Getting the Trades out: What's taking so damn long?

[40footwolf]

Has anybody else noticed that it takes an absurdly long time for the Vertigo trades to come out? They're printed on cheap paper and with often very little actual content(with a fair price tag, to be sure), so why does it take up to six months after a story has concluded for a paperback to come out?

I bring this up because I just learned that the next DMZ trade doesn't come out until March, and if you're like me, you enjoy reading more "mature" comics in book format more than issue, so what's the deal? Why does DC need so much time to print the things?

[briancwood]

Has anybody else noticed that it takes an absurdly long time for the Vertigo trades to come out? They're printed on cheap paper and with often very little actual content(with a fair price tag, to be sure), so why does it take up to six months after a story has concluded for a paperback to come out?

I bring this up because I just learned that the next DMZ trade doesn't come out until March, and if you're like me, you enjoy reading more "mature" comics in book format more than issue, so what's the deal? Why does DC need so much time to print the things?


speaking for DMZ, the trades come out pretty frequently:

vol. 1 - June 06
vol. 2 - Feb 07
vol. 3 - Sept 07
vol. 4 - March 08
vol. 5 - July 08

So roughly every six months for five or six issues worth of material (vol. 2 was seven issues long) which really isn't so bad. And anyway, isn't March like 2 or 3 weeks away?

brian w

[DonC]

Has anybody else noticed that it takes an absurdly long time for the Vertigo trades to come out? They're printed on cheap paper and with often very little actual content(with a fair price tag, to be sure), so why does it take up to six months after a story has concluded for a paperback to come out?

I bring this up because I just learned that the next DMZ trade doesn't come out until March, and if you're like me, you enjoy reading more "mature" comics in book format more than issue, so what's the deal? Why does DC need so much time to print the things?


First off, you're complaining you have to wait six months to read what is most likely six issues. Guess how long the people who read the monthlies have to wait to read that entire story.

Anyway, six months after the last issue in the collection comes out is standard. The only time a collection is rushed out is when the series is hot, like the "Sinestro Corps War" hardcovers, or if they want to give the monthly comics a sales boost. In fact, I can't recall the last time Vertigo rushed a trade out. Waiting is the price you pay for being trade-only. Monthly comics are ad-supported. They will always be the main focus of pubishers.

[stealthwise]

speaking for DMZ, the trades come out pretty frequently:

vol. 1 - June 06
vol. 2 - Feb 07
vol. 3 - Sept 07
vol. 4 - March 08
vol. 5 - July 08

So roughly every six months for five or six issues worth of material (vol. 2 was seven issues long) which really isn't so bad. And anyway, isn't March like 2 or 3 weeks away?

brian w

The next one's in March? Sweet, I was expecting to have to wait longer than that.

The problem I have with the trades is that they're never publicized, and you basically have to look up the release dates on your own. I know quite a few friends who rarely read comics, and they'll pick up Y or DMZ or other books on their own, but never seek out the next trade until I make them aware that the books are available.

[abyss]

I think the trades come out on a decent enough schedule look at Fables the Good Prince arc just ended in the monthly issues and the trade is coming out in May only a few months after the end of the initial story-line thats fast. Now if your talking about older titles like Swamp Thing then yeah there painfully slow im still waiting for the rest of Veitch's run to be collected.

[briancwood]

The problem I have with the trades is that they're never publicized, and you basically have to look up the release dates on your own. I know quite a few friends who rarely read comics, and they'll pick up Y or DMZ or other books on their own, but never seek out the next trade until I make them aware that the books are available.

If they know they like something, why wouldn't they seek it out? That's what I do with music and books. Pretty easy at a place like Amazon.

And sadly, comics isn't rich enough for unfocused advertising like TV and bus ads, so if your friends rarely read comics to begin with, I'm not surprised they are missing the marketing DC does for collections.

bri

[stealthwise]

If they know they like something, why wouldn't they seek it out? That's what I do with music and books. Pretty easy at a place like Amazon.

And sadly, comics isn't rich enough for unfocused advertising like TV and bus ads, so if your friends rarely read comics to begin with, I'm not surprised they are missing the marketing DC does for collections.

bri

True enough. Usually they just rely on me for information, and all I do is a quick google search or something.

I think the problem is that a lot of people tend to prioritize their entertainment in a way that often lumps comic books at the bottom of the heap. Novels tend to take longer to read (a detriment to me, personally, but I understand if people want more "hours of entertainment" for their dollar), video games are more interactive and can be more co-operative, and music/movies/tv can be free (the first two with downloading or burning). Comics are often more costly and time-consuming to hunt down for a lot of people.

To summarize that long-winded paragraph above: the people I know that read comics like them, they just don't actively seek them out. Hell, my mom doesn't own a single comic, but she's read most of mine. She really digs DMZ, btw.

[40footwolf]

First off, you're complaining you have to wait six months to read what is most likely six issues. Guess how long the people who read the monthlies have to wait to read that entire story.

Anyway, six months after the last issue in the collection comes out is standard. The only time a collection is rushed out is when the series is hot, like the "Sinestro Corps War" hardcovers, or if they want to give the monthly comics a sales boost. In fact, I can't recall the last time Vertigo rushed a trade out. Waiting is the price you pay for being trade-only. Monthly comics are ad-supported. They will always be the main focus of pubishers.

