I would hope you've sold more of Essential Howard the Duck than Defenders. Gerber's Howard is a classic and should by all rights be out-selling most of the non-top tier Essentials (i.e. Spidey, FF, Claremont's X-Men).
Joe Gualtieri | 08.13.07 - 1:24 am | #

Wasn't US1 also based on toy license?

Or maybe I'm just thinking it was because so many Marvel comics from that era were...
Dave Carter | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 4:29 am | #

Well, for further data comparison, I can say that the store I put in a few hours a week at did about as much for Countdown as you did -- poster, prominent rack space (racked where 52 had been for the year prior) -- and started their orders at just above their end numbers for 52, and at this point in the series, they've been forced to cut orders by 35%, and people seem to be dropping each week.
Matt Terl | Email | 08.13.07 - 4:40 am | #

I think you are on the right tharack, and that the more oddball Essential and Showcases do sell better than some of the more "standard" fare. I imagine this has to do with the curiousity factor -- I generally know what I am getting if I buy a volume of Essential Fantastic Four or Showcase Presents: Superman, but if I see Essential Werewolf By Night or Showcase Presents: The War That Time Forgot (both of which I own), my interest is piqued because I am not sure what I am going to be getting, and the price is so good that it's not a bad buy-in to find out.

Regarding Devil Dinosaur, let's face it, Kirby usually sells pretty well nowadays right? I mean, I bought the HC because I've liked DD ever since I was a kid, but how many sales would you say are due to it being Kirby?
Luke | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 4:53 am | #

"However, I have been thinking about what impact having sites like this one have on that percentage of my customer base that's aware of my weblog."

I was wondering that while reading the paragraphs above.

If you mention, something, even if you dislike it, it will increase the odds of people picking it up and looking at it.

I also think the people who read your blog AND shop in your store would ask your opinion even on books you hadn't reviewed here. I regularly read 4 comic blogs, and even then I will still ask my dealers their opinions. Not because they're going to change what I buy, it's just nice to get different perspectives.
Novice | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 5:10 am | #

While I wouldn't call it a weirdo series I'm still waiting for my Essential Master Of Kung Fu series!
It's not a mainstream character so the curiosity factor could work and the Gulacy artwork would look great in B&W!

'Course there's that damn license fee they'd have to pay .................................................. .....
Richard J. Marcej | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 5:59 am | #

I can't think of any weirdo reprints that I DON'T think would go over well. Rex the Wonder Dog and Detective Chimp. Tales of Asgard. Tomahawk. John Carter of Mars. Bring 'em on.
Daniel | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 6:02 am | #

It's about time we had a proper collection of Ambush Bug. Not to mention Prez.
Adrian | 08.13.07 - 6:15 am | #

I'm pretty sure Dave is right, U.S. 1 was a toy tie-in.

Toy tie-in that needs to be in Essential format? The most obvious one is Micronauts. The first volume would carry all the best issues. Mantlo may not be to everyone's taste, but he wrote stories that I still remember. Even though I have them all, I'd buy an Essential volume just so I can read it anytime I want without digging thru boxes to get my originals.

I'm surprised that whomever has the license at the moment hasn't done a volume, like Dark Horse re-issuing the Marvel Conan and Star Wars books.

Mike Nielsen
Mike Nielsen | Email | 08.13.07 - 6:25 am | #

US 1 was based on a slotcar racing set, so it was a toy license, but I can't remember who put out the set. Add to all the confusion, of course, is that the toy manufacturing business has undergone its own merger/split/buyout madness since the 70's. Who knows for sure who owns what could be a reasonable and expensive question to untangle.

and then there's series like Shogun Warriors, which was a US trademark, but were licensed by the toy manufacturers from the original Japanese owners. i wouldn't want to untangle that one.

and Marvel seems to be gearing up to try something with Shang-chi. I don't remember which series, but he was used in a recent Marvel series with prominent mention of Fu Manchu as his father (and no copyright was given to any other owner/publisher for that character). Granted, Fu didn't actually appear (IIRC), but that seems to be laying some groundwork to test if there's going to be some sort of action taken. This one has to be a little bit easier, since Fu Manchu and Smith were never used as part of the trade-dress. "The Hands of Shang-chi, Master of Kung-Fu" doesn't have to be changed at all, nor does "Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu" (since they seem to be loving the B&W magazines for reprints).

