As a long-time fan of DC Comics and someone who has been fortunate enough to work with these iconic characters for many years, I’m thrilled about the exciting developments we have in store for 2025!
For a long time, people have predicted the demise of comic books, yet much like the characters they portray – both heroes and villains – the medium has consistently resurfaced, often with renewed vigor.
In 2023, comic book and graphic novel sales dropped by 7%, going from $2.01 billion in 2022 to approximately $1.87 billion, as estimated by ICv2, a platform that monitors industry sales. However, this year has seen the industry making a significant recovery. Despite the final figures not being released yet, it’s believed that sales have increased compared to last year.
It’s hard to argue that any other entity experienced a more successful year than DC, given their rollout of multiple publishing projects, new product ranges, and innovative distribution methods.
According to Milton Griepp of ICv2, “DC has faced market share losses and underwent several downsizings in recent times.” However, “they’ve been demonstrating signs of recovery,” and “it appears they’ve had an exceptional year.
As an ardent fan, I’m thrilled to share that my favorite company has amplified its timeless tales by introducing a fresh graphic novel format, dubbed Compact Comics. These pocket-sized books (5.5” x 8.5”) made their debut with a staggering 10 titles, all of which were so popular they needed a second round in print! Even the 1985 classic, “Watchmen,” known for its enduring appeal, demanded a third printing. Remarkably, these graphic novels have proven to be a smashing hit not just at comic book stores, but also at bookstores, an unexpected territory for superheroes. In 2025, the line is planning to release 15 more of these captivating books!
Additionally, DC delved into the world of webcomics through DC GO!, offering both fresh narratives and reworked timeless tales. Meanwhile, DC Universe Infinite, their digital comic subscription platform, has grown to encompass France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. This week, Brazil and Mexico were added to this expanding list.
The launch of the “Absolute” universe, a fresh take on DC characters, has been unsurpassed in terms of success. The debut issue of “Absolute Batman,” penned by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, has sold over 400,000 copies, necessitating multiple reprints, and it was the top-selling comic of 2024. The other titles in this series also saw impressive sales. For instance, the first issues of “Absolute Superman,” written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Rafa Sandoval, and “Absolute Wonder Woman,” penned by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, both required numerous reprints, selling a combined total of over 500,000 copies.
In addition to influencing pop culture, DC has made a significant impact in the physical world as well. For instance, Batman was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a seven-and-a-half foot tall bronze statue of Green Lantern’s hero John Stewart was unveiled in downtown Burbank. Despite the flop of Joker: Folie à Deux, HBO’s The Penguin turned out to be an unexpected success that received high praise from critics. As for next year, it looks like the momentum will continue with more exciting projects such as the return of the creator-owned Vertigo imprint and the big-screen debut of DC Studios featuring James Gunn’s Superman, which will reveal its trailer on Thursday.
The narration of these heroes’ and villains’ thrilling tales originates from the publishing sector, serving as the foundation for Warner B Bros. Discovery’s superhero platform. This role is crucial because the movies, TV shows, video games, toys, and merchandise ignite passion in fans worldwide.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but echo the sentiments of Jim Lee, DC’s president, publisher, and chief creative officer: “The allure lies in the boundless opportunities for discovery within our publishing realm.” Being immersed in an industry that never sleeps, we consistently release content year-round, making us a unique entity among entertainment media businesses. It seems there’s no ‘off’ button to our creative endeavors.
Lee and Anne DePies, DC’s general manager, recently discussed their strategies on a Zoom call with The Hollywood Reporter. They detailed how a successful 2024 marks the culmination of years of meticulous planning, shared insights about the publishing strategy for Hush 2, and clarified the nuances between Absolute, Black Label, and Elseworlds imprints.
It appears comic book sales have significantly increased in 2024, according to what I’ve been told. Has this trend also been noticed at your place?
ANNE DEPICTS Our performance has been strong across both direct market and mass retail, not only with new periodicals but also books. There’s a general improvement in sales. We’re looking forward to the end of this year and are optimistic about our trajectory in 2025. From our perspective, there’s a lot of enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
JIM LEE Occasionally, we reap rewards from broader market movements, boosting our company, and at other times, our strategic choices contribute to its growth. I believe this year, we’ve made some exceptional creative and business moves that significantly increased our income, stimulated sales, and drew customers back to our stores with the All In and Absolute series.
I’M WONDERING Isn’t it more than just a 2024 matter? Much of what we witnessed this year has been in the making for several years. The new lines we’re developing, such as Compact Comics and DC Finest, are projects that will continue for many years to come. These will become our long-term staples.
ALICE We plan our projects up to two or even three years ahead, which means they require time to arrange and execute. This past year has been particularly fruitful as everything fell into place nicely.
During the golden age of comics, specifically in the 1960s and 1970s, publishing comics seemed to operate on a monthly basis. Publishers would often find themselves wondering, “What will we publish next month?” This concept seems rather quaint compared to modern standards. Is it essential for a publisher like DC to have a multi-year plan that encompasses such long-term planning?
