tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10151381.post733170054766432764..comments2009-02-06T13:45:24.828ZDavid Normanhttps://profiles.google.com/101845119703045207708noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10151381.post-88237284571330095872009-02-06T13:45:00.000Z2009-02-06T13:45:00.000ZThe debate over the fortunes of the comic book is huge and ongoing; my own personal thoughts are that comic books are too expensive and don't provide sufficient value for entertainment for the general public. Why buy a comic book for £2.50 for only a chapter in a story when you can see a whole film for a little more, or a DVD with extras?<BR/><BR/>Although the 1986 Batman film had an affect on the sales of <I>Batman</I> comics back then, it was in the years leading to the speculator boom and subsequent crash. There hasn't been anything like that since; the closest I've heard were stories about people coming into comic book shops for <I>Sin City</I> material after the films and for <I>Watchmen</I> when the trailer first hit the internet. And that's more media hype than promotional material.<BR/><BR/>Another aspect is that comic book shops don't operate on the trade paperback model – they work as a vehicle for the weekly comic book and back issues but don't have the capacity of book shops to order and stock sufficient material to cope with surges in demand, nor discount them sufficiently to lure people in (I know Borders had the trade of <I>Watchmen</I> on half-price sale).<BR/><BR/>Comic book shops are no different to other businesses – they come and go depending on a host of other factors, and we can't rely on them to keep existing based solely on goodwill, unfortunately. Now, with the recession and Marvel and DC increasing the price of comic books (due to a fall in advertising revenue), it's only going to get worse ...Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981976646419481110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10151381.post-38447307232186863212009-02-06T12:45:00.000Z2009-02-06T12:45:00.000ZKinda makes me sad reading this. They;re closing at a terrific rate. I'm hoping Avalon in Clapham hold out; it's good store.<BR/><BR/>I do wonder though, in this age of comic book movies and the medium's re-entry into mainstream culture, if there's more that a the stores could do.<BR/><BR/>When Hulk and Iron Man came out; why wasn't there more promotional material? There's worse; why didn't History of Violence or Persepolis bring in a whole new demographic of customer?<BR/><BR/>Now, with Watchmen coming out... goddamn WATCHMEN!!!! ... I'm still not seeing posters and events in the comic book stores. Waterstones and even independent bookstores seem to be cashing in on that one though.waxydanhttp://waxydan.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com