The Future of Comics

[Mr. Walters]

Anyone catch that documentary on comics last night on the History Channel? It was very intriguing and yet scary. It said that comic sales are at the lowest point in history and comic companies loose money every year. Some big names were doubtful on the future of comic books. Some blamed the recent trend in comic book themed movies stating that if people were watching the movies they weren't reading the books. Quesada even sounded scared. A lot of people looked to the internet as the future home for comics. Anyway, I'm getting a little scared here. In the next twenty years will comics become a thing of the past??? If anyone has any information that might point to a better future in comic book land I would appreciate it. Please, discuss your thoughts.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

I saw it through my import channels,what Stan Lee said was true.Looking at a comic through a computer isnt the same as holding it in your hands.It also explained the comic book bubble burst of the late 1990`s.

Personally...im not sure where comics will stand in 10-20 years..

 

[Elijya]

missed this, but eager to check it out

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

It was a pretty good show. I think comics will last for a long while, as it feels that due to movies and such coming out, that comics are gaining at least a little momentum.

 

[cerealkiller182]

Comics will never die. Its cheesy but its just like if painting, movies, and music die. They cant. there will always be someone wanting to write, film, paint, sing, dance, w/e. No worries. Be Happy

 

[Mr. Walters]

You sound confident cerealkiller182. You might make it easier for me to sleep tonight.

 

[Elijya]

yeah, when they did their "Comicbook Superheroes Unmasked" special a few years ago, they ended on a big downer

I, however, see a definite pattern that as sales have gone down, quality has gone up. So I wouldn't want comics to be selling in the millions like they were in the early 90s again, because it might be for the wrong reasons

 

[mathhater]

^ Actually, they're talking about "Comicbook Superheroes Unmasked." They finally reran it.

 

[mathhater]

I'm not too worried about the future of comics. They've been around since the 30's, and I don't see why they should have to die out anytime soon.

Although I do have my concerns...this internet thing...that would suck, having to read comics from your computer...not sure I could go for that.

Another concern that I read about somewhere is the fact that the people reading comics are folks in their late teens and above...even people in their 40's and older. That could be a dangerous trend, because kids are the ones who need to be reading comics to ensure the survival of the art form. And unfortunately, on Wednesday's, I never, ever see a kid in the comics store.

And my biggest concern...(which is another reason why the above concern may be true...and probably why comic sales are so low) is the constant raising prices. It's no wonder you never see kids in the store when books cost a minimum of 3 bucks a piece. If they climb any higher, people just won't be able to afford the same number of books each week. So people are just going to have start buying less, which could, in turn lead to a decrease in the number of books out there....which could be good or bad, depending on your view...but I'd hate to see a decrease in quality titles. They HAVE to stay affordable if they want people to continue reading them.

Just look at how many comics come out a week...every, single, week. I know it's the cost of doing business, but the prices just can't climb much more. There's too much product, and most people won't be able to read as much for much longer if the price keeps going up. The prices have to remain fairly low if they want readers to keep coming back to the comic stores.

*dreading the $3.50 pricetag*

 

[Web Slinger CK]

If people just see the movies it won't be like they won't read the comics. For example: If someone watches Spider-Man:The Movie, maybe they wanna find out more about the Spider-Man and start reading the comics about Spider-Man?

 

[Mr. Walters]

If people just see the movies it won't be like they won't read the comics. For example: If someone watches Spider-Man:The Movie, maybe they wanna find out more about the Spider-Man and start reading the comics about Spider-Man?

You'd think so, but you'd be surprised how many people don;t even know that some of these "movie" characters are actually comic characters.

 

[Harlekin]

I can understand that with Blade and Daredevil, but everybody knows that when it comes to Spidey, Supes and Bats... right?

 

[Bullseye]

I'd say a hundred years from now comics won't be around... maybe not the form that it is now. It may just be something completely different.

The way cover price keeps increasing it may turn out to be no comics.

 

[mathhater]

^ that's my big worry...

 

[Mr. Walters]

I can understand that with Blade and Daredevil, but everybody knows that when it comes to Spidey, Supes and Bats... right?

I've know people who thought they were simply cartoon characters.

 

[E. Bison]

Besides the cover prices, movies, and cartoons you know what else is hurting comics? The internet and video games. That's right. I'll explain WHY the internet is hurting comics. First off, comics give very detailed info on the history, origin, and background of comic books and characters. Why would you need to BUY all the comics to keep up with the history of your favorite character when dozens of websites already have all that up for free. Second, the internet is so quick at updating that it is keeping up with even the CURRENT history and stories going on in comics right now. So nobody has to BUY comics to keep up with current story lines when people give them away for free on the net. That's what I've certainly done. Its why I frequent these threads because I don't WANT TO buy the comics so YOU guys give away the story to me ALL TEH TIME!!

Now with the second media, video games. Video games are also hurting comics because video games are moving animation characters with sound, control, and movement. Video games are more popular and easier to get ahold of than comics. How many video game retailers are around compared to comic and book stores. A LOT!! Since the characters in video games are controlable, have sound, and they are move nobody is going to want to buy a comic books since the characters DONT move, DONT talk, and are not controlable. Honestly, I have more X-Men themed video games and movies than comic books. This is because I like watching things movie and talk. Comics just simply don't do that.

