JiC: A YEAR END HIGH NOTE

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/DC/Action798cvr.jpg" width="175" height="269" align="right">by Michael Sangaicomo

Editor's note - Journey Into Comics is currently on a year-end break, but Mike couldn't pass up talking about this issue...

Now that is what a Superman adventure should be! Action Comics #798 is one of the best Christmas presents you could ask for.

This story, “Heartsong” is, the conclusion of the “Lost Hearts” storyline, is a masterpiece. Joe Kelly’s writing is at a personal peak and Pascual Ferry’s art on Superman has never looked better. Best of all, it ties in beautifully with the Smallville television show with a poignant scene in the hayloft between young Clark and Lana, their first kiss.

It’s a shame that the Smallville tie-in couldn’t be exploited on the cover to lure in those non-comic reading Smallville fans, but perhaps that can be done with the trade paperback collection.

The story concerns a young girl’s plea to Lana (Lang) Ross, the wife of Vice-President Pete Ross, about strange happenings in a slummy part of town. Lana investigates and disappears which causes Clark Kent to go undercover into the slums to find her. In the process, he finds a lost love rekindled. Wait a minute; Clark is still happily married to Lois, right? Yes, but Kelly worked out a way to get around that fact and still show readers a taste of the romance that could-have-been.

And the art, to emphasize a point, was perfect. If you’ve fallen away from reading Superman, this is a reason to go back.

[Francis Barel]

Whouh!!! First post on a Superman article!!
There is a Santa Claus after all!!

In france we are out of comics until 2 or 3 days, and that includes last week's stack...
Can't wait for the end of this storyarc, it is great!!

[Gelogurte]

It almost doesn't matter to me who's writing or drawing Superman. I love the character, it's one of my all time favorites!

I'm dying to read this storyline! It got great reviews! But I'm pretty late on my comics lately.

[Hank Wirtz]

I'll just chime in and say that while the Superman books have been more miss than hit for a long, LONG time, this arc knocked it out of the ballpark. I'm glad I stuck out the bad runs in order to have read this one.

I'm still waiting for more stories that show what a tool Pete is for cowtowing to Lex.

[John Osen]

C'est Magnifique! :)

[theodoros]

[quote]Originally posted by Gelogurte:
<strong>It almost doesn't matter to me who's writing or drawing Superman. I love the character, it's one of my all time favorites!

I'm dying to read this storyline! It got great reviews! But I'm pretty late on my comics lately.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I am sorry. I cannot care about Superman. He was too perfect. Where is Kerry Gammill? Curt died... so did my little love for Clark Kent.

[gmull528]

[quote]Originally posted by theodoros:
<strong>

I am sorry. I cannot care about Superman. He was too perfect. Where is Kerry Gammill? Curt died... so did my little love for Clark Kent.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How tragic.

[NeX]

Wow, I thought I was the last Superman fan on earth, I'm glad to see others as pasionate about the character as I am, I loved this story as well, I can only hope that the quality of the Superman comics stays this high for all the years to come :)

Happy new year everyone

[Jab]

I too thought I was the last of the avid Superman fans. Most of my comic friends mock my loyalty to the titles.. But then there comes a story line like this one that snaps my head back and I remember what the potential of this character can be. With the beginning of a new year upon us let's hope that the momentum started by this story continues and builds and eventually The Man of Steel will retain his former glory. Happy New Year!

Jab

[Donald V. Calamia]

I, too, thought this arc was excellent. And for a change, the artwork - especially Ferry's - served the story quite well. If only ALL Superman tales were this good!

[Mike Tyler]

I too enjoyed this story. Hopefully they can maintain this momentum when Steve Seagle & Scott Mcdaniel take over Superman next month with the ten cent adventure! I also heard they were going to let each creative team tell their own stories in their respective titles. Lets hope so because I feel tying in all of the Superman titles turns off any potential new readers. Happy new year folks! :D

[TemporalFlux]

It was a very good arc...but who's idea was it? The whole thing smelled like a Geoff Johns quality story (who wrote part one). That's the problem with collaboration and multi-part stories...as far as we know, Kelly's predominant involvement was sitting in a room with a beer while he was fed ideas.

[COREMARK]

Actually I think Johns wrote parts 1 and 3 with Kelly writing 2 and 4. Either way it was the best Superman story of 2002, hopefully we'll be seeing more stories like this one.

[Heroic Images]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>It was a very good arc...but who's idea was it? The whole thing smelled like a Geoff Johns quality story (who wrote part one). That's the problem with collaboration and multi-part stories...as far as we know, Kelly's predominant involvement was sitting in a room with a beer while he was fed ideas.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Tut-tut, my Young Naysayer. You know as well as the rest of us that Joe Kelly has written the strongest Super-stories of any of his fellow creators over the past 3 years or so.

