MARVEL CANCELS GUN THEORY

**MattBrady** · 11-26-2003, 05:17 PM

In its regular e-mailer, Diamond has informed retailers that the final issues of the Marvel/Epic miniseries, Gun Theory #3 and #4 by Daniel Way and Jon Proctor, have been cancelled.

Gun Theory was the only creator-owned property to be published by Marvel's most recent incarnation of the Epic imprint.

OM · 11-26-2003, 05:29 PM

...And yet another nail in the Epic coffin.

Justice · 11-26-2003, 05:30 PM

Ok. That's just really wrong. I mean, if it was losing money, I suppose they don't have much of a choice...but letting someone publish two issues and letting readers read them both and not round out the story...

Its not the first time its happened, but it always stinks when it does.

cyclopsfan · 11-26-2003, 05:32 PM

Wow! I am really shocked at this one. There wil be no way i will buy the epic anthology now... Why bother even considering that a second volume will come out? Most of the time i am pro-marvel, but i can't really defend this low class move.

shakey · 11-26-2003, 06:31 PM

But it's lousy to anounce this the week after #2 came out.

Figures. GUN THEORY was smart ,adult , crime fiction.

Outside of Daredevil, name another Marvel book that fits that criteria?

majorjoe23 · 11-26-2003, 06:43 PM

This was creator owned, right? Maybe Image will pick up a second Epic castaway.

Ryan · 11-26-2003, 06:43 PM

WOW, why doesn't Marvel just say that EPIC is finished? It makes me wonder who is making some of these decisions (i.e. Buckley). Marvel made a commitment to these creators and the least they could have done was honor them. Here's hoping brighter times lay ahead for Marvel.

ENNIS ELLIS · 11-26-2003, 06:54 PM

For **** sake!!!

I'll just quickly add that I thought the first 2 issues were superb, but quite frankly those first 3 words are all I really want to say about this...

...Other than what the **** are Marvel playing at the moment. Cancellations galore with little or no explanation as to why. And cancelling a mini-series mid storyline is just really low.

Stupid.

Frans Blix · 11-26-2003, 07:04 PM

Holy Sonic Disruptors, Batman!

Dave Accampo · 11-26-2003, 07:16 PM

I've been observing these quick cutbacks from Marvel, and I really haven't judged them too harshly, as they seemed like normal business decisions that happen when a company becomes more conservative. But this one...this one just bothers me on too many levels. As another poster pointed out, this is not the first time the plug has been pulled before a series has seen completion, but...damn, unless they suddenly announce they're going to re-release the whole thing as a graphic novel and allow readers to trade in our first two issues...well, this move just leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.

And you know, this might not sting so much in an ongoing, open-ended series, but the nature of the finite miniseries is to have a clear beginning, middle, and end over the span of its run. So this just feels like a great movie that suddenly stops mid-reel because the production company ran out of money, but thought we'd "like to see how it started, anyway..."

KACH · 11-26-2003, 07:17 PM

Aren't all of you whiners glad Jemas is gone now?

Look how well things are turning out . . .

--J.

Scooby2099 · 11-26-2003, 07:32 PM

Kach wrote:

Quote:

Aren't all of you whiners glad Jemas is gone now? Look how well things are turning out . . .

Hardly... Things don't seem all that bad so far. Epic was by no means some smash success out of the gate and the same goes for the Tsunami titles -- but I can feel some sympathy for those who likes these lines because everyone at one time or another has had a favorite title cancelled.

NotAnIssue · 11-26-2003, 07:33 PM

I too generally agree with Marvel's moves, but this is just stupid, wrong and stupid.

Again, I won't wish harm to Buckley, because that would be wrong, and I've been yelled at for doing that already, but I won't wish good on him either.

Issue #1 of Gun Theory was cool. Then 2 years later, issue 2 was cool.

I hope this gets rereleased by another company.

Fuck the Buck(ley). Can we make that a new war cry for stupid Marvel moves?

strathcona · 11-26-2003, 07:37 PM

I trust everyone is going to be buying a copy (or multiple copies) of Phantom Jack when it's released by Image, just to show Marvel how stupid they're being about the whole Epic thing.

Tom Daylight · 11-26-2003, 07:42 PM

People keep coming down on Buckley, when for all we know it's Gui Karyo (and probably is), or, heck, even Joe Quesada making these unpopular decisions...

Dan20 · 11-26-2003, 07:48 PM

Ok, this is ridiculous. First 411, now this.
How is Marvel intending to build consumer confidence in any miniseries that doesn't feature Wolverine?
Would publishing an extra 2 issues really cost Marvel that much more? Couldn't they think of a better alternative than just cancelling it outright? Like raising the price, or combining the last 2 issues into one? Anything, to allow people to at least finish the story they started to read.

arthur pendragon · 11-26-2003, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan20
Ok, this is ridiculous. First 411, now this.
How is Marvel intending to build consumer confidence in any miniseries that doesn't feature Wolverine?
Would publishing an extra 2 issues really cost Marvel that much more? Couldn't they think of a better alternative than just cancelling it outright? Like raising the price, or combining the last 2 issues into one? Anything, to allow people to at least finish the story they started to read.

Look, Marvel is only sitting on 200+ million dollars in cash. They just can't afford to indulge the readers of the first two issues by seeing this book through to its completion.

TemporalFlux · 11-26-2003, 08:08 PM

While echoing other sentiments, I do have something to add. Marvel does realize it has been drowning in horribly bad press since July (Fantastic Four debacle/San Diego)? When do they plan to start turning this around? It's going on 5 months.

Kerouac · 11-26-2003, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Gun Theory was the only creator-owned property to be published by Marvel's most recent incarnation of the Epic imprint.

Well, at least this portion of the release suggests that it could be picked up by another company (i.e., Image), so I guess there's a decent chance that I'll get to finish the story.

I must say though, I've basically agreed with a good portion of the new regime's decisions so far. Epic was not off to a dazzling start, by anyone's measurement and the Tsunami books were clearly performing below expectations, but to cancel a mini-series half through is just low. I mean, c'mon, I thought Buckley was the guy who said that Marvel's "anti-fan policies" were over...

Matt

G Dog · 11-26-2003, 08:39 PM

This is such absolute fucking horse shit.

Fuck you, Marvel.

Rich Johnston · 11-26-2003, 08:40 PM

Was it creator-owned? The indicia would imply otherwise...

IS this the first time Marvel has cancelled a miniseries in mid publication? Any precedents anyone?

EDIT: 411, of course. Say, wasn't issue 3 meant to be included in the TPB? Except there's been no TPB...

arthur pendragon · 11-26-2003, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich Johnston
Was it creator-owned? The indicia would imply otherwise...

IS this the first time Marvel has cancelled a miniseries in mid publication? Any precedents anyone?

The aforementioned 411 qualifies.

arthur pendragon · 11-26-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich Johnston

EDIT: 411, of course. Say, wasn't issue 3 meant to be included in the TPB? Except there's been no TPB...

The public's response to that book reminds me of a paraphrase of The Prisoner opening.

"We don't want information. Information. Information."

ReaperFett · 11-26-2003, 09:11 PM

Grr....

Sean Walsh · 11-26-2003, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frans Blix
Holy Sonic Disruptors, Batman!

Oh. this one just puts SONIC DISRUPTORS to SHAME.

At least SD lasted several issues, and *almost* until the end...