Following Marvel Comics 2011 event Fear Itself, the stage is being prepared for the Avengers Vs. X-Men starting with Avengers: X-Sanction, The four-issue limited series leading into the twelve-issue bi-weekly event. Avengers: X-Sanction features the return of Cable who presents himself as the “Captain America
While DC Comics relaunched their franchises last September, Marvel Comics has its own publishing schedule according to Joe Quesada, which will not be altered due to its rival DC Comics relaunching all of their titles.
The writers are the key to any comic as they establish the trust with their readers. Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman have established their titles are worth picking up which includes Ultimate Spider-Man and Fantastic Four.
Marvel Comics have a rapidly growing list of cancellations including Alpha Flight, Victor Von Doom, Destroyers, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, Daken: Dark Wolverine and PunisherMax as well as a few more. These cancellations provide strength for the popular titles without cannibalizing them. The popular titles have built franchises to draw attention when the titles are released. The titles are focused on the Marvel architect writers which includes both Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman taking a hold of the Marvel Universe providing quality stories for the next decade of Marvel Comics.
Marvel Comics strategies for 2012 include selling more of the popular titles per year, shorter story arcs, and increasing titles of the current franchises. Marvel Comics is beginning to sell more of the popular titles increasing to more than 12 issues per year. Titles include the new Winter Soldier, Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, as well as the Point One issues associated with the titles. Shorter story arcs provide more bang for the buck when they are collected in trade form. Daredevil, Incredible Hulk, and the recent New Mutants bring a new age of storytelling instead of the decompressing storytelling of the 2000s.
Comic fans want stories that matter and make a difference to the reader now. The Post-Fear Itself titles seem to be the beginning of something special as our heroes deal with the consequences of their actions. The mutant titles seem to be a convoluted set of stories all which will eventually lead to next summer’s event: Avengers Vs. X-Men. Basically the X-Men Universe seem to be put on the back burner as the Avengers are pushed towards the forefront as the movie premieres next May.
Most of the Fear Itself and Spider-Island tie-ins last year seem to be bombarding the comic racks rather than adding to the comic experience. One of the lessons Marvel Comics needs to learn is not to bombard the reader with numerous tie-ins or else they will lose interest in the main title. The main titles are under ordered to make room for their tie-ins. Fear Itself has 20 tie-ins while Spider-Island has 8 tie-ins for a total of 28 books that are cannibalizing quality comics and taking up store space. Much like the Fear Itself tie-ins, the Spider-lsland tie-ins are written by various writers who have very little to do with the Spider-Man Universe. Unless the title is written by series writer Dan Slott, these titles are to be avoided to save money for the reader.
Marvel Comics need to be sensitive to retailers instead of bombarding them with stuff they need to sell to raise quarterly earnings on the stock market for their owners Disney. When you have shareholders then you have short-term goals without any long-term strategies.
References
Devil Comics Entertainment http://www.devilcomics.com
DC Comics http://dccomics.com/dccomics/
NYC Graphic Novelists http://www.nycgraphicnovelists.com
Comic Alliance
Jim Shooter http://www.jimshooter.com
Comic Mix http://www.comicmix.com
The Hollywood Reporter http://www.hollywoodreporter.com
