Nunzio & Christina Talk to UXN

[Bryan Rios]

Uncanny X-Men (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/article/showquestion.asp?faq=11&fldAuto=220) talked with Nunzio and Christina about their leaving New X-men

I must say, it was quite sad reading this. Knowing that their final issues are for House of M. What a terrible way to go. Though I still think their story for House of M will be great, just as most of their previous stories.

[Atom_basher]

I was sad too, I dont get the impression that they were glad to leave, nor do i think that they are pleasantly leaving this title.

I wish they were still writing it

[Fede]

does anybody know wich is the yearbook issue?? what is that? :confused:

[milhouse123321]

I figure the're doing the 4 part HOM crossover and then one last issue, possibly set out in a yearbook-style format.
The writing on X-23 was good, so I'm still hoping for something good to come of this news.

[fishtaco]

The most depressing thing about this is that Kyle and Yost are probably not going to be picking up the plot threads that N and C started. The Sean Garrison thing has serious potential, and its a shame that they (probably) arent going to be continuing it.

[Fede]

I figure the're doing the 4 part HOM crossover and then one last issue, possibly set out in a yearbook-style format.


well, that sounds good

[Bryan Rios]

I believe they said that they're going to be using their final issue (#19) as their yearbook. Could be wrong though.

And I agree with fishtaco, it's really a shame that we won't get to see them continue on the Sean Garrison story.Though it'd probably be nice if Chris and Craig picked it up, instead of dropping it.

[DrScoobhat29]

For some reason, I have in my head that the only character Marvel and/or Kyle & Yost are concerned about is X-23. Now, I don't happen to be a fan of that character. The thing about New X-Men that I liked were the multitude of new characters and exploring them all...equally. If this becomes an X-23 book with her supporting cast of background students in tights, I'm not gonna like it.

Hopefully, I'm just getting a bad read off the overexposure and overpushing of X-23. Hopefully...

[ibrakeforchinwe]

God Dammit Marvel wtf?! I hate them so much and they are so f****ing horrible to their writers and artists.

I hope Academy X-23 fails misserably. Nothing against Kyle and Yost.

[Huzzah!]

I wonder if Psylocke will make any cameos in NXM.. doubt it

[The Shadow]

Academy has been a pleastly surprising comic for me. I wasn't going to get it, but I really enjoyed the early issues of New Mutants and the original Power Pack... so I guess there's still a kid in me... so I grabbed #3 (and got 1 and 2 later) and have loved it ever since!

I didn't know much about any of the characters (outside of Emma, Scott and Dani) and have really grown to like a lot of em.

Sad to see them go.

[Ant-Man]

God Dammit Marvel wtf?! I hate them so much and they are so f****ing horrible to their writers and artists.

I hope Academy X-23 fails misserably. Nothing against Kyle and Yost.

The sales on New X-Men were so crappy, it was about to get chopped. The changes in the creative team, is a last effort to see if sales will rise enough to keep publishing the book. The changes are about sales increasing for continued publishing of the book, not personal grudges.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

The sales on New X-Men were so crappy, it was about to get chopped. The changes in the creative team, is a last effort to see if sales will rise enough to keep publishing the book. The changes are about sales increasing for continued publishing of the book, not personal grudges.


Thats not true. By any means. Mike Marts even said so. He said it wasnt about sales. Marvel basically just felt like changing teams.

[Ant-Man]

Thats not true. By any means. Mike Marts even said so. He said it wasnt about sales. Marvel basically just felt like changing teams.

Nunzio DeFilipps said it was due to low sales. One of the two has their story wrong.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

Nunzio DeFilipps said it was due to low sales. One of the two has their story wrong.

Must be Nunzio. I bet they lied to him so that it wouldnt be so hard on him. Bitches.

[Ant-Man]

Must be Nunzio. I bet they lied to him so that it wouldnt be so hard on him. Bitches.

You could be right. But New X-Men was around the 40K monthly sales range, which is horrible for an X-Book.

[xakko]

I think sales weren't where Marvel wanted them...so the creative switch is designed to raise the numbers...

Nunzio and Christina write well crafted stories, with a large cast. The book, however, is filled with newer characters that are just finding their audience. I suppose the Powers that Be felt a flashpoint character, like Wolverine was for the X-Men in their relaunch in Giant-Size #1, would rocket the book up...

So they pick the creative team behind Wolverine's clone.

[Beast]

I think sales weren't where Marvel wanted them...so the creative switch is designed to raise the numbers...

Nunzio and Christina write well crafted stories, with a large cast. The book, however, is filled with newer characters that are just finding their audience. I suppose the Powers that Be felt a flashpoint character, like Wolverine was for the X-Men in their relaunch in Giant-Size #1, would rocket the book up...

