Home > Letters to CR

Shannon Smith On Comics Pricing
posted November 3, 2008
 

In regards to yours and Steve Grant’s thoughts on comics pricing; one thing keeps popping in my mind. Why the hell are they still making color print comics? I look at manga, Shonen Jump, all my favorite alternative books, my favorite issues of Mad, Cracked, Weirdo and Savage Sword of Conan… etc. and I keep thinking, why the hell are they still making color print comics? Do the readers really demand color? Really? Are there numbers to back this up? Has anyone asked? Do the numbers of change-o-phobes that need color comics out number the kids reading black and white manga? I’m not trying to be snarky. I really am curious if anyone has looked at the numbers. Has anyone asked the question of the fan base? Maybe asking would be pointless though. Maybe they should not care about the fan base. Maybe they should just take a chance on a nice thick black and white magazine and throw it out there. I personally think color and glossy paper are for suckers but let the sales decide.

I think DC and Marvel can easily put out good affordable monthly or even weekly comics and reach a profitable audience. I just don’t think they have the guts to do it.