After reading the comments from Mr. Sparrow over at the Negaverse.net forums, it appears that the success of the Disney line of comics happened not due to Boom, but in spite of it. It seems like it was the work of a few beleaguered editors that made the line successful while Boom itself did evereything it could to shoot itself in the foot.
I'm siding with Kneon on this one; Boom has been nothing but a pretty hype machine. I'm glad they're done. I'm already looking forward to the next era.
Author
Topic: Uh-oh...
(312 messages)
Vesuvius
Uh-oh...
Message 226 -
2011-07-27 at 03:08:47
Roger North
Uh-oh...
Message 227 -
2011-07-27 at 03:57:41
Ramapith I agree that Gemstone has published a lot of good stories. I can't say too much about Boom because I haven't read too many of their stories except for Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers in Worldwide Rescue Part 1 in which is in Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers #1 and that's sadly the only issue from Boom that I have. I happen to like a lot of the stories from the Gladstone II period. Those were great for people who can't afford the comic albums such as myself. In fact a lot of the Disney Comics Stories were good from The Gladstone I era and beyond. I don't favor any particular era but I do like a lot of the Disney Comics Stories especially the Duck Universe stories by Carl Barks and Don Rosa. Just Because a story is a reprint doesn't make it any less good. You could surprised at how many good stories are reprints.
Roger North
Uh-oh...
Message 228 -
2011-07-27 at 03:58:48
Well Here's hoping the next era will be a better one.
Snowpeck
Uh-oh...
Message 229 -
2011-07-27 at 12:51:39
If what Aaron Sparrow says is true, I don't blame Disney for getting angry over the cancellation of the classic titles (and shouldn't the Boom execs have known that it was a breach of contract to do so?)
Kneon
Uh-oh...
Message 230 -
2011-07-27 at 14:35:12
Former Boom! editor Aaron Sparrow dishes on Boom! over at Negaverse.net:
http://negaverse.net/oldhaunt/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1798&sid=92d3755c5c7d9bdb5c1a969a3f07f958
Wow! When it came to Disney comics, I knew Boom! were a little slow on the uptake -- but I had no idea just HOW slow.
Successful businesses hire excellent people, and then let them excel. Sounds like Sparrow's wings were clipped. He seems like a straight shooter, and I would've loved to work with him on something.
Sounds like he's got (hopefully) more latitude over at APE Entertainment and it would be great to see him on a Disney property over at Marvel. (Oh c'mon, you KNOW that's coming!)
http://negaverse.net/oldhaunt/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1798&sid=92d3755c5c7d9bdb5c1a969a3f07f958
Wow! When it came to Disney comics, I knew Boom! were a little slow on the uptake -- but I had no idea just HOW slow.
Successful businesses hire excellent people, and then let them excel. Sounds like Sparrow's wings were clipped. He seems like a straight shooter, and I would've loved to work with him on something.
Sounds like he's got (hopefully) more latitude over at APE Entertainment and it would be great to see him on a Disney property over at Marvel. (Oh c'mon, you KNOW that's coming!)
Baar Baar Jinx
Uh-oh...
Message 231 -
2011-07-27 at 15:09:43
Quote from user: snowpeckIf what Aaron Sparrow says is true, I don't blame Disney for getting angry over the cancellation of the classic titles (and shouldn't the Boom execs have known that it was a breach of contract to do so?)
I read the aforementioned Negaverse thread, but it doesn't look like we know yet exactly why Boom cancelled the classic line, or did I miss something? At any rate, it's obvious now that Boom, and not Disney, is mainly responsible for the current lack of a Disney comics publisher, and one can't help but wonder why they were interested in the license in the first place, when they obviously had no familiarity with Disney comics.
So has Boom officially lost the license in a way that it's now up for grabs? Or are they still able to sit on it until mid-2012 as has been suggested before? One positive nugget in the thread above is that Disney has at least a passing interest in their comics line, and maybe someone else would be willing to take over? Like Fantagraphics maybe?
I read the aforementioned Negaverse thread, but it doesn't look like we know yet exactly why Boom cancelled the classic line, or did I miss something? At any rate, it's obvious now that Boom, and not Disney, is mainly responsible for the current lack of a Disney comics publisher, and one can't help but wonder why they were interested in the license in the first place, when they obviously had no familiarity with Disney comics.
So has Boom officially lost the license in a way that it's now up for grabs? Or are they still able to sit on it until mid-2012 as has been suggested before? One positive nugget in the thread above is that Disney has at least a passing interest in their comics line, and maybe someone else would be willing to take over? Like Fantagraphics maybe?
Vesuvius
Uh-oh...
Message 232 -
2011-07-27 at 17:11:27
Maybe we should invite Mr. Sparrow here to this forum. It certainly seems like he has a lot of knowlege about what went wrong over at Boom...and it seems like he's pretty straightforward about the whole thing.
