Delayed Mail

By: Kurt Amacker
Date: Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Greetings, fanatics and casual readers alike, and welcome to another COMICSCAPE. Welcome also to one of those damnable holiday weeks when the new comics don't arrive until Thursday. Curse you, Labor Day, and your federally endorsed celebration of the working class that would keep me from my comics. Anyway, last week, I wrote a scathing bit of brilliance on the delay of CIVIL WAR and Marvel's subsequent failure to communicate with fans and retailers. Actually, the publisher let everyone know, but they waited until the day before CIVIL WAR #4 was to hit comic shops. And, they delayed several tie-ins along with that issue to avoid spoilers, making a few mainstay titles both delayed and bimonthly through the end of the year. As the shops plan their budgets based on anticipated, dependable sales, this leaves every comic retailer in the country with a shortfall through the rest of the year. That doesn't even account for the cancellations and bad temperaments from God-knows-how-many pissed-off fans.

Of course, whining about delays sounds akin to complaining about a hot summer day. You can complain all you want, but little will change. Hence, last week I asked readers to comment upon both the fiasco in question and delays overall. Here's the dirt. My comments are in bold.

Scott Watkins writes, "How about Dynamite Press's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA? Issue #5 is being advertised on their website for an October release when they can't even get #1 to freakin' press and to the comic shops! WTF!?!"


WTF indeed, Scott. Dynamite Press likes to advertise issues months in advance before the second issue is even out. They pulled this kind of thing with RED SONJA and ARMY OF DARKNESS, too.

Kevin Hynes writes, "Delays have plagued the industry for as long as I can remember. I became interested in comics before I could even read, mostly due to the classic cover of the Chris Claremont and Frank Miller WOLVERINE #1. And I've observed that many readers are a fickle bunch, myself included, unless the story is really worth the annoyance."

And how often is that?

"Sometimes in the rush to create the best possible product editors like Joe Quesada think it is beneficial to delay a book, but I don't hold to this statement. These delays murder books and confuse continuity. A case in point is 2003's or 2002's SECRET WAR series. Who really cared when the final issue came out? Many said it was a letdown. Could this have been caused by the months of delays? Could a delay cause too much hype and if the issue were on time would it have been better received? I believe yes, it would."

I still thought it was anticlimactic, particularly given some of the tidbits dropped in that dossier book Marvel released that suggested some kind of scorched earth invasion of Latveria with the Punisher, the Hulk, and every other way-too-dangerous hero in the pantheon. Overall, a lackluster story paled before some fantastic art by Gabriel Dell'Otto.

"It seems as if the only exception to this rule is All-Star Superman, even though it is bi-monthly and has been delayed, it is still a strong series. Why? Because, it is its own entity and doesn't rely on strict universal continuity. Now coming to CIVIL WAR, a universe-defining event a story if you are a Marvel fan, it is necessary to read and it's being delayed. I believe this doesn't reflect badly on the industry, but on Marvel. I have been hindered by Marvel for years. I even had a year subscription to THE ULTIMATES that lasted two-and-a-half years due to delays."

I don't know if "hindered" is really the right word. It's not like Marvel made your car die or gave you appendicitis or anything.

"It's confusing to say the least when a delay is issued, and then the end product is simply a waste. Does Stan Sakai need delays? No, he is consistent with his USAGI YOJIMBO (the man writes, draws, and inks it also!). The point is I don't think this will destroy the industry, but perhaps encourage a much needed changing of the guard at Marvel. When the editor-in-chief can't even put his own book out on time (DAREDEVIL: FATHER anyone?) then there is a problem."

Still, picking on DAREDEVIL: FATHER seems like beating up a homeless guy with no legs. I almost feel kind of sorry for the poor series.

Daniel Loy writes, "In the early 90's I found a comic called PITT and loved it. I grabbed all the back issues I could find until I was up to date and ready for the next issue. (Note that by 'all the back issues I could find, I mean #1 and 2.) But, I digress. I waited with near ravenous hunger for the following issues to drop, and by the time #5 hit the stands several months later, I was disgusted with the delays and dropped the title. That was my first real experience where I actually noticed the time it took for issues to roll out. But it was an Image trademark back then to be tardy, so I doubt they even noticed my lack of readership."

