You can view the page at http://www.alphaflight.net/content.p...8-Solicitation
You can view the page at http://www.alphaflight.net/content.p...8-Solicitation
I don't know what's worse.... Northstar's rounded ear on that cover or the reversal of the ongoing series. Probably the rounded ear, because it's not an impersonal business decision.
Oh well, that sucks that we are back to an 8-issue maxi seriries again, but we all know Fred, Greg and Dale gave us 100pct.
Alpha Flight is the greatest super-hero team the world has ever known. This series has only made them better, so let's hope volume 5 is not far off!
I doubt/hope it's not the last we've seen of them. The news out of Marvel has been pretty down for the last couple of days. 15 staff laid off and whispers of other austerity cuts in the pipeline.
I'm pretty much close to just forgetting all about comics now.
Given that Alpha Flight was the only reason I took that long trip to Romford. I really cannot see any other reason to put myself out. I'll probably pick up X-Club in TPB, but Marvel isn't offering anything else to keep me interested.
Sucks balls! (pardon my French). I only found this on the Newsarama January previews and thought "What the F" - have they made a mistake, then came here and it's confirmed my fears.
This was the only book Marvel hadn't alienated me from. Why would they surprisingly announce an ongoing only to cancel it at that very issue? Seriously. Are they TRYING to piss people off? :x
Are you freaking kidding me? Why the heck is Marvel doing this, when they said already its an ongoing?...Give the book a chance! I feel like swearing a blue streak, but I'll behave.
Dana
Only two months ago, they were at Fan Expo telling us how proud they were about the ongoing. Now this? What is Marvel's deal?
Marvel must have a lot of infighting going on. Or simply no idea what they are doing.[-X
Well, that's it for me and Marvel. I can't see another AF series happening any time soon, nor with as talented a team as we have now. Thank you... good night. :(
Once this series finishes, that will be the last comic I purchase from Marvel. They did the same thing to us with Omega Flight. When the higher ups at Marvel ask each other why the comic industry is in the shape its in, I hope someone points out thats its partly due to behaviour like this.
Im not even truly upset that the title is back to an 8 issue mini. What I am most upset about, is them telling us the title is on-going then changing their minds 2 issues later. Thats ridiculous! They shouldnt have said anything at all and waited for the 8 issues before making that decision and announcement.
Thank you Marvel for pulling the rug out from under me today.
Isn't that the only real news that Marvel had at Fan Expo?Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdomofevan
They've diluted their market with so many similar titles that it's too hard for other books that don't immediately tie-in to gain and maintain a solid audience. How many Avengers, X-Men, Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk titles can a market actually support? Alpha Flight really wasn't truly tied to Fear Itself was it?
Cancelling Alpha Flight before the Wolverine appearance sees print and possibly brings in new readers really shows that support for the title really wasn't what we were lead to believe.
It's very disappointing that such a good book with such a great team behind it is being cancelled.
Yet another reason to adjust my monthly support of Marvel and consider continuing some of the new DC titles I was planning on dropping.
:mad:
BALLS!
Every time I start to get back into Marvel, every time I think they start to get a little better in my eyes they pull crap like this. Last time it was Atlas, before that Captain Britain, before that Omega Flight. This is why I've always been DC in my heart. I collected things like Manhunter and Jonah Hex. Neither of them pulling in big numbers but DC recognizes that not all books get 50k a month. Heck, Manhunter was cancelled twice but came back due to fan support. I know they are a business and blah, blah, blah. But fan loyalty should count for something too. And Marvel likes to continue to kick Alpha fans in our Canucklehead.
All those exciting plans that FVL and Gerg and Dale had for us, gone. I just started getting more Marvels now but my stomach has been soured. Hulk, New Mutants, Villains for Hire, Defenders, The Fearless I was planning to get are now dropped, I have to vote with my $ and it's going all out to DC and indies. X-Factor being the lone exception and of course, the rest of AF.
I collect 13 New DC titles right now if people are looking for recommendations, be warned that my tastes, as with Marvel, side on the more obscure and B-List. :cool:
BALLS!
