Comic Book Resources

**Gail Simone** · 08-03-2006, 09:37 AM

what would you change?

I mean seriously, what one thing is so wrong with the comics industry that you'd use your one magic wish to fix it?

Gail

SUPERECWFAN1 · 08-03-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

what would you change?

I mean seriously, what one thing is so wrong with the comics industry that you'd use your one magic wish to fix it?

Gail

The prices to me. Its really the only thing I'd wish to change.

the4thpip · 08-03-2006, 09:53 AM

Prices is a good one. Availability is another one though. Having comics back at all the newsstands and supermarkets would be great. How come I see Archie digests at the checkout at Publix in Miami, but not Marvel Adventures digests?

amboy00 · 08-03-2006, 10:05 AM

I have a big problem with the monopoly distribution. Toys are one thing, they offer accounts to stores, but if you want to sell Marvel or DC you have to buy from one source.

Does that happen in the book industry?

**Gail Simone** · 08-03-2006, 10:09 AM

No, Chris, and it's a great point. The closest example I can think of is magazine distribution, which is a very cruel and cut-throat industry that strangles many good efforts in their beds.

Gail

Weetomuncher · 08-03-2006, 10:43 AM

I think that comics need to be more widely available.

As a kid back in the 80s I could get a pretty good selection of comics at a decent local newsagent but now I have to travel to Glasgow to get anything other than 2000AD and a few UK reprints of Marvel and DC books.

Surely the major chains of newsagents could carry the major comic titles in their original format?

Bob Violence · 08-03-2006, 10:49 AM

I agree with the necessity of newstand distribution, getting a non-fan to go to their local comic shop is too steep a hurdle. I'm only a casual fan of anime, but if the only way for me to get it was through some weird anime shop, I don't think I'd bother.
I'd also like to see more tabloid-sized comics, like the ones Alex Ross and Paul Dini did, or even reprints of stuff like George Perez' original run on the Avengers. Those giant-sized collections are what got me into comics as a kid. Reprints of comics in books is too expensive and makes me think "library". Giant-sized comics take advantage of what makes comics readable.

Matt Algren · 08-03-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

what would you change?

I mean seriously, what one thing is so wrong with the comics industry that you'd use your one magic wish to fix it?

Gail

Right now, I'd change this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judd Winick

“My big quote on that is: ‘The big red cheese is dead’ – meaning that the silliness and the ridiculousness that have surrounded Captain Marvel are gone. He’s not being looked at that way anymore. You keep that in there, and people end up not taking him seriously. Hopefully, they won’t be saying that when they see what we’re doing, and where we’re headed.

“Basically, don’t expect to see many more than Mary, Jr. and Captain Marvel. I know it was a huge family at one time, and we will be addressing it, but in a ‘blanket’ way. In reading issue #2 – those paying attention will see it and understand why ‘Tall Marvel’ (for example) won’t be showing up. It’ll be taken care of. We’re cleaning house – no fat guys in red suits with their guts hanging out flying around.”

I'm not even a big fan of Captain Marvel, and I see how wrongheaded this is. But I think what they're doing with Cap goes beyond just his character, but to the general thought process in comics as a whole. For some reason there's only room for one type of story with one type of hero with one type of tone...

Bah. I'm not saying anything new here. Sorry.

Karen El · 08-03-2006, 11:46 AM

The one thing I would change would be to severely limit the use of crossovers. It's part of the whole thing other people have brought up about making comics more accessible. Not only do you have to put comics in places where a casual reader can make an impulse buy, like a supermarket, but you then have to give that reader an experience that is enjoyable enough on its own that they will be interested in coming back.

That means more self-contained issues. I'm not suggesting limiting stories to a single issue, just giving the reader enough in that single issue that they will be interested enough to go look up the rest of the story. And the absolute antithesis to this is the companywide events where not only does a comic not stand alone in its own series, but it only makes sense if you read a whole lot of other comics featuring different characters that you aren't even interested in. It's almost calculated to exclude the casual reader.

I want crossovers to be something exciting and special, not business as usual, or worse still, a forced digression from our adventure in progress.

jwmojo · 08-03-2006, 12:07 PM

I think I'd have to agree with Karen El. Crossovers have been getting kind of out of hand. So much so that it was big news when Marvel announced that they won't be doing one next year. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Other than that, for the most part, I'm happy with the industry. Sure, there are marketing and PR issues, but I like the product itself.

rebelchelle · 08-03-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karen El

I want crossovers to be something exciting and special, not business as usual, or worse still, a forced digression from our adventure in progress.

Hear, Hear! I remember a time when a crossover was a damn good story, and if you didn't want to collect it you didn't feel as if you were left out of the entire loop of whatever universe you choose to read.

Also, the monopoly with distribution. I'm sorry, but it just seems that Diamond has had the entire industry by the cojones for many, many moons.

SUPERECWFAN1 · 08-03-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necktie

Right now, I'd change this.
I'm not even a big fan of Captain Marvel, and I see how wrongheaded this is. But I think what they're doing with Cap goes beyond just his character, but to the general thought process in comics as a whole. For some reason there's only room for one type of story with one type of hero with one type of tone...

Bah. I'm not saying anything new here. Sorry.

