Marvel, Disney and the $1.99 Comic Book?

There was an amazing rumor that hit the internet last week. Well, an amazing comic rumor. anyway. We all know that Disney bought Marvel Comics recently. Shortly afterwards; amidst the rumors of Pixar Ant Man movies and Mickey Mouse/Spiderman crossovers came the rumor that Disney was seriously lowering the cost on new comics to $1.99. A price point we haven’t seen since the mid-1990s, the idea being to take a loss on the comics but get them in more people’s hands. More people reading comics, hopefully, translate to higher movie ticket and DVD sales, which is where the real money is. It’s an idea that I love, and not just because I’ll save a ton of cash each month. First of all, if Marvel lowered their cover price, DC would have to follow suit. I wouldn’t expect Dark Horse, Image or any of the smaller companies to do the same, but in theory, they wouldn’t have to. If the two companies that control more than 85 percent of the comic market combined lower their prices, that translates to most collectors saving a huge chunk of comic cash each month, which means more money to try new titles. Suddenly, everyone has an extra $4 laying around to checkout the new Jeff Smith book. Secondly, as a comic shop employee, I can tell you, it’s a lot harder to get some one to try out a $4 comic than one that costs $2. At one point in the ’90s there were millions of people reading comics and they haven’t disappeared. They just can’t justify the expense.

Here’s a list of the comics I’ll be picking up this Wednesday, Sept. 16. For a full list of comics shipping this week click here. To find a comic shop near you click here.

Action Comics #881
Agents of Atlas #11
Amazing Spider-Man #605
Batgirl #2
Batman and the Outsiders #22
Batman and Robin #4
Batman: Streets of Gotham #4
Beasts of Burden #1 of 4
Blackest Night #3 of 8
The Brave And The Bold #27
Captain America: Reborn #3 of 5
Dark Avengers #9
Dark Reign: The List: Daredevil
Dark Wolverine #78
The Invincible Iron Man #18
The Lone Ranger #18
Mighty Avengers #29
Punisher #9
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1
X-Factor #48

Thoughts on the pile: There’s a lot of Bat-books on this week’s list and I’m starting to wonder if I need them all. I recently passed on Streets of Gotham #3 only to hunt it down a week later and enjoy reading it. Batgirl gets one more issue to grab me; I still say Cassandra was a more compelling character. Bat’s and the Outsiders is another title that’s beginning to lose me. It just feels a bit directionless but then again, outside of the Superman titles what in the DCU doesn’t feel that way at present. I love Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson and fully expect to love Beasts of Burden. Besides, there’s a pug in the book (I have two pugs and yes, I’m a total pug-dork). I was disappointed in Straczynski’s Red Circle one-shots but think he’ll really shine on the Brave And The Bold. I can’t comment on the Dark Reign: The List titles as I haven’t read the first installment yet, I know; credibility destroyed, but I’ll be buying them all blindly and not worrying about it at all. Dark Wolverine, while being woefully titled, is a really fun read. I would have never guessed I’d be so happy with a title about Wolvie’s son Daken (I like to pronounce it Dokken) written by Daniel Way. Still loving Remender’s Punisher although I don’t think it’s the best use of Huat’s pencils. I will buy the new Moon Knight title the same way I buy every new Moon Knight title but I’m not kidding myself here. On the very slim chance that I do like the book I’m sure it’ll be canceled by issue #9.

Speculator Picks of the Week:

These are three comics that could sell out very quickly and end up demanding premium prices on the back issue market. Some will be hot for the next two weeks while others will sell at ridiculous prices for the foreseeable future.

The Brave And The Bold #27: DC

The Brave And The Bold

Solicitation: The wait is over as J. Michael Straczynski arrives on The Brave And The Bold! First up, the best-selling scribe pairs Batman and… Dial H For Hero? Robby Reed and his grandfather thought their brief visit to Gotham City would go smoothly until one of Gotham’s petty thieves made the score of the century in the form of Robby’s H-Dial! Batman’s on the case, but The Joker’s crime wave has the city in a panic, and the power of the H-Dial has had a very unexpected effect on the hood who stole it. The choices he makes could change his life—and Robby’s—forever! Features the stunning art of Jesus Saiz (OMAC PROJECT)!

32 PGS
$2.99 US
JUL090197
Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Pencils by Jesus Saiz.

Why it’ll go fast: Since the announcement of JMS coming to DC this is the title we’ve been waiting to read. I’ll give you, the Red Circle one-shots were not great, but this is going to be worth picking up. When given free out-of-continuity reign JMS is at his best. Besides, it’s been quite a while since we’ve had a good Dial H for Hero story.

Dark Reign: The List: Daredevil: Marvel Comics

Dark Reign: The List: Daredevil

Solicitation: After the shocking events of Daredevil 500, Norman Osborn’s eyes turn to Hell’s Kitchen—and he doesn’t like what he sees. Now Osborn dispatches the only assassin he can rely on to kill Daredevil—Bullseye—but all is not as it seems. It’s a fight that’s been brewing for years… featuring the Daredevil debut of writer Andy Diggle, and the superstar talents of artist Billy Tan! Plus, a preview of Daredevil #501, Andy Diggle’s first issue of DD, and character designs! One-Shot/Rated T

$3.99 US
JUL090494
Written by Andy Diggle; Pencils by Billy Tan; Inks by Matt Banning; Cover by Justin Ponsor.

Why it’ll go fast: Dark Reign has had no trouble selling but add another colon and another title, “The List”, and it sells even better. The top-notch writing and penciling team of Andy Diggle and Billy Tan shouldn’t hurt either. Last week’s Dark Reign: the List: Avengers (count ’em, two colons) started the fire and will probably be the highest selling comic of September. The list DD promises to be just as shocking as Norman Osborne’s plot against Marvel’s heros continues.

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1: Marvel Comics

Vengeance of the Moon Knight

Solicitation: “Shock And Awe,” Part 1: Moon Knight is back in the Big Apple and looking to pick a fight with the man who chased him out of town in the first place: Norman Osborn. Freed of his demons and armed with an arsenal of incredible new weapons, Moon Knight is finally the hero he always aspired to be—taking out criminals with massive flair and throwing down the gauntlet to his old nemesis. Is Osborn ready for Round Two?

$3.99 US
JUL090555
Written by Gregg Hurwitz; Pencils by Jerome Opena; Cover by Leinil Francis Yu.

Why it’ll go fast: Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure this is Moon Knight vol. 5. It seems that Marvel just can’t get their knock-off-Batman (and I say that with nothing but love for the character) right. Is he deranged, depressed, just a jerk? Well Gregg Hurwitz is here to set the record straight. Moon Knight is done cutting off people’s faces and talking to himself (see Moon Knight vol. 4) and he’s back in the big apple. I can’t imagine a world where retailers go nuts and order stacks of this issue. By issue #4 people are going to be talking about Moon Knight and issue #1 will be long gone. Check it out people. Vengeance of Moon Knight is the Moon Knight series most likely to succeed.

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This Week in Geek is a weekly blog about new comics written by WorthPoint comic book Worthologist Matt Baum. Every Wednesday, Matt takes a look at the week’s new comics from a collector’s point-of-view and discusses which books may be hard to find in the near future and why. Make sure to click on the hot links for previews and more information on the comics, characters, story-lines and creators discussed here. Also, feel free to post your comments in the new “comments” section below, or you can follow him on Twitter, where he is always screaming about something nerd-related. Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint for free and post your comics in the “Ask A Worthologist” section. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.

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