Pipeline #579 for 15 July 2008

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Lots to talk about this week:

* Captain America: White #0
* More thoughts on the rising price of things - when will comics feel the pinch?
* Three quick highlights from the latest PREVIEWS catalog, alongside the news that a podcast won't be happening this month.
* I couldn't make the podcasting panel in Chicago, but I thought I'd answer the questions, anyway.
* And, of course, the show notes for last week's podcast.
* A new feature: Looking back at the comic books I bought five years ago this very week.

3000 words and counting.

-Augie

[Sleepbringer]

Sort of off topic, sorry, but I'm new to CBR and just saw your name. I recognize it from my days working at Extreme Studios, oh back in 95 or so. Were you a big letter writer back in the day, because I swear you and Idea Boy sure did tell us what you thought about what what going on in the books. I was the guy opening the mail and doing a bunch o letter pages back then. Just saying hi!
Ben

[EclecticGeek]

* More thoughts on the rising price of things - when will comics feel the pinch?


Well I hope you're wrong. Prices in Australia for comics are high enough already. For some reason every has realised the Aussie dollar is strong against the US Dollar (for a change) except for comic shops.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Sort of off topic, sorry, but I'm new to CBR and just saw your name. I recognize it from my days working at Extreme Studios, oh back in 95 or so. Were you a big letter writer back in the day, because I swear you and Idea Boy sure did tell us what you thought about what what going on in the books. I was the guy opening the mail and doing a bunch o letter pages back then. Just saying hi!
Ben

I had a letter printed in YOUNGBLOOD #3, I believe it was. Yup, that was me. Ended up with about 400 printed before I retired, including many at Image in "Savage Dragon" and "NewMen."

Thanks for opening my mail! Isn't it crazy to think that there was a time we had to type those out, print them up, mail them out, and then someone had to retype them in? It's maddening to think about today. . .

-Augie

[torippu]

* More thoughts on the rising price of things - when will comics feel the pinch?

-Augie
I sure hope that you are off by 6 months to a year. If Marvel & DC raise prices, then I am definitely going to start dropping some of their books. Over the past year, I've had a hard time with the $3.50 (and above) price point that has started to crop up a lot of the newer Image books that I have been trying out.

What are your thoughts on the $3.99 pricing that Marvel & DC are charging for most of their Secret Invasion & Final Crisis books? Is this the Big 2 gauging the waters for an eventual price increase or a plea from retailers for them to charge more money for these books knowing that they have a captive audience and people are going to pay any price to read these books?

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

They charge $3.99 because they can. If, as an added side effect, it gives them market research for future price increases, all the better. I don't think it's to give retailers more profit.

In a semi-related note, I have a theory about Image I'll be sharing on Tuesday. . .

-Augie

[torippu]

They charge $3.99 because they can. If, as an added side effect, it gives them market research for future price increases, all the better. I don't think it's to give retailers more profit.

I actually asked the owner of my LCS (who I like to think that I am pretty friendly with) about the extra price for the event books and he mentioned that Marvel & DC claimed it was because they got a lot of complaints/requests from retailers to charge more for these types of books. I'm sure that we'll never really get a straight answer...all I know is that I don't like paying the extra $1 for a regular comic book. Slap a cardstock or wraparound cover on the book and I wouldn't complain so much!

In a semi-related note, I have a theory about Image I'll be sharing on Tuesday. . .

-Augie
I saw you preview this in the thread for the new column and color me intrigued. Looking forward to Tuesday!