DC Comics
Publishing proposal
The idea laid out below is to expand the story pages per issue so a single story can be told in each comic. The equation I have worked out is as follows; 80% of the issue is a single story with the other 20% made up of references and fall-out to previous stories and setting up the future stories.
Every issue should be a substantive read and enjoyable on its own with a tease to make the reader want more.
The problem with comics is that they cannot be read by the mainstream reader because there is no starting point. To understand reaching a wider audience you have to understand that the average person does not consume their media in the same way as comics readers have been trained to. They have to learn it in the same way people have been trained to binge-watch Netflix and HBO series where a large story is broken down into chunks. People don’t expect to see an article or interview to be broken down across 6 to 12 issues of People magazine or Vanity Fair. Every magazine is a done in one. Premiere magazine might do a series of features where each issue it looks at a different Stanley Kubrick film. It is a series but each article can be read and enjoyed separately.
The idea is to publish fewer titles at a higher cover price with greater perceived value. It also becomes possible to buy all the core universe books at $70 per month. Reading complete stories would encourage people to stop waiting for the trade, while still satisfying the current audience preferring a longer read.
Another possible suggestion to add to these is to start every year with a new number 1 but start numbering the volumes. Each year is one volume.
I’ve broken down the publishing schedule into MONTHLY, MINI-SERIES, QUARTERLY and ANNUALS.
There are 14 monthly titles but a further 10 titles a month because of the mini-series. I’ve assigned titles based on those that have the most long-range popularity while some titles that are currently popular I have pulled back on in an effort to make sure they stay popular and not to over saturate the market.
MONTHLY:
Monthly titles are 48 pages, 44 pages of story, $4.99
CORE TITLES: Titles that make up the must-read center of the DC Universe.
ACTION COMICS - Superman in cosmic action.
AQUAMAN
BATMAN
BIRDS OF PREY
DETECTIVE COMICS - Batgirl, Batwoman, Robin and Nightwing, sometimes Batman.
FLASH
GREEN ARROW
GREEN LANTERN
JUSTICE LEAGUE
SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS
SUPERGIRL
SUPERMAN - The life and times of Superman. Clark Kent, Lois, Daily Planet etc...
TEEN TITANS
WONDER WOMAN
REGULAR ANNUAL 4 MINI-SERIES: These titles get one mini-series a year. Not necessary to read to understand the DCU. No MINI-SERIES title can affect the larger DCU. Mini-series titles are 32 pages, 24 pages of story, $3.50
QUARTERLY:
Quarterly titles are 80 pages, 72 pages of story, $7.99BRAVE AND BOLD
WORLDS FINEST
ANNUALS:
These are stand alone. Annual titles are 64 pages, 60 pages of story, $6.50
ALL STAR WESTERNMARVEL
Publishing proposal
The idea laid out below is to expand the story pages per issue so a single story can be told in each comic. The equation I have worked out is as follows; 80% of the issue is a single story with the other 20% made up of references and fall-out to previous stories and setting up the future stories.
Every issue should be a substantive read and enjoyable on its own with a tease to make the reader want more.
The problem with comics is that they cannot be read by the mainstream reader because there is no starting point. To understand reaching a wider audience you have to understand that the average person does not consume their media in the same way as comics readers have been trained to. They have to learn it in the same way people have been trained to binge-watch Netflix and HBO series where a large story is broken down into chunks. People don’t expect to see an article or interview to be broken down across 6 to 12 issues of People magazine or Vanity Fair. Every magazine is a done in one. Premiere magazine might do a series of features where each issue it looks at a different Stanley Kubrick film. It is a series but each article can be read and enjoyed separately.
The idea is to publish fewer titles at a higher cover price with greater perceived value. It also becomes possible to buy all the core universe books at $70 per month. Reading complete stories would encourage people to stop waiting for the trade, while still satisfying the current audience preferring a longer read.
Another possible suggestion to add to these is to start every year with a new number 1 but start numbering the volumes. Each year is one volume.
I’ve broken down the publishing schedule into MONTHLY, MINI-SERIES, QUARTERLY and ANNUALS.
There are 14 monthly titles but a further 10 titles a month because of the mini-series. I’ve assigned titles based on those that have the most long-range popularity while some titles that are currently popular I have pulled back on in an effort to make sure they stay popular and not to over saturate the market.
MONTHLY:
Monthly titles are 48 pages, 44 pages of story, $4.99
CORE TITLES: Titles that make up the must-read center of the MARVEL Universe.
AVENGERS
BLACK PANTHER
CAPTAIN AMERICA
CAPTAIN MARVEL
DAREDEVIL
DOCTOR STRANGE
FANTASTIC FOUR
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY
HULK
INHUMANS
IRON MAN
MS MARVEL
NEW MUTANTS
SPIDER-MAN
THOR
X-MEN
REGULAR ANNUAL 4 MINI-SERIES: These titles get one mini-series a year. Not necessary to read to understand the MU. No MINI-SERIES title can affect the larger MU. Mini-series titles are 32 pages, 24 pages of story, $3.50
ANT-MAN
BLACK PANTHER CREW
BLACK WIDOW
BROTHERHOOD (OF MUTANTS)
BULLSEYE
CABLE
CLOAK & DAGGER
DEADPOOL
DEFENDERS
DR DOOM
ELEKTRA
FALCON
GHOST RIDER
HAWKEYE
IRON FIST
KINGPIN
LUKE CAGE
JESSICA JONES
MAN-THING
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR
NICK FURY
NOVA
PUNISHER
ROCKET AND GROOT
SECRET WARRIORS
SILVER SURFER
SPIDER-GWEN
SUBMARINER
TALES OF ASGARD
UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL
VENOM
WARLOCK
WOLVERINE
QUARTERLY:
Quarterly titles are 80 pages, 72 pages of story, $7.99
BRING ON THE BAD GUYSANNUALS:
These are stand alone. Annual titles are 64 pages, 60 pages of story, $6.50
BETA RAY BILL
GHOST RIDER
HOWARD THE DUCK
KAZAR/SHANNA
MAGNETO
MAN-THING
NEW MUTANTS
POWER PACK
SHE-HULK
X-MEN
So what do you guys think?
1/ Would you be okay with there being fewer titles published if it meant the long-term health of the industry could be improved?
2/ Do you think your favorite characters are oversaturated? Is less more?
3/ Would this plan make you read more or fewer comics?
4/ What are you currently reading?
