Keskustelujen arkisto

In the latest WDC&S there's a letter from a 13-year-old kid named Wyatt Inlow who asks:

Quote:[...] I am also kind of getting tired of "Double Duck" and the long stories in WDC&S that take a few issues to finish. That stuff is good and all, but it's not as good as how Disney Comics used to be. I love the new stuff by Vicar, Rota, Jippes, Branca and everyone else, but I really also love Barks and Rosa and Van Horn. [...] I think you should make Disney Comics like they used to be, with new stuff along with a little bit of the older stuff. I think you should make two new titles for those incredibly long stories. That way you could leave the other titles like they were and still print the superhero stuff.
That's exactly how I think about it. But BOOM's editor Christopher Meyer replies:

Quote:[...] There are a lot of great short stories out there, but as you've seen there are a lot of great longer ones too! The fact is that longer, multi-issue stories have become an industry standard across the field, and most readers these days tend to expect multi-part stories in their comics regardless of the company or character.

That said, we have also been making a concerted effort lately to fit in shorter, classic stories in the monthlies where possible. Look no further than the upcoming WIZARD OF MICKEY #6-8, which will proudly feature the classic Paul Murry story "The Sorcerer of Donnybrook Castle".
Personally I don't get the feeling that BOOM knows what's out there. It seems to me that they think there are only two type of stories: either 200+ page Italian multi-part series OR old classics by Barks and others that have been reprinted many times. That's not what Wyatt is talking about though! He's asking for shorter modern stories in the traditional Barks style, from current artists such as Jippes and Rota. Gemstone used to do such an excellent job picking the best new stories and mixing them with old classics. That is of course a lot of extra work, and it looks to me that BOOM is just taking the easy way out by picking a single story that will cover 12+ issues of a series and be done with it.

Long multi-part stories may be the industry standard in non-Disney comics, but I certainly don't think it's the case in Disney comics in other countries. I find them completely inappropriate for BOOM's short monthly comics like U$ and WDC&S. Stories like Wizards of Mickey may be printed in Italian Topolino, but that weekly comic has 164 pages!! A single chapter of Wizards of Mickey or Ultraheroes is printed alongside many other stories each week. In other countries Wizards of Mickey appears in pocket books like Lustiges Taschenbuch or in dedicated series. The majority of stories in other weekly and monthly Disney comics across the world remain traditional shorter stories.

BOOM's comics on the other hand have far fewer pages so even individual chapters of these multi-part stories have to be cut off and there's no space for anything else. Lately it looks like BOOM is printing in each issue approximately two-thirds of a single chapter of something like Ultraheroes and then there's about 4 or 5 pages left and they fill it with part of a 20 or 24 page other story. I think this is crazy. All stories are awkwardly cut off in this matter and one never gets a complete story for their $2.99.

Quote from user: arthurLong multi-part stories may be the industry standard in non-Disney comics, but I certainly don't think it's the case in Disney comics in other countries. I find them completely inappropriate for BOOM's short monthly comics like U$ and WDC&S. Stories like Wizards of Mickey may be printed in Italian Topolino, but that weekly comic has 164 pages!! A single chapter of Wizards of Mickey or Ultraheroes is printed alongside many other stories each week. In other countries Wizards of Mickey appears in pocket books like Lustiges Taschenbuch or in dedicated series. The majority of stories in other weekly and monthly Disney comics across the world remain traditional shorter stories.

BOOM's comics on the other hand have far fewer pages so even individual chapters of these multi-part stories have to be cut off and there's no space for anything else. Lately it looks like BOOM is printing in each issue approximately two-thirds of a single chapter of something like Ultraheroes and then there's about 4 or 5 pages left and they fill it with part of a 20 or 24 page other story. I think this is crazy. All stories are awkwardly cut off in this matter and one never gets a complete story for their $2.99.
The Belgian "Mickey Magazine" stopped because of just that in 1959, after 9 years of business. Looking at what Boom's doing today, what the Belgians did and what Gemstone did, I'm amazed if they make it through 2012. I'm actually amazed that Boom after nearly 1 year still manages to do it. Still, I'm giving them 2 1/2 years and they're out.

Hey, Boom people--I know you're reading this, so answer me: if WE don't like your comics, and KIDS don't like your comics--both of which seem to he the case--then who exactly do you think you're appealing to? Yeah, okay, you felt you had to do SOMETHING different than Gemstone, but this "something different" appears to be working out for you even WORSE than what Gemstone did. What are you thinking? How is this a winning scenario? I mean, maybe there IS no winning scenario, unfortunately, but dudes--if you're not willing to at least make an effort, you *deserve* to fail. C'mon.

I agree Geox. Kids will notice that Barks stories are of far superior quality than a lot of the stuff that Boom is currently printing, but so will the parents that pick up these comics for their kids.
Another problem I have with some of the Italian stories like Ultraheroes is that it's a bit difficult to follow if you don't already know the whole Italian comics universe. In Ultraheroes there are several characters that I had never seen before, which makes it complicated even for me, and I've been reading Disney comics for 25 years. In Uncle Scrooge they're trying something different with DuckTales, but the latest U$ 393 has a story about Gizmoduck. Why? Why pick these stories with strange characters and not just start simple with some good ol' Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse stories where these characters are themselves?!

