History AndYouThoughtItWouldFail / ComicBooks

* The ''ComicBook/MarvelAFreshStart'' initiative was groaned at when first announced. The initiative was just the latest of Marvel's ridiculous relaunches since ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' and it was quite obvious that this was being done as the previous relaunch, ''ComicBook/MarvelLegacy'', was seen as a failure. However, to many people's surprise, the initiative proved to be a rousing success. The initiative saw Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso replaced with C.B. Cebulski (who survived a NeverLiveItDown moment when he was outed as a writer named "Akira Yoshida"), the departure of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis to Creator/DCComics and the shuffling of various creative teams to other titles. In terms of titles, it lead to things like ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan2018'', which saw Spidey restored to a beloved status and lead to a number of spin-offs for some of the franchise's [[ComicBook/BlackCatMarvelComics leading ladies]], ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', which saw the Marvel's Merry Mutants return to prominence after being co-oped by ComicBook/TheInhumans, and the return of the Fantastic Four, who was shuffled away after ''ANAD Marvel''.

* ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHologramsIDW'' is an unusual concept. It takes a [[WesternAnimation/{{Jem}} thirty years dead series]] and modernizes it. That in itself is risky however prior to release people were bickering about everything from [[YouDontLookLikeYou the designs]] to [[AdaptationalSexuality Kimber being lesbian]]. It's also an extremely feminine comic and those tend to [[GirlShowGhetto be niche]]. The series became a hit.

* When Miles Morales first took over ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', he had many detractors due to replacing the iconic Peter Parker, as well as the fact that he was [[MinorityShowGhetto a biracial superhero]]. These same detractors thought he would have a very short time in the Marvel comics. Miles became one of the most popular superheroes over time, has starred in a number of animated TV shows, and was the central protagonist of his own movie, ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', which became a critical and commercial success.

** If you would believe it, Spider-Man of all things got this treatment. At the time Creator/StanLee went to publish it, [[KidSidekick teens were usually portrayed as sidekicks]] (i.e., ComicBook/{{Robin}}, [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Bucky]]) and weren't seen as solo heroes. An exec even commented on the concept because people have arachnophobia and would be turned off by the character. Creator/MarvelComics even put Spidey's debut story in a title that was about to have [[ComicBook/AmazingFantasyNumber15 its last issue]]. However, Spider-Man beat the odds and became Marvel's flagship hero as well as one of the most well-known superheroes of all time next to the likes of ComicBook/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/{{Superman}} (and even teamed up with both of them at one point).

* ''[[ComicBook/VampireTheMasqueradeVault Vampire: The Masquerade: Winter's Teeth]]'' is a comic based on a tabletop gaming property that peaked in the 90s and has struggled to get a sequel out to its most popular spinoff. Instead, the comic has been a hit with Creator/TimSeeley, Creator/TiniHoward, and Blake Howard introducing the World of Darkness to a whole new audience.

* As astounding as it sounds today, even ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' got this treatment. Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster spent five years attempting to sell the concept to newspaper syndicates and the fledgling comic book industry, though admittedly it wasn't until 1935 that they finalized the core concepts of the character such as the Clark Kent identity, the costume, and Lois Lane. Only in 1938 did they finally find a publisher willing to publish the character, Jack Liebowitz, who was looking for a character for his new book ''ComicBook/ActionComics''. [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1 The first issue]] of ''Action Comics'' was, of course, a success thanks to Superman, and over eighty years later, Superman is the best-selling comic series of all time and has been in continuous publication the entire time.

* If you would believe it, ComicBook/SpiderMan of all things got this treatment. At the time Creator/StanLee went to publish it, [[KidSidekick teens were usually portrayed as sidekicks]] (i.e., ComicBook/{{Robin}}, [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Bucky]]) and weren't seen as solo heroes. An exec even commented on the concept because people have arachnophobia and would be turned off by the character. Creator/MarvelComics even put Spidey's debut story in a title that was about to have [[ComicBook/AmazingFantasyNumber15 its last issue]]. However, Spider-Man beat the odds and became Marvel's flagship hero as well as one of the most well-known superheroes of all time next to the likes of ComicBook/{{Batman}} and ComicBook/{{Superman}} (and even teamed up with both of them at one point).

