Why The Comics Industry Needs To Change (Before It's Too Late)

The direct market is bad for business, but neither Marvel or DC will admit it.
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[@Resident4Island]

I think the biggest problem with todays comics is the lack of creative ideas.Remember when Bane broke Batmans back in Knightfall and it was shocking .They try to recreate that same moment in City of Bane and fail to forget what made it speacial.

[@warrenwright7307]

DC and Marvel gotcha, less recreation

[@lightningbeast4556]

Yh and originality

[@animegeek6118]

Graphic novels is what they should be releasing not single issues. Just my opinion.

[@bigdaddy0614]

Single issues work. It's bad writing that doesn't. And the fact the average millennial can't count past 20.

[@gangofheroes]

Nah, they should keep the single issues but reduce the amount only having the booksthat will always sell like Spider-Man, Superman, Batman and etc. but bring back the anthology style books like Strange Tales from Marvel and Turning Action Comics from DC back into one to test potential series, also having a system in place where people can vote online for the ones they enjoyed with in them basically having them be Shonen Jump style magazines.

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

@@gangofheroes How does that fix anything? That's basically regressing to the style of before plus online feedback. Individual stories getting pulled from anthology books due to popularity and becoming entire single titles.

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

@@bigdaddy0614 Single issues aren't an inherent problem when they're being sensibly released and planned out. But they're way too easily used in ways that are confusing and anti consumer. It leaves space open for major staff changes and derailings mid story. At least if it were graphic novel sized releases it would be more guaranteed to have a higher level of consistency

[@lucienhiscock6011]

I agree

[@StudioUAC]

bring back comics to newsstands in pharmacies, gas stations, and supermarkets!

[@JasonTodd971]

ABSOLUTELY THIS (Also they are WAAAAAAAAAAAY too expensive)

[@SpinosaurusTheProudSocialist]

@StudioUAC Fucking yes, I live in a small town so I don't have a local comic shop where I live. So if I want to read a comic I have to either buy one from Amazon or read a digital comic. Someone who isn't a hardcore comics fan isn't going to go to those lengths in order to read comics, but if you make comics more widely available to the average Joe/Jane then you increase your chances of making new fans. I don't understand why the comics industry insists on making people jump through hoops just to get access to their product. It makes absolutely no sense from a business standpoint. It's no wonder that most people would much rather just watch the movies and shows instead of reading the source material that those movies and shows are based on.

[@StudioUAC]

@Mark Hanson but they continue to sell fitness magazines in all these places. I don't think my out of shape town is buying those.

[@warrenwright7307]

StudioUAC HAIL TO THE YEAH!!!!

[@superdragonz1]

StudioUAC bahaha so true

[@LLPOF]

A) DC and Marvel should each produce only 7 titles a month. B) Drop ALL SJW, political, and religious material completely. C) Write good stories for both adults AND kids D) Produce only excellent artwork. E) Get rid of the middlemen and treat comic shops as partners F) Maximum of 1 cover for any comic G) Implement a legally enforceable gag that prevents your writers and artists from trashing fans. Or better yet, just don't hire assholes to begin with.

[@AscendantStoic]

1-Way too many events and relunches, also artists and writers changing way too often (as opposed to Manga where the writer/artist create the series and work on it consistently with help from assistants) 2-Non returnable comics due to monopoly by distributor Diamond (forcing many comic shops to close) 3-Marvel (and to a lesser extent DC) hiring people based on their immutable traits rather than their talent or ideas, resulting in a huge drop in quality of writing, art and lackluster editing. 4-Way too much political correctness and a crippling fear of innovating or pushing boundaries for fear of offending twitter mobs. 5-Serious competition from manga and indie comics (I.e indiegogo) which are rapidly growing in size and popularity. If this keeps going the comic industry is heading straight towards a crash.

[@hankjones7054]

Also, rise in popularity of anime and by association manga, which is easy to pirate online and offers endless original visual stories. And not just a different permutation of the same characters again and again in different world and continuities.

[@aurahoneydew9607]

Wouldn't say that the five-6 year period is enough to dive in get your fill and either peel out or stick to it but still have the comfort of knowing you have the whole story.

[@thenightmonkey5932]

@@hankjones7054 Okay, I can grieve with that which is why I kind of prefer the movies over the comics. Even though it's the same characters. I know they're going to have an endpoint somewhere down the line

[@kolezlaw1797]

@ULGROTHA but why

[@warrenwright7307]

TheHunterWolf thank you for the insight, I want to try and imply that

[@josephwiessner1558]

I think Marvel and DC should be looking towards how Manga in Japan is sold. The Weekly Shonen Jump format where you get a bunch of stories in a weekly magazine style format and from there you can collect each set of stories become TPB or HC books as well. We are seeing them with the DC 100 page specials that were sold in Walmart but now hitting the shops, but those are reprints of older content, the newer model should have not just a few issues of new content but also interviews with writers and artists, upcoming content, even sneak peek images of their Live Action or Animated features.