That's a good idea Charlie Brown but I heard if Boom stops publishing Disney Comics then Marvel will take over. They once published the modern Disney Comics titles from 1994 to 1997. I don't know how well they would do with the classic characters. You people are right. The Disney Comics should be published by people who know what they are doing and it seems like the people at Boom don't know what they're doing.

That is true but They don't want to have anything to do with the USA other than sending their stories.

Arthur:
>>BOOM's comics on the other hand have far fewer pages so even individual chapters of these multi-part stories have to be cut off and there's no space for anything else. Lately it looks like BOOM is printing in each issue approximately two-thirds of a single chapter of something like Ultraheroes and then there's about 4 or 5 pages left and they fill it with part of a 20 or 24 page other story. I think this is crazy. All stories are awkwardly cut off in this matter and one never gets a complete story for their $2.99.

You are right. This problem could be resolved increasing the number of pages from 23/24 to 40/50. So they could publish the chapters of long multipart stories and short stories in their wholeness in the same issue.

>>Carl Barks produced approximately 6,000 pages of stories. With 22 of comic pages per issue that would be enough material to fill two monthly series for over 11 years. If they mix Barks stories with newer Egmont material they can easily double that time.

I agree. Barks is the BEST author of all time. His long stories are masterpieces as well as his ten pagers. He deserves to have a comic book dedicated to his work. His stories should be read by everyone.

Geox
>> the difference in quality between Barks and the current Italian bilge they're running is dramatic
You are right but this is because BOOM didn't choose the best italian stories ever made but poor recent stories (Casty is an exception). If, instead of publishing Wizards of Mickey or Double Duck, Boom had chosen the stories by Romano Scarpa, Luciano Bottaro, Giorgio Pezzin, Rodolfo Cimino, G.B. Carpi, Carlo Chendi, Guido Martina etc. perhaps you would have enjoyed these stories. I have never liked modern italian stories published on "Topolino", I preferred to read reprints of old italian stories on "I classici" or "I grandi classici" or "Le grandi parodie" etc. If you look at INDUCKS TOP 100, you'll see that in the Top 100 there are http://coa.inducks.org/recommend.php?top100 33 italian stories and 67 american stories. 26 italian stories in the Top 100 were never published in the USA. Branca, Van Horn and Vicar don't appear in the Top 100. This means that italian authors have created great masterpieces. Branca, Van Horn and Vicar created funny stories but not masterpieces. I think that masterpieces should have the priority.

The 26 stories in the Top 100 still unpublished are:
1)Guerra e Pace (by GB Carpi, TL 1604 (1986), Parody of "Peace and War", 14th)
2)PK il diabolico vendicatore (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 706 (1969), first Paperinik story, 16th)
3)Topolino e la spada di ghiaccio (by M. De Vita, TL 1411 (1982), first story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 23th)
4)Topolino e la collana Chirikawa (by R. Scarpa, TL 230 (1960), third Atomo Bleep-Bleep story, 30th)
5)Paperino e i gamberi in salmì (by R. Scarpa, TL 132 (1956), first story with Gideon McDuck, 39th)
6)Il mistero dei candelabri (by GB Carpi, TL 1743 (1989), parody of "Les Miserables", 40th)
7)Zio Paperone e il rimbombo lunare (by G. Martina and R. Scarpa, TL 749 (1970), first chapter of multi-part saga "History and glory of the Duck Dynasty, 41th)
8)Topolino e il torneo dell'Argaar (by M. De Vita, TL 1464 (1983), second story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 42th)
9)Il Dr. Paperus (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 188 (1958), parody of "Dr. Faustus", 45th)
10)Paperino e il vento del sud (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 1396 (1982), parody of "Gone with the wind", 46th)
11)Topolino e l'Atlantide continente perduto (by G. Pezzin and M. De Vita, TL 1638 (1987), story of the "Time Machine Saga", a saga in which Mickey and Goofy use a time machine invented by professors Zapotec and Marlin in order to solve the great mysteries of history, 50th)
12)Topolino e l'uomo di Altacraz (by R. Scarpa, TL 380 (1963), 57th)
13)Paperin furioso (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 544 (1966), parody of "Orlando furioso", 59th)
14)Paperino e il razzo interplanetario (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 230 (1960), first Rebo (the dictator of Saturn) story, 62th)
15)Topolino e il ritorno del principe delle nebbie (by M. De Vita, TL 1517 (1984), third story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 65th)
16)Topolino e l'enigma di Mu (by M. De Vita,TL 1238 (1979), first Zapotec story, 71th)
17)La storia di Marco Polo detta il milione (by G. Martina and R. Scarpa, TL 1409 (1982), parody of the story of Marco Polo, 73th)
18)Topolino imperatore della Calidornia (by R. Scarpa, TL 274 (1961), fourth Atomo Bleep-Bleep story, 74th)
19)Paperino e l'avventura sottomarina (by R. Cimino and G. Cavazzano, TL 873 (1972), first Reginella story; Reginella is a female duck alien who live in a submarine world; she and Donald love each other but their love is impossible, 79th)
20)La leggenda di Paperin Hood (by R. Scarpa, TL 228 (1960), parody of "Robin Hood", 82th)
21)Anderville (by T. Faraci and G. Cavazzano, MM 0-1 (1999), first issue of "Anderville", 85th)
22)Paperolimpiadi (by R. Scarpa, TL 1705 (1988), saga about 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, 86th)
23)Paperino e il re del fiume d'oro (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 270 (1961), 88th)
24)Topolino e lo strappo cronospaziale (by A. Sisti and M. De Vita, TL 1959 (1993), Time Machine, 90th)
25)Topolino e il ritorno al passato (by M. Marconi and M. De Vita, TL 1672 (1987), Time Machine and Nostradamus, 93th)
26)Topolino e la fiamma eterna di Kalhoa (by R. Scarpa, TL 303 (1961), 99th)

