One thing I thought could really level the company was Sega pulling its license for Sonic comics.  Whatever you think of them, they have a very solid fanbase of video game nerds and people who want furry/anthro comics.  So then this news/rumor mill bit ended up on multiple websites:

https://www.sonicstadium.org/2017/01/archie-sonic-comics-very-likely-cancelled/

Supposedly, there was an update from Archie saying the Sonic comics were only delayed until April.  However, as far as I can tell, those are only solicitations for a single wave of new issues.  The telling fact is you still can't subscribe to Sonic comics on Archie's website.  If there wasn't a licensing problem, why would they remove the option to subscribe?  Seems like a really good way to cut off future revenue streams.  The subscriptions have been described as "temporarily unavailable."  It's currently February, unlike when that article was first published.  Seems like a really long time to me.  You can also still subscribe to titles that had even longer delays, so that's not an explanation that makes sense.  As we know, Archie doesn't like to talk about titles that are on the chopping block at all.  Look at titles like New Crusaders who we were told would come back.

Honestly, as much as people here like the Riverdale gang comics, I don't know if Archie will be able to survive financially without those titles.

One time in the store, where I used to purchase Archie digests, I had to take a 'Sonic' book to get the deal of 3 digests for $10. As the digests sell in Canada for $6.99, taking a 3rd book that I didn't want still paid off. I will say one thing for the sonic books, the art is good, but not my taste in comics. It's a good example of a book that people complain about, but is a good seller for the publisher. I do agree that Archie losing this source of revenue is going to hurt. I guess we'll have to see if Archie Publications give the title the 'dreaded vote of confidence'. One has to wonder if the reboot of Archie titles was not just a big ploy to give them time to make the company look attractive to a potential buyer. It would be interesting to see what a Warner Bros. or Disney would do with it.

Quote from: Ottawagrant on February 09, 2017, 11:35:47 AM
One time in the store, where I used to purchase Archie digests, I had to take a 'Sonic' book to get the deal of 3 digests for $10. As the digests sell in Canada for $6.99, taking a 3rd book that I didn't want still paid off. I will say one thing for the sonic books, the art is good, but not my taste in comics. It's a good example of a book that people complain about, but is a good seller for the publisher. I do agree that Archie losing this source of revenue is going to hurt. I guess we'll have to see if Archie Publications give the title the 'dreaded vote of confidence'. One has to wonder if the reboot of Archie titles was not just a big ploy to give them time to make the company look attractive to a potential buyer. It would be interesting to see what a Warner Bros. or Disney would do with it.

One of the most annoying things about Archie Comics in recent years is how untransparent they are.  A lot of signs point to the company not performing well, but they don't have to let us know because they have no stockholders to answer to.  So they obfuscate all bad news.  It's pretty annoying, so we probably won't know what's really going on for a while.

About selling the company.  Current management has certainly deteriorated this company's value considerably over its reign, like ridiculously deteriorated from the huge publishing operation it once was.  If they wanted to sell it for a decent amount of money, they should have probably done so like right after Jon Goldwater inherited his stake.  So I'd say other companies jumping at the chance to buy it are probably somewhat diminished now.

Quote from: Ottawagrant on February 09, 2017, 11:35:47 AM
One has to wonder if the reboot of Archie titles was not just a big ploy to give them time to make the company look attractive to a potential buyer.

I've been wondering this for the past few years. It would explain how short-sighted their strategies have been and their poor execution.

I hope it's the end. They signed off on this nauseous tv show. I see now that they never really cared about their characters.

Never say die.


Don't dig Archie's grave too soon.
Hell--wee might even see a Disney buyout.

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 08, 2017, 06:50:55 PM
One thing I thought could really level the company was Sega pulling its license for Sonic comics.  Whatever you think of them, they have a very solid fanbase of video game nerds and people who want furry/anthro comics.  So then this news/rumor mill bit ended up on multiple websites:

https://www.sonicstadium.org/2017/01/archie-sonic-comics-very-likely-cancelled/

Supposedly, there was an update from Archie saying the Sonic comics were only delayed until April.  However, as far as I can tell, those are only solicitations for a single wave of new issues.  The telling fact is you still can't subscribe to Sonic comics on Archie's website.  If there wasn't a licensing problem, why would they remove the option to subscribe?  Seems like a really good way to cut off future revenue streams.  The subscriptions have been described as "temporarily unavailable."  It's currently February, unlike when that article was first published.  Seems like a really long time to me.  You can also still subscribe to titles that had even longer delays, so that's not an explanation that makes sense.  As we know, Archie doesn't like to talk about titles that are on the chopping block at all.  Look at titles like New Crusaders who we were told would come back.

