Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, HRL
Dark Horse Comics Persuaded To Print A Bigger Version Of 'Niourk'
Facebook page Eurocomics USA Invasion has run a campaign to convince Dark Horse Comics to change the size of one of their upcoming European books. And it seems to have worked.
Back in March this year, it was made public that Dark Horse would publish Niourk, a graphic novel by prominent French writer/artist Olivier Vatine. The English translation was going to be 7 x 10 inches, a far cry from the original 9 x 12 inches (24 x 32 cm) of the French edition published by Ankama Editions. This prompted EuroComics USA to post in March:
Dark Horse Comics will publish NIOURK by OLIVIER VATINE
The original European format of this book is 9.5 x 12.5 inches.
The format of the Dark Horse Comics edition will be 7 x 10 inches.
Here at Eurocomics USA Invasion, we frown upon the miniaturization of European comics in English translation, so we hope against hope that Dark Horse Comics would reconsider this decision and publish this book, at the very least, at the standard 8.5 x 11 inch format of their Milo Manara and Mœbius Libraries.
However, last time we checked, the reply we got from the editor-in-chief of the company makes clear they don't see anything wrong with such drastic reductions of size:
"Our books, in both format and design, win awards both in and outside the comics industry. We are careful how we approach the books we publish. I'm extremely sorry these editions do not meet your approval."
Still, there are 10 months between now and the scheduled publication date, so if you happen to agree with our disappointment and want Dark Horse Comics to widen the format of this book between here and then, please let your voice be heard:
Leave a comment here expressing your concern, and/or just react to this photo with the angry or sad icons instead of the like or love icons you would have used if the book were to be published in an oversized format.
NIOURK is only one in many spectacular books in the Who's Wul ? line from Ankama Editions, so chances are Dark Horse Comics intends to
bring more titles from said line. If we can't persuade them to change their mind, all those books and other European imports will continue to appear in disappointing small formats in the USA.
Publisher Mike Richardson, Dark Horse's owner replied, saying:
"Thanks for writing. I will check to see where we are in production. The decision was not an arbitrary one. We checked with our bookstore distributors who counseled us as to their thoughts regarding size. We also have a long history of publishing comics from Europe, and the size originally selected is by far the most successful sales wise. I try to balance the artistic objectives with the financial. It seems that the chosen size gives us the best chane for financial success.
As Olivier Vatine knows, I am a huge fan of his work. I will look to see where the production is, and if there is time, reconsider the size."
Five months later, the book has been finally added to the Dark Horse website and solicited in the Previews catalog where Dark Horse has decided to change the format of the book to 9" x 12", which pretty much matches the original European size.
Power to the people?