Marvel’s QR Code Idea Is A Bad Idea *EDITED*
EDIT: This article was edited to reflect new information regarding the copies of X-Men #1 (1991) that included the “Things to Come” page.
The “House of Ideas” is implementing one of the absolute worst ideas in the history of comics. By now, everyone has seen and/or heard what Marvel Comics is doing with its X-books as it kicks off the “From the Ashes” era. Each of the initial releases, X-Men #1, NYX #1 and Phoenix #1, include an end page containing a QR code. This code leads to the actual final page of each book.
There are several flaws with this entire initiative. First, in editor Tom Brevoort’s newsletter, it’s mentioned how they’re meant to be “bonus pages” that weren’t scaled back from the issue. The case could be made that there’s no such thing as a “bonus page” when it comes to story content. In this context, bonus pages would be extra pages added that included pieces of the script, sketches, etc.
If a page was created with the intention of being related to the story of the preceding pages, i.e. plotted, scripted, drawn, inked, colored and lettered the same as the previous pages, regardless of the page count, it is a part of that issue’s story.
The idea that they’d be a “…modern day equivalent of that ‘Things to Come’ page that ran in the first issue of the Claremont/Lee X-Men #1” is odd considering how those pages looked. As you’ll see below (along with the new X-Men #1 bonus page), those pages were merely pieces of art featuring characters to be involved in future stories. That’s quite different from a story page. The “Things to Come” page was included in the copies with the Wolverine, Cyclops and Iceman cover as well as the gatefold cover. The latter carried a higher cover price of $3.95 as opposed to $1.50, as well.
He also stated this move was to combat spoilers prior to release. This leads to another flaw in reasoning. If the contents of these pages are something to be concealed until release to avoid spoilers, their inherent importance is solidified. If they aren’t important, then why are you holding them back?
In Brevoort’s follow-up newsletter, he specifically refers to them as “plot points.” So which is it? This is a written newsletter response, so it can’t be chalked up to a slip of the tongue. People are also arguing that they’re unimportant. So what happens when they decide to conceal a page with content you deem important?
Below are the pages from NYX #1 and Phoenix #1, respectively.
Then there’s his “We will include those pages in the eventual collected editions, though, for those who don’t own a phone” line. Perhaps it’s tongue-in-cheek. But it comes off as a condescending way of saying “Yes, I’ve seen your complaints and I don’t care. We’re still doing it.”
Some have likened them to post-credit scenes in movies. The flaw in that logic, however, is when you go see a movie, there’s no additional work on your end after taking your seat. You continue as you were for the duration of the movie: sitting there and watching. The comparative action with reading a comic would be flipping more pages.
And if that were the reason, it would just be another item on the list of the wrong lessons the comic industry has taken from films. But that’s a topic for another time.
Now some final questions from this QR code move. One, what happens when the QR code no longer works and the collected editions are out of print? Two, how much data is being tracked? And lastly, is this a push towards trade paperbacks? Food for thought, as they say.
Buying and reading new comics used to be so simple.