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Post by cyberstrike on Mar 3, 2011 19:14:51 GMT -5
OK this more of a toy commercial than a comic commercial but I need to point out that by the time Powermaster Optimus Prime toy came out the cartoon show was nearly done or pretty much over.
There were Transformers commercials that had mentions of the comic book and other franchises that Hasbro owned also did this like Robotix had one and I wouldn't be surprised if G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero had a few as well.
I know that there were 3 TV commercials for the Ultraverse comics (two of them about some teens trying to get the LCS to get the books before and the other was a bungee jumper reading an Ultraverse comic as he jumped) back in the 90s but right now I'm exhausted and don't feel like looking for them.
My point here is why can't comic books have TV commercials? I mean prose novels have TV commercials, so do video games, movies, TV shows, and every other form of media. Except for comics.
How many channels does Time-Warner and Disney (the parent companies of DC and Marvel respectfully) own or co-own why can't they put together an ad for DC and/or Marvel comics and just the comics not the movies or TV shows just the comics or just on a DVD or a Blu-Ray. Hell I would love to see a comic book TV commercial for the Superbowl.
I think the people running Marvel and DC think that movie and TV shows bring in new readers, I don't think so. Only one movie based on a comic book made me want to read the comic and that was The Rocketeer and that was because finding the series for years was a major pain in the ass I finally was able to buy the deluxe slipcase hardcover from IDW last month.
I just saw The Losers on HBO the movie didn't make me want to go out buy the series, the same with Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Superman Returns, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, or any other comic book movie.
Now I know bigw will that The Walking Dead TV series boosted sales of the comic and that might be so but I have yet to see a long term boost of sales for any comic book. I'm sure some of the various Thor comics will get a brief boost thanks to the movie and key back issues will spike once it comes out in May but by August and September the sales will return to normal.
I think it's foolish to think a movie and/or TV show will bring more people to local comic shops to buy new comics. Comics need to be marketed as comics, link them to movies, toys, TV shows, video games if needed but at least make an attempt to get people to buy the comics damn it.
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Post by G on Mar 4, 2011 9:43:09 GMT -5
I like the idea of comics as a commercial. I don't ever recall seeing a comic book advertised on tv. I've seen various LCS's do a commercial, but even that is rare. But that is about it. As far as the comics themselves, no....I haven't seen them. I do think its a great idea but I'm sure the response would be the price to run commercial ads outweighs the number of new readers they would pick up, which is a shame because sometimes I think the #1 thing lacking from comics and getting people to buy is awareness. The movies don't seem to remind kids that it is the comics that made the movies possible. They could put a commercial for comics at the beginning of comic movies touting a storyline in comics onsale at you LCS. It would catch the right crowd at the right time. But oddly, comics doesn't seem interested these days. Just one more reason I think the fucks in charge of comics are totally inept.
I really don't think what ails comics and how to fix a lot of it is rocket science. But they all seem to use the monkey see, monkey do....follow the leader mentality. If the leader drives it's product off the cliff, it's not like the follower keeps it's eyes open and tries to prevent it from happening. They just follow the leader right off the cliff. It's just not rocket science. You have to do more than say put a figure head like Quesada in charge (yes, I know it's not him anymore) and set back and say...you remember him, the guy that used to draw cool covers. People don't care about that anymore. Comics rest way too much on it's laurels. They don't have any aggression in their business plan.
When I was a kid, there used to be a show called "Kids are people too" which used to come on every Saturday morning. I can remember Stan Lee going onto that show in front of 200 kids and literally held all 200 kids in the palm of his hands with excitement for comic books. He aggressively campaigned on live tv and seemed more excited then the kids did to read them. But he was infectious and made it seem like if you weren't reading these, you were missing out. You could literally see the kids look on their faces go from a guy trying to entertain them to "I want comics" in the blink of an eye. By the end, he had them excited. Never mind the same held true for every kid watching tv that morning.
Stan Lee was literally Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
We all wanted to go there!
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Post by defiant1 on Mar 4, 2011 18:23:11 GMT -5
I know that there were 3 TV commercials for the Ultraverse comics (two of them about some teens trying to get the LCS to get the books before and the other was a bungee jumper reading an Ultraverse comic as he jumped) back in the 90s but right now I'm exhausted and don't feel like looking for them. I've got them linked on my Ultraverse page. I think Gene posted on my board that they were uploaded. Back in the 90's a new convention owner setup in Atlanta. He did what no other conventions were doing. He placed an ad for his show during Star Trek reruns. Attendance was HUGE! There was barely any room to move at that show. All it took was a TV ad. It's stupid that comic companies won't advertise to the masses. At Coca Cola's most profitable period, something like 80's of their profits were going back into advertising. The advertising kept them on top. I don't think Geico would be running so many ads if they weren't pulling in new customers. df1 |
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Post by G on Mar 5, 2011 11:56:18 GMT -5
I just washed those comic commercials for the 1st time right now and although they are extremely cheesy, they look like they didn't cost a ton to produce and they did generate a little buzz for a line of comics I never cared for. If I was to see this on tv back in the day, the mere fact that they advertised it might make me want to check it out.
