Geek. Pirate. Mom

Now that DC’s New 52 are coming out (those are the 52 titles they’ve rebooted along with the DC Universe), I thought it was time to look at how DC marketed it- especially after reading this great post by Jill Pantozzi about DC’s presence at FanExpo in Canada). So far sales seem to be high, but since they’re all number 1′s, only time is going to tell how things are really faring.

I used to read comics regularly. I had a pull list and everything. Then, I had a kid and needed that extra bit of monthly budget for other things. So I’ve followed DC in the last few years, but haven’t bought any issues.

I’ve also talked about this before. The year long events were intimidating for new fans, especially since they all built on the one before. So I have been excited about the prospects for a reboot, and the chance to start fresh, as it was.

But the marketing has been spotty. When I was forwarded a “teaser” that would be showing in movie theaters, hyping the new 52, I was expecting something to entice non-comic books fans to return. Something with images from the new books that would say, “Comic’s Greatest Heroes, beloved by millions for decades. Get the chance to start a new journey with them, from the beginning. 52 titles. All starting at #1- available at your local comic book store on online the same day… The New DC Universe.” Instead, it was something clearly geared towards current fans, and didn’t give much information at all.

I expected to maybe see something on television, profiles in entertainment magazines, maybe? Instead, I saw nothing. All the interviews and hype were on websites that were already devoted to comic books. The only blogs I saw cover the new 52 that weren’t already covering comics… were LGBT blogs, discussing the LGBT characters that survived the reboot. There was no media penetration outside of areas that already cared about comic books.

Reading about DC’s sad presence at FanExpo is a bit baffling as well. DC should have been treating every single convention this year as a way to drum up excitement for the new 52, since the whole goal was to get new readers and increase sales.

Sadly, DiDio’s comment about FanExpo only highlights what the problem is: “Well, this is the last week of the old DCU. We’ll let it have its last hurrah before we start the new stuff next week.’” Even when they should be looking forward, DC is still looking backwards. (If you didn’t read the linked article, they had promotional stuff from 2009 at FanExpo for that “last hurrah”)

There has been a lot that’s excited me about the reboot- integrating Wildstorm? Justice League Dark? I loved the idea about starting from the beginning. However, since most of the costume redesigns have been more throwback than a chance to start anew, I have been concerned. (All they’re missing are a few pockets, pouches and head scarfs to be straight out of the “extreme” 90′s) If the marketing team seems more interested in promoting the old than the new, it doesn’t really seem as though DC understands why their readership has fallen over the years at all.

DC, the times they are a changin’. You need to find marketing people that aren’t afraid to tell you the truth- because the less of your own hype that you believe, the better chance you have of seeing where you should be headed. Trust me- adding a bunch of extra lines to a costume, or giving someone pants isn’t a magic solution. Your marketing team should have been asking people why they stopped reading your comics. Or asking people who read indie comics exclusively why they aren’t buying your issues. You should have looked at the demographics to see where you were missing readers and tried to fill those voids.

You don’t gain readership by advertising to the exact same audience you already have. You continue to build by appealing to kids, and making DC a brand that parents feel comfortable buying for their kids- both boys and girls. Those kids will grow up and start their kids reading DC- just like most of your parents or someone older did for you at some point in time, I’m sure. And honestly, stop treating women differently than men. Believe it or not, we have varying tastes, just like your male readers. I know, it’s crazy.

But keep trying, DC. I really believe you can do it.

Your thoughts? Do you think DC can change, or are they doomed to fail? For that matter, have you read any of the new 52 and really liked what you saw?

After you wrote a letter saying that you heard the criticisms about the makeup of your creative teams, I felt I should tell you how I feel.

I’m glad that you’re committed to change if it’s what your audience wants. I am thrilled that Apollo and Midnighter still have a home after the reboot and that you didn’t reboot their sexuality. I’m also thrilled that you’re really giving digital comics a push.