Looking forward to Action #800!

Davey

[TemporalFlux]

[quote]Originally posted by Heroic Images:
<strong>Tut-tut, my Young Naysayer. You know as well as the rest of us that Joe Kelly has written the strongest Super-stories of any of his fellow creators over the past 3 years or so.

Looking forward to Action #800!

Davey</strong><hr></blockquote>

And he's also written the worst JLA in recent memory. Which is the real Kelly? Well...he doesn't have a support office of other writers' ideas on JLA like he does with Superman. What does that say? There's also the truth...Kelly has been very hit or miss on Superman. It's either a really good story...or it makes you wish you had your two dollars back. The Zod stuff has been horrible in most of its execution...and most of that has been under Kelly's pen. I also believe you sell the other creators very short. Just to note recent memory, Geoff John's Superman stories have been a million times better than anything Kelly ever dreamed of...and Johns didn't even have to rip off The Authority to do it.

Looking at the big picture, I believe Kelly is a leech. It's the only way I can rationalize how he stinks so badly on JLA while only stinking part of the time on Superman. He snakes through the system sucking off other people's ideas and taking undue credit on collaborations. Readers and even Executives don't bother to see who did what...political games are played where other writers have to pick their battles, and Kelly climbs the ladder. Then he ends up on JLA and hollows it out it to the point where myself and several, several people I know have dropped it. It's a shame...but that's what happens when people don't give a damn about who does what. It will eventually come to a head if this the case...but in the meantime, JLA suffers.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>Then he ends up on JLA and hollows it out it to the point where myself and several, several people I know have dropped it. It's a shame...but that's what happens when people don't give a damn about who does what. It will eventually come to a head if this the case...but in the meantime, JLA suffers.</strong><hr></blockquote>

And yet, JLA has steady climbed up the charts in recent months, proving the eternal maxim of Newsarama true once again...

MattB

[TemporalFlux]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>And yet, JLA has steady climbed up the charts in recent months, proving the eternal maxim of Newsarama true once again...

MattB</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fine Brady...let's look at this great climb you mention. Most of it can be found on links at this page:

<a href="http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html" target="_blank">http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html</a>

May 2002 - #15 JLA 60,581
June 2002 - #17 JLA 59,684
July 2002 - #20 JLA 59,978
Aug 2002 - #21 JLA 61,577 (beginning of "event")
Aug 2002 - #24 JLA 61,556
Sept 2002 - #18 JLA 60,778
Sept 2002 - #20 JLA 60,608
Oct 2002 - #18 JLA 60,352
Oct 2002 - #19 JLA 60,148
Nov 2002 - #17 JLA 63,560 (issue #75)
Dec 2002 - #17 JLA 61,557
Jan 2003 - #16 JLA 60,405

Wow! Look at that climb in December and January! :rolleyes: What did JLA do when Kelly started?

Dec 2001 - #12 JLA 67,491

What happened to all those people? Where did they go, Matt? Did around 7,500 JLA fans mysteriously die between then and now? Maybe they were abducted by aliens? There must be some explanation for why they don't count in your mind.

How did JLA do before Kelly?

Sept 2001 - #10 JLA 73,750
Oct 2001 - #11 JLA 67,744
Nov 2001 - #12 JLA 66,029

Here's a tip, Brady. I realize you believe yourself to be some type of authority because you lick Jemas' shoe, but you should really research before you shoot off your mouth. We all know retailers love events...they love those "anniversary" issues too (and #75 was even a direct lead in to the new Aquaman series). The drop off after the fact flatly tells the tale that was already clearly told the rest of the year before. And all of this is just the retailer orders...how much is still rotting on the shelf? Obviously enough to show retailers there actually isn't increased interest...or the numbers wouldn't drop in December and January.

Newsarama Maxim - "Always check Matt Brady's 'research'."

[Slangword]

I enjoyed Action 698 very much. Thanks to Mike S. and Newsarama for letting me know about it.

--Scott

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>Fine Brady...let's look at this great climb you mention. Most of it can be found on links at this page:</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yup, Flux...(or Temporal?) - and show that the book has climbed the chart, from #20 to #16 through the run of the story. Thanks for helping me out with the data, as I was mentioning the chart positions, not number of issues ordered. It's been moving up about one slot a month - pretty steadily (not "great" - that was your word...).

