Keskustelujen arkisto

At 10:53 AM 2/8/04 +0100, Olivier wrote:
>Thanks for the answer & comments!
>It's one of theose "classics" I have yet to see-- such as "The Day the
>Earth Stood Still".

>Olivier
>
I'm sure this thread is getting dangerously off-topic, but considering the
influence
film as on Don Rosa, I'm sure we can justify it somehow...

The Day the Earth Stood Still is an excellent film that explores some
serious themes,
makes use of interesting imagery, and contains nothing of space western
influence.
The performances are strong, and the film stands up to repeated viewing
today, even
though its effects are pretty dated (in other words, the dated nature of
the effects doesn't
make the film feel that way). This one is well worth seeing.

And with that, I must do look up Forbidden Planet.

And while I'm here, which I rarely am, I should say that I've been meaning
to say
something about Gemstone products, and perhaps one of these days I will. I
am of
course thrilled to have Disney comics back, especially Rosa stories, but I
am a bit
torn at the cost of these items. So far, I've been buying Uncle Scrooge
and Comics and
Stories, because that's where Rosa and Van Horn appear, but at $11 CDN a
pop, I'm
feeling like many of them (the ones *without* a Rosa story, for instance)
may not be
worth it. The smaller comics (Donald and Friends etc) I have not yet
purchased, as they
sell in Canada for $5 a pop, which is even more than Marvel's Ultimate
series, which go for
$3.25 per issue. Now, the Ultimate Marvel comics have wonderful glossy
paper, so what's
with the price diff? $5 is just too much for regular Disney comics... The
same goes for
DDA. It's $14 CDN (how can you tell I live in Canada?). Now, here I'm
about to say something
that may be considered heretical, but here goes... When it comes to Disney
comics, pretty
much the only reason I read them is for Don Rosa stories, followed by Barks
and William
Van Horn. Much of the work by other artists are sometimes interesting, but
often they strike me
as being rather juvenile (in both art and story). Sorry, but there it is.
Even when they aren't, there
are not many other artists whom I consider worth $12 - 14 a month. For
instance, in the first
Uncle Scrooge, which contained the wonderful Dutchman's Secret, there was a
Gyro Gearloose
story called Perilous Pets, that had me scratching my head. Why would they
put that in
an inaugural issue? It wasn't funny, or amusing, and the art was rather
basic. That's the kind
of Disney comic that strikes me as kiddie-material, or as they say in the
music industry,
"filler". I have nothing against Disney comics
being designed or appropriate for young readers, but why can't more artists
produce material
that is of the appeal and quality of Rosa, Barks, Van Horn, and a few
others. Perhaps this is
just me speaking from the perspective of someone in their mid-40's who has
very selective
tastes who doesn't have enough spare $$ for everything he likes! But for
me, the question of
how much I will purchase now and in the future has a lot to do with the
cost of the material
versus the quality of the product. So far I have been pleased enough with
the two main titles
to have purchased all of them, but I haven't picked up any of the other
titles.

One final point: I realize that comics cost money to produce, and that
Gemstone are putting out
a first rate product, that they don't sell anywhere near the quantity that
Marvel does, and that quite
possibly the costs are necessary for them to see any profit. And that many
Disney readers
seem to like a lot of what I call "the other material." Still, I'd be
happier if every US and C&S had
a new Rosa story in it...

Dave Fenske

>

>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>http://stp.ling.uu.se/mailman/listinfo/dcml
>

> So far, I've been buying Uncle Scrooge
> and Comics and
> Stories, because that's where Rosa and Van Horn appear, but at $11 CDN a
> pop, I'm
> feeling like many of them (the ones *without* a Rosa story, for instance)
> may not be
> worth it. The smaller comics (Donald and Friends etc) I have not yet
> purchased, as they
> sell in Canada for $5 a pop, which is even more than Marvel's Ultimate
> series, which go for
> $3.25 per issue.

Now, the Ultimate Marvel comics have wonderful glossy
> paper, so what's
> with the price diff? $5 is just too much for regular Disney comics... The
> same goes for
> DDA. It's $14 CDN (how can you tell I live in Canada?).

