COUNTING THE COSTS...HOUSE OF M AND COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS [Archive]

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MattBrady

06-13-2005, 02:29 PM

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/HouseofM/HOM001_flcov_t.jpg" width="175" height="265" border="0" align="right">Over the last several months as Marvel and DC have aggressively promoted their respective universe-wide events - House of M and Countdown to Infinite Crisis - both publishers have gone on record saying neither intends for or expects its fans to read every issue that’s been marketed as a tie-in to the main series.

Each has been sure to make it very clear fans can read what titles interests them and will be able to follow the stories on individual basis and/or the larger event without the satellite tie-ins. In fact, DC has gone so far as to provide weekly recaps of key events on their website for fans being selective as to what titles to read.

But here at Newsarama we don’t like to leave any stone unturned, and no fan gets left behind. So as a service for those brave souls who do want or intend to read it all, we got out our abacus…abacuses…abacai? and did a little calculating for you. Newsarama has figured out approximately what one can expect to spend if one’s dedication to each storyline knows no monetary bounds.

Bear in mind the following estimates cover only announced tie-ins so far and assumes the original suggested retail cover price for past and/or current issues demanding more on the after-market, and estimated standard cover prices for issues not yet solicited.

We’ll start with Marvel’s House of M, or the event perhaps best suited for the rabid completionist on a budget.

[disclaimer: just to reiterate, both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events]

Consisting of one main 8-issue limited series, four additional satellite limited series, a special one-shot, a $0.50 promotional “newspaper”, and 25 issues of current series (details <a href=htttp://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/HouseofM/HoMchecklist.jpg]>here</a>), according to Newsarama’s calculations a mortgage for the House of M is going to run you $147.57.

Of course, if you want to be serious about the full picture, you might want to pick up Avengers: Disassembled, and we can save a few coins by picking up the trade for $15.99, and say, the first five issues of New Avengers just so you know who these folks coming into the House calling themselves the Avengers are. Five issues, @ $2.25 = $11.25. For a getting up to speed price of $27.24, added to the above, making it $174.81 to know the backstory, and get the main story of House of M.

Now mind you that’s just for fans who only care about what’s between the covers. For readers who really want it all, the variant cover to each respective issue of House of M and the Oliver Coipel gatefold variant cover to the second printing of issue #1 will tack on another $26.91 (assuming you can get them at cover price) to the bill for a new grand, grand total of $201.72.

Now onto DC’s Countdown to Infinite Crisis, or the story event of choice for the fan who’s gots the bling and an admirable sense of dedication...

[disclaimer: we did say that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events, right? Okay, cool. Just checking…]

Calculating the full cost of a full-on Countdown commitment is a little more problematic, requiring some creative accounting and a lot of research.

For one, Countdown itself is a prelude to another upcoming and yet-to-be-solicited event, Infinite Crisis. DC has also announced many stories - some going back as far as two years, and some not identified as official Countdown tie-ins (like last year’s Identity Crisis, the current Red Hood story in Batman, and The Return of Donna Troy) - are key stories in a larger tapestry that all comes to a head in Crisis.

And because there are likely many more unannounced tie-ins to come throughout next spring when Crisis concludes and all DCU titles begin “OYL” (one year later), fans planning on getting it all might consider applying for an open-ended line of credit at their local comics shop.

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/DC/Countdown_more/PRELUDE_t.jpg" width="175" height="265" border="0" align="left">First off, for the more story-oriented fan, in order to keep costs down we’re going to let the upcoming <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=33427>Prelude to Infinite Crisis</a> serve as the bulk of the back-issue catch-up. For just $5.99, the 96-page special promises reprints of The Flash #219, Wonder Woman #214 (in their entirety), the lead story from Superman Secret Files 2004, and key sequences from at least 22 separate past issues, including Superman/Batman #6 and Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day (more issues listed via the above link).

Now no self-respecting DC fan intent on being in the full Crisis mix can skip Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis, so we’re also putting you down for September’s hardcover collection, which at $24.99 gets you out of dodge a few ducats below the original combined cover prices for each issue.

Likewise, the events of Green Lantern: Rebirth had a direct effect on Day of Vengeance and Hal Jordan’s return is very likely to be a major factor in Crisis. Now we don’t know what October’s <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34602>hardcover collection</a> is going to cost, so we’re going with the combined cover prices for the 6-issue series for $17.70.

So relatively caught up to the present, we have $48.68 on the books to start. The remaining calculations and issues included in the initial tally are based on DC’s solicitations from March through Aug. 2005, their weekly “Crisis Counseling” recaps of events fans should be aware of, <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=35595>press releases</a> officially identifying Countdown tie-ins, JLA #115-#119 (two issues @ $2.25, three @ $2.50) and the advanced inclusion of seven issues of Infinite Crisis at an estimated $2.50 a pop, leaving us with:

One special 80-page one-shot, six limited series, and 53 issues (so far) of ongoing series, for an eye-popping all-in total of $252.39. Or ... if you're in it just for the core, that is, Countdown, the miniseries, the tie-ins, and Crisis, that'll run you $209.71.

And that's just with the issues named as being tie-ins to date, mind you - it's pretty likely there will be some tie-ins to Crisis from ongoing series, so there's potential upward wiggle room.

Now again, for the hardcore completionist, that figure is going to be considerably higher, as DC has been publishing reprints with new or newly colored covers. We tried our best to generate an accurate estimate assuming a purchase of every issue (including reprints) mentioned sometime/somewhere by DC has being related to Crisis.

- Let’s start by adding the other half of Infinite Crisis’s dual covers (George Pérez/Jim Lee) (as announced in Wizardworld: Philly) for another $17.50 (7 x $2.50).

- There have been 10 total additional printings (so far) of the four main Countdown limited series, for $25.00.

- Assuming you got them all at cover price, Identity Crisis #1-7, and the 10 total various reprints of particular issues will total $67.15 ($3.95 x 17). Now you get credit back for the ID Crisis hardcover from the initial estimate, so $42.16 gets added.

- Green Lantern: Rebirth has four total reprint issues for another $11.80 ($2.95 x 4).

- Batman #638 also got a second printing with a new cover.

- Countdown To Infinite Crisis got a reprint with a new cover (the "body" is recognizable as Blue Beelte) for $1.99, and that gets added in.

- As far as all the original issues included in full or in part in the upcoming Prelude to Infinite Crisis, assuming you already have them or can find them, that’s going to ring in another (and very approximate) $64.95 (which includes Teen Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 and a $6.95 80-page compendium that included 8 pages from Teen Titans #1 and The Outsiders #1).

Your new total?? A nice round figure of $418.04

[disclaimer: we really, really, really want to make sure you know that that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events. Really…]

Are you a DC and Marvel fan? Expect to spend between $357.27 and $618.76.

When asked to comment on this story Monday morning, “Access Q. Amalgam” Talk@Newsarama’s resident (though quite rare) fan of all things both Marvel and DC equally, said, “Oh @#$%&!, I wonder if Home Depot is hiring part-time..?”

GuitarSmashley

06-13-2005, 03:03 PM

when you put numbers like that to it you make me hate myself thanks

Ragnarokker

06-13-2005, 03:07 PM

Its amazing what we'll pay for a decent story. Goes to show you that comic book afficionados may as well be crack addicts.