[@tonyknighton4019]

Hmm...Never seen a single SJ issue lately for the past couple of years.

[@josephwiessner1558]

@@tonyknighton4019 I remember seeing one at a Barnes and Noble along their magazine stands. I can see Marvel pulling that off by franchises. Like a magazine for X-men, a magazine for Avengers, a magazine for Spider-man and friends....etc. plus you could make all the limited series or miniseries their own thing.

[@jerrydunham2042]

Although that is a good idea, for us old comic fans, would be a big change.

[@dilsherdhaliwal3666]

@Joseph Wiessner That’s pretty much what DC did with the Walmart books

[@RobertWilkinsonJKekMaloy]

Joseph Wiessner actually, no, the best way to do it is to put each title in the big book so people can get all of your stock and choose, plus it makes it easier to launch crissovers

[@DarthSchwartz]

bring back gass station spinner racks.

[@CAMnami]

Comics need to look at manga and see why they're so big

[@susat2645]

@Lugubriously simply superior storytelling and overall a better infrastructure

[@upon1326]

So nobody going to talk about terrible mangas???

[@CAMnami]

@@upon1326 while yes there are bad mangas, when you compare the two industries especially of lately, mangas are doing far better than comics

[@upon1326]

@@CAMnami are you talking about story wise or sells?

[@CAMnami]

@@upon1326 story, I have no idea about sells but One Piece probably out sell any comic out there now

[@Confederate115]

Lets blame everything except the things actually responsible: Diamond Comics, creators who attack their customers, woke nonsense in a superhero setting and the inability of retailers to return unsold copies (as was standard practice in the past)... of $4+ comic books lol

[@braylonrandle1731]

Bert it’s the elephant in the room that some don’t want to address

[@keiichimorisato98]

Meanwhile, last year MHA manga alone outsold the entire western comics industry by a huge margin.

[@MaxRamos8]

dark nights metal and the ssequel Heavy metal will be/ARen BLOODY FUCKING AWESOME

[@ISAbyanymeans]

WinterXL the best comics ever have political & somewhat socially conscious edges lol people always forget

[@Krawietz]

@@ISAbyanymeans not really, most are not political, most remarcabke cómics have it unique perspective, they can be a coment in politics, comic, or cuarent culture but they are not preachy, nor are the trend.

[@derekblacktechz]

1.Focus on telling singular stories with singular characters with a clear beginning middle and end. Ex Invincible/Manga 2.Sell in volumes as opposed to singular issues.

[@orkoskang7967]

The Misery of the DC and Marvel companies will never end.

[@edwardjones282]

I used to read comics a lot. I still do actually just not American comics. I read foreign comics, they are free and don't reboot. A lot get canceled but there are a lot of diamonds in the rough.

[@j.av.2675]

Stop hiring Bendis.

[@iamnotawfulanymore3873]

@Pete Stop hiring Geoff Johns

[@jezzainb265]

Too much relaunches hero's coming back to life that's why I read Manga's now you can pick up any Manga and get into it they have a start and a finish in comics you get the same hero's over and over again

[@vikingfromnorth45]

Uh there are indie comics that defy this

[@Gorypaladin346]

Umm you are aware dc and marvel aren’t the only American comic book companies right?

[@jezzainb265]

@@Gorypaladin346 no am not aware

[@jeirigi5694]

@@vikingfromnorth45 comics that sell barely a thousand copies, the industry does not support those comics.

[@themanmrbijok7364]

Image comics (currently) have the reputation for establishing a singular narrative without revamps and restarts.

[@antsheeran1515]

Comics need to return to newsstands ,it was one of the worst mistakes the industry made ,making comics direct market only

[@hillerm]

Same here. I used to get them at the local supermarket.

[@hillerm]

It has blown my mind for years that the comics industry, especially Marvel, hasn’t capitalized on their movies. While the Marvel characters were dominating the big screen, many of those same characters were put on the sidelines in the actual comics. All New, All Different Marvel comes to mind. If these companies had any brains, then if their character is on the big screen, then that same character should have fresh stories on the comic racks.

[@NP-zv4bf]

marvel doesn't really care about their comics anymore, they could have done a much better job with marketing their comics, especially with big movie releases like endgame, but alas they did nothing for the avengers comics

[@puterboy2]

@@NP-zv4bf And I reckon that DC still cares for it’s comics considering Justice League and BVS were not initially well received?

