I should say "All Disney comics", but I still hope.
You may have heard of the overall economical crisis that is happening in Greece the last few years. It seems Mickey Mouse is the latest victim. Through the internet you can find many "professional articles from reporters", so I will try to sum up what is known.
In Greece there is a collector's Disney magazine, Î?Î?Î?Î?Î? / KOMIX, heavily influenced from US publications such as Walt Disney's Comics & Stories. It began in 1988. In 23 August 2013, the latest issue #303 featured an article called "Epilogue" from the publisher Christos Terzopoulos, and his son David Terzopoulos who was in charge of the publications since the beginning of 2012. Here is a scan, I will translate it for you.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h275/kuja-trance/Disney/KOMIX303farewell_zpsc87b39f2.jpg
The picture reads "To Evangelos Terzopoulos, best wishes. Walt Disney". It was sent by Disney to the Grandfather Terzopoulos, as a greeting for the beginning of the Disney publications in Greece. I guess it was a little bit before publication date (and Disney's death) so it was sent about 1965.
Quote:As I grew up with Walt Disney??s work, not only in Cinema but in magazines as well, it was almost inevitable for me to become Disney publisher in 1966. The Greek Mickey Mouse publication fascinated the readers when it first came out. It got thousands of readers of all the ages thanks to the little secret it was hidden inside it. Pure entertainment. Reading Disney stories is a special way of life, different from the reading of any other publication. Disney heroes offer adventure and happiness. At the same time, despite their inhuman characteristics, they feature human psychosynthesis, making them even more beloved and familiar.
The years passed by, and along with my cooperators we created a big family of comic magazines. I don??t want to praise ourselves, but it??s the biggest, compared to the country??s population and one of the biggest worldwide.
In the Disney Publishers Meeting in Bologna (Italy), Disney announced that Greek magazines have the biggest infiltration (????Ï??Ï?Ï?? literally means penetration) in their country, and more than two times bigger from the second country. Quality-wise, our publications in total, are considered the best there is.
For this, we had help from our readers. Their letters, their cheering, their indications but also their complaints (??? ???? = nagging / moaning), made us bring new ideas on the table. I am proud my successor in the publication, David Terzopoulos, brought a fresh air on the magazines, I believe that this year was more productive and qualitative than any other before.
Christos Terzopoulos
Quote:Friends,
I barely knew you. In this 1,5 year I was Disney publisher, I witnessed great emotions, good and bad. I want to thank all of my cooperators in Nea Aktina who worked great all this time. The same goes to many people who have worked for us the past decades, people who offered their service to the magazines with care and love.
I would also like to thank the readers who all those years grew up with our comics and then, they raised with those their children, and in some cases their grandchildren. We would not have reason of existence without you. I believe our magazines not only offered entertainment, but also managed to give important lessons and nourish a specific mentality of life. I don??t think it??s by chance that many of you became journalists, lawyers and doctors. That was always our goal. To broaden the pneumatic horizons of our readers. We succeeded. I hope we will cross our roads again.
David Terzopoulos
Many speculations began that day. What we knew for sure was that Î?Î?Î?Î?Î? ceases publications, but it was most likely that many other comics would follow as well. The same day, went out the weekly Mickey Mouse and the Greek version of PKNA. Both of them featured commercials for the next issue, while Î?Î?Î?Î?Î? didn't.
In 29 August, Christos Terzopoulos made another statement through the Î?Î?Î?Î?Î? facebook page.
Quote:
Some things like the recent government reshuffle, the devaluation of the currency and the closure of a newspaper or magazine is not announced in advance.
Stopping the issue of magazines was not a frivolous and sudden choice. For several months , from the beginning of time , we had contacts and negotiating to find a viable solution for the magazines. It takes fortitude to negotiate calmly and wisely transferred without distress to our partners.
