January 17, 1992
Herewith some random thoughts–a sort of wish list, if you will–of things I’d like to see in the industry, and in general, in 1992. Some of these are extremely selfish, but hëll, it’s my column:
1) Fans wising up and making it a legitimate accomplishment for a creative team when they bring sales up on a book.
Now I think all the money that the companies and creators are making off the millions and millions of copies being sold of hologramed, multi-covered, multi-bagged titles are perfectly nice. And I make no bones about it: I wouldn’t mind being one of them. It’d be nice making enough royalties off one comic to pay for a year’s worth of college tuition for my kids.
Likewise, I can’t help but be amazed at the various innovative and imaginative ways that companies develop for packaging and selling the comics. In fact, back when I was sales manager at Marvel, I was one of those who tried to come up with additional gimmicks to aid sales. Although in those days, most of those gimmicks were behind-the-scenes stuff: Shipping out additional copies to distributors on a returnable basis so that they could meet unexpected demand. That sort of thing.
But I think of (and I’ll sound like Andy Rooney here) the old days, when fan response and increased sales seemed based less on sales gimmicks and more on contents, and on the book itself. I think about Walt Simonson’s run on “Thor,” the first issue of which blew out of the stores not because of fancy packaging or nine different versions, but because people were excited about what was happening in “Thor.” That, and because of Walt’s reputation as a creator.
Or how about how Frank Miller turned around “Daredevil?” Remember when it was bi-monthly, hovering on cancellation, and then as month-by-month passed, you started hearing how you had to be picking up “Daredevil” because all this cool stuff was happening?
Nowadays, though, instant and skyrocketing sales are the yardstick by which success is measured. There’s a line from “Postcards from the Edge” in which actress Suzanne Vale, when told that she is interested only in instant gratification, sighs, “Instant gratification is too slow.”
Creative teams can’t really take pride in their high sales anymore. The promotions people can, but not the creative teams. Because nowadays, it’s too easy. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Fans are so conditioned that promotional gimcracks = gotta have it (frequently for investment purposes), that it’s taken the fun out of it. More than that, it’s difficult to tell whether what you, as a creator, are doing is any good, because so many fans are having their buy-buttons pushed.
It’d be nice to see fans start drawing the line somewhere.
Of course, with my luck, they’ll draw it just when something of mine comes out with five different covers and hologram stickers attached…
And my kids so wanted to attend Ivy league schools…
2) Rita Rudner said that she wants them to stop inventing things. I agree.
Last year I bought my kids a Nintendo system, and myself a CD player because I couldn’t buy any records anymore. Next year I’m actually contemplating getting a laser disk player because of all the neat things they’re coming out with on laser disk.
But I am terrified that in 1992 they’ll stop making games for my kids Nintendo (they’ve already come out with the new, more advanced Nintendo system), and come up with new CD players and laser disk players and manufacture things that will only play on the new ones, and stop making things for what I’ve got.
I want a moratorium for 1992. Nothing new. Just for one year, I’d like not to be left behind by the new and latest developments. Please?
3) I’d like someone to explain the DC universe to me. First they had Crisis which was supposed to be the demarcation, the new starting point. But then they had adventures of the various characters after that point in which the characters were pretty similar to the way they’d been before, except since then we’d have origins in which the characters look and act differently from the way they were between Crisis and the new origins. I don’t know what counts and what’s canonical or what’s what. It’s a little thing, I know, and I’m sure that probably all of you understand it. I’m sure it’s just me. I mean, I’m the one who hasn’t yet figured out why they stopped making LPs.
4) Speaking of DC, I wish they’d do a trade paperback of “The Atlantis Chronicles” in 1992. I think of all those fans who told me that they weren’t buying that limited series a couple years back–a series which I think is my best work–because they were waiting for it to be collected in one volume. And I warned them that this attitude would virtually guarantee that it never would be. And I was right. DC recently surveyed retailers about potential paperback reprints, and the sluggish sales response to “AC” in its first run prompted retailers to show little interest in a one-volume collection.
