View Full Version : So Ant-Man is over for the time being apparently...
humphrey-lee
06-19-2007, 05:43 PM
And I know it's not unexpected, but at the same time, that doesn't really level off my contempt for, well, anyone and everyone that is probably responsible for this.
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #12
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art by PHIL HESTER & ANDRE PARKS
Cover by PHIL HESTER
FINAL ISSUE! The story of Eric O'Grady comes to an end--or does it? Who lives, who dies, who gets double-crossed? The answers to these questions and many more in this final issue of the series everyone who read loved! So get your 'Save Irredeemable Ant-Man' campaigns ready. Hey, it worked for Runaways and She-Hulk. Why not Ant-Man?
Goddamn comic book industry...
nick-b
06-19-2007, 05:49 PM
This sucks. I love Ant-Man. Is there anyone here who reads it and doesn't like it? Please, if so, speak up.
darron
06-19-2007, 05:49 PM
WHAT?! Jesus H, man, what the hell? I guess I just assumed sales were better. Mother****!
jaflanagan
06-19-2007, 05:50 PM
Hey, I did my best, but I couldn't even get Ron and Conor to read it.
That being said, the last issue was kinda stupid. The whole nintendo wii thing was silly.
I WANT to pick this up, but I heard it was going to be released in Digest form, I've been waiting on that. Has that happened yet?
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 05:53 PM
it annoys me that the solicitation even says "So get your 'Save Irredeemable Ant-Man' campaigns ready. Hey, it worked for Runaways and She-Hulk. Why not Ant-Man?"
Marvel is the one cancelling the damn thing, they can't ask their audience to do something like that! i can understand if Kirkman or Hester asked this but it loses all credibility when Marvel asks.
As for Ant-Man, i read the first 3 issues, it wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I think i'll pick up the trade though, based on Josh's reccommendation on the podcast.
humphrey-lee
06-19-2007, 05:54 PM
Hey, I did my best, but I couldn't even get Ron and Conor to read it.
That being said, the last issue was kinda stupid. The whole nintendo wii thing was silly.
I think I'm going to sit back at the shop this week, keep a look out for anyone who picks up every single WWH tie-in they can find, and confront them on their Ant-Man purchasing habits. If they don't partake, I'm going to Ant-Man special their balls!!
And I loved that Wii moment. The commercials for that damn thing always annoyed me and I was glad he was mocking them. "Even Grandpa will want to play!". My ass. Gramps is dead, and even if he wasn't I'm sure his arthritis would love him waving that controller around...
davegraham
06-19-2007, 05:58 PM
I was really enjoying this comic because it kept leading me to ask "what kind of craziness is going to happen this week?" Every issue has something in it that is just terrible and against every code of decent conduct that society has. It wasn't ever anything that was sensationalized, but it was enough to make me go "Oh man, this guy is horrible." Just when you started to get comfortable with him and consider him an okay guy, Kirkman makes him into a bigger a$$hole than he did the issue before. I fell for it every month. Similarly, Kirkman does it in Walking Dead. I am up to the fifth trade of WD and I have decided I am just not getting attached to anyone, because exactly when things get comfortable something horrible happens. It is great story-telling and not enough comics are written like that.
antman was a cool book
this sucks
darron
06-19-2007, 06:30 PM
The commercials for that damn thing always annoyed me and I was glad he was mocking them. "Even Grandpa will want to play!". My ass. Gramps is dead, and even if he wasn't I'm sure his arthritis would love him waving that controller around...
I don't think it was really mocking Nintendo. I know a 60 + year old dude who owns a Wii. Big deal. You talk like the commercial offended you on multiple levels.
humphrey-lee
06-19-2007, 06:33 PM
I don't think it was really mocking Nintendo. I know a 60 + year old dude who owns a Wii. Big deal. You talk like the commercial offended you on multiple levels.
Grampa doesn't have time for Mario Tennis, Matlock's on! And he's missing a finger from back in the great war with those Kraut bastards anyways!
conorkilpatrick
06-19-2007, 07:20 PM
I read Josh's copy of the first issue. It didn't do anything for me.
darron
06-19-2007, 07:24 PM
Ant-Man really didn't get too good until about issue five or six. Since then, though, it's been a blast.
davegraham
06-19-2007, 07:34 PM
Ant-Man really didn't get too good until about issue five or six. Since then, though, it's been a blast.
What issue was it when he and his dead friend's girlfriend made out on said dead friend's grave? That was when I put it on my pull list.
benjy77
06-19-2007, 07:44 PM
DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just picked up the first 9 issues of this freaking book, so I can start reading it monthly. Now it is being canceled.
