For those of you who do not have your ear glued to the engine that is the Industrial Comic Book Complex, here's the skinny...
Wildstorm, as its own imprint, is no more. DC is folding those characters into the DC Comics banner. Does that mean we will see the Wildstorm characters interacting with DC Characters? I think it is very likely, but for now, that universe goes POOF for the time being.
The experiment known as ZUDA, whose website has been switched off for some time now, is now officially done. DC states that all projects that were to be completed by ZUDA will now be completed under the DC Comics banner, but there are some exceptions. You may recall the contest ZUDA ran in which the winner would have their comic published? "Eldritch" by Aaron Alexovich and Drew Rausch was the winning title, but two weeks after the win, ZUDA closed their website and informed the creators their efforts were in vain. Would be nice if someone at DC took the initiative to call the guys up, thank them for pushing the contest so hard core and perhaps give them a spot in the new scheme of things? Seems only fair! Imagine winning a contest like this and then being told you don't get published? I'd lose my mind.
Theres also talk of the company moving a portion of its operations to the West Coast, but this doesn't include the comics side of things, as far as I know. The release is sketchy on that detail...in that it doesn't really mention it at all.
At any rate, here's the press release straight from the honchos themselves...
The changes happening behind the scenes this week are part of a greater campaign to reshape DC Comics and build a company for the future. Our responsibility as Co-Publishers is to find a balance between short term opportunities and long term vision; between our strengths in traditional print formats and the infinite potential beyond print; between our characters’ rich legacies in the past and the bright promise for the future they hold.
As we’ve said before, there’s much to celebrate about DC. The foundation for long-term success is already here.
The DC Universe features the modern adventures of the World’s Greatest Superheroes, as envisioned by an exciting mix of new and fan favorite comic book creators. Vertigo is committed to publishing cutting edge, creator owned comic books and graphic novels by a wide array of creative voices.
One of our first decisions of the Co-Publishers was to up the publication of MAD Magazine from a quarterly periodical to a bimonthly one. In the wake of that decision, the magazine has seen increased sell-through growth. And we’re thrilled that MAD’s brand of madcap humor now stretches across media, with a highly-rated television show on Cartoon Network. The Usual Gangs of Idiots are an important part of this company and pop culture.
As we move forward, we also have to acknowledge the need for change.
After taking the comics scene by storm nearly 20 years ago, the WildStorm Universe titles will end this December. In this soft marketplace, these characters need a break to regroup and redefine what made them once unique and cutting edge. While these will be the final issues published under the WildStorm imprint, it will not be the last we will see of many of these heroes. We, along with Geoff Johns, have a lot of exciting plans for these amazing characters, so stay tuned. Going forward, WildStorm’s licensed titles and kids comics will now be published under the DC banner.
After this week, we will cease to publish new material under the ZUDA banner. The material that was to have been published as part of ZUDA this year will now be published under the DC banner. The official closing of ZUDA ends one chapter of DC’s digital history, but we will continue to find new ways to innovate with digital, incorporating much of the experience and knowledge that ZUDA brought into DC.
We’ll be further expanding our digital initiative and making a lot more news in this space. As part of that transformation, the WildStorm editorial team will undergo a restructuring and be folded into the overall DC Comics Digital team, based in Burbank, which will be led by Jim Lee and John Rood. With nearly two million free downloads and hundreds of thousands of paid downloads, our digital foray is already reaching a new audience worldwide. We could not be more excited by the successful launch of our Digital Publishing products in June, which exceeded all sales forecasts and will be building on our early success with new applications for DC material on all major formats and hardware, partnering with Warner Bros Digital Distribution. It has extremely been rewarding to hear anecdotal stories of lapsed readers returning to the art form and of brick and mortar stores gaining new customers who sampled digital comics.
We remain, as ever, dedicated to working with the greatest creators this industry has to offer, while inspiring generations of creators and readers to embrace this medium that we all love.
Jim Lee and Dan DiDio
DC Comics Co-Publishers
New comic book day has come and gone and now you all can decide for yourselves which of DC's New 52 books rule and which revamps just aren't doing it for you. I weighed in with my thoughts on all but two of the books I didn't have access to in a massive 5 page review spread at The Beat! Here's my thoughts on the bastard child of Kirby we know as O.M.A.C....
