Comments on: Minx reax http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:56:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Dead Minx « the chronic-what?-cles of buffoonery http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2793122 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:18:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2793122 [...] Aside from the usual nonsense I talk about in front of famous comic guys, I did ask Steve about the demise of Minx, DC Comics young adult graphic novel line. Pretty much everything that needs to be said has been said about it. But both Steve and I agreed that DC didn’t give it enough time to gain an audience with the young adult crowd. Two years is not enough to get a new audience to start reading comics. With all the money that DC has, one would have thought they would give it more of a chance. It’s pretty sad because the quality was there. I haven’t read all the books, but those that I have (Plain Janes, Re-gifters and Good As Lily) were pretty damn good. I guess didn’t have enough sexy vampires. Sigh. [...] […] Aside from the usual nonsense I talk about in front of famous comic guys, I did ask Steve about the demise of Minx, DC Comics young adult graphic novel line. Pretty much everything that needs to be said has been said about it. But both Steve and I agreed that DC didn’t give it enough time to gain an audience with the young adult crowd. Two years is not enough to get a new audience to start reading comics. With all the money that DC has, one would have thought they would give it more of a chance. It’s pretty sad because the quality was there. I haven’t read all the books, but those that I have (Plain Janes, Re-gifters and Good As Lily) were pretty damn good. I guess didn’t have enough sexy vampires. Sigh. […]

]]> by: Mickle http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2436177 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:00:32 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2436177 "Tweens and teens all tend to ‘read up’ so this series that DC thought was for teen girls was actually beeing read by the tween kids-10-12." YUp yup yup. “Tweens and teens all tend to ‘read up’ so this series that DC thought was for teen girls was actually beeing read by the tween kids-10-12.”

YUp yup yup.

]]> by: Joy Kim — Farewell to Minx http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2400423 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:21:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2400423 [...] Minx reax [...] […] Minx reax […]

]]> by: Argh http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2396388 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:49:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2396388 I think Chaka's math is right. When you look at how much the spent per title to promote the books, it's nothing. Added to that, they spent it in the wrong place. Now where Chaka is def off base is in regard to using big name creators. The girls these books were created for dont givve a rat's ass about creators. They want to read stories that have a plot. These books would never have moved in a comic shop because there is nothing in a comic shop that appeals to girls. Tweens and teens all tend to 'read up' so this series that DC thought was for teen girls was actually beeing read by the tween kids-10-12. Does this even sound close to anything DC understands? NOOOOOOO. Torsten is right, turn it over to Random House but I would surrender the editorial as well. DC doesnt know how to write for girls and if they do they would jack that up by giving the gig to an artist who thinks a 14 year old should be built like Jenna Jameson. In the end the classic comic publishers will say "see we told you girls dont like this stuff". At least McCain admits he doesnt know anything about economics... I think Chaka’s math is right. When you look at how much the spent per title to promote the books, it’s nothing. Added to that, they spent it in the wrong place.

Now where Chaka is def off base is in regard to using big name creators. The girls these books were created for dont givve a rat’s ass about creators. They want to read stories that have a plot. These books would never have moved in a comic shop because there is nothing in a comic shop that appeals to girls.

Tweens and teens all tend to ‘read up’ so this series that DC thought was for teen girls was actually beeing read by the tween kids-10-12. Does this even sound close to anything DC understands? NOOOOOOO.

Torsten is right, turn it over to Random House but I would surrender the editorial as well. DC doesnt know how to write for girls and if they do they would jack that up by giving the gig to an artist who thinks a 14 year old should be built like Jenna Jameson.

In the end the classic comic publishers will say “see we told you girls dont like this stuff”. At least McCain admits he doesnt know anything about economics…

]]> by: Chaka Sidyn http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2390513 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:28:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2390513 What's so surprising in it? Minx was only news when it was launched. The books were never big news. They spent some $125.000 markintg a line that published some 10/12 books that gives about $10.000 of ad expenses for each book with a retail price o $9.99. There was no big name creators attached to give it some exposure an a hit to recover quickly the markting investement alone. There was no continuig series. it was only Original GN. It was a FOR WOMEN ONLY line, wich excluded the mlae readers, because they were clearly told that it was books designe to please women, so they wouldn't enjoy them. (Minx never used the ter "for women only", but it's implied in the "for women" designation). The format and product produced by Minx is very similar to indy slice of life comics (with the diference that Minx excludes male readers) so it's probable that it had similar sales to other indy slice of life books (minus the males readers. What's so surprising in the Minx failure? What’s so surprising in it?
Minx was only news when it was launched. The books were never big news.
They spent some $125.000 markintg a line that published some 10/12 books that gives about $10.000 of ad expenses for each book with a retail price o $9.99.
There was no big name creators attached to give it some exposure an a hit to recover quickly the markting investement alone. There was no continuig series. it was only Original GN.
It was a FOR WOMEN ONLY line, wich excluded the mlae readers, because they were clearly told that it was books designe to please women, so they wouldn’t enjoy them. (Minx never used the ter “for women only”, but it’s implied in the “for women” designation).
The format and product produced by Minx is very similar to indy slice of life comics (with the diference that Minx excludes male readers) so it’s probable that it had similar sales to other indy slice of life books (minus the males readers.

What’s so surprising in the Minx failure?

