DC WTF?

Chuck_Melville

DC marks it's April covers with a WTF Certification.

buzzfeed.com/donnad/what-the-hell-is-going-on-at-dc-comics-thisapril

Only fair, I guess. I've been saying "WTF?" since the New52 began.

batlaw

WOW! Thats sooo hip and extreme.
Some of the covers are kindve cool. But seriously DC... Another stupid empty gimmick? WTF indeed.

CaptShazam

It is dumb but it may just be dumb enough to get those who purchase with the collector mentality to snap these up.

LibraryBoy

I can't help but think that basing an entire month around "head scratching ideas that will make you wonder what the hell we were thinking" might be a poor marketing strategy.

batlaw

Ive been wondering WTF? and "what the hell were they thinking" for over a year now.

rorschach51

Well The New 52 is what got me back into comics, of course of the 125 some odd dollars a month I spend on books now, only about 12 of bucks of it get spent on DC books, and $3 that is for Fables. I'm thankful for the relaunch, because that is what led me to find CGS, which ultimately lead me to Marvel and Indy goodness, but I will not be taking the bait for this new gimmick. Always having been a DC-Guy in the past that should be harder for me too say, but they've almost as a company whole have been a real big letdown lately.

luke52

WTF, more like FFS. I'm a massive DC fan, but this is just a poor, childish gimmick.

Justin_TheBuck

I think it's smart. It's for April which as you know has a day for pranks and that gets everyone to say "WTF?",also, it's no more a gimmick than saying "Marvel's First Family" on FF books. I mean really,when do we as readers not look at a cover and wonder "WTF?" be it for the reason of us knowing that it doesn't depict what's going to happen on the inside or just due to some oddness going on. Perhaps they've finely become self aware and wanted to be everyone to the punch.

Mr_Cosmic

Can't wait until my kids see the comics and I have to try to explain what "WTF" means.

Torchsong

Mr_Cosmic said:

Can't wait until my kids see the comics and I have to try to explain what "WTF" means.

Most kids probably know already, but your point is taken. :)

I can't believe DC would use WTF as a sales gimmick knowing full well what WTF stands for. And this is coming from a guy who reads Japanese porn. :)

Chuck_Melville

Justin_TheBuck said:

I think it's smart. It's for April which as you know has a day for pranks and that gets everyone to say "WTF?",also, it's no more a gimmick than saying "Marvel's First Family" on FF books. I mean really,when do we as readers not look at a cover and wonder "WTF?" be it for the reason of us knowing that it doesn't depict what's going to happen on the inside or just due to some oddness going on. Perhaps they've finely become self aware and wanted to be everyone to the punch.

I don't think it's half as smart as they might like to think it is. Sure, it's getting people talking about it right now, but how many of those people aren't actually laughing at them instead of with them? It makes the company sound stupid, and it actually sounds more like a self-analysis (as in, "WTF were we thinking?") rather than a rallying cry ("Come see what we're doing and you'll say 'WTF?'"). It also sounds like a really amateurish advertising ploy. Really. I expect better from DC.

At least, I used to expect better.

WetRats

I think Marc Maron should sue.

Chuck_Melville

Actually, the connection with April and that being the month of April Foolery reminds me of Marvel's Assistant Editor Month from a few decades ago, which had some pretty mixed results -- some cool and some dumb. And weren't some of DC's current top people assistant editors at Marvel during that time?

DoctorDoom

DC and their "WTF" certification sounds lame and misguided.

Reminds me of McDonald's "I'd hit that" internet campaign.

John_Steed

WetRats said:

I think Marc Maron should sue.

http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/blog/im-pretty-sure-i-found-the-first-use-of-wtf-in-an-e-mail/

BadDeacon

I expect next year Marvel will have an "F'n A!" event, with an "F'n A!" book coming out once a week for half a year.

David_D

WetRats said:

I think Marc Maron should sue.

That was my first thought, too.

