Gotham County Line

[Lubichev]

Read this? I thought it was a great first issue. Just when you thought it was all wrapped up, things get weird. And I mean Steve Niles weird. Hampton's art was great too. Looks a bit like Guy Davis' work here and there. I 'm looking forward to the other two issues in this story more than any other batbook at the moment. I give it an 8.75.

[Horror Business]

I really enjoyed this. It definitely has potential to be a great detective/horror story.

[EyesWideOpen]

i thought it was good, nothing incredible though. I expect a little more when i have to pay $6 for a comic.

[The Wayner]

Good to hear some folks could dig this. I thought it was a decent read, but put off buying it because of the cover price.

[Lubichev]

Issue two came out yesterday. This book, although a little overpriced, is turning out to be a great horror story.

*tiny spoiler*

I loved seeing Alfred pull that worm out of his ear and just toss it to the ground. And Deadman shows up!! Too cool!

Things are getting wierd. Can't wait for the conclusion. It is just a shame that I gotta pay 5.99 for it.

[AlterEgo]

It is just a shame that I gotta pay 5.99 for it.

i bought #2 yesterday but i usually don't have time to read new books until the weekend.

as for the price...what's the big deal. had they made it a mini-series, each issue would cost $2.99. i didn't count the pages but the book has got to be 40+ pgs right...pretty much 'even Stevens' regarding format & price.

[Lubichev]

I just think it is a shame that you gotta pay 5.99 for any comic, that's all. I'll do it, but I won't like it.

[AlterEgo]

I just think it is a shame that you gotta pay 5.99 for any comic, that's all. I'll do it, but I won't like it.

you're not getting the point.

if dc made it a mini-series instead of prestige, you'd still be paying the same price.

the prestige issue has 40+ pgs and you pay $6. if they made it a standard format book, you pay $3 for 22-23 pgs, multiply that by 2. bottom line, you're not paying anything significantly more for the story even though it's in a prestige format.

[outlander78]

Most shoppers don't stop to work out the price ranges for alternate divisions of pages. They see high price tags for fringe titles and skip them.

Witness DC's decision to sell The New Frontier as two trades instead of one, so as to keep a lower price point. Many people, me included, have psychological barriers to spending certain amounts of money on entertainment, and intelligent arguments to the contrary won't often win the day.

[AlterEgo]

Most shoppers don't stop to work out the price ranges for alternate divisions of pages. They see high price tags for fringe titles and skip them.

Witness DC's decision to sell The New Frontier as two trades instead of one, so as to keep a lower price point. Many people, me included, have psychological barriers to spending certain amounts of money on entertainment, and intelligent arguments to the contrary won't often win the day.

all i can say to that is that it's a pity that there are such psychological barriers. particularly when the cost to the reader on a per page basis is the same in either format. i recognize that such a mindset exists...it's just pity that more people can't work around it.

as for new frontiers: there's a big difference between two $24 single trades (guessing at the price since i don't have the trade) and a $50 'combined' trade. i can readily see that it would make a huge difference to a buyer.

but the difference between $3 and $6 is so small imo...unless someone is on a really tight budget (kid on allowance or a working teen who's got other expenses), it shouldn't make much of a difference if they only took the trouble to work out the math.

[tomasej]

First issue was horrible. Bad writing all the way around. Dialogue, plot, characters. Made Batman look like an incompetent moron. Completely predictable. Batman flying around the 'burbs with a rocket pack?

First time in years I've bought the first issue of a mini and won't buy the rest of it.

[outlander78]

all i can say to that is that it's a pity that there are such psychological barriers. particularly when the cost to the reader on a per page basis is the same in either format. i recognize that such a mindset exists...it's just pity that more people can't work around it.

as for new frontiers: there's a big difference between two $24 single trades (guessing at the price since i don't have the trade) and a $50 'combined' trade. i can readily see that it would make a huge difference to a buyer.

but the difference between $3 and $6 is so small imo...unless someone is on a really tight budget (kid on allowance or a working teen who's got other expenses), it shouldn't make much of a difference if they only took the trouble to work out the math.

I agree completely - it is unfortunate.

The difference between $3 and $6 is $3, or another comic, or twice the price, depending on your point of view.

I'm a working adult with a reasonable amount of disposable income. However, any time I buy a comic, I think that I could spend the money on something for my wife or daughter, or save it for a day when I'm not as well off, and consequently budget my comic spending to the level of a working teen. Someone somewhere else noted that when comics cost as much as a jug of milk, it causes them to hesitate. I don't think in terms of milk, but when comics rise to the price of commodities ($3 isn't, $6 is), it gives me pause.

