Alterna Comics launching line using only newsprint!

[StarBrand]

Alterna is launching a line of comics using only newsprint. The most expensive comic in the line will be 1.99. I've been calling for this for years. I started a thread about this years ago on this board.
I'll support this.

[IMJ]

Yup... me too. While I think this is great, there are two things to note - if they really want to reach an audience then the publisher should get these books into store magazine racks. Second, they'll have to contend with a publishing line that no one knows or cares about. I've never even heard of this publisher before.

It's too bad that Valiant doesn't embrace something like this. It would be ironic because Valiant comics were always premium books, but if they could go grassroots and get their stuff into newsstands cheaply, I think they'd have the best fighting chance for the model. Especially if the movies do anything worthwhile.

[StarBrand]

The premium paper comics publisers now use is an excuse to jack up the prices in my opinion. Looking at historic comic cover prices from the early 80s and before, comics should now sell for 1.50 each at the most, adjusted for inflation. Comics have surged in price FAR more than almost anything. How healthy would the new comic market be right now if not for the publishers' price gouging?

[StarBrand]

Publishers make the argument they have to pay comic creators more to be fair to them, but that is mostly another excuse. They didn't have to raise their prices ten times what other goods go for after inflation adjustments. Maybe pizzerias should use a better dough and give their employees raises and then charge $100 for a pizza. They could then complain about how weak the demand for pizza is. That is the formula comics have adopted.

[StarBrand]

http://www.newsarama.com/32580-one-publ ... nting.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mkb28]

http://www.newsarama.com/32580-one-publ ... nting.html

This was the best quote from the article for me:

We're not in the business of making collectibles first and comics second. These won't be variant covers or variant issues, just basic comic books."

Mkb28

[StarBrand]

Yes! Great quote.

[Cyberstrike]

I love their attitude but I need more info on the kind of books and the creators.

I mean if the books are great by great creators then I'll try them out, but if the books are crap by crappy creators then I won't.

[IMJ]

Right... are they anthology books? A superhero universe? I think the marketing strategy is great, but if they are releasing "My Little Pony", "NFL Superpro", and "Angry Guy With A Gun" books, then that line isn't going to do it...

[jeremycoe]

I don't think paper costs have that much to do with the $3.99 price point. In fact, I'm sure I've heard before that the glossy paper that's prevalent today is cheaper to use than newsprint would be because of the amount used.

I wish them luck, but I don't see this working.

[Tim]

I don't think paper costs have that much to do with the $3.99 price point. In fact, I'm sure I've heard before that the glossy paper that's prevalent today is cheaper to use than newsprint would be because of the amount used.

I wish them luck, but I don't see this working.

I seem to remember something like that as well. Not that glossy paper is always more expensive, but that the cost of newsprint fluctuates so much that the cost would be inconsistent over long term.

The samples I see on Alterna's website look like crap, so I think that is going to have more to do with this not working than the paper ever would. I'd love it if Marvel and DC would do something like this though. For a long time I've been not spending my new comics monthly budget because there wasn't anything that really interested me. Now with DC's Rebirth and a few Marvel titles I'm going way over-budget each month. Would love a price drop on these titles, but as Jeremy has already said, I think the paper cost has nothing at all to do with books being $2.99-$3.99 these days.

[StarBrand]

Back in the 80s when comics made their move away from newsprint, newsprint was much cheaper. St At least judging by what comics with newsprint at the time were selling for and what the new slick paper comics were priced at. Back then the comics with the new paper were far more expensive. It's pretty much too late now.
I'm launching a new small press Universe shortly and all I'm using is newsprint. My theme is our comics have ''Silver Age sensibilities'' and newsprint will help solidify that feel to our books.

[StarBrand]

I was a retailer back when the new paper started taking over. You never heard that the new paper was cheaper back then. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. I guess that's now changed.

[StarBrand]

The advent of the new paper that replaced newsprint in comics coincided with huge cover price increases in comics.

[Tim]

I don't know. The 33% industry-wide increase from $2.99 to $3.99 was the largest percent increase comics have had recently and had nothing to do with paper. Also, when the industry standard price went from $1.00 to $1.25 (and $1.50 shortly thereafter) they were still being printed on newsprint. I seem to remember Marvel's price point for books printed on newsprint was $1.50 when the their price on titles printed on higher quality paper was $1.95.

I think the big two saw what Image and Valiant were able to charge for books and adjusted their prices accordingly.

Now they count on the rabidity of the few remaining readers they have and know that we'll pay whatever for our monthlies.

[jeremycoe]

I was a retailer back when the new paper started taking over. You never heard that the new paper was cheaper back then. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. I guess that's now changed.

No doubt that's the case, but it probably cost a whole penny or two more to use the nicer paper at the time. Now that the nicer paper is standard it would be more expensive to go back. It's about volume. If a majority switched back to newsprint, then that paper would probably be cheaper. I doubt prices would drop, though.

[possumgrease]

So there's a Kickstarter going for this that ends later today.

I sort of like that "I love the smell of comics on a Wednesday" shirt.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pe ... ?ref=email

I don't know, Croak and Trespasser look interesting.

[otomo]

So cool! I mentioned them in a valiant thread and I've been checking out some of their books. It's been slow cuz my comic shop didn't carry them and I found them late, but on alternacomics.com they do offer comics free digitally via their newsletter -- 30 of them at that. Some are anthologies, some are previews but here's what I've read and enjoyed:

1. Adam Wreck #1 - sci-fi story. Cute. Very fun.
2. Lilith Dark - again, cute, very fun.

I've got on order Scrimshaw (graphic novel) as some of my fans have raved to me about this book, I think the GN of 3 issues comes out early dec. And Wicked Righteous cuz the artist followed me on twitter and we chatted and he's a nice guy.

Now trying to get back issues in non-digital form is a bit hard. They sell out. Lilith Dark #2 is out and Wicked Righteous #1 is out.

But Their titles are all $1.50-1.99. And I love it. I'm going to be supporting them because I think it's good to encourage this kind of thing for new content. And second, they also produce a lot of kid-friendly titles, which is missing from the comics industry (other than like licensed property). Great effort on their part.

[grendeljd]

I might have to give these guys a looky-loo!