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>Here's a tip, Brady. I realize you believe yourself to be some type of authority because you lick Jemas' shoe, but you should really research before you shoot off your mouth.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Didn't shoot off anything, uh..."Flux" - I said that the book has climbed steadily on the charts, and the links you pointed to proved it. Again, my thanks.

As I've said in any article where I've mentioned them, the ICV2 numbers are estimates that the publishers have moderate to serious problems with (they don't account for reorders, and ICV2's calculations have been cited by pros to be anywhere from several hundred to several thousand copies off).

The position on the sales chart, however, does show how well or poorly any given book is doing relative to the rest of the market - and that, again, is what I was talking about.

And "lick Jemas' shoe?" Heh - you're going to have to go back to bed and get up all over again to get a rise out of me with a line like that.

Or - while you're so fond at pointing out inaccuracies when other people "shoot off their mouth" perhaps you could point out the data to back up the "lick Jemas' shoe" remark, so we can get into the tiresome "Newsarama shows favor to Marvel" discussion again...

By the way, as far as Jemas goes, last I remember, all I had to do was kiss his ring - his shoes never came into the agreement. That's DC.

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>Newsarama Maxim - "Always check Matt Brady's 'research'."</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah, 'cause when I say things like JLA has climbed steadily on the charts, someone like you can come along and prove me...right. But when someone asks me dubious estiamted about order numbers for any given month, I'll send 'em your way post haste.

Thanks,
MattB

[TemporalFlux]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>Yeah, 'cause when I say things like JLA has climbed steadily on the charts, someone like you can come along and prove me...right. But when someone asks me dubious estiamted about order numbers for any given month, I'll send 'em your way post haste.

Thanks,
MattB</strong><hr></blockquote>

Oh now *this* is rich! So ICV2's units sold are dubious...but you'll glady believe the chart positions they list?? Can't have it both ways, Brady. The two listings are irrevocably linked. 1,000 units off would mean a chart ranking differential as well.

But hey...fine again. We want to be chickenshit and stick with the "chart rankings", let's look at it *again*:

<a href="http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html" target="_blank">http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html</a>

May 2002 - #15 JLA
June 2002 - #17 JLA
July 2002 - #20 JLA
Aug 2002 - #21 JLA
Aug 2002 - #24 JLA
Sept 2002 - #18 JLA
Sept 2002 - #20 JLA
Oct 2002 - #18 JLA
Oct 2002 - #19 JLA
Nov 2002 - #17 JLA
Dec 2002 - #17 JLA
Jan 2003 - #16 JLA

Wow! Look at that roller coaster ride! It dropped to the toilet until recently and still hasn't climbed back up to WHERE IT STARTED in MAY! What did JLA do when Kelly began his JLA run?

Dec 2001 - #12 JLA

What happened to that?!

How did JLA consistently do before Kelly?

Sept 2001 - #10 JLA
Oct 2001 - #11 JLA
Nov 2001 - #12 JLA

So even if we take your bullshit approach, JLA *still* suffers. No Newsarama maxim proved...Matt Brady making a complete and utter fool of himself.

You and I both know that chart rankings alone are affected by whatever else came out in the month. Batman has been dominating number one since the Loeb/Lee run started...it wasn't for awhile before then. So that pushing everything else down a notch is some type of commentary on how the other titles are selling? Same in reverse...when Origin ended allowing other titles to move up, does that say the other titles are now suddenly selling better? No...it says Origin left it's slot vacant.

It is both sad and hilarious you would make this argument. Chart rankings alone mean *nothing*. You *have* to couple it with actual sales. Transformers suddenly dominating the top positions didn't mean Marvel titles were selling worse for pete's sake!! You *really* want to make this argument??

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>It is both sad and hilarious you would make this argument. Chart rankings alone mean *nothing*. You *have* to couple it with actual sales. Transformers suddenly dominating the top positions didn't mean Marvel titles were selling worse for pete's sake!! You *really* want to make this argument??</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nah, you're pretty mad at something, and I don't think this is really it. Top 300 charts as released by Diamond are valuable for pointing out trends in the market, and as such, Kelly's JLA was increasing relative to the market (and as such, books can move up in the chart, while sales have actually decreased). That's the point I was making.

I think Stan Lee wants his exclamation points back. Seriously dude - chill. You want your victory, fine - you're right. I was wrong at whatever it was I said, and you're 100% irrevocably right. Hope that calms you.

MattB

[Dan Feeser]

Uhm, Matt you were wrong. Everything from ICV2 points to that in both position and copies. JLA has done nothing on the charts but bounce between 15 and 20 (which tells us nothing) and they've lost about 7,500 readers over the last 15 months (most at the beginning of the Kelly/Manke run), including me.

