Author
Topic: Gemstone Lagging!
(99 messages)
Morequack
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 1 -
2007-12-06 at 17:29:36
Has anyone else noticed Gemstone becoming increasingly late in its release of UNCLE SCROOGE the past few months? I'm still waiting for #371 (November) to come out... and Amazon notes that this issue will ship within 5 to 8 weeks and should arrive after December 24! What gives???
Robb_K
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 2 -
2007-12-06 at 20:10:50
I've been told that there was a problem with the printing, and shipment has been delayed some. But the November books should be arriving soon, according to The Subscriptions Dept.
Morequack
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 3 -
2007-12-06 at 20:41:01
I remember there being delays as far back as September, I think. So it sounds like there may be some major issues that they may not be telling us.
WB
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 4 -
2007-12-06 at 22:56:29
It's a major printing delay guys. Nothing more nothing less. Stuff like this can happen to big guns (Marvel and DC) too if the chain comes unlinked for whatever small reason. The topic came up at another forum - Termite Terrace to be precise - and unfortunately the delay came at a really awkward and busy time is all when nothing could be done to rectify the situation expediently. They'll get here eventually with the books put back on schedule. Gemstone is usually good about telling us before hand if we need to expect anything.
Louis Lane
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 5 -
2007-12-09 at 19:19:05
Diamond's website shows that Christmas Parade #5, Marv Wolfman's Scrooge graphic novel, and Walt Disney Treasures #2 have all been received from Gemstone.
They are *not* shipping to comic stores the week of Dec 12, 2007, however.
Hopefully, they'll be out on Dec 19, 2007.
LL
Edit: Looks like I was reading Diamond's tea leaves incorrectly. They have not received Christas Parade #5 or Walt Disney's Treasures #2.
They are *not* shipping to comic stores the week of Dec 12, 2007, however.
Hopefully, they'll be out on Dec 19, 2007.
LL
Edit: Looks like I was reading Diamond's tea leaves incorrectly. They have not received Christas Parade #5 or Walt Disney's Treasures #2.
Louis Lane
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 6 -
2007-12-14 at 14:04:44
Unfortunately, there are no Disney comics being released by Diamond the week of Dec 19, 2007. This means that Christmas Parade #5 will not come out before Christmas.
LL
LL
Morequack
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 7 -
2007-12-14 at 18:10:04
I don't recall Gladstone ever having such extensive problems. It's indeed too bad...
Robb_K
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 8 -
2007-12-14 at 18:19:07
Quote from user: Roger NorthThat is sad. I hope this mix up doesn't cause Gemstone to go out of business.
Gemstone won't go out of business because of one late shipment. Gemstone has about the same number of customers that Gladstone had-about 6,000 hard core Disney Comics fans who will not stop buying because of some delays. it's too bad that Gemstone can't get outlets like mainstream book stores and newstands to carry their product so that additional customers can be brought in.
But, - the November AND December issues, and Christmas and special issues will likely be available within 2-3 weeks, and no long-term harm will be done.
Gemstone won't go out of business because of one late shipment. Gemstone has about the same number of customers that Gladstone had-about 6,000 hard core Disney Comics fans who will not stop buying because of some delays. it's too bad that Gemstone can't get outlets like mainstream book stores and newstands to carry their product so that additional customers can be brought in.
But, - the November AND December issues, and Christmas and special issues will likely be available within 2-3 weeks, and no long-term harm will be done.
Morequack
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 9 -
2007-12-14 at 19:32:18
Quote from user: Robb_KQuote from user: Roger NorthThat is sad. I hope this mix up doesn't cause Gemstone to go out of business.
Gemstone won't go out of business because of one late shipment. Gemstone has about the same number of customers that Gladstone had-about 6,000 hard core Disney Comics fans who will not stop buying because of some delays. it's too bad that Gemstone can't get outlets like mainstream book stores and newstands to carry their product so that additional customers can be brought in.
But, - the November AND December issues, and Christmas and special issues will likely be available within 2-3 weeks, and no long-term harm will be done.
You're probably right. But Gemstone has had delays with more than just one shipment. They've been late in delivering since about US issue #368 or #369. That's four months now.
Gemstone won't go out of business because of one late shipment. Gemstone has about the same number of customers that Gladstone had-about 6,000 hard core Disney Comics fans who will not stop buying because of some delays. it's too bad that Gemstone can't get outlets like mainstream book stores and newstands to carry their product so that additional customers can be brought in.
But, - the November AND December issues, and Christmas and special issues will likely be available within 2-3 weeks, and no long-term harm will be done.
You're probably right. But Gemstone has had delays with more than just one shipment. They've been late in delivering since about US issue #368 or #369. That's four months now.
Olivier
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 10 -
2007-12-15 at 12:18:57
This has to do with the printing plant, I would think, and I suppose changing plants is not that easy.
WB
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 11 -
2007-12-15 at 21:04:51
Oh well - the good side of this is that during the lull, I've been able to purchase a lot of Gemstones I've missed out on and still stay within my comic book budget. *doodles from shiny new comics* :)
Robb_K
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 12 -
2007-12-15 at 21:39:17
Quote from user: Roger NorthYou know something Robb. Maybe you're right I'm sure the November and December issues will be available after Christmas is over.
