> > It looks to me like the only thing keeping Black Panther going are the massive amounts of propaganda, the crossovers and the hype.
>
> If that's what it takes to keep it from being cancelled.
>
> We may love the Black Panther, but he's not a hugely popular character. So you have to do something to increase his exposure to readers who would never normally pick up his book, and just writing "good" stories isn't enough. Never has been (for this character), never will be.

Nor has been sticking a random character into a series just to increase sales. In some ways, it can hurt a character who doesn't have a strong enough fanbase. That's what happened Venom, Ghost Rider and Punisher in the 90s, and now these once popular characters have been demoted to cult status.

Simply sticking a character in the reader's face isn't enough. Until Hudlin gives Panther an extra niche, I fear any increase in exposure will simply mean a longer dive into limbo later.
>
> And left to survive on his own it'll end up how it did the last time -- well written, but sold poorly.
>
> Now it's moderately-well written and sells moderately-well.

I disagree with the first part entirely
>
> (And, yes, if Priest had had all of these crossovers and promotions his run probably would have sold better than the current one. Unfortunately, he didn't.)

Word.