I've bemoaned my general loathing of comics over the past 10 years or so and more or less consider the medium a total niche for aging geeks.
When cheap newsprint comics disappeared from the newstand and retail stores and became $4 glossy reads the entire industry began a descent into obscurity, regardless of the big dollar years of the early 90s and the fact that movies are being made from comics.
Go into any comics store and you won't find kids.
Oh sure there may be a few here and there but overall the general readership of comics is now geeks in their late 20s and 30s.
Kids really don't give a shit about comics at all other than the occasional appearance in a movie.
You lose the kids. You lose the comics industry.
And then today I read that "Marvel is making a comeback to 7-11 stores across the country" and I about crapped my pants.
Marvel’s Peter Cuneo said that the publisher will see comics in just under 6000 of the convenience stores, doubling the number of outlets for the comics in the U.S. (presumably both direct market – widely quoted as consisting of 3000 accounts via Diamond, and other outlets). Cuneo predicted that the 7-11 placement would have a large impact on Marvel's business, both financially and in exposing Marvel's comics to a wider audience.No shit.
It has taken you how long to figure this out???
Along with moving back into 7-11s, it was also announced that Marvel had reached a deal with Barnes & Noble to sell comics in 300 more stores across the U.S., following the conclusion of a successful 50-store test.This is fantastic news for the comics industry. However, this isn't going to be a big impact initially. This may take years to make a significant dent in sales.The move back to the convenience stores will be one that both other publishers and convenience store chains will be watching closely. 20 – 25 years ago, convenience store distribution of comics was a major force for moving product to the mass audience, but over the years, comics’ presence in such outlets has dwindled to virtually nothing due to a host of reasons...
And where are you DC?
What's good for Marvel is good for DC and what's good for DC is good for Marvel.
What's good for you both is good for the industry in general.
But you need to go back to some newsprint books that will only cost $1.50 or so.
Putting books in convenience stores is the right step.
Getting the books priced in an affordable manner is the next.
Fuck the "specialty" comics store!!!
Long live the way comics were sold for 40 years!!!
Comments (10)
Almost correct, i do see a bunch of kids getting comics at my local shop from time to time. But they are mostly into the card games(whatever the latest annoying game is). I was like you till about 5 years ago when i started to collect again but i generally only get graphic novels
All the stories seem to get more and more twisted each time you read them. They have killed certain charater about 100 times but they NEVER seem to stay dead. You cannot just pick up a comic and say ok this is what is happening. No they have these twisted plots that go over 3 seperate comics for the last 2 years.
Slightly off topic but i feel better
Posted by Marv | March 2, 2005 2:21 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 14:21
I've only ever seen kids in comic stores with their comic geek dads. But, I don't generally go to comic stores on weekends or during "after school" hours. The only kid I know who frequents my favorite store is the kid whose grandmother pre-orders ever Batman figure for him. He's 6 years old and has a better collection than me.
Posted by gigamatt | March 2, 2005 2:41 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 14:41
Marv: The stores here in Cowtown, with the exception of 1 way out in the north side of town, don't really cater to the gaming/card products at all.
I can see why kids may come in for that but otherwise it is always aging geeks.
Matt: Yes. He does have a better collection than you . He's got a "Sugar" Grandma! =)
Posted by Naladahc | March 2, 2005 2:44 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 14:44
Off subject: you keep saying cowtown, i assuming Wisconsin somewhere?
Posted by Marv | March 2, 2005 3:17 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:17
Oh. Sorry. I think I took down my Naladictionary link the last time I redesigned the site.
Local slang for Columbus, Ohio.
The Cowlands equals Columbus and surrounding suburban villages and cities such as Dublin, Hilliard, New Rome, and others.
The Greater Cowlands consists of the central Cowlands out about 6-7 counties in all directions which is basically a true rural wasteland until you hit Cleveburg (Cleveland), Glass City (Toledo), Cincinnati (so boring it has no other name), and even Steel City (Pittsburgh) in Pennsylvania.
Glass City is Toledo, Ohio, my hometown and formerly the Glass Capital of the World.
I really need to update the dictionary and link it back to the main page.
So much of my nala-slang is documented there.
Posted by Naladahc | March 2, 2005 3:33 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:33
Uh, Queen City, I think, is Cincinnati's moniker.
Posted by gigamatt | March 2, 2005 3:35 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:35
And Steel City was just for the Titans. Iron City is more common for the 'burgh, as I recall. (I.C. Light beer, etc)
Posted by gigamatt | March 2, 2005 3:37 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:37
Well this is my website and I'll call it Steel City if I want to since Iron City doesn't ring right with me! =P
This is my Earth-N!
Cincinnati doesn't deserve a moniker.
Oh... and if I refer to "The City" or Sodom on the Bay I'm usually talking about San Francisco.
Hmm... I think that's about all the city names I ever use in my online slang.
Posted by Naladahc | March 2, 2005 3:40 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:40
"The City" I understood as I am in hell or otherwise known as San Jose CA
Posted by Marv | March 2, 2005 4:19 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 16:19
San Jose.
I remember it well for the whole 5 hours we spent there.
Giga and I attended the very first Linux World out there in 1999. (I think it was 1998 or 1999. My photo gallery for that visit is kaput for some reason).
Ya know... I don't think I really know anyone south of Mountainview any more.
Posted by Naladahc | March 2, 2005 4:30 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 16:30