Comments on: DC: BATMAN YEAR 100 isn't one of the best comics of the year http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: STWALLSKULL » Interesting Links: July 2nd, 2008 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41894 STWALLSKULL » Interesting Links: July 2nd, 2008 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:54:27 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41894 [...] DC: BATMAN YEAR 100 isn’t one of the best comics of the year from THE BEAT [...] [...] DC: BATMAN YEAR 100 isn’t one of the best comics of the year from THE BEAT [...]

]]> By: Calvin Reid http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41893 Calvin Reid Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:50:18 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41893 Obviously DC can do whatever it wants with the characters that it owns. But Houghton Mifflin's BEST OF anthology series (things like Best American Short Stories, Best Essays, etc.) are some of the most prestigious anthologies in American publishing. Particularly the Best American Short Stories (dates from 1910 or something, HM took over publishing the series in the 1970s I think) which the rest of the series is patterned after. These works routinely collect the work of the best American writers and include excerpts from across the broad range of American publishing houses. It seems short sighted and a little weird to not have Batman (particulary Paul Pope's vivid and imaginative version of the character) included in this series. I just don't get it. There are some things that are more important than licensing policies. It's one thing to talk about comics being part of the American literary canon and another to step up and make sure that comics are included in the traditional American literary registries, like HM's BEST OF anthologies. Obviously DC can do whatever it wants with the characters that it owns. But Houghton Mifflin’s BEST OF anthology series (things like Best American Short Stories, Best Essays, etc.) are some of the most prestigious anthologies in American publishing. Particularly the Best American Short Stories (dates from 1910 or something, HM took over publishing the series in the 1970s I think) which the rest of the series is patterned after. These works routinely collect the work of the best American writers and include excerpts from across the broad range of American publishing houses.

It seems short sighted and a little weird to not have Batman (particulary Paul Pope’s vivid and imaginative version of the character) included in this series. I just don’t get it. There are some things that are more important than licensing policies. It’s one thing to talk about comics being part of the American literary canon and another to step up and make sure that comics are included in the traditional American literary registries, like HM’s BEST OF anthologies.

]]> By: Xenos http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41892 Xenos Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:47:12 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41892 Does DC have a button to push that says, "No comment."? I think DiDio could save a bunch of time if they had that or put it on their answering machine. Maybe we should be happy they let Pope even make a Batman story. Still, this is pretty rotten. What's the point of publishing it if you don't back it? It was even requested by the people wanting to hype it. What? Crazy libertarian Batman too scary a thing for DC to promote? Comments like Pope's have sold me a bit more on that political philosophy. It rather shows up in this very interesting Batman story. Though I don't want to bring up the whole politics at DC debate again. Not he first time they've hyped up crap while ignoring books that others found fantastic anyway. Remember when they hyped the hell of dreck like Identity Crisis and hardly pushed New Frontier at all? Does DC have a button to push that says, “No comment.”? I think DiDio could save a bunch of time if they had that or put it on their answering machine.

Maybe we should be happy they let Pope even make a Batman story. Still, this is pretty rotten. What’s the point of publishing it if you don’t back it? It was even requested by the people wanting to hype it. What? Crazy libertarian Batman too scary a thing for DC to promote? Comments like Pope’s have sold me a bit more on that political philosophy. It rather shows up in this very interesting Batman story. Though I don’t want to bring up the whole politics at DC debate again.

Not he first time they’ve hyped up crap while ignoring books that others found fantastic anyway. Remember when they hyped the hell of dreck like Identity Crisis and hardly pushed New Frontier at all?

]]> By: Joel Meadows http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41891 Joel Meadows Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:34:43 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41891 We hit a similar problem with Studio Space and had to scale back the amount of DC images in the book. Ironically I think it's a better book now with less DC images in it but if DC wonder why their market share has shrunk and their influence is less than it used to be, perhaps they should look at decisions like this… We hit a similar problem with Studio Space and had to scale back the amount of DC images in the book. Ironically I think it’s a better book now with less DC images in it but if DC wonder why their market share has shrunk and their influence is less than it used to be, perhaps they should look at decisions like this…

]]> By: Tom Spurgeon http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41890 Tom Spurgeon Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:46:52 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41890 No, most of those cartoonists do just fine. No, most of those cartoonists do just fine.

]]> By: Doug http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41889 Doug Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41889 So the unstated subtitle to <i>The Best American Comics</i> is <i>That Wouldn't Sell Otherwise</i>? So the unstated subtitle to The Best American Comics is That Wouldn’t Sell Otherwise?

]]> By: Rick Rottman http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41888 Rick Rottman Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:13:33 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41888 I kinda agree with DC on this one. The <i>Batman Year 100</i> collected trade is available just about anywhere comic book trade paperbacks are sold. It's not like it's out of print or anything. I thought the idea behind the yearly <i>Best American Comics</i> was to get exposure to material that people might not have access to normally. For instance, my local Borders sells the yearly <i>Best American Comics</i>, but I don't think they stock many of the comics that appear in the yearly book. I kinda agree with DC on this one. The Batman Year 100 collected trade is available just about anywhere comic book trade paperbacks are sold. It’s not like it’s out of print or anything. I thought the idea behind the yearly Best American Comics was to get exposure to material that people might not have access to normally. For instance, my local Borders sells the yearly Best American Comics, but I don’t think they stock many of the comics that appear in the yearly book.

