Vertigous, Part Two
So, to follow on from last time, the main thing that got me to buy a recent Vertigo title was (i) a previously established character and (ii) a creator I really like. Interesting, because I’m sure I was reading somewhere that it’s this formula that contributes to Vertigo’s hits, i.e. a creator or a character with a strong fanbase. I’m not sure how true this is, mind, and certainly wouldn’t account for Fables‘ success.
Essentially, there is nothing that engages me in Vertigo’s recent crop of new titles. There have been a few other titles recently that I could see fitting in very well at Vertigo, ones that I’ve really enjoyed and started picking up after buying the first issue to try, but actually get published by Image: Phonogram, The Nightly News and The Walking Dead.
Un-Men, another Swamp Thing spin-off, recently hobbled out into the world. I didn’t get this one because I wasn’t interested in the theme-park freak premise, wasn’t familiar with the talent involved, and thought the sample pages in Hellblazer were unengaging. Crossing Midnight: Like some of Mike Carey’s work, dislike some. Not particularly interested in the Japanese/fantasy setting, so I passed.
Next, two Brian Wood titles: DMZ and Northlanders. I’ve heard good things about DMZ, but not to the point that I want to buy the first collection to see if I like it. I think I saw the first issue online somewhere, but the interface was so shitty I gave up. I’ll probably give this a try sooner or later. The viking-based story of the latter title, however, doesn’t interest me, so I’ll pass on that.
100 Bullets: Read a couple of collections, and a few individual issues, and just cannot get into it. Not for me. American Virgin: Really not interested in right-wing American teenagers. Army@Love: I think Rick Veitch is a very good writer, but at this point I’m too sickened by the Iraq occupation to be entertained by it.
In fact, the Vertigo titles I rate the highest that I’m in the process of buying regularly are actually in collection form: Absolute Sandman, Y: The Last Man and Fables. The latter title actually confirms something Christopher Butcher mentions in his article: I was happy to pay a chunk of money for the first collection off the back of exceptionally good word-of-mouth, as well as a first impression that this was the kind of thing that would interest me. What’s even more significant is that the first and second volumes aren’t even incredibly strong: they’re good, but it’s only with the third volume that I felt it started to justify the hype. So I must have spent almost £20 before I got well and truly hooked.
The best thing Vertigo ever did was offer up the first issue of Y: The Last Man for free online. Both my cohort Marcel and I were immediately engaged, and I know a number of people who had the same reaction. From my friendship group alone, that one free issue has guaranteed Vertigo around £180 worth of business (probably more) once all the collections have been published. I can’t imagine our experience has been unique. Of course, what helps is an incredibly intriguing premise and probably the best premier issue of any series I’ve ever read; certainly the most striking. How can you not want to find out what happens next? Not everything works out as well, of course. Their free first issue of Testament also convinced me to get the title, but before I could I found out it had been cancelled and decided against picking it up.
Whatever happens, next year will be an interesting one for the imprint.
