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Did anyone else notice how many $2.99 books were having 2 issues solicited in the July Marvel Previews?

Agents of Atlas #10 + 11
Iron Man #17 + 18
Hercules #134 + 135
X-Factor #48 +49

And it's not that there are 5 weeks in the month or something......the release dates on all of these are 2 weeks apart.

Fans up in arms about paying $3.99 a month for some books??

Let's up the frequency to bi-weekly on some books and get $5.98 a month from fans and see who notices......

Four books that I don't currently read. So, I guess I'm okay with that.

And heck, if they published a book I did read twice a month (and it kept the same creative team)...I'd be okay with that. I am reading Spider-man three times a month and that's mediocre at best in my opinion.

Flash77 wrote:I am reading Spider-man three times a month and that's mediocre at best in my opinion.

WOW! I am loving ASM, best Spider-Man since the 80s, in my opinion.

Though, if you have liked the stuff done in the last 15 years or so, then I can maybe understand, as there seems to be a definite different feel going on lately.

BTW: 4 issues of ASM this month (weekly) # 604 - 607

BobBretall wrote:

Flash77 wrote:I am reading Spider-man three times a month and that's mediocre at best in my opinion.

WOW! I am loving ASM, best Spider-Man since the 80s, in my opinion.

Though, if you have liked the stuff done in the last 15 years or so, then I can maybe understand, as there seems to be a definite different feel going on lately.

BTW: 4 issues of ASM this month (weekly) # 604 - 607

totally agree. In fact, we were just talking about the Fables crossover at dinner and I likened it to OMD. I think I told my wife that the stories on the other side were just great -- though I *hated* OMD.

I love the way Steve Wacker runs that book.

By the way, the point I am really trying to get to is this:

For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

I suspect that Marvel's hope is they will drop an Indie or DC book so they can get more Marvel.

BobBretall wrote:By the way, the point I am really trying to get to is this:

For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

I suspect that Marvel's hope is they will drop an Indie or DC book so they can get more Marvel.

That's probably true. If it's a book I'm following, I'm more likely to continue with that book (as long as I like the team/story) than I am to pick up something new. AND I would be happy to see it 2x a month rather than a 64 pg special for $6 (though I would probably buy the special and grumble).

My budget on my DCBS order definitely has a max limit -- if X-Factor or GoG comes out 2x in a month AND I'm over budget, I will start cutting and probably not with books I'm following.

Then again, if there's a change in team, or I don't like the direction, then 2x a month *might* tempt me into just dropping the title altogether. So in that respect, I guess they are playing with fire.

If the book turns out to be really good and I initially passed, then I might go get it at my LCS provided it got good buzz. I haven't really established a limit on those one-off purchases yet, though typically it is <$30 a month (~4-6 books)

I noticed this pattern last month as well. Ms. Marvel shipped two copies last month. I think they could want to hurry up and get to some "anniversary" numbers for some of these titles so they can do a big issue to "celebrate".

BobBretall wrote: For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

In the case of Agents of Atlas, I just dropped the book itself. I liked it, but not enough to buy it twice a month. (something Marvel needs to consider)

Same thing with Jeph Loeb's Hulk. I was thinking about dropping it with the return of Incredible Hulk, but the double-ship sealed the deal. I can't imagine paying $7.98 (if I just went to an LCS) to follow the story (or lack there of) in that comic.

I was also considering trying Ms. Marvel for the "War of Marvels" storyline, but it double-ships for the 1st month at least so I didn't order it.

So I guess for the most part, I'm just dropping the comic being shipped twice instead of something else (so far). That said, if it was a book I'm really hooked on like Punisher, Daredevil, Cap or Invincible Iron Man, I'd probably look to cut something else. I will be continuing with Iron Man, so I'll just have to see what my total looks like with the two issues, and go from there. Come to think of it, I did keep getting Uncanny X-Men when two issues shipped. Needless to say, while this wasn't a great time to introduce the 3.99 regular title, the double shipping might be an even worse move.

BobBretall wrote:By the way, the point I am really trying to get to is this:

For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

I suspect that Marvel's hope is they will drop an Indie or DC book so they can get more Marvel.

Well with this month being 4 ASM I will have to drop a title to pick up the extra ASM. It will more then likely be another Marvel title. I love the few indie books I do get so I wont drop them and frankly I am loving the DC world with the Superman titles and Blackest Night more so then Marvel and Dark Reign even though I have always loved Marvel characters more.

I will probably drop Daredeveil (if it even comes out this month) not because its not great but because I have no attachment to the character.

Anyone know why the 1 ASM is 48 pages and $3.99?

It's too bad because I was interested in starting up both X-Factor and Incredible Hercules. As a potential new reader to those series, it's a turn off to have to invest $5.98/each in a month. I will buy Invincible Iron Man twice this month because I've been enjoying that. If shipping a title twice in a month happens once or maybe twice in a year that's OK for a title I'm already really enjoying.

IMO it's better for Marvel to pick up more new readers than try to get current readers to invest even more $. Also I wonder how the pencilers can crank out two titles in a month. I would have to think the art might suffer a bit. Sometimes I think Marvel will change the penciler to get two titles out but I'm not big on that practice either. Just because changing the artist works for Amazing Spider-Man doesn't mean it works for any title.

BobBretall wrote:By the way, the point I am really trying to get to is this:

For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

I suspect that Marvel's hope is they will drop an Indie or DC book so they can get more Marvel.

I am not exactly sure this where a friend and I are kinda stuck do we buy the book at the shop and support our local retailer or do we buy online and screw the local business?

spectre71 wrote:

BobBretall wrote:By the way, the point I am really trying to get to is this:

For people on a limited budget, what are they going to be cutting when a Marvel book they like comes out an extra time in the month?

I suspect that Marvel's hope is they will drop an Indie or DC book so they can get more Marvel.

I am not exactly sure this where a friend and I are kinda stuck do we buy the book at the shop and support our local retailer or do we buy online and screw the local business?

There is a certain inflection point where buying on-line starts to make a bit more sense. For me, if I was spending < $50 per month, I'd be getting the books at the LCS. But, I like getting my books when they come out (weekly) and not monthly. Granted, I get them a week AFTER they come out, but that's better than a month after they come out.

That said, if I only had $50 to spend and I could get $80 or $90 worth of comics buy getting them monthly & on-line, I could very well change my tune and make the switch.

The other disadvantage of buying on-line is you need to decide/buy in advance. You make a commitment sight unseen based on increasingly feeble solicits. Buying at the LCS lets you "browse before you buy" which is an advantage. But if you have a handful of title that you faithfully buy every issue, then pre-ordering is maybe the way to go.