GPz

New DC and Marvel 2025 Crossovers

ComicsPro Annual Meeting (Feb 2025)

News from the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting: Marvel and DC to do new 2025 crossovers... perhaps we can get that JLA/Avengers reprint?

New Marvel And DC Comics Crossovers Announced At ComicsPRO

Excerpt: DC Comics Editor-In-Chief Marie Javins and Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski took to the stage this weekend at ComicsPRO, the comic book retailer summit held in Glendale, California. They followed the Keynote speech by DC General Manager SVP Anne Leung DePies, to announce a new crossover between the two comic book publishers, to be released later this year. Two one-shots, they will be titled Marvel/DC, to be produced by Marvel Comics and DC/Marvel to be produced by DC Comics.

Source: bleedingcool

Wolfman leaves ‘Titans’ from Comics Buyers Guide #674

Here an article from Comics Buyers Guide #674 (17 Oct 1986)

Wolfman leaves ‘Titans’

New writers assigned until he returns

Comics Buyers Guide #674 (17 Oct 1986)

DC Comics has announced that writer Marv Wolfman will take a leave of absence from writing Teen Titans “after the consuming redefinition of the DC universe in the 12-issue Crisis on Infinite Earths series and the two-issue History of the DC Universe.”

“I never realized how much of myself I put into Crisis on Infinite Earths,” Wolfman said, “until I set out to write History of the DC Universe. Between those, my move to California, and the re-launch of Superman with The Adventures of Superman, most of my time was spoken for.

“I had to give up something to retain my sanity, so I requested time off from some of my writing responsibilities.” After seven years on The New Teen Titans, Wolfman has, DC said, ‘“willingly stepped aside to rethink the book for a few months, so he can ‘make The Titans better in 1987.’

The DC press release said that Wolfman, while on leave from The Titans, will, “recover, get ahead on The Adventures of Superman, and begin work on future projects.”

Paul Levitz, described by Wolfman as “my choice for filling in,” will script The New Teen Titans beginning with #28 and plot issues #30-#33 with Wolfman.

Levitz will continue to write Legion of Super-Heroes and the Cosmic Boy mini-series. He has written several of DC Comics’ team titles ‘in the past, including a run of Justice Society of America in the "70s.

Teen Titans Spotlight, taking advantage of its format, will be written by a variety of people.

Editor Mike Gold said, “The whole concept of Spotlight lends itself to a ‘roving’ creative team. As we highlight different characters from The New Teen Titans, we'll use completely different creative talents whose styles match the characters featured.”

Teen Titans Spotlight #7 and #8 will highlight The Hawk by Mike Baron, Jackson Guice, and’ Larry Mahlstedt. Issue #9 will focus on The Changeling and ‘The Doom Patrol’s Robotman; it will be written by Paul Kupperberg and illustrated by Dan Jurgens.

Barbara Randall will take over as editor beginning with #10, an issue which will feature Aqualad in a story which will resolve plotlines from The New Teen Titans ‘Hybrid” story. It will be written by John Ostrander and illustrated by DC Comics newcomer Erik Larsen.

Source: Comics Buyers Guide #674 (17 Oct 1986)

Comic book prices to skyrocket over tariffs

FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS VOL. 6 (10 Jun 2025)

I've already mentioned that these Trump tariffs are going to affect comic book collectors, and it's finally going to hit hard with a whopping 25% tariff on Canada. I buy DC and some Marvel, and I know they use Canada for printing. I already think comics today are too expensive, but if they have to add $1 to $2 to monthly. Omnibus are $125 now, I am assuming will be $150 or more for any new books announced.

Comic Books Set To Rocket In Price Next Week Over Tariffs

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 14:57:10 -0600 by Rich Johnston

Comic Books are set to rocket in price next week over the new imposed tariffs and taxes on American companies printing their comics in Canada.

(Excerpt)

Most American comic books are printed in Canada and driven across the border, with a significant amount of graphic novels published in East Asia and shipped in on the boats. Canada's paper stock is cheaper due to an abundance of timber forests, economies of scale and expertise of printers and paper mills. Comic books are generally an inelastic good, which means that an increase in price will not lead to a commensurate drop in demand, but that inelasticity cannot last forever, and it may reach a point when it snaps. The price jump will drop off readers/collectors faster than any gender swap or refusal to have Spider-Man married to Mary Jane. A source with strong links to, and much experience of, the import/export industry tells me that "The right defense of this tactic is to print in the US. But paper is cheaper in Canada and labor and manufacturing costs in the US will make publishing comics in periodical form unsustainable. As much as we all want manufacturing all of all kinds to return to the US, the fact of the matter is 25% duty won't do that either."

Source: bleedingcool.com

Comics Reporter from Comics Scene #8

Americomics #1 (Apr 1983)

Here is an excerpt from Comics Scene #8 (Mar 1983) - the news segment "Comics Reporter".

Comics Reporter

Americomics to Premiere in January

Bill Black, editor/publisher of Fun Comics, announced a full line of comic books to be published under the corporate name, AC Comics. The flagship title will be Americomics and it will be supported by two other titles at present. All three books will be printed in the now-popular standard comic book size on Baxter paper.