 

[Mr. Walters]

I agree with what you said about the internet but no witht he whole video game rant. I think comic characters do move and talk and you do contol them if you read the cmoics and let the story unfold in your head. Reading a comic is like reading a script while viewing storyboards to a movie that will only exsist in your mind. I look at the artwork, but mostly I read the dialogue and make the action up in my own mind.

 

[Kool-Aid]

Comics will live on, but will just be called manga. Japanese can call it whatever they want, its still a comic to me.

Spoiler

Or is it?

 

[SpandexFan]

Thought I'd weigh in with my two cents because while I was an avid collector in my childhood, it's been a while since I grabbed a comic. I still buy graphic novels (especially collections of some of the best stories such as Death of Superman, X-Men events, etc.) from time to time and I did recently buy that X-Men CD compilation for the PC, but I see two huge problems:

-- Comics are too expensive now! I grew up in a modest house. We didn't have all that much, but I could still manage to mow a lawn here and there, or some other childhood job, and earn enough to go ride my bike to the local comic store and grab several volumes of a recent popular series. Sometimes when I'm bored and happen to be in the area, I visit comic stores just to look around, and I'm amazed at how expensive they have become! A kid practically needs five bucks just to buy one measly issue. I'll tell you why it's wrong. Comics should be for kids first, adult second. I know adults are a huge part of the industry now, and it's fine to cater to the people with the big money, but you have to remember where we all started. We were all little kids at one time with our eyes wide open as we read about the adventures of Superman, Batman, Wolverine, Punisher and others. Baseball cards are in the same type of danger. They have outrageous prices too. You have to bring in your future readers at a young age and with the prices of these hobbies, it risks losing its youth and holding on to a declining adult readership.

-- Comics need to enter the multimedia age. Stan Lee is right, it is different to read it in your hands than on a computer screen, but I'm amazed that comics haven't evolved with the digital age as much as music, movies, books and other artforms have. I was shocked to find that my X-Men CD collection is the rare exception in the biz. I can't believe that Marvel and DC don't offer some type of online download service where you can cheaply purchase back issues from their extensive archives and read it at your own whenever you choose. Maybe create a device that caters to comic readers? Perhaps a comic book sized LCD pad that is meant to link only to comic book companies? Basically, a comic book version of the Ipod? It wouldn't have to cost that much. I guess the screen wouldn't be that big if you're going by the size of a typical comic book page. If they offered issues at cheap or bulk prices via easy download, even though it's been years since I really got into reading comics, you can bet I would take a hard look at a comic book Ipod device. The days of hoarding overvalued paper collections are over. Everything will be digital or on a computer. Even $.50 newspapers are in danger.

 

[The Fonz]

missed this, but eager to check it out

Me too. Does anyone know more about this program.

 

[The Fonz]

P.S. I don't think comic books will die. But if I'm wrong, then I'm wrong.

 

[hippy fascist]

The biggest problem is ********s like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Ultimate-Spiderman-Complete-1-86-Extras_W0QQitemZ260006284329QQihZ016QQcategoryZ17082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Whwn it's major hollywood movies it's a problem but comics don't matter. Ebay should be policing these pricks

 

[E. Bison]

What's wrong with that offer on Ebay? I don't see anything wrong with it besides that it is a pretty good price for that whole collection. Anyways, I still stick to my original statement that video games DO hurt comics because comic DO NOT move, make sounds, and cannot be controlled. Video games move and comics dont' so people who get into the video games first eventually don't care about the comics. With so many Street Fighter, King of Fighter, and Darkstalker fans out there the comic versions of these games have been wrather mediocre at best. The reason is that hardcore video game fans don't like to imagine movement and sound up to themselves.

 

[MyPokerShirt]

^ i think his problem was that its probs pirated material, not a marvel-sanctioned digital set.


Comics have been in decline forever. as long as people can make money from them there'll be comics. the less people reading = less comics, but there's a long way til there's nothing to choose from and companies start going belly-up.
If great ideas can be made in the comics but earn money on the big screen that at least should keep the industry alive and no, reading online is nothing like owning a comic. A trade,especially, comes under the "book" category for me and books arent going to be replaced by online texts, people like to hold their story or hold their art and read it whenever. there's no memory limits on a real comic book like my laptop here. comics will be around forever, trust me (or at least til nuclear holocaust ). its just scare-mongering - JQ wants you to buy more civil war

 

[E. Bison]

Oh, ok I see now. Yeah, that is pirated material. I don't know, I think comics will eventually only survive as online material. If you want a hardcover and paper comics you can just print them out on a printer. Many years ago it was said that digital cameras with online photography and printing would not last. But now there are printers made specifically for printing out studio quality pictures with gloss and all. I think in the future comics will only be online and you will have the option of printing them out with special printers with comic book style paper and covers.

I honestly would go that rout and buy more comics in future if that was done. Where I live there are only 2 comic shops in a WHOLE city. I'm to busy and live to far to go all the way over there for them and they cost to much. Online I would be able to purchase them anytime and anywhere.