This second in command has control of a secret private army. Meanwhile, the invasion raises the religious fervor of the conquered people.
Meanwhile, the local anti-tax small businessman, has created a tea party of bandits who oppose the big government.
Yep....I went to see Prince of Persia.
Dumb fun, just what I was looking for.
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Drill baby Drill? Of course not!
We just want the oil. Let the OTHER countries suffer the environmental disasters from now on!
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I've sort of avoided the invasion of digital comics because it's a hugely complicated and unknowable subject that I can't do anything about anyway. A third of the top ten I-pad downloads(?) are comics. There was a recent poll of comic retailers that asked how many would sign a New five year lease, and -- to me -- an astounding 40% of them didn't say Yes (uncertain and/or no.)
Marvel has decided to release Invincible Iron Man Annual #1 digitally at the same time as physically to the brick and mortar stores. They are charging 1.99 per three installments, which actually makes it more expensive than the comic.
Thing is, there is the suspicion on the part of most of us retailers that: (1) soon the price will drop; (2) soon they will start releasing more titles, (3) soon they will release some titles before we get them, and (4) soon they will release an 'exclusive' online title and so on.
The concern about comic shops from the online critics is touching: Not.
"Marvel should take a page out of Steve Job’s notebook on this one. Be visionary and push ahead no matter who it pisses off. Especially if it’s good for the company, readers and the industry itself.
What do retailers think of Iron Man Annual Digital? Honestly, Marvel shouldn’t care." (PVP Online.)
This is very similar to the attitude of the same publishers and creators toward comic shops when it appeared that the mass market book retailers were going to make real inroads on the graphic novel world. That faded, but I haven't heard any mea culpa's.
I have a very unique perspective on this: I actually carry most of the art books and independents and literary comics that these critics think all comic shops should sell. I can make them work because I get Just Enough tourist traffic to come close to break-even. I also make enough money in my other product to buy these books as 'promotional' or 'advertising' material. As if to say, "Look I carry a large, and diverse selection."
But I would never say they sell well. And I would never second guess other retailers, especially small town comic retailers, who decide they can't afford these 'art' graphic novels.
I'm not talking about the quality of these offerings. They are great reads -- and I think they are worthy of support. Like old Hollywood putting out "prestige" movies that don't earn a profit, and making their money from the pot-boilers.
But they sell very slowly and sporadically, no matter how much I push them.
This drives the elite comic creators'crazy. They can't understand it. And when their material sells online, it's just proof that we comic retailers are doing a lousy job.
Anyway, I can't prove it, but I really doubt the whole infrastructure of comics can survive without brick and mortar stores. Oh, sure, comics will survive in some format or another, but the neat little world of comics that currently exist will fall apart. It ain't that strong in the first place.
It won't take much. And, even if eventually some sort of digital content replaces the current system, there is going to be a scary shake-out that is going to hurt a lot of people -- including the same creators and publishers who are calling for it.
Watch out what you wish for.
5 comments:
I am quite sure that buggy whip manufacturers and distributors agree with you.
Times changes, products change. Businesses either change or die out.
They've been predicting the demise of the printed book for at least 20 years now and I just don't think it's gonna happen -- not in my lifetime anyway. Reading a book on a goddamn SCREEN is just not the same aesthetic experience.
For newspapers, magazines or books that you zip through once and toss aside -- e.g., most modern popular fiction -- the screen may be just fine. For books that you read and savor and want to re-read, no way.
RDC, buggy whips are still being manufactured, although the industry is not what it once was: http://www.jedediahsbuggywhip.com
Like I always say -- it's not that everyone or even most people will stop reading books or comics.
But even a 10% slippage will be hard on already weakened industry. 20% slippage even worse. 30% you start talking massive crashing.
Think about that: 7 out of 10 people remain true to the local bookstore or comic shop -- and it's enough to completely unravel the industry.
What I'm trying to say is, the margins just aren't there to give back. They have already been tightened severely by competition from Amazon and other online and by the mass market. It's just one more thing, and at some point it becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back.
I see a comic shop or independent bookstore in two/thirds of the metro areas; and maybe two or three in bigger cities -- but that still reduces the count from about 2500/3000 shops to something in the neighborhood of 1000 shops.
It will be all that much harder to find a good comic or book to hold in your hands...
You have to wonder how Barnes and Nobles and Borders are going to do, too.
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