Forget that TTN or VGD comic...

[AndrewIDW]

LightningStorm said:


That was more rhetorical, as I don't know if (and quite doubt it) Andrew Steven Harris reads this board.

Oh, ye of little faith.

And yes, I know quite well what canon is -- anyone who works in Star Trek storytelling (KRAD, me, PAD, etc. etc.) does. But when the question is, "can you make sure that your non-canon stories follow someone else's non-canon stories" -- as if there is some unspoken, more authoritative quality to those non-canon stories -- then you end up using words like "quasi-canonical" to describe how that person views them.

Ultimately, the original question illustrates how non-canon ends up organizing itself in importance for people, even though the name itself pretty much tells you not to do it. Just look at the messages in this one single thread, and you'll see it over and over -- someone may want to see Riker-Titan stories, but which don't contradict the ones that already exist; someone else might not even want to see post-series DS9, because some other non-canon work has already "been there, done that".

All these are perfectly valid views, even if I disagree with them; because my own personal canon is going to differ from someone else's, and -- when dealing with non-canon -- that's actually the way it's supposed to work.

If you want my personal view on non-canon, it's this: adhere to it when possible, depart from it when necessary. That's probably the best and most reasonable position you're ever going to get from a Trek publisher; but, if you have a different opinion on that, I'd be more than happy to entertain other points of view.

As for the ST comics that have already been published... well, I can't really speak to them, because they were produced long before my arrival (and that includes the ones you liked, along with the ones you didn't). I can say, however, that if you want to judge the books that we're working on now -- and, actually, I don't mind that you do, since any creator will tell you that feedback is more useful than silence -- then check out the books that will start coming out in January or February and tell me what you think.

You can even tell me here, since (as you can see!) I really do read these boards! :thumbsup:

Cheers,

Andrew Steven Harris
Editor
IDW Publishing

 

[Rosalind]

Welcome to the board, Andrew.

 

[KRAD]

*waves to Andrew*

 

[Therin of Andor]

AndrewIDW said:
But when the question is, "can you make sure that your non-canon stories follow someone else's non-canon stories" -- as if there is some unspoken, more authoritative quality to those non-canon stories -- then you end up using words like "quasi-canonical" to describe how that person views them.

The perfect response!

If you want my personal view on non-canon, it's this: adhere to it when possible, depart from it when necessary. That's probably the best and most reasonable position you're ever going to get from a Trek publisher

And I believe that's how Paula Block looks at it, too.

Welcome Andrew!

PS. The "multiple versions of cover art" concept is still causing me some grief. When the shops don't order double the copies they anticipate selling, not every customer will get the cover of their choice. It's driving me crazy! I hope it is planned for all cover art to appear in the graphic novel-style reprint volumes?

 

[AndrewIDW]

Heya, Keith!

I should point out that KRAD and I go way, WAY back, long before he was a full-time professional writer. (At least 15+ years... gods damn, time is an avenger.) We lost touch for quite a while, but reconnected a short time ago, before I became a candidate for the IDW position. He and I have been tossing ideas back and forth since then about possible Trek stories, so stay tuned.


Andrew Steven Harris
Editor
IDW Publishing

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

I am glad that you are here, Andrew. Welcome from me, too!

First of all, I am happy that there are new Star Trek comics to read and like what I have seen so far. Sometimes I like a comic more than another one but in general, I am a satisfied customer.

Nevertheless, of course there is always room for improvement and for expanding the variety offered. I don`t mind if you want to start a comic book line moving past what had been shown on TV but that has nothing to do with the novels. Pocket Books is doing Mirror Universe stories and soon also a “What IF?” line. Of course you could also pick and mix, using “canon” material, established novel material (like certain novel characters) and something completely new.

Now that you are here, I feel the urge again to say how much I would love New Frontier comics. Even one would make me very happy indeed!

And, maybe, if some writers who are very familiar with the Star Trek book universe as well are willing to write DS9 or TNG Relaunch for example, you won`t have to worry that these comics are not following the book universe continuity.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Baerbel Haddrell said:
Now that you are here, I feel the urge again to say how much I would love New Frontier comics. Even one would make me very happy indeed!

I second this emotion.

And I echo Rosalind's welcome, Andrew!

 

[Steve Roby]

AndrewIDW said:

If you want my personal view on non-canon, it's this: adhere to it when possible, depart from it when necessary. That's probably the best and most reasonable position you're ever going to get from a Trek publisher; but, if you have a different opinion on that, I'd be more than happy to entertain other points of view.

Sounds reasonably reasonable.

First two cents from someone who's bought all the IDW Trek comics so far and will be buying the collections as well: You can look at continuity with the books as a problem. Or you can look at it as an opportunity.

Another couple of pennies: Star Trek never tried to tell a full story between the opening credits and the first commercial break. It's just not enough time. That's pretty much how I feel about the single-issue stories in the comics, too.

 

[8of5]

AndrewIDW said:
If you want my personal view on non-canon, it's this: adhere to it when possible, depart from it when necessary. That's probably the best and most reasonable position you're ever going to get from a Trek publisher; but, if you have a different opinion on that, I'd be more than happy to entertain other points of view.

That sounds spot on to me, and is pretty much what Pocket seem to do as well.

And woo for KRAD ideas being bounced about at IDW.

 

[JD]

Wow another behind the scenes person, welcome Andrew! Is there any chance of getting series with longer storyarcs? That's the big issue that I've had with you're comics, the one issues storys are too short IMO. O and I just want to say that I cannot wait for the anliens series.

 

[8of5]

JD said:
Wow another behind the scenes person, welcome Andrew! Is there any chance of getting series with longer storyarcs? That's the big issue that I've had with you're comics, the one issues storys are too short IMO. O and I just want to say that I cannot wait for the anliens series.