Black’s Fun Comics will become one of the other two titles to be published under AC. The long-running comic will continue to feature Paragon Press characters including Phantom Lady, Captain Paragon and Commando D. This book will run on a semi-annual basis for now.

The other title is Black Diamond and will represent the first alterative press comic company to tie- in with a motion picture. Black Diamond, really Tiana Mathews, is a super spy in the Modesty Blaise school. The film, originally intended as a vehicle for Sybil Danning, is e this summer featuring Lois Areno. Issue #1 will be an introductory story and then issues #2 and #3 will adapt the film. Paul Gulacy will provide covers beginning with issue #2. Black will script the series and ink Mark Beachums pencils. The comic will start off as a quarterly.

Americomics will be a bi-monthly showcase title, highlighted by the use of Charlton superheroes. A good portion of the material is left over from Charlton Bullseye which the firm stopped publishing last year. Captain Atom, Blue Beetle and others will be resurrected by fans-turned-pros Dan Reed, Martin L. Greim and Rik Levins. Other creations will also be used including Black The Shade and The Messenger, created by All-Star Squadron artist Jerry Ordway. Ordway has also contributed the inks to The Slayer, a character written by Craig Zablo and pencilled by Captain America inker John Beatty. Covers for Americomics will be done by George Perez, Gil Kane, Pat Broderick, Jerry Ordway, Bill Black and Mike Machlon.

Gates of Eden #1 page 48

FANTACO ENTERPRISES

After a long delay in publishing, caused by a less-than-enthusiastic response to Gates of Eden #1, Fantaco is back in business with a full slate of books set for 1983.

Gates #2 will be out in February boasting work by Frank Miller, George Perez, Neal Adams, Trina Robbins, Jeff Jones, Fred Hembeck and many others. The 48-page book will sell for $2.95.

Dial M for Hembeck will contain half-new and half-reprint material and will be out around spring. The 32-page, $1.95 item will be full of comics commentary. Hembeck maniacs should note that he has returned to contributing to the Buyer’s Guide for Comic Fandom after an all-too-long delay.

Source: Comics Scene #8 (Mar 1983)

Here He Comes Again! from Comics Scene #15

COMICS SCENE #15 (Oct 1990)

Here a news article from COMICS SCENE #15 (Oct 1990).

Here He Comes Again!

Even in a world that considers stopping to sniff a flower a crime, you can't keep a good hero down for long.

"Mighty Mouse has been retired for five years when issue one starts,” explains Fabian Nicieza, editor of the super rodents new ongoing series from Marvel Comics. The title picks up the pieces where the Ralph Bakshi Saturday morning CBS cartoon left off.

“It incorporates all the incarnations of Mighty Mouse over the last 40 years, now almost 50. Michael Gallagher the regular writer with artist Ernie Colon and inker/colorist Marie Severin, although there will be various issues by various people," continues Nicieza Among them are Doug Cushman and Milt Knight, who worked on the Mouseville Marvel's Spotlight series.

With the mouse of steel around, no comic will be safe as a take-off on popular series will be featured in every alternate issue. “Number one is a Dark Knight parody which reintroduces the character,” says the editor. A poke at Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man follows as well as a Crisis on Infinite Earths spoof called “Mices on Infinite Earth” featuring a George Perez cover.

“Issue three will have a cover by John Byrne. There will be two stories—one is Mighty Mouse vs. Prince Samor and the second one is Bat-Bat's solo feature,” announces Nicieza, heralding the return of the mighty camp crusader and Tick, the Bug Wonder from the Bakshi cartoon. Bat-Bat will be drawn by Michael Kazaleh, one of the series’ animators, but more importantly adds Nicieza, “We'll get to the Cow, we'll get to all of them. Oil Can Harry appears in the first issue the first time he has appeared in a comic book in, I think, 40 years.

“There will be a little of everything Fabian Nicieza pauses trying to find the right words for this comic event, “a potpourri of goofy superhero fun!”

—Eddie Berganza

Source: COMICS SCENE #15 (Oct 1990)

DC Raises Prices to 75¢ newsclipping from Comics Scene #11

Here a news article from COMICS SCENE #11 (Sep 1983).

DC Raises Prices to 75¢; Adds New Titans & Legion Titles

COMICS SCENE #11 (Sep 1983) George Perez and Marv Wolfman will be doing two Teen Titans stories a month for a year, starting next spring.

In late April, Paul Levitz, vice-president of Operations, made two announcements affecting the entire DC line and its publishing goals. The first announcement wasthe expected price rise, coming with December cover-dated books, shipping in August. All of DC's 60¢ titles will increase to 75¢ and switch from newsprint to the popular, whiter Mando stock now in use across the industry. At present, DC only employs it for annuals and anniversary issues.

The other announcement concerned two new titles, to be printed in the Baxter-format now used for Camelot 3000 and The Omega Men. Comics featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes and New Teen Titans will premiere next spring alongside the Mando titles. For the first year, there will be two sets of Titans stories, while tentative plans call for the Mando Legion book to carry reprints.

