Comments on: Marvel: Cap #600 gets second printing http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:29:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: JM Ringuet http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3395664 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:06:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3395664 Was there a mainstream media frenzy? Was there a mainstream media frenzy?

]]> by: Synsidar http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3390261 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:19:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3390261 <blockquote><em>Actually, Joe Simon *did* have something to do with Cap #600. Better go find a copy.</blockquote></em> So he did. From a <a href="http://blog.newsok.com/nerdage/2009/06/15/captain-america-600-review/" rel="nofollow">review by Matt Price</a>: <blockquote><em>The issue also reprints “The Red Skull’s Deadly Revenge,” from “Captain America Comics” #16, and contains an essay by Joe Simon, paying tribute to the 1940s origins of the character.</blockquote></em>

Actually, Joe Simon *did* have something to do with Cap #600. Better go find a copy.

So he did. From a review by Matt Price:

The issue also reprints “The Red Skull’s Deadly Revenge,” from “Captain America Comics” #16, and contains an essay by Joe Simon, paying tribute to the 1940s origins of the character.

]]> by: John Warren http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3388195 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:54:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3388195 @jacob lyon goddard-- Actually, Joe Simon *did* have something to do with Cap #600. Better go find a copy. @jacob lyon goddard–

Actually, Joe Simon *did* have something to do with Cap #600. Better go find a copy.

]]> by: Micah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3382060 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:30:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3382060 The book was another solid read from Bru but, like others have said, it should not have been hyped as much as it was. That overhype took away from the quality of the issue. My LCS had 15 out of 90 or so still left as of Thursday, and all of them were the non-Alex Ross cover. No for Reborn to see how well that goes. At least people are talking about comics. The book was another solid read from Bru but, like others have said, it should not have been hyped as much as it was. That overhype took away from the quality of the issue. My LCS had 15 out of 90 or so still left as of Thursday, and all of them were the non-Alex Ross cover. No for Reborn to see how well that goes. At least people are talking about comics.

]]> by: Synsidar http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380693 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:00:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380693 <blockquote><em>I also heard about Deadpool #900. Does Joe Quesada just slap any issue number he wants on a comic whenever the wind strikes his fancy?</blockquote></em> From the 6/12/09 <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21573">"Cup o' Joe"</a>: <blockquote><em>Kiel Phegley: At the same time, we’ve heard that “Deadpool” may be hitting a milestone 900th issue? Joe Quesada: [laughs] Yes. And contrary to popular belief, that was not me. That came out of the editorial mind of Axel Alonso. He just came into my office and said, "I want to do this," and I said, "Alright. Go ahead. Knock yourself out." So while I gave it the thumbs up, that bit of evil did not come from my head. Well, come on, they’re using “Reborn” on a cover of “Batman & Robin.” Jonah Weiland: That does make sense. Deadpool is kind of the biggest jerk in the Marvel Universe. Joe Quesada: Yes. And now Axel Alonso has taken on that persona. Let me add, by the way: I am more than tickled and more than surprised at how Deadpool is very quickly becoming a must-read character. Deadpool fans rejoice because Deadpool is starting to get a little bit of cache, and he's starting to get a little bit of a Wolverine vibe around him where he's really growing in popularity amongst the X-Men books. I'm watching more and more writers and more and more fans gravitate towards the character. Bravo to Rob Liefeld!</blockquote></em>

I also heard about Deadpool #900. Does Joe Quesada just slap any issue number he wants on a comic whenever the wind strikes his fancy?

From the 6/12/09 “Cup o’ Joe”:

Kiel Phegley: At the same time, we’ve heard that “Deadpool” may be hitting a milestone 900th issue?

Joe Quesada: [laughs] Yes. And contrary to popular belief, that was not me. That came out of the editorial mind of Axel Alonso. He just came into my office and said, “I want to do this,” and I said, “Alright. Go ahead. Knock yourself out.” So while I gave it the thumbs up, that bit of evil did not come from my head.

Well, come on, they’re using “Reborn” on a cover of “Batman & Robin.”

Jonah Weiland: That does make sense. Deadpool is kind of the biggest jerk in the Marvel Universe.

Joe Quesada: Yes. And now Axel Alonso has taken on that persona. Let me add, by the way: I am more than tickled and more than surprised at how Deadpool is very quickly becoming a must-read character. Deadpool fans rejoice because Deadpool is starting to get a little bit of cache, and he’s starting to get a little bit of a Wolverine vibe around him where he’s really growing in popularity amongst the X-Men books. I’m watching more and more writers and more and more fans gravitate towards the character. Bravo to Rob Liefeld!

