CR Week In Review

The top comics-related news stories from August 13 to August 19, 2011:

1. Robert Crumb explains why he couldn't go to Sydney for a planned appearance over last weekend -- he and his wife had some fears for his safety after an incendiary newspaper article was published.

2. DC Comics begins its ramp-up to their line relaunch, apparently in the planning stage since about last October.

3. The one-time publisher of several alt-weekly style comics and illustrations New York Press retreats to an on-line only iteration.

Winner Of The Week
Your 2011 Ignatz nominees

Loser Of The Week
The Sunday Telegraph

Quote Of The Week
"Reading the new TCJ #301 interview with Michael Kupperman and Al Jaffee, it occurred to me that declining industries seem to counter-intuitively react by trying to cover more bases poorly, rather than provide better value for the things they're actually most capable of doing well. Kupperman made a remark about magazines and print media responding to digital culture by dumbing down their content to hopefully attract a larger audience.

"I think the same idea applies to specialty shops, bookstores, comics shops, etc. -- in a changing market where suddenly you're not the only available outlet for whatever it is you sell, the answer is not to sell MORE at dwindling profit (see Borders, et al), it's to get better at selling what you are best at selling, what you provide that another may not, or at least not as well as you.

"In terms of comics shops, carrying a complete line of books so that you never miss a sale is no longer the best business practice. Your bottom line is choked with maintaining an ever-expanding back stock of books, trades, hardcovers, deluxe hardcovers of the same books and trades. Likely as not you're providing a better browsing experience for a shopper that will later purchase that book on Amazon at 40% off cover." -- Dustin Harbin

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today's cover is from the great comic book series Four-Color

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posted 10:00 am PST | Permalink
 

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