From: owner-comix-biz-digest@lists.xmission.com (comix-biz-digest) To: comix-biz-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: comix-biz-digest V2 #32 Reply-To: comix-biz-digest Sender: owner-comix-biz-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-comix-biz-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk X-No-Archive: yes comix-biz-digest Thursday, March 5 1998 Volume 02 : Number 032 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 22:32:12 +0100 From: Jim Drew / Ciao! Publications Subject: Re: (cbiz) the new Superman nebula-one@juno.com (Ramsin Tamraz) writes: >I'm not sure if this is off topic or not, but if its is then my >apologies, but I just wanted to ask a question about the new Superman. [...] >when i first saw the New Superman a while back I couldnt believe it, he >actually looked cool, a superhero that I could like. [...] >And now I hear that theyre bringing the old Superman back this summer. >Why? I was just begining to like Superman. If we try, we can discuss around this and keep it on-topic for this list, I think. The first thing you have to do is separate Superman-the-character from Superman-the-icon. As a character modification, yes, the new costume and power set can be "cool" (although it raises the question if it is still really "Superman" if the look and abilites are different). From a business sense (see: on topic!), however, DC (and parent company Time-Warner) have a lot of income from and thus investment in Superman remaining a recognizable icon. Via movies and TV and cartoons and comics and so forth, people *know* Superman. (He's one of the most recognizable icons in the world, apparently.) If Superman Peanut Butter (which I loved and wish they would bring back) were to switch the image on their jars very time Superman undergoes a physical transformation in the comics, they would be redesigning jars constantly, and would have to pull everything from the shelves with each new design. Very costly for the licensee. Thus, there is *immense* pressure to retain the same general look for the character for licensing purposes; the income from licensing outstrips that from the comics by an immense degree. As a result, any such physical transformation is temporary. (Note that Batman isn't quite as iconic, and thus we've seen a *lot* more variations on the look in various media, and thus can get a lot more variation in the comics themselves. But even there, the key points: pointy eared cowl, cape, amd bat symbol in a yellow circle will not change for real in the comics.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jim Drew ciaopubs@earthlink.net B3(v)h+ t e cd s k g+(p) rv q p Secretary, IAGLCWDC - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ She looked up and arched an eyebrow. "Hasty Pudding?" "All the *good* super-speed names were already taken." -- Marc Lynx, "Belles" - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info comix-biz" in the message. # Postings must go to comix-biz@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ End of comix-biz-digest V2 #32 ******************************