drotto

I think the box office is only part of the story here. What does a movie that clearly looks like its going to be divisive do to everything DC has planned? Marvel went into Avengers with some goodwill built up Iron man (RT 94), Captain America (RT 79), Thor (RT 77), Iron Man 2 (RT 72). Then they go and hit a grand slam with Avengers (RT 92). I think we can agree that the vast majority of people liked to loved that movie. That brought Marvel a ton of goodwill (not to mention putting out more well received films after). So when AoU (RT 75) came around and they stumbled, it did not kill them. Now we are going to have two divisive movies in a row in MoS and BvS. Even if BvS does fairly well (I still think around 900 to 1 bil.), what is going to be the ripple effect on the entire DCCU? WB does not have the goodwill built up yet to survive a movie that is not well received by the general public. We have to be honest on this forum also, we are not the general public when it comes to comic films.

Not going to disagree, at one point I was making an honest attempt to watch all the movies that were nominated for best picture. Then I realized to me 90% of those movies sucked, so I have since stopped trying to see all those movies. But, like it or not word of mouth and reviews do affect the general public which does not have a vested interest in comic related films.

The score on Rotten tomatoes actually decreased while I was reading the reviews (39% to 38%). This is pointing to a great opening weekend and then the movie is going to fall off a cliff. For any movie to have holding power it must spread beyond its core audience. This requires both good reviews and good word of mouth. Yes, the fans will drive this movie high on opening weekend, but without the rest, massive returns may be a pipe-dream. For those questioning rotten tomatoes, and what it means, it is nothing more than an average people. The site does not actually review movies. They read a review, say if it is generally positive or negative, with no other weighting. Generally good is plus one, generally bad is negative one. Nothing more.

Over-under on Spider-gwen? Its either Gwen of Jessica. No other spider female currently has the name recognition or popularity.

Apples to helmets. Can you show me some variants where the reason a variant cover took off that didn't have a ratio that took off for being a better cover and not based on "rarity" or some other determining factor? Huh, can you show me any comic that has done that? Not sure if my wording is off, or if you are confused as to my point. I can't think of a single 1:1 variant that took off (a book with multiple covers that 1 cover took off simply because it was better than the rest). The variants that do take off are associated with manufactured rarity. There are all kinds of books that take off that don't have rarity simply because of their cover art. You asked to pose an example of a book that has increased in value over cover price and then took out all of the factors as to why books increase in price. A variant with a 1:1 that took off solely based on its cover. The reason most of these variants take off is because of the manufactured rarity behind it of being a 1:50, or 1:100. A recent good example of a 1:1 taking off (well sort of) is the Neal Adams DC covers. At my LCBS these were available at a 1 to 1 ratio. With the books that I purchase, when there I took the Adams cover. With Detective 49 the Joker Harley Adams cover is getting 2 or 3 times what the other cover gets on the secondary market. As for why incentives exist, it is simple because the market will support them. I do not blame Marvel or DC or even the LCBS (although way over ordering does not seem wise). The market is there, and people are buying them, as long as this happens companies will keep making variants. The only group that can stop this is the consumer, because to every other party it just means more sales.