Edit:
P.S. I guess I better stop hoping Cloak and Dagger get an ongoing. As if THAT would survive in today's Marvel. [-(
P.P.S. This outraged post has been brought to you by the makers of #$%:evil:$#@^ cola. Drink #$%:evil:$#@^ cola, for all your fan rage needs.
The cancellation of Alpha Flight really sucks as I felt this was the best version of Alpha Flight since the mid 1980's.
But, the reality is we are in a recession and there is not enough people purchasing Alpha Flight.
I'll wait for Volume 5...
I thought the Wolverine appearance is within the 8 issues (that and the Captain Britain/MI13/Heroes of the Commonwealth)?Quote:
Originally Posted by swh_comicguy
I think swh meant the announcement. Wolvie is due to appear in #7Quote:
Originally Posted by cmdrkoenig67
I was only collecting Alpha Flight, but I recently picked up Legion of Monsters (still not sure about this series)...I don't give a spit about any other Marvel comics.
Dana
So much potential wasted because Marvel can only see the dollar signs and not the fans.
Man, I am feeling RAGE! Why on earth would they make thisbig announcement, put out all those promos right after, then just drop it...My local comic guy said that since the series was announced ongoing, Sales skyrocketed. For #5, he sold out really fast, and sold my copy (kowing I'd rather see it in someone elses hands) and re-orderd. They haven't even seen how sales will be effected by ongoing status before dropping the axe. So mad, so dissapointed, feeling kinda betrayed...(not by the AF creators/editors, but by the PTB) I was at the point where reading AF had me interested in picking up a few other monthly titles, no I'm not interested at all...This kind of rash decision has such broader impact than just the series in question. This is in my mind part of the reason why the industry has floundered so much in the past 20 years.
I think it's time someone with vision took the helm @ Marvel.
The problem is that it is someone with vision now at the helm of Marvel.
It's just cut-throat business Disney dollar vision and their job is profit first, creativity second.
I'm not annoyed by the cancellation per se, I was expecting a maxi & I've got a great one I'm thankful.
It's just the announcement of an upgrade & then going back on that, that's perplexed me. To me that's even worse than the Omega Flight scenario.
If the announcement had never been made I'd be far less angry.
However, business is business.
"We have all of us been given a glimpse of the gold at the rainbow's end, only to have that treasure snatched from us, directly or indirectly due to the actions of one man."Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil
I think the reason we're all so gut-wrenched about it is that Alpha Flight v4 is awesome. If it were 2nd rate or not enjoyable, or the art sucked, or the characters were off, or it weren't tied into the 30+ years of Alpha Flight history, or if Marvel hadn't made an effort, or if the creators were inaccessible.... we'd probably take this news with a nod and be *****ing at the writers and artists and whining about what could've been...
Instead, we hold the artists and writers so closely and dearly and desperately want more of the same. I think we're in a good place here. I bet FREG's ending to #8 will be a satisfying end.
Let's review:
Temporal copies: gone
Claire: has a name
Dead Alphans: resurrected credibly
Puck: frakkin' awesome
History of Alpha Flight: honored
O Canada: Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Ranark: returned, worse than before!
The Master: returned, still worse!
Purple Girl: Purple Woman
LGBT: Kyle is a real person. Northstar has a real boyfriend. Nod to Tim Fish of course.
Marrina: has a personality now. Most love her. Including me. I love you Marrina.
Gary Cody: returned. not sure if kidding
Phil Jiminez covers: Awesome
Signings, variants, the promo poster, 0.1 issue, video @ marvel.com, variant covers @ Fan Expo: Awesome
Wolfie: Love you! XOXO
I hate that we didn't get an ongoing and hate that we got jerked around there with that announcement.. but we got a great deal. We won. No rage here. Satisfaction and the knowledge that we went out on a high note... which paves the way for v5 when it's right. I'm sure we'll get Alpha Flight back in some incarnation and I hope it's half as good as this time around.