Damn the trades and big event books!!!!!!!
Because everyone wants to get every freaking issue that has anything to do with events like Civil War and World War Hulk. Smaller books are being canceled because everyone will “just wait for the trade.” Are we spoiled today with trades coming out every six months or so?
I remember when trades were only released for mini series, cross over events, and a major story.
OK. I got that off of my chest.
conorkilpatrick
06-19-2007, 07:49 PM
Damn the trades and big event books!!!!!!!
Because everyone wants to get every freaking issue that has anything to do with events like Civil War and World War Hulk. Smaller books are being canceled because everyone will “just wait for the trade.” Are we spoiled today with trades coming out every six months or so?
I remember when trades were only released for mini series, cross over events, and a major story.
OK. I got that off of my chest.
So let me get this straight... you are blaming this cancelation on more people buying comics in trade?
So let me get this straight... you are blaming this cancelation on more people buying comics in trade?
Really! You tell him Conor. (not just scary in real life)
I am still planning on buying it, I'm just waiting on the digest. Which may be imaginary, I could've sworn someone around here said it was going to happen though.
Anyways point is I'd support it if I had a chance, I can't buy EVERY book in floppies.
kahunablair
06-19-2007, 07:57 PM
So let me get this straight... you are blaming this cancelation on more people buying comics in trade?
Absolutely!
Which also reminds me. You people need to stop buying umbrellas! By doing so you are all making it rain more and more. Please stop!
davegraham
06-19-2007, 08:11 PM
Damn the trades and big event books!!!!!!!
Because everyone wants to get every freaking issue that has anything to do with events like Civil War and World War Hulk. Smaller books are being canceled because everyone will “just wait for the trade.” Are we spoiled today with trades coming out every six months or so?
I think what he means is that people are passing on books like Ant-Man and Blade thinking they will pick them up in trades, but not buying the book monthly causes Marvel to drop the book because of low sales.
That being said, I see that Ghost Rider and Heroes for Hire both have "WWH" tags next to them. I imagine World War Hulk will booth their sales for those issues at least. So the big events aren't necessarily to blame.
Ant-Man was an odd ball book that didn't catch on with enough people. It was the writing that I liked, not necessarily the characters. Kirkman isn't going to go away after this. He is going to continue to write so there will be plenty of other oppurtunities to enjoy stories like Ant-Man.
Maybe Marvel is going to cancel "Ant-Man" and retitle it The Raging Mantis Man or whatever name is on his registration card.
alexg
06-19-2007, 08:20 PM
I liked Ant man, and have been buying since issue one, but I can't say I'm all that surprised. Weird books like this can't really last.
mikegraham6
06-19-2007, 08:23 PM
Ant-Man was an odd ball book that didn't catch on with enough people. It was the writing that I liked, not necessarily the characters. Kirkman isn't going to go away after this. He is going to continue to write so there will be plenty of other oppurtunities to enjoy stories like Ant-Man.
that's funny because i initially checked out Ant-man because of Phil Hester's art. Kirkman hadn't really registered on my radar yet, as i had only read a few issues of invincible and walking dead, but i just adored hester's art from Green Arrow. I was so sad to see him leave that book. I'm not usually a fan of a cartoony style but it kind of reminded me of the DC animated style and i can't wait to see what he draws next. From what i read, he was a perfect fit for Ant-man
davegraham
06-19-2007, 08:31 PM
So is the series going to end with him being redeemed?
benjy77
06-19-2007, 09:54 PM
So let me get this straight... you are blaming this cancelation on more people buying comics in trade?
No. If marvel is publishing a book and it has low sales then it will be canceled. But just in this tread a couple of people have stated that they were going to read the book in trade.
Conor,
How would you feel? If 24 was canceled because of low ratings and then people started saying “I did not watch the show, but was planning on picking up the DVDs when they are released.”
By the way, I am not trying to compare Ant-man to 24, but I hope you understand my point.
jimski
06-19-2007, 10:17 PM
That's a shame, but it has been the lowest-selling Marvel comic that wasn't an all-ages book for several months running. I had steeled myself for this blow.
Maybe they'll wait six months and relaunch it with McNiven or something. Actually, I think Eric O'Grady would be great in a team book (not because he's a good team player, but because he isn't) and Bendis does love to rescue unused new-ish characters. If it doesn't pop up again in a year or so, he may end up an Avenger. Or working for the Hood.
conorkilpatrick
06-19-2007, 10:25 PM
Conor,
How would you feel? If 24 was canceled because of low ratings and then people started saying “I did not watch the show, but was planning on picking up the DVDs when they are released.”
