Monday Mornings Are For Complaining

* this article reminds me that the Heather Smith article about fancy comic strip reprints it references questions whether or not that the kid part of comic strips' audience are invited along for the hardcover, deluxe edition ride. Even though it's clear that the current market trend is away from brand-new initiatives focusing on cheap reprints in comic strips as well as other segments, I can't imagine the current wave of lovely reprints being an issue when it comes to young readers. 1) Trends correct. 2) Most existing comics reprint projects have continued as they always have, so there will be plenty of cheap comic strips available. 3) The most influential comic strip reprint ever as far as captivating a generation of future cartoonists and comics lovers when they were kids was the non-traditional, not-cheap Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics. It's a cute point, but the recent flood of collections really seems more about more than it does about different.

* this odd article about sales on the Internet cooling, based on indications that the rapid growth of on-line retail may have shifted into a lower gear, serves as a nice reminder that on-line sales are a component of overall sales, and don't necessarily look right now what they might in ten years.

Still, it curiously ignores two pertinent factors, both of which likely also speak to wherever comics Internet sales fits into the picture painted in the article. First, the piece speaks more to choices made by current consumers than it does the likely practices of future consumers. There's bound to be correction when a group changes its habits. It's the group who will make these habits their own from the start that should prove way more interesting and important to future trends. Second, by stressing a brick and mortar comeback, the article doesn't allow that there are market niches where the physical sales component was all but obliterated by the rise in Internet sales. I'm not holding my breath for my favorite science fiction used book store in Chicago to hire hipper people and make the shopping experience more pleasurable, because that store is closed.

* I'm sympathetic to this direct market retailer's stance. He was underwhelmed by the plot point payoff by which it was suggested he buy many more copies than usual of a recent Marvel comic, and feels it's time he routinely had more information from which to make such ordering decisions. Asking the comics companies to stop treating retailers like children would be a compelling rallying cry except many do act like children, more like Goofus than Gallant. My source? History. And other comics retailers.

The comics companies can't trust stores with as fundamental a prohibition as not selling copies of comics early to press local market advantages; they certainly can't and logically shouldn't trust them with easily leaked plot information. Not only does history say many will try to gain an incremental advantage over local competitors, they may also press a Wizard's retailer arm-like advantage against their customers. A 100 percent rate of those who knew about Captain America kicking the bucket pressing this as an advantage isn't the kind of record that helps make the case for more information being released.

Diamond could guarantee good behavior by punishing stores that violated policy, but they've never shown the slightest inclination or ability to do so. As in many areas, when it comes to punishing shops Diamond tends to react like it's 1992 and they'll lose business to some significant competitor if they try and implement a bit of order. Like many issues facing the business of comics, this is the kind of thing that could be taken care of through difficult but sustained, widespread and principled business reform, and will never be solved by arguing the justice or injustice of a single point. It's actually not a bad thing to be treated as a child if you're treated as a responsible one. Even that feels like a long way off.
 
posted 12:06 am PST | Permalink
 

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