08-21-2006
"What’s the point of all these revamps and re-lauches? If a comic isn't selling is it the creative team or the character that needs changing? Is it a good thing for the industry to start over with a fresh #1?"
 Ron - (a.k.a. Rocket2600)Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the strain) Ch-ch-Changes
It all comes down to money, money, money and what it will take to sell even more copies of a book. Honestly this is nothing new to the comic business. Just looking at the DC universe alone is enough to drive any completist insane. Justice League of America, Teen Titans and many others have had countless revamps and series through out the years.
Sometimes a company will try a new creative team and redirect the book from within the title. Like Green Lantern #201 over there on the right. DC in 1986 turned this into a huge "team" book, gave it a slight title change and continued numbering the series right along. This was a great spot for new readers to jump in and not have to play the "catch up" game.
Most times though, it comes down to what is easier and will generate more dollars. After all comic companies are a "business", and they have to turn profits in order to continue publishing. It does generate new fans and buyers when a new Spider-Man #1 title hits the shelves. Or when they cancel one JLA book to start another.
Myself, I do wish they wouldn't so this as often. I am a fan of a book with a long running history like Uncanny X-Men and Detective Comics that are "up there" in the numbers. This makes back issue hunting and collecting a title all that more fun. Now days, we are lucky if we see a title hit the #100 mark. But don't worry if the sales are low around 101,102,103, they will can it for a new #1 in a few months. =P
 Karen - (a.k.a. klindsay)Unfortunately, a "#1" issue sells more than a "#178". That means that if a company has a good opportunity to start a series over, even if it's not struggling, they'll do it. I also know of one creator (who doesn't like to be talked about this way, so I won't name him) who insists any time he takes over writing a book, it MUST be rebooted. Either way, I'm not terribly fond of it, but any time something makes a company a little more money, it will continue.
 Sean - (a.k.a. thespectre)It can go both ways, the comic may need retooling and or a change in the creative team or even both. Look what happens when you put some one like Grant Morroson on a comic it sells no matter what. Garth Ennis is another that will draw people in. Now when new people are doing a regular title the readership tends to drop. sometimes if left too long the title might get a restart. Some of the publishers think that's the way to bring life into a title or a character. I think you just need a realy great team and you will sell comics.
Example I heard that Tex, Saliteres and Daniel Way were gonna be the new Ghost Rider team for the up coming series. I jumped right in and picked up the title. I also went Cons to hear them talk and pick up any tid bits on how the series was going shape up. In this case I want to have a new #1 Ghost Rider, the origin Of Johnny Blaze needed to be told and done right. Now with a title like Batman maybe not. of course the real story is Money, Money, Money.
 Jeremiah - (a.k.a. Gambit80)I personally think that starting over with a number 1 is primarily for new readers since some would feel there's no point in getting involved in a comic at issue 200 or 300. Though I think this is a horrible way to go about it. I think it's great to see a comic approach the high numbers. Sometimes this is done to re-do the continuity, start fresh.
With regards to either the creative team or character that needs help, I think one leads to the other. Sometimes a creative team can do such a horrible job that the character is a hollow shell of what they once were. Creators being able to take liberties with a character's origin are doing an injustice to those of us who have enjoyed said character for years. Such as Straczynski's remake of Spidey's origin being more mystic-based. To me this is a slap in the face of Stan Lee and to all of us who for over 40 years knew the simple origin of being bitten by a radioactive spider.
There are times when a renumbering/re-vamping can help though. Such as on Daredevil and Captain America. Kevin Smith did a great run on Daredevil and later on with Bendis and now Brubaker, Daredevil has had new life breathed into him. Likewise with Captain America. I never really collected him, wasn't my sort of character, but Ed Brubaker's work on the character is amazing, more character development and depth. Combined with great, realistic art, this title is one of my top ones every month.
I go by the old adage: "If it's not broke, don't fix it" but if the character/series needs help, competent hands are essential, otherwise it'll go even further downhill to the point of distaste and cancellation.
 Clyf - (a.k.a. Clyfft)There are two main reasons to start with a new #1 issue: money and new readers. Most companies (Marvel has even said this outright I think) believe that titles that have been running for years (and thus have issue numbers in the 400's for instance) are hard for new readers to follow. The "Heroes Reborn" that ran through several Marvel titles in the mid 90's could have easily been handled under the numbering of the existing titles. Marvel, however restarted each title at issue #1. They ran this storyline for about a year and when the characters returned to the normal Marvel Universe, each title was started over with a new number one yet again (Captain America has had several "reboots" since this time).
Money is also a factor in this process. With each number one issue that a company puts out, they can get more money out of the collector who only buys #1 issues. Marvel also loves to put out multiple variations of the first issue cover. If they put out four versions of the same book, there are enough people out there that will buy them. Marvel can make a small fortune off of these books simply by changing the cover.
This practice is good for the industry because it gets them more money and new readers. It is bad, however, for those of us that like to say we have issues 1-535 of Amazing Spider-Man (they have changed the number back, but it really doesn't count).
 David - (a.k.a. Johnturned51)There could be many reasons why a comic isn't selling. Poor creative team, bad character, or just a bad public image. Now speaking as a collector its a lot easier for me to pick up or give a book a try if it is a #1 issue. Most likely because of our need to have "every" issue. With a #1 we can start from the beginning.
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