]]> by: Brett http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380640 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:31:11 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380640 Didn't Cap die in issue # 25 or 50? How the heck did Marvel publish 550 issues in 2 years to get all the way to #600? I also heard about Deadpool #900. Does Joe Quesada just slap any issue number he wants on a comic whenever the wind strikes his fancy? If that's the case, why stop at #600, why not make it Cap # 1000? And how the heck does the people who buy Marvel Comics keep their issues in any kind of order when Quesada is constantly playing the numbers game? I may not buy Marvel Comics anymore but I sure love reading the news to hear how Con Artist Joe Quesada is going to scam consumers next. Didn’t Cap die in issue # 25 or 50? How the heck did Marvel publish 550 issues in 2 years to get all the way to #600?

I also heard about Deadpool #900. Does Joe Quesada just slap any issue number he wants on a comic whenever the wind strikes his fancy? If that’s the case, why stop at #600, why not make it Cap # 1000?

And how the heck does the people who buy Marvel Comics keep their issues in any kind of order when Quesada is constantly playing the numbers game?

I may not buy Marvel Comics anymore but I sure love reading the news to hear how Con Artist Joe Quesada is going to scam consumers next.

]]> by: Colin McMahon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380301 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:09:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380301 But selling-out and doing another print costs them sales because retailers typically have to wait 3 or so weeks to get the 2nd print, and by then the urgency is gone. If they overprinted, like DC does, retailers could get those extra issues in the next week, when there was still buzz. Now they are at the mercy of whether or not there is an additional printing. And it has to be more expensive to do a 2nd print rather than just printing additional copies. Paul, do you have an idea of what the average 2nd printing sells? I know it will vary, but if its under 5,000 copies, you'd have to think that keeping the presses running on the first print would be more cost effective. But, I think you hit the nail on the head. They like the press releases. "Look, Mr. Investor. We have had 200 sell-outs in a row! Our product is flying off the shelves!" But selling-out and doing another print costs them sales because retailers typically have to wait 3 or so weeks to get the 2nd print, and by then the urgency is gone. If they overprinted, like DC does, retailers could get those extra issues in the next week, when there was still buzz. Now they are at the mercy of whether or not there is an additional printing.

And it has to be more expensive to do a 2nd print rather than just printing additional copies. Paul, do you have an idea of what the average 2nd printing sells? I know it will vary, but if its under 5,000 copies, you’d have to think that keeping the presses running on the first print would be more cost effective.

But, I think you hit the nail on the head. They like the press releases. “Look, Mr. Investor. We have had 200 sell-outs in a row! Our product is flying off the shelves!”

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380094 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:43:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3380094 Used to be credited as Jackson Guice. Changed his pen name a while back. "Wouldn’t Marvel choose the amount to print based on Distributor orders?" Basically, yes. It's very easy to engineer a sell-out if you want to, simply by not printing very many extra copies. Plenty of middle- and low-selling books "sell out" too. It isn't very meaningful, but publishers seem to think it makes for a good press release (and, perhaps more to the point, an excuse to do another variant cover). Used to be credited as Jackson Guice. Changed his pen name a while back.

“Wouldn’t Marvel choose the amount to print based on Distributor orders?”

Basically, yes. It’s very easy to engineer a sell-out if you want to, simply by not printing very many extra copies. Plenty of middle- and low-selling books “sell out” too. It isn’t very meaningful, but publishers seem to think it makes for a good press release (and, perhaps more to the point, an excuse to do another variant cover).

]]> by: Dave F. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3379444 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:10:58 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3379444 &#62;&#62;who’s Butch Guice? Pretty talented realist artist that looks to be influenced by guys like Al Williamson, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, and all the classic illustrators. He's been around at least since the 80s - first saw him on a Micronauts book - and I think his best work might've been for the Holmesian Crossgen book, Ruse. He's not dissimilar to Steve Epting and, like Epting, he's shown pretty regularly on Brubaker's Cap book. >>who’s Butch Guice?

Pretty talented realist artist that looks to be influenced by guys like Al Williamson, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, and all the classic illustrators. He’s been around at least since the 80s - first saw him on a Micronauts book - and I think his best work might’ve been for the Holmesian Crossgen book, Ruse.

He’s not dissimilar to Steve Epting and, like Epting, he’s shown pretty regularly on Brubaker’s Cap book.

]]> by: Colin McMahon http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378512 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:28:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378512 "...copies sold out well before even the early on sale date." So this only shows that retailers bought into the hype, not that the book has actually sold well. “…copies sold out well before even the early on sale date.”

