FYI : Live Update (answers about DC Comics)

Usually I script these out and cut and paste them up, but today I am writing it up live. Check out my fYI post on http://www.thisoldcomicaddict.blogspot.com for the first half of this so I don't have to repeat the info I did there here).

So far no progress has been made on my mail showing up according to the USPS site... but I should be doing both OMGComics and This Old Comic Addict by this weekend... yeah, definitely by then I should be doing both.

Finally got an answer on how long it takes to get my first issues from DC Comics for That New 52 Smell. Six weeks. It should be six weeks, and I am halfway through that so the unpacking episode (first) should be in April. That means once the next subscription(s) are made they will be unpacked for the first time... in May. Incredibly slow, yes, but at least it gives the cast (and listeners) something to look forward to.

So I want to thank the source of the information... Comic Book Resources from their forum board.
Not DC Comics. A comic book forum.
Subsequently I think I will be doing abit of that on the cast. The biggest info and breaking news... from invisible third person fans from forum boards on the internet.

DC Comics. Motto 2013 Edition... Go (bleep) off.
Thanks DC Comics.

Maybe I went too fast in giving DC Comics a cast. Maybe I should have done a MARVEL cast...

MARVEL Comics Motto 2013 Edition. Go (bleep) off.
Yeah... that looks better. Sigh.

Well.... at least we'll get news... eventually.

So updates shortly on the unpacking episodes and a new That New 52 Smell Episode... mostly to announce the next step in subscriptions and the next title locked in for reviews (starting in May) and more Spectre. Stay tuned for updates.

FYI - That New 52 Smell Progress

FYI
Preparing for DC content

First off lets get the unpleasant stuff out of the way.

DC Comics? They're just not going to respond to me, even after the DC themed podcasts launched. So I just need to plan accordingly.

News? Gathered by me for the New 52 cast.

Interviews? None. Sorry.

Review materials? That is all on me and my burden most certainly.

On the plus side... well I am sure being able to set my own pace, and review schedule is a plus if nothing else... oh well.

OK. Now onto actual progress. Trading for subscriptions is moving slowly apace, and while I do not want to jump ahead of myself until everything is all set up... I think we can at least mention progress.

To date two subscriptions have been put to bed set, Supergirl and Superman, a new trade is just starting that, if successful, add two more subscriptions to the schedule.

After that? April should hopefully see another two titles added for a total of six... so progress is definitely being made. Maybe too much progress, to much by far considering I am not getting so much as the time of day from DC... but I guess that is OK. Realistically a large dose of realistic expectations has to be applied in attempting to contacting a large publisher like DC.

Was the silent treatment expected? In some respects yes, sadly yes. I could stand for a higher profile, a bigger presense, more experience and seniority... or a Scrooge McDuck Money Vault.

Why is it I think only status and money gets a response? In truth even I think its exposure and readership, and I need to work harder to build up my readership. Still would it be such a thing just to send me a form email saying you have insufficient presense. Please build up your readership and observe the 12 to 24 month cooling period before resubmitting. Thank you for your interest, salutations and end email. But I dont even have that to show. It is just my opinion that I am insufficient to meet DC's standards for who has access. Well lets close out on a high note, what may be the final word on the review slate of the cast... ready? Yes voting is still ongoing and we are presently at the 40% mark, but... here is how I am seeing it... yes, this is subject to change.

Superman block
Reviewing Action Comics, Supergirl and Superman. Would have rounded it out with Superboy... if it was a subscription title.

Justice League block
Aquaman, Flash and JLAmerica

Finally Ladies Block with Batgirl, Catwoman and Wonder Woman.

Voting is still pending so stay tuned for updates.

OK things are falling into place but we are just waiting for the first arrivals and off we launch That New 52 Smell, so stay tuned.

See you next week!

That New 52 Smell Week 1

That New 52 Smell
Episode 0.1 - Origins

Putting thought to life, and coming up with this notion, started with the announcement of the coming end of The New 52 Adventures of Superman.

To me it was logical. DC already had scheduled titles on my pull list, and I was inquiring with them about press releases and such so why not expand it to a podcast?

Admittedly the show started its life as a Superman family centered title... but when I checked the subscriptions list I couldn't find Superboy... huh?

If I was left to my own devices I would quickly fall out of picking up what I need to review. This way I am locked in for a full year of episodes, and just have to renew yearly, making changes to the review format once a year as needed. That and this was made possible through a huge trade I am presently doing.

