Is anyone else getting sick of the constant Marvel Nows #1's

[jxm640]

I was a fan of Marvel comics.

However, the constant barrage of #1's and ending series is starting to get annoying.

I have no idea if any of the series will even last a year.

All of the Phase One comics from the Now series have already concluded.

[StarBrand]

Yes, especially after their EIC said they wouldn't be relaunching their titles anytime soon after Marvel Now. So, he had it both ways. Make it seem like the Marvel Now original launches were going to be more important than they actually were before they hit, then go ahead and do massive relaunched anyway, in order to boost sales. That guy should join one of the two main parties and be a politician.

[lorddunlow]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.

The books all said #1 really big on the cover even though they were just the first issues of the new arcs. Blatant marketing to stupid people.

I think that's the thing that bugs me the most. Everyone (not just comics) advertises and aims their marketing (and often the actual product/service) at the dumbest segments of society. It's insulting.

We should be mad that these marketing ploys work on the masses, not at the companies who are catering to the majority of their customers.

[jxm640]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.

The books all said #1 really big on the cover even though they were just the first issues of the new arcs. Blatant marketing to stupid people.

I think that's the thing that bugs me the most. Everyone (not just comics) advertises and aims their marketing (and often the actual product/service) at the dumbest segments of society. It's insulting.

We should be mad that these marketing ploys work on the masses, not at the companies who are catering to the majority of their customers.

I completely agree with you regarding this.

[Jace]

I don't read any Marvel anymore for this reason. They seem to be nothing but blatant money grabbers at this point. The last straw for me was the reboot of Daredevil, it wasn't even a change in the creative team. No sense of legacy, continuity or respect for the decades of history and great comics stories that came before. It reminds be so much of the Bill Jemas era it makes me sick. Milk every property for every last cent with no regard for how it hurts the industry or puts the future of the comics in jeopardy. As long as the movies are making billions they can afford to be short-sighted with the actual books, so who cares right? In fact I don't even have any desire to see the movies, because I am so disappointed in the way Marvel handles their line these days.

[lorddunlow]

So, I totally understand the resentment of these completely obvious money grabs, but why would you drop a comic you enjoy just because of this? Are they forcing some sort of story change to justify the renumbering? I could see that putting you off. It just seems odd that you would drop something you like just because of the number on the cover.

I actually have enjoyed every single Marvel book that I have read recently (anything involved tangentially with Hickman's Avengers or Infinity - okay, I wasn't too crazy about Thunderbolts, but it wasn't bad; GotG, All New X-Men, and a few others). They seem to be really fun books that are very accessible to someone like me who missed the last 20 years of continuity.

I don't buy anything based on company (except VEI) - I base everything on quality of read. Image and VEI lead the pack in that aspect of comics with Marvel a close third, in my opinion.

[dornwolf]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.
.

Hickman has done so much worse stuff when it comes to this. He's gone off several times on the point 1 initiative they were doing. The fact that he hasn't been punted says a lot about his importance.

[lorddunlow]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.
.

Hickman has done so much worse stuff when it comes to this. He's gone off several times on the point 1 initiative they were doing. The fact that he hasn't been punted says a lot about his importance.

His Twitter feed may be just as fun to read as his comics.

I have spent a lot of money at Marvel just because of his presence. I now read several books that have no connection to him at all now just because I was reading his books there and they connected with his for a short time.

[Jace]

So, I totally understand the resentment of these completely obvious money grabs, but why would you drop a comic you enjoy just because of this? Are they forcing some sort of story change to justify the renumbering? I could see that putting you off. It just seems odd that you would drop something you like just because of the number on the cover.

I actually have enjoyed every single Marvel book that I have read recently (anything involved tangentially with Hickman's Avengers or Infinity - okay, I wasn't too crazy about Thunderbolts, but it wasn't bad; GotG, All New X-Men, and a few others). They seem to be really fun books that are very accessible to someone like me who missed the last 20 years of continuity.

