I fucking hate the comics industry.

More importantly, I hate what the comic industry makes me into. I hate second guessing everyone's motivations, and I hate having mine second guessed because of my "affiliations".

But most importantly, I hate comics news. It's %99 fucking garbage, and I've gotten sort of sick of pointing it out to everyone. You know, every time the guys at Newsarama post a story I could point out that bits of the first sentence are mis-spelled, or someone forgot the rules of grammar, or the frightening lack of research that's evident, but what's the point? They're not going to change, they're the industry leader with no credible challenger. They don't need to change or improve, you'll read anyway (and incidentally, this argument also works for MARVEL and DIAMOND COMICS DISTRIBUTORS as well, try it out!)

Mostly though, I'm sick of this being something negative. I have enough to do without mocking people.

So, expect a change in attitude and functionality soon.

Love,

Christopher

So today sees the report of two more companies signing with Diamond to be their exclusive distributor to the book store market. GT LABS (publishers of the excellent FALLOUT and the excellent DIGNIFYING SCIENCE and several other excellent books) and Antarctic Press (not quite as excellent, but still) are now exclusive with Diamond in another market.

For those of you who didn't keep score, Diamond is now the exclusive book store distributor to the following companies: Archangel Studios (Red Star),
Avatar Press (Strange Kisses), ComicsOne (Storm Riders), Studio Ironcat (Asst. Manga), Dreamwave Productions (Transformers), Titan Books (Judge Dredd) GT Labs and Antarctic, and several other publishers. Oh, and Marvel Comics, who is actually sharing Diamond's booth with them at the San Diego Comic Convention this year.

People complained about Diamond's stranglehold on the direct market. People still complain, actually. And yet, when given the opportunity, publishers will willingly turn over their keys to the same company that's driving SPIDER-MAN into stores. Maybe the thinking is that they'll catch some residual sales off of the companies Diamond is more likely to support (Who's sharing Diamond's booth at SDCC again kids? Say it with me...). Sort of like Trickle-Down economics, which is akin to believing in the tooth fairy as far as common sense tells us.

Hey, times are fucking rough out there, espescially with the (imminent) death of LPC, who handled a hell of a lot of bookstore distro for a great many companies. I understand that people with a lot more invested than I do are having to make some very important decisions. But has putting every last one of your eggs in the same basket ever been a smart move?

Funny thing about journalism, it's never really on your side.

I mean sure, you can count on journalists to walk a certain way, behave within a certain set of variables. That surprises no one. Yeah, some sites have a tendency to reprint, word for word, Marvel press releases and call it a story, while others re-write said press-releases and do the same. Generally things behave a certain way and certain companies can count on a certain level of support, and coverage. Just the way things are.

But not always, and that's what keeps me warm at night.

Stuart Moore resigned from Marvel this week, making his fairwell phone-calls yesterday. Of course, no one in the comics industry can keep a secret, so Rich Johnson from ALL THE RAGE was informed of it promptly. A rumour was posted last night at SBC and the Warren Ellis Forum, and Newsarama followed up first thing this morning to get the "dirt", so to speak. Pretty much how it works in the comics journalism biz. I think that Moore is a great guy and I hope he finds success after Marvel, and that's about all I've seen on the subject (past some speculation over what this means to Marvel Knights). But what was surprising to me was Quesada's reaction to the inquiries about Moore leaving.

"I always find these things really challenging, and I�ve heard all the rumors that because Stuart was leaving, Marvel Knights and MAX were gone. It�s kinda fun to hear that, but infuriating as well. This is the kind of stuff that gets tons of press and people talking, but again, the fact that there was tons of mainstream attention and new customers in comic shops looking for The Call doesn�t get a blip. But I guess that�s how tings are." - Joe Quesada, EIC Marvel Comics

To interpret, if I may, Quesada is upset that the fact that THE CALL OF DUTY: THE BROTHERHOOD #1 got a ton of mainstream media attention, and he finds in infuriating that the comics news strips are running stories on how much media attention the book got. Quesada is complaining that his media coverage didn't get enough media coverage from other media.

I mean, maybe there's a larger point about the doomsaying that's so prevelant in the industry, and how we should be focussed on happier things, etc., but cry me a river you know?

But, just to alieviate any concerns of Mr. Quesada, I've found the following article on a comics news site about the mainstream media attention that THE CALL received. Here is a short excerpt:

"First let me ask why, if as Quesada implies, he knew the book was under ordered, then why did Marvel proceed to under print it? Would it not have made sense to have books available to meet the demand he uncannily recognized. In my not so humble opinion, any retailer who ordered even one copy of The Brotherhood beyond subscriber orders actually showed more confidence in this project than did Quesada and Jemas who are only willing to print what retailers have guaranteed to buy and not one copy more." - Robert Scott, Comic Retailer

I guess you can have your cake and eat it too, Joe.

