Comic books

[yesno]

Isn't it good for the industry that people buy books, no matter what format they buy them?  If a person who never bought weekly floppies buys any graphic novel, they're putting money into an industry that needs it.

Not really though, no. It's a different route the money goes when you buy from a comic shop vs a "real" bookstore. Don't ask me to explain it, because it makes no sense to me either. Unless the creator has a really good deal in place though they don't see much of that money at all, or at least that's my understanding of it.

But isn't this money that never would have gone to comics at all?  I'd bet that most sales at B&N don't take away from any other comic sales anywhere, in any format.  They come from casual fans who wouldn't bother stepping into a comic book shop. 

Honestly, if the *NY TIMES* can't make money I have a hard time seeing how comics can.

[erechoveraker]

But isn't this money that never would have gone to comics at all?  I'd bet that most sales at B&N don't take away from any other comic sales anywhere, in any format.  They come from casual fans who wouldn't bother stepping into a comic book shop. 

You're right most likely. I do know people who do tout themselves as comic readers/whatever who pretty much only buy from chain bookstores though, and personally it's annoying to see that happen and listen to them with any seriousness. And I know even more who have done the shift from buying floppies to waiting for the trade - a move that oddly enough Marvel and DC etc pushed for without realizing how harmful it was going to be to the industry as a whole I think. Realized or cared, I guess it's semantics there.

I think if comic shops overall were handled better generally and more inviting places to be, more people might be apt to journey into them. That's a whole other argument though...

[Matt C]

B&N can return books which can cause problems, especially if their damaged, I think they even tear the cover off just like they do with paperbacks.  The comic shops on the other hand order what they want, and then the publishers can fill that order with no fear of returns.  It's better to buy from a comic shop, but really creators just want their stuff read.

[kimota]

Anyone reading Crossed Or Gravel?  Those are the only comics keeping my interest these days.  Maybe Fell and Desolation Jones, if they ever came out.

[Kim Kelly]

I order from midtowncomics.com because I'm allergic to virgins.

[erechoveraker]

I order from midtowncomics.com because I'm allergic to virgins.

I ordered from them lots too the last few years when I was living on the east coast. They get all the cool toys.

[dave from knoxville]

Comics Life does seem pretty much fucked from every angle, and much of it is self-sabotage, perpetrated by just about everyone participating in the industry.

Very, very true.

Fixed

[redsplitwig]

Comics Life does seem pretty much fucked from every angle, and much of it is self-sabotage, perpetrated by just about everyone participating in the industry.

Very, very true.

Fixed

Is there anything Dave can't do?  I thank you for much entertainment, Mr. from Knoxville.

[erechoveraker]

Blech.

And more too.

[yesno]

Blech.

And more too.

Future = print-on-demand

http://www.ondemandbooks.com/home.htm

Avoids this distributor horseshit.

[erechoveraker]

Blech.

And more too.

Future = print-on-demand

http://www.ondemandbooks.com/home.htm

Avoids this distributor horseshit.

I've been pretty disappointed in most pod jobs I've seen, and I've tried a bunch of different printers and services. The quality ranges from ok to just plain bad. Also, their pricing structure means you'll never make enough money to eat off of either, selling a couple copies here, a couple there.

Hopefully this gives some of the better printers out there with comic experience an incentive though to get into it I guess.

[yesno]

I think the future of POD is that you have the machines in bookstores, not mail order.  The one I linked to is good quality for b&w text.  There's nothing impossible about increasing the quality for color.  Either way, I think it's the future, not the present.  I don't see how anything else can save smaller-scale publishing of all kinds.

[redsplitwig]

There is a new printing of Walter Simonsons Thor Visionaries that just came out this month.  I picked it up and it is great.  Classic Marvel heroes type of stories and this book introduces Beta Ray Bill.  It's very different from how comics are today, but it's one of those books that really informs all the Marvel stuff today.  Really good and different from the usual stuff I read.

[snogrog]

Never really read any Simonson. Who does art on that?

[erechoveraker]

Walter Simonson.