It just keeps getting worse and worse

[turtlefu]

Well, I thought it would never happen, I thought DC's plans for "greater diversity" was going to keep one good thing they had going. But No.

I really think I have now completely lost all faith in DC.

Comments

[whitesycamore]

But when Barbara was Batgirl, people read comics more. So if they make her Batgirl once again, more people will read comics.

You can't argue with that logic! IT'S SO SIMPLE.

[majingojira]

Sure I can: Correlation is not Causation ;)

[whitesycamore]

I don't know what either of those fancy words mean, but I'm off to petition for more ice-cream vans in my neighbourhood (they make the sun shine!)

[arilou_skiff]

And furthermore: Coincidence is not correlation.

[icon_uk]

The "Batgirl that people who aren't currently reading comics might actually remember" sold more comics, the "Batgirl that people who aren't currently reading comics might actually remember" might attract more people to the concept again.

I'd say that the Adam West series IS what most people who aren't into comics remember about Batgirl.

[whitesycamore]

...you really think that a bunch of people who remember the Adam West show will suddenly be spurred to buy comics because Batgirl has the same name as she did in the show?

Sorry, but I still think that DC's belief in the power of classic characters is at least 60% cargo cult thinking.

[icon_uk]

Personally I'm still hoping it's Steph cosplaying with a red wig, with Cass as her mentor.

[hyperactivator]

Yes. That is exactly what might happen. Some person who watched that show in either reruns or when it first aired will see Batgirl,recognise her, remember the show fondly and pick it up. Then DC might gain an extra customer.

It's not that dumb a concept.

[janegray]

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic.

[hyperactivator]

I'm not. I'm also not saying that I like it. All I'm saying is that the idea does have logic to it.

I might attract new readers.

[richardak]

No, but it assumes that they won't lose any fans of Oracle, Cass, or Steph. In business in general, it's much cheaper and easier to retain the customers you have than to gain new customers. It's certainly good business to attract new customers, but not at the expense of alienating current ones.

[hyperactivator]

I agree that this is a damned if they do damned if they don't situation.

They need new customers to survive but if they don't outnumber the customers they lost then they're boned.

[richardak]

True, but it would be far easier and more efficient to attract readers who have dropped their titles, or certain of their titles, within the last few years but who are still reading comics and regularly visiting comic shops. Going after people who know Batgirl from a television series that they liked years ago but are not comics readers and never have been, or haven't been recently, is very inefficient, and very risky.

Strictly speaking, by the way, they do not necessarily need new readers. Remember, DC is also going same-day digital, which is going to let them cut out the middle-men (the printers, distributors, and retailers) who are eating into their profit margins. Higher margins mean that the volume they need to move goes much lower.

That being said, given all the attention this announcement has received, and all the discussion it has generated (I'm referring to the entire announcement, not just this about Batgirl), DC is definitely going to be the company to beat in September. The question is whether they are going to end up alienating loyal, long-term customers for a short-term bump in sales figures.

[arbre_rieur]

It wasn't just the Adam West show where Barbara Gordon was Batgirl. She's Batgirl in the DCAU, "The Batman," and "The Brave and the Bold," as well. And a lot of those viewers probably just happen to be in the right age bracket to get hooked on comics right now.