#Comicsgate - The Culture Wars Hit The Funny Books!

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I like to imagine an accountant holding up a picture of Gal Gadot & then asking each editor they're letting go, "Why, when we hired a beautiful actress to play the character, would you publish this as a tie-in?"
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WONDER what that WOMAN's weight is? 1984lbs?
 

DC Comics and streaming service DC Universe have been impacted by parent company WarnerMedia’s corporate realignment, with layoffs at both units. But a source tells Variety that through WarnerMedia’s streamlining efforts, the DC brand will actually be expanding, with DC chief creative officer Jim Lee overseeing creative of all DC-related growth in the company.

Jim Lee overseeing everything is a choice.
 
According to Bleeding Cool* I know, I know * Rumors are that DC's current plan is to slowly transition out of the direct market over the next two years with a higher focus on the mass market* the Walmart deal is mentioned *,digital and graphic novels.

They're also guessing that DC is about to be cut down to the bare essentials * Batman,Superman and probably Wonder Woman * as far as publishing goes.

There's also rumors that DC is going to cut out distributors entirely and move production of print comics entirely in house.

Bleeding Cool article talking about the fallout.
 
According to Bleeding Cool* I know, I know * Rumors are that DC's current plan is to slowly transition out of the direct market over the next two years with a higher focus on the mass market* the Walmart deal is mentioned *,digital and graphic novels.

They're also guessing that DC is about to be cut down to the bare essentials * Batman,Superman and probably Wonder Woman * as far as publishing goes.

There's also rumors that DC is going to cut out distributors entirely and move production of print comics entirely in house.

Bleeding Cool article talking about the fallout.
It's sad, but between this and ditching ditching Diamond earlier this year, at least they're trying some new things to stay alive, rather than just sticking with what's failing and hoping the rest of the world realigns back in such a way that it somehow becomes profitable again like certain other major publishers seem content to do.

Alterna got into Barnes & Noble. Alliance somehow came out of nowhere and got their books into hundreds of Walmarts. Why are other publishers seemingly afraid to get their products in front of new customers? Hopefully DC can turn the aircraft carrier fast enough to get some new customers and save their butts. Get Superman comics in Target or Kroger or something.
 
It's sad, but between this and ditching ditching Diamond earlier this year, at least they're trying some new things to stay alive, rather than just sticking with what's failing and hoping the rest of the world realigns back in such a way that it somehow becomes profitable again like certain other major publishers seem content to do.

Alterna got into Barnes & Noble. Alliance somehow came out of nowhere and got their books into hundreds of Walmarts. Why are other publishers seemingly afraid to get their products in front of new customers? Hopefully DC can turn the aircraft carrier fast enough to get some new customers and save their butts. Get Superman comics in Target or Kroger or something.
Make no mistake whether DC survives as a publisher is entirely up to AT&T's whims now. Losing a 3rd of their staff plus DC Direct being shuttered doesn't exactly paint a rosy picture and I have my doubts Jim Lee can convince AT&T of DC Comics' continued viability like Jeanette Kahn when Warner bought them back in the 70s.



Some people are saying Disney's not doing so hot either right now and they're about to perform their own bloodletting. So Marvel may be similarly slimmed down soon.
 
Alterna got into Barnes & Noble. Alliance somehow came out of nowhere and got their books into hundreds of Walmarts. Why are other publishers seemingly afraid to get their products in front of new customers?

Because the industry, since the 90's, has been heavily reliant on pull list pay pigs and autist collectors that will have an anxiety attack if they can't get all 72 variant covers of this weeks hot No. 1.
None of that exists in Walmart, where they face the terrifying prospect of trying to convince some sticky fingered normie kid to pick up and read their book and then come back next week for the next issue, which sure as shit isn't going to happen if you're hawking covers like Blubber-Woman 1984.
In fact the whole alt cover industry and every artist it employs is dead in any normie retail outlet that's never going to stock alts.
The move to normie retail would require the industry to create titles that sell, art that attracts the eye and stories people return for because they have to compete for customers attention outside the hug box of the LCS.
Just how capable and prepared is the industry to compete on those terms?
 
