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Great Moments in Advertising

J.H. Williams on Batwoman’s Proposal and Publicity

by Susana Polo | 2:28 pm, March 14th, 2013


It was surprising because I had expected a PR push, but like I said it became apparent quickly that it worked in our favor that nothing was spoiled for the readers. It gave them an unexpected jolt, shaking them up emotionally. The issue got picked up by outside media regardless of PR, Reuters and Huffington Post, to name a couple. I love that because there is nothing worse than building up something that is important to how a story impacts the reader, ruining the moment for them is the worst thing you can do. I do despise spoilers. PR works best if it can tease efficiently without just blurting crap out. So even though we did not prime ahead of time in this instance at all, it turned out just fine, and gave it all an honesty and power that the scene much deserved. — J.H. Williams III, artist and writer on Batwoman when asked by Comic Book Resources about DC Comics’ odd lack of a PR push for the last issue.

I myself wondered why DC Comics had chosen not to make a big PR push for Kate Kane proposing to her girlfriend Maggie Sawyer in Batwoman #17 last month, since comics companies these days don’t really seem to care about spoilers if they can get some publicity about it, and only a few weeks later DC made my point even more relevant by spoiling a major death in the Batfamily all over the place. My last assumption was that perhaps Williams had specifically asked them not to spoil it, but this quote from his interview with Comic Book Resources would seem to indicate the opposite.

I’m glad that Williams is happy with the result, but still puzzled by DC’s lack of press for the issue. Still, the issue got enough press on its own, so maybe DC and Marvel will take the hint and stop spoiling everything.

Previously in Batwoman

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  • TKS

    I appreciate that the story wasn’t spoiled for the book’s readers. Though, in the current environment where DC and Marvel currently live, the fact that it wasn’t publicized is odd. I guess DC is only cool with publicizing plot points of gay couples shortly before killing half the couple off. (Glances at new Alan Scott).

  • Nick Redman

    On that note, I hope this new engagement doesn’t foreshadow a violent or untimely end for either heroine.

  • http://twitter.com/EdmondHaskell Edmond Haskell

    If you think Sandra`s story is inconceivable,, five weeks ago my son in law also got a cheque for $5881 working a fourty hour month an their house and they’re roomate’s ex-wife`s neighbour has done this for 8-months and recieved a check for more than $5881 part-time from there mac. applie the information on this link………… BIT40.ℂom

  • http://twitter.com/Zandilar Alexandra Chevallier

    I find this a bit annoying. I heard about the proposal before I had the issue in my hands – US-centric much? (Also, I think if you were in the US and didn’t pick up the issue on the day it dropped, you’d probably have been spoiled too, unless you were a total non-internet using Luddite.)

  • Anonymous

    This was my guess. DC likely received at least some flack for essentially refridgeratoring (look a new word!) a character 1 month after getting massive kudos and good press about introducing that character. I had several friends who I encouraged to read JSA due to the strength of Issue 2 who were very very angry with issue 3.

    They may have been gun shy this time. Who knows.

  • Anonymous

    I feel like their relationship hasn’t developed enough for a proposal, it seemed kind of out of nowhere, or just because BW was feeling particularly vulnerable. She refuses to talk to Maggie about anything important to her life, really, and then just, BAM, proposes? I can’t see this being a good thing, she’s terrible at being in a relationship, so a marriage would just be worse. Just because Maggie knows her secret identity doesn’t mean they’re ready for this big step.
    On a side note, DC HAD BETTER not kill off Maggie now. They already clipped Bette, we don’t need more of that bull crap.

  • Anonymous

    Sad to say I know absolutely nothing about Batwoman (not the current incarnation anyway) but that art is awesome and now I want a Batwoman movie that ends with BW proposing to her girlfriend after doing kick-ass Bat-stuff for two hours.

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