DC Showcases Changes

[david r]

On Tuesday, DC Comics announced cancellations of these Showcase volumes:

Suicide Squad
Secret Society of Super-Villains
Jonah Hex Volume 2
The Great Disaster
Captain Carrot

These volumes are promised to be released at some later point. In their place, these Showcases will be coming out in the fall:

Supergirl Showcase 1
Sgt. Rock Volume 1
World's Finest 1

[Cayman]

I'm glad they didn't kill Showcase presents Metal Men.

[Infra-Man]

No Jonah Hex volume 2 until next year? That stinks.

Any reason for the delay?

[Kid Kyoto]

For a long time we've heard there is a period from (I think) 1976 to 1986 when DC offered different terms to creators for reprints. This means creators get more money for reprints but the reprints are more expensive. So before reprinting anything in that time DC has to be sure they'll sell loads of them.

All the canceled ones are from that time and it looks like the replacements are outside it. So my guess is either preorders were too low or some legal problem popped up.

[david r]

Originally Posted by Infra-Man

Any reason for the delay?

No reason was given in the press release. Though speculation might say the "1976 Wall" is playing a part. All the cancelled volumes are printing material AFTER 1976, and thus DC Comics has to pay higher royalty rates to creators.

The new volumes (Supergirl, Sgt. Rock, World's Finest) is older material, and the royalty rates are much lower. Take this along with the rumor that there are to be NO ARCHIVES IN 2008, DC may be changing their reprint formats in the face of disappointing sales overall (OYL, Countdown.)

[Captain Jim]

Where'd you learn this? Not that I'm questioning you, I'd just like to know.

Anyway... This is interesting. These were all collections of later stories and I remember there was some question earlier on as far as creator residuals for such issues. I suspect there are some legal issues to be hashed out here.

As for the replacements... I've been clamoring for World's Finest ever since they began releasing these. It seems like such a no brainer considering the high sales on the present Superman/ Batman title.

Supergirl is a surprise, as I thought they were going to include her with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen in subsequent releases of Superman Family. No matter, I'll pick them up either way.

Joe Kubert did great art on Sgt. Rock (did Russ Heath work on this too?), but Kanigher's stories always left me cold. I'll pass on this one.

[Captain Jim]

Originally Posted by Kid Kyoto

For a long time we've heard there is a period from (I think) 1976 to 1986 when DC offered different terms to creators for reprints. This means creators get more money for reprints but the reprints are more expensive. So before reprinting anything in that time DC has to be sure they'll sell loads of them.

All the canceled ones are from that time and it looks like the replacements are outside it. So my guess is either preorders were too low or some legal problem popped up.

Darn it, you beat me. ;)

[Captain Jim]

Originally Posted by Cayman

I'm glad they didn't kill Showcase presents Metal Men.

Agreed. That's the first one I looked for.

[Infra-Man]

Originally Posted by Kid Kyoto

For a long time we've heard there is a period from (I think) 1976 to 1986 when DC offered different terms to creators for reprints. This means creators get more money for reprints but the reprints are more expensive. So before reprinting anything in that time DC has to be sure they'll sell loads of them.

All the canceled ones are from that time and it looks like the replacements are outside it. So my guess is either preorders were too low or some legal problem popped up.

Originally Posted by david r

No reason was given in the press release. Though speculation might say the "1976 Wall" is playing a part. All the cancelled volumes are printing material AFTER 1976, and thus DC Comics has to pay higher royalty rates to creators.

The new volumes (Supergirl, Sgt. Rock, World's Finest) is older material, and the royalty rates are much lower. Take this along with the rumor that there are to be NO ARCHIVES IN 2008, DC may be changing their reprint formats in the face of disappointing sales overall (OYL, Countdown.)

Ahh, okay. Heard about the DC Archives thing earlier, which also blows (even though I only pick those up very occasionally).

So declining sales may in fact be the culprit? I smell even more Countdown-related minis in the near future.

[Captain Jim]

I can't help but wonder if the Showcase volumes have slowed down sales of the Archives. I know I switched over.

[Josh S]

Originally Posted by david r

On Tuesday, DC Comics announced cancellations of these Showcase volumes:

Suicide Squad
Jonah Hex Volume 2

Those are disappointing. Ah well. It's just as well. My bank account could use all the cancellations it can get, though.

Originally Posted by david r

Sgt. Rock Volume 1

I'll definately be getting this.

[Ryan K]

I'm a tad dissapointed about Captain Carrot and Jonah Hex being delayed.

But the Superman-related Showcases are the absolute highlights of the Showcases for me, so I'm ecstatic about Supergirl and World's Finest!

[Josh S]

I'd have been upset about Captain Carrot if I'd known about it before this thread.

[OzBat!]

I'm really, really, really, really, reeeeaally annoyed about Secret Society of Supervillians, and Captain Carrot. I'd already asked my LCS to order those for me. Damn it!

Are they just delayed, or outright cancelled? Because they would have already done a lot of work to get them ready for printing, and the CCAAZC would have been virtually done.

[teisto]

Originally Posted by OzBat!

Are they just delayed, or outright cancelled? Because they would have already done a lot of work to get them ready for printing, and the CCAAZC would have been virtually done.

All orders have been cancelled and the books will be resolicited at a later date.

Additionally, SHOWCASE PRESENTS: TEEN TITANS VOL 2 has a new release date of October 31, instead of the originally announced December 12 date. And SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE METAL MEN VOL 1 has a new in-store date of September 26 (originally scheduled for October 10).

DC will also be retro-soliciting SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD - THE BATMAN TEAM-UPS VOL 2 and SHOWCASE PRESENTS: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL 3 for December release in next month's Previews.