Well, EVERY book I comment on could, in theory, be a great, well-told comic (or, just as easily, a crappy, badly-told one, of course), so it seems moot to point it out each and every time. The more significant point, in this case, is that the book happens to be a glorified advert.

I also have to second Sphinx Magoo’s comment about Wildstorm moving to Euro format stuff. It would be neat experiment and I could easily Elephantmen fitting into it. Frankly, given Image’s back end deal (great for a break out hit but not so great for books needing a little more marketing support and creators seeking financial stability) I find it a little surprising that other companies (especially Vertigo and Wildstorm) aren’t “stealing” the top indy books from Image.

Marc:
You misinterpreted me. I don’t see any contradiction between advertising and creative storytelling. They’re essential partners. I was warmed to read your statement - “Quite possibly, RUSH CITY could be an inspired comic book with great storytelling.” - because it’s leagues away from “a glorified advert you’re meant to pay money for” and was my whole point in posting originally. Thanks.

No offense, but you have GOT to be kidding. If 90+ K in sales is really a “disaster,” the American comics industry must be wayyyyyyyy healthier than I’ve been hearing for, I dunno, like at least a decade. I’m sure DC would be quite pleased if more of their titles were to bomb in a similar fashion.

I’m not remotely surprised that the book has failed. It featured no established or popular characters, it was a miniseries on the fringes of the DC Universe, and the only thing most people knew about it was that it had been commissioned as a product placement exercise. It’s hardly surprising that it didn’t sell very well. I can’t imagine why anyone ever thought it would, to be honest.

Erm, as far as I know, the Ford Motor Company did not approach Spielberg to make SCHINDLER’S LIST as a part of their promotional campaign for the Mondeo.

“I never said ‘Rush City’ wasn’t an advetisement, I said it was “more than” an advertisement.”

You seem to see an inherent contradiction between the notions of advertising and creative storytelling. Well, I don’t.

Quite possibly, RUSH CITY could be an inspired comic book with great storytelling. That doesn’t change the fact it’s an advert paid for by General Motors and made to promote a car, however.

You’re welcome to keep arguing with Marc, and your second statement has value (that the advertisement was “more than”) but seeing the use of the word logic and then a misuse of the term got stuck in my craw this morning.

Marc-Oliver said “The book was paid for by General Motors. That makes it an advertisement.”

So, by your logic, if Ford sponsors a commercial-free airing of ‘Schindler’s List’, then ‘Schindler’s List’ is an advertisement for Ford.

I never said ‘Rush City’ wasn’t an advetisement, I said it was “more than” an advertisement. My argument with you was your negative and dismissive tone of a book that could have been filled with crass commercialism and wasn’t at all.

TV commercials have creative merits as well, but that doesn’t change the fact they’re ads. The book was paid for by General Motors. That makes it an advertisement.

That’s not correct.

First up, the solicitations never indicated anything about a limited run, as they usually do in the case of limited series. The solicitation copy for issue #6 even states that it’s the book’s “first arc” which ends, without revealing that it’s actually the final issue.

Second, DC sent out a press release in March which announced the cancelation of the ongoing horror titles (and their continuation as specials and limited series). The press release reads: “FRIDAY THE 13TH comes to an end as an ongoing series with issue #6 (MAR070260), scheduled to arrive in stores on May 9.”

If it was always meant to be a limited series, as you suggest, DC certainly seem to have done their best to hide that fact from everyone.

No, DC bought WildStorm outright several years ago. It’s a “separate company” in the sense that it still has a separate legal existence as a wholly owned subsidiary of DC, but it’s effectively under their control.

Jimmy Palmiotti: “friday the 13th was not cancelled. it was always a 6 issue mini series. ”

Erm… with the greatest respect, Jimmy, I think you must be mistaken. The book was solicited as an ongoing title, and on 13 March 2007, DC even went to the trouble of putting out a press release to announce that it was cancelled. (”FRIDAY THE 13TH comes to an end as an ongoing series with issue #6…” - http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=104993 ) At the very least, if it *was* always meant to be a miniseries, Marc can’t be faulted for assuming that DC are describing the book correctly.

After Marc Andreyko does his 2 parter (can’t wait!!) you have to do another horror story!! I vote Nightmare on elm st!!

I cant beleave Manhunter sales sales have gone down again!! When DC bring it back its needs a new #1. Make it seem more accessible.

(I so cant spell right now)

and what this list tells me is that people need to buy more jonah hex. there…i said it. lol.

jimmy

Anyway, DC deserves credit for sticking with good material that doesn’t sell well much longer than Marvel does. Unfortunately they don’t seem to be putting out that much good material at the moment.