Doomed from the start?
As we look back at the comic industry’s successes and failures over the past year, I thought it’d be nice to take a look at our own here at the Legion of Doom. Back in September, we launched a weekly feature – the Book of Doom. Each week, a rotating member of the Legion would choose a comic. Each participating member (and any inspired readers) would purchase that comic and give their thoughts.
The idea was to expose each other to books that we wouldn’t otherwise try, so I thought I’d take a look at how successful the experiment was. I personally slacked off in the past few weeks due to finances – only participating when the BoD was a book I’d normally purchase. But here’s my success rate in the Books of Doom, and I invite the rest of the Legion to chime in with their own.
09/12 – Green Lantern #13 – I’ve continued to purchase it, but I was already a reader.
09/19 – Civil War #4 – ditto.
09/30 – Captain America #22 – same here.
10/05 – Criminal #1 – never bought another issue.
10/11 – DMZ #12 – never bought another issue.
10/18 – Flash #5 – thought I might keep reading it, but I didn’t.
10/25 – Deathblow #1 – nope.
11/04 – Superman Confidential #1 – I was iffy, but I kept with it and I’m glad I did.
11/11 – Bullet Points – didn’t purchase.
11/25 – Astro City: The Dark Age 2 #1 – yes, I stuck with it in theory; has issue #2 come out?
12/02 – Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – I didn’t participate on this one.
12/09 – newuniversal #1 – dropped it.
12/16 – Wonder Man #1 – didn’t play.
So that was 5 books out of 13, but all 5 were books I would have bought anyway. So while I’ve enjoyed playing along when I can, I can’t say that the Book of Doom has opened my eyes to any new series. Anybody else have any better luck?
Wonder Man and Flash continue to disappoint me. I still read Green Lantern and Civil War, but I would’ve anyway. Out of everything else, the only one I’ve stuck with is Criminal, and I quite enjoy it.
09/12 – Green Lantern #13 – I try to read it, but I never know when an issue actually comes out.
09/19 – Civil War #4 – Alienated me from the rest of the event.
09/30 – Captain America #22 – Already a reader, still a reader.
10/05 – Criminal #1 – Missed the first, liked the second.
10/11 – DMZ #12 – Planning to pick up some trades.
10/18 – Flash #5 – A kick to the groin.
10/25 – Deathblow #1 – See above.
11/04 – Superman Confidential #1 – One of my favorite new series.
11/11 – Bullet Points – One of the best minis from 2006.
11/25 – Astro City: The Dark Age 2 #1 – Loved it. Now just waiting for the next dose.
12/02 – Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – I read it, but I’m boycotting all Spider-Man stuff for now.
12/09 – newuniversal #1 – One and done.
12/16 – Wonder Man #1 – Still recovering from exposure to this.
I never picked up DMZ, Flash, Deathblow, Bullet Points or Wonder Man again. I dropped newuniversal after the second issue. Criminal was near the edge but I’m giving #4 another try. I’ll probably only buy Superman Confidential if I like the creative team. Astro City was new to me, but it hooked me in fot he long haul. The rest were books I’d normnally read.