Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, image, kieron gillen, three

Speculator Corner: Three #1 And Its Relationship To Frank Miller

Published Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:00:55 -0500

When compiling a list of Image releases this year for the Bleeding Cool Price Guide, I noted a changing pattern. In recent years, new comics from Image have been targets of speculators, as low-ordered comics, often from unfamiliar creators, performed far better in the market than conservative ordering retailers expected.

Cue sellouts, second prints and a rise in the original issue's value in the after-market, at least for a time.

Where others have seen this as capitalistic excess to be shunned, I've seen it as the hand of the market rewarding the unexpectedly brilliant and innovative. But more recently, Image Comics have instigated a new policy, making high profile launches fully returnable if retailers order a lot of them. And last minute increases in orders from retailers to meet those incentives have seen the books sell out from Diamond Comic Distributors.

But those sell-out headlines don't reflect the numbers of returns a number of retailers will make at a later date. In some cases, this may dull the affect of the after-market such as with Zero. In others, it doesn't such as East Of West.

So where should a speculator be looking? How about Image launches that haven't been made returnable, and that may be underordered as a result?

Retailers, even those who order heavy on Image launches, are more likely to have focused in October on Pretty Deadly #1, Velvet #1 and Rocket Girl #1, the first two getting Diamond Gems in solicitations, as well Walking Dead #115 and its launch of All Out War.

If retailers order 110% of their East Of West #1 numbers for Pretty Deadly #1, it is completely returnable. If retailers order 110% of Lazarus #1 for Velvet #1, it is also returnable. And if retailers order 110% of Satellite Sam #1 for Rocket Girl #1, it is again returnable. And both Lazarus, Satellite Sam and East Of West launched with a similar deal, based on the sales levels of earlier Image comics. The numbers have been building, launch by launch.

It's the reason Jupiter's Legacy #1 was the third highest ordered book of that month, but slipped well down for subsequent issues. This kind of incentive distorts the market and doesn't reflect actual retailer demand – but it does work as a way to beat the conservative nature of a retailer ordering an unfamiliar book and allow the audience the ability to actually find the book on the shelves.

It also has a tendency to dull speculator activity if the books are widely available.

But Three #1, also solicited in October, didn't get that deal.

Three had an incentive extra discount for retailers who ordered 110% of Sex #1. Which is good, but not quite as enticing as the other three books and their returnable deal, and less likely to see retailers overstock just to see what the demand is. If Three #1 doesn't sell, even with extra discount, the retailers are stuck with them.

Written by X-Men, Young Avengers and Iron Man writer and rising star Kieron Gillen, art by Ryan Kelly of Lucifer, Local and Saucer Country. Art from Jordie Bellaire, colourist for Marvel, Image and Dark Horse. And Marvel letterer Clayton Cowles (who even gets his name on the cover).

These are names with a fanbase, and a following. But orders will have been lower. Availability will be less. But is there anything else that might spark interest?

Well, Three is a comic about the underclass of Greece, with its title and its content, it tries to drive home the truth about legends of Sparta, especially the ones embodied in Frank Miller's 300. Indeed, in an essay at the back, Kieron Gillen explicitly states how its origin was a direct reaction to reading 300 – and his shouting at the book, after a night at the pub.

The comic looks at a wider reality of the time, how the legend – what actually occurred of it – was supported by an ignored underclass. And how the ideal of Greek civilisation, democracy and freedom is only made possible by great crimes against humanity. And does this all by focusing on the lives and contrasting opinions and worldviews of three such members of the lowest if the low, and how even they delineate between themselves.

Basically, Three is a big "fuck you" to Frank Miller.

Unashamedly, openly and unabashed. It even mirrors storytelling aspects of the original to drive the point home. If you've read 300 or seen the film, you're going to want to read this comic book.

If your comic store ordered enough.

You know what? Why not ask your retailer to put one aside for you today, if you already haven't. While it is easily available at cover price. Even on eBay, if you ignore the exclusive NYCC covers.

And then next Wednesday? I feel a more direct comparison with 300 on Bleeding Cool is in order. I have my copy after all. Kieron Gillen gave it to me in the pub last night. So it's a bit bashed up from the journey home, no speculator corner for me.

But on reading it, I only shouted with glee.

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