I admit tremendous frustration and disappointment, because when the series first started, I was told that they were very proud of it and were going to push it in a manner on par with “Watchmen.” “The type of ambitious storytelling we want to get into,” I was told. But then the head of promotions at DC (no longer there) basically said, “Well, it doesn’t have bats or mutants or superheroes, so it’s not going to sell,” and proceeded to make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Not only did they assume that comic fans would not be interested in something different (which, who knows, maybe they’re right), but they made no effort to push it to cross-over audiences such as the science fiction and fantasy readers. You know…the type that voted an issue of “Sandman” best short story.
Bob Greenberger at DC (who edited the title and still has great fondness for it) told me he’d be interested in hearing from anyone who would buy “Atlantis” as a paperback, and how much they’d pay for such a volume. This is not a request from me or him for a letter-writing campaign because, by and large, those are meaningless. This is a private survey of consumer interest. Remember, DC polled retailers, not fans. If you are interested in replying to Bob, write to him c/o DC Comics, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.
If response is nil, I figure that’ll settle that. Even I wouldn’t want DC to publish a book for which there is genuinely little or no interest. But at least I’ll know that it’s the fans who are saying they won’t buy it, not the retailers (and promotion people) who are saying they can’t sell it.
5) I’d like to see “The Flash” be picked up by some cable company so that I can at least see it in reruns. I missed the last episode with “The Trickster” because I was on the road at the time, and the city I was in was running “Flash”–not at 8 PM Saturday, but instead at 12:30 at night. And I also missed the second half of the episode with Bill Mumy (as did most of the country) because of a news interruption about something that was so important that I can’t remember what it was.
This was a series that only got better, and it’d be nice to see it showing up somewhere.
6) I’d like to see a feature film starring Ðìçk Sargent and Paul Reubens, two guys who were or are convinced that they’ll probably never work in the entertainment industry again.
7) I’d like someone to come out with a “Dinosaurs” outfit in infant sizes that features Baby Sinclair declaring, “I’m the baby! Gotta love me!”
8) I’d like to see “Beauty and the Beast” Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, and Robby Benson for Best Actor. Likewise, I’d like to see Linda Hamilton up for Best Actress for “Terminator 2.” Let’s start seeing some unexpected developments from the Academy.
9) I’d like to see a Presidential campaign free of mudslinging and garbage. I’d also like to see a Democrat in the White House. I figure the odds on both are about equal (unless the Democrat is coming through on the White House tour).
10) I’d like Brent Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to make a second album. My wife listens to his current one, “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back,” about every other day. While we’re on “Star Trek” actors, I hope that Patrick Stewart returns to Broadway in 1992 with his “Christmas Carol,” since I’m not able to get out to see him this year.
11) I hope that someone at Disney Comics heeds the pleas of the amazingly dedicated fans of “Rescue Rangers” and brings the series back, either as at least a limited series or, better still, an ongoing title. Not only have we seen letters to “Oh So” on the subject, but there have even been a series of classified ads running in CBG asking for fans to mount a campaign asking Disney Comics to revive Chip and Dale et al.
Despite all the positive face Disney tried to put on thier cutbacks, I heard much the same rhetoric from First Comics about how their revamped publishing plans were a vast improvement, a few months before they dropped virtually everything. With Disney Comics, the bottom line is that they took the license away from Gladstone so that they could publish all new material, and they wound up publishing primarily reprints. That they got little support from fans and retailers doesn’t surprise me. But I was stunned at the lack of support they received from their own people. Disney comics should have been in every Disney Store, all over the theme parks, and heavily promoted on the Disney Channel and in the various magazines. None of that happened. So it’d be nice if, in 1992, the “Rescue Rangers” fans got their wish, and Disney not only revived “RR”, but put some support into their line using the vast resources at their command.
12) Lastly, I’d like to see retailers, distributors and publishers contributing regularly to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. It’s to the advantage of everyone in the industry to work at keeping the coffers full, because you never know when it’s going to be needed…or if you’ll be the one who needs it.
(Peter David, writer of stuff, realizes that this installment is somewhat here, there and everywhere. Then again, that’s sort of implied in the title, isn’t it.)
• 
> 7) I’d like someone to come out with a “Dinosaurs” outfit in infant sizes that features Baby Sinclair declaring, “I’m the baby! Gotta love me!”