SHONEN JUMP, the best-selling comics anthology in the entire world is set to begin publication in North America this Fall. Published weekly in Japan to the tune of 3.4 Million copies a pop, JUMP is going to make an incredible impact on the North American comic book industry. Reports are sketchy on what the magazine will include (nevermind it's frequency, weekly or monthly), but it's set at $4.95 for approximately 250 pages. No specific titles have been announced yet, but I'd bet money on YU-GI-OH and RURONI KENSHIN making an appearance. Hopefully HOSHIN ENGI will too - I love that book. Anyhow, the current plan is for a circulation of 100k a month, hitting 1 million in three years. Ambitious!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! In direct competition with JUMP? Raijin Comics! A new anthology (unspecified price/frequency/titles) coming in October. Expect 200-300 pages for around $5 as well. There's also a website for the company up at http://www.raijincomics.com/ . Most interesting thing about this? There's a full page teaser-advert in this month's issue of GIANT ROBOT magazine. It certainly seems as if none of these guys are going in underfunded, are they?

At any rate, this is brilliant. Succeed of fail, people are trying something new and I couldn't be happier. There will be comics on the newstand again, in a big way. In a big, competitive way. This is what I love about comics. This is what's getting me excited. This is most likely what I'm gonna do next. Stay tuned!

"The question isn�t pertinent to the new series. We�re not embarking on a salvage job here. We�re taking the �ur�-concept and applying it to a new generation, a new century, a new - and fundamentally different -macro-reality and finally (most critically) a new set of creative prisms." - CHRIS CLAREMONT

Also, he's going to unleash the focussed totallity of his 'psychic-writer-knife' on the hypertextual-dialogue-ur-concept to create a new paradigm... of suck.

In a story last week, the question was brought up if Peter David would similarly freak out over the raising prices of his two books at DC, YOUNG JUSTICE and SUPERGIRL. Y'see, he went all ballistic on Bill and Joe, and it ended up devolving internet forum discussion to some sort of invertibrate back and forth for two weeks or so. Uncool. At any rate, today we have David's answer:

�The answer is, no, of course not. The two situations are not analogous." - Peter David

David goes on to state in the article that you have to treat DC's Paul Levitz a little differently in the press than Marvel's Joe Quesada, and a bunch of other side-stepping and back-peddaling. Which, you know, is all perfectly reasonable. I even agree with him, to an extent. Well, at least I did, until he said this:

Additionally, David commented on the choice of new regular Supergirl penciler, who will joining the title with issue #75, following the departure of long-time penciler Leonard (JSA) Kirk with issue #74. DC Comics confirmed for Newsarama.com artist Ed (Gen 13) Benes has been named new regular penciler.



�I've seen Ed's work on Gen 13 and think he's an ideal choice,� said David. �I'm very much looking forward to working with him and seeing how he does on the new storyline launching with #75.�

No one, No One, is excited to have their artist leave for a higher-selling book, to be replaced by a guy who ends up working on a hell of a lot of books that end up getting cancelled. Hell, I'm not even aware of any Ed Benes fans... Anyway, his acceptance of this move, his seeming positivity, seems really toothless and I have to say I'm not terribly impressed. It really makes me question the rest of his statements. Although with the way he plays the media lately, maybe that was the point?

It really is a shame Michael Sangiacomo continues to be published, he's probably the most myopic comics "journalist" I've ever read. Not to mention that he can't seem to properly set up or follow through on a premise. This week, he tackles one of the most burning querries in comics.

"That's it, is it?"



"That's the mysterious origin of Wolverine?"

The poor man was let down by his over-hyped superhero comic book. Then, to add insult to injury, he feels let down by Frank Miller's DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. Poor baby. This aged fanboy has learned a valuable lesson, taught to the rest of us through the glory of early 90's rap "back in the day"; DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE. Of course, this is difficult for Sangiacomo, as his column is comprised entirely OF hype. Don't worry kids, though he's disappointed this week, he'll be back towing the Marvel company line in just seven short days!

Just for fun, read through his article and replace any title of any superhero comic with the words "SUPERHERO COMIC". It makes the column a much more enjoyable read.

"SUPERHERO COMIC and SUPERHERO COMIC were the big ticket, high-priced bellringers of the comic book season. These were the ones that were supposed to get people excited about comics again. Both missed their mark by a long shot.



"Want quality? Re-read AUTHOR's SUPERHERO COMIC trade paperback; or the trades of SUPERHERO COMIC; SUPERHERO COMIC; SUPERHERO COMIC; SUPERHERO COMIC; SUPERHERO COMIC; SUPERHERO COMIC or any one of a hundred other epics where art and story come together in a ballet of style and brilliance. Give me a book with so many little nuances tucked away in the corners (see SUPERHERO COMIC) that there are new discoveries with every reading.



"We wanted so much to read SUPERHERO COMIC and to see a sequel to SUPERHERO COMIC, like itches we wanted scratched.



"But instead of that good feeling we got the first time around, SUPERHERO COMIC just left us with ugly red marks on our backs and a nagging feeling that AUTHOR is laughing at us.

Note that in the last two paragraphs, his set-up mentions two books, but his conclusion mentions one. Sloppy? You betcha!