Comments on: SLG Goes Digital-Only for Serialization — The End of the Indy Comic Book Issue?

By: Sanctuary #5 » Comics Worth Reading

Sanctuary #5 » Comics Worth Reading — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:00:43 +0000

[...] Coughlin’s Sanctuary series, one of SLG’s digitally serialized series, is continuing with issue #5, which came out last [...]

By: Sanctuary by Stephen Coughlin » Comics Worth Reading

Sanctuary by Stephen Coughlin » Comics Worth Reading — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:17:55 +0000

[...] is one of the digitally serialized comics coming out from SLG Publishing. Stephen Coughlin has created a story he calls a “Disney [...]

By: What Happened to Infinite Vacation? The Problems of Indy Comic Series » Comics Worth Reading

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:18:56 +0000

[...] works for big companies with brands to maintain with recurring visibility. It no longer works for small publishers or customers. I know that indy creators like the idea of it costing less to [...]

By: William George

William George — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:30:28 +0000

” Probably because of the glut of material out there. ”

Aye.

The reason for the Nu 52 isn’t because they think it’s a catchy rhyme. It’s because fifty two comics have a better chance at crowding the competition off of the limited shelf space at the shops.

This has been Marvel and DC’s M.O. for a very long time now so I can see why SLG would decide to go for a market where this can’t be done.

I think it’s good they’re not sticking with the extended rental (and thus stupid for consumers to buy) formats that are the comics readers apps. At least, I’m *assuming* they can’t enter your computer to delete the PDF you downloaded from them..

By: DC Releases Fringe Comic Digital-Only » Comics Worth Reading

DC Releases Fringe Comic Digital-Only » Comics Worth Reading — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:47:23 +0000

[...] found this news particularly interesting in light of the SLG going digital-only story I wrote about yesterday. It seems that even the biggest publishers aren’t adverse to [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:26:04 +0000

I’ve seen more change over the past decade from “we retailers are the connection to the customer and want to hand-sell” to “why aren’t publishers doing more to create customers for their books and driving them to our shops?” Probably because of the glut of material out there. It’s very hard to be a well-stocked shop and no one can (or would want to) carry everything any more. It’s too expensive. And with more material to handle, you’re right, there’s less time to be familiar with it all and provide that kind of selection service.

By: ComicsCritic

ComicsCritic — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:12:47 +0000

Unfortunately, smaller Indy comics are a niche product in an ever increasing niche market. Most walk-in customers to a comic shop won’t even get to see an issue of a Slave Labor book on the shelves unless they’re in certain shops in major cities like NYC & San Fran.

I owned a shop in the 90′s and carried SLG, Cartoon Books, Kitchen Sink, Mirage, and other small press publishers. I literally had to hand sell those books to customers I knew would enjoy them. A great majority of retailers now either don’t bother doing that or don’t have the staff/time to do it. So those small press books don’t get ordered or sold and it’s up to the creators or publishers to do get the word out through alternate means.

It’s a shame. Our society, for the most part, either looks down upon or worse, ignores, the fact that comic books are a great medium for entertainment. While those negative perceptions remain, it makes it very difficult to increase the market to where small press books are viable in every store.

By: Ralf Haring

Ralf Haring — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:17:27 +0000

I wonder how long it’ll be before mid-range companies like Image or Dark Horse or IDW follow suit?

I also seem to remember CrossGen publishing all their comics on the web via a subscription service way back around 2001-2, way ahead of the curve.