Digital and Deadworld

I think this summer is when the digital explosion that everyone is anticipating is going to start to creep in. Not that I think we're going to see the mass eruption yet, but I think things are going to be setting in place. One of the problems with anticipated new technology is that we're able to see the possibilities before the tech is actually ready. For example, digital comics. Obviously,there are lots of problems in getting it moving. What kind of format? Will "readers" be necessary? What kind of protection is there? How much can be charged for content? There are some preliminary excursions already but none are completely satisfactory yet. It seems there are so many possibilities, as a publisher and creator, it's hard to choose who to align with and from most people in the same boat I am...right now, it's a waiting game. But I think we're getting close to finding workable outlets for the digital format. Now, there are a lot of naysayers who feel that most comic fans aren't going to utilize the digital format as they prefer the physical copies. They're missing the point. Most publishers and creators are not looking to siphon the current readers but try and obtain new readers. When I look at the products I sell on sites like Amazon or other websites, judging from the feedback I get, it isn't from comic fans who choose to buy from Amazon as opposed to a comic store, it's from people who don't go to comic shops and were intrigued by the concept. The way the current market is, we tap into comic readers and then try to get them to buy "our" stuff which usually isn't what those very fans associate with comics. Now the strategy is to get interested fans to buy the material that just happens to be in comic format. The success of titles like Watchmen, 300 and Persepolis (just to name a few) doesn't drive potential fans into comic shops but rather makes graphic novels as an acceptable medium. I mean, after all, if someone picked up something like the upcoming Whiteout and then walks into a comic store inundated with the superheroes, do you think they're going to sludge through all that material to find the few gems the store might carry? I have a background in comics and even had stores for a decade or so...but when I walk into a comic shop, all I see are costumed heroes which hold absolutely no interest to me. I'm not knocking anyone that the superheroes appeal to as I used to be into it as well...and I certainly don't knock the comic shops as they have to provide what sells (I've been there), but the fact is, most people are not going to start reading superhero comics no matter how much they liked Spider-Man or X-Men. There is potential for new fans out there and that's where I think the "small publishers" are going to succeed. It will be outside of the traditional comics market. We're certainly not there yet and most creators/publishers have a foot in both arenas and that one foot in the comics market feels like cement as the resistance to pull out is mighty tough. But, it's getting easier because of the lack of opportunity in the comics direct market. This isn't a rant against Diamond's policies because I understand what they're doing (although I don't agree with it...)but it does come down to the fact that the decision is being made for most creators or publishers. There does seem to be a trend developing, and I could be wrong and maybe it's a case of optimistic reporting by some folks, that there is a new audience starting to attend conventions to find some of the folks which provided the downloaded or ordered material. These new fans come in with no idea of who is the big name at Marvel or what reincarnation of Moon Knight is currently being worked on...they want to meet the creators of the book that the comics market has probably never heard of. Sometimes, I think, it's hard to see the dramatic changes occurring when you're in the middle of the storm but I think that looking back a few years from now, it'll be 2009-2010 that drastically changed things. Some irksome things. I often want to vent when certain situations come up but then I usually come down but there are some things that really get on my nerves when I have my morning coffee and check out some blogs and boards as well as my email. I actually wrote a couple of pages on those but figured, why bother? Some Deadworld news. Deadworld was announced with Framelight Productions and now the latest news is that Watchmen and X-Men scripter, David Hayter has signed on to do the script. After going through the beginning part of what the plan is for the story…I’m glad that David’s aboard as he “gets it” regarding Deadworld. Here’s some links. Variety MTV Producer Discussion

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What's it All About?

Finally, summer is rearing its sweltering head. It actually feels good as this was a long…very long winter. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older but the winters sure seem to linger longer than they used to. Please don’t insert the usual “global warming” joke here because one of the probable effects of global warming is freezing of the earth. It’s a bit odd how the global warming crisis has faded due to the economic downturn, but that’s how things work…it’s always about the money.

Went to the Motor City Con. I wasn’t planning on going but Joe Pruett, publisher of Desperado, decided he was going to attend at the last minute and so he stayed at my house (along with two of his six kids) and I ended up attending but just at his table. How was the con? Typical Motor City. They had good attendance but most people come for the media guests rather than the comic people. It just doesn’t seem like that much of a comic con but from what I gather, that’s pretty much the norm for many of the cons. I fully understand that they got to go where the money is.

There were quite a few comic people there and I got a chance to talk with some of my professional friends…Guy Davis, Tim Bradstreet, Dave Dorman, and a few others. I met with a lot of people who I knew from my retailing days and I was surprised how many of my old customers…well, got old(er). I’m sure they felt the same with me.

I don’t have any plans for any upcoming cons at this time. I just have way too much to do and cons can really suck up your time. I had hoped to go to my first Heroes Con but it just didn’t fit in. Maybe next year. I am actually thinking of attending a few different conventions next year.