Luckily, it's not quite that expensive. Donald Duck Adventures trade
paperbacks cost $11.95 CAN. Considering that they contain 128 pages, you pay
9 cents per 5x7 page.Donald Duck and Friends + Mickey Mouse And Friends are
priced at $4.95 CAN and they feature 32 pages so that results in 15 cents
per page. Uncle Scrooge and Walt Disney's Comics & Stories have 64 pages for
$10.95 each which means they cost 17 cents per page. It's too bad that
Gemstone's Canadian prices are ridiculously inflated compared to the true
value of the Canadian dollar. At the moment, one US dollar is listed as
being 1.3297 CAN. Therefore, the Gemstone Canadian prices should be:

Donald Duck Adventures $10.57 CAN
Uncle Scrooge $9.24 CAN
Walt Disney's Comics & Stories $9.24 CAN
Donald Duck And Friends $3.92 CAN
Mickey Mouse And Friends $3.92 CAN

Gemstone should seriously considering dropping the Canadian price altogether
and letting the individual comic book retailers assign a price. Dark Horse
Comics did this just a few weeks ago. Star Wars: Empire and Star Wars:
Rewpublic were the most expensive regular sized comic books on the market at
$2.99 US/$4.99 CAN. In other words, they should cost $3.98 CAN and my local
comic book store now only charges $4.00 per issue.

Unfortunately, Donald Duck And Friends + Mickey Mouse And Friends now have
the dubious distinction of being the most expensive regular sized comic
books in Previews. Gemstone's profits could really soar if they cut about 75
cents off their cover prices. I only started collecting these titles last
week. It's an undeniable fact that they're anything but cheap for Canadians.

Kintoun
"Observe everything, remember even more."
-Hound

Overstreet #33 page 228 says: Donald Duck giveaway 1944 K. K. Publications
1944 christmas giveaway 16 pages (2 versions).
I own: Donald Duck giveaway 1944 S&L store
Donald Duck giveaway 1944 Spear
Donald Duck giveaway 1944 Wheather-bird shoes
Are they three versions?
or
It means other?
Paolo Bontempi

Continuing on this discussion about Gemstone pricing, I've been a little worried
lately about the new Disney Comics here in the USA. I live in a small town and
I've been one of the biggest promoters of the new launch. The comic shops where I
go all know me as "The guy who collects Disney." I often engage the owners in
discussions about the popularity of the book and related things, and they are
always on the look out for new things I might be interested in buying from them.

Sadly, reports from them and some of my friends who are also comicbook collectors,
have been moving in the negative direction.

Here are the major issues that they tell me:

1) The prices are too high.
2) The high prices have caused them to drop certain books in the line.
The number 1 book dropped is DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES:
REASONS: PRICE & Poor choices of stories
The number 2 book dropped is WALT DISNEY COMICS & STORIES:
REASON: PRICE
3) The High prices are a deterance to children who cannot afford them.
4) The High prices mean they are typically only accessible to longtime
collectors, but many are turned off by the choice of stories, though
they also don't want books filled with re-re-reprints of stories they
already have in their collections from Dell/Gold Key or Gladstone.

When I asked what the WANT to see from Gemstone's Disneys I was told:

1) Rosa/Barks (everyone wants this), but no more than one/two Barks reprints
per issue.

2) Gottfredson material that has not been reprinted since their first or
second printing, especially the longer serial stories.

3) Romano Scarpa's Duck and Mouse stories that have never been printed in
the USA, especially the longer stories.

4) Strobl and Taliaferro material that has not been reprinted for some time.

5) One other thing that couldn't be clearly explained, but it related to the
choice of stories being printed in the DDA books. Something about them
being very unappealing, especially since the Price of the books make them
accessible only to adults.

The reason "Price" is a major issue is because, it seems, most folks I know
don't have a lot of disposable income these days, and it's not just Disney
comics, but Marvel, DC and other titles that they've dropped as well. Many
have expressed a desire to purchase the Disney books, despite the quality of
stories chosen, just to keep them on the Market, but the prices of the books
have made it impossible.

