Here's a weird one.
DC Comics has announced that all 52 of September's #1 issues will be bound together in a single hardcover collection just in time for the holidays.
While we can look forward to collections of the opening arcs of each series, maybe you just want a 1216 page omnibus of just the first issues coming out in September?
I had to read the Source Blog's press release twice before I realized I wasn't on The Onion. I'm sure there is a market for this book. I could not for the life of me tell you who that person is. Theoretically it's a sampler. But a 1200 page sampler? That said, we do love choice and it's exciting that the publisher is experimenting with multiple purchasing options for every conceivable consumer.
The book, DC COMICS: THE NEW 52 retails for $150 and debuts on December 7th.
There has been no announcement at this time regarding similar collections of the second and third issues of each series.
As an alternative, DCBS has already bundled all 52 #1 issues for just south of $80 if you go the mail order route. You won't get them all at once or even the same day as comic shops, but you would end up with each of those #1s as individual issues at a 50% discount. Thanks to Jeff Reid for the tip on this promotion.
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I get what they’re trying to do here. Obviously if someone is interested in the new universe, give them the entire universe on a platter…..or in this case a hardcover.
But I never liked the idea of putting #1 issues into a trade and only #1 issues. So definitely not for me.
In the time it took for this page to load, I laughed, then I thought, “Actually, this might be a smart move,” then I I thought about it more, then I laughed again. Who is this for!?
Unless all 52 issues are one-and-done stories, this collection is genuinely mystifying.
…Are they fucking kidding us?
This is for everyone who bought the giant History of DC Taschen book that needed handles to carry, and those who buy Absolute editions.
This isn’t about the stories, it’s about the collectors market.
I’m already putting a bet on this:
Over or under: 100 pulls on ifanboy when it’s on the pull list?
My money is on over.
At first I thought this was a pretty savvy marketing move–a great Christmas gift to introduce anyone to the world of DC comics that would allow people to discover the new DCU and lead them to search out their LCS or the DC App and get caught up with the next few issues of whatever books they liked. Then I saw the price tag. Who is this for??
A way smarter idea would’ve been separate books for each of the sub-universes–a Superman family book, a Batman family book, a “Dark” book, an “Edge” book, etc. Then you’ve got a $20-40 gift book to interest new and returning readers that would actually be given as a gift by normal people instead of a $150 behemoth.
As a fervent missionary for the way of the comic this seems like it may actually work for me. It will be like a comics Bible (albeit one that only references one side of the die) that I can hand off to someone and see where they go from there. Justice League doesn’t strike them, then maybe Stormwatch or I, Vampire will, and from there I can blast off 20 other titles they should check out depending on what direction they go.
Basically this seems like a good calibration tool for new comic readers.
@Kamilo Only if you want to calibrate how weak their arms are
1216 pages, and a cliffhanger on every 20th page. Man that’s like pure reading hell.
So are they gonna do an omnibus for issue #2?
@mrlogical They’re probably going to do that as well in addition to trades for individual series.
I’m all for big collections, but because I can get complete stories from them. Plus, by December, couldn’t I get all these cheaper digitally?
Um, what? I LOVE giant hardcovers… but mostly because I get one awesome story in one awesome book. This just seems like nonsense. 1216 pages of unrelated stories with widely varying quality in both writing and art? I’ll pass. Let me know when they’ve put together 1216 pages of Grant Morrison’s Batman.
i ahve to agree with @areyouthatguy. this isnt a sampler, this isnt for new readers, this isnt anything except a nice collectible for a historic event. 1 month that changed comics (if it does in fact change comics) all in one volume, with a hefty price tag and if its as well made as the absolutes, it will be a gorgeous book. im sure it will get only 1 printing and become a sought after item on the secondary market.
Sounds like it would be a good book. DC should do a digital launch bundle promo with the 52 1st issues for 52 bucks.
