There is no doubt in my mind that John Byrne and DC will do their utmost to make this a continually successful book. However the vast majority of all comic books lose ground from its inital launch (save for the marquee titles, which are periodically relaunched).
What can we fans do to help create an ever-growing readership for JB's Doom Patrol? I for one would want to eventually see a Doom Patrol #50 or even #100. Save for the JSA and maybe Ultimate Spider-Man, we never have the oppurtunity to see a writer's vision for a book unfold over the years. Let's do something to help Doom Patrol acheive just that (if a long tenure on DP is something JB is interested in.)
Some wacky ideas - feel free to bash them up as if they were crash test dummies:
- Know any friends that used to read comics? Send them a copy of Doom Patrol as a "hello again" card.
- I recall JB saying DP's first story will be about vampires. Why not post a plug for it on a Buffy or horror message board you also participate in. If another story involves sci-fi elements, announce it on a sci-fi board (it might be advisable to ask permission from the moderator beforehand.)
[Whimsy ON] I've been on the phone all morning with several members of Congress about the possibility of making March 10 "Doom Patrol Day." Have parades, close the banks and schools, you know, the whole thing. I'll keep you folks posted. [Whimsy OFF]
Check shops in your area. Find out how many are supporting the JLA arc, and plan to support DOOM PATROL, and how many are actively trying to sabotage either or both.
DC can promote DPatrol out the wazoo, but if enough shops decide to take a "stance" and not order them, it will be LAB RATS all over again.
I haven't been in a comic shop for nigh-on three years now, but I'm heading on down there tomorrow to get my copy of JLA #94 and to place a standing order for DOOM PATROL. While I'm there I'm going to see whether the store owner is planning to order a healthy supply of DP when it's in Previews. I'm sure he will be. John's work is looked upon very fondly here in the UK.
For my part, I had already planned to purchase at least four extra copies, earmarked as gifts for other comics readers that are not necessarily followers of Mr. Byrne.
I am always grousing about the lack of traditional, accessible super-hero comics on the stands these days.
This was my "me putting my money where my mouth is plan".
I haven't encountered any negative John Byrne feeling here. Everyone I know is buzzed at the idea that we're going to get another JB monthly, and I think the shop staff is as excited as anyone.
Yesterday I called my LCS to tell them that TW was DP, and the guy there was blown away - immediately put it on my list, his own list, and said he'd start calling around.
No worries here.
____________________________________________
You are a god among insects. Never let anyone tell you different.
- On your next trip to your doctor or dentist, leave a copy of Doom Patrol or JLA in the waiting room. It could be the first comic a kid gets to read. Could be the first for a grandmother too, but hey, good comics are for "all-ages"!
- If your local book store has a comic book rack, make sure Doom Patrol or JLA is positioned where it would be eye-level to kids. Kids can't read comics if they can't reach it.
"DC can promote DPatrol out the wazoo, but if enough shops decide to take a "stance" and not order them, it will be LAB RATS all over again."
While my regular store orders generous quantities of most books, many other stores in my neck of the woods order only just enough for their pull list, preferring to stock up on TPBs, Spidey and X-Books. If it does turn out that many shops are dissuading their customers from JLA or DP, what are some solutions you guys can think of?
Well, I went to a local shop today to pick up JLA #94 and there weren't any copies to display since I bought the LAST ONE. Hopefully that means there was a lot of anticipation for it and not that the proprietor was under ordering; of course, if that was the case hopefully he's now thinking "WTF it sold out already?? Better order a lot more of the rest of the arc and DP too!"
My shop guy didn't think much of Lab Rats and didn't order too many. But he was excited today about JLA and the Doom Patrol announcement. He is and will be promoting them both I'm sure.
He was also very keen on the idea of Doom Patrol starting fresh...free of the years of flubbing.
I think the time is right for DC to hit the "old school" fans because I see more and more daily that are really fed up with Marvel books. That is a market and fan-base that can be stolen and is ready to be stolen IMO. I think the time is right for books like DP, Metal Men, Challengers, etc...
The westside Comic Carnival here in Indianapolis had a HUGE amount of JLA issues on display today, along with their obligatory "NEW!" plaque at the front of the display, indicating that this was a new issue this week (nice touch -- don't know if all retailers do this, but it really helps you spot the new issues easily). I got there late in the day, and there were so many copies of JLA #94 on the shelf that I was afraid it wasn't selling well -- thankfully, the guy at the counter (who is always friendly and helpful) said they had ordered extra copies in anticipation of strong sales.
Upon hearing that, I smiled and said, "Right on!" Good to know that there ARE some good -- and savvy -- comic retailers out there!
-- JCB
[Edited for clarity.]
This message has been edited by jcbodin on Mar 10, 2004 9:55 PM
The people at three of my four comics shops claimed to know all about the JLA/Doom Patrol projects. All three seemed interested and enthusiastic to one degree or another. If I heard any negative implication at all, it could be summed up thus: "That's the kind of project John Byrn should work on."
Hardly negative, unless you resent the presumption.
The person at the fourth shop didn't know who John Byrne is, but neither did she know where the Archie comics are racked in her own store. Not really a "comics shop person." More of a cashier, and the gaoler of twelve-year-old video-game sportsmen.
In short -- no active sabotage of the projects was evident. Banter was thinner than hoped, yet positive.
I hope my jacket and necktie -- and my slightly psychotic eyeballs -- did not intimidate them, thus coloring my observations.
My shop had exactly one shelf copy of JLA #94, but already re-ordered. He said there was a flood of people adding JLA to their pull list at the last minute.
2) Was he ordering the book for people who asked for
......................................................
1) He usually has a gut instinct and he is on the mark about 90% of the time with what hits and misses-as far as his order numbers. He gauges initial customer interest and also does study press releases,creator interviews, etc. If I remember correctly he ordered around 15 copies of #1, and decreased orders by 2 or 3 copies for each subsequent issue. I believe he had atleast 3 to 4 shelf copies of each issue after the initial purchases.
2) He will order anything for anyone. If you order it he orders it...no questions asked.
A note about Lab Rats though is that I wasn't interested in it upon first glance. When I saw the Superman issues I was contemplating picking up the entire series..then about the same time I heard it was cancelled. It seems like series just don't get that cushion anymore to find an audience. And it is surely a defeatist attitude, but obviously based in financing somehwere along the line.
There were still a handful on the rack last night, but I know the shop I go to also had put out a special flyer to people with accounts/pull lists so they could add this specific arc to their pulls. I'm guessing that they're going through a lot of copies.
My local shop, while the folks that work there are pretty down on JB (no specific reasons were given when asked) the owner likes the potential of Doom Patrol and is a JB fan, albeit he didn't enjpy Lab Rats.
When I was running a shop, we sold at least 50 copies of the newest JLA issue within the first 2-3 days of it being released(and that's when Joe Kelly was on it!)
Generations always sold very well, and so did Chris's books.
His JLA: Scary Monsters mini flew off the shelves, so I have to imagine that they must be selling close to 75-100 copies.
Chris would come in every Weds. to check out the new releases, and I remember when he came in and told us that GEN 13 was canceled. I had asked if he was still doing JLA with John(at this time it still was rumor)and he replied: "It's up to John!".
Thank goodness for that! You guys really knocked the cover off the ball!
This message has been edited by JasonMichalski on Mar 11, 2004 7:27 PM
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