* The ''ComicBook/MarvelAFreshStart'' initiative was groaned at when first announced. The initiative was just the latest of Marvel's ridiculous relaunches since ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' and it was quite obvious that this was being done as the previous relaunch, ''ComicBook/MarvelLegacy'', was seen as a failure. However, to many people's surprise, the initiative proved to be a rousing success. The initiative saw Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso replaced with C.B. Cebulski (who survived a NeverLiveItDown moment when he was outed as a writer named "Akira Yoshida"), the departure of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis to Creator/DCComics and the shuffling of various creative teams to other titles. In terms of titles, it lead to things like ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'', which saw Spidey restored to a beloved status and lead to a number of spin-offs for some of the franchise's [[ComicBook/BlackCatMarvelComics leading ladies]], ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', which saw the Marvel's Merry Mutants return to prominence after being co-oped by ComicBook/TheInhumans, and the return of the Fantastic Four, who was shuffled away after ''ANAD Marvel''.
* ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'' was already on shaky ground when announced. The latest ''Amazing Spider-Man'' relaunch was on the heels of Creator/DanSlott's [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManDanSlott decade-long run]], divisive it may be, thus having a new writer had big shoes to fill. As well, Spencer had came off of the ''highly'' divisive ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' event and [[ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSteveRogers the highly controversial decision to make Captain America a HYDRA agent]]. Though they were knew Nick could handle Spidey since he wrote ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'', many fans were afraid we would be getting the writer of the former two comics. His first five months acquitted him of everything, launching one AuthorsSavingThrow after the next and giving the title a massive breath of fresh air.

* IDW's ''ComicBook/JemAndTheHologramsIDW'' is an unusual concept. It takes a [[WesternAnimation/{{Jem}} thirty years dead series]] and modernizes it. That in itself is risky however prior to release people were bickering about everything from [[YouDontLookLikeYou the designs]] to [[AdaptationalSexuality Kimber being lesbian]]. It's also an extremely feminine comic and those tend to [[GirlShowGhetto be niche]]. The series became a hit.

* Creator/MarkMillar recreated many characters successfully in the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line, and yet his proposal of gathering the heroes together was constantly shot down by the publisher, and once Marvel relented, they asked him not to call them ComicBook/TheAvengers "[[https://ew.com/books/2018/04/06/mark-millar-on-his-new-netflix-comic-the-magic-order-nd-the-origins-of-the-mcu/ because they thought Avengers was such a dead franchise that I had to call it 'Ultimates' instead.]]" ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'' was a highly acclaimed best-seller that helped the Avengers finally become the premier Marvel team above the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, and was a major influence for [[Film/TheAvengers2012 the Avengers movie]].
* ''ComicBook/MsMarvel2014'' had a lot of factors working against it. AffirmativeActionLegacy characters tend to be very divisive as a general rule, and while some catch on, many end up being done away with so the original can return. The creative team wasn't exactly A-list. While a fan favorite, the previous ComicBook/MsMarvel -- ComicBook/CarolDanvers, who is now ComicBook/CaptainMarvel -- had something of a spotty sales history. [[GirlShowGhetto Many books starring female heroes still have a tough time finding an audience]], as do books starring [[MinorityShowGhetto minority leads]] (the new Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan, is [[TwoferTokenMinority both]]). Despite this, the book became a sales success, and Kamala has become one of Marvel's most successful new characters in years, to the point that she is often marketed alongside Marvel's flagship characters who feature in the MCU, even though she has no such counterpart until Marvel made an announcement that she would have her own series on Creator/DisneyPlus. Even the author, G. Willow Wilson, said she thought the book would only make it to 7 issues before being cancelled.
* If you would believe it, Franchise/SpiderMan of all things got this treatment. At the time Creator/StanLee went to publish it, teens were usually portrayed as sidekicks (i.e. Robin, Bucky) and weren't seen as solo heroes. An exec even commented on the concept because people have arachnophobia and would be turned off by the character. Marvel even put Spidey's debut story in a title that was about to have its last issue. However, Spider-Man beat the odds and became Marvel's flagship hero as well as one of the most well-known superheroes of all time next to the likes of Batman and Superman (even teamed up with both of them at one point).

