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Eric Kleefeld
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 4422
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:11pm | IP Logged | 1
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Diamond and the whole DSM-centered system is beneficial to DC and Marvel
in the same way a heroin addict's next hit is beneficial to them. They're
wasting away and all it does is ease the pain for a bit.
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Michael Hatton
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 525
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:12pm | IP Logged | 2
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"Honestly, if you think there's even a small chance that Marvel is
making more money publishing comics today than they did in the 80's
then there's really not much point in even trying to argue this with
you."
It looks like you are misquoting me twice.
1. I said 1980 not in the 80's. 1989 is would likely be different than 1980.
2. I did not say from publishing.
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Matthew Hansel
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 18 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3469
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:14pm | IP Logged | 3
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Fewer people spending MORE on comics isn't the answer...and, while PREVIEWS is HUGE each month...a large chunk of it is NOT dedicated to actual COMIC BOOKS.
We need the BIG TWO to expand into EVERY genre...we need comic book shops and comic book READERS that will support other genres...
BUT...mostly...we need NEW READERS...the KIDS need to come back...and we really, really need BETTER DISTRIBUTION.
Matthew Hansel
matthewphansel@mac.com
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Jeremy Nichols
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 02 May 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 634
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:24pm | IP Logged | 4
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They should put spinner racks in at Wal-Mart. I go there 4-5
times a day, it seems sometimes. I'd look at them every time
and probably buy 2-3. If they had spinner racks at Wal-Mart, I
guarantee sales of Batman, Superman, Spider-man and the
other biggies would be over a million copies every month.
Guarantee it.
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Matthew Hansel
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 18 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3469
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:28pm | IP Logged | 5
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And...Wal-Mart might demand books with DECENT content for EVERYBODY, not some of the soft-core porn nonsense that is so prevalent these days.
Matthew Hansel
matthewphansel@mac.com
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Jeremy Nichols
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 02 May 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 634
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:36pm | IP Logged | 6
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That's fine with me.
In fact, if anyone wanted to take over the comic industry, just get
a deal with Wal-Mart. I'd say within 2-3 months Marvel and DC
would be #2 and #3 respectively.
Edited by Jeremy Nichols on 25 August 2005 at 3:37pm
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Trevor Giberson
Byrne Robotics Chronology
Joined: 16 April 2004
Posts: 1888
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:39pm | IP Logged | 7
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The thing I like most about comics today is the availability of reprint material. Essentials, Masterworks and trades rock.
The thing I least about comics today is the difficulty in obtaining them. You used to be able to get comics anyplace you find magazines. In my old hometown of less than 1000 people, we had three locations to buy comics within walking distance of my home. Now you'd have to drive to a city - minimum a half-hour on the freeway.
The vast majority of non-super-hero comics today are very to obtain. Most speciality stores do not carry the vast majority of non-DC/Marvel comics that appear in Previews. So, first you have to find a speciality store, then you have to get them to special order for you. Back issues of these books? Forget it... unlesss you go online, you are out of luck.
So let's say I find a store, and they are happy to special order for me. Now I have to choose what I want... but since I can't flip through a sample copy, how do I know that? Again, I'd have to go online and actively seek out material that would appear to me. This is a lot to expect from a consumer.
And then there's the reliability of these indy books... how many times have non-Marvel or DC books been discontinued in mid-story? Or have had a year or more pass between issues? I've been bitten this way more than a few times... Calibre alone cancelled four series I really liked in mid-story (The Crow, Dragon's Star, Triarch and Baker's Street).
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Jeremy Nichols
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 02 May 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 634
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:41pm | IP Logged | 8
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In fact, the more I think about it, why can't I walk into a Wal-Mart
and buy a Batman comic? That's the dumbest thing I've ever
heard. They have EVERYTHING else... they sell freakin'
CLARINETS! And yet, no comics (unless Archie Double Digest
counts). Wide open door.
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Michael Hatton
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 525
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:42pm | IP Logged | 9
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Me too. I know not everything is perfect in the industry.
I just wanted to state that things might not be as bad as they have been made out to be.
If I was in charge I would have a batman magazine with multiple
complete stories. These would not be reprints. It would have ads
and cost around 5.99 and be about the size of four or five regular
cimic books. This would replace the other bat titles. This would
also be carried on normal newstands. I would keep the same
numbering as Detective or Batman (not sure which)
I would do the same for Superman, Spider-Man and X-Men.
These would sell. They could have articles and prose also.
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Francesco Vanagolli
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 03 June 2005
Location: Italy
Posts: 3130
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:47pm | IP Logged | 10
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There are several Batman titles. And Spider-Man and mutant ones, too... But who really does need them? Marvel can't really believe that every reader can buy 300 X titles a month. I read UNCANNY every month and the ASTONISHING tpbs because I'm interested in them, but I'd never buy all the rest. In the 1970s/early 80s there was only a X title, but... WHAT A COMIC BOOK! What is better? A thousand spin offs (usually bad) or only a good series?
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Steve Jones
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 548
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:48pm | IP Logged | 11
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The profit issue is a moot point since Marvel is a very different company from what it was 20 odd years ago. And, Matt, yes I know Marvel went bankrupt but that was nearly a decade ago.
Anyway back to the point in hand. It is assumed by and large on this board that the number of people actually buying comics regularly has declined. But has it? From 73 through to 83 I brought regularly 20 or more comics a month both Marvel and DC, and often more. Now I buy 2 regularly. I rarely see people at my local shop buying more than 2 or 3 at a time. Is it the case now that we have lots of peoople who buy a few comics each month as compared to the old days when we had roughtly the same number of buyers reader but they bought a lot each month? I don' t know but from what others have posted on other threads I think it may have some basis in fact. Other than anecdotal evidence, can anyone give information that either supports this or not?
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Trevor Giberson
Byrne Robotics Chronology
Joined: 16 April 2004
Posts: 1888
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| Posted: 25 August 2005 at 3:48pm | IP Logged | 12
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Comics aren't in bad shape at all - as a medium. While the American companies isolate themselves as much from their potential audience as possible, magna is expanding into their old niche. More power to 'em, too. Marvel, DC and the current fan base deserve it.
Edited by Trevor Giberson on 25 August 2005 at 3:49pm
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