There’s providing a service, and then there is gouging. Cover price has long been a point of contention within the comics industry, never more so on the advent of the digital market. Comic stores felt threatened (rightly so) and after much discussion, a policy was hammered out that ensured that the local physical stores did [...]
The Art Of The Franchise Crossover
Posted on February 15, 2012 Written by 1 Comment
While there is little on this week’s shipping list that fills me with enthusiasm, this is by far made up for with the news that IDW are releasing another of their franchise crossovers. As a science fiction fan since a small child, then this is a landmark event. What are the two biggest names in [...]
Permanence
Posted on February 1, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment
How permanent are our comic book universes? Even as I ask the question, I find myself wondering what that very word means. With DC’s recent announcement of the return of Earth 2 and the Shazam family of characters, we know the enduring characters and settings will return again and again. The recent (and thoroughly enjoyable) [...]
Digital Delight Or Demise?
Posted on November 23, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
DC has now announced their collaboration with Amazon, releasing their stock, including an exclusive 100 graphic novels for release to users of the Kindle Fire. We are told, not to worry, these stories will be available for other Amazon customers eventually, and following that, DC are not sticking just with Amazon, but promising to look [...]
In Defence Of The Crossover?
Posted on November 9, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
Newsarama have started a discussion asking ‘do fans even know what they want’? This week, the topic has turned to that bugbear of the discussion boards (and articles such as this one); the company crossover. On such a contentious topic, I could hardly resist contributing my own point of view. One can hardly deny the [...]
In Defence Of The Amalgam
Posted on September 22, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
With the stunning sales figures of many of the DCnU first issues, minds no doubt turn towards how the industry can sustain this momentum? As I have said before, I have doubts as to how many of these sales are likely to be new readers, although I imagine by far the largest segment of these [...]
Today’s The Day
Posted on August 31, 2011 Written by 4 Comments
Well, today’s the day that the New Fifty Two (hardly the catchiest of slogans) bursts out into existence, and the first sight of it is in Justice League #1. I can’t determine whether I like it or not. Well, that’s a total lie. I do like it, I like it a lot so far, on [...]
Great Toy Titles
Posted on July 6, 2011 Written by 2 Comments
Newsarama today have posted an article entitled “TRANSFORMERS & Beyond: 5 Best Marvel TOY Comics”, yet I have to take issue with their choices. To my mind, they have missed out one of the very best toy-linked titles of all time. Although no one can deny the quality of the Micronauts, ‘They come from Inner [...]
Whatever Happened To The Reprint Market?
Posted on July 1, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
And no, I do not mean trade paperbacks. I mean the good old-fashioned monthly comic. Remember Marvel Tales? Or Marvel Triple Action for that matter? It was these titles that as a young reader, drew me into the rich history of the Marvel Universe, rather than just focusing on the hottest and newest events. Reliant [...]
Double Dose of Hell
Posted on June 22, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
So, today we see John Constantine returns to the world of spandex super-heroes, even as his mature readers Vertigo title delves into its traditional adult themes. Coming from the days when John was a permanent fixture of the DCU, I should welcome this, yet for some reason I have reservations. John has made his home [...]