MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAUNCHES IN MAY

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Because you demanded it! Retailers and fans have demanded that Marvel bring some of the most timeless, enduring novels to life in comic book form and we’re happy to oblige with Marvel Illustrated, the House of Idea’s new line featuring the best of classic literature as adapted by industry legend Roy Thomas & a slew of talented artists. Over the summer, fans of all ages will be able to thrill to such tales as The Last Of The Mohicans, Treasure Island, Man In The Iron Mask and more, as Marvel provides the most in depth graphic literature adaptations of these stories to date. Adapted in six full length issues, each limited series re-telling of these renowned tales will stay true to the source material while presenting each story in our unique mighty Marvel style.

Beginning with May’s Marvel Illustrated: The Last Of The Mohicans, featuring the lush art of Marvel newcomer Steve Kurth and Denis Medri, James Fennimore Cooper’s 1826 novel is considered by many to be one of the great American novels. Exploring one of the most crucial periods in United States history, The Last Of The Mohicans explores the tensions between British colonists and the dwindling Native American population, all in the wild wilderness of the “New World.” Each issue will also feature special backup tales about series protagonist Hawkeye, an American who remains the mold for the definition of the word “hero.”

June sees the release of Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island, with art by Mario Gully, featuring Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of high-adventure on the great seas and buried treasure. Pirate Billy Bones hid his treasure with a man whose time has passed and now that man’s young son, Jim Hawkins, is the sole protector of the fortune. Unfortunately for Jim, Bones’ pirate crew wants the treasure for themselves and they’ll go through the young boy to get it! Don’t miss out on the series that first taught us that X marks the spot, that treasure is buries on tropical islands and showed us why we need talking parrots on our shoulders!

In July, Marvel Illustrated: The Man In The Iron Mask makes its debut, adapting the classic story by noted French author Alexander Dumas with art by Hugo Petrus! Continuing the adventures of the Three Musketeers, while also telling a stand alone story, The Man In The Iron Mask has been considered a seminal adventure tale since its publication in 1847 and features political nuances that still resonate to this day. King Louis XIV rules France, dragging the once great nation down in a quest to satisfy his own avarice. The best hope for France lies inside the prison known as the Bastille, where prisoner number 12 lies with an iron mask covering his face…for he is Philippe, twin brother of Louis! Imprisoned by his own brother to prevent Phillipe from vying for the throne, the would-be-heir dreams of the day when he can restore dignity to the French monarchy and if a band of rogue heroes have their way, that day will come sooner than later!



So this summer, when you’re looking for a story to transport you to a different world, look no further than Marvel Illustrated, home to some of the greatest stories ever!


MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: LAST OF THE MOHICANS #1 (of 6) (MAR072062)
Based on the Novel by JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
Adapted by ROY THOMAS
Pencils by STEVEN KURTH & DENIS MEDRI
Cover by JO CHEN
PARENTAL ADVISORY …$2.99
On Sale- 5/2/07

MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: TREASURE ISLAND #1 (of 6) (APR072276)
Adaptation by ROY THOMAS (BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON)
Penciled by MARIO GULLY
Cover by GREG HILDEBRANDT
Rated T+ …$2.99
FOC-5/24/07, On Sale- 6/13/07

MARVEL ILLUSTRATED: THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK #1 (of 6) (MAY072089)
Written by ROY THOMAS (BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ALEXANDER DUMAS)
Penciled by HUGO PETRUS
Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Rated T+…$2.99
FOC-6/21/07, On Sale- 7/11/07

[von Doom, M.D.]

Because you demanded it! Retailers and fans have demanded that Marvel bring some of the most timeless, enduring novels to life in comic book form

...we have?

[RDuarte]

Originally Posted by von Doom, M.D.

...we have?

I've always wanted something like this.

I remember reading a George Perez interview a while back, where he said his dream project would be to write (based on the original story) and draw the Illiad and Odyssey. He said it would take as many books as the story dictated.

George Perez drawing Homer's epics? I was sold sight unseen. If Marvel can get a fraction of that promised goodness, then this should be something worth checking out and supporting.

