Book of Death: Legends of the Geomancer

[jeremycoe]

According to Ed, Book of Death will be fully-returnable AND if you order at least 25 your LCS can purchase them at 80% off. At 80% off that means .80 an issue. 25 issues will cost a retailer $20. Figure another $2 for Legends plus a bit for shipping and say $25 to obtain Legends. Then, if the store only sells 1 copy of Book of Death and the 1 copy of Legends, they can return the other 24 copies of Book of Death for $19.20 and have made a couple bucks (selling Legends at cover). This is a GOOD idea. How often have you gone into an LCS and there were 0 copies of Valiant books on the shelf. It's hard to attract new readers if there are no copies on the shelf. There is very little risk here for a retailer to order big on Book of Death and a huge potential for reward.

[lorddunlow]

According to Ed, Book of Death will be fully-returnable AND if you order at least 25 your LCS can purchase them at 80% off. At 80% off that means .80 an issue. 25 issues will cost a retailer $20. Figure another $2 for Legends plus a bit for shipping and say $25 to obtain Legends. Then, if the store only sells 1 copy of Book of Death and the 1 copy of Legends, they can return the other 24 copies of Book of Death for $19.20 and have made a couple bucks (selling Legends at cover). This is a GOOD idea. How often have you gone into an LCS and there were 0 copies of Valiant books on the shelf. It's hard to attract new readers if there are no copies on the shelf. There is very little risk here for a retailer to order big on Book of Death and a huge potential for reward.

Well, that definitely changes things a bit. It still remains to be seen if I can convince my LCS to put in the effort just for me. But this gives me hope Ed may do a good deal to get these in our hands...

[Nameless7]

According to Ed, Book of Death will be fully-returnable AND if you order at least 25 your LCS can purchase them at 80% off. At 80% off that means .80 an issue. 25 issues will cost a retailer $20. Figure another $2 for Legends plus a bit for shipping and say $25 to obtain Legends. Then, if the store only sells 1 copy of Book of Death and the 1 copy of Legends, they can return the other 24 copies of Book of Death for $19.20 and have made a couple bucks (selling Legends at cover). This is a GOOD idea. How often have you gone into an LCS and there were 0 copies of Valiant books on the shelf. It's hard to attract new readers if there are no copies on the shelf. There is very little risk here for a retailer to order big on Book of Death and a huge potential for reward.

Thank you so much for this excellent news.

[BugsySig]

According to Ed, Book of Death will be fully-returnable AND if you order at least 25 your LCS can purchase them at 80% off. At 80% off that means .80 an issue. 25 issues will cost a retailer $20. Figure another $2 for Legends plus a bit for shipping and say $25 to obtain Legends. Then, if the store only sells 1 copy of Book of Death and the 1 copy of Legends, they can return the other 24 copies of Book of Death for $19.20 and have made a couple bucks (selling Legends at cover). This is a GOOD idea. How often have you gone into an LCS and there were 0 copies of Valiant books on the shelf. It's hard to attract new readers if there are no copies on the shelf. There is very little risk here for a retailer to order big on Book of Death and a huge potential for reward.

Thank you so much for this excellent news.

That's great. I'm still *SQUEE* I can't just get this digitally and will have to go out of my way to order it through Ed or DCBS. It specifically says in the solicit that it will not be released digitally.

[agent_graves]

It is a comic book you will be able to purchase on ebay for $10 shortly after it's release.

Hopefully. No one knows what it will be available for. The market will dictate. A market that is now primed with speculators due to today's movie news who give not a *SQUEE* about the story inside these issues. And why should I have to wait until "shortly after its release"? That's just idiotic. Like Sean said, I'll be pirating this if I cannot get a copy on release date for a reasonable amount ($10 is not reasonable for 24 pages of story, sorry)

Whatever happened to the excitement you get from the chase of trying to find the exclusive issues?

I'm not 12 anymore and I'm more fiscally responsible. I'm not paying more than $5 for 24 pages of story content.

What happened to just not buying the issue if you don't like it?

How am I supposed to know if I don't like it? I have no way of obtaining it through traditional means. I've bought literally every story VEI has put out. Even the ones I hated. I don't want extra copies of a book just to "earn" this one. I don't feel it is right to make it a secondary market only.

12 year olds, aren't buying comics.

[agent_graves]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

[lorddunlow]

It is a comic book you will be able to purchase on ebay for $10 shortly after it's release.

Hopefully. No one knows what it will be available for. The market will dictate. A market that is now primed with speculators due to today's movie news who give not a *SQUEE* about the story inside these issues. And why should I have to wait until "shortly after its release"? That's just idiotic. Like Sean said, I'll be pirating this if I cannot get a copy on release date for a reasonable amount ($10 is not reasonable for 24 pages of story, sorry)

Whatever happened to the excitement you get from the chase of trying to find the exclusive issues?

