Marvel’s predatory practices drive readers away and put stores out of business. Marvel’s latest unannounced “bloody variant” cover scheme is much different than predecessors. In my opinion, and the opinion of many local comic shops, it’s even dirtie…
Marvel’s predatory practices drive readers away and put stores out of business. Marvel’s latest unannounced “bloody variant” cover scheme is much different than predecessors. In my opinion, and the opinion of many local comic shops, it’s even dirtier. It’s putting shop owners in an impossible dilemma of choosing between their very own customers. Some retailers went as far as not distributing them to loyal readers and even shorting customer’s pulls.
Most readers noticed a new variant cover strategy from Marvel Comics starting in June. Retailers received unannounced “bloody variant” covers promoting their upcoming Absolute Carnage event. The numbers sent to each comic shop are seemingly random but most retailers agree it’s about 30% in total. June’s Amazing Spider-Man #24, Deadpool #14, Symbiote Spider-Man #3, Fantastic Four #11, Venom #15 and July’s Invaders #7, Avengers #22, Black Cat #2, Captain Marvel #8, and Immortal Hulk #20 all received secret variants. On the surface, unannounced variant covers with blood splatter in the title seems rather harmless.
But the cover isn’t the only thing different about these comic issues. They also feature 1-page tie-in stories to Absolute Carnage written by Clay McCleod Chapman and illustrated by Francesco Mobili, Alberto Albuquerque or Gerardo Sandoval. The 1-page promos don’t stand out as particularly interesting for the most part. Generally depicting Carnage infected rats and birds. The dream sequence in the Deadpool #14 issue is certainly more interesting than the rest.
Releasing secret variant covers with exclusive content randomly is a terrible marketing ploy. This is likely the brainchild of David Gabriel, Marvel Comics VP of Sales. I don’t think Marvel EIC C.B. Cebulski and his legion of doofuses, led by Tom Brevoort and Jordan White, thought this through before implementing it. And I will say for the record I don’t actually think C.B. is the devil. I think he’s actually a nice guy in way over his head. I definite..
