Could Grant Morrison make a C list character a top seller?

[Winghead]

I was thinking about this when thinking about how Bendis couldn't make Spider Woman a top seller despite being such a consistent seller on all of his other books. If Grant Morrison were to write a character like Hercules, or Moon Knight, would sales remain high, or would they middle out and fade as well? Its hard to tell because as far as super hero books go, he has only written major characters like Batman, X-Men, JLA etc.

[XPac]

Probably not.

Making any book that's not already a top franchise a top seller is sort of like capturing lightning in a bottle.

There's always a chance. The right writer writing the right story with the right character at the right time can sometimes catch a spark and ignite. And certainly an A list creative teams increases the odds.

But for any writer, even a Bendis or a Morrison, it's an uphill battle to even keep the book around a year. Most books fail. That's the simple reality of it.

[LordAllMighty]

i would love to see him take on Captain Ultra.....it would be either really good or really strange.

[mwiggins]

Its hard to tell because as far as super hero books go, he has only written major characters like Batman, X-Men, JLA etc.

He's written plenty of non major superheroes for DC/Marvel. Animal Man, Doom Patrol, Shining Knight, Mister Miracle, Marvel Boy among them.

[Hero Girl]

He did it with Animal Man. I don't see why he couldn't do it again.

[Specimen 297]

The first issue of Spider-Woman sold quite well, didn't it?

[I Shot Devilot™]

I want to say yes..... but then I think about poor, poor Aztek.

But then again, Morrison is like GOD to this new age of writers right now.

....did you know that The Filth was originally Morrison's pitch to Marvel for a Nick Fury series he wanted to write?

A-anyway, at this point I think that if Morrison wanted to write a US 1 or Spider Ham series, the first few issues would sell even if he said he basically drank red kool aid for a month and pissed the script out, based solely on what he's done with Batman over the last few years.

Of course, it's now become my dream that he, Carey, Ellis and Hickman ditched everything they were doing and worked solely on Ellis' now defunct New Universal from Marvel.

[Indigo Al]

He absolutely could. the question is, which Marvel C-lister?

[Nite-Wing]

Grant Morrison can do anything given enough time he could make any Marvel character the new animal man.
The difference between Morrison and Bendis is like the sun's distance from earth.

[supamike]

Of course. I firmly believe that every character can be a top seller with the right take and right creative team. Maybe not a icon like spider-man or superman but they can defintley be made into a top seller.

[Hulk_Is]

I'd imagine so just going by the praise he recieves here on these boards, at least. I'm not quite sure what makes him special, but I'm also under the impression that he can do no wrong either. lol

[carabas]

He did it with Animal Man. I don't see why he couldn't do it again.I don't think he did it with Animal Man. I mean, sure, it did okay, but Morriosn's Animal Man was hardly one of DC's best selling books.

I don't really think any writer can do it nowadays. 90% of sales are entirely event-driven.

[RolandJP]

Grant Morrison Black Panther. he could write T'challa as himself. they have the same attitude anyway.

[carabas]

Well, he'd certainly have a ball writing about an African supertech utopia, especially if editorial gives him as much freedom as they gave Hudlin.

[Deep_Sleeper]

I think I'm more interested in Morrison's take on C-list characters from Marvel than DC.

[ftbagel]

Until the Batman checks dry up, fans will have to deal with the Morrison immulators.

And Millar. Don't forget pub-mate Millar.

[carabas]

the Morrison immulatorsThe what now?

[Hero Girl]

Morrison Black Panther would be very intriguing

[ftbagel]

The what now?

*ahem* Emulators.

Not to be confused with Immaculators...which is whole other can of worms.

[babybro]

Probably not.

Making any book that's not already a top franchise a top seller is sort of like capturing lightning in a bottle.

There's always a chance. The right writer writing the right story with the right character at the right time can sometimes catch a spark and ignite. And certainly an A list creative teams increases the odds.

But for any writer, even a Bendis or a Morrison, it's an uphill battle to even keep the book around a year. Most books fail. That's the simple reality of it.


Actually I disagree with this sort of, I do believe if a high profile writer goes on
a c list character book, that book has a guaranteed chance of surviving while
under that writer. It will definitely be around as long as that writer is on it.
The issue will be, of course, when the writer leaves, that's when the problems start. It's ultimately up to the writer to give that character such a push that when he goes, the fanbase will stay, and that's where capturing lightning
in a bottle happens.

[Monty_Cristo]

well he did his damnedest to ruin Magneto. i wouldn't trust him to "help out" a C-Lister.

[preppistonpav]

Morrison is one of the few writers who can generally keep a book afloat based on his name on the title. Give any random writer a C-lister to write about and the book lasts 6-12 issues, regardless of quality. Something like Agents of Atlas was pretty amazing, but still failed commercially. Because Morrison is widely-known (and rightly so) as one of the industry's best, having him write a C-lister is the best way to keep the title around.

Actually, I'd really like to see him write Agents of Atlas. Or Runaways.

-Pav

[Dark Ben]

I'll give you an answer after Bendis has left Moon Knight

[Alan2099]

Theoretically? Sure. Anyone could.

Remember when Deadpool was just a rather minor villain in X-force?

[ftbagel]

Theoretically? Sure. Anyone could.


Thoroughly agree. I remember when Waid and Kubert did a stint with Ka-Zar which, not surprisingly, folded within 6 months after both parties left for other pastures.

It all depends on the character, the creative team, and the zeitgeist of the times.

[RolandJP]

Theoretically? Sure. Anyone could.

Remember when Deadpool was just a rather annoying villain in X-force?

fixed for you. Great post.

The incredible Hulk was cancelled after 6 issues too.

[MTL76]

While nothing in life is for certain, Morrison has as good a shot as any, and a much better one than most.

-He's as famous as any comic book writer out there.
-He has a sizable fan following.
-Critics love to write about his stuff.
-I'd imagine most any artist would jump at the chance to work with him for the above reasons, so he'd have good art to go with it.
-He's a big enough name that DC would probably let him get away with some low-selling issues while he builds up a fan base.
-DC would promote and support his stuff.
-He's very talented (OK, this last one is just my opinion.)

Again, not saying it's a sure thing, but I can't see how anyone would say with certainty that he couldn't do it.

[Winghead]

It would be interesting to see A Bendis Moon Knight series going up against a Morrison written Power Girl or equivalent to see which would sell for longer