[JoeGKushner]

They should just make 'em grahpic novels from the get go and forget the individual numbering systems.

[Kevllar]

Originally Posted by JoeGKushner

They should just make 'em grahpic novels from the get go and forget the individual numbering systems.

I'm with you. Graphic Novel (collected) versions would seem to make more sense. I will be getting these books because I love the original Literature they are based on. I think it may be harder to focus on the these stories month to month than it would be getting them all at once. I guess I will have to collect them all then read. I hope these books do well for Marvel and I am eagerly awaiting their release.

[LaughingJak]

Yeah - the money here for marvel is gonna come from TPBs. No question. I really hope these do the originals justice!

[steven_eks]

List of demands:

1. Two hot college co-eds; one blond, the other brunette.
2. 14 Bags of delicious Buffalo Ranch Doritos.
3. A job writing a comic book--preferably @ Dark Horse or Image (I'm not greedy.)
4. More time to play with my daughter.
5. A pair of working x-ray sunglasses
6. One of "those" cable boxes.
7. A complete Mazinger Z DVD collection with a "good" English dub.
8. To be transmogrified into an Autobot.
9. A job writing a comic book--preferably @ DC or Marvel (Okay, I lied--I am greedy.)
10. Peace on Earth, good will towards man.

NOPE, not once did I demand the necessity for Marvel Illustrated.

Steve

[Gordon McAlpin]

Originally Posted by RDuarte

George Perez drawing Homer's epics? I was sold sight unseen. If Marvel can get a fraction of that promised goodness, then this should be something worth checking out and supporting.

Eric Shanower's already doing it marvelously, but yeah, I'd love to see George Pérez's take, too.

The problem I've had with shorter adaptations like Classics Illustrated is that they are just too cursory to get you to care about the characters at all. These 6-part minis should work out to about 132 pages (or one good-sized TPB, obviously), which seems like a much, much better length. If the interior art is half as good as those covers, we're in for a treat. Please don't make them look like super-heroes, Marvel... Please don't make them look like super-heroes...

[rroch]

I preordered the first two number one issues, but then I cancelled my order. I will buy the trade, if Marvel will collect the issues in book form, and I would prefer these in a HC edition like New Avengers and Ms. Marvel etc.

[biscuit022]

Don't know if I demanded it, but I'll be getting the collected editions of these books. I might buy the Last of the Mohicans as it comes out but the others I can wait for. I hope these books are successful - it's always fun to read a Roy Thomas comic, even if he's just adapting other people's stories.

[thefourthman]

Originally Posted by rroch

I preordered the first two number one issues, but then I cancelled my order. I will buy the trade, if Marvel will collect the issues in book form, and I would prefer these in a HC edition like New Avengers and Ms. Marvel etc.

This is my new favorite rant. If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry. I'm not saying buy everything in single issue format... all I'm saying is stop expecting the trade, because as long as the majority of you keep thinking that way, the more often you will be disappointed in the end. Ask all the Planetary Addicts how they feel having to wait three years on a new trade and having no clue when it will come out. Do you ever think there will be an All Star Batman and Robin Trade (in our lifetime)? If you want to see books continue to come out, at some point you will have to buy the single issues.

[Michael Bunge]

What does it say about Marvel's super-hero comics and the people who read them, that they turn to Roy Thomas for a project like this? And I suppose you could ask the same thing about PAD getting the Dark Tower job. Apparently, when Marvel wants to produce something to appeal to mainstream, normal readers..guys like PAD and RT have got the chops.

Mike

[Dave41Fan]

I love how they completely overlook the fact that Marvel Illustrated: The Jungle Book is already on the shelves, selling like... the opposite of hotcakes. Which I'm sure would be something cold and not delicious. Fishheads?

"The Marvel Illustrated line is already selling like chilled fishheads!"
Yeah, that's a tagline to sell your product by.

