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Roger Ash
by Roger Ash
Over the past few years I’ve heard people state that superhero comic books have ended up being mainstream. To verify their point, they mention the success of animated series like teen Titans or Justice League; motion pictures like The Dark Knight, Spider-Man, or Iron Man; the number of superhero video games; or even the truth that superhero ideas are utilized in TV shows like Heroes or The Cape. I partially agree with what they’re saying. I do believe that superhero comic book characters as well as the ideas that underlie them have ended up being mainstream. Comic books themselves, however, haven’t.
Mutts III
Why do I feel this way? An much easier concern to response is exactly how can I not? I have buddies who believe nothing of getting the current comic strip collection like Mutts or Doonesbury, however the believed of getting a comic book is ludicrous to them. My younger sibling as well as brother-in-law take my nephews to all the superhero motion pictures as well as the kids like superhero video games, however the only reason they own any type of of the comics the films as well as games are based on is since Nuckle Rog (that’s me) provides them comic books. While the films based on marvel characters have done extremely well recently, that hasn’t equated in any type of considerable method into comic book sales.
Over on the GoodReads website, they have a poll for people who have both checked out the book as well as seen the motion picture based on it. four of the top five slots are Harry Potter books. The very first comic-related book is Neil Gaiman & Charles Vess’ Stardust at #135. While this is in no method scientific research, it does assist add credence to my believed that a big portion of people who saw the Harry Potter films likewise checked out the books. If the exact same portion of people who saw the Iron guy movie, for example, likewise checked out the Iron guy comic book, I question we’d be hearing stories about monetary issues dealing with comic book publishers as well as retailers.
Watchmen
Back in the 80s when DC released Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns as well as Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen as well as Art Spiegelman’s Maus was on finest seller lists, there were articles around the mainstream press that revealed that comics weren’t just for youngsters anymore. Yet, I have a copy of Antique Week from January 3, 2011 in front of me that includes a story about “The Savannah Collection,” a just recently uncovered collection of traditional comic books that spans from 1958. The title of the article? Comics not for youngsters anymore. If the general public genuinely believes that comic books are mainstream, why are people still being told comics aren’t just for youngsters 25 years after they were very first told it? since a lot of people DO believe comics are just for kids.
It’s for these reasons that I don’t believe superhero comic books are mainstream. Can they ended up being mainstream? Certainly, however I have no concrete concept of how. Whoever can figure that out will be hailed as the savior of the comics market the method Phil Seuling was when he assisted produce the direct Market. (In situation you didn’t know, the direct Market is exactly how the majority of comic books are offered in the us today.) however I do have some thoughts about things I believe requirement to happen. Unfortunately, I believe that the direct Market is one of the things that is stopping superhero comic books from ending up being mainstream, as well as I’m not alone in that thought.
New teen Titans #1
When I started reading comic books, you might discover them anywhere – comfort stores, department stores, book stores, medication stores, grocery stores, etc. I gotten new teen Titans #1 off the rack in a grocery store while waiting on my mommy to surface shopping. Later, I discovered about comic book stores that catered to collectors as well as featured comic books I couldn’t discover on the spinner rack at the regional Stop-N-Go. I likewise found comic books that featured stories that weren’t based around superheroes. Not that I have any type of issue with superhero comics, however they’re only part of the huge variety of comic books available. I was in Heaven. However, as the direct Market grew, comic books disappeared from a lot of other venues. Sure, you can still discover Archie Comics in grocery stores as well as a sampling of superhero comic books at Barnes & Noble as well as Borders, however that’s about it. Monthly superhero comic books have successfully been eliminated from the eye of the general public as well as are now visible mainly to those who are already visitors as well as collectors.
But what about the Manga as well as graphic Novels that are in a lot of every bookstore these days, you say. definitely that counts for mainstream exposure. You’re right. It does. however play together with me for a moment. close your eyes as well as picture walking into your regional Barnes & Noble. Where are the graphic Novels? I bet you can’t see them when you walk in the door. You may understand where they are since you’ve looked at them before. a lot of bookstores are so huge that unless you’re particularly trying to find the graphic Novels you aren’t going to see them unless you walk past them accidentally. however that’s not special to graphic Novels. I’m sure there need to be romance book at Barnes & Noble, however I couldn’t tell you where they are. So yes, they’re there, however it’s very little exposure at best.
Given the economics at the time, the development of the direct Market truly did assist to save the comic book industry. however I believe it’s time for the paradigm to shift once again as well as get comic books themselves back in the deal with of the public. Unfortunately, a few of the greatest opponents to this concept are direct Market retailers. I have checked out articles by merchants as well as spoken with others who are afraid to death of monthly comic books being a lot more commonly offered since they feel this will eventually draw sales away from them. While I comprehend this concern I believe it’s unfounded as well as short-sighted. let me explain.
If monthly comic books ended up being a lot more visible to the general public, such as with placement in a lot more mainstream stores or legal digital downloads, that might grow the base readership of comic books as a whole. That’s great for the industry. as well as sure, some visitors would be material keeping that however others wouldn’t be. like I did years earlier, they’d discover locations like Westfield where they might shop as well as talk with others who share their enthusiasm for comic books. This might assist the direct market grow as well. It’s a win-win situation.
Or perhaps the style of the monthly comic book is part of the problem as well. Is a 32-page, monthly superhero comic for $3.00 or $4.00 what the general public wants? Is there a format, such as digital or original graphic novels, that would be a lot more appealing? These are hard concerns that have been discussed the last few years by publishers, retailers, as well as visitors without any conclusive conclusions. I don’t have any type of simple answers either, however they are concerns that requirement to be asked as well as seriously considered. as well as an crucial point to ponder is that what may work for the direct Market may not be what works for the general public.
So while superhero comic book characters as well as ideas have ended up being mainstream, the comic books themselves haven’t. Yet. With innovative believing as well as marketing, they can be. The comic book market is at a essential point. It can modification as well as grow or stay where it is as well as slowly fade away. The concern is, will we have the guts to take a leap into the future or let concern hold us in the past?
That’s my opinion. What do you think? Leave a comment below as well as let me know.
Now, go checked out a comic!
New teen Titans #1 cover comes from the Grand Comics Database.