Interesting article addressing just that (why the R-rated BATMAN vs SUPERMAN is so weird): http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/02/24/r-rated-superhero-stories-are-inherently-revisionist Wow very interesting read. It highlights what may prove to be a fundamental difference between the DCCU and the MCU. Marvel started by constructing a more or less cohesive, one would argue traditional Superhero universe. Yes they are now getting into some of the deconstructionist themes, but the core of the movies morality to this point is predicated on a clear distinction between right and wrong from a tradition sense. Civil War seems to be breaking that, but the foundation tracts comic history. We basically got Silver age origins, that have now morphed into a more modern take over many movies. But at the core MCU is still family friendly, with broad reaching easy to understand plots and themes. DCCU, if this article is correct, is ignoring the more "innocent" origins stories and hitting plots point from a much darker cynical world, and darker more complex source material. While on the surface, this could mean more adult themes, and a more intelligent story. The big question, and ultimately the answer to whether the DCCU will work is how are these themes going to translate to the big screen. Do the deeper ideas read through, or are we left with what appears to be a overly dark, cynical, shallow, big ,violent fight. In the later case it would just come across as depressing and pointless. Can something like the Dark Knight Returns be a good movie, and is that the type of comic story that is even relevant anymore (remember it is 30 years old). Snyder tried a very similar approach with Watchman and the response was very mixed, same for Man of Steal. Furthermore. Do audiences who have grown accustomed to comic movies being solid family fair, want to see this darker take on things. By changing the tone are they satisfying one audience that wants comic movie to grow up, while alienating a wider audience need for continued success.

Even more unbelievable since Jim Cheung is kinda known for being on the slow side of things.

Wow! Thanks that is a great list exactly what I was trying to find, and obviously failing to find. Although the first three are still way out of my price range, the rest may be doable.

I would have expected it. Based on the number of variants, and likely massive speculation taking place on that issue is was going to sell extremely well.

It is a consistent $15 to $20 raw book on eBay.

I do want to be excited, if that counts.

Snyder and Man of Steel are the reasons there is doubt. Man of Steel was a good movie. It just happened to come across like an Alien Invasion movie with Superman as the hero (IMO). BvS will see the focus return to the Superheroes. It has to if they're going to build the tension between the two main characters. Just wait, it'll be a great movie Going to need to win me back. I did not care for MoS. For me it was marginal at best. It'll win you back or my name's not B... I do not have your faith. It's Snyder, who has done 1 good movie. My wife has said she has no intention of going, meaning I am very unlikely to go opening weekend. Besides, all we have at this point is conjecture. You think the movie will be great, for you I hope it is. Nothing I have seen has excited me yet.

Snyder and Man of Steel are the reasons there is doubt. Man of Steel was a good movie. It just happened to come across like an Alien Invasion movie with Superman as the hero (IMO). BvS will see the focus return to the Superheroes. It has to if they're going to build the tension between the two main characters. Just wait, it'll be a great movie Going to need to win me back. I did not care for MoS. For me it was marginal at best.

Snyder and Man of Steel are the reasons there is doubt.

I know why I am pessimistic about this movie, and it comes down to my wife, kids, and friends reactions. I live in a "we love" superhero movie house, we see just about every hero movie that comes out ASAP. From my wife, and almost a direct quote, "Batman vs Superman, that sounds stupid like something a five year old would have come up with while playing with toys. I have no interest in that." This is a girl that has read comics, seen all the movies, and even done some cosplay (limited to Halloween, but she has worn it to work on Halloween). My kids agree with her, and jump on the bandwagon and start bashing when she says it. My friends are also big movie people, and have seen the trailers and basically shrugged. I have many people at work that love these movies also. They are usually at the theater on the "midnight" showing. They are even showing little excitement. There is buzz on the comic forums and comic sites, but I have seen none of it outside of here. And in my household it is the opposite reaction. My wife and daughter want to see this movie because of Wonder Woman, and my son wants to see Batman and Superman battle as I explained the DKR story to him. He thinks it will be cool. Everyone I have talked to at work wants to see Deadpool and BvS, but are lukewarm on X-Men Apocalypse (I keep telling them it will be good......) and Captain America Civil War. The AoU dud has done some damage to the Avengers franchise, and most people I know think the Captain America vs. Iron Man in Civil War is a dumb idea. They would likely change that view if they had read the Civil War arc, but these are movie goers and not comic book fans. Wonder Woman will be the big draw for BvS IMHO. My daugther said all of her friends at school want to see the movie because of her. My wife is in the same camp. If Gadot shows well in BvS it could set the solo WW woman up for a big box office. I think there is another facet which comes into play here, and is affecting how my wife and I are looking at BvS. Neither of us liked Man of Steel all that much, in fact my wife almost fell asleep during several parts. So even if BvS is not a sequel it still has the same cast (with additions), same director, many of the same writers, and a similar feel. So for us there is no goodwill based on the first movie. How are people that did not care for MoS going to view this movie? Are they going to see it as a sequel, and skip it? Lets look at how Marvel made The Avengers massive. On rotten Tomatoes: Iron Man = 94%, Iron Man 2 = 72%, Thor = 77%, and Captain America = 79%. Those are fairly solid ratings. That is the definition of goodwill, and it paid off big time. Now MoS stands at 56%, lower than all the movies that lead into The Avengers, and it is the only lead in movie. Yes, Nolan's Batman has goodwill, but WB is distancing the DC movie universe from those movies, and they do not tie in. So this in my opinion is the big wildcard. How much of Avengers success was related to goodwill, and how will the decidedly mixed reaction to MoS play into BvS success.