@TheNextChampion Under. Way under. I’d be willing to bet you a copy of this book that it’s under. Except I realized I don’t particularly want a copy of this book even if I win the bet.
@Duraflametree
You can get them all cheaper the week the come out if you’re trying hard enough. I’ve found as low as $80 for all 52, in print versions.
I agree with those that think this is clearly for the (existing) collector’s market. Viewed as a time capsule of sorts, in ten years, it will be interesting to open this book and look back to see what stuck and what didn’t.
@mrlogical I like that idea. I had just thought of doing multiple volumes but breaking it into the “families” like that is a great idea!
All COLLECTed editions are for the COLLECTors market hehe. I’m not interested in it but there will be some for sure.
It’s not for me, but I think that this is a fairly interesting idea. It may not be the best idea, but it’s interesting. I think it will mainly be diehard collectors purchasing this one.
As for the DCBS New 52 Special, I would like to mention that Things From Another World (TFAW) is also running pretty much the same package, which I intend to capitalize on as soon as possible.
This book is being released on Pearl Harbor Day. There’s a joke in there somewhere…
@s1lentslayer That sounds true but isn’t. Plenty of readers prefer collected editions for a number of reasons.
Yeah, a boutique item all the way. I wonder what sort of special digital version will they sell come Christmas time?
It hadn’t occured to me before but a potentially neat thing about digital is less details in the 3 month advance solicits. A publisher doesn’t have to tease a story or plot-point 3 months in advance to get a store to order extra copies.
To that end…DC could choose to include less and less information in their solitics to Diamond next year to put the mystery back in their books. This could hurt their print sales but if the D&D digital catches on, those sales may absorb it. And we may be genuinely surprised for a change.
They’re not aiming this at regular comics fans. They’re aiming it at those who buy presents for regular comics fans — people who don’t know much about comics. They’ve heard about the DC reboot on the news, they need a present for a comic reader, they see the $150 price tag and the siza of the book (“over a thousand pages of funny books, wow!”), and they whip out their credit cards.
If this isn’t something you’d buy for yourself, start practicing your phony smile and sincere-sounding expression of gratitude, in case one shows up under your tree (or wherever). Cheer up, you can always unload it on eBay for half price in a month or so.
@meerkatdon I don’t think that’s true, though they will certainly be hoping for that. This seems to be pretty clearly aimed at the hard core DC fan.
Thanks for the phone book, Bob Harras!
Choices, choices. $125 for the awesome Simonson Thor omnibus, or $150 for a collection of random JT Krul & Rob Liefeld #1 issues. Hmmmm. This is a tough one.
I got one bet from @LucasEwalt! Who wants to make this interesting!?
Absolutely pointless but I love huge books so sold lol
I might buy this just so I can have another possible murder weapon within reach.
Odd. Very odd.
@WallyGM Someone’s obviously never read a Terry Goodkind book.
Cunning plan: Just get the DCBS deal and some scotch tape. SAME THING.
Obviously a hardcore collectors item. Not for me but, as RolandofGilead said, any book you can actually bludgeon someone to death with is OK with me.
Just weird. Unless everyone of these #1’s is a one-shot or written in a one and done format, this would be a humongously annoying book. Until we get DC #2’s Hard Cover in the January solicit. I can see a reinforced shelf waiting for my 2012 DC Hard Covers.
I like this. a lot. You get the first issue to literally the entire dc universe, and have ever issue since and future at your disposal digitally, available whenever you wish. a step in the right direction.
If this is aimed at the hardcore fan who needs it all, this thing is perfect.
If its to give people a sample of the world and saying “Come back for more or try other products” This should be done like an Essential or Showcase. Black and white, newspaper style.
@Jurassicalien Casual readers would be repulsed by a black and white newsprint collection.
I want them to compile all of the #7’s in a hardcover. It’d only be around $30, I think. Much more exciting to me and only the best of them would make it…plus the ones they print regardless.