That happens to shows I like all the time. I'm used to it.
I am still planning on buying it, I'm just waiting on the digest. Which may be imaginary, I could've sworn someone around here said it was going to happen though.
we've been trying to hope that into existence for a few months. I don't think that it's based in Marvel-based fact.
Absolutely!
Which also reminds me. You people need to stop buying umbrellas! By doing so you are all making it rain more and more. Please stop!
I've been saying this for years. The people who make condoms are also responsible for unintended pregnancies.
That happens to shows I like all the time. I'm used to it.
I'm almost certain that there's a trade of this out and it must not be selling. You'd think if it did then that would help. I could be insane.
paper
06-19-2007, 11:52 PM
I'm finding conflicting info. It's either out in digest next week (June 27) or July 11th. The latter might be the international release date.
marshallg
06-19-2007, 11:53 PM
For me, Ant-Man was a consistently fun book to read, so I'm a little bummed.
kahunablair
06-19-2007, 11:55 PM
I've been saying this for years. The people who make condoms are also responsible for unintended pregnancies.
Finally, someone gets it!
I'm finding conflicting info. It's either out in digest next week (June 27) or July 11th. The latter might be the international release date.
I would swear on a stack of bibles that I saw a trade in the last 1-2 months. But me and bibles, well make your own inference.
Finally, someone gets it!
and don't forget the abortion clinics
darron
06-20-2007, 01:09 AM
What issue was it when he and his dead friend's girlfriend made out on said dead friend's grave? That was when I put it on my pull list.
That and spying on Ms. Marvel in the shower are golden. Eric O' Grady is such a douchebag.
paper
06-20-2007, 01:09 AM
This sounds like the best book ever.
darron
06-20-2007, 01:22 AM
Let's go down the checklist, shall we?
He accidently knocks out Hank Pym, and steals the Ant-Man armor.
He makes out with his best friend's girlfriend...on his best friend's GRAVE...then gets her pregnant.
He inadvertently burns half the face of his advisor.
He spies on Ms. Marvel in the shower.
He's a member of Damage Control under the guise, "The Slaying Mantis."
He plays Wii with a 60+ year old burgler.
Whats there not to love about this series?!
kahunablair
06-20-2007, 01:36 AM
You forgot a couple...
He acted like he was helping after a superhero battle, when he was really stealing a bag full of jewels from the aforementioned 60+ year old burglar.
He's payed homeless people to mug women so that he can save them and get a date out of the whole thing.
He plays the "I left my wallet at home" crap when he actually goes on the dates with said women.
He pretends to help SheHulk fight a Baddie, only he's really just waiting till the fight gets out of earshot from the girl he's trying to get it on with, so he can go back with her and look the hero.
Plus the crap that happened in the last issue which would be a bit spoilerish, but man is he a dick.
paper
06-20-2007, 01:39 AM
When the hell is this digest out? Somebody help me figure this out!
darron
06-20-2007, 01:42 AM
When in doubt, check the company website.
6/27/07.
paper
06-20-2007, 01:45 AM
I'll Take Nine!
He plays Wii with a 60+ year old burgler.
He plays with his wee with a 60 year old Hamburglar?
I'll Take Nine!'
whoa!!! slow down fella. this is exactly how I alsmot got talked into buying those Real Doll franchise rights.
paper
06-20-2007, 02:29 AM
It's long been my fantasy to make out with a girl dressed up as the Hamburglar (her, not me) in a McDonalds ball pitt.
If you have to ask why....
would there be dirty needles in the ball pit?
that I get. without it, it's just weird
kahunablair
06-20-2007, 03:19 AM
I can never look at ball pits the same way after I saw Jackass the Movie 2.
I hate snakes, and now I hate the ball pits in which they live.
jimski
06-20-2007, 03:28 AM
You know... I think the weirdest thing about this is that Heroes for Hire hasn't been cancelled.
acomicbookgirl
06-20-2007, 03:44 AM
I'll Take Nine!
Put me down for 2! ;)
humphrey-lee
06-20-2007, 04:31 AM
For me, Ant-Man was a consistently fun book to read, so I'm a little bummed.