Love,
rplass
i still think we should attempt to save it somehow if we can, AF got me back into comics after 8 years, because, of DE&W, GP, and F-VL, you will NEVER get this type of spartan talent ever again i think
I agree that Volume 4 has been great, but that isn't the only reason I feel "gut-wrenched", R. I'm pissed and irked because they made a huge announcement that Alpha was going to be an ongoing series (getting us fans very excited), Freg talked about expanding their story and hinting about other things they may do (IIRC), then Marvel pulls this crap...Dashing everyone's hopes (including the creative team).
I felt like I did before Omega Flight came out when it was said to be an ongoing, then it was downgraded to 5 issues...Like I've been lied to. I don't like liars.
I do not for one minute blame the creative team, they put together a wonderful series..It's the Marvel Execs I'm pissed at.
Dana
Personally, my anger is all about making the book look unsellable. As with OF, by reversing the ongoing announcement, Marvel has basically said: "We don't think this book can sell," and that's the message new readers will take away from this. V5 will most likely never happen, because future readers and Marvel execs alike won't consider AF viable.
When V4 was announced as an ongoing posters were popping up all over saying it would be cancelled. How can any creative team overcome that kind of negativity? And it will only be worse now.
Get ready for, at best, a number of guest spots in which the characters are written badly, and used as punching bags. :mad:
Good point....I find it odd that Marvel has so little faith in Alpha Flight when (as we've seen) it's outselling a lot of their other books still.
Sure it's not in the top 100 anymore, but that's to be expected with DC's #1 explosion.
Dana
agreed, but what i don't get.. is if they had so LITTLE faith in it from the get go, why did they even bother to bring it back in the first place in chaos war? that doesn't make sense if they had no faith in it they should have just let it alone. i think marvel has gotten a little TOO comfortable, with its movie money and that's what attracted disney to buy it in the first place. and when DC takes a risk in the books they soundly kick marvels ass, and we get caught in the crossfire and they also seem to be forgetting the fans, that make them the money in the first place. marvel would be NOTHING if no one bought the stuff they makeQuote:
Originally Posted by cmdrkoenig67
Extremely well said! As sad as I am to loose Alpha Flight, we have to be thankful to Fred, Greg, Dale and Sonia for an amazing serie! I've never been so excited by comics before and it's thanks to them and all the amazing work they did! It's fair to be angry and pissed, but gotta be thankful at the same time!Quote:
Originally Posted by rplass
I'm definitely grateful to the creative team who obviously love Alpha as much as we do and treat the characters with respect.
I'm just mad at Marvel for being short sighted liars who refuse to put forth effort or take risks.
I worry that now the characters will just be offered up to hack writers on fly-by-night titles to be jacked up. I wonder who among them will be sacrificed to the next big event that requires character deaths and characters doing a 180 in order to force some **** plot in a big formulaic money grab? Yes, I'm still bitter over Tieri and Loeb.
Well said. The fact is, Alpha Flight is alive in the Marvel U again, which is better than where we were before Chaos War. Now other writers have Pak and Van Lente's fresh characterization of the team to draw on, and if we see those characters in action in other books, great.Quote:
Originally Posted by rplass
It's really not though.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmdrkoenig67
It's only outselling 4 other ongoings, and if sales are dropping at the rate they are then #5 probably won't be outselling all of those, by #8 probably none of those.
Marvel can't pander to the 24,000 of us that actually like AF. It's just not practical.
And I can honestly say that if I were in control of Marvel finances I'd have to do the same.
It's nothing personal against AF; they really pushed it this time.
A clean, tight, finished maxi-series really is the best option.
Two months ago that was all we were expecting, all we were getting and that was fine.
Let's look forward to the next event-tied-in mini.
Aww, thanks rplass! {{{HUG}}} That was a really nice recap -- and I love Marrina too! <3 I am definitely as bummed as you all are, if not more. I thought this team really SHONE, and it's a real shame that it can't keep going. :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by rplass
Woolf
Wolfie,Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
This might be premature, but where can we see more of Dale's work in the future? If there is one thing I got most out of the series is how wonderful his craft is!
