ICv2: Marvel Offers New Jumping On Points

With 'Marvel: Point One'

Posted by ICv2 on November 3, 2010 @ 11:25 pm CT

Starting in February 2011 Marvel will launch Marvel: Point One, a new initiative offering self-contained stories by major creators which will set up upcoming storylines. Each issue in the line will be designated by a “.1” following comics title’s regular numbering and be priced at $2.99.

“Marvel is absolutely committed to providing new readers with easy entry points into all our comic book series,” explained David Gabriel, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Circulation, Marvel Entertainment.

ICv2 asked Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley about the issue of jumping on points for Marvel titles in an interview last month (see “Interview with Dan Buckley, Part 2”). Buckley indicated that while there was a demand for stand-alone stories that could serve as jumping on points, tie-ins to major books were necessary to generate sales. “Making books as easily entered into as possible is something we try to pay close attention to,” Buckley said. “I’m not going to deny that we don’t get lost in our own soup sometimes which is the nature of serialized story-telling. It’s hard to keep the revenue numbers without tying in books to leverage off the big books.”