Punchy

06-13-2005, 03:08 PM

Hah take that DC fanboys saying 'it's the house of Money'

I honestly don't get the point in buying a complete crossover, most of the tie-ins are neglibible at best, i'm getting all the HoM miniseries apart from Mutopia, and getting the tie-ins of series that either me or my brother gets.

Countdown, i'm getting Rann/than, OMAC, Donna Troy and all my regular books, My brother is getting the other 2 minis and the JLA arc, i'll also get the Infinite crisis mini proper.

Kevin T. Brown

06-13-2005, 03:09 PM

Pretty funny that you actually took the time to figure this all out..... Someone had extra time today. :D

seesoul

06-13-2005, 03:09 PM

There goes my drug money...

Mercury

06-13-2005, 03:10 PM

Or, you could try the following:

Spend either a minimal amount of money, or none whatsoever, by finding a bookstore that has all or many of the crossover titles. Read a book or two if you really need to know whats going on, then decide if it's worth such a costly gamble.

My girlfriend had to study for final exams, and so she went to Barnes & Nobles; as many students do, to study in the cafe area. I took advantage of this time to waste more minutes of my life by reading the House Of M prelude in Excalibur, therefore confirming what I'd suspected about House Of M being nonsense; and the current Batman to see what I'm missing.

There you go; I was able to read these hype books free of charge and now, when I go into my comics shop, I'll be able to gauge a bit better what my hard earned cash is going towards.

All you need do is seperate yourself from the severe feeling of 'needing' a title; you don't really, and next summer Marvel and DC will have something else they'll say is bigger and more groundbreaking than either of these events.

(Now, someone PM-d me to say that that practice is 'unfair' and 'hurting comics' since I essentially went in and read 2 or 3 comics for free. I disagree- it might be if you stole them, obviously- but I think these summer 'events' are unfair and hurt comics much more than getting a chance to try out 2 or 3 titles that you'd consider trying anyway)

EmeraldGuy32

06-13-2005, 03:12 PM

Great article but You forgot the Adam Strange Mini! I'll be getting both core series plus most of the countdown crossovers since they are in books I'd buy anyway. My Marvel HoM spending will be limited to Hulk, and maybe Ironman and Fantastic Four.

AllMarvelreader

06-13-2005, 03:15 PM

I think we all could've save money instead of Marvel and DC, if Amalgam Comics (the Marvel/DC merge universe) was still arround.
Hey Matt, do the math here. How much would it cost us if Amalgam Comics did this summers hottest crossover "Crisis in the House of M?"

MarkG72

06-13-2005, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by guitaryoni
when you put numbers like that to it you make me hate myself thanks

I was thinking the same thing! This is without the other titles I get too. JEEZ.

johnlayman

06-13-2005, 03:18 PM

This is shoddy journalism, Matt.

You forgot to double the price of the Fantastic Four House of M mini. It's gonna be so awesome everyone is gonna want to buy two!

March Haire

06-13-2005, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by Mercury
Or, you could try the following:

Spend either a minimal amount of money, or none whatsoever, by finding a bookstore that has all or many of the crossover titles. Read a book or two if you really need to know whats going on, then decide if it's worth such a costly gamble.

My girlfriend had to study for final exams, and so she went to Barnes & Nobles; as many students do, to study in the cafe area. I took advantage of this time to waste more minutes of my life by reading the House Of M prelude in Excalibur, therefore confirming what I'd suspected about House Of M being nonsense; and the current Batman to see what I'm missing.

There you go; I was able to read these hype books free of charge and now, when I go into my comics shop, I'll be able to gauge a bit better what my hard earned cash is going towards.

All you need do is seperate yourself from the severe feeling of 'needing' a title; you don't really, and next summer Marvel and DC will have something else they'll say is bigger and more groundbreaking than either of these events.

(Now, someone PM-d me to say that that practice is 'unfair' and 'hurting comics' since I essentially went in and read 2 or 3 comics for free. I disagree- it might be if you stole them, obviously- but I think these summer 'events' are unfair and hurt comics much more than getting a chance to try out 2 or 3 titles that you'd consider trying anyway)

Now...Batman is a tie in, but it hasnt been revealed as to how. Personally, I dont pick up the Bat, and I wont until someone I like is writing it, but Im not going to say no to three finly crafted minis and two decent ones just because some title I dont read ties into it somehow.

The same goes for excalibur and House of M. Two diffrent writers, two diffrent artists, and Bendis is far and away better than Chris Claremont, so it isnt really fair to compare.

Crump's Brother

06-13-2005, 03:23 PM

I'll be over here, biting my nails, waiting for the trades.

Curses!

Mercury

06-13-2005, 03:23 PM

Now...Batman is a tie in, but it hasnt been revealed as to how. Personally, I dont pick up the Bat, and I wont until someone I like is writing it, but Im not going to say no to three finly crafted minis and two decent ones just because some title I dont read ties into it somehow.

The same goes for excalibur and House of M. Two diffrent writers, two diffrent artists, and Bendis is far and away better than Chris Claremont, so it isnt really fair to compare.
**************************************** ***

I don't mean to compare- in my *opinion* (i stress that word just so noone engages me in debates/defenses about Claremont and Bendis), Claremont and Bendis are both hacks anyway. I meant, this is a practice you can apply to any title, any time, but especially if theres some sort of massive, company wide, crossover 'event'. With Batman, I meant the return of the whole Jason Todd thing *ugh*.

BlueThunderArmy

06-13-2005, 03:24 PM

Originally posted by Punchy
My brother is getting the other 2 minis and the JLA arc, i'll also get the Infinite crisis mini proper.

Wish I had a brother...

rogue_tomato

06-13-2005, 03:25 PM

Wow, I forsee a ton of comic reader going broke this summer (or getting 2 jobs :p ) I knew that they were gonna be expensive, but damn!

earth2tom

06-13-2005, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by seesoul
There goes my drug money...

Poof

There goes my baby's diaper money. I guess I will be chasing him around the house with a pooper scooper.

350z

06-13-2005, 03:29 PM

Ridiculous--and I can afford to get these projects (I will not, however). I find company-wide events to be incredibly underwhelming and these two especially so (I am not too sure about the DC project, but from what I have gathered so far has not impressed me...). When projects like these are overly promoted, overly exxposed, and overly priced, the expectations of fans are almost always too high. That is, the projects can never match the hype and fervor that surround them.

Whatever happened to the days when the projects spoke for themselves--when there were not press conferences to announce what will be happening--a year from now--in the latest titles? Oh well, I am just a reader...

BlueThunderArmy

06-13-2005, 03:31 PM

Anybody care to break this down into $/month? Just an average would be fine. I suspect the numbers would turn out a bit more equitable, since the DC multi-event spans a couple years whereas Marvel's (not counting Disassembled) is confined primarily to the 8 months of the miniseries.

Dave Phelps

06-13-2005, 03:31 PM

Interesting...

One thing you might want to toss in, though - the time element.

Aside from Avengers, House of M start to finish is going to be 5 months (including the Excalibur preludes).

From Identity Crisis to the end of Infinite Crisis, we're looking at close to two years.

The financial pinch doesn't feel as bad if you space it out enough. :)

BillReed

06-13-2005, 03:35 PM

Ahh. I shan't be spending one single dime for any of that! :)

Blind Assassin

06-13-2005, 03:39 PM

md62

06-13-2005, 03:42 PM

and this is the reason I avoid these mega crossovers.....

