Thought we had this city won, but apparently DC Comics is staying in NYC. So the fight goes on…
So, it looks like it’s a non-announcement.
We all expected something pretty epic – but in the end, we find out that, well, DC Comics is staying in New York but will move DC Entertainment to Burbank so as to haveva “strategic business realignment allows us to fully integrate and expand the DC brand in feature film.”
This doesn’t mean anything – DC Comics stays put in the publishing capital of the world and then DC Entertainment relocates to LA where the movies get made.
I can think of a few people today who are breathing a big sigh of relief.
I don’t know if this is the huge reckoning that people thought it’d be, but it was a fun hour of seeing how people reacted to it over Twitter. Mostly we all seemed to be wasting time, while those who’s jobs stood in the balance were constantly refreshing their inboxes.
L.A. was just spared a bunch of New Yorkers complaining about things not being done like they are in New York, congrats to everyone.
Basically Rich Johnson sums it up thusly: “DC Direct – gone. Custom publishing, new media – Burbank. Please define “administrative functions” – hell, please define “publishing business” while you’re at it…”
Meanwhile Marvel Comics is definitely moving, according to a story in The Commercial Observer:
“Marvel Entertainment’s current lease at 417 Fifth Avenue was expiring within the year and this was a great opportunity to house its headquarter offices on one floor,” said Robert Silver of Newmark Knight Frank, who represented the tenant. Robert Alexander and Christopher Mansfield of CB Richard Ellis represented Alliance Bernstein.
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
