Comics / Spotlight

Leap Of Faith! - Part 1

By Koncise
April 17, 2006 - 19:56

Echo’s From Da Void!?!

So the deal is this, at the beginning of each month I’m gonna throw something at ya. OK, well now it’s your chance to voice your views. All you have to do is drop me an e-mail. And for the rest of the month we’ll be having a nice little discussion. You wont be edited, it’s all you, but play nice!

Chapter 7

Easy Cats

“Don't call it a comeback/I been here for years/Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear/
Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon/Listen to the bass go BOOM/Explosion, overpowerin/Over the competition, I'm towerin/Wreckin shop, when I drop these lyrics that'll make you call the cops/Don't you dare stare, you betta move/Don't ever compare
Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced
Competition's payin the price” ( LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out)

That’s right baby, I’m back, your favourite, well, I mean, that other guy’s kinda hot and that other columns always a good read, oh damn…..Fine, your favourite, after all those others, is resurrected to Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk once more!

I don’t know what to say really, it’s been a crazy time. The last thing I remember, before the absence, well, I’d gone for a meal with 12 of my peoples. There wasn’t much to eat, just bread & fish, but I got the party jumping when I turned some water into wine. After that we all went for a walk in the local park. A cockerel crowed 3 times, and then all these soldiers came and snatched me up.
Next thing I know, a few hours ago I woke up in a cave on a hill, had to push a bolder out the way to get out……shocking.

Some of you are probably going to say “Hey, I’ve heard a similar story to that”, well, supposedly there’s this other guy, bit of a nut if I’ve heard rightly, and he’s telling the same type of story. But has he written about his mysterious adventures……nope. And again, I know what you’re going to say “there’s a book”, but he didn’t even write it, how lazy is that :)

But anyway, I think its time to get to nitty gritty……


Leap Of Faith!

The goal of every publisher is to get you the reader, to pick up their books. Now this can be easier said than done. Granted when you have a new series starting, with a big creative team on board, that bucket of KFC is more tempting to the polar bear. But the cards don’t always fall like this, the majority of the time its established books that are vying for extra readership.

So what do you do to get readers to start picking up a series that has already had X amount of issues published?

Well, you create ‘ Jump On’ points!
A lot of the time (but not all), these are when a new creative team come on board.
For example when the new creative team of writers Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost along with artist Mark Brooks took over New X-Men, the press releases were all shooting new and bold:

“ Kyle, Yost, and Brooks are taking the New X-Men into a brand-new direction and you don’t want to miss out on the beginning of a new era for both the Marvel Universe and these young mutants in New X-Men #20.”

Cover: Mark Brooks
Writer: Craig Kyle & Chris Yost
Artist: Mark Brooks
Inker: Jaime Mendoza

“ CHILDHOOD’S END” Part 1 (of 4) NEW CREATIVE TEAM! Red-hot X-23 writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost and rising star Mark Brooks ( ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL, AMAZING FANTASY) take the New X-Men in a bold new direction. Spinning directly out of House of M #8, the New X-Men deal with the changed world. Will X-23 join the team? Will the friendships persevere? Will the kids survive? No one is safe and not everyone will live through this incredible change in the status quo. Brace yourself, the rules have changed and the safety is off.

When its not new creative teams, companies sometimes send out press releases to let everyone know that certain issues are going to be perfect for new readers.


“To kick off 2006, Claypool Comics is reviving the event that jump-started 2005: " Jump In" issues.

Every Claypool title will feature an issue specially written and drawn for new readers. Readers will spot these issues easily, as each one will sport a special design by the cover logo: The company's mascot cat leaping into a pool, plus the boldly written words: "A JUMP-IN ISSUE FOR NEW READERS!"

Here's what the readers will see:

* Elvira, Mistress of fhe Dark #153 (shipping in January) will contain the " Jump In" tale " A Nose for Sleaze!" by Frank Strom, Eduardo Barreto and Terry Austin. In this special adventure, tabloid reporter Hank McFee goes digging for dirt at Elvira's TV station and comes across previously unrevealed secrets about her early days.

* Peter David's humorous super-team book Soulsearchers and Company #76 (January) will feature " Moving Day! " The Soulsearchers find themselves needing a new location for their headquarters. Packing up all of their mementoes of past cases leads them into reminiscencesŠand the too-real threat that one of their souvenirs still presents. The interior art is by Joe Staton and Al Milgrom, with a cover by Amanda Conner and Steve Leialoha.