Craig

[rroch]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

This is my new favorite rant. If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry. I'm not saying buy everything in single issue format... all I'm saying is stop expecting the trade, because as long as the majority of you keep thinking that way, the more often you will be disappointed in the end. Ask all the Planetary Addicts how they feel having to wait three years on a new trade and having no clue when it will come out. Do you ever think there will be an All Star Batman and Robin Trade (in our lifetime)? If you want to see books continue to come out, at some point you will have to buy the single issues.

I don't support single issues any longer, because the ads are really an annoyance and I don't understand a heavy price tag of 2.99 for a standard issue, because the sales of advertising space should pay for the whole copy. Our Marvel issues in Germany have nearly no ads with a page count of 52 issues presenting two American issues for 4,50 US $ (3,95 Euro). The other aspect for no longer buying single issues is the quality of the product, new issues are wavy because the printer's ink and paper don't match. So I prefer trades.

[Darth_Barf]

If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry.

Floppies make no sense from a reader's perspective in this day and age. The reason the format still exists is:

1. To pay slow and/or lazy creators something before they have finished the work.
2. To prop up the ailing direct market with a virtually exclusive product line than no major retailer is interested in carrying anymore.
3. To allow publishers to double dip by having impatient consumers purchase the material more than once.

Note that readers aren't anywhere on that list. The *only* readers floppies help are those on a shoestring budget who can't afford to buy the whole story at once and essentially put it on lay-a-way using the serialization model, and the nostalgic fan who insist on reading his comics they way his grandfather did, progress and reason be damned.

Me? I'll be...you guessed it...

Waiting for the trade (actually the hardcover, but that's a different rant) on all of these.

[nightwingoracle]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

This is my new favorite rant. If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry. I'm not saying buy everything in single issue format... all I'm saying is stop expecting the trade, because as long as the majority of you keep thinking that way, the more often you will be disappointed in the end. Ask all the Planetary Addicts how they feel having to wait three years on a new trade and having no clue when it will come out. Do you ever think there will be an All Star Batman and Robin Trade (in our lifetime)? If you want to see books continue to come out, at some point you will have to buy the single issues.

For more, it really depends on the story as to if I want to buy the comic monthly or wait for the trade.

I buy most mainstream superhero comics monthly, because that's the way I enjoy them. But I prefer to buy FABLES, Y THE LAST MAN, JACK OF FABLES, FALLEN ANGEL and 100 BULLETS (among others) in trade only, because that's a more enjoyable read for me.

And since I don't buy many Marvel comics (I don't have anything against Marvel, they just don't publish alot of what I enjoy), I tend to get trades on those I do - EXILES and ASTONISHING X-MEN.

As for the Marvel Illustrated - these would work better as graphic novels then as single issues of a mini-series.

Either way, while I applaud Marvel for attempting this, I have serious doubts that the concept will still be published regularly one year from now.

and why is it that it's the same stories that are adapted anytime someone tries a Classics Illustrated book?

Why not do some more contemporary classics - 1984; Farenheit 451; DaVinci Code; etc.... I understand that the older books are classics for a reason...but it becomes cliched after a while.

[thefourthman]

Originally Posted by nightwingoracle

For more, it really depends on the story as to if I want to buy the comic monthly or wait for the trade.

I buy most mainstream superhero comics monthly, because that's the way I enjoy them. But I prefer to buy FABLES, Y THE LAST MAN, JACK OF FABLES, FALLEN ANGEL and 100 BULLETS (among others) in trade only, because that's a more enjoyable read for me.

And since I don't buy many Marvel comics (I don't have anything against Marvel, they just don't publish alot of what I enjoy), I tend to get trades on those I do - EXILES and ASTONISHING X-MEN.

As for the Marvel Illustrated - these would work better as graphic novels then as single issues of a mini-series.

Awesome, you get the point, buy the ones you have to have and feel free to wait on the successful ones, and the ones that fall into a try catergory are always the ones at risk.