The article was a really fascinating read, it seems like the company just assumed that getting the Disney license would be like printing money...but I would like to know why Boom cancelled the classics line in the first place. It seemed like it was back on track and doing well.
The article was a really fascinating read, it seems like the company just assumed that getting the Disney license would be like printing money...but I would like to know why Boom cancelled the classics line in the first place. It seemed like it was back on track and doing well.
ZummiGummi
Uh-oh...
Message 233 -
2011-07-27 at 21:56:12
Quote from user: ramapithI agree with your last statement heartily.
Yet in light of that: no intent to be rude, but... wak! "Tired, safe reprints" might describe the earlier Gladstone II period??but at Gemstone, about 2/3 of the comics content was new to North America, and I've got the figures to prove it. If you'd given the books a try, you might have been surprised.
David, my apologies for the 'tired safe reprints' comment - it was totally unfair to bash the content of the books I hadn't read. I guess to be much fairer and specific, beyond the collector price points, it was the way things were designed and packaged during the Gemstone II period that I found it tough to connect with to be completely honest. The sudden dynamism of the covers and mix of old and new characters is what drew me to Boom's offerings and woke me up again. I liked the freshness of Double Duck's art and the risks taken to run those stories, plus the ambition of the multi arc Pixar books (finally adding new American produced content into the mix).
Knowing what I know now through your Boom involvement and discovering your excellent translation work through them, I'm certainly now much more inclined to step back in time and read what was inside the Gemstone books! I definitely realise I should have clarified my thoughts a little better, however : )
Yet in light of that: no intent to be rude, but... wak! "Tired, safe reprints" might describe the earlier Gladstone II period??but at Gemstone, about 2/3 of the comics content was new to North America, and I've got the figures to prove it. If you'd given the books a try, you might have been surprised.
David, my apologies for the 'tired safe reprints' comment - it was totally unfair to bash the content of the books I hadn't read. I guess to be much fairer and specific, beyond the collector price points, it was the way things were designed and packaged during the Gemstone II period that I found it tough to connect with to be completely honest. The sudden dynamism of the covers and mix of old and new characters is what drew me to Boom's offerings and woke me up again. I liked the freshness of Double Duck's art and the risks taken to run those stories, plus the ambition of the multi arc Pixar books (finally adding new American produced content into the mix).
Knowing what I know now through your Boom involvement and discovering your excellent translation work through them, I'm certainly now much more inclined to step back in time and read what was inside the Gemstone books! I definitely realise I should have clarified my thoughts a little better, however : )
Lars Jensen
Uh-oh...
Message 234 -
2011-07-27 at 21:59:18
Quote from user: ZummiGummiit was the way things were designed and packaged during the Gemstone II period
I'm confused. Do you mean "Gemstone" or "Gladstone II"?
I'm confused. Do you mean "Gemstone" or "Gladstone II"?
Ramapith
Uh-oh...
Message 235 -
2011-07-27 at 23:29:35
Quote from user: ZummiGummiDavid, my apologies for the 'tired safe reprints' comment - it was totally unfair to bash the content of the books I hadn't read.
Thanks, Zummi. But...Quote:I guess to be much fairer and specific, beyond the collector price points...
Er??collector price points? Really?
Forgive me for arguing again, but I'm afraid this is another misconception that seemed to fly around among non-readers of the Gemstone comics: that the comics were somehow more expensive than those of other publishers.
Gemstone sold 60 comics pages (in a 64-page comic; the other pages were ads) for $7.95; that breaks down to 13¢ per page. When Boom took over, they sold 22 comics pages (in a 24-page comic) for $2.95??and that's also 13¢ per page!
While it might have seemed appealing to buy a shorter book and pay less, the actual cost didn't change from one publisher to the next.
Thanks, Zummi. But...Quote:I guess to be much fairer and specific, beyond the collector price points...
Er??collector price points? Really?
Forgive me for arguing again, but I'm afraid this is another misconception that seemed to fly around among non-readers of the Gemstone comics: that the comics were somehow more expensive than those of other publishers.
Gemstone sold 60 comics pages (in a 64-page comic; the other pages were ads) for $7.95; that breaks down to 13¢ per page. When Boom took over, they sold 22 comics pages (in a 24-page comic) for $2.95??and that's also 13¢ per page!
While it might have seemed appealing to buy a shorter book and pay less, the actual cost didn't change from one publisher to the next.
Snowpeck
Uh-oh...
Message 236 -
2011-07-28 at 01:32:17
Quote from user: Baar Baar JinxQuote from user: snowpeckIf what Aaron Sparrow says is true, I don't blame Disney for getting angry over the cancellation of the classic titles (and shouldn't the Boom execs have known that it was a breach of contract to do so?)
