CBR: Cup O' Joe - Nov 12, 2010

[CBR News]

Marvel's one-two punch of editorial insight returns to CBR as Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso discuss their role in Marvel mini events, the fate of characters from Magneto to Rikki Barnes and the impact of fans.


Full article here.

[alexforever]

Jim Chueng is one hell of a talent. Those two pages look incredible.

[Bevbos]

Tell me we have new X-Statix stories by Milligan and Allred on the way!!! Hell, new X-Statix stories by ANYONE!

[darknessatnoon]

Tell me we have new X-Statix stories by Milligan and Allred on the way!!! Hell, new X-Statix stories by ANYONE!

No. Not anyone. Keep it pure. Milligan and Asmus.

[El Sombrero]

Brevoort: Before we wrap up this week, I wanted to once again put a question to the readership. I've been checking out the reader response to our T & A column these last few weeks, and even factoring in the general snark of the internet, there seems to be a whole parcel of negative reaction to what we've been doing here. Sometimes this can be as simple as people reading an exchange in a different tone in cold type than it had when Axel or I said it aloud. But either way, I wouldn't mind getting some feedback from the folks out there. We've been doing this for a couple of months now, and intend to keep carrying on for the foreseeable future. What is there that we could be doing better? What are you dissatisfied with concerning these weekly chats? We're never going to make everybody happy, of course, but if we can up our game in some way, we'd like to be able to do that.

The only thing I really had a problem with (I wouldn't even say I "had a problem with it", just something that was ridiculous) was the issue with the book pricing.

To start off, I don't really have a problem with $4 books. If the comic is good enough and I felt like I got a good enough story with good enough art, then I'm okay paying $4 for it. Obviously I would rather it be cheaper, but that's not the point here.

The point here is the way Marvel handled the recent pricing thing at the con, and then the fallout from that; it's ridiculous. The way it was presented EVERYWHERE, made it sound like new miniseries or first issues (or whatever the exact stipulation was, I don't remember) were going to be 3 bucks. To follow up literally weeks later with a weak "oh...that was an online only forum..." response is absurd. This was never implied in the first place, and then Marvel never did ANYTHING to make it clear afterwards. To blame this on the fans that we're not reading news statements carefully enough is ludicrous and insulting. Companies need to be clear about what price their products are, that should never even get to the point where it's something people are having trouble figuring out.

[MisterSmith]

While this might not be desired solution for everybody, or even the person who asked, Milligan & Allred's X-Force/X-Statix is mostly available on the Marvel Digital Comics Unlimted which I've compiled here. Only issue it doesn't have is X-Force #121, but the other issues and specials are available (with membership, natch). A temporary solution until they do eventually reprint the series.

[darknessatnoon]

While this might not be desired solution for everybody, or even the person who asked, Milligan & Allred's X-Force/X-Statix is mostly available on the Marvel Digital Comics Unlimted which I've compiled here. Only issue it doesn't have is X-Force #121, but the other issues and specials are available (with membership, natch). A temporary solution until they do eventually reprint the series.

That is totally unacceptable. I once created a thread demanding an omnibus. Why hasn't Marvel capitulated to my demands?

[theXfactor]

Uhm, not a fan of the coloring of those Heroes for Hire pages ;/

theXfactor keeps things in supporting X-teams, wondering "Any chances of an Excalibur revival? I really miss the light-hearted tone of the first series and I think it's something that's lacking in the X-line and even Marvel as a whole."
Alonso: I brought this question up to editor Nick Lowe and he immediately broke down in tears, muttering things like "Captain Britain," "MI13", "canceled," "no one loves me" over and over again. No clue what that means, but there aren't any immediate plans for an "Excalibur" revival.

I'm sad now.

[red eyes]

They talk about always bringing up Gambit at X summits, why don't they ever use him then in a main x title? (once a year appearences in Legacy dosen't count)

They should use him in Uncanny or something before thinking about giving him an ongoing.

[Nite-Wing]

They talk about always bringing up Gambit at X summits, why don't they ever use him then in a main x title? (once a year appearences in Legacy dosen't count)

They should use him in Uncanny or something before thinking about giving him an ongoing.

Who appears in the main Uncanny title isn't down to editorial I think. Thats down to Fraction and considering how meh worthy his run has been in general I don't feel too bad about it.
Gambit got the one shot with Storm and hes going to be in the new X-men title of course that could be bad too. Anyway they seem to have plans to use him.

Anyway I liked the H4H preview with Moon Knight

[motteditor]

Regarding feedback, I'd like to see more reader questions. No offense to the interviewer, but I very rarely am interested in the questions he's asking (especially when they're about sales or issues not in the book). Questions from readers generally interest me far, far more (even if it may be "plans for character x" over and over again).

More discussion of stuff in the books than the business side would go over well -- though obviously you need to balance things since you don't want to give away upcoming stories, but a constant stream of "wait and see" isn't going to be interesting either.

[marco19]

i love these columns very much but one thing i would like to see the orginal joe fridays used to do this the friday before the online solicits were released . the joe friday column would run a few of teh actual solicts as a preview and if your not going to be doing the preview solicts on monday anymore this might be a good idea

[Mechano]

That is totally unacceptable. I once created a thread demanding an omnibus. Why hasn't Marvel capitulated to my demands?

i have been wanting a Sluk bowen statue for years.

[darknessatnoon]

i have been wanting a Sluk bowen statue for years.

*Added to my ongoing list of demands*

[Sabrewulf]

and even factoring in the general snark of the internet,

See comments like that don't help. Snark or not it's the consumers opinions and it's not your place to judge which of those opinions are valid.

As an editor I would think the internet would be a valuable resource for you at least in being able to gauge how your books are perceived in terms of quality if not being able to determine how that translates into quantity.

As a reader of 25 years who is now down to about 3 trades, I would say that I'm seeing a lot more well thought out views and opinions on the internet these days that you would do well to take on board.

E.g the general opinion on the x-boards seems to be that we need less focus on Scott, Emma & Wolverine and more diversity and set team line-ups in the books. As editors it's your choice to ignore that as you obviously have chosen to but as sales drop on the x-books surely that opinion might be worth some consideration.

As for what I would consider snarky:

Quote:
Originally Posted by turtlefood
Which is why they priced the " point one " initiative books at 2.99 and left the price of the next issue to the imagination instead of stating it in their pr announcement.

The price of subsequent issues will be at the typical price for those series. We didn't clarify that because we thought it was relatively self-evident.

Tom B

See did you really need that last line in there. Why not just be helpful. Instead of accepting responsibility for the lack of clarity of your press call/release you instead chose to pretty much call that poster stupid. You tell me if you would be happy if you phoned up the customer services of any industry and would be happy if they spoke to you like that. The comics industry and especially Marvel seem to have lost track of the 'customer is always right' philosophy.

If I was you Tom I'd apologise publicly to this guy.

Personally I think you should consider some WWSS. (What Would Stan Say).