Print still important, publishers tell retailers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The continuing importance of print comics — and particularly those sold through the direct market — was at the forefront of several publishers’ presentations at the ComicsPRO annual meeting.
“You still represent the dominant sales force of graphic fiction,” Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley told ComicsPRO attendees as part of his keynote address. Buckley said the most important thing for Marvel to do was to lead new customers into direct-market stores.
DC Comics Executive Editor Dan Didio agreed, in his own presentation to ComicsPRO attendees, saying the biggest part of his job was to drive periodical sales in the direct market. DC Comics sponsored an entire day of programming at the ComicsPRO meeting as part of its commitment to direct-market retailing.
Dirk Wood, director of marketing at Dark Horse Comics, said the ComicsPRO show was the only show that saw an increased budget from Dark Horse in 2009, as Dark Horse aimed to increase its efforts to communicate with direct-market retailers.
While digital comics and the possible threat those posed to the direct market were much discussed prior to the meeting, publishers indicated they did not want digital products to harm direct-market sales, and in fact hoped digital content drove readers to stores.
DC Comics stated again no plans to develop for the Amazon Kindle. Buckley said Marvel doesn’t want to be in the business of consumer sales and customer service. However, they are continuing to look at ways to expand into the digital arena, including the upcoming Spider-Woman motion comic.
In addition to the public presentations, ComicsPRO board members met with publishers privately to share member concerns. ComicsPRO board member Brian Hibbs said these meetings were “incredibly productive.”
“The level of transparency and the level of candor from our suppliers has been very heartening,” Hibbs said, adding that this year’s ComicsPRO annual meeting was, he believed, the most beneficial industry event he had attended in his 20 years in retail.
– Matt Price
Top Cow promotes direct-market initiatives
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik outlined several of Top Cow’s initiatives at the ComicsPRO annual meeting of direct-market retailers. First and foremost among Sablik’s points was the company’s promise to hold the price point of its regular books at $2.99 through 2009.
The trade dress of the books has been redesigned to highlight the price. Sablik said any book at a higher price would have more pages or extras included.
Sablik also reminded retailers of the direct-market exclusive pricing on the first volumes of the Ron Marz “Witchblade” and “Darkness: Accursed,” which retail through comic shops at just $4.99. These each collect six issues. Volume 2 of “Darkness: Accursed” is set for April release at $9.99.
Sablik reminded retailers to sign up for Top Cow’s “Let Us Win You Over” campaign, in which selected retailers will receive free books to give away to consumers. It will feature 25 stores per month, and is a yearlong campaign to attract new readers. More information is available at www.topcow.com/freecomics.
– Matt Price
CBLDF outlines board changes; Powell named president
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Comic Book Legal Defense Fund executive director announced changes to the board of directors for the Fund while speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting.
Chris Staros of Top Shelf is stepping down as president of the board to focus more time on his publishing company, Brownstein said. Larry Marder, creator of Beanworld,” will join the board. Chris Powell of Lone Star Comics was named the new president of the CBLDF board.
Powell, also a member of the board of ComicsPRO, spoke to the assembled retailers.
“We value everybody in this room as one of the groups we’re here to protect,” Powell said. “The Fund is vital, because we don’t just protect you; we protect your customers and we protect your suppliers.”
Powell spoke to ways retailers could continue to support the fund: through memberships that are solicited through Diamond Comics Distributors; through eBay auctions that designate some funds to the CBLDF through MissionFish; through a donation jar on the counter; or through signings and events benefiting the Fund.
“Besides monetarily, one of the things you can do … is to help us continue to get the mission out,” Powell said.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.
– Matt Price
Hero Initiative announces Wolverine, American Flagg! projects
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marvel’s most popular mutant is set to become a fund-raising hero.
Steve Borock of the Hero Initiative, speaking at the ComicsPRO annual meeting, said a “Wolverine” project similar to the “Spider-Man” and “Hulk” 100 Covers project is in the works. About 100 top-level artists will be approached to create Wolverine covers that will be printed in a book to benefit the Hero Initiative. Borock indicated that creators including Frank Cho were interested in being involved with this project.
Borock also announced “Hero Comics,” a benefit comic book organized by Scott Dunbier, which will include a new “American Flagg!” story by Howard Chaykin. This 32-page anthology will also feature contributions from Gene Colan and Josh Medors.
The Hero Initiative raises funds for comic-book creators in need. The Initiative has benefited more than 50 creators, Borock said, with more than $500,000 cumulatively.
The Hero Initiative also provided an informational DVD to the attending retailers with information about the Hero Initiative. The one-minute version of the video is embedded below.
– Matt Price
Action and Detective: No Superman or Batman? No problem
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — DC executives attending the annual ComicsPRO meeting were asked about upcoming issues of “Action Comics” and “Detective Comics” that wouldn’t star traditional heroes Superman and Batman. Will the lack of those heroes cause sales to drop?
Detective Comics will feature Batwoman as the lead character, written by Greg Rucka and drawn by J.H. Williams. Rucka is the writer on Action Comics, starring characters Flamebird and Nightwing. Issue #875, drawn by Eddy Barrows, is on sale now. Didio said the art for Detective Comics is phenomenal, and will draw new readers to the series.
