WHY DID CROSSGEN FAIL?
They failed to reckon with industry realities like:
- the uphill climb against fan indifference, reluctance and hostility
- opposition from major publishers which were threatened by a new way of doing business
- the extra financial pressures created by generous salaries and benefits
- “the slow bleed” in which titles lose readership more easily than they gain it
The books themselves weren’t accepted widely enough in part because:
- they weren’t enough like superheroes to appeal to comics core audience, but too much like superheroes to appeal to outside audiences; they were caught in the middle
- they moved too slowly for many readers
- the interlocking continuity was at first a barrier and later a deterrent
They invested heavily in industry innovations, many of which did not prove to be profitable
They broke promises of respect to both creators and fans thereby alienating their work force and their audience
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