Free Comic Book Day

[captainzero]

Project Super Powers was selling at #51 on a list of 300... comics. Not too bad a showing... but I was hoping it would do much better.
I'm beginning to be concerned about not only the art... but also the story.
Has anyone read a good review about SP?? If so, could you please share it.
Here's one I got off the net... that ends like this:

....Hey, it’s THAT guy” going on, but without a lot of plot to confuse issues. I’m torn on this issue, in that it shows a real affection for some of the obscure heroes of the Golden Age (including The Green Lama, about whom even *I* know little, but have a soft spot for) but the execution isn’t there. It’s not awful, it’s just banal as hell, and the ham-fisted juxtaposition of archetypes really makes you aware of the brilliance and craft that guys like Moore, Grant Morrison, and even Joe Straczynski bring to their revamps of old heroes. When you boil Project Superpowers #1 down, it’s a disappointing affair, earning only 1.5 out of 5 stars. Still, there’s enough potential here to keep me onboard for at least a little while longer, if only for my standard rule of “Six Issues To Wow Me, Or I’m Out.”

The reviewer makes a number of good points in his review ....I'm in agreement that the "execution" of the story isn't there... it's "weak"!!
And the art is sub-par!!
We NEED a stronger story.... and better art. Alex Ross' covers will NOT make up for weakness in the interior art... or the weak story telling.
Nick, ya need "professionals" who know what they're doing... or this Super Powers line is not going to "take-off" like it should. You only get one chance to make a first impression.... and the impression you're leaving is losing a good number of readers.
What you've done so far is a good "first draft"... but it's not as good as it should be.
You can listen to these guys who like the book ... but I think you're not aiming high enough.

(This should get me kicked off, I guess.)

[Strannik]

Has anyone read a good review about SP??

In my reply to your request elsewhere, I posted a couple of positive reviews. Granted, most of them come from Ray Tate, and he has certain... biases.

To add my two cents, I don't really have that many problems with art. I question some of Alex Ross' redesigns and figurework is occasionally sloppy, but that's about it.

As for the story, as I've mentioned elsewhere, it reminds me of the kind of comics Marvel used to put out in early 80s - perfectly competent, but unremarkable. The characters are ill-defined and barely distinct from one another, the motivations are muddled, the plot is by-the-numbers, telling overshadows showing.... Quite frankly, the writer(s) give me little reason to particularly care about what happens, because the events are not that compelling and the characters are even less so.

[captainzero]

In my reply to your request elsewhere, I posted a couple of positive reviews. Granted, most of them come from Ray Tate, and he has certain... biases.

To add my two cents, I don't really have that many problems with art. I question some of Alex Ross' redesigns and figurework is occasionally sloppy, but that's about it.

As for the story, as I've mentioned elsewhere, it reminds me of the kind of comics Marvel used to put out in early 80s - perfectly competent, but unremarkable. The characters are ill-defined and barely distinct from one another, the motivations are muddled, the plot is by-the-numbers, telling overshadows showing.... Quite frankly, the writer(s) give me little reason to particularly care about what happens, because the events are not that compelling and the characters are even less so.

I, with some pain, ... agree. I'm so disappointed that the story... and the art are not better.

I can say,--- that I don't have much of a problem with Alex Ross' work on SP.
To me, his contributions are the strongest part of this whole deal. I can "project" a lot of stuff on his take on these heroes.
If only he was doing the art.... and the story was much stronger... I'd be perfectly happy with SuperPowers. He's a bit busy elsewhere... and I fear that more is not going to be done about the writing.

[captainzero]

COMICS AND ECONOMICS: TALKING SHOP

by Vaneta Rogers

Higher gas prices, rising food costs, a housing slump, the threat of a credit crisis -- the latest news on the U.S. economy hasn't been good. And as today's consumer confidence index is expected to confirm, Americans are gloomier about the economy than they have been in 15 years.

As financial reports warn that economic worries will cut into consumer spending, what looms on the horizon for the comic book industry is tough to predict. In an industry that numbers show has experienced double digit sales increases in its top titles when compared to five or 10 years ago, the same numbers show that the cost of those comics has also increased. Trusting that consumers will pay a higher cost for their comics in a tougher economic situation seems risky, but some analysts claim that entertainment industries like comic books aren't as affected by negative economic trends as other products.

In an effort to find out what the latest news about the economy might mean to the industry, Newsarama took the issue to comic book retailers as part of our Talking Shop feature. And while some retailers have seen customers cut back because of economic concerns, the attitude from most retailers was that even during an economic slowdown, people are still willing to pay for entertainment -- as long as that entertainment is high quality and low priced.

