So I was in my LCS this past week talking to the owner while she was ringing up my books. Now I’ve known AJ (the owner) since I was like, I dunno, eleven or twelve? Back when she was a college student working part time at the stores old location. And this shop I’ve been going to since I was like seven, off and on, at three different locations so far (not a chain store, they’ve just moved from location to larger location to even larger location), great place. If you’re ever in St. Louis, and the Loop isn’t out of your way, check out Star Clipper. Best shop in town.
Alright, enough props, back to my story. I was in the store talking to her, and up at the counters they have two books up there that are considered the best buys of the week. Usually just whatever’s popular…..staff picks has better stuff, but for the past like, month, it’s just been Spider-Man featuring Obama. And then I go and I realize it’s a fifth printing. Fifth. It was the number one selling books on the charts by a giant margin. And every review I’ve heard of the book? Crappy. Jon, one of the guys who works at the shop, said he heard it was a pretty weak story, but hadn’t read it himself. AJ had nothing to say, it was clear she hadn’t read it or wanted to. But it was selling great, still. Why? Because Obama is in it?
And this is just the first four prints.
Don’t get me wrong, I voted for him too, but he shouldn’t be a novelty used to settle a mediocre book through the roof. Did you know that he’s also been featured in the first issue of Secret Warriors, speaking with Nick Fury in the Oval Office without once being named? Or that he’s been speaking with Norman Osborn in Thunderbolts aboard Air Force One? Again, without being named? Two great books, worth every penny, and both featured Obama without a big media buzz, or hype surrounding it. Spider-Man sold through the roof, they fell to the wayside. Two books of much higher quality were ignored in favor of a hastily written issue with a six page backup featuring Spidey saving Obama at his inauguration. In Thunderbolts, he was attacked on Air Force One, along with Norman Osborn and Leonard Samson, by the new Green Goblin. And in Secret Warriors he had a long talk with Nick Fury before Fury gave him the most respect he could bother to muster. Pretty bad ass and in character.
So why can’t these books get that lovin that Marvel is so quick to provide Spidey? Or even better, why couldn’t Marvel have attached a quality Spider-Man story to their hyped event so that these massive numbers of potential new readers that are picking it up can read something that makes them want to go back for more? Casual people want to read books that are fun and accessible, they want to be able to just pick up a random issue and understand it. And at the same time, even when you’re going the fun and accessible route, you have to make sure that the book is written in a way that the reader is actually interested enough to see what’s happened next, of even better, what’s come before. You can’t make new fans on crappy books, after all. They already tried that during the nineties, remember?
Maybe I’m just an elitist though, with my own definition for quality. Then again, maybe I’m also the guy who read Chuck Austen’s Uncanny X-Men out of hope that it would get better. Maybe I read the entire Heroes Reborn line, as well as X-Force and Spawn. I was a child of the nineties, after all, despite being born in eighty-five. I remember chromium covers and holo-foil and two variants for issue number two and all those sales schemes. I remember the speculator market and what happened when everyone realized it wasn’t going anywhere. I don’t want to see that happen again, not at all, even if Marvel would be affected exclusively given that they are the only company truly feeding into it.
Have you guys noticed the recent price jump? Marvel has started to price regular sized monthly series at $3.99 an issue; books such as New Avengers, Dark Avengers, Ultimatum, the entire Noir line, the majority of the ‘literature’ line, Spider-Woman, virtually ever miniseries, Hulk, Runaways, Thor, the new Wolverine series, the entire Max line. Think about it like this, I made up that list just running down books that had 32 pages and were priced at $3.99. I counted thirty three books that fit that criteria in Marvel’s May solicits. Joey Q has said that it’s due to the slumping economy and they are being forced to raise prices randomly across the line. I can buy that, I mean, things suck with the economy, we all know this.
DC, on the other hand, has only five books fitting those criteria; the books being Astro City, Gears of War, Prototype, Resistance, and Resident Evil. The economy apparently not hitting them all that hard. Maybe it’s because they don’t over hype the shit out of everything, or hop on every band wagon in the world to get publicity. Or it might just be that they have a stronger parent company backing them. Who knows?
I do know, however, that the price hikes on regular sized books are not going over well with me. Spider-Woman was going to be a must read, but now it’s waiting for the trade. Runaways might get the boot as well, sad to say. Not that I can’t afford them, but I just don’t want to. It’s the principle, I don’t feel like I should be paying four bucks for a regular sized book with no extra content. I used to get books for a dollar, and that’s not being thrown out there to sound bitter. There are readers who have never purchased a regular series for under $3 an issue, and that saddens me. Yes, I get that everything is more expensive, and that quality is up higher, but to move past $3 an issue is just beyond absurd.
Still only $2.99
I’ve long spoken in favor of reading monthlies as opposed to trades, in fact my own collection of trades is made up primarily of books that I either wanted portable copies of (my singles don’t leave the house) or that I missed out my chance to get in singles. But as of my typing this there has never been an ongoing book that I’ve exclusively read in trade rather than skip singles (100 Bullets I’ve been waiting for the end of so I can get the upcoming hardcovers of…..it is the only one of its kind on my list). So for me this is just sad, I mean, there are most likely going to be books that I enjoy quite a bit, that I read monthly and in some cases have complete runs of that I’m just going to abandon in favor of trades. I feel like some sort of hypocrite, but I’m not paying $3.99 for thirty-two pages with ads. There aren’t enough George Perez’s in the world.
