Hot Topic - Publisher Pick'em!

[penciljack]

There are some comic book fans follow certain characters. Other fans seek out books from specific creators or creative teams. And there are still others who are loyal to some of the biggest players in the comic book industry: The Publishers.

The Setup
You're walking down the street, considering purchasing a chili dog (with everything, except onions; you hate onions) from the vendor on the corner. Before you make it to the Weiner Box-on-Wheels™, a cosmic entity appears before you in a flash of bright light, speed lines and Kirby dots.

The entity waves its futuristically-armored hand and you're presented with an image for several comic book publishers (hey, just like in our poll! What a coincidence!)

"YOU MUST CHOOSE," the entity says, in a voice not unlike that of the late Orson Welles. "It has been decreed. Only ONE may remain. ALL others will ... cease to be. YOU MUST CHOOSE NOW!"

The Choice
Tough choice, huh? Pick an option in the poll, and dive into the topic to explain your answer if you like. If you selected [Other - I'll explain], let us know which publisher you chose to save from cosmic obliteration, and why!

Top 8 Publishers listed are based on Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. Publisher market Shares: October 2011 (http://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/237?articleID=114671)

[NickRocks]

IDW because if I had to save a comic book publisher, i'd save the one that's not overladen with the schlocky bullshit of skittles colored superheroes (and because Ashley Wood's stuff is printed there :) )

[cbikle]

Normally I'd say save DC, but I really hate the direction that company is going in right now, so I'm going to say Marvel, because I really like what Bendis, Brubaker & Hickman are doing right now.

In a Post-Didio world, I'd probably choose DC.

[The P.R. Man]

Image, loads of variety.

[Zippy]

Normally I'd say save DC, but I really hate the direction that company is going in right now, so I'm going to say Marvel, because I really like what Bendis, Brubaker & Hickman are doing right now.

In a Post-Didio world, I'd probably choose DC.


I'm pretty much the opposite. Before the new 52 I would have said Image, but with Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Batwoman, JL Dark and the new ultra-violent feel of DC... I'm going with DC.

[amadarwin]

Image is where most of my pull list resides.

[MRosa]

Image, because I'm trying to create my own comics, and that's where I'd publish them.

[cbikle]

I'm pretty much the opposite. Before the new 52 I would have said Image, but with Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Batwoman, JL Dark and the new ultra-violent feel of DC... I'm going with DC.

The titles you mentioned are the ones I hear the most praise about (Along with Action & Detective Comics), not because of their violence, but because they're some of DC's better written & drawn titles.

The "New 52" is a weird hybrid of some quality books and a lot of crap books and I don't think the line of books they have now is sustainable, but I guess we'll see how right I am about that.

[Zepster]

Marvel for me. Mainly because that is where I started ( along with 2000AD ) and their universe presents a better canvas. Image has more of an edge in some senses but are inconsistent. Have never really bonded with DC, mainly because of their "Universe" being a little too cookey for me.

[e_t_i]

Marvel because of childhood memories

[turnbolt]

Marvel... but then if I ever wanted to get a comic of mine published I'd have to do it independently! Still though... Marvel.

[e_t_i]

Wait, does all their old stuff remain or does this apply to the past too?

[My name is Tommy]

I went with Image because, color me pretentious, I think creator owned is the way of the future in comics. Image offers the most variety, creator fairness, and publicity. Not to say any one of these other companies doesn't offer more of any one of those three things, but none of them can touch Image in all 3. Plus, with the other companies gone even more of these great creators at the other companies would come do creator owned work. I love and will always love Marvel, but if this choice were mine, I'd vote change.

I'm also assuming in my answer that no other publishers will rise from the ashes and start anew. So basically, I'm picking which one I'd be stuck with forever here. Toughy for sure, but I like my answer.

[killingyouguy]

I read more Marvel books than anything - not for any character loyalty, I'm a creator-follower - but I voted Image because, as a creator, I wouldn't want the only publisher in the game to be one that outright owns everything they publish. (Yes, there's ICON, but that's only available to a select few.)

Also... I work on an Image book. So there's that.

[My name is Tommy]

I read more Marvel books than anything - not for any character loyalty, I'm a creator-follower - but I voted Image because, as a creator, I wouldn't want the only publisher in the game to be one that outright owns everything they publish. (Yes, there's ICON, but that's only available to a select few.)

Also... I work on an Image book. So there's that.

Off subject, I reviewed Secret and actually raved about your colors. Some of the best I've seen, no lie.

[killingyouguy]

Oh hey, thanks man! I appreciate that.

[Ebernaught]

Growing up , initially exposed to DC, Marvel got me through puberty, Marvel.:D

[clode9mm]

I'd save 'Other'. It's a bit of a cheat but among 'Other' I count people like Archaia, Markosia, Self Made Hero, Fantagrpahics etc.
Reason being that, as much as I love a good superhero yarn, if those publishers imploded tomorrow, I'd have had enough of those stoires to last me a lifetime. The ground is being broken by the publishers I mention (among many others) who consistently challenge what comics can be.

[ssss6eight1]

Fantagraphics, cuz' I need comics to masturbate to.



Otherwise, I'd probably pick Image, just cuz' of the variety and the quality of a lot of it's books (and cuz' having creator-owned whatevers is important). That, or DC or Marvel (either's fine; I'd flip a coin, I don't give a ****), cuz' the sheer popularity of the two of them and their characters is something that comics kinda can't really do without right now. And cuz' DC includes Vertigo, and Vertigo's series are normally pretty solid. Or maybe Shueisha, cuz' I needs my Gantz and One Piece... do manga count, or would manga not be affected by this comic book thing?

[JussaArtGuy]

I chose "Other" - I'd pick Tower Comics! Bring back the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents! Dynamo! Noman! Menthor! Kitty! and their original creators, too! Like Wally Wood, Len Brown, Dan Adkins, Reed Crandall, Mike Sekowsky, Steve Skeates, Al Williamson, and all the rest! (even though many have passed this mortal coil :eek:)

Those were the days, man! "Cosmic Entity! THAT is my choice!" :D

[malachimanson]

Picked idw because even though i buy mostly marvel or dc i could live without them. Idw has doctor who and i canread doctor who all day every day.

[Carl_Shinyama]

Image, loads of variety.

That, and they publish Invincible and Morning Glories, my two favorite books out right now.

[Jcatlett76]

I wanted to choose Boom because I'm really enjoying their Planet Of The Apes stuff but alas, I had to go with Marvel because without Spider-Man...I may as well be dead!

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[Stagwolf]

I agree... Image has such a wide variety or artists and writers with varying stories and genres.

[robozo]

Marvel!! its really hard to say, DC and others are there, Marvel overall has some of the best Characters...

[Selkirk]

make mine marvel :D...loving the pencillers for marvel-immonen and opena ftw :cool:. small studio that i love is udon-killer style :-lml:

[shannonh]

Man, I Like things from all of them but my heart is in the Indies.