I read the aforementioned Negaverse thread, but it doesn't look like we know yet exactly why Boom cancelled the classic line, or did I miss something? At any rate, it's obvious now that Boom, and not Disney, is mainly responsible for the current lack of a Disney comics publisher, and one can't help but wonder why they were interested in the license in the first place, when they obviously had no familiarity with Disney comics.
So has Boom officially lost the license in a way that it's now up for grabs? Or are they still able to sit on it until mid-2012 as has been suggested before? One positive nugget in the thread above is that Disney has at least a passing interest in their comics line, and maybe someone else would be willing to take over? Like Fantagraphics maybe?
This was the thread that should have been linked here....
http://negaverse.net/oldhaunt/viewtopic.php?p=29439#p29439
I read the aforementioned Negaverse thread, but it doesn't look like we know yet exactly why Boom cancelled the classic line, or did I miss something? At any rate, it's obvious now that Boom, and not Disney, is mainly responsible for the current lack of a Disney comics publisher, and one can't help but wonder why they were interested in the license in the first place, when they obviously had no familiarity with Disney comics.
So has Boom officially lost the license in a way that it's now up for grabs? Or are they still able to sit on it until mid-2012 as has been suggested before? One positive nugget in the thread above is that Disney has at least a passing interest in their comics line, and maybe someone else would be willing to take over? Like Fantagraphics maybe?
This was the thread that should have been linked here....
http://negaverse.net/oldhaunt/viewtopic.php?p=29439#p29439
Charlie Brown
Uh-oh...
Message 237 -
2011-07-28 at 07:18:33
Interessing post by Mr. Sparrow. Thanks for sharing.
One reason for me not buying Boom's classic titles (Uncle Scrooge and Comics&Stories) was the mulit-part story idea. I want to buy one book and get complete stories. Although Gemstone did it also from time to time, most stories were opened and closed within one issue. Regarding the selection of stories and the rate of reprints I really liked what Gemstone did.
One reason for me not buying Boom's classic titles (Uncle Scrooge and Comics&Stories) was the mulit-part story idea. I want to buy one book and get complete stories. Although Gemstone did it also from time to time, most stories were opened and closed within one issue. Regarding the selection of stories and the rate of reprints I really liked what Gemstone did.
Roger North
Uh-oh...
Message 238 -
2011-07-28 at 12:21:16
Me Too Charlie Brown.
Kneon
Uh-oh...
Message 239 -
2011-07-28 at 12:43:50
@snowpeck Sorry, didn't see that one!
For those who didn't click, Aaron Sparrow wrote...
"No, I wasn't talking about BOOM. They are definitely losing the license. I believe it has something to do with the contract with Disney being breached when BOOM made the decision to cancel UNCLE SCROOGE and WDC&S. However, Disney is letting them wrap up the series.
(As a side note, I've been told actually extended the Pixar license so BOOM could finish THE INCREDIBLES storyline, but BOOM chose not to and left it on a cliffhanger intentionally, perhaps as a "screw you," perhaps as a business decision...but I understand that since then, the relationship between the two companies has been rather contentious.)"
Gah! So many publishers were clamoring to get that license when it was up for grabs, and they just pissed it away like that.
Baffling.
I have to wonder if Boom! went into this thinking it would be easy money... because, you know, someone just had to come along and make Disney comics "the right way" and they'd sell themselves.
And they probably would have... if "the right way" didn't fly in the face of everything the fans actually wanted.
Maybe Disney initially believed Boom's (overactive) hype machine, and that's how they wound up with the license in the first place. Who knows?
Gosh, the fact that Aaron Sparrow had to *fight* to get Darkwing Duck in print says a lot. Here's a company that caters to the superhero-driven direct market, and they've got a *superhero* property with a huge built-in fanbase ready to roll. Yet they *still* balked. Un-be-lievable.
So they lost many hardcore Gladstone/Gemstone fans, and didn't pick up many new readers in the process.
And they were apparently dickish to their hardworking editors, and possible even to Disney themselves.
I don't feel the least bit sorry for Boom!, just those editors and freelancers who got caught up in this mess.
Make mine Marvel (or APE Entertainment? Hmm.)
(Side note: Speaking of disillusionment with Boom's hype machine: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/24/boom-panel-busts-at-san-diego-comic-con/ Oi! ;) )
For those who didn't click, Aaron Sparrow wrote...
"No, I wasn't talking about BOOM. They are definitely losing the license. I believe it has something to do with the contract with Disney being breached when BOOM made the decision to cancel UNCLE SCROOGE and WDC&S. However, Disney is letting them wrap up the series.
(As a side note, I've been told actually extended the Pixar license so BOOM could finish THE INCREDIBLES storyline, but BOOM chose not to and left it on a cliffhanger intentionally, perhaps as a "screw you," perhaps as a business decision...but I understand that since then, the relationship between the two companies has been rather contentious.)"
