Premium stock paper vs extra story pages poll

[Dallow Spicer1]

From a recent exchange with Dinesh on Twitter when he was asked if Ninja-k wouldbe on premium paper stock (it won’t but it WILL have extra story pages), it got me thinking, what would the fans prefer?

[WrathOfArmstrong]

I can't say no to more story, if that's what the cost of better paper is, give me story. There's times I miss the newsprint of old--but I think the type of art should determine the quality of paper, so that it is best represented. And if it can't be on premium for the floppies--then that someday hardcover deserves the upgrade.

[Summydad1]

Gotta be the premium paper for me. It makes the cover really pop and looks great in mylite. Most stories are the right length for me.

[jeremycoe]

In a true either-or scenario, I would choose extra story every time.

[jmatt]

I'm heavily leaning toward more story, but it would be incorrect for me to also say I don't care about the stock.

[Wodwulf Seaxaning]

More story for me.

[grendeljd]

More story!

[IMJ]

In a monthly comic book, premium paper stock is an excuse to make money selling a product. Selling a comic on it's own merits with more story is a way to sell a skill.

[Dallow Spicer1]

In a monthly comic book, premium paper stock is an excuse to make money selling a product. Selling a comic on it's own merits with more story is a way to sell a skill.

Valiant doesn’t charge extra for premium paper (one of the many reasons they’re such a great company).

I wonder what costs more to produce, premium paper or more story pages?

[jmatt]

I have no idea what the costs associated with those elements are, but one factor is it would depend on the print run. Premium paper costs would be one number on 8,000 issues and far more on 25,000.

Aside from the artists and writer costs for producing 'more story', another factor would be the additional regular stock paper printing it, as well.

[tell]

I have no idea what the costs associated with those elements are, but one factor is it would depend on the print run. Premium paper costs would be one number on 8,000 issues and far more on 25,000.

Far more on the bottom line, but probably less per issue cost. Producing a small number of an expensive thing is usually more costly than a large number. For instance in record pressing it is so expensive to do a small run like 150 records that generally it's pointless to press less than 300-500. Pressing 150 7" eps would mean selling them around $10 to recoup costs, the same run of a thousand could drop that by half.

[otomo]

You know... there's something to be said about Alterna Comics and their newsprint books they're selling for $1.50.

[Shadowman99]

The voting option put it perfectly for me: "Don’t care about the paper, give me more story."

I'm interested to hear Otomo's comment on how Alterna comics are doing things a different way from the rest of the industry - time to pop over to their website and see what they're up to in terms of content

[Chiclo]

You know... there's something to be said about Alterna Comics and their newsprint books they're selling for $1.50.

I have been interested in giving them a try. I follow them on Twitter and I find the concept particularly charming but none of their comics have really clicked and got me to pull the trigger yet.

[jeremycoe]

Honestly, I've tried a few of the Alterna books and not only is the paper lower quality but the story and artwork is as well. I'd like them to do well, but it will be tough to put out quality CONTENT at that price point

[Wodwulf Seaxaning]

I signed up to the Alterna newsletter & got thirty free digital comics, I have yet to read them so i cannot comment on the quality but Mother Russia looks good; but I am partial to Zombies.

[Shadowman99]

I signed up to the Alterna newsletter & got thirty free digital comics, I have yet to read them so i cannot comment on the quality but Mother Russia looks good; but I am partial to Zombies.

You should give us a shout in this thread (or start a new thread in 'Marvel, DC, independents, etc.?) once you've read a few of them and let us know what you think of the titles once you've read them, it sounds to me like a few of us here would like to know a bit more about Alterna comics

I noticed the signup offer when I checked out their site the other day, so might do the same...

Edit: Maybe continue discussion in this thread(?): http://www.valiantfans.com/forum/viewto ... it=alterna" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nonplayer]

I am sold 100% on prestige format. I don't know what your trying to say with the first pol question. But make mine prestige format.
All the stuff in thease bundles with sketches and extra pages I gotta be honist I haven't read a single one. It's not story but I don't really need to see how the issue was made. Notes are cool but not nessasary for my enjoyment.
When I pick up Divinity the feel of it blows me away. Xo the same. But I hate the logo taking more than a third of the cover. But the stock is nice.

[Dallow Spicer1]

I am sold 100% on prestige format. I don't know what your trying to say with the first pol question. But make mine prestige format.
All the stuff in thease bundles with sketches and extra pages I gotta be honist I haven't read a single one. It's not story but I don't really need to see how the issue was made. Notes are cool but not nessasary for my enjoyment.
When I pick up Divinity the feel of it blows me away. Xo the same. But I hate the logo taking more than a third of the cover. But the stock is nice.

Hi! It’s not the extra notes, sketches etc the poll is referring to. Have you read the last Ninjak series or the new Ninja-k book? There’s extra story and they’re pretty darn good!

[WhoDoo]

I like the extra pages more, but is it too much to ask that pre-orders to also have the heavier stock paper with the extra pages? Seems like having the pre-orders with premium stock paper, would push sales on Pre-order books.

[jmatt]

All the stuff in thease bundles with sketches and extra pages I gotta be honist I haven't read a single one. It's not story but I don't really need to see how the issue was made. Notes are cool but not nessasary for my enjoyment.

When I pick up Divinity the feel of it blows me away. Xo the same. But I hate the logo taking more than a third of the cover. But the stock is nice.

The poll issues aside, I'm in agreement. The first few times it was done, I took the time to read the creation content about coloring, etc. Now I just flip passed it.

But yeah, the feel of that prestige format in your hands is wonderful.

[WrathOfArmstrong]

I agree on the back matter--at least on the floppies, I don't need the behind the scenes. It's interesting once I've read the arch, and I'm sure they don't do anything to spoil future issues, but it can diminish some of the story telling magic.

[IMJ]

In a monthly comic book, premium paper stock is an excuse to make money selling a product. Selling a comic on it's own merits with more story is a way to sell a skill.

Valiant doesn’t charge extra for premium paper (one of the many reasons they’re such a great company).

I wonder what costs more to produce, premium paper or more story pages?

This is cool... but my statement does not need to incorporate that Valiant doesn't charge extra for premium paper. The statement is still a truth.

[Shadowman99]

I agree on the back matter--at least on the floppies, I don't need the behind the scenes. It's interesting once I've read the arch, and I'm sure they don't do anything to spoil future issues, but it can diminish some of the story telling magic.

That's interesting - I often find that once I've read the notes in the extra pages that I missed things whilst I was reading the comic through the first time, and that extra depth is usually added to the characters/setting/plot through the artists' notes on what they were thinking and trying to express through their contributions to the pages

[Summydad1]

How about premium paper and extra story. Just charge a little more for the books. I would pay extra for that.