My Omega Flight "statement"

[Oeming]

Hey guys, just posted this on my board, thought I should personally post this here as well. You have all been a great support and Im sorry for any disspointment you may be feeling. Just hang in there, help spread the word and lets see if we can get the book going monthly.

Okay, not much of a statement to be made as people have already culled together small quotes from here and there and dissected them already.

Basically, yes, Omage Flight has been trimmed to a five issue mini with the express possibility of becoming an ongoing should sales warrant. I understand Marvels move as the Flight books have never performed well in the past and it has always been a cult book. There are several books being spun out of Civil War and Marvel simply doesn't want to flood the market, so Omega Flight and a few others will have to prove themselves.
I still have a great relationship with Marvel, Scott and I are still putting everything we have into the series and we still have a story worth telling. The best way to see Omega Flight become a series is to PRE ORDER the book. There is simply no better way to support a title.
Updates can be tracked by joining my e-mail newsletter at oeming@aol.com
Mike Avon Oeming

[Effexxor]

Thank you so much for taking the time to address us. It's really, really good to have a writer care enough about the fans to actually talk to us. Just to let you know, we've obviously never had anything against you, in fact a part of the reason that we're so hurt is because you were assigned to Omega Flight, a fan himself, and to have the possibilty of only having 5 issues of a comic that's such a labor of love is painful, frankly.

I'll say this though. I'm a college student and I'm very poor right now, but I'm gonna pre order Omega Flight. That's not even an option anymore.

Thank you again for taking the time and good luck.

[Corvus]

Thanks for letting us know Mr O. Its unfortunate that the decision making process from the higher ups went like this. Had Omega been promoted from the start as a mini with the possibility of an ongoing, the PR would have been better. Having been promoted as an ongoing until now could create the appearance of a lack of confidence in the book by Marvel, which could hurt sales, and therefore hurt the chances of an ongoing. Sort of a self fulfilling prophecy if you will.

On the otherhand, a few comments I read on Newsarama had some people saying they were more likely to buy the book as a mini as they didn't have time/budget for an ongoing. Hopefully there are lots more people like that out there.

I'll still be booking up the book.

[Dynasty]

I'll make sure to pick the 5 issues up, hopefully it leads to a full Alpha Flight run again, be the best thing Marvel has done in quite some time.

Very cool that you came in here to let us know, keep up the great work and don't giveup on the Flight.

[varo]

well mike, you know you have this communitys support and sales so thats no the issue.

but corvus makes the exact same point i was going to. to hype it as a ongoing, then pull the plug before its launch seems like marvel has no faith in the book. i have read that some on the fence are going to try it out now, but i have also read that they may also wait for the trade, which defeats the purpose.

no matter what, i hate this decision by marvel.

quick question though, and i know you stated it, if it sells strongly will it become a ongoing? and what if you and scott have moved on to other projects?

if marvel where a head coach they would be ripped by the press after the game for this decision.

[Snowsquatch]

I'm be buying, for myself and for some relatives and friends. We can make a monthly happen.

[DelBubs]

Thanks Mike for coming here and explaining the situation. It is very much appreciated. On a personal note I think Mr Da Q could have put this news out in a different way and not leave it to you to face the angst. That however is just my personal opinion.

Thanks Again.

[Banshee]

Michael, I'll be shouting for this from the rooftops of Dublin & in it's 3 comic shops! I wish you and Scott the best of luck and I have a feeling that like the WCA mini that became a 102 issue series, that you will be back!!

If only we knew it was a mini from the beginning, but we will be there to support it. I can't wait!! :wink:

[Mokole]

I'll buy it, I trust Oeming and Kolins to put out a quality Omega Flight. However, if all it turns out to be is another Joe Q. cash grab and no ongoing come August.... :evil:

Treat your clients with respect, customers first, and business will be good. Works well for us teachers too...

(PS a local business owner always hands out deals and specials, fixes problems customers find ASAP; in the last three years he's opened 3 more businesses because people know he's fair and will make things work for them, at the short-term expense of profits; other stores close, he buys them and turns them into winners...)

[SephirothsKiller]

Wait, how do I pre-order something? Does that just mean tell my comic book shop I want it? Cuz' I think they get that from the exciting ramblings I regail them with every time I enter the store.

[maniac mike]

Wait, how do I pre-order something? Does that just mean tell my comic book shop I want it? Cuz' I think they get that from the exciting ramblings I regail them with every time I enter the store.

Thats what I'm gonna do this Wednesday. Since its 3 months away you can add it to your hold.

MM

[RatCat]

5 issues or 500 issues I'll buy this book. Love the team, love the idea, love the writer.

Here's hoping it gets the sales it needs.

[-K-M-]

Wait, how do I pre-order something? Does that just mean tell my comic book shop I want it? Cuz' I think they get that from the exciting ramblings I regail them with every time I enter the store.

Haha it's the same at my shop, they know me as the "Alpha Flight" guy.

[Mek]

Mike, you know I'm 100% behind supporting the title in any way I can.

I know I've had my gripes in the past, but when it comes down to brass tacks, I wanna see this series succeed. So badly.

[Guardian]

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about this situation Mike. I respect you alot for ability, but even more for your caring, thoughtfulnes, and integrity for this new series and for its dedicated fans. I'm also sorry for us all (including you, Scott and others involved with OF) about this sad news. Hopefully we'll all turn this thing into a winner.

And I'll do my part to spread the word and make sure to get copies from all three of my LCS' in my area. I even badgered my usual comic shop about OF today.

Though it's only a mini for the moment, I can't wait for the first issue. I know I'm gonna love it.

Thanks again Mike, Scott, Andy and others!

[Barnacle13]

Mike,
From the start of this whole thing you've had us all in your corner. Not only because we're rabid Alpha fans, though that does help. Mainly we are behind you because you've come here asking what we want to see and gathering information that will add detail to the stories. You've tipped your hat to the real fans of the team and we appreciate that.

The news is saddening, especially if this book is truly the last chance for Alpha Flight. To have a team fighting for survival that only includes two Alpha members strikes many of us as unfair. Giving you only 5 issues to make their last stand seems even less fair to the lot of us. We all know you're not responsible for the decision. I'm sure you'd like to write the next 100 issues of Omega Flight. It's a shame you have to bear the brunt of the outcry, since you do frequent this site.

We'll accept that this is a business decision, especially us "old timers" who are out there in the business world. It makes sense on a business level, even though the press release timing was counter to good business practice. I just hope by testing the market they don't lose what looks to be a good creative team. Selling a product that won't be the same will only alienate consumers further.

As for me, I plan to support the comic as most here will. I'll be buying copies for my nephews in hopes that they'll get hooked. In short I'll do my part to keep Alpha flying.

Here's hoping we'll have a long run together, Mr. Oeming!

Tom