Wednesday Comics out this week!

[philcom55]

I know it's American but I have to say that the first issue of this new, weekly comic from DC gave me a really pleasant feeling of deja vu in its physical similarity to British titles like the early Beezer and Buster. Sadly there are no humour strips and there's much less story development per episode than DC Thomson and Fleetway were wont to cram into a single page - nevertheless I found myself really enjoying the whole package. Particular highlights for me were Kamandi and Metamorpho (both with British writers), and especially Paul Pope's rather idiosyncratic take on Adam Strange - but almost every strip is surprisingly effective.

If you only buy one American comic (and for once it's not a 'comic-book') this year I'd strongly recommend you make it this one!

- Phil Rushton

[steelclaw]

Where did you buy it from? Is only for sale in specialist comic shops?

[philcom55]

Where did you buy it from? Is only for sale in specialist comic shops?

Afraid so (and it looks much less impressive folded up on a shelf - apparently several customers mistook it for a giveaway item! ). Pity the proprietors couldn't be persuaded to hire paper boys so it could be delivered through the door in the traditional manner!

- Phil Rushton

[Digifiend]

Folded? Shops shouldn't do that. What did they think they were? Even newspapers aren't normally folded these days. That shop has an outdated attitude to magazine displays.

[Lew Stringer]

Folded? Shops shouldn't do that. What did they think they were? Even newspapers aren't normally folded these days. That shop has an outdated attitude to magazine displays.

It's nothing to do with the shop. The publishers release it that way. Wednesday Comics is a huge comic, (the size of four American comics) and only 16 pages thick, so for the purposes of distribution and display it's folded twice (so it's the size of a standard American comic on the shelf).

At $3.99 (£2.80 in Forbidden Planet) it's not cheap, but the artwork is top quality. Some of the writers struggle with the concept of writing single pagers, (a few strips lack punchy cliffhangers and just seem like extracts of a regular paced story) but hopefully they'll get used to it. Dave Gibbons, Paul Pope and Dave Bullock paced their pages very well I thought, with good cliffhangers.

The intention isn't to imitate a British weekly by the way. It's based more on the style of the old American Sunday comic sections. And on (good) newsprint too. (I expect the strips will be reprinted in book form on better paper at a later date.)

Lew

[PaulTwist]

I'm going to have to wait a couple of weeks to see this (I get my comics delivered monthly by mail order). Can't wait. Almost considered trying to buy a second copy but, y'know, £2.80...

[Digifiend]

Broadsheet? Blimey, that's different!

[Lew Stringer]

Size of Wednesday Comics compared to standard U.S. comic books....



Lew

[STARBOY]

Thanks for the heads up on the Wednesday Comic I had been looking forward to this for ages then forgot all about it , will pick it up after work on Friday - can't wait - I used to love the old Menomonee Falls Gazette (for those who remember that old tabloid comic that reprinted the old strips like the SPIRT, Buck Rodgers and loads more - US publication) and even the old Dark Horse tabloid 4 pager -

[Digifiend]

Thanks for that picture Lew. You weren't joking about the size! They should've folded it the other way, it looks like when folded, you can't see the masthead. Which explains philcom's comment about it being mistaken for a free gift.

[Lew Stringer]

Thanks for that picture Lew. You weren't joking about the size! They should've folded it the other way, it looks like when folded, you can't see the masthead. Which explains philcom's comment about it being mistaken for a free gift.

No. As I said, it's folded twice so that it becomes the size of a standard American comic. When folded it has its own cover, masthead, price, etc. That Batman cover in the photo is inside the comic when it's folded up, not on the outside.

There's been a lot of work involved with this project. It's DC Comics' major launch of the summer, so they've worked it all out. They're not likely to have a Homer Simpson "D'oh!" moment by realizing they've folded it the wrong way.

A simple search for Wednesday Comics on eBay shows the actual cover, and also leads to dealers who are selling it online.

Lew

[steelclaw]

Just bought it from Forbidden Planet London £2.90p well worth it very good, it's like reading the Beezer but with all Adventure stories.

[Digifiend]

Or The Topper.

[STARBOY]

Just got mine today as well - Lee Bermegos art on Superman is amazing - Wonder Woman, Teen Titans, Metal Men, Hawkman,Deadman and Sgt Rock all have drop dead gorgeous art - actually every strip features stunning art , really well printed as well - you can guess I'm impressed. They were flying of the racks in Glasgows Forbbiden Planet store when I was in there so I hope it's going to be a success.

[steelclaw]

Just bought issue 12 Of Wednesday comic, is that the last one?
I thought it might be extended if it was popular.