After the huge amount of attention Image garnered and the success of the first few titles, the huge delays that followed left everyone thinking "Okay, what's next?" Like I said last week: DEATHMATE sums it up.

"One more thing, though: your explanation of comic shop budgets was very enlightening. I'd never realized that they have to plan for the expected sales so carefully, but it makes sense. Also explains why so many of them have branched out into the games and figures as a side and increasingly mainstream business (and explains why they were so pissed at me when I didn't clean out the save box and just cherry picked what I really wanted)."

Here's a PSA for all COMICSCAPE readers: when you order something from your comic shop, they buy it from Diamond at a discount. Then, the fat guy in a "Han Shot First" t-shirt behind the counter sells it to you and reaps a miniscule profit for each issue. If he sells enough of those issues, he can pay the light bill. If you change your mind, he's stuck with that book. If it's just an issue of NEW AVENGERS, he can probably sell it to someone else. If it's a $50 DC Archive, he can either pull the store gun and make you buy it, or give you a nasty look and put it on the shelf with the hopes that someone else will. Don't put the guy in the "Han Shot First" shirt in that situation. I'm glad I could make it clear to everyone.

"Thanks as always. Oh, and tell Al that his mom says 'Hi.'"

Al, your mom says "Hi." That wasn't what she said to me last night, but I can't print that in a family-oriented website such as CINESCAPE.

Keith Gatchel writes, "At least Marvel's sending out a press release, instead of just making it late with no explanation like they and all the other companies have done before."

Still, that's like breaking up with someone while you're standing at the alter with the new catch.

"While working at a comic shop several years ago, it annoyed me to no end when a book would ship late and it'd sadden me to keep telling customers we didn't have what they were looking for. I'd been in their shoes before, and sometimes I had just as much anticipation as they did. Specifically, I'm thinking of THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3, almost any issue of WOLVERINE: ORIGIN n, and pretty much every book Image has to offer. I found it appropriate when Image announced their tenth anniversary hardcover, then true to form, it came out months late. In some cases it's excusable, like you said with small press books and unfortunate circumstances. But when lateness becomes the norm, and whole companies get a reputation for missed shipping dates, the quality they boast about falls flat because interest wanes. Or, maybe the problem is that is doesn't wane enough."

That's really the only way a publisher will listen, I'm sorry to say. The problem remains that, like me, most fans would rather buy a book later than not at all. After all that waiting, I sure as hell wasn't going to boycott ORIGIN or THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN though, the former succeeded far better than the latter.

Tim Agen writes, "I can happily say that CIVIL DELAYS did not affect me directly. My plan all along was to pick up the softcover if I read that the story actually ended in CIVIL WAR. As time went on and issues came out, I realized that CIVIL WAR was going to be a launching pad of a story. So my interest was very low."

God only knows what Marvel has planned after this. Hopefully, they'll maintain the courage of their convictions and not retcon the entire thing.

"Reading coverage of CIVIL DELAYS has been pretty entertaining though. I have no basis for my opinion, but I don't think this will hurt the industry."

No basis for your opinion? That's a rather brave admission. It's like, "I admit I don't know what I'm shooting at, but I'll just pull the trigger anyway and see if I hit something. Yep."

"If anything, in 10 years, I think we'll see the reduced importance of the direct market and Marvel will sit comfortably with their CIVIL WAR decision. On those future bookshelves, CIVIL WAR, by Millar, McNiven and Hollowell (colorist) will surely look sharper than the same book with a fill-in artist."

I don't think having some guy do layouts would ruin the event for all time. The strength of the writing would outlast any artistic flaws in reader memory.

"The artistic quality of INFINITE CRISIS has been called into question, as a comparison to CIVIL WAR. I didn't read that either, but I have seen the Red Sky page from a later issue and found it quite ridiculous. I've read that DC will redo some of the art in that book when it's collected. That obviously serves the future bookshelves, but it's almost disrespectful of your biggest, early-adopter fans. I really don't think there's a win for Marvel with the situation they put themselves in."

You're correct in that, without some grand apologetic gesture to retailers, Marvel will have to take the heat. Of course, they won't feel much differently if everyone still buys the late books.