Until the last moment we kept the spark alive that we could continue publishing the magazines. We continued doing what we were always doing. Publish magazines, as good as the circumstances allowed us to make. And we will do the same, when the circumstances allow us to do so. You have sample of our work, most recent proof the Gottfredson book (he refers to the first volume Floyd Gottfredson library which recently got out in Greece).
Unfortunately I can not elaborate any further on this issue due to the confidentiality of the negotiations. But you must know with certainty that halting the creation of a lifetime (almost 48 years ) is not an act that has not been very emotional.
Christos Terzoupoulos
The first issue of Mickey Mouse came out at July 1st, 1966 featuring two stories from Romano Scarpa and Carl Barks. We have gone a long way since then. The latest issue of the weekly Mickey Mouse got out 2 weeks ago, but it featured more pages and double numbering (#2458-2459). Such numbering happens the last few years at Christmas or Easter. I think it's the first time it has happened during the summer. I guess they wanted to gain some time. Anyway, tomorrow the next issue of Mickey Mouse will come out. The publishers announced through facebook that it will be the last one. However, it will feature double numbering as well (2460-2461). I want to believe that it will not stop like that.
Right now, the main magazine comic publications that are still going are:
Mickey Mouse - Weekly
Paperinik New Adventures - Monthly
KOMIX - Monthly
Mickey (Big) - Monthly
Donald - Monthly
Disney Classics - Bimonthly
Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine (reissue) - Bimonthly
Super Almanako - Trimonthly
Minnie - Trimonthly
From comic books, there have been out the following:
KOMIX Library. 6 volumes so far, containing the Don Rosa stories in chronological order. It was said that it will continue with other artists after Rosa but at least we got a complete library of his stories.
Carl Barks Library. 16 out of 48 volumes. I still hope they will continue somehow this collection. The books are based on the Italian version.
Floyd Gottfredson Library. Based on the Fantagraphics perfect edition. Only the first volume is out. Even though I am buying the Fantagraphics books, I sure hope it will not get discontinued.
The most possible scenario is that all of them will get canceled. For more updates stay tuned, if there are similar articles from the publishers, I will post them here.
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Author
Topic: Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
(21 messages)
PhantomDuck
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 1 -
2013-09-05 at 22:36:49
AzureBlue
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 2 -
2013-09-05 at 22:59:03
Aww.
If I lived in Greece I would cry, but I live in the US and have already been through the sadness.
You have my empathy
If I lived in Greece I would cry, but I live in the US and have already been through the sadness.
You have my empathy
GeoX
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 3 -
2013-09-05 at 23:07:11
Sad news indeed. But I thank you for the detailed report.
PhantomDuck
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 4 -
2013-09-06 at 10:15:03
Mickey Mouse featured the same epilogue, but only with the article of Christos Terzopoulos. There is no commercial for the next issue. We have no idea what is going to happen to all those running series, especially to the Barks / Gottfredson Libraries.
It's hard to accept it. It ended so sudden... End of an era I guess :(
It's hard to accept it. It ended so sudden... End of an era I guess :(
Cacou
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 5 -
2013-09-07 at 08:39:05
Even though these are bad news, I have the impression the situation is not comparable to the US, because Disney comics are much more popular in Greece. When the economy hopefully improves, selling Disney comics will become profitable again for the publishers.
Review Or Die
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 6 -
2013-09-11 at 05:17:10
Everything I have heard about their publications has been top-notch, and from what I've read, the people who run them are top-notch too.
The best of luck to them, the comics, and the country.
The best of luck to them, the comics, and the country.
Rodney
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 7 -
2013-09-11 at 20:45:55
Actually KOMIX was a GREAT comic. Bums me out that it's no longer around. I had a huge stack of those. Think I sold them to David Gerstein.
PhantomDuck
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 8 -
2013-09-13 at 11:22:27
As for the press release I told you, here it is. Even though I didn't translate it word-to-word, I hope you will understand it.
