New Brevoort Formspring

I’m not feigning ignorance, it’s an honest question. And the reason I ask is that it’s always important to examine, from time to time, why we feel the way we do about stuff like this, and how much of the underlying rationales don’t really hold water, but have just become the common wisdom.

In terms of the numbering, so far the only rationales that I’ve heard that make any sense amount to the numbering being either nostalgia or comfort food for older readers, a validation of the time they’ve spent reading the books. But that’s a projection, that’s something they’re bringing to the table more than anything inherent in the numbers themselves, so it’s not really a legitimate reason to not change them from a business point of view.

The things you’re talking about: a sense of continuity/connection to the past, anniversary issues, a sense of pride in a beloved series having lasted so long, etc. all still exist even if the issue numbers change. And so you start drilling down again, and where that inevitably takes you is to the self-worth of the readership. The cries of “you don’t love me as much as you love those new readers, and I’ve stood by you for years!” Which is a strange expectation to have of a publishing entity, but our fans are invested and we like ‘em that way, so there it is.

But I can’t make publishing decisions that insure that there’ll be a Marvel for the next generation, for your kids, to enjoy unless we’re forward-looking and reactive to changes in the marketplace. These decisions have nothing to do with “you don’t love me”, they have everything to do with “this is what it takes in 2014 to get the numbers we need.” And so, really, there is no choice–I’ll take survival over somebody’s abstract and fragile feelings of self-worth any day. Ideally, we’ll have both–and we will, in most cases. But for some, this is change and change hurts, always has.