I think I’m gonna die today and everyone who hurt me’s gonna pay. How could such a short time feel so long? How could such a young life go so wrong?
Peter David is awesome, do you guys know that? He’s the kind of writer who can make it a point in the recap box to say “Please don’t spoil this issue”, and make you actually go out of your way to do it. So awesome. And his last page reveal? Not the same oomph that last issue had, but still amazing. All I really can say is to read this book, as it’s clear in every issue that PAD knows, understands, and loves his characters. The return of Father John Maddox was brilliantly well done as it gave Jamie the perfect person to spend the issue discussing life with. It’s hard to get to talk to yourself and get an opposing perspective.
Supergirl continues its upward swing, giving Kara her own unique little personality and quirks finally, and it’s nice to finally see her as something other than the ditzy blond in a mini skirt and a short top, bearing the S symbol. Lana makes for a perfect edition to this book even if I’m going to bet that she’s on the kill list. You heard it here people, I don’t see Lana living to see 2010!
DARK VENGENACE! Birds of Prey ended this past week, and with it one of the better Bat books. The supporting cast of Huntress, Manhunter, Infinity, Lady Blackhawk, and my beloved Misfit are going to be scattered to the wind as Oracle goes off in her new miniseries. Helena and Kate I know are going to be winding up in Streets of Gotham, but the rest I’ve heard nothing of. And that would be a shame. Especially in the case of Misfit, who just turned down Teen Titans membership which puts her dangerously close to limbo. With any luck Zinda and her will be back at Babs’ side sooner than later. Many thanks to Tony Bedard though for ending this book on a high note instead of just letting it spin the wheels.
DARRRRRKKKKKK VENGEANNNCCCCEEEEE
Brave and the Bold. I loved Waid’s stuff, I’ve hated David Hine’s stuff, and I was looking forward rather impatiently to JMS’s stuff. So how do you think I felt when the next issue box said the book was going on hiatus? Pretty fraking ticked. And the next issue is solicited for May, and it’s going to be an all Jurgens all the time issue about Booster Fucking Gold, so that’s pretty hot.
JLA ran its wheels in neutral as nothing really happened, but at least we got a cool fight scene. Oh, and anything done with the Red Arrow and Hawkgirl relationship is gold, as McDuffie’s biggest strength comes from the way he writes his characters. I adore his Roy.
Tangent wrapped up this week and……I almost didn’t realize it. I read every issue, but I don’t feel like I gained or lost anything. There wasn’t even any permanent universe hops which would have been great. I’d love to see the Tangent Flash make the transition full time in the DCU, possibly even joining the JLA.
NYX wrapped up and while I enjoyed it, the book really did lose steam as it continued. And while it does set up for the group to reappear in the future, it kinda…..I don’t know, it was a lot like the first one in that you could enjoy the read but then question why the hell it meant anything. I’d like to see Bobby Soul join an X team. Him and Lil Bro.
Uncanny gave us something we’ve been needing for a while as Colossus bust lose and started pummeling people, and he even brought Diamond Emma along for the ride! Terry Dodson is SO much better on this book then Greg Land that it isn’t even remotely funny. I would love to see him just stay on and pencil every issue, but I know he’s going to be needing a break eventually. Hopefully his break will eventually be filled with an artist who doesn’t just photoshop the same pictures all of the time rather than be original. Someone who can breathe emotion into their work.
Marvel says X-Men Forever with Chris Claremont! Grey says X-Men Forever will never be purchased by him!
Robin ended well enough, though I was pissed that the first time we see Lady Shiva in forever and she jobs to Tim Drake of all people. Yes, Tim is awesome, but Shiva is LADY FUCKING SHIVA! SHE SHOULD NOT JOB!
The Lady Shiva should count the lights only for Cassandra Cain and Dinah Lance.
Dark Avengers is fun, I hate the price tag, but it is a lot of fun. I loved the team when they were Thunderbolts, and while Bendis will never be Warren Ellis, at least he can write good banter. Though I have to question the apparent killings of Sentry and Ares in only the second issue, but hey, I’ll give him the benefit. Bendis always reads better at the end of the arc.
I’d like to welcome Chuck back to my regular watching schedule, and a happy welcome it is! Normally my Monday night lineup consists of Heroes immediately after work, and last night it was all about Chuck. My cousin and I almost completely forgot that Heroes even came on, we just wanted to see Chuck. Such a fun little show that definitely deserves a bigger push, hopefully the ratings will guarantee it a third season as I’d hate to see this show end early.
The Outsiders are now led by Alfred and the team is going deep underground, potentially vanishing for months at a time. I loved the moments with Jefferson Pierce, as while I prefer him on the JLA, his moral dilemma is just picture perfect for this. The moments with Geo Force and Katana were equally as moving. Home run for the Classy one! Home run for Tomasi!
What I read this week:
- Birds of Prey
- Brave and the Bold
- JLA
- Outsiders
- Robin
- Supergirl
- Tangent: Superman’s Reign
- Dark Avengers
- NYX
- Uncanny X-Men
- X-Factor
- X-Men Legacy
Best of the week:
- X-Factor
- Outsiders
- Dark Avengers
The Gold Standard
