This was scheduled to be released today but I'm under the impression it was (unsurprisingly) delayed. Being a Wednesday today, did anyone happen to get to a comic shop and get the scoop on this release? I know the cover can be found online but I don't think we know the promo card; sorry, I'm on my old school phone, can't attach at the moment.
Okay, so I guess this was originally planned to be released on Halloween, not that that helps us figure out when it will be released... Anyway, here's the cover and description....
Dack Fayden returns to Ravnica!
Dack knows that the malevolent Sifa Grent has something sinister planned for the city of Ravnica, but he must uncover her plot while being pursued by Rakdos cultists and Boros soldiers. Not only that, but someone from Dack's past may just put an end to the Planeswalker thief! This issue includes an exclusive, alternate art playable Magic: The Gathering card!
Breaking news.
There will be no Tibalt, Tamiyo, Tezzeret, Garruk, Chandra, Liliana, mini-Jace, big-Jace, Garruk again, or Sarkhan in Theros either.
There will also be no Black Lotus.
The last one released in shops like 2 or 3 weeks ago.
Don't expect this for another couple weeks.
They don't stick to their release dates at all.
In fact they scheduled ST#4 PoV#1 to come out on the same day... Then didn't release either until like a week or two later (just ST4).
It's not listed on my comic shop's list for this week. I can check to see if he has any clue when I go to pick up my new comics for the week.
If you would that'd be cool. My local comic shop guy said he had no idea when it's going to be released knowing IDW.. I'm guessing he'd know about it if it were coming in next week, but who knows?
Welcome to comics! This is standard operating procedure 'round these parts.
Yep, all the publishers moved their printing overseas and for some reason chinese and oher asian printers can't seem to deliver on time. American printers may cost more, but we don't get your books stuck in customs because all the ink on the box labels washed off in transit. True story, one of the print houses I worked at had to do an emergency print-run for HP once after they had informed us they were taking their business to China, because the Chinese printers used bad box labels.
Another printer I worked at printed for Dark Horse frequently, then suddenly kept losing bids to overseas printers. A few months after I quit there I heard they were printing for Dark Horse again because the Chinese printers couldn't make delivery dates.
I laugh every time one of the webcomics I read tries to do a print run through a chinese printer and then their books arrive months late. I had a talk with one guy and he said the price was cheap enough and his fans were willing to put up with late deliveries, so he didn't even take bids from American companies anymore.
As a comic shop employee, I can confirm there is no new magic comic this week. Next week, there will be a second printing of Spell Thief (likely without the Standstill) and that's all.
As a comic shop employee, I can confirm there is no new magic comic this week. Next week, there will be a second printing of Spell Thief (likely without the Standstill) and that's all.
That shows how clueless IDW* is about this. The only reason any issue of this gawd-awful excuse for a comic get bought up in big numbers is due to the card that is included. It was the only reason I bought a couple copies of Spell Thief- I could not even get halfway through the book without giving up in disgust. Reprinting at all is really stupid, and reprinting without the card is hilarious.
*Or Hasbro or Wizards...who ever makes these questionable decisions.
I like how you can totally pick out that this is the only comic I follow regularly.
I didn't know this was a common occurence.
I've been reading comics for around 20 years. Delays are extremely common. Expected really. Only DC has kept on schedule lately, and that's taking artist changes and fill ins every few issues to do it. It's been this way for as long as I can remember.
That shows how clueless IDW* is about this. The only reason any issue of this gawd-awful excuse for a comic get bought up in big numbers is due to the card that is included. It was the only reason I bought a couple copies of Spell Thief- I could not even get halfway through the book without giving up in disgust. Reprinting at all is really stupid, and reprinting without the card is hilarious.
*Or Hasbro or Wizards...who ever makes these questionable decisions.
I think when the MTG flavor in general switches away from planeswalkers, there can be a decent fantasy story told via comic form. But a lot of players get excited over planeswalkers and trying to give them a face of the game is great.
Comics get reprinted all the time for a variety of reasons. Personally, I bought more of the "consume spirit" promo because I liked the art. I don't understand why a promo card has to be included in these in the first place. It's not like the Doctor Who comic comes with an episode of the TV show packed in or the Dungeons and Dragons book doesn't have character sheets.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I just want people who redraft to admit this:
"I can't draft objectively unless I am able to guarantee that I receive at least 3 rares. I am also better than most average/new players so I want to make sure that I get the best rares and they end up with worse ones. I care more about the monetary value of cards than actually playing the game for decent prizes."
@ above - A promo doesn't "have to" be included, but you know it has to help sales. I think we can assume that the vast majority following this IDW series are Magic players. In other words, the target audience likes/loves Magic cards. Therefore putting promo cards with the comics is good business--and how much can that cost them anyway? Wizards makes some kind of profit off of the sales to IDW and IDW in turn gets significantly more sales IMHO, makes sense. I'm honestly not sure if I'd buy the comics without promo cards.