I sense some bitterness in your facetiousness. Remember that Disney Comic books stopped being a profitable mass market item in USA and Canada during the early 1970s. They have never done well in Britain or the remainder The British Commonwealth. Those of us who like to read comics created by English-speaking authors in their native language should feel lucky that Gladstone and Gemstone even dared to try to publish them at not far above "break-even" levels of return. Gladstone went out of operation. If Gemstone has a few late deliveries, I'm not about to turn my back on them. And neither are their 6,000 regular customers (who will always buy Disney comics printed in English, regardless of how poor the release availability is).
I'll wager that Steve Geppi is not making much profit on his Disney comics. They are basically a miniscule return "loss leader"-and prestige line to give his distributorship more attention, and he's doing it mostly because he loves Disney comics, and thinks they should be published. No sane businessman would invest in a business with such limited market potential related to costs and risks involved. We should be happy to have them printed at all, and not mind waiting to get them.
Your alternatives are to learn to read French (Picsou), German (Donald Duck Sonderheft), Greek, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch (Donald Duck Grappigste Avonturen), or Finnish, and read one or more of those countries' fine Disney comics publications.
I sense some bitterness in your facetiousness. Remember that Disney Comic books stopped being a profitable mass market item in USA and Canada during the early 1970s. They have never done well in Britain or the remainder The British Commonwealth. Those of us who like to read comics created by English-speaking authors in their native language should feel lucky that Gladstone and Gemstone even dared to try to publish them at not far above "break-even" levels of return. Gladstone went out of operation. If Gemstone has a few late deliveries, I'm not about to turn my back on them. And neither are their 6,000 regular customers (who will always buy Disney comics printed in English, regardless of how poor the release availability is).
I'll wager that Steve Geppi is not making much profit on his Disney comics. They are basically a miniscule return "loss leader"-and prestige line to give his distributorship more attention, and he's doing it mostly because he loves Disney comics, and thinks they should be published. No sane businessman would invest in a business with such limited market potential related to costs and risks involved. We should be happy to have them printed at all, and not mind waiting to get them.
Your alternatives are to learn to read French (Picsou), German (Donald Duck Sonderheft), Greek, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch (Donald Duck Grappigste Avonturen), or Finnish, and read one or more of those countries' fine Disney comics publications.
WB
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 13 -
2007-12-15 at 21:46:38
I don't think Roger was being bitter Robb. Most of us who have been around long enough all realized that assessment long ago. The Disney Comics before implosion (and maybe during the Bob Foster period) and late Gladstone era is the closest duck and mouse books have come to regaining their Dell style popularity since Gold Key/Whitman succeeded in eventually destroying their entire line. A lot of people don't believe me when I say that there are PLENTY of dormant fans out there. I truly do believe that had Gladstone continued without interruption things would be a LOT different today. Unfortunately, Disney themselves succeeded in sabatoging the line for a second time and things haven't quite recovered back to late Gladstone status yet (though God bless Gemstone, they are trying and they DO care).
Something like the printing snafu is just an unfortunate lump on an often bumpy road. A tire goes out on you - you change it and keep right on rolling. All things with time and patience I say. With luck maybe things will be just as good with Gemstone then as they were once with Gladstone. Given time, a few tweaks, and the right circumstances coming along who knows what will be 5 years from now, eh? Anyways, it's all moot by now.
Something like the printing snafu is just an unfortunate lump on an often bumpy road. A tire goes out on you - you change it and keep right on rolling. All things with time and patience I say. With luck maybe things will be just as good with Gemstone then as they were once with Gladstone. Given time, a few tweaks, and the right circumstances coming along who knows what will be 5 years from now, eh? Anyways, it's all moot by now.
Robb_K
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 14 -
2007-12-15 at 22:00:12
Quote from user: WBI don't think Roger was being bitter Robb. Most of us who have been around long enough all realized that assessment long ago. The Disney Comics before implosion (and maybe during the Bob Foster period) and late Gladstone era is the closest duck and mouse books have come to regaining their Dell style popularity since Gold Key/Whitman succeeded in eventually destroying their entire line. A lot of people don't believe me when I say that there are PLENTY of dormant fans out there. I truly do believe that had Gladstone continued without interruption things would be a LOT different today. Unfortunately, Disney themselves succeeded in destroying the line in the states for a second time and it hasn't quite recovered back to late Gladstone status yet (though god bless Gemstone, they are trying and they DO care).
Something like the printing snafu is just an unfortunate lump on an often bumpy road. A tire goes out on you - you change it and keep right on rolling. All things with time and patience I say. With luck maybe things will be just as good with Gemstone then as they were once with Gladstone given time, a few tweaks, and the right circumstances coming along. Who knows what will be 5 years from now, eh?