Does that mean we would get 52 – 6 page add for Subway sandwiches in the book, too, only adding 300 more pages , what a bargin!
@PaulMontgomery – I’d also think that casual readers would be repulsed by a $150 price tag.
I think it’s safe to say that nothing about a $150 omnibus is intended for a casual audience. I am continued to be absolutely baffled at to who the intended target is for this odd item.
@j206 Serious collectors and fans.
I’m planning on going all digital that month forward, so if I like what I see with each book I do buy, then I will be interested in the hardcover.
@conor – Yeah. The price makes that an absolute and non-negotiable fact.
Are there that many people who fall into that category who are going to be interested in an omnibus that at best will be a mixed bag in terms of quality? Typically $100+ collections are reserved for things that readers and collectors hold dear to their heart. Obviously there is the collector market that doesn’t follow much reason. But it’s generally rather small. I’m guessing the print run on this won’t be crazy huge.
Does anyone else think this seems just a little over the top self-congratulatory by DC? As in, “Well, people are definitely going to want to own piece of history, here. They’re going to want to have a copy of how we changed the industry.”
Couldn’t they have put together a giant “First Appearances” Omnibus collecting all the introductory Silver Age (or even Golden Age) appearances of characters and see how that goes over/sells before announcing this thing? I’d put down $150 easy for either one of those books.
@LucasEwalt –i’ll see that and raise you that its a bit of a reverse psychology kinda thing. Like DC is trying to say “every #1 issue from this reboot is so epic and awesome, it deserves to be in an Omnibus format”. Its the comics version of a coach or player “guaranteeing” a championship in the pre-season.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea and could be great for the DC fan. Now, if I spent that much money and DC reverts to the old universe in couple of years, I will stab someone in the face with a soldering iron.
@Curlibusj I forgot about the Subway ads! I changed my mind, I’m in!
Wonder if Rick could use this giant tome to kill a zombie in Season 2 of The Walking Dead…
I have no problem with this except for one thing…December????
By the time this comes out every issue will be hitting #4 or #5 right? This is pointless
The fact that someone even thought of this is chilling — rather than trying to buttress the digital strategy, DC is going to waste money, time, and paper to create ANOTHER analog artifact? Collecting aside, this seems like backward strategy.
@WilliamKScurryJr — i don’t think there is anything wrong with the artifact….i think the world needs print, but i hope that digital changes how we approach print….really think about making things that are worthy of and meant to be kept forever instead of just churning out cheap stuff. If anything i think we need more high quality collected editions and less low quality monthly floppies.
52 number 1 issues all not related story wise for about 1200 pages with a SRP of about$150?
Does anyone at DC take a look at the current state of the economy, job market and how people are spending their entertainment dollars?
I REALLY want to see a follow up article in 6-8months showing the print run and how many units sold! mindboggling
To bad Borders is going under, as this would have been the perfect item for one of their occasional 50% coupons. Oh well.
I’d like to have this one for posterity’s sake, but it’s a little high on the price side for a novelty collection.
I can’t wait to find this in the bargain books at Barnes and Nobles, right next to “Sushi for Beginners” and “Marly and Me.”
i think this will have a solid showing, not unlike absolutes. im sure it wont have a large initial print run. if this relaunch works well for dc, sept 2011 will be a key month in comics hostory and this volume shows why.
if it doesnt it will be dumped at cons for 50% off or more
i think this is a bone being thrown to the retailers
@mikegraham6 —“hey here’s something really expensive, takes up a lot of space, is easily damaged and will take you 8 months to sell…because we love you guys.” =p
Just price a reprint of the first issues at a buck a book and you can skip the hardcover, plus I can skip all the Superman/Batman & Wonder Woman titles. It might be worth twenty bucks.
Collecting comics has no value anymore… we’re all readers…. why not make a digital offering of the whole 52 at .99 per issue… I could wait for that to be released later on… I mean, a grown man like me has no business with a $150 comic book… I dont care how many pages it has!!