As most of you know, Marvel and I have a general dislike of each other. It has absolutely nothing to do with their books. It has nothing to do with their creators. I just don’t like how they do things and they consider talking with me a waste of time. This was shown again last February at the ComicsPRO meeting in Portland, but goes back to one of my first retailer summits, in Las Vegas, when, rather than answer a question about just how big a “CLASSIFIED” book would be, David Gabriel, the SVP of sales at Marvel said “Should I just order the books for you?” Oh, the love.
Today, in USA Today, Marvel announced “All-New All-Different Marvel” coming this fall.
55-60 new #1s, new character in old costumes (a new Spider-Man, new Hulk, new Wolverine). Now, I have zero problem with this. They can do whatever they want. All of this is fine.
My problem is that Secret Wars #3 (of 8) came out yesterday. Many of the tie-in series have not even begun yet. But Marvel is already pushing the next thing. Issue#6 is in the Previews that came out last week. So issues #7 & 8 aren’t even solicited yet. But Marvel is starting to promote what’s next. So, rather than get people excited about what is coming up in the next few months in Secret Wars, Marvel is basically saying “Yea, whatever. Look what’s coming up next!!!”
Well, I have to order and sell these books that Marvel is bored with. I have to keep people excited about Secret Wars while Marvel is going to be releasing info in dribs and drabs and putting me in a position where people are going to be asking questions about this relaunch of their whole line and I have zero information.
And its done intentionally. The only reason to announce this now is if they want to get ahead of the July Previews because the info is going to be in there. But that is very doubtful. The July book has to have Secret Wars #7 & 8 and the conclusion of all of the Secret Wars books. But that is a guess. Secret Wars may not even be planned to wrap up in September. I have no idea. It is doubtful they will also be launching the new #1s at the same time as that. So, the new books won’t be until the August book for October at the earliest. Secret Wars #5 has been moved from 7/1 to 8/12. Meaning, of course #6, 7 & 8 are coming out after that. But with delays starting already with #4, I fear that other issues are going to be delayed as well. But at this point, I wouldn’t put it past them to have the relaunch begin before the end of Secret Wars. Or have it finish with fill in art. Both of which would be very disappointing. The art on the book is fantastic and very distinct. But if #5 was delayed 6 weeks (from 7/1 to 8/12), is it feasible that issues 6-8 will ship within 6 weeks to be done in September?
Why not hold this info until San Diego Comicon? Why not make a big splash there? Marvel has a history recently of spoiling their own surprises. They keep doing news releases on Tuesday spoiling reveals and other things that would otherwise be a surprise in the book coming out the next day. They just did it a few weeks ago with the female Thor’s identity. So, did they want to spoil their own San Diego announcement? I have no clue. They started promoting Secret Wars 4 months before it started, so I guess it shouldn’t really be a surprise they are starting this 4 months out. I just wish it wasn’t right at the beginning of their big event.
It just makes it easy to want to support the publishers who support me by promoting the now, not the future. DC is promoting the new #1s coming out this month all over social media. Same with Image and Boom and IDW. But Marvel is already pushing what is coming in October when their huge, universe altering event of the decade is only 3/8ths done.
Slow down, guys. Help me promote what is coming out next week, not this fall.