[@FreedSamurai]

I love comic / specialty / collectors shops but there’s literally none that have stayed in business in my area for miles to come. Comics need to be available everywhere. Also, the month to month story release is ridiculous. We live in a time period where you can watch any of your desired shows or comics whenever you want, but comics have not kept up with the times on the release date front. I also feel like stories need to be more standalone based on whoever the author of a given book is. The reason the walking dead is the best long running comic of the last two decades is because it was the vision of one man the entirety of its run

[@ChainsawGenie]

Just to 'break the ice', would you like to read about: - how some (licensed) characters' wishes would granted? (Note: not **all** of them need end in disaster) - how those same characters would build their own universe? - how they would adapt to other bizarre changes/plotlines? (Imagine Sailor Moon and her friends with tiny planets for their heads, for example) ^_^ If anything can happen in a comic book/graphic novel, a little weirdness could work wonders. ^_^ **goes back to reading some 'Archie's Madhouse' digests**

[@pandaman1331]

Especially considering that Japanese Manga artists usually produce and entire chapter per week with a far smaller staff. With how many people work on an issue it should easily be doable for comics to be released weekly.

[@gangofheroes]

What they need to do is 1. Start selling there books in places newsstands, convenient stores/gas stations, supermarkets and bookstores 2. Only sell the sure fire books in issue form like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and etc. 3. Bring back the anthology books for potential series Marvel bring back Strange Tales and Tales to Astonish and DC turning Action and Detective comics back into them. 4. Devise away to track which stories people are gravitating to with in the anthology books, like some type of online poll voting system. 5. Stop doing so many events back to back make it a 3 to 5 years thing. 6. Stop cannibalizing their sales by having a character have multiple books (this is most a DC thing, Superman and Batman don't need 4 books a piece, a Trinity tile and Justice League) they wonder why nothing else can sell 🤦‍♂️, you don't see the movie having multiple movies about them released at the same time. 5. Find a way to reduce the price of single issues from 5+ dollars a book, some people mainly children and teens don't have or want to speed 50+ bucks on a weekly to monthly basis especially when they have other forms of entertainment that gives them more bang for their buck, example by ten comics for 50$ that will give me about 30 or less minutes of entertainment or a new game that going to give me multiple hours of entertainment. 6. And finally just put out good stories and cut back on the politics that only alienate people.

[@octaviancristea6260]

Maybe they should "risk" with new ideas like any other publisher/entertainment provider? For example most of the videos on youtube with "Best comics" have issues with new villains, new ideas in them, for example Knightfall and Court of owls for Batman

[@ChainsawGenie]

I don't know. Do you think the world's ready for a 'multi-genre smoothie'? Stories about a Super Sentai Justice League, magical girlbots and a fantasy/sci-fi/crossover 'salad' **sound** good but could end up being poorly written and/or drawn/animated. It's all in the approach/execution, friend. ^_^

[@Akkbar21]

The question is this: is there more money in successful trades or floppies? That’s the “why” that would drive the market elsewhere from its current state.

[@AkumaKristian]

Obviously it's impossible to say for sure without hard figures but, as someone who is a relative outsider to comics, it's hard to deny which one is the better value prospect. The issue (pun very much intended) is that comics are going up graphic novels and manga volumes in just the print medium alone. Add on the rise of Netflix and other such services (Hello Shonen Jump) which have lead to media being easier to access and consume than ever and single issues just seem kind of pathetic and behind the times. That's just an outsider's perspective though.

[@Akkbar21]

Jared Chambers killing? I dunno. Better than usual, but seems they could do so much more with a traditional book publishing model.

[@MrWeebs-gc2jj]

Comic: stop acting you're superior Manga: but im superior

[@comicbookfangaming9733]

no you're not because every time you have a big time series that has an anime and has Global wide world success you will have a disappointing or god-awful ending or tragically the author passes away so b**** yes comicbooks are way more Superior Multiple, writers continuing a character or a universe and have multiple stories multiple directions and some will be disappointing some will be successed and be remembered not unlike yours im just saying facts

[@MrWeebs-gc2jj]

@@comicbookfangaming9733 well then why all top sells book are manga where the comic?

[@アキラ-m3u]

@@comicbookfangaming9733 manga>comics sadly

[@アキラ-m3u]

@I'm batman give a reason why

[@zionleach3001]

Indie comics; *It's about drive, it's about power*

[@EliDEVITTSpeaks]

Step 1: GET RID OF DIAMOND Step 2: worry about everything else later.

[@ChainsawGenie]

Agreed. Exclusivity and bias do not good comics sell. But is even this advice too little too late?

[@logantorres6979]

Diamond Distributions should disappear. They don't treat smaller LCS fair, and have practiced unfairly with them. They intentionally under short, and are unwilling to take back books that have not sold. Contrary, to their practices Diamond allows Midtown Comics to return books that have not sold for credit. Why not allow that for other stores.

[@cameronlapage7386]

I guess DC saw your comment.

[@Robert-rw5lm]

How come Manga is so successful right now, while the comic book industry is falling apart?

[@Charziken909]

Manga is cheaper due to its smaller size and no color. U also get more for a chapter of manga than u do buying a comic. Manga stories are usually written and drawn by one person from beginning to end. Comics change writers and artists every arc. It could lead to the character acting differently. When a manga gets really popular it usually leads to n anime, which are more accessible than reading a book. Anime leads to merch, merch leads to word of mouth

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@Charziken909 Hasn't the comic book industry fallen apart several times over the years?

