If
Defiant Comics were brought back again, how would YOU like to see them return???
- Continuation of the original series numbering titles?
- Hardcover collections of original completed story arcs with remastered coloring?
- Re-release/Reprints of all the monthly issues with number one issues (along with new covers/coloring or "Director's cut" edition with creative team commentary)
- All new "Volume 2" title relaunches with continuations of already plotted stories and small intros of what came before....
- And would you like to see future
"Warriors of Plasm" books re-named just simply as
"Plasm" like it was originally intended?
;D
If the reprint material were available...
I think I would want to see a "new" prequel story first. The audio tape has the back story. They could expand upon that and provide more content by which to launch the origin again. This would give everyone something to buy without being annoyed that it wasn't a reprint. Once the back story was told/retold with new art, they could release some double sized reprint comics alongside maybe one new series. Think "director's cut" with extra text content, interviews, etc. . It would be important to get consecutive numbering & progression first. The collectors need to be inspired to buy monthly series. The numbering would pull completists in. Making doubleisized squarebound issues it would take about 7 months to reprint Plasm. It would take about 6 months to reprint Dark Dominion. 5 months to reprint Good Guys. During this time they could work on finishing and/or improving Schism.
I would continue to call it Warriors of Plasm etc. I'd create a new logo to prevent any potential lawsuits. I might even do a feature about the history of the tower logo on past comics and/or fanzines to promote/honor or iron out any disputes Terry Hooper might have over Defiant using it in the past. Maybe show the Tower Comics logo etc. Ignoring disputes will just polarize opinions. Validating the existence and moving past that will earn the new publisher more respect.
I would make them more than just straight forward comics. I would make them a hefty read that was informative. I might even include full in depth interviews with the creators about things they've worked on at other companies. Maybe an X-Men fan would buy it to read commenbts Jim is making about X-Men. I would look back to the way comics were made in the 50's and 60's. I might introduce new characters in one or two page text stories. I might reprint the Character bio's in the comics so people would not have to go back and buy the card sets. EC comics had text stories. 60's comics had backup features. There are a multitude of things that could be done with the reprint stuff to make it an added value over and above just buying back issues.
Once the "director's cut" reprints were done, then they could either keep printing the full range of titles they had in the 90's or scale them back into anthologies.
Key things I'd do...
1) Start with new, dynamic, and relevant content for anyone familiar with the previous comics.
2) Keep all published titles with consecutive numbering. Avoid "mini-series or stopping points for collectors.
3) Avoid TPB's or a reason for collectors to wait before purchasing product. When they do reprint... make them very special. Hardcover, leather bound, numbered & signed... whatever. Comics are only as valuable as collectors perceive them to be.
4) never discourage a collector or give them a reason to be dismayed or regret buying the product. Cater to their idiosyncrasies.
5) Don't try to ever 2nd guess collectors or anticipate what they want. Look at past practices that worked and ignore what people "think" needs to be done.
I would look at what worked for Valiant. As much trouble as it was... the coupon program worked! People bought two copies to have one and clip coupons on the other. The gold book incentive program worked in moderation. Don't overprint them Don't force retailer to buy 50 copies to get one. Make them free however they are dispensed.
I would work with comic shows across the country and get some very notable creators out to appear in areas they never visit. Example... Neal Adams never does an Atlanta show. Steranko is here every other year. Get the creators out there to the potential fans. Quit promoting the comics to the same people.
If for some reason War Dancer is not available. I would start with a countdown and focus around Dark Dominion. I would publish a high quality B&W series with halftones . I would start with either issue 10 or negative 10. I would release them either counting down (10 , 9 , 8 etc.) or counting up (-9, -8. -7 etc.) to a significant event with #0. #1 or #11 would start in color. The purpose would be to make #1 'NOT' the "first" book in the series when it's released. It would be to shake up the predictable nature collectors expect. I would probably create capsulated stories that could be read either forward or backwards. I'd plot out two stories going different directions and integrate them within a 10 issue range. It would be one of the most complex stories ever put into comics and the only thing I could compare it to in my mind is Pink Floyd's the Wall album that ends with the exact same music it starts with.
Perhaps I was inspired by the movie "The Red Violin" which uses both the past and the present to pull the story forward.
Q
