July 8, 1998

Big news this month! I think I may have convinced my good friend Jim Shooter to give self-publishing a try. Jim has been busy since his investors unexpectedly pulled the plug on Broadway Comics working on book and film projects. At the same time, however, he's continued to keep an eye on his first love, the world of comics. Recently he mentioned to me that he has an idea for a super-hero team book set in the not-so-distant future, based around a group of dynamic teens.

The story, as he described it to me, sounds like a cross between HARBINGER and THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES, with elements from quite a few other teen books thrown in for fun. His description sounded so cool that I wished out loud that he could get it drawn, and into print. I'd certainly like to read it.

But how to get a new comics title published in the current difficult environment? Investors were certainly out of the question. No outside money is available these days for a comics publishing start-up. Besides, Jim's track record with investors was filled with constant conflict. Who wants to be beholden to yet another group of folks who can pull the plug on you just as you're starting to get ahead?

It was at that point that I asked Jim why he didn't just publish the book himself. Given the current sad state of the comics market the financial rewards would be limited, but wouldn't getting a fun title into print be worth the hassles? We discussed the pros and cons, and I suggested that he produce the comic as a two limited editions. The primary print run would be limited to 5,000 copies of a 32-page comic at $2.95. In addition to the regular edition, there would be 500 copies of a signed and numbered edition at $14.95. Jim ran the numbers, and found that this was just about breakeven. While that certainly isn't very rewarding, I pointed out to him that if the first issue proved popular, that the print run on the second issue could be increased. It would also be conceivable to lower the price, add color, etc. But without ever printing the first issue, nothing would ever happen.

I then offered Jim a deal. I told him I would solicit his new title, appropriately named ANOMALIES #1 through the N.I.C.E. subscription club, and through an Internet mailing. If we received enough response to make it look like a sellout was probable in the general comics marketplace, he'd immediately finish the project. He has already spoken to artist Joe James (DARK DOMINION and KNIGHTS ON BROADWAY), and Joe is ready at any time to roll on converting Jim's story into a complete comic. He's just waiting for the OK from Jim to start.

Now we're at the point where I stick my neck out. I really would like to see this project happen, so I'm going to make a special offer to those of you in N.I.C.E. and on our e-mailing list. Order a copy of the limited edition (only 500 copies, signed and numbered) of ANOMALIES #1 from us for $14.95, and I'll guarantee that we'll send 80% of that amount directly to Jim Shooter at the point that he's ready to go to press. If he decides not to go to press, we'll never deduct the amount from your N.I.C.E. balance, or send you a full refund if you're from our e-mailing list. There's no risk for you in this process, but you could be pre-ordering the scarcest issue from an entirely new comics universe well before any other fans even hear about it. There's even a possibility that we might sell the entire limited edition in advance. In that case your association with Mile High Comics will have earned you an opportunity that other fans just won't get. I hope you join me in helping bring ANOMALIES #1 into print. By the way, if you'd like to get on Jim Shooter's mailing list, you can e-mail him at JCShooter7@aol.com. He's got another project (about an Interplanetary traveling executioner) that would also make a great comic.

STATE OF LIMBO FOR MARVEL COMICS

In other news, the state of limbo for Marvel Comics continues. There were two days of heated testimony last week in the courtroom of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Roderick McKelvie about the relative merits of competing proposals for Marvel put forth by Toy Biz, Inc. and a group of Marvel equity holders led by financier Carl Icahn. Both parties sought to value their bids in excess of $500 million, and to discredit the bids of their rival as overstated. They're probably both right. I seriously doubt if Marvel, in its present state, is worth anything approaching that much. It really doesn't matter at this point. What does matter is that Carl Icahn is going to litigate endlessly unless Toy Biz offers him some some of buyout that allows him to recover at least part of the millions he put into acquiring controlling interest in Marvel's equity. At this point Toy Biz seems unprepared to offer such a buyout, so the court hearings will continue. It is possible that Judge McKelvie may actually make a definitive decision in this matter in favor of one party, but nothing prevents the losing party from filing suit to have Judge McKelvie's potential decision be overturned. What an exercise in futility. The lawyers involved love it, but the rest of us are just so burned out on this judicial charade... More Marvel bankruptcy news (?) next month.