Comics: Pricing themselves into extinction?

[Natrix]

I used to buy a lot of comics but quit cold turkey for several years. I started buying some comics again a year or so ago. I keep hearing how bad of shape the industry was in after the big crash of several years ago. Most comics can be easily read in 10 minutes tops with some shoddy writing and artists although the print quality is better. Prices seemed to rise pretty quickly over the last year. Now, with monthly comics ranging from $3-5 a pop, how long before they price themselves out of the market?

I think it makes more sense to wait for the trade paperbacks.

 

[PosterBoyKelly]

Yeah trades are where it's at, especially since if you're cheap like me you get the trades half off a few months after release from conventions and amazon.

I only get a few issues monthly. But it has to be something that blows me away. Currently Spider-Man: Reign, Eternals (well...now thats over), Shazam! vs. the Monster Society of Evil (which has no ads and is set up in a premium format anyway similar to a trade.)

But trades are generally more durable, and cheaper in the long run, and you don't have to wait, you get the whole story in 1 swoop! I can't say if comics monthly will be extinct, I hope not, I enjoy going weekly and at least getting 1 title, but if it does they kind of did it to themselves.

 

[Natrix]

How many kids can afford $3-5 bucks to spend on a comic? When they get older and can afford them, why would they buy them when they will have "cooler" things to spend money on? I just see a big downward spiral for the industry.

 

[Darth Caedus]

Yea, I agree with Kelley, I normally just wait for the trades. Currently the only individual comics I am buying are: Marvel Civil War (well, that's pretty much over now) and Star Wars: Legacy (can't wait for new issues of this) and that's pretty much it now. There is kind of no point buying every single issue when you can just wait for a full copy that is binded.

 

[carbo-fation]

I agree! Comics are kind of expensive, esp. for the little amount you get once a month! I pay between 7.99 to $9.99 for a manga volume, but I think that's not too bad considering you get so much more.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I pay between 7.99 to $9.99 for a manga volume, .

I'm so sorry you buy those...:emperor :emperor

 

[carbo-fation]

I'm so sorry you buy those...:emperor :emperor

I am not! I've got quite a collection.....300+ and counting!

 

[dekadentdave]

I remember when I was in high school I used to blow my paychecks at my job on comics every week, usually about $30 and I'd walk out of the comic book store with a stack of about 20 comics. Now, 2 comics cost me $10. Needless to say I stopped collecting comics and only pick up an occassional 1 or 2 if they look interesting to read. I have more important collectibles to spend my money on than comics that are a bad investment anyway.

 

[gambit]

I quit buying single issues like 4 years ago. I am only buying TPB, HC and slipcases since.
I agree that comics are expensive BTW

 

[gdb]

Kids don't buy comics. But with the Bush economy, who can afford $3-6 per comic anyhow? Nope, trades are the way to go. Esp. since a collection of the hardbound trades on a shelf look almost cool, whereas a white box of comics on the floor looks kinda sad in a grown man's place -- and a group of white boxes filled with comics look even more so.

 

[Rook]

I drop about $25-35 a week on the things.

Anyone making the argument that kids can't afford $3 per comic is barking up the wrong tree, by the way. Today's comics aren't for kids. Stephen King said it best: "I grew up, and so did the comics." Today, the books are written for and priced for the same people who were reading them in high school 15-20 years ago. They grew up, got jobs, got raises, and they continue to support the industry.

It's a good short-term strategy, at any rate. What happens when all the loyal fans like myself die off, and there are no new fans to take their place, who knows?

 

[Eli26]

Funny you say that Monk because the comic book industry is suffering greatly. Even Marvel said that, and that's why they are big into movies and games because that is where the money is.

Kids don't read anymore, as it is it took Harry Potter novels to get children to read again.

But comics in general have suffered greatly and are on a huge decline. The comic industry is no where near what it was 20 years ago. You can thank the video game generation for that.

 

[dekadentdave]

I drop about $25-35 a week on the things.

Anyone making the argument that kids can't afford $3 per comic is barking up the wrong tree, by the way. Today's comics aren't for kids. Stephen King said it best: "I grew up, and so did the comics." Today, the books are written for and priced for the same people who were reading them in high school 15-20 years ago. They grew up, got jobs, got raises, and they continue to support the industry.

It's a good short-term strategy, at any rate. What happens when all the loyal fans like myself die off, and there are no new fans to take their place, who knows?

You, sir, are in the minority and a very rare breed of remaining comic book afficianados. Kids today are growing up on xbox and playstations and are spending less on novelties like comic books and toys. I truly believe that most of the things that appeal to my generation... Gen-X... are predominantly generational like certain things that appealed to my parents generation... the Baby Boomers... and their parents generation. Oh, the icons will remain... Batman, Superman, Spider-Man... etc. but kids aren't spending their meager allowances on a couple of pricey comic books nowadays. Back when comics were .25 to .50 cents each we would load up. Heck, our parents remember when comics were a nickle or a dime a pop, but nearly 5 bucks now for a comic book is outrageously expensive in todays' economy and inflation adjustment. Why buy a half dozen comic books when you can buy a fun new video game for your xbox or playstation instead?

 

[Rook]

Of course you do get a lot of bang for your buck for that extra cash. But I have to wonder if it's really all that necessary. I hadn't heard that the comic industry was doing that poorly (not really taking the time to pay attention to the market, just reading the bloody things), but it seems to me that, if they thought that high quality paper and realistically-rendered colorization processes, they were gravely mistaken.

If it's really looking so bleak, maybe they should consider going back to the old days. Cheapen it up a little. Focus more on the characters and the stories and less on the high tech means of production.

 

[dekadentdave]

Not only are rising publishing and printing costs an issue but also artists fees. I remember when Todd McFarlane was the hottest artists around and then Jim Lee. Now, even independent publishers are relying on multiple variant covers and gimmiks to prey upon comic completists to maintain sales. That's really what killed it for me back in th early 90's. Rising cover prices, variant covers, and artificially controlled secondary marketprices induced by comic book retailers eventually did it in. Marvel went bankrupt back in the mid to late 90's and survived only by selling off the rights to its intellectual properties to companies like Time-Warner to ensure the future of its industry by venturing into multi-media and entertainment. That's why you see more companies like DC Direct selling action figures of its characters now because they can profit more from those than they do selling books.

 

[Shai]

Well after years of not buying comics anymore,i've start buying the Hulk Comic again,since the beginning of the planet hulk angle..which is really a good read.Also,i'm buying some tpb that im interested in...last one i bought was the marvel Zombie trade and i'll buy the civil war one when it comes out.

 

[customizerwannabe]

Trades or cyber read. I recently got a collection of over 30,000 comic books on dvd's. Almost complete marvel from the 60's to last year. Tons of DC. I'm in comic book heaven again.

 

[Bodie The Cursed]

I did most of my comic buying when they were 50 cents.. I stopped when they went above 75 cents to a dollar.. I still have all those comics..

Only new comic I am into is THE HULK.

*rubs penis*

 

[batman1180]

You can always try to get them online. Places like DCBS have most of their comics for around 1.70. Which is good considering that most places charge cover price. I just made the switch and am saving about 35 bucks a month.