Expanding the comics readership

[Leocomix]

Which is a direct result of what the comic book companies started to do in the 1970s when the direct market came into play. They've really catered to the fanboy more than any new reader in the last twenty to twenty five years.

They've been trying to change that. By bringing litterature, movie and TV shows writers, they attempted to attract a larger public. Not only these writers have a following of their own but as writers they are used to reach a larger public. The comic books are now a prepublication for TPBs which are distributed by different channels. Actually the figures we have are only of the sales through Diamond but I'm regularly surprised by the list of NY Times comics bestsellers (which doesn't always match).
Asterios Polyp is number one and The Hunter is number 2. Mazzuchelli and Cooke are known for their previous work (and Stark is a famous name) but these are purely indie stuff. I have no idea what Halo Uprising and Mouse Guard Winter 1152 are.
Publishers adapt more and more novels. You can read Pride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; The Stand, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, litterature classics by Roy Thomas, Dracula and some of those are the best adaptations I have ever seen of novels.
Consider a success like Green Lantern. In one way it played of the popularity of The New Frontier. Green Lantern was one of the early Showcase Presents (cheap way to make the character known). Johns has made sure to use short, middle and long term continuity. The long term is all the back history of the character that he's been mining for gold. The middle term is his own writing since Rebirth, the short term is the setting up of Blackest Night since Secret Origin. It is perfectly designed
1. to pick up old time readers
2. to pick up the New Frontier public
3: To pick up Alan Moore readers (from Alan Moore writes the DC Universe)
4. It picks up Johns readers
5. It keeps its readers by having a long game plan (like Sandman, Starman) and announcing them with flashforwards

It is supported by the availability of material (Showcase, Archives, TPBs like Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, GL Chronicles and now Absolute)

Companies also maintain a diverse line by supporting low-selling books in different genres (Jonah Hex)

They also keep producing comics for kids in spite of previous failures to cater to that market: Marvel releasing a Star Comics collection, Boom Kids, DC Kids (which are great)

[Arvandor]

Geoff Johns is a hack. Stop talking rubbish.

[Asmith]

They've been trying to change that. By bringing litterature, movie and TV shows writers, they attempted to attract a larger public. Not only these writers have a following of their own but as writers they are used to reach a larger public. The comic books are now a prepublication for TPBs which are distributed by different channels. Actually the figures we have are only of the sales through Diamond but I'm regularly surprised by the list of NY Times comics bestsellers (which doesn't always match).
Asterios Polyp is number one and The Hunter is number 2. Mazzuchelli and Cooke are known for their previous work (and Stark is a famous name) but these are purely indie stuff. I have no idea what Halo Uprising and Mouse Guard Winter 1152 are.
Publishers adapt more and more novels. You can read Pride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; The Stand, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, litterature classics by Roy Thomas, Dracula and some of those are the best adaptations I have ever seen of novels.
Consider a success like Green Lantern. In one way it played of the popularity of The New Frontier. Green Lantern was one of the early Showcase Presents (cheap way to make the character known). Johns has made sure to use short, middle and long term continuity. The long term is all the back history of the character that he's been mining for gold. The middle term is his own writing since Rebirth, the short term is the setting up of Blackest Night since Secret Origin. It is perfectly designed
1. to pick up old time readers
2. to pick up the New Frontier public
3: To pick up Alan Moore readers (from Alan Moore writes the DC Universe)
4. It picks up Johns readers
5. It keeps its readers by having a long game plan (like Sandman, Starman) and announcing them with flashforwards

It is supported by the availability of material (Showcase, Archives, TPBs like Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, GL Chronicles and now Absolute)

Companies also maintain a diverse line by supporting low-selling books in different genres (Jonah Hex)

They also keep producing comics for kids in spite of previous failures to cater to that market: Marvel releasing a Star Comics collection, Boom Kids, DC Kids (which are great)

Except for the kids line of books (some of which are a gazillion times better than the main lines...) is there anything in that bizarre diatribe of yours that isn't uber fanboy-ie?

The fact that the best sellers through retailers that cater to the non-sweaty 34yr old virgin audience are all indie titles would point to no broader interest in the ceasesless adventures of muscle men in tights...

I think it's great you're obviously enjoying Green Lantern at the moment... and you sound really excited about it... but don't expect your over whelming enthusiasm to be contagious amongst the hoi poloi.

...Especially when super hero comics these days give you 22 pages of very little story, take a minute and a half to read, and a single issue wipes out most kids weekly allowances... Comic shops needn't be worrying about re-enforcing their doors - there ain't no horde out there looking to storm in... not till companies start producing a product that appeals and is priced to sell. But that's been the state of affairs for quite awhile now... nothing new here.

[Kid Omega]

I find it hilarious/sad that anyone would hand-wave away ASTERIOS POLYP as "purely indie stuff", and then sing hosanah praises to BLACKEST NIGHT.

If you want to get new people into comics, one of those is the clear choice.

