Tag: wtf certified

WTF Certified – DC Comics Dropped the Ball

Mar. 30 Comics no comments

I remember a time, only a short time ago, when we were being bombarded with information about the DC Comics WTF Certified events. Speculation ran rampant online and in our Detroit comic book store about what might be going on in our favorite titles and what might happen to draw us to the titles we have neglected. We are now entering the WTF Certified period, and DC Comics has dropped the ball on marketing.

DC's WTF Certified

DC’s WTF Certified

WTF Certified is a Big Event?

By looking through the Diamond Previews last month, almost every page about DC Comics had something about WTF Certified. Where are the inserts for comic book stores to place inside bags to get customers excited? Where are the banners and window hangs to invite customers in? Where are the special imprinted bags with the DC Comics WTF Certified logos? Where is the WTF Certified swag? As of this writing, DC does not even have a headline or the slightest of teasers about WTF Certified on their website.

Marvel Off and Running

Did you happen to know that Marvel is in the Age of Ultron? Chances are good that you might have given a little chuckle reading the previous line. We have bag inserts, swag, window hangers, and Marvel has been talking about the crossover event nonstop. I have even heard the publisher is running ads on Serius Radio over the last few weeks. This is the type of marketing DC Comics should have embraced with WTF Certified.

What DC Needs to Do

DC Comics would love to reassume the top spot in the market, but the bronze ring is just out of reach. WTF Certified marketing is a perfect example of what DC could have done to prove tot eh fans and the market that it knows what it takes to reach for the ring. Sadly, this was not meant to be as DC forgot that sometimes you need to inundate readers with information to get them excited. Instead of being excited, I am asking “WTF DC?” And that, my friends, is certified.

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WTF Certified Events a Return to Pre-New 52?

Feb. 23 Comics no comments

An interesting conversation popped up the other day in the store about the possibility of DC’s WTF Certified events being a precursor to the publisher returning to the pre-New 52 continuity. In the discussion, the suggestion came up about DC’s WTF Certified events actually being caused by rips in the fabric of space and time in the reality of the New 52, or that the events will cause rips in the reality of the superheroes. If this assumption is true, we would have to assume that publisher is using WTF Certified moments to prepare us to return to the pre-New 52 continuity.

DC's WTF

DC’s WTF

Goals of the New 52

Do you know what the goals of the New 52 were? The stated goal was to bring the characters into an environment which gave a better reflection of the modern day in our world. The characters were given particular changes to fit into the modern world. At the same time, the secret goals of the New 52 and the WTF Certified events would be to take market share away from competitors and to make the company money.

The New 52 Feeling

When you picked up the first issue of one of the New 52 titles, I am sure you felt a little nervous that you might be wasting you money on a temporary title – but I would wager (with someone else’s money) that you had the feeling of being there when it all began. In your hands was the first part of a story which people might talk about for years. This is important for comic book publishers since they know we like to be the first ones in the know or the ones which have been around since the start.

Why Does This Matter?

You might wonder how the goals of the New 52 and the feelings tie in with WTF Certified events. I don’t see DC wanting to get away from the New 52. To steal a statement from DC’s opposition – the New 52 is DC’s NOW. DC does not want readers to thing the New 52 was just a passing fancy or be disappointed with the feelings they got in late 2011. They know we hold grudges for a long time and would never forgive them if the WTF Certified events led back to the pre-New 52 continuity for the DC Universe. How would you feel if you had thought you were there at the beginning and the feeling was nothing more than a 16 month tease?

How It Might Play Out

I would not be surprised if we came to a point in which the old continuity and the New 52 continuity crossed. The characters would have to make a decision about which path to continue on. In this case, the fans would need to have the final say because if the storylines went back to where they were in the pre-New 52 days, many readers would be lost. I always considered myself a Marvelite, but jumped on with reading certain New 52 titles and am happy with how they are developing. The New 52 has been strong enough to convert someone whose only cares about DC were Batman, the Phantom Stranger, and some of the horror titles. I am sure there are more fans out there like me.

WFT Certified Events Might Lead…But

If the WTF Certified events are leading to a pre-New 52 continuity, DC might have a slight jump in sales as everything is refigured. In the end, though, DC would be the ultimate loser as disappointed fans looked elsewhere for entertainment. Sometimes the fans aren’t always the ultimate loser since there is enough out on the market for us to read other than DC.

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