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 Final Act For Comics Fandom?
THE FINAL ACT FOR COMICS FANDOM?
The past couple of weeks we have been talking about how the new economics of comic books and Graphic Novel collections are changing the way comics are made, then marketed and ultimately enjoyed. While a lot of emails (thanks everyone) from other readers certainly expressed their views, no one really put up an argument for why this isn’t the death of comics fandom, as we know it. Well, here we are on another Tuesday for this weekly column to hammer a few more nails in the coffin, and few surprising saviors of the traditional comics.
We have been talking about how marketing and packaging is what drives the creativity behind some of the most popular comics of the day, and has been doing so for as long as anyone can remember. In the earliest days of comics and for decades after comics were marketed and sold to the casual reader. Newsstand distribution was really the only way anyone could find comics. So doing a six-parter would be a bit of a cheat since in most cases stores did not order for a dedicated readership, as is the case with the Direct Market. If you were lucky you might be able to find consecutive issues of your favorite comics, but not likely.
The Direct Market or Comic Shops started buying comics based on the knowledge that they had a weekly customer; so ordering monthly comics became easy. Stories became longer and more involved because the dedicated readership was there. This in many ways led to the demise of the casual consumer because the attention was not towards casual storylines but the dedicated reader and the dedicated storyline.
As publishers moved away from the casual reader and focused on the dedicated reader comics actually suffered a lower reading audience.
Now the Graphic Novel seems to be leading the way towards enticing the dedicated and the casual reader. However, the ones to pay the price are the Comic Shops. It seems each time a new opportunity to market comics seems to close the door on other successful ways. Not to say each distribution method, Newsstand, Direct, and now the Bookstore are not without their drawbacks, but it could be a mistake to limit your chances for success.
The Comic Shops as we talked about will need to morph, part coffee shop, part pop culture store, think a Blockbuster video store with comics. The new cool things need to found out first at the comic shops. People love the ease of Internet shopping, but the “have to have it now” mentality will be the saving grace for the Comic Shop. So, how to get people in the shop week after week?
Kids.
Comic Shops with poster, statues other Direct Market exclusive fun stuff really will have no other immediately available stores to carry this merchandise in similar quantities. With a store taking into account the long time dedicated reader with weekly new releases of new Graphic Novels can entice the next generation with the traditional comics.
Comic books out monthly, with a new batch of comics each week, with licensed or already kid favorite comics would be the hook to new readers with an already pop culture heavy store. Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman, Betty & Veronica, Archie, Sonic The hedgehog, various Disney, hot new properties like Avatar, or even a Harry Potter related comic would drive weekly readers to the store.
How is this different from now? The comic stores would have to embrace the younger reader, as would publishers in efforts not seen since the fifties or sixties.
Places kids can hang out as we mentioned last week, making comic shops the coffee houses for the younger set, with plenty of what kids like for entertainment. Maybe even wi-fi for direct links to downloadable comics.
Is this idea somewhat overly simplified? Yes. Is it a bit like flying cars and capsule meals? Maybe. But this is more to spark the debate of how we can keep our industry going, and lets face it keep something to be a fan for.
Next week some of the comics making comics cool again for kids.
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:
APR070225 JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #34 $2.25
APR070230 LOONEY TUNES #151 $2.25
APR072316 MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #28 $2.99
APR072286 SPIDER-MAN FAMILY #3 $4.99
APR072288 SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE #19 $2.99
MAR073151 ARCHIES CAMP TALES VOL 1 TP $7.49
MAR073158 BETTY & VERONICA #227 $2.25
MAR073160 BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #175 $2.49
MAR073164 JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #131 $3.69
MAR073401 PS 238 #23 $2.99
MAR073167 SABRINA VOL 2 #85 $2.25
MAR073252 SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #1 $4.99
MAR073170 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL 3 TP $7.49
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