So let's recap. This series was originally thought up when the announcement came that The New 52 Adventures of Superman was winding down to completion.

So with only 4 episodes of New 52 left? Where are we in terms of progress... let's see...

- Starting off with first two titles, Supergirl and Superman, which speaks of the cast's origin as a New 52 Superman inspired cast.

- Presently soliciting votes for the other four starting slots of the cast. Cast your vote at http://www.thisoldcomicaddict.blogspot.com and http://www.rkyvrevue.blogspot.com

- Plans are to add 3 of the bigger page count title along the way. Action Comics and Justice League (two more nods to New 52 Superman) along with Justice League of America, totaling titles covered to nine.

- Titles being voted on? Aquaman, Batgirl, Catwoman, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.

- Originally I was not going to put Batman or Green Lantern titles up for consideration, but then voting would not had been picking a top four as much as dropping the fifth title.

- Deadline for voting is March 22nd.

That is about that for now. The process of preparing the cast has just begun. Next time I speak of the 800 pound Gorrilla Grodd in the cast, preparing the technical aspect of a news section of the cast... when DC Comics wont give me the time of day.

That is coming next week. So stay tuned, and see you then.

Addendum - Cast Format
One thing I am working on is the exact content of the cast itself. At this early production stage I have the following...

- Opening
- DC News Brief
Whatever news I came across that is fit to print, so to speak.
- Rumor mill
i.e. what the WB is not doing lately.
- Mailbag
Going to open an email just for work.
- Reviews
What came in the mail for review

But that is just the beginning! Stay tuned as I work on this and prepare Episode Zero!

FYI

FYI
This Week - Next Step with Publishers Part 1

February is drawing to a close, and I am just about ready to begin researching interview requests... just requests! That way if I am approved for an interview I can launch right away.

But what was the result of February's inquiries?

I approached six companies with reviewer inquiries. Dark Horse, DC, Dynamite, IDW, MARVEL and Valiant.

Two of the six emailed me in one day with answers. That would be Dynamite and IDW... however on Dynamite's front? Well I was contacted, but the email sent was rather... vague. So I sent an email inquiring for details, of which I have yet to hear back. I will send another email (to the first person who contacted me) and try again.

OK. As for the three inquiries I made?

Press Releases.
I now receive news from IDW and Valiant, which I need to now post daily to get all caught up.

Yeah. Valiant didnt contact me, but they did put me on their mailing list for news.

Interviews
I can make requests of IDW... thats it.

Technically the invitation is also available from Dynamite... so I am going to buy me a batch of Army of Darkness and make an interview request or three (one at a time slowly) and see how I fare.

Review Material Request
Well... I was expecting that this would have to be something done reasonably... it will never again be the first decade of the 21st Century, and I have some great reviewing tales of that era. So what happened?

IDW gave me permission to do sneak peek recommendations and I finally set a recommendation scale for the article, which means I am drafting up my first Sneak Peeks IDW article that I will send to the Editor at RKYV for consideration ASAP. Stay tuned for updates and a blogcentric version coming soon. And yes, embargoes will be respected, even if I dont plan to spoil nothing on 5 or so pages of sneak peek.

Dynamite? Again the offer is there but I plan on carrying the burden abit first before making my first request. And... that is it. Don't get me wrong I am quite thankful for this oppertunity and all, but at the end of the day... well... wow.

Next up I am talking about plans for the upcoming "That New 52 Smell" cast. The hows of reviewing, what I will review, and so forth. Stay tuned!
"

FYI This Week

FYI
Publishers Week 3

Now that we are rolling again full time... once RKYV Online #55 releases... anyway it's time to once again say hi to the publishers, and learn the 2013 ground rules.

Mind you back in the early 21st Century, when I worked for Comic World News and Comic Book Insider I already had contact with the likes of Dark Horse and MARVEL Comics pre Disney... and I tried to contact DC but I think they turned me down. But that was then, this is now. So far I have done 2 waves of contacts to date.

Wave 1 - DC Comics, IDW, MARVEL and Valiant.
Wave 2 - Dark Horse and Dynamite

From this so far I have come to the following conclusions.

- All responses to date have been... random.

Dynamite and IDW took 1 day each to respond. Valiant it was almost two weeks, and it was a press release as opposed to a proper greeting email.

- All responders to date are publishers I have no prior experience with. Valiant I am still befuddled about personally.

