LET'S TALK: DC 2.0

GABE! · Post by **GABE!** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:29 pm

Gilgabob wrote:
GABE! wrote:At this point I'm a little over the initial shock and surprise of the new 52 "event" and I want to start hearing more about what the stories will be about and how the DCU will be after September.
I can understand that but I think mystery creates excitement. The downside is that mystery also creates expectations and it will be up to DC to deliver on the hype this is creating.

It also creates wild rumors and speculations. They keep mentioning changes and tweeks to origins characters. Well, what are they? Are they really going to end the Lois and Superman relationship? How is Barbara going from wheel chair to the bat-suit?

I'm sure this will be answered in the books, but it would be nice to be told what other changes they are doing to see why this is worth the trouble.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:04 pm

GABE! wrote: I'm sure this will be answered in the books, but it would be nice to be told what other changes they are doing to see why this is worth the trouble.

People who shop at comic stores are not going to make or break this re-launch.

DC will (I'm hoping) do a publicity push when it's needed......right before the books come out, not 2 months in advance.

No matter what they announce, as many "comic shop fans" will (bleep) about whatever they do as will be excited by it, so it's really pointless in the large scheme of things. And existing fans? Polls of existing fans who prowl around the internet show (by & large) the same pre-disposition for only the Batman/GL/JLA stuff and wild apathy about new & different stuff.

They need to focus on new fans to make the launch a success, and those are "net new" fans not existing comic shop fans that read mostly Marvel that they will try to convert. They may get some, but that will not be enough to make this a winner.

Will they have success? Time will tell. I hope so. I do applaud them trying something so radical.

Paul Nolan · Post by **Paul Nolan** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:38 am

If this, the DC advertisment campaign across computers / DVD / TV works, it could potentially help boost the sales of all comics across all companies.

HassanT · Post by **HassanT** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 8:29 am

GABE! wrote: I'm sure this will be answered in the books, but it would be nice to be told what other changes they are doing to see why this is worth the trouble.

I prefer to learn about changes in the actual stories not in interviews.

Danscomics · Post by **Danscomics** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:17 am

Paul Nolan wrote:If this, the DC advertisment campaign across computers / DVD / TV works, it could potentially help boost the sales of all comics across all companies.

I'm actually hoping to see some special deal with DC's advertising CO-OP program for retailers. They did one to get us to advertise Flashpoint harder than usual, now would be a good time to offer us increased payouts if we advertise the relaunch throughout August.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:56 pm

Interesting thought:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-ch ... 10705.html

What if DC renumbers all their books on a regular basis after a story arc or 2 moving forward. What if every 6-24 months every title restarts at #1?

Perry · Post by **Perry** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:40 pm

I have always been a supporter of that idea.

Well, not always, but in the last ten years or so at least. Why not? Why, when comic orders spike at the mention of a number 1, do companies not do it more often.

I mentioned .... somewhere (here perhaps?) that I love the way LOCKE & KEY resets in "chapters" while still maintaining the "on-going" story and in fact, it is because of that 'style' that I read it today. I was 'late' on the scene with the series and decided not to jump on at issue 4, but when the second arc came out, at another issue 1, I jumped in on it and then decided to track down the other, first arc (chapter). Something I just don't see me doing any other way.

Collectors can still collect 'volumes' just as easy as issue numbers.

I just don't see the problem in starting over every year or two. It gets eyes on the story, sells more and potentially gains more fans.

GABE! · Post by **GABE!** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:32 pm

That would be a good way to get new readers in. People really seem to prefer to read a title if only they can get the complete series from the beginning.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:46 pm

BobBretall wrote:Interesting thought:
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-ch ... 10705.html

What if DC renumbers all their books on a regular basis after a story arc or 2 moving forward. What if every 6-24 months every title restarts at #1?

I'll keep saying it until someone high up does it .... just put the date on the comics like every magazine in the world. No one would be intimidated by "Wonder Woman: August 2012".

Also, I feel it's easier for people to jump on with an issue #871 than say, #18. With the former you feel like "No way is anyone going to read that history, and probably no one has, so no problem jumping in." With the latter "Hmm, only 19 issues they may still be setting things up and I probably should read the previous issues, but no time ... skip it."

I've had that exact thought process with DC titles "Detective Comics" and "Batman" vs. "Gotham City Sirens" and "Batgirl".

So the seasonal renumbering could make sense, but I still like the date idea.

Paul Nolan · Post by **Paul Nolan** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:18 pm

BUT the amount of times i've seen (on twitter and internet boards) people ask if they'll be able to understand an issue ONE if they jump on board.

The ONLY way to get round that is to always write issues in a way that you don't have to have read the last issue to understand.

It has to be line wide, otherwise people will just be more hesitant to jump on to a new issue 1.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:56 pm

Paul Nolan wrote:BUT the amount of times i've seen (on twitter and internet boards) people ask if they'll be able to understand an issue ONE if they jump on board.

The ONLY way to get round that is to always write issues in a way that you don't have to have read the last issue to understand.

It has to be line wide, otherwise people will just be more hesitant to jump on to a new issue 1.

True, but sometimes deep arcs are necessary and can make things better for readers who keep up. I think the problem is solved by doing what BOOM does. For each comic, have a paragraph explaining the premise of this book along with characters, then a paragraph explaining what happened in the last issue or two. I don't see how that hurts but lots of comics don't do it.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:55 am

Here are some encouraging statements from Scott Lobdell.... I hope they are mandated by editorial line-wide:

I think a first issue should, where possible, say "Hey! Hop on board! This is going to be awesome!" I'd rather say that than, "Oh, hi! Sorry, you missed everything!"

I prefer telling a series of one-shot stories whose subplots lead us from on story to the next. But if I can help it, you'll never see a "Part One of Blank" on any of the comics I work on. Will the stories be serialized? Yes, but I want to try to usher in an age of storytelling where readers are going to put down their $2.99 and walk away with an issue that has a 20-page story in it, not the first 1/6 of a story.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=33103

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:17 am

BobBretall wrote:Here are some encouraging statements from Scott Lobdell.... I hope they are mandated by editorial line-wide:

I think a first issue should, where possible, say "Hey! Hop on board! This is going to be awesome!" I'd rather say that than, "Oh, hi! Sorry, you missed everything!"

I prefer telling a series of one-shot stories whose subplots lead us from on story to the next. But if I can help it, you'll never see a "Part One of Blank" on any of the comics I work on. Will the stories be serialized? Yes, but I want to try to usher in an age of storytelling where readers are going to put down their $2.99 and walk away with an issue that has a 20-page story in it, not the first 1/6 of a story.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=33103

Sounds like a return to Claremont style storytelling, which would be cool. Sometimes it feels like it moves slowly, but I always feel like I come away satisfied.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:25 am

Trev wrote: Sounds like a return to Claremont style storytelling, which would be cool. Sometimes it feels like it moves slowly, but I always feel like I come away satisfied.

Are you talking "good Claremont" from the 1st half of his career when he built up the X-Men franchise, as opposed to "evil Claremont" from the mid-90s onward when he wrote comics so mired in continuity and multiple characters that he drove me away from the X-Men franchise?

BadDeacon · Post by **BadDeacon** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:09 pm

So when I opened up my DCBS spreadsheet and saw the "all 52 for 80 bucks" deal, I became sorely tempted. I've been listening to the CBP DC Preview episode, it's making me more sorely tempted to get them all and try at least the first issue of each series.