This article is on Newsarama.com right now. I hope "high quality" for the SuperPowers books "plagues" this title.

...And this is how it ends:
As for what else publishers could do to help the industry transcend any economic troubles, retailers said holding prices steady and stopping the glut of tie-ins and one-shots is a start, but it all comes down to quality. As Field of Flying Colors Comics said, consumer confidence indicators may say one thing, but the confidence of the customers who go to comic book shops is influenced much more by something entirely different: "My experience is that our sales are primarily affected by the confidence our customers have in the comics they are buying."
"All you need is to look at the movie and the video game industries. People are still spending money at a fever pitch," Malve said. "We as an industry have to make sure we are always delivering the consumer a good product and experience when they decide to make their purchase. Be it the quality of the comic they buy or the way we as retailers conduct our business, we must insure that this industry has a stable foundation to build for our future."

... my point has ALWAYS been... "... but it all comes down to quality." That's what I've pushed for here. The highest QUALITY that DE can deliver. That quality is not there, ... yet.... and it can lead to a good number of disaffected readers leaving the Super Powers title... and THAT I did not want.!!!
Better writing, editing for direction, characterization, dialogue,... and stronger art are desperately needed. IMHO!!

[captainzero]

Critically-acclaimed "Vampirella Revelations" artist Mike Lilly has signed on to the Project: SuperPowers team.

Lilly has worked for all the major comic book publishers on such superstar characters as Nightwing, Batman, Punisher, Catwoman, Green Lantern, and the X-Men, among others. His run on "Vampirella Revelations" from Harris Comics won the Best Black and White Illustration Art Show Award of Excellence from I-CON 25. He is also known for his work on collectible sketch cards, on properties such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Lilly is currently working on his creator-owned World War II pulp adventure comic, "The Mercury Chronicles," from Markosia Comics.

Does anyone have any of Mike's stuff to post here.??? He's signed on to help Project: SuperPowers.... and I'm unfamiliar with his work.

[captainzero]

Critically-acclaimed "Vampirella Revelations" artist Mike Lilly has been added to the ever-expanding guest list for the next Boston Comic Book, CD/Recrod & Pop-Culture Spectacular.

Lilly joins DC artist Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow/Black Canary), "Teen Titans Go!" artist Joe Quinones, and writer Ron Fortier on the guest list for the show, to be held on Sunday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Boston Radisson Hotel, 6th Floor Convention Center, 200 Stuart St.

Lilly has worked for all the major comic book publishers on such superstar characters as Nightwing, Batman, Punisher, Catwoman, Green Lantern, and the X-Men, among others. His run on "Vampirella Revelations" from Harris Comics won the Best Black and White Illustration Art Show Award of Excellence from I-CON 25. He is also known for his work on collectible sketch cards, on properties such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Lilly is currently working on his creator-owned World War II pulp adventure comic, "The Mercury Chronicles," from Markosia Comics.

Does anyone have any of Mike's stuff to post here.??? He's signed on to help Project: SuperPowers.... and I'm unfamiliar with his work.

[Andy Smith]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the kind words on the FCBD Super Powers. It is a good series that should be picked up. If you like the Golden Age Heroes then this book is for you!

Andy
www.andysmithart.com

[captainzero]

All it took was a quick, no-nonsense statement by writer Chuck Dixon to set the discussion boards alight. On the night of June 10th, Chuck Dixon wrote on his messageboard: “I am no longer employed by DC Comics in any capacity.”

OK, --- I have friends who are big Chuck Dixon fans.!!

Maybe he could help build a story around ONE of our heroes... or more.
He's had a bit of experience ... and many fans like him.

I think there are all kinds of artistic possibilities out there.

Nick??? Are ya "in pursuit" of good talent.???

[captainzero]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the kind words on the FCBD Super Powers. It is a good series that should be picked up. If you like the Golden Age Heroes then this book is for you!

Andy
www.andysmithart.com

Andy,
from your art... I sure wished Archie would bring back the MLJ heroes. Your Shield looks realllly great. I would love to see you doing The Shield, Black Hood, (S&K's) The Fly, ....and a couple more of the heroes. Nice stuff!! I'd love to see you doing the Mighty Crusaders.... with a really good writer!!

Your work does look pretty good...heck, great... on your site. It looks "cleaner" or something.!!??? YOur women look great... and so does your anatomy on the heroes. Really nice stuff!!

[JayU]

[QUOTE=captainzero
Does anyone have any of Mike's stuff to post here.??? He's signed on to help Project: SuperPowers.... and I'm unfamiliar with his work.[/QUOTE]

http://www.mikelilly.com/

His Annihilation: Quasar stuff for Marvel was particularly good.
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FERRARI 166 S SPECIFICATIONS