Could we see a new newstand newsagent comic in UK this year?

[primenova]

I dont think we'll get a standalone comic or a screencaps comic (due to Earthspark being over a year old)

But if it was a Hasbro comic showing all brands. ie anthology comic like Judge Dredd Megazine 144 pages £7 (the rescuebots comic was 36 pages for £5.50).

So the comic line up with ROM at start with history text story showing where ROM started out. Would need Panini doing the comic due to reprints ROM featuring Marvel characters. Then new Skybound comics Void rivals etc.
Then Marvel UK Transformers reprints - but in event order than print order. So the pre Earth stuff printed first. State games & There shall come a leader. Then US #1. UK #9-21 & also Transformers '84 #1-4 printed before US #4. Then all stories set in 2007 printed after G2#12 is printed.
Back up strip - full issue of Gijoe 1982 #1+. To line up reprints so Transformers US #23-26. Gijoe #50 G/TF #1-4 printed around the same time from 1987.
Text history extra about history of Hasbro, Gijoe, Transformers- merge Parker Kenner. Other comics could replace ROM if reprints run out. Gobots etc.

I'd love to see James Roberts working on history text stuff. After a few years there could be new strip comic work. But what could the comic be called? Would they cover Hasbro girl lines?

[The Doctor]

The periodical sector took a hifty hit during lockdowns and many went to the wall. Supermarkets have since significantly shrunk (or removed entirely) their periodical sections. Even WH Smiths has reduced the footprint of newsstands in their shops.

In a much smaller market, I suspect the time for a UK newsstand kids TF title may have passed.

I would like to be wrong.

-Ralph

[primenova]

I dont want to see one with the endless plastic gifts on it. I was just flicking in the Judge Dredd comic in Morrisons then read how the US Skybound comic is going up in sales. So if a UK company decided to try to cash in? But if it had free gifts then a trading card set started with ROM - this is just to get core Marvel ROM fans hunting the comic down & increaseing the sales. We would have to put up with Gijoe reprints at the back of ever issue but some people might want to read them now if picking up Skybound stuff.

Also could be in US format 100 pagers than UK size.

[Andy Turnbull]

Jan 30, 2024 19:06:06 GMT primenova said:

I dont want to see one with the endless plastic gifts on it. I was just flicking in the Judge Dredd comic in Morrisons then read how the US Skybound comic is going up in sales. So if a UK company decided to try to cash in? But if it had free gifts then a trading card set started with ROM - this is just to get core Marvel ROM fans hunting the comic down & increaseing the sales. We would have to put up with Gijoe reprints at the back of ever issue but some people might want to read them now if picking up Skybound stuff.

Also could be in US format 100 pagers than UK size.

There's not the market for that Pete.

If there ever was we would have seen it when the movies were out and in their pomp.

[primenova]

Titan did have it for the first few but they dropped the ball a bit with the 3rd #1. They did better with the TPB reprints than new strip. But ROM would pull in USA sales if not Transformers, because we do now have the re interest in the series & it was enough for Marvel US to go after it last year.

[The Doctor]

I think you overestimate the size of the ROM fanbase.

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

Jan 31, 2024 6:59:47 GMT primenova said:

Titan did have it for the first few but they dropped the ball a bit with the 3rd #1. They did better with the TPB reprints than new strip. But ROM would pull in USA sales if not Transformers, because we do now have the re interest in the series & it was enough for Marvel US to go after it last year.

They didn't.

That comic was not aimed at the 100 page US format Panini editions (which Panini don't even do anymore) the large format/cover mount strategy shows they were aiming for a youger fanbase. We were just lucky that Steve White grabbed Furman who did the same thing he did back in the day with the UK TF comic and steadfastly refused to write down to the readers.

Trade paperbacks were a different thing altogether and had already finished before the Movie came out so not sure the relevancy. Also produced in much smaller numbers and aimed at the older readers who read the comic at the time.

Marvel wanted the Rom rights for the omnibus, not new content. The fact there is no new content tells you they have no confidence in it generating massive sales, but the reprint material will sell strongly.

[primenova]

You can't compare the first Titan issue with the last one because the comic had altered a lot. Why did they go with AHM in v2#1 they could have done the IDW Movie comics instead.

But if a UK company didnt go with reprints of Marvel old stuff (at least this could tie in with the Legacy toy line) - they could go with a 36 page comic that would have 20 page reprint then 10 pages for features adverts.

Currently in UK we have the lecagy toy line in high street stores but the characters in that line do not feature in any other media in UK currently (comic books cartoon). So how would they know who the Junkions, Skids repaint, Crankcase, Skullgrin, Armada Megatron & others are. At least when most people on here collected the toys back in the 80's had the characters feature in a comic (most of them)

[primenova]

The Titan comic back in the first year was selling more than IDW comic that same month back in 2007. But do we have more fans in UK with being 6 Movies later & series of different universe cartoons Animated to Earthspark. We didnt have too many video games back in 2007 compared to now.

[The Doctor]

I'm fairly sure the US fanbase is somewhat larger than the UK one. Their country is bigger.

-Ralph

[primenova]

I'm just reading the whole of the Beastwars comic series & it could good if it was put in the first few years print of a UK comic seeing it does start from scratch. Then some other stuff IDW did Hachette didnt print like Movie stuff

[primenova]

Just looked in Titan v1 #25 & the comic was selling over 24000 each month around #15-20

[The Doctor]

Again: a very very different market then. Traditional media (periodicals, telly, etc) has went through significant changes.

IIRC ROTB didn't even get a newsstand Special. Not holding my breath for a One Special.

-Ralph

[primenova]

Yes IDW quite with the movie comics after the3rd/ Unless you count those Bumblebee stuff being Movie when they dont fit with the film. That Bumblebee being a spy. It doesnt give you the exact sales figures for Skybound just the place in top 100