Relevance of Comics?

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:06 pm

What do you guys think?

http://lyriacomicexchange.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=342

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:22 pm

I've actually discussed this subject with a few friends of mine in the last few years.

The Comic Book as we all know and love it...is dead, we just don't want to admit it yet

When ever I frequent my main Comic Book shops in Manhattan (Forbidden Planet & Midtown) and end up taking notice of the "kids" (7-18) they all inevitably buy CARDS :x friggin Yu Gi, Witchcraft, and all the other CRAP they buy. Nary have I noticed a single 1 of these kids buying a Comic Book..I even asked one once "hey, you guys are buying the wrong thing, Comic Books are what you should be collecting"

They actually looked at me crooked, and said "Comic Books?..why would I buy those, sit there a read a Comic??"

the horror!

The back issue market will continue to be strong imo for at least another two, perhaps three generations. The Modern Comic Book market I give anywhere from 25-50 more years before it's completely gone, but gone is it's destiny.

The entertainment $$$ has MUCHO competition these days, and the Comic book medium is drying up because of it. Think of it this way, most kids today know of the Superheros we all have known and loved for most of our lifetimes...through VIDEO GAMES

and films. There is absolutely ZERO crossover on a large scale of kids that play video games of... Batman for example, or watch a film with Spider-man...that then buy the monthly reads of said characters (and they wonder why this gen is so stupid

)

These kids just don't correlate the characters to their Comic Books, they don't...instead they do so to VIDEO GAMES (why READ about Batman when you can BE him in a game?). Unfortunately, I feel Its a futile, and pointless fight for lovers of the medium to engage in, they just don't get it.

My son will most likely enjoy and love them because it will be infused into him from an early age. Also, he will often see many "comic" statues in daddies office, as well as inheriting quite a nice collection of books down the road. However, its a hobby that is dead amounst this generation...and there are only more depressing days ahead

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:45 am

More than just the comic book is on the slate for extinction. Most print medium as we know it will be gone during our lifetimes, IMO.

We live in a very transitional age, where things change faster than ever before. Who's to say where it will all wind up? One day, every book ever printed will fit on the head of a pin...

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:19 pm

I just don't see printed media going away, ever. Just like there are people who abhor CD's and only buy vinyl, I believe there will always be a market for printed media, be it newspapers, magazines, comics, or hardback/softcover books. I personally can't see waiting every week to download the latest Uncanny X-Men, or taking my laptop into the crapper with me to read. I do agree that the number like me will get smaller every generation, but we'll always be there. The same can be said for paper money - even with direct deposits for paychecks, there will always be people who want cash in hand, not credits transferred between banks.

But, this is just my opinion...

BTW - very good article/discussion on that other site, X-O & Whetteon.

-slym

inmyblood · Post by **inmyblood** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:29 pm

I could see the majority of comics going online someday. But the printed press will always stay alive. You can't control free speech on paper.

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:08 pm

inmyblood wrote:I could see the majority of comics going online someday. But the printed press will always stay alive. You can't control free speech on paper.

The death of the Comic Book medium has now been turned into a soap box, political point of view

Freedom of speech has nada to do with what were talking about here folks

inmyblood · Post by **inmyblood** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:06 pm

I'm not taking a political stance for myself or any political party/organization or any country for that matter.

I'm talking about saying whatever you want however you want. That kind of spirit will keep printed comics alive. No checks or balances.

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:20 pm

I think the topic of free speech is very applicable to printed media. Comics, IMO, tho are usually controlled by:

If issues of a certain title are being bought. Not enough people buying, the title gets cancelled, not enough titles going, publisher's going out of business or has to change focus (away from comics).

CJAotssE · Post by **CJAotssE** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:04 pm

The comicbook has been around since the 30's so that's a heck of run. It also crosses several generations, so hopefully a few younger readers still prefer their fill of superhero-dom in the printed form. I know I still prefer the printed page for my main reading pleasure even though I have embraced the online ways of doing stuff.

One way that comicbooks could look more impressive than the 32-pagers we have now is to increase the page count to something like they used to have way back. 64 or 80 pages would look much better, especially with the ways they use modern technology now, coupled with a better value-for-money feel.

Bigger than a comic, but not as costly as a trade. An opportunity to use back-up features would also expose many readers to stories that they may not have bought in their own titles.

Would you be more likely to pay 4-5 dollars for a bigger issue?

Peter.

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 12:41 pm

CJAotssE wrote:The comicbook has been around since the 30's so that's a heck of run. It also crosses several generations, so hopefully a few younger readers still prefer their fill of superhero-dom in the printed form. I know I still prefer the printed page for my main reading pleasure even though I have embraced the online ways of doing stuff.

One way that comicbooks could look more impressive than the 32-pagers we have now is to increase the page count to something like they used to have way back. 64 or 80 pages would look much better, especially with the ways they use modern technology now, coupled with a better value-for-money feel.

Bigger than a comic, but not as costly as a trade. An opportunity to use back-up features would also expose many readers to stories that they may not have bought in their own titles.

Would you be more likely to pay 4-5 dollars for a bigger issue?

Peter.

If you make it b&w on newsprint and make the page number a little bigger you just described Manga and the answer is apparently "yes" for if people will buy it. A HUGE percentage of books in Japan are comics (it's either 1 out every 3 or 1 out out ever 2, can't remember off the top of my head). They do a large business in the US too (not as big obviously but comics mass produced in Magna format in the US is relatively young).

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 3:48 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
CJAotssE wrote:The comicbook has been around since the 30's so that's a heck of run. It also crosses several generations, so hopefully a few younger readers still prefer their fill of superhero-dom in the printed form. I know I still prefer the printed page for my main reading pleasure even though I have embraced the online ways of doing stuff.

One way that comicbooks could look more impressive than the 32-pagers we have now is to increase the page count to something like they used to have way back. 64 or 80 pages would look much better, especially with the ways they use modern technology now, coupled with a better value-for-money feel.

Bigger than a comic, but not as costly as a trade. An opportunity to use back-up features would also expose many readers to stories that they may not have bought in their own titles.

Would you be more likely to pay 4-5 dollars for a bigger issue?

Peter.
If you make it b&w on newsprint and make the page number a little bigger you just described Manga and the answer is apparently "yes" for if people will buy it. A HUGE percentage of books in Japan are comics (it's either 1 out every 3 or 1 out out ever 2, can't remember off the top of my head). They do a large business in the US too (not as big obviously but comics mass produced in Magna format in the US is relatively young).

The winning forumal appears to be having something to read for more then 5mins after you just spent $3.