Is The Comics Medium Going To Survive?

[Black Panther]

Read this article yesterday:

Will Disney Stop Publishing Marvel Comic Books? | The Kingdom Insider

I'm sad to say that I actually work in the comics industry, and I don't even buy individual issues anymore.

It's crazy to me that we live in an era where superhero films are making BILLIONS worldwide and breaking box office records, but the medium they come from (comics) is barely scraping by.

Will the comics medium survive?

What's the best way to leverage the success of superhero/comic book-based films to increase comic sales?

Who's to blame for sagging comic sales? Is it the publishers or the fans?

Discuss. I'm really interested to hear your responses. :bpthink:

 

[Black Panther]

Bump

 

[Jx2]

I can't speak on any specifiticies with regards to the problem as a whole because the comic book shops near me are thriving still. In fact, I think the movie obsession is helping to lead some of the younger generations to the source material

 

[AnonymityX1000]

I haven't collected in decades but I was in Midtown comics a few months ago and was just overwhelmed by the amount of choices. I mean I like variety and everything but it does seem unsustainable to have that many titles.
Maybe they need to stream line the amount of offerings.

 

[Mr. Negative]

nah, it'll be around as long as people have imagination and a need to get it out past spoken word.

 

[Black Panther]

nah, it'll be around as long as people have imagination and a need to get it out past spoken word.

I get that, but will there ever be a resurgence of people buying comic books like they used to?

 

[Manuel Hot Pepper Lopez]

I haven't collected in decades but I was in Midtown comics a few months ago and was just overwhelmed by the amount of choices. I mean I like variety and everything but it does seem unsustainable to have that many titles.
Maybe they need to stream line the amount of offerings.

I remember going there in the mid 2000's and they had Biggie Smalls toys

Sites like readcomicsonline.to is what I use now to just read online.

Who remembers when 7-Eleven and pharmacies had comics?

 

[AnonymityX1000]

I am reading T. Coates' BP run but at my own leisurely pace. I think I've read the first 8 issues. And really I am just going on Amazon and buying the four issue packs they provide. Does that count as supporting comic books or nah?

 

[AnonymityX1000]

I remember going there in the mid 2000's and they Biggie Smalls toys

Sites like readcomicsonline.to is what I use now to just read online.

Who remembers when 7-Eleven and pharmacies had comics?

Yeah, that's how I collected comics growing up. I bought them at cigar shops and stationary stores. I went to a comic shop like once or twice a year. lol

 

[Mr. Negative]

As far as the rest of that stuff.....

A while back I made a post here about how the comics industry adapted the practice of the music industry.

The thought that (this goes especially for Marvel) that if you put a hot producer on your lead single, your album is gonna sell regardless of the quality.

It failed for the same reason the major labels are failing. If you go on the internet and see folks saying your shyt sucks, on top of being able to find out how much it sucks before you buy.... well.... youre not gonna buy.

Tie this in with other foolishness like Event Event Event fatigue, blatant hamstringing up and coming talent for the sake of your shytty star players, and replacing your established characters for the sake of movie tie ins and "diversity".... and yeah. your shyt's gonna stop selling as much.


Another thing I've constantly said is yes. People who are fans of our books are gonna see your movies and watch your TV shows.

But People who are only fans of your Movies and TV shows are not gonna go buy your comics. Changing your comic characters to their movie counterparts only alienate your comic fans. Folks that have been reading and buying the books for those characters for 10, 20, 30, 40 years.

And it's like they don't get it. World War Hulk may have proven a time where folks would buy trash events just because they were events. Putting Bendis name on a book even if he wasn't writing it may have piqued the interest of folks at one point....

But nowadays, only good stories and good art sell comics. As it should be.


Sorry for the essay. Got a passion.

 

[Mr. Negative]

I get that, but will there ever be a resurgence of people buying comic books like they used to?

see my above mini-novella.

 

[BXKingPin82]

i buy comics like every week
basically just variant covers i like really

 

[MartyMcFly]

They'll be fine. They may ship less of them or just move to purely digital but comic shops will survive on selling merch. It's why midtown comics can be as big as it is

 

[Black Panther]

As far as the rest of that stuff.....

A while back I made a post here about how the comics industry adapted the practice of the music industry.

The thought that (this goes especially for Marvel) that if you put a hot producer on your lead single, your album is gonna sell regardless of the quality.

It failed for the same reason the major labels are failing. If you go on the internet and see folks saying your shyt sucks, on top of being able to find out how much it sucks before you buy.... well.... youre not gonna buy.

Tie this in with other foolishness like Event Event Event fatigue, blatant hamstringing up and coming talent for the sake of your shytty star players, and replacing your established characters for the sake of movie tie ins and "diversity".... and yeah. your shyt's gonna stop selling as much.


Another thing I've constantly said is yes. People who are fans of our books are gonna see your movies and watch your TV shows.

But People who are only fans of your Movies and TV shows are not gonna go buy your comics. Changing your comic characters to their movie counterparts only alienate your comic fans. Folks that have been reading and buying the books for those characters for 10, 20, 30, 40 years.

And it's like they don't get it. World War Hulk may have proven a time where folks would buy trash events just because they were events. Putting Bendis name on a book even if he wasn't writing it may have piqued the interest of folks at one point....

But nowadays, only good stories and good art sell comics. As it should be.


Sorry for the essay. Got a passion.

I think the medium would do better financially if they only released TPB's quarterly rather than individual issues. :kanyebp:

I read in several places that trades and hardbacks sell much much higher than individual issues, even after accounting for the "discount" you get for essentially buying 12 issues of a run at once (i.e. $20 for a TPB of a 12 issue limited series vs. buying all 12 issues @ $3 a pop.)

That's a bit drastic, but the serial format comics uses isn't actually working for the medium anymore.

 

[AnonymityX1000]

I think the medium would do better financially if they only released TPB's quarterly rather than individual issues. :kanyebp:

I read in several places that trades and hardbacks sell much much higher than individual issues, even after accounting for the "discount" you get for essentially buying 12 issues of a run at once (i.e. $20 for a TPB of a 12 issue limited series vs. buying all 12 issues @ $3 a pop.)

That's a bit drastic, but the serial format comics uses isn't actually working for the medium anymore.

I bought Annihilation omnibus last year and that shyt cost me like $250 - $270. And Amazon tried to cancel my order and raise the price on me. I caught them out there tho.