* The ''ComicBook/MarvelAFreshStart'' initiative was groaned at when first announced. The initiative was just the latest of Marvel's ridiculous relaunches since ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' and it was quite obvious that this was being done as the previous relaunch, ''ComicBook/MarvelLegacy'', was seen as a failure. However, to many people's surprise, the initiative proved to be a rousing success. The initiative saw Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso replaced with C.B. Cebulski (who survived a NeverLiveItDown moment when he was outed as a writer named "Akira Yoshida"), the departure of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis to Creator/DCComics and the shuffling of various creative teams to other titles. In terms of titles, it lead to things like ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'', which saw Spidey restored to a beloved status and lead to a number of spin-offs for some of the franchise's [[ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson leading]] [[ComicBook/BlackCat ladies]], ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', which saw the Marvel's Merry Mutants return to prominence after being co-oped by ComicBook/TheInhumans, and the return of the Fantastic Four, who was shuffled away after ''ANAD Marvel''.
* ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'' was already on shaky ground when announced. The latest ''Amazing Spider-Man'' relaunch was on the heels of Dan Slott's decade-long run, divisive it may be, thus having a new writer had big shoes to fill. As well, Spencer had came off of the ''highly'' divisive ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' event and [[ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSteveRogers the highly controversal decision to make Captain America a HYDRA agent]]. Though they were knew Nick could handle Spidey since he wrote ''ComicBook/SuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'', many fans were afraid we would be getting the writer of the former two comics. His first five months acquitted him of everything, launching one AuthorsSavingThrow after the next and giving the title a massive breath of fresh air.
* When ComicBook/MilesMorales first took over ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', he had many detractors due to replacing the iconic Peter Parker, as well as the fact that he was [[MinorityShowGhetto a biracial superhero]]. These same detractors thought he would have a very short time in the Marvel comics. Miles became one of the most popular superheroes over time, has starred in a number of animated TV shows, and was the central protagonist of his own movie, ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', which became a critical and commercial success.

* Creator/{{Herge}} started with ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'' in 1929, at a time when Europe had no tradition in creating comic strips with text balloons. The comic strip was some filler material in ''Le Petit Vingtième'', the youth section of newspaper ''Le Vingtième''. After he had finished the first story the redaction proposed a publicity stunt in which an actor playing Tintin would arrive on the Brussels station, just like Tintin did at the end of ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets''. Hergé agreed, though he was sure that nobody would be around to witness it. To his surprise, the place was full of people! In an interview, he said: "From that moment on, I realized ''Tintin'' was on its way up!" And it did. By the end of Hergé's life ''Tintin'' had become and still is the most successful European comic strip in the world
* As astounding as it sounds today, even ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' got this treatment. Creator/JerrySiegelAndJoeShuster spent five years attempting to sell the concept to newspaper syndicates and the fledgling comic book industry, though admittedly it wasn't until 1935 that they finalized the core concepts of the character such as the Clark Kent identity, the costume, and Lois Lane. Only in 1938 did they finally find a publisher willing to publish the character, Jack Liebowitz, who was looking for a character for his new book ''ComicBook/ActionComics''. [[ComicBook/ActionComicsNumber1 The first issue]] of ''Action Comics'' was, of course, a success thanks to Superman, and over eighty years later Superman is the best-selling comic series of all time and has been in continuous publication the entire time.

* In the 15th-anniversary edition of ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth'', writer Creator/GrantMorrison notes that most of the people who looked at an earlier script thought his attempt at symbolism and psychological horror would fail. His response to them 15 years later was [[WhosLaughingNow "Who's laughing now, asshole?"]]

* In the 15th-anniversary edition of ''ComicBook/ArkhamAsylumASeriousHouseOnSeriousEarth'', writer Creator/GrantMorrison notes that most of the people who looked at an earlier script thought his attempt at symbolism and psychological horror would fail. Their response 15 years later was [[WhosLaughingNow "Who's laughing now, asshole?"]]

* When ComicBook/MilesMorales first took over ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', he had many detractors due to replacing the iconic Peter Parker as well as the fact that he was [[MinorityShowGhetto a biracial superhero]]. These same detractors thought he would a very short time in the Marvel comics. Miles became one of the most popular superheroes over time, has starred in a number of animated TV shows, and was the central protagonist of his own movie, ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', which became a critical and commercial success.

