Marvel Comics Doesn’t Get It.
So, Marvel has a nifty survey up about Digital Comics– I was linking to it, but I won’t now, because seconds after I was done, and inputed my special e-mail address, I got SPAM from them from a company called Interpagee or something. Thanks a lot Marvel! Way to use a spamming service for your dumb survey…. anyway….
Man, it seems to me their focus is just on taking their print comics and then popping them online in some flash interface. Sad, because, if they had some really creative minds there, they’d be expanding way beyond this. They could do SO much more, especially with the sort of resources and readerships that they have. Now, I’m not dissing the creativity of actual creators around Marvel, but whoever is doing the research into webcomics or “digital comics” is barking up the wrong tree. In fact, they’re not even barking up a wrong tree, they’re missing the boat to the continent where the REAL tree they should be barking around exists. — The following message is for Marvel Comics… “DURRRRRRRRRRR!”
Everyone in COMIC BOOKS, most especially Independent creators, can take note of a little article I wrote over on the Digital Webbing forum ,– .
You know, if Marvel wanted to hire me to help them develop a grand plan for Marvel Webcomics, I’d consider it…. but probably only after they paid Jack Kirby’s estate 20 million dollars as an ethical debt. In my opinion, that’s a hell of a deal. IN fact, if they did that, I’d go give them ideas for free. I reckon that the big problem is, it’s easier to put out big movies and rake in a lot of money, instead of building up the next generation of comics fans. — I notice one question on their survey at the end was about SHOES. What tennis shoes you buy?? Guess what Marvel? Your future generation of readers are not the kids who are buying shoes with Spiderman on them. Your future generation of readers are reading my webcomic right now, and reading SEVERAL OTHER webcomics right now, and they couldn’t give a damn about the Direct Comic Book Market.
Now, AHEM… if DC Comics or some other big comic publisher would like to pick my brain for ideas about the real future of comic books and webcomics– feel free to contact me. 
God, it boggles my mind that big companies with so many resources just lack common sense sometimes. Right? The only reason I even share this info with them, is because it helps the whole comics medium.
February 21st, 2006 at 11:57 am
They’re trying to make comics die a slow ingnorant death.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Working for DC isn’t too bad. One of the extra benefits is that you get a free stack of comics every week called “comps”. The only downside is the whole “signing your soul away to AOL/Time-Warner” thing.
February 21st, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Just wanted to say Great Blog today DJ. Also, you’re post of the Digital Webbing forum was really informative, I found that I’m aspiring to a lot of the same goals with my first webcomics project you posted on the article. I must be on the right track. Take care Man.
February 21st, 2006 at 3:16 pm
We’re talking about this stuff over two threads in the Forum.
Please stop on in
http://yirmumah.net/forum
February 21st, 2006 at 5:29 pm
aye aye
February 21st, 2006 at 7:56 pm
The lartger a corporation is, the harder it is for that corporation to use simple thinking. Common sense simply doesn’t apply anymore, not when your idea has to go through a dozen marketing focus groups, executive meetings, etc. Everyone chimes in with their two cents and WHAMMO! Your idea, which you could have put out yourself, mutates into a monstrosity that can’t possibly work well.
This is why small companies can still function in corporate America: Less corporate hoo-ha.
Ironically, larger companies then buy the smaller ones because they WERE WORKING, and the whole process takes a sad turn.
February 21st, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Yeah, Mattwolf, that is true — take it from the voice of experience. However, selling your company to a larger entity has a lot of benefits, not the least of which is getting “FU” money — where you can say “FU” to anyone for the rest of your life and not have to worry about getting fired, sued, etc.
Anyway the history of capitalism shows many entities like Marvel — sclerotic, short-sighted, out of touch with their customers… and they all end up the same way. In the hoop skirt factory (if you ever even thought about going to business school you’ll know what I mean — DOA)