If they would pay the licensing fee, the B&W Planet of the Apes books were nice -- and the stories that weren't movie-adaptations were the reason to buy in the first place. So reprint those stories. or, if we're really dreaming and not taking licensing into account -- the B&W Doc Savage magazine was really, really nice.

And I still say that a Showcase of PLOP! would sell better than any other Showcase so far.
Jim Kosmicki | Email | 08.13.07 - 6:57 am | #

I am amazed that Essential Dazzler sold at all, as it's the first Essential I have decided not to buy.

I think the off-beat stuff does better as Essentials (and Showcases) because a lot of people just haven't seen it, and if you can get the whole thing in one or two books, why not? It's better than digging for back issues, even if those back issues are only $4 - $7 each.

I'd like to see Marvel (or Dark Horse) reprint the Planet of the Apes magazines, and I know an Essential Horror V2 (reprinting all of the Black and White magazine stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else) would go over well.
Cory Strode | Email | 08.13.07 - 7:03 am | #

For weirdo reprint stuff, I think it'd be nice to see the Marvel Magazine line explored more. For one thing, as noted in the most recent She-Hulk, "*everybody* forgets the magazines!" Interesting and odd on a number of levels, from being non-Code books to being *originally* in black and white, so you're not losing anything....

(Did DC ever go into the magazine market for any length of time? I know Kirby was involved with some magazine projects there, but most of them died before even reaching the stands, right?)

As for why the oddball stuff sells better now, I know my personal answer is similar to Luke's. I've read a fair number of Silver Age Green Lantern stories in various reprints over the years. Not a *huge* number, but certainly enough that I know what I'm gonna get. And I do *like* them, and will undoubtedly end up getting those Showcases eventually, it's the war comics, the backup features, the less-known characters, that grab me - and the price is right enough that even if I wind up with a "meh" reaction to the *Batgirl* Showcase, for example, I don't feel like I've gotten ripped off or something - it's still an interesting historical artifact.
David C | Email | 08.13.07 - 7:08 am | #

Hey, I generated half a post! Thanks for the thorough answer, Mike!

You're on to something regarding the oddball reprints. While I'd read all the Essentials and Showcases if I had the time, the weird ones go at the top of the pile simply because prior to these reprints, I couldn't read something like War That Time Forgot or Haunted Tank, but Superman and Batman stories from the era are abundant (and if you've read a couple, you've pretty much read 'em all).

I'd love to see a Tomahawk, based simply on the covers of it I'd seen. U.S. 1 would be great (I didn't even know it existed until Chris Sims devoted two long posts to it). Rom, Devil Dinosaur (probably not, now, sniff), the Kirby Sandman for DC, Detective Chimp and/or Rex the Wonder Dog stories...
caleb | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 7:45 am | #

I'm wondering why there wasn't and Essential Transformers volume put out just before the movie. Seems like a license to print money that.
joncormier | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 8:23 am | #

I wouldn't be surprised if the more well-known Showcases/Essentials are bigger sellers at bookstores. It would make sense for, say, a casual Spider-Man fan (assuming these exist nowadays) to just pick up a copy at Borders.
Reno Dakota | 08.13.07 - 8:25 am | #

I've been clamoring ofr an Essential West Coast Avengers for some time now. I know the book wasn't very good, but it seems like that it came out during that time in the late 80's when a lot of kids were getting into comics (like me) and holds a special place in a lot of people's hearts. I think a cheap-o reprint volume of that series would do gangbusters.

