From: chrstnss@rtsg.mot.com (Steve Christianson)
Subject: Ramblings and Rumors
Summary: A Rumormonger is at it again
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 21:35:20 GMT

Miscellaneous comments and rumors:
>In article <uplink.721704249@cwis>, uplink@cwis.unomaha.edu (uplink) writes:
>[ stuff deleted ]
>> 
>> 	Mark my words, this whole "death of Superman" thing
>> will be a debacle for DC.

The manager of the store at which I frequent has been _very_ hot about this
whole "death of Superman" situation.  He told me that DC "neglected" to say
that this might be an extremely hot story arc, and consequently under-
solicited these issues.  When the dealers found out the implications of
the arc, they went back to DC to resolicit, but DC said "sorry, we can't
print any more; maybe second prints will be available".  The results?  An
instant speculator's dream, regular readers of the titles can't get the
issues they *read*, and second (and perhaps third?) prints available only 
three weeks after the original issues were sold out.  This manager
speculated that one of two things happened:
	1. DC knew the full implications of the "Death/Funeral" arc and the
	company will be sitting on a bunch of first prints for later profit
	(interesting thought: the publisher as a speculator. Hmmmm...)
	{On a related note: he mentioned that Kevin Eastman, one of the
	creators of the TMNT and now Tundra Publishing owner, is sitting
	on a large amount of TMNT #1 first prints, and doles them out when
	he wishes...}
	2. DC truly pulled a bonehead play and didn't realize the amount
	of money it could generate (read: profit) with this stunt.
Whatever the motivation was, there was ample opportunity to provide the
comic-reading public (and other interested parties) with enough issues
without generating an instant collector's item.

In article <16NOV199217415612@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov>,
sewon@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (WAYNE WONG) writes:
>[ convention news deleted ]
>- I also asked Larry Stroman, who will be doing a book called "Tribe" for 
>Image, about the rumored split between Image and Malibu.  He confirmed the 
>split.  He said his books will still come out; Image will pay someone else 
>to do what Malibu did.

In article <1992Nov16.093425.20961@anasazi.com>, 
rickard@anasazi.com (Ronald J. Rickard Jr) writes:

>In article <1992Nov12.030001.2021@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> 
>sbrown@nyx.cs.du.edu (Simon Brown) writes:
>>
>>   On page 17, there is an avertisement on Comic Shop News' Image special
>>   issue : IMAGE IN '93.  And it seems that Image will be doing x-overs
>>   with DC.
>
>Rumor has it that Image is no longer being published (?) by Malibu, but 
>that DC will be taking up the helm.  Strange, but a much needed boost
>for DC considering thier sliding sales ...
>
>This information came from the folks at Phoenix's largest (at least that
>is what they say) comic shop.  Could just be rumor.

My manager also mentioned this; the publisher will be DC.  It seems that
Image just can't handle the editorial side of the business when it is
"creator-owned".

Other random news:
Upcoming 1993 events include
	a Warmachine limited series
	an IronFist Limited Series
	the return of the Transformers as a regular comic
	Marvel will publish Venom as a series of limited series
	  (whateverthehellthatmeans)
	the Marvel GI Joe comics will be heavily advertised on TV again 

Thought you might be interested...
Steve
--
------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------
 Steven J. Christianson |  Motorola Cellular Infrastructure Group (CIG)
 chrstnss@rtsg.mot.com  |
 (708) 632-2934         |  I don't speak for Motorola,  I just work here.