MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
The Death of Comics Fandom? Act 2
WEEK 49 - Tuesday 05/29/07 – THE DEATH OF COMICS FANDOM?
The death of comics fandom? Act 2
Another week has come and gone and lots of conversation have been coming up with various topics lately. Usually conversations with other comic book professionals seem to deal with what they are working on now or next. Comics have gone through no shortage of changes giving way to a new “big picture” for the industry. For some reason lately “the big picture” has been coming up a lot and what the role of All Ages comics will, and more importantly could be, and how all of this could mean the death of comics fandom as we know them.
The comic book world, as we know it is about to change. Again. Not a huge overnight change, but a gradual slow and steady shift, an evolution, and most of what we rely on, as constants might not be the same ever again. We are heading into a new stage of how we produce stories, sell comics, and enjoy comics. What is really amazing is the observation made that a focal point of this change might be right in the All Ages backyard.
Years ago the biggest fundamental change in comics was the birth of the Direct market or comic shops. For year’s comics were sold only through the Newsstand market, the supermarkets convince stores and magazine stands. The Newsstand market essentially through economics, dictated how comics were created, and enjoyed. Newsstands for years catered to a more casual comic reader and a more casual comic seller. Sometimes the comic you wanted was there every month sometimes not. So a six-part story really wasn’t something to be seriously considered, because you might alienate readers who came in on issue 3 missing the first two. The other major factors were comic books were and are returnable in the Newsstand. Meaning what ever the seller didn’t sell, the seller got their money back. So Newsstands didn’t carry older issues, if you missed an issue you missed an issue.
Because the Newsstands casual nature in both consumer and seller, the stories were in turn casual. Usually one issue might have a story start and end in only one issue. Some issues might have several stories, featuring several different characters all beginning and ending in that single issue of a comic book. Certainly themes, or subplots, would carry through to other issues, but nothing you would really need to have known from the other issues. If you did there would be a little caption box on the page describing what happened, basically a recap.
The Direct market, was much more proactive for comics in both consumers, and with the sellers. The Direct markets comic shops catered to the avid comic book reader. The loyal souls who read every issue and enjoyed the entertainment form. Most comic stores were and still now run by real enthusiasts of comic books.
This has all changed. The bookstores are becoming the focus of publishers since that is the focus of the reader. As more readers look for stories is their complete chunks, and not the piece meal way of the traditional 32 page comic book. If you read most comics somewhere in the middle of a story arc, say part 3 of a 6 part story, you are essentially lost. There was a time that part 3 would at least give you some hints on part 1 and 2, who everyone was and why you should care. Comics managed to do this in a very gentle way incorporated into the story.
The world of comic’s fandom, and its meeting place the local comic shops have been coming under attack. Usually for the same reason comics are changing, the lack of inclusively. Comic shops need to this or that, focus more on women or kids and so on. Most comic shops focus on the customers they have, a “better the devil you know” sort of theory. One thing for certain with most comic shops is that they are built for those in the know. This is not a place for rookies.
A frightening thought occurred the other day. If comic publishers have no interest in the single issue, why go to the comic shop week after week? If the graphic novels and trade paperbacks can be picked up online and delivered to your house why even bother? The only negative is that that other book on the shelf you never heard of might escape your attention.
So how can comic shops survive and thrive?
Think coffee shops. Not a new career but a new way of thinking. Coffee shops, not the big boys on every corner, but the little local coffee shops that have evolved into a gathering place. If the comic store position themselves as the place to be the in the know spot, the places that can give a comic title for every taste the comic shop has a shot at some longevity.
For years Japan has had manga/internet cafes have bee popular. Could the idea work here? With more and more libraries and colleges incorporating comics in the curriculum could stores near college campuses really work?
It is not a new idea, certainly on that has been brought up for years, but certainly one worth talking about.
Next week with all this change where does that leave All Ages comics?
See ya’ next Tuesday!
Hope everyone had a happy Memorial Day here in America. Thank you to all our solders, past present and future.
If you have a great All Ages project, let us know!
Get in touch: MikeP@SilverBulletComicbooks.com
Thanks for the opportunity to talk about comics! Here are some more comics to talk about-
Check out some new All Ages comic reads on sale this week:
MAR070232 TEEN TITANS GO #43 $2.25
MAR072071 SPIDER-MAN FAIRY TALES #1 $2.99
MAR073157 BETTY #165 $2.25
MAR073160 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #175 $2.49
MAR073165 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #112 $3.69
MAR073170 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL 3 TP $7.49
MAR073173 SONIC X #20 $2.25
MAR073448 WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #681 $7.50
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