Nostalgia and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. Apparently, so do facsimile editions of comics and local comics shops
First of all, Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate the holiday! No matter what you enjoy this time of year, I hope it’s better than you can imagine!
Recently, though, I’ve been noticing just how many facsimile editions of classic comics have been arriving at local comics shops. In fact, there seems to be at least three comics publishers mainly producing one or two a month, and that is Marvel, DC, and IDW.
For instance, some of the noteworthy facsimile editions included The Incredible Hulk #181, X-Men #101, Batman #181, Batman #357, Giant–Size X-Men #1, Locke & Key #1, Omega Men #3, Wonder Woman (1987) #1, Rom #1, Micronauts #1, All-Star Comics #3, and Doom Patrol #99.
I know that New Teen Titans #1 is being reprinted very soon, and that does tempt me to pick one up! That book revolutionized my comics buying! I had pretty much stopped picking up comics on a regular basis until that book came out.
Then, too, I recently did buy the revised “death of Jason Todd” issue from the 1990s. You know, the new one with the “What If?” sort of story where Jason Todd survives the Joker’s pummeling him with a crowbar. It really wasn’t all that different, but he actually was alive when it ended! That counted for something!
There are several good reasons for comics companies to reprint popular issues. Fans who are collectors may not want to take their valuable versions of these issues out of storage to read them when the bug bites (bites you, not the paper, of course). Instead, they might want to have another version they can pull out and read without remorse (or fear of damaging their investment).
The current printing process can also make the artwork shine more appropriately than that original version did. Brighter paper stock, just one example, can make things more understandable and enjoyable than old newsprint did.
Not only that, but I always want to read that first issue in an important storyline! Otherwise, it just doesn’t make as much sense! Oh, I might be able to pick up most of what’s going on, but there are always bits and pieces that I could miss that may become important later on in the tale. I have read a conclusion that didn’t make as much sense until a friend pointed out that something that happened back in that debut issue was necessary to “get” what was taking place.
Also, curious fans who didn’t previously dive into this story may want to sample what all the hubbub has been about, so they buy that “special” issue. If the store owners are lucky, that fan may want more of that tale so he or she can get that trade collection or even dive into more stories featuring the character(s) involved. Believe it or not, I’ve had a few friends who did not get into the X-Men until they picked up a facsimile edition. Now they are headlong into the Merry Marvel Mutant Society!
So, your local comics shop has a vested interest in getting more and more fans interested in more and more franchises of stories! And facsimile editions are easy ways to bring the biggest and best stories to fans! They need to sell more to make sure they keep their doors open, a big Christmas present to all of us!
The companies printing these books can also be taking in more cash. Often the initial cost of a comic may be very low, but they can sell the facsimiles for current prices, anywhere from $3.99 and above. They also could have all the materials needed to print them already on hand, so they can make even more money! Hopefully, they are paying the creators something out of the income they are taking in, though I doubt it will be nearly as much as they were originally paid.
It’s hard to believe, but eventually, the comics that many shops will want to sell these facsimiles of will catch up. When that happens, it’s time to look at more recent offerings to “offer” again.
Of course, certain characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Batman, Superman, etc. will have a lot more to choose from than other heroes. And these facsimiles will likely sell better, too!
I don’t have my finger on the pulse of all of fandom, but just look at what certain creators have developed for fans to buy and read! When someone was at their peak, that’s when it’s good to bring forward those issues to return to the stands.
Right now, with the Titans taking over for the Justice League, it’s an ideal time to bring the aforementioned New Teen Titans #1 back. What has brought the team to their current standing? Well, pick up that facsimile edition and you will begin to understand!
And don’t tell DC, Marvel, or IDW (or any other company printing facsimiles), but reprinting books from creators who no longer work for them but have moved into creator-owned comics will also benefit those people as well! (Not that comics companies are quite that generous with their printing processes!) Scott Snyder immediately jumps to my mind, for example!
So, even though your local comics shops are closed today (being a big holiday and all), if you have friends and family who smartly gave you cards to use when you return there this week, you just might look over whatever facsimile comics are available to broaden your perspective on what is good on the stands (and even support your LCS when possible). It all helps the comics industry move forward!
Oh, and again I hope you are having a great holiday season no matter what you celebrate this time of year! May this be a “facsimile” Christmas to remember!
What do you think? Have you been buying many of the facsimile editions? If so, which ones have particularly interested you? Why? What other stories would you like to see reprinted and on the stands? Whatever your opinion, feel free to share it in the space below!
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Wayne Hall creates the Wayne's Comics Podcast. He’s interviewed Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Phil Hester, Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, David Petersen, Christos Gage, Mike Grell, and Matt Kindt. On this site each week, he writes his "Comics Portal" column (general comics comments and previews) and reviews comics.
1 Comment
I can see the appeal, especially when prices of old key issues have gone way beyond reach of most poeple. That said, I’d rather get a collection or trade paperback where I can get the full story, first key issue included.