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Over the years the ability of a title to actually be put out on a regular monthly schedule seems to have become a crapshoot. After the recent news regarding the delay of Civil War #4 (and even bigger delays of the following issues) I am once again wondering what the expectation is regarding titles coming out on a regular basis. Is it really that difficult? It used to be done quite normally when I was a kid, what is the big deal now? Obviously I'm out the outside, and I'm actually fairly sure that any attempts to understand what the heck the problem is would only result in my head exploding due to the numerous idiotic rationalizations I would receive from various companies and individuals. So, I'll concentrate on the idea of, "Is it worth it?" when this stuff happens.
First off let me say that I don't need a title to be "monthly" in order to enjoy it. I don't mind if it's monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or annually, but my not minding largely hinges on one important factor . . . BEING TOLD! Imagine that, actually wanting to have an idea of when the things I plan on purchasing, and/or have ordered, are expected to be released.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't pop a gasket every time an issue of a title comes out late. I can excuse it once in a while, especially if I know I'm going to get a quality book. The problem is that there aren't a lot of titles out there right now that could "earn" such understanding from me. The Astonishing X-Men and Ex Machina could, but those are books that I've come to expect a certain level of quality from, and if they need to be delayed a bit for me to receive it, then I'll sit back and wait for the next issue to surprise me with its arrival. Rising Stars on the other hand was a debacle and I only finished out the series to have the complete run. I really didn't care about the title for the last few issues. So, the question I think most would have for me at this point is, "Are you understanding of what's happening with Civil War?" My answer? No.
Once again this comes back to the idea of, "Is it worth it?" Can I deal with the delay of this title (and others getting caught up in the problem) if the quality is worth it? Yes, I could but this whole situation taps on my two of the biggest issues I have when dealing with people. My first issue is that I don't like being lied to, my second is that I don't like being treated like I'm stupid. Right now everything Marvel has put out there regarding the delay of Civil War tells me that they are doing both of those things to all of us.
Civil War has been planned for quite some time, and it's supposedly been well knit into the other titles it crosses into because of how much it's supposed to change things in the Marvel Universe. Well, it hasn't changed one thing, and that's how those who make decisions at Marvel do so. I'm sorry but I don't buy for a second that this thing came out of the blue, or that it was unexpected. I think this problem, or its potential has been known for a while and Marvel figures that now that we're all into the story and want to see how it goes we'll pretty much be willing to take whatever we're told.
Well, they're right. We will suck it up, because that's what we do. We'll take our title delays because comic companies are too busy being every new hot writer and artist's bitch rather than remembering that they're the companies that own the properties (mostly) that these guys want to get their hands on. Then, when the comic companies are done playing the role of the bitch they'll turn around and make us play it since they don't have the testicular fortitude (as Stewie Griffin would say) to put the people that they pay in their place.
Now, I'll say this so that I don't seem like a complete ass (mostly is OK). I am not a writer or an artist. I do not know what pressures go into those specific careers or what all expectations are thrown upon them. However, I am someone who does work for a living and has a number of different jobs. My attitude about my jobs though is simple; I do the best that I can in order to bring the best service I can to whoever is paying for it. Marvel is not giving us the best service we are paying for, and the people who can't turn out work regularly (written or drawn) for Marvel aren't giving them the best service they're paying for. If irregular work is the all those folks can do then they need to find titles or other lines of work that allow them such freedom. I for one am getting sick of this overall delay problem. The comic book industry has enough problems as it is, and in the long run I see this as just being another nail in the coffin of this entire hobby as it currently exists.
Of course we all know that we're going to get angry. We're gonna give our comic book stores grief (even though they're probably more unhappy than us since their expected revenue is getting delayed), Marvel won't give a rip or actually apologize for their lack of preparedness, and we'll gobble up the titles when they do actually come out. Then we'll forget it all happened. Then, down the road, a new "major event" will kick off and like clockwork we'll start the whole cycle over again. Maybe comic readers don't deserve any consideration, I'll have to think on that.
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