I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have a relatively new column at Broken Fronter.
If you have a few minutes, please check it out and let me know what you think. :)

http://www.brokenfrontier.com/columns/details.php?id=596

pretty cool

That was informative.

Thank you both very much! *tips hat*
This week's column is on the viability of digital comic books and the future of monthly floppies. Hope you'll check it out. :)

Okay... the topic changed a bit, but my new column is up and available for your viewing pleasure:

http://www.brokenfrontier.com/columns/details.php?id=600

Thanks for reading! :)

Hey :3 that's pretty kool ^^

Peipei
Hey :3 that's pretty kool ^^

Thank you very much! *tips hat* :)

edgarallanpoo
*tips hat*

Bullcrap! I've seen your pic, you don't wear a hat!
Impressive collum BTW :)

ozoneocean
Bullcrap! I've seen your pic, you don't wear a hat!
Impressive collum BTW :)

Actually, I'm wearing a Tigers hat right at this very moment! Nanny-nanny!

Thank you, my friend. Glad you dig it. ;)

Personally, I disagree with your latest post about the viability of single issue comics into the future. Especially the part about comics as collectors items. There was a time when comics could sell up to 8 million copies each (Jim Lee made this record) or were at least selling close to a million. Then people started realizing that if everyone owned this many issues then there was really no point collecting them any more.

Then the market crashed in '97 (the comic market, not the stock market.) All because of this.

Then there were distributor wars. Diamond survived. These days comics have to really up their ante on art and writing to sell even close to 200,000. Even superbly popular comics don't sell more than 300,000. Most sell under 100,000. It's not the industry it used to be.

Trade paper backs however are doing better. I think that's where the future of comics rests, when people stop treating comics like collector's items and more like complete stories so we can get 100-200 page books ever half year.

ccs1989
Personally, I disagree with your latest post about the viability of single issue comics into the future. Especially the part about comics as collectors items. There was a time when comics could sell up to 8 million copies each (Jim Lee made this record) or were at least selling close to a million. Then people started realizing that if everyone owned this many issues then there was really no point collecting them any more.

It's okay to disagree. I don't claim to know it all--or even close to it.
I do, however, interact on a day-to-day basis with several small press publishers. So I have an "inside track" if you will.
If what you're saying is true--then why do variation covers sell like hotcakes? It's extremely difficult to do that with a TPB. Trust me on that one. It costs enough money just to print single cover TPBs. And, whether we love or hate 'em, variants aren't going away.

ccs1989
Then the market crashed in '97 (the comic market, not the stock market.) All because of this.

Because people realized they weren't collectible anymore? Wow. I don't believe that for a second. So it had nothing to do with comics going direct market then?

ccs1989
Then there were distributor wars. Diamond survived. These days comics have to really up their ante on art and writing to sell even close to 200,000. Even superbly popular comics don't sell more than 300,000. Most sell under 100,000. It's not the industry it used to be.

That's definitely true--for the big two.
Small press, on the other hand, is another story. It's much worse for them.

ccs1989
Trade paper backs however are doing better. I think that's where the future of comics rests, when people stop treating comics like collector's items and more like complete stories so we can get 100-200 page books ever half year.

It's not going to happen, my friend. It's all about having that super spiffy glow-in-the-dark Alex Ross variant. And remember: comics have been collectible items since before we were both born. Traditions die hard.
And as far as small press, as I said, they can't afford to go straight to trade format for a book written by Billy Schlemwater and illustrated by Tommy Plumbutter. If the monthly book sells well, the publisher may do a trade. Then again... he may not.

Thanks for commenting! I wish I could get a debate going on the Broken Frontier forum, dammit. lol!

Oh well, I guess I don't know what I'm talking about.

"Tommy Plumbutter"? Best name ever.

ccs1989
Oh well, I guess I don't know what I'm talking about.

"Tommy Plumbutter"? Best name ever.

Oh, no! I'm not saying that, bro!
There's a lot of speculation and really... the only ones who know the whole story are Geppi, Marvel, DC and Image. Sure, publishers tell me stuff, but that doesn't mean it's canon. :)

HAHAHAHA! Thanks. I may have to use it in a future comic book. lol!

Alright, getting back into the debate, I agree that Marvel's direct distribution helped crash THEIR company into bankruptcy, but really it was the speculation that did the comics industry in. Wikipedia has a good article on the whole fiasco Here. [en.wikipedia.org]

ccs1989
Alright, getting back into the debate, I agree that Marvel's direct distribution helped crash THEIR company into bankruptcy, but really it was the speculation that did the comics industry in. Wikipedia has a good article on the whole fiasco Here. [en.wikipedia.org]

Fascinating article! Thanks for sharing!
It's not dead, though. Sure... it's not thriving, but it's not dead, either.
Publishers still play on speculation, but not to as large an extent. That said, it's still helping to retain the faithful fans they already have. And... here and there, new fans are coming to comic books.