Captain America #25 and a speculative chronology of events.
Mar 09So, after a conversation with my local comic shop dude, in which he filled me in on the general situation surrounding the ordering of copies of Captain America #25, I would like to present the following timeline.
– Comic shops have no idea that Captain America will die in issue #25 of his titular book. This means they buy normal amounts.
– The news of Captain America’s death hits before stores are even open to offer the comic. Accounts get their copy at cover price, but by the time most stores put it out on the shelves, it’s worth $20. Wizard is offering both covers for $34.99. Speaking of Wizard…
– Comic shops immeadiately put in orders for more. They are told there are none. Wizard has bought the rest. The two cover versions are put with a third, Wizard variant, given the 9.8 CGC treatment, and offered as part of Wizard’s Death of a Dream package deal to Wizard’s World LA next week.
– Within 24 hours, anybody with copies of the comic are selling them on Ebay. A few who thought to get the CGC treatment are offering them at 9.9 for a grand and up. There are, incidentally, nine pages of just Captain America #25 for sale. Nine. Pages. Meanwhile, Wizard announces a limit on ticket purchases, so “all fans have a chance to get their copy of this once in a lifetime issue.” Apparently, according to them, demand has “skyrocketed.” No shit.
– Meanwhile, Marvel, who sold Wizard all the remaining first printings isn’t telling Diamond, who in turn isn’t telling retailers, when there will be a second printing. Marvel, it seems, doesn’t give a shit if everyone has a chance to read this… at least not right now, when it’s hot and generating more and more buzz all the time.
Joe Quesada apparently doesn’t remember that the makers of the Star Wars toys got in on the market tinkering action, releasing one Boba Fett for every million R2-D2s, only to release him en mass later, equally pissing off both fanboy collectors with poor impulse control and every small child that just wants to play in the backyard. And it didn’t go well.
Oh well. I’m with Stephen Colbert. “First they came for the X-men…”
More Starbuckin'
Mar 08A few more thoughts and some speculation. I just can’t get enough. It’s all still SPOILERY if you haven’t seen “Maelstrom.”
WWCAD?
Mar 07
I’m surprised the internet hasn’t yet burst into flames after CNN started reporting the news about Captain America (and hours before any of us could or would normally pickup up our comics… y’dicks), but I’m sure by the end of the day that the buzz will be heavy and the yelling maddening.
But for all the discussion about to take place, I just have one thing to say, though it would be better to bring up something Joe Quesada said in an interview with CNN.
As originally conceived by creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Rogers was a man born before the Great Depression in a very different America. He disappeared after the war and reappeared only recently in the Marvel timeline. For a superhero many thought perfect, it was perhaps a fatal flaw for “Cap,” as he became known.
“He hasn’t been living in the modern world and the world does move,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.
Which is kind of creepy when you think about it. Where DC has Superman, Marvel’s Truth and Justice was the mantle worn by Captain America. Only, where Superman has died and come back fighting for it, Marvel’s march towards “the real” has resulted in Truth and Justice being killed by a bullet. Where Superman went down fighting to save the world, Captain America got double tapped while walking up some steps.
From here, it diverges into fanboyishness – The Punisher will take over. Bucky (you know, that other character from the depression, only this one kills) will take over. It’s a Nick Fury ruse, Cap will come back, God bless those Life Model Decoys*. But fuck that – I think it more important to take a look at what is the meaning of killing the man with the indestructable shield.
Civil War is over, the totalitarian side won, and Captain America is dead.
Doesn’t it all seem disturbingly dark to anyone else?
And I give it under 12 hours before Cory chimes in, and a 85% chance that he’ll be applauding it. Oh, who am I kidding – Doctrow doesn’t read Marvel comics.
*Nope. After picking up my comics and reading Captain America #25, Fury was up to something, but got beat to the punch.
On the Phone with Starbuck
Mar 06Via Katee Sackhoff Fans, here is Katee’s first interview since “Maelstrom” (with “Cort and Fatboy of KUFO.” I have no idea). Very SPOILERY if you have not seen the episode yet.
Now allow me some speculation that is also SPOILERY, behind the cut.
(clearing of throat)
Mar 02Dear Mark Millar,
Re: Your answer to the last question.
That better be British humour.
Love,
The video game industry.
