Keskustelujen arkisto

Just to stir the pot a little...
Some of the talk in this thead about "Getting Americans to create stories for American audiences" and "Get some of the top creators" seems familiar to me. It sounds a lot like what Disney tried in their self-publishing venture twenty years ago (Grife in a hat...it really has been that long, hasn't it?) New titles based on hot characters of the day, superstar comic creators like Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, and John Byrne.
And we all know what happened there.
In other words, I guess we mean "Get top American creators, write for the American audience, but don't do it like Disney did"
To get a little closer to topic, the sales figures are depressing me, because I've actually enjoyed most of Boom's offerings thus far. I'd hoped that them having to go back to press with second printings of US 384, WDC 699, and MM 296 was a good omen. I guess not.
I just hoped they'd do well, because at this point if the Disney characters move anywhere, it'll be freaking Marvel. That happens and the legacy titles will be really really dead: They'll all be started over at #1 and have holochrome foil covers and Wolverine will guest star in them every month. I'd rather eat a plate of foof bombs than see that.

I think Arthur makes the crucial point here--due to their serialized nature, the Boom! books are designed to lose readers. There's really no way they could do anything else. It would be unreasonable to expect anyone to start buying the line in the middle of a series, and you have to expect at least SOME attrition from people--even big Disney fans--who've decided they don't like the story. So what else could possibly happen? It's also worth pointing out that Boom! may have shot themselves in the foot a bit by making it clear more or less from the start that these stories are all going to be collected soon enough in trade paperbacks anyway, causing fans to hold off on the individual issues.

Quote from user: KneonThe other thought here... do you think there are simply too many monthlies on the stands now, and they're diluting their readership?
I am currently 'subscribed' at my local comic shop to all 6 classic titles plus The Incredibles, but I am thinking about stopping some of them because it's too much of the same stuff and I don't like it enough. With Gemstone's comics it was always a surprise what would be in the next issue and I looked forward to reading the letters columns and articles, but I am finding myself less interested in these comics as each month goes by.

All in all I do love the fact that Disney comics are back in this country, it's great that they're available at my local book stores, the covers are beautiful, translations have much improved since the first ones came out last year, the hardcover books I have bought are very nicely done and I think it's great that BOOM! is on Facebook, Twitter, have a forum etc, which makes them more accessible. But what I don't like is the selection of stories and that these long sagas hijack a title for multiple months. If the regular titles (WDC&S, US, MM and DD) had a better selection of stories -- a mix of classic reprints vs new material and long and short stories (max 1 or 2 issues long) -- I would certainly continue to buy them.

April 2010 ICv2 numbers posted. Looks like April was a pretty lean month for the direct market overall, with the #300 book only moving 2,900 copies. The upside for Disney readers? Donald Duck and Friends made the cut this month. The downside? Since Disney's Hero Squad and Wizards of Mickey didn't make an appearance, I can only assume that each of those books sold under 2,900 copies in April. :-/
Again, these numbers are direct market only and do not account for sales outside of comic book specialty shops. I'll be going to Walt Disney World next week and am hoping to see some of the books for sale down there!

I am one of them too.
I would have loved if they had continued the Daan Jippes Collection (it still is noted at amazon).
It´s such a shame.

I almost wonder if they'd have more success reverting Uncle Scrooge and Walt Disney's Comics & Stories to a format similar to Gemstone's for the mature, hardcore fans... then publish other supplemental monthlies and trades for the kids...?
I like that Boom! has been willing to take chances and go after younger readers (kids are, after all, future "mature" readers in the making!) but you don't want to lose the existing readership in the process. Gladstone/Gemstone readers were some of the most dedicated fans in all of comicdom, and it's a shame some of them feel alienated now.
And no, I haven't been buying the monthlies myself. I usually wait for the trade paperback. But that's true across the board for me, not just with the Disney material.

Oh, and Kneon -- I keep forgetting to mention that the comics are also available in both US parks, US Disney Stores, and the Soda Fountain store in LA. I don't have the title lists at-hand but they all stock different books according to their customer needs.

Quote from user: JessePostHi everyone,

I know the thread has drifted away from the "hey, I can't find Boom comics in my town!" way back when, but I promised to keep you updated on distro news as it happens. All Disney Boom TPBs are now available at Wal-Mart, in addition to the existing distro through comics stores, book trade chain stores, and newsstands. Again, for anyone who is still stuck without, direct mail orders can be placed through the Boom Kids site.
Thanks for letting us know. Good to hear Boom is getting into Wal-Mart.

And good to see we haven't scared you away. :)