[TemporalFlux]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>And yet, JLA has steady climbed up the charts in recent months, proving the eternal maxim of Newsarama true once again...

MattB</strong><hr></blockquote>

My beef is and was the snotty little comment above. Unless we stretch beyond imagination, it's just a ill founded dig thrown out because you didn't like my opinion. You can not like my opinion - that's fine. Just don't make up crap. Then when faced with facts, you start playing the Bill Clinton definition game which makes it even more insulting (or did *you* inhale?). That explanation of my reasoning is just if you were genuinely curious as to what my problem was...somehow I doubt you were.

In closing, if companies are making decisions based on these "trends" instead of looking at actual sales...well, that's a big part of the industry's problem then. When used alone, the rankings are only useful on a very, very broad scale related more to political bragging rights than any quantifiable business data...there are just too many things affecting rankings that aren't even related to sales or even trends. I'm sure JLA/Avengers will dominate the charts when it hits...but should we use a one time mega event to cheapen all regular titles it will knock down in rank alone for those 2 to 4 months (depending on how it's released)? Honestly...I expect JLA and Avengers regular series sales to increase during that time just based on the momentum of people being drawn back to memories by Busiek and Perez...so sales may increase, but rank may be the same or lower. Not because of anything related to the creative team or title itself...but factors out of their control.

That's just one example...at any one time, many events and titles are driving differences in rank that are no reflection on a creative team or a series' performance. If we say it is a reflection...suddenly good books are overhauled or cancelled just because there happened to be a few good mini-series or a darkhorse like Transformers. That rationale is not business...that's trying to grasp at golden rings by using your toe.

Don't get me wrong, though...I'm not asking for an answer from you now. Newsarama has never really been a place for thoughtful views...and that obviously hasn't changed. Woe be unto me for not taking the company line.

[MattBrady]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>Don't get me wrong, though...I'm not asking for an answer from you now. Newsarama has never really been a place for thoughtful views...and that obviously hasn't changed. Woe be unto me for not taking the company line.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Okay - I'm backing off - you were right. The actual orders for the book haven't increased dramatically in the last few months. I probably pressed my point with a little too much vigor, and I apologize.

That said, given the numbers you cite, I would assume that the message DC is getting is still a little mixed overall, the orders have (albeit roughly) held steady since May and held the same during the double ship months, giving DC the bragging rights (if they wanted to...) of saying that JLA orders were over 120K for August through October - and earned the company twice the amount it would have normally seen. And technically, 2002's JLA orders for the pre-Kelly months you cited were lower than those for 2002, thanks to the double-ship.

Not trying to obfuscate your points, but just wondering how you mix that one in, and trying to see things from DC's point of view. In the end then, through JLA orders dropped in 2002 for any given issue, DC made more money off of the JLA series, due to the four extra issues.

Sure, overall, there are (presumably - again, given the estiamted order numbers, which don't account for reorders) fewer readers, but the book, by the company ledger, is still doing well, and as a series, is one of the company's better sellers.

One could possibly assume that's where the double-edged blade of double-shipping comes in. Two issues a month will burn off some of the casual fans, but keep your core. So now, do you remain satisfied with that core audience that shells out twice what it used to, or do you shake things up in an effort to bring in a larger audience, and risk alienating some of the core?

As you pointed out, the order numbers from Jan - on will be interesting to watch for the effects of the event, although they don't indicate that Obsidian Age brought in a truckload (or even a VW Bugload) of new readers...

And by the by, if this gets too far away from JLA/Superman/Joe Kelly, I'll move it over to Talk @ Newsarama.

MattB

[Sean Brady]

Action #798 is one of the best Superman comics I've read in ages, and it's the best comic I have read since Peter Parker:Spider-Man #35.

The beautiful last few pages of this story were completely unexpected. I was gobsmacked at the truly inspiring and touching dialogue and gorgeous artwork. After a pretty gloomy three issue lead-in, the last few pages came as a revelation. I'm not gonna say anymore than that about the story. If you haven't read it, please do so as soon as possible.

It touched me so much that I have bought another two copies to give away as gifts to people who don't read comics but will certainly appreciate the messages within.

(btw I'm no relation to Matt!)

[TemporalFlux]

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Brady:
<strong>That said, given the numbers you cite, I would assume that the message DC is getting is still a little mixed overall, the orders have (albeit roughly) held steady since May and held the same during the double ship months, giving DC the bragging rights (if they wanted to...) of saying that JLA orders were over 120K for August through October - and earned the company twice the amount it would have normally seen. And technically, 2002's JLA orders for the pre-Kelly months you cited were lower than those for 2002, thanks to the double-ship.