*remembers his little sister had a pull-string cuddly toy that did just that. It drove me absolutely bonkers – and on top of that, I’d always hated Dinosaurs to start with…*
The episode of Dinosaurs I remember the most was the parody of the Gulf War. Operation: WAR (We Are Right). Good characterization of President Bush-41
I was ten or so when Disney tried publishing its books itself. I went to Disney World that summer, and the only Disney Comic I saw was a copy of Mickey Mouse Adventures that my mom had brought along for me to read. Go fig.
I know this was a wish list and not a set of predictions, but I thought it would be interesting to see how this panned out. Let’s see how Prognosticatin’ Pete did:
1) Fans wising up and making it a legitimate accomplishment for a creative team when they bring sales up on a book.
I think this is more or less the case now, though it is still hard for a critically acclaimed but low selling book to build buzz. Trades have helped in this department. Certainly, it has taken the ensuing 13 years, though — this didn’t happen by ’92.
2) Rita Rudner said that she wants them to stop inventing things. I agree.
Best of luck with that one, pal.
3) I’d like someone to explain the DC universe to me.
Er… um… good luck with that. I love the DCU but it still doesn’t bear close examination to the continuity.
4) Speaking of DC, I wish they’d do a trade paperback of “The Atlantis Chronicles” in 1992.
It’s a dámņ crying shame that this still
5) I’d like to see “The Flash” be picked up by some cable company so that I can at least see it in reruns.
Sci-Fi did this for a while, didn’t they? Let’s change the ’04 lobbying to a “The Complete Series” DVD set — I’d by that in a… oh, you know.
6) I’d like to see a feature film starring Ðìçk Sargent and Paul Reubens, two guys who were or are convinced that they’ll probably never work in the entertainment industry again.
Well, I don’t think this happened for Sargent before he passed, but Reubens certainly got plenty of work again. But then he got railroaded on trumped up charges last year. Still, that’s not stopping PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE from getting a DVD release, so we may yet see more Reubens.
7) I’d like someone to come out with a “Dinosaurs” outfit in infant sizes that features Baby Sinclair declaring, “I’m the baby! Gotta love me!”
Did this ever happen? How about we add a DVD lobby on this one, too?
8) I’d like to see “Beauty and the Beast” Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, and Robby Benson for Best Actor. Likewise, I’d like to see Linda Hamilton up for Best Actress for “Terminator 2.”
Well, one out of three ain’t bad, though it didn’t win Best Picture. I believe this directly led to the creation of the animated feature Oscar.
Frankly, in spite of the AniFeature award now being an option, I think THE INCREDIBLES has a good shot at being nominated for Best Picture this year. I also think FAHRENHEIT 9/11 has a fair shot at a BP nod — something extremely rare for a documentary. That’s not so much a comment on the greatness of those two films (though I loved both) as it is on the paucity of Oscar-bait this year so far. I don’t see anything coming down the pike between now and Christmas that gives me serious pause, either. In fact, I have no idea what the other three BP noms could end up being. I’d love to see them consider SPIDER-MAN 2 or HARRY POTTER 3, but I find both likelihoods doubtful.
9) I’d like to see a Presidential campaign free of mudslinging and garbage. I’d also like to see a Democrat in the White House.
One out of two ain’t bad — at least we got eight years of Clinton. Doesn’t make up for the travesty we have now, though.
10) I’d like Brent Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to make a second album. My wife listens to his current one, “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back,” about every other day. While we’re on “Star Trek” actors, I hope that Patrick Stewart returns to Broadway in 1992 with his “Christmas Carol,” since I’m not able to get out to see him this year.
Spiner still hasn’t made another album, but I’m sure Stewart’s done “ACC” again.
11) I hope that someone at Disney Comics heeds the pleas of the amazingly dedicated fans of “Rescue Rangers” and brings the series back, either as at least a limited series or, better still, an ongoing title.
What is this Disney Comics of which you speak?
Seriously, at least there’s word of Disney having bought — and having publishing plans for — CrossGen. I still think a revival of ’80s/’90s animated series as comics could do well in today’s nostalgia market — RESCUE RANGERS, DUCK TALES, TALE SPIN, DARKWING DUCK, GARGOYLES…
12) Lastly, I’d like to see retailers, distributors and publishers contributing regularly to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
This is an area that can always use improvement, though the recent additions to the Board help.
