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Post by butterfingers on Jun 20, 2009 15:42:21 GMT -5
It's time to start talking about book 4. Will they continue? They are off to a great start and it would be a shame to slow down now. This is the time to push through and get another 3 books out there. Heck the way it ended in 3 ... I have to know what's next for our unlikely hero.
I personally would like to see a story arc of JJ Beck (time displacement) time thingy with the suit where we can finally see what JJ's suit looks like. Then of course through the magic of make believe, the little green guys find out what has taken place and then fixes it so that memory is erased for who ever would contaminate the timeline. Not that the little green guys can travel back in time, but they could keep Ralph in stases until the year he disappears to go back in time. Now, here is a twist to keep you on your toes .. how else did they know that Ralph was the one to have the suit. Hmmmm ... self fulfilling prophecy maybe. The little green guys are smart enough to know that if Ralph has the suit then it was given to him by them from their future selfs. But if that is the case, then it was a loop that was to have happened anyway..... or would it have? Kinda of the chicken or the egg conundrum.
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Post by MelMac on Jun 20, 2009 16:15:04 GMT -5
I'm not sure a J.J. Beck story arc would be good - for new generations Ralph is read as the first wearer of the suit. It'd be easier to keep the story moving forward if it continues as though Ralph is the first wearer of the suit. Adding past history into the new comic - or at leat story synopses, can create confusion upon the newbies and make them more disinterested in the series. An example of this would be the 1996 attempt to bring back "Doctor Who." One of the reasons this didn't work was that they were catering to an American audience - and decided to put in ever single continuity thing they could think about. They mention the Daleks (which are ONLY in the opening narration of the story), regeneration (understandable), the 13 lives big, the Master (which was fine, but the character is becoming flatter each regeneration IMHO), the Cloister Bell, etc. When they did that - it perturbed longtime fans for trying to browbeat them with things they already knew and confused the American audience. So, that idea was scuppered until 2005 - when they used an air of mystery about the Doctor again, and brought things in slowly to get the audience hooked. Now, I'm not saying that a story arc of J.J. wouldn't be a cool idea (I actually like the idea you have in mind ); however, that would be a huge gamble to undertake given a good portion of the current audience is new to "TGAH."
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Post by mmderdekea on Jun 21, 2009 10:23:00 GMT -5
When is the 4th comic book in TGAH series supposed to come out? Is that even publicly listed? One hopes so, but I tried to use that on-line comic ordering company to place a reservation for #4 and I couldn't do it as it wasn't listed at all.
One can only hope TGAH doesn't go to the Iphone like Sparks so disappointingly did.
Mona
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Post by MelMac on Jun 21, 2009 20:18:51 GMT -5
Butterfinger's discussion is just what-if possibilities. There is no date set for "GAH" 4 that I know of. The only current comment from Chris on the Catastrophic Comics forum (similar title thread) is "GAH 4 is something we can't talk about right now. I'm sure by Comic Con we can talk about it." There are many factors that are involved as far as the comic right now, and it's possible Chris too couldn't comment because he cannot legally discuss possible story scenarios (which is what Butterfingers is touting a little bit here). Other possibilites such as behind the scenes stuff (i.e. the delay to the second animated comic for "Sparks") could be in play. That said, given HOW popular the first three have been; however, I would say that they should be at least completing the six promised.
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Post by MelMac on Jun 21, 2009 20:24:32 GMT -5
One can only hope TGAH doesn't go to the Iphone like Sparks so disappointingly did. Mona "Sparks" basically fell victim to the Economy. Basically - from what I understand reading online, Diamond Comics - the company that printed/published them decided to stop or effectively stop printing independent comics. Now, whether cost prohibitive to them or the required minimum an indie would have to purchase to have an order printed hurt "Sparks" I do not know. There are two covers - one each for "Sparks" 5 & 6 floating around the Internet (I think there's one on the CC board, but not sure where), so they definitely had plans on releasing all six in print. That said, I have read rumors that they are going to eventually release all in a graphic novel. That alone might be a bonus because they might have a special section in there where they have original concept drawings in there, or in a couple of cases show how the comic is different from the animated version.
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Post by mmderdekea on Jun 21, 2009 22:10:25 GMT -5
Yes, Melmac,
That's all old news that we all know about, regarding Sparks.