“I can’t wait to see this stuff because it’s just so cool-looking,” Didio said. “(Williams’) Batwoman stuff is just dynamite.”
Didio also reiterated the strong ties between Action Comics and the rest of the Superman world.
“Those characters (Flamebird and Nightwing) originated in Action Comics,” Didio said. “(And) Superman’s not gone — he’s just not the star of the book right now. If somebody is a Superman fan, they should feel engaged by this storyline and excited by it.”
DC’s vice president of sales Bob Wayne indicated that numbers on “Action Comics” ordered so far under Greg Rucka’s run are nearly the same as previous numbers under Geoff Johns.
– Matt Price
WildStorm tidbits: Wildcats, Authority, Planetary
Several high-profile projects from WildStorm that have gone missing in action are still being worked on, said Hank Kanalz of WildStorm at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.
The Grant Morrison-Jim Lee “Wildcats” series will be completed as a graphic novel, and will be solicited when it’s complete, Kanalz said.
The Morrison “Authority” also won’t be permanently abandoned.
“The Grant Morrison ‘Authority’ will be finished by Keith Giffen and a variety of artists,” Kanalz told retailers. “When you see the solicitation, you know it’s done.”
Also, answering what he said was the most popular question he’s been asked, “Planetary” #27 by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday should ship in 2009. That book also won’t be solicited until it’s done, Kanalz said.
– Matt Price
New creator-driven lineup coming from WildStorm
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WildStorm announced the development of an aggressive creator-driven line at the 2009 ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.
Several new comic-book series will be joining the WildStorm line, announced Hank Kanalz of WildStorm. The titles include:
- “North 40,” by Aaron Williams (”PS238″) and Fiona Staples (”Secret History of the Authority”).
This is a miniseries about a Midwestern American town that holds a secret in its library — a book that brings dreams and nightmares to life. It launches in June.
- “Red Herring,” by Dave Tischman and Philip Bond.
This six-issue miniseries launching in June was described by Kanalz as “The Daily Show meets the X-Files.” It’s designed to be a series of miniseries, Kanalz said.
- “Sparta,” written by David Lapham
A sleepy American town built around its football team has a magical undertone.
- “Garrison,” written by Jeff Mariotte
“Garrison” is an FBI procedural miniseries in which agents are tracking down a serial killer.
Kanalz said WildStorm is committed to shipping these series on time.
“We’re sticking to our promise that when we solicit, that means we’re ready to go,” Kanalz said.
– Matt Price
DC’s next weekly: Wednesday Comics
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — DC’s Dan Didio announced the next weekly comic-book from DC at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting. Called “Wednesday Comics,” this 12-week series will resemble an oversized comics section that folds down to a traditional comic-book size.
“It’s an experience now,” Didio said. “The art is larger. There’s a lot of story on each page.”
These will be 16 pages featuring fifteen original one-page features. Mark Chiarello championed the project, Didio said.
Creators involved with the project include Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, the “100 Bullets” team, will create a Batman tale for the project. Neil Gaiman and Michael Allred will be involved with a Metamorpho project. Other creators named were Paul Pope, Walt Simonson and Dave Gibbons.
Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner will be involved with a “Supergirl” serial, and Joe Kubert will be returning to Sgt. Rock.
“I love the excitement, I love the energy that a weekly comic brings,” Didio said. “We’re anxious to stay in that business.”
– Matt Price
“Watchmen” sales top 1 million
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The sales of “Watchmen” collected editions have topped 1 million units since the trailer was released with the “Dark Knight” film in July 2008, DC Vice President of Sales Bob Wayne announced at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.
In addition, DC Comics offered a fourth consignment program for retailers to help keep “Watchmen” stocked deeply on store shelves.
“We think there will still be people coming in looking for this book,” Wayne said, citing anticipated continued demand projected by DC Comics.
– Matt Price
“Flash Chronicles” among upcoming collected editions
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “Flash Chronicles,” reprinting the original adventures of the Barry Allen Flash, is among the highlights of DC Comics’ collected editions discussed at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting.
Barry Allen’s first appearance in “Showcase” #4 kicked off what’s considered the Silver Age of Comics, and Flash joins Superman, Batman and Green Lantern in the “Chronicles” line. The first volume is scheduled to ship in September.
Other highlights from the Collected Editions presentation:
- A one-volume collection of “Batman: Hush” by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee in August
- The first Zuda collection, “High Moon” vol. 1, written by former University of Oklahoma student David Gallaher, is scheduled for October.
- The all-ages “Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade,” is scheduled for December.
DC’s black-and-white “Showcase” collections are going to move toward one release per month rather than two per month. The volumes scheduled through the rest of the year are Bat Lash in July; Eclipso in August; Warlord in September; House of Secrets vol 2 in October; DC Comics Presents Superman Team Ups in November; and Wonder Woman vol 3 in December.
The panel also offered sneak peeks into 2010, including an “Adam Hughes Cover to Cover” art book; “Absolute Green Lantern Rebirth;” and new editions of “Sandman” implementing the recoloring done for the Absolute editions of the series.
– Matt Price