I think next years 5-part TNG series Intelligence Gathering by the Tiptons is to be a single multi-part story. And I got the impression D.C. Fontana's five-parter will be too.

And actually Blood Will Tell was one big story really, just most of it was as flashbacks to earlier events.

 

[AndrewIDW]

The "multiple versions of cover art" concept is still causing me some grief. When the shops don't order double the copies they anticipate selling, not every customer will get the cover of their choice. It's driving me crazy! I hope it is planned for all cover art to appear in the graphic novel-style reprint volumes?

Hiya Therin!

As best I know (since I don't directly handle the TPB reprints) the alternate covers will all be included in the trade paperbacks (space permitting, obviously, but there's usually space).

As far as the alternate covers themselves, although I am responsible for helping develop them with the artists, their existence themselves is actually a marketing decision, which I don't have a great deal (read: any) control over.

Personally, I like them -- even though they create more work for me -- but I can understand how some fans might not get the ones that they want. My best recommendation is to contact your retailer and ask him to hold for you the ones that you're interested in. I'm going to try to start the regular practice of posting all the covers well ahead of time on the IDW website (which I believe has often been done, but not necessarily regularly), so that way everyone can see them all in advance.

Hope that helps!


Andrew Steven Harris
Editor
IDW Publishing

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

I understand the marketing idea behind multiple covers. I admit that I am guilty: So far I got all of the new Star Trek ones.

It certainly doesn`t work with me all the time but in this case I made an exception, also because it is important to me to support Star Trek comics. I also want to be able to read them in future.

 

[Therin of Andor]

AndrewIDW said:
As far as the alternate covers themselves, although I am responsible for helping develop them with the artists, their existence themselves is actually a marketing decision, which I don't have a great deal (read: any) control over.

I fully understand the decision, but living in Australia, where we work from a much smaller pool of collectors, here's the problem:

I used to collect "Xena: Warrior Princess" for a friend and he liked art covers, since the photo covers used well-known stills he already had. I used to be able to specify "art cover" on my standing order. It made me glad I rarely had to worry about Star Trek comics, although when Malibu did a few alternate covers for DS9 I treated myself to both versions!

But with IDW, I decided to use the same principle as my Xena friend: "Star Trek" art as a choice over photo covers, since the stills are quite common publicity shots.

Unfortunately, my dealer no longer guarantees I can have a choice of cover! There's no space on their new computer ordering system to specify alternate covers! Diamond says that the IDW comics come in a 1:1 ratio, plus a few shop exclusives - which is very fair - but if the shop has over-ordered on one issue, they usually decrease the next few months of orders. When sales rise, the shop is caught short - and fewer collectors get to reject one (and buy the other) when they arrive to collect the order. If the shelf copies are already sold out before I arrive to collect my standing order, I'm right out of luck. And shop reorders also cannot specify art or photo choice.

Personally, I like them -- even though they create more work for me -- but I can understand how some fans might not get the ones that they want.

The alternate, rare art covers are amazing! And what a waste that so few people get to see "Blood Will Tell" rare #1! A magnificent work of art so strictly limited in numbers!

I did the happy dance on a recent trip to Brisbane, finding the rare Wesley art cover for "The Space Between" #5 - on special - to replace the Wesley photo cover I had to buy as a placeholder. It was very frustrating to own six comics where only one had the photo cover. (I wish I had room to buy all three/four covers of every issue!)

Luckily my Sydney comic shop refunded me on the Wesley photo cover this week, because two attempts to get art cover backorders had failed.

Mind you, I'm probably buying all cover versions of the Andorian Spotlight special!

Thanks so much for responding.

 

[JAG]

Mind you, I'm probably buying all cover versions of the Andorian Spotlight special!

Really? That is a surprise!

I am not a fan of the alternate covers myself.

 

[8of5]

I understand and don’t at all mind all the alternative covers (as I'm not some crazy person who feels I have to buy every version) but what annoys me is when there's inconsistency with which ones are the retail incentives. Say you wanted to get Blood Will Tell in all Joe Corroney covers, well two out of the five were retail incentive ones, if you buy from a little comic book shop you don’t stand a chance at being able to complete the set.

 

[JAG]

That is why most retailers hate them as well.

 

[JD]

8of5 said:
I understand and don’t at all mind all the alternative covers (as I'm not some crazy person who feels I have to buy every version) but what annoys me is when there's inconsistency with which ones are the retail incentives. Say you wanted to get Blood Will Tell in all Joe Corroney covers, well two out of the five were retail incentive ones, if you buy from a little comic book shop you don’t stand a chance at being able to complete the set.

The retail incentive ones aren't consistanly one type? I'd pretty much assumed they always were.

 

[JAG]

no, depends on the company and the scarcity of the project. Some alternates are 1 for every 25 copies etc.

 

[8of5]

JD said:
The retail incentive ones aren't consistanly one type? I'd pretty much assumed they always were.

It's varied so far. For The Space Between each issue had an art cover and a photomontage cover. Then for every issue, except one, there was a retail incentive cover by Zach Howard. Some issues had additional retail incentive covers in the forms of different photomontages and sketch covers.

For Blood Will Tell every issue had a standard David Messina cover but the other standard cover varied between being a photomonatge or Joe Corroney cover, which ever it was making the other the retail incentive. I prefer the Messina covers anyways so no worries for me, but if you wanted to collect the series in photomonatages of Joe Corroney covers you're going to struggle.

The two issues of Year Four so far have offered one cover each from Steve Conley and Joe Corroney as the main covers with sketch and photo covers as the retail incentives.