Breathing some new life into old characters.

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 28 Sep 2006, 21:14

All of the posts make for very good reading and actually make a lot of sense.I suppose you could say that we are a bunch of selfish old codgers trying to relive a little bit of our youth by wanting to see our old favourite comics back in print again.By now I agree that it is simply not going to happen.But what really wrangles me is if this is so,then why don't the publishers simply release the comics into the public domain(if they intend to do nothing with them)or put them online for free download or hand over to an interested fan who can do them justice with a thoughtful fan site(at least we'll credit the writers and artists..if we knew who they were!)Otherwise they will become like the Dead Sea Scrolls....forgotten and perhaps never rediscovered.Even the games companies have put all their old games from the 80's online for free for the fans.Failing that fans will simply put them up on file-sharing sites as one by one the fan sites(Misty and Scream anybody?)get closed down(...we're not gonna use them,so you can't too...naa,naa!)It really is a rediculous situation.How many of us will be around in 2085 when all these comics will be out of copyright?I'm not getting any younger!

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 28 Sep 2006, 22:14

Captain Storm wrote:why don't the publishers simply release the comics into the public domain

Two reasons, I think:

1) Just in case trends change and they think they can make more money out of comics than magazines again. Sometimes they just follow "what sells" and wait for other publishers to make the first move.

2) Some younger editors are not aware of the rich history of comics, and what their company has the rights to!

Lew

David McDonald · Post by **David McDonald** » 28 Sep 2006, 23:13

Publishers hold onto copyright as long as possible in case at some point they can sell it, it costs them nothing to keep it.

I got a mail from from Nick at Titan recently and he said that no firm decision had been taken on the title of the next volume of IPC reprints.
One critisism I would have of these reprints is the price. I think they are far too expensive.
Their market is small enough without putting off people who are interested but cant afford it. Id rather have the complete Steel Claw in softback than one beautiful expensive hardback collection.

Ill have to disagree with Lew, in that I do think that selected stories from contemporary comics of 2000ad can be sold to the 2000ad readers.
Several comics shops have told me that Doomlord sold as well as the Exterme Edition. I ask for doomlord to be racked with EE when I manage to get it into a shop and its working so far.
Although I do agree with Lew that rose tinted glass tend to tint our view of comics.
I love the Wild Wonders from Valiant, even though it was before my time I loved reading them in my older brother annuals. I have been seroiusly tempted to do a small collection of these but who would buy it?
To kids now it would look archaic, and most thirty something wouldnt remember it or not be interested.

When is Hookjaw out BTW Chris?

OK, so im on a roll, since everyone is in broad agreement that comics arnt dead, but changing, where do you see new comics going in the future.

Graphic novels are the way forward IMO but how do you get them into the hands of kids to teach them how to read and be comfortable with the mechanics of comics?
Education is one way, over here there has been 3 graphic novels released two of the life of ST Patrick and on based on an Irish myth, all in irish language, not english, and their sales have been very respectable, I think Titan would be very impressed.
These sold because they were approved by the Department of education, were excellently drawn and well written.
For comics to continue, Publishers and creators have to think outside the box.

David

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 29 Sep 2006, 00:31

David McDonald wrote:
Ill have to disagree with Lew, in that I do think that selected stories from contemporary comics of 2000ad can be sold to the 2000ad readers.
Several comics shops have told me that Doomlord sold as well as the Exterme Edition. I ask for doomlord to be racked with EE when I manage to get it into a shop and its working so far.

That's excellent to hear. I'll happily eat humble pie on that score then. Not that I need any more pies.

Admittedly there are some characters that one can sell to the 2000 AD crowd. Doomlord has a lot of the 2000 AD style (albeit a bit more juvenile). I'd imagine it'd be more difficult to sell a Manix collection though, or collections of most of those other new Eagle strips (which I'm afraid I've forgotten).

Good points in the rest of your post too. I agree with you re: the Steel Claw/ Spider books. Softback would have been more appropriate (it works for the Bond & Blaise books) but it's luxurious to have them in hardback.

Lew

Brendan McGuire · Post by **Brendan McGuire** » 29 Sep 2006, 01:11

I am really in, not just two, but, a gazillion minds about the financial viability of reprints. I have a nerdish disposition that disposes me to collect things. To the point of tears when space and Mum collide (irresistable force meets immovable object - forget all your theoretical physics; immovable objects are always, always consigned to the bin. Irresistable force says "Well you won't what to read them again, will you?" - the worst closed question in the world!). I revel in collections of old cartoons and will re-read to the point of infinity my Krazy Kat book ( George Herriman ). I also love Roy Wilson (another dead genius), yet (there is always a 'yet' O my brethren) as a kid in the sixties I bought a comic called the Big One which reprinted strips from the fifties (Chish 'n' Fips) and I felt cheated that I had spent my highly erratic pocket money on "old stuff". And (here's that yet thing again) yet when Buster reprinted what looked like a Roy Wilson re-telling of a fairy story with a comics sensibility, I didn't mind at all.
The moral of all this rambling is:- Do not start typing pointless observations after two Speckled Hens and a double Jamesons. CHEERS!

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 29 Sep 2006, 20:39

Brendan,I must disagree about your view on pointless observations!Though in truth,I guess a few of us are guilty of imbibing a few light ales in the course of our correspondence

Well,we're only human

Anyway,despite recieving some harsh criticism for some of my posts,and some constructive criticism for some of my more enlightened posts,I have actually learned a lot about the comics and the comics industry in general,due in no small part to Lew and some other experts here at ComicsUK.I really was chuffed to learn that with a bit of money(well,a lot of money)and some luck,I could actually do the job for the publishers.Sad that this must remain a pipedream though the possiblility exists.My only hope for the future of comic fandom and indeed the future of this site and other tribute sites,is that the copyright holders take off the heavy hand and just let us celebrate our passion.As they must know,most if not all the images displayed on web sites are low-res,comfortable for onscreen reading(just about) and not suitable for printing out,thus actually helping to keep copyright control effective.Akin to Sky+ where you can download a movie to the hard drive of your sky box,watch it but not actually record it for private distribution.(Be gentle,Lew!)Now I'm off for an ale or two..hic..

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