Possible DC Line-Wide Renumbering?

I expect this to be a topic at tomorrow’s podcast, but I figured I would throw out my first thoughts.  Don’t read past the break if you don’t want the podcast spoiled ahead of time.

Bleeding Cool is reporting

“In September, all the DC Comics published set within the DC Universe will be renumbered with new issue ones.

Every comic continuing from September will be relaunched with a shiny #1. Every. Single. One. With no current plan for the renumbering to reverse to any so-called “legacy” numbering.”

So, what is my take on this?  Let’s go with the assumption that Bleeding Cool is correct.  There is a big chance that they are not, but let’s for the sake of argument say they are and DC is going to renumber all of their books to #1.

Cool.

Its a great way to refresh their line in one fell swoop.  They have been tinkering with their books for so long and nothing seems to be working.  They try new creative teams.  They try line-wide price drops.  But nothing is really helping.  Their Market Share in April was 27% compared to Marvel 38% in units.  They have been 2nd for a long time, but being 11% behind is probably too much.  Add in the fact that Warner Brothers is probably keeping a closer eye on the publishing division and something had to be done.

They have tried bringing in big names, but that hasn’t worked out.  They have tried big crossover stories, but that hasn’t worked.  So why not try something new.  Why not give everybody a new #1, a new starting point?  Yes, there are lots of people online complaining about how could they possibly end Action or Detective as they are nearing 1000.  Well Action is 8 1/2 years away and Detective is further.  Uncanny X-Men, at #537, is the only Marvel title that has not been relaunched, yet many Marvel books have numbers that are higher than that.  How can that be?  Well, Marvel is well versed in canceling and relaunching and renumbering, just for fun.  Just a month ago Thor relaunched with a new #1, but I didn’t hear the gnashing of teeth that there is on this.  Hulk, Captain America and Daredevil are all getting new #1s in the next couple of months, but people aren’t defiantly saying that they will now be graphic novel readers only.  Superman and Wonder Woman both recently hit milestone numbers, but they have both had various new #1s.  I really can’t take anyone serious who uses that excuse s a reason that this can’t be done.  I guarantee not a single complainer has a full run of Action or Detective that is going to be messed up by this.

So, lets look at the rest.  Most of the rest of the books are in double digits.  And most need a boost that simply a creative change or storyline will accomplish.  Pat said that they just need to tell good stories, but I honestly don’t know if that alone is enough to get people reading.  Certainly bad stories keep people from reading, but a good story will not necessarily get people to try a book.

(Side note – one of the podcasts I listened to over the weekend had the people giving their recommendations and one guy said that everyone had to be reading Usagi Yojimbo.  It is not the first time that I have heard this.  I have sold two single issues of this title in the almost 5 years I have been open.  I keep ordering it in the hopes that someone will want it, but it does not sell.  So, critical acclaim alone does not equal sales, which is what the whole game is about)

So, my guess is at some editorial get together, the question was thrown out there, “How can we boost sales?” and the answer of a new #1 was brought up.  And to be honest, it does kind of fit right now.  3 of their big characters have big storylines wrapping up (Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern).  Batman is kind of a universe to itself, so I can’t really wrap my head around what they are going to do there, but tightening up would not hurt, maybe instead of Batgirl, Red Robin, Birds of Prey and Gotham City Sirens, we got more of a Batman Family 80 pager or something.  Justice League and Society both need reset buttons hit.  The Titans books aren’t doing much either.  Adventure and Legion can be combined.  Maybe put Supergirl and Superboy into Action Comics.  It is a way to cut titles that haven’t been selling well without looking like you are canceling.  It is also a way to add new books without people screaming that they are just stuffing the shelves.  Maybe swap Superboy for Hawkman without alienating the Superboy fans.  Add a cool militaristic Aquaman book without pissing off Legion fans.

DC puts out a whole lot of books that, while good and having faithful readership, aren’t exactly setting the sales charts afire.  While Zatanna and Power Girl are very solid books for me, at #95 and #104 on the sales charts, a new #1 can’t hurt.

Now, wearing my retailer hat, its a complete nightmare.  DC numbers are generally rock solid.  If I sold 14 last issue, I will sell 13-15 of the next issue.  Marvel books can fluctuate by 10 copies a month (and for some that may be up to a 50% drop.) Venom #3 has sold 17 less copies than #2.  It is very hard to account for that when placing my orders.  And that is what I will be facing if DC does do this.  I will have to guess on the sales of #1.  How many more people are going to want this book.  I, of course will be hoping for a big bump.  But how many do I order?  Remember, if they don’t sell, I still have to pay for them.  But, then how many that tried #1 won’t want #2.  And #3.  Its a total guessing game with my money.  Any gain of one book will be offset by a loss on another, so, at best, I am hoping for a wash.

But I also know that the numbers I have generally are going to stay where they are.  Without something drastic, there is no way I am going to double my Superman numbers (to where they should be for a book of its stature.  For me, Zatanna outsells Superman.  Its just not right).  So maybe this is just the thing they need to do to get people talking about, and, more importantly, buying DC comics.  Marvel always talks about “Nothing Will Ever Be The Same Again!!!”  What if DC actually does it?  At this point, for them, it may be worth a shot.

If nothing else, it will make my 5 Year Anniversary Month something special and interesting.