So this only shows that retailers bought into the hype, not that the book has actually sold well.

]]> by: Pete Kilmer http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378446 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:57:34 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378446 Got the books on Monday to all of our stores and while there wasn't a rush for it, we had a nice little stream of people coming in for it, we had zero problems for our pulls as we did pulls for that book on Monday to make sure they got it. Tuesday it sold a nice little pace. However on Wed. the book exploded in our stores, plus in one of locations we had Roger Stern signing so we got a nice bump in sales for that as well. BTW...Roger is a total class act. Got the books on Monday to all of our stores and while there wasn’t a rush for it, we had a nice little stream of people coming in for it, we had zero problems for our pulls as we did pulls for that book on Monday to make sure they got it. Tuesday it sold a nice little pace. However on Wed. the book exploded in our stores, plus in one of locations we had Roger Stern signing so we got a nice bump in sales for that as well. BTW…Roger is a total class act.

]]> by: Tim Baldwin http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378416 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:43:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378416 The Butch Guice art that leads off this piece is an interior page from Cap #600. Unfortunately this was over-hyped, but it was yet another solid issue from Brubaker and co. The Butch Guice art that leads off this piece is an interior page from Cap #600.

Unfortunately this was over-hyped, but it was yet another solid issue from Brubaker and co.

]]> by: Rob Goodin http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378110 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:15:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3378110 Wouldn't Marvel choose the amount to print based on Distributor orders? To sell out would seem to imply that stores sold so many those first two days that they re-ordered them and quickly went through whatever was left to cover re-orders. However, I'm not seeing that level of sales reported from stores. Would Marvel under print them to create a false sense of demand? They have a new cover for the second printing ready after the first printing has been on the shelf 3 days. Did Butch Guice do it last night? I'm not sure why I care. Wouldn’t Marvel choose the amount to print based on Distributor orders? To sell out would seem to imply that stores sold so many those first two days that they re-ordered them and quickly went through whatever was left to cover re-orders. However, I’m not seeing that level of sales reported from stores. Would Marvel under print them to create a false sense of demand? They have a new cover for the second printing ready after the first printing has been on the shelf 3 days. Did Butch Guice do it last night?

I’m not sure why I care.

]]> by: jacob lyon goddard http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377915 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:22:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377915 who's Butch Guice? can't say i know his work is Joe Simon still drawing? if he had anything to do with this, i might have picked it up just out of respect who’s Butch Guice?
can’t say i know his work

is Joe Simon still drawing?
if he had anything to do with this, i might have picked it up just out of respect

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377630 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:31:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377630 It's "sold out" in the sense that Diamond have sold the retailers all the copies they had. But that doesn't mean the retailers necessarily managed to shift them all yet. It’s “sold out” in the sense that Diamond have sold the retailers all the copies they had. But that doesn’t mean the retailers necessarily managed to shift them all yet.

]]> by: Todd Allen http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377382 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:46:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377382 Oh, that's just funny. Leading with two quotes from NYC retailers. The article was in a NYC paper (prominently, if you can judge from the website). Of course they did well. Saw plenty of copies ~5pm Wednesday in Chicago (where there wasn't any local coverage). Oh, that’s just funny. Leading with two quotes from NYC retailers. The article was in a NYC paper (prominently, if you can judge from the website). Of course they did well.

Saw plenty of copies ~5pm Wednesday in Chicago (where there wasn’t any local coverage).

]]> by: Matt Maxwell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377370 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:43:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377370 "May be available at the retail level" = Sold out at Diamond; individual stores may yet have copies, but can't reorder from Diamond. “May be available at the retail level” = Sold out at Diamond; individual stores may yet have copies, but can’t reorder from Diamond.

]]> by: Terry http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377358 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:36:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377358 I don't understand how something could be sold out, but "may be available at the retail level." I'm not being snarky, I just don't understand the distinction being drawn. I don’t understand how something could be sold out, but “may be available at the retail level.” I’m not being snarky, I just don’t understand the distinction being drawn.

]]> by: Synsidar http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377277 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:53:07 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377277 Some "fans on the street" <a href="http://www.weeklycrisis.com/2009/06/reader-question-did-you-go-to-shop-on.html" rel="nofollow">comments</a> re CAPTAIN AMERICA #600. I wonder how many comics shops are closed on Mondays? SRS Some “fans on the street” comments re CAPTAIN AMERICA #600. I wonder how many comics shops are closed on Mondays?

