COMICS INTERNATIONAL - NEW ISSUE

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 07 Aug 2007, 12:44

Just to let folk (that may be interested) know that the latest edition of CI is on sale - its still not keeping to a regular schedule and I'm still not sure exactly what I'm getting extra for the additional ?1 , but in its defence I think its starting to get its act together and take on a its own "personality" - but it still needs to get on the shelves on time though. Some good articles in it this month and a few bits on UK comics.

Shaqui · Post by **Shaqui** » 07 Aug 2007, 13:47

Is this the one with the 'Danger Man in comics' feature? Saw it on sale at the Collectors Fair in London last weekend but forgot to pick one up (I'm credited at the end of that feature, courtesy of all-round good guy John Freeman - cheers John!) and was chuffed to see Horsham Library stock a copy too!

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 07 Aug 2007, 13:56

The very same issue Shaqui picked my copy up on Friday though it had just come out - good alround issue as not been impressed withthe previous 2 - and didn't know No1 was no one duh! as Homer would say!

PaulTwist · Post by **PaulTwist** » 31 Aug 2007, 16:04

Is the next issue (#203) out yet? I read that it was but comix-shop.co.uk don't seem to have it in... has anyone seen/bought it yet?

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 31 Aug 2007, 16:12

Comics International 203 came out a few weeks ago (actually maybe longer as I think 204 is running late) Issue 203 had 4 variant covers : one each with Iron Man - Transformers - The Prisioner and (I think ) the Black Knight. Its been looking good but the constant late schedule is becomming a pain I can see a lot of readers leavign the book as by the time its in the shops the inforamtion is late and the advance books are already out etc - I think hes going for a more article based magazine now though.

philcom55 · Post by **philcom55** » 31 Aug 2007, 17:47

Cap Haggis wrote:Its been looking good but the constant late schedule is becomming a pain I can see a lot of readers leavign the book as by the time its in the shops the inforamtion is late

The reaction of advertisers could be even more damaging - I'm pretty sure I've already seen a number of paid adverts for events that took place before the relevant issue came out. Dez Skinn spent years building up his admirable reputation for reliability: now it's looking as though his successors have destroyed CI's greatest commercial asset within a few months of taking over.

- Phil Rushton

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 31 Aug 2007, 23:11

Totally agree Phil, Dez did a wonderful job re content and reliable deadlines you could set your clock by Comics International being in the shops - I noticed more than a few adverts for events signings etc that as you say, happened the day the new Comics International hit the shelves and in some cases the occurred the week previous. CI is fortunate in thats its the only mag of its type on the market (articles, news items, listings and reviews etc) but I'm picking up Diamond Previews now and will only buy CI if its got a particularly good aarticle in it that interests me (unless it gets back to a regular schedule)

Steve Flanagan · Post by **Steve Flanagan** » 01 Sep 2007, 13:24

The erratic scheduling combined with the preposterous number of variant covers means that it's easy to miss a new issue when it actually hits the shelves, too.

PaulTwist · Post by **PaulTwist** » 03 Sep 2007, 17:41

Cap Haggis wrote:I think hes going for a more article based magazine now though.

This makes much more sense - surely the majority of comics readers are likely to have internet access now, so any news in outdated (even if the magazine is published on time)? I don't think the news should be dropped completely as it's nice to have everything in one place and also to see if there's anything that I've missed, but a more article-led format is surely the way to go for Comics International - and, indeed, for all consumer journalism.

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 03 Sep 2007, 21:37

I agree Paul - I think CI has obviously "missed the bus" now re being a listing book, and as you say the PC and Previews have all this information to hand months in advance - I would like to see listings of newer books, graphic novels and def reviews (which I find helpful) the problem I have re the articles, which is probably going to be one of CIs selling points, is the focus (or seeming focus) on TV related articles which it seems have added to CIs sales in the US (mostly via the Prisioner, Jerry Anderson and Transformers) I'm more into CI dealing with comics directly but I have to admit the articles have been interesting and to be fair they have linked the TV theme to comics where possible.

Comics UK