Boom had better to publish these unpublished stories AND Barks, Rosa and Floyd classics AND Egmont stories.

Quote from user: CasmikiThe 26 stories in the Top 100 still unpublished are:
1)Guerra e Pace (by GB Carpi, TL 1604 (1986), Parody of "Peace and War", 14th)
2)PK il diabolico vendicatore (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 706 (1969), first Paperinik story, 16th)
3)Topolino e la spada di ghiaccio (by M. De Vita, TL 1411 (1982), first story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 23th)
4)Topolino e la collana Chirikawa (by R. Scarpa, TL 230 (1960), third Atomo Bleep-Bleep story, 30th)
5)Paperino e i gamberi in salmì (by R. Scarpa, TL 132 (1956), first story with Gideon McDuck, 39th)
6)Il mistero dei candelabri (by GB Carpi, TL 1743 (1989), parody of "Les Miserables", 40th)
7)Zio Paperone e il rimbombo lunare (by G. Martina and R. Scarpa, TL 749 (1970), first chapter of multi-part saga "History and glory of the Duck Dynasty, 41th)
8)Topolino e il torneo dell'Argaar (by M. De Vita, TL 1464 (1983), second story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 42th)
9)Il Dr. Paperus (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 188 (1958), parody of "Dr. Faustus", 45th)
10)Paperino e il vento del sud (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 1396 (1982), parody of "Gone with the wind", 46th)
11)Topolino e l'Atlantide continente perduto (by G. Pezzin and M. De Vita, TL 1638 (1987), story of the "Time Machine Saga", a saga in which Mickey and Goofy use a time machine invented by professors Zapotec and Marlin in order to solve the great mysteries of history, 50th)
12)Topolino e l'uomo di Altacraz (by R. Scarpa, TL 380 (1963), 57th)
13)Paperin furioso (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 544 (1966), parody of "Orlando furioso", 59th)
14)Paperino e il razzo interplanetario (by C. Chendi and L. Bottaro, TL 230 (1960), first Rebo (the dictator of Saturn) story, 62th)
15)Topolino e il ritorno del principe delle nebbie (by M. De Vita, TL 1517 (1984), third story of the "Ice Sword Saga", 65th)
16)Topolino e l'enigma di Mu (by M. De Vita,TL 1238 (1979), first Zapotec story, 71th)
17)La storia di Marco Polo detta il milione (by G. Martina and R. Scarpa, TL 1409 (1982), parody of the story of Marco Polo, 73th)
18)Topolino imperatore della Calidornia (by R. Scarpa, TL 274 (1961), fourth Atomo Bleep-Bleep story, 74th)
19)Paperino e l'avventura sottomarina (by R. Cimino and G. Cavazzano, TL 873 (1972), first Reginella story; Reginella is a female duck alien who live in a submarine world; she and Donald love each other but their love is impossible, 79th)
20)La leggenda di Paperin Hood (by R. Scarpa, TL 228 (1960), parody of "Robin Hood", 82th)
21)Anderville (by T. Faraci and G. Cavazzano, MM 0-1 (1999), first issue of "Anderville", 85th)
22)Paperolimpiadi (by R. Scarpa, TL 1705 (1988), saga about 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, 86th)
23)Paperino e il re del fiume d'oro (by G. Martina and GB Carpi, TL 270 (1961), 88th)
24)Topolino e lo strappo cronospaziale (by A. Sisti and M. De Vita, TL 1959 (1993), Time Machine, 90th)
25)Topolino e il ritorno al passato (by M. Marconi and M. De Vita, TL 1672 (1987), Time Machine and Nostradamus, 93th)
26)Topolino e la fiamma eterna di Kalhoa (by R. Scarpa, TL 303 (1961), 99th)

Boom had better to publish these unpublished stories AND Barks, Rosa and Floyd classics AND Egmont stories.
Casmiki: Amen to your post. Just a little correction - Reginella is a penguin!