And any proposed "solutions" which depend on Marvel/DC to implement are pure fantasyland. These companies nearly drove the market into ruin while operating independently; now they are mere extensions of two corporate giants with no interest in reviving a failing media model. Their interest: maximizing the most profit out of a diminishing audience, and that is not going to change until the audience is gone.

Unfortunately, digital isn't going to swoop in to save us either. A few papers and such are trying the digital only route, but it's too early to tell whether there's enough money there to truly cover paying staff and turn a profit. People have gotten into the habit of thinking internet content should be free and see nothing wrong with pirating. The internet is stealing away readers and buyers of print media, but it's not really offering something that is sustainable by itself. Most of your news content online is bankrolled by a print or broadcasting company.

But any way, if they increased the cost of single issues as much as they did, at least they could print the book in better stock.