Marvel Comics Exec Editor Confirms ‘X-Men’ Books Will Continue Hiding Last Page Behind Annoying QR Codes In Order To Avoid “Early Spoilers”
In easily one of the most ‘beloved by tech bros, reviled by customers’ decisions made by any company in recent memory, Marvel Comics executive editor Tom Brevoort has confirmed that the X-Men line will continue to hide their last page behind a QR code for the foreseeable future.
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As seen in the three books thus far released as part of the X-line’s new, post-Krakoa ‘From The Ashes’ publishing initiative – X-Men Vol. 7 #1, NYX Vol. 2 #1, and Phoenix Vol. 1 #1 – upon reaching the end of a given mutant-centric title, before being met with the standard next issue preview, readers are presented with a giant QR code.
Upon being scanned with one’s smartphone, the QR codes will then take readers to the official Marvel Comics website where they’ll be presented with an extra ‘bonus scene’ related to the respective book.
Admittedly, while annoying in execution due to its reliance on personal electronic devices, this novel attempt at further reader engagement is not a problem in an of itself.
However, what has been proven to be a problem is that rather than true ‘bonus scenes’, these extra pages have thus far featured important exposition and set-up for their books’ individual stories.
For example, in X-Men #1, the bonus page introduces the central cabal of villains who will apparently be serving as the primary antagonists of this new mutant era:
Likewise, Phoenix #1‘s bonus page gives readers their first look at the series’ as-of-yet-unnamed villain, a sword-wielding woman with a grudge against Jean Grey’s existence:
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And in NYX #1, scanning the QR code pulls up a scene wherein a young mutant, Fauna, can be seen making the acquaintance of the titular team’s next opponent, the mysterious ‘Mr. Friend’:
Further, it should be noted that thanks to this gimmick’s reliance on the server stability of Marvel’s website in order to present readers with the bonus pages, there exists a very, very high possibility that these pages will eventually be taken off-line or misnamed during a reorganization, thus resulting in the QR codes being rendered absolutely useless.
Unfortunately for readers, it appears that, at least for the foreseeable future, this gimmick is here to stay.
Answering fan questions for his personal substack blog Man With A Hat, Marvel Comics Executive Editor and current X-Men line editor Tom Brevoort addressed one particular inquiry wherein the writer voiced their disagreement with the QR code system.
“I will just say I don’t think I like this personally,” wrote the fan, identified in Brevoort’s blog as Leigh Hunt. “And it’s disappointing to hear that other books will do the same thing. Still, it didn’t stop me enjoying the book and looking forward to the rest of From the Ashes.”
In turn, Brevoort asserted, “I think that’s fair, Leigh. But in this era of early spoilers, I love that this approach gives us the opportunity to hold onto some plot points right up until the day the title ships.”
“So you’ll see the pattern repeated in most of the other X-Launches of this era,” he added. “We will include those pages in the eventual collected editions, though, for those who don’t own a phone.”
Responding to another fan who similarly asked “with an eye toward preservation, are you considering putting the page into the collection/reprint of the issue going forward?”, Brevoort further clarified, “Yes, as I said above, the QR pages will be incorporated into the eventual collections.”
“And just this week, somebody threw out the idea of including them if the issues got second printings,” he then recalled, “but it was already too late to do that for X-Men #1, so I doubt we’ll follow through with it on the rest of them.”
The next entry in the X-line’s From The Ashes publishing endeavor, X-Force Vol. 7 #1, is currently set to hit shelves on July 21st – QR codes and all.
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