079-Marvel Shoots Civil War In The Fucking Face

So if you are a comic fan I am sure you have already read this:

“Over the next few weeks, the Civil War proper title and a few of the tie in books that are closely related to the story in the main book will be shipping later than originally planned. In an attempt to accommodate the creative team of Millar and McNiven and keep the artistic integrity and high standards of the event, we will be shifting the following titles:

CIVIL WAR 4 (JUN061952; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR 4 TURNER VARIANT (JUN061953; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR 4 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (APR068201; $2.00) moves to 9/20
FANTASTIC FOUR 540 (JUN061961; $2.99) moves to 9/20
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 6 (JUN061955; $2.99) moves to 9/27
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 535 (JUN061938; $2.99) moves to 9/27

CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 7 (JUL061956; $2.99) moves to 10/11

CIVIL WAR 5 (JUL061952; $2.99) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR 5 TURNER VARIANT (JUL061953; $2.99) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR 5 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (JUL061954; $2.00) moves to 11/15
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 8 (JUL061957; $2.99) moves to 11/22
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 1 (JUL061988; $2.99) moves to 11/22
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 1 (Black and White) (JUL061989; $2.99) moves to 11/22
FANTASTIC FOUR 541 (JUL061965; $2.99) moves to 11/22
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 536 (JUL061941; $2.99) moves to 11/22

CIVIL WAR 6 (AUG062033; $2.99) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR 6 TURNER VARIANT (AUG062034; $2.99) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR 6 TURNER SKETCH VARIANT (AUG062035; $2.00) moves to 12/20
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 9 (AUG062036; $2.99) moves to 12/20
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL 2 (AUG062066; $2.99) moves to 12/28

CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 10 (AUG062037; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 537 (AUG062018; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
FANTASTIC FOUR 542 (AUG062045; $2.99) moves to 1/4/07
CIVIL WAR 7 moves to 1/17, Not yet solicited
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 538 Not yet solicited
FANTASTIC FOUR 543 moves to 1/24/07, Not yet solicited

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE CIVIL WAR CHECKLIST!

BLACK PANTHER 23 CW December 2006
CIVIL WAR: WAR CRIMES December 2006 ONE SHOT

BLACK PANTHER 24 CW January 2007

BLACK PANTHER 25 CW February 2007
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE 11 February 2007

Also, starting in November some Marvel will be branded as “Casualties of War” -- similar to how they branded titles as “Spider-Man Unmasked” and “Road to Civil War”. Those titles are:

MOON KNIGHT 7

In December

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER SPECIAL
IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA SPECIAL
MOON KNIGHT 8

In January 2007
BLADE 5
MOON KNIGHT 9

“The need for these shifts came about as the September [for November shipping product] Marvel Previews #37 was going to press and we were not able to make adjustments,” reads Marvel’s explanation to retailers. “The December Marvel Previews will reflect the changes and additions. At this point we do not anticipate further changes to the schedule. We apologize for the inconvenience but feel that this is in the best interest of the quality of the event and for retailers to continue to realize the immense sales for these books. We are announcing these shifts early enough in the hopes that retailers can adjust their buying patterns for the next few months. Also, we hope the addition of a few more key Civil War titles will make up for any lost sales that result from these moves.”

On the one hand I think it's seriously fucked. On the other hand I get it. McNiven is the artist on Civil War and that's the way it should be. Civil War is a massive event for Marvel and when it comes time to collect it, the artwork should be the same amazing quality it has been for the first three issues. On the other hand the delays , the adding of books, and the rebranding of certain issues seems very irresponsible to me. Shouldn't at least 3-4 issues of an event this big be "in the can" BEFORE the solicit of the first issue. After the radio, TV and print hype for Civil War shouldn't this thing have been on time. A lot of people who don't normally read comics are(were) reading Civil War, the normal person off the street may never see this press release and never understand the delays.

Some say that it's just the waiting that's the hardest part. EVERY comic nowadays ends on a cliffhanger leaving you 14-60 days to wait for the next part, which makes it important to not have any delays. Delays are becoming far too common in comics, look at my delayed comic list right now:

Ult Wolverine Vs. Hulk ?
Ultimates #12 9/13
All Star Superman #5 8/30
Wonder Woman #2 8/16
Wonder Woman #3 9/27
All Star Superman #6 10/25
Wonder Woman #4 10/11
Civil War #4 9/20
Civil War: FL #6 9/27
Civil War: FL #7 10/11
Civil War #5 11/15
Punisher War Journal #1 11/22

and thanks to this Civil War delay there are more where that came from. You don't see an episode of Lost ending in a cliffhanger and then 2 days before the new episode airs they say it's going to be another four weeks until the episode airs cause the director couldn't finish directing in time. Of course we can all bitch all we want, but the bottom line is......most of us will be there buying the issues when they come out. I guess I just think that a delay like this to an event this big should have never happened in the first place.