ComicsPRO 2012 meeting wrapup comments and thoughts
Writer/artist Terry Moore and managing editor Robyn Moore discuss "Rachel Rising" and other books from Abstract Studio at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting in Dallas.
DALLAS — The ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting for 2012 has closed, and many attendees touched on the importance of stability. After the tumult of the past few years, retailers seem to be refocused on improving their stores and maintaining profitability. While some stores are looking at expansion, it seemed that the plans for some publishers’ lines were becoming tighter and more focused.
Consistency was seen as key to success; Terry Moore attributed much of his success in “Strangers in Paradise,” “Echo” and “Rachel Rising” to putting out a comic every six weeks on a consistent schedule. The gathered retailers were extremely receptive to Moore and excited to continue working with him.
Among the reasons retailers believe the DC “New 52″ has been such a success is the consistent shipping schedule. DC announced the vast majority of the books shipped on time, with only two slipping from their planned date (including the most recent and an upcoming issue of “Justice League”). Those could have shipped on time, but would have involved shipping part of the story arc out of order, and it was determined by DC that pushing the books a week each would be less harmful to sales.
Image’s Eric Stephenson gave a great speech celebrating creativity and independence.
“Creativity starts with people,” Stephenson said. “The reckless spirits who can’t stand still, the fearless minds who refuse to play it safe. At Image Comics, we believe in creative people. For 20 years, we’ve made a home for them. A place where they can be creative – on their own terms.”
He said Image’s safe harbor for creativity on its own terms should resonate with the direct market, where each independent store celebrates creativity on its own terms as well.
Diamond Comics reported that the direct market was up overall 1.8 percent in 2011, and 1.2 percent in the comics category.
The event was again incredibly well-run and organized; kudos to the ComicsPRO board of directors and executive director Amanda Emmert.
Short takes
- DC plans to work with retailers to market “Before Watchmen” using some of the same tools that were used with great success on “The New 52.”
- Dynamite plans an extensive sales push for “The Shadow,” including hand-drawn variants by Jae Lee (1:200) and Alex Ross (1:250).
- Avatar plans to market “C-Day” on March 14, with a reissue of “Crossed” #0 called “Get Infected.”
- DC’s Vertigo plans a free preview comic of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” graphic novel, which should be in stores in time for Free Comic Book Day. The graphic novel will go on sale in April 2012.
- Image’s recent string of successes could very well continue in the upcoming “Glory” and “Hell, Yeah” from Joe Keatinge. Pages from Brian K. Vaughan also looked very impressive.
- Distributor Baker and Taylor will continue its web hosting program and is rolling out an additional stocking program for ComicsPRO members.
- Boom! Studios again entertained retailers after-hours in the Boom! RV, and showed retailers art from its upcoming “Fanboys vs. Zombies” at its Saturday breakfast presentation.
- Diamond reported that the number of Free Comic Book Day comics ordered has increased in 2012, from 2.77 million in 2011 to 3.34 million so far in 2012 (with some time still available for advance reorders).
- Valiant Comics has extensive marketing plans for “X-O Manowar” No. 1, including what looks like a very cool and interactive store poster using a QR code.
- Marvel was pleased with the response for the “Avengers vs. X-Men” parties and reiterated that comic will have huge interest to Marvel fans.
- Papercutz reported that the “Ninjago” LEGO tie-in graphic novels have more than 200,000 copies in print and have been a huge phenomenon for the publisher.
- IDW reported that 2011 showed the largest sales in the company’s history. Upcoming for the publisher include a second “Rocketeer Adventures” anthology and a Steve Niles/Bernie Wrightson “Frankenstein” project. IDW also plans an upscale Artists Edition of “Daredevil: Born Again.”
- First Second showed a copy of its upcoming “Baby’s In Black” graphic novel, which tells the story of Stu Sutcliffe and the Beatles.
- Graphitti plans an Animal Man shirt that will tie directly into the comic book, as one of the characters is wearing the shirt in an upcoming issue.
- Bonfire Agency continues to develop possible plans for retailers and national brands to interact.
- Studio 407 showed previews of its upcoming projects, including “Heroes Unlimited,” the first issue of which is slated to cost just $1.
- BioWorld showed retailers upcoming products and designs in apparel and accessories, including a TMNT backpack.
- Archaia showed off previews of its impressive hardcover line and talked about the upcoming Archaia FCBD hardcover edition. This edition is Archaia’s highest-ever ordered FCBD comic.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images from the meeting.
Bob Wayne honored with ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award
DC's Bob Wayne at the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting in 2012, with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award. Photo by Annette Price, for The Oklahoman
DALLAS — Bob Wayne, DC Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Sales, was honored with the ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award in an afternoon ceremony.
The crowd of retailers, publishers and industry figures stood for an extended standing ovation as Wayne was named the recipient of the award, which is intended to honor those who help bring comic books to market.
