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Post by driver1980 on Sept 8, 2024 13:52:59 GMT -5
I know some might say it’s my responsibility to check Previews or something - or the cliché that in the smartphone era, there’s no excuse for not knowing things. I disagree with that (I’ve seen such arguments on social media). I know comics are mainly sold in comic stores which people make a conscious act to go to, but not everyone is gonna be a Previews reader, not everyone is going to have in-depth knowledge of comics, etc. I didn’t know many, but I knew one or two folk who sought Marvel titles after enjoying the early MCU films. On one occasion, someone I know really enjoyed the second Cap film and had considered seeking some Cap comics. If he had gone into a comic store, and seen Wolverine on a Cap cover, it would surely be a reasonable presumption that Wolverine is in the issue? Only he isn’t. And this person might not have even heard the term “variant comic”. Not everybody is knowledgeable. People can conflate things. My nan, God rest her soul, bought me the wrong wrestling magazine once because all American wrestling was no doubt the same to her. Had a wrestling aficionado been tasked with buying it for me, he’d have no doubt bought the correct one. Do we presume that EVERY person buying a comic, or getting into comics, is gonna be wise to variant covers and the like? I do feel it’s a bit disingenuous to have characters on covers who aren’t in the book itself. If I wanted false advertising, I’d buy any number of vintage World Championship Wrestling PPVs.  I struggle a lot with the mismatched variants we’re talking about. So, Iron Fist is on Netflix (for example), why put him on covers of books he’s not in? What possible appeal is there - for a random or regular reader - to want, say, Spider-Man on a Hulk cover when Spidey isn’t in the book? Who would be interested in that? If you want a Spider-Man cover or book, there are plenty to choose from. I respect anyone who differs on this, but I don’t get it. |
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Post by rich on Sept 8, 2024 13:53:00 GMT -5
In the EU and UK, pricing of single issues is so silly compared to buying trades that monthly comics make zero sense for me anyway, so while I think variants are a very very bad idea, I acknowledge that adult collectors are what prop up the remnants of the industry.
I'd rather the big two focused their energy on making comics cheaper- quicker flat colors, one cover, lower margins, etc- to try to shift more and sell them away from the direct market to children and teenagers specifically, who will be the lifelong fans of tomorrow. Variants and endless number 1s just feel like components of the death cycle mainstream monthlies are in. Far too many comics are punished each month with the main superheroes too- at least the in continuity core- which could consist of about 8 issues only per month. Other forms of entertainment simply are much more accessible to children and teenagers, such as manga, books, etc etc.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2024 15:24:42 GMT -5
In the EU and UK, pricing of single issues is so silly compared to buying trades that monthly comics make zero sense for me anyway, so while I think variants are a very very bad idea, I acknowledge that adult collectors are what prop up the remnants of the industry.
My Uncle told me back in the mid 70s in London, he could go to several newsagents with a £5 note and get up to 50 comics along with a couple of chocolate bars or sherbet. These days you get 1-2 for the same money and maybe a 10p coin as change....
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Post by rich on Sept 8, 2024 16:07:42 GMT -5
In the EU and UK, pricing of single issues is so silly compared to buying trades that monthly comics make zero sense for me anyway, so while I think variants are a very very bad idea, I acknowledge that adult collectors are what prop up the remnants of the industry.
My Uncle told me back in the mid 70s in London, he could go to several newsagents with a £5 note and get up to 50 comics along with a couple of chocolate bars or sherbet. These days you get 1-2 for the same money and maybe a 10p coin as change....
