Please, Pull My Thing... HARDER!

[Dan Slott]

Well, July solicits are up...
And now you know, I'm not kidding!
THE THING'S in trouble!
So? What can save the day?

***BACK TO PRESS NUMBERS***

You want to show up on Marvel's radar?
That's what it's going to take.
There are three issues coming up:
#6 guest starring SPIDER-MAN,
#7 with a fun THING/HERCULES battle,
and...
#8 featuring the first ever MARVEL SUPERHEROES POKER TOURNAMENT... ...and a top secret Marvel First!

Please PULL them!

How can you help?
3 things:

1) Keep pulling. And keep spreading the word about the PULL MY THING campaign. But PLEASE keep this in mind:
It's okay to BUMP a PULL MY THING THREAD, but please DON'T create a new THING and/or PULL MY THING THREAD if one is already up on a message board (with the exception of reviewing a specific issue-- that's fair game). And please don't knock other titles while promoting THE THING. You don't have to tear something down to prop THE THING up.

2) If they're out of THE THING at your comic shop, TELL someone, and ask them to please order some more.

3) Remember how I said a grass roots PULL campaign could do more than a letter writing campaign? Okay... Screw that. If you're liking the THING and you want more-- start writing in. NOW. Hey, if it works for the SPIDER-GIRL supporters, maybe it can work here too. Seriously! Go all SPIDER-GIRL on Marvel's collective butt! Let 'em know that you want your THING!

It's not time to throw in the towel! There are STILL issues of the THING coming out! Send these books BACK TO PRESS and you will be sending Marvel one HELL of a message! You want this book to keep going? You're going to have to FIGHT for it!

Keep this team on the schedule, and we PROMISE to give you our BEST work! Stories with heart, action, and fun! Stories that embrace continuity-- and yet remain new reader friendly! Stories that take place across the entire SPECTRUM of the Marvel Universe-- and REVEL in it!

If you don't want that out of your Marvel Comics? Fine. That's cool. Just keep in mind that there are people out there who enjoy it-- and are trying to mobilize and do something POSITIVE here: save a book they WANT TO READ.

Okay...
Now for some goodies! Starting with the April 26th issue, one of my favorite artists, KIERON DWYER, comes on board! And to whet your appetite, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at Kieron and colorist, Laura Villari's first three pages!

Here we go...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/DanSlott/06TH001FN-color.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/DanSlott/06TH002FN-color.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/DanSlott/06TH003FN-color.jpg

Whatcha think? Pretty darn cool, right?! That's THING #6 on sale April 26th (and guest-starring SPIDER-MAN)!
So? What are you gonna do when you go to the comic shop this week?

PULL MY THING! HARDER!
:)
ttyl
Dan

[John Drake]

Dan I've been telling people pulling your Thing really hard around my neighborhood. Hope it all works out.

[Dusty]

Dan, Marvel needs to step up, too. They need to start an advertising blitz. I also firmly believe that Kieron Dwyer's arrival has been treated like an afterthought by the editor, and if he's going to treat it as something unimportant, why on Earth would any perspective buyer consider it important?

[Edward J. Cunningham]

My comic book shop will not let me "pull" Thing. The closest thing to a "pull list" is an in-house subscription but you only get that if you subscribe to at least 10 books. I don't buy that many! I'd rather get five or six copies of She-Hulk a month than by ten different issues of titles I do not care for...

Eddie Cunningham

[Melike]

Damn it...sigh. I hoped we managed to bring in a few people as we did a strip which about 2000 people should have seen.
Stores should be running their own promotions and stuff..this stinks.

Edit: not that this would have saved the comic or anything ..you know what i mean.

[Melike]

And Dusty i agree - marvel should be backing this more..

[Freeway]

Hey Dan! I know there's the trade out in July, but WHAT ISSUES does it cover?

[Matthew]

It collects 1-6.

[ItsDLEVY]

It collects 1-6.

The solicit up at Newarama says 1-8.

[Jeffers]

Dan,

I have pulled your Thing, picked up the back issues and enjoyed reading them.

I also will write to Marvel, but because I'm a known Spider-Girl activist, the powers that be may look at my return address and toss the letter before reading it.

And thanks for coining the phrase "Go all Spider-Girl on them." I now feel I have accomplished something with my life. ;)

[Matthew]

The solicit up at Newarama says 1-8.

I got the 1-6 off of Amazon...we all know how reliable they are, though.

[Drew M]

I've started pulling your thing and I'll still buy the trade...hope it helps
-Drew M

[allaboutduncan]

Use these banners and let's get everyone to Pull Dan's THING.

Large Banner (400 x 70)
http://www.allaboutduncan.com/images/Pull-My-Thing_banner.jpg

Small Banner (150 x 28 )
http://www.allaboutduncan.com/images/Pull-My-Thing_small.jpg

Large Animated Banner (200 x 70)
http://www.allaboutduncan.com/images/PullMyThing200ani.gif

Small Animated Banner (100 x 35)
http://www.allaboutduncan.com/images/PullMyThing100ani.gif

Yes, I created these in hopes of winning the competition, but I already own all of the issues he's giving away. So if you help spread the THING and I happen to win, I'll distribute the prizes to other people as well.

