DC and Marvel both drop prices
As reported by Laura Hudson, at today's ICv2 conference, people were moaning about prices. :
The complaint of high prices was discussed as well, along with the statistics that the average cover price of a comic book in the second quarter of 2010 is now $3.53, up from $3.38 in 2009. "Overall, [fans] are paying more for the same type of content than they were two years ago," said Griepp.
ICv2 conferees happily go digital
Moving forward with digital was the theme of today's ICv2 Comics and Digital conference, which kicked off New York Comic Con with an afternoon of panels and idea sharing. And for those who are moving, they are doing so with zeal and purpose. As opposed to previous such industry gatherings, where digital was timidly referring to in veiled terms, left the Gods of Tradition strike the heretics dead, almost all of today's speakers are living in a world where digital is already a part of their revenue stream. It made for a lively day of engaged attendees.
NYCC 10: Top Shelf #
Top Shelf has the usual gang of outstanding creators plus Japanese illustrator/manga-ka Akino Kondoh!</strong>
Arcana acquires Devils Due characters
Via PR, Arcana, publisher of such titles as Banzai Girl and Gearhead, has acquired a bunch of characters from the library of Devils Due Publishing, including Mercy Sparx, Defex and Breakdown.
DDP has been floundering of late, with late payment to creators, problems with Diamond and a reduced or nonexistent publishing schedule. The titles sold represent most of the original IP developed at the company by publisher/owner Josh Blaylock. Devils Due's most successful original series, hack/slash moved to Image in March; most of their other recent publications were licensed -- Spartacus -- or parody -- Barack the Barbarian.
Tales of Snyder, Aronofsky, Siegel, Shuster and superheroes
Did Zack Snyder get the Superman gig because he's the only director in town who could get the baggage-heavy franchise back in production before 2011? That's what Claude Brodesser-Akner is reporting over at Vulture. And why 2011? It's not because of the Mayan calendar, but rather a deadline of another sort. Based on their filings for copyright reversion (which Warner Bros. has pulled out every trick in the book to stop) the Siegel family will regain control of their half of Superman in 2013, with the Joe Shuster heirs expected to get theirs back soon after. So a movie has to get made before then.
NYCC 10: Hero Initiative Signing Schedule — #333
And the great talent at Hero’s booth, #333, is as follows:
Friday, October 8
1030-1130: Francis Manapul
1230-130: Cully Hamner
130-230: Bob Hall
400-530: Miguel Sepulveda + Fernando Dagnino
Saturday,...
Observers: Kodansha Comics has a big task ahead
Following yesterday's announcement that the Del Rey Manga imprint was folding into a distribution arm for Kodansha Comics, a US branch of the Japanese publisher, American manga watchers were NOT jumping for joy. Chris Butcher came right out and said it:
Marvel's Dan Buckley looks at the hobby market
ICv2 continues its sit down with Marvel publisher Dan Buckley, who says many things, but also points out one of the great dichotomies of comics -- everyone says they want done-in-one jumping on point comics -- but when publishers put them out, the sales don't pick up at all:
Cox joins CBLDF as Development Manager
And our second press release about a comics retailer getting another job in as many minutes, Alex Cox, formerly of the much-missed comics shop Rocketship in Brooklyn, has joined the CBLDF as Development Manager. Just to tie up all the loose ends, Shy Allott, who formerly held the position, has joined Dr. Sketchy's as Sponsorship Coordinator. Congrats to everyone who is now employed!
Freeman upped at Top Cow
Retailer Atom! Freeman, recently hired as Direct Market Liaison at Top Cow, has already been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing. Congrats to Freeman!
Del Rey Manga gives way to Kodansha Comics
As rumored for months, Kodansha, the Japanese publishing giant, is shifting its relationship with Random House. Del Rey Manga is shutting down, but Kodansha Comics will remain, to be distributed by Random House. Del Rey Manga's associate publisher, Dallas Middaugh, will move over to Random House Publisher Services to act as the liaison for Kodansha.
