|
|
Post by G on Nov 22, 2008 12:43:56 GMT -5
Seems I am reading more and more comments that a lot of new comics went up to $3.99 where $2.99 used to be the norm. I seen also that Thor #600 is an extra sized issue and runs at $4.99. Although given the economy, its understandable to have price increases, I say the comic industry is probably shooting itself in the foot too. $4 and $5 comics a shot are going to run most kids off and even a lot of adults. I think the comic medium should think of ways of cutting costs. Maybe fewer pages. Less quality paper. More ads. Something of this nature. I think comics can do okay at $2 - $3 a pop. But $4 - $5 a pop seems very extreme. Although I can remember going from .75 cents to $1 and thinking that was crazy. And it was .35 cents when I started. Its seemed like comics have been pricing themselves out of business a long time and they keep surviving. So who knows. Maybe the industry will support $4 and $5 comics. But with comics teetering on losing children to many other alternatives for a long time now. It seems hardly worth it for them to pay this price for a comic when they have so many other ways that I didnt have as a kid to entertain themselves. This just seems bad to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by moe on Nov 22, 2008 14:38:00 GMT -5
Seems I am reading more and more comments that a lot of new comics went up to $3.99 where $2.99 used to be the norm. I seen also that Thor #600 is an extra sized issue and runs at $4.99. Although given the economy, its understandable to have price increases, I say the comic industry is probably shooting itself in the foot too. $4 and $5 comics a shot are going to run most kids off and even a lot of adults. I think the comic medium should think of ways of cutting costs. Maybe fewer pages. Less quality paper. More ads. Something of this nature. I think comics can do okay at $2 - $3 a pop. But $4 - $5 a pop seems very extreme. Although I can remember going from .75 cents to $1 and thinking that was crazy. And it was .35 cents when I started. Its seemed like comics have been pricing themselves out of business a long time and they keep surviving. So who knows. Maybe the industry will support $4 and $5 comics. But with comics teetering on losing children to many other alternatives for a long time now. It seems hardly worth it for them to pay this price for a comic when they have so many other ways that I didnt have as a kid to entertain themselves. This just seems bad to me. I don't think they can survive like that. I agree it is bad. |
|
|
|
Post by starbrand on Dec 21, 2008 16:43:37 GMT -5
I've read some monthly Marvels are going to 3.99 shortly.
|
|
|
|
Post by azbatx on Dec 21, 2008 17:14:30 GMT -5
I don't think I will stick around for $4-$5 reg. priced comics. I will wait for them to hit a $1 box or 50% sale somewhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by starbrand on Dec 21, 2008 17:37:33 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by G on Dec 27, 2008 11:41:17 GMT -5
That was a great find starbrand because I have personally felt every one of those price increases. I started collecting comics in 1978 and I certainly remember comics being 35 cents. And at the time, it seemed like a bargain. For $5 I could come home with a small pile of comics and have hours of reading and enjoyment at looking at cool art. Now 30 years later the rate of inflation says they should only be 3 times as expensive as when I was a kid, but now they are actually 10 times as expensive!!! Hey, I could handle $2 - $2.50 and understand. $3 is pushing it. But $4 is just ridiculous!! It's like comics is its own worst enemy! Kids dont hardly buy comics anymore and this is one great reason for it. Heck for $10 they can buy a used or out of favor video game. They going to spend nearly half that one 1 measly comic book???!!! I doubt it. It seems like its only collectors who started before say 1997 who are currently keeping comics going. And us older types paying mortgages and car payments and electric bills, its getting harder to justify buying comics at $4 a pop when your wife knows you got bills to pay!!! Comics needs to study its demographics more. Its not snot nosed kids with disposable incomes buying their comics. Its hard working adults buying them and they are pricing them out of the picture.
Great find starbrand!!! I remember every one of these increases!
Year .......Cover Price....... Rate of Inflation
1977....... 0.30................. 0.30
1978........0.35................. 0.32
1979........0.40................. 0.34
1980........0.40................. 0.38
1981........0.50................. 0.43
1982........0.60................. 0.48
1983........0.60................. 0.51
1984........0.60................. 0.53
1985........0.60................. 0.55
1986........0.65................. 0.57
1987........0.75................. 0.58
1988........0.75................. 0.6
1989........1 .................... 0.62
1990........1 .................... 0.65
1991........1 .................... 0.69
1992........1 .................... 0.72
1993........1.25 ................ 0.74
1994........1.5 .................. 0.76
1995........1.5 .................. 0.78
1996........1.5 .................. 0.80
1997........1.5 .................. 0.83
1998........1.5 .................. 0.85
1999........1.75 ................ 0.86
2000........1.99 ................ 0.88
2001........2.25 ................ 0.91
2002........2.25................. 0.93
2003........2.25 ................ 0.95
2004........2.25 ................ 0.97
2005........2.25................. 1
2006........2.5 .................. 1.03
2007........2.99 ................ 1.06
2008........2.99 ................ 1.09
2009........3.99?
|
|
|
|
Post by azbatx on Dec 27, 2008 12:19:52 GMT -5
I check out that column every Monday when it hits the net. Sometimes if you wait too long to read it he has to take things off because Marvel or DC or someone doesn't want a certain thing to get out. It usually hits around 5pm eastern.
It makes me wonder how much these exclusive contracts are really worth. Then trying to get guys from Hollywood to write comics. Stuff like that I'm sure is not cheap.
|
|
|
|
Post by G on Dec 27, 2008 12:48:14 GMT -5
It makes me wonder how much these exclusive contracts are really worth. Then trying to get guys from Hollywood to write comics. Stuff like that I'm sure is not cheap. A lot of books could be written just as well by regular pros working for the standard rates. Comics is no longer THE product of comic companies anymore. Certainly movies and other distribution deals is where it is at for them and is their main focus. I remember when I had invested in Marvel a few years back, they sent me an annual report. One of the few I actually could read without falling asleep. Comics was so far back and meant so little to them. It was licensing of products and movies where the revenue stream was. Thats where all the money came from. The comics was like nothing on the balance sheet. They should take the approach with comics that printer companies take with printers. The money is not in the printers, its the ink. Therefore they will take a loss on the printer and kill you with the replacement ink cartridges. Comics should take the same approach. Slash comic prices to bring in more readership and collectors and then kill on the movie and licensing deals. They should bring the audience in for nothing and gouge us when we are hooked at the theaters and retail outlets. But comics is now way down the food chain. Even this price increase means virtually nothing to their bottom line. Comics have become irrelevant to the comic companies.  |
|