Press release: September 6, 2013 (When the last Mickey Mouse #2460-61 came out)
Quote from user: Christos TerzopoulosThis Friday the last Mickey Mouse came out. It was a difficult decision after 47 years of publication, but it was also enforced from the circumstances. The economic crisis brought many unpleasant changes in Greek families, and the consequences of it are well known. The declining sale numbers of newspapers and magazines, couldn't leave Mickey Mouse and all of the other Disney comics unaffected.
Less publishing numbers resulted in the raise of basic cost of publishing. One solution would be to increase the selling price, but this would only worsen the situation [b] . For this reason, we tried to find other solutions in order to relieve financially the magazine. Unfortunately there was no satisfactory solution. We can not address more on this topic because it's prohibited by the confidentiality of negotiations. [b]
We succeeded to create magazines that have stood through time. We proved that the Greek publications can compete with the foreign ones, and be better in terms of quality. Taking in mind the desires and pursues of our readers, we created magazines such as Î?Î?Î?Î?Î?, unique globally on Disney's world. Hunting the tendencies and desires of the readers, we started changes even now. [b]Unfortunately, only fragments of that change did we manage to apply, which was however noticed by our core readers. But our time was over.
I hope we will have again the chance to cooperate with Disney,on bases that correspond to the Greek reality [b] , so we can offer the readers what we learned to do right. Good magazines and books.
[b] When Greece adopted Euro (2002), the prices for almost everything skyrocketed. Even the price of bread which we use as a basic measurement, went slowly from 50 Drachmas (0.15?¬) to 0.50?¬. Over 200% raise. The Mickey Mouse magazine however, kept his price until 6 April 2007, #2125, which was 1.20?¬ for 100 pages. Since then, Mickey Mouse remained steadily at 1.50?¬ for the same amount of pages. Take in mind that the extreme austerity measures started in late 2010. I think it's a great achievement that they managed to keep this price so low until the middle of 2013.
[b] Phrases such are those, are what made those rumors Tightwad referred. But even here, we can not be sure for anything. For example, we don't know if the negotiations they mentioned happened with Disney or Î?Î?Î? / DOL, a larger company that was keeping 50.5% of Mr. Terzopoulos publishing company.
[b] This one pretty much sums up what the core readers felt. After years, the company decided to move to new directions. With the arrival of David Terzopoulos (the son), the company started new publishings such as PKNA, Floyd Gottfredson Library, re-arranged some magazines, started an online shop, etc. I don't know if David was responsible for it, but those things happened while he was on board. It's a pity that they stopped now, when it seems they were ready for big changes.
Press release: September 6, 2013 (When the last Mickey Mouse #2460-61 came out)
Quote from user: Christos TerzopoulosThis Friday the last Mickey Mouse came out. It was a difficult decision after 47 years of publication, but it was also enforced from the circumstances. The economic crisis brought many unpleasant changes in Greek families, and the consequences of it are well known. The declining sale numbers of newspapers and magazines, couldn't leave Mickey Mouse and all of the other Disney comics unaffected.
Less publishing numbers resulted in the raise of basic cost of publishing. One solution would be to increase the selling price, but this would only worsen the situation [b] . For this reason, we tried to find other solutions in order to relieve financially the magazine. Unfortunately there was no satisfactory solution. We can not address more on this topic because it's prohibited by the confidentiality of negotiations. [b]
We succeeded to create magazines that have stood through time. We proved that the Greek publications can compete with the foreign ones, and be better in terms of quality. Taking in mind the desires and pursues of our readers, we created magazines such as Î?Î?Î?Î?Î?, unique globally on Disney's world. Hunting the tendencies and desires of the readers, we started changes even now. [b]Unfortunately, only fragments of that change did we manage to apply, which was however noticed by our core readers. But our time was over.
I hope we will have again the chance to cooperate with Disney,on bases that correspond to the Greek reality [b] , so we can offer the readers what we learned to do right. Good magazines and books.