I don't buy anything based on company (except VEI) - I base everything on quality of read. Image and VEI lead the pack in that aspect of comics with Marvel a close third, in my opinion.

It wasn't a matter of dropping anything specifically. I have been collecting since I was 7 years old but have taking a few breaks here or there. Other things like work or school just made it not a priority but when I started getting back into comics about 2006. I mostly was focused on older stuff and wasn't getting too much new stuff. I did get Civil War and enjoyed it, but I just kept going back and getting things I had missed thinking someday I would catch up. Before I could get caught up DC launched the NEW 52 so that made for an easy way to start on new stuff, all the while though I just would look at all the marvel stuff and think, wow there are so many X-books, Iron Man had multiple titles, Avengers seemed to have a new title every other week. It just turned me off. I'd try something here or there once in awhile, I read Indestructible Hulk, Infinity just this last year. So that being said I haven't dropped anything I have enjoyed reading. The way Marvel has been since I have returned hasn't been something I have wanted to get involved in and it seems more and more people I talk to are feeling the same way.

[depluto]

Yeah, I dropped a lot of books due to this. Even ones I have collected for a long time, like Avengers stuff and FF. I figure I'll fill in runs later on eBay.

[lorddunlow]

So, I totally understand the resentment of these completely obvious money grabs, but why would you drop a comic you enjoy just because of this? Are they forcing some sort of story change to justify the renumbering? I could see that putting you off. It just seems odd that you would drop something you like just because of the number on the cover.

I actually have enjoyed every single Marvel book that I have read recently (anything involved tangentially with Hickman's Avengers or Infinity - okay, I wasn't too crazy about Thunderbolts, but it wasn't bad; GotG, All New X-Men, and a few others). They seem to be really fun books that are very accessible to someone like me who missed the last 20 years of continuity.

I don't buy anything based on company (except VEI) - I base everything on quality of read. Image and VEI lead the pack in that aspect of comics with Marvel a close third, in my opinion.

It wasn't a matter of dropping anything specifically. I have been collecting since I was 7 years old but have taking a few breaks here or there. Other things like work or school just made it not a priority but when I started getting back into comics about 2006. I mostly was focused on older stuff and wasn't getting too much new stuff. I did get Civil War and enjoyed it, but I just kept going back and getting things I had missed thinking someday I would catch up. Before I could get caught up DC launched the NEW 52 so that made for an easy way to start on new stuff, all the while though I just would look at all the marvel stuff and think, wow there are so many X-books, Iron Man had multiple titles, Avengers seemed to have a new title every other week. It just turned me off. I'd try something here or there once in awhile, I read Indestructible Hulk, Infinity just this last year. So that being said I haven't dropped anything I have enjoyed reading. The way Marvel has been since I have returned hasn't been something I have wanted to get involved in and it seems more and more people I talk to are feeling the same way.

It's funny you say you are turned off of Marvel for the constant renumbering but admit to not diving in on some books until they started new #1s.

To each his own, I suppose. I don't see the big deal. Good stories are good stories. The Hickman Avengers stuff, the GotG, and the All New X-Men are all more fun to read than some of the VEI stuff (cough... Q&W... cough, and even some of the X-O run). It's all subjective, though.

I just don't get the hate for a marketing ploy that doesn't affect the storyline. I understand Marvel pushes some things to coincide with events in the movies (i.e. shoe-horning a black Nick Fury into the 616 universe) could become frustrating to a long time fan, but if the writers handle it well, I don't see the problem.

[Jace]

To be honest I only read them in order to review them for my vlog.

[mateo107]

that's the main reason why I don't read Marvel anymore, I've lost track of what volume any of their longtime books are on now. I've always found relaunches to be jumping off points rather than jumping on, so every ended series just makes it harder and harder for me to consider trying to get back into it.

[dornwolf]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.
.

Hickman has done so much worse stuff when it comes to this. He's gone off several times on the point 1 initiative they were doing. The fact that he hasn't been punted says a lot about his importance.

His Twitter feed may be just as fun to read as his comics.