Not trying to obfuscate your points, but just wondering how you mix that one in, and trying to see things from DC's point of view. In the end then, through JLA orders dropped in 2002 for any given issue, DC made more money off of the JLA series, due to the four extra issues.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, if DC were to make such an argument, it would be akin to treating one's symptoms instead of the disease. If DC had a better creative team on JLA, they could still do a twice a month release and make even more money if the team were more successful. Geoff Johns immediately pops to mind as a high caliber replacement, but the man is overstretched as it is (and DC probably wouldn't want JSA and JLA under the same pen - though it would open a very interesting and unique opportunity for interconnectiveness).

As for alienating the core...well, that's already happened with some of it. JLA is a title that sells on name to a degree (unlike JSA that's had to rebuild a name), so there will always be a fair amount who buy and are more attracted to it. However, JLA used to perform consistently better than it does now (to the tune of roughly 10 grand more in revenue for DC). So that risk of sales loss has been realized under Kelly's pen. The question really becomes - do we stick with what obviously killed some our core or do we try again with the risk of losing more? I personally believe the new risk should be taken...because we haven't reached the depths of this drop yet and the risk can minimized with careful selection of a successor. People still on board right now are more likely to stay and give a change a chance, though...as more and more leave, it's always harder to bring them back. Some trust is lost...and that takes time and buzz to rebuild (unless you have a big name who brings their trust with them).

I only just now gave up on JLA...many of my fellows are the same. JLA's modern core audience is patient (many buying out of habit), but all patience has an end (especially given the recent rises in prices all around - many are re-examing their monthly pulls at this moment. That's probably the main reason I dropped JLA - I was forced to re-evaluate my spending and JLA was sorely lacking for my dollar with the current writer).

It all comes down to this in my mind. If you see you have a leaking tire, do you fix it as soon as possible or do you keep driving...putting off the inevitable? DC has kept driving so far...but that tire is going to put them down eventually no matter how much extra air they try to stick in twice a month. One need only look at the early 90's incarnation just before the much needed Morrison revamp. Does it really have to get that bad again before DC will react? Probably so...which is quite sad for many JLA fans in my opinion. What makes it worse is that I find very few in my shop and net interactions who genuinely like it...they just tolerate it...for now.

[jlavengers]

I agree that Joe Kelly's JLA title is very ordinary indeed, though I won't be dropping the book (I like the characters too much) I feel I could at any given time.
I read Geoff Johns' JLA/JSA :Virtue and Vice Hardcover and it was the first time since Joe Kelly took over JLA that I have enjoyed reading an JLA storyline, I certainly can't wait for Kurt Busiek's JLA/Avengers crossover to see a real Pro in action.
Also the artwork as been terrible (no offense to Tom Nguyen he is only the inker afterall), Doug Mahnke's style is offbeat and outright horrible give me George Perez, Carlos Pacheco, Phil Jimenez, Alan Davis, Tom Grummett, Ivan Reis, Oliver Coipel, Ron Lim, Dan Jurgens, Ron Garney, Darryl Banks, Bryan Hitch etc anyday.
How could DC let such a below par creative team take charge of this iconic superteam, shame on you DC.
I hear the Power Company comic is in trouble of being cancelled (great title), well if this is true lets hope their creative team jumps ship to the JLA title.
Joe Kelly wrote a good Superman story?, well surprise, surprise, cause he sure can't write the JLA!!! :(

[BoyWonder]

[quote]Originally posted by TemporalFlux:
<strong>

Well, if DC were to make such an argument, it would be akin to treating one's symptoms instead of the disease. If DC had a better creative team on JLA, they could still do a twice a month release and make even more money if the team were more successful.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Absolutely true. Th JLA should be selling 100,000 issues every month. Sales should be going up with each issue, not steadily decreasing with time.

The JLA with Morrison and Porter was the best comic book on the stands. The current team is just not worthy. Something needs to be changed and very soon.

I personally don't totally hate Kelly's writing. The Obsidian age had some great ideas, but the execution didn't quite come off. I thought that the issues without Doug Manhke were quite good. I think that Doug Manhke is a good artist, but a poor fit with Joe Kelly. I want a change in artist!!!!!

Recommendations:

1) Ed McGuinness (Superman/Batman is going to be JLA-lite, he should be with the whole team)

2) Sal Velluto (Black Panther 26 to 49 had excellent art!)

3) John Byrne (He needs to re-establish himself and this would be a good place to start)

4) Yvel Guichet (His Obsidian Age issues were very enjoyable)


I think Joe Kelly should be given a chance with a different artist. If he fails then, well Grant Morrison is probably leaving New X-Men in about a year...