That's why I'm pissed, it was my new Nextwave (though not quite as absolutely hysterical as NW). It was just too different, that is all. A lot of readers can't be bothered to take a chance on something different, or they just knew this book was doomed in the first place.
conorkilpatrick
06-20-2007, 04:53 AM
That's why I'm pissed, it was my new Nextwave (though not quite as absolutely hysterical as NW). It was just too different, that is all. A lot of readers can't be bothered to take a chance on something different, or they just knew this book was doomed in the first place.
Or they read it and just didn't like it. Don't go painting people who didn't buy the book as ignorant just because they didn't share your taste.
humphrey-lee
06-20-2007, 05:08 AM
Or they read it and just didn't like it. Don't go painting people who didn't buy the book as ignorant just because they didn't share your taste.
Unless a ton of people borrowed it or read it off the shelf, no one read it. First issue sales didn't even hit 30K. A third tier event tie-in book like this upcoming WWH: The Gamma Corps thing doubles that right off the bat. Hell, a 2nd printing of any Civil War issue sells that. Go to a shop and ask any ten people if they read it and I bet you get less than 40% affirmation on that. Unless there's just that many trade waiters, this thing was left for dead before it even began or no one knew it existed.
conorkilpatrick
06-20-2007, 05:15 AM
Unless a ton of people borrowed it or read it off the shelf, no one read it. First issue sales didn't even hit 30K. A third tier event tie-in book like this upcoming WWH: The Gamma Corps thing doubles that right off the bat. Hell, a 2nd printing of any Civil War issue sells that. Go to a shop and ask any ten people if they read it and I bet you get less than 40% affirmation on that. Unless there's just that many trade waiters, this thing was left for dead before it even began or no one knew it existed.
That doesn't change the fact that people who didn't buy this book don't deserve the ire you're throwing at them. There are all kinds of reasons why people didn't buy Irredeemable Ant-Man. I read about the book and didn't think it was for me. I happened to come across Josh's copy and confirmed that it was not, in fact, for me. I didn't not read it because I can't be bothered to take a chance on something different or because I knew it was doomed from the start. I didn't buy it because I didn't like the first issue. I didn't think it was particularly good.
humphrey-lee
06-20-2007, 05:28 AM
That doesn't change the fact that people who didn't buy this book don't deserve the ire you're throwing at them. There are all kinds of reasons why people didn't buy Irredeemable Ant-Man. I read about the book and didn't think it was for me. I happened to come across Josh's copy and confirmed that it was not, in fact, for me. I didn't not read it because I can't be bothered to take a chance on something different or because I knew it was doomed from the start. I didn't buy it because I didn't like the first issue. I didn't think it was particularly good.
And that's cool. You tried it and didn't like it. And yeah, I was probably being too general in the earlier statement, but at the same time I typically think someone doesn't assume I mean EVERYONE didn't bother to try it when I make a statement like that. But more likely than not, given the kinds of numbers that are thrown around for the top 50 or so books on the market, and compared to just the initial order of this, it's safe to assume a large margin of people didn't give it a second look as they ran by it in Previews or on the shelf.
But it happens all the time. Happened to Nextwave, happened to this, happened to literally hundreds of series that more likely than not didn't deserve too. If you were reading INVINCIBLE from issue one, and Image had to nix it before it even got past its first dozen issues you'd be slightly miffed too. That's how I'm feeling with this one, because honestly, it's starting to get really hard for me to find any (oh yay here comes the punnage) redeeming books to make me care about what Marvel and DC are publishing these days, and this was actually one of a handful that did that for me. Ah well. I'll just transfer my $3 from this to that Marvel Indie Anthology for the year it's around too...
labor_days
06-20-2007, 05:33 AM
I somewhat agree with Connor here. Read the first few issues of Irredeemable Ant-Man and didn't find it all that compelling really. A few funny gags & such, notwithstanding- sorta meh book for me overall.
humphrey-lee
06-20-2007, 05:41 AM
I somewhat agree with Connor here. Read the first few issues of Irredeemable Ant-Man and didn't find it all that compelling really. A few funny gags & such, notwithstanding- sorta meh book for me overall.
And that's fine. I'm just saying, if you could some how quantify it, the margin of readers who tried it and didn't like it, to those that just didn't even know it existed or even gave it a fair shot to begin with is a huge discrepancy. Whether that's Marvel's fault for not pushing it enough, or getting the digest out timely enough, or just an overall statement on the state of the industry as we know it we'll probably never know. But after its initial dropoff (which was only about the standard 30% most comics see) sales haven't really budged since issue three (from the numbers I've seen). That's usually a good indicator of things. Hell, that's how Vertigo books work, and that's one usually universal thing in comics is that a large bit of readers will agree that they usually bring the goods.