The Reverend Jared H. Hugenot writes, "My take on publisher delays is to be add some grace' (I am a minister, so it's part of the job description)."

Not that I think it's a bad thing, but I'm really surprised at the amount of clergymen that seem to read this column. Regardless, preach on.

"Nonetheless, here's an angle that I think is worth pointing out about the industry: I love the notion of DC's 52 and have subscribed. I live about 45 minutes from any comic shop (most of my life as a collector, regardless of what part of the country, I do not have a 'neighborhood' shop to frequent). I subscribed to 52, and I have found that the enjoyment of the story has diminished because it sometimes takes more than ten days to receive the issue (they are released every Wednesday in the shops, so I don't see them until 10 days hence). I knew Booster went to meet Ted Kord up in the sky due to the Internet and some not so spoiler-warned articles long before issue 15 arrived (again, ten days hence)."

It isn't like it used to be, when you could just beg everyone at the comic shop to keep their mouths shut until you caught up.

"It wouldn't pester me so much, but by subscribing in advance, I receive materials late. This is quite illogical, captain..."

I don't know if you were trying to slide in a "Captain Kurt" joke there, but you're not the first. Still, while I don't know if it would work with 52, one would think that monthly titles could be shipped enough in advance so that they arrive on Wednesday. Then again, that might raise shipping prices for readers and God knows if the books would even be printed in time to ship them that early. Thanks for writing, Rev.

Daniel Aubrey White writes, "I never give up on a comic I want to read, no matter how big the delay. SEVEN SOLDIERS is the one I'm currently annoyed about. They shipped this title bi-weekly for a whole year, and they even told us the exact date each title would be shipping. The schedule appears in every issue. They made their targets. It's a 30-part storyline one intro, seven four-issue miniseries, and one conclusion. They shipped 29 issues on time, and pushed by the conclusion by a full four months. And they spoiled the ending by printing INFINITE CRISIS #7 before SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY #1."

I think that, by way of ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, we've established that Grant Morrison can be late and we'll all still love the wacky Scotsman to pieces. But, I agree that the SEVEN SOLDIERS delay is obnoxious. I'd planned to write a column about it one week, thinking the last book would be out and I had to throw something else together.

It stands clear enough that we have a catch-22: the delays won't hurt publishers much if readers continue to wait patiently and buy nonetheless. Obviously, a severe delay will reduce sales, but like most readers, I can't see forgoing the conclusion of a story just to spite a publisher. Still, timeliness and predictable sales keep comic shops open. Delays hurt small business owners far more than publishers or readers. I hope Marvel considers that next time they plan an event.

The Spinner Rack
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker

Al: Be forewarned that due to Labor Day, the Diamond shipping lists were updated too late to make it into this rundown, so there may be more inconsistencies than usual. Caveat, as always, emptor.
Kurt: Once again, the working class sticks it to everyone.

DARK HORSE COMICS

Museum Of Terror Vol 2 TP (MR) $13.95

DC COMICS

52 Week #18 $2.50

All New Atom #3 $2.99

American Splendor #1 (of 4) (MR) $2.99
Al: Yes, it is indeed a new series by American Splendor creator Harvey Pekar.

Batman Face The Face TP $14.99

Battler Britton #3 (of 5) $2.99

Detective Comics #823 $2.99
Al: Paul Dini writes another done-in-one, this time starring Poison Ivy. It's a good time to be a Batman fan.
Kurt: Sing it with me: "Batfan! Batfan! Batfan! Dadadadadadadada-da Batfan!"
Doctor Dastardly: Attacking people with plants is difficult, but it's worth it for the sheer novelty, if nothing else. I planted a bunch of poison ivy outside my door a while back and then dumped a bunch of toxic waste on it so it would mutate into really fast-acting poison ivy; it probably worked, but I ain't going out there to check. Poison ivy really itches.
Al: Hey, remember that movie Poison Ivy starring Drew Barrymore? That movie was awesome.
Kurt: Dude, I loved that movie when I was a kid. I thought I was the only one that remembered! All right, I'm totally going to go have a private '80s moment.

Doom Patrol Vol 4 Musclebound TP (MR) $19.99
Al: A full nine issues of Grant Morrison's gloriously insane run on Doom Patrol. Probably worth picking up.Kurt: Al's mom: always worth picking up.