I know this was a wish list and not a set of predictions, but I thought it would be interesting to see how this panned out. Let’s see how Prognosticatin’ Pete did:
1) Fans wising up and making it a legitimate accomplishment for a creative team when they bring sales up on a book.
I think this is more or less the case now, though it is still hard for a critically acclaimed but low selling book to build buzz. Trades have helped in this department. Certainly, it has taken the ensuing 13 years, though — this didn’t happen by ’92.
2) Rita Rudner said that she wants them to stop inventing things. I agree.
Best of luck with that one, pal.
3) I’d like someone to explain the DC universe to me.
Er… um… good luck with that. I love the DCU but it still doesn’t bear close examination to the continuity.
4) Speaking of DC, I wish they’d do a trade paperback of “The Atlantis Chronicles” in 1992.
It’s a dámņ crying shame that this still has not happened. Glad I own the original issues, and that I bought the series in single issues at the time.
5) I’d like to see “The Flash” be picked up by some cable company so that I can at least see it in reruns.
Sci-Fi did this for a while, didn’t they? Let’s change the ’04 lobbying to a “The Complete Series” DVD set — I’d by that in a… oh, you know.
6) I’d like to see a feature film starring Ðìçk Sargent and Paul Reubens, two guys who were or are convinced that they’ll probably never work in the entertainment industry again.
Well, I don’t think this happened for Sargent before he passed, but Reubens certainly got plenty of work again. But then he got railroaded on trumped up charges last year. Still, that’s not stopping PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE from getting a DVD release, so we may yet see more Reubens.
7) I’d like someone to come out with a “Dinosaurs” outfit in infant sizes that features Baby Sinclair declaring, “I’m the baby! Gotta love me!”
Did this ever happen? How about we add a DVD lobby on this one, too?
8) I’d like to see “Beauty and the Beast” Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, and Robby Benson for Best Actor. Likewise, I’d like to see Linda Hamilton up for Best Actress for “Terminator 2.”
Well, one out of three ain’t bad, though it didn’t win Best Picture. I believe this directly led to the creation of the animated feature Oscar.
Frankly, in spite of the AniFeature award now being an option, I think THE INCREDIBLES has a good shot at being nominated for Best Picture this year. I also think FAHRENHEIT 9/11 has a fair shot at a BP nod — something extremely rare for a documentary. That’s not so much a comment on the greatness of those two films (though I loved both) as it is on the paucity of Oscar-bait this year so far. I don’t see anything coming down the pike between now and Christmas that gives me serious pause, either. In fact, I have no idea what the other three BP noms could end up being. I’d love to see them consider SPIDER-MAN 2 or HARRY POTTER 3, but I find both likelihoods doubtful.
9) I’d like to see a Presidential campaign free of mudslinging and garbage. I’d also like to see a Democrat in the White House.
One out of two ain’t bad — at least we got eight years of Clinton. Doesn’t make up for the travesty we have now, though.
10) I’d like Brent Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to make a second album. My wife listens to his current one, “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back,” about every other day. While we’re on “Star Trek” actors, I hope that Patrick Stewart returns to Broadway in 1992 with his “Christmas Carol,” since I’m not able to get out to see him this year.
Spiner still hasn’t made another album, but I’m sure Stewart’s done “ACC” again.
11) I hope that someone at Disney Comics heeds the pleas of the amazingly dedicated fans of “Rescue Rangers” and brings the series back, either as at least a limited series or, better still, an ongoing title.
What is this Disney Comics of which you speak?
Seriously, at least there’s word of Disney having bought — and having publishing plans for — CrossGen. I still think a revival of ’80s/’90s animated series as comics could do well in today’s nostalgia market — RESCUE RANGERS, DUCK TALES, TALE SPIN, DARKWING DUCK, GARGOYLES…
12) Lastly, I’d like to see retailers, distributors and publishers contributing regularly to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
This is an area that can always use improvement, though the recent additions to the Board help.
Sorry for the double-post. Looks like part of the first post got eaten, too. Weird.
What was the news that interrupted The Flash? Was it OJ’s slow-speed chase?
And yeah, I’d really like to read Atlantis Chronicles. I wish DC would collect it, because I’ve never even seen it.