* The vampire saga Deadbeats #76 (February), written and pencilled by Richard Howell, will present " Wave of the Future! " a tale of blood-sucking evil. As a disaster looms over both the living and the undead of Mystic Grove, the town's vampire hunters contact the grown-up children of the town, twenty years in the future, to learn the horrible particulars of the fate they must do their utmost to prevent. The interior art is embellished by Ricardo Villagran, and the cover is pencilled by Howell and inked by Louis Lachance.

Claypool editor Howell said, "The ' Jump In' issues are a creative challenge for us, but they're incredibly important to provide easy access to new readers, encapsulate our series' cornerstone concepts, and give a concentrated dose of the trademark Claypool magic."

The " Jump-In" issues will have the same cover price as other issues--$2.50.”

And other times companies use big events ( Civil War, Identity Crisis, 52, Planet Hulk, etc) as tentpoles, to snare new readers.


But the question is, do all these enticements & promises work!?!

I want to know what makes YOU, the reader go out and pick up a new series or jump into an existing series!


NEW FEATURES, NEW FEATURES, NEW FEATURES!

Soap Box!
So I’ve decided to talk about a comic (some months it may be a film, who knows) that I’ve been reading or that has me intrigued.

This first instalment………. BLACK PANTHER!!!

I think I’ve mentioned it before, but Black Panther was the first book I ever picked up. It’s what made me want to read comics and sent me on a 2 year mission collecting back issues.

That was when the book was being written by Priest and Sal Velluto & Bob Almond were the mighty art team.
This was a classic (for me, anyway) run and when it ended, it was a real shame.

Jump forward to February 2005………RELAUNCH!

Marvel hooked up Reggie Hudlin, the same cat who’d written some of my favourite films growing up ( House Party & Boomerang). They teamed him with living legend John Romita Jr, artist extraordinaire Kluas Janson and break through colourist Dean White.

The first arc put a new spin on T’Challa’s ( Black Panther) origin and really stamped who he was on the reader. The 6 issues also came with variant covers from some of the crème de crème of the industry… Estad Ribic, Frank Cho, John Cassaday, Terry Dodson & Kaare Andrews.

To follow this up we have a House Of M tie-in pencilled by Trevor Hairsine. Then it’s a crossover with Peter Milagun’s X-Men. David Yardin handled interior art, with Andy Brase providing the first cover and Yardin himself, the second.

Following this has to be my favourite arc so far. Scot Eaton was on pencils and Gary Frank, Mike Deodato & Jae Lee provided covers.

If you haven’t tried this book yet and only want to sample one TPB, go cop ‘ Two The Hard Way’.
This story features Luke Cage, Brother Voodoo, Blade, Falcon, Shang Chi and Monica Rambeau. None of the appearances seem forced and Hudlin manages to capture every individual voice. It’s a fantastic story that is filled with great memorable moments and humour, that isn’t shoe horned in.
The story really solidifies Reggie’s relationship with Black Panther.

Series review

Oh and if you don’t know by now, this summer T’Challa’s will be wedding his long time love…… Storm!


Distant Thunder!

Every time I write I always have something on in the background. I’ve been doing it since junior school, I just hate absolute silence.

So, I’ve decided to…not cause you demanded…..to let all my readers (you 5 are so damn lucky) know what I’m bumping in the background as I write this :)

This instalment its just music:

Hard Fi – Stars Of CCTV (whole album)

Killers – Hot Fuss
- Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
- Mr Brightside
- Smile Like You Mean It
- Somebody Told Me

Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane
- Harder To Breathe
- This Love
- Shiver
- She Will Be Loved

State Property – State Property (whole album)

Soundtrack - Bridget Jones Diary
- Out Of Reach – Gabrielle
- Respect – Aretha Franklin
- Have You Met Miss Jones? – Robbie Williams
- I’m Every Women – Chaka Khan
- Don’t Get Me Wrong – Pretenders
- Kiss The Girl – Sheryl Crow
- Killin’ Kind – Shelby Lynne
- Someone Like You – Dina Carroll


And Now!
OK, so all you have to do is drop me an e-mail: koncise@comicbookbin.com and let me know what your feelings are.

Did any of you try Soulsearchers or Deadbeats, during Claypool Comics ‘ Jump On’ month.
Are you using (or looking forward to try) Civil War, Identity Crisis, 52, Planet Hulk, etc as a means to try some new books.
Or have the press releases announcing Ed Brubaker (on Uncanny), Mike Carey (on X-Men), Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza (on Action Comics), etc, got you excited to start picking up those books?

Whatever your views are, don’t be afraid to share them. And if you think there’s something I’ve missed, feel free to hit me up-side the head with it :)

And if you have a comment about this instalments ‘ Soap Box’, or have something you’d like talk about, again, e-mail me and see yourself in print (well, on the web) in the next column.

koncise an out :)

Last Updated: March 3, 2025 - 20:40