/e-mails.


But you're better off having 64 pages or so and charging 4 dollars. Or hell, 128 pages, and print it in black and white. The Japanese have the right idea with the large, disposable anthology volumes that are mass-distributed.

That seems more realistic because it would cut the printing costs and stick in a few more pages of advertising. I have seen a few thick indy anthology that fit the thick black & white model. Whoever puts most of them together cannot find the talent and settle for too many amatuer creators or the theme of of the anthology is often too random. This kind of anthology would need a good editter.

[Brandon Hanvey]

It would be really hard to make a profit off a 48 page color comic that sells for $2.

The publisher only makes about 30-40% off cover price so DC would be only making about $0.75 per issue. Then you have to factor in printing cost and cost of producing the comic (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letter, and so on). Depending on the printing cost, they would have to sell a whole bunch just to break even.

[Reptisaurus!]

It would be really hard to make a profit off a 48 page color comic that sells for $2.

The publisher only makes about 30-40% off cover price so DC would be only making about $0.75 per issue. Then you have to factor in printing cost and cost of producing the comic (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letter, and so on). Depending on the printing cost, they would have to sell a whole bunch just to break even.

Also it doesn't really seem to make much of a difference to most consumers.

Are you buyin' Fell, CBF?

Not a great source, but according to a dude at my old comic shop his DC rep. said comics, right now, are priced to make maximum profit. If they lowered the price the per-unit cost, like BH said, would be too high for them to take. If they increased it, fans would leave for cheaper entertainments.

[plainbrownwraper]

Yeah they really shouldn't. If they have the talent maybe they should work for an industry that can pay them a living wage than to work for very little just because they love the industry. Besides this is work for hire not creator owned. Sure ther are alot of talented creators. The other factor of competance would be meeting a deadline. There are many stories of talent not turning in work on schedule or even returning phone calls/e-mails.

I disagree, I think the bar is set too high - i.e., if you can't keep up a monthly schedule with teh quality of Bryan Hitch, there just isn't any place for you in the industry - and I mean right out of the box, no breaking in period, not growth curve, either you are or you aren't.

What is left is people who love comix and creating them, but are always starting at square one, no editorial oversight to tighten up stories, demand or cajole better quality artwork, etc., it's purely ad-hoc, there is no "ladder", you're either onthe top rung or you're on the deck - Jack Kirby would never "make it" in the current climate, even if he could do five books at a time.



That seems more realistic because it would cut the printing costs and stick in a few more pages of advertising. I have seen a few thick indy anthology that fit the thick black & white model. Whoever puts most of them together cannot find the talent and settle for too many amatuer creators or the theme of of the anthology is often too random. This kind of anthology would need a good editter.

Fact is, nobody can keep up with a monthly schedule with the quality of Bryan Hitch, not even Bryan Hitch - Manga artists can concentrate on the main details, and these vastly simplified, but American artists are almost universally predjudiced against Manga, and so again, the very artists that might be able to expand the alternative market in America are on the outside - not even looking in, but actively discouraged, the curtains drawn.

I think comix fans generally fall into two catagories: those who actually read them for the stories, and those who mainly collect them for the art - the market is biased towards the latter, IMO, the former is mostly served by the indies with their wildly varying degrees of professional experience, or by imported Manga - it's only a fairly thin slice of the direct market, IMO.

My solution is simply to get writers back into the short story mode, as opposed to the 50 issue magnum opus - it's easier for artists to hone their chops on short stories, developing the experience they need to to maintain schedules on longer pieces - a lot of artists flake simply because the pressue of delivering consistent quality on a monthly is just too much - even Marvel rotates it's artists to keep them from burning out or losing interest.

Again, in the Silver age, art chores were often divvied up, with layout artists, background artists, etc., more like film production - contemporary comix artists are expected to do everything, i.e., the emphasis is on the "collectibility", rather than the storytelling - this in a market that is so oversaturated that the only thing that's collectable is the stuff nobody liked, and is subsequently, rare, and hence collectable - if anybody liked it, etc.

[founder81]

Fact is, nobody can keep up with a monthly schedule with the quality of Bryan Hitch, not even Bryan Hitch -
Bryan Hitch had at least 2 monthly books in the past. She-hulk and JLA. Before he became a superstar he HAD to keep on schedule.

I believe there is room for artist like Bryan Hitch (of today), its in original graphic novels and not monthly's. (monthly can still work, all issues just have to be done before #1 comes out)



I think comix fans generally fall into two catagories: those who actually read them for the stories, and those who mainly collect them for the art - the market is biased towards the latter, IMO, the former is mostly served by the indies with their wildly varying degrees of professional experience, or by imported Manga - it's only a fairly thin slice of the direct market, IMO.

...the emphasis is on the "collectibility", rather than the storytelling - this in a market that is so oversaturated that the only thing that's collectable is the stuff nobody liked, and is subsequently, rare, and hence collectable - if anybody liked it, etc.

Comic fans are no doubted seperated, but i don't think the clear division is story vs art, but those who enjoy comics as entertainment (doesn't matter if you prefer story or art) to those that just find them collectible (There are no doubt more people who collect a certain artist for the simple fact that art is visual. If you don't read the comics, you can see Bryan Hitch art, where you wouldn't get the impact of, say, Ed Brubaker's writing).