Paulo, you asked for how I accounted for the relative success of the Marvel Adventures line. That was the point, remember.

• Why does that matter? - I am not sure which point of mine you were asking about since you have two different items quoted.
• Why do we need the DM? - We don't.
• Why does it matter who pays for them? - It is only an observational point going back to my main point that comics are two expensive for 8-14 year olds and it makes more business sense to go after a 16-24 year old market.
• And do you think kids paid for them before? - Are you seriously asking this?
• Yes, so why cater to one demographic? - I don't think they cater to just one demographic. They offer products to multiple demographics. You mentioned the Marvel Adventures line. So I don't see the point of asking again. But, these companies are doing the sound thing by primarily targetting a demographic that has the greatest purchasing power. This is done because demographic groups are different, in case you didn't recognize that.
  

Why does it matter who pays for them? And do you think kids paid for them before?

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I did. I shoveled walks, mowed lawns, you name it to get money for comics. But I could buy 2 comics for $1 when I started collecting. So if I got $2 for shoveling a driveway, that was 4 comics. Now it isn't even 1, and that's the problem.

Someone made the bold statement that Marvel's long term publishing profitability is dead. Ok. But they have had over 10 years of growth profit by going after this group. That is the group that buys into fad and shock value more than any other.

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The 8 to 14 year old demographic does spend a lot of money on stuff, or rather their parents either buy them stuff or give them money to buy stuff. As for the 16 to 24 demographic, if they never read superhero comics as a kid, it is highly unlikely that they will start reading them at that age, much less pay money for them. Despite what you may believe, most 16 to 24 year old's income isn't as disposable as you think, especially in the current economic climate. Factor in that many of today's 16 to 24 year old's either don't want to work or can't find a job, and this group's extra spending income is even lower.

Marvel's growth in profits (on the publishing side) over the last 1q0 years was not due to aiming at the 16 to 24 demographic, it was mainly due to their no over print policy,variant covers,crossovers,and "controversial" stories that were (I think, but I could be wrong) created to gain the attention of the mainstream news media. In other words, Marvel's growth in publishing over the last 10 years was mainly due to stunts and gimmicks that mainly appeal to speculators and completest.

I just finished my "40 years of Avengers" and issue 60 (volume 3?[wth?]) or so in the last decade seems to be where it all goes to Hell and doesn't even need a handbasket.

The Scarlet Witch goes nuts and kills 4 Avengers? Hank Pym is shown messing around with his ex-wife at ant size, Hawkeye is called down by Cap because he has womens panties in his utility belt, and there's death on a global scale so often it gets monotonous. And some issues were over before anything happened?

Atrocious seems appropriate.

The 8 to 14 year old demographic does spend a lot of money on stuff, or rather their parents either buy them stuff or give them money to buy stuff. As for the 16 to 24 demographic, if they never read superhero comics as a kid, it is highly unlikely that they will start reading them at that age, much less pay money for them. Despite what you may believe, most 16 to 24 year old's income isn't as disposable as you think, especially in the current economic climate. Factor in that many of today's 16 to 24 year old's either don't want to work or can't find a job, and this group's extra spending income is even lower.

Marvel's growth in profits (on the publishing side) over the last 1q0 years was not due to aiming at the 16 to 24 demographic, it was mainly due to their no over print policy,variant covers,crossovers,and "controversial" stories that were (I think, but I could be wrong) created to gain the attention of the mainstream news media. In other words, Marvel's growth in publishing over the last 10 years was mainly due to stunts and gimmicks that mainly appeal to speculators and completest.
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Yes, the 8 to 14 does spend money. That goes without saying. But the 16 to 24 has more. Regardles of what you believe, reasearch indeed shows the average in disposable income to amount to abut $13k per year. Certainly some have less just as some have more.

And the things you mention, you believe they speak more to a different demographic group than teenagers and very young adults? 

And the things you mention, you believe they speak more to a different demographic group than teenagers and very young adults?

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Whether the 16 to 24 age group has more spending cash then the 8 to 14 age group is irrelevant, since the over whelming majority of people in that age group isn't spending that extra cash on superhero comics. So aiming exclusively at that age group is just as pointless as you say aiming the books exclusively at the 8 to 14 age group. Of course, in the past (before Quesada,Jemas, and Buckley started calling the shots) Marvel had solved this problem by aiming all of their superhero comics at a wide all ages audience that ranged from age 7 to 77.

The things I mentioned I believe speak mainly to speculators and completest.

I also read the Manga article linked at the top of the page, and I'm now wondering if current comic book creators are following Hideaki Anno's NEON GENESIS EVANGELION example of working out all their personal issues and inner demons through the medium... 

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I'm a big fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion but I don't think that would work for everyone.

I like the Direct Market in theory, I wish it'd provide more varied comics. The Classic Comics Press reprints I love so much for example are DM only. 

I think the DM's weakness is that it's monopolised by a an overall demand that is too homogenic. It's a bit determined by a mass of comic readers with a very specific mentality and very similar tastes instead of people with varied interests who love comics of all kind. So it can't really fullfil it's potential.