Make no mistake whether DC survives as a publisher is entirely up to AT&T's whims now. Losing a 3rd of their staff plus DC Direct being shuttered doesn't exactly paint a rosy picture and I have my doubts Jim Lee can convince AT&T of DC Comics' continued viability like Jeanette Kahn when Warner bought them back in the 70s.



Some people are saying Disney's not doing so hot either right now and they're about to perform their own bloodletting. So Marvel may be similarly slimmed down soon.
I could post a Doom Paul image right here because it would fit. Don't call it a grave, it is the future they chose.

They could have hired competent writers and artists to do their stuff, they could have shaken off the toxic relationship with Diamond sooner and expanded back into convenience stores and Walmart or Target. They could've had a better relationship with their fans. They could have gotten rid of PR nightmares like Waid or Simone and said that that sort of mean-girl attitude won't fly with them. They could have done many things to prevent what we all knew would be an eventuality. But they didn't, so they chose their future. They were told this would happen years ago, but they just sat back and collected from the money train, thinking it would always be there, and now it's gone, and so are their jobs.
 
Because the industry, since the 90's, has been heavily reliant on pull list pay pigs and autist collectors that will have an anxiety attack if they can't get all 72 variant covers of this weeks hot No. 1.
None of that exists in Walmart, where they face the terrifying prospect of trying to convince some sticky fingered normie kid to pick up and read their book and then come back next week for the next issue, which sure as shit isn't going to happen if you're hawking covers like Blubber-Woman 1984.
In fact the whole alt cover industry and every artist it employs is dead in any normie retail outlet that's never going to stock alts.
The move to normie retail would require the industry to create titles that sell, art that attracts the eye and stories people return for because they have to compete for customers attention outside the hug box of the LCS.
Just how capable and prepared is the industry to compete on those terms?
TBH there's no excuse for Marvel and DC to still be tied to the direct market these days they're both owned by mega-corps who benefit more if their stuff was in mass retail since Superheroes print money.

Guys like Dynamite,IDW and such though are fucked if Marvel and DC pivot back to the mass market. I highly doubt normies will flock to pulp shit like Red Sonja or Vampirella and the only viable ips IDW's got are Transformers and TMNT and maybe GI Joe since Hasbro's trying to resurrect it.

I could post a Doom Paul image right here because it would fit. Don't call it a grave, it is the future they chose.

They could have hired competent writers and artists to do their stuff, they could have shaken off the toxic relationship with Diamond sooner and expanded back into convenience stores and Walmart or Target. They could've had a better relationship with their fans. They could have gotten rid of PR nightmares like Waid or Simone and said that that sort of mean-girl attitude won't fly with them. They could have done many things to prevent what we all knew would be an eventuality. But they didn't, so they chose their future. They were told this would happen years ago, but they just sat back and collected from the money train, thinking it would always be there, and now it's gone, and so are their jobs.
To be honest if the AT&T buyout and Corona hadn't happened they probably could have kept coasting by. Now they're at the mercy of a company only interested in profit that doesn't give a shit about comics as an artform amid a global economic recession.
 
Becuase they think they're in the movie business with these characters now, not the publishing business.
Nah it's because Walmart,Target and Amazon won't put with their bullshit like a comic shop will.

Walmart won't take 100 issues of gay Iceman just to get 20 copies of the Spiderman comic that actually sells.
 
It's sad, but between this and ditching ditching Diamond earlier this year, at least they're trying some new things to stay alive, rather than just sticking with what's failing and hoping the rest of the world realigns back in such a way that it somehow becomes profitable again like certain other major publishers seem content to do.

Alterna got into Barnes & Noble. Alliance somehow came out of nowhere and got their books into hundreds of Walmarts. Why are other publishers seemingly afraid to get their products in front of new customers? Hopefully DC can turn the aircraft carrier fast enough to get some new customers and save their butts. Get Superman comics in Target or Kroger or something.
The $5 floppy is dead as a medium.
Black Label was a great initiative, but most editors in the Big Two want to keep their jobs and employ their friends. Mangas and European comics are thriving. An Asterix album some years ago had a first print run of 5 million. Dylan Dog outsells Batman in a country that has 1/5th of North America's population (to the point where there is a Dylan Dog/Batman crossover nobody bothered to publish in English).
DC is waking up to this for some time now. Go Broke, Get Crafty.
 
