I was interested to read this post by Lew Stringer a British comic book guy (who actually works in the British comic industry rather than American industry) about his thoughts on the state of comic books.

When you say comics, I presume you mean standard 32 page comics? I understand Mad and the US edition of Shonen Jump still sell extremely well? One major reason being they're sold on newsstands wheras most Marvel & DC comics are not now.

I can't see other distractions playing a large part in falling sales. As I said above, manga sales are huge in Japan, and the Japanese also love video games etc. Comic sales are also higher in Europe than in the USA.

Could it be that pricing, format, and "decompressed" story arcs are putting American kids off standard 32 page comics? (Plus the fact that unless they stumble across a comic store they won't actually find such comics?)

When I hear of success stories like Tokyopop, Viz Comics and their 200 page digest size Manga being so popular with kids in the USA and UK it leads me to believe that it's not comics that are failing as a medium but the standard format that has fallen out of favour.

I must admit I think he has a point about the market moving towards a different format.

QUOTE: But I once thought that the comic version of Spider-Man would NEVER have organic web-shooters, and now...

I hear ya. In fact, I'm having a hazy flashback to several years ago on the Magnus board when I was so sure Marvel would never switch to organic shooters that I promised that if they ever did, I'd stop reading Marvel comics.

Bold words, eh?

Funny thing is, the broad approach Marvel has been taking for the last few years - the approach that led to the organic 'shooters - has alienated me of its own accord! I guess I've still got a few oddballs I follow, like RUNAWAYS, most of Slott's stuff, and a few of the ANNIHILATION space opera outings...but save for the ANNHILATION stuff, I'm worried that CIVIL WAR will derail my interest altogether. If it does, I'll actually be able to follow through on my hasty promise!

But if not, I fully intend to cheat and sneak-read the likes of SHE-HULK under the covers with a flashlight.