News 

DC’s Post-Convergance Landscape to Feature More $6.99 Comics

By | April 1st, 2015
Posted in News | 8 Comments

In a move that is perhaps surprising to most, DC has announced that following May’s “Convergance” event they will be making bigger pushes for pricier comics. While June already features a number of $3.99 titles like “Batman” by Scotts Nyder and Greg Capulo or “Aquaman” by Cullen Bun and Trevor Mcarthy, many were surprised to see “Justice League” by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabuk reaching up to $4.99, or even “Justice League” by Bryan Hitch debuting at $5.99. Yet this appears to actually be the new normal, as upcoming months will see future titles pushed at a higher cost rate in order to accomodate page rates and what is known as “event status,” as well as bolstering the continued justification for smaller titles. While this is interesting to hear, it’s also not entirely surprising.

DC abandoned there “Holding the Line at $2.99” mantra some time back, resulting in slightly bigger books at $3.99 and boasting 32 pages (at least 20 of which are story related). DC will now more regularly be releasing $6.99 books at 48 pages (at least 32 of which are story related) in addition to the occasional $9.99 book at 56 pages (story content page-count is uncertain at this time), all the while hoping that this will help excite and invigorate the fanbase.

Not only that, but apparently this is also being done as an effort to justify books the bevy of new books that DC will be releasing in June, seemingly in order to help bolster sales. Books like “The Robins” by Rob Bermejo and Rob Haynes, in which a bunch of different Robins band together to fight the All-New Batman, as well as “The Robin: Son of Batman” by Patrick Gleasn and ARTIST NAME HERE starring Damien Wayne are two of the named books to come in at a regular higher price range; given their relationship to the popular Batman franchise, their assumed higher sales could seemingly help keep less sure-fire titles alive. That being said, it is also possible that the popularity of their respective franchises results in DC banking on fans being comfortable enough to regularly pay more, though current comments by DC’s CEO and EIC Dan Diddio are absent at this time,

As Jack Lister wrote in his excellent analysis over at the 8th City:

It seems every month that comics become a less and less manageable hobby. Whether we’re talking about the millions and billions of comics put out by Marvel or the bevy of oh-so-good “gotta buy ’em all” indie books from Image (and I guess other publishers too, whatever), our wallets are burning and our significant others are leaving us. Yet this latest move by DC seems like another nail in the coffin for the industry; not only are we being overburdened with a number of titles that won’t matter to continuity and will likely just end up in a fifty cent bin in a couple months, but the latest price point is an insult to me personally as an individual. As the most loyal fan ever I’ve put up with a lot, but this seems like the last straw for me, even after they changed that one thing about Superman or gave Wonder Woman pants only to take them away. And sure, all of us tend to complain and then buy the comics anyway, but this time for real we won’t just be complaining; if my graphs and charts of potential revenue trajectories don’t prove it here, the next coming months as we all definitely don’t buy DC books anymore certainly will.

All This aside, we can’t help but speculate what we might be seeing from smalelr titles from DC now. There’s the new “Star-Fire” title by Amanda Conner and Emmanuela Lupacchino that seems friendlier than past incarnations while holding a $2.99 pricepoint, but as an ongoing is that something that can be maintained? “Batmite by Corey Howell” is billed as a six-issue “all-ages” series featuring a $2.99 pricepoint, but isn’t that a bit risky? What about the currently unsolicited “Perez” by Ben Caldell and Mark Russel — will that debut at $6.99 or $3.99? It’d seem irresponsible to wildly speculate in a news piece at this time, but as financial experts in the comic arena our analysis points to these being the type of books that’d benefit from low prices so comic book shops would be more comfortable ordering them in larger numbers while any number of Bat or Robin books carry the weight, but with the comic industry on the verge of collapse as we swirl down the drain towards eventual industry collapse these wild pricepoints seem a confusing strategy at best.

The higher the price goes, the more uncertain and interesting the future becomes. Your guess is as good as ours at the end of the day, though, and we look forward to seeing what comes from DC in the future.


//TAGS | april 1

Multiversity Staff

We are the Multiversity Staff, and we love you very much.

EMAIL | ARTICLES


  • Podcasts
    Get Ready for “The Hour Cosmic” to Return!

    By | Apr 1, 2015 | Podcasts

    The internet’s favorite comics-based gameshow is about to get even better! Beginning in the Spring of 2017 folks in the West Des Moines Metro Area will see a little something extra folded in with their Fareway’s circular: the brand-new, print-only “Hour Cosmic”! It’s fun for the whole family!This is Multiversity’s first foray into the immortal […]

    MORE »
    Reviews
    Retro Review: Identity Crisis #1

    By | Apr 1, 2015 | Reviews

    Written by Brad MeltzerIllustrated by Rags MoralesThe most talked-about and successful miniseries of 2004 — the story that has created ripple effects throughout the DC Universe for many years to come — is now available in a stunning hardcover volume! New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer (GREEN ARROW) teams with artists Rags Morales & […]

    MORE »

    -->