Comments on: Marvel Announces Support for New Comic Book Stores

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:31:11 +0000

It’s possible I might be 25% owner of a comic shop in California next year. My retired cop bff of 35 years is going to give it a shot and I’m pitching in a bunch of golden age and original art and some cash to help him out. So this is kind of exciting news to me.

All I’ve got to do now is grow the pony tail. ;)

By: Kat Kan

Kat Kan — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:28:07 +0000

My teenage son – exactly the kind of reader I think DC wants to attract – is excited by at least a few of the new DC series debuting in September. He’s actually an experienced comics reader – for almost 12 years now (I started him in Kindergarten), but he’s in the young demographic range.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:04:03 +0000

William, I know you’re contemptuous of superhero comics and the entire direct market, but could you tone it down just a little? Such blatant tone kills conversation. What would you rather see DC do? Go digital-only? Stop publishing comics? Throw out all the executives and hire webcomic creators?

By: William George

William George — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:29:21 +0000

“DC is helping out in September”

DC is selling a used Yugo with a new coat of paint and calling it a Porsche. They ~~may~~ WILL get the obsessives and the speculators to buy their new books en masse. They may even get a number of civilians to come in and pick up a new Superman.

Once those civilians figure out that Superman is now made for the babymen and no one else, that revenue source is going to dry up. When the speculators are positive they don’t actually have their pollybagged retirement funds like they thought they did, that revenue source is going to dry up as well. And everyone left over is going to go back to blaming internet pirates for poor sales.

There’s nothing new under the sun. Especially in the direct market, which seems to believe the best way out of a hole is to dig all the way to China.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:39:37 +0000

Scott, as a relatively new store owner, can you provide any information on how long it takes retailers to get a good handle on their market? I’m wondering if the discount drop (from the introductory high levels) to the actual based on sales after six months is overly difficult to adjust to.

By: Bytowner

Bytowner — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:56:42 +0000

Not sure that I’d agree with that belief re: DC.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:42:16 +0000

“no chance”? You mean zero? None at all? Wow, that’s just horrible.

And blatantly untrue.

Smart stores can easily find ways to bring in new readers. And fortunately, DC is helping out in September with that.

By: William George

William George — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:49:58 +0000

For six months. Then they’re back to assuming all of the financial risks for the publishers in a declining market with no chance of bringing in new readers.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:50:16 +0000

I am trying to wrap my head around this. I’m… pretty impressed. 53% and 59% may not SOUND like much, but they both take serious volume to get to.

Those factors alone are a great initiative for new store owners.