Okay here's my overview of the whole schbang.
The way I see it DC have layout a bold and challenging plan to address a number of key issues (its worth noting not all of these are views I hold myself by the way).
Firstly they are often accused of having an impenetrable mire of continuity that blocks new readers jumping on board. This 'relaunch' is clearly designed to address that.
Second, they are accused of pandering to creators to allow delays to books, they are addressing that. Perversely the internet that so rallys against this lateness has also rallied against a clever attend my management to stop it! Damn if you do...
Third they attempted to diversify their line and characters. Within the constrains of a shared Superhero Universe they've done this.
Finally they've put forward a definitive plan to address the digital market while trying to support their existing main distribution pass.
Regardless of whether people think its a good plan, its an attempt to address, in one go, a lot of the main complaints held against them. Will it lead to success' that's an entirely a different matter and frankly for all the proclamations out there (not here by the way I'm referencing other sites I visit) of doom and failure, disaster and desperation, one none of us will know the answer to until we see the results. Not in September but in the New Year and beyond I'd suggest.
For me they've done a very good job. My pull list has jumped (as of my first pass I'm hoping time and distance will settle my excitement and I might trim a couple more) from 11 to 18. I'll resist the great temptation to list them all and explain why I'm excited by them. With another 4 I have the horrible feeling I'll pick up when I see them on the shelves, sucker I am.
There are things I'm disappointed about after the opening gambit of Azzarello on Wonder Woman I was hoping to see more of that kind of bold matching up of characters and writers, and see a few new exciting writing names brought in. Instead they've fielded artist as writers to make the change it would seem. Fair enough. Over all though I've really enjoyed all the excitment and buzz this week.
The big challenge now for DC is to convert that buzz into results. After all we all know that internet buzz seems to have little impact on actual sales a lot of the time. The fact its a success with me means next to nothing alas, as I'm not the target I suspect. I'm an existing fan who loves the extended soap opera of a shared superhero universe. I'm the type of mug they know they can milk regardless. Its not even the more cynical internet commentators out there. No results will be judged by how they reach the silent majority of comic readers and heaven forbid actual new readers.
One thing that received little comment that I've seen is the fact that come September (or end of August) Warner will be running a big tv ad campaign. Good on um they seem to be backing up their big play. Especially as Barnes and Noble have now pushed comics into more prominant placings in their shelves apparently. One way or another I doubt this is entirely coincidental timing. Hopefully they'll also back up some of the commercially weaker looking titles and teams and give every thing a good solid year at least to find its feet. Hopefully they'll have success getting these books out on a timely fashion (why Liefeld why) and hope a lot of things are achieved here cos this could be really good for the mainstream superhero market... could be.
HA my relentless naive optimism will keep things on track I hope... or just wear everyone down...
The way I see it DC have layout a bold and challenging plan to address a number of key issues (its worth noting not all of these are views I hold myself by the way).
Firstly they are often accused of having an impenetrable mire of continuity that blocks new readers jumping on board. This 'relaunch' is clearly designed to address that.
Second, they are accused of pandering to creators to allow delays to books, they are addressing that. Perversely the internet that so rallys against this lateness has also rallied against a clever attend my management to stop it! Damn if you do...
Third they attempted to diversify their line and characters. Within the constrains of a shared Superhero Universe they've done this.
Finally they've put forward a definitive plan to address the digital market while trying to support their existing main distribution pass.
Regardless of whether people think its a good plan, its an attempt to address, in one go, a lot of the main complaints held against them. Will it lead to success' that's an entirely a different matter and frankly for all the proclamations out there (not here by the way I'm referencing other sites I visit) of doom and failure, disaster and desperation, one none of us will know the answer to until we see the results. Not in September but in the New Year and beyond I'd suggest.
For me they've done a very good job. My pull list has jumped (as of my first pass I'm hoping time and distance will settle my excitement and I might trim a couple more) from 11 to 18. I'll resist the great temptation to list them all and explain why I'm excited by them. With another 4 I have the horrible feeling I'll pick up when I see them on the shelves, sucker I am.
There are things I'm disappointed about after the opening gambit of Azzarello on Wonder Woman I was hoping to see more of that kind of bold matching up of characters and writers, and see a few new exciting writing names brought in. Instead they've fielded artist as writers to make the change it would seem. Fair enough. Over all though I've really enjoyed all the excitment and buzz this week.
The big challenge now for DC is to convert that buzz into results. After all we all know that internet buzz seems to have little impact on actual sales a lot of the time. The fact its a success with me means next to nothing alas, as I'm not the target I suspect. I'm an existing fan who loves the extended soap opera of a shared superhero universe. I'm the type of mug they know they can milk regardless. Its not even the more cynical internet commentators out there. No results will be judged by how they reach the silent majority of comic readers and heaven forbid actual new readers.
One thing that received little comment that I've seen is the fact that come September (or end of August) Warner will be running a big tv ad campaign. Good on um they seem to be backing up their big play. Especially as Barnes and Noble have now pushed comics into more prominant placings in their shelves apparently. One way or another I doubt this is entirely coincidental timing. Hopefully they'll also back up some of the commercially weaker looking titles and teams and give every thing a good solid year at least to find its feet. Hopefully they'll have success getting these books out on a timely fashion (why Liefeld why) and hope a lot of things are achieved here cos this could be really good for the mainstream superhero market... could be.
Quote from: The Cosh on 11 June, 2011, 11:17:14 AM
I don't want to let my relentless negativity derail this thread (and I do hope it works out for them)
HA my relentless naive optimism will keep things on track I hope... or just wear everyone down...