ComicsPRO meeting: DC Comics updates on economy, “Watchmen”

LAS VEGAS — DC’s vice-president said a softening economy could cause some direct-market retailers to see sales resistance at the high and low end of the spectrum, but that overall, strong story content would be the chief determination in the sales of most comic-book projects.

“The content of the ongoing series is the primary motivating factor even going into difficult economic times,” Wayne said.  He expected any comic-book attrition that did occur to be in series where people were collecting to continue their run of a title.   On the high end, Wayne said the increasing choices in expensive comic-book related collectibles could make it more likely that customers facing a tough economic situation would pass on costly merchandise.

Bob Wayne talked about upcoming projects for DC Comics at the ComicsPRO annual meeting in Las Vegas, including reprint projects tying in to next year’s “Watchmen” motion picture.

DC will offer a program allowing retailers to stock up on the perennial seller in softcover format.  In addition, the deluxe oversized hardcover “The Absolute Watchmen” will come back into print.   And, for the first time, DC will offer a regular trim size hardcover of ”Watchmen.” 

“Watchmen,” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the basis of a 2009 movie being directed by Zack Snyder (“300″).

– Matt Price