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
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.
Smallville season 11 comic-book continuation announced
The world of the TV series “Smallville” will continue in a comic-book series from DC Comics, it was announced today.
The series, which focused on the adventures of a young Clark Kent as he learned how to deal with his origins and amazing powers, ended after 10 seasons. It starred Tom Welling as Clark Kent. At series’ end, Kent had donned a Superman costume and become the familiar Man of Steel. That story will now be picked up in a new comic-book series.
According to DC Comics’ Source blog, the series will be written by former Smallville show scribe Bryan Q. Miller. The series will hit digital first, with an April 13 release, with new chapters weekly.
The online chapters will be offered in a print periodical, along with an episode guide to TV series. The first print issue is set for a May 16 release.
“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” Miller told the Source. “New allies abound! New enemies afoot! And old friends return where they’re least expected! Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.”
- Matt Price
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
DC’s new logo; Popeye’s return; Amazing Spider-Man press conference on Planet 46 Comics
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss the new DC Comics logo, Popeye making it back into comics, and an Amazing Spider-Man press conference in Tokyo on the Planet 46 Comics show.
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“Before Watchmen” prequels announced
DC Comics’ much-rumored “major news” was announced today on DC Comics’ Source blog, as a series of prequels to the best-selling graphic novel “Watchmen” were announced.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee in a news release. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
“Before Watchmen” includes:
- RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
- MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
- COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
- DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
- NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
- OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
- SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
The series will be released weekly, with a back-up story in each issue from original series editor Len Wein, called “Curse of the Crimson Corsair.” The art for this story will be by original series colorist John Higgins.
There will also be a final epilogue issue.
Dave Gibbons shared his thoughts at the Source blog.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
Alan Moore, the writer of “Watchmen,” reacted about as may have been expected, to the New York Times:
“I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago.”
The reclusive Moore no longer deals with DC Comics and has largely sequestered himself from the industry, with the exception of his “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” graphic novels released through Top Shelf.
- Matt Price
“Flash” #6 variant cover by Mike Choi revealed
DC Comics’ Source blog has revealed Mike Choi’s variant cover for “The Flash” #6, on sale Feb. 22.
“’The Flash’ is one of my favorite books right now, so it was a real pleasure and honor to get the chance to work on a cover for the title,” Choi told The Source. “I’m good friends with both [series writers and artists] Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato, whom I’ve known pretty much my entire career, my first professional gig being the follow-up to Francis’ run on WITCHBLADE for Top Cow, with Brian being my colorist on the book, so of course this was a title I was definitely rooting for. Hopefully I’ve done just a little bit to add something to their book and its run.”
As hinted at in this variant cover to issue #6, Captain Cold returns in issue #7 of “The Flash.”
- Matt Price
“Justice League” No. 1 tops 2011 comic-book sales
DC Comics’ revamp of its superhero line was a sales success, with titles from DC’s “The New 52” making up nine of the top 10 titles in the year-end sales list of the comic industry’s primary distributor.
Diamond Comics Distributors Inc. reported that “Justice League” No. 1 topped all comics sold in 2011.
DC Comics announces “Second Wave” of New 52
This May, DC Comics continues its “New 52″ lineup with a “Second Wave” of titles. Six new titles will replace six of the original “New 52″ titles.
Novelist China Miéville comes to comics as part of this initiative, as does the return of Grant Morrison’s “Batman Incorporated.” I’m personally thrilled about the “Worlds’ Finest” comic, which will feature artists George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Another exciting piece of this news is a new book from James Robinson, “Earth 2.” Both “Worlds’ Finest” and “Earth 2″ look as if they’ll deal with the alternate-earths version of DC’s superheroes, which could be quite intriguing.
“The excitement of the initial launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief at the DC Comics blog. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”
From the blog:
DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 “Second Wave” includes:
* BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.
* EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.
* WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.
* DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.
* G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.
* THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.
The series ending to make room for these six new titles are “Blackhawks,” “Hawk and Dove,” “Men of War,” Mister Terrific,” “O.M.A.C.” and “Static Shock.” Those series conclude in April with their eighth issues. Harras said at the DC blog that many of the characters from these books will appear in other New 52 titles.
USA Today and Comic Book Resources have interviews with Harras and additional information on the launches.
What do you think of the new titles? What about those going away? Which of the new titles are you most intrigued by?
- Matt Price