As the cost of comics goes up, and my free time dwindles, I find it harder each month to justify the long trek to the comic book store and the money I spend there. I may be the only person who thinks this way, but given the aging population of comic book buyers, I doubt it.

[Lubichev]

all i can say to that is that it's a pity that there are such psychological barriers. particularly when the cost to the reader on a per page basis is the same in either format. i recognize that such a mindset exists...it's just pity that more people can't work around it.

as for new frontiers: there's a big difference between two $24 single trades (guessing at the price since i don't have the trade) and a $50 'combined' trade. i can readily see that it would make a huge difference to a buyer.

but the difference between $3 and $6 is so small imo...unless someone is on a really tight budget (kid on allowance or a working teen who's got other expenses), it shouldn't make much of a difference if they only took the trouble to work out the math.

Growing up in Russia in the 70's and 80's forced me to believe that there is a big difference between 3 and 6 dollars. That is just me. I'm glad $ is so easy to toss around for some people.

[AlterEgo]

well, i happen to be an immigrant to the US too. and up until i reached about 12 when i started odd jobs, there wasn't much money at all.

if you're now an adult now and $3 difference is hard to justify, then you really shouldn't be spending that money on comic books, particularly if they're extra titles.

i'm being dead serious here... i am not mocking you or anyone else who's strapped for money to spend on comics.

[AlterEgo]

As the cost of comics goes up, and my free time dwindles, I find it harder each month to justify the long trek to the comic book store and the money I spend there. I may be the only person who thinks this way, but given the aging population of comic book buyers, I doubt it.

i understand completely. as a realist, i see where the long-term future of comics is headed towards, and it's not bright. but while it remains a hobby, albeit an ever increasingly, expensive one..i'll play along.

[Lubichev]

Well, I think we all agree that comics are getting pricey and that we wish they weren't. And that we will still continue to spend those extra hard earned dollars on books we find to be intertaining but expensive. Which we rather wouldn't.

[AlterEgo]

getting back to the thread topic, i just read #2 a short while ago. (took a personal day off from work today because i needed a cable installation done in the house).

whereas #1 gave us an interesting premise and an unusual mystery/murder, #2 reverts the story into a completely horrible direction. it's now got the feel of 'a night of the living dead' type movie.

my god...who were the people at dc who approved this story?!

[outlander78]

I'm sorry to hear that. I had hoped that the story would be about Batman in the suburbs - an interesting idea - rather than about zombies in the suburbs.

[Guts/Batman]

Deadman... :D

Loved #1 but loved #2 more...

I'm digging the horror stuff. I didn't get #1 when it came out but got #1 and #2 yesterday.

I got a good "WTF is going?" on sense. In a good way.

[S. Niles]

Issue two came out yesterday. This book, although a little overpriced, is turning out to be a great horror story.

*tiny spoiler*

I loved seeing Alfred pull that worm out of his ear and just toss it to the ground. And Deadman shows up!! Too cool!

Things are getting wierd. Can't wait for the conclusion. It is just a shame that I gotta pay 5.99 for it.

It's my first crack at Batman and I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for picking them up!!

-Steve
www.steveniles.com

[S. Niles]

Deadman... :D

Loved #1 but loved #2 more...

I'm digging the horror stuff. I didn't get #1 when it came out but got #1 and #2 yesterday.

I got a good "WTF is going?" on sense. In a good way.

Cool! Thanks, amn. Glad you liked it.

-Steve

[S. Niles]

I really enjoyed this. It definitely has potential to be a great detective/horror story.

Thanks! Hope you like the rest of the series.

-Steve

[Karl J. Barnes]

Just finished with the second issue and it is getting creepier and creepier. You things are bad, when Batman admits that he is afraid.

[AlistairCrane]

It's definitely different from what I was expecting, but I'm still enjoying it, and I loved the Deadman cameo.

[The Batman]

totally not what i was expecting, which i guess is a good thing. i'm still not completely sold on the whole zombies idea yet; but that might just be my own personal bias towards a more grounded in "reality" Batman but i'm really liking the characterization and absolutely loving the artwork.

