[Groop]State of the Comics Union (was Question for ME)

MisterElie@aol.com MisterElie@aol.com
Sun, 16 Dec 2001 22:19:14 EST


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I have to agree with Ruben.  I came in to comics relatively late.  I was 16 
and was intrigued by the fact Superman was going to die.  Would you believe 
the very first time I walked into a comic book shop was the day Superman #75 
came on sale and I thought I could simply walk in that day and buy one off 
the rack---such naivete!  Anyway, I grew up with parents who taught me comics 
are for kids and adults only collect them to sell them.  Once I started 
reading them I discovered that either: A.) I have a childlike sense of 
entertainment, or B.) comics grew up.  Almost 10 years and 2,800 comics 
later, I've come to the conclusion that I'm grown up yet I love comics and 
I'm not going to get rid of them.  Most comics are not really for kids 
anymore.  I think that's why Marvel stopped using the Comics Code Authority - 
the audience has grown up and the comics had to grow up as well to keep its 
audience.  Even the ones that still use the code are pretty mature - checked 
out the Batman titles lately?

But the comic shops are trying to get kids into their stores.  They realize 
kids spend money without thought of the cost, and parents need a place to go 
to get their kids holiday presents.  That's why they've slowly been 
decreasing their comics stock and increasing their gaming.  Kids want to play 
games; not read comics.  

We live in an area where there are 2 "comics shops."  One of them sells 
comics and adult magazines.  The comics are arranged in a rather disorganized 
way (ex: Batman #500 is between the latest issue of Wizard and an X-Men cover 
variant).  They have a large back issue selection, but I haven't figured out 
how they are organized.  The other "comic shop" has a very organized back 
room containing the latest new issues of comics.  I've never seen the worker 
in that room, he is usually in the front with the kids organizing card games 
and selling model kits.  I've been there when the lights in the comic book 
section are off.  We don't usually go to either shop, rather we get our 
comics by mail and our back issues through the web because we are rather 
apalled by the apathy shown to us by workers at the local comics shops.

Is it any wonder adults don't go to these places?  Any wonder why the 
industry has problems?  If you want a successful comic book shop, just look 
at who your customers are.  When I go to a con, I see lots of kids and teens 
going for the gaming, but the adults are going for the comics.  Having 
sensible and logical store layouts aside, what should that tell comic store 
owners to stock their shelves with?

By the way, I don't want you to misunderstand me, I love comics and I think 
there are some incredible stories out there right now.  I have also had some 
almost-magical experiences in comic shops in the past.  I think the industry 
could regain some of its former glory if only it was represented by more 
retailers with as much pride in their product as the people who create the 
comics and the consumers who buy them.

Oh well, I'll step off my soapbox now and watch the Cartoon Network.

Elie 

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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=2>I have to agree with Ruben. &nbsp;I came in to comics relatively late. &nbsp;I was 16 and was intrigued by the fact Superman was going to die. &nbsp;Would you believe the very first time I walked into a comic book shop was the day Superman #75 came on sale and I thought I could simply walk in that day and buy one off the rack---such naivete! &nbsp;Anyway, I grew up with parents who taught me comics are for kids and adults only collect them to sell them. &nbsp;Once I started reading them I discovered that either: A.) I have a childlike sense of entertainment, or B.) comics grew up. &nbsp;Almost 10 years and 2,800 comics later, I've come to the conclusion that I'm grown up yet I love comics and I'm not going to get rid of them. &nbsp;Most comics are not really for kids anymore. &nbsp;I think that's why Marvel stopped using the Comics Code Authority - the audience has grown up and the comics had to grow up as well to keep its audie!
nce. &nbsp;Even the ones that still use the code are pretty mature - checked out the Batman titles lately?
<BR>
<BR>But the comic shops are trying to get kids into their stores. &nbsp;They realize kids spend money without thought of the cost, and parents need a place to go to get their kids holiday presents. &nbsp;That's why they've slowly been decreasing their comics stock and increasing their gaming. &nbsp;Kids want to play games; not read comics. &nbsp;
<BR>
<BR>We live in an area where there are 2 "comics shops." &nbsp;One of them sells comics and adult magazines. &nbsp;The comics are arranged in a rather disorganized way (ex: Batman #500 is between the latest issue of Wizard and an X-Men cover variant). &nbsp;They have a large back issue selection, but I haven't figured out how they are organized. &nbsp;The other "comic shop" has a very organized back room containing the latest new issues of comics. &nbsp;I've never seen the worker in that room, he is usually in the front with the kids organizing card games and selling model kits. &nbsp;I've been there when the lights in the comic book section are off. &nbsp;We don't usually go to either shop, rather we get our comics by mail and our back issues through the web because we are rather apalled by the apathy shown to us by workers at the local comics shops.
<BR>
<BR>Is it any wonder adults don't go to these places? &nbsp;Any wonder why the industry has problems? &nbsp;If you want a successful comic book shop, just look at who your customers are. &nbsp;When I go to a con, I see lots of kids and teens going for the gaming, but the adults are going for the comics. &nbsp;Having sensible and logical store layouts aside, what should that tell comic store owners to stock their shelves with?
<BR>
<BR>By the way, I don't want you to misunderstand me, I love comics and I think there are some incredible stories out there right now. &nbsp;I have also had some almost-magical experiences in comic shops in the past. &nbsp;I think the industry could regain some of its former glory if only it was represented by more retailers with as much pride in their product as the people who create the comics and the consumers who buy them.
<BR>
<BR>Oh well, I'll step off my soapbox now and watch the Cartoon Network.
<BR>
<BR>Elie </FONT></HTML>

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