Charlie Hustle

06-13-2005, 03:53 PM

not buying into either. admittedly i'm not into traditional superhero massive crossover stuff so maybe it's not up my alley to begin with. I was just as annoyed by these during the 'boom' of the 90's.

Fazhoul

06-13-2005, 03:54 PM

I will be buying ALL of the DC books but I will pick and choose which of the House of M books that I want. I read so much more DC than Marvel that I won't have to pick up any ongoing titles that I don't usually get and I want to read all of the minis and specials.

Volunteer

06-13-2005, 03:55 PM

Now we know why Crossgen went broke: Negation War was self-contained. That was looking like a good story and didn't take 80 issues to tell.

I miss the days of smaller crossovers like Fall of the Mutants. That had three core titles for three issues each plus a couple one-offs. You could really buy what you wanted and not miss anything for what you skipped.

I'm going to buy the core runs of House of M and Countdown and will buy some of the crossovers but will likely skip a lot of them due to the price tag. Thanks for the advance headsup on total cost. Saved me a bunch of money by keeping me from thinking "I should get this week's crossovers. It's only $5" every week.

Volunteer

Michael P

06-13-2005, 03:57 PM

Damn.

Fan4Fan

06-13-2005, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by Ragnarokker
Its amazing what we'll pay for a decent story. Goes to show you that comic book afficionados may as well be crack addicts.

And then what some will pay for these kind of things... :rolleyes:

bumpusth

06-13-2005, 04:09 PM

HAHAHAHA

More proof that the people reading comics should be reading books like Fables, 100 Bullets, The Losers, Solo, The Walking Dead, Stray Bullets, The Goon............................

Beetle Bomb

06-13-2005, 04:13 PM

I'd love to read all of that, but it's either a house payment and car payment and groceries and a happy wife, or...or...*shudder* I'm an even MORE well versed comic book junkie.

Sorry, but life is good. I'll continue to sneak peeks at stuff in the bookstores like Barnes and Noble and just keep up with the "core" issues here and there. Most of the time I'd like to get things, I say I'll "wait for the trade", and then when the trade comes, I read it a bit at the bookshop and am glad that I didn't waste my money and time waiting for what ends up being a lackluster experience.

Example: Kevin Smith bringing Green Arrow back. I waited and saw the trade. Art? So-so. Story, kinda doofy, although it had some good points. The rest? 'oh boy, GA's back and it's business as usual.' I ended up never buying it. And was glad that I didn't. Although I kinda wished that I actually did just because I would've LIKED to have supported one of the few things Kevin actually completed. :)

Thankfully, DC has that cool update and checklist running online. I think some of us penny pinches can stay just as informed on the events and not have to sell our kidneys on the black market to get the scoop on things.

Oh, and I like how these companies are releasing the collected editions in Hardcover to soak some more money. Thanks you idiots. You're only doing it because you know that most people are waiting for the trades now. If you can't get us on the "tees", you'll get us on the "greens". :(

Dave Phelps

06-13-2005, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Anybody care to break this down into $/month? Just an average would be fine. I suspect the numbers would turn out a bit more equitable, since the DC multi-event spans a couple years whereas Marvel's (not counting Disassembled) is confined primarily to the 8 months of the miniseries.

I had a few minutes so here's what I have. Split into two posts and assuming that the majority of people interested in this stuff aren't going to be fanatical completists.

First up is DC:

Only using the books that were listed in the article (both this one and the DC press release). Missing some stuff most likely, even if most of the tie-ins are just above "red skies" level.

MAY
* JSA #73
* SUPERMAN #217
* DAY OF VENGEANCE #2
* THE OMAC PROJECT #2
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #1
* VILLAINS UNITED #1
* DC Special: Return of Donna Troy #1
$17.50

JUNE
* JLA #115
* JSA #74
* ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #641
* BIRDS OF PREY #83
* NIGHTWING #109
* DAY OF VENGEANCE #3
* THE OMAC PROJECT #3
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #2
* VILLAINS UNITED #2
* DC Special: Return of Donna Troy #2
* PRELUDE TO INFINITE CRISIS
$31.00

JULY
* JLA #116
* DC Special: Return of Donna Troy #3
* DC Special: Return of Donna Troy #4
* JSA #75
* ACTION COMICS #829
* ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #642
* SUPERMAN #219
* WONDER WOMAN #219
* BREACH #7
* NIGHTWING #110
* DAY OF VENGEANCE #4
* THE OMAC PROJECT #4
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #3
* VILLAINS UNITED #3
$35.00

AUGUST
* JLA #117
* BLOOD OF THE DEMON #6
* JSA #76
* ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #643
* MANHUNTER #13
* SUPERMAN #220
* WONDER WOMAN #221
* NIGHTWING #111
* THE FLASH #225
* DAY OF VENGEANCE #5
* THE OMAC PROJECT #5
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #4
* VILLAINS UNITED #4
* FIRESTORM #16
$32.50

SEPTEMBER
* JLA #118
* DAY OF VENGEANCE #6
* THE OMAC PROJECT #6
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #5
* VILLAINS UNITED #5
* FIRESTORM #17
$12.50 (but I'm sure there will be other tie-ins)

OCTOBER
* JLA #119
* RANN-THANAGAR WAR #6
* VILLAINS UNITED #6
* INFINITE CRISIS #1?
$11.45 (I'm betting Infinite Crisis is going to be similar to ID Crisis in format - so $3.95 an issue. Don't know how tie-ins are going to work. From what Didio has said, the books are going to be doing their own thing until #5 comes out. May still be something going on the books that's "IC" related, though.)

Dave Phelps

06-13-2005, 04:16 PM

Okay, now for Marvel.

Based on the list provided. The only one I have actual issue listings for is August. The rest were back dated or post-dated accordingly, based on what I can remember about coming releases. Anyone with corrections is free to toss them in.

MAY
Excalibur #13-14

JUNE
House of M #1
House of M #2
Spider-Man: House of M #1
Fantastic Four: House of M #1
$11.96

JULY
House of M #3
House of M #4
Uncanny X-Men #462
Spider-Man: House of M #2
Fantastic Four: House of M #2
Iron Man: House of M #1
Hulk #83-84
New X-Men #16
Mutopia X #1
Pulse #10
Secrets of the House of M
Pulse: House of M Special Edition
$35.89 (might be slightly off here)

AUGUST
House of M #5
House of M #6
Black Panther #7
Uncanny X-Men #463
Captain America #10
New Thunderbolts #11
Iron Man: House of M #2
Fantastic Four: House of M #3
Mutopia X #2
Hulk #85
New X-Men #17
Spider-Man: House of M #3
$35.39

SEPTEMBER
(Don't exactly have dates, but I'm assuming the idea is to have the tie-ins finish before the House of M series does. It is possible they'll be pushed to October as "House of M epilogues," though.)
House of M #7
House of M #8
Hulk #86
Uncanny X-Men #464-465
Spider-Man: House of M #4-5
Mutopia X #3-4
Iron Man: House of M #3
Wolverine #33
New X-Men #18-19
Exiles #69-70
$43.38

Don't know about these. I'd assume that the preference would be to get these taken care of before House of M ends, but doing so would make these two books weekly in the month of September, and I don't know if Marvel would want to go that route. If so, add $7.99 to September's total.

