Press release from Marvel:
The sensation that swept the comic market is taking book readers by storm as Marvel is proud to announce that Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born
In addition to conquering sales-charts, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born
Collecting all seven issues of the top-selling Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born limited series, this hardcover explores the past of Roland Deschain, hero of Stephen King’s epic Dark Tower novels. Written by New York Times best-selling author Peter David and Dark Tower expert Robin Furth, visualized stunningly by Jae Lee & Richard Isanove and overseen by the watchful eyes of Stephen King—this graphic novel is a must-have for Dark Tower fans new and old!
Critically-acclaimed comic book creator Paul Pope writes in PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, “The Gunslinger Born is the perfect starting point for those who think comics contain nothing but men in spandex costumes and masks”
• 
Congratulations!
Groovy!
I actually finally just read this a couple of weeks ago – great stuff, of course. Loved it. I’d made the decision as a consumer not to collect as individual issues because of A – weekly budget and B – I was a bit overwhelmed – even turned off – by the amount of hype and the prolifertion of variant covers -what were there, 15, 20 variants of each? I exaggerate of course but that’s how it felt at the time.
None of which is a reflection on you PD.
again, Kudos!
Groovy!
I actually finally just read this a couple of weeks ago – great stuff, of course. Loved it. I’d made the decision as a consumer not to collect as individual issues because of A – weekly budget and B – I was a bit overwhelmed – even turned off – by the amount of hype and the prolifertion of variant covers -what were there, 15, 20 variants of each? I exaggerate of course but that’s how it felt at the time.
None of which is a reflection on you PD.
again, Kudos!
Groovy!
I actually finally just read this a couple of weeks ago – great stuff, of course. Loved it. I’d made the decision as a consumer not to collect as individual issues because of A – weekly budget and B – I was a bit overwhelmed – even turned off – by the amount of hype and the prolifertion of variant covers -what were there, 15, 20 variants of each? I exaggerate of course but that’s how it felt at the time.
None of which is a reflection on you PD.
again, Kudos!
Groovy!
I actually finally just read this a couple of weeks ago – great stuff, of course. Loved it. I’d made the decision as a consumer not to collect as individual issues because of A – weekly budget and B – I was a bit overwhelmed – even turned off – by the amount of hype and the prolifertion of variant covers -what were there, 15, 20 variants of each? I exaggerate of course but that’s how it felt at the time.
None of which is a reflection on you PD.
again, Kudos!
Groovy!
I actually finally just read this a couple of weeks ago – great stuff, of course. Loved it. I’d made the decision as a consumer not to collect as individual issues because of A – weekly budget and B – I was a bit overwhelmed – even turned off – by the amount of hype and the prolifertion of variant covers -what were there, 15, 20 variants of each? I exaggerate of course but that’s how it felt at the time.
None of which is a reflection on you PD.
again, Kudos!
I’ve got all the issues except #4, so I’ve been waiting to read them until I can get my hands on it. Congrats, PD.
Congrats!
Nice work!
This is actually going to be one of my Christmas gifts! We just ordered it recently! 🙂
I only read the first two issues of Dark Tower and then decided to wait for the hardcover. Not because I didn’t like it, no in fact I LOVED it (big fan of the Dark Tower novels), but I couldn’t keep up with the series at the time.
PAD, I just wanted to say: You, Robin, Jae, and Richard did such a great job on those issues I read and I can’t wait to read more of it! You definitly made this Dark Tower fan happy! 🙂
DF2506
” Can’t wait to read this! “
“The Gunslinger Born is the perfect starting point for those who think comics contain nothing but men in spandex costumes and masks”
I love that comment…. It’s not like there’s been a Vertigo line of comics for a decade or so, right…?
Sheesh.
“I love that comment…. It’s not like there’s been a Vertigo line of comics for a decade or so, right…?”
Exactly. That’s rather faint praise to put on such a big seller.
“I love that comment…. It’s not like there’s been a Vertigo line of comics for a decade or so, right…?”
Note that Paul Pope’s comment referred to Gunslinger as a “starting point.” He didn’t imply that Gunslinger is the only non-super-hero game in town, only that it would make a good introduction. He’s right. People who read it may end up discovering other non-super-hero comics… like the Vertigo line.
I love that comment…. It’s not like there’s been a Vertigo line of comics for a decade or so, right…?
Sheesh.
Putting aside the sarcasm (which is tricky since that was apparently the point of your posting) let’s stack the number of people who have heard of Vertigo Comics against the number of people who have heard of Stephen King.
