Post by driver1980 on Nov 9, 2024 14:39:24 GMT -5
There are at least two members here on record as stating that monthly comics are an anachronism. And I happen to agree. Now, I don’t know how to link to a specific post in this thread, so I’ll simply mention a name - MRPs_Missives - and post some recent words of his:
I do agree with this. For many reasons. Personally, I don’t have much of a stake - particularly financially - in buying one-sixth of a story (e.g. the latest Spidey story) when I can buy the trade for a lower price than if I were buying the individual issues. I used to avoid playing that game where shows like CSI and Lost would release Season One, Part One - and then Season One, Part Two. That’s not an exact comparison with comics, but paying fourteen quid or something for a trade is better for me than paying nearly four quid for individual issues.
I also feel as others do about monthly periodicals not being a thriving business model in 2024, creators finding success with other models, not having artificially imposed deadlines, etc.
However, and this is where I’d welcome *all* views, the only question I have is, how do you retrain your brain to move away from monthly periodicals and deadlines to something that may be more viable long-term?
We are creatures of habit. In many ways, whether it be a weekly coffee with a family member or buying monthly books. It’s ingrained in us. And yet, as discussed here countless times, it’s not really working, is it? Even when it’s something one likes, one might be inclined to wait for the trade. An an artificial deadline that perhaps belongs in another era isn’t necessarily good for anyone, creator or buyer.
This might not be a perfect comparison, but a lot of comics in the UK are weekly, such as 2000 AD. It’s what we’re used to. If the publisher, Rebellion, suddenly told us that the book was going monthly, as that would be better for it long-term sales-wise, I imagine quite a few people might complain and demand it stays weekly. Retraining UK readers to accept a monthly rather than weekly schedule for a title might be asking too much (even if, for instance, the publisher had a good reason pertaining to sales).
I have often felt, and I’m referring to any periodical here, that a shift to bi-monthly has often been counter-productive. Some magazines shifted to that schedule at times, but people went from a habit of buying every month to buying every two months - and not only did that sometimes fail, but the whole “out of sight, out of mind” scenario could come into play. I don’t know this for sure - I have no evidence or anything anecdotal - but I am wondering whether some publishers might fear that abolition of a monthly schedule could be the death knell for various books and the industry as a whole.
I feel there might be a consensus here, though, about monthly periodicals being an anachronism. And I’m sure comic stores might not like it.
So, what do you think could be a potential solution (realistically speaking)? Do you feel monthly periodicals are a relic of a bygone age? And, most importantly, if you feel moving away from monthly periodicals is a solution, how do you encourage or incentivise people to do so?
I wish more creators would adopt the Brubaker/Phillips model of producing 2 OGN a year rather than trying to keep up with a monthly deadline and seeing both the quality and the production schedule suffer for it. Comics may have started as a periodical business, but their is nothing requiring it to remain so in the 21st century when periodicals are no longer a thriving business model.
The only barrier to change is the nostalgia fueled buying habits of the aging customer base of Marvel & DC Comics. Many other publishers outside the direct market are finding much more success, sales, and growth with the OGN model allowing creators to produce at their own pace rather than at artificial imposed deadline structures to prop up a periodical market.
The only barrier to change is the nostalgia fueled buying habits of the aging customer base of Marvel & DC Comics. Many other publishers outside the direct market are finding much more success, sales, and growth with the OGN model allowing creators to produce at their own pace rather than at artificial imposed deadline structures to prop up a periodical market.
I do agree with this. For many reasons. Personally, I don’t have much of a stake - particularly financially - in buying one-sixth of a story (e.g. the latest Spidey story) when I can buy the trade for a lower price than if I were buying the individual issues. I used to avoid playing that game where shows like CSI and Lost would release Season One, Part One - and then Season One, Part Two. That’s not an exact comparison with comics, but paying fourteen quid or something for a trade is better for me than paying nearly four quid for individual issues.
I also feel as others do about monthly periodicals not being a thriving business model in 2024, creators finding success with other models, not having artificially imposed deadlines, etc.
However, and this is where I’d welcome *all* views, the only question I have is, how do you retrain your brain to move away from monthly periodicals and deadlines to something that may be more viable long-term?
We are creatures of habit. In many ways, whether it be a weekly coffee with a family member or buying monthly books. It’s ingrained in us. And yet, as discussed here countless times, it’s not really working, is it? Even when it’s something one likes, one might be inclined to wait for the trade. An an artificial deadline that perhaps belongs in another era isn’t necessarily good for anyone, creator or buyer.
This might not be a perfect comparison, but a lot of comics in the UK are weekly, such as 2000 AD. It’s what we’re used to. If the publisher, Rebellion, suddenly told us that the book was going monthly, as that would be better for it long-term sales-wise, I imagine quite a few people might complain and demand it stays weekly. Retraining UK readers to accept a monthly rather than weekly schedule for a title might be asking too much (even if, for instance, the publisher had a good reason pertaining to sales).
I have often felt, and I’m referring to any periodical here, that a shift to bi-monthly has often been counter-productive. Some magazines shifted to that schedule at times, but people went from a habit of buying every month to buying every two months - and not only did that sometimes fail, but the whole “out of sight, out of mind” scenario could come into play. I don’t know this for sure - I have no evidence or anything anecdotal - but I am wondering whether some publishers might fear that abolition of a monthly schedule could be the death knell for various books and the industry as a whole.
I feel there might be a consensus here, though, about monthly periodicals being an anachronism. And I’m sure comic stores might not like it.
So, what do you think could be a potential solution (realistically speaking)? Do you feel monthly periodicals are a relic of a bygone age? And, most importantly, if you feel moving away from monthly periodicals is a solution, how do you encourage or incentivise people to do so?