After the first year, the Mando titles will begin reprinting the stories from the Baxter books, which will begin with new titles and numbering from #1. DC makes the analogy between publishing a book in hardcover and then a year or so later, following with a softcover edition at a cheaper price. In this case, the $1.25 Baxter comics will present stories that, a year later, will show up in the 75¢ Mando companion titles.

If successful, more books will use this format of secondary titles featuring reprints from the Baxter comics, increasing the number of DC publications without necessarily doubling the workload. A third book is already being planned, but its title has not been announced.

This move represents a refocusing of DC's interest in the non-returnable/direct-sales market.

Both Mando and Baxter titles will be made available in the comics shops while an announcement will be made in the DC comics about the upcoming changes.

Titans’ creative team Marv Wolfman and George Perez have rearranged their schedules, clearing the decks for a full-year's worth of new Titans stories in both books.

If the Legion Mando book goes reprint, Levitz and Keith Giffen will prepare framing sequences.

As for the price hike, the usual economic factors were cited, including increased costs for printing at World Color Press. The soles surviving giant-sized comic, G.I. Combat, will increase its price to $1.25 while the Best of DC Digest will remain unchanged at $1.25. Next year’s annuals have not been priced although this year's crop now costs $1.50.

Reaction around the industry to the increases remains mixed although Marvel and Archie have said they will hold their prices at 60¢ for as long as possible.

Source: COMICS SCENE #11 (Sep 1983)

Diamond owes Hasbro nearly $2 million dollars

Marvel Hasbro Legends Thanos (Feb 2021)

I don't know why they split the money up, because Wizard of the Coast and Hasbro are the same company (Hasbro owns Magic Cards). In total it is nearly $2 million dollars. Incidentally, I love my Thanos action figure, but I didn't buy it through Diamonds.

Comic book company that owes WotC and Hasbro over $1,900,000 files for bankruptcy

by Katie Wickens | 27 January 2025

Excerpt: Having been a big player in the comic and game distribution industry for years, Diamond Comic Distributors has now "filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11." In other words, bankruptcy. Diamond had managed to accrue upwards of $50 million in debts including over $1 million and $900,000 to Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, respectively, and is now unable to continue operations as normal.

Source: gamesradar.com

Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans in top ten Comic Book Runs (2024)

Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #35 cover (2005)

CBR's readers voted their 2024 Top Comic Books Runs of All Time: The Master List.... which saw Wolfman/Perez's New Teen Titans barely landing in the top ten.

Note: Kurt Busiek and George Perez's Avengers is ranked #41

1. John Byrne, Chris Claremont and Terry Austin's X-Men
2. Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's Daredevil
3. Steve Ditko and Stan Lee's Spider-Man
4. Alan Moore's Swamp Thing
5. Neil Gaiman's Sandman
6. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's Fantastic Four
7. Grant Morrison, Howard Porter and John Dell's JLA
8. Walter Simonson's Thor
9. Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans
10. Chris Claremont's Post-Cockrum X-Men

Source: cbr.com

Image Comics reduce dscounts to comic book stores

EXTREME STUDIOS PROMOTIONAL POSTER (1993) art by George Perez

Taking advantage of the recent Diamond Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and just in time for the Lunar New Year... Lunar and Image Comics are reducing their discounts. Technically the discounts are the same, but in order to qualify for 50%, you have to spend at least $300 a month on Image Comics.

Good luck to comic book retailers and diehard Image collectors.

Image Comics Reduce Discounts To Comic Book Stores Significantly

OLD DISCOUNT TIERS $0–$83 $84–$250 $250–$375 $375–$1416 $1417–$2916 $2917 and up 40% 50% 52.5% 55% 57.5% 58.5%

NEW DISCOUNT TIERS $0–$300 $300–$1,000 $1,000–$2,000 $2,000–$5,500 $5,500–$12,000 $12,000 and up 40% 50% 52.5% 55% 57.5% 58.5%

Source: bleedingcool

R.I.P. Marc Michetz (Kogaratsu)

Kogaratsu: v. 1: The Lotus of Blood (Jul 1987)

Belgian comic book artist, Marc Michetz (real name Marc Degroide), has died at the age of 73. He's famous for being the artist of Kogaratsu.

On January 9, at the age of 73, the Belgian designer Marc Michetz, stage name of Marc Degroide, an author known in the world of the bande dessinée died especially for the Japanese series of setting Kogaratsu, written by Bosse.

Born in 1951, Marc Michetz had studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, before starting to collaborate in the mid-seventies with Jean Graton, the creator of Michel Vaillant.

Passionate about Japanese culture, in 1981 he created together with Bosse the series Kogaratsu, the story of a ronin – or a samurai without a master – published by Dupuis and composed of 14 albums, the last of which was released in 2014 (in Italy the series was only partially translated in 2001 by Edizioni BD).

In 1990, Michetz co-created another similar set of a similar setting, Takio, scripted by Yann and published by Glénat, for a total of two volumes.

A very unproliferous drawer, Marc Michetz was equipped with a naturalistic trait, well planted in the Franco-Belgian comic tradition and rather far from that of manga, despite his great passion for Japanese culture.

Source: fumettologica.it