A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by Orci

[Captain Robert April]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Comics is a niche market, appealing mainly to the hardest of the hardcores of a given subject.

In the case of Star Trek, this is the very audience segment where there still exists a deep burning lingering hatred of JJTrek, which can't help potential sales.

In other words, they're proposing a project aimed at the very people they pissed off the most, with an approach guarandamnteed to piss them off even more.

Don't go writing that Eisner Award acceptance speech just yet, kids.

 

[Vance]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Oh, this will sell dozens of copies.

Hmm... That many?

Well, in all seriousness, you've got may layers of niches here that can't do well for sales. Comics to begin with is a niche market, selling tiny fractions of what they did a generation ago. Green Lantern, currently boosted by current movie-release, sold 75,000 copies last month. It's considered a mega-hit. The entire industry sells about 3mil copies of their books a month, spread out over hundreds of comics.

So now you've got a Star Trek movie tie-in, coming a year after most people have given up giving a shit about it. Are there really that many NuTrek comic stragglers out there? And do these guys really want their 'new universe' to retread TOS when, ya know, they can just watch these episodes on disc already?

And will classic fans that have stuck through the TOS comics really want to see the old stories 'reset and rewritten' to feature the new crew and ship? What's the actual point here for them? Again, why would they want a new take on the exact stories that they didn't want re-imagined in the first place?

I can't see this project going anywhere for long. If they want to do NuTrek stories, then by all means do so... but this? This is just dumb.

 

[BillJ]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

I thought it would have been smarter to quietly lift elements from TOS here and there instead of trumpeting an out-and-out remake of episodes.

 

[RAMA]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Comics is a niche market, appealing mainly to the hardest of the hardcores of a given subject.

In the case of Star Trek, this is the very audience segment where there still exists a deep burning lingering hatred of JJTrek, which can't help potential sales.

In other words, they're proposing a project aimed at the very people they pissed off the most, with an approach guarandamnteed to piss them off even more.

Don't go writing that Eisner Award acceptance speech just yet, kids.

Actually the number who hate JJtrek is so infinitesmally insignificant that it hardly even matters one iota. It sold almost 35 million tickets. More than any other Trek flm. There are more than enough within the niche market to keep a comic with a small print run going. Evidenced by the two main JJtrek comics which exist that have already sold pretty well.

RAMA

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

This series sounds like great fun. I can't wait for the first ish.

 

[RAMA]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

This series sounds like great fun. I can't wait for the first ish.

Yup, since it is already out of established "canon" these people need to chill and see how they work.

RAMA

 

[BillJ]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Evidenced by the two main JJtrek comics which exist that have already sold pretty well.

RAMA

I guess.

Star Trek: Countdown sold okay by comic book standards (#1 - 14,589, #2 - 11,359, #3 - 12,488, #4 - 14,545). Star Trek: Nero didn't do as well (#1 - 11,467, #2 - 8,762, #3 - 7,620, #4 - 7,203). About in the ballpark of what other TOS comics were selling. Then the adaptation of Star Trek 2009 didn't do very well at all (#1 - 6,436, #2 - 5,622, #3 - 5,256, #4 - 4,993, #5 - 5,090, #6 - 5,059).

The first couple of issues will definitely sell well by current Star Trek standards. Question will be if it can retain readers past the first couple of issues. The artist assigned does concern me as I don't find his work very good. Should've gotten someone like Adam Hughes, who did the graphic novel Star Trek: Debt of Honor.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Comics is a niche market, appealing mainly to the hardest of the hardcores of a given subject.

In the case of Star Trek, this is the very audience segment where there still exists a deep burning lingering hatred of JJTrek, which can't help potential sales.

In other words, they're proposing a project aimed at the very people they pissed off the most, with an approach guarandamnteed to piss them off even more.

Don't go writing that Eisner Award acceptance speech just yet, kids.

Actually the number who hate JJtrek is so infinitesmally insignificant that it hardly even matters one iota. It sold almost 35 million tickets. More than any other Trek flm. There are more than enough within the niche market to keep a comic with a small print run going. Evidenced by the two main JJtrek comics which exist that have already sold pretty well.

RAMA

Thus sayeth the dolt who knows nothing about the comic book market.

The movie sold most of those tickets to other dolts who don't know "come here" from "sic 'em" about Star Trek. They don't buy comics, let alone Star Trek comics. So chop off those folks from the list of potential buyers. Also whittle away the bulk of fandom that doesn't feel the need to own each and every thing with the Star Trek name slapped across it.

When you finally get down to the actual likely purchasers of this thing, suddenly that percentage of fans who despise JJTrek isn't so small. Might even be a majority at that stage.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Should've gotten someone like Adam Hughes, who did the graphic novel Star Trek: Debt of Honor.

Hughes is an outstanding artist, but not the fastest guy in the world. Fine if all you want is a cover, but for interior artwork, you'd better expand that calendar by about double.

 

[BillJ]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Should've gotten someone like Adam Hughes, who did the graphic novel Star Trek: Debt of Honor.

Hughes is an outstanding artist, but not the fastest guy in the world. Fine if all you want is a cover, but for interior artwork, you'd better expand that calendar by about double.

Probably rather have a bi-monthly book than a monthly with poor artwork.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

If they are planning a bi-monthly, fine, but if they're doing this as a monthly, they need someone who can meet that schedule; relative quality is a bonus.