The fact of the matter, whether the staggeringly small percentage of potential readership represented by Vertigo readers cares to admit it or not, is that many people DO see comic books as the sole province of spandex adventurers. Most movie goers would be surprised to learn that films such as “Road to Perdition” or “A History of Violence” were graphic novels first.
Notice that Marvel isn’t the one who said it as part of promoting the book; they were quoting a reviewer. The bottom line is that educating people to the variety of storytelling that comics offer is an ongoing process of education. What would you prefer that Pope had said? “The Gunslinger Born is the perfect starting point for those who think comics contain nothing but men in spandex costumes and masks, going on the assumption that they’ve never heard of Vertigo Comics or Love & Rockets or Strangers in Paradise or Maus.”
PAD
Congrats! Can’t wait until February for the next story.
Vertigo — Oh, yeah… That was an Alfred Hitchcock film, wasn’t it?
😉
That’s cool. I read the first 2 issues, and though it didn’t do much for me, my non-comic reading brother-in-law liked it, so I bought him the HC for Christmas.
Geez PAD, defensive much? Or just bitter that Vertigo editors were never interested in your work?
Anyone else thinking it’s starting to smell like troll around here?
When they show up with such regularity, like ants to a picnic, you tend to get fairly quick at sniffing them out.
PAD
Troll? I don’t know. Booty was definitely being an ášš, but it takes repeated assery to qualify as troll. A true troll puts time and effort into his craft.
Take it as flattery–unable to do whatever it is they think they’re good at, they come here and hope to drag you down to their level, not realizing it’s way too far a trip.
There was a comedian I saw who was being (badly) heckled and came back with something along the lines of “Sir, I’m holding a microphone and you’re holding a drink. God has a plan and you’re not in it.”
Troll? I don’t know. Booty was definitely being an ášš, but it takes repeated assery to qualify as troll. A true troll puts time and effort into his craft.
Well, he’s posted under four different names and the purpose of each post–with one exception–was purely to throw insults my way. That fits my personal definition of trolling.
PAD
Ah, multiple aliases. Your troll-detection-fu is strong.
Okay, that joke is a little old. I still like it.
Ah, multiple aliases. Your troll-detection-fu is strong.
The funny thing was, I didn’t know that when I first posted. I just had a feeling. Kath then ran a check on his IP and found his posting history, confirming what I’d already surmised.
PAD
You mean we don’t have to use our real names, and instead can repeatedly log on under different aliases and say really mean things? Why doesn’t anybody tell me this stuff?
Really? We can do this? Awesome!
Cuz I really have some stuff to get offa my chest about this David Peters guy, or whatever his name is…..
🙂
Really? We can do this? Awesome! Cuz I really have some stuff to get offa my chest about this David Peters guy, or whatever his name is…..
Yes, you do have that option. Of course, I likewise have the option of doing fast research and see who I’m talking to, Luigi…
PAD
How dare you ruffians use this vile trick to hide your true selves! For shame, I say!
And just to save you some time, PAD, that last one was me.
Congrats on the continued success of The Gunslinger Born.
I say everyone should use their actual name.
I’m with Norm on that one.
With respect to the most recent trolling activity, I’m reminded of David Letterman’s response to a heckler back when he was doing stand-up in L.A.: “Thank you, son. We’ve just learned a valuable lesson there. Not everyone can do comedy. I appreciate that.”
I’m with Norm on that one.
From what I hear, Bill Mulligan agrees.
PAD
Ðámņ! And I wore a disguise while I typed it!
I have here in my hand a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department. Peter David and Bill Mulligan are on that list.
And yes, I am dead, but this isn’t about me.
“Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born” is the opium of the masses.
I got lost. Can you help me find where I live?
All seriousness aside, I can never understand the tendency of some to look for a cloud in every silver lining. If the “Gunslinger” GN can help change the perception that comics are all about the spandex, and get people reading comics who otherwise wouldn’t, maybe those readers will sample other non-super-hero comics.
Life isn’t a zero-sum game.
Unfortunately, there are some people who really *want* comics to be all about spandex.
The owner of my local comic book shop is the epitome of the “comics were only good when I was 8 years old” mentality, though he’ll swear he isn’t. A few weeks ago I had a long conversation with him where he told me how horrible it was that people didn’t wear costumes in the show “Heroes”. He didn’t care about whether it was the best thing for the story or not, he felt that if they were going to market it as being anything at all like comics, then it should have every single convention from superhero comics.
