Kids comics

I don't see it. I must say. I don't see kids reading comics.

But you know, I keep reading postings from other comic retailers that seem to imply that they are selling comics to kids.

So, yesterday, I went over the the Marvel and DC sections in my store and pulled a copy of every issue of every comic that had an "All-Ages" designation, and took them over to the children's book section.

I think I came up with a grand total of about 15 comics. Out of the hundreds of current titles I carry.

I have to say, even I was shocked.

It's obvious that Marvel and DC have given up on the kids. Or have the kids given up on comics? (There were quite a few comics with the PG-13 designation, which is O.K. for older kids, but I didn't pull those...)

I didn't even bother with the independents section of the store, because other than 'kids' designated graphic novels, there aren't any. And these 'kids' books are quite obviously created to be sold in regular bookstores.

I wonder how that's going?

None of this was supposed to happen. But because of huge problems in the distribution realm, the collapse of the newstand/drugstore/grocery store link, the comic bubble pop of the mid-90's that wiped out every distributer but one and wiped out all but about 3000 comic outlets (from a high of 12,000), the comics slowly wandered out of the public consciousness.

I know. I know.

Movies.

Big deal.

I counted this time. I counted exactly how many extra Batman, (second highest grossing film of all time), Hulk, Wolverine and Iron Man monthly comics I sold in the months proceeding, during and following the release of the big movies.

None. Zero. Nada.

Not one extra comic. If I was selling 20 Batman comics before the movie came out, I was selling 20 Batman comics after the movie came out. (Maybe 18). How many of you left the theater and went looking for the comic?

That's what I thought. None of you.