I’ve had experiences as both, haven’t I? Before being bought by DC, I was a small publisher. I noticed the extensive resources that a large company like DC could provide. When you’re smaller, you don’t have the staff or infrastructure to plan too far ahead. You focus on quarterly goals: “What are we releasing next?” “What’s delayed?” However, to manage our business efficiently and productively, we’ve had to start planning further into the future, particularly since our backlist, the book portion of our business, is growing larger every year. This growth necessitates a different rhythm for distributing information to suppliers, informing retailers, and keeping fans updated.
In our approach, we consider our business on a global scale. We collaborate with partners from various regions worldwide. With these international associates, we establish publishing strategies a year beforehand. This allows us to coordinate all our partners globally, ensuring that we can showcase DC consistently across every territory when planning ahead.
Would you say that the quality of comics has improved this year?
LEE That’s quite a challenging question, isn’t it? If I were to agree, it would imply that everything published prior to 2024 was subpar. I won’t be lured into such a trap. (Laughs) Instead, I believe we produce fantastic comics every year. Comparing a comic from today with one from the Bronze Age, for instance, is not fair. The Bronze Age had its own unique aspects – different business models, audiences, and objectives. Today’s comics have seen an improvement in writing quality and artistic detail. Consider the artists; maintaining a monthly schedule consistently is quite rare due to the intricacy and effort put into each piece of art. Back then, comics were more like cheap toys for children, but today they demand more time and care.
It’s clear that The Absolute series is doing incredibly well. For me, its success resembles that of Marvel’s Ultimate series. What does this imply about the current industry landscape? It suggests that these modernized or reinvented versions are striking a chord with readers, whether it’s a gritty Batman reinterpretation or a family-focused Peter Parker.
In today’s world, we seem to have an overwhelming amount of content at our disposal compared to what we can realistically consume. For instance, if someone were to suggest a comprehensive list of DC superhero projects, along with the estimated time required to read each comic and watch every cartoon movie, it would be quite extensive.
Can one of you set me straight about all the different lines?
LEE In our discussions with the authors, we began by exploring the fundamental differences between an Absolute book, a Back Label title, and an Elseworld. To me, Elseworlds offer the opportunity to completely overhaul the original concept, leading to something fresh, innovative, and distinct. However, in the Absolute series, our aim is to preserve the core essence of the character while modernizing the setting, altering secondary and tertiary relationships, and observing the outcome. The approach varies for each imprint and sub-imprint, serving distinct purposes. This clarity guides us as we work on each project.
Not much has been said about the origins of the Absolute line. Who came up with the idea for it?
AS A GAMER: For years now, I’ve been nurturing an ambitious project. Even before Covid shook the world, we tossed around the idea of creating an alternative universe. However, it never quite materialized. Scott Snyder’s eagerness to return to DC and work on Batman played a significant role in bringing this vision to life. But we wanted something grand. Typically, we unveil something new every six to eight years. It’s been eight years since the Rebirth publishing relaunch in 2016. The gap between the New 52 reboot in 2011 and Rebirth was only five years. Yet, with Scott Snyder and Josh Williamson, we had two creators who shared a unique concept for a pocket universe, a concept that diverged slightly from the traditional multiverse. This idea perfectly matched our business need to create something epic on a grand scale across all titles.
Is there a brain trust or a group of architects who are sort of gatekeeping the absolute line?
Josh and Scott are the main contributors, along with our editorial team. Paul Kaminsky and Katie Kubert were involved in creating The Absolute. It’s a blend of our internal editors and external professionals. And Marie Javins, who serves as editor-in-chief.
Could 2025 be a significant year for DC as they release the Superman film? Will there be any upcoming comic book adaptations or related merchandise linked to this movie?
JOHN It seems like the last comic book adaptation that was successful was Batman from 1989. Normally, when a Superman or Batman movie comes out, our classic stories about these characters see an increase in sales. This is because fans become interested and go out to purchase the most popular and enduring titles related to these heroes. The books that were selling well before the media event often experience the greatest surge in sales following the release of the media, provided it does well. Therefore, we’re referring to this period as the “Summer of Superman,” even though we don’t have a direct adaptation of the movie. Instead, we have a wealth of fantastic Superman content available around the time of the film’s release, hoping that people will want to delve back into the life of the world’s first superhero as they eagerly await the movie.
Hey Jim! It seems you’ll be back on the monthly comic drawing page next year, specifically with Batman: Hush 2, which is your first return since 2016. Fancy discussing this exciting news with you?
LEE Fine. But can I say we have bigger news than Hush even for next year? Can I say that?
Indeed, I concur with you. Moreover, it seems to me that Jim is showing modesty. Frankly, we’re all quite overwhelmed by the excitement of (Batman No. 158).
Where are you in the drawing process?
LEE I’m on the second issue of six. I don’t know if that’s been noted, but it’s a two-part story. There’s an initial six issues that are in the actual Batman continuity starting with Batman No.158, which comes out last week of March. And that runs six issues. It resolves that arc but it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. And then Jeff and I are coming back for a final six to resolve the Hush saga, which would probably be in 2026.
It’s like breaking up book seven of Harry Potter in part one and part two.
Exactly. There you go.
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2024-12-18 22:55