Gentlegamer
06/16/2005, 12:57
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=35818
COUNTING THE COSTS...HOUSE OF M AND COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS
http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/HouseofM/HOM001_flcov_t.jpgOver the last several months as Marvel and DC have aggressively promoted their respective universe-wide events - House of M and Countdown to Infinite Crisis - both publishers have gone on record saying neither intends for or expects its fans to read every issue that’s been marketed as a tie-in to the main series.
Each has been sure to make it very clear fans can read what titles interests them and will be able to follow the stories on individual basis and/or the larger event without the satellite tie-ins. In fact, DC has gone so far as to provide weekly recaps of key events on their website for fans being selective as to what titles to read.
But here at Newsarama we don’t like to leave any stone unturned, and no fan gets left behind. So as a service for those brave souls who do want or intend to read it all, we got out our abacus…abacuses…abacai? and did a little calculating for you. Newsarama has figured out approximately what one can expect to spend if one’s dedication to each storyline knows no monetary bounds.
Bear in mind the following estimates cover only announced tie-ins so far and assumes the original suggested retail cover price for past and/or current issues demanding more on the after-market, and estimated standard cover prices for issues not yet solicited.
We’ll start with Marvel’s House of M, or the event perhaps best suited for the rabid completionist on a budget.
[disclaimer: just to reiterate, both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events]
Consisting of one main 8-issue limited series, four additional satellite limited series, a special one-shot, a $0.50 promotional “newspaper”, and 25 issues of current series (details here (htttp://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/HouseofM/HoMchecklist.jpg])), according to Newsarama’s calculations a mortgage for the House of M is going to run you $147.57.
Of course, if you want to be serious about the full picture, you might want to pick up Avengers: Disassembled, and we can save a few coins by picking up the trade for $15.99, and say, the first five issues of New Avengers just so you know who these folks coming into the House calling themselves the Avengers are. Five issues, @ $2.25 = $11.25. For a getting up to speed price of $27.24, added to the above, making it $174.81 to know the backstory, and get the main story of House of M.
Now mind you that’s just for fans who only care about what’s between the covers. For readers who really want it all, the variant cover to each respective issue of House of M and the Oliver Coipel gatefold variant cover to the second printing of issue #1 will tack on another $26.91 (assuming you can get them at cover price) to the bill for a new grand, grand total of $201.72.
Now onto DC’s Countdown to Infinite Crisis, or the story event of choice for the fan who’s gots the bling and an admirable sense of dedication...
[disclaimer: we did say that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events, right? Okay, cool. Just checking…]
Calculating the full cost of a full-on Countdown commitment is a little more problematic, requiring some creative accounting and a lot of research.
For one, Countdown itself is a prelude to another upcoming and yet-to-be-solicited event, Infinite Crisis. DC has also announced many stories - some going back as far as two years, and some not identified as official Countdown tie-ins (like last year’s Identity Crisis, the current Red Hood story in Batman, and The Return of Donna Troy) - are key stories in a larger tapestry that all comes to a head in Crisis.
And because there are likely many more unannounced tie-ins to come throughout next spring when Crisis concludes and all DCU titles begin “OYL” (one year later), fans planning on getting it all might consider applying for an open-ended line of credit at their local comics shop.
http://www.newsarama.com/DC/Countdown_more/PRELUDE_t.jpgFirst off, for the more story-oriented fan, in order to keep costs down we’re going to let the upcoming Prelude to Infinite Crisis (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=33427) serve as the bulk of the back-issue catch-up. For just $5.99, the 96-page special promises reprints of The Flash #219, Wonder Woman #214 (in their entirety), the lead story from Superman Secret Files 2004, and key sequences from at least 22 separate past issues, including Superman/Batman #6 and Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day (more issues listed via the above link).
Now no self-respecting DC fan intent on being in the full Crisis mix can skip Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis, so we’re also putting you down for September’s hardcover collection, which at $24.99 gets you out of dodge a few ducats below the original combined cover prices for each issue.
Likewise, the events of Green Lantern: Rebirth had a direct effect on Day of Vengeance and Hal Jordan’s return is very likely to be a major factor in Crisis. Now we don’t know what October’s hardcover collection (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34602) is going to cost, so we’re going with the combined cover prices for the 6-issue series for $17.70.
So relatively caught up to the present, we have $48.68 on the books to start. The remaining calculations and issues included in the initial tally are based on DC’s solicitations from March through Aug. 2005, their weekly “Crisis Counseling” recaps of events fans should be aware of, press releases (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=35595) officially identifying Countdown tie-ins, JLA #115-#119 (two issues @ $2.25, three @ $2.50) and the advanced inclusion of seven issues of Infinite Crisis at an estimated $2.50 a pop, leaving us with:
One special 80-page one-shot, six limited series, and 53 issues (so far) of ongoing series, for an eye-popping all-in total of $252.39. Or ... if you're in it just for the core, that is, Countdown, the miniseries, the tie-ins, and Crisis, that'll run you $209.71.
