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Anthony Frail
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 09 October 2007
Posts: 960
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 10:10am | IP Logged | 1
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Mr. Byrne wrote:
So imagine how appealing that $4 cover tag would make
comics now, if we could only break the stranglehold of the DSM. |
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This makes me wonder; Borders, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble all
sell monthly comics. I wonder how they're doing in those venues. If well,
Marvel could make a solid case for them to other stores. I remember at one
point in the late 90's that Wal-Mart and 7-11 carried comics in my area but
stopped. I wonder what the deal was.
Should there be an effort to market and advertise comics differently? I
thought Mr. Byrne had a great idea in trying to sell them at movie theatres.
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Rob Spalding
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 June 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1152
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 10:11am | IP Logged | 2
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I've just seen a blog post by Kieron Gillen here, talking about a new Marvel comic coming out here in the UK.
Why aren't Marvel looking to put this out on US shelves? Even if it doesn't come with the free toy. It would still get Marvel characters, work already paid for, at the right place for younger readers and aimed at those readers.
Yes, it wouldn't really be what a lot of comic readers are after, but then, it's not meant for them. It would be a way to bring in new readers.
And I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that issues will hit shelves over here when they say they will. There will be no growing roses on this comic.
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Joe Smith
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 29 August 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 6709
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 10:28am | IP Logged | 3
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Convenience stores, news shops...
they most likely don't want to sell comics because they'r
ignorant of what the medium offers.
They most likely see and hear about ACTION #1 selling for
gazillions, and think, I have to MONITOR these things?
Hey, roll this thing up in your back pocket and lose
yourself for a minute, will ya?
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Erik Larsen
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 February 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 344
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 10:39am | IP Logged | 4
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Dan Walsh wrote:
So if the convenience stores aren't cooperating, and if the Direct Market
limits the the larger gross sale of comics (numbers much higher than
100K/month), then what are the alternatives to getting comics in more
kids/people's hands? Is digital the only answer? |
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Maybe.
I can't honestly say that I have all the answers. At this point I can't really
judge the product because I'm unfamiliar with it. Marvel and DC have lost
me as a reader. I follow other books but buy only random titles from
them drawn by guys whose work I enjoy (John Romita Jr., Chris Bachello,
Humberto Ramos and whatever catches my eye). These books are largely
nonsensical to me, though nice to look at. My kids have no interest in
comics. The only book my youngest reads is Scott Pilgrim and it comes
out--what--once a year? He's 12--the age many of us consider their
"golden age" --the age comics hooked us hard. I read both of my kids
comic books as bedtime stories. Captain Marvel Adventures by Binder and
Beck, the Fantastic Four and Thor by Lee and Kirby, Spider-Man by Lee
and Ditko, Tintin by Hergé, Zot by McCloud, Little Lulu by Stanley, the
Mighty Skullboy Army by Chabot, Kamandi by Kirby and, although they
enjoyed them--they had no interest in getting any of their own comics.
My son Joe keeps a full set of Savage Dragon but he doesn't read those
either. He might flip through some of the kids comics if he's bored but
he's certainly not motivated to buy any.
As an observer--It would seem that DC and Marvel could stand to trim
down their lines and make individual issues more satisfying and complete.
I do think there's a content issue in addition to a distribution one. But,
again, that's more of a gut reaction based on feelings than facts. The
reality is that these books don't attract me as a reader. Part of me thinks
that's a good thing--that they shouldn't be trying to appeal to 46-year
old males who are predisposed to reading comics-- but I don't know who
their intended audience is at this point. 20 year olds? It seems a bit weird
for them to target an audience which society tells us is "too old to be
reading comic books." The beauty of aiming comics at kids is that they're
at that age where reading comic books is socially acceptable. To aim
comics at that age group which would be, typically, dropping comics to
save up for a car and chasing girls seems to be a counterproductive
move.
Maybe having a guy in charge that started reading comics as an adult and
doesn't believe kids ever read comics is a bad idea.
We can talk about possible solutions--but at this point I don't think the
answer is just better distribution. You can put Broccoli in more locations
but it won't necessarily lead to a lot more people buying Broccoli.
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Lars Sandmark
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 05 October 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 3138
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 10:49am | IP Logged | 5
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Erik Larsen wrote,
DC and Marvel could stand to trim down their lines and make individual titles more satisfying and complete.
I totally agree with this statement and I think it bears repeating.
( it should be written on the boot that should be used to kick Dan D an Joe Q in their seat-warmers. )
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Guests
Byrne Robotics Visitor
Joined: 01 October 2003
Posts: -26
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 11:24am | IP Logged | 6
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We can talk about possible solutions--but at this point I don't think the
answer is just better distribution. You can put Broccoli in more locations
but it won't necessarily lead to a lot more people buying Broccoli.
Erik-
I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions, and your honest assessment of the situation. I appreciate learning from someone who is both a reader and an artist. Also, it's cool that you are reading classic comics to your boys for bed time stories. Sounds like fun! Hopefully when your sons are teenagers they will remember how cool their dad is, even when they grow out of bed time stories, while continuing to read their own comics!
(Edited for spelling.)
Edited by Dan Walsh on 20 June 2009 at 11:28am
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Erik Larsen
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 February 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 344
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 11:29am | IP Logged | 7
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My kids are 12 and 14 (he'll be 15 in August). I think it's pretty safe to say
that they will not become comic book readers. They just didn't catch the
bug. I tried to get them interested. I really did--but it didn't take.
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Guests
Byrne Robotics Visitor
Joined: 01 October 2003
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 11:33am | IP Logged | 8
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I read both of my kids comic books as bedtime stories.
So read is past tense? My eyes are getting buggy from staring at the screen! I misunderstood you. I thought they had no interest in comics at this time, but were enjoying the bed time stories presently.
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Vinny Valenti
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 8300
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 1:33pm | IP Logged | 9
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Erik Larsen wrote:
| I tried to get them interested. I really did--but it didn't take. |
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I'm curious....did you ever try handing them an Essential? I wonder if even the more "classical" comic book style would have any interest in kids these days.
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Martin Redmond
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 June 2006
Posts: 3882
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 1:58pm | IP Logged | 10
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When was the last time Image published anything aimed at being a big hit for all ages? Maybe Marvel and DC are off track, but the other companies aren't helping either. Lots of aimless crap being published.
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 31679
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 1:59pm | IP Logged | 11
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Maybe having a guy in charge that started reading comics as an adult and
doesn't believe kids ever read comics is a bad idea.
****************
Hmmmmm. You may be on to something here.
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Chad Carter
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 June 2005
Posts: 9584
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| Posted: 20 June 2009 at 2:02pm | IP Logged | 12
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I still hate virtually every classic novel I was forced to read by school.
I love the way some people's experience becomes the unassailable truth with which to argue a point. "I hated doing this, so therefore I cannot understand how anyone could like doing that."
I can still recite Shakespeare I was "forced" to read. And Faulkner. And "The Ancient Mariner." And Fitzgerald.
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