- Back in September 2011, DC Comics teamed with Nielson to hold a survey of their readers at the same time as their NEW 52 titles launched in comic book shops. It was intended to gauge opinions about the NEW 52 comics in particular and their comic book readership in general. This week, DC has released the results of this survey on their main blog, "The Source" (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/dc-comics-the-new-52-product-launch-research-results/), as well as spoke about it on ICV2 (http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/22113.html). The results are a mixed bag, but have some advocates for expanding the market place of direct market comics saddened. While the survey sample size is unknown - and not every survey which was completed was accepted - it does have some percentage data. 5% of readers claimed to be "new" and brought in by the New 52 promotion - with 40% of buyers claiming their purchases were "impulse buys". 70% of readers were weekly buyers who have been buying comics for some time, with 50% of them were aged 13-34 (and up to 35% of readers being aged 35-44, with only 2% of readers over age 55). Only 2% of readers are under age 18, despite Warner Brothers investing in DC cartoons for decades. 93% of the survey identified themselves as male, which some see as either proving stereotypes or, more disturbingly, the inability of DC Comics to appeal to women despite often having a half dozen comics starring female heroes (such as WONDER WOMAN, SUPERGIRL, and/or BATGIRL). In some good news for readers, 50% of DC's readers reported incomes of below $60,000 a year, which DC Entertainment has seen as incentive to keep most (although not all) of their comics priced at $2.99. Many of DC's biggest sellers, such as JUSTICE LEAGUE, ACTION COMICS, GREEN LANTERN, BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS are or will be priced at $3.99, but DC has far fewer comics priced at that level than Marvel Comics. In summary, the first bullet point DC themselves stated about the results is, "The launch of DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 galvanized the traditional fan base for superhero comic books: male readers, who were already—or have at one time been—comic book fans". Considering that the New 52 was announced with a lot of bluster about appealing and reaching new demographics, the fact that in the end DC merely succeeded in selling a relaunch to the audience they already had - or jaded Marvel readers of similar demographics - could label the movement a failure in the long term. On the other hand, in the Direct Marketing field (mailed sales offers to cold buyers), a 2% response is considered successful, so a 5% gain in new readers is good.
- DC Entertainment is launching an 11th season of the long running show "SMALLVILLE" as a digital-first comic book on April 13th, with additional digital pages offered every week (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36879). The series will be printed and sold as physical comics weeks later; the first print issue of SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 will hit shops on May 16th. May 2011 was when the series finale aired on THE CW, so DC would be selling the physical debut on the one year anniversary of the end of the show. The series is written by Bryan Q. Miller, one of the main writers on the show as well as the former writer of BATGIRL and TEEN TITANS. Pere Perez, who worked with Miller on BATGIRL, will handle the interior art, with covers by Cat Stagg and Gary Frank, and colors by Chris Beckett (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/announcing-smallville-season-11/). The series takes place six months after the series finale in which Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent has officially become Superman (finally) and must deal with the ramifications of this decision in terms of how new and old allies react, as well as the rise of new enemies. Additional characters from the end of the show which will appear include Lois Lane, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Chloe Sullivan-Queen, Lex Luthor, and General Lane. Purists will note that Superman is wearing the New 52 redesign of the costume rather than the costume that briefly appeared in the show (i.e. no red underpants), but this was an edict from DC Entertainment, which has removed the red trunks from virtually all new adaptations of Superman. This announcement got a lot of play across the media, including attention by TV Guide (http://www.tvguide.com/News/Smallville-Season11-Comic-1042919.aspx). In the show's prime, it debuted with almost 8.5 million viewers in 2001, and dwindled to over 3 million viewers by May's finale; however, WB has made a killing with the show on DVD, with some circles claiming "SMALLVILLE" was the second most profitable TV series WB produced. A comic based around the show was launched in the past, but launching a digital-first series as a continuation of the show is a bold idea. DARK HORSE COMICS launched their BUFFY series under the premise of continuing the show with creator Joss Whedon involved in the writing, and it has become their best seller. For perspective, if only 10% of those who watched the series finale of "SMALLVILLE" in May give it a try, it will be DC's top selling title. While digital sales are always up to DC Comics to release, the sales of the physical reprint in May compared to SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS will be interesting. It takes less effort for a lapsed TV audience to download comic pages versus finding and traveling to a comic book store, although DC has wisely offered them both options.
- Another week, another shuffle of creative teams on several NEW 52 comics. This time, it is several artists who swap titles. Travel Foreman is leaving ANIMAL MAN and takes over art on BIRDS OF PREY for issue nine (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/artist-travel-foreman-joins-birds-of-prey/). This means artist Jesus Saiz is leaving BIRDS OF PREY with issue nine and moves onto art for RESURRECTION MAN (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/artist-jesus-saiz-takes-on-resurrection-man/). This leaves Steve Pugh to take over on ANIMAL MAN, and former RESURRECTION MAN artist Ferndando Dagnino taking over on SUICIDE SQUAD (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/artist-steve-pugh-takes-on-animal-man/). By sheer coincidence (sarcasm), all of these titles will be crossing over at in the near future.
- The original graphic novel BATMAN: EARTH ONE by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank has been officially solicited as on sale for July (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/13/batman-earth-one-coming-in-july/). By the miracle of corporate synergy, that is the month when "THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS" will grace movie theaters.
- DC has released the covers - or variant covers - to several of their "Second Wave" of New 52 titles at their official blog. First is GI COMBAT #1, which features soldiers fighting multi-colored dinosaurs (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/08/first-look-%e2%80%93-gi-combat-1-cover/). Second is RAVAGERS #1, drawn by Ian Churchill which is a spin off of SUPERBOY and accomplishes the feat of making former GEN 13 member Fairchild's wardrobe even more skimpy than in the 90's (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/09/first-look-at-the-ravagers/). Beast Boy and Terra are also featured in that book. Next is a look at SUPERMAN FAMILY #1, which is being handled by the TINY TITANS team of Art Baltazar and Franco (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/10/exclusive-first-look-at-the-cover-for-superman-family-adventures-1/) and essentially replaces it on the schedule. Even for a "kiddie" book, Superman lacks the undies. The variant cover for EARTH 2 features a different looking version of "the trinity" battling Para-Demons (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/10/first-look-earth-two-variant-cover/). The cover that garnered the most attention was the cover to WORLD'S FINEST #1 by legendary artist George Perez, which features Power Girl's new design. Once known for her gigantic breasts, Power Girl is now known for cribbing design notes from Rob Liefield's SUPREME (http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/10/separated-at-birth-the-new-look-power-girl-and-rob-liefelds-supreme/).
- In May, DC is announcing a "mini crossover" with several of their teenage hero titles called "THE CULLING" (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/titans-legion-ravagers-crossover-the-culling-120210.html). That is an ironic name given that many readers look for the right moment to "cull" books from their pull lists, and crossovers sometimes can be the time. At any rate, it begins in May with the TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1 and continues in the 9th issues of SUPERBOY, LEGION LOST and TEEN TITANS, with THE RAVAGERS #1 debuting at the end of the crossover.
Last Week's DC Comics News - http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/dc-comics-news-2-6-12-before-watchmen-sequels-announced-dc-jumps-the-shark
This Week's Indie Comics News - http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/indie-comics-news-2-13-12-walking-dead-creator-lawsuit-comixology-jhu-hiring
Last Week's Marvel Comics News - http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-new-york/marvel-comics-news-2-7-12-spider-men-the-avengers-sb-ad-change-org-more
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