Wolverine #34-35
Exiles #71

Basically, it's about even on a month to month basis. Just that DC's stringing it along a tad longer... :)

Allen Jaco

06-13-2005, 04:21 PM

There was a radio commercial here a few years ago for a ski resort.

It said that there were four things a person needed to do. A person needed to eat. He/she needed to sleep. He/she needed to work. And he/she needed to ski.

But then it said that you don't really need to sleep. After all that's what coffee is for. And you don't really need to eat, becaause everyone can afford to lose a few pounds. And since you're not eating or sleeping, you don't really need to work.

So the only thing you have to do...is SKI!

I guess, all you have to do is replace "ski" with "comic books," and that would describe me. :eek: :p ;)

Mercury

06-13-2005, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by Ragnarokker:
Its amazing what we'll pay for a decent story. Goes to show you that comic book afficionados may as well be crack addicts.
**************************************** ******\

a decent story? so, the need for a decent story is so severe that hundreds must be spent for an obvious 'lets milk it as much as we can' multi-title storyarc?

if THAT was the real reason, well hell, spend less than half of that and get a DC Archives or a Marvel Masterworks: lots of good stories in there. go to a comic shop's fifty cents bin, and find some nice titles, anything from the 70s or 80s to certain Valiant stuff in the 90s, many of those have decent stories.

decent stories are easily obtained; they might not be 'new', but if you havent read them before, they're new to you.

crazyhorse01

06-13-2005, 04:34 PM

Matt, thanks for taking the time to figure out how much money I'm going to save by not buying into this crap.

jedifish

06-13-2005, 04:40 PM

AllAboutMe

06-13-2005, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by earth2tom
Poof

There goes my baby's diaper money. I guess I will be chasing him around the house with a pooper scooper.

OR, you could just use all those crossover tie-ins as diapers when you finish them. Some appear to be nothing better than butt-tickets anyways.
Or you could roll each issue up and smoke it and get stoned to the bejeesus on Bendis Bunk.

jedifish

06-13-2005, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by bumpusth
HAHAHAHA

More proof that the people reading comics should be reading books like Fables, 100 Bullets, The Losers, Solo, The Walking Dead, Stray Bullets, The Goon............................

Why?

Except for Fables, I couldn't give a crap about any of those titles. I am, however excited about the DC cross-over.

WookieLove

06-13-2005, 04:52 PM

This is why I think DC should have waited till after this winter's crisis was over to release the seven soldiers mega-series. I purchased the first few titles and the opening book-end issue, and while Morrison's books were great reads, my wallet told me to choose between those and the crisis minis that are out now. I had to choose the series that are, for lack of a better term, important to the DCU right now. Seven Soldiers could have started shipping at anytime. In fact, concerning the only character used in both the 7Soldiers and Crisis - Zatanna - it would have made a hell of a lot more sense to wait till after Crisis. Unless, of course, she gets raped and or killed in Crisis ;) Although, it would have been a nice tie in if whatever happens in crisis explains why Z has forgotten how to use her powers in seven soldiers, and if all these 7S events happened in the "year off" after Crisis. Anyway, though, now I'll simply wait for the 7Soldier trades to hit Borders when it's all over and catch up then. Thank goodness for Borders, where I can read a lot of the Crisis tie-in books and tpbs for free while sipping delicious coffee in their air conditioned cafe...

For the books I will purchase (which is usually from $7 to $13 per week), my comic shop (Carol and John's in Cleveland; best comic shop in northeast OH) offers 15% off new comics every wednesday if you have a pull list there. I'm wondering for the people replying to this article: does your comic shop offer the same type of perk?

Michael C Lorah

06-13-2005, 04:56 PM

Crossovers. Guh.

I've been around long enough that if I'm not reading a book, then there is 95% likely to be a very good reason (in my mind, if nowhere else) for me to be not reading that book.

Sadly, I'll wind up not buying titles that I'd like to follow if they are badly hijacked by Crisis/House events. However, both Marvel and DC are going to make a boatload of cash on these events, so apparently lots of (hardcore) fans do enjoy this stuff. And I can't really blame the companies for looking out for their bottom lines.

I'll just take each book on a case-by-case basis, and if they remain sufficiently independent then I'll keep buying. If not, I'll have to pass.

I should add that Seven Soldiers is a completely different animal. From the project's announcement, I've known that to appreciate the full tapestry of Morrison's vision, I'd need to read the entire thing, and I fully intend to do so.

However, when I started picking up Greg Rucka's Adventures of Superman run, there was no expectation that I would need to read Wonder Woman or OMAC Project or Villains United or even Superman, and it's easier and more satisfying for me to quit AoS than get a large batch of series that I'm not very interested in.

tralfaz

06-13-2005, 05:00 PM

matty, you forgot about the avengers disassembled tie ins

Snowspinner

06-13-2005, 05:29 PM

Of course, since I buy almost all the DC books anyway, and I'm not touching anything Marvel that's not Astonishing right now, that affects the costs too.

New Alfonso

06-13-2005, 05:31 PM

I feel sorry for anyone who feels the compulsion that they MUST buy every single book involve in either crossover. I wonder, back in the day did people seriously buy every single Infinity War tie-in book? Or every Final Night tie-in?

I just wonder if there really are people - people who don't already read pretty much everything from one of these two publishers - who are planning to try to buy everything listed here.

Dave Phelps

06-13-2005, 05:36 PM

OcCaM

06-13-2005, 05:36 PM

Simple Marvel list for me.

I WILL buy the following trades:

HOUSE OF M: INCREDIBLE HULK TPB Collects Incredible Hulk #83-86. 96 pages, $13.99, in stores on Nov.16
(First Hulk I'll be buying in like forever.)

HOUSE OF M: FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN TPB Collects FF: House of M #1-3 and Iron Man: House of M #1-3. $13.99 Nov. 23. (Stuck with Iron Man I guess.)

HOUSE OF M: SPIDER-MAN TPB Collects Spider-Man: House of M #1-5. 120 pages, $13.99, in stores on Dec. 21.

Not sure about:

HOUSE OF M: UNCANNY X-MEN TPB Collects Uncanny X-Men #462-465.. 96 pages, $13.99, in stores on Dec. 28.
(Even for Davis artwork, hefty price for 4 issues!)

HOUSE OF M TPB Collects House of M #1-8.
200 pages, $23.99, in stores on Jan. 4.
(NOT a big BMB fan, but still...)

======================================== =
$25.20 TOTAL after 40% discount. (or $48 adding in the 2 maybes.) oh and add $.50 for that Pulse special.
======================================== =

On to DC:

I'll be paying (after discounts):
$12 for Day of V.
$12 for Villians U.
$4.20 for Prelude to Infinite Crisis and Countdown
$12.50 for IC HC
(possibly $12.50 for the GL HC?)
(possibly $12 for the Donna Troy tpb)

======================================== =
$65.20 TOTAL
======================================== =

Wow, that's a lot!

DC wins though.

BlueThunderArmy

06-13-2005, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by WookieLove
This is why I think DC should have waited till after this winter's crisis was over to release the seven soldiers mega-series.

Good call. Though I'm more likely to drop regular series than pass up a Grant Morrison book.

My comic shop gives 10% off to subscribers, which saves me $7-10 per month. Not bad.