I must agree that Atlantis chronicles needs a trade paperback. I spied issues 1,4,5, and 7 at my local comic book store, and from what I’ve read it’s great.
The CBS News report that interrupted the “Be My Baby” episode of The Flash was that the Gulf War was still going on.
I’d definitely buy a Flash DVD set.
Steve Chung
The Flash II: Revenge of The Trickster
It’s a tad pricey (a VHS for $24?!), but I’ll be dámņëd if it isn’t worth the cost just to see Mark Hamill running around like a loon as The Trickster.
Of course, now that you mentioned The Flash, I’ll have the theme running through my head all day…
> Of course, now that you mentioned The Flash, I’ll have the theme running through my head all day…
Could be worse – you could have “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can” stuck in your head 🙂
Well, look at that – you were right about the LaserDisks. And CD’s are slowly morphing into becoming write-only storage for your MP3 collection.
Dark Horse owns the publishing rights to all the Disney characters not published by Gemstone.
Me, I’d like to see–or write–a comic starring Gadget in the style of Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen comics. Gadget could go to faraway planets, visit strange microworlds, and generally have wild adventures. I’ve got some ideas for such a comic, if anyone’s interested.
Frankly, in spite of the AniFeature award now being an option, I think THE INCREDIBLES has a good shot at being nominated for Best Picture this year. I also think FAHRENHEIT 9/11 has a fair shot at a BP nod — something extremely rare for a documentary. That’s not so much a comment on the greatness of those two films (though I loved both) as it is on the paucity of Oscar-bait this year so far. I don’t see anything coming down the pike between now and Christmas that gives me serious pause, either. In fact, I have no idea what the other three BP noms could end up being.
I’m willing to bet that The Passion of the Christ will be nominated for Best Picture. Whether it wins or not…well, one can only hope — not.
I agree that Spider-Man 2 would be an excellent choice for BP. I loved that movie…
JAB
IIRC, the Mumy episode was interupted because Papa Bush wasn’t feeling well. It was basically 30 minutes of CBS saying they didn’t know anything.
David
Anybody else hear about the CBS producer who got fired for interrupting the last few minutes of CSI: NY with news of the passing of Yassir Arrafat?
The network reran the episode last Friday.
Their policy now being that any news would be run on a line at the bottom of the screen, and to stay tuned to the Eleven O’Clock News.
My, how times have changed.
Steve Chung
Originally posted by PAD:
“Last year I bought my kids a Nintendo system, and myself a CD player because I couldn’t buy any records anymore. Next year I’m actually contemplating getting a laser disk player because of all the neat things they’re coming out with on laser disk.
But I am terrified that in 1992 they’ll stop making games for my kids Nintendo (they’ve already come out with the new, more advanced Nintendo system), and come up with new CD players and laser disk players and manufacture things that will only play on the new ones, and stop making things for what I’ve got.”
I point. I laugh. 🙂
Bob Greenberger at DC (who edited the title and still has great fondness for it) told me he’d be interested in hearing from anyone who would buy “Atlantis” as a paperback, and how much they’d pay for such a volume
Hey, where do I know that name from? hmmm..oh yeah..he’s linked over on the left side of the page…and hey, isn’t he like the VP of TPB’s over at DC these days..hmmmm:-)
Your point about the poor sales on the monthly books resulting in the lack of a tpb is pretty accurate and is the same point I’ve tried to make many times recently when discussing the trend among fans towards dropping monthly titles in favor of tpbs. Many don’t seem to get the simple fact that most tpb decisions are made based on the sales of the monthly books. If sales drop, then there is little perceived interest in a potential trade. The end result is the cancellation of the book due to low sales and no trades being printed out of the existing material. 12 years later and we are still fighting that battle, lol.
But it’s so lovely to have those six issues reprinted in a TPB. Specially because usually the story doesn’t get anywhere until issue #3.
“While we’re on “Star Trek” actors, I hope that Patrick Stewart returns to Broadway in 1992 with his “Christmas Carol,” since I’m not able to get out to see him this year.”
Well, you did get your wish on that one, Peter. I remember being in the audience for that show on Christmas Eve, 1992, along with you, your family, and Glenn Greenberg.