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

[Le Messor]

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.

As others have been saying, add to that an absolute guarantee that it'll go a certain number of issues (say, 24-25; 50?) and then you could say that.
Hmm... maybe that'd be a better relaunch; instead of 'We're taking all our books off the market, and releasing a bunch of Avengers and X-Men... okay, some Spidey and FF, too...' how 'bout 'We're launching a variety of titles, old favourites and new series, each guaranteed* to last 25 issues! If you keep reading, even longer! Our writers have plotted out 25-issue arcs!'

(That may be one of the reasons for DC's success - they at least did a variety of titles.)
Oh, but make it a manageable number... maybe about 26, not 52!

* except in Minnesota

- Le Messor
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child ... pick your favorite."

[Flightpath07]

instead of 'We're taking all our books off the market, and releasing a bunch of Avengers and X-Men... okay, some Spidey and FF, too...' how 'bout 'We're launching a variety of titles, old favourites and new series...'

Oh, but make it a manageable number... maybe about 26, not 52!

By my calculations, with one Fantastic Four, one FF, 4 Spiderman (Amazing, Spectacular, Grumpy, and Sleepy), 1 Scarlet Spider, one Blue And Gold And Purple Spiderguy, one Venomous Spider, one Peter Parker Spider, one Fantastic Four That Is Neither Fantastic Nor Really Four (aka Fantastic Four For The Fantastic Four Hating and Arithmetically Challenged Public), 9 different Avengers titles (Super-Duper-Sized Avengers; Avenging Avengers; Avengers That Avenge The Avenging Avengers; Avengers With Nothing To Avenge; X-Men Light Avengers; X-Avengers; Almost-Avengers; The Cap and Tony Avengers; Avengers That Tie Into This Month's Big Event; Solo Avengers [aka Jimi Hendrix Avengers]; Marvel Movie Avengers), and 6 X-Men (All Different X-Men; All New X-Men; No Really This Is A VERY Different X-Men; Really Old But Not X-Men; Funny Ha Ha X-Men; Deadly Serious X-Men)...where oh where would an Alpha Flight Volume 5 fit in?!

[Phil]

I predict we'll get something with Alpha Flight at some point over the next year... probably by some Rising Star such as Cullen Bunn...

[Le Messor]

I predict we'll get something with Alpha Flight at some point over the next year... probably by some Rising Star such as Cullen Bunn...

I don't know him, but if he's anything like Edward Cullen, that can't go well...

- Le Messor
"And then Buffy staked Edward.
The end."
~ t-shirt

[Flightpath07]

I don't know him, but if he's anything like Edward Cullen, that can't go well...

As long as the whiny chick gets it in the end, I'll be happy.

Wait; I'll be even happier if she gets it PRIOR to the series starting.

[Sypes]

I'd totally be ok to pay for a 12 issue run upfront if it happened. But please dear God & Marvel, make sure you get a descend drawing artist and colorer!

[Flightpath07]

I'd totally be ok to pay for a 12 issue run upfront if it happened. But please dear God & Marvel, make sure you get a descend drawing artist and colorer!

I'll agree with that last part, Sypes. In fact, I think the (possibly) only way we are going to get an ongoing AF title, is if JB does it.

[Phil]

Hmm.. doubtful... he hasn't got as many fans these days as you'd think...

[Le Messor]

Marvel, make sure you get a descend drawing artist and colorer!

Yes, please! A slightly realistic artist, with a lot of detail; and a colourist who's been outside. You know, ever. And can put more than two colours on *gasp* the same page!

I'll agree with that last part, Sypes. In fact, I think the (possibly) only way we are going to get an ongoing AF title, is if JB does it.

Hmm.. doubtful... he hasn't got as many fans these days as you'd think...

Also, he isn't what he was. I'd love it if we could get 1984 JB on it again, but these days?
Trio isn't about telling stories, the way AF was, or UXM (when he and Claremont had it), or F4... it's just one long, drawn-out battle. With every idea / character taken from F4.

- Le Messor
"In the matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing."
~ Oscar Wilde

[Flightpath07]

I'm enjoying Trio, for what it is.

But, my comment about JB, was more about the hype that having him doing AF would garnish for the series. I'm trying not to be a pessimist (can anybody tell?), but I have fought a losing battle with trying not to be a realist; even with all us AF fans here buying multiple copies of any new AF that comes out, there just isn't enough fan interest in Flight for it to sell.

Oh Lord, I think i just agreed with what Phil has been saying about sales for so long!

[Legerd]

IMHO, Marvel has to use AF more before giving them another title shot. The reason I think the fourth series failed was because so few people knew or cared about them. Put them in some more guest starring roles where they actually do something to help fight the big bad so new fans get to know and appreciate them. As it is most readers today are probably too young to have read the 90's stories let alone the original Byrne books. More than likely the only clue they have about the team is the horrible crap like Avengers #16.

[Phil]

But, my comment about JB, was more about the hype that having him doing AF would garnish for the series.

I don't think there'd be much hype unfortunately.
It's like how Claremont books don't sell.
A Bendis AF book would sell, a Byrne wouldn't.

To be fair, I think the only way we'd get a strong enough selling AF book would be with Alan Moore or Neil Gaiman writing it.

even with all us AF fans here buying multiple copies of any new AF that comes out, there just isn't enough fan interest in Flight for it to sell.

Oh Lord, I think i just agreed with what Phil has been saying about sales for so long!

[Phil]

As it is most readers today are probably too young to have read the 90's stories let alone the original Byrne books. More than likely the only clue they have about the team is the horrible crap like Avengers #16.

Or worse... Volume 3....

[Le Messor]

To be fair, I think the only way we'd get a strong enough selling AF book would be with Alan Moore... writing it.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't even joke about tha! Yuck!

Anyway, you're probably right, that John Byrne wouldn't be a draw card anymore.
(Though that drawcard that he isn't is probably one of the best shots it has.)

- Le Messor
"In the stairway of life, you'd best take the elevator."

[Flightpath07]

To be fair, I think the only way we'd get a strong enough selling AF book would be with Alan Moore or Neil Gaiman writing it

And people here complained that Volume Two wasn't really Alpha Flight...I'm thinking anything AF that those two touched (and no offense meant to their talents) would not resemble Alpha Flight in the least.

Which was the point you were making, I believe?