* As astounding as it sounds today, even ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' got this treatment. Siegel and Schuster spent five years attempting to sell the concept to newspaper syndicates and the fledgling comic book industry, though admittedly it wasn't until 1935 that they finalized the core concepts of the character such as the Clark Kent identity, the costume, and Lois Lane. Only in 1938 did they finally find a publisher willing to publish the character, Jack Liebowitz, who was looking for a character for his new book Action Comics. The first issue of Action Comics was, of course, a success thanks to Superman, and over eighty years later Superman is the best-selling comic series of all time and has been in continuous publication the entire time.

* As astounding as it sounds today, even ''ComicBook/Superman'' got this treatment. Siegel and Schuster spent five years attempting to sell the concept to newspaper syndicates and the fledgling comic book industry, though admittedly it wasn't until 1935 that they finalized the core concepts of the character such as the Clark Kent identity, the costume, and Lois Lane. Only in 1938 did they finally find a publisher willing to publish the character, Jack Liebowitz, who was looking for a character for his new book Action Comics. The first issue of Action Comics was, of course, a success thanks to Superman, and over eighty years later Superman is the best-selling comic series of all time and has been in continuous publication the entire time.

* Creator/{{Herge}} started with ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'' in 1929, at a time when Europe had no tradition in creating comic strips with text balloons. The comic strip was some filler material in ''Le Petit Vingtième'', the youth section of newspaper ''Le Vingtième''. After he had finished the first story the redaction proposed a publicity stunt in which an actor playing Tintin would arrive on the Brussels station, just like Tintin did at the end of ''Tintin in the Land of the Soviets''. Hergé agreed, though he was sure that nobody would be around to witness it. To his surprise, the place was full of people! In an interview, he said: "From that moment on, I realized ''Tintin'' was on its way up!" And it did. By the end of Hergé's life ''Tintin'' had become and still is the most successful European comic strip in the world

* ComicBook/ArchieComics has a specific reputation of being squeaky clean and cutesy, though it's not too true. So when there was news there was gonna be an Archie's comic set in a ZombieApocalypse people laughed. Archie fans were skeptical about the DarkerAndEdgier take and others thought it was [[FollowTheLeader just another zombie story]] riding off ''Series/TheWalkingDead'''s back. The first issue sold out twice in a row and is recognized as one of the best horror comics of the early 2010s. There are talks of a LiveActionAdaptation and the series made Archie experiment with other series like ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator'' and ''ComicBook/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina''.

* The ''ComicBook/MarvelAFreshStart'' initiative was groaned at when first announced. The initiative was just the latest of Marvel's ridiculous relaunches since ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' and it was quite obvious that this was being done as the previous relaunch, ''ComicBook/MarvelLegacy'', was seen as a failure. However, to many people's surprise, the initiative proved to be a rousing success. The initiative saw Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso replaced with C.B. Cebulski (who survived a NeverLiveItDown moment when he was outed as a writer named "Akira Yoshida"), the departure of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis to Creator/DCComics and the shuffling of various creative teams to other titles. In terms of titles, it lead to things like ''ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan'', which saw Spidey restored to a beloved status and lead to a number of spin-offs for some of the franchise's [[ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson leading]] [[ComicBook/BlackCat ladies]], ''ComicBook/JonathanHickmansXMen'', which saw the Marvel's Merry Mutants return to prominence after being co-oped by ComicBook/TheInhumans, and the return of the Fantastic Four, who was shuffled away after ''ANAD Marvel''.
* ''ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan'' was already on shaky ground when announced. The latest ''Amazing Spider-Man'' relaunch was on the heels of Dan Slott's decade-long run, divisive it may be, thus having a new writer had big shoes to fill. As well, Spencer had came off of the ''highly'' divisive ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' event and [[ComicBook/CaptainAmericaSteveRogers the highly controversal decision to make Captain America a HYDRA agent]]. Though they were knew Nick could handle Spidey since he wrote ''ComicBook/SuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'', many fans were afraid we would be getting the writer of the former two comics. His first five months acquitted him of everything, launching one AuthorsSavingThrow after the next and giving the title a massive breath of fresh air.

* The creators of ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' developed the series in secret at Disney Italia for three years before revealing it to higher-ups, at which point they were told that there was absolutely no way European readers would be interested in a MagicalGirl series. Despite getting zero marketing, ''W.I.T.C.H.'' would see instant success regardless, turning what was meant to just be a nine-issue limited series into one of Disney's biggest European properties, with well over a hundred issues, several chapter books and novel spin-offs, a video game, [[WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} an animated adaptation]], and boatloads of merchandise.