[b] When Greece adopted Euro (2002), the prices for almost everything skyrocketed. Even the price of bread which we use as a basic measurement, went slowly from 50 Drachmas (0.15?¬) to 0.50?¬. Over 200% raise. The Mickey Mouse magazine however, kept his price until 6 April 2007, #2125, which was 1.20?¬ for 100 pages. Since then, Mickey Mouse remained steadily at 1.50?¬ for the same amount of pages. Take in mind that the extreme austerity measures started in late 2010. I think it's a great achievement that they managed to keep this price so low until the middle of 2013.
[b] Phrases such are those, are what made those rumors Tightwad referred. But even here, we can not be sure for anything. For example, we don't know if the negotiations they mentioned happened with Disney or Î?Î?Î? / DOL, a larger company that was keeping 50.5% of Mr. Terzopoulos publishing company.
[b] This one pretty much sums up what the core readers felt. After years, the company decided to move to new directions. With the arrival of David Terzopoulos (the son), the company started new publishings such as PKNA, Floyd Gottfredson Library, re-arranged some magazines, started an online shop, etc. I don't know if David was responsible for it, but those things happened while he was on board. It's a pity that they stopped now, when it seems they were ready for big changes.
Tightwad
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 9 -
2013-09-13 at 12:00:37
The problem is that even if they maintain a sole publication (presumably, "Mickey Mouse") it would be improbable that the profit would render the debt sustainable at this point.
Tightwad
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 10 -
2013-09-14 at 11:56:30
So, I was discussing this with a couple of guys from the same forum me and Phantom are from.
Since Terzopoulos isn't officially bankrupt (since they are pretty much owned by DOL now), they could make a rapid transition to webcomics and online publications with the Disney rights they still have. Would be a pretty interesting project, actually. The digital nature of the publications would minimize the costs while maintaining (a much smaller) revenue.
Since Terzopoulos isn't officially bankrupt (since they are pretty much owned by DOL now), they could make a rapid transition to webcomics and online publications with the Disney rights they still have. Would be a pretty interesting project, actually. The digital nature of the publications would minimize the costs while maintaining (a much smaller) revenue.
Review Or Die
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 11 -
2013-09-14 at 20:32:44
That would be an interesting approach. It would actually open up some creative options that weren't available previously, if your comic sizes are like ours, in the 32-page range.
PhantomDuck
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 12 -
2013-09-14 at 22:17:25
We followed mainly the Italian format, which means smaller size, more pages, and stories with 3 rows panels per page (instead of 4) to fit the smaller size. For example, some of the main publications were
KOMIX: Monthly, WDC&S-size (4 rows panels per page), 84 pages, 3?¬
Donald: Monthly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 84 pages, 2?¬
Disney Classics: Bimonthly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 164 pages, 2?¬
Mickey Mouse: Weekly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 100 pages, 1.50?¬
KOMIX: Monthly, WDC&S-size (4 rows panels per page), 84 pages, 3?¬
Donald: Monthly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 84 pages, 2?¬
Disney Classics: Bimonthly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 164 pages, 2?¬
Mickey Mouse: Weekly, Topolino-size (3 rows panels per page), 100 pages, 1.50?¬
MrCleveland
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 13 -
2013-09-20 at 03:00:34
I feel you Greece...
Sooooo many comics and stories, and yet...no more for the country. The U.S. is trying to find someone to publish Disney Comics.
Sooooo many comics and stories, and yet...no more for the country. The U.S. is trying to find someone to publish Disney Comics.
RonaldDeen
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 14 -
2013-10-07 at 13:26:51
Thanks for this useful information.
Nelzon
Most Disney comics cease publication in Greece
Message 15 -
2013-10-13 at 15:34:21
Too bad and I feel for the Greek readers... I hope this situation can turn around soon... Here in Portugal they started publishing comics one year ago (thank god!) and since so far seems to be going at a good pace...
I am still impressed that they don't do it still in the US... I am waiting for those...
I am still impressed that they don't do it still in the US... I am waiting for those...
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