How could comic based films increase comic sales?

[Farrell]

Didn't they do exactly that with Avengers Assemble? 

Bendis is writing that.  Jim said "the best talent available." 

Just in case you missed it, Chris.

[Dotanuki]

*** ZING ***

[JimN]

Didn't they do exactly that with Avengers Assemble? 

LOL! I don't know. I know nothing about Avengers Assemble. Is it the answer to the question you posed ("What would someone go out and buy after seeing the Avengers?")?

If it is the answer, and if it's basically what I described above, then I think it's a good idea but apparently, they only fought half the battle. Is there anything in theaters, previews or the movie itself that points viewers to that comic? At this point, if they're genuinely interested in getting movie-goers to become comics readers, it's probably not enough to take the "if you build it, they will come" approach. They need to make that comic and create awareness of it among the movie audience.

Bendis is writing that.  Jim said "the best talent available." 

 

[Wood]

LOL! I don't know. I know nothing about Avengers Assemble. Is it the answer to the question you posed ("What would someone go out and buy after seeing the Avengers?")?

If it is the answer, and if it's basically what I described above, then I think it's a good idea but apparently, they only fought half the battle. Is there anything in theaters, previews or the movie itself that points viewers to that comic? At this point, if they're genuinely interested in getting movie-goers to become comics readers, it's probably not enough to take the "if you build it, they will come" approach. They need to make that comic and create awareness of it among the movie audience.

 

I have no plans to read it, but my understanding is that, yes, it's a Bendis/Bagley book featuring all the characters from the movie. But I didn't need ANOTHER Bendis Avengers book in my life, and then they really confused me by following up the initial solicits with word that it WAS in continuity, which made me totally steer clear. But, theoretically, it's what you were suggesting. I just don't know that ANYONE knows about it other than those of us who are already familiar with comics.

They should've had a mini-comic or something available for give aways this weekend.

[JimN]

I have no plans to read it, but my understanding is that, yes, it's a Bendis/Bagley book featuring all the characters from the movie. But I didn't need ANOTHER Bendis Avengers book in my life, and then they really confused me by following up the initial solicits with word that it WAS in continuity, which made me totally steer clear. But, theoretically, it's what you were suggesting. I just don't know that ANYONE knows about it other than those of us who are already familiar with comics.

They should've had a mini-comic or something available for give aways this weekend.

That would have made more sense!

Thanks for the info. It sounds like they may have had the right idea but the wrong execution.

[Glassford]

Does anyone know if Trade Paperbacks and Hardcover sales are affected by comic based films? 

I think it's pretty clear that issue sales aren't, but I think there are more barriers to entry to becoming a weekly comic buyer than picking up a trade or two from Barnes and Noble.

Just curious ...

[jdudley]

Sadly, Many publishers (and heads of parent companies) seem to be as cynical about efforts to actually grow the marke as many of us here.
This is a ridiculous mindset, in my opinion. I honestly think that the readership has massive potential to expand if, for instance, Marvel/Disney capitalized on the film's success and advertised comics to non-readers who loved the movie.

[valance_the_hunter]

I often lament this very topic, and think your comparison is an interesting one.

I don't think it's completely invalid to hope for a little carry over, even beyond all the obvious hurdles.  The best thing you can hope for is that The Avengers is a sea change, and not a sea change in the fact that there are LCSs sprouting up all over the place, but just enough that my local ones don't close down and I don't have to drive an hour and half just to pick up my comics which is purely reptilian.

[evaD]

LOL! I don't know. I know nothing about Avengers Assemble. Is it the answer to the question you posed ("What would someone go out and buy after seeing the Avengers?")?

If it is the answer, and if it's basically what I described above, then I think it's a good idea but apparently, they only fought half the battle. Is there anything in theaters, previews or the movie itself that points viewers to that comic? At this point, if they're genuinely interested in getting movie-goers to become comics readers, it's probably not enough to take the "if you build it, they will come" approach. They need to make that comic and create awareness of it among the movie audience.

 

It occurs to me that even if Avengers Assemble is movie based and in stores and movie fans happen to go looking for a comic, how are they going to know which Avengers title to pick up? I wouldn't  have known and I'm not part of the population we're talking about, I know where my lcs is, already buy comics, and pay attention to comic news.

[Dean S.]

It occurs to me that even if Avengers Assemble is movie based and in stores and movie fans happen to go looking for a comic, how are they going to know which Avengers title to pick up? I wouldn't  have known and I'm not part of the population we're talking about, I know where my lcs is, already buy comics, and pay attention to comic news.

And....I think issue 2 came out a few weeks ago.  Why not either (a) have the first issue come out opening weekend or (b) release it around the holidays so the trade is ready opening weekend.  So, if a comic fan DID go to the LCS and DID find the appropriate movie tie-in, they'd have to hope there were leftover #1s still on the shelf. 

