Yesterday I commented on why I didn’t understand how
come Hopster’s Tracks didn’t take off. I thought it was a very clever and funny
comic. Well, in issue #2, I got my answer. In a letter to her fans, creator
Stephanie Gladdin commented that issue #2 was delayed being published for several
months. I believe marketing and the covering of publication costs were the
biggest reason for the delay. No matter what the excuses are, if you are trying
to start up a new monthly comic, you’ve got to stick to your release dates or
else interest in your new title is going to dry up pretty quick. Readers will
lose interest and go on to the next best thing. Vendors and comic books shops
will cancel subscriptions as there isn’t any product available and even worse-
there isn’t any interest in the title anymore.
Again, I think it’s a shame that Hopster’s Tracks
couldn’t find a rhythm. But upon reading the story in this issue, I came to
another conclusion as to why this book didn’t take off. In issue 2- the
kangaroo and wolf couple buy a car that turns out to be a lemon. When the car
dealer refuses a refund, the wolf character decides to boycott the dealership.
The name of the salesman? Hopster!
In other words, the character for who the comic book
is named for is A) not even in the first issue and B) not even a major character.
I can understand why readers would be turned off from the series because the
title doesn’t match with the book. I wondered all throughout the first issue “why
this is titled ‘Hopster’s Tracks’?” I never got an answer until this issue.
Sadly, this is a book that had great potential and
it was squandered. The artist/ writer was very talented. But she failed to
connect the reader to the book’s premise. I’m assuming that the salesman
Hopster is also like the founder of the town or an ancestor. Also, Bongo Comics
apparently gave more attention to their lucrative Simpsons properties and neglected
to follow through in publishing this series on a consistent basis.
Talk about missing out on opportunities and wasting
a promising talent like Gladdin and her colorful cast of characters.
Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.