“I would venture to say that no one in this room knows more about comics or the comics industry than Bob Wayne,” said ComicsPRO president Joe Field in his introduction of Wayne. Given that executives from most of the larger comics publishers and more than 100 comic retail operations were in the room, that’s a nice compliment.
“With his 25 years at DC Comics, now DC Entertainment, we’ve seen tremendous things happen, in large part because of what Bob Wayne’s been instrumental in making happen for us,” Field said.
The other nominees for the award were Cindy Fournier of Diamond; David Gabriel of Marvel; Robert Kirkman of Image and Eric Stephenson of Image.
The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Memorial Award was awarded to the late Phil Seuling, who founded the direct-market method of comic-book sales. Bill Schanes of Diamond Comics Distributors, a former customer of Seuling, accepted the award on his behalf. Julius Schwartz of DC Comics was the other nominee in this category.
Wayne was classy, funny and at times emotional in his acceptance of the award, which is voted on by the comic book retailers who are members of ComicsPRO, the national comics retail organization.
“I’d like to thank all of the members of ComicsPRO for your continued support,” Wayne said in accepting the award. “Many of you are friends, and, I think, extended family.”
Wayne graciously thanked his bosses and co-workers through his years at DC.
He recounted his years in the industry, including starting to sell comics in 1973 at comic-book conventions.
“Yes, I know that was before some of you were born,” he said. “There’s no need to come up later and point that out to me.”
Wayne opened a comic-book store in 1980, which he ran for seven years. He joined DC Comics in August of 1987.
“The people who placed bets 25 years ago as to how many weeks or months I’d last in corporate America … no one asked me for odds.”
In closing, Wayne gave recognition to a special family member.
“When you work in a comic shop, when you work in comics, you hear a lot of people say, ‘Oh, they still make comics? My mother threw mine out.’ And my mother did not throw mine out.”
- Matt Price
Thomas Gaul elected to ComicsPRO board of directors
DALLAS — Thomas Gaul of Corner Store Comics and Beach Ball Comics in Anaheim, Calif., has been elected to the 
board of directors of ComicsPRO, the national comic-book retailer organization.
Gaul will replace Brian Hibbs of Comix Experience in San Francisco, a founding member of the board.
ComicsPRO president Joe Field announced the election at Friday’s breakfast at the ComicsPRO annual members’ meeting.
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO: DC Entertainment looking to maintain momentum
DALLAS — DC Entertainment executives at the annual ComicsPRO meeting spoke of wanting to maintain momentum from The New 52 relaunch in 2012, as those products are released in graphic novel format. The publisher also plans for big things in 2012 from the “Watchmen” prequel and graphic novels tied to the release of “The Dark Knight Rises.”
The publisher will release six new titles as part of the “Second Wave” of The New 52, replacing six cancelled titles. Four of those titles will be released on 5/2/2012, which is a tie-in of sorts to the “52″ number.
The Free Comic Book Day 2012 book from DC will include new content tied to the New 52, including a four-page spread by Jim Lee, which was shown briefly onscreen at the meeting.
DC’s Bob Wayne said he expected “Batman, Incorporated” to be the biggest launch of the second wave, but heaped praise on another title, “Dial H,” written by novelist China Miéville.
“What I said was, it was the best proposal I had seen since Neil’s proposal for ‘Sandman,’” Wayne said, referring to the best-selling comic-book series from Neil Gaiman.
DC showed a list of quotes related to the “Before Watchmen” announcement, including Alan Moore’s statement that the idea was “completely shameless.” DC execs said the announcement was covered across a wide swath of media.
John Cunningham of DC said the publisher had an extensive marketing plan for the “Before Watchmen” titles.
“Our goal is to build the interest in order to get people in the stores on day one,” he said.
“Before Watchmen” will also have tie-in DC Direct merchandise, including 9” resin statues of the Comedian and Rorschach.
“The Dark Knight Rises,” the last film in Christopher Nolan’s Bat-trilogy, is set for summer release, and DC’s Bob Wayne reminded retailers to be sure to have related Batman graphic novels in stock, including the new printing of “The Long Halloween,” which has a Nolan quote on the cover.
Wayne also encouraged retailers to check out the upcoming “Batman vs. Bane” graphic novel and the repackaging of the “Knightfall” trades for readers interested in Bane. He also suggested the upcoming Chip Kidd “Death by Design” and the Geoff Johns-Gary Frank “Batman: Earth One” as good tie-ins for the summer of “Dark Knight Rises.”
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO update: Thief of Thieves starts strong; Smallville gets comics series; Avengers to battle X-Men
Kyle Roberts talks to Matt Price from the ComicsPRO meeting in Dallas. Expected topics of discussion include the Image Comics resurgence, including “Thief of Thieves”; the new Smallville comic book series; and the Marvel Comics Avengers vs. X-Men comics.
ComicsPRO Annual Meeting 2012 first thoughts
DALLAS — How will the rest of the comics market strike back?