]]> by: Sex-Linked Brand Names | K-Squared Ramblings http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2387846 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:17:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2387846 [...] DC Comics recently canceled its Minx line of graphic novels aimed at teen girls, leading to much discussion amongst comics bloggers. I don’t want to talk about why the line folded, but why the line existed in the first place. Why did DC create an entirely new brand in order to go after this audience? [...] […] DC Comics recently canceled its Minx line of graphic novels aimed at teen girls, leading to much discussion amongst comics bloggers. I don’t want to talk about why the line folded, but why the line existed in the first place. Why did DC create an entirely new brand in order to go after this audience? […]

]]> by: G. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2386282 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:42:27 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2386282 or maybe they just didn't like the minx comics? or maybe they just didn’t like the minx comics?

]]> by: michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2381462 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:22:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2381462 I think girls like to read comics, but obviously, not enough of them do. :( I think girls like to read comics, but obviously, not enough of them do. :(

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2377437 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:48:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2377437 Good freakin' riddance to WaMu !! That'll teach some stupid financial institution from Seattle to come down to LA and just think they can dictate terms with their asinine offers of free checking, unlimited teller service and no ATM fees. Bye Bye. ~ Coat Good freakin’ riddance to WaMu !!

That’ll teach some stupid financial institution from Seattle to come down to LA and just think they can dictate terms with their asinine offers of free checking, unlimited teller service and no ATM fees.

Bye Bye.

~

Coat

]]> by: Reader http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2377262 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:48:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2377262 i wrote something about this here: http://readingbookwatchingmoviesandmore.blogspot.com/2008/09/dc-nixes-minx.html i wrote something about this here:
http://readingbookwatchingmoviesandmore.blogspot.com/2008/09/dc-nixes-minx.html

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376207 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:59:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376207 Just as manga created an explosion of interest in graphic novels among bookstores, Harry Potter did the same with Young Adult books. (Yes, I know they're shelved in juvie... but when you factor in the tone, plus the fans, it's a young adult phenomenon.) The problem with Young Adult books are... a lot of young adults read up. They read Stephen King, or Harlequin romances, or Kerouac. Also, the reading levels are so scattered in the age group, that there are many titles in the Kid's section which appeal to teens (and adults). A YA book, generally speaking, has adult situations that help a teen reader cope, and a somewhat happy ending. (Many fans of fantasy and science fiction delve into YA fantasy because the stories are not as dark and dismal.) I don't think manga has that problem-solving literary formula. (Not an expert, but the plots don't seem to be that serious.) The Baby-Sitters Club books (both prose and graphic novel) merge the soap opera feel of manga with the serious tone of young adult books, and appeal to a wide audience. (I got hooked on them in college when I worked at the Omaha Public Library, and buy the hardcover GNs as they appear.) Although this is post-mortem, I'll avoid the scalpels. I hope Jann Jones and company can make a go of the new non-cartoon DC heroes comics (can't wait for the new Supergirl!). Were I involved, I would partner with Random House and adapt established series like The Caped Sixth Grader. Make the line a 50/50 partnership, DC controlling the editorial, RH handling the sales. Brand it as a Random House imprint. Network closely with the picture book authors and illustrators, scouting for talent. Just as manga created an explosion of interest in graphic novels among bookstores, Harry Potter did the same with Young Adult books. (Yes, I know they’re shelved in juvie… but when you factor in the tone, plus the fans, it’s a young adult phenomenon.) The problem with Young Adult books are… a lot of young adults read up. They read Stephen King, or Harlequin romances, or Kerouac. Also, the reading levels are so scattered in the age group, that there are many titles in the Kid’s section which appeal to teens (and adults). A YA book, generally speaking, has adult situations that help a teen reader cope, and a somewhat happy ending. (Many fans of fantasy and science fiction delve into YA fantasy because the stories are not as dark and dismal.) I don’t think manga has that problem-solving literary formula. (Not an expert, but the plots don’t seem to be that serious.) The Baby-Sitters Club books (both prose and graphic novel) merge the soap opera feel of manga with the serious tone of young adult books, and appeal to a wide audience. (I got hooked on them in college when I worked at the Omaha Public Library, and buy the hardcover GNs as they appear.)

Although this is post-mortem, I’ll avoid the scalpels. I hope Jann Jones and company can make a go of the new non-cartoon DC heroes comics (can’t wait for the new Supergirl!).

Were I involved, I would partner with Random House and adapt established series like The Caped Sixth Grader. Make the line a 50/50 partnership, DC controlling the editorial, RH handling the sales. Brand it as a Random House imprint. Network closely with the picture book authors and illustrators, scouting for talent.

]]> by: einstein http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376147 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:49:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376147 what about the possibility that some of the stories/artwork were not very good? i saw the bound galley edition which contained 6-8 different stories and i would say only a third of them were even readable. the rest "looked" like amateur hour. what about the possibility that some of the stories/artwork were not very good?

i saw the bound galley edition which contained 6-8 different stories and i would say only a third of them were even readable. the rest “looked” like amateur hour.

]]> by: Good Comics for Kids » That touch of Minx http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376123 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:44:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2376123 [...] Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (1) Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (2) Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (3) This last post has lots of links to other discussions. I hope you weren’t planning on doing anything else today. Also, read the comments on all three of Heidi’s posts as they are fascinating freewheeling discussions. [...] […] Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (1) Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (2) Heidi MacDonald at The Beat (3) This last post has lots of links to other discussions. I hope you weren’t planning on doing anything else today. Also, read the comments on all three of Heidi’s posts as they are fascinating freewheeling discussions. […]

]]> by: Lea Hernandez http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2375890 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:26:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/09/26/minx-reax/#comment-2375890 My own analysis here, since I posted to late to make the Morning Beat: http://divalea.livejournal.com/584435.html My own analysis here, since I posted to late to make the Morning Beat:

http://divalea.livejournal.com/584435.html

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