DrTzinTzin

06-13-2005, 05:38 PM

I think I just quit collecting comics....

Johnny Triangles

06-13-2005, 05:40 PM

Very conservative numbers for DC, since we don't know how many more unannounced tie-ins are actually coming up. Using the Prelude compilation instead of actual issues also reduces the price considerably. Then there's the price of Infinite Crisis itself and ITS likely tie-ins. I'm guessing it'll approach $500 when all is said and done.

Stormbreaker

06-13-2005, 05:40 PM

Well, that's certainly a lotta money. I'm getting the DC intro-minis and Infinite Crisis in addition to the tie-in JLA arc. I'm also getting House of M and the Iron Man: House of M Mini, as well as the Hulk tie-in. Other than that, I dunno. Curse me and my being poor!

MurrayC

06-13-2005, 05:41 PM

Are you a DC and Marvel fan? Expect to spend between $357.27 and $618.76.

That's fine if you live in the US. Try living in Canada and paying the CANADIAN cover price.

MicroZone

06-13-2005, 05:48 PM

other than the Crisis mini-series, I'm sticking with what I normally buy. i'm not interested in any of the House of M story, or Marvel in general outside of what Dan Slott writes.

Johnny Triangles

06-13-2005, 05:51 PM

I'm only getting the 8-ish House of M mini. Marvel says it's all you need to follow the story. The 4 DC minis are a little too much for me, I am Byrne-stealing them every month and if any of them pick up soon I'll buy them.

Aaron

06-13-2005, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by crazyhorse01
Matt, thanks for taking the time to figure out how much money I'm going to save by not buying into this crap.

LOL, yeah riiiiiiiight.

Seriously, what's to be gained by coming on a board and gloating about how much smarter you are than everyone else, when you KNOW as well as the rest of us that you're gonna be buying some/most of this stuff. If these events didn't interest you, you wouldn't have even bothered clicking on the link.

We're all sheep, to one extent or another.

Aaron

Reaper

06-13-2005, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the research Matt. I appreciate the time that it must have taken.

I am so glad that I am not an obsessive completist anymore (like I was in the 90's before my head imploded and I got out of collecting altogether -- from '93 until '97). I will be buying the House of M mini only plus only the tie-in titles that I would normally buy anyway.

-Tim

JDK745

06-13-2005, 06:11 PM

A person can always wait until the issues are in the quarter bins. I've been collecting cross-over events for years this way. I recently picked up the Wonder Woman (vol 1) red-sky crisis issues this way. It takes patience my young apprentice.

Wolverine

06-13-2005, 06:14 PM

Guys, there is an easy way to save around $500US and convince Marvel and DC that we don't want underwhelming crossovers and that we see through their marketing ploys: DON'T BUY THEM! If you see a crossoverbook on the shelf, put it down, and wait for the storm to pass.

Regulator

06-13-2005, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by Volunteer
Now we know why Crossgen went broke: Negation War was self-contained. That was looking like a good story and didn't take 80 issues to tell.

I hope you aren't serious. CrossGen folded because they expanded too fast and were only selling 15-20,000 copies on average for each of their 15 or so monthly titles. It still makes me laugh that a lot of you people think even DC or Marvel are huge cash cows where Joe Quesada and Paul Levitz are swimming through vaults of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck just because they raise prices by $0.25 or have a "large" crossover. Even 200,000 copies is a very low circulation in the (inter)national magazine industry.

ME5

06-13-2005, 06:35 PM

Hello.

I don't understand coming onto a thread dedicated to two specific crossovers to say you will not be buying them as if that somehow makes you intelligent. If you aren't buying them, why tell people who are? Seems stupid, is all.

Personally, I will pick up the main crux of each crossover, and find some of the satellite issues in my collection as they interest me.

Having read quite a bit of both crossovers, to date, I will be telling Marvel and DC that they will not get my money unless I think the prouct is truly worth it. I don't like large, company wide crossovers, so I won't buy either one in its entirety. Period. They are both cash grabs, and I won't fall into them like I did when I was younger (Sigh...Yes, I bought EVERY tie-in for that Avengers crossover "Galactic Storm" or something. Talk about a LOT of crossovers! It was enjoyable, though...). I admit that both companies HAVE managed to use these crossovers to get some more of my money lately than I might have otherwise spent, but damn, some books were just TOO good to refuse (especially R/T War!). Hmmmm...I guess I am falling into their cash grabs a bit. DAmn, we are sheep, I tells ya, SHEEP!

crazyhorse01

06-13-2005, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by Aaron
LOL, yeah riiiiiiiight.

Seriously, what's to be gained by coming on a board and gloating about how much smarter you are than everyone else,

Absolutely nothing, but it's fun! :p

when you KNOW as well as the rest of us that you're gonna be buying some/most of this stuff. If these events didn't interest you, you wouldn't have even bothered clicking on the link.

Sorry, Aaron, but you're not the world's greatest detective. I can testify that I won't be buying any of this garbage. I was just intrigued by how much it would cost.

I don't buy many super-hero books anymore, Astonishing X-Men and The Ultimates are about as close as I get these days, although I might try out the McKone F.F..

But even back in the days that I did, I never let myself get sucked into this cross-over nonsense.

We're all sheep, to one extent or another.

Speak for yourself, Aaron. Baaa

whippis

06-13-2005, 07:04 PM

Or you could not buy any of this junk and give $30 to a local charity.

Mercury

06-13-2005, 07:11 PM

LOL, yeah riiiiiiiight.

Seriously, what's to be gained by coming on a board and gloating about how much smarter you are than everyone else, when you KNOW as well as the rest of us that you're gonna be buying some/most of this stuff. If these events didn't interest you, you wouldn't have even bothered clicking on the link.

We're all sheep, to one extent or another.
**************************************** *****

Uhh, Perhaps. But if you re-examine my original post Aaron, you'll see that I neither denied being disinterested, or proposed that I was smarter than anyone, and/or gloating. My whole point was that, its very possible to gleam if something is interesting and therefore worth buying to you if you can read a few issues of it; I know there are 3 to 6 page previews online and in Wizard sometimes; but really. Anyone could do this, if they didnt have an overwhelming urge to "need" it, or "have to have" it. Now, you live in Delaware, and I've been there, and I know you *could* go to Borders by the Christiana Mall and sit in the cafe and read 40+ titles and see what was *really* worth buying. Comic shops need support, but I'm sure they'd frown upon letting you read entire issues.

You can be content to be a sheep; I think theres lots of people who are sick of crap like this, like myself. And the old cliche of , well then dont buy it, isnt enough anymore- many readers have a staked interest and longtime personal investment in their passion for comics, characters, whatever. Publishers and editors should care about those readers more than the imaginary 'mainstream' public that automatically rushes into comic shops after seeing a crummy Hollywood adaption. So I'm going to bitch, and I'm going to point out logical means of NOT buying into the crossover for people who are unhappy about it. If someone wants to buy it, love it, and praise for it, I am seriously happy for them, and I support them.

Johnny Triangles

06-13-2005, 07:13 PM

You know, whether Marvel's reaches 150 dollars or DC's reaches 500 dollars once everything is said and done, if it's an enjoyable read all the way through, I say more power to whoever wants to buy all the stuff.