[BryanS7]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

This is my new favorite rant. If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry. I'm not saying buy everything in single issue format... all I'm saying is stop expecting the trade, because as long as the majority of you keep thinking that way, the more often you will be disappointed in the end. Ask all the Planetary Addicts how they feel having to wait three years on a new trade and having no clue when it will come out. Do you ever think there will be an All Star Batman and Robin Trade (in our lifetime)? If you want to see books continue to come out, at some point you will have to buy the single issues.

I agree with everything you've stated, but in this one instance I think it might be more warrented to wait for a trade. These Marvel Illustrated books are just SCREAMING to be collected and kept in print for years, much like the classics they're based on. IF that will happen is another story. Is it because of advertising revenue that the single issues generate more money? In my gut I figure thats what it is, but I don't actually know.

While I know Marvel wouldn't do these if they didn't think there was some money in it, its still cool to see these older stories getting adapted for a new generation. Kudos to them and I hope it works out. If these mini's do well, an ongoing might even be possible, based on a longer running character like Tarzan or Sherlock Holmes.

[CitC]

They should just make 'em grahpic novels from the get go and forget the individual numbering systems.

I prefer trades, but I rarely can wait, so I buy single issues. However, I wrould have prefered that these be single collected books. Schools and libraries are not going to want to buy singles and if it doesn't sell in the original format and gets cancelled = no collection.

I would like to see these (previews coming?). I think it is a great idea that one of the main 4 companies is giving this a try. The Jungle Book had a favourable review on my site (not from me - haven't seen it).

[skeletorjr]

Originally Posted by Darth_Barf

Floppies make no sense from a reader's perspective in this day and age. The reason the format still exists is:

1. To pay slow and/or lazy creators something before they have finished the work.
2. To prop up the ailing direct market with a virtually exclusive product line than no major retailer is interested in carrying anymore.
3. To allow publishers to double dip by having impatient consumers purchase the material more than once.

Note that readers aren't anywhere on that list. The *only* readers floppies help are those on a shoestring budget who can't afford to buy the whole story at once and essentially put it on lay-a-way using the serialization model, and the nostalgic fan who insist on reading his comics they way his grandfather did, progress and reason be damned.

Me? I'll be...you guessed it...

Waiting for the trade (actually the hardcover, but that's a different rant) on all of these.

Okay, maybe at 35 I'm just too old, but what are floppies? Are you talking about comic books?

[thefourthman]

Originally Posted by Darth_Barf

Floppies make no sense from a reader's perspective in this day and age. The reason the format still exists is:

1. To pay slow and/or lazy creators something before they have finished the work.
2. To prop up the ailing direct market with a virtually exclusive product line than no major retailer is interested in carrying anymore.
3. To allow publishers to double dip by having impatient consumers purchase the material more than once.

Note that readers aren't anywhere on that list. The *only* readers floppies help are those on a shoestring budget who can't afford to buy the whole story at once and essentially put it on lay-a-way using the serialization model, and the nostalgic fan who insist on reading his comics they way his grandfather did, progress and reason be damned.

Me? I'll be...you guessed it...

Waiting for the trade (actually the hardcover, but that's a different rant) on all of these.

If the direct market is ailing and no one else wants to carry the product, Why are Barnes and Noble & Wal-Mart working on getting into the single issue market for the first time in fifteen plus years?
Trades are an ever growing part of the market and for simple readers its great, but check out ebay some day, it was impatiant people who paid $100 a copy for Cap #25, every retailer in the country had a shot at getting more. You think Barnes and Noble was happy about missing out on that band wagon?
The "floppies" are the bread and butter of the industry. Without those people on shoestring budgets and kids... comics wouldn't exist. If New Avengers falls to the dreaded 10,000 readership level, it will be cancelled and you will no longer have the product. It is a much smaller risk to try something in a monthly format and have it fail then to release a hardcover and have it fail.
And just so you know, those "lazy" creators who are getting paid? They get more money from the trade then they do for the single issues, because if and when a product makes it to trade, it has established itself as a sellable product. Oh yeah, and laziness really sets in when you write to the trade, nice tidy six issue arcs.
So progess and reason be damned. Where would the industry be with out the serial?

