cbishop

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There is NO MARVEL Sexier than HER! "

@Jnr6Lil said:

"nice blogs man. really interesting "

Thank you. Much appreciated.

@turoksonofstone said:

" I was thinking how the Medium may have really died with the end of "Newsstand" distribution and the move to the direct market. And now with Pirated comics available along with TPB's, and Marvel/DC losing touch with what is appropriate to charge for a monthly book, The medium has some tough times ahead for sure. "

Nah, moving to direct market didn't kill it. For the distribution system and specialized outlets it created, it actually helped it - we'd have little to no indie industry without it (until the Internet got going, but that was several years after direct market got going). I think the direct market is an artificial system though - it's only sustainable for as long as those involved are willing to cooperate. The direct market was great for Marvel & DC at first, because it gave them a place to get all of their product displayed in one spot, and really get it out there to the customers. Now though, with book chains seeing that trades will sell, and with the Internet out there to help things, why would they want to sustain the direct market (the comic shops)? Would it be totally cruddy of them to do that, since the DM got them where they are? Yep, but I believe that eventually, some corporate number cruncher with no love for comics is going to see how that business can be trimmed by changing their business model, and that will be it.

They're going to see that it's to their advantage, because the end of the LCS would mean the end of their indy competition, as well as those indies that are starting to get larger, like IDW, Oni, DDP, probably Dynamite, and maybe Dark Horse and Image. I think Dark Horse could weather it, and keep up with the trades-only process, but I have serious doubts about Image. Pikahyper pointed out that Archie doesn't do trades (although they have done some) but the fact is, Archie did very well for themselves on the grocery store impulse counters. They've always kept their numbers secret - no one really knows exactly how well they've done - just that they have done well. I imagine they would go back to that model.

I just think it's cold reality that one day, someone in the Big Two will see that it's better for their bottom line to put the rest of the industry out of business, by pulling out of the LCS system, and going with trades-only and bookstore chains. I could be wrong... I'd like to be wrong... but I think it's coming. I honestly don't think about it much, or even often, but when I do think about it, this is what I see happening. <sigh> I owe pikahyper a response to his response, but cannot get to it tonight. So I'm gonna cut this short ("short?") and say adios for now. Adios for now! ;)

@nftw said:

" @cbishop: really the post that all of you are complaining about is two years old and has not been commented on in over a year, Tom brought it back to life, besides it is relavent to the upcoming movie. "

Nice read, Tom.  I wished for a Tangent ongoing from the first set of one-shots.  I haven't read the JLA arc where CSA trashed it - I hope that's not for good.  As for the CSA universe, they're great characters, but for me, an ongoing would just kind of take away the "special" about them.  I like when they show up in Justice League titles, because you know this is gonna be a throwdown, as the JLA takes on their evil twins.  If they're around all the time, in their own book, the crossovers to butt heads with the JLA would be a bit lackluster.

"You better let all the superheroines who have wore heals that, even though mines not wearing heals they can be a very deadly weapon.  As for our girls wearing "dresses" Angelia Jolie proved a girl can fight in a dress. LOL I wanna watch Tomb Raider now. :-D"

"actually was going more for Enchantress, but close.If you expect dancing hair though we need more than 2 weeks, I can't in good concience whip out a Medusa I'd be happy with in less :) "