And that's just with the issues named as being tie-ins to date, mind you - it's pretty likely there will be some tie-ins to Crisis from ongoing series, so there's potential upward wiggle room.
Now again, for the hardcore completionist, that figure is going to be considerably higher, as DC has been publishing reprints with new or newly colored covers. We tried our best to generate an accurate estimate assuming a purchase of every issue (including reprints) mentioned sometime/somewhere by DC has being related to Crisis.
- Let’s start by adding the other half of Infinite Crisis’s dual covers (George Pérez/Jim Lee) (as announced in Wizardworld: Philly) for another $17.50 (7 x $2.50).
- There have been 10 total additional printings (so far) of the four main Countdown limited series, for $25.00.
- Assuming you got them all at cover price, Identity Crisis #1-7, and the 10 total various reprints of particular issues will total $67.15 ($3.95 x 17). Now you get credit back for the ID Crisis hardcover from the initial estimate, so $42.16 gets added.
- Green Lantern: Rebirth has four total reprint issues for another $11.80 ($2.95 x 4).
- Batman #638 also got a second printing with a new cover.
- Countdown To Infinite Crisis got a reprint with a new cover (the "body" is recognizable as Blue Beelte) for $1.99, and that gets added in.
- As far as all the original issues included in full or in part in the upcoming Prelude to Infinite Crisis, assuming you already have them or can find them, that’s going to ring in another (and very approximate) $64.95 (which includes Teen Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 and a $6.95 80-page compendium that included 8 pages from Teen Titans #1 and The Outsiders #1).
Your new total?? A nice round figure of $418.04
[disclaimer: we really, really, really want to make sure you know that that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events. Really…]
Are you a DC and Marvel fan? Expect to spend between $357.27 and $618.76.
When asked to comment on this story Monday morning, “Access Q. Amalgam” Talk@Newsarama’s resident (though quite rare) fan of all things both Marvel and DC equally, said, “Oh @#$%&!, I wonder if Home Depot is hiring part-time..?”
COUNTING THE COSTS...HOUSE OF M AND COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS
http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/HouseofM/HOM001_flcov_t.jpgOver the last several months as Marvel and DC have aggressively promoted their respective universe-wide events - House of M and Countdown to Infinite Crisis - both publishers have gone on record saying neither intends for or expects its fans to read every issue that’s been marketed as a tie-in to the main series.
Each has been sure to make it very clear fans can read what titles interests them and will be able to follow the stories on individual basis and/or the larger event without the satellite tie-ins. In fact, DC has gone so far as to provide weekly recaps of key events on their website for fans being selective as to what titles to read.
But here at Newsarama we don’t like to leave any stone unturned, and no fan gets left behind. So as a service for those brave souls who do want or intend to read it all, we got out our abacus…abacuses…abacai? and did a little calculating for you. Newsarama has figured out approximately what one can expect to spend if one’s dedication to each storyline knows no monetary bounds.
Bear in mind the following estimates cover only announced tie-ins so far and assumes the original suggested retail cover price for past and/or current issues demanding more on the after-market, and estimated standard cover prices for issues not yet solicited.
We’ll start with Marvel’s House of M, or the event perhaps best suited for the rabid completionist on a budget.
[disclaimer: just to reiterate, both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events]
Consisting of one main 8-issue limited series, four additional satellite limited series, a special one-shot, a $0.50 promotional “newspaper”, and 25 issues of current series (details here (htttp://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/HouseofM/HoMchecklist.jpg])), according to Newsarama’s calculations a mortgage for the House of M is going to run you $147.57.
Of course, if you want to be serious about the full picture, you might want to pick up Avengers: Disassembled, and we can save a few coins by picking up the trade for $15.99, and say, the first five issues of New Avengers just so you know who these folks coming into the House calling themselves the Avengers are. Five issues, @ $2.25 = $11.25. For a getting up to speed price of $27.24, added to the above, making it $174.81 to know the backstory, and get the main story of House of M.
Now mind you that’s just for fans who only care about what’s between the covers. For readers who really want it all, the variant cover to each respective issue of House of M and the Oliver Coipel gatefold variant cover to the second printing of issue #1 will tack on another $26.91 (assuming you can get them at cover price) to the bill for a new grand, grand total of $201.72.
Now onto DC’s Countdown to Infinite Crisis, or the story event of choice for the fan who’s gots the bling and an admirable sense of dedication...