I'm not 12 anymore and I'm more fiscally responsible. I'm not paying more than $5 for 24 pages of story content.

What happened to just not buying the issue if you don't like it?

How am I supposed to know if I don't like it? I have no way of obtaining it through traditional means. I've bought literally every story VEI has put out. Even the ones I hated. I don't want extra copies of a book just to "earn" this one. I don't feel it is right to make it a secondary market only.

12 year olds, aren't buying comics.

Well, that's a problem in and of itself, isn't it.

I was referring to the last time I was excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

[SJS4]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

[Aram]

I was referring to the last time I was excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

This is actually the first time in a while I'm excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

Unity burned me out of nearly any interest in VEI variants. Finances burned me out of monthlies. Now I am only going to collect the titles I like the most, if any, and then pick up trades and HC's.

This is something I can get behind and am willing to chase down the floppies, even though I am essentially no longer physically or emotionally invested in them.

Plus, I really doubt this will be very "hard" or expensive to track down as long as you have an internet connection and paypal.

[kjjohanson]

Perspective my *SQUEE*, anyone defending this marketing shtick is drinking way too much kool-aid.

As an aside, there should be a filter that changes "kool-aid" to "Cool-Aide"

[agent_graves]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

[agent_graves]

It is a comic book you will be able to purchase on ebay for $10 shortly after it's release.

Hopefully. No one knows what it will be available for. The market will dictate. A market that is now primed with speculators due to today's movie news who give not a *SQUEE* about the story inside these issues. And why should I have to wait until "shortly after its release"? That's just idiotic. Like Sean said, I'll be pirating this if I cannot get a copy on release date for a reasonable amount ($10 is not reasonable for 24 pages of story, sorry)

Whatever happened to the excitement you get from the chase of trying to find the exclusive issues?

I'm not 12 anymore and I'm more fiscally responsible. I'm not paying more than $5 for 24 pages of story content.

What happened to just not buying the issue if you don't like it?

How am I supposed to know if I don't like it? I have no way of obtaining it through traditional means. I've bought literally every story VEI has put out. Even the ones I hated. I don't want extra copies of a book just to "earn" this one. I don't feel it is right to make it a secondary market only.

12 year olds, aren't buying comics.

Well, that's a problem in and of itself, isn't it.

I was referring to the last time I was excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

Is it, I mean, outside of Marvel Adventures, when's the last time comics, was actually catered to kids.

[kjjohanson]

According to Ed, Book of Death will be fully-returnable AND if you order at least 25 your LCS can purchase them at 80% off. At 80% off that means .80 an issue. 25 issues will cost a retailer $20. Figure another $2 for Legends plus a bit for shipping and say $25 to obtain Legends. Then, if the store only sells 1 copy of Book of Death and the 1 copy of Legends, they can return the other 24 copies of Book of Death for $19.20 and have made a couple bucks (selling Legends at cover). This is a GOOD idea. How often have you gone into an LCS and there were 0 copies of Valiant books on the shelf. It's hard to attract new readers if there are no copies on the shelf. There is very little risk here for a retailer to order big on Book of Death and a huge potential for reward.

I posted a few comments on Ed's thread on Facebook. This is better news, but here's the thing: while there's really no risk for retailers to order as many books as they have to to satisfy the demand from readers (other than tying up the money for a bit), it's highly unlikely that retailers will then offer the books to readers for the price of a regular comic. So yeah, it's great for retailers, but it kinda sucks for readers. I will occasionally pick up an incentive variant, if the price is right, but I'm a reader first. I want to read everything Valiant, but I want to do so at a reasonable price. I don't mind paying a slight premium for Valiant books over Marvel and DC (which were pretty much all 2.99 when Valiant launched), because I like the characters, the creators, and the company has, up to now, been very fan-friendly, especially to loyal readers. I can understand wanting to get more retailers on board with the books, but retailers are only going to up the orders long-term if the readers are there that want them, and the way they're distributing this book is not reader-friendly.

[ilzuccone]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

[SJS4]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

Using that logic I am a collector of everything I plan on using more than once?

Yeah, no. I don't think that word means what you think it does.

[SJS4]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

There is????? Pleas tell me about this newfangled notion.

[agent_graves]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

He never mentioned digital, but even still, your buying them, and keeping them stored in your phone, is that not a form of collecting? It'll never replace print comics, but to each's own.

[ilzuccone]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

There is????? Pleas tell me about this newfangled notion.

once upon a time there was a wizard named steve jobs. he was a great and mighty wizard. …

[jeremycoe]

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

There is????? Pleas tell me about this newfangled notion.

once upon a time there was a wizard named steve jobs. he was a great and mighty wizard. …

I think you're thinking of Al Gore.

[lorddunlow]

It is a comic book you will be able to purchase on ebay for $10 shortly after it's release.