I really think comics need some forward thinking along these lines. They've been using the same channels, through the same avenues, the same way, to the same people for years. And if that isn't bad enough, there is less of even that.
I cannot believe with all the talent and creativity in comics there is, why there cannot be someone leading these companies with creative thinking instead of thinking it's putting out fantastic comics and everyone is just going to go flock to them on their own.
I wish I could see comic commercial like these so much I would get sick of them. That's how aware I wish people were of comics.
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Post by cyberstrike on Mar 6, 2011 11:30:41 GMT -5
I know that there were 3 TV commercials for the Ultraverse comics (two of them about some teens trying to get the LCS to get the books before and the other was a bungee jumper reading an Ultraverse comic as he jumped) back in the 90s but right now I'm exhausted and don't feel like looking for them. I've got them linked on my Ultraverse page. I think Gene posted on my board that they were uploaded. Back in the 90's a new convention owner setup in Atlanta. He did what no other conventions were doing. He placed an ad for his show during Star Trek reruns. Attendance was HUGE! There was barely any room to move at that show. All it took was a TV ad. It's stupid that comic companies won't advertise to the masses. At Coca Cola's most profitable period, something like 80's of their profits were going back into advertising. The advertising kept them on top. I don't think Geico would be running so many ads if they weren't pulling in new customers. df1 Exactly. How many more people would buy a comic book if they knew that book existed? I mean Malibu knew it had to reach a potential new audience to sell the Ultraverse comics too, now regardless of how people feel about the Ultraverse good, bad, or indifferent at least they were trying to reach potential new customers/readers for their comics. Like I said how many channels do Time-Warner and Disney own or co-own or how many TV shows (and not just new shows) are there that have could have people watching who might be interested in reading comics? |
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Post by defiant1 on Mar 6, 2011 19:11:50 GMT -5
ultraverse.zymichost.com/Ultraverse_TV_Ads.htmlI've got them linked on my Ultraverse page. I think Gene posted on my board that they were uploaded. Back in the 90's a new convention owner setup in Atlanta. He did what no other conventions were doing. He placed an ad for his show during Star Trek reruns. Attendance was HUGE! There was barely any room to move at that show. All it took was a TV ad. It's stupid that comic companies won't advertise to the masses. At Coca Cola's most profitable period, something like 80's of their profits were going back into advertising. The advertising kept them on top. I don't think Geico would be running so many ads if they weren't pulling in new customers. df1 Exactly. How many more people would buy a comic book if they knew that book existed? I mean Malibu knew it had to reach a potential new audience to sell the Ultraverse comics too, now regardless of how people feel about the Ultraverse good, bad, or indifferent at least they were trying to reach potential new customers/readers for their comics. Like I said how many channels do Time-Warner and Disney own or co-own or how many TV shows (and not just new shows) are there that have could have people watching who might be interested in reading comics? I don't like Malibu, but it stirred up enough concern at Marvel for them to turn around and buy the company. Even if they weren't making money (I don't recall), it impacted Marvel enough that they'd shell out a crap load of cash to get them out of the way. The problem is that everyone wants to milk off past successes and skim off the profits. No one want to reinvest additional money to promote the hobby. df1 |
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Post by bigw1966 on Mar 13, 2011 9:51:43 GMT -5
I have been harping online for years that there need to be commercials for thse.
Mainly inbetween episodes of Marvel and DC cartoons.
I was informed by someone who workis in the animation division of Marvel that they are not allowed to do that because it then is considered a toy ad.
I responded that showing kids readinga comic based on the character in the cartoon would not be considered a toy ad, and would also be seen as a positive both in getting the word out there about the books existance, but also a positive because it would promote reading.
He didn't get back to me about that though.
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Post by cyberstrike on May 3, 2011 14:27:26 GMT -5
I have been harping online for years that there need to be commercials for thse. Mainly inbetween episodes of Marvel and DC cartoons. I was informed by someone who workis in the animation division of Marvel that they are not allowed to do that because it then is considered a toy ad. I responded that showing kids readinga comic based on the character in the cartoon would not be considered a toy ad, and would also be seen as a positive both in getting the word out there about the books existance, but also a positive because it would promote reading. He didn't get back to me about that though. That is beyond stupid. |
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Post by bigw1966 on May 4, 2011 9:53:52 GMT -5
I agree with you completely. But, that is what they said.
One thing that could be of interest though is that Marvel is currently reinventing the Ultimate Universe.
When they did Ultimatum, they killed Wolverine. DEAD, they have not brought him back yet.
They are in the process of killing Peter PArker, and they say it will be permanent. They plan on replacing him with a completely new character as Spider-man. They have a number of other things in the works also.
I think replacing Peter is a great Idea, that way they do not have to completely repeat all of the 616 stories like they have been.
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