There has been much discussion about the upcoming America's Elite series and whether or not it will succeed and things like that.

There is a thread over at Brandon's site that asked the question. "What if the relaunch does not succeed?"

One of the things I said was that Devil's Due should look into doing a series of Mini-Series. Looking at the sales of most mini-series in comics, and looking at the sales of the Master and Apprentice mini-series that might be a way to go for GI Joe as a whole.

Now...fast forward to last night.

A revelation struck me.

Pattern the GI Joe comic after the old Star Wars: Rogue Squadron comic series from Dark Horse.

The entire series was a series of mini-series. Each one built off each other, BUT each was also a contained story so you did not need the other ones to enjoy the one you were reading.

Also, their numbering was a thing of beauty. If you go to Mile High Comics and look up the issues, they have them listed #1-35, but if you look at the covers. Up until issue #21 all you saw on the cover was #1 (of 4) for the issues. Then with #21 you had a small #21 in a box and below that you had the #1 (of 4) in another box. This numbering went until the end of the series at #35.

Also, each mini-series was named something else. #1-4 was Rogue Squadron: The Rebel Opposition, #5-8 Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair, #9-12 Rogue Squadron: Battleground Tatooine, etc.

I think the same could be done with GI Joe (if necessary)


So...what do you think?

Phil

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Whatever keeps the GI Joe comic coming out, regardless of what # is on the cover, I'll be happy.

Nice solution, though. If DDP needs it, I hope they use it.

i like the idea. it would be interesting to see/read.

the idea kinda reminds of the toon in a way. in that you really didn't miss anything if you missed an earlier episode.

comic readers are like kids sometimes. i mean you gotta love kids with the attention span of a gnat.

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"Ho. Ly. Sh!te. Last time we saw her...?" - viking "Naked and throwing knives at our head. Best night of Sex we ever had." & "If i didn't think she'd kill us the minute we fell asleep, I'd totally do her." - cowboy

I really like the idea of continuity. Start at issue #1 and keep going. Then you get to have cool anniversary issues like #50, #100, et cetera.

I know this doesn't generate as much money as multiple #1's, so I'll bite my tongue and accept that what keeps more Joe issues coming out is best.

I like the idea posted above...homaging Rogue Squadron isn't a bad thout at all...

I was pondering this idea again the other night and while I still am all for the idea posted in the first thread, I had a second idea.

Pattern two Joe books like the Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps books.

In the main book you get the "main cast", basicly the America's Elite line-up in stories focused on that team. Then you can get a second title to focus on all the "secondary" members of the GI Joe team. Much like a Special Mission title, but they can build off each other and be connected instead of a series of one-shots.

Then you can have crossover events (like WWIII) that incorporates both books and both teams involved.

Yeah...I know...nothing original, but I have been reading (and REALLY enjoying) The Sinestro Corps War story arc and I really like the way the story is being told.

Now, of course you still have the issue that the market does not appear to be able to support two GI Joe books, but at the same time I think this has the potential to reach a broader fan base and keep the number respectable.

So...ponder away.

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I had a similar thought where the Joes had two teams similar to the gold and blue structure the X-Men had back in the 90's. Just a thought. One team would respond primarily to Cobra threats- and the other to various other threats.

I really like both ideas. They open it up to showcase more characters. The XMen books have had similar numbering on the cover (issue# "arc title" part # of #).I think it really helped me get back into the book after years of not following it because I didn't start in the middle of an arc and feel lost. they stopped at issue #200 (I hope just because the "Endangered Species" thing is taking up cover space).

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Well special missions and frontline sold so well right?

third time isn't always a charm, some times its three strikes and your out.

Doing Joe as an ongoing series of mini series isn't a bad idea. It can be double numbered and given a new sub-title every arc.

But, was Rouge Squadron initially don that way, or did it end up that way after its popularity was established? I don;t know. Doesn't really matter I guess.

This approach would likely have the unfortunate affect of damaging long range story telling. If you write 4 issues, you might not be the guy who writes the next one, or even ever write another. No reason to plant seeds.

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Sic vis pacem, para bellum
--
The core of the GI Joe fantasy is loyalty. The fantasy isn't about shooting at Cobra,
the fantasy is about 'If I get left behind, Snake Eyes will come and get me.'
-Larry Hama, CHUD Interview

Sales, smales. Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Seriously, anything core continuity, and I'm in. But it's frustrating to know one's own passion for something doesn't automatically translate into commercial success and longevity.