Marvel unveils "The Architects".....

[GLewis]

I was really hoping this would be a series about the actual architects of Marvel. Lee, Kirby, Ditko, etc. Then it dawned on me that this could possibly be used against them in court one day.

[Jeppe]

Seriously.
How can you call yourself "An Architect" when 90% of what you do is make somebody else's creation walk around and talk? It's just silly.

It's more like Tuckpointing.

I agree completely. I have to add, though, that I don't think any of the actual writers came up with this gimmick. It's  not so much a case of them proclaiming to be cultural icons, as it is an example of the terribad marketing strategy of Marvel ...

[David]

Why make a point of it at all?

Exactly.  News you already knew.

[Kenney]

I came in this thread solely for Chris.  

That is after I realized this wasn't announcing a new series to go along with The Illuminati and Cabal. A book focusing on The Watcher, Galactus...and other big wigs sitting around discussing the universe. Yes, I would buy that.

[Wood]

To me this is much different than the Young Guns. Basically Young Guns was a way of singling out Marvel's new exclusive artists, and by labeling them Young Guns, it didn't imply they were more important than other Marvel exclusive artists on the pay roll. This is a top down thing...this is Marvel making a marketing push to say, "Hey these five guys REALLY count to us."

Great if you're one of the five, but how are guys like Dan Slott, Jeff Parker, Rick Remender, etc...feeling right about now?

[Greg Leclair (greg1ca)]

Not to gangpile onto this, but yeah...I had a similar reaction when I read this this morning.
The announcement came across as heavily self important and actually kinda douchey...

"Hey Look!!! These are the 5 important writers that we get to churn out the books we are committed to! Just these 5! If they don't write a book we will probably cancel it!"

The good news is that I expect the hype to pass once their new titles launch. Lame.

[lugaru]

Based on everyones comments maybe they should call this "The Interior Decorators". Somebody else built the universe, they are just moving furniture around and modernizing it.

That said though, I'm fond of all those writers and marvel should be thanking them for whatever success they have.

[Jeppe]

This is a top down thing...this is Marvel making a marketing push to say, "Hey these five guys REALLY count to us."

Great if you're one of the five, but how are guys like Dan Slott, Jeff Parker, Rick Remender, etc...feeling right about now?

Well put.

[Jay Tomio]

You know I always wanted to pretend I was an architect.

[Mike Sims]

Damn, I thought we were getting some new Matrix stuff.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uQSXNq7b8GQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uQSXNq7b8GQ&rel=1</a>

[Mike Sims]

..... ergo, you can imagine my disappointment.

[Greg Leclair (greg1ca)]

Great if you're one of the five, but how are guys like Dan Slott, Jeff Parker, Rick Remender, etc...feeling right about now?

It's too bad those less popular guys couldn't get into the club.....

Mark Millar? "Sorry dude. Civil War, Old Man Logan and Kick Ass were okay......but what have you done for us this month?"

Jeff Loeb? "That Rulk thing was hot, but we need you to quit your day job if you want to be 'An Architect!!!'"

Christos Gage? Abbnet and Lanning? "Guys....you just don't get it. You need to do titles that we won't cancel. Have you considered adding Wolverine to your projects?"

[deadcowaroma]

I love most of those writers, but there is an easier way to become an 'architect'...WRITE YOUR OWN STUFF!!!

[Dave A]

The good news is that I expect the hype to pass once their new titles launch. Lame.

That probably cuts to the heart of the matter. These are the 5 guys who happen to have new series approved for 2011 so far. The intention was probably to do a little pre-announcement on these upcoming books, build a little buzz and get people speculating as to what these "top secret" new launches will be.

Of course, if the rest of the 'net is like us, everyone's hung up on this goofy "Architects" label instead...  

[steve bryant]

Where are Mike Mignola and Robert Kirkman on that list? They're the best architects in comics today.

Oh, that's right, they're not at the House of Idea.

[JimN]

To me this is much different than the Young Guns. Basically Young Guns was a way of singling out Marvel's new exclusive artists, and by labeling them Young Guns, it didn't imply they were more important than other Marvel exclusive artists on the pay roll. This is a top down thing...this is Marvel making a marketing push to say, "Hey these five guys REALLY count to us."

Great if you're one of the five, but how are guys like Dan Slott, Jeff Parker, Rick Remender, etc...feeling right about now?

Hopefully, they're feeling the urge to get away from Marvel, do creator-owned comics and strongly encourage fans to come with them on that journey.

Unfortunately, it's a perilous road and fans don't like to leave Wolverine...

... er, I mean home.

Jim

[JimN]

You know I always wanted to pretend I was an architect.

 

Where are Mike Mignola and Robert Kirkman on that list? They're the best architects in comics today.

Oh, that's right, they're not at the House of Idea.

I see what you did there.

Jim

[bean6344]

It's just marketing BS spin/hype.  I can not think of any entertainment industry where the top selling, most hyped product or creators are the best or are producing the best product out there nor do they tend to live up to the hype.

Have the Grammys ever represented the best of the recording industry?  I would say definitely not.

I try not to get bogged down by this crap.  It makes life much easier to live.  There are too many real problems in the world that keep me awake at night.  Beer helps also.

It makes me proud tho that there are some of you out there that take our hobby so passionately that you take this BS personally.

Bean





  

[Scott C.]

Comics by committee for the win!

[BobBretall]

To me this is much different than the Young Guns. Basically Young Guns was a way of singling out Marvel's new exclusive artists, and by labeling them Young Guns, it didn't imply they were more important than other Marvel exclusive artists on the pay roll. This is a top down thing...this is Marvel making a marketing push to say, "Hey these five guys REALLY count to us."

Great if you're one of the five, but how are guys like Dan Slott, Jeff Parker, Rick Remender, etc...feeling right about now?

True, but they compared them to the Young Guns in the press release:

Called "The Architects", it's sort of the proven-industry-veteran version of their Young Guns marketing initiative from years back, identifying writers (apparently artists are pending) who are most influential directing the Marvel Universe titles and characters right now, or as Marvel puts it, "telling the most exciting and impactful stories that rock the Marvel Universe to its very core every month."

I also thought the bolded part was telling (bolding mine to emphasize).

This means those other writers (Slott, Abnett&Lanning,Van Lente, etc.) are telling stories that (to Marvel) are not quite as exciting as those done by the "Architects", nor particularly impactful to the MU.