Marvel Comics Executive Editor, SVP, and Senior X-Men Editor Tom Brevoort says he would rather make Marvel fans angry than indifferent.
Well, Brevoort is flat out wrong.
Angry fans don’t stay angry forever. They leave. Just ask the MCU and Star Wars fans.
Marvel Cosmic also proves it.
Rabid Marvel Cosmic fans
Twenty years ago, Marvel had real momentum with Annihilation, Nova, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Fans supported the line because the books were good and sales were stellar.
The editor at the time confirmed the titles had “rock solid” sales (which I helped promote). And even Brevoort was surprised at the time by the sales of the Thanos Imperative TPB. This is all without any marketing, high-profile talent, or tie-ins to the greater Marvel universe or movies.
Marvel then threw it away.
Marvel ditched what worked
The company ditched what worked, chased movie synergy and politics, changed the tone, and pushed aside the fanbase that built Marvel Cosmic into a success.
A lot of those readers got mad.
Marvel didn’t care. Well, they all left.
Imperial already canceled
Now look at Imperial.
Marvel’s latest Cosmic relaunch already fizzled, with books getting canceled and the line falling apart right out of the gate.
Titles announced as ongoings have already been canceled before they’ve even been released.
That’s what happens when you drive off your core fans and expect them to come back anyway.
Marvel Cosmic fans send the message
Brevoort is confusing backlash with engagement. A loud reaction on social media doesn’t mean readers are still invested. It often means the opposite. People complain for a while, then stop buying.
Marvel Cosmic fans already sent that message.
They got angry. Then they left. How’d that work out?