[@Charziken909]

@@TH3F4LC0Nx Idk what u mean by that. Or what that has to do with reboots throughout the years

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@Charziken909 I mean didn't Marvel go bankrupt in the 90's? And didn't that "Seduction of the Innocent" book back in the 50's really hurt the industry? Besides forcing the implementation of the Comics Code?

[@spideyguy3315]

Pedophiles

[@Tyler_W]

Completely agree on the business end of things. Here are some other ideas and suggestions I've contemplated or think to also be necessary. I only ever buy trades or larger collected editions. Anything less is a waste of my money and space for what I'm getting, and the industry would probably be better off focusing on full stories published a few times a year (take a page out of the manga playbook). I don't know anyone getting into comics in recent years who even remotely care about floppies. I don't have a ton of comic lovers as friends, but the half-dozen or so who do like comics are all into collected stories like myself. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to sell digital copies of individual chapters/issues at a much cheaper price than they're being digitally sold at now. I also think they need to return to focusing on hiring quality writers based on merit whose primary concern is story and characterization rather than hiring people to fill arbitrary quotas and becaause of immutable characteristics apart from the actual quality of their art or writing (I'm mostly looking at you, Marvel). Focus on universal appeal and stop focusing on shoehorned partisan political preaching, one-dimensional, propagandistic writing and do-nothing slice-of-life stories where nothing actually happens. I don't even like that kind of bland and patronizing storytelling when they even preach things I actually support. It's just not good and nuanced storytelling. To paraphrase Jonathan Hickman at a presentation he gave a few ears ago, "make the art your brand, not your politics, otherwise your work is instantly dated and you often look petulant, preachy and unlikable. Tell the story with nuance and let your audience decide what it means to then for themselves instead of you telling them exactly what they should think and how they should feel about what you wrote." (Again, paraphrasing a lengthy writing presentation he made.) Writers, artists and editors need to get back to treating comics like a business enterprise again, not a social club and a "lifestyle brand." Jim Shooter would have axed a book if it couldn't sustain above 50,000 (or whatever the exact threshold was), now books that can't ship more than 15k are disingenuously called "extremely popular." This is all unacceptable and needs to change. Open up the talent pool to people doing independent work and accept open submissions so that there is fresh blood brought in based on quality and talent instead of keeping the means of hiring talent in the incestuous and cliquey state it's in. Perhaps allow for an alternative publishing label (like Black Label, Year One or Ultimate Marvel, for example) that is segregated from official canon based entirely on accepting and publishing self-contained stories by customer submission. Allow writers not formally hired by the company to create their own stories with these classic characters within this segregated label apart from established continuity, select the best submissions for publication and then use the best sellers of the bunch to refresh the talent pool writing core continuity titles. This way, publishers get new and fresh takes and stories from characters people love, the general public get the chance to create stories based on their favorite characters with a shot at publication, and the publishers can use it as a tool to scout for new talent who have proven success with customers. They should limit the number of books to focus on quality over quantity. 100 booksba month is ridiculous. They should have a baseline of 20-30 or so books of their most successful and most popular characters akd teams created by their top talent, and then anything beyond that can only be started if there's a genuine pitch for a story. If they don't succeed, cancel them and replace them with better ideas that will sell. it could be a great idea to mimic the relationship between anime/manga. Have longrunning animated series adapting story arcs to potentially garner interest in the next book if they want to see what happens next in the story before the next season comes out. Also have shows directly adapting classic runs. Animation is how a lot of people my age got into both American comics and manga, and the east has figured out how to capitalize on animation as a gateway to successfully draw people toward purchasing manga. Western comics deserve the same animated treatment. If it works for manga/anime, why not western comics? If we want to keep telling stories with classic characters for years to come, but want things to flow and progress like they do in manga and independent comics with a clear beginning, middle and end, tell a single, longform story across a publishing line in the same continuity with characters who actually grow, age and some potentially drying, then every 10-25 years (or however long it takes to figure out if customers aren't responding to the new stories and new continuity being offered), wrap up the complete story across all books, and then relaunch/reboot with whatever changes you want and start a story in a new continuity not dependent on what came before. Wash, rinse and repeat, kinda like how Batman: the Animated Series and The Batman are stories about the same characters but totally independent of one another in terms of creative direction and continuity in the world of animation. This would both take advantage of actual continuity without having to compress ridiculously long continuities that are impossible to completely track or make sense of, while providing semi-regular opportunities for fresh takes that don't have to be tied down by old stories when the publishing lines inevitably decide to tell a new story from the beginning again.

[@ramoncitomercader4223]

I miss the batman that doesn't go to the center of attraction. The one who is on the side track but purely badass. DC comics have a lot of good characters in it. They need to improve their marketing strategy for their characters and not just for the big three.

[@ramoncitomercader4223]

Like how they did with ted kord and booster gold? Or kiteman. I really wish they make their other heroes shine on their respective ways..

[@ZeroArmour]

Maybe the publishers need to actually engage with their audience. Use social media and listen to the customer.

[@Gutsripper]

Almost my entire collection is TPB's and HC´s. They´re the best way to collect and read them in my opinion. The biggest drawback however, some of the artwork just gets lost in the inner margins especially double page spreads don't come out very good. TPB's are worse for this than HC's because if you open a TPB up too far you pretty much destroy the glue binding.

[@wendigodeadpatterson2514]

I stopped reading Marvel/DC comics for so many reasons: too many reboots, too many tropes, deaths/rebirths, terrible writing, and many more. Recently I've started to get more into Image Comics and Manga

[@bbbrandon01]

I've dreamed of being a comic book writer for years and have come up with an entire massive multiverse and one massive story running on and on, but I currently don't have anyway to make them real. I'm a very creative artist but not an artist in the slightest

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Therein lies the problem with comics; if you're a writer, you can't just write it out like a novel, you gotta be an artist too.

[@bbbrandon01]

@@TH3F4LC0Nx right? It honestly sucks. Much more power to people who are both but if you're only one it's hard to get anywhere

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@bbbrandon01 I'm curious, if you're a writer, what draws you to the comics industry? Not only does it require you to partner up with someone and share credit for your own ideas, the comics industry is also notorious for screwing over writers and artists. Just ask Alan Moore; DC screwed him over big time! I mean, you could just write your own story in prose and not have to bother with all that. You can still create a multiverse in prose; Terry Goodkind and R. A. Salvatore have done it.

[@jerrydunham2042]

Find a artist. I know I could write a one shot or a mini series out of content, but cant draw my way out of a wet paper bag. If you believe you have something, go for it! Marvel and DC need the completion to force them to up there game

[@Akkbar21]

Write a story then and raise money to hire an artist. Don’t complain, just act. Find out if you’ve got what it takes.

[@knightfist8835]

Its all up to the culture, for example take, Manga, it doesnt die, the culture Japan is deep in it. Soooo, comics may die it all depends of new ways to aproach the public, since digital is eating the comics as we knew them. So again, it all depends to culture since other countries do buy paper made comics.

[@frydaddy1535]

Marvel: billions of dollars in movies, sell out characters in their comics. Dc: Keep the same timeless characters in comics, set themselves to fail in movies. I can hear the trolls disagreeing already, and yes, there are exceptions to this. But it’s a general opinion, people are still allowed to have those.

[@elisabetecristina6188]

And about joker? Harley quinn?

[@elisabetecristina6188]

@@ponquin october the venom 2 will realize! And joker will have a sequel! So mangas don t have any movies in cinema unless dragon ball! Who are the losers now?

[@bubbles_the_douchefairy6914]

@@elisabetecristina6188 you've heard of anime right?

[@shiftysam3579]

DC should make a deathstroke movie and put everything in it.

[@comcisworldstudios9316]

‪Hey do wanna see great content follow us on ‬ ‪instagram.com/p/B8d0n5rHdI4/?igshid=b2u0vxmu803u‬

[@grandmastercadillac9052]

Crowdfunding and graphic novel sales to bookstores are the future people.

[@Cowabunga2304]

Good points Ewan! Love the feel of a real comic book over a graphic novel but things need to change. Comic book stores are struggling when people ask for issues and then don’t buy them. More so if comic books were being circulated more widely, then surely prices could come down meaning more issues could be purchased and more revenue for comic book companies?!?!

[@hydrolito]

Ollie's outlet sells reprints of older comics in larger volumes of 200 to sometimes even more than 500 pages (If still available) for $ 2.99 and up, also 8 to 10 back of comics for $4.99 to $5.99 (prices and inventory subject to change I have no connection to the business other than as customer.)

[@Jedi_Spartan]

Even for shorter comic runs in non Superhero universes can be a pain to get into (eg: Star Wars Legends comics by Dark Horse). When I got the Force Unleashed 2 comic years ago, I thought all comics were one off stories until I got 3 more SW comics for Christmas later the same year, one from Dark Times, one from Crimson Empire and one from Legacy. As a result, I only came back to reading Star Wars comics last year with the new Darth Vader comics, even then I had issues. After reading them, I wanted to go back to trying Legends, found out about omnibuses and asked for the Clone Wars ones for Christmas and Birthday where I found out how hard it is to find them for a decent price and quality.

[@amanzeihedioha]

Try readcomicsonline

[@CouncilCape897]

readcomiconline.to is the most complete place you'll find to read comics for free. They have Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, and the likes

[@Elite_Teach]

It sounds like he said “I’m here to torture you about...”

[@thedoctor8416]

So problems I think needs to be addressed....1. there are just too many comic books. I heard a lot of good things about the new X-Men relaunch, but when I saw the dozen or so books they were going to put out, I bulked. These companies are competing with themselves. They would be well served to condense. 2. Relaunches, which were brought up, are just tiresome and off-putting and gives readers an out. There's no incentive to collect every issue because it's just going to get canceled before you know it. 3. Stories are just too drawn out. The Justice League comic feels like it's never going to end. It's exhausting. Put out some books that wrap up in less that three or four issues every once in a while.

[@GIZAGOGAME]

This whole video is a big eyes emoji to the upcoming DC5.

[@MrC.1990]

To be honest, I'm really on the fence with this. While I love having a pull list and enjoy the hype/anticipation for where a bi-monthly or monthly series is gonna go issue to issue....more often than not I find that I fall behind a lot on reading and end up with a huge backlog (work and other aspects of life permitting). I also enjoy trade paperbacks and graphic novels for their one and done arcs (possibly over a series of volumes in a similar fashion to manga with DBZ as an example) for these reasons; - no adverts - no wait between issues (although possibly longer upon release of collected works) - less expenditure on storage (bags, boards, boxes) - look better on my shelf as opposed to being put into a comic box - definitive cover - more accessible compared to foraging for back issues Those are mainly the pros and I'm sure there's pros and cons for both... Personally I'd prefer they do a 5-6 issue tpb/graphic novel and release in one go. Would make more sense upon giving the writers to have more freedom for creativity and better audience anticipation. On another level I would say DC are still killing it since rebirth and most of my pull list is with them. Only marvel comics I'm reading at the moment are the Star Wars ones and even then they keep rebooting. Any good comic or manga suggestions I'm all for it.

[@nooodlelegs]

Berserk, One Piece, Attack on Titan, Monster. Hopefully 1 of these will peak your interest!

[@drewhardy5191]

there are more to comics than just marvel and dc. we need to shift to the indies. that's where the good stuff is happening. talking about the comic industry and only talking about the big two and superheroes is like talking about the food industry based on mcdonalds and kfc

[@seanc41556]

Make novelizations more common as opposed to serial/issued overly seperate parts of a complete story

[@jonathanklinker5192]

or make comics the size of a graphic novel like with manga

[@PRISMONIC]

I work at a comic book shop right now, and pretty much everything he said in this video is spot on. We always get in like 5 of a comic because we dont know if its going to be popular or not or other sales reasons and then when we set them out they're gone in 2 seconds and those that didnt get what they wanted are PO'd. This is because there is no way of knowing if it's going to be popular when we order 3-4 weeks before, and yes you have to order that far ahead of the release, and it's highly unlikely it will be available a week before release. One really good example is "The Rise of Kylo Ren" we got in 5 because for some reason we dont sell a lot of star wars comics even new ones, and then when it came out everyone and their mother wanted 2 for themselves and we only got in 5...

[@Andrewtr6]

My friend and I write comics (some together others solo but we bounce ideas off each other) and the current state of the comic industry with Marvel and DC has me weird about well do our plan which is to start our own comic company to sell our comics. I'm honestly not sure what the best way to go about it is though.

[@albertoalfredo1564]

Focus on making good isolated stories and try to change something about one genre to the point it feels nostalgic but innovative. If you want to make a superhero universe focus on a light novel type universe for example you focus on one character and make the universe self contained, then end it with leaving a chance for a return then focus on another character and focus on the genre of that character and then make a crossover.

[@CameronHuff]

I remember the comics bubble..fun times..

[@michaelgarcia5493]

Dc & marvel need to ask the fans what they want to see in comics look at Japan they get Askt it by fans all time of what they want to see in a manga it's basically story we want better storys if it's not good we will not buy it.

[@Zod.the.Merciless]

DC "tried" going to GNs directly with the Earth One books. Sadly they really didn't try too hard and that kind of wilted through lack of publicity and enthusiasm.

[@LKaramazov]

I remember in the early 90s when X force came out, that every week there were new no.1s. Something smelled very fishy.

[@rafaeladib2]

although variant covers may seem like just a "gimmick", a lot of retail comic shop owners actually welcome them, because they help make up the difference in revenue if any said shop gets "stuck" with a bunch of unsold issues. so in the end it works out for everyone, the consumer gets a book with a cover done by an artist they may like, and the shop owner doesn't lose any money if they don't sell all of the books their ordered.

[@Akkbar21]

I’ve never given a shit about variant covers whatsoever. Who does?

[@fakemj]

Resellers and CGC enthusiasts

[@hydrolito]

Hate Variant Covers because accidently pay for same comic again with different cover.

[@Tyler_W]

@@fakemj so basically the comic book equivalent of what whales are to mobile and multiplayer games... That's a really sustainable busoness model.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

I very rarely do and it’s only if the cover art is just too good for me to pass up.

[@grandmastercadillac9052]

The publisher does. Its more versions of the same book they can make the retailer buy (and overship them for).

[@user-ek4nh8oq8f]

The average age of baseball fan is 52. They are not attracting young fans. Go inside a comic book store & you only see men in their 40's and above. Comic industry is not attracting young readers. You know what youngsters are into? Their damn videogames and phones. Ask any parent if this is a problem and addiction with their kids. Secondly, $4 to $5 or a comics is too much. Comics used to be 50 cents, I buy 5 comics for $2.50. Today, 5 comics costs $20-$25. Today kids rather spent that on GameStop, Spotify or I-tunes gift cards.

[@newhope33]

Younger people still want comic's manga's massive success over the last 4-5 years proves this, problem is western comics simply do not have the same appeal as the quality simply isn't there anymore.

[@sjoseph601]

This is the video I was waiting for from the channel that doesn't know what they're talking about.

[@scottschatz13]

Have you seen how well Indiegogo comic launches have done?

[@briandaleske5139]

I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT I HAVE IDEAS FOR FUTURE MOVIE PROJECTS: Now I can imagine some time in the near future a (INDIGO-LANTERN BATMAN) movie might get made, and I can imagine him fight against a YellowLantern villain who is an enemy of Batman. I can also imagine a team up movie that involves a (GREEN LANTERN) & a (BLUE LANTERN) working together to fight against a OrangeLantern enemy, and a RedLantern enemy. I can also imagine someday a (BATMAN BEYOND) movie could get made in the near future. An I can imagine a (COSMIC SPIDER-MAN) movie could get made someday in the near future. Now I can imagine a (SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED) movie might get made someday in the near future. I can also imagine a (BLUE-LANTERN FLASH) movie might get made someday in the near future. Now I can imagine that a (GREEN ARROW) movie could get made someday in the near future. I can also imagine a (EARTH-2 SUPERMAN) movie might get made someday in the near future. I can imagine a (ARKHAM KNIGHT BATMAN) movie might get made someday in the near future. I can also imagine a (HAWK-MAN AND HAWK-WOMAN) movie might get made someday in the near future. I can also imagine a (RED-TORNADO) movie might get made someday in the near future.

[@TropicalViking0]

Biggest issue? Bad writing and identity politics. Comics are mostly unreadable right now.

[@tallerwarrior1256]

They should sell comics like Shōnen Jump does, put the latest chapters online for free. Then when the certain storyline is completed put it out as a graphic novel or volume. Hell you can even put it in magazine format with different super hero stories like the avengers, Spider-Man, or X-Men

[@willsanford2619]

I agree with you manga is thirving because they release multiple chapters in one volume i think if they just release graphic novels they would be getting more sales then they are now because I only but graphic novels like spawn,batman,venom,etc

[@gigatron8547]

I feel the real reasons why the comic industry is hurting so much is down to these reasons. 1 To many events: yeah they're fun but when you have cosmic level end of everything every year it makes the reader number and number to the threat and outcome. 2 There's to many comic books coming out for the same characters: Detective comics, batman, action comics, superman e.c. 3 The writers forcing there sjw ideas in to the story: don't get me wrong you can put you political ideas in a story but it has to fit with in the story and show both side of an argument not just one, that's what good comic book writers did in the past and it was low key and many where good stories. 4 Have a road map and stick to it: case and point Rebirth, the new 52 started off good but they made it confusing with your favorite stories happened but five years before new 52 then Jeff Johns came along fixed it everyone loved the cool Rebirth ideas then they pulled the rug from underneath it and now its crap.

[@isthatmattandryanfromsuper7951]

Why does Ewan look like golem?

[@ashuosake2323]

Leave the boy alone. He cant help genetics. He does a good job.

[@isthatmattandryanfromsuper7951]

Lugubriously exactly

[@b003]

Spiderman needs to sell more Twinkies and get those cover prices down.

[@HongFeiBai]

There needs to be an online database linking the inventories of every single comic book shop in the world, so you can buy back issues. The library works like that. If they don't have something in stock they can send it from a branch.

[@jangofett7421]

The stories are so repetitive that in Batman alone they have had four retellings of “No man’s land” in only 18 months

[@JasonTodd971]

Make them cheaper and more ready available

[@Canadamus_Prime]

I would say just ditch the floppies all together and just write the stories for TPB. For the longest time being fed a story piecemeal in individual issues and never being sure if I'd be able to find all the parts of the story was what turned me off reading comics and still kinda does. The only reason I've even considered reading them again is because of the existence of TPBs.

[@FAHCORE]

As a person who bought a majority of their comics as a 90s teenager, I fell for every gimmick. My local store had a pre order subscription, I got every annual, variant cover, and crossover. Superman and batman had 5 different titles but one story arc spanning across them, so you had to get a new book every week. It was expensive and i got burnt out of caring. (I blame me quitting comics on the red and blue Supes, but it was only the final straw) As an adult, I could see returning to the format, if I could purchase quarterly the last few months worth of stories of comics bundled into a graphic novel format. Something that I'd rather have on a shelf than immediately bag n board and hide in a box.

