Whitechapel - NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

warrenellis — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:56:35 -0700

Bleeding Cool correctly reports that my Vertigo series NORTHLANDERS has been cancelled by the powers that be at DC Comics. It has a very loyal fanbase but the trade sales just aren’t cutting the mustard. But it is staying around for awhile yet, and will finally conclude with issue #50. That means next week’s one-shot “Thor’s Daughter” (w/ Marian Churchland) and the nine-part “Icelandic Trilogy” (w/ Paul Azaceta) will still happen as planned. Please, retailers, do not cut your orders, and please, readers, don’t cancel your subs. No story is getting cut short...

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

oldhat — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:04:59 -0700

Aw, hell. I'm glad that they're giving them a chance to put an end to things themselves, which is more than some series have gotten...

but aw, hell.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

lgenius — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:08:14 -0700

why not it's great.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

thom_wong — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:22:22 -0700

I've bought them all. Some of the best storytelling I've ever read, comics or otherwise. Really going to miss this.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Beamish — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:31:36 -0700

Is this an outcome from tradewaiting? I often feel bad about that but in this market when pretty much every title gets collected within a month of the final issue of the arc.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Alan Tyson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:38:39 -0700

Brian & friends, if you're reading, damn fine work, all of you. Thank you for it.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

infomancer — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:45:46 -0700

Crapdammit. To Brian, et al., I loved every page. It gave real life to characters usually only given a rough caricature in other stories.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Talesin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:06:12 -0700

Wow that really sucks. Brian is one of my favourite writers and I really enjoyed this series

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Rootfireember — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:56:25 -0700

:<

That sucks. I looooove northlanders.
:( I'm gonna cry now :(

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Talesin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:58:44 -0700

This comment has been edited for double posting stupidity :)

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Rachæl Tyrell — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:16:13 -0700

I'm confused as to why they'd do that, considering it was crafted with an end in sight, not as an open-ended series of perpetuity.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Warped Savant — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:47:16 -0700

That's really unfortunate. Northlanders has been one of my favorite series coming out lately.

Beamish -- "Is this an outcome from tradewaiting?" Answer in the paragraph Ellis posted: "...but the trade sales just aren’t cutting the mustard."

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

PatrickBrown — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:43:19 -0700

Beamish:

Is this an outcome from tradewaiting?

Apparently not. Over at Bleeding Cool, Brian says the main reason for the cancellation is that trade sales aren't strong enough.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Kradlum — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:10:40 -0700

That's a crying shame. The story lines and art were fantastic.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Doctor Pockets — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:02:50 -0700

I know it's a bummer, but look at it this way - Brian & crew will have managed to get out 50 issues of a creator-owned, non-superhero (vikings, no less!) comic in today's market.

That's a pretty amazing feat right there.

Congrats to Brian and all the artists that have worked and are still working on Northlanders. Job well done.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Miranda's Eyes — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:09:19 -0700

Bummer. One issue of NORTHLANDERS provided more entertainment than half-a-dozen spandex condom series.

Kudos to Brian and all his artistic partners for bringing out an incredible title for this long.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Miranda's Eyes — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:15:02 -0700

Not to be an utter pedant, but I noticed the title of this thread has a slight misspelling in it.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Ryan C — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:32:36 -0700

Can one hope that some other "cutting edge and brilliant company that understands what makes a comic good" picks this up? Can it be similar to TV when a show underperforms for broadcast and ends up on a cable? Please? Admittedly, I am a trade behind but I'm sure that didn't make or break this. Or can it? To my LCBS!

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Mark R — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:53:05 -0700

Thanks, Brian (and all involved), for one of the best comics I've ever read.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

warrenellis — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:19:36 -0700

Not to be an utter pedant, but I noticed the title of this thread has a slight misspelling in it.

Yeah: this broke last thing at night (for me), and I was fried. In the same five-minute space, I also managed to wish someone a "happt birthday."

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

brianwood — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:41:14 -0700

Thanks, everyone. I'm really overwhelmed by all the messages... hundreds on twitter alone.

The cancellation hit me pretty hard at first, partly because I know I was doing my best work on it and have a seemingly endless supply of story ideas for it, but also because so much of my identity as a creator is tied into it, at least for me. But like I just posted to twitter, I'd rather my work was well-regarded than a huge commercial success, and I'm happy with fifty issues of work that so many of you have enjoyed.