Mercury

06-13-2005, 07:15 PM

The thing thats the most obvious insult to intelligence is the fact that noone can even admit they're milking these crossovers for all they're worth; every editor and creator involved says, well, it opens so many new story ideas. This in an age where creators mention as a casual aside in interviews that they have to extend the storyarc of the moment into 4 parts rather than 3 so that a trade can be made, and that a 'complete' storyline can be created from it. Whats with all these 'events'? It's taken over comics storytelling, where every single issue had something meaningful and eventful. Where every single issue had its best in regards to content, creators, and so on, and such things were not saved for crossovers, mini-series, etc.

characters got married, died, new powers, etc. in random issues, or 'Giant-Size Avengers', 'Marvel Two In One Annual', and so forth-today, any of those things would need six issues, a mini-series, and so forth to tell. A press conference to announce a series of mini-series and 'long lasting changes to the Marvel Universe' and 'things will NEVER be the same'? i can't believe anybody takes this seriously.

Mercury

06-13-2005, 07:18 PM

"You know, whether Marvel's reaches 150 dollars or DC's reaches 500 dollars once everything is said and done, if it's an enjoyable read all the way through, I say more power to whoever wants to buy all the stuff."

Johnny, I say the same thing:

"If someone wants to buy it, love it, and praise for it, I am seriously happy for them, and I support them."

Even though I do think that supporting such projects is bad for comics in the long-run, in that it encourages future crossover events, more rising cover prices, etc., you shouldnt try to change someone's mind if this is what they like. ALL i'm trying to say is to people who have mixed feelings about it; hey, you should try reading an issue sometime and decide for yourself, and ignore the hype and extreme opinions of people for and against it.

Michael C Lorah

06-13-2005, 07:23 PM

I don't understand coming onto a thread dedicated to two specific crossovers to say you will not be buying them as if that somehow makes you intelligent. If you aren't buying them, why tell people who are? Seems stupid, is all.

Why post at all then? Saying that any of us will buy or not buy is purely self-indulgent. I fully admit that.

I see it as verbally stating what my buying dollars will be backing up this summer. Because on the 1% chance that these crossovers tank, I just want it to be known that it's MUCH easier to get my money by giving me an excellent series that I can read without needing to know a single thing about the neighboring books. When I pick up a title, I'm not doing so with the intention of picking up a universe.

sloria13

06-13-2005, 07:25 PM

Case in point why my wife groaned when I said I started collecting again... ah well.

Mercury

06-13-2005, 07:38 PM

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't understand coming onto a thread dedicated to two specific crossovers to say you will not be buying them as if that somehow makes you intelligent. If you aren't buying them, why tell people who are? Seems stupid, is all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This statement could be correct if this thread was simply a press release, or post on the fan's excitement of the said crossovers, but it is not. Its a thread about how much the said crossovers cost, and what goes into buying the crossover therefore making it a forum for either side to comment on. Again, someone who does not agree posts something about seeming intelligent, smarter than others, etc. etc. This happens alot, and I never get it; especially as noone has mentioned not buying this or that based on personal taste makes one smarter; using logic or facts is different from stating that you are smarter than others.

y2auld

06-13-2005, 07:38 PM

This article was not necessary because I already knew the actual cost of buying every tie-in of House of M and Infinite Crisis mini series. I already have my mind set on only buying the House of M mini and being very selective on the Infinite Crisis tie ins. I remember someone hyped that last week's Nightwing was a book that no one could miss because it had the Villains United tie in, but it turned out to be false when I actually read the book during my Wednesday lunch time visit to my LCS. The book that should have been hyped was the sell out JLA #115 which had the repercussions of Identity Crisis and ties into Infinite Crisis. I know that the orders for this book were the same as the rest of the JLAs and the Busiek Garney series turned out to be a bust. Caveat Emptor when it comes to these crossovers and tie ins.

y2auld

06-13-2005, 07:38 PM

Let the buyer beware.

Mercury

06-13-2005, 07:51 PM

This article was not necessary because I already knew the actual cost of buying every tie-in of House of M and Infinite Crisis mini series.
**************************************** *

I seriously, honestly, mean no disrespect, but re-read your above comment......

This article was not necessary to you perhaps, but obviously you aren't under the impression that this entire site is created soley for you? By that method of thinking, posting a review of JSA might be meaningless because you already read it. And so on.

"This article was not necessary because 'I' already knew"

Not everyone else does, however.

ninjai

06-13-2005, 08:05 PM

That's why I refuse to buy mainstream. They try to milk all our hardearned dollars for what? Some strange one shot crossovers, just so we can see Wolverine with boobs. No thanks, i'll stick to my monthlies that don't change art teams more often than a bag of candy at fat camp.

rodolfo leon

06-13-2005, 08:18 PM

Seven Soldiers will cost around $100 if you include the JLA:C arc.

:)

and i'm only hunting down the main Countdown minis, plus Donna Troy. and i will get the Prelude book, 'cause that's what it's for. for El Cheapo Bastardos that can't commit completely... like me! :D

and House of M? i will probably get the trade as soon as it comes out. i CANNOT read Bendis monthly, but i love his stuff when it's all collected.

;)

Tyler Smith

06-13-2005, 08:23 PM

God, am I ever glad I have absolutely no interest in reading either of these crossovers. And I clicked on the link because I was curious about how much they cost, for the record.

When it comes to superhero comics, I prefer relatively self-contained titles like Sleeper, Ex Machina, Ultimates, Gotham Central, etc. If there are people out there that enjoy being completists, or enjoy reading about a lot of convoluted cross-continuity, well, more power to 'em, I suppose...

Switch

06-13-2005, 08:30 PM

MurrayC That's fine if you live in the US. Try living in Canada and paying the CANADIAN cover price.
That's fine for the Canadians, but think of those in Australia. Just double the cover price and BAM!

Panhandling is a new lunch time sport.

Lord Ice

06-13-2005, 08:30 PM

Oh well, it's not like there is anything else I feel like spending money on. :) I was going to wait and get HoM in trades if the event turns out to be really good (very doubtful) and/or as important as they keep hyping it to be. I pretty much get all DCU titles, just add the minis and it's not so bad. (must keep telling myself that)

comicbookreader

06-13-2005, 08:40 PM

...of course, Matt's just talking about cover prices here in his article. These estimates don't take into account the gobs of money some people will waste on having their crossover titles slabbed for eternity with a CGC 9.8 grade. Talk about throwing your money away...

DeadshotFan

06-13-2005, 08:41 PM

As far as the big "Crossover Event" goes I am pretty much toast.
Enough has been said about all the previous ones so I will limit this to "House of M" and "Infinite Crisis."
House of M is a "reality bent" story designed to tie up the "loose ends" from "Avengers Disassembled." It is a lot like "Age of Apocalypse" in that it will give us a series of reimagined Marvel heroes for a brief amount of time until "reality" gets straightened out. Well for me these kinds of stories hold no appeal anymore. While the assigned creators will probably give us great books ultimately it's all much ado about nada. I would much rather have books firmly rooted in continuity with changes that stick (as much as any change can) and improved titles.
So that means "Infinite Crisis" is right up my alley, maybe. The stories will offer a net result that will last (as much as anything lasts) and give me familiar characters not seen in years. So okay DC will be getting the bulk of my $$$$$$.
But the big question, is either really worth the $$$$$$.
IMO, NO.
I used to love the annual JLA/JSA event. Even when the Annuals started crossing over I was okay. But when I look at these figures (which I hope to God my wife never sees) I realize I am stupid. I have only bought the 4 "crisis related" minis aside from usual stuff and the first House of M and I feel like an idiot. The same feeling you get when you think you are a winner at the fair walking around with a $75 stuffed animal.
People have screamed how this stuff almost killed comics for years yet they still work. Because we have an exploitable love for these characters that makes us rationalize this is money well spent.
The first step to recovery is admitting there is a problem.
What hurts is to read (even at a minimum) these stories it is going to cost more than a lot of major appliances, new tires for my car or a ton of things I probably should be buying.
I don't see how the fans on tight budgets do it.
Thanks for this article, I now feel like an addict.
My name is DeadshotFan, and I am a comic buyer.

