BAD IDEA is not only proud to present a reconceptualization of the comics form, but is also filled with a conceited sense of self-importance at having made what we are certain will be regarded as the greatest disrupting, innovating, trans-mediafying modernization of comics since Max Gaines himself folded the Sunday funnies in half and stapled-into-being the first comic book.
Introducing…the NOT FIRST PRINTING.
No longer will lovers of comics have to suffer through the agony of a hot book (or a book trying real hard to convince people it’s hot) announcing wave after wave of new printings. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, even Sixth printings…is nothing sacred? Never-ending variants! By the power of Kirby Krackle, I condemn thee.
And why? For time immemorial, comics has operated on the fundamental assumption that there is some legal rationale that publishers have to abide by when labeling their new printings. We at BAD IDEA say ENOUGH. No expense was spared in assembling the potential cost of potentially hiring the crack team of legal experts needed to potentially confirm our purely gut instinct that we could just do this and suffer potentially no consequences.
Read this next part slowly, it’s experimental genius is worth savoring, like fresh ramen.
Here’s how it works:
If a BAD IDEA comic sells out — WHEN a BAD IDEA comic sells out — and there is sufficient demand for more, we will go back to press and create a new printing at the same price point and with the all the First Print content, including the extra B-Side story we’re adding to every BAD IDEA comic. Sounds normal so far BUT instead of labeling this the Second Printing, this new edition will be part of a potential series of NOT FIRST PRINTING copies that will be identical to all of their fellow NOT FIRST PRINTINGS, in every way, no matter when they may have been printed. So if we sell out of our batch of NOT FIRST PRINTINGS, that are actually Second Printings, we will again go back to the press and create a new printing. A Third Printing. But again this new edition will be labeled NOT FIRST PRINTING, despite actually being the Third Printing, and will be identical to the NOT FIRST PRINTING that was actually the Second Printing. Even the UPC and indicia will be unchanged.
That’s right, BAD IDEA can and will issue new printings that are indistinguishable from each other. The only exception is the actual First Printing, which will feature a subtle cover color change, a clear First Printing slug in the UPC and will be labeled in the indicia.
Goodbye, new printing variants. Hello, BAD IDEA SIMPLICITY™. Remember, the BAD IDEA way also means no variants, no trades, no digital, select stores and no more than two comics a month – just monthly comics, sold in comic book shops. And now, when our First Printings are all gone, you can take comfort knowing that you’ll still be able to get ahold of a NOT FIRST PRINTING to read without having to pay variant prices.
Wait!!! What…??
First printings will be easy to spot. The second printing will say “not first printing” to keep it simple. A third and any further printings are just more second printings and they will all look The same. So basically there will be only two printings. There’s the first printing, and everything after is a second printing that they can keep making more of.
Yup.
They are basically saying if you want a reader copy we will make sure you get one. But if you are looking to collect or spec, make sure you get a first print
There is an even easier concept called print on demand
I think they are trying to cater to not only the collectors markets by only doing a first print and a not a first print but also to the reader market for those that don’t care about print run.
Man, that press release was a long hike for a short drink of water.
Yeah…holy cow I got it in a few sentences….they kept going on and on and really it’s an open order until they decide demand has subsided enough to stop the second printing.
I’m excited for the content in some of these books but these constant b.s. PSA announcements are really a turn off. What’s the nicest way for me to say that I don’t really give a shit how they run their company, into the ground or otherwise?
They are trying to be different. Like stores have to agree to limit purchases to one per person, not selling through diamond, and other things. I think some of the pretentiousness is fun.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound?
I was all in on this company. The last few announcements have shown me that they indeed studied what would be a Bad Idea in the comic market and are using that information as a business plan.This is going to cause huge headaches for all involved.
These are gonna be hot because Bad Idea just told retailers they do not have enough 1st prints to fill orders.
Seems to me like Bad Idea is trying to create buzz for their product (in what is becoming a saturated independent market?) by trying to be different. Are they telling folks (collectors?) their product (at least 1st prints) are limited so as to create demand where none may have initially existed? Would anyone have paid attention to them if they said nothing and simply started selling new comics? Perhaps their plan to get folks interested might be working!? My LCS emailed me today that customers will be limited to one copy per person. Before that email, I really hadn’t given much thought to Bad Idea. Now I am curious (but skeptical too).
So my LCS also informed me that Bad Idea set the print run for Eniac #1 before FOC. Huh?! What’s the purpose of FOC then? Maybe that’s why that “other” website (with way too many pop-ups…initials are BC) is reporting that retailers are being allocated 51% of their orders for Eniac #1. If Bad Idea did set the print run b/f FOC, that just seems bad & dumb. Why would you launch a new product like that? By the way, my LCS tells me Eniac #1 is dropping NEXT Wed. I thought it was arriving in March?! Anyone have any further insight?
The book was supposed to come out last year and may have been printed well in advance. As for FOC, I believe that is a distributor thing, aka Diamond and whomever else is still distributing comics. Bad Idea is self distributing so there would have been a drop dead date but no Diamond FOC date. I really think the book was printed in advance and since more stores have come online to join their retailer network, there are not enough copies to go around for everyone to get some
Thanks for shedding further light on the situation. That makes more sense. Did not know they are self-distributing or likely printed previously. Will have to enlighten my LCS contact who does not handle the actual comic ordering.
Yeah. He will have to sign up as a part of their dealer network. Let me know and I can get you the contact info.
I preordered all of the Bad Idea first issues two months ago.Hopefully all of my books are first printings.
Hopefully but according to Bad Idea, could end up the other way around and they don’t seem to care about you or your first printings…