I suppose they could've asked John Byrne, but I suspect his opinion of JJTrek is in the same ballpark as mine.

 

[Christopher]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Actually the number who hate JJtrek is so infinitesmally insignificant that it hardly even matters one iota. It sold almost 35 million tickets. More than any other Trek flm. There are more than enough within the niche market to keep a comic with a small print run going. Evidenced by the two main JJtrek comics which exist that have already sold pretty well.

Right. Countdown, the movie prequel, was by far IDW's best-selling Trek comic, and the Spock: Reflections and Nero tie-ins sold better than any post-Countown miniseries other than their Wrath of Khan adaptation and the Infestation alternate-universe zombie crossover.

http://unreality-sf.net/features/idwst.html
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/IDW_Publishing#Sales_charts

So yes, it may be true that a "deep, burning hatred" toward the movie exists within hardcore fandom, but that doesn't make it the majority view of hardcore fans, certainly not enough to keep the movie tie-in comics from being among IDW's strongest sellers. It stands to reason, after all, that the hardcore fanbase would include the most passionate lovers and supporters of any given Trek production as well as its most passionate haters. "Hardcore" is about the intensity of one's feelings, not their specific alignment.

 

[thumbtack]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Well, it appears that, once again, CBS will not be able to count upon the coveted middle aged man demographic. How dare they make comic books for young people! Next thing you know, they'll be announcing a cartoon series that isn't for old guys either.

 

[Christopher]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

^Ohh, it's been a long time since the audience for comic books has consisted substantially of young people. Comics have had a hard time drawing in new, younger readers for a long time, and the mainstream Marvel and DC stuff these days tends to be too intense for young readers, with only the sidebar specialty lines like Johnny DC and Marvel Adventures being aimed specifically at kids.

IDW's Trek comics are aimed at pretty much the same demographic as the shows, movies, and most of the novels -- PG-rated, relatively safe for younger audiences, but aimed primarily at teen and adult audiences.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

The movie sold most of those tickets to other dolts who don't know "come here" from "sic 'em" about Star Trek. They don't buy comics, let alone Star Trek comics. So chop off those folks from the list of potential buyers.

I've been reading comics and watching TOS for 30+ years, and I liked the JJ Trek just fine. Saw it 3 times in the theaters and own it on DVD. I'll at the very least be flipping through this comic.

Don't automatically assume that everyone agrees with you.

 

[Vance]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Don't automatically assume that everyone agrees with you.

He's just saying that the overwhelming majority of the people who saw (and liked) the NuTrek movie stopping giving a rat's ass about it the day after they saw it in the theatre. That's just the nature of the beast. Most people who saw TWOK in the theatre didn't care about it the next day, either. Or Star Wars, or Iron Man, or Jaws, or Citizen Kane...

 

[Botany Bay]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

^Ohh, it's been a long time since the audience for comic books has consisted substantially of young people. Comics have had a hard time drawing in new, younger readers for a long time, and the mainstream Marvel and DC stuff these days tends to be too intense for young readers, with only the sidebar specialty lines like Johnny DC and Marvel Adventures being aimed specifically at kids.

IDW's Trek comics are aimed at pretty much the same demographic as the shows, movies, and most of the novels -- PG-rated, relatively safe for younger audiences, but aimed primarily at teen and adult audiences.

Exactly, and this seems like an each way bet to try and get the TOS fans on board as well, which is a good strategy. They'll need as many fans as they can get if this is to be a lasting commerical proposition.

A lot will depend on what approach they take - I think personally I'd prefer them lifting elements and characters rather than blow by blow remakes - I just don't see what would possess anyone to read issue after issue of material we've seen already. Let's face it, TOS did a pretty damn good job telling these stories the first time.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how the first few issues go, and which approach they take.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Comics is a niche market, appealing mainly to the hardest of the hardcores of a given subject.

In the case of Star Trek, this is the very audience segment where there still exists a deep burning lingering hatred of JJTrek, which can't help potential sales.

In other words, they're proposing a project aimed at the very people they pissed off the most, with an approach guarandamnteed to piss them off even more.

Don't go writing that Eisner Award acceptance speech just yet, kids.

I read comics, grew up on TOS, and I don't have a lingering hatred of Abrams' movie.

And I'll probably pick this up.

So what's your market research for your argument?

 

[Forbin]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

Comics is a niche market, appealing mainly to the hardest of the hardcores of a given subject.

In the case of Star Trek, this is the very audience segment where there still exists a deep burning lingering hatred of JJTrek, which can't help potential sales.

In other words, they're proposing a project aimed at the very people they pissed off the most, with an approach guarandamnteed to piss them off even more.

Don't go writing that Eisner Award acceptance speech just yet, kids.

I read comics, grew up on TOS, and I don't have a lingering hatred of Abrams' movie.

And I'll probably pick this up.

So what's your market research for your argument?

Probably the same method as RAMA's.

 

[BillJ]

Re: A fascinating project..IDW "reimagines" TOS episodes, writing by O

I think the episode they did first is what concerns me. The Enterprise sent to explore what exits beyond the galactic rim. Great premise.

Two things that I question:

Why send your spanking new 'flagship' out for this type of duty?

Wouldn't you want to keep the cadet/captain closer to home, at least early on, dong milk runs and such to make sure he can handle the command?