Comments on: Marvel Comic Prices Move to $3.99

By: James Schee

James Schee — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:03:51 +0000

It doesn’t really effect me that much, as I read so very little DC/Marvel and when I do its usually in trades.

I actually kind of wonder if the price increase doesn’t bring the pamphlets more in line with Marvel’s current trade pricing. I was surprised by the sticker shock I got when looking at some of the recent trades (trades, not HCs!) that were over $25.

Of course with options like Amazon and Ebay I never pay retail anyway. Which is probably something shop owners don’t want to hear.

By: Charles RB

Charles RB — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:46:04 +0000

Why would that finish them off? Is it likely to cost less than Marvel/DC? Wouldn’t the lack of “name” heroes harm it, since it’s quite obvious a large number of Marvel and DC readers want to read existing Marvel and DC characters/the Marvel U and DCU?

More to the point, are manga digest sales staying the same or are they going up to? Because that might harm them, on top of a seemingly saturated market and US bookstore chains in financial difficulties.

By: jdh417

jdh417 — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:30:19 +0000

Or this move may drive more people to manga. Were I a Japanese publisher, I’d produce an American-style superhero comic magazine in the fashion of Shonen Jump for the US audience, and finish off Marvel and DC as periodical publishers once and for all.

On another note, I picked up the latest Betty & Veronica Spectacular @ $2.25. Probably more entertaining than any other single issue comic I could have gotten on the stands.

PS Love your website.

By: Charles RB

Charles RB — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:27:08 +0000

This big a rise, especially on top of Diamond UK upping _its_ prices, is a real pisser. I know I’m going to be less likely to start picking up any new titles in the short term, and I know of several people also in the UK who have decided from hereon to stop buying singles entirely.

2000AD is the notable exception since that’s still £1.90 – it remains cheaper than pretty much everything else – and Titan Magazines’ Transformers as that just _became_ cheaper than any US title while being over twice as big!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:08:41 +0000

True, but I am surprised to see how large this particular jump was at this time. I don’t know why Marvel didn’t go to $3.50 (a price already used by some standard serial comics from Image) instead of raising an entire dollar.

By: Trebbers

Trebbers — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:49:04 +0000

Brian’s just betting that the demand for Marvel’s product in the DM is fairly inelastic, which seems about right to me. I mean, the price of floppies has been ridiculous for years and years, but incremental price jumps have always seemed to generate far more grousing than loss of sales.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:43:16 +0000

That is a positive way to look at things, to redirect your purchases to make sure you’re buying things you really enjoy and feel good about.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:35:09 +0000

I’m definitely going to continue the cutbacks in periodicals that have already been triggered by (a) endless events I don’t care about; (2) sprawling stories I’d rather read in trade than keep straight in my mind over the one-month (or worse, lately) gaps; (third) crappy megaviolent extra-rapey slop I’d rather not read at all; (and) DC’s recent cancellation of several titles I probably should’ve moved on from already, anyway.

The upside, I suppose, is that I’m going to make a conscious effort in 2009 to put some of the money I’m not investing in spandex into alt/art comics, which I really oughtta be paying more attention to than I already do.