[disclaimer: we did say that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events, right? Okay, cool. Just checking…]
Calculating the full cost of a full-on Countdown commitment is a little more problematic, requiring some creative accounting and a lot of research.
For one, Countdown itself is a prelude to another upcoming and yet-to-be-solicited event, Infinite Crisis. DC has also announced many stories - some going back as far as two years, and some not identified as official Countdown tie-ins (like last year’s Identity Crisis, the current Red Hood story in Batman, and The Return of Donna Troy) - are key stories in a larger tapestry that all comes to a head in Crisis.
And because there are likely many more unannounced tie-ins to come throughout next spring when Crisis concludes and all DCU titles begin “OYL” (one year later), fans planning on getting it all might consider applying for an open-ended line of credit at their local comics shop.
http://www.newsarama.com/DC/Countdown_more/PRELUDE_t.jpgFirst off, for the more story-oriented fan, in order to keep costs down we’re going to let the upcoming Prelude to Infinite Crisis (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=33427) serve as the bulk of the back-issue catch-up. For just $5.99, the 96-page special promises reprints of The Flash #219, Wonder Woman #214 (in their entirety), the lead story from Superman Secret Files 2004, and key sequences from at least 22 separate past issues, including Superman/Batman #6 and Titans/Young Justice Graduation Day (more issues listed via the above link).
Now no self-respecting DC fan intent on being in the full Crisis mix can skip Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis, so we’re also putting you down for September’s hardcover collection, which at $24.99 gets you out of dodge a few ducats below the original combined cover prices for each issue.
Likewise, the events of Green Lantern: Rebirth had a direct effect on Day of Vengeance and Hal Jordan’s return is very likely to be a major factor in Crisis. Now we don’t know what October’s hardcover collection (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34602) is going to cost, so we’re going with the combined cover prices for the 6-issue series for $17.70.
So relatively caught up to the present, we have $48.68 on the books to start. The remaining calculations and issues included in the initial tally are based on DC’s solicitations from March through Aug. 2005, their weekly “Crisis Counseling” recaps of events fans should be aware of, press releases (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=35595) officially identifying Countdown tie-ins, JLA #115-#119 (two issues @ $2.25, three @ $2.50) and the advanced inclusion of seven issues of Infinite Crisis at an estimated $2.50 a pop, leaving us with:
One special 80-page one-shot, six limited series, and 53 issues (so far) of ongoing series, for an eye-popping all-in total of $252.39. Or ... if you're in it just for the core, that is, Countdown, the miniseries, the tie-ins, and Crisis, that'll run you $209.71.
And that's just with the issues named as being tie-ins to date, mind you - it's pretty likely there will be some tie-ins to Crisis from ongoing series, so there's potential upward wiggle room.
Now again, for the hardcore completionist, that figure is going to be considerably higher, as DC has been publishing reprints with new or newly colored covers. We tried our best to generate an accurate estimate assuming a purchase of every issue (including reprints) mentioned sometime/somewhere by DC has being related to Crisis.
- Let’s start by adding the other half of Infinite Crisis’s dual covers (George Pérez/Jim Lee) (as announced in Wizardworld: Philly) for another $17.50 (7 x $2.50).
- There have been 10 total additional printings (so far) of the four main Countdown limited series, for $25.00.
- Assuming you got them all at cover price, Identity Crisis #1-7, and the 10 total various reprints of particular issues will total $67.15 ($3.95 x 17). Now you get credit back for the ID Crisis hardcover from the initial estimate, so $42.16 gets added.
- Green Lantern: Rebirth has four total reprint issues for another $11.80 ($2.95 x 4).
- Batman #638 also got a second printing with a new cover.
- Countdown To Infinite Crisis got a reprint with a new cover (the "body" is recognizable as Blue Beelte) for $1.99, and that gets added in.
- As far as all the original issues included in full or in part in the upcoming Prelude to Infinite Crisis, assuming you already have them or can find them, that’s going to ring in another (and very approximate) $64.95 (which includes Teen Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 and a $6.95 80-page compendium that included 8 pages from Teen Titans #1 and The Outsiders #1).
Your new total?? A nice round figure of $418.04
[disclaimer: we really, really, really want to make sure you know that that both Marvel and DC Comics are on record saying fans should not feel like they need to read all issues tying into their summer events. Really…]
Are you a DC and Marvel fan? Expect to spend between $357.27 and $618.76.
When asked to comment on this story Monday morning, “Access Q. Amalgam” Talk@Newsarama’s resident (though quite rare) fan of all things both Marvel and DC equally, said, “Oh @#$%&!, I wonder if Home Depot is hiring part-time..?”