1. Go and check out Mitch Joel’s blog
Mitch and I start off talking about how trade paperbacks are affecting the industry. The question is, to they affect it in a good way or a bad way.
2. We talk about the DC comics wiki
3. And the Marvel comics wiki
Both are great things to use if you want to catch up on what has been going on with comic book characters.
Hope that you enjoy the show.
Take care.
-N
{ 4 } Comments
Great show Neil. It was very interesting to hear Mitch’s, a relatively new reader of comics, insights on the comic industry. He seems to have a pretty good handle of the challenges the industry is facing. Makes sense considering he is in marketing.
Hey Neil,
Dig the podcast! Found it by accident and happy I did. New to podcasts in general, actually, and boy do they help the workday fly!
Real quick, just wanted to address a couple things that were touched on during the interview:
Downloadable comics - the more I read, the more I’m compelled to buy. It’s the same effect as being able to read comics in the store… it might seem like cheating the system, but I have bought countless books I never would have if I hadn’t first developed a taste for them.
Canadian cover prices - yes, we Canucks get pummelled by cover prices, but the good news is when the exchange rate leveled, Diamond gave the retailers the option to just sell at US (rather than have everything reprinted with a new price). In Toronto at least, what they found was people bought considerably when they were at US. The shop I go to, and many others, have instituted a permanent policy of US cover prices for that reason.
Final note, please assure Mr. Joel that debate is one of the cornerstones of comicdom! If he’s got an opinion, we want to hear it.
I’m out, but again, loved the podcast, and looking forward to hearing them all.
Take care!
I would like to point out that while the assesment of strategies is pretty good, DC does have some designs on young readers. They are targetign them through cartoons (Justice League, Teen Titans are still in heavy rerun mode while Legion of Superheroes-a superman series and The batman are still first run on Saturdays) but also through branding. I noticed that Goldfish crackers are giving away Goldfish comics with specially marked packages. These comics are published by DC. I signed up for the free lego club, and every month I get a Lego catalogue but I also get a Lego magizine wich includes a comic book in it. Another DC placement. A few years ago Burger King did a comic give away in it’s kids meals. Again DC. There’s almost an attitude of “If kids won’t buy them we’ll give them away untill they know who we are”
I’d also point out that there are far more DC movies out than people realize. We don’t think of things like V for Vendetta or Stardust as DC films, but they are. Just as they did with comics in the 80’s, DC is pushing the envlope for comic book movie.
All that said, DC is not succeeding. Marvel is, simple as that. Until management changes at DC, we will not see them grow.
Dude how are you? I haven’t heard you in a while. Hope your doing well. Happy Holidays and look forward to hearing a new podcast from you!
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