The $5 floppy is dead as a medium.
Black Label was a great initiative, but most editors in the Big Two want to keep their jobs and employ their friends. Mangas and European comics are thriving. An Asterix album some years ago had a first print run of 5 million. Dylan Dog outsells Batman in a country that has 1/5th of North America's population (to the point where there is a Dylan Dog/Batman crossover nobody bothered to publish in English).
DC is waking up to this for some time now. Go Broke, Get Crafty.
DC has been having more success in bookstores then comic shops and apparently the walmart deal is working out for them since they're looking to expand it.

IDK if floppies are the issue since magazines are still printed and as you say manga and Euro comics are doing well but the direct market as we've known it for decades is definitely dying.
 
Nah it's because Walmart,Target and Amazon won't put with their bullshit like a comic shop will.

Walmart won't take 100 issues of gay Iceman just to get 20 copies of the Spiderman comic that actually sells.

Gay Iceman doesn't even exist in a normie retail scenario because Walmart and Target insist on returnability. There are no long boxes full of unsellable back issues cluttering up their aisles that Marvel have already been paid for in that model. It sells or it dies.
 
Gay Iceman doesn't even exist in a normie retail scenario because Walmart and Target insist on returnability. There are no long boxes full of unsellable back issues cluttering up their aisles that Marvel have already been paid for in that model. It sells or it dies.
Agreed so if DC is really looking to get back into mass retail I expect a lot of Bats,Supes and Wondy and not much else will be published.
 
Now comes that wonderful time when we get to bask in the pathetic resumes these losers put out on Twitter.

He'll get a Heather Antos save.

Make no mistake whether DC survives as a publisher is entirely up to AT&T's whims now. Losing a 3rd of their staff plus DC Direct being shuttered doesn't exactly paint a rosy picture and I have my doubts Jim Lee can convince AT&T of DC Comics' continued viability like Jeanette Kahn when Warner bought them back in the 70s.



Some people are saying Disney's not doing so hot either right now and they're about to perform their own bloodletting. So Marvel may be similarly slimmed down soon.

Except the comic book industry rebounded in the 80s and 90s.

The $5 floppy is dead as a medium.
Black Label was a great initiative, but most editors in the Big Two want to keep their jobs and employ their friends. Mangas and European comics are thriving. An Asterix album some years ago had a first print run of 5 million. Dylan Dog outsells Batman in a country that has 1/5th of North America's population (to the point where there is a Dylan Dog/Batman crossover nobody bothered to publish in English).
DC is waking up to this for some time now. Go Broke, Get Crafty.

Was it?

I don't think they've woken up at all. They've been pursuing the trade market, chasing scholastic, running after Walmart.

Bendis still writes six five ongoings. KSD is on Aquaman and Mariko whatshername is on Wonder Woman when those characters are bigger than ever. Tom King. Snyder. Those Wal-mart books? A couple were written by Gail Simone, the Superman one, by Tom King. They weren't as bad as usual, but....

You can switch the format and the pipeline, but at the end of the day no matter how they dress it up, the inside is SJW shit.
 
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He'll get a Heather Antos save.



Except the comic book industry rebounded in the 80s and 90s.



Was it?

I don't think they've woken up at all. They've been pursuing the trade market, chasing scholastic, running after Walmart.

Bendis still writes six five ongoings. KSD is on Aquaman and Mariko whatshername is on Wonder Woman when those characters are bigger than ever. Tom King. Snyder. Those Wal-mart books? A couple were written by Gail Simone, the Superman one, by Tom King. They weren't as bad as usual, but....

You can switch the format and the pipeline, but at the end of the day no matter how they dress it up, the inside is SJW shit.
SJWs aren't the biggest problem, the problem is the Direct Market just isn't sustainable now especially with the Covid shitshow.

DC seems to have caught on to that or AT&T is forcing their hand on the matter given their new focus on the mass market.

And let's be honest the Direct Market itself enabled a lot of the worst of this shit because as Comicsgeist noted Big Retail wouldn't tolerate shit like Iceman,America Chavez or New Warriors it's sink or swim bitch.
 
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