Indie Comics Flop | BOOM! Studios Sell Out To PRH!
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- Опубліковано 4 сер 2024
- There were signs last week a major shakeup was about to happen at BOOM! Studios. We now know BOOM! decided to sell out to Penguin Random House and become a division of the world’s largest trade publisher. We're slowly watching the American indie comics scene fall apart. IDW, Valiant, Dark Horse and now BOOM! have all been acquired or experienced extreme financial hardships the past 5 years. Wes and Aaron Sparrow discuss Penguin Random House acquiring BOOM! Studios and why it's a bad sign for indie comic books. Indie comics flop, BOOM! Stuids sell out to PRH!
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#boomstudios #prh #comicbooks - Розваги
Wes you should do a video about the shortage of good writers in the industry. That's literally the main problem with the industry
There’s plenty of writers. The comic industry doesn’t want to work with them.
Not just they don't want to work with them, It is that they can no longer afford them. It has been building for years, a slow cycle of decline.
A small niche hobby started saving money by lowering the payment to the writers, artists, letters the whole group, or always kept it the same with no cost of living increase. The only ones willing to take this payment were activists that did not care about making a living from writing as long ad they got their message out, which in most cases were poor stories, which lowered sales, and around and around it went. The whole time they would not admit this was happening, everything is fine, sales are great never been better. Now it is at a point there can be no denial of it as there's no money left at all. Then stand there with a blank look like how could this have happened.
Comics doesn’t pay well enough when Marvel and DC don’t bring in a big enough crowd. Keeps the best indies from ever really getting a big audience. Lots of good writers writing books, they just rarely come to comics, unless they aren’t very good at writing books it seems.
The problem with the industry was that it never kept up with the times & technology.
It was hyper insular.
It ignored marketing.
It didn't pay attention to the sudden addition of demographics & retail lanes.
It tried pandering to overcompensate & failed.
The industry never put together a standards body with teeth & a vision.
Penguin Random House? When I was at Anime Expo I went to the Kodansha (manga) panel and found out that Random Penguin House distributes Kodansha comics.
Did comics publishers have NDAs back in the day? I’m curious if there are interviews with Jim Shooter or Paul Levitz giving the inside scoop on Marvel and DC. I know Kirby had a few choice words for Stan Lee 😂
I think Eric July's Rippaverse Comics is the only publisher holding NDA's over its employees.
Paul Levitz is a class act, he would never trash talk anyone. Shooter has a 6 hours interview here on youtube where he talks basically everything, look for it.
@@sonic31century1Not really, Mike Carlin is on NDA and some day he will talk about the Didio era.
Kirby called Stan Lee, "POYO!"
@@ascorvinus NDA’s typically depend on how high up at a publisher a person was, and the terms under which they left. Any IP business Carrie’s an NDA regarding the stories or IP to prevent leaks, spoilers, and people pulling shit like Mag’s “Superboy is Trans” crap in public. The IP is the company’s product and its value. Reasonable steps to protect and manage it are good business. Now for departing execs they will want to wherever possible extend that and bundle in a no disparagement clause. And they typically sweeten that via some benefit payout package.
I remember back in mid 2000's they offered me $10/pg to ink. I laughed at them.
Indies are the future in my opinion.It's very sad to see Boom in this state. I hope that the same don't happen to Dynamite,Titan and another indie publishers.
I appreciate online comics. Great writer wants to include my fan characters in a future installment. I doubt Marvel or DC would do that.
"Comics are booming!"
and not in the way they liked to be
You mean goes "Boom!" into pieces?
Yes, an implosion.
I think we are seeing Penguin Random House positioning itself to being the licensed comics publisher/producer foreither Marvel or DC. I cannot see why Disney or WBD keeps their comic publishing arm in house? Especially given how those businesses seem to produce nothing but embarrassment and gay fanfiction.
It could mean the REAL RETURN of multiverse for DC by them just licensing their characters and having all these stories he in different universes.