Whether you’re talking about a type of video game, a movie genre, or superheros, some people have learned all the ever want to learn and they don’t want anything to ever change. This even includes people who consider themselves fans of those things. I consider that type of rigidity to be the beginning of the end of something if it becomes a common attitude.
Jason, it must be really difficult getting to your local comic shop, what with having to time-travel back to the sixties and all.
Seriously though, while I’m also of the generation who brought comics when they were just 12 cents, I would be the first to point out that there are some truly fantastic books being put out nowadays, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger being one of them. I would also recommend Pride of Baghdad as a wonderful Christmas present for older kids, or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’s Black Dossier. And for casual readers, there’s always Watchmen, which is still happily still in print, or Stardust- not exactly a graphic novel per se, but still within the umbrella of what we’re talking about.
If the “Gunslinger” GN can help change the perception that comics are all about the spandex, and get people reading comics who otherwise wouldn’t, maybe those readers will sample other non-super-hero comics.
Amen, brother Bill. If comics are to survive we’re going to have to go beyond superheroes. There is obviously a very finite number of fans for superhero fiction and it would seem that most of them have been lost to video games and anime. Even those who only read superhero books should be happy to see a comic–any comic–achieve success. For one thing, it will improve the likelihood of an actual girl going into a comic book shop and potentially, if improbably, leading to a continuation of the bloodline.
“Jason, it must be really difficult getting to your local comic shop, what with having to time-travel back to the sixties and all.”
I don’t get it.
Sorry Jason, I was referring to your comment that the owner of your comic book store insisting that comics were only good when he was eight years old. Since he was still running a store, I just assumed he was living in the past.
Ah, I get it now. Thank you. 🙂
Except for the Batman and Superman titles, doesn’t the Vertigo line outsell the DC superhero line? Aren’t the superhero lines basically acting as marketing material for the superhero movies now? Do the Big 2 publishers even make money from their the superhero publications anymore?
Doesn’t Heroes portraying superheroes without costumes make it that much easier for the audience to cut the comic shops out of getting their superhero fix? The superhero stuff people are watching on tv aren’t like the stuff he makes his living from.
“Except for the Batman and Superman titles, doesn’t the Vertigo line outsell the DC superhero line?”
Not even close.
http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/11648.html
Vertigo does better in trade paperback than it does in monthly comics, but not enough to pull ahead of DC’s superhero comics, not even if you don’t count Batman and Superman titles.
Ok, not outsell, but they aren’t paying for new material when they go through an umpteenth printing of a volume of Sandman, Fables, Jack of Fable, 100 Bullets, Y the Last Man, etc. They seem to be making a crapload more money off of every dollar they invest in a Vertigo title, which is better.
Holy crap, it looks like DC sells 1,500 – 3,500 new copies of Watchmen every month. Does Alan Moore keep a money bin at his mansion he likes to swim in?
It’s impossible to know how profitable each division is without more details on the exact costs. Even thought DC isn’t “paying for new material” they are still paying royalties for those stories when they sell more. On the other hand, the Flash wasn’t created by whoever wrote comics that make up the FLASH WONDERLAND trade. And how much money is there after production costs, storage of unsold material, taxes, etc? You actually have to know a business pretty well to make a decent guess what the profits are, and not just the big numbers that get published.
DC also puts out a lot more Superhero comics than Vertigo comics. So even though SHAZAM MONSTER SOCIETY O/EVIL won’t be at #15 next month (and won’t last as long on the charts as a Vertigo comic), DC puts out so much new stuff that they’ll have several things to replace it with before they come up with another Vertigo line to replace Y the Last Man. All of which will have paid off their production costs even before getting to the TPB stage, unlike most Vertigo books.
Vertigo is certainly doing well enough that DC is happy, but I’ve never seen anything that seemed to imply that Vertigo is making more than the superhero books. Without some actual profit numbers from DC, I’d hesitate to say that that is very likely.
I just added this book to my Holiday gift wish list.
I would guess that the trade paperbacks are quite profitable for DC and Marvel and have the added benefit of staying on the bookstore shelves far longer than any monthly book would.
Still, on the question of whether or not superheroes are a good investment for the companies, looking at the best selling graphic novels for September at http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/11460.html would seem to suggest “yes”. Only 2 Vertigo titles are in the top 20.
I note that the numbers 1 and 2 books are about zombies. Once again, zombies=profit.