Gah! So many publishers were clamoring to get that license when it was up for grabs, and they just pissed it away like that.
Baffling.
I have to wonder if Boom! went into this thinking it would be easy money... because, you know, someone just had to come along and make Disney comics "the right way" and they'd sell themselves.
And they probably would have... if "the right way" didn't fly in the face of everything the fans actually wanted.
Maybe Disney initially believed Boom's (overactive) hype machine, and that's how they wound up with the license in the first place. Who knows?
Gosh, the fact that Aaron Sparrow had to *fight* to get Darkwing Duck in print says a lot. Here's a company that caters to the superhero-driven direct market, and they've got a *superhero* property with a huge built-in fanbase ready to roll. Yet they *still* balked. Un-be-lievable.
So they lost many hardcore Gladstone/Gemstone fans, and didn't pick up many new readers in the process.
And they were apparently dickish to their hardworking editors, and possible even to Disney themselves.
I don't feel the least bit sorry for Boom!, just those editors and freelancers who got caught up in this mess.
Make mine Marvel (or APE Entertainment? Hmm.)
(Side note: Speaking of disillusionment with Boom's hype machine: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/24/boom-panel-busts-at-san-diego-comic-con/ Oi! ;) )
Baar Baar Jinx
Uh-oh...
Message 240 -
2011-07-28 at 15:18:33
Quote from user: KneonFor those who didn't click, Aaron Sparrow wrote...
"No, I wasn't talking about BOOM. They are definitely losing the license. I believe it has something to do with the contract with Disney being breached when BOOM made the decision to cancel UNCLE SCROOGE and WDC&S. However, Disney is letting them wrap up the series.
Why was the decision made to cancel the classic line? Was it financial? More importantly, did sales pick up after the so-called "classic revolution of 2011"? This would have a huge impact on any future publisher's interest in picking up the license, and what direction they would take. I would have no interest in another Ultraheroes/Wizards of Mickey type line, but if the shift back to the collectors' market (which Boom did an admirable job on) boosted sales, the next publisher would be more likely to cater to the collectors' crowd. It's been discussed on this thread before that neither Gladstone II nor Gemstone folded because of poor sales, but if Boom's Disney line did, that might make future publishers wary.
Getting Mr. Sparrow to comment on this thread would indeed be very insightful, if he's willing.
Quote from user: KneonGah! So many publishers were clamoring to get that license when it was up for grabs, and they just pissed it away like that.
Is this true? Were other companies vying for the license that ultimately went to Boom? That would be encouraging, since the license is up for grabs again. Do you know what other companies were interested?
Quote from user: KneonSo they lost many hardcore Gladstone/Gemstone fans, and didn't pick up many new readers in the process.
Most other boards are more concerned with the future of the Disney afternoon line, but any Disney line with say, "Darkwing Duck", and no "Uncle Scrooge" wouldn't seem like a real Disney line. Might we see a "split" between the "classic" and "modern" lines like we did in the mid-90s? Although it's debatable whether the Disney Afternoon can be considered "modern" anymore. I just shudder at the thought of Scrooge and Comics & Stories in Marvel's hands (although it's probably better than no issues at all).
"No, I wasn't talking about BOOM. They are definitely losing the license. I believe it has something to do with the contract with Disney being breached when BOOM made the decision to cancel UNCLE SCROOGE and WDC&S. However, Disney is letting them wrap up the series.
Why was the decision made to cancel the classic line? Was it financial? More importantly, did sales pick up after the so-called "classic revolution of 2011"? This would have a huge impact on any future publisher's interest in picking up the license, and what direction they would take. I would have no interest in another Ultraheroes/Wizards of Mickey type line, but if the shift back to the collectors' market (which Boom did an admirable job on) boosted sales, the next publisher would be more likely to cater to the collectors' crowd. It's been discussed on this thread before that neither Gladstone II nor Gemstone folded because of poor sales, but if Boom's Disney line did, that might make future publishers wary.
Getting Mr. Sparrow to comment on this thread would indeed be very insightful, if he's willing.
Quote from user: KneonGah! So many publishers were clamoring to get that license when it was up for grabs, and they just pissed it away like that.
Is this true? Were other companies vying for the license that ultimately went to Boom? That would be encouraging, since the license is up for grabs again. Do you know what other companies were interested?
Quote from user: KneonSo they lost many hardcore Gladstone/Gemstone fans, and didn't pick up many new readers in the process.
Most other boards are more concerned with the future of the Disney afternoon line, but any Disney line with say, "Darkwing Duck", and no "Uncle Scrooge" wouldn't seem like a real Disney line. Might we see a "split" between the "classic" and "modern" lines like we did in the mid-90s? Although it's debatable whether the Disney Afternoon can be considered "modern" anymore. I just shudder at the thought of Scrooge and Comics & Stories in Marvel's hands (although it's probably better than no issues at all).