Bedlam66

06-13-2005, 09:04 PM

Wow I'm getting both. Now I know how broke I'm going to be at the end of the year. It's ok though I already get all the book tieins already from both Companys. I norm avoid crossovers like the Plauge. but since I was already spending over 400-500 a month on Comics I decided to give these a shot, and boy am I glad I did.

HIPHOPJUNKIE

06-13-2005, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by Ragnarokker
Its amazing what we'll pay for a decent story. Goes to show you that comic book afficionados may as well be crack addicts.

Or we can compare ourselves to JUNKIEs....

I'm in The Crisis for the long haul, so is my wallet!

;)

jedifish

06-13-2005, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by New Alfonso
I feel sorry for anyone who feels the compulsion that they MUST buy every single book involve in either crossover. I wonder, back in the day did people seriously buy every single Infinity War tie-in book? Or every Final Night tie-in?

I just wonder if there really are people - people who don't already read pretty much everything from one of these two publishers - who are planning to try to buy everything listed here.

I've always bought all the tie-in issues, but back then I guess I was buying most of DC/Marvel titles anyway. I can afford to read all the pieces, so why not.

Michael P

06-13-2005, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by Regulator
Joe Quesada and Paul Levitz are swimming through vaults of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck There's an image that'll haunt my nightmares.

y2auld

06-13-2005, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by Mercury
This article was not necessary to you perhaps, but obviously you aren't under the impression that this entire site is created soley for you? By that method of thinking, posting a review of JSA might be meaningless because you already read it. And so on.

Not everyone else does, however.

What is your problem? Just because I do not think that this research is necessary does not mean that this entire site should be created soley for me. I guess you cannot take an opinion from a person who had already done his research and decided what to spend my money on before this article was posted. It would be very stupid for people to waste their money on crossovers and tie ins that have no relevance plotwise towards the actual mini series and future story arcs..

Starsky_Hutch76

06-13-2005, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by Fazhoul
I will be buying ALL of the DC books but I will pick and choose which of the House of M books that I want. I read so much more DC than Marvel that I won't have to pick up any ongoing titles that I don't usually get and I want to read all of the minis and specials.

I started to feel a little bit of self loathing there until someone mentioned the time frame of Identity Crisis. So far, I haven't been spending much more than I would since it's mostly been in books I;ve been reading anyway (except for the minis).

IronApollo

06-13-2005, 11:28 PM

Wait, didn't house of M have a list in the recent comics of all the issues? This includes Excalibur, Exiles, Wolverine, and the rest.

And also what about other DC titles tying in? JSA is a direct tie in, Superman has ties, Adventures has ties, and I'm sure there are others.

It seems that if you are being a true completist for these series, you'll have to buy pretty much every book from both companies.

Starsky_Hutch76

06-13-2005, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by IronApollo

It seems that if you are being a true completist for these series, you'll have to buy pretty much every book from both companies.

Sadly, that's what I did when Crisis of Infinite Earths came out way back when. I'm not sixteen anymore, though, and comics aren't the inexpensive impulse item they are anymore (which has taken a little bit of the giddy fun out of the hobby). That means I don't have the freedom to grab everything that has a "Crisis tie-in" banner on it this time.

I loved the term another poster said here, calling the Wonder Woman tie in a "red sky issue". That's basically what it was! THey would just throw in a red sky in what was basically just another wonder woman issue or other heroe's book) and called it a tie-in! "REd sky issues" were a lot more fun when the issue was just an extra 75 cents. I don't want to take that kind of chance now.

Bat_Rastard

06-14-2005, 12:14 AM

I'm not sure what the point of that article was. If it was to deter spending that much on comics, well it was a weak argument. I don't smoke, but know people who will drop way more than the totals for House of M and Crisis combined for that weekly dose of nicotine. Also, it's still more of a bargain than dinner and a movie or a night out with the guys/girls/whatever and I have something I enjoy to show for it. In short there are far worse things I could waste money on, and to be quite honest I have definitely been getting my money's worth out of Marvel and DC this past year. I love it when they hate each other! It gives us as fans the best possible entertainment.

-Rat_Bastard

Mister

06-14-2005, 12:56 AM

Flipping through it all in stores, didn't buy a thing and don't intend to, at least not in cheap magazine form; I didn't like too much DC's stuff, as for Marvel main M event, I'll wait for the hardcover, whenever; if it really is any good it will get one, and if not it wont

more ridiculous would be to pay twice for the same work, I'll wait

These days I seriously cut down on cheap comic magazines except for an occasional Captain America and a few other stuff, new stuff like Iron Ghost, it has to be extremely good, and basically I go out to comic shops only when major hardcover releases or very specific trades where I don't expect HC, come out

Next Week, Sub-Mariner golden age Marvel Masterworks, without that book I wouldn't even bother, I need some big releases to get me going

Twigglet

06-14-2005, 02:47 AM

That is a hell of a lot of money, I was really goona try and buy a lot of the HOM tie ins as well, I suppose if you take of the $3 x 8 for the variants, it brings it down a bit, but still thats a hell of a lot of money, I'm interested in the story, so I'll get a lot of the issues probably, but no way am I spending tha much.

khuxford

06-14-2005, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by johnlayman
This is shoddy journalism, Matt.

You forgot to double the price of the Fantastic Four House of M mini. It's gonna be so awesome everyone is gonna want to buy two!

Ha...funny...but if you wanted to be serious...he's smoking something if he thinks people can buy all of the variant covers at cover price. The reprints? Sure...but most...if not all...comic shops are charging OVER cover price for Variants (such as the Quesada alternate cover to House of M #1) to compensate for having to over order the issue due to the distribution ratio of the variant cover.

khuxford

06-14-2005, 04:21 AM

Originally posted by y2auld
What is your problem? Just because I do not think that this research is necessary does not mean that this entire site should be created soley for me. I guess you cannot take an opinion from a person who had already done his research and decided what to spend my money on before this article was posted. It would be very stupid for people to waste their money on crossovers and tie ins that have no relevance plotwise towards the actual mini series and future story arcs..

While you may take issue with the insignificant amount of bile the poster spewed your way, you have gone great lengths to prove his point: in this answer, you're still behaving self-centered.

YOU already did the research. Hooray for you. Others who didn't may have found the article interesting. Why not just post a self-agrandizing "heh...I already did all this research weeks before you, Matt...beat ya!"?

