tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post3007423757092040191..comments2024-02-25T03:15:48.893-05:00Comments on News and Views by Chris Barat: Defining Digest-cy Down?Chris Barathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845538037091279990noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-12571419823360808922012-03-31T04:34:31.770-04:002012-03-31T04:34:31.770-04:00Chris,
Since I already have the several issues th...Chris,<br /><br />Since I already have the several issues there have beeen to date of Ape's regular <i>Richie Rich</i> title, I asked my regular comics shop to special-order the first digest not by any means, for the <i>Rich Rescue</i> reprint, but specifically for that "'wealth' of additional RICHIE material" that Ape's solicitation said would be there. I was underwhelmed by the product I ended up buying. I had the same seasoned expectations of a "digest" as you, and you've done a really nice job of accentuating how those expectations were foiled.<br /><br />Quote: <i>What Ape should have done here is obvious -- collect all the parts of the initial RICH RESCUE saga into a trade paperback [...]</i><br /><br />Apparently, they're actually planning to do that!<br /><br />http://ape-entertainment.com/comics/licensed-properties/richie-rich/<br /><br />Scroll down and peruse the plug for <i>Richie Rich: Welcome to Rich Rescue</i>. It's listed as being 104 pages, priced at $14.99, and described as "[c]ollecting the hit miniseries which saw the triumphant return of Richie Rich after 20 years away from comics!" They're reprinting the stories from the "regular" (<b>ir</b>regular?) title in trades <b>and</b> the digests!<br /><br />Quote: <i>"Get ready for thrills and chills in this collection of stories taken from issues #44-47 of the critically acclaimed RICHIE RICH GEMS title! This collection reprints the 4 new stories that were done by Richie Rich's creator Sid Jacobson with art by long-time fan-favorite Ernie Colon!"</i><br /><br />My head is spinning. As far as I can tell, <i>Richie Rich Gems</i> #44 has been the only issue distributed to date (however, successive issues might have been -- it's on my pull list, but my shop tends to miss it), along with <i>Richie Rich Gems Winter Special</i> and <i>Richie Rich Gems Valentines</i> (sic) <i>Special</i>. In other words, the regular title is barely on its feet but there have already been two "specials", so a "special" spinoff like <i>Richie Rich Gems Treasures</i> seems an anachronism! And that it will reprint stories that have <b>just</b> been printed in the regular title, presumably in the same format, is perplexing -- it's not like it will be reaching an entirely different audience. <br /><br />Given how long the regular title has been on hold and how quickly material is being recycled, I'd have to guess that there's a tight budget behind these comics. There's good talent, like Aaron Sparrow, working at Ape, who I'm sure don't want the company's Harvey line to be in this state.<br /><br />I'm definitely interested in the <i>Buck O'Rue</i> collection. I have a lot of catching up to do before I get to the final volumes of <i>Popeye</i> and the <i>Krazy Kat</i> Sundays, but I'm glad that the comics aspect of <i>News and Views</i> won't "go dark" in the coming months!<br /><br />(Are you still thinking of doing a <i>DuckTales</i> 25th anniversary retrospective?)<br /><br />RyanRyan Wynnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00477919968924048814noreply@blogger.com