Ex Machina Vol 2 Tag TP (MR) $12.99

Fables Vol 1 Legends In Exile TP $9.99

Gen 13 Who They Are And How They Came To Be TP $14.99
Al: Chris Sims' recent creepy love letter to Gen13 reminded me how much I, too, dearly loved Wildstorm's unabashedly cheesecake 1990s series about a bunch of teens with powers that often rendered them clothes-less. However, it also reminded me that the original miniseries, of which this is a collection, was not Gen13's finest moment. And MAN, does the art look dated.
Kurt: You know what else looks dated? Al's mom way past her prime, seriously.

Jonah Hex #11 $2.99

Jonah Hex Face Full Of Violence TP $14.99
Al: Now that's a great title.
Kurt: Well, with that bit of skin connecting his lips, I'd say his face has seen some violence, if nothing else.

Justice League Unlimited #25 $2.25

Looney Tunes #142 $2.25

Manifest Eternity #4 $2.99

Mystery In Space #1 (of 8) $3.99
Al: Jim Starlin writes what looks like DC's answer to Marvel's Annihilation series.

Mystery In Space Variant Edition #1 (of 8) $3.99

Next #3 (of 6) $2.99

Nightwing #124 $2.99

Outsiders #40 $2.99

Pieces Of A Spiral Vol 5 $9.99

Preacher Vol 1 Gone To Texas TP New Edition (MR) $14.99
Kurt: I don't know what's different about this edition, but you owe it to yourself to read Preacher.

Sandman Vol 10 The Wake TP $19.99

Sandman Vol 3 Dream Country TP $14.99
Kurt: Just in case you wanted to read Sandman in reverse and in intervals of seven, DC's got you covered.

Y The Last Man #49 (MR) $2.99

IMAGE COMICS

Casanova #4 (MR) $1.99

Cross Bronx #1 (MR) $2.99
Al: Has there ever been a week in which Image has not debuted a new book? This "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" philosophy gets draining after a while. I find it hard to care about any of their new books. This one is by Mike Oeming (Powers), and it will probably sink without a trace after its four-issue run. On the positive side, I bet it'll be better than Bomb Queen.

Emissary #4 $3.50
Al: For example: I have no idea if I've tried this series out or not. No clue at all. I do remember some controversy over the cover to this issue, which features the titular hero dressed up like Madonna crucified.
Kurt: That happened to me last week. Seriously, one minute I'm having a brew at the bar and then I wake up outside of town, crucified and dressed like Madonna. I hate when that happens.

Fell 3rd Ptg #3 (PP #730) $1.99

Fell 3rd Ptg #4 (PP #730) $1.99

Fell 5th Ptg #1 (PP #730) $1.99

Girls #17 (MR) $2.99
Al: Ew...are they really gonna cut someone's privates off? The solit for this issue features the single word "castrated." Why can't I quit this book?
Kurt: Because you have gender identity issues.

Hunter Killer Lee CVR #7 $2.99
Kurt: Geez, if this book keeps coming out on time I'll have to quit making jokes about it.

Hunter Killer Lee CVR Cgc Graded 9.8 #7 $59.99
Kurt: Well, this makes it a lot easier.

Hunter Killer Silvestri CVR #7 $2.99

Hunter Killer Silvestri CVR Cgc Graded 9.8 #7 $59.99

Jack Staff #11 $3.50

Lions Tigers & Bears Vol 1 New Printing TP $12.99

Noble Causes #23 $3.50

Phonogram #2 $3.50

Sam Noir Samurai Detective #1 $2.99
Al: If the solicitation for this is any indication, it'll be a whole lot of snooze-inducing wink-wink noir dialogue with kewl samuria swords thrown in, and I will hate it.
Kurt: And yet, you haven't even read it yet, you presumptuous bastard.

Sidekick #3 (of 5) (MR) $3.50

Spawn Collection Vol 1 TP $19.95

Task Force One #3 (MR) $3.50

Top Cows Best Of David Finch TP $19.99

Truth Justin & American Way #4 (of 5) $2.99

Tyler Kirkham Sketchbook $2.99

Walking Dead Vol 5 Best Defense TP (MR) $12.99
Al: New Walking Dead trade! New Walking Dead trade! New Walking Dead trade! New Walking Dead trade! Yay.
Kurt: Al, don't make me hate this book just because you like it so much.

