New Alpha Flight ongoing - "We'll do it again"

[rplass]

Over at comicbookresources.com, in an interview with Alex Alonso, Marvel's EIC, a tiny tidbit of hope for AF fans:

And how many people asked you if there was going to be an "Alpha Flight" book in Marvel NOW!?

Alonso: [Laughs] They always ask about Alpha Flight in Canada. Always. [Senior Editor] Steve Wacker, in fact, infiltrated the audience at the X-Men panel and chided us for not having an "Alpha Flight" ongoing.

Well, at least they know there's someone on staff speaking up on their behalf.

Alonso: At least we know who's going to edit it. We'll do it again. We need to find the right pitch and pick the right time.

OK, that's good news!

[-K-M-]

Oh that's very good news

[Sypes]

As I said before, I would be totallllllllllllllllllllllly happy with an annual 8 issue serie just like we had. At least we'd get some character growth!

[Flightpath07]

Cool. When they do it, I'll come back to Marvel. Until then, the only Marvel attachment I have is "Wolverine and the X-Men".

[Le Messor]

[Senior Editor] Steve Wacker, in fact, infiltrated the audience at the X-Men panel and chided us for not having an "Alpha Flight" ongoing.

I like that. Kind of 'cute' and funny.

We need to find the right pitch...

That... not so much. In the past, the right pitch has usually been, 'Let's do something that has nothing to do with Alpha Flight!'.
Let's hope we get a good Alpha Flight series that has Alpha Flight in it!

- Le Messor
"In most instances, all an argument proves is that two people are present."

[Flightpath07]

In the past, the right pitch has usually been, 'Let's do something that has nothing to do with Alpha Flight!'.
Let's hope we get a good Alpha Flight series that has Alpha Flight in it!

It worries me that, with all the change going on, renumbering of titles, changing of creative teams, changing of who is on what titles as far as characters, with everything at Marvel having been affected by AvsX, that they COULDN'T come up with a pitch for a new AF.

It would have been the perfect time to do so.

[Phil]

Yeah, but it comes down to the writers more than the company.

Marvel can't force a creator to write an AF title; they have to want to AND be able to write something that will sell. That's easier said than done, as evidenced by the last three attempts.

[Le Messor]

Yeah, but it comes down to the writers more than the company.
Marvel can't force a creator to write an AF title; they have to want to AND be able to write something that will sell. That's easier said than done, as evidenced by the last three attempts.

True.

We got a pitch, Pitch Too: Electric Boogaloo, Pitch 3: Attack Of The Clowns, Pitch Not Quite Even In Name, and Son of a Pitch.

I do kinda wonder what the pitch was for volume 4: 'An Alpha Flight series, only this time, we put Alpha Flight in it!'?

The question is, how do they do it? Write something that sells?

- Le Messor
"In order to be, never try to seem."

[Flightpath07]

How about Pitch Black?

Johns: You said it was clear!
Riddick: I said it *looked* clear.
Johns: Well, how does it look now?
Riddick: Looks clear.

Or, to paraphrase;

Does it look like this Alpha Flight will sell?
It'll sell.
I thought you said that last one would sell! How do you think this one'll do?
Looks like it'll sell.

[cmdrkoenig67]

We know of some writers who'd like to do more Alpha Flight, our pals Fred and Greg and a talented artist named Dale...I wish that they'd make another pitch for a mini or maxi.

Dana

[Phil]

With the poor sales on the last volume I doubt they'll get a second go round...

[Flightpath07]

With the poor sales on the last volume I doubt they'll get a second go round...

I agree, Phil. It's unfortunate that those who love Flight, won't get another chance.

Maybe next time it'll be Jim McCann, who brought 'em back from death?

[Mokole]

Maybe one with more action will fit the bill.

[Flightpath07]

It'd be nice to have the next one make it to 12 issues, so we can have "the cover" again.

[Garry/Al-Fan]

When # 1 of volume 4 came out and the finished product was slightly different from the preview version [clear indication that it was Attuma in the preview; changed to "Nerkkod" in published form: deprived Marrina's antagonism from having the appropriate meaning it should have without rehashing a whole lot of ancient history], it did not bode well. The first 10-to-12 pages flowed very well, then...it seemed like tinkering made the rest of the book feel all-over-the-place.

BTW, this is a(nother) good reason to do the premiere issue of an ALPHA FLIGHT series as a bona fide double-sized issue: with at least eight main characters, conflict, and (hopefully) character development, trying to squeeze all of that into 20-to-22 pages is counter-productive. Pull out all the stops in a well-executed double-sized premiere issue, and if it doesn't get a following after that...well, then people can say Alpha Flight won't ever sell.

No need to beat a dead horse, but it is interesting that the limited series was heading for on-going status until Heather took her deadly turn in AF # 4 (vol. 4). Before someone reminds me that Heather used deadly force in the 1st volume, it was during the Mantlo era...which (to put it as politely as I can) was inconsistent and implausible.