From: lsmith@deci.cs.umn.edu (Lance "Squiddie" Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: VERTIGO: How much should we buy?
Date: 8 Jan 93 20:15:07 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: The Dizzy Squids of the Poor

In article <1ik2alINN6tq@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> fau@po.CWRU.Edu (Francis A. Uy) writes:
>
>As fans of "well-written" comics, I suppose a strong
> initial buying of Vertigo titles would be a good 
> idea.  The industry is generally skittish about 
> comics for adults, and they need a big push to keep
> going in this direction.

Nah. No real concerted effort is necessary at the outset. With all the
promotion and hoopla, Vertigo should do well in its first month or two 
without all of us just buying so that Vertigo's sales increase. It's the
third or fourth month when the merely curious get too weirded out and stop 
buying that we should worry about.

>On the other hand, we can't just buy everything with
> a Vertigo imprint, because then they'll start
> throwing any old crap into the line.  So what to buy?

Again, I wouldn't worry. Karen Berger's track record is good enough 
that the new titles shouldn't be tepid efforts being sold only on the
strength of the other books under Vertigo. They still may be crap, but
they'll more likely be well thought-out crap with good intentions.

>Enigma + Mercy look a bit too pretensious.  Death HCL
> + Sebastian O are safe bets, but they're 3 issues each.
> The Previews of Animal Man + Swamp Thing were just
> superheros + angst.  

Here's my checklist:

Animal Man #57: They're starting a new storyline here. I may buy the
the three issues of the storyline just to see how it goes. I never
really got the hang of AM.  

Death:The High Cost of Living: Buy lots.

Doom Patrol #64: My big fear is that Rachel Pollack is going to try too hard 
with this. I'm playing this one by ear. It may be awhile before she finds
her own style.

Enigma #1: The descriptions for this have been overly pretentious. I have no
idea what its about. I'm not sure if I like Fegredo's unpainted art. At
$2.50 it's pricey. Dunno. I'll probably see if I can page through a copy.

Hellblazer #63: I'm growing increasingly uneasy with this title. The 
upcoming stories show promise, however. I'll probably keep buying it.
I just hope that Ennis stops "lecturing" to us.

Sandman #47: If you have to ask, then you haven't been reading this group
very long. 

Shade, The Changing Man #33: This starts a three part story. I like Shade,
but it seems a little stagnant. Maybe Shade's new body will jump start it.

Swamp Thing #129: I'm only buying this for the Charles Vess cover. Really.
That and the promise of having Tefe's "pets" turn nasty.

Upcoming titles:

Kid Eternity: Not sure. I hope the preview was poorly chosen.

Mercy: I like the premise. Since it's a one shot, I'll probably get it.

Black Orchid: Dunno. Low on my list. I think Jill Thompson's art may be
a bad choice for this title. 

Sandman Mystery Theatre: Looks good. The creative team is enough reason to 
buy the first few issues. They'd really have to screw up the basic idea to 
keep me from buying the second issue. 

------------------------------
  Lance "Cr2O3.2H2O" Smith   | "According to several witnesses, the first words 
    (lsmith@cs.umn.edu)      |  of the Team Planters rider after his collapse
 Identify the reference and  |  were, 'Put me back on the bike.'"
  appear in a future .sig.   |      _Mr Peanut and the Blue and Yellow Jersey_
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc