Skullbie

NickGuy
Im so sick and tired of hearing people say that.

It's the truth though.

NickGuy
Tired of superhero comics? Well, write to Marvel and DC and let them know that you would like to see some serious variation in the types of comics they put out! It's kind of like writing to your congressman...how the hell is he supposed to know that you dislike something if you dont write to him?

Because a congressmen actually listen to others instead of trusting his educated and tested opinion that was formed years ago lol! Sure he'll 'listen' but unless those people have cash hes got the brains to realize he can't please everyone. Better to cater to that percentage that likes his choices by nature and will reelect him.

Same with marvel/DC, why risk it on a new comic that would take actual effort and talent when they can rake in dough on a tired old formula. They know that already has a dedicated percentage of readers? I'll eat my shoe if they haven't gotten at least a 10thousand letters over the decades requesting new content and guess what, nothings changed since then.

So thank god for smaller more unique publishers and heck, webcomics too. ;) Our saviors from the retconed superheroes old men from DC self-insert upon.

the thing is, marvel and dc didnt always only publish superhero comics. remember a title called journey into mystery?

both companies used to put out romance, western, and horror books. horror books went the ay of the dodo when the stupid comics code authority was invented, but then the other two stopped being published when the companies realized "hey! these books arent selling nearly as good as our superhero stuff!" and also due to fan feedback, so they stopped it.

And look at the alternative comics of today. I cant tell you how many time i hear people say that they are tired of superheroes, but cant find any indie comics. but the last time i checked my LCS, which is tiny and barely has anything, even they had stuff by IDW (which publishes titles like horror anthology, sparrow, and a whole line of buffy the vampire comics) and Dark Horse (sin city, 300, star wars comics, etc..the list is endless for those guys!). The fact of the matter is, people may bitch about superhero books, but they still buy them and write letters to the editor saying how awesome they are. I have yet to see a letters page in a comic book where the letters say "hey why dont you try bringing western comics back"

oceanozone
How much of people's issue with cost is just because they're used to paying lower prices?

If I was into superhero comics (which I'm not and never have been ), the current costs don't seem unreasonable to me. I'd pay that if I liked that sort of thing

As a working adult, who grew up reading comics, and wishes to continue, these are not unreasonable prices. But to a kid who doesn't have much money, or a parent who could as easily shut their kid up with a candy bar for under a quarter of the price, it IS an unreasonable price.

Unfortunately, as comics readers, even of the bigger indie genres, we're subjected to a lot of stuff that is barely even meant for fans. A lot of comics are just a glorified storyboards for prospective movie, TV, and videogame options. And the other mediums eat it up, because its basically a package deal with everything planned out for them.

The actual monthly comics sales are just a way to offset the costs of actually putting the things together, either with the end result being a TPB or licencing of an IP. As readership goes down, they're offsetting those losses with an increased profit margin (a downward spiral to be sure).

The result, though, is a distaste for mainstream publications, which I'm reading here in this thread. So in a sense, comics are killing themselves.

NickGuy

Ryuthehedgewolf

Skullbie
I think paying 4$ for a flimsy, 25 page comic loaded with ads is a bit much. Marvel/DC are like grumpy old war veterans who won't adjust to change no matter what. There were a ton of great suggestion in the 'if you owned marvel/DC" threads that could be utilized and make the fans happier then this, but no they stick to the same formula that they've known for years now. Same hereos, same stories, same artists, same crap since they started out. Least now they can suck blood from their films.

Exactly how I feel.
Although, I think the only reason they stick with the same stuff is because they think that's what the reader wants. They want the same thing, just a slightly modified story.

ok i dont want to sound like im attacking you ryu, but...

Im so sick and tired of hearing people say that. If you are tired of reading the same thing, then VOICE YOUR OPINION! and no, not buying the comics does not work. why?

Because there are enough of the fat greasy fanboys out there still buying this, wishing for the glory days of their youth, when batman was so awesome.

The way I see it is like this. Tired of superhero comics? Well, write to Marvel and DC and let them know that you would like to see some serious variation in the types of comics they put out! It's kind of like writing to your congressman...how the hell is he supposed to know that you dislike something if you dont write to him? Make yourself be heard. they ignore your first letter? write more! Get other people who have likeminded opinions to write in as well, so that way the companies know "oh hey wow, they are serious about this...maybe we should branch off and do different genres and attract more readers."

which in turn would create more jobs for artist, but...

Anyway, the point is, if you stay muma nd just go "oh im not going to buy their comics till they get it" thats not going to happen. thats like ignoring the hot girl in your class until she likes you.

Nope, no problem.

I may be contradicting what I just said, I'm horrible with knowing that, but anyway XD...

I still buy the occasional superhero comic. Captain America, Wolverine, stuff like that. I don't have very much money, I kind of work for my parents at the moment (until I can get a job), and they don't have much money either. I doubt they'd want to spend 4 dollars on just ONE comic book, you know?

That's why I like IMAGE so much, I mean. It's still 3 or so dollars for a book, but I love their ideas. Marvel seems to be BASED on Superheroes. And I'm just to the point where I'm not really into that as much anymore. It's not so much that I hate it, or it's anything they could change, it's just, I'm not exactly into that.

IMAGE and a few other comic companies, outside of the big two, DO have a few superhero comics, but that's not all they focus on. And that's why I like them so much.

Walking Dead, Usagi Yojimbo, Tales of the TMNT (Sorry guys, I had to say it :P), Scud the Dispoasble Assassin, Spawn even...

Those are all prime examples of the comics I read. I would also list Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog as well, but they seem to be just making more characters, and doing the same kind of plot over and over. I would write to them, but the thing is, what else could they do? There's not really much. I mean, it's not a comic that will end. It's one that will stick around forever because of the profits they make off of it.

Walking Dead is a great comic because of how it focuses on regular people, and how they try to survive a zombie invasion. I mean, not very realistic, no, but that's why we read comic books, right? To escape reality, to escape the stresses of everyday living, to enjoy a nice story.

Usagi Yojimbo is a great comic because it's about a samurai rabbit! He wanders around doing good deeds. I just think it's amazing altogether. All the storylines and artwork and such. It's still printed in black and white, JUST like how he started!

Tales of the TMNT? Same way as Usagi. Except, I believe this one was more mainstream than Usagi. Usagi is still popular, but I think if you say "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to just about any child, or teenager today, they'll know what you are talking about, "Usagi"?, not so much.

Scud is an amazing story about a robot, who finds out he dies after he kills his main target, he dies. So he goes on some big epic quest to pay off hospital bills to keep his target from dying. So he doesn't die.

And Spawn technically could be counted as a superhero story, but it's so out-of-the-ordinary and dark that it doesn't even matter.


That's just a small list of good comic books that are still coming out (Except for Scud, who sadly just ended).
But it's just the fact that I grew out of the whole superheroism thing. And since that's basically what Marvel and DC are based on, I don't exactly care for them. It's not that I don't respect them, and what they do. It's just, I'm not all for it.


That all make sense?