So they pick the creative team behind Wolverine's clone.
Wolverine was a hated and despised character when he joined the X-Cast with Giant-Size X-Men #1. Many a letters column back then featured people asking for him to be killed off, cause they didn't like him. :)

[ibrakeforchinwe]

You could be right. But New X-Men was around the 40K monthly sales range, which is horrible for an X-Book.


But it was a great book and a fan favorite. So its Marvel's fault that it didnt sell not Nunzio and Christina's. More Marketing for Marvel. Marvel is so lazy. :(

[Bryan Rios]

I hope Academy X-23 fails misserably. Nothing against Kyle and Yost.
Why are we already assuming that the book will have a main focus on X-23? Becuase her creator is co-writer? Pretty terrible reason, I'd have to say. While Craig may or may not favor her a little, they still say we're getting the same cast. So I'd assume that we'll get only a tiny bit less of some characters. And honestly, I have absolutely no problem with having less of some of the characters.

[handOFfate]

As much as I hate seeing the current team leave, I am happy that Marvel is giving a legitimate shot to keeping this book alive by putting X-23 and a new team on board. However, they MUST get a decent long-term artist.

[Huzzah!]

I think around 40 k is great for an x-book. BEcause with the x-books you have a wide variety of titles competing for your x-dollar. There are other books on the market that are similiar. IN the same breathe 40k or so for a title thats its only competition really, one that is unique (say runaways) the sales are bad. They should be a lot higher, but they arent.

[Beast]

I think around 40 k is great for an x-book. BEcause with the x-books you have a wide variety of titles competing for your x-dollar. There are other books on the market that are similiar. IN the same breathe 40k or so for a title thats its only competition really, one that is unique (say runaways) the sales are bad. They should be a lot higher, but they arent.
It isn't really the 40K, X-Books don't normally get cancelled until they hit 30K. But in this case, it was the fact that the book was shedding readers very quickly at first. Sadly the book finally stabalized with #11, and I believe it actually gained in sales with Issue #12, but it was already too late, since the creative team was already getting replaced at that time.

[Atom_basher]

I think that the title was shedding readers so quickly was bcause the artist directly after Randy green wasnt that great, then came micheal ryan, who is good, but the rotating door of artists just made readers feel like marvel didnt care about this book, so why should we.

[hbkabdul]

I think sales weren't where Marvel wanted them...so the creative switch is designed to raise the numbers...

Nunzio and Christina write well crafted stories, with a large cast. The book, however, is filled with newer characters that are just finding their audience. I suppose the Powers that Be felt a flashpoint character, like Wolverine was for the X-Men in their relaunch in Giant-Size #1, would rocket the book up...

So they pick the creative team behind Wolverine's clone.

yea kyle and yost are the team thats really going to get this book in the top ten. im being sarcastic by the way.

[Bryan Rios]

yea kyle and yost are the team thats really going to get this book in the top ten. im being sarcastic by the way.
Nobody said Marvel was aiming for making the book Top 10. It'd be nice to see, but there still isn't a great chance...

[Beast]

yea kyle and yost are the team thats really going to get this book in the top ten. im being sarcastic by the way.
You saw sales for X-23, right? X-Men: Evolution was still pulling decent ratings when it was cancelled. They may indeed help the book. It's not ever going to be a Top 10 book, but Top 20 isn't out of the question. :p

[Bryan Rios]

X-Men: Evolution was still pulling decent ratings when it was cancelled.
I don't mean to change the subject, but X-Men: Evolution was cancelled partly because of slipping ratings on their second run of season 4 on Kids WB. If they still wanted decent ratings, Cartoon Network should have gotten the syndication for season 4 and the last four episodes of season 3 sooner (hell, they still don't have it). But I agree, Craig and Chris will help the book a bit.

[Vegetarian Goat]

I don't mean to change the subject, but X-Men: Evolution was cancelled partly because of slipping ratings on their second run of season 4 on Kids WB. If they still wanted decent ratings, Cartoon Network should have gotten the syndication for season 4 and the last four episodes of season 3 sooner (hell, they still don't have it). But I agree, Craig and Chris will help the book a bit.

I don't know about anyone else, but my cable provider doesn't supply the WB channel... I would imagine i'm not an isolated case. Since CN stopped airing Evolution, i didn't get to see season 4 until i downloaded them last month. This could've been a contributing factor to the slipping ratings...

[Steven F.]

New X-Men has been falling in sales each and every month since issue number 1. It was getting close to the chopping block level......besides, X-23 sold something like double the numbers New X-Men sales....it is good business sense to make the change. I loved Nunzio and Christina's writing, but I totally see what Marvel is doing. I would rather them try to save the book than cancel it, which is what would have happened in the next few months.

[The Shadow]

Anyone know ICv2's sales history on the entire run?