I just read this blurb on Amazon about a book and here is the brief description. “The City of Detroit is gripped by violence, drugs, racial tensions and a local media bent on fueling the fire. One of its worst neighborhoods, Brightmoor, is on the brink of a riot. A fictional account of a Police Officer's struggle to save his family from a neighborhood turned upside down by blight, poverty and drug dealers. A very compelling story of a community so down trodden President George W. Bush asked "Can anything good come out of Brightmoor?"

Have to say that I was a bit offended by that as I came out of Brightmoor. Yeah, it was a shoddy neighborhood with cheaply built houses and full of crime before it became fashionable in Detroit, but it was my neighborhood. I spent much of my earlier years in the Smith Projects which was on the border of Brightmoor and for us to move out of the projects into our own house, even in Brightmoor, seemed a step up. Of course, six of us had to share a bedroom but at least we had a backyard.

I can see where Bush was coming from as I went back to my old neighborhood a couple years ago. The house I grew up has been torn down after serving years as a vacant drug house. When my parents moved out, they couldn’t even sell the house, they ended up giving it to the neighbor. The block had about 4-5 houses that were being lived in. There were about 8-10 houses that were abandoned and the rest were either burned down or destroyed officially by the city. The houses can be purchased in that area for as low as $500. You know what, it still isn’t worth it. I still find it amazing that 40% of all the land in Detroit is now vacant…and growing. But at least we got the Red Wings in Detroit…and though I no longer live in Detroit, I still consider myself a Detroiter as I lived there for 24 years so I figure I’m entitled (if that’s the right choice of words in this case…)

I don’t read too much news and/or blogs about comics anymore. I haven’t followed Marvel or DC titles in so many years that I can’t even recognize the characters. And that’s about all the news focuses on except whatever obscure licensed character that can be signed up. I’m not knocking the licensed titles as I actually think most of them are a good idea and with today’s sensibilities, I think many of those ideas work out better now. But what I’ve found curious is that in all my discussions with creators, virtually none of them read comics…at all. They have various reasons but mostly it’s because they don’t have the time and there really isn’t any interest in what’s going on. I’m sure Marvel creators read the various Marvel books and same with DC, but it seems to be out of necessity to know what’s going on rather than for simple enjoyment. If the people in the business aren’t reading comics, then who are? Is it the same group of fans over the years albeit with a few converts who may stroll in because of the attraction from the films?

Another thing I’ve found curious is the trend for a lot of comic stores to bag their comics that are on display. I understand that it’s to protect them and with comics hovering around the $4 price range, it’s much more of an investment than it used to be…but how is a fan…or potential fan…supposed to discover new books? I know of a couple in the Detroit and Ann Arbor area and when I went out to San Diego a week or so ago, I went to a couple of shops and one of the shops had all the new releases bagged. I had no way of seeing what the books were about even if I could possibly find something in the Marvel-DC-nothing else selection.

It’s kind of funny but most of the noise being made in comics is sort of the same old-same old…which hero will die and which will be resurrected a year or so later. But there is a lot of activity going on that most of the “press” (is there any actual comic press?) seems to have no inkling of what’s happening on the periphery of comics. I think that will change in the next few years as it will be “discovered” that some people are doing quite well in non-traditional avenues. Comics is increasingly becoming segmented into various fragments (the DC-Marvel folks); the manga; the more esoteric titles; the small press; the very small press; and whatever other groups are designated by someone. It’s amazing though when you talk to people who are creating their own books and ignore everything going on with Marvel and DC, it still comes down to their ultimate dream is to eventually work on one of the big characters. I don’t know if it’s just a sign of “making” it or if it actual desire.

I know when I was running Caliber, we had a number of creators who protested against anything Marvel and DC did and slammed them and the creators who worked for them every change they had. Yet when the Big Two came calling, they went running and now are firmly entrenched in the world they found so disgusting previously. And that leads to the end of this missive as it ties perfectly into the first part…it’s always about the money.

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Motor City Con

Just in case anyone is attending Motor City Convention on May 15-17, it looks like I will be attending after all. Joe Pruett of Desperado Publishing will be setting up and asked me to join him at his booth. Joe will be promoting his entire line but will be spotlighting his gorgeous art books (Brian Bolland, P. Craig Russell, Joe Jusko, and Tim Bradstreet) plus the newly arrived Clive Barker's Age of Desire. Motor City Convention has an attendance around 12-15,000 (just a guess) and is a big media as well as comic convention. Some of the media guests include Carrie Fisher, Gil Gerard, Julie Newmar, Tom Savini, and over two dozen more favorites from science fiction, wrestling, and classic TV. Some of the comic guests include Tim Bradstreet, Frank Brunner, Guy Davis, Vince Locke, Tom DeFalco, Dave Dorman, Russ Heath, Ron Frenz, Mark Texeira, Billy Tucci, Dwayne McDuffie, Denis Kitchen, and over 40 others. Since I will be at Desperado's booth, I will primarily be promoting my Desperado titles (A Murder of Scarecrows, Deadworld, Renfield, Saint Germaine, Red Diaries, etc.) but plan to have other stuff "behind the counter". Be sure to stop by and if make it there. Motor City Convention Gary

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