{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Fb3241b9d-e499-4536-994e-cdcbe5385aa0","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Multiverse Comics Podcast: Did Absolute Batman #20 Hose Comic Shops?","description":"Jason, Scott and Stephen discuss the heavy hype leading into Absolute Batman #20 and how many assumed it would feature the first appearance of Robin, only to realize that key \u201cnew Robins\u201d first appear in issue #19, which arrived with less warning and left shops unable to prepare orders. They debate whether publishers owe advance clarity, noting Scott Snyder\u2019s approach to holding back covers to avoid spoilers, and compare this surprise rollout to past unannounced first-appearance situations that caused shelf raids. The conversation shifts to comic-shop ordering strategy, balancing subscribers, regular buyers, and new readers while deprioritizing speculators who buy to flip and can destabilize the market. They note the Absolute line\u2019s unusually strong demand, multiple printings, and that their shop now has back stock and may be nearing saturation after sustained interest.\r\n\r\n00:00 Issue 20 Hype\r\n01:06 Robin Tease Cover\r\n01:36 Surprise In Issue 19\r\n02:45 Retailer Prep Problem\r\n03:30 Counterpoint Robin Program\r\n04:43 Trust The Brand\r\n06:02 Star Power Examples\r\n09:20 Back To Absolute Batman\r\n09:44 Speculators Versus Readers\r\n10:51 Ordering Issue 20\r\n10:58 The Ordering Tightrope\r\n11:23 Second Prints And Backstock\r\n12:38 New Readers Drive Demand\r\n14:31 Speculator Spillover Worries\r\n16:13 Subs First Then Growth\r\n17:14 A Rare Sales Phenomenon\r\n18:08 Snyder And The Cover Secrets\r\n19:15 Wrap Up And Goodbye","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/321a2c33-a865-4fd1-a4f9-a3b8c96e1c14/Multiverse-Podcast-Cover-1.png"}