Its Judd Winick. If theres one thing I'd really change and its his ability to keep getting work at DC. I have a bet he's gonna do his usual garbage to Captain Marvel.

muimi · 08-03-2006, 12:57 PM

More women creators in mainstream comics. And more girls who feel comfortable reading comics by the industry realizing that girls can be part of their audience but often times don't feel comfortable reading comics because they are a "boys thing".

AndrewCrossett · 08-03-2006, 01:21 PM

I would start a "Comics on Wheels" service to bring the direct market out to people who don't have a comics shop in their town and are too far away to get to one. Get a fleet of vans set up with shelves inside and a good stock of comics, and drive around to the small towns once a week like the Wells-Fargo wagon. Sell comics to the dozen or so fans that live in that town, then move on to the next one.

cactusmaac · 08-03-2006, 01:26 PM

I wish there was a bigger and healthier publishing sector outside of the Big Two.

And better distribution for comics generally.

08-03-2006, 09:37 AM	#1
Gail Simone Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: in the yard Posts: 17,787	If You Could Change One Thing In The Industry... what would you change? I mean seriously, what one thing is so wrong with the comics industry that you'd use your one magic wish to fix it? Gail

08-03-2006, 09:53 AM	#3
the4thpip They call me Mr. Pip! Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 16,350	Prices is a good one. Availability is another one though. Having comics back at all the newsstands and supermarkets would be great. How come I see Archie digests at the checkout at Publix in Miami, but not Marvel Adventures digests? __________________ My blog. We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about; our very skins. It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. - Desmond Tutu Getting married? Check http://www.fandgweddings.com/

08-03-2006, 10:43 AM	#6
Weetomuncher Does anyone read this? Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Erskine, Scotland Posts: 3,270	I think that comics need to be more widely available. As a kid back in the 80s I could get a pretty good selection of comics at a decent local newsagent but now I have to travel to Glasgow to get anything other than 2000AD and a few UK reprints of Marvel and DC books. Surely the major chains of newsagents could carry the major comic titles in their original format? __________________ Why bother with a signature?

08-03-2006, 11:46 AM	#9
Karen El Lost cause Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,092	The one thing I would change would be to severely limit the use of crossovers. It's part of the whole thing other people have brought up about making comics more accessible. Not only do you have to put comics in places where a casual reader can make an impulse buy, like a supermarket, but you then have to give that reader an experience that is enjoyable enough on its own that they will be interested in coming back. That means more self-contained issues. I'm not suggesting limiting stories to a single issue, just giving the reader enough in that single issue that they will be interested enough to go look up the rest of the story. And the absolute antithesis to this is the companywide events where not only does a comic not stand alone in its own series, but it only makes sense if you read a whole lot of other comics featuring different characters that you aren't even interested in. It's almost calculated to exclude the casual reader. I want crossovers to be something exciting and special, not business as usual, or worse still, a forced digression from our adventure in progress. __________________ People say I'm in a world of my own. It's called Planet Karen. Last edited by Karen El; 08-03-2006 at 11:49 AM.

08-03-2006, 12:57 PM	#13
muimi Meaningless Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: California Delta Posts: 427	More women creators in mainstream comics. And more girls who feel comfortable reading comics by the industry realizing that girls can be part of their audience but often times don't feel comfortable reading comics because they are a "boys thing". __________________ m u i m i · 無意味

08-03-2006, 10:05 AM	#4
amboy00 Chris Williams Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 486	I have a big problem with the monopoly distribution. Toys are one thing, they offer accounts to stores, but if you want to sell Marvel or DC you have to buy from one source. Does that happen in the book industry?

08-03-2006, 10:09 AM	#5
Gail Simone Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: in the yard Posts: 17,787	No, Chris, and it's a great point. The closest example I can think of is magazine distribution, which is a very cruel and cut-throat industry that strangles many good efforts in their beds. Gail

08-03-2006, 10:49 AM	#7
Bob Violence Not a big truck! Join Date: May 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 1,015	I agree with the necessity of newstand distribution, getting a non-fan to go to their local comic shop is too steep a hurdle. I'm only a casual fan of anime, but if the only way for me to get it was through some weird anime shop, I don't think I'd bother. I'd also like to see more tabloid-sized comics, like the ones Alex Ross and Paul Dini did, or even reprints of stuff like George Perez' original run on the Avengers. Those giant-sized collections are what got me into comics as a kid. Reprints of comics in books is too expensive and makes me think "library". Giant-sized comics take advantage of what makes comics readable.

08-03-2006, 12:07 PM	#10
jwmojo Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 320	I think I'd have to agree with Karen El. Crossovers have been getting kind of out of hand. So much so that it was big news when Marvel announced that they won't be doing one next year. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Other than that, for the most part, I'm happy with the industry. Sure, there are marketing and PR issues, but I like the product itself.

08-03-2006, 01:21 PM	#14
AndrewCrossett Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 806	I would start a "Comics on Wheels" service to bring the direct market out to people who don't have a comics shop in their town and are too far away to get to one. Get a fleet of vans set up with shelves inside and a good stock of comics, and drive around to the small towns once a week like the Wells-Fargo wagon. Sell comics to the dozen or so fans that live in that town, then move on to the next one.

08-03-2006, 01:26 PM	#15
cactusmaac Phase 3.0 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bats For Lashes - Two Suns Posts: 8,099	I wish there was a bigger and healthier publishing sector outside of the Big Two. And better distribution for comics generally. __________________ Don't waste your time with people whose ideas you immediately know to be stupid. - Charlie Munger. Comic Book Resources @ Facebook

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