[Agent Desmond]

I made a post about it on my blog. But now I have a new blog that will be hosted by our local newspaper The Seattle P.I. and I plan on doing what I can to get people to read and buy it. I made an entry about the importance of pull lists and how people should add titles so that comic shops can order more comics. But man, I'm sick of losing good titles and I will kick and scream to make Thing last.

[JohnK.]

ok so i pulled this book having never read it but having read most of your other stuff so there you go.

[Servo106]

Dan,

Someone needs to talk to Marvel about adding it to the Subscribe list on there website I'd like to order a subscribtion for my neice but can't seem to do that. Anyone know somewhere else i can go for that?

[Dingo]

3) Remember how I said a grass roots PULL campaign could do more than a letter writing campaign? Okay... Screw that. If you're liking the THING and you want more-- start writing in. NOW. Hey, if it works for the SPIDER-GIRL supporters, maybe it can work here too. Seriously! Go all SPIDER-GIRL on Marvel's collective butt! Let 'em know that you want your THING!

Ok, so who should I address this letter to, Joe Quesada, Tom Brevoort, you or someone else?

[killerbass]

In case you need somthing to jumb start your letter writing, here's my letter, posted in two other places -- apologies if you read it already...

Dan Buckley
Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
417 5th Avenue.
New York, NY 10016

April 22, 2006

Dear Mr. Buckley,

Please reconsider the decision to cancel The Thing.

I started reading this comic book because of the distinguished work that Dan Slott did on the Human Torch/Spider-Man mini series. As you must know, The Thing is a critically acclaimed book that, in a perfect world, would be selling 80,000 copies a month. Outside of Dan Slott working hard to promote The Thing, I can’t help but feel that Marvel hasn’t done much to help people notice how good The Thing is.

I can’t imagine why Marvel would give up on a comic that consistently gets four and five star reviews.

Please don’t forget that many nifty icons of pop culture started out slowly. Seinfeld was nearly canceled the first season, but luckily NBC decided to work on promoting it and giving it a chance to further develop an extensive audience.

Instead of canceling The Thing, please think about promoting it better, and remember sometimes it takes a while before the public catches on to something -- after all the iPod was out nearly two years before it became a word that is as commonly used as kleenex, xerox, or stratocaster. I can’t help but think how popular The Thing would be if it received the kind of extensive promotion that “Moon Knight” has gotten.

The Thing is a comic book that has a lot of soul. In addition to being a superhero, Ben Grimm is an everyman who is both a role model and at the same time a flawed man who learns from the mistakes that he makes. The book contains plenty of action, has great artwork, and wonderful fully developed story lines that are complex, and yet easily understood and assimilated.

The Thing is fantastic in so many ways, it’s hard to imagine a comic book fan that wouldn’t enjoy it. Andrea DiVito’s engaging artwork is a perfect amalgamation of action, humor and superhero fantasy. Perfectly complementing DiVito’s artwork are the magical colors of Laura Villari -- who always manages to capture the colors that define the mood of the story at any given moment.

The Thing is the kind of comic book that Marvel should not give up on. It’s a comic book that I read *to* my four year old son, gets read *by* my twelve year son and is this thirty-eight year old’s favorite comic book. That’s an impressive feat -- one that many comics strive to achieve, but few manage to accomplish.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,
Tom McKenna

[Lord Jermaine Retail]

We pushed Thing hard on our store website's new release page, plus added the banner that's floating around. Great issue, by the way. I made it my manager pick and sold out of the 15 or so copies that were for the shelf in two days (actually the equivalent of maybe 4 hours actually being on the shelf over two days). Plus I sold out of the three copies of the previous issue I put out again and added a few subscribers to Thing. And a few people came in asking for it after it was gone. I'm doing my part, but I have to tell you, the fact that I can't get any more #1s makes it tough. Every other issue I can still get from Diamond, but no #1s. Just saying. Anyway, just wanted to let you know we're doing our part.

[tom daylight]

My local shop sold out of #6 within an hour of it hitting the shelf! If mine hadn't been PULLED already, I wouldn't have caught a glimpse!

[killerbass]

I bought two copies of The Thing #6 and told the guy working behind the counter to give the second copy to someone who appreciates old school comics and doesn't subscribe to The Thing.

He said he knew who he would give it to.

Potentially a new customer!

It was also the last copy -- and they had to order more!

Later in the week I was travelling and stopped at another comic book store and asked about The Thing -- the woman who worked there said they used to get The Thing, but not any more... :cry:

Two steps forward, one backward...

--Tom

[killerbass]

So Dan--

Is it too early to ask about how issue #6 is selling?

As always, congratulations on another well done issue. The critics seem to like it too, which is a plus...

