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Hanzo the Razor
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:36 pm |
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Ancient Alien Theorist
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Joined: | 24 Jun 2007 |
Posts: | 105341 |
Location: | The Fourth World |
Bannings: | 2001 |
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Hey, just saw on ComicBookResources that in May, Marvel Comics had 52% of the market while DC only had 31%. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=16836Wow, Marvel's got 20% more sales than DC comics-- in fact, Secret Invasion #2 had just over 200,000 copies sold and DC's number one book, Final Crisis, had only 159,000. Marvel has 14 of the top twenty books-- and Dark Horse has one., leaving DC with only 5 books in the top twenty. I've always thought of the Big Two in dead heat, with DC nipping at Marvel's heels. It seems as though there's no contest at all-- Marvel is beating the crap out of DC. It reminds me of a Kirby quote about leaving Marvel for DC in the 70's-- "It was like leaving a slave ship for a ship that was sinking."
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:41 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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Wow. That's a big difference to Comicon's figures. They had FInal Crisis 1 at 144 000, a 15k difference.
They had SI 2 a lot higher though, IIRC.
And that's higher than DC deserve.
FC was utter shite.
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Monk
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:42 pm |
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Joined: | 19 Jun 2006 |
Posts: | 35552 |
Location: | Between the thumb and the wrist. |
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The sales figures from May are way out of whack. The theory is that since the estimates tend to be based around Batman, and that book shipped twice AND was the start of an event it's skewed figures quite a bit depending on which of the two Batman issues was used to get the estimates.
_________________ Daily art blog Very Short Drawings
Pay a visit to The Writers' Block, where writers, uh...write stuff!
Read my comic strip A Boy Called Monk
Read my comic book Town of Shadows
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Uncle Twitchy
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:47 pm |
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Joined: | 28 Nov 2006 |
Posts: | 30520 |
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Hanzo the Razor wrote: I've always thought of the Big Two in dead heat, with DC nipping at Marvel's heels. The only time that happened was when Marvel decided to distribute their comics themselves and tried that whole "Marvel Store" fiasco that left DC scurrying to sign an exclusive distribution deal with Diamond -- which led to all the other distributors pretty much folding, leaving Diamond the only distributor for everyone, including Marvel. There was a time when Marvel had 80% of the market share.
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Rob Steinbrenner
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:25 pm |
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Joined: | 05 Jun 2006 |
Posts: | 49778 |
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IIRC< there were some months around Infinite Crisis where they were tied or even beat Marvel. At the time, there seemed to be a load of possibilities for DC.
_________________ I apologize for the above post.
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RobertSwanderson
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:32 pm |
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Bigger and Better!
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Joined: | 01 Jan 2007 |
Posts: | 52207 |
Location: | WGBS |
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This will be the story until DC finds someone to steer the ship. At this point even if you like what's happening in the big event crossovers, you never know when the direction will change or if the series will just peter out with no real ending.
Last edited by RobertSwanderson on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Hank
IMWAN Mod |
Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:50 pm |
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Good Stuff, Maynard!
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Joined: | 01 Dec 2004 |
Posts: | 19439 |
Location: | N47°52.274' / W121°57.700' |
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I think the main problem with DC's events is that if someone asks you "What's it about?" it's REALLY tough to say.
What prompted Crisis? Beats me.
Zero Hour? It has something to do with Hal Jordan going crazy, but what was the deal with Extant? The tie-in issues were fun, though.
Identity Crisis? I know what it was about, but I don't feel comfortable talking about it in polite company.
Infinite Crisis? I reread it, and STILL couldn't figure it out, beyond people getting arms ripped off.
Final Crisis - WTF? J'onn is captured off-panel, and is brought in and killed without a fight? I repeat - WTF?
Marvel's events, for the most part have a very clear narrative.
Heroes kidnapped and made to fight bad guys on an alien planet.
Omnipotent being comes to Earth, decides to explore humanity and wreaks havok in the process. And wears bad clothing.
Heroes take sides for and against government registration and come to blows.
Skrulls are among us and have been for longer than you can imagine. Trust no one.
Really, of the events Marvel's done, their worst (Avengers Disassembled) is about on par with DC's best (Crisis).
_________________ I'm the WAN, natural WAN, make it easy...
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:58 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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One Year Later was a complete failure. Countdown was a complete failure. Even Infinite Crisis was a failure. For goodness sake, they COMPLETELY changed the book for the trade. Night and day. Why should consumers pony up for this new one, when they've got no faith in DC's ability to put out a good product that they will stand behind. And so far, the consumer was right not to. 
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:01 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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And compare it to what Marvel's doing.
SI has been seeded through their books for years, building and building.
Whereas DC just yells 'NEW EVENT' and expects us all to come running.
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Hanzo the Razor
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:12 pm |
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Ancient Alien Theorist
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Joined: | 24 Jun 2007 |
Posts: | 105341 |
Location: | The Fourth World |
Bannings: | 2001 |
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Hank brought up a great point-- with Marvel's events, there is a simply, straight forward story.
DC events seem like an excuse to f*ck with continuity and oftentimes, a casual fan won't have any clue about it.
I just lent a good friend who's an extremely casual superhero fan Civil War-- the guy might have a few questions on it, but I have faith that this friend will be able to understand and enjoy the book. I doubt I could say the same about Final Crisis or whatever else.
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:17 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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Considering how many hardcover DC readers are lost, yeah.
