Retailers Talk Before Watchmen

[Rich Johnston]

This summer, retailers will be ordering X-Men Vs Avengers and Before Watchmen simultaneously. Marvel are introducing discounts to those who order large numbers of the central comics. It is likely, but not definite, that DC will run some programme to encourage retailers to order sizeable amounts too, though likely more around returnability. But faced with the new of eight Before Watchmen titles to order, what are they thinking?

I'm excited, with the creative teams involved, how can one not be!? At the end of the day if this brings even more people to the masterpiece that is Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen, well it'll be a winner in my book!

Ralph MathieuAlternate Reality ComicsLas Vegas, NV

I was concerned about the phrase "released weekly". I have no idea how we order something like this in the first place. I have less idea how we order it for WEEKLY shipping.

Brian HibbsComix ExperienceSan Francisco, CA

I think in the end this will turn out badly for DC, but we'll see.

Peter CasazzaBig Planet ComicsCollege Park, MD

I love DC. I love money. I approve this comic.

Ryan HigginsComics ConspiracySunnyvale, CA

As much as my inner fanboy wants to hate this and cry out in the name of Moore, how dare you! I can't. How can you not love the creative teams involved? Yes, it was Moore and Gibbons' story, as much as Batman was Bill Finger and Bob Kane's.

Gary BuechlerThe Comic OutpostSan Francisco, CA

I'm looking forward to it, it's going to drive people into stores and once they're here we can hopefully get them hooked on other great comics!

Chris ProulxDouble Midnight ComicsManchester, NH

artistic integrity aside, whatever brings asses into the store is fine by me, I will want to go heavy, but DC needs to put it's money where its mouth is with variants, deep discounts AND return-ability on this, it is easy for them to go out on the "who cares what Alan Moore has to say" limb, but if the "in store" fans backlash, is like the "online fans" backlash, this could be a "Marvel New Universe" turkey waiting to happen.

But as for artistic integrity, I find it very hard to accept, but for the fact that, V for Vendetta is a fine movie that Alan himself has finally come around to begrudgingly accept, for its social motivation of occupy movements. I doubt WB would be selling as many Guy Fawkes masks if the source material was JUST the graphic novel. For me, I feel the Watchmen movie was done as perfectly as it could have ever done and opened the door for new generation to find the graphic novels. I love Alan's work, but sometimes he doth protest too much.

DennisWonder WorldTaylor, MI

Great creative teams, interesting characters - what's not to like. If DC handles the marketing well, this will be a gold mine.

The Alan Moore sourpuss act was old years ago. No use of his creations will please him. If DC is damned if it do, and damned if it don't, I say, "do do do!"

Joel PollackBIG PLANET COMICSBethesda, MDWashington, DC

[GreyMouser]

im still bummed that the movie had no alien-squid.
They took out my favorite Rorschach flashback too, the cigarette in the bully's eye was crucial IMO.

[Hollow]

"asses into the store"?

And when did Moore accept the "V for Vendetta" movie?

[Amergin]

artistic integrity aside, whatever brings asses into the store is fine by me, I will want to go heavy, but DC needs to put it’s money where its mouth is with variants, deep discounts AND return-ability on this, it is easy for them to go out on the “who cares what Alan Moore has to say” limb, but if the “in store” fans backlash, is like the “online fans” backlash, this could be a “Marvel New Universe” turkey waiting to happen.

But as for artistic integrity, I find it very hard to accept, but for the fact that, V for Vendetta is a fine movie that Alan himself has finally come around to begrudgingly accept, for its social motivation of occupy movements. I doubt WB would be selling as many Guy Fawkes masks if the source material was JUST the graphic novel. For me, I feel the Watchmen movie was done as perfectly as it could have ever done and opened the door for new generation to find the graphic novels. I love Alan’s work, but sometimes he doth protest too much.

Dennis
Wonder World
Taylor, MI

In store backlash makes it sound like Marvel buyers smashed up the stores. Sometimes I think being scared of the fanboys is just as bad as not being afraid

[Blade X]

If anyone thinks that these prequels are going to bring lots of new and lapse readers into comic shops, I have a huge white house in Washington DC to sell you.

[D Bell]

Hibbs doesn't know how to order a weekly comic?
Hasn't he been a champion of DC's handling - returnability - of the previous weeklies?
And isn't Hibbs one of the biggest Watchmen cheeleaders - pointing out that it may be the most evergreen of American evergreen comic products?
And hasn't Hibbs pointed out that DC is probably the best publisher when it comes to working with the retail community?

Certainly not knowing if retrunability will be factored in would make any retailer a bit leery, but something should be made known on that front before the order date(s).
Concern over fan backlash/apathy I could understand. Concern over DC leaving the retailers in the dark seems a bit misplaced to me.

[Aris]

Meh. Its hard not be outright hostile commenting about "Before Watchmen". I understand DC is primarily an entertainment company in serialized superhero fiction. But i would think with the something with the gravitas and pretty much univeral acceptance of Watchmen as a defining work of art in comics you would leave it alone as the free standing done in one story it was always meant to be.

DC should have took the high ground. And creators in general should have done the same. But some quick cash and possibly well executed material trump high ground it seems.

I agree with Blade above. This is not a game changer nor will it have any meaningful impact on comics overall. I doubt it will be an evergreen trade even with the Watchmen stamp or smiley face on it. Which I am sure DC hope it will be.

-aris

[Snowspinner]

"asses into the store"?

And when did Moore accept the "V for Vendetta" movie?

Indrectly - he's been very favorable about the use of Guy Fawkes masks by protesters of various stripes even though he acknowledges that it's the movie, not the comic, that they're directly responding to.

[Snowspinner]

In store backlash makes it sound like Marvel buyers smashed up the stores. Sometimes I think being scared of the fanboys is just as bad as not being afraid

Given how many went out of business on the back of Marvel's idiocy over those few years, they may as well have smashed them up.

[Brandon Yates]

Indrectly - he's been very favorable about the use of Guy Fawkes masks by protesters of various stripes even though he acknowledges that it's the movie, not the comic, that they're directly responding to.

I'm not callling your character into question, but I need to see the words myself. If you have a link, that would be great.