M
I have nothing official yet, but keep an eye on our website/Facebook page/The Agora. I'll announce as soon as something's official.
So glad AF introduced you to Dale's art. And what *I* got most out of this series is a whole bunch of amazing alpha-friends, including you, Sypes! It was really great meeting you and I hope we see you at FanExpo again next year! :-)
Oh, and I forgot to say to rplass: The rounded ear is driving me NUTS too!!! I feel some Tourette's coming on every time I see it, LOL!
Wolfie
After reading the cancellation news and all of these postings I only hope that Marvel sees the passion the fans and this latest group of creators have for Alpha Flight. I also hope that this isn't the end of AF and that an ongoing is in the future after all...because if we don't have hope what else is there (besides anger, bitterness, resentment, frustration, feeling of betrayal, etc.).{guardian} BTW, I'm still gonna wear my Guardian suit for Halloween!
DIGGER
I have roughly 40 long boxes full of comics (and probably another 2 or 3 worth of loose issues around the house, my girlfriend of over 10 years thanks me very much!), and I have them broken into 2 categories: titles I currently collect, and all titles I dropped/cancelled/ended.
I just pulled the entire three volumes of AF out of the latter and put them into the former, shifting everything around Friday evening. Saturday comes and this news happens. Figures, donnit?
While I'm happy that we got any Alpha at all for these past (soon-to-be) 10 months or so, I would like to say I am not angry at Marvel.
I am extremely disappointed at them, however.
I am under no disillusionment that this was anything more than a fringe title for Marvel that would always be on the razor's edge of cancellation once it was announced that it would be ongoing. I figured that if it made it more than 20 issues (beating out Vol. 2), that it would be a success in my mind.
However, to not even let it get past its initial, designed-to-be-a-mini first arc to see if the fans would start to pick it up, to use the vernacular, sucks.
To announce that it would be an ongoing, and two months later announce its cancellation, blows.
To lose a title that doesn't month-in and month-out feature characters that feel like they don't just belong there (I'm looking at you, Avengers and FF), stinks.
I also feel bad for the creators. I know Fred, Greg, and Dale will all get more work (and I'm sure probably already do). Fred and Greg especially however, are dear to my comic heart. In an age filled with writers who write comic books, these two are comic-book writers. They are in a select handful of writers today who I feel actually write their stories for all ages, not talking down to children and not dumbing down their comics for adults. In an age where so often I read a comic and feel like taking a shower afterward to wash the stink of despair and hopelessness emanating from these characters that used to exude so much hope, Fred and Greg made things feel both serious and fun at the same time. They are throwbacks to the pre-90's type of writer that is quickly disappearing, and I feel that many of today's "mature" fans have chosen not to embrace as "edgy" and "cool".
I know I joke around a lot on these boards, and will continue to do so, but this is one moment I just have to shake my head and ask what Marvel means to me anymore.
I agree with what Phil is saying and he makes a good point. Just because it's outselling some other ongoings, doesn't mean it's not losing readership. Now if the numbers on #5 come back and have leveled off or gained some readers I'm going to scratch my head.
Also, gen hope, xfactor, avengers academy are all heavy involved in a restructure with regenesis and the fall out of fear itself, so no way those books are in immediate danger.
The thing that really.......really..........REALLY BUGS ME, is that they should have never announced it as a ongoing!!! Keep it a maxi series, tell a great story, reestablish their place in the marvel universe. THEN launch a ongoing if the tpb sells well. Makes me question Who's running things at marvel. It just makes no sense. None.
Oh btw, I am really gonna miss this creative team. Wolfie feels like a surrogate mom. You can tell how much dale loved these characters, and we all know fvl's love of them.
*sigh*
Wondered why it still said "of 8" on issue five's cover...
That sucks...even my wife, who doesn't "get" comics, thinks it's pretty low of Marvel to announce an ongoing and then change their mind.
At least it was fun while it lasted (though this is now officially the shortest Alpha ongoing series, no?)