Biff's Bit
MARVEL LEGACY
After deep thought and many years of both angry words and helpful critique from retailers in the USA and Britain, Marvel have finally got the message that numbering is important and high issue numbers do NOT prevent new readers from picking up a title (I find sales normally fall because of content and / or art). The reverse of this view - the ever increasing speed of title re-launches with new issue #1s - seems to have become more prominent over the last ten years or so. The increasing regularity with which this has happended over the last couple of years has, in my opinion, led to confusion and a greater loss of readership. Titles are being left with speculative buying on the first one to three issues and then sales plummet. Long gone are the readers who have built connections with the characters and enjoy the ups and downs of their four-colour lives.
Now it appears that from October 2017, Marvel titles will revert to 'legacy' numbering - expect to see the likes of Iron Man #425 and Thor #725. How the powers that be will determine the number reversion I am sure will be a little arcane, but welcome nonetheless.
To kick this all off in September there will be a one-shot 64-page issue simply titled Marvel Legacy #1. At just $5.99, this could prove to be a must-have for all true Marvelites as well as those curious at this new turn in the history of Marvel comics.
The story traces the history of the Marvel super-heroes from the dawn of time until now, ending with a big reveal or two.
Don't get caught out like DC fans did when, as a precursor to their recent 'DC Universe: Rebirth' event, DC published DC Universe: Rebirth, which was also a 64-page one-shot. This sold out on the day of release. The first prints now sell for upwards of £10 and this was followed by second, third, fourth and fifth printings. Let your regular supplier or comic shop know you want a copy of Marvel Legacy - you will only kick yourself if you miss a first printing and have to wait weeks to get a second print to find out what all the buzz is about.
I am really excited by this rethink from Marvel. It could lead to more solid story telling with a firm foundation in the rich past of the characters while still being relevant today. Venom recently reverted to 'legacy' numbering at issue #150. This went to No.2 in the Top 100 Comics for May 2017, only pipped to the top by Secret Wars #1.
What is old is new, just look at what is happening in the music world with vinyl LPs making a strong comeback.
STAR WARS AT IDW
Disney / Marvel have made the decision to produce an all ages Star Wars comic, but not themselves! IDW, who already publish a fine range of young reader comics along with the Disney licensed Uncle Scrooge, Donald, Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney comics, have so proven their skill that they will produce the new Star Wars Adventures series.
There is a genuine lack of 'all ages' comics across genres from the major publishers. One of the reasons that so many adults now love comics stems from the cleverly crafted titles of the 1960s to the 1980s that had action, adventure, love and romance and appealed to both children and adults alike. There was no need to have a Batman series for children and one for adults, it was there as a one-for-all book.
There has been too much focus on the adult readership for the past twenty-five years which has allowed several generations to be overlooked and thus not engaged in this beautiful medium.
Here’s to IDW and Star Wars Adventures, the new frontier!