It's like deciding whether to loan someone SINGING IN THE RAIN or a random episode of STARGATE to get them into motion pictures.

[Tadhg]

It's like deciding whether to loan someone SINGING IN THE RAIN or a random episode of STARGATE to get them into motion pictures.

I think this may be my favorite analogy ever.

[Michael P]

As someone who loves Alan Moore, New Frontier, Sandman, and Starman, I couldn't care less about Blackest Night. There's absolutely nothing in it of what I like about those comics.

[Joe Acro]

1. to pick up old time readersI wouldn't say Blackest Night is designed to pick up old readers, but that's largely because of two things. I don't know what appeals to "old readers" specifically nor what constitutes an "old reader".
2. to pick up the New Frontier publicWhy would it appeal to fans of New Frontier specifically? It has a different tone, a different artist, and is missing some of the featured characters of that story.
3: To pick up Alan Moore readers (from Alan Moore writes the DC Universe)Is there anything about this story that relates to Moore's work? It seems to me that it lacks complex underlying themes. In the Director's Cut of Blackest Night #0, Johns even says the theme is "light and dark". Not really much of a theme, and certainly not complex. If anything, it harkens to Ditko's Mr. A character.

4. It picks up Johns readersThat it will do. As well as fans of the current Green Lantern titles or Ivan Reis's art work.

5. It keeps its readers by having a long game plan (like Sandman, Starman) and announcing them with flashforwardsThere's a long game plan here? I was under the impression Blackest Night and the related "War of Light" is pretty much the culmination of Johns's vision with Green Lantern, as he's been building to it for quite some time.

It is supported by the availability of material (Showcase, Archives, TPBs like Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, GL Chronicles and now Absolute)If I want to introduce someone into comics, here's what should happen. I should be able to give them a single issue. They should be able to read that issue without confusion. It should make them want to read more. It should not, however, rely on the availability of things they may not be able to afford for them to understand the whole story.

Which is not to say Blackest Night is a bad story. It certainly hasn't been wonderful so far, and has had a few missteps, but it's not a bad story. It just isn't new reader-friendly.

[Asmith]

I find it hilarious/sad that anyone would hand-wave away ASTERIOS POLYP as "purely indie stuff", and then sing hosanah praises to BLACKEST NIGHT.

If you want to get new people into comics, one of those is the clear choice.

It's like deciding whether to loan someone SINGING IN THE RAIN or a random episode of STARGATE to get them into motion pictures.

I think this may be my favorite analogy ever.

It's certainly bloody apt! Great analogy.





...and I'm a rabid Stargate fan... albiet one that knows better than to let people know of his secret shame... something Green Lantern Lad here might want to figure out - just because a niche product appeals to him is no indicator of it's appeal to a larger audience...

[Michael P]

Is there anything about this story that relates to Moore's work? It seems to me that it lacks complex underlying themes. In the Director's Cut of Blackest Night #0, Johns even says the theme is "light and dark". Not really much of a theme, and certainly not complex. If anything, it harkens to Ditko's Mr. A character.

Johns has recycled a lot of concepts from Moore's Tales of the Green Lantern Corps backups, particularly "Tygers." As you've noted, though, very little of it has the nuance and thoughtfulness Moore put into those 8-page throwaways he probably knocked off in an afternoon or two.

[Asmith]

I don't know what appeals to "old readers" specifically nor what constitutes an "old reader".
A mate of mine who was a comicbook reader years and years ago decided to dip his toe back into comic reading again last week. So he picked up an issue of Batman... I know this because he gave me a call that evening saying, "So what? Batman is dead, Robin is Batman and Batman has a son that is Robin?? What the fuck? And it took me longer to buy it than read it and it cost a fortune! Are all comics as crap as this??"


Which is not to say Blackest Night is a bad story. It certainly hasn't been wonderful so far, and has had a few missteps, but it's not a bad story. It just isn't new reader-friendly.
I'd read on the net a lot of stuff about all these different colour lantern people and thought I'd check it out... But didn't have a clue what to buy... it was just a mess. Nothing clearly defined and I quickly realised that since I wasn't reading whatever I was meant to be reading at the time the story started, if it did indeed start in only one place - I'm pretty sure it didn't, then I'd already missed my chance to read the story at all... I went and spent my money on dvds instead... and was not only very happy with my armfull of purchases but saved a considerable amount of money too!

My recommendation to everyone: Screw comic books and go spend your money on things that are better, cheaper and sensible.

[Asmith]

Johns has recycled a lot of concepts from Moore's Tales of the Green Lantern Corps backups, particularly "Tygers." As you've noted, though, very little of it has the nuance and thoughtfulness Moore put into those 8-page throwaways he probably knocked off in an afternoon or two.

Jesus, I'd forgotten Moore wrote those short pieces... I loved them at the time, but how many decades ago was that?? 20 years ago, more...? And it's not like Alan Moore is writing this other new stuff - why would vaguely recalling those short stories be a hook for me or anyone else...? ...comic book marketeers are the retarded progeny of encepholitic crack smokers...