Variant Covers Are Propping Up the Comic Market

[krylox]

Johanna Draper Carlson from comicsworthreading has a very interesting article on the those dubious variant covers, which are flooding the market.

You can read the complete article here.

This week, all of the comics from these publishers have variants:
Archie, Aspen, Avatar, Big Dog Ink, Boom!, IDW, Microcosm, Valiant, Zenescope
...
That means that 43% of the new comics for sale tomorrow are duplicates of something already released. Nearly half the market is variant covers.

I took a look at Valiant's solicitations for october and november.

October: 7 comics with a total of 20 covers
November: 8 comics with a total of 29 covers (12 of them for Unity #1 alone)

Are we heading straight back to the mid-90s and will see the market folding under the heavy weight of "over-coverage"? Probably not. The content is far better than back in the day. I also don't see a lot of speculation going on - even though there is more stupid talking about "investing in comics" and buying multiple copies of so-called "key issues" and stuff like that compared to a few years ago.

Still, is it a healthy thing to have roughly two thirds to three quarters of the items released by a publisher being variants rather than original content (I look at you, Valiant Entertainment)? I don't think so.

I read a lot of postings on the board stating that they have dropped books by other publishers in order to afford buying the "whole Valiant releases". This may look like a good thing for our favorite publisher, but I think this is very short-sighted. Already a lot of people have expressed their frustration at the crazyness which is the Unity#1 variant program. A lot of completists are frustrated they can't afford this inflation of covers anymore.

Also: every additional alternative cover bought means less spending capacity for original content. And that's just sad.

[lorddunlow]

Also: every additional alternative cover bought means less spending capacity for original content. And that's just sad.

QFT

This is my main complaint (and really my only complaint) in regards to the variants that VEI is putting out.

[lorddunlow]

Also: every additional alternative cover bought means less spending capacity for original content. And that's just sad.

QFT

This is my main complaint (and really my only complaint) in regards to the variants that VEI is putting out.

That statement goes for the publisher as well. I'd rather they spend money on developing new books/original material than pay someone to do another variant cover, pay for printing it, etc.

[nycjadie]

At the ECCC, Dino noted that variant covers are an industry requirement. I think that is very true. However, it isn't an industry requirement to have 12 cover variants. I like a healthy number of variants. I like the chase and I can afford them. However, I know that there is a very small percentage of the fanbase that will be so put off by the number of variants that they will drop a title. There are also fans that would love to chase them all, but simply can't afford them (I was there for the original Valant run). Ultimately, it probably helps more than it hurts. But still, 12 is a very high number.

[nycjadie]

Also, the number of variant issues is going to be vastly smaller than the number of actual issues. For example 1:25 variants will have only 1 variant for every 25 copies of the original, more or less.

[mkb28]

I would like to go back to the way it was in the early days. You can buy all the regular issues and maybe a Gold book or a VVSS book would be just fine. All these different variants is getting out of control.

Michael
mkb28

[tchalla8]

The issue isn't all the variants being released. It's our need to have everything that is causing the problem. And when we can't have it all we whine.

[icefan13]

Why do people feel they have to have every cover? I will buy the cover I like the best and that is it. In rare cases like Unity #1 I may purchase two, but that is only because I could not pick between my two favorites. I do not feel I need every cover to say I have a complete run of a title.

[Phoenix8008]

If I had the money, I'd get them all, but I don't, so I can't. End of story. I stopped worrying about it a few months ago.

[caniac]

I just stick with XO Manowar and the occasional good deal on the others...

[greg]

Since the variants aren't ending anytime soon, I've tried to convince myself that it's more like buying a shirt.

Shirts come in a variety of colors and patterns. I don't buy EVERY color and pattern for a shirt that I like.
I buy a color that I like, maybe two colors... but it would be nuts to say "I must own every color and pattern for this shirt!"

It would also be insane for a shirt maker to refuse to make more than one color.

Shirts or comics... pick the one(s) you like best and leave the others on the shelf.
The makers aren't going to stop offering variety.

[Phoenix8008]

Since the variants aren't ending anytime soon, I've tried to convince myself that it's more like buying a shirt.

Shirts come in a variety of colors and patterns. I don't buy EVERY color and pattern for a shirt that I like.
I buy a color that I like, maybe two colors... but it would be nuts to say "I must own every color and pattern for this shirt!"