Sadly, Marvel has to take a much stricter line with their mainline books and that's how this has now received the axe. It's just business.
You know... I think the weirdest thing about this is that Heroes for Hire hasn't been cancelled.
yeah no shit. tell me about it.
davegraham
06-20-2007, 02:16 PM
You know... I think the weirdest thing about this is that Heroes for Hire hasn't been cancelled.
It'll ride World War Hulk and the tentacle nonsense for a couple of more months, but I bet by the end of the summer it will be gone or going away.
It happened to Darkhawk, Green Goblin, Slingers, Young Justice, Heroes for Hire (in the 90's) and probably a dozen other comics I was enjoying but were cancelled. In the Marvel Universe if it isn't Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men or Spider-man it has, at the most, 75 issues of life. A lot of times it is a lot less than that. That isn't a crime against the fans it is just how the industry goes. Ant-Man will show up somwhere else. If not in the Initiative, then in Loners, or some other series. Hell, he could even be the next Ronin.
Bonaduce has dibbs on the Ronin suit next
conorkilpatrick
06-25-2007, 11:44 PM
Kirkman on the end of Ant-Man (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=118154).
NRAMA: Even if Ant-Man can't find a way to survive his cancellation, could it be possible to see him peeking in on other super heroines in their showers? Maybe giving a “thumbs up”?
RK: It's certainly possible. He could become the “Where's Waldo of the Marvel Universe”—showing up in every issue, waiting for the reader to find him. That'd be pretty sweet.
NRAMA: Would you want to write more Ant-Man stories if the fan outcry called for it?
RK: Oh, absolutely. I've even got a few yarns already planned out for just such an occasion. I love the characters from the book and there's so much more that can be done with them.
NRAMA: In your eyes, what can the fans of The Irredeemable Ant-Man do to save this book from cancellation? I mean, as a fan of the series, I'm not above kidnapping…
RK: I can't guarantee sending me a million dollars would do it, but you can sure as hell give it a shot. A little known fact is that Joe Quesada has an unhealthy infatuation for Kelly LeBrock. So if you're not above kidnapping...
mikegraham6
06-26-2007, 05:40 PM
Does anyone know if they are going to release regular trades of this series or if it will only come out in the digest format. I really don't want to read it as a digest:rolleyes:
Soooooo....
I Got myself the digest of this old Ant-man book and I don't see what all the hype is about.
I wasn't that impressed, now I've only read the first 6 issues, but it felt like, in those 6 issues, very little happens.
He accidently knocks out Hank Pym, and steals the Ant-Man armor.
He makes out with his best friend's girlfriend...on his best friend's GRAVE...then gets her pregnant.
He inadvertently burns half the face of his advisor
THat's the synopsis of everything that happens, missing only some shower spying.
My problem with it is that there's very little to keep me coming back, the only intrigue is whether or not he'll continue to escape to be a douchebag another day.
I deal with enough douchebag's in my day to day life, do I really need to read about one? ANd I'm supposed to, what, root for this character? If they release another digest I'll probably pick it up, cause they're so cheap, but if the highlight is another scene of Ant-man watching a woman in the shower I don't see why people are so excited by this book.
Porky's was a good movie, not great.
decarabas
07-05-2007, 06:03 PM
I came in late to the series.. It was okay, not that great, Ant-Man was a scamp... but not a lovable scamp... the whole 'you betrayed me!!' thing was a little too.. cruel, made me think this guy's a tosser and not really want to keep reading.. but that's my opinion..
And anyways, when you look at what it's up against and surrounded by, is it really a surprise that it got canceled? All the other better titles that came out at the tail end of Civil War (ie Initiative, Mighty Avengers), and then WWH and now the X-event. I just don't have that amount of money to burn on something where the leading character is an ass. But i am surprised Heroes for Hire isn't canceled, the issues i've picked up are now lining my cat's litter box
- Dec
jimski
07-07-2007, 04:43 AM
Apparently, the Old Spice product placement was mandatory in #10, and they decided to have fun with it, which explains at last why Old Spice was everywhere in the comic including inside the Hulk's intestines. (http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/07/06/ant-man-and-hulk-old-spice-men/)
benjaminsimpson
07-07-2007, 05:36 AM
Picked up the first digest last week, loved it, then went back and got 7-9, which were good, but didn't quite click on the same level as the first 6. Then this week I got #10 and very much enjoyed it. Too bad the digest didn't come out a month or two sooner, maybe it would have helped; I know I'll be buying the last 2 issues as they come out.