Post by HoM on Oct 17, 2006 9:59:38 GMT -5
Here we go again:
Issue #2's never do as well as #1's, and even then, #1's don't always do that well in the first place (
). You consider most big event debuts, they always sell high (big name writers, artists, whatever) but then as the series’ progress the sales always lag, and they never do as well as that initial sale ‘boom’. Now, I like as many miniseries' and ongoings as much as the next guy, but if you don't grab me with the first issue, the initial arc, then I won't pick it up in the future, but then again, I have loved series that I thought must be super popular with everyone, but they (much to my surprise!) still didn't sell well at all.
Now then, I'm going to use a John Byrne book as an example of what I’m chatting about (not a bad example, I assure you…), but I could very easily use DC’s recent Infinite Crisis as one…
When M. Byrne started doing his own books at Dark Horse Legends (or Maverick, I’m not sure), they were good. These books included Next Men, Babe, Danger Unlimited (I think there was another book but I can't remember) and they initially sold well, but then the later issues flopped. I picked up Danger Unlimited #1-4 when I was younger, 12, 13 maybe, and I loved it. It was better than Fantastic Four (this was when I didn't know that Byrne had written Fantastic Four, and I wasn’t much into it in the first place so…
) and I wanted more. I thought that there would have be more issues because it was such a cool and clever book! There were so many plot threads left hanging with #4 (the final issue 
), and I wanted to find out what was going on! That miniseries inspired me to draw and write, it was so cool. Dark visions of the future and evil aliens who’d actually beaten the good guys and taken over the world! It was amazing, and the Torch of Liberty back up was cool too. But no, poor sales made it so that there were no more issues released. That made me sad, because I love a book that can grab me.
I was talking to Chris Paugh about #1’s this week, today even (I’m not quite sure, sorry Paugh!), and we were talking about how #1 of Gotham: City of the Dead did better than #2 viewing wise, feedback wise, and I was thinking… both issues are amazing, both issues grab you (to be honest it’s a testament to how a guy can improve as his work progresses. Blue Beetle #1 was strong but had flaws, #2 was better and the flaws fixed, #3 was awesome and #4 well… It was perfection.), so why isn’t there more attention going to this series? Yeah, #1’s been out a week longer than #2, but if there was a boom in #1, wouldn’t the same people read #2? I’d have thought so.
So maybe that’s the way it’ll always be. Maybe interest always lags. How does this link into The Question? I dunno. Check out the back issues (#1, luckily, wasn’t even ‘solicited’ as being out during the month break ) and tell me what you think. Oh and also, for some more Question-y goodness, check out Gotham: City of the Dead #3.
This issue is dedicated to DrDread, one of the best artists on this site. I was having a bit of a dry spell with my writing and he inspired me to write this issue (yeah Doc, I know what happened…)! So basically, it seems that if you’re nice to me you get an issue dedicated to you. Not true. Also with this issue, we see the debut of ongoing cover artist Roy Flinchum on The Question! Roy’s an awesome guy to bounce ideas off, and his covers will not disappoint you (but they scare me… You should see the tiny bits of detail he put into this issue’s cover. You’ll understand it if your INSANE.) So when #2 debuts tonight, think if you want about what I’ve just said. Or ignore me and go about what you’re doing. I just wanted to get my thoughts out there…
Now… What did you think of this issue?
Issue #2's never do as well as #1's, and even then, #1's don't always do that well in the first place (
). You consider most big event debuts, they always sell high (big name writers, artists, whatever) but then as the series’ progress the sales always lag, and they never do as well as that initial sale ‘boom’. Now, I like as many miniseries' and ongoings as much as the next guy, but if you don't grab me with the first issue, the initial arc, then I won't pick it up in the future, but then again, I have loved series that I thought must be super popular with everyone, but they (much to my surprise!) still didn't sell well at all. Now then, I'm going to use a John Byrne book as an example of what I’m chatting about (not a bad example, I assure you…), but I could very easily use DC’s recent Infinite Crisis as one…
When M. Byrne started doing his own books at Dark Horse Legends (or Maverick, I’m not sure), they were good. These books included Next Men, Babe, Danger Unlimited (I think there was another book but I can't remember) and they initially sold well, but then the later issues flopped. I picked up Danger Unlimited #1-4 when I was younger, 12, 13 maybe, and I loved it. It was better than Fantastic Four (this was when I didn't know that Byrne had written Fantastic Four, and I wasn’t much into it in the first place so…
) and I wanted more. I thought that there would have be more issues because it was such a cool and clever book! There were so many plot threads left hanging with #4 (the final issue 
), and I wanted to find out what was going on! That miniseries inspired me to draw and write, it was so cool. Dark visions of the future and evil aliens who’d actually beaten the good guys and taken over the world! It was amazing, and the Torch of Liberty back up was cool too. But no, poor sales made it so that there were no more issues released. That made me sad, because I love a book that can grab me. I was talking to Chris Paugh about #1’s this week, today even (I’m not quite sure, sorry Paugh!), and we were talking about how #1 of Gotham: City of the Dead did better than #2 viewing wise, feedback wise, and I was thinking… both issues are amazing, both issues grab you (to be honest it’s a testament to how a guy can improve as his work progresses. Blue Beetle #1 was strong but had flaws, #2 was better and the flaws fixed, #3 was awesome and #4 well… It was perfection.), so why isn’t there more attention going to this series? Yeah, #1’s been out a week longer than #2, but if there was a boom in #1, wouldn’t the same people read #2? I’d have thought so.
So maybe that’s the way it’ll always be. Maybe interest always lags. How does this link into The Question? I dunno. Check out the back issues (#1, luckily, wasn’t even ‘solicited’ as being out during the month break
) and tell me what you think. Oh and also, for some more Question-y goodness, check out Gotham: City of the Dead #3. This issue is dedicated to DrDread, one of the best artists on this site. I was having a bit of a dry spell with my writing and he inspired me to write this issue (yeah Doc, I know what happened…)! So basically, it seems that if you’re nice to me you get an issue dedicated to you. Not true. Also with this issue, we see the debut of ongoing cover artist Roy Flinchum on The Question! Roy’s an awesome guy to bounce ideas off, and his covers will not disappoint you (but they scare me… You should see the tiny bits of detail he put into this issue’s cover. You’ll understand it if your INSANE.) So when #2 debuts tonight, think if you want about what I’ve just said. Or ignore me and go about what you’re doing. I just wanted to get my thoughts out there…
Now… What did you think of this issue?
Aw shucks. Thank you.
Seriously though, thanks for reminding me that back issues are one of the things that makes comic book collecting special. You were able to pick-up books and enjoy them long after the were issued.
