quote:
Originally posted by Rob Kamphausen:
[QB]here we go:prollum 1) gimmicks vs events.
there's a line, however thin, in comics that divides the gimmicks from the events.
events are beneficial. they make attempts at garnering new readers, while pleasing current readers. they're purposeful tales that advance characters and/or storylines. typically very memorable.
gimmicks are hurtful. they make attempts at garnering new readers, while pissing off current readers. they're purposeless tales that do nothing for characters and/or storylines. unfortunately very memorable.
My problem with comics is that everything is gimmicks. Comic book companies are not doing enough to lure in readers from outside the field. The last big upswing we had in comics ciculation began after the release of the first Batman movie in 1989. DC went all out and did everything they could to pull readers into comic book stores. They published all kinds of different Batman books and comics, licensed the hell out of the character and made finally made him a hot commodity. They did a great job, until some of the other companies pissed it all down the drain with overburdening the market with too many damn gimmicks and other crap. Companies (DC was guilty of it too, but not in the extreme ways of Marvel, Valiant and Image) began to focus more on the short-term profit, and didn't plan anything for the future. Now we have a market place that is about half the size of what it was before Batman came out.
Marvel really missed the boat two years ago with the release of X-Men. They had a once in a lifetime opportunity to draw in readers, and they squandered it away. Hell, it even cost Bob Harras his job. From what I've seen of Marvel's publishing schedule for next year, it looks like they've learned their lesson and will be hammering people with Spider-Man stuff. I think that's a good thing. Anything that draws new readers in is a good thing...
I think Dark Horse really missed the boat a few years back with the release of Phantom Menace also. Sure they published a few tie-ins, but I don't think they really marketed them correctly. Why didn't they negotiate a deal with Blockbuster to get them put up at cash registers when the videos or DVD's came out? How about Best Buy or Circuit City? Chances are that if people go into buy/rent the video or DVD, and see some of the books sitting there, they may be curious and check them out. Sure, they got stuff into some of the book major book store chains, but people don't usually walk into there off of the street looking for Star Wars stuff. The ones that do, probably already are aware of the SW comics and either don't wanna waste their time on 'em, or already have them. DC sold the Batman adaption at popcorn counters in movie theaters. Can you imagine how many copies of those books are out floating around from parents who bought them at the theater to shut their kids up?
This is the kind of mass marketing that comics need to focus on if they want to expand. Sure, you can get people psyched by offering a new Alex Ross or Frank Miller project, but the only people who are gonna care are people who are already buying comic books. People who don't pay any attention to comics have no idea that this stuff is out there...