]]> By: Jason Setzer http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41887 Jason Setzer Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:50:33 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41887 I can totally understand why BTMN:YR100 wouldn't make it into a "Best of" anthology. In this work, Pope's art is at times incomprehensible. Also, the story didn't add anything novel or insightful to Batman mythos. It was an underwhelming read. I can totally understand why BTMN:YR100 wouldn’t make it into a “Best of” anthology. In this work, Pope’s art is at times incomprehensible. Also, the story didn’t add anything novel or insightful to Batman mythos. It was an underwhelming read.

]]> By: Jamie Coville http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41886 Jamie Coville Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:25:32 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41886 Yeah, my guess is DC doesn't want anybody else profiting from Batman. Especially with the movie coming out. Yeah, my guess is DC doesn’t want anybody else profiting from Batman. Especially with the movie coming out.

]]> By: Stefan P http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41885 Stefan P Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:23:25 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41885 There are no comics property to DC in the MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST WAR COMICS-anthology. Dell, Dark Horse, yes ... but no DC. I checked the credits. There are comics in it, that have been published at DC, but they are property of the artists. It is fairly simple, I guess: DCs licensing-departement just don't step into action below an significant amount of money offered for an significant amount of comics that anybody want's to (re)publish. At least, that's the situation for foreign publishers, who want's to publish any DC-material (Vertigo, Minx etc. included). But I guess, it's the same situation if you just want to buy some pages for an anthology. DC won't give any license for free and they won't give any license below an significant amount of money. They probably don't even read your letter, 'cause that costs time, and time is money. There are no comics property to DC in the MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST WAR COMICS-anthology. Dell, Dark Horse, yes … but no DC. I checked the credits. There are comics in it, that have been published at DC, but they are property of the artists.

It is fairly simple, I guess: DCs licensing-departement just don’t step into action below an significant amount of money offered for an significant amount of comics that anybody want’s to (re)publish. At least, that’s the situation for foreign publishers, who want’s to publish any DC-material (Vertigo, Minx etc. included). But I guess, it’s the same situation if you just want to buy some pages for an anthology. DC won’t give any license for free and they won’t give any license below an significant amount of money. They probably don’t even read your letter, ’cause that costs time, and time is money.

]]> By: Tommy Raiko http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41884 Tommy Raiko Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:37:51 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41884 "So the book is put out by Houghtin Mifflin and DC is distributed by Random House, right? Any chance that plays a role in the decision making..." Anything's possible, but that strikes me as unlikely. In typical publisher/distributor relationships like this (where DC is the publisher and Random House is that publisher's distributor) the distributor generally doesn't get heavily involved (or want to get involved) in decisions about the publisher's content or the publisher's business decisions involving rights, permissions, or licensing its content. “So the book is put out by Houghtin Mifflin and DC is distributed by Random House, right? Any chance that plays a role in the decision making…”

Anything’s possible, but that strikes me as unlikely. In typical publisher/distributor relationships like this (where DC is the publisher and Random House is that publisher’s distributor) the distributor generally doesn’t get heavily involved (or want to get involved) in decisions about the publisher’s content or the publisher’s business decisions involving rights, permissions, or licensing its content.

]]> By: Alan Coil http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41883 Alan Coil Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:49:58 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41883 I'll kill myself when the time comes, but that time is nowhere near. Support Dr. Kevorkian! I’ll kill myself when the time comes, but that time is nowhere near. Support Dr. Kevorkian!

]]> By: BobH http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41882 BobH Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:31:49 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41882 Doesn't DC routinely not allow their comics to be reprinted in anthologies? I remember the MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST WAR COMICS had a few names listed when solicited that clearly would have meant DC (Kanigher, Kubert), but they were missing from the published book. I think the Smithsonian book had some DC stuff, but it was Watchmen/Sandman stuff, not super-hero (and a request from the Smithsonian might carry more weight). Doesn’t DC routinely not allow their comics to be reprinted in anthologies? I remember the MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST WAR COMICS had a few names listed when solicited that clearly would have meant DC (Kanigher, Kubert), but they were missing from the published book. I think the Smithsonian book had some DC stuff, but it was Watchmen/Sandman stuff, not super-hero (and a request from the Smithsonian might carry more weight).

]]> By: Lawson http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41881 Lawson Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:48:54 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41881 Good God! Alan Coil is going to kill himself! Don't do it, Alan! It's just a comic book! Good God! Alan Coil is going to kill himself!

Don’t do it, Alan! It’s just a comic book!

]]> By: cbrown http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41880 cbrown Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:34:49 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/06/27/dc-batman-year-100-isnt-one-of-the-best-comics-of-the-year/#comment-41880 I don't like it, but I'm not going to kill myself. Sorry Alan Coil. I don’t like it, but I’m not going to kill myself. Sorry Alan Coil.

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