Comic book ads on TV?! What a concept!

[Matt Hazuda]

Something that I've always wondered at the lack of, especially when publishers talk about dwindling sales numbers, is the fact that none of them advertise on TV. It seems like DC/Vertigo decided to finally do something about it and air a freaking TV ad (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/05/31/video-fables-tv-ad-from-vertigo-as-seen-on-bbc-america/).

Now while Fables has really no need for TV advertising. It does amazing saleswise considering it is a Vertigo book, this seems like a smart move to get more of the mainstream audience to check out the book (which can't hurt things at all). Vertigo has been having problems lately finding a new "hit" series and Fables is the most-popular book in the line outside of Sandman reprint material, so I would hope this would be the start of a series of ads promoting other books in the line.

[Wolf Boy2]

Wow, nice. Marvel used to do this all the time back in the 80s with GI Joe and Transformers.

[Peter Paltridge]

I don't see many TV ads for books period, let alone comic books.

You probably don't see ads for DC/Marvel "mainstream" comics because they already know most people wouldn't care. Fables is being promoted because it has a better chance. Ironically, it's the stuff that doesn't sell that would have the most appeal outside the bubble.

The Transformers comic book was advertised on TV??

[spidl]

It is a really cool idea for DC to promote Fables because it is already an established long tail product. Super-hero comics could work, but their serial nature does not lend itself to a commercial like this. Fables is essentially a trade series for many people so it makes some sense to promote it to the general public especially the audience of BBC America.

[Manga4life]

I would love to see ad's for comic books on television, what the comic book companies could do is air a quick 30 second spot showcasing the covers to the current months books (key titles) and begin talking up how comics are an American staple and should be enjoyed by people of all ages. They should do a new commercial each month to promote their current titles, it would be neat to see and it would most likely help out with the current decline in comic book readers, but I think what would help with the decline the most would be less expensive comics. Then again, what the hell do I know.