Do we need Superman and Wonder Woman and Batman and JSA and .. and .. in the SAME universe? That was the THING in 1961, when the reboot of the 1950s NECESSITATED it. It’s time to bring back the idea of these characters existing in their OWN universes the way it was originally:
Wonder Woman/green lantern/flash/JSA in their OWN universe ….
Superman in his OWN universe …
Captain Marvel in his OWN universe …
Batman in his OWN universe … etc …
I wouldn't be surprised if Robert Kirkman is also in talks to license DC Characters at this point. He has GI Joe, Transformers, Universal Monsters, and Lego
@@comicslinger there have been rumors that Boom is losing Power Rangers. Safe bet is they will be going to Skybound to join the G I Joe and Transformers Energon Universe. Hasbro like to keep their comic properties together.
So, probably means the new Jeff Lemire books will end up in trades and not floppies.
Does Lemire have a deal with Boom? I thought he was exclusive with Image?
I'd be ok with this.
@@bradfrederick1135Since Black Hammer, Lemire has never sign an exclusivity deal.
@@bradfrederick1135 He recently inked a 3 year deal with Boom! to write his first long ongoing series since Sweet Tooth. It is called Minor Arcana.
@@DrLynch2009 I looked into it yesterday. I guess he is publishing his Substack series’ Phantom Road and the Bone Orchard books through Image but not on an exclusive deal. He is doing a sequel to Royal City through Image as well.
Penguin Random House buying a comment company is similar to the old Western/DELL Comics model where the distibuter owns the comic book creative side, as well.
Really liked Kyle Higgins Power Rangers and Ryan Parrott Go Go Power Rangers, but that was quite a few years ago now. Feel like they haven't published anything that interesting for a while.
I feel the same way, Melissa Flores feels like a lesser version of the Power Ragers comics. Mat Groom hade more fun with the characters than Flores.
Flores' run has been almost as good. Super sucks to see it all come to an end.
I never bought a Boom Studio comic……ever.
Some of their Power Rangers stuff was fantastic.
And you missed Once & Future, Power Rangers, BRZRKR, A Vicious Circle, Origins, Klaus, Something is killing the children, Over The Garden Walls, TMNT vs Power Rangers, Crocodile Black. All of them are solid comics to read. In terms of story Quality Image & Boom smacks Marvel & DC.
Bzzk sucked. Just a bloody messy. Keanu Reeves hype
@@francoisdemorcy5084Poor man's Eternal Warrior.
Grace Randolph lmao!!!
Oh indeed. 😂
MARVEL/DC is a marketing expense for DISNEY and WBD, respectively. They don’t really count.
Everybody ELSE should seek to put their books in mass distribution outlets like WAL-MART or BARNES & NOBLES.
Didnt Penguin try to compete with Diamond a while back to be the main distributor for comics
Penguin planned to buy up all the comic distributors in Gotham City, until Batman stopped him.
SIKTC could still work as a streamer show, if the budget is kept reasonable + the writing honors the source material and is good af in its own right.
Klaus is awesome. I liked Once and Future as well but I admittedly fell off.
I’m particularly fond of Dan Mora’s work for Boom. I’m glad I recently snagged the final two volumes of Once and Future cheap as that series is now bound for the dustbin of history.
Dan Mora was discovered by Deron Bennett, who did lettering for Boom, and then Boom poached him from Deron.
Because their talented creators are “family.”
I want to see a TV series based on Dan Abnets "the hypernaturals"from 12 years ago.
Boom is ok penguin random house is ok
I wonder if they wanted Lumberjanes
Bahahahaha!
The Empty Man is a really interesting movie that was a Boom comic book. It's known very highly in horror movie circles. It was written by Cullen Bunn. The main problem is that it came out during the pandemic, so it wasn't seen by many in theaters. However, it has become a huge cult classic and has a lot of respect.
Awesome work guys
Well, shoot. I signed into the Lumberjames Kickstarter for my daughter. Hope they still fulfill it.