I know why I am pessimistic about this movie, and it comes down to my wife, kids, and friends reactions. I live in a "we love" superhero movie house, we see just about every hero movie that comes out ASAP. From my wife, and almost a direct quote, "Batman vs Superman, that sounds stupid like something a five year old would have come up with while playing with toys. I have no interest in that." This is a girl that has read comics, seen all the movies, and even done some cosplay (limited to Halloween, but she has worn it to work on Halloween). My kids agree with her, and jump on the bandwagon and start bashing when she says it. My friends are also big movie people, and have seen the trailers and basically shrugged. I have many people at work that love these movies also. They are usually at the theater on the "midnight" showing. They are even showing little excitement. There is buzz on the comic forums and comic sites, but I have seen none of it outside of here.

Great light hearted series. I am note sure I like how they do the running commentary box at the bottom of the page however.

Wait you mean skidding on concrete, throwing the flying punch, and knocking buildings over endlessly is not the only way to do a fight scene?

OK, 62, 69 and 122. All look really nice.

Looking at getting some more Golden age, and am considering more mainstream and character focused. What are the key Catwoman books (other than Batman 1 which is way out of my price range). Please feel free to include silver age also, even though this is a Golden forum area.

Batman Adventures 12. What movie or tv show started that rise? Kids growing up on Batman TAS becoming adults. It sure as shoot wasn't a result of how DC screwed up the character with the new 52. So you're saying, 17 years after the show was on, those who grew up watching it decided to suddenly hunt down the comic with her first appearance? No it must have been the 30k readers of her first solo series and Gotham City Sirens that led to the demand for that book. Surely it had nothing to do with all those kids that grew up watching that show at any point during the decade plus it was airing on television. Harley wasn't introduced to most comic readers/collectors through comics. BA 12 is a bad example because no one knew about it being her first. I remember Mad Love being a wildly popular book and one that people would pay a premium for. I thought I was the only one who remembered Mad Love being the book to have for this character. It is still a book to have for the character. Top HQ 1. BA 12 2. HQ 1 AH variant (it pains me to put this second) 3. Batman HQ 4. Mad Love big drop off and these in no real order 5. Batman 570 6. HQ 1 (2000) 7. Suicide Squad (2011) I am personally surprised that the Harley and Ivy Timm books are not higher, along with Batman: Harley and Ivy because they establish HQ's most important friendship.

Batman Adventures 12. What movie or tv show started that rise? Kids growing up on Batman TAS becoming adults. It sure as shoot wasn't a result of how DC screwed up the character with the new 52. The character has split personality disorder. The version shown in Suicide Squad shares very little with the version that appears in her own title, yet they are supposed to be the same HQ. It very much confuses me.

I have a dslr with a flash I can bounce or use a diffuser on. Need to try that.

Fine, corrected. Hard to type on a phone sometimes.

Other than a legal scanner, which I do not own. What is the best way to photo comics and slabs to avoid the glare?