[orrewhat]

Things are getting wierd. Can't wait for the conclusion. It is just a shame that I gotta pay 5.99 for it.[/QUOTE]


I paid $3 for it Mailordercomics.com I had to wait for it but it was still have the cover price :) If you know where to look you can get comics a a good price

[Guts/Batman]

I have no problem with the $6 price tag. It has thicker cover paper and has better quality paper. DC has put a lot more work into this book than the normal comics.

Well, it is more than double the average the comic book in sheer number of pages. The lack of ads means that the author has more pages to play with.

Essentially it is 2 comics. If this was a normal mini you would end up paying the same price, only in a more drawn out period.

I'll sacrifice paying $6 for a longer story now rather than in $3 in longer incriments with less story...

But that could be just me.

[infoghost]

I loved both of them It's a great 'what if' story. Can't wait for #3.

[Lubichev]

What a great story! I admit that I had to sit down with all three and read it in one sitting to get the full effect, but it wasn't like that was a bad thing. On the contrary.

Great work, Steve. I hope you have more Batman stories to tell us. I'd like to see your take on the real horror of Gotham City life (no suburbs this time). And I thought the art complimented your tale very well.

And you get 20 extra points for blowing my socks off with the appearance of the Phantom Stranger! If Deadman wasn't cool enough, you go and put PS into the mix. How cool is that.

And THIS is how I want to remember Jason Todd. No Red Hood nonsense. Thanks for that, too.

[infoghost]

What a great story. And I agree - The Phantom Stranger - awesome. Hope to see Niles do another story, and soon.

[Guts/Batman]

Totally agreed on the Jason Todd appearance. This is how it should be done. None of the Red Hood foolishness.

I loved this. Dark, scary, humanized Batman, character driven story. The art fit the story so well, and just plain loved it.

Phantom Stranger...Yessss!!! :D

[NimbusV]

Indeed a great Story, Phantom Stranger and Deaman cameos were fantastic. This is the Batman Stories i enjoy reading over and over.

Cheers

[Karl J. Barnes]

This along with Matt Wagner's Monster Men has been the best Batman stories all year.

[Guts/Batman]

This along with Matt Wagner's Monster Men has been the best Batman stories all year.

Agreed here.

Though I absolutely loved Jekyll and Hyde. Great Two-Face mini.

I wonder how the Joker-Batman mini coming out in March 2006 will turn out.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Agreed here.

Though I absolutely loved Jekyll and Hyde. Great Two-Face mini.

I wonder how the Joker-Batman mini coming out in March 2006 will turn out.

Didn't read the Jekyll-Hyde mini, but hopefully the Joker/Batman mini-series will be hilariously deranged and creepy. Who is doing the Joker/Batman mini?

[Guts/Batman]

Didn't read the Jekyll-Hyde mini, but hopefully the Joker/Batman mini-series will be hilariously deranged and creepy. Who is doing the Joker/Batman mini?

The Jekyll and Hyde mini was like this one: Dark, creepy, deranged.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview.php?image=solicits/dc032006/batman_superman/big/BatmanSecretsCv1.jpg


BATMAN: SECRETS #1
Written by Sam Kieth
Art and cover by Kieth
The Dark Knight faces off against his most villainous adversary - The Joker - in this 5-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Sam Kieth (SCRATCH, The Maxx)! Kieth weaves a dark tale of violence and mayhem, and how heroes are treated by the media and viewed by the public. As Batman and The Joker face off, their confrontation is inadvertently caught on film - and Gotham's protector appears to be pummeling Joker without mercy, much to the delight of the frenzied press! Plus, a secret from young Bruce Wayne's past is revealed!
On sale March 1 o 1 of 5 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Scott Dunbier

[Karl J. Barnes]

The Jekyll and Hyde mini was like this one: Dark, creepy, deranged.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview.php?image=solicits/dc032006/batman_superman/big/BatmanSecretsCv1.jpg


BATMAN: SECRETS #1
Written by Sam Kieth
Art and cover by Kieth
The Dark Knight faces off against his most villainous adversary - The Joker - in this 5-issue miniseries written and illustrated by Sam Kieth (SCRATCH, The Maxx)! Kieth weaves a dark tale of violence and mayhem, and how heroes are treated by the media and viewed by the public. As Batman and The Joker face off, their confrontation is inadvertently caught on film - and Gotham's protector appears to be pummeling Joker without mercy, much to the delight of the frenzied press! Plus, a secret from young Bruce Wayne's past is revealed!
On sale March 1 o 1 of 5 o 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US Edited by Scott Dunbier

Well, I like Kieth's stuff, so this is definitely a mini that'll try.