1. Late books – this is an ongoing problem in the industry dating back to when the big guns left Marvel to start Image. I sometimes think that DC and Marvel are afraid they will lose talent if they insist they keep to deadlines. I wish the creators would get their act together. I know the business has changed and the art has grown more detailed but still, it is unprofessional not to get your work done on time.

2. Event fever – I think we are entering a period where there is way too many back to back “earth shattering” events. I would like to see stories stay within their own books for a year or two with no crossovers, no tie-ins, no big events. I am considered that the industry is heading towards another 90’s style down-turn like when the Batman books had a crossover every ten seconds.

3. Creators lacking staying power – nowadays if a creative team sticks around for twelve issues it is headline news. When I first started reading comics, creative teams would stay on a book for several years. I get irritated with all this hopping around because I believe it accounts for erratic sales.

4. Tie-ins – I think DC and Marvel would be wise to let books succeed or fail on their own merits instead of trying to ratchet up sales by having a tie-in issue with a major event. At best you just get a one issue bump in sales (if that). I think it is counterproductive because it probably runs afoul of what readers like about a book they are already buying.

5. Sales figures – I think that DC and Marvel need to adjust their expectations on new series featuring third tier characters. These books have not been reliable sellers since the seventies and eighties. If they are going to publish these books they should adjust themselves to the fact that a lot of them are not going to crack 20,000 copies on a regular basis beyond the first few issues that draw more collectors than readers.

Anyway that is all I have to contribute at the moment.

What revamps are you talking about? Aquaman, Hawkgirl, and Warlord are gone but they were teetering before OYL. And a lot of the other ‘revamps’ were only mini-series.
I’m less than enthusiastic about a lot of post-52 stuff, but get the facts straight.

See, I AM buying DC Comics.

I WANT to like them, really I do.

On the upside, DC Direct is putting out some KILLER stuff in the coming year.

And I love this column in general.

If sales were as solid as he says, why then have every single one of his revamps since One Year Later been cancelled? Blue Beetle is the only one still standing, but I bet that’s next to a can of raid for I can’t see how that title can survive on readers of a mere 16-17k.

Moreover, Countdown is so terrible, that if it actually IS the ’spine’ of the DCU, then the spine is broken and someone needs to get them a wheelchair and fast.

DC Comics used to be THE company for the best comics to read on the stands. Since Dan Didio, you can’t read them… because most of the stories aren’t continued next issue, they’re continued… well, no one knows when. Most of the stuff put out by them is glorified fanfic with the exception of output from Johns, Waid, Morrison and Busiek. Teen Titans is a mess and as a reader, it behooves me as to how a leader can ok a book by Judd Winnick — which has disaster written all over it, rather than finish the New Teen Titans Graphic Novel… which is already more than 3/4 complete.

This is also the same guy who put George Perez on Brave and The Bold instead of Legion. Not that there’s anything wrong with B&B — I love it! But Legion needs a fix and Perez on the book guarantees it a top 10 seller.

I remember the old DC Slogan — The New DC is ON THE MOVE! But lately, the only place they’re moving, is DOWN. Many of their best creators have signed up with Marvel and Independants (Phil Jimenez, Mark Guggenheim, Alex Ross…) the others he signed on never delivered (Kubert Bros) and the place is just a sad, depressing mess. As for all the groupies at all the cons who give Didio his kudos, well, anyone NOT into DC isn’t going to go to the panels so it’s no surprise that people attending, are giving him his props.

In closing, the only thing I’m COUNTING-Down is to when Dan Didio leaves.

HAHAHAHA – I mean come on… seriously… If ‘Countdown’ was languishing in sales I’d understand the comment, but it’s not. Sure it’s no ‘52′ but then again, it’s selling a lot better than a hell of a lot of other titles.

It might be dissapointing in comparision, but on its it is doing fine. Stupidly over-reaching comments like this just make ranting fanboys/girls look even more foolish.

Lets come back in 12 months and see!

True, but you have to bear in mind that the top twelve books all sold over 100K, and that would have been remakable a few years ago. Objectively speaking, COUNTDOWN is still shifting 72-73K an issue in the North American direct market, which isn’t bad. It’s more that DC don’t seem able to break into the top echelon at the moment – and it stands out a mile because INFINITE CRISIS and 52 both managed it.

Really, COUNTDOWN shouldn’t be selling below WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN, and that’s the sort of thing that should be worrying DC.

I’ve never heard that counter argument before!
No, really, my bush WOULD make a better president.