YAO/Epic Anthology praised by Fanboy 8

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Fanboy Planet just posted a great review of Epic Anthology. The review kicks off with a summary of today’s cancellation news and includes a quote by me. Obviously that statement was made during the day, before I got the call from Marvel (see below).

Anyhow, reveiwer Derek McCaw’s main gripe with the book is that it isn’t continuing. Aside from the nice praise for the stories contained within, Derek also had this intriguing suggestion:

To Marvel: bring it back out as Strange Tales Anthology. Make it a manga-sized digest collecting the complete stories. Do whatever it takes to distance it from the previous regime if you must, but don’t let this good work just die.

Sounds good to me, Derek.

8 thoughts on “YAO/Epic Anthology praised by Fanboy”

  • Scott Summerton [Visitor]

    I picked up the book, 8.50 Canadian, primarily for Sleepwalker as I was a big fan of Budiansky’s book. LOVED the character and was excited for the return, which I’m really happy with and was eager to see continue.

    Young Ancient One sounded interesting too and I was likely to grab its #1, so that made the Anthology easier to swallow. Strange Magic was a big iffy, but both it and YAO really grabbed me. Therefore I was sold on #2 very easily.

    Lo and behold its not continuing. This could be a great Marvel Comics Presents of the new era, or an Anthology launching pad for new series to get tested with a real book. Honestly though the book came out one week and was canceled the next. Is that a new record or something? I know Epic imploded, but this didn’t even have a chance to let word of mouth DO anything. Anyone who said “Maybe I’ll try it” based on first sales likely hasn’t even gotten it yet.

    Plus, its got 2 of the greatest cliffhangers I’ve seen in a while. A damn damn shame.

  • Robbo [Visitor]

    I feel your pain Scott.

    You do point out the strength of the Anthology format…folks may come to for one (or two) titles and enjoy the others.

    I can’t pretend to understand Marvel’s thinking on this. Other than to say the economics of comic publishing seem to be pretty brutal right now.

    I suppose we can hope that there’s a great clamoring for the conclusion to these stories, but it’s really about money and that’s what Marvel would’ve responded too most readily.

    Anyhow, I’m trying to see what I can do about resolving that cliffhanger for the interested readers…

  • Scott Summerton [Visitor]

    As for that clamoring, well, who do we clamor to? This book has apparantly been the recipient of good reviews all over the place, and really could be the beginning of a Vertigo-like imprint or something that Marvel could work with, testing out stories and going from there. It being quarterly can’t hurt either.

    How much work was done on the second issues? I remember Kirkman had ideas for the first year of Sleepwalker, and its a shame to not see that, plus the other 2 of YAO.

    But like you said, its brutal now. Gun Theory was stopped partway through, Bad Girls had its 6th shelved, Deathlok: Detour and Ant-Man got detained flatout… still though, Wolverine/Captain America was 3 years coming, as well as the recent Domino… maybe we can get this thing finished -some-how? 🙂

  • Robbo [Visitor]

    I’ve been asking people to e-mail ultimateoffice@marvel.com although I don’t know if that’s really the right address.

    YAO is fully scripted for three issues. Andy has not drawn anything yet.

    I know Kirkman also had three scripts completed. There was eight pages drawn on that one.

    Strange Magic has a script for #2 but no art.

    We could easily have the second issue ready for May, but May solicitations are published next week and they won’t have the Anthology book in them, so that blows the quarterly schedule.

    So…I’m not really sure what all that adds up to. If you feel like e-mailing Marvel, please do. It certainly can’t hurt.

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