That way, everyone can be happy...you can still make it all about you while, at the same time, not belittling others who may have found this posted research worthwhile. ;)

Goldenboy

06-14-2005, 06:33 AM

I'm ONLY getting House of M as a series. I'll get certain story tie-ins as a trade.

tyopot

06-14-2005, 06:39 AM

it`s really about the money.all about the money.

y2auld

06-14-2005, 07:03 AM

Originally posted by khuxford
While you may take issue with the insignificant amount of bile the poster spewed your way, you have gone great lengths to prove his point: in this answer, you're still behaving self-centered.

YOU already did the research. Hooray for you. Others who didn't may have found the article interesting. Why not just post a self-agrandizing "heh...I already did all this research weeks before you, Matt...beat ya!"?

That way, everyone can be happy...you can still make it all about you while, at the same time, not belittling others who may have found this posted research worthwhile. ;)

What about the other people who post that they are not going to buy the mini series and tie ins and wait for the trade paperbacks? Or the ones who wanted to buy the entire series? They would have to be self-centered also because one group does not contribute to the actual sales of the mini series and tie ins to support these companies and creative teams while the others want to spend all their cash to complete the entire run as a Infinite Crisis and House of M completist. Just because I get Previews every month and read the solicitations and go to my LCS every week to check the material does not me self centered when I post that this article was unnecessary to me because I did the research already. The problem with most posters is that they do not want to take the effort and time to check the information themselves and rely on articles from websites that goes into the subject of you must pay X dollars in order to complete the entire run of A and B mini series. And by you and Mercury posting that I am self-centered has proven that both of you are a bunch of trolls who cannot take an opinion from a person who already did the research.

Allen Smith

06-14-2005, 07:53 AM

I'll grant you these crossovers are costly, but no one is forcing you to get the whole thing. Just be careful, skim the reviews, and pick and choose which tie-in books are worth it. It just ain't possible to get everything.

Inanimate

06-14-2005, 08:17 AM

Interesting numbers, but what I'd be more interested in seeing is a breakdown showing things like total number of issues, how long both series will run, how many issues per month (or for each month) and Costs on a per month basis. I think that would better show the "Value" of the various crossovers.

Ultimately though I choose to follow the DC crossover without looking at the cost, (over House of M) for one reason. DC is taking it's large and diverse cast of characters and settings and interlocking them together to tell one big story.

Whereas Marvel is taking one big story and injecting it into it's large and diverse cast of characters

The Creeper

06-14-2005, 09:17 AM

..........ouch.............

Peter David

06-14-2005, 10:47 AM

Suddenly the extra dollar fans are being asked to spend on the relaunched "Falllen Angel" in December doesn't seem so bad.

PAD

Michael P

06-14-2005, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by Peter David
Suddenly the extra dollar fans are being asked to spend on the relaunched "Falllen Angel" in December doesn't seem so bad.

PAD Sure, you tell us that now, but just wait until Gil Grissom rides into Bete Noir in the front cab of Optimus Prime...

Peter David

06-14-2005, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by Michael P
Sure, you tell us that now, but just wait until Gil Grissom rides into Bete Noir in the front cab of Optimus Prime...

Well, there goes the shock reveal for the end of issue #1. Back to the drawing board.

PAD

crazyhorse01

06-14-2005, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by The Creeper
..........ouch.............

Creeper, are you trying to use your sig to induce a seizure or something?

roblewmac

06-14-2005, 01:06 PM

1. It's easy to get me to buy crossovers I even WANT to like them but it's like anything else you have to convince me. I'm not going to buy anything just becuse i'm a "Marvel fan buying Marvel is what I DO." Nothing is a sure sale with me and I read enough disasembled to think House of M garbage built on garbage. I really don't care what Iron man is like on earth-magneto. Without jumping through way too many hoops there should not BE an iron man on Earth-magneto.
2 i'm not as hostile to countdown but nobody shown me why I MUST READ IT

khuxford

06-14-2005, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by y2auld
What about the other people who post that they are not going to buy the mini series and tie ins and wait for the trade paperbacks? Or the ones who wanted to buy the entire series?

They weren't questioning the necessity of the post because it didn't appeal to them. Give it up, please.

David Vega

06-14-2005, 02:01 PM

I buy primarily Vertigo and Wildstorm books, so I'm not effected by this stuff at all!:D

The last crossover I got involved with was Crisis, and I found that to be annoying. I've left the Marvel and DCU behind, without looking back and don't regret it at all.

King Jimmy

06-14-2005, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by BlueThunderArmy
Wish I had a brother... Granted, but he's your evil twin who kidnaps you and takes y...

what?....

wrong thread?....

um... nevermind.:o

StevieCool

06-14-2005, 02:49 PM

Awesome article.

Curious to know who actually is buying what. Will there be a poll?

I buy a lot more Marvel than DC, but House of M is a revamped Secret Wars II. Let's be honest. It is.

SW II: Wishes are granted
HOM: Dream life becomes reality

SW II: Heroes will die.
HOM: Ditto

SW II: Effects continuity outside miniseries.
HOM: Ditto. Effects continued in Avengers, New Mutants. All but forgotten now, of course

But again, I was eating my words with Young Avengers, so maybe Bald Aborigine Hulk will win me over.

HowAreWeToLive

06-15-2005, 12:52 AM

Are you a DC and Marvel fan? Expect to spend between $357.27 and $618.76.

When asked to comment on this story Monday morning, “Access Q. Amalgam” Talk@Newsarama’s resident (though quite rare) fan of all things both Marvel and DC equally, said, “Oh @#$%&!, I wonder if Home Depot is hiring part-time..?” [/B][/QUOTE]

That's it, I'm out. As much as I'd love to read all of this, I'm trimming down. I'm only going to read:

The OMAC Project
Batman (until at least #641 - we'll see how the story progresses from there)
Nightwing (I want to see how he plays a role)
Villains United
JLA: Crisis of Conscience
(sad, I wish I could afford Day of Vengeance, too, because it really is fun).

and only the main mini-series of House of M.

For those that care, I just put up auctions on eBay of what I was reading. Enter "Infinite Crisis Tie-Ins" and "Excalibur 14 House of M 1 Variant."

lex luthor

06-16-2005, 05:02 AM

If the completist in you must purchase every issue of every crossover then I say wait for the issues to be sent to the graveyard of all comics, the quarter bin. That is how I was able to read most of Millenium (remember that one) and its related tie ins. It takes a few months after the fact, but its worth it.

If I did actually plan to buy all of these issues I would not purchase them at my lcs. A 10 % - 15 % discount on new books isn't enough of an incentive, for me, to buy each issue. A potential $50 savings on $500 of product still feels like a rip-off to me.

some_bloke

06-16-2005, 04:03 PM

Could we see a comparison with older events?

How much did it cost to be a completist on:

The original Crisis
Age of Apocalypse
Secret Wars 2
Atlantis Attacks
Knightfall-Knightquest-Knightsend
Worlds At War

Jason Fliegel

06-16-2005, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by Ragnarokker
Its amazing what we'll pay for a decent story.

That's true, but this was an article on how much you'd have to pay for House of M and Countdown to Infinite Crisis.

DrTzinTzin

06-19-2005, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Jason Fliegel
That's true, but this was an article on how much you'd have to pay for House of M and Countdown to Infinite Crisis.

BOOOM!!!!! Jason...vicious. I love it.

tyopot

06-21-2005, 06:34 AM

i hate crossovers ! they`re just a way for you to buy more comics . that sucks !