In the mid eighties I used to get 3 comics, large UK size that often came with free gifts, and some penny sweets, for a pound... now 1 comic for £4.99? Inflation wasn't THAT strong.... My friends and family are doing pretty well financially, but no one would go and buy their kid 3 comics a week at the price... |
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Post by rich on Sept 8, 2024 16:20:50 GMT -5
I know some might say it’s my responsibility to check Previews or something - or the cliché that in the smartphone era, there’s no excuse for not knowing things. I disagree with that (I’ve seen such arguments on social media). I know comics are mainly sold in comic stores which people make a conscious act to go to, but not everyone is gonna be a Previews reader, not everyone is going to have in-depth knowledge of comics, etc. I didn’t know many, but I knew one or two folk who sought Marvel titles after enjoying the early MCU films. On one occasion, someone I know really enjoyed the second Cap film and had considered seeking some Cap comics. If he had gone into a comic store, and seen Wolverine on a Cap cover, it would surely be a reasonable presumption that Wolverine is in the issue? Only he isn’t. And this person might not have even heard the term “variant comic”. Not everybody is knowledgeable. People can conflate things. My nan, God rest her soul, bought me the wrong wrestling magazine once because all American wrestling was no doubt the same to her. Had a wrestling aficionado been tasked with buying it for me, he’d have no doubt bought the correct one. Do we presume that EVERY person buying a comic, or getting into comics, is gonna be wise to variant covers and the like? I do feel it’s a bit disingenuous to have characters on covers who aren’t in the book itself. If I wanted false advertising, I’d buy any number of vintage World Championship Wrestling PPVs. I struggle a lot with the mismatched variants we’re talking about. So, Iron Fist is on Netflix (for example), why put him on covers of books he’s not in? What possible appeal is there - for a random or regular reader - to want, say, Spider-Man on a Hulk cover when Spidey isn’t in the book? Who would be interested in that? If you want a Spider-Man cover or book, there are plenty to choose from. I respect anyone who differs on this, but I don’t get it. I wasn't even aware they did that! It was more the fact that they choose to spend more money commissioning these covers than paying for internal art! Wasn't there one comic that came with 100 variants? 😅 It also possibly ends the concept of a legendary cover... there's dozens of covers we all instantly recognise from the past... Will any one cover ever be able to gain that fame for a great comic again? |
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Post by commond on Sept 8, 2024 16:25:06 GMT -5
I took my daughter comic book shopping yesterday and $4 bought her a 192 page tankobon volume of her favorite comic. I doubt the tankobon format would appeal to most Western readers, but there's a reason why successful mangaka sell millions of copies of their books and why popular stories become multi-media franchises. That said, this form of mass production isn't without its pitfalls, especially the physical and mental toll it takes on the writers and artists.
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Post by rich on Sept 8, 2024 16:53:36 GMT -5
I took my daughter comic book shopping yesterday and $4 bought her a 192 page tankobon volume of her favorite comic. I doubt the tankobon format would appeal to most Western readers, but there's a reason why successful mangaka sell millions of copies of their books and why popular stories become multi-media franchises. That said, this form of mass production isn't without its pitfalls, especially the physical and mental toll it takes on the writers and artists. Aren't they created by whole studios full of people? The format does make sense for a lot of readers for sure. |
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Post by driver1980 on Sept 8, 2024 17:15:57 GMT -5
I know some might say it’s my responsibility to check Previews or something - or the cliché that in the smartphone era, there’s no excuse for not knowing things. I disagree with that (I’ve seen such arguments on social media). I know comics are mainly sold in comic stores which people make a conscious act to go to, but not everyone is gonna be a Previews reader, not everyone is going to have in-depth knowledge of comics, etc. I didn’t know many, but I knew one or two folk who sought Marvel titles after enjoying the early MCU films. On one occasion, someone I know really enjoyed the second Cap film and had considered seeking some Cap comics. If he had gone into a comic store, and seen Wolverine on a Cap cover, it would surely be a reasonable presumption that Wolverine is in the issue? Only he isn’t. And this person might not have even heard the term “variant comic”. Not everybody is knowledgeable. People can conflate things. My nan, God rest her soul, bought me the wrong wrestling magazine once because all American wrestling was no doubt the same to her. Had a wrestling aficionado been tasked with buying it for me, he’d have no doubt bought the correct one. Do we presume that EVERY person buying a comic, or getting into comics, is gonna be wise to variant covers and the like? I do feel it’s a bit disingenuous to have characters on covers who aren’t in the book itself. If I wanted false advertising, I’d buy any number of vintage World Championship Wrestling PPVs. I struggle a lot with the mismatched variants we’re talking about. So, Iron Fist is on Netflix (for example), why put him on covers of books he’s not in? What possible appeal is there - for a random or regular reader - to want, say, Spider-Man on a Hulk cover when Spidey isn’t in the book? Who would be interested in that? If you want a Spider-Man cover or book, there are plenty to choose from. I respect anyone who differs on this, but I don’t get it. I wasn't even aware they did that! It was more the fact that they choose to spend more money commissioning these covers than paying for internal art! Wasn't there one comic that came with 100 variants? 