Comments on: Stop the Presses! (For really real, this time.) http://www.popcultureshock.com/stop-the-presses-for-really-real-this-time/41803/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:46:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez http://www.popcultureshock.com/stop-the-presses-for-really-real-this-time/41803/comment-page-1/#comment-83909 Guy LeCharles Gonzalez Sun, 20 May 2007 12:57:28 +0000 http://www.popcultureshock.com/stop-the-presses-for-really-real-this-time/41803/#comment-83909 Based on the interview, Leong isn't really filling the niche between Wizard and TCJ, like LoFi attempted to do (and UVC, to a more focused degree, though much closer to Wizard than TCJ), but is actually trying to create a new one that takes the general interest template of an Esquire or Wired and applying it to the comics scene. It's an interesting concept, but not one I think can work in print, or at least not on the small scale he seems to be aiming for. From an advertising perspective, I don't see Marvel or DC being interested in any significant way unless his circulation is more than 50,000; most indie publishers don't have the marketing budgets to do any serious advertising outside of Previews (which is a whole <a href="http://www.loudpoet.com/comics/labels/Monday.html" rel="nofollow">'nother discussion</a>); and the mainstream publishers with graphic novel imprints don't do much advertising for their titles. There may be a few general interest brand marketers out there who'll throw a little money CF's way, but again, unless his circulation is over 50,000 or he gets hooked into an ad network, there's not much potential there, either. Oh, and before charges of "sippin' the haterade" get thrown in my direction again, I should point out that I've worked in magazine publishing for nearly 15 years and CF's situation is purely an intellectual exercise for me, an offshot of the <a href="http://www.loudpoet.com/comics/labels/Monday.html" rel="nofollow">Marketing Monday</a> series of columns I did earlier this year. I don't know Leong or his contributors and bear them no ill will. In theory, I support the sentiment behind Comic Foundry; in practice, as I've said several times already, I simply don't think it's ready for prime time. It's an opinion, mine, but last I checked, it's still legal to have and express an opinion, popular or not. Based on the interview, Leong isn’t really filling the niche between Wizard and TCJ, like LoFi attempted to do (and UVC, to a more focused degree, though much closer to Wizard than TCJ), but is actually trying to create a new one that takes the general interest template of an Esquire or Wired and applying it to the comics scene. It’s an interesting concept, but not one I think can work in print, or at least not on the small scale he seems to be aiming for.

From an advertising perspective, I don’t see Marvel or DC being interested in any significant way unless his circulation is more than 50,000; most indie publishers don’t have the marketing budgets to do any serious advertising outside of Previews (which is a whole ‘nother discussion); and the mainstream publishers with graphic novel imprints don’t do much advertising for their titles. There may be a few general interest brand marketers out there who’ll throw a little money CF’s way, but again, unless his circulation is over 50,000 or he gets hooked into an ad network, there’s not much potential there, either.

Oh, and before charges of “sippin’ the haterade” get thrown in my direction again, I should point out that I’ve worked in magazine publishing for nearly 15 years and CF’s situation is purely an intellectual exercise for me, an offshot of the Marketing Monday series of columns I did earlier this year. I don’t know Leong or his contributors and bear them no ill will.

In theory, I support the sentiment behind Comic Foundry; in practice, as I’ve said several times already, I simply don’t think it’s ready for prime time. It’s an opinion, mine, but last I checked, it’s still legal to have and express an opinion, popular or not.

]]> By: Jon Haehnle http://www.popcultureshock.com/stop-the-presses-for-really-real-this-time/41803/comment-page-1/#comment-83822 Jon Haehnle Sun, 20 May 2007 05:06:07 +0000 http://www.popcultureshock.com/stop-the-presses-for-really-real-this-time/41803/#comment-83822 Despite all this, it seems Tim has since talked to a few different publishers about carrying the magazine, which would be a good thing if it happened as it would take some of the burden on that end off Tim and give him more time to concentrate on creating the actual product. On the one hand I envy Tim as, over the years, there's always been the idea of doing a PCS print mag, so it's cool to see someone trying to fill that hole in between Wizard and TCJ (RIP lo-fi?) -- but on the other hand, publishing is no easy feat, so I don't envy him the uphill nature of the struggle. Nevertheless I do root for CF just like I root for UVC to succeed. Despite all this, it seems Tim has since talked to a few different publishers about carrying the magazine, which would be a good thing if it happened as it would take some of the burden on that end off Tim and give him more time to concentrate on creating the actual product.

On the one hand I envy Tim as, over the years, there’s always been the idea of doing a PCS print mag, so it’s cool to see someone trying to fill that hole in between Wizard and TCJ (RIP lo-fi?) — but on the other hand, publishing is no easy feat, so I don’t envy him the uphill nature of the struggle.

Nevertheless I do root for CF just like I root for UVC to succeed.

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