5 Ways To Revitalize DC Comics
1. Stop The Gimmicks
During the reign of the New 52, there were lots and lots of gimmicks like 3D covers, selfie covers, scratch and sniff covers. There were things like WTF month. Granted, those gimmicks lead to headlines and articles, which generally raises awareness, but does that raised awareness lead to sales? If so, are the sales high enough? It kind of seems like they arent if theyre actually backpedaling on the New 52 such a short time later.
You know what headlines and articles might inspire more sales? Ones about how good a current title is, about how its worth reading and will be worth your money. Sure, the press releases sent out are full of bombastic language meant to get fans excited, but nothing gets people excited more than reading passionate praise about a quality title.
Word of mouth on the blogosphere can improve sales much more than holographic covers. Instead of saying, read this months Aquaman because OH MY GOD SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS WE CANT EVEN TELL YOU! say, read this months Aquaman because its good. I know this might sound like crazy talk, but the reason books like Watchmen and DKR are still popular and selling well thirty years later is not because theyre dark or gritty or have just the right amount of blood and violence - its because theyre good!
If DC wants to gain back their loyals fans with this #Rebirth, they need to stop treating them like drug addicts and easily distracted children. They've been burned before and continuity obsessed fans have long memories.
Dont pander. Dont hint that if we sit through the garbage we might get back something we used to love. Get good talent. Let them work without dropping contradictory editorial mandates in their laps. Put out quality work. It may not be easy, but it is simple.
And hey, if that doesnt work, you can just continue to reboot as much as you want as long as you make sure to insist that this totally, one hundred per cent isnt a reboot, you guys.