I don't know what they were thinking.

It's like stupid people run this business. 

[RickV]

Well I think there is an added problem with that in that people know when they are being marketed too and when they are being talked down to.

It is the same reason no actual kids enjoy the Marvel Adventures stuff they only get bought by nostalgic older fans. People want to read the pure cut not the marginalized product aimed at them because they are not in the know (I don't care who is on Avenger's Assemble that is what that book is.)

[JimN]

Well I think there is an added problem with that in that people know when they are being marketed too and when they are being talked down to.

It is the same reason no actual kids enjoy the Marvel Adventures stuff they only get bought by nostalgic older fans. People want to read the pure cut not the marginalized product aimed at them because they are not in the know (I don't care who is on Avenger's Assemble that is what that book is.)

That may be true for some people but not everybody. There are certainly ways to address that issue if market research indicates that it's truly problematic.

[Planck length]

It occurs to me that even if Avengers Assemble is movie based and in stores and movie fans happen to go looking for a comic, how are they going to know which Avengers title to pick up? I wouldn't  have known and I'm not part of the population we're talking about, I know where my lcs is, already buy comics, and pay attention to comic news.

yeah it very hard to just pick up a book. not that you need a jumping on point but is secret avengers for you if you liked avengers? or might avengers? or etc...

unless they came out with a The Avenger OGN or etc...that says "based on the motion picture" or "inspired the motion picture" i cannot see large jump in sales.

[aelfinn]

unless they came out with a The Avenger OGN or etc...that says "based on the motion picture" or "inspired the motion picture" i cannot see large jump in sales.

this is exactly what they should do w/the release of each film... or at least do a trade of reprints that would make for a good starting point... market it to the film crowd.

[JimN]

It's not rocket science, guys. It's as simple as advertising the comic you're trying to sell and creating awareness among the target consumer base. That's not always an easy thing to do but with Marvel Studios movies, Marvel is presumably in a position to do it pretty easily. If they wanted movie-goers to seek out Avengers Assemble after seeing The Avengers movie, a simple spot accompanying the movie that showed the comic book cover and informed people about how to buy it would let them know specifically what they were seeking and where to get it. The book could feature further info on the cover to let people know it's the comic they want if they enjoyed the movie and are looking for more. That info can easily be conveyed to online shoppers too.

It's as simple as creating awareness and informing people in simple, hard-to-miss ways. That can be a difficult challenge for a small company or indie comics creator but when Marvel is making both the movie and the comics, it really shouldn't be hard.

Jim

[Dean S.]

Marvel is presumably in a position to do it pretty easily.

Why not just do product placement in the movie itself with some Avengers reading material?  How hard would it be to have Thor reading a comic and laughing and how "Earthmen perceive heroes".  Fans would seek it out.

Remember how everyone went to read the books that Sawyer read on Lost?

[RickV]

That is a bit different though because ABC & LOST weren't gonna make any money from people going out to read those books.

Besides it is probably illegal to product placement directly for the product the movie is about, the same way laws were passed in the 80s so that you couldn't air Transformers toy commercials in the middle of the Transformers animated series and so on.

[Dean S.]

That is a bit different though because ABC & LOST weren't gonna make any money from people going out to read those books.

Besides it is probably illegal to product placement directly for the product the movie is about, the same way laws were passed in the 80s so that you couldn't air Transformers toy commercials in the middle of the Transformers animated series and so on.

Really?  There are laws around that?  Networks (actually probably the producers) get paid all the time for product placement within shows.  Like Hyundai surely paid a lot of money to have their vehicles appear in The Walking Dead.  I'd just never heard of the Transformers thing.  Was it some kind of antitrust thing where someone was trying to link the TV show with sales of advertising spots?  I tried to google it and got nothing.

[JimN]

Really?  There are laws around that?  Networks (actually probably the producers) get paid all the time for product placement within shows.  Like Hyundai surely paid a lot of money to have their vehicles appear in The Walking Dead.  I'd just never heard of the Transformers thing.  Was it some kind of antitrust thing where someone was trying to link the TV show with sales of advertising spots?  I tried to google it and got nothing.

I don't remember much about it but I seem to recall there was some talk about children potentially confusing the ads and the show's content, thinking the former were part of the latter. I imagine the FTC has info available online regarding this sort of thing if you really wanted to dig for it.

[RickV]

Really?  There are laws around that?  Networks (actually probably the producers) get paid all the time for product placement within shows.  Like Hyundai surely paid a lot of money to have their vehicles appear in The Walking Dead.  I'd just never heard of the Transformers thing.  Was it some kind of antitrust thing where someone was trying to link the TV show with sales of advertising spots?  I tried to google it and got nothing.

I think it changes when you start to get to lower age demographic shows and content. Children's Cartoons are a special case, also this film being a PG film I could see that being an issue.