For those of you who prefer print versions of comics, DC Comics has a surprise coming for you next month. It's a surprise you probably won't like: the company will run ads within the content of its comics, right smack in the middle of the story's panels.
That's right: while you're reading your favorite DC titles next month, you may find the story interrupted by Nick Lachey trying to sell you a Twix.
Last week, Bleeding Cool posted about rumors that these ads would appear and even stated that DC told creators about their new plans, so they could prepare their pages and panels accordingly. Now, those rumors have become fact: artist Chris Burnham confirmed the arrival of the ads next month on Twitter. In an interesting turn of events, Burnham deleted that original tweet.
Oh boy. this is sad. Do they make an adblock extension for print comics? https://t.co/iVYJcbzYbl pic.twitter.com/VyNaihVWbt
— Aaron Meyers (@AaronMeyers) May 29, 2015
As expected, fans upset about the ads interrupting their favorite stories stirred up a firestorm on the social media site.
I hate to be a predictably grumpy old man but @DCComics' "ads on story pages" plan is just awful. — Anthony Ruttgaizer (@16Hectares) May 29, 2015
Oh my god, @DCComics what are you thinking? Forcing artists to work around half page ads? Are comics not dying fast enough for you?! -_- — MAN (@MANvsGAME) May 29, 2015
Welp, I guess I won't be buying any DC comics (at least, not any that do this). Full-spread ads are bad enough. https://t.co/HMxsIoIsSa — Allie Kleber (@sequenturtle) May 29, 2015
Artist Greg Capullo also wasn't thrilled about designing his artwork around ads, although comics used these kind of ads in the 1970s.
Drug use was rampant back then. It this was a thing, I'd only self publish https://t.co/2P6ctqVYYU
— Greg Capullo (@GregCapullo) May 29, 2015
However, according to Comics Beat, the ads won't appear every month in the print versions of DC Comics. This is only for the month of June, when DC starts its new Divergence storylines. So don't panic, everyone: this too shall pass.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
