The chief topic at today's Marvel news conference was the 'Retailer Rally Presentation' that will be held at the China Club in Times Square on Monday, October 1, beginning at 9 a.m.  In addition to the usual Marvel team of Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada, representatives from a number of other companies that will be making presentations at the event including Chaos Comics, Central Park Media, Collectible Concepts, Diamond Select Toys, Dynamic Forces, and Wizard Entertainment were also included in the conference call, lending a patina of industry solidarity to the event.  Image Comics and Oni Press are also supporting the event, though no-one from those organizations was present for the call.  Of course the number of publishers and manufacturers who will be represented at the event represents only a small fraction of the many companies that supply pop culture stores, but Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada told the press, 'This is not a Marvel event.  Marvel is helping organize this, but it is not a Marvel event, it's a comic industry event,' a notion that was undercut somewhat by Diamond VP Bill Schanes' statement that Diamond was attending 'to support Marvel's effort.'

 

The tragic events of September 11, which have united this country to a degree not seen since World War II, ironically appear to have only exacerbated tensions in the already fractious comic industry.  In response to a question from Maggie Thompson of the Comic Buyer's Guide, who thought she detected a note of 'congeniality' in the proceedings, Bill Jemas, who mockingly referred to himself as 'the king of congeniality' noted that as a result of trying to drum up support for this meeting, he had called many people that he thought that he would never be calling personally, and that he hoped a more congenial attitude would result.  Yet Marvel's disappointment over the canceling of the Diamond/Alliance Baltimore Summit was very apparent in comments from Jemas and Quesada, and the frequent use of the acronym 'RRP' to describe the meeting was an all too obvious dig at DC Comics and their annual retailer outreach program, which goes by the same initials. 

 

Of all the participants on the call it was Diamond (and Alliance) owner Steve Geppi who cut the most statesmanlike figure, speaking of the resiliency of the comic book industry, which was founded in the depths of the depression, survived World War II and subsequent conflicts, the onslaughts of television and other new media and continues to thrive.

 

It was clear from the comments of both Jemas and Quesada that they thought having the retailer event in New York City at this time was the best way that the industry could show its resilience and deliver a loud Bronx cheer right in the face of the terrorists by refusing to be intimidated and holding this event right in the center of Manhattan at the China Club, which is donating the meeting space (see 'Marvel to Hold Retailer Conference At the China Club').  Retailers interested in attending should contact Juan Collado at 917-472-2159.  In addition to the presentations, expected attendance by creative talent, and the ability to network with other retailers, a 'goody bag' from the various publisher/manufacturer participants (currently valued at around $400) will also be given to each attending retailer.

 

Quesada announced a number of steps that Marvel was taking to help New York City retailers who were directly affected by the destruction of the WTC, including making all September Marvel products free to those retailers who were directly affected.  These 'ground zero' retailers will also receive the maximum Marvel discounts through the end of the year, and their October orders will be returnable.  Marvel will also make September and October orders returnable for retailers who were 'mildly' affected by the blast, though no details were announced about how eligibility for this program would be determined. 

 

Jemas also announced that approximately $3 of the $3.50 cover price for the Heroes benefit book would be donated to charities working with the victims of the heinous attack.  Heroes is one of at least four different 'tribute' books announced so far that will benefit the victims.  With a list of creators that reads like a 'Who's Who' of contemporary comics from Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore to Paul Pope, Jae Lee, Joe Kubert, and Walt Simonson, Jemas estimates that Heroes will sell 100,000 copies, and that all the tribute books together should net somewhere between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for charity. 
 
Interestingly enough, Jemas and Quesada feel so deeply about this cause that they are suspending Marvel's normal policies and will massively overprint the book -- and if necessary will even reprint it.  In yet another 'when Hell freezes over' occurrence tied to the Heroes tribute book, it will mark Todd McFarlane's 'return' to Marvel since he has offered to ink Joe Quesada's piece for this benefit pin-up book. 
 
If only the publishers involved in the comics industry could put aside their differences and work together as smoothly as the artists, writers, inkers, and designers on these tribute books.  Joe Quesada suggested combining all the tribute books from all the various publishers into one book volume, which might be a good first step for the publishers to start moving towards a more collegial and cooperative environment.