The signing went well at Jim Hanley’s Universe yesterday, I thought, although I was slightly saddened that Jim himself wasn’t actually there (Max Allan Collins, he turns out for. Me, no.) But it gave me the opportunity to meet and greet ChrisCross, Soto, Tom and Mark. I did get there late, though. Get this: Took me a little over an hour to drive in from Long Island, and then HALF AN HOUR to drive from the Queens Midtown Tunnel (35th and 2nd) to Hanley’s at 33rd between 5th and 6th…including a solid ten minutes to go 3/4 of a block on 33rd Street. I was going out of my mind.
It’s impossible to judge fairly how sales of CAPTAIN MARVEL were going since, naturally, the entire creative team was there. I will say, however, that according to store staff, sales of MARVILLE were going veeeeeery slowly. Funny thing is, the other two titles really have it pretty easy. Since I was the one going out there in the first place saying I thought the storyline in CM was so fabulous that everyone had to read it, I always figured I was the one with the most to lose if the writing wasn’t up to snuff. Expectations were high because of what I’d said, and because of my track record. Judging by comments on various boards, expectations were far less for the other two titles. It’s kind of like the Gore/Bush debates. Everyone expected so much of the intellectual, debate-savvy Gore, that all Bush had to do was show up sober, not bump into the furniture, and not attack a woman in the front row, and people would be impressed. Same thing here. My perception is that CM really has to be good to live up to what people expect. All MARVILLE and ULTIMATE has to do is not suck.
PAD
• 
Well, I bought CM #1 yesterday, read it, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next! Then again, I’ve felt that way about the previous series, too… I’ll miss Marlo and Moondragon (never thought I’d ever say I’ll miss Moony!), and hope they’ll reappear before long, but this new direction looks very interesting, indeed!
Captain Marvel flew off the shelves at our store. We recommended it to every single customer who walked in, even if they were buying a toy.
We’re going to TRY and re-order, just in case Marvel overprinted a smidge due to the promotion. *sigh* Unlikely though.
Marville we didn’t sell one issue of. Partly because neither of us were willing to physically sell it to a customer, and partially because not a single customer wanted to buy it.
Ultimate Adventures one person bought.
For the record, that’s about 15-0-1.
Happily, CM 36/1 was great. The idea that a good number of new readers got to see what the big deal is about makes me feel good.
And I want to thank you for the sequence in Israel. it was harrowing. It was ironic. It makes the point without being at all preachy.
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us, and am looking forward to the visit by Thor as well.
Get this: Took me a little over an hour to drive in from Long Island, and then HALF AN HOUR to drive from the Queens Midtown Tunnel (35th and 2nd) to Hanley’s at 33rd between 5th and 6th
The train, boss, the TRAIN!
I assume just finding a parking space in Manhattan when you realized the pace of traffic wasn’t doable?
General opinion of Marville does seem to amount to it showing up drunk, bumping into the furniture, and attacking a woman in the front row. So far, the closest I’ve seen to a compliment involved Doc Bright still being an excellent artist…followed immediately by great pity for him since he actually has to read the writing to do the art.
Loved Cap Marvel #1. I had never read the series before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Thought it was really a great issue. I can’t wait for the next! Count me as a new reader.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t even try out Ultimate or Marville as the comic store guy refused to order either of them. I wouldn’t have bought them, and I doubt they will ever outsell PAD, but I would have at least liked to flip thru one…
-dave
I got about 5 pages through Marville and gave it up, just because of the sheer inanity of it. My comic shop (Carol & John’s Comics, Cleveland Ohio- free plug) had a preview copy of Ultimate last week that I took a look at. Nothing about it that really impressed me or stood out or would make me want to buy it. Got Marvel today. Have never read it before and I don’t know anything about it. That being said, do we HAVE to wait another month for the next issue to come out?? I want to know what happens next now! I am definately hooked! Peter, it was great!
Loved Captain Marvel #1 (which I knew I would, given PAD’s track record). To say Marville was horrible would be an insult to horrible books. Check our a hilarious review of Marville at Thefourthrail.com for a good laugh.
Bought 2 copies of Captain Marvel today.
Rick Jones is cool.
I added it to my pull list.
Thanks.
“My perception is that CM really has to be good to live up to what people expect. All MARVILLE and ULTIMATE has to do is not suck.”
Too bad Marville wasn’t up to the challenge. SUCK doesn’t even begin to describe it. I went in with no preconceptions of this book. It quickly shouted out that it was mean spirited, juvenile, (not in a good way) insulting, stupid and not at all funny. Marvel should issue an apology to DC and anyone who had the displeasure of reading this thing. Hopefully it will be gone soon.
Captain Marvel should continue on fine but I can’t imagine anyone who read Marville #1 going anywhere near #2. I know I won’t.
Peter, the new first issue was BEAUTIFUL, and on all levels. I liked the deep philosophical musings on God and cosmic awareness, and Chris Williams’ art looked INCREDIBLE. The computer inking/coloring technique used was OFF the HOOK, and made his art look even better than ever.
Bravo.
Peter,
Cap seemed to be booking off the racks at the place where I shop (Nan’s Games & Comics, in Houston), and the other two exercises in wretchedness still had full slots – didn’t look like more than a copy or two of either had been bought. Personally, thought Cap was wonderful as usual; I always thought the series deserved far more success than it ever saw. I really hope the relaunch puts Genis on the map and keeps him there. Although I miss Marlo already – been quite fond of her ever since you introduced her in Hulk. You (and Crisscross and Soto) should feel very proud – it was a great start!
From an old grouch who thought of Genis as a poor replacement for Mar-Vell….
You done good, PAD.
There’s two things I like to see in a story: good dialogue and important stakes.
I won’t bother complimenting you on your dialogue, everyone else does.
I liked the way you worked with the concept of what are important stakes. While the core of the issue was how does someone committed to helping the cosmos cope with a never-ending barrage of calls and no clear way to sort them, the plot had Rick and Genis trying to work out each step of the way why handling something (or abandoning it) was important. That’s another nice touch — these guys wanted to do the same thing and had the same facts and hand, but kept bickering because of pure personality conflict.
So now I’m among those who didn’t buy CM then, _will_ buy it now. Keep this tone up, and I don’t care whose face is behind the new helmet of the (new?) CM.