Meanwhile...


Stepping back from the small war for a minute, I'd like to comment on what I see as FFF's most significant suggestion. That is, that a themed titled collection (e.g. "Jimmy Olsen's Crossdressing Adventures") probably has better sales potential than e.g. "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Complete Chronicles volume 5".


Yes, that was exactly my point (and that's an even better example!), that a series of sequential collections is going to see increasing resistance, and that's probably one reason DC has avoided that direction In this case. That, and practical concerns that have probably become a real drag on the Archives program through the years, like keeping multiple volumes in print, coercing retailers to keep multiple volumes in stock (particularly once you get past, say, a half-dozen volumes) and so on. It's obviously less expensive and less difficult with a series of trade paperbacks than hardcover books -- but in the end, it's still not easy.

I suspect DC is not seeing enough of a return on it's Silver Age reprints to go too far beyond the Chronicles -- by which I mean, taking the opportunity to get further use out of existing material that's essentially ready for print -- in terms of "sequential" reprints in color, in paperback. I don't think that model will be applied to material that hasn't been previously reprinted.

Add to that, I don't think it's a matter of optimism, of waiting and hoping for the economic climate to improve, either -- I think there may have been some seismic shifts in how DC wants to approach it's reprint program as it continues to grow it's business outside of the Direct Market. (That probably won't sit well with many of the people who frequent this community, but I think it's necessary for the company to reach beyond us however possible.)

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Last Edited By: Fin Fang Foom Aug 12 09 11:21 AM. Edited 2 times.