I bet it's 50:50 that they make new TGAH comics. I of course hope they do, but unfortunately, the past history is shaky, as Sparks proved. Also, we are still waiting for Mythological Wars.
As for where the storyline would go--it's impossible to say. More about the three of them, Bill, Ralph and Pam, getting to know each other, and more about learning of the suit. But, so much is already changed from the TV Show, like the President and the FBI knowing about Ralph (but apparently ignoring it which is STILL sheer idiocy), Ralph having his annoying roommate (bad idea), that it's hard to know where they can go from here. I already dislike Ralph going into outer space to exhale, in freezing, airless space, and then having to get back down into Earth massively heated up in during reentry, which was all just skipped over in the storyline. I found that nearly impossible to believe. Anyway, one does wonder just where can the storyline go?
Introducing a previous owner of a suit, a failure, like JJ Beck, does have potential, and could be done for new and old readers, I think. That might help us get some GG answers, as Katt sees them. I just hope they leave out any Russian red suited hero; if they do that, when we are just getting to know OUR heroes, they lose me for sure as a reader!
Mona
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jun 21, 2009 22:19:19 GMT -5
I don't have nor have I read the first three, but I think fans could handle and enjoy JJ Beck, even if they are new to the series.
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Post by MelMac on Jun 21, 2009 23:04:49 GMT -5
I bet it's 50:50 that they make new TGAH comics. I of course hope they do, but unfortunately, the past history is shaky, as Sparks proved. Also, we are still waiting for Mythological Wars. I've read some updates on "Mythology Wars," in that they're considering doing it as an animated comic right now for the same reasons as what happened with "Sparks." I've seen some of the sketches for it (again, online and what we've seen in the "GAH" comics), and it looks like it'll be a really neat comic. Out of all of them, "GAH" has a better than half shot IMHO because it IS "Greatest American Hero." It's a known concept and show - just about everyone knows who the "guy in the funny red suit is" even if they don't know the nuiances or that he had a teammate and girlfriend. People also tend to collect comics of their favorite TV shows before a new concept comic such as "Sparks" - one reason I think "Star Trek" and "Doctor Who's" comics have been around for decades. Now, what will affect them more is time, quality and prices in printing. I can safely say that the cost of printing has gone up due to cost of items they use to print - even more so with full color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) printing. I've noticed, after some glaring issues with the text boxes and how they press apparently chose to print a page at 110% instead of 100% in the first comic, they've been trying to pay more attention to details and that will lead to a delay in a release of the comic. Even then, there's still glaring errors, such as Rhonda's hair color change in the third comic and how the suit emblem not being painted in a panel of Ralph wearing the suit. But, on the flip side, the pages are all uniform in size - which shows a better print of the edition.
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Post by butterfingers on Jun 28, 2009 22:34:20 GMT -5
in any case anything new from the GAH camp would be a welcomed one. Lets face it, we all would love anything new from our favorite unlikely hero.
hmmmm ... but lets try if we can to not go down The Greatest Russian Hero ... lets just stick with The Greatest Earth Hero.
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Post by MortimerWest on Jul 3, 2009 2:23:19 GMT -5
Last I checked - Russia is on Earth
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Post by MelMac on Jul 3, 2009 9:20:42 GMT -5
Last I checked - Russia is on Earth According to my Dad, Siberia in particular fells like you're on another world given how cold it is. Then again - I guess St. Basil's could be seen a little bit like a space ship...
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Post by mmderdekea on Jul 3, 2009 20:23:24 GMT -5
And the estimated time of TGAH 4 coming out is................? Anyone know?
Mona
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Post by MelMac on Jul 3, 2009 21:41:49 GMT -5
Don't know yet (I've looked all places I know of); however, if it's making sure the coloring's right (especially character's hair) as well as having a strong continuation after the last scene in the third comic, I'd rather wait. Additionally, with tomorrow being July 4, they may have wanted to wait until then to announce the date. Both are speculation on my part though. That said, in my opinion only this is a good thing we don't have an official date announced. Remembering what happened this time last year with the "TGAH 2008" spinoff attempt, it's best to not announce something until you're 100 percent sure it will occur. I think - even though I speculate other factors shuttered the project - the sheer fact that when even the first five minutes of the ep didn't appear until just under the wire in the pacific zone July 4 (11:50 p.m. - other three zones it was July 5) hurt that endeavor. But, as far as I can see, all three comics released sold out, which bodes well for at least the full six. We'll just have to wait until they say something.