[rroch]

Well, it doesn't matter for me if New Avengers is cancelled or not, because I can't stand those psychobabble issues by Bendis, I have been collecting comic books for 35 years and the actual Marvel Universe has no interest for me at all, a friend of mine buys all Marvel and DC monthly issues and I get to read some of that stuff, so I know what is going on, but I don't like those stories.

[Not From Around]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

This is my new favorite rant. If you all continue to wait for trades, there will be no trades. You all want to read them on the internet and in nice handy dandy trade volumes, but with the occasional exception like Pride of Baghdad from last year, trade sells can not sustain the industry. The money still comes in from monthly sales of SINGLE issues. The more you guys move from that format, the more you hurt the future of the industry. I'm not saying buy everything in single issue format... all I'm saying is stop expecting the trade, because as long as the majority of you keep thinking that way, the more often you will be disappointed in the end. Ask all the Planetary Addicts how they feel having to wait three years on a new trade and having no clue when it will come out. Do you ever think there will be an All Star Batman and Robin Trade (in our lifetime)? If you want to see books continue to come out, at some point you will have to buy the single issues.

I buy for a library, so I have to buy trades. Trades are books, and can be cataloged, shelved, and circulated as such. I doubt that single issues will go away any time soon, and I really don't want to see that happen. But I don't blame people who only read trades for liking that format.

It sounds like an interesting set of series. I'd expect Roy Thomas to do a good job of adapting these.

[Kolimar]

Interesting. Certainly worth checking it out but I'm not exactly wild about it from a personal pov. I already own the novels, I've read them several times over the years and I love them. Buying a comic book version of something I already own is not exactly a priority, particularly considering prices and that there's a lot of other stuff I could buy. That said, I think it's very good decision for Marvel to offer these stories. I sincerely hope they succeed with this line. And it's great to see Roy working for Marvel again. Perhaps this will open the door for more work with Marvel characters in the future.

[arthurw]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

If the direct market is ailing and no one else wants to carry the product, Why are Barnes and Noble & Wal-Mart working on getting into the single issue market for the first time in fifteen plus years?
Trades are an ever growing part of the market and for simple readers its great, but check out ebay some day, it was impatiant people who paid $100 a copy for Cap #25, every retailer in the country had a shot at getting more. You think Barnes and Noble was happy about missing out on that band wagon?
The "floppies" are the bread and butter of the industry. Without those people on shoestring budgets and kids... comics wouldn't exist. If New Avengers falls to the dreaded 10,000 readership level, it will be cancelled and you will no longer have the product. It is a much smaller risk to try something in a monthly format and have it fail then to release a hardcover and have it fail.
And just so you know, those "lazy" creators who are getting paid? They get more money from the trade then they do for the single issues, because if and when a product makes it to trade, it has established itself as a sellable product. Oh yeah, and laziness really sets in when you write to the trade, nice tidy six issue arcs.
So progess and reason be damned. Where would the industry be with out the serial?

While i don't have an issue with people who like and want to keep buying their single issues, i find it ridiculous that single buyers have to tell TP buyers to buy singles otherwise the industry is gone. Why should I as a consumer adjust my buying habits to support an industry that does not cater to my needs? I'm not trying to sound selfish but what other industry tells their consumers "you have to buy our stuff in this format and in this way otherwise we'll go out of business" Sorry i'll either not buy or go somewhere else. If the industry does go away, well i'm sorry to hear that but thats the way business works. There's a reason the TP/HC market grew so large the past decade or so. Readers preferred and liked that format and publishers responded accordingly.

Its really quite basic business 101. If a company or industry cannot meet consumers needs and wants, then they either have to evolve to do so or cease to exist. Asking the consumer to adjust their buying habits to prop up an industry or any kind of business is ridiculous. I don't have an answer to the ails of the industry but its the industry's job to look at their current business models and see what can they do to meet the needs of the consumer. If there are ways to grow the industry and have things co-exist great but please don't tell me i should buy one thing over another in order to support something i don't enjoy buying or prefer differently.

Arthur