Honestly, as much as people here like the Riverdale gang comics, I don't know if Archie will be able to survive financially without those titles.

Maybe the reason sonic the hedgehog comics are about to be cancelled in issue 300 is because archie comics need to really focus more on their original archie brand rather than the licensing ones.

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 09, 2017, 11:10:31 PMOne of the most annoying things about Archie Comics in recent years is how untransparent they are.  A lot of signs point to the company not performing well, but they don't have to let us know because they have no stockholders to answer to.  So they obfuscate all bad news.  It's pretty annoying, so we probably won't know what's really going on for a while.About selling the company.  Current management has certainly deteriorated this company's value considerably over its reign, like ridiculously deteriorated from the huge publishing operation it once was.  If they wanted to sell it for a decent amount of money, they should have probably done so like right after Jon Goldwater inherited his stake.  So I'd say other companies jumping at the chance to buy it are probably somewhat diminished now.

Well at least the archie comics series gain positive reception heck people like them however if the company reac bankruptcy well then maybe IDW will buy the rights and revive the archie and the riverdale series as a historical period comedy series taking place in the late 40s and the early 50s.

Quote from: carrotz on February 10, 2017, 03:22:52 AMI hope it's the end. They signed off on this nauseous tv show. I see now that they never really cared about their characters.

Look i know you guys don't like the tv show like me but it gains positive reviews and will be renewed for a 2nd season heck archie comics is becoming successful

QuoteMaybe the reason sonic the hedgehog comics are about to be cancelled in issue 300 is because archie comics need to really focus more on their original archie brand rather than the licensing ones.

Those comics draw in a significant audience they wouldn't be getting otherwise.  Getting rid of them would be really stupid.  They probably make it easier to print regular Archie stuff.  My guess is if they are canceled, it's because Sega decided to pull the plug.  Not sure why they would want to do that, but maybe Archie's doing so badly they could get a better deal from someone else.  Also I'm pretty sure they didn't like Archie's legal team getting schooled by Ken Penders so bad it was like an episode of Perry Mason.

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 10, 2017, 08:59:10 AM
Those comics draw in a significant audience they wouldn't be getting otherwise.  Getting rid of them would be really stupid.  They probably make it easier to print regular Archie stuff.[/font][/size]

Yeah ,I think they are going to do that.

[/font]

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 10, 2017, 08:59:10 AM [/size]My guess is if they are canceled, it's because Sega decided to pull the plug.  Not sure why they would want to do that, but maybe Archie's doing so badly they could get a better deal from someone else.  Also I'm pretty sure they didn't like Archie's legal team getting schooled by Ken Penders so bad it was like an episode of Perry Mason.

yeah maybe i think Sega decides to end their licensing deal with archie comics for some unknown reason

Love Archie comics.  Love the artists.  Absolutely HATE the assholes that run it. 

Quote from: Captain Jetpack on February 10, 2017, 07:14:49 AM
Don't dig Archie's grave too soon.
Hell--wee might even see a Disney buyout.

I highly doubt that. Disney already owns the biggest comic book publisher in America, Marvel Comics. And yet... they are licensing the publishing of classic Disney characters out to other comics publishers like IDW, Fantagraphics, Joe Books LTD and Papercutz. It's true that Marvel Comics does publish a few Disney-related comics, but nearly all of them are limited series, and they sell poorly compared with other titles Marvel publishes.

Would anyone even want to see a Disney buyout of Archie Comic Publications? I've seen no evidence that Disney really even knows how to market a line of all-ages comics itself. So, no... bad idea. Nor do I think Disney would even be interested. They bought Marvel only because of the wealth of characters they own, and the movie and merchandising potential those characters represent. Archie? Nope.

A better potential buyout would be if Scholastic Books were interested.

If Sonic does get canceled. It could go to IDW and continue from where they left off, couldn't they?

And it's not like this is the first time I've heard Archie Comics might be going under. Buncha fake news everywhere.

Quote from: PTF on February 11, 2017, 09:37:17 PM
If Sonic does get canceled. It could go to IDW and continue from where they left off, couldn't they?

And it's not like this is the first time I've heard Archie Comics might be going under. Buncha fake news everywhere.

How many times has Archie announced/admitted a title was canceled?

Quote from: PTF on February 11, 2017, 09:37:17 PM
If Sonic does get canceled. It could go to IDW and continue from where they left off, couldn't they?

Nope

Quote from: terrence12 on February 12, 2017, 07:41:27 AM

Quote from: PTF on February 11, 2017, 09:37:17 PM
If Sonic does get canceled. It could go to IDW and continue from where they left off, couldn't they?

Nope

Why would Archie have control of Sega's IP exactly?