"The Icelandic Trilogy" is a great story to end on, too.

Thanks again,

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Talesin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:20:56 -0700

No thank you for providing so many of us with so much entertainment and value

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

cbkof — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:13:35 -0700

To me Northlanders is the kind of thing that justifies the entire comics industry and I am very sad to see it going - there is no silver fucking lining here but at least we have some months more to enjoy this fantastic work.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

space scoundrel — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:55:46 -0700

This is such a shame. Northlanders is spectacular storytelling, and the writing and art are top notch. And it's Vikings, for crying out loud! How are more people not buying this?

Oh well. I re-read the stories in Blood in the Snow all the time, so at least I can continue to enjoy what there is of the series for a long time to come.

Thank you, Brian. Between this and DMZ you've provided the comics-reading public with no shortage of profound and remarkable work these last few years.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

kozmund — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:37:26 -0700

That's a bummer. Northlanders is a uniquely well done series, and I wish it could continue. That said, I'm thankful for the great addition to my bookshelves.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

icelandbob — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:20:52 -0700

Well i've had a day to think about it....

And this still sucks the balls of hell!

Just what is Vertigo for? I thought it was supposed to be for sharp, gutsy writing like Northlanders. And they cancel it! It makes no sense.

Well i'm glad you´ll be able to finish with the Icelandic Trilogy. I have all the TPB's and have currently lent "Sven the Returned" to a friend who is starting out in comics. Her opinion? "Damn this is good!".

Thanks for the great writing Brian...

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Quimble — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:37:32 -0700

Thanks for writing it, Brian. I have collected this series from the start and loved everything about it.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

brianwood — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:31:37 -0700

My greatest regret is not writing the one-shot where Gorm, Black Karl, Gunborg, and whatever other Northlanders villains meet in Valhalla.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Brendan McGinley — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:00:01 -0700

Shoot, I was rereading some yesterday. Sorry to hear this.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

scs — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:20:19 -0700

Even 'sharp gutsy writing' has to sell enough copies and trades to make the cut.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Sonny — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:24:31 -0700

This is a bummer... I've had this on my pull-list at my LCS for a long time. Definitely going to miss it.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

JEFFSJ — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:34:21 -0700

Balls. I've been with this since #1 too. I'll second the thanks to Brian for writing it. I'll miss it when it's gone.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

donnie darko — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:25:26 -0700

I'm sad to see this go, but let's rejoice in what we've got and the knowledge that at least mr Wood isn't quitting comics...

That I could not bear...

I'm a vocal defender of Brian's work on another forum I frequent, where a stupid bomb seems to have hit when it comes to Brian's work.
I keep telling them they're experiencing severe bouts of insanity...
Most of the times they're nice, though.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

LokiZero — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:52:49 -0700

(more to myself than anyone else)

If you're going to wait for the trade, BUY IT WHEN IT COMES OUT.

Sorry to hear it Brian.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

Davie — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:42:36 -0700

Damn, Northlanders was pretty much Brian's best work. A shame it has to go this way.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

earl — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:54:24 -0700

I'll miss it when it's gone and there were places still to go, but 50 issues is a very nice run for something different.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

hank — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:21:46 -0700

Nooooo... Dammit my retailer is starting to hate me, as I typically don't replace what gets cancelled.

Sorry to hear about this, but this frees up time to do something else just as wonderful, no?

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

munin218 — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 07:37:06 -0700

.....and yet ANOTHER thing on my pull list is cancelled. :/

Thanks for some great stories, Brian.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

dok101 — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:46:41 -0700

Well that friggen blows.

Yes, most certainly, thank you Brian. It has been a great run!

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

ScottBieser — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:21:10 -0700

Sorry to hear about this, I've been picking up the singles since the start, missing only two so far, I think. Great work from all concerned.

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

MartinSheen — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:18:26 -0700

:( This is bad news.
I was pretty hesitant on the series at first, I mean... Vikings???. But this was the guy who bought us DMZ so I had to give it a go. And, of course, I grew to love the series.

Sorry to see it go.

Although, now looking forward to seeing what Bryan gives us next!

NORTHLANDERS Cancelled

lampcommander — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:22:04 -0700

@brianwood: dear God, WRITE IT. Who knows when you might be able to get that one-shot printed?