Gemstone has the same customer base as Gladstone did. The problem is that that small amount won't support the current higher printing/labour/shipping costs, and so, less small book lines can be printed. If Gemstone could make nicer quality(cost-efficient)
books that could be sold in mainstream bookstores, grocery and discount stores, Disney Stores (and, perhaps on newstands), Disney comics might get new devotees. But, perhaps that would never work, as the traditional Disney characters are lost in the mass of cartoons thrown at kids through the media these days. They are NOT connected to video games the way new characters are. Maybe we should be glad to have this nostalgic demand still met many years past the time of its youthful devotees. Maybe in 10-15 years there won't be enough demand for even this "nostalgic service"?
Something like the printing snafu is just an unfortunate lump on an often bumpy road. A tire goes out on you - you change it and keep right on rolling. All things with time and patience I say. With luck maybe things will be just as good with Gemstone then as they were once with Gladstone given time, a few tweaks, and the right circumstances coming along. Who knows what will be 5 years from now, eh?
Gemstone has the same customer base as Gladstone did. The problem is that that small amount won't support the current higher printing/labour/shipping costs, and so, less small book lines can be printed. If Gemstone could make nicer quality(cost-efficient)
books that could be sold in mainstream bookstores, grocery and discount stores, Disney Stores (and, perhaps on newstands), Disney comics might get new devotees. But, perhaps that would never work, as the traditional Disney characters are lost in the mass of cartoons thrown at kids through the media these days. They are NOT connected to video games the way new characters are. Maybe we should be glad to have this nostalgic demand still met many years past the time of its youthful devotees. Maybe in 10-15 years there won't be enough demand for even this "nostalgic service"?
WB
Gemstone Lagging!
Message 15 -
2007-12-15 at 22:19:25
Quote from user: Robb_KThey are NOT connected to video games the way new characters are.
This is totally off topic, but I remember being a kid and playing "Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion", the "Capcom Disney Afternoon" based games that used to come out yearly, and the "Mickey Mouse: Magical Quest Trilogy" that was also done by Capcom. I'm part of a community online that releases a lot of videogame music either in gamerips or OST's (Original Sountracks) and recently one of those things I helped to compile was a collection of the music from all of those games. It struck me as funny how - upon releasing the collections - were all "OMG I remember these games they were classics I used to play them all the time Disney games suck now whatever happened to Ducktales those were the only good Mickey Mouse games does anyone remember Quackshot yadda yadda yadda yadda!"
Coincidentally - the "Moon" theme from the Ducktales videogame is considered by most VGM enthusiasts to be one of the best tunes created on the NES next to the slew of Megaman/Super Mario tunes that exist out there.
Sometime after the 16 bit era, Capcom and Sega lost the license to do games based on the classic and modern Disney characters to Disney Interactive and afterwards - starting with Gargoyles - any Disney based games that followed just....well, they sucked. =\
heh. It's kind of funny because what happened to the old video game line is exactly what happened to the comic line when Disney took it over: they ran it into the ground because they didn't know what they were doing. The only bright spot to come out in the last few years was probably that Donald Duck game for the Dreamcast/Gamecube (Goin' Quackers). Beyond that you don't see Disney games yearly like you once did. And Capcom never got the Disney license back (the Gameboy Advance remakes of the MQ Trilogy not withstanding) unlike Gladstone/Gemstone.
Useless trivia for today is over. Time for getting back on topic now! :)
(PS: If anybody wants the soundtracks to the videogames let me know. I still have all the releases on hand.)
This is totally off topic, but I remember being a kid and playing "Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion", the "Capcom Disney Afternoon" based games that used to come out yearly, and the "Mickey Mouse: Magical Quest Trilogy" that was also done by Capcom. I'm part of a community online that releases a lot of videogame music either in gamerips or OST's (Original Sountracks) and recently one of those things I helped to compile was a collection of the music from all of those games. It struck me as funny how - upon releasing the collections - were all "OMG I remember these games they were classics I used to play them all the time Disney games suck now whatever happened to Ducktales those were the only good Mickey Mouse games does anyone remember Quackshot yadda yadda yadda yadda!"
Coincidentally - the "Moon" theme from the Ducktales videogame is considered by most VGM enthusiasts to be one of the best tunes created on the NES next to the slew of Megaman/Super Mario tunes that exist out there.
Sometime after the 16 bit era, Capcom and Sega lost the license to do games based on the classic and modern Disney characters to Disney Interactive and afterwards - starting with Gargoyles - any Disney based games that followed just....well, they sucked. =\
heh. It's kind of funny because what happened to the old video game line is exactly what happened to the comic line when Disney took it over: they ran it into the ground because they didn't know what they were doing. The only bright spot to come out in the last few years was probably that Donald Duck game for the Dreamcast/Gamecube (Goin' Quackers). Beyond that you don't see Disney games yearly like you once did. And Capcom never got the Disney license back (the Gameboy Advance remakes of the MQ Trilogy not withstanding) unlike Gladstone/Gemstone.
Useless trivia for today is over. Time for getting back on topic now! :)
(PS: If anybody wants the soundtracks to the videogames let me know. I still have all the releases on hand.)