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Post by Ms Boku on Jul 5, 2009 10:11:32 GMT -5
No date as of yet. they have a lot on their plates with the con coming up and Sparks 2. I know they are trying to get all their ducks in a row. Independents have a lot of work building their business. I know just trying to build my own business.
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Post by mmderdekea on Jul 5, 2009 20:48:31 GMT -5
That's what I was afraid of.
Mona
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Post by MelMac on Jul 5, 2009 22:44:47 GMT -5
I look at it this way - would I rather not hear a date set yet and they take the time for it to be nice and right ... or would I rather have a set date now, they fail to make it for some reason, and then everyone is upset?
Personally, I'd rather them not give us a specific date until they are pretty certain it'll come out.
I seem to remember a certain spinoff failing because they set a date a year in advance and they failed big time. (And yes that's before the speculation that SJC pulled a cease and desist on their project).
This is a project that I seriously doubt they'll fail to at least produce the promised 6 comics. Beyond that, it'd be based on sales of the other six plain and simple.
Unlike Catastrophic Comic's other projects, "The Greatest American Hero" is a well-known franchise. People know it and want to collect things "GAH" related. Heck, even Hot Topic (a punk rock/emo/goth type store) briefly sold shirts with the logo because it looks cool.
For it to fail would have serious ramifications for SJC, Katt, and yes even Connie, Culp, Pare and anyone who has had any part of the show or the promises made at Comic Con last year. Why? - Because they've all said they'd do the animated comics.
Right now, not giving a date is smart - they know that it's better to get it right and make fans happy then promise a release date, something go wrong (internal and external factors) and have egg on their faces and upset fans.
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Post by mmderdekea on Jul 6, 2009 9:38:03 GMT -5
I just wonder how much thought and organization and serious business financial planning Katt and Co. put into forming Catastrophic Comics (CC). While their ideas are sound, their implementation of their business is not smooth or efficient. It's aggravating to this fan, anyway, to start buying comics with the assumption they will be printed as advertised/promised. First, Sparks goes to Iphone, with a big CC hoopla. However, what happens as a result of that is that the majority of folks who had bought the initial issues are left out in the cold and don't see the conclusion of the story.
Now, with TGAH, we are promised six comics--the first three the old show redone, and then the new issues bringing in new ideas, and once again, here fans are left in the cold without any promise of a succeeding issue. Given the history of Sparks, I think it's obvious there's a good chance we might not see another TGAH issue, either. I hope otherwise, certainly, but I'm skeptical.
I am willing to wait; what is the choice otherwise? I do want to see those comics. But, this is bad, inefficient and disappointing way to run a new business.
Mona
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Post by MelMac on Jul 6, 2009 13:02:16 GMT -5
I respect your opinion; however, having experience in this industry, I can tell you that a variety of factors outside of Katt and Co.'s control that are making them decide to hold off setting a date. Printing press costs, computer errors, personal issues, etc. can cause delays that can send things into a tailspin that makes setting a specific date too risky.
Also - speculation only - I think there is something that is making them hold off. Maybe there is something or someone whom they're working with that has to be completed so they can announce the project together. To announce a date too soon then could be a deal breaker - that is another thing outside their control.
Example (note, INTENTIONALLY far-fetched to avoid a possible real spoiler) - maybe they're going to have J.K. Rowling write a comic and they want to have confirmation she's doing it before they announce it. That way - in the example - nothing is said wrong and she pulled out, making people very disappointed and possibly losing sales.
What is aggravating to me is that you erroneously presume that CC choose to go straight to iPhone instead of completing the full six. (I believe they were going to do both). They wanted to do the six (they had covers made); however Diamond printing choose to stop printing independents and made it cost prohibitive for the company to try to expand their number just to get it printed. If you read Catastrophic Comic's site, you will see that there is truth to this statement. Plus - all seven (they've expanded the number to one additional) comics will be put on iPhone, and I have heard about a graphic novel of all of them is in the work.
Therefore, unless they specifically say - as they did "Sparks" - that they're going to stop producing the comic, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. If they had serious doubts on continuing, I think they'd avoided the "just the beginning" type dialogue on that final scene in comic three.