Hopefully. No one knows what it will be available for. The market will dictate. A market that is now primed with speculators due to today's movie news who give not a *SQUEE* about the story inside these issues. And why should I have to wait until "shortly after its release"? That's just idiotic. Like Sean said, I'll be pirating this if I cannot get a copy on release date for a reasonable amount ($10 is not reasonable for 24 pages of story, sorry)

Whatever happened to the excitement you get from the chase of trying to find the exclusive issues?

I'm not 12 anymore and I'm more fiscally responsible. I'm not paying more than $5 for 24 pages of story content.

What happened to just not buying the issue if you don't like it?

How am I supposed to know if I don't like it? I have no way of obtaining it through traditional means. I've bought literally every story VEI has put out. Even the ones I hated. I don't want extra copies of a book just to "earn" this one. I don't feel it is right to make it a secondary market only.

12 year olds, aren't buying comics.

Well, that's a problem in and of itself, isn't it.

I was referring to the last time I was excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

Is it, I mean, outside of Marvel Adventures, when's the last time comics, was actually catered to kids.

"Women aren't really buying comics."

That was the opinion for decades. It cut an entire market out for no reason.

Saying "12 year old aren't really buying comics" illustrates a lost market. It's stupid to just disregard that.

[lorddunlow]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

No

[lorddunlow]

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

you guys do know there is a way to read comics without buying a physical issue right?

There is????? Pleas tell me about this newfangled notion.

once upon a time there was a wizard named steve jobs. he was a great and mighty wizard. …

I think you're thinking of Al Gore.

That's what she said?

[Joshua]

I guess it's no big deal to be jobbed by your favorite publisher. Just roll with it I guess.

Perspective my *SQUEE*, anyone defending this marketing shtick is drinking way too much kool-aid.

It's common sense that making a product more accessible increases the chances of long term sales. It's also common sense that selling deliberately rare comics under the guise of exclusive rewards is short term plan and ultimately fosters elitism. It's niche market that cannibalizes itself over the long haul. Seriously...the rarest comics are only bought by the exclusively rich, and it's not like Sotheby's is having comic book auctions every day. It's a rare occasion we see the sale of mint Detective Comics #27 or mint Action Comics #1. Of course that's putting this to extremes with Legends of Geomancer book, but point is this decision was not well thought out at all. Dumb and greedy...I really had higher hopes for Valiant to not do something like this.

Comics should be accessible and affordable regardless of their quality of storytelling.

I am probably not going to complain until I see cost and availability. Why get worked up over hypothetical price points and scarcity? I am still just f'ing stoked for Juan Jose Ryp interiors.

[agent_graves]

I am a reader, 100%. If I were a collector

Unless you're throwing your comics in the trash after reading them, you're a collector. No?

Kind of a weird notion. If he throws it out he obviously cannot read it again.

Most of my favorite comics have been read a dozen times. Probably all of them have been read at least twice.

That's my point, and thus, why he is, a collector.

Using that logic I am a collector of everything I plan on using more than once?

Yeah, no. I don't think that word means what you think it does.

col·lec·tor
1. a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.

Is that not what we're doing?

[agent_graves]

It is a comic book you will be able to purchase on ebay for $10 shortly after it's release.

Hopefully. No one knows what it will be available for. The market will dictate. A market that is now primed with speculators due to today's movie news who give not a *SQUEE* about the story inside these issues. And why should I have to wait until "shortly after its release"? That's just idiotic. Like Sean said, I'll be pirating this if I cannot get a copy on release date for a reasonable amount ($10 is not reasonable for 24 pages of story, sorry)

Whatever happened to the excitement you get from the chase of trying to find the exclusive issues?

I'm not 12 anymore and I'm more fiscally responsible. I'm not paying more than $5 for 24 pages of story content.

What happened to just not buying the issue if you don't like it?

How am I supposed to know if I don't like it? I have no way of obtaining it through traditional means. I've bought literally every story VEI has put out. Even the ones I hated. I don't want extra copies of a book just to "earn" this one. I don't feel it is right to make it a secondary market only.

12 year olds, aren't buying comics.

Well, that's a problem in and of itself, isn't it.

I was referring to the last time I was excited to hunt for an exclusive comic.

Is it, I mean, outside of Marvel Adventures, when's the last time comics, was actually catered to kids.

"Women aren't really buying comics."

That was the opinion for decades. It cut an entire market out for no reason.

Saying "12 year old aren't really buying comics" illustrates a lost market. It's stupid to just disregard that.

It's been lost though, so it's not disregard, it's fact, that's why publisher's, do those kid-lines, to try and get them into a lcs. Women are a lot more involved now a days, thanks to books like a Saga and Rat Queens, not to mention the slew of solo-female leads from the big 2, but come on, I grew up on WildCats, Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock, during a time when it really wasn't nothing that catered to women, now I'm seeing women everywhere, from the lcs to conventions, and I think it's great, but their was a time when, they weren't buying comics, I mean, it is, what it is.