Axe Anarchy

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

Do you believe Marvel's current method of publishing to adequately address the wishes of the reader base?

Yes, and hear me out on this one.

The strongest way that a company has of gauging the market is sales. If something sells well, then it stands to reason that people like that. Unfortunately a lot of comic readers will buy anything that has wolverine on it, regardless of whether it's actually good or not. So yes, marvel listens to their readers insofar as it keeps putting out the stuff that their readers want to buy, and the market has spoken, the readers want any piece of crap.

[Navarre]

But sales continue to drop. And it seems I hear more and more people every day say they've given up on Marvel altogether for the same reasons most complain about.

I think Marvel can go on as they are. Despite the movies and all that, they are still controlling the comic market.

But I think they need to change their approach. It doesn't have to be a drastic "Let's let the fans write our comics" by any means. But I think they need to wake up and rethink their strategy.

[SpiderLover]

It's all about how you feel about the comics. I read what I like, it doesn't matter to me if you also like the comic I read. Now, if others feel the same way and their market shows that people suddenly like um... Cannonball. Then Cannonball comics will be more available.

Any company will change their ways of business when they lose money, that is the thing. If the numbers are showing that Marvel is loosing money then Marvel will react. Same way for other companies, now if 10 readers out of 100 think Wolverine is crap, then it's business as usual.

Bottom line is read what you like.

[Navarre]

We can read what we like. I kind of assume everyone does that already.

Yes, Marvel cares about the money. That's where their paychecks come from.

But comic sales are dwindling in general and I think Marvel could be pulling in more money than they are if they weren't so out of touch with the readers.

While we can probably assume that Wolverine sells titles, I hear little praise for anything he is in. If Marvel would listen a little closer to their readers instead of repeating the same thing and assuming it will sell they'd be better off.

I think Marvel is in a state of complacency because they are on top of their given market instead of really asking, "How can we make this better...and bring in more money along with it?"

[The Mighty King Cobra]

Do you believe Marvel's current method of publishing to adequately address the wishes of the reader base?

Publishers have no inherent expectation or need to address the wishes of the reader base.

[Navarre]

Not as long as the readers buy what is published, no. Apparently there are enough readers of Marvel comics to keep them in business?

I do wonder if they'd fare so well without all the movies and merchandising though. It seems to be a mentality of "We're in business so we must be doing something right." But I find that to be quite self-centered and short-sighted.

[The Mighty King Cobra]

Two thoughts:

A corporate has no self around which to center.  It is solely in the business of making money.

Marvel Comics has been making money consistently since 1961 and has, as an entity consisting of thosands of creators, rewritten the rules of the comic book industry.

And the times that their art has suffered the most, in my estimation, are the precise times wherein they attempted to pander to their fanbases' wishes.

[Navarre]

Marvel has had so much influence on the comic industry that it gets to make its own rules. But it is out of touch, imo.

I seem to consistently see comments across the internet from readers who, mainly, ask for something besides constant Events. But Marvel keeps on producing those.

As long as we buy them, since as you say they are only in it for money, then that is what we will get. But I think if Marvel decided one good Event every year or two was enough and started producing title-contained story arcs that are later released as graphic novels their sales would still merit the practice.

Either they aren't listening or we aren't speaking in the monetary language they understand.

[The Mighty King Cobra]

Short version of this argument:  "Comics would be better if they did what I liked."

Short version of the rebuttal: "Only if you like the same things as a couple million other guys."

[Navarre]

I don't think I am the only one who is asking for this.

[Tondi-]

As a side note, in Australia the Axe brand is called Lynx.  I've never understood why.

The first time I saw an Axe can I was very confused.

[Navarre]

As a side note, in Australia the Axe brand is called Lynx.  I've never understood why.

The first time I saw an Axe can I was very confused.

Maybe there was some marketing test group to select a name. I'm not sure why they chose either name, really. Neither a lynx nor an axe makes me think of being irresistible to women.