What I'm saying is that Marvel can crank out six issues of even a low-profile story into a trade about two months after it concludes in magazine format. Does Vertigo simply not have the resources to do this except with high-profile storylines(like somebody else mentioned, The Good Prince is coming out in trade very soon) or what?

[Ryan Day]

What I'm saying is that Marvel can crank out six issues of even a low-profile story into a trade about two months after it concludes in magazine format. Does Vertigo simply not have the resources to do this except with high-profile storylines(like somebody else mentioned, The Good Prince is coming out in trade very soon) or what?

I don't think it's about resources, but strategy: In theory, if the trade comes out that quickly, there's less incentive for people to buy the single issues.

But once you get past that, though, it's not such a big deal. Even if they decided to print the trades almost immediately, after the initial acceleration you'd go right back to waiting 6 months between volumes.

[40footwolf]

Except that there's less reason to buy the single issues as it is. That would make sense except that the Comic Book industry is already switching to a more trade-centric format, so one would think that, if trades are where the money is...?

[Ryan Day]

Except that there's less reason to buy the single issues as it is. That would make sense except that the Comic Book industry is already switching to a more trade-centric format, so one would think that, if trades are where the money is...?

They're switching, not switched. Like it or not, Marvel and DC are still pretty much based on the monthly market. Vertigo is probably more trade-centric than anyone else, but they still need the single issues to sell in a certain quantity.

But look at it this way: The only reason you know the trades are "delayed" is because, to some extent, you're still following the monthly market. If you didn't know about the monthly issues and just got periodic trades at a bookstore, it would be kind of irrelevant.

I mean, I understand what you're talking about - I read Y in trades, so I've been afraid to use the internet at all in fear the ending will be revealed to me. But that's just the way it is for the time being.

[briancwood]

I don't think it's about resources, but strategy: In theory, if the trade comes out that quickly, there's less incentive for people to buy the single issues.

It also would potentially take money from retailers pockets, rushing trades out hot on the heels of the singles. DC's better than most when it comes to taking retailers into consideration.

And if anyone needs a third possible reason, DC needs to pace itself with trades. Figure that a retailer has X amount of money he/she can spend on DC product in a given month. If presented with a lot of trades to order, its possible that they will have to stretch that amount of money over more books, ordering less of each overall. DC has not only DCU books to publish, but Vertigo, Wildstorm, CMX, and Minx. Marvel really only has Marvel... a few books a year from Icon.

b

[dancj]

I don't think it's about resources, but strategy: In theory, if the trade comes out that quickly, there's less incentive for people to buy the single issues.
But looking at it the other way, if the TPBs come out 6 months after the issues it's very hard for people who started out reading the TPBs to switch to single issues.

Personally I don't care either way

[DonC]

Except that there's less reason to buy the single issues as it is. That would make sense except that the Comic Book industry is already switching to a more trade-centric format, so one would think that, if trades are where the money is...?


For Marvel and DC, counting on money from trades is a new idea. The monthly comic pays the writers, artists, editors, printers and all that. DC and Marvel want you to buy the monthlies. They'll take trade-only fans if they have to, but really, they want the people going into the comic shop for their weekly fix.

[40footwolf]

Well, yeah, they WANT them to, but I think as trades become more popular we're going to be seeing a market more inclined towards them. And I'm not saying that the monthlies should not come out any more by any stretch of the imagination, I just think that the closer they can get their trades to come out the better, for them and for fans.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

DC and Marvel want you to buy the monthlies. They'll take trade-only fans if they have to, but really, they want the people going into the comic shop for their weekly fix.

It's sad when they try and force the market to do what they want, instead of listening to the market, and responding in kind.

[briancwood]

It's sad when they try and force the market to do what they want, instead of listening to the market, and responding in kind.

There are two markets at the moment - the monthly-buying one and the trade-buying one. It makes sense to try and serve both of them.

b

[noh-varr]

I really don't mind the pace trades come out. I kind of forget about the date for the next trade and order it and when it comes out I pick it up. It really makes life easier, I will look in previews and wonder when the hell the next 100 Bullets, Fables, or whatever will come out in trade. But beyond that it doesn't bother me. Because I know when it does come out I will enjoy it.

I consider trades to be more like a novel in a series. I've waited years for the next book of something, a few months until I can read the third trade of Scalped is nothing compared to that.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

There are two markets at the moment - the monthly-buying one and the trade-buying one. It makes sense to try and serve both of them.

b

I must say though, DC, particularly when it comes to their superhero line, really need to get it a bit more together in regards to their trade market.
They've definetly lost sales from me by releasing trades after the book's already slipped off my radar, or by making it confusing to know which one to get next.
For example, I quite enjoyed Kurt Busiek's first Superman arc 'Back In Action', but have yet to find a second trade of his stories, or even know if one is due - and it's been a long time since I got that first one.
So although I can see the sense in trying to serve both markets, they are neglecting the one that is growing.
If they got things out a bit faster, the publicity from when the floppies were released could still serve the trade, as opposed to relying on my horrific memory as to which books sounded good.

[stealthwise]

FGJ makes some good points, especially about DC's mainstream books. There have been quite a few good superhero titles, but I lost track of nearly all of them, because the trades take forever, and all of the buzz is lost by the time they hit. Hell, I have no idea where Superman/Birds of Prey/Catwoman are in terms of collections.