Frankly, in my opinion only I feel that - based on your comments - you're a little biased against this company's ability to do things based on who is running it. That said, I have felt you have been since day one: You've questioned Katt's ability to write a story, his ability to "Treat Bill fairly," and now this. I feel your "it's obvious" comment is also unfair. It is simply not obvious - not when we don't know the whole story.
In my honest opinion, I feel that if it were anyone else producing this, I would maintain that you would say "Be patient" if people were complaining as you were when people complained that "TGAH 2008" failed to produce a full episode. Frankly, it's disappointing to even read people were more willing to give a fan-film endeavor made by someone who clearly did NOT know the show (let alone was going to do it for profit when he said he wasn't) more of a benefit of the doubt than you do Katt - who has SJC's blessing on it and is doing his damndest to produce these comics.
You do not know any more than I do about Katt himself, nor do you or I run a company such as his, therefore I feel that one cannot fairly question his thoughts, organizational skills or financial abilities to run a company. Doubly so when the company is just under if not over a year in business, and is going through those starting-up woes.
Now, a month from now I can understand your frustration and will even get as critical as I did with "TGAH 2008." I'm not infatuated with Katt to say that anything he touches is gold: I call a spade a spade.
And, obviously, SJC, Katt and company cannot wait too long or people start leaving; however, it is much better to NOT set a date and something happen - even up to no more being made, and ruin EVERYONE'S credibility - all of our favorite actors have a stake in this project, therefore, I maintain they're going to do everything they can to succeed - and if they fail, it's not after trying to pull out all stops.
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Post by Ms Boku on Jul 6, 2009 17:24:22 GMT -5
I just wonder how much thought and organization and serious business financial planning Katt and Co. put into forming Catastrophic Comics (CC). While their ideas are sound, their implementation of their business is not smooth or efficient. It's aggravating to this fan, anyway, to start buying comics with the assumption they will be printed as advertised/promised. First, Sparks goes to Iphone, with a big CC hoopla. However, what happens as a result of that is that the majority of folks who had bought the initial issues are left out in the cold and don't see the conclusion of the story. Now, with TGAH, we are promised six comics--the first three the old show redone, and then the new issues bringing in new ideas, and once again, here fans are left in the cold without any promise of a succeeding issue. Given the history of Sparks, I think it's obvious there's a good chance we might not see another TGAH issue, either. I hope otherwise, certainly, but I'm skeptical. I am willing to wait; what is the choice otherwise? I do want to see those comics. But, this is bad, inefficient and disappointing way to run a new business. Mona OMG! Rome wasn't built in a day. They are doing the best they can in a hard economy. They are an independent company and indies have the hardest. Everything will happen in it's own time.
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Post by butterfingers on Jul 6, 2009 19:14:48 GMT -5
I just wonder how much thought and organization and serious business financial planning Katt and Co. put into forming Catastrophic Comics (CC). While their ideas are sound, their implementation of their business is not smooth or efficient. It's aggravating to this fan, anyway, to start buying comics with the assumption they will be printed as advertised/promised. First, Sparks goes to Iphone, with a big CC hoopla. However, what happens as a result of that is that the majority of folks who had bought the initial issues are left out in the cold and don't see the conclusion of the story. Now, with TGAH, we are promised six comics--the first three the old show redone, and then the new issues bringing in new ideas, and once again, here fans are left in the cold without any promise of a succeeding issue. Given the history of Sparks, I think it's obvious there's a good chance we might not see another TGAH issue, either. I hope otherwise, certainly, but I'm skeptical. I am willing to wait; what is the choice otherwise? I do want to see those comics. But, this is bad, inefficient and disappointing way to run a new business. Mona huh??? Sparks turned out to be a major breakthrough and yes, it has taken some time, but all good things come to those who wait. They delivered in spades!! TGAH is a bonus and to have 3 comics of my favorite show is awesome and would have never come to light if not for the time, energy and passion of Katt and Co. Anything they do from here on out is gravy and could not ever fault them for wanting to make sure that what they put out is true to not only the fans but to themselves as well. As fans sometimes we expect waaaaay to much and have to realize the bigger picture and to understand that we all may not know the whole story or what is happening behind closed doors. Sure I would love to have book 4, 5 , 6 and have it go on forever, but hey, at least we were able to have something new from our favorite hero. We will know more in a couple of weeks at comic con. I will make sure to get the whole scoop and nothing but the scoop
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