I'd also love to see Marvel put out a book collecting Mike Mignola's 80's work with the company, including Rocket Racoon and his Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom and Wolverine one-shots. Mignola's long been a license to print money, it just seems odd that so much of his Marvel stuff hasn't been re-printed.
Jason | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 9:11 am | #

Essential Power Pack would be pretty great, don't you think? The first 25 issues make for a fairly complete storyline, and tons of '80s era Marvel characters make cameos. Plus it's just a bunch of awesome comics.
Corey | 08.13.07 - 9:54 am | #

I'll second an Ambush Bug collection mentioned earlier. Also, I'd buy a Weird War collection if DC put one out. It always seemed like a wonderful mash-up of genres (war, horror, super-hero), and I remember the artwork being particularly good overall.
Mathew | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 9:57 am | #

Matthew -- hear hear! I have been clamoring for a Wierd War Tales Showcase since DC started them. The anthology format works really well for this type of reprint, the art generally looks pretty good in black and white, and now that we have gotten collections of Unknown Soldier, Jonah Hex (essentially Weird Western Tales), Haunted Tank, House of Mystery, and The War That Time Forgot, it's one of the logical next steps for collection.
Luke | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 10:42 am | #

No love for Team America? Anybody?
Verbatim | 08.13.07 - 10:47 am | #

I'd also go for an Ambush Bug collection. Absolute Ambush Bug. Ambush Bug Archives. Whatever it takes.

Given his reappearance in the Starlord mini-series, I'm surprised they haven't put out a collection of Rocket Raccoon.
Brian | Email | 08.13.07 - 11:19 am | #

One more, Essential New Warriors, collecting the first 16 issues of that series. It seems kinda like a no-brainer considering the re-launch is selling pretty OK right now.
Jason | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 11:22 am | #

I wonder if the Essential Dazzler will have an upward effect on the prices of the original comics?

Just a few months ago I saw an Ebay auction for the complete Dazzler run of comics for 0.99. There were only a couple hours left on the auction, and nobody had bid. I passed it up. Maybe that was a mistake if interest in the character has revived.

Also, I second the call for the Essential Tales of Asgard.
Thelonious_Nick | 08.13.07 - 11:29 am | #

Sign me up for Essential Team America and Essential Shang-Chi. I'm also looking forward to the Showcase Captain Carrot that's supposedly coming later this year. I think a couple volumes of Showcase Super Friends would also sell well to the nostalgia crowd with disposable income.
Seth Johnson | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 11:44 am | #

How many issues of NFL SuperPro were there? I doubt I'd buy it, but it seems a logical choice using your criteria...

I loved Weird War Tales as a kid. I'd probably buy that as a Showcase book now. And PLOP! would be great! Lots of Sergio Aragones and Berni Wrightson work that would be great in black & white.
Randy | Email | 08.13.07 - 12:16 pm | #

y'know, I may be stoned to death after typing this, but the last half dozen or so issues of Dazzler by Archie Goodwin, Paul Chadwich and Jackson Guice were pretty good, in my opinion.
just sayin'.
craig | 08.13.07 - 1:16 pm | #

US1 was either a Tyco or Aurora slotcar set.
rockie bee | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 1:17 pm | #

I wonder if the Essential Dazzler will have an upward effect on the prices of the original comics?

I could imagine either an upward or downward effect, potentially - if the Essential/Showcase is out, people who just want to read the stories don't need to hunt down back issues anymore. (OTOH, I imagine titles like Dazzler can't go down much more....)

Mike, have you ever noticed any particular effect one way or the other in your store?
David C | Email | 08.13.07 - 1:30 pm | #

I still want villain Essentials that cut across comic titles. Essential MODOK, etc.
Jon H | Email | 08.13.07 - 2:00 pm | #

In the Netherlands, Shang Chi, Meester Der Kung Fu was reprinted in black and white maqgazines, with hardboard colour covers, about 1 1/2 -2 issues per album. The Gulacy art was indeed gorgeous in black and white.

Some of the first American comics I bought were Team America and Shogun Warriors, not to mention New Universe titles and Hex, simply because that was what was available at my local comics shop.
Martin Wisse | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 2:32 pm | #

It shouldn't have to be said, but if you're a retailer, and you call a comic "crap" in public forums at every opportunity...well, maybe you shouldn't act surprised when your customers don't want to buy it from you.
Dorian | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 2:51 pm | #

I would love to see collections for DC's 'Big Three A's of the Early '80s': Atari Force, All-Star Squadron, and Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld.
Matthew E | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 3:09 pm | #

Mike, I would hate to think you (or pal Dorian) were 'holding back' your opinions so as not to alienate blog-reading potential customers... although i suppose i would understand that sentiment.
bad wolf | 08.13.07 - 5:51 pm | #

Micronauts reprints aren't as simple a situation as Conan or Star Wars -- for those later projects, the licensing deal was that the licensor would hold the copyright to the contents, and thus could license it out to others. For Micronauts, Marvel got the copyright to the individual issues, but they cannot reprint them without cutting a deal for the underlying property.

