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Post by G on Feb 26, 2009 13:56:29 GMT -5
I havent been involved hardly at all in comics in the last 6 months but when I do some checks, I still continue to read more and more negative things relating to comic books, distribution and all things related to the life support of comics. There has probably been a doom and gloom atmosphere over the future of comics since the great comic bust of the mid 90s, but is it finally becoming for real? Are comics entering the home stretch of existence as we know it?  |
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Post by azbatx on Mar 3, 2009 0:09:52 GMT -5
I hope not. I thought comic sales were still up. I will say DC Comics has been really screwing up. I am down to reading almost nothing from them. I don't want to ever have to read comics from a website. It's not the same. I also wouldn't want to pay for that either. I know Marvel has something like that. I hope people don't go for it. It reminds me of the self check out lines in stores. I don't use them either. Why? Eventually they will cost people jobs. In our case the comic dealers. Without new comics I don't see how a comic shop can stay around. They help drive customers to stores.
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Post by G on Mar 3, 2009 13:50:09 GMT -5
Its kinda surreal seeing you not happy with DC, but with each company, they've all had peaks and valleys. It seems only 3 or 4 years ago that DC was kicking ass and taking names. I'm sure eventually they'll get it back together.
I agree with the online comics. I think there are comic readers and comic collectors. Comic collectors can and are often also comic readers. But comic readers are not always comic collectors and generally don't care what format they get their story from as long as it works for them.
I agree its not healthy for the market. But I dont think comic collectors will ever go for that route. There is more to a collector than reading the comic. There is the bagging, boarding, storing and looking at the book again later. There is also the search to find more and to add to that collection. We just cannot keep digital comics. There is no resale value or scarcity of product or demand. Online comics are strictly for Comic Readers. What we need is preservation of comic collectors.
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AC
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Post by AC on Apr 4, 2009 17:48:02 GMT -5
I'm Pretty sure we're nowhere close to comics going away... the way each of the big two keePs launching books to cash in on hot ProPerties, the market seems heathier than it's been in awhile.
Admittedly, I too haven't followed the markets of late... tho, with Marvel Publishing... what is it now, FOUR monthly Wolverine mags, I think we've a while to go before worrying about comics (in Print form) altogether going away.
I agree that collectors will never be haPPy with online comics... I'm definitely in that Pile as well. I never read online comics or web-comics or even scanlations of the most recent mangas... as cliche as it may sound... I like actually holding the books in my hand... and having them in my shelves/longboxes.
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Post by G on Apr 5, 2009 0:23:58 GMT -5
Hope you're right. I'm pretty sure myself we've got a ways to go. But I'm afraid if we don't change the atmosphere of not getting the kids involved into it, that we are slowly going to run out of a generations that still collect new comics. I think it's mostly the old time collectors keeping it going. I would imagine that the last 10-15 years is the 1st generation of kids that did NOT get into comics the way all previous generations of kids got into them since the late 1930s. I would imagine kids have been into comics in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and even the early 90's. I think it dwindled mid to late 90s and maybe an increase in the early part of this decade, but overall I would feel like since the mid 90's, I would imagine there is a decline in young kids growing up and collecting comics the way kids did in all those other previous decades. I'm sure we are still okay for another 10-20 years just off of existing collectors. But I'm a bit worried about comics say more than 20 years from now. I think there always needs to be an infusion of new blood to keep it going.
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AC
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Post by AC on Apr 5, 2009 3:20:31 GMT -5
I'm quite sure as long as there's a publisher, there'll be books.
The Internet has pretty much destroyed the print medium... which is why newspapers these days don't so much report on news, but give "opinion" in regards to the news... by the time the paper is print... the news is old. As long as Marvel and DC (and the rest) stick to the printed medium, and ONLY to the printed medium... we're good. When they start getting wishy-washy and offering online subscriptions... then we can flip thru the antiquated phone book to look up the singing fat lady.
Online subs wouldn't be a good thing for any of the companies, for 2 reasons... the first, obviously is piracy... the second is a touch more complicated... right now, we're paying way too much for way too little... you know that, I know that... and the companies most certainly know that. They push the blame on stuff like "raising paper costs" and "higher quality ink and colors"... if they go online, they lose their crutch. If they still try and charge the ridiculous amounts they're charging now... it'll only push people to piracy even faster.
Marvel was definitely on to something when they started up their digest line... not sure how strongly they're supporting it, however... from what I've seen, the way they're going about it is wrong. Kids don't read comics much anymore... but, they'll gobble down the most recent Naruto or Bleach or even Death Note... Marvel, however doesn't have their Digests stocked ANYWHERE NEAR the manga... the Marvel Digests are always stocked in the kids section of Borders and B&N... next to Dr. Seuss and Fancy Nancy... probably not where a comics craving kid's gonna be hanging out. Nothing against Fancy Nancy or anything, she's charming, I'm sure... but, I think you get my point.
One last bit on the Digests... the fact that they're geared towards kids in and of itself is a bit of a turn-off, I'd imagine... making the digests a bit more "all-ages" instead've "hey, kids... comics" would be a boon for Marvel in gaining that elusive "new reader"...
I think comics... in print will outlast our lifetimes... how much longer past that... not to sure... it all depends on whether or not Marvel or DC are willing to start planting some seeds today, in hopes of a payoff down the line.
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