David_D

John_Steed said:

WetRats said:

I think Marc Maron should sue.

http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/blog/im-pretty-sure-i-found-the-first-use-of-wtf-in-an-e-mail/

Oh, I don't think anyone is saying that Maron invented it. WTF was definitely a thing before his show. His show has just made very successful use of it, to the point where I immediately think of his podcast/radio show now whenever I see a WTF.

John_Steed

oh - I also listen to Maron's show (since he started it) - I just saw the opportunity to link up a nice article on WTF :D

John_Steed

...and I might skip DC's WTF month for the eventual LOL month....

WetRats

David_D said:

John_Steed said:

WetRats said:

I think Marc Maron should sue.

http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/blog/im-pretty-sure-i-found-the-first-use-of-wtf-in-an-e-mail/

Oh, I don't think anyone is saying that Maron invented it. WTF was definitely a thing before his show. His show has just made very successful use of it, to the point where I immediately think of his podcast/radio show now whenever I see a WTF.

So does Google!

LibraryBoy

luke52 said:

WTF, more like FFS. I'm a massive DC fan, but this is just a poor, childish gimmick.

Yeah, it's very much "Hey, look, we're using shorthand that implies swearing right on our covers, isn't that EDGY and MATURE?"

Going around proclaiming you are a certain way (edgy, mysterious, cool, sexy, etc.) is the surest way to make sure you are not perceived that way! Remember, Fonzie didn't go around saying he was cool, everyone else did. Fonz just agreed with them.

luke52

LibraryBoy said:

luke52 said:

WTF, more like FFS. I'm a massive DC fan, but this is just a poor, childish gimmick.

Yeah, it's very much "Hey, look, we're using shorthand that implies swearing right on our covers, isn't that EDGY and MATURE?"

Going around proclaiming you are a certain way (edgy, mysterious, cool, sexy, etc.) is the surest way to make sure you are not perceived that way! Remember, Fonzie didn't go around saying he was cool, everyone else did. Fonz just agreed with them.

You are completely right. Their just pushing away completely the fans that are already on the edge of leaving. Shame.

I really want to hold judgement on the 'wtf' moments though, I'm hoping they'll be strong enough for me to just ignore the 'cool' WTF logo.

I'm sure a lot people will be happy with Booster Gold coming back though.

ChrisMurrin

BadDeacon said:

I expect next year Marvel will have an "F'n A!" event, with an "F'n A!" book coming out once a week for half a year.

Come, now. Marvel is way classier than that. They'll do something artsy, like 'Nuff Said month, only it'll be called STFU Month.

SolitaireRose

ChrisMurrin said:

BadDeacon said:

I expect next year Marvel will have an "F'n A!" event, with an "F'n A!" book coming out once a week for half a year.

Come, now. Marvel is way classier than that. They'll do something artsy, like 'Nuff Said month, only it'll be called STFU Month.

I LOVED Nuff Said month. The creators who bought into it did some really great stuff.

Not all gimmicks need to be crap.;

BadDeacon

ChrisMurrin said:

Come, now. Marvel is way classier than that. They'll do something artsy, like 'Nuff Said month, only it'll be called STFU Month.

You know, if someone had a "STFU and Buy It!" month, I'd enjoy that a lot more than this "WTF" month.

DAR

I can't wait for Image's rotflmfao

DoctorDoom

DAR said:

I can't wait for Image's rotflmfao

I'd hit that.

batlaw

I used to expect better too. Im sure they think its pretty clever like 52 level clever. I suspect theyll have some other real clever variation for what W.T.F will actually stand for.

John_Steed

WTF = Way to fail.
WTF = Why this foolery?
WTF = Whom to flay?

Torchsong

Assistant Editors month was awesome. My favorite was Alpha Flight where Snowbird fought solo in a snowstorm. Slowly the panels got more and more white until all you had was white panels and word balloons.

Even as a kid reading it I got the joke. :)