Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.comics
Subject: Re: DC is now #3
From: rickard@anasazi.com (Ronald J. Rickard Jr)
Date: 31 Aug 92 08:35:04 GMT
Organization: Anasazi Inc, Phoenix AZ USA

In article <1992Aug30.131819.12498@zia.aoc.nrao.edu> jogle@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Jim Ogle (Ks. Jim)) writes:

>What I heard was that advance orders for Image stuff pushed Malibu
>(Image's distributor) over DC in number of issues sold to dealers last
>month (may have been the month before that) but that is mostly due to
>the hype and hoopla surrounding Image right now (and things like
>investors ordering/buying 10 copies of each Image #1 foolishly hoping
>that they can sell them in 5 years and retire on the profits).
>
>I expect that this trend won't last more than another month, assuming
>that Image doesn't keep coming out with first issues or other gimmicky
>ways of artifically boosting their sales.  I mean, they've got what,
>six titles or so?  There can't be so many fanboys willing to buy
>umpteen copies of each Image title that six books will outsell DC's
>dozens (Lord, I hope not) once the initial hype settles down.
>

I don't think Images will be slowing down.  I think as the months go by, they
will be putting out more titles.  DC is definitely going, if they are not
already, to be #3 as far as sales, and unless things turn around for them,
I wouldn't be surprised if Valiant or Dark Horse, both of which have been
picking up momentum, push DC down to #4 or #5 in a few years.

Not being a big DCer, only picking up a few titles here and there, I wonder
what other people think might be DCs problem.  I don't believe that the so
called "fan boys" not buying DC because they are good reading instead of 
all issue punch-im-in-the-face stories is the reason.  Personally, from what I 
have read from DC, although I'm sure they have some good books, some are also
very ... disappointing.  The JLA Spectacular (?) is a good example of what
I am talking about.  I was actually considering giving the JLA a chance, but
I found that particular book somewhat ... tedious.  I have also tried giving
Lobo a chance, due to the hype probably, and found the first mini-series 
rather dumb.  (No flames please, this is just my opinion.)  

Another reason I don't think it is the "fan boys" who are ruining DC is 
because of the attention Valiant has been getting lately.  They are producing
quality work and are, as I said before, gaining momentum.  If I understand
what everyone on the net means by a "fan boy", then Valiants are not 
getting thier attention.  

As for whether or not I think Images or any other company will be able to
challenge Marvel's domination of the market, I personally am doubtful.  
Marvel is able to produce books that appeal to ALL the different age
groups that collect and read, and Image has been appealing to the 
younger readers.  This will keep Marvel on top for the foreseeable 
future.

As you can tell from all this, I am very open to buying books from any 
company, as long as I find the books enjoyable.  I won't knock what anyone
reads, just so long as they do buy the books to READ them.  I have found
interesting and good books at Marvel, especially with Ghost Rider and some 
of thier mainstays.  DC hasn't really been getting much of my attention
lately, but I have been trying some of thier books.  Most recently, I have
tried the various Green Lantern books, but found all but the main title
uninteresting.  I am looking forward to Ganthet's Tale (?) and a few new
up and comings from them, but I'll have to wait and see.  From Dark Horse,
for a while, I had been interested in what they were doing with Predator
and Aliens (loved the Batman vs Alien book by the way), but recently, Star
Wars: Dark Empire has really caught my attention.  I find most anything I
pick up from Valiant to be very enjoyable.  This is where my attention has
been lately.  As for other independants, I will try a few, but I find most
to be inferior in quality, but there are exceptions.

					Ron 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc,rec.arts.animation