😅 It also possibly ends the concept of a legendary cover... there's dozens of covers we all instantly recognise from the past... Will any one cover ever be able to gain that fame for a great comic again? Less is never more with publishers, eh? I don’t like how they take a concept - or arc, rather - and squeeze every last drop of it. I quite liked DC Comics’ Metal, but then it seemed like they not only did lots of spin-offs, but went to the well once too often. One of my favourite Batman stories is “The Lazarus Affair”, a four-part tale. I suspect if they’d done that today, we’d be on “The Lazarus Affair IV” by now, with tie-ins in everything from The Flash to Plastic Man. |
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Post by commond on Sept 8, 2024 17:46:20 GMT -5
I took my daughter comic book shopping yesterday and $4 bought her a 192 page tankobon volume of her favorite comic. I doubt the tankobon format would appeal to most Western readers, but there's a reason why successful mangaka sell millions of copies of their books and why popular stories become multi-media franchises. That said, this form of mass production isn't without its pitfalls, especially the physical and mental toll it takes on the writers and artists. Aren't they created by whole studios full of people? The format does make sense for a lot of readers for sure. Successful mangaka have assistants, which they hire out of their own pocket. They still do the bulk of the artwork, however. Most mangaka work 6-7 days a week, sleep very little, meet their editors for meetings at all hours of the day, and break their backs to meet their weekly deadlines. It’s not a healthy lifestyle, and unfortunately a number of them have passed away at a relatively young age. It’s not uncommon for the creators to take a break or hiatus from a series and sometimes there are long delays in the serialization. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2024 18:25:57 GMT -5
Covers like this are a girl's best friend.
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Post by Batflunkie on Sept 8, 2024 18:27:25 GMT -5
I just want a good story told in an interesting and engaging way with characters worth caring about. That shouldn't be too much to ask for should it?
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Post by rich on Sept 9, 2024 7:25:11 GMT -5
I remember laying it flat. How are the DC absolute books in that respect? From memory they open pretty flat, but right now I'm in Germany while my collection resides in England, but I'll check when I get back 😊 |
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Post by Icctrombone on Sept 9, 2024 7:28:51 GMT -5
I remember laying it flat. How are the DC absolute books in that respect? From memory they open pretty flat, but right now I'm in Germany while my collection resides in England, but I'll check when I get back 😊 But I usually Handle my collection gingerly as not to do much damage . The exception has been my essential books, where I throw them all over. |
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Post by rich on Sept 9, 2024 8:05:50 GMT -5
From memory they open pretty flat, but right now I'm in Germany while my collection resides in England, but I'll check when I get back 😊 But I usually Handle my collection gingerly as not to do much damage . The exception has been my essential books, where I throw them all over. I've always babied my collection, well, since I was about 14 at least! For some reason any bit of damage seems to stick on my mind seemingly forever. Trades that don't want to lie anywhere near flat annoy me a bit, and I'd rather spend extra to buy a properly bound hardcover. Obviously, penny pinching from the publishers means binding is just as likely to be crap on a HC as it is to be good. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Sept 9, 2024 8:15:11 GMT -5
In the EU and UK, pricing of single issues is so silly compared to buying trades that monthly comics make zero sense for me anyway, so while I think variants are a very very bad idea, I acknowledge that adult collectors are what prop up the remnants of the industry. I'd rather the big two focused their energy on making comics cheaper- quicker flat colors, one cover, lower margins, etc- to try to shift more and sell them away from the direct market to children and teenagers specifically, who will be the lifelong fans of tomorrow. Variants and endless number 1s just feel like components of the death cycle mainstream monthlies are in. Far too many comics are punished each month with the main superheroes too- at least the in continuity core- which could consist of about 8 issues only per month. Other forms of entertainment simply are much more accessible to children and teenagers, such as manga, books, etc etc. I'd love it in concept, but that reality is never going to happen again, sadly. Comics are no longer a volume seller for little kids (some of which grew up and still love them). They are now a small niche collectors market. As such, prices are what the market can bare. No store is going to both stocking a $2 comic that make a few cents profit on.. they aren't going to sell hundreds of thousands of them like back in the day. DC tried (sort of) to emulate manga with the 'Giants' they put in Wal-Mart, and it didn't work. There's just no infrastructure any more for comics to sell like that. I wish it could happen, but its just not realistic. What I see in the future is comics starting as a webtoon or cheap download, then getting printed later.. alot of indy webtoons do that nowadays and that seems the a pretty viable model. |
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