(And yes, a MOKF essential would be sweet... as would Showcases for Warrior and Night Force. Alas, much of that DC material is from the era when the way their reprint fees were calculated makes it difficult to do a Showcase profitably.)
Nat Gertler | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 7:10 pm | #

The weird Essentials and Showcases are indeed the most interesting, and I'd love it if Marvel could finally do Rom and Shang-Chi, both on my list of a looooong time.

Other ideas? I bet I'd be game for some of DC's sword and sorcery stuff, like Arak and Warlord. To me, it would make sense to do a Showcase Presents Jack Kirby featuring shorter works like Sandman, the Demon, etc. Or Showcase Ditko, with Shade the Changing Man, Stalker and the like.

I'll second the call for Weird War Tales. Atari Force would be very nice. Any other SF series? That seems to be in low supply compared to horror and now even humor. And how about some of the less well-known superhero stuff too? Like Freedom Fighters or even Invaders (despite the rough art).

Anyway, just throwing out ideas.
Siskoid | Email | Homepage | 08.13.07 - 8:05 pm | #

I like Siskoid's artist-themed suggestion, and would add Showcase Presents Toth to the list - nice mix of war, mystery and the occasional superhero story.
Runmentionable | Email | 08.14.07 - 2:19 am | #

Personally, for trades, I'll stand by my desire for a Showcase of INFERIOR 5. Yes, it would be dated as heck, but a satire of Golden age comics? Sheer gold.

And on the Marvel side, some collection of THE INVADERS. Probably the closest Marvel will come to a JSA-style team.
Gordon | Email | Homepage | 08.14.07 - 4:43 am | #

I wonder if the female market today would pick up a collection of Millie the Model or Patsy Walker? Or any of the old 'aimed at girls' books? Would they also have retro/nostalgia appeal, or be too out-of-touch?
bad wolf | 08.14.07 - 5:18 am | #

I gotta say, I too would love to have a collected Ambush Bug...
Bill S. | Email | Homepage | 08.14.07 - 8:55 am | #

I'm with Jon H -- volume sthat cut across titles, compiling CHARACTERS rather than titles. MODOK is a keen idea, as are some other favorite villains who battled a number of heroes, like MR. HYDE or DOCTOR DOOM. As they did with their recent BATGIRL compendium, I'd like to see the same done with MAN-BAT and THE CREEPER and BLACK ORCHID.
David H. Smith | Email | 08.14.07 - 1:20 pm | #

And on the Marvel side, some collection of THE INVADERS.

Invaders Classic Vol. 1 was released the first week of July.
Verbatim | Email | 08.14.07 - 8:04 pm | #

Yes, ESSENTIAL ROM : SPACEKNIGHT would indeed rock!

I'd like to also add:

ESSENTIAL BROTHER VOODOO to the list.
Between his Strange Tales stuff, B/W magazines and assorted guest starring roles (Team-Up / Two-In-One, etc...) you could make at least one or two volumes with a cohesive timeline/progression of the character.

Maybe toss in some of Hembeck's old Marvel Age strips with him and it'd be GREAT!

We also need MORE volumes of ESSENTIAL MAN-THING.
Manny had 3 series plus a few minis (like "DAYDREAMERS" w/ Howard the Duck, Tana Nile, Franklin Richards and Archie & Leech), plus a bunch of other appearances (team-up / two-in-one, etc...)

Of course, I DO tend to like the lame side of the comic world.



~P~
P-TOR
SanctumSanctorumComix | Email | 08.15.07 - 8:55 am | #

Make mine ROM.
mike | Email | 08.15.07 - 6:35 pm | #

"Any other weirdo reprints from the Big Two you think might go over well?"
Micronauts!!!! And Crystar! And Power Pack!
xavier (xxl) | Email | 08.21.07 - 3:00 pm | #