And people are still confused as to what continuity changed from Infinite Crisis, let alone a whole new one.
It's just making their books more and more impenetrable, and that's not the right way to go.
Morrison wanted to make the New Gods the stars of this. Is that really the best thing to do for something you're aiming at new readers?
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Hanzo the Razor
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:45 pm |
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Ancient Alien Theorist
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Joined: | 24 Jun 2007 |
Posts: | 105341 |
Location: | The Fourth World |
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I love Morrison for his JLA and Superman work, but after Final Crisis #1, I wasn't interested.
No more events for ten years. That's what they should do.
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Night Owl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:17 pm |
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Joined: | 26 Dec 2006 |
Posts: | 26688 |
Location: | Center of the Universe. |
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I would buy more Marvel and DC books if they would stop having crossovers altogether.
All "epics" can be contained within a series or a pair of series at the most. Maybe a special. The Sinestro Corps War is a good example of this.
Of all the books, I'm surprised at All-Star Superman's numbers. I would have thought that this book would have been selling 100,000+.
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Hanzo the Razor
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:21 pm |
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Ancient Alien Theorist
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Joined: | 24 Jun 2007 |
Posts: | 105341 |
Location: | The Fourth World |
Bannings: | 2001 |
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I have to agree with the Jinks here.
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Monk
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:26 pm |
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Joined: | 19 Jun 2006 |
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Location: | Between the thumb and the wrist. |
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As long as I don't have to read every book, I don't care how many titles an event crosses over into. Disassembled, House of M, Civil War, and World War Hulk were all easy enough to follow by just reading the main books.
_________________ Daily art blog Very Short Drawings
Pay a visit to The Writers' Block, where writers, uh...write stuff!
Read my comic strip A Boy Called Monk
Read my comic book Town of Shadows
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:40 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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Night Owl wrote: I would buy more Marvel and DC books if they would stop having crossovers altogether.
All "epics" can be contained within a series or a pair of series at the most. Maybe a special. The Sinestro Corps War is a good example of this.
Of all the books, I'm surprised at All-Star Superman's numbers. I would have thought that this book would have been selling 100,000+. Yeah, but I think ASS (dodgy abbreviation there) will become one of DC's evergreen titles for trade sales. Also, thanks Monk for the explanation on the skewy numbers.
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Prowl
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:43 pm |
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Joined: | 08 Oct 2006 |
Posts: | 18746 |
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Civil War was a bad crossover, in my opinion.
The biggest chapter, and ultimately the real conclusion, wasn't even in the main miniseries.
Yeah, from the Cap readers POV it was good that it happened in his own book, but from a CW readers POV, it's a bit of a rort.
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Beachy
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:53 pm |
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Mr. IMWANKO
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Rafael
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:19 am |
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Traveler
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What is sad is that some DC books are better than they have been in years, and they are getting lost in the perception (fully promoted by the company) that their entire Universe is in perpetual crossover state.
Batman? Dini knows how to write Batman, and Morrison is doing stories full of fun, action and wonder. As comics should be.
Superman? Ok, Johns/Donner was a fiasco, and Johns alone is entrenched in his Byrnesque fanboyish masturbatory fantasies; but Busiek wrote some great Superman stories in his run, picking and choosing the best from all eras. And I'm not even mentioning *that* other Superman book.
Green Lantern? Best Green Lantern ever. Bar none.
Wonder Woman? Great fun courtesy of Gail Simone.
Not to mention other great books like Checkmate, Atom or Shadowpact. There were a lot of things to like in the DCU. But they were absorbed by the enormous gravitational pull of the suckiness of Countdown.
_________________ Are you ready? Are you ready to jump right off the edge of everything?
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Monk
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:30 am |
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Joined: | 19 Jun 2006 |
Posts: | 35552 |
Location: | Between the thumb and the wrist. |
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I agree with you when it comes to Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, but I think the Bat-books have been a mess since Morrison and Dini took over (and I'm pretty shocked that I feel that way, since I had high hopes for both of them. Johns is doing great work on Action now that the Donner/Kubert arc is done (it is done, right?). I'm the last person to get caught up in nostalgia wankery when it comes to DC, but I loved the Superman and the Legion of Superheroes story, and the Brainiac arc is off to a good start. Honestly, it's reminding me a lot of All Star Superman, just set within the current DCU.
I'll add Booster Gold, Trinity (which is giving me my JLA fix), and Blue Beetle to the list of fun DC books.
_________________ Daily art blog Very Short Drawings
Pay a visit to The Writers' Block, where writers, uh...write stuff!
Read my comic strip A Boy Called Monk
Read my comic book Town of Shadows
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Rob Steinbrenner
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:25 am |
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Joined: | 05 Jun 2006 |
Posts: | 49778 |
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I think Batman has stunk since Morrison took over. and Dini has just been meh.
Or that's what I felt when i dropped them
I just picked up that braniac Superman story. Not bad. Busiek is a solid writer.
_________________ I apologize for the above post.
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Ross
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Post subject: DC: Getting their ass kicked. Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:37 am |
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Not in Continuity
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Joined: | 03 Jun 2007 |
Posts: | 24101 |
Location: | Massachusetts |
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I still get 2 DC books for every Marvel one. Marvel may be winning sales wise but I don't think their quality is any better. And these days if you don't like the Skrull storyline, you are fucked, because it is in practically every title. DC is geeting better at keeping it's events more contained.
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