Marvel has yet again decided to give their books another new start.
Really and for true.
I just have one thing to say: Sheesh.
GOODNESS GRACIOUS!
I think I used to feel that there were other reasons for Marvel’s attempts at renumbering, rebranding (All-New, All-Different) and other PR functions to revive their line.
I can’t think that way any longer. There’s only one reason now. It’s that their books aren’t selling as they used to. Nothing else can mean anything.
Granted, I don’t have access to the internal workings of the House of Ideas. I don’t know the sales numbers they can access. I don’t hear what the various stores are reporting to Marvel.
All I can tell you is that, whatever’s been tried (and tried again) hasn’t been working.
This just wreaks of desperation, sadly. “New Creative Teams! New Series! New Directions! New Beginnings!”
What was wrong with the “Legacy” characters? I guess they didn’t work out as well as they hoped for.
MORE NUMBER ONES
As an old friend of mine likes to say, if all else fails, make everything a number one. Here we go again! At least the collectors will be happy!
With the recent success of Black Panther, it’s no surprise that many of the characters in the image used to promote the change features a great many of the Marvel Studios heroes and others.
Now, I could sit here and nitpick things along, such as the Phoenix apparently reverting to Jean Gray again. Tony Stark’s apparently back in the Iron Man suit. Spider-Man is no longer Bruce Wayne, but is Peter Parker again. Deadpool is there, as well as Punisher and Captain America. The female Thor is gone, with the “disgraced” Thunder God who seems to have Mjolnir grafted to his left hand.
She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, Ms Marvel, Wolverine, Ultimate Spidey, Hulk and others are all there.
The thing that puzzles me is, what difference has all this made since May hit?
IF MARVEL’S IN TROUBLE, WHAT ABOUT THE REST?
I know that I worry when I hear about Marvel’s many and various attempts to bring sales numbers back up. They’re the biggest company, after all.
What does that mean about DC and the rest? It can’t be good news.
The odd thing is that, on many levels, some of the best comics ever are being made today. I’m reading terrific storytelling from many creators across the board. And yet they apparently aren’t selling enough.
I understand what Marvel’s trying to accomplish. They’re hoping to draw in people who have left the comics-buying public, trying to entice them to come back to the local comics shops. New creators? New stories? Why, that must me the best the industry has to offer! At least, we hope it does.
In the past, big names were big draws. I wish that were still the case. Now, Marvel hopes different means additional sales.
I’m not sure that’s the case any longer.
About Author