But the real test is the numbers, huh?

Any word from Marvel about The Thing's future?

Curious,
Tom

[J. R. Scherer]

I bought two copies of The Thing #6 and told the guy working behind the counter to give the second copy to someone who appreciates old school comics and doesn't subscribe to The Thing.

He said he knew who he would give it to.

Potentially a new customer!

It was also the last copy -- and they had to order more!

Later in the week I was travelling and stopped at another comic book store and asked about The Thing -- the woman who worked there said they used to get The Thing, but not any more... :cry:

Two steps forward, one backward...

--Tom
That was really cool! :thumb:

[Spidey616]

For people still hoping of the possibility of a reunion of Ben and Alicia after the setup in Dan's shortlived Thing series, looks like any chance of seeing it come true may hit a major snag this October.

FANTASTIC FOUR #562
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH
The story we had to call “A Fantastic Four Wedding And A Funeral”…

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/marvelcomics/200810/FF562_COV.jpg

Of course this could refer to Johnny and his current girlfriend or hey if indeed Ben is marrying someone other than Alicia, it could be another Lyja ;)

[J. R. Scherer]

Is this in continuity? What Hulk is that?

[Dingo]

Is this in continuity? What Hulk is that?

He was in the last issue along with the four characters to the left of him (his right). I assume he is either future or alternate reality Hulk. Hasn't really been specified yet.

[Mr. Green]

What kind of stupid alternate reality has a Hulk that wears glasses?

[Dermie]

What kind of stupid alternate reality has a Hulk that wears glasses?

As I recall, the Hulk wore glasses once or twice during PAD's run...

[J. R. Scherer]

As I recall, the Hulk wore glasses once or twice during PAD's run...

Yup, at least once. I remember Rick Jones pretended that he didn't recognize him with them on, ala Clark Kent. And that would be the 616 universe.

[Spidey616]

Well, looks like the possibility of Ben and Alicia getting back together is hurt even more...

FANTASTIC FOUR #563
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by BRYAN HITCH
Mister and Mrs. Thing! And a threat from the world of 1985! Plus: Who are the Masters of Doom?
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99
http://www.newsarama.com/preview_images/marvelnew/nov08/ff563_cov.jpg

[Dingo]

I think she will be gone before Millar and Hitch are done to be honest. And if she isn't, I hope the next writer removes her. Bring back McDuffie I say.

[SpideyInATree]

Is it a bad thing to still be pulling my Thing? :Oops:

[Spidey616]

Good/Bad news for the Thing/Alicia getting back together. The last FF issue seemed to hint that the Thing's engagement to Debbie Green will be called off. :)

Unfortunately, seems Aunt Alicia is still with UNCLE Arlo!?!?!?!? Does this mean......:shock: I hope not

[Dermie]

Unfortunately, seems Aunt Alicia is still with UNCLE Arlo!?!?!?!? Does this mean......:shock: I hope not

No, I doubt it means that Alicia and Arlo have gotten married. Franklin has referred to Sharon Ventura, She-Hulk and Crystal was "Auntie" before, and none of them have actually married into the family as of yet.

[Arion]

Is it a bad thing to still be pulling my Thing? :Oops:

I'd say it's up to you buddy.

[Supreme Convoy]

Wow, I'm three years too late :(

I recently picked up The Thing: Idol of Millions and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just love that issue with Lockjaw choosing to live with The Thing. Really great stuff.

[Dave S.]

Wow, I'm three years too late :(

I recently picked up The Thing: Idol of Millions and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just love that issue with Lockjaw choosing to live with The Thing. Really great stuff.

Yeah well, you should've thought of that before it got canceled due to you personally not buying it.
:sad:

[Supreme Convoy]

Yeah well, you should've thought of that before it got canceled due to you personally not buying it.
:sad:

If Dan is still mad, at least he now knows who to blame.

[Arion]

Wow, I'm three years too late :(

I recently picked up The Thing: Idol of Millions and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just love that issue with Lockjaw choosing to live with The Thing. Really great stuff.

Don't feel bad. I missed it when it was still being published.

[SamuraiMike]

I still miss this book. One of the best superhero titles in years.

[killerbass]

I bought two of every issue -- one set that Dan was nice enough to sign for me at the Florida Supercon a little over a year ago. (We even got him to do his Ben Grimm voice.)

I still think about how good this series would have been...

--Tom

[Arion]

I bought two of every issue -- one set that Dan was nice enough to sign for me at the Florida Supercon a little over a year ago. (We even got him to do his Ben Grimm voice.)


--Tom

Doing voices? Oh I wish I would have been there.

[Sarcoidosis]

So I was in some hole-in-the-wall comic book shop and I finally came across a copy of the Thing: Idol of Millions trade.

Good times. Sorry it was too little, too late.

[Arion]

So I was in some hole-in-the-wall comic book shop and I finally came across a copy of the Thing: Idol of Millions trade.

Good times. Sorry it was too little, too late.

Well, at least you have read it.