@ above - A promo doesn't "have to" be included, but you know it has to help sales. I think we can assume that the vast majority following this IDW series are Magic players. In other words, the target audience likes/loves Magic cards. Therefore putting promo cards with the comics is good business--and how much can that cost them anyway? Wizards makes some kind of profit off of the sales to IDW and IDW in turn gets significantly more sales IMHO, makes sense. I'm honestly not sure if I'd buy the comics without promo cards.
I agree, but do they keep having to package a sub-par comic with the card I'm buying?
From the sounds of it, it's the comic that's the add-on, not the card.
@ above - A promo doesn't "have to" be included, but you know it has to help sales. I think we can assume that the vast majority following this IDW series are Magic players. In other words, the target audience likes/loves Magic cards. Therefore putting promo cards with the comics is good business--and how much can that cost them anyway? Wizards makes some kind of profit off of the sales to IDW and IDW in turn gets significantly more sales IMHO, makes sense. I'm honestly not sure if I'd buy the comics without promo cards.
Of course it helps sales, the customer is getting more value than just the book. I can understand that. I'm saying I imagine it would do just fine without a promo card. If people are only buying the book for the promo card than what is the point of caring what the comic book is about in the first place? You had no intention of reading the book, you just wanted the card.
But you don't buy comic books, you're buying a magic card that happens to come with a comic book. You are looking at it way differently than a typical comic buyer.
I buy comics because I want to read the stories not for a promo card. I think the Magic comics have been terrible since always. I don't always pick up a copy of the comics. Then again, I don't get promo cards with my version of the comics because I buy through Comixology so I can read them on my computer and get them for cheaper.
I just don't understand why a promo card inclusion or exclusion would sway you either way. You're either going to buy the comic because you want all the promo cards, pick and choose because of a certain promo card, or buy it for the comic (which apparently judging from the thread, no one is interested in reading in the first place). None of the promo cards have been terribly appealing. It isn't like they are throwing super expensive cards in these (Standstill isn't an expensive card). So why bother if you are just buying these for the cards?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I just want people who redraft to admit this:
"I can't draft objectively unless I am able to guarantee that I receive at least 3 rares. I am also better than most average/new players so I want to make sure that I get the best rares and they end up with worse ones. I care more about the monetary value of cards than actually playing the game for decent prizes."
Standstill is more expensive to purchase than the comic, so that factor alone will drive sales. I would love to buy a Magic comic that can stand alone on it's own merits, but based on what I have seen, it isn't happening. I buy the comics for the fun alternate arts that appeal to me and throw the comic in the garbage.I suspect this is the most common scenario.
Around these parts, printing those books without insert cards is a guarantee to be cancelled.
None of the promo cards have been terribly appealing. It isn't like they are throwing super expensive cards in these (Standstill isn't an expensive card). So why bother if you are just buying these for the cards?
People, including myself, like the alternative art cards. Compare Standstill's comic promo price to the original.. supply and demand. The only reason this line of comic books exist is because people love Magic cards, soooo print Magic cards with them, am I right?
I don't think it's that hard to understand that Magic cards help sell a product based on Magic cards.
The fact that the MtG comics are generally weaker than big name stuff (e.g. Spiderman.. or whatever you like) means that the perceived value of IDW's MtG product rests not only on the comics themselves. There's nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't look down on someone for giving up on the comics because promos were pulled; it's a pretty sensible thing to do imho.
I think when the MTG flavor in general switches away from planeswalkers, there can be a decent fantasy story told via comic form. But a lot of players get excited over planeswalkers and trying to give them a face of the game is great.
Honestly it is not the character that is so terrible, it is the writing (though the art does not help). I buy a few books every week, and I have a tendency to take chances on indie or oddball titles for variety, so I know good and bad books. It is so painful to read these and follow any action, because every damn cell has exposition that is wildly different in tone from what is actually being said or being done. If you need to use that much exposition then you are not telling your story well enough or you are including garbage that should be edited out. It is bad enough during down cells, but during action sequences the pace and tempo are obliterated by the idiot voices in their head.
I read books with a good amount of exposition, heck Deadpool has it almost as often as the Magic comics, but the tone and the length of it makes sense in the context.
I am just baffled that no one has told them any of this. They need a better editor or a better writer (or both), and if they get some then I could forgive flat charaters just to read stories in the Multiverse.
New book is in this week, to my surprise. Promo card is...Turnabout! I'll try to get a pic up but I'm on my phone at the moment.
Thanks Daly! Might have missed out if not for you! I can confirm that it's out and the promo is Turnabout; the card art is the same as the cover, with Dack restraining (or "tapping") a Boros dude. Again, my thanks. A very good promo IMHO.
Okay, so I guess this was originally planned to be released on Halloween, not that that helps us figure out when it will be released... Anyway, here's the cover and description....
Dack Fayden returns to Ravnica!
Dack knows that the malevolent Sifa Grent has something sinister planned for the city of Ravnica, but he must uncover her plot while being pursued by Rakdos cultists and Boros soldiers. Not only that, but someone from Dack's past may just put an end to the Planeswalker thief! This issue includes an exclusive, alternate art playable Magic: The Gathering card!
₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪
(W/B) Teysa, Orzhov Scion (W/B)
G Devoted G
(U/R) Scramblefun (U/R)
(W/U) Heh, Birbs (W/U)
Don't expect this for another couple weeks.
They don't stick to their release dates at all.
In fact they scheduled ST#4 PoV#1 to come out on the same day... Then didn't release either until like a week or two later (just ST4).
Welcome to comics! This is standard operating procedure 'round these parts.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=9203201#post9203201
If you would that'd be cool. My local comic shop guy said he had no idea when it's going to be released knowing IDW.. I'm guessing he'd know about it if it were coming in next week, but who knows?
Yep, all the publishers moved their printing overseas and for some reason chinese and oher asian printers can't seem to deliver on time. American printers may cost more, but we don't get your books stuck in customs because all the ink on the box labels washed off in transit. True story, one of the print houses I worked at had to do an emergency print-run for HP once after they had informed us they were taking their business to China, because the Chinese printers used bad box labels.
Another printer I worked at printed for Dark Horse frequently, then suddenly kept losing bids to overseas printers. A few months after I quit there I heard they were printing for Dark Horse again because the Chinese printers couldn't make delivery dates.
I laugh every time one of the webcomics I read tries to do a print run through a chinese printer and then their books arrive months late. I had a talk with one guy and he said the price was cheap enough and his fans were willing to put up with late deliveries, so he didn't even take bids from American companies anymore.
*Or Hasbro or Wizards...who ever makes these questionable decisions.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
I like how you can totally pick out that this is the only comic I follow regularly.
I didn't know this was a common occurence.
I've been reading comics for around 20 years. Delays are extremely common. Expected really. Only DC has kept on schedule lately, and that's taking artist changes and fill ins every few issues to do it. It's been this way for as long as I can remember.
I think when the MTG flavor in general switches away from planeswalkers, there can be a decent fantasy story told via comic form. But a lot of players get excited over planeswalkers and trying to give them a face of the game is great.
Comics get reprinted all the time for a variety of reasons. Personally, I bought more of the "consume spirit" promo because I liked the art. I don't understand why a promo card has to be included in these in the first place. It's not like the Doctor Who comic comes with an episode of the TV show packed in or the Dungeons and Dragons book doesn't have character sheets.
Watch Play Read
Twitter
I agree, but do they keep having to package a sub-par comic with the card I'm buying?
From the sounds of it, it's the comic that's the add-on, not the card.
Of course it helps sales, the customer is getting more value than just the book. I can understand that. I'm saying I imagine it would do just fine without a promo card. If people are only buying the book for the promo card than what is the point of caring what the comic book is about in the first place? You had no intention of reading the book, you just wanted the card.
But you don't buy comic books, you're buying a magic card that happens to come with a comic book. You are looking at it way differently than a typical comic buyer.
I buy comics because I want to read the stories not for a promo card. I think the Magic comics have been terrible since always. I don't always pick up a copy of the comics. Then again, I don't get promo cards with my version of the comics because I buy through Comixology so I can read them on my computer and get them for cheaper.
I just don't understand why a promo card inclusion or exclusion would sway you either way. You're either going to buy the comic because you want all the promo cards, pick and choose because of a certain promo card, or buy it for the comic (which apparently judging from the thread, no one is interested in reading in the first place). None of the promo cards have been terribly appealing. It isn't like they are throwing super expensive cards in these (Standstill isn't an expensive card). So why bother if you are just buying these for the cards?
Watch Play Read
Twitter
Around these parts, printing those books without insert cards is a guarantee to be cancelled.
People, including myself, like the alternative art cards. Compare Standstill's comic promo price to the original.. supply and demand. The only reason this line of comic books exist is because people love Magic cards, soooo print Magic cards with them, am I right?
I don't think it's that hard to understand that Magic cards help sell a product based on Magic cards.
The fact that the MtG comics are generally weaker than big name stuff (e.g. Spiderman.. or whatever you like) means that the perceived value of IDW's MtG product rests not only on the comics themselves. There's nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't look down on someone for giving up on the comics because promos were pulled; it's a pretty sensible thing to do imho.
I read books with a good amount of exposition, heck Deadpool has it almost as often as the Magic comics, but the tone and the length of it makes sense in the context.
I am just baffled that no one has told them any of this. They need a better editor or a better writer (or both), and if they get some then I could forgive flat charaters just to read stories in the Multiverse.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
I really really really really want to write these comics. Petition wizard for me! haha
I was a little disappointed in Turnabout this week when I was expecting something a little better given the art.
Currently Playing:
Standard: Jund Midrange
Modern: Mono-U Faeries, Soul Sisters, Scapeshift
Legacy: Goblins, Dredge, BUG Agent
EDH: Zur, Azusa, Gisela, Hanna
Thanks Daly! Might have missed out if not for you! I can confirm that it's out and the promo is Turnabout; the card art is the same as the cover, with Dack restraining (or "tapping") a Boros dude. Again, my thanks. A very good promo IMHO.
It was posted yesterday.
It's played in Legacy High Tide... so that's a plus.