How hard would it have been to post; Folks, believe it or not we understand your complaint and concerns with our product and the characters within. Between the "Heroic Age" the new price point and our ".1" issues, we are actively trying to right the ship but it takes time as we must address factors you're unaware of. Please hang in there.

Now I have no idea if the above statement is true, but it's my guess that these three factors I've listed are Marvel's way of addressing some of our issues with there product. Considering his position, and considering we seem to be a loud enough voice to get there attention, at this point, you'd think he'd want to mend the situation, not put gasoline on it.

Edited by Stephen Churay on 31 October 2010 at 2:43am

I think who ever went and asked that question, put it in such a way it was obvious they wanted the response they got and are now happy when people on here end up bashing Marvel. They are loving the negative vibe they have created. I for one am not going to fall for it.
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When we stop discussing it, is when Marvel should really worry. At that point, we really don't care and that will be the death nail in Marvel. To me, even discussing Brevoort's tweet shows that we're very passionate about the Marvel Universe. I don't want to see Marvel fold up there tent. I want it to be around for a long time so that my kids and there kids can get the same enjoyment that I once had, and hope to have again.

Marvel's price point and ".1' announcements speaks of beginnings and don't really get into what the long term goals are. Does Marvel OWE us an explanation. Probably not, but when you factor in that the average age of today's comic buyer is around 30, you might figure that we'd like to know a little more than the average 15 year old. So, why not put a post ON HERE to help us understand it instead of letting us blast how short sided the announcement seemed.

And there it is. Everything that is wrong with Marvel summed up in a single sentence. It's diminished expectations taken to the extreme. THEY HAVE GIVEN UP.

The notion of producing books on regular, timely schedules, making them accessible to all ages of readers, eschewing stunts in favor of consistent, solid storytelling -- these things are not options. Never mind that this was how American comics books in general, and Marvel in particular, were run for forty years or more -- these thing are beyond the scope of the current crop of prima donnas, and so simply cannot be done.

They've given up.

(Incidentally -- it is beyond ironic to see ByrneRobotics.com being referred to as an "ego-board" in a post on TWITTER!!)

**

Well, I know that that particular sentence doesn't name
drop this board specifically, but since the JBF was
mentioned in the initial quote, I'd like to point out
that in all the discussions on this topic here, most of
us seem to understand that the things we posit as
solutions are anything BUT "instant answers". Any
solutions to the situation American comics find
themselves in right now will take a long time to take
effect.

Now, I'm going to go read my copy of Angel v. Frankenstein that's sitting on my stack of Next Men beside my Star Trek: Assignment Earth before I put them away with my run of FX.

••

Breevort's comment reflects an attitude that has been part of Marvel for as long as I can remember. It used to be much more subtle, of course, as when Neal Adams' credit line on his first issue of X-MEN "introduced" him, as if he had not done any previous work in comics, or when a bullpen comment that mentioned Glynis Wein quipped a little something to the effect of wondering what had ever happened to her husband. (Len had gone back to DC.)

The attitude was, there is MARVEL, and then, dimly and distantly, there is everything else. Even DC is no more than a tiny, fleeting blip on the radar.

This kind of thinking made itself very noticeable when the notion of paying royalties was first lofted. The response from the bean counters was basically "Royalties? Why do you want royalties? We're letting you work for MARVEL! Isn't that enough?"

So, rattling off the list of all the work I have done since I left Marvel really has no impact on someone like Breevort, or those who suckle at that particular teat. If it isn't MARVEL, it simply doesn't count.

Wow, he doesn't even know that they still sell comics in newsstands? I was at the mall again yesterday and I saw 2 tobacco shops / magazine stands carrying US comics: Deadpool Corps, Iron Man, Simpsons... I forget the other 2 titles...

Most Zellers (it's an economical dept store like Target) sell recent bag and boarded comics, they sell bags and boards too.

Kevin wrote: Does this mean every time I participate in a discussion that doesn't change the world, I'm wasting my time?

Not only that, but if you're not saying the exact same thing everyone else is supposed to agree on, then you are wrong to do so.