My oldest son, Chris, has moved on to girls and other things. I
don't see him taking a sudden interest in comics.

===================================================

Well Erik that is pretty hard to argue with there.  I think most of us here are fortunate to find significant others who either put up or actually enjoy the comic book thing.  Mine doesn't understand comics but of course I don't understand the whole shoe/purse deal.  I guess that makes us even somehow.

Peter, I've met a number of people who started reading comics later in life, and those I've met fall into the graphic novel category (and tend to look down their noses at the comics themselves. To them it seems as if Watchmen the graphic novel is a work of genius but if it was first presented to them in it's original comic book form they would consider it low brow trash. Strange) but I would also point out that those people read much less graphic novels/comics than most who grew up reading them. Two or three a year, which seems like not much at all to me.

Also, I've noticed a trend with some that they have only read one 'graphic novel'; Watchmen. For some reason even though they felt it was a work of genius it did not make them want to read more comics like that. I don't know why that is, but rather than a gateway drug it acted like a one step twelve step cold turkey program. And it's not like there isn't a lot of material similar to Watchmen that they could pick up, though perhaps wading through the comics while being wholly unfamiliar with them beyond that one book is a daunting prospect.

"And, of course, what I deem is crap, others might think is precious beyond value. "

I know that a lot people swear by Liefeld comics and buy lots of extra copies. They really make the roses grow. (Or is that joke too crude?)

In the end, from time to time the Companies have said Sure! We'll make the books returnable -- but the DSM has to turn itself into a real distribution system, like real book stores, where ordering the latest hot titles means you are also required to order the latest not-so-hot titles. And the Companies will limit how many you can order. So far the DSM doesn't want this. They want only the perks -- with the Companies taking all the risks. Which isn't how Business works. But, alas, the DSM began with a group of dealers, not businessmen, and the "dealer mentality" still echoes thru its halls.

"But, due to a curious quirk in the distribution, the DSM was receiving its books before the regular retailers. "

Oh, that's bad.

In my country, with thousands of outlets and a considerable difference in shipping times for comics and magazines, the difference in receiving times for retailers nationally could be 4 or 5 days. Which is why in my country stores couldn't put out magazines before the sale date. It used to be tuesdays were new magazine day, but the comics and other magazines might arrive at the retailer on the thursday before (in my area). If the retailer put the magazines out before tuesday they would lose their contract with the distributor. Some rule about unfair competition.  

If they didn't have that rule, the zones that got magazines on wednesday would have an advantage over neighboring areas that got the magazines on thursday, thursday over friday etc. And stores would not put up with that.

I think the smart thing to do would have been to embargo the books until at least a week after they hit the newsstands.

My oldest son, Chris, has moved on to girls and other things. I
don't see him taking a sudden interest in comics.

Yeah, I ducked out from comics to chase girls too. Thing is, when you can't catch girls, you end up falling back on your cool hobbies. Thus did I rediscover comics, and eventually I did land a few girls as a late bloomer. Now the two run side by side fairly well, though I still enjoy a hell of lot more new comics than new ladies!