Or does anyone know how to find it?


I did a search but pulled up graphic novels by DC... not sure WHAT I did wrong! LOL

[Atom_basher]

I don't know about anyone else, but my cable provider doesn't supply the WB channel... I would imagine i'm not an isolated case. Since CN stopped airing Evolution, i didn't get to see season 4 until i downloaded them last month. This could've been a contributing factor to the slipping ratings...


Your not the only one, i dont get the WB anymore

[Bryan Rios]

Anyone know ICv2's sales history on the entire run?

Here's sales history from April of last year to April of this year.

NEW X-MEN / NEW MUTANTS
Apr 04 New Mutants #11 - 34,148 ( -2.0%)
Apr 04 New Mutants #12 - 33,481 ( -2.0%)
Apr 04 New Mutants #13 - 32,994 ( -1.5%)
May 04 New X-Men: Academy X #1 - 76,416 (+131.6%)
Jun 04 New X-Men #2 - 58,844 ( -23.0%)
Jul 04 New X-Men #3 - 55,304 ( -6.0%)
Aug 04 New X-Men #4 - 51,902 ( -6.2%)
Sep 04 New X-Men #5 - 48,526 ( -6.5%)
Oct 04 New X-Men #6 - 45,647 ( -5.9%)
Nov 04 n/a
Dec 04 New X-Men #7 - 43,024 ( -5.7%)
Jan 05 New X-Men #8 - 40,179 ( -6.6%)
Jan 05 New X-Men #9 - 38,197 ( -4.9%)
Feb 05 New X-Men #10 - 36,910 ( -3.4%)
Mar 05 New X-Men #11 - 35,549 ( -3.7%)
Apr 05 New X-Men #12 - 35,779 ( +0.6%)

[Ant-Man]

they MUST get a decent long-term artist.

Mark "Cable/Deadpool" Brooks is the new regular artist. And he is good.

[Sandoz]

This news still saddens me. I understand the business aspect of it, even though I think the lagging sales can be more attributed to the lack of a regular artist (note how Medina's issues are almost universally panned) than Weir and DeFilipis' writing.

For me, the clincher will be whether or not the Sean Garrison plotline is brought to fruition. If it's dropped suddenly after two years of steady development, I'll drop the book in return.

Why are we already assuming that the book will have a main focus on X-23? Becuase her creator is co-writer? Pretty terrible reason, I'd have to say.
I'd say that's a legitimate concern. The whole point of adding X-23 to the cast is to boost sales, so it's almost a guarantee that she'll play a large role of some kind. Not that Yost or Kyle should be burned in effigy, though. I'm certainly not happy about this change, but some people need to calm down.

While Craig may or may not favor her a little, they still say we're getting the same cast. So I'd assume that we'll get only a tiny bit less of some characters. And honestly, I have absolutely no problem with having less of some of the characters.
I agree. As much as I enjoy Academy X's soap opera style, there are almost too many characters to keep track of (I know some fans want this, but really, we don't need to know the backstories and motivations for every member of the Paragons, Alpha Squadron, etc...) and the cast could use a teeny bit of streamlining.

[Yusaku Jon III]

I approach the news from this angle: it really doesn't surprise me that it's happening.

GENERATION X is the previous example. After a strong first six issues or so, it started to slip a little, especially after artist and co-creator Chris Bachalo left for the first time. Scott Lobdell hung on for a short while longer, more or less staying on-track with subsequent story arcs until the "Onslaught" mess seems to have made him lose steam. Towards the end, even the return of Bachalo and James Robinson (then writing DC's STARMAN series) scripting the last few issues from Lobdell's script didn't solve anything. The whole thing became a train wreck punctuated by a couple of brief spells of reviving interest before getting unceremoniously rushed into cancellation.

Any more, I doubt that a creative team will last more than two or three years on a title, especially with the way that management and editorial keeps shifting gears like they do these days. That DePhilippis-Weir were able to keep things going on the writing end of it for this long is an achievement in today's comicbook market. What hurt there, IMO, was the revolving door on artists and the "new #1 issue" gimmick about halfway through.

Of the comic itself, I was just starting to get into the characters that DePhilippis-Weir and artist Michael Ryan were putting into the Acadmy stories when news of the "House of M" crossover hit. The shame of it is that they were just now starting to pull things together in a way that would've had me sticking around (even if Ryan doesn't turn out to be the regular). Now they're being pulled from the title as soon as the HoM issues are done, and that's where I get burned.

There's the reason that I won't follow current Marvel titles any more.

[fishtaco]

Mark "Cable/Deadpool" Brooks is the new regular artist. And he is good.What does Mark Brooks have to do with CDP?

[Ant-Man]

What does Mark Brooks have to do with CDP?

He drew the first few issues of the book, then Zircher took over.