Comments on: [Resource of the Day] – 5 Things Wrong With Comic Books Today http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/05/28/resource-of-the-day-5-things-wrong-with-comic-books-today/ by Sean J. Jordan Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:07:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: SeanJJordan http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/05/28/resource-of-the-day-5-things-wrong-with-comic-books-today/comment-page-1/#comment-39 SeanJJordan Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:48:03 +0000 http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/05/28/resource-of-the-day-5-things-wrong-with-comic-books-today/#comment-39 There are many, many factors that contribute to the current state of the comic book industry; it's hard to point to any one thing. But what I will say is that both Marvel and DC are making far more money off licensing than they are off their comics. All the comics serve to do is to keep both companies functioning as icons. No, the real problem is that comic books aren't as mainstream as the other things you reference, such as video games and cartoons. Think about it this way: the population of the United States is around 300 million people. If 50% of these people are into something (say, the Super Bowl), it makes headlines. If 10% of these people are into something, it's a sensation. If 5% of these people are into something, it's an industry. If 1% of people are into something, it's a niche. That's 3 million people, the size of an audience for a hit video game or music album. And what about comics, where less than a half of 1% of people are into something? I'm being charitable in saying that 1.5 million people are regular readers of comics. It's really more like 300,000, or .1% of the entire population. Comics used to be more mainstream than this, but the industry is waning because it's not relevant anymore. The books are too expensive, and provide too little entertainment. They often are not very good, and sometimes even insulting to readers. There are also numerous substitutes that provide a better "bang for the buck." There are many, many factors that contribute to the current state of the comic book industry; it’s hard to point to any one thing. But what I will say is that both Marvel and DC are making far more money off licensing than they are off their comics. All the comics serve to do is to keep both companies functioning as icons.

No, the real problem is that comic books aren’t as mainstream as the other things you reference, such as video games and cartoons. Think about it this way: the population of the United States is around 300 million people. If 50% of these people are into something (say, the Super Bowl), it makes headlines. If 10% of these people are into something, it’s a sensation. If 5% of these people are into something, it’s an industry. If 1% of people are into something, it’s a niche. That’s 3 million people, the size of an audience for a hit video game or music album.

And what about comics, where less than a half of 1% of people are into something? I’m being charitable in saying that 1.5 million people are regular readers of comics. It’s really more like 300,000, or .1% of the entire population. Comics used to be more mainstream than this, but the industry is waning because it’s not relevant anymore. The books are too expensive, and provide too little entertainment. They often are not very good, and sometimes even insulting to readers. There are also numerous substitutes that provide a better “bang for the buck.”

]]> By: Antionestrife http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/05/28/resource-of-the-day-5-things-wrong-with-comic-books-today/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Antionestrife Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:05:22 +0000 http://www.seanjjordan.com/2008/05/28/resource-of-the-day-5-things-wrong-with-comic-books-today/#comment-35 Ways to save te industry... I'm not sure if these would work but, I think they are sound suggestions. For one since Marvel and DC are spear heading this cross over agenda it might be prudent that small er publishers don't follow suit but blaze a new path. There are plenty of well written books out there, like ann rice titles that could be turned into a comic book. Jump on these before the big comic publishers do. Dare I say even Haryy Potter! I think it's important to do this in more force to get comic books or rather creator owned comics more of a seperate idenity from Marvel, Dc, Darkhorse, ect... By brantching off like this and doing more comics that are not superhero like comics (but good)will also give comics more crediability. Not to leave superhero's entirely just get more types off comics that don't have that super hero feel. Maybe thats why Sin city had some success. I along with you want comics to grow out of that kiddie label. Now that being said. we should follow the path of video games. Playstation made a rather alsome discovery which could have been by accident. The focused their games at the 18-28 market. Of coarse I'm in my thirties and still play. In there first system the show cased games like Resident evil. What I'm saying in short is that we should throw some mature themes in are art work. Yes, we may be handcuffed with a mature rating but, it didn't seem to hurt God of War or Resident evil. I would cuation to don't go overboared, just brush up against edge ever so gently. I much more enjoy anime cartoons becuase there stories usually very engrossing, dark and mature. Last but not least we need figure how to use the internet to tap into that cash cow. I read here that Marvel and DC have there hands tied in sales online. They haven't pursued this seriously. If they was to do this what would they do? I believe this could be a hidden answer to self publishers if they could find a way to effectively sale their work online as online subscriptions or downloads. Therefore not being killed by the publishing process. I have no answer to this since I have sold nothing online yet. Still I have not promoted in the expensive comic online spots, ethere. Anyone have anything to add to this? Ways to save te industry… I’m not sure if these would work but, I think they are sound suggestions. For one since Marvel and DC are spear heading this cross over agenda it might be prudent that small er publishers don’t follow suit but blaze a new path. There are plenty of well written books out there, like ann rice titles that could be turned into a comic book. Jump on these before the big comic publishers do. Dare I say even Haryy Potter! I think it’s important to do this in more force to get comic books or rather creator owned comics more of a seperate idenity from Marvel, Dc, Darkhorse, ect… By brantching off like this and doing more comics that are not superhero like comics (but good)will also give comics more crediability. Not to leave superhero’s entirely just get more types off comics that don’t have that super hero feel. Maybe thats why Sin city had some success. I along with you want comics to grow out of that kiddie label. Now that being said. we should follow the path of video games. Playstation made a rather alsome discovery which could have been by accident. The focused their games at the 18-28 market. Of coarse I’m in my thirties and still play. In there first system the show cased games like Resident evil. What I’m saying in short is that we should throw some mature themes in are art work. Yes, we may be handcuffed with a mature rating but, it didn’t seem to hurt God of War or Resident evil. I would cuation to don’t go overboared, just brush up against edge ever so gently. I much more enjoy anime cartoons becuase there stories usually very engrossing, dark and mature. Last but not least we need figure how to use the internet to tap into that cash cow. I read here that Marvel and DC have there hands tied in sales online. They haven’t pursued this seriously. If they was to do this what would they do? I believe this could be a hidden answer to self publishers if they could find a way to effectively sale their work online as online subscriptions or downloads. Therefore not being killed by the publishing process. I have no answer to this since I have sold nothing online yet. Still I have not promoted in the expensive comic online spots, ethere. Anyone have anything to add to this?

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