SRS

]]> by: Synsidar http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377223 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:32:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377223 One can't tell from the quotes what regulars who came into a store Monday to buy CAPTAIN AMERICA #600 might have bought, if anything, that they wouldn't have bought Wednesday. The parenthetical <em>(though copies may be available at the retail level)</em> is, in context, a bit odd. An interesting thing I noticed today while looking at <a href="http://www.comiclist.com/index.php/lists/comiclist-for-06-17-2009" rel="nofollow">ComicList's "New Releases" list</a> for the week: the number of variant covers on IDW releases: <blockquote><em>IDW PUBLISHING Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Cover A), $3.99 Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Cover B), $3.99 Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Gabriel Rodriguez Sketch Variant Cover), AR Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Nick Runge Virgin Cover), AR Barack Obama The Road To The White House #1 (One Shot), $3.99 Captain Canuck HC Vol 1, $24.99 GI Joe Cobra #4 (Cover A Howard Chaykin), $3.99 GI Joe Cobra #4 (Cover B Antonio Fuso), $3.99 GI Joe Cobra #4 (Howard Chaykin Virgin Cover), AR Groom Lake #3 (Cover A), $3.99 Groom Lake #3 (Cover B), $3.99 Robot Galaxy #1 Brotherhood Returns, $3.99 Robot Galaxy #2 Battle Begins, $3.99 Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(Cover A Chee Yang Ong), $3.99 Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(Cover B Photo), $3.99 Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(David Deitrick Variant Cover), AR Transformers Premiere Edition HC Vol 2, $100.00 Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Don Figueroa Regular Cover), $3.99 Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Robbie Musso Regular Cover), $3.99 Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Casey Coller Variant Cover), AR</blockquote></em> One can’t tell from the quotes what regulars who came into a store Monday to buy CAPTAIN AMERICA #600 might have bought, if anything, that they wouldn’t have bought Wednesday. The parenthetical (though copies may be available at the retail level) is, in context, a bit odd.

An interesting thing I noticed today while looking at ComicList’s “New Releases” list for the week: the number of variant covers on IDW releases:

IDW PUBLISHING
Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Cover A), $3.99
Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Cover B), $3.99
Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Gabriel Rodriguez Sketch Variant Cover), AR
Angel #22 (Angel: Aftermath)(Nick Runge Virgin Cover), AR
Barack Obama The Road To The White House #1 (One Shot), $3.99
Captain Canuck HC Vol 1, $24.99
GI Joe Cobra #4 (Cover A Howard Chaykin), $3.99
GI Joe Cobra #4 (Cover B Antonio Fuso), $3.99
GI Joe Cobra #4 (Howard Chaykin Virgin Cover), AR
Groom Lake #3 (Cover A), $3.99
Groom Lake #3 (Cover B), $3.99
Robot Galaxy #1 Brotherhood Returns, $3.99
Robot Galaxy #2 Battle Begins, $3.99
Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(Cover A Chee Yang Ong), $3.99
Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(Cover B Photo), $3.99
Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan #2 (of 3)(David Deitrick Variant Cover), AR
Transformers Premiere Edition HC Vol 2, $100.00
Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Don Figueroa Regular Cover), $3.99
Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Robbie Musso Regular Cover), $3.99
Transformers Spotlight Cliffjumper (Casey Coller Variant Cover), AR

]]> by: Birmy http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377222 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:30:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/06/18/marvel-cap-600-get-second-printing/#comment-3377222 This was a non-starter for our stores. We opted out of the Monday release for a number of reasons, among them the complications with our subscription service and the fact that three of our four stores are closed Mondays anyway. When I opened up on Tuesday, exactly two people asked me about it, both of whom were regular subscription customers who already got the title and wanted to pick it up early. We sold it Wednesday as planned and it sold at its regular (excellent) pace (Alex Ross's cover sold out quick; I would have figured the other cover, with Steve Rogers actually prominent, would have gone first). A good issue, but overhyped everywhere except where it was meant to (mainstream press) and doesn't bring back Steve, only kinda-sorta sets up Captain America Reborn. All in all, we felt pretty good about snubbing Marvel on this one. This was a non-starter for our stores. We opted out of the Monday release for a number of reasons, among them the complications with our subscription service and the fact that three of our four stores are closed Mondays anyway. When I opened up on Tuesday, exactly two people asked me about it, both of whom were regular subscription customers who already got the title and wanted to pick it up early. We sold it Wednesday as planned and it sold at its regular (excellent) pace (Alex Ross’s cover sold out quick; I would have figured the other cover, with Steve Rogers actually prominent, would have gone first). A good issue, but overhyped everywhere except where it was meant to (mainstream press) and doesn’t bring back Steve, only kinda-sorta sets up Captain America Reborn. All in all, we felt pretty good about snubbing Marvel on this one.

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