Gender: Male Location: Welfare Kingdom of California
Delays...what is your take?
Personally...
I think that when Marvel or DC delay books is because they don't get the story straight or they're completely disorganize with the schedules or with continuation in other books. Both FC and SI have gotten their delays...also the Batman R.I.P. gets delay for who knows what reason.
...the fact that delays are routine makes me believe it's just part of the business. Like how "release dates" for video games are more hopeful guesstimates than precise dates. Those familiar with the vg industry don't even get phased by them anymore.
You've seen the phalanxes of teams they put together for each issue. Frankly, I wonder how they manage to produce weekly stories like 52 or Countdown at ALL.
So I'm never happy with delays, but where exactly are we going? I'll be here in 2 months for the next RIP issue, or a delayed Authority arc, or etc. etc. I can wait, and will still have a minimum of 2-3 comics to buy when I stop in my shop on Wednesday, even if it's a slow week.
Adam Kubert blames his rep for delays, on the demands for quality art these days. I know it's not the same as the old newsprint days, with the quality paper copy and the digital inking & colouring the norm now; but still...
Don't quite buy it. There are fast artists and artists who...take more time.
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"I'm not smart so much as I am not dumb." - Harlan Ellison
I think it has a lot to do with the art being so much more detailed then it was 10-20 years ago. As an illustration student, most of the time I end up drawing / painting for upwards of 12 hours a day on top of class and studio time just to get my weekly projects in... and I always end up rushing to finish them. I've gone days with out sleep to meet my dead lines, and I've never had to do anything nearly as demanding as a 28 page monthly comic... I can only imagine how much work is on the shoulders of the penciler of a monthly comic.
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Play League of Legends for free and reference me - GentlemanZombie - when you join
I think we as a customer just have to ask ourselves is it worth it?
Two Examples;
Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine - Not gonna buy it now. Far too long to come out and I've LOST my original interest in the storyline. Maybe I'll get it in trade in many years time when it's much cheaper (assuming it ever comes out) I may only be one person but that's still cost a sale. If most people take this attitude, Marvel can't afford it.
As for the Ultimates 2, I was interested enough in the concept to allow for delays. Plus each issue was soooooooo fantastic, it made the wait for the next one more bearable. Totally worth each purchase (Although if I hadn't bought each issue, I'd recommend readers buy the hardcovers as this is one of the best Marvel stories, ever.)
So in short, the issue for me is, does the story stand up to the delays in terms of quality and personal enjoyment?
Gender: Male Location: Welfare Kingdom of California
The thing is my good Digi is that I jump on other things...comic book delays don't help.
Ever since GTA: IV I lose track of comics...and delays make me lose interest. But since I already have my comics on order...they just sit there gathering dust. Even worse...I have Fallout 3 and Gears of War 2 coming out.
i personally don't mind the odd delay, but the debacle that was astonishing x-men was, imo, a disgrace, 3 to 4 months wait between issues? no thanks...
That's why I don't live for individual issues anymore - not since the 1990s. I buy the collected trades, or if the issues come in the prestige format. I've learned to wait. I distract myself with other things until a story I'm interested in is complete.
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"I'm not smart so much as I am not dumb." - Harlan Ellison
You lucky bastard! I'm getting my PS3 this Christmas along with GTA: 4 MGS 4 and I don't know what else right now. I just wish the games weren't 60 ****ing dollars a piece. I'm putting a nice little gaming nest egg aside, though.