I guess part of the question is the value of the company/IP properties vs. the debt load acquired with the company. It's possible that PRH sees a couple of properties that if developed well could be the "cash cow" for this deal. Also it could be something of a consolidation move by PRH if they potentially see any other distributors looking to acquire during a period of weakness, betting that in the future they will get a sizable upside move on their purchase. WTF20. Hi Aaron!
I love siktc. Still a reliable read every month. Better than asm!!
I love the Amory Wars...I hope they finish the new run!
Thank you Wes and Aaron!
What do y’all forecast for Markosia Entertainment?
I guess those huge Power Rangers and BZKR kickstarters didn't carry Boom as far as they'd hoped...
I had an Editor ask me what "Let slip the dogs of war" meant
Yea this is an odd sale isn’t it, do they own any other company or is this their first purchase?
PRH has several different publishing brands they own. But this is their first comic book publisher.
They have been the main distributor for trade paperbacks for years. Any American comic stuff you see in a regular bookstore like Barnes & Noble went through them. Marvel switched to them for all distribution when they pulled out of Diamond after Covid. They are also the largest North American book publisher. With deep ties to Lucasfilm and Disney. The “Lucasbooks” imprint is actually PRH. I suspect they may be increasing their comic publishing assets as they and/or Disney may be looking for them to take over licensed publishing of Marvel.
Penguin random House has had a graphic Novels unit in one shape or another since 2010.
Mostly doing the distribution for manga & euro stuff.
In 2019 they rolled out a division for graphic novels. This is acquiring a label with some experience to run under that.
LumberJanes is ripe for a relaunch as prose novels & a new series. Brzrkr is a useful brand.
You're not seeing the forest for the trees. The era of the comic shop is done.
Hopefully Aaron is doing ok now ?
I’m doing great! It was a false alarm… but Boom didn’t wait to find that out.
I think the phrase is “shooting the breeze”. Lol
Indicator flag when Filip Sablik jumped ship
I'm surprised and had no idea at all that Grace Randolph worked on comics, it is shocking to me.
BOOM! had some books I enjoyed reading. But the "failed movie scripts" statement rings so true!!!! Most of the series I really enjoy from indie publishers seem to have that feel.
Hello!
Sux, another LA based company losing employees.
The west coast needs a conservative takeover
Love when sparrow is on the show
Man this better not fowl up my Usagi Power Rangers crossover
Also they have SiKtC and BRZRKR which is prime for some sort of adaption which is probably what they're banking on
Seems that fail up is in direct correlation with agenda, ideology and the absolute lack of any real talent available :(
Cuttin' the breeze, an shootin' the cheese :)
The best Elric is the one published by Glenat.
maybe a bit unfair but i kinda wrote boom studios off after seeing how they handled their buffy reboot.
That reboot had zero redeeming qualities after Dan Mora left. Buffy and Angel were both just junk from issue 1. Firefly by Greg Pak was readable but only barely. The best thing Boom did for Buffy was finish collecting the Library Editions that Dark Horse started.
Dynamite still chugging along with babes & Bond...
boobs=$$$
It depends if all of the IP carry over. Keanu Reeves BRZRKR is one of the better ones they have
It goes to show that milking MMPR to death, without having time for the preceded teams to shine.
Wow, terrible story that Aaron shared. Can see why he takes no prisoners when it comes to Boom.
Boom wanted money.
Can we get together and create our own Already I'm willing an Artist and Writer waiting.
Boom has published some good stuff. I’m surprised PRH didn’t buy IDW.
Boom is actually the better choice. They own far more original IP.
@@SparrowAaron oh no doubt, I just assumed IDW would be waaaay cheaper
IDW has too much debt
Klaus was decent. Too soft. Good art. Once and Future started off good and hat fell off at the end. Lost focus and less risks. Good art. Something is killing the children is ok.
PRH is a woke company so .... save that hope for something else
Your guest seems incredibly bitter
When it comes to Boom, rightly so.
There’s also the irredeemable and incorruptible IP’s and that’s probably why they poached this studio possibly the movie rights for that comic. I think they should just leave it alone though, that series is already good as it is.
BRZRKR