Lets see... I am on the PR mailing list for Valiant, but I am waiting on my first press release from Dynamite.

I am told Dynamite will help me with reviews, but they didnt say how yet or if that includes review material requests. I did send an email for verification... haven't heard back from them yet.

Valiant? No contact emai so no idea where I stand on either interview requests or review material requests.

Best thing to do right now, I think, is stick to the plan. Do my research, prepare reviews and get ready to drop my first interview request... but still, even with the news I am getting? This is very little to work with. So that is where we are right now. We are onto week 3 of FYI, and over the halfway point of the month, and I have made contact with three publishers.

News on upcoming releases? Got that from IDW and Valiant... still waiting on Dynamite.

Interview requests? IDW... and MAYBE Dynamite.

Review Material Request? IDW... well actually its 5 page previews so my RKYV Online article will be called "Tickle Your Fancy" utilizing my preview rating system.

Now explain to me how a five page preview can violate an embargo.

Dynamite I have that vow of assistance, but need to gather more information on what that means.

So, in actuality, to date I am at the minimum in regards of review material requests. Maybe that will change with further contact with Dynamite and Valiant... stay tuned.

Admittedly I am the most perplexed by my contact with Valiant. From listening to the podcast Only the Valiant I actually had a warmer, more interactive and open image of Valiant in my mind when I contacted them. But this? Confuses me. I think I will drop an email on Only the Valiant to see what they say. Stay tuned.

Well thats it for the week behind the scenes. Next week? We'll look at some of the new stuff I'm writing up for http://rpgunite.blogspot.com, so see you next week!

FYI Week 2

FYI
Introduction Part 2
Sweet 16 & Updates

Continuing from last time we wrap up the Sweet 16 list by looking at MARVEL and Valiant... then I have an update on my contacting the big 4! But first thing first...

MARVEL
About as good a time to jump in since they just twice rebooted themselves, their present gimmick being the MARVEL NOW line, of which I will tap into review wise.

Avengers
What can I say? It's an Avengers title, and Avengers 2 is coming up 2015... go figure.

Guardians of the Galaxy
Since we will be talking about it next year with the coming movie I might as well review the comic.

Superior Spider-Man
I'd say we are in for the long haul... but rumor has it Peter gets over being dead in Issue #7 at the earliest...we'll see what I do next with this title when that happens.

X-Men
New female led X-Men title? Me want.

And finally...
Valiant Comics
Presently it sports 5 titles, but I am only reviewing 4... the 5th, Harbringers, I will pick up in Trade Paperback format.

Archer and Armstrong
Bloodshot
Shadowman
X-O Manowar

My crowning achievement with Valiant, though, will be the series of ebooks I plan to write covering the history of Valiant in the 90's. I also have books planned for covering Defiant Comics, Malibu's Ultraverse and MARVEL to an extent. Stay tuned to Book Em Danno for more info.

Now onto some pretty positive news... and that is I contacted the big four publisher I mentioned (DC, IDW, MARVEL and Valiant).

As my usual when contacting publishers I focus on 3 criteria of relations.- Press Releases, aka the Daily Newsfeed of comics. What's new, what's big, what's up and coming.

- The ability to make interview requests

- Review Material Requests

With those three basics set to mind I approached the big four, resulting in...

Day 1 (February 4th)
Made contact with IDW. Brief and right to the heart of the matter. Look forward to...

- IDW News, here every Sunday as well as with RKYV Online.

- Researching for first interviews.

- IDW Reviews article coming in, double the words double the reviews... previews. I am still figuring that out.

Day 5 (February 8th)
As the first week drew to a close... nothing else happened. But still I figured I would be patient. After all this doesnt go up until February 14th. Plenty of time, right?

So I waited. And waited... and waited...

Week 1 ended, and... we'll end it here. What happens next? Lets see... Day 8 we brought in Phase 2, and that is when I heard from Dynamite. Then I began receiving press releases from Valiant from Phase 1 so I knew I did get in contact with them... but the details remained rather unclear, kinda like my present dealings with Dynamite really.

Next time?
Well unless there is a major update in this venue, ie I hear back from Dark Horse, DC or MARVEL... also looking for more info on my dealings with Dynamite and Valiant as well. Stay tuned.

End Note?
If I don't hear back from MARVEL before the end of the month? I am seriously thinking of bumping them in favor of Dynamite, who I have heard back from.