MARVEL COMICS

Agents Of Atlas #2 (of 6) $2.99

Beyond #3 (of 6) $2.99
Al: The series hasn't been terrific, but I got awfully excited when Deathlok showed up.
Kurt: You haven't stopped talking about him for weeks. Did you ever finish that letter you were going to give him?

Essential Incredible Hulk Vol 1 TP New Ptg $16.99

Fantastic Four The Life Fantastic TP $16.99

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #12 $2.99
Al: See, Mysterio. That's what it's about. I love that guy.
Doctor Dastardly: I certainly agree that Mysterio's mind-bending tactics are great. For instance, once I put on some Moby and then I put glow-sticks all over the place and I was like "Woooo, you're freaking out!" and it was pretty cool, although I still got punched. But I think it's high time Mysterio took a real close look at his choice of headwear. The goldfish bowl looks very cumbersome, and if he were to run into something - more than likely, considering all the smoke he's constantly generating - it could shatter and then he could get glass in his eye. Really, A for originality but C- at best for functionality.
Kurt: Yeah, but at least Mysterio's still getting work. How much is unemployment paying these days, doc?

House Of M Incredible Hulk TP $13.99

House Of M Uncanny X-Men TP $13.99

Marvel 1602 Fantastick Four #1 (of 5) $3.50
Al: The "Man Called Kev" of the Marvel Universe: the mildly okay concept that long ago overstayed its welcome.
Kurt: Gee, "mildly okay." I'm going to run out and buy that.

Marvel Adventures Flip Magazine #16 $4.99

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #19 $2.99

Marvel Heroes Flip Magazine #16 $4.99

Marvel Team-up #24 $2.99

New Avengers Vol 3 Secrets And Lies TP $14.99
Al: Is that nunchucks in Ronin's pants, or is Ronin just overacting?
Kurt: Hey, there's a new Walking Dead trade out this month.

New Mangaverse Rings Of Fate Digest TP $7.99

Punisher #37 (MR) $2.99
Kurt: So, that Barracuda guy from the last arc has to be the most reprehensible character ever rendered in fiction.

Spider-Girl Presents Fantastic Five In Search Doom Digest $7.99

Spider-Man Special Black & Blue & Read All Over $3.99

Ultimate Marvel Team-up Ultimate Collection TP $29.99
Al: This was a fun collection: back when Bendis wrote it, no one really figured on the Ultimate Universe having any staying power. The stakes seemed low, so Bendis was free to reinvent pretty much anyone he wanted any way he wanted to. Since things obviously went better than planned for the Ultimate U., many of these reinterpretations have since been dismissed as non-canon, but they're still fun to check out.
Kurt: I've heard that Ultimate Al Brown actually wears pants, like, all the time.

Ultimates 2 Vol 1 Gods And Monsters TP $15.99
Kurt: "To a new world of gods and monsters." Good Christ, do I love Bride of Frankenstein.

Uncanny X-Men #478 $2.99

X-Men First Class Poster $6.99

X-Men Phoenix Warsong #1 (of 5) $2.99
Al: Hmph. The unexpected success of Phoenix: Endsong leads Marvel to press its luck. This is probably a bad idea. But if they release ten of these and then a best-of CD, Now That's What I Call Songs By The Phoenix Force, I would probably buy that album. Next up: Phoenix Bootysong!
Phoenix: Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?
Al: No, a little less freaky than you would be better. Maybe half the freaky. Honestly, even a tenth of the freaky would probably do it for me.

X-Men Phoenix Warsong 1 For 10 Mayhew Var #1 (of 5) $2.99

X-Men The End Book 3 Men & X-Men TP $14.99
Kurt: Wow. This solicitation has the world "men" in it three times. Now, this gives me a couple of different options. I could make fun of Marvel for repetitiveness and unoriginality. Or, I could just go the obvious route and make a gay joke, like "Marvel certainly does like a lot of men in their books!" Or, I could just wrap this up so I can get some sleep. Until next week, Comicscape faithful, I bid you adieu.

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@cinescape.com.