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| Topic | DC Comics says the comic book industry in on the brink of collapse |
| Apocalyptic 07/25/17 10:58:48 AM #1: | "We have to stop the collapse of the comic book industry." When an industry veteran like Jim Lee puts it as bluntly as that, comic book fans across the world sit up and listen. The comic book market isn't in a good shape; sales are dropping, and market leader Marvel is repeating short-term sales strategies that caused the '90s comic book bubble to burst. Flagging comic book sales are at the heart of the paradox of San Diego Comic-Con 2017; superheroes have never been more popular, and yet the comic book industry is in trouble. Unusually, at #SDCC2017, DC Comics publishers Jim Lee and Dan DiDio were absolutely open about the challenges they're faced with today. They also talked at length about just how they aim to turn the market around. Spearheaded by Geoff Johns, the #DCRebirth initiative has been a tremendous success. DiDio openly admitted that while the company's previous 'New 52' relaunch had allowed them to reexamine characters and try new things, they realized that something had been lost along the way. Although sales are beginning to falter a little, the fact that they're still strong a full year into the two-year arc is impressive. What's more, SDCC has seen DC Comics up the ante, revealing details of Geoff Johns's 'Doomsday Clock' event. As teased all the way back in last year's DC Universe — Rebirth #1, this will bring the characters of Alan Moore's Watchmen into contact with the main DC Universe. Speaking at another panel, Geoff Johns teased that he'll be bringing Lex Luthor and Ozymandias — the smartest men in their respective comic book universes — face to face. He also confirmed the long-standing fan theory that Dr. Manhattan is the force behind 'Rebirth'. As comic book fans noted when Johns's DC Universe — Rebirth was first published, the whole arc is in part a repudiation of everything comics have been doing for the last couple of decades. It rejects the pessimism and darkness that was en vogue in the aftermath of Alan Moore's Watchmen, and positioning the characters of Watchmen as the villains who've stolen life and hope from the DC Universe is a glorious meta-narrative. --- ... ... Copied to Clipboard! |
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