When he went off on DC comics after their editors left New York and some were fired was hilarious.

[Tim]

I've always found relaunches to be jumping off points rather than jumping on...

I feel exactly the same way.

[Ramses818]

I just found this thread and I completely agree. One of the reasons I stopped collecting DC and Marvel is because of the fact that they keep ending so what's the point? Any good stories can be read in trade paperback and if you wait a couple months after it comes out you can find them in 50 % off or bargain bins. It just makes no sense to me to keep up with them, and doesn't connect to any other medium that they use like video-games, movies or television. So I'm happy picking up stories on the cheap...lol

[Cyberstrike]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.
.

Hickman has done so much worse stuff when it comes to this. He's gone off several times on the point 1 initiative they were doing. The fact that he hasn't been punted says a lot about his importance.

Part of the hype of Marvel NOW was that the creators were going switched on the lines (i.e. Hickman is the lead writer on The Avengers line and Bendis is the lead on the X-Men line) so my guess is what Hickman says on twitter as long as it's not too critical Marvel will keep him as long as his books make money or until he offends the boss.

[kjjohanson]

I think it is incredibly stupid that they labeled all of their comics recently as #??.1 NOW or .NOW or whatever the hell it is. Jonathan Hickman poked a lot of fun at that on Twitter recently - it was hilarious. He ended it by saying that Bendis would be taking over all of his books as he was sacked.
.

Hickman has done so much worse stuff when it comes to this. He's gone off several times on the point 1 initiative they were doing. The fact that he hasn't been punted says a lot about his importance.

Part of the hype of Marvel NOW was that the creators were going switched on the lines (i.e. Hickman is the lead writer on The Avengers line and Bendis is the lead on the X-Men line) so my guess is what Hickman says on twitter as long as it's not too critical Marvel will keep him as long as his books make money or until he offends the boss.

I imagine that a lot of the creative staff are on the same page as fans regarding ridiculous numbering. Those sorts of decisions are made by marketing teams and the head creative honchos just have to put the best face on it.

[lorddunlow]

I have a new one for you guys: Guardians of the Galaxy #14 is being promoted as the "100th issue spectacular" marking the 100th issue of the series. But it's number 14. Talk about having your cake and eating it too...

[Jace]

Yep, they just put out Ultimate Spider-Man 200 also. Even though the first series ended with 160 and the second ended with 28. I am sure they have some Mini's or something they are counting, but it is just marketing machine in full effect.

[String]

Eh, large title numbers used to signify stability and success but times change and the industry evolves. It is a marketing gimmick but as long as I'm enjoying the stories and art, it doesn't bother me.

In fact, I'm more annoyed over where they place the issue numbers, along the bottom edge of the cover. I miss the old days of the big Marvel banner across the top of the cover, stating clearly the issue number.

[lorddunlow]

Eh, large title numbers used to signify stability and success but times change and the industry evolves. It is a marketing gimmick but as long as I'm enjoying the stories and art, it doesn't bother me.

In fact, I'm more annoyed over where they place the issue numbers, along the bottom edge of the cover. I miss the old days of the big Marvel banner across the top of the cover, stating clearly the issue number.

YES! +1 to all of this!

[chriskay99]

It's might be a little messy to get it sorted out, but I'd like to see them do a legacy numbering. I mean, call it Daredevil #1 in the corner box or whatever, but have a legacy triangle/circle on there somewhere that says #563 or whatever. At least acknowledge the past.

[lorddunlow]

It's might be a little messy to get it sorted out, but I'd like to see them do a legacy numbering. I mean, call it Daredevil #1 in the corner box or whatever, but have a legacy triangle/circle on there somewhere that says #563 or whatever. At least acknowledge the past.

That seems like a win-win to me.

[dornwolf]

I have a new one for you guys: Guardians of the Galaxy #14 is being promoted as the "100th issue spectacular" marking the 100th issue of the series. But it's number 14. Talk about having your cake and eating it too...

DC did something similar for Detective Comics 900th as well.