It would also be insane for a shirt maker to refuse to make more than one color.

Shirts or comics... pick the one(s) you like best and leave the others on the shelf.
The makers aren't going to stop offering variety.

That's a great way of looking at it Greg!

[Elveen]

Since the variants aren't ending anytime soon, I've tried to convince myself that it's more like buying a shirt.

Shirts come in a variety of colors and patterns. I don't buy EVERY color and pattern for a shirt that I like.
I buy a color that I like, maybe two colors... but it would be nuts to say "I must own every color and pattern for this shirt!"

It would also be insane for a shirt maker to refuse to make more than one color.

Shirts or comics... pick the one(s) you like best and leave the others on the shelf.
The makers aren't going to stop offering variety.

That's a great way of looking at it Greg!

I agree.......

Greg is kinda like Mama Gump.

[greg]

Greg is kinda like Mama Gump.

I guess that's better than being like Mama Boucher.
(Variant covers are the debble!)

[caniac]

[drmirage]

Having this on your second post for being a member for 7+ years counts for something!

Why do people feel they have to have every cover? I will buy the cover I like the best and that is it. In rare cases like Unity #1 I may purchase two, but that is only because I could not pick between my two favorites. I do not feel I need every cover to say I have a complete run of a title.

[nycjadie]

I usually find a shirt I like and then buy every color. It's easier that way.

[Elveen]

When I was younger, I often did not wear a shirt..... That made it easy.
Now..... Shirts are required.

[cplsimon]

When I was younger, I often did not wear a shirt..... That made it easy.
Now..... Shirts are required.

Two nipples You just cant win.

[jmatt]

When I was younger, I often did not wear a shirt.....

Like my 16 year old son. I call him The Shirtless Wonder. I wish I was as skinny as he is.

[Jace]

All these variant covers have been on my mind lately as well. While I agree that it is nice to have variety I worry from a comic book shop stand point about all the variants. If we as fans choose to buy one or more variants of a single issue it may be at the expense of other books. I think the same goes for shops. There are tons and tons of GREAT small press books out there these days. I wonder how many suffer because shop owners feel obligated to spend money on variants, instead of other books. Personally I don't feel the need to get more than one cover per book, but every once in awhile there are two covers I just can't choose between! Also I can certainly see the appeal of getting an iconic artist to draw the cover of a Valiant book. It can act as a gateway for a fan of that artist to pick up a Valiant book for the first time. Imagine if an industry legend like Steranko did a Valiant cover. Or Jim Lee, Alex Ross, George Perez, Frank Miller ... hopefully this Neal Adams cover on Unity 1 brings in some new readers. It is a slippery slope though and I would love to see VEI produce fewer variants and maybe use the resources from fewer covers to move forward with other aspects of the universe.

[lorddunlow]

Greg is kinda like Mama Gump.

I guess that's better than being like Mama Boucher.
(Variant covers are the debble!)

Dino didn't resurrect Valiant comics. I did!

[mkb28]

I finally gave up wanting to have all the variant covers that come out. My goal is to have every #1 variant issue and then I just pick the best cover between the regular and Pullbox for the rest of the run.

I like the shirt analogy too!

Mkb28

[lorddunlow]

I ordered all 5 five of the 8-bit cover shirts! Does that mean I have to buy all the variants now?

Seriously, though, I have never felt the need to collect all of the variants. I do wish VEI would scale it down a little so that they could spend money on other things. I really enjoy all of the gatefold variants (although I don't own any of them ) as well as the character designs (which I do have). I would still like to pick up the "face variants" of Torque and Flamingo, but I wasn't willing to pay the exorbitant prices for them when they came out.

[nonplayer]

I treat my self to a variant every once and a wile and only the amazing covers. I like the higher ones knowing they will remain high priced books.
I got the bleeding monk cover. Im very happy with that one. I have given up on wanting them all I like key ones. Might get unity 1/125 just cuz its a good investment. And Ill get a read copy. I love the covers that you can put together gate folds are nice but who in theyr right mind would open them all the way or pull the staples and put it on the wall. I had to drop bloodshot after 0 but will still get the trades. Will follow xo and harby till the end. Cant afford my variant fix. I try to limit my self to 35.00 in comics a month.