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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12186
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Posted: 22 March 2018 at 2:16pm | IP Logged | 1
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It feels at times that the industry is keen on self-destruction. Hyperbole, I know, but some things make no sense to me. No sense at all.
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Andrew W. Farago Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 4067
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Posted: 23 March 2018 at 12:42pm | IP Logged | 2
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DC cut ties with its original numbering when Crisis wrapped up in 1986, and Marvel started cutting ties with their original numbering a decade later with Heroes Reborn. We've had decades to get used to it at this point, and I'll buy a comic I'm enjoying regardless of the number on the cover.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12186
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Posted: 23 March 2018 at 1:54pm | IP Logged | 3
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Andrew W. Farago wrote:
We've had decades to get used to it at this point, and I'll buy a comic I'm enjoying regardless of the number on the cover. |
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The content is the most important thing, but the confusion for "civilians" and confusion for readers - e.g. finding issues via comiXology - are barriers. Minor barriers, I know, but still barriers.
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Rebecca Jansen Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 February 2018 Location: Canada Posts: 4545
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Posted: 24 March 2018 at 10:05am | IP Logged | 4
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"confusion for "civilians" and confusion for reader"
I know I had all kinds of questions about the various Supergirl titles that started at #1 again and appearances leading up to them so I had to find some real fans where websites weren't enough to help me figure out what the heck I was ordering, and even then I got this really confusing two issue thing with Ambush Bug in some alternate pocket universe that I can't make heads or tails of (although that could just be the usual Keith Giffen weirdness of some kind).
I definitely care about the stories and whatever numbers are on them matter zilch. All kinds of '70s Marvel runs like Tigra or Black Panther or Man Wolf or Guardians Of The Galaxy that start with #3 or #5 or #30 of a title, and if I never have #1 or whatever else of the title I'm totally fine. Readers managed back then somehow.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12186
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 9:57am | IP Logged | 5
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Rebecca Jansen wrote:
I definitely care about the stories and whatever numbers are on them matter zilch |
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I hear what you are saying, Rebecca. The content will always be important. If Juggernaut takes on Destroyer (my dream battle!), I wouldn't care if it's Juggernaut #1, #345 or #999.
But for the purposes of tracking down back issues (mail order, comiXology, eBay), it can make things a tad hard. Not impossible, but hard.
If I buy a magazine from eBay, it's simple to put in something like WCW MAGAZINE JULY 1993; if I want INCREDIBLE HULK #323, that'll be easy to find; but if I want Thor #1, it could take me a while. That's a tad frustrating.
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Dave Phelps Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4178
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 10:06am | IP Logged | 6
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Andrew W. Farago wrote:
DC cut ties with its original numbering when Crisis wrapped up in 1986, |
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Not entirely. Batman, Detective and Action were left alone, Superman and Green Lantern kept the number but adjusted the title and most of the younger titles just kept on going. It was really only three titles: Wonder Woman, Flash and Justice League.
QUOTE:
I'll buy a comic I'm enjoying regardless of the number on the cover |
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Sure, but minor annoyances add up.
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Andrew Hess Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 9843
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 10:12am | IP Logged | 7
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This is how real men do it:
Back in '71 DC decided to revamp Superman: get rid of the kryptonite plot device, de-power Superman, change up the stories, all in continuity. And they used this cover as a stealth #1 without changing the actual numbering. And sold like hotcakes without relying on speculators and collectors.
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Robbie Parry Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 June 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12186
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 10:15am | IP Logged | 8
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Great example, Andrew.
I was familiar with that cover, but it didn't dawn on me how relevant it might be to this thread. You are correct in what you have posted!
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Brian Hague Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006 Posts: 8515
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 10:41am | IP Logged | 9
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DC also tried to use this sort of thinking with the title First Issue Special, where every issue was a first issue...
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Trevor Smith Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 3521
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 10:46am | IP Logged | 10
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I had no idea there was a DC "Outsiders" before Batman's team!
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Brian Hague Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 14 November 2006 Posts: 8515
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 11:27am | IP Logged | 11
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That is a particularly strange comic, Trevor, with a story by Joe Simon and art by Jerry Grandenetti and Craig Flessel. Probably riding the "freak" hero wave of the then still very new New X-Men, the original Outsiders were weirder than weird & freakier than freaky...
Led by Doc Goody, who looked like someone out of the Twilight Zone's "Eye of the Beholder," The Amazing Ronnie, Lizard Johnny, Crazy Larry, and Mighty Mary went out and looked for freaks like themselves to save them from the short-sighted hatred of so-called "normal" people everywhere.
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Stephen Churay Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 25 March 2009 Location: United States Posts: 8369
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Posted: 25 March 2018 at 11:48am | IP Logged | 12
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Personally, announce a creative team you're excited about and tell good stories. Just stop screwing with the numbering.
I almost thought about reading Jason Aaron's Thor run. I've been told it was an interesting read. Went to pick up the trades. It has no less than 3 trades that start you off on a number one issue. I'd have to buy them all and read the indicia to know which comes first.
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