That was one of the questions being asked around tables and in small groups at an informal meet-and-greet prior to the kickoff of the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.
Since last year’s ComicsPRO meeting, DC Comics has shaken up the sales charts with its Sept. 2011 relaunch. In January, 5 months into the relaunch, DC Comics claimed all 10 of the top 10 comics in Diamond Comic Distributors monthly sales charts.
Because the comics market is often reactive, some retailers at the meeting openly wondered how DC’s competition might react to DC’s 2011 moves.
In early 2012, one company already seems to be shaking things up: Image Comics. Retailers reported very strong sales for the Image title “Fatale” and also for “Thief of Thieves,” released in comic shops today.
“Thief of Thieves” is co-written by Robert Kirkman and Nick Spencer. Kirkman is the co-creator of “The Walking Dead” comic-book series, which has had great success adapted for television on AMC. Some have suggested there’s a “Walking Dead” spillover effect that’s helping the entire Image line, especially those properties tied to Kirkman.
There was also talk about Marvel’s upcoming “Avengers vs. X-Men” promotion, and the promotional idea allowing stores to sign up as supporting the Avengers or the X-Men.
At last year’s preview night, stores said some of the major problems facing the market were generating excitement, late-shipping books, and the still-lagging economy. This year, many of those problems have been addressed. While the economy overall is still recovering, DC’s relaunch helped generate excitement and prove that a major publisher could stick to a largely on-time schedule. Retailers remain interested in DC’s upcoming plans, including those about DC Comics’ just-announced “Before Watchmen” program. Many retailers are curious about how the series will be marketed in comic-book stores.
Thursday at the meeting will be a day of programming from DC Comics; other sponsors will share their programming on Friday and Saturday, in addition to retail-focused discussion and programming. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund will hold the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting at 9 p.m. Friday.
With even more stores expected to attend the meeting than last year, it’s up to the gathered sponsors to get these decision-makers on board with their upcoming projects. With many stores feeling on firmer footing than in 2011, they’re actively looking for the new product or title that will get more people in the door and their money in the register.
- Matt Price
ComicsPRO Annual Members meeting to kick off in Dallas
The ComicsPRO Annual Members’ Meeting kicks off tonight in Dallas with a meet-and-greet involving comic-book retailers and publishers.
Joe Field, president of ComicsPRO, posted his thoughts prior to the meeting at his store blog at Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff.
“ComicsPRO promotes advocacy, education and opportunity for our members. We work with our members— all small business owners that have challenges, costs and goals,” Field writes. “By being a ComicsPRO member retailer, we are able to band together and mitigate some of those costs, overcome some of those challenges and help each other attain the goals we seek— more professional, profitable and sustainable comic shops.”
Specific items likely to be discussed include growing the print market for comic books and looking at holiday shipping options.
“This will be our 6th annual meeting and we’ll be talking with publishers, manufacturers, distributors, and our fellow retailers in an effort to increase our profitability, share our concerns and potential solutions with our industry trading partners and learn from each other in ways that expand our vision and make each of us look at businesses with fresh eyes,” Field writes at his blog.
Retailers will likely be looking for information from DC Comics on how to maximize the “Before Watchmen” project, and Marvel will likely be asked how best to capitalize on this summer’s “Avengers” movie.
Many other publishers will be in attendance, including Baker and Taylor, Boom! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Image Comics and Papercutz, among others.
Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson will provide the meeting’s keynote address.
- Matt Price
Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson to keynote ComicsPRO meeting
Mike Richardson of Dark Horse.
The sixth annual ComicsPRO Annual Membership Meeting is set for next week in Dallas, as comic-book specialty retailers from across the country congregate to meet with vendors and suppliers, and plan objectives for the upcoming year.
The 2012 keynote speaker is Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics, president of Dark Horse Entertainment and owner of the retail store chain Things From Another World. (more…)
ComicsPRO announces nominees for Industry Appreciation Award
The direct-market comic book retail organization ComicsPRO has announced its nominees for its annual Industry Appreciation Award. The award goes to someone who works behind the scenes to help in the process of getting comics from creator to fan. The nominees this year are Diamond’s Cindy Fournier, Marvel’s David Gabriel, Image’s Robert Kirkman, Image’s Eric Stephenson, and DC’s Bob Wayne.
The nominees for the memorial award were also announced: former DC editor Julius Schwartz and direct-market creator Phil Seuling.
The winners will be named at ComicsPRO’s annual membership meeting, which takes place from Feb. 8-10 in Dallas.
Click past the cut for the full release, including biographical information on each of the nominees.
- Matt Price
Superman leads a huge new release week; 24-Hour Comics Day is Saturday; Brad Meltzer interview
Kyle’s latest video has NES flair; 24-Hour Comics Day pushes artists to their limits; Brad Meltzer’s Decoded to start season 2; and it’s the largest release week of comics in more than a decade in this week’s Planet 46 Comics Podcast.