But there are still a few things that I’d like to see as a reader. Not as a woman, but as a reader.

1. Fewer pinup covers. I know, sex sells. But half the time, the cheesecake has nothing to do with the actual story of the book… which to me just proves it’s a desperate attempt to get the horndogs to buy the book. (I’m not anti-cheesecake. I own all the issues of Danger Girl, but those covers all played right into each issue!) I’d just rather see a cover that actually tells me a little bit about what’s inside.
2. Or…. make the pinup covers the variants.
3. Introduce all ages books. It honestly isn’t going to detract from your current storylines if you have a couple of out of continuity books that can never be retconned. Example? Give me an all ages Superboy. Or an all ages Superman & Batman. Something that I can hand my kids and have them fall in love the way that I did.
4. Platform wide events are cool, but usually only when they happen every so often. Year long events every year makes them less of “events”, and make it really hard for new readers to get into storylines. I do speak from experience- I had to cut back on my comic funds when I had my first kid, and when I was trying to get back into it… I had no idea where to start because DC was in the middle of another giant event.
5. If you’re trying to make a character bad-ass, dressing like a stripper isn’t the answer. I love the knife belt on Harley Quinn’s new costume, the new hair and the giant hammer. But there’s no real link to the Harleen Quinzell most of us fell in love with. And what’s with Zantanna in Flashpoint? She’s one of the classiest ladies in the DCU- even if you change the timeline, one would think that she’d find a way to retain that. Redesign all you like, but don’t strip away what makes the character who they are. Nobody would dare put Batman in a dayglo uniform, or have him suddenly dress like a Chippendale’s dancer- but somehow it makes sense to tart Harley up? (And please don’t cite the success of Arkham Asylum.)
6. Flexibility. Don’t be afraid to try new things. No, rebooting your characters or putting them in alternate timelines isn’t what I mean. One of the things I like about Marvel is that they’re willing to try all ages books, manga versions of their properties… it doesn’t always work, but they try.

Not included in my list, but you might want to work on how you handle criticism. Frankly, I was more disappointed at how rude Dan Didio was to the woman who asked about the creative team than I was that there were fewer women in the initial relaunch. All he had to do was say that they were aware of the concern and that it wasn’t intentional, point out that there are announcements with female creators coming down the line and remind fans that the surefire way to have more female creators is for more women to send submissions. Considering that Gail Simone herself had raised the same concern (about the lack of female creators) weeks earlier, this is a question DC should have seen as being a possibility. (And by the way, you didn’t need to put a quantity on the female creators out there in your letter. Just saying you know there are many more out there would have been enough.)

The more and more I write about this and talk about it with others, I really don’t want this to be a gender thing. I long for the day when people don’t care who writes comics, but just care that they’re written well. Frankly, I’d like to see fresh talent. Redesigns that don’t feel dated before they even hit the page (sorry Jim Lee, but your work hasn’t aged since the 90s. Chokers are out, and Superman doesn’t need armor). Go to Project Rooftop, and be blown away by their artwork. These are artists who know the characters and aren’t afraid to try something new. I’d like to see some risks. Because right now, DC looks like it’s too afraid to try anything new. (Well, anything new that doesn’t involve taking clothes off of female characters)

Whitney

For those who’ve seen the 12% to 1% female creators issue cited, Newsarama takes a look at those figures. Turns out it’s a bit of apples to oranges thing. But honestly, I’m glad that there have been more open discussions about the way women are portrayed in comics, as well as honestly talking about the directions that fans want to see comics taken in.

Lately I’ve been letting my freak flag fly. Tweeting about gaming, and writing at least 4 geek related blog posts that never made it past my drafts folder.

Today, however, has been a big day for all of us geeks. (Yes, I wear the label with pride) DC unveiled the Wonder Woman costume for an upcoming storyline, and it’s been rumored that Josh Hutcherson has been cast as Peter Parker in the upcoming Spiderman reboot. Read More…