I, personally, have to agree with much of the sentiment expressed, though,
I am one who is buying ALL the titles and enjoying most of the stories, despite
how it impacts my budget... well, I am reworking my budget to include them,
and I have to say Marvel and, to a lesser extent, DC, are making it very easy
for me to do so. I have dropped a great many Marvel titles, and DC has stopped
publishing many of the titles I used to buy, so those funds have been diverted
to Gemstone. Still, I really have to admit that there have indeed been some
poor choices of stories in the DDA book, especially. I want the LONGER stories
that the format offers, and, having exposure to a good many foreign comics from
France, Italy, Brazil, Germany, etc. I know there are some great stories yet
to be published here in the USA! My exposure to what few Romano Scarpa material
has appeared here under Gladstone, and those that I have bought on E-Bay or
traded with other comicbook fans, especially from Italy, have made me a BIG fan
of his work. To me, Scarpa is to Gottfredson what many feel Rosa is to Barks.
I want to see more Scarpa published here, especially his longer stories.

As for other choices, I think more David Gerstein, Al Taliaferro, César Ferioli,
Dick Kenny, Bill Walsh (Panchito), Claude Marin, Paul Halas (Riverside Rovers/ I-
Team), Giorgio Cavazzano, Nino Russo (Junior Woodchucks/Ducks/Mouses), Guido
Martina (Paperinik); François Corteggiani (Minnie) and others.

Of course, a continuance of Gottfredson, Barks, Rosa, Branca, Blum, Markstein, Van
Horns, Vicar, Goria and more...

I'm sure I'd like to see some works of the others who contribute to this Mailing
List, but even my collection of foreign Disneys is limited.

I'm sure that one way to draw in more younger readers, despite the HIGH price, is
to publish material presenting younger characters, especially Junior Woodchucks,
Riverside Rovers, I-Team stories, April, May & June, and the like. Using the
lower priced books like DONALD DUCK & FRIENDS and MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS is
probably best at this point.

Some stories I would like to see printed in DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES are:
Mickey Mouse & The Delta Dimension (I TL 206-A); Mickey Mouse and the Chirikawa
Necklace (I TL 274-A); Goofy & The Return of Ellsworth (I TL 367-B).

Thanks,

Rich Bellacera
(Email removed)

---- Msg sent via CWNet - http://www.cwnet.com/

Simo and Olaf, thanks for showing us the cute little Helper toy.

I'd love to have one, if anyone has a spare they would like to trade.
Please contact me separately.

Thanks,
Sonia

Hi Tom and thanks for your reply.
>
> "1942-1962 known (4 pgs, in color, slick paper, 7-1/3"x10-1/4")
> "(folded horizontally once or twice as mailers)
> "K.K. Publications (Xmas subscription form)
> "NOTE: It is assumed a different mailer was printed each Xmas for at least
> twenty years."
The one I have certainly doesn't have slick paper. The paper is not
glossy at all and rather coarse.
>
> Oversteet also provides details for some of the mailers but nothing
> specifically for 1945 nor 1947. From the descriptions of the other mailers
> I can tell that the mailers for 1942, 1949, 1950 & 1953 had different covers
> from that shown in Gerber.
>
Can you tell me what covers that are reprinted on those four mailers ?

> My guess is that what you've got is the actual mailer pictured in Gerber and
> that they probably used the same art work, just changing the year, for a few
> years in the mid-1940s (this may be why Gerber states "circa 1945"). If
> what you have is only one page, more than likely the back page was cut off
> at some point in time.
No I have four pages. I was just trying to explain what it was like. If
you fold a paper once it gets four pages I suppose.

Ola in a beautiful sunny Stockholm with snow glistening on the trees -6

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DAVE WRITES:

> At any rate, it wasn't until working with Louie for some time that the
> young woman who was his partner and caretaker revealed that he had
> worked on "The Forbidden Planet" and that the weight he seemed to carry
> was a massive guilt that he was thereby directly responsible for an
> aggressive military presence in the modern world!
>
> When I asked him about this, he indeed felt his work on "The Forbidden
> Planet" introduced and popularized a way of viewing things that he
> regretted abetting. I tried to talk him out of such a notion, but he
> couldn't be moved.

AND I REPLY:

Off-topic or not, I am so glad Dave related this tale on DCML. I found it
intensely moving as another example of real human beings who contribute to
great projects that are normally seen as the product only of huge
corporations.

And we hardly ever get to hear or read of the effect people's work has on
their own lives. "Ghastly" Graham Ingles did remarkable work on the EC
horror comics, and he reportedly spent most of his later life regretting his
involvement.

Dan