[@rodimus7926]

Right now the biggest treat to the Comic Industry, if not the entire entertainment industry, is the political correctness that is rewritting comics for the sake of their political agenda and is screwing everything

[@darlalathan6143]

Citation needed. Most superheroes are still white, male leads, despite occasional ethnic successors and retcons.

[@rodimus7926]

@@darlalathan6143 So you only cared about politics and not the comics?

[@austinreed7343]

@@darlalathan6143 The bigger thing is that the quality of heroes outside of that is generally very poor.

[@teddyclement2737]

Make them easier to find and lower the price I mostly buy trades because it’s easier

[@TheMattsem]

They need to give their talents chance to make something new Look to manga for example There's always something new

[@jetscreamer1]

I really hate reboots and new #1s every god damn year.

[@thumbsaloft]

The comics industry just needs to stop trying to SHOVE THE PC INSANITY down the audiences throat!

[@blaze556922]

Ohhh it is already way too late. Nothing in print deserves to survive in the digital media age. It's a waste of time, resources, and space.

[@hydrolito]

They keep changing digital devices so old software not even useful on new devices so in paper you have something you can keep.

[@hydrolito]

Also a way to brainwash public to remove knowledge of history, they who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[@blaze556922]

@@hydrolito You also don't seem to be aware that you can save digital media on to physical platforms that does not need any update. Common sense...

[@willsanford2619]

@@blaze556922 i think that they should just release graphic novel instead single issues because look at how manga is doing i like graphic novels and hard covers but they should also promote digital media but it's not too late if they make this change

[@pandaman1331]

I didn't take this as a prediction of comic books future failure. Rather you simply expressed what you'd like for comics to change to become even better and I think that's fair.

[@slasher0630]

No one is talking about the Creeps magazine. Its the only comic mag that is still the way comics really are, and its succeeding in its niche market. They have a second title coming out. They also have mail order subscription

[@funkydanieluk]

Good video. But even if DC and Marvel followed all this advice, their trash product would still let them down.

[@MrLanzie]

the only place you see adverts for new comics or major events is inside comics themselves - why dont they advertise in papers and other media

[@pipharris3354]

Some Good points raised but I think you have only scratches the surface I run an independent comic store and can say that you have missed a few issues with the industry as a whole

[@warrenwright7307]

pip harris expand on that please

[@pipharris3354]

@@warrenwright7307 it hard to list them now like this (i know it sounds like cop out) the ordering process for retailers it's self is almost a full time job on its own just to understand it

[@wheeljack0]

If What Culture are doing a video on this you know there's a problem. Also pandering to the 50 people on Twiter who want more diversity is also not helping.

[@catarmor4596]

The publishers have to do whatever it takes to get single issue prices down to $3 or less. Rising prices will kill interest in a pulp medium faster than anything else. Expensive papers and inks should be saved for later, after a story has achieved cultural significance.

[@foboman2003]

As a comic book seller, albeit not an American one, I can't help but agree on a lot of things here.

[@DoctorInk20]

Could agree more, man. Common sense for comics! I need to check out DC's kid-friendly stuff. I could use it for some refreshment. The darkness and edginess is just... ugh. Overwhelming.

[@vincent207]

I'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong, but between steep prices, comic shops closing down, the behavior of creators on social media, and overall lackluster stories, I feel it's already too late.

[@jbrat122]

I love variant covers but making a shop that's barely getting by, buy 200 copies of a book to get 1 cover is stupid as hell, cause that shop would b stuck with 191 copies of a book they can't sell and for their trouble they get one book they can sell for 50-100 bucks yet still sitting on almost 400 bucks in unsold books

[@francom.2698]

COMICS ARE BORING ! 😤⛔ Reboots after reboots. Who's gonna DIE then COME BACK to life ? It's no more interesting. I don't even talk about good guys fighting other good guys. Boring

[@Charziken909]

Comics are way more than who wins the fight and who dies. Try Allstar superman. It has nothing to do with fights

[@francom.2698]

I really like comics. It was a big part of my life when i was young. But now, i can't find myself in them. I'll try allstar superman. Maybe it will captivate me. The continuity in a story doesn't even EXIST anymore. Every author want to make something different and they lose us. It doesn't make sens. It's all "Oh, let's f*ck this up" stories... Comics can't touch me anymore

[@Charziken909]

@@francom.2698 I get it. I prefer manga because the stories stay more coherent since manga stick with one artist and writer. Comics change writers and artists alot, I think thats what screws them up. When it comes to comics i like to read the one and done stories like all star superman. No sequel, just one story. If u like a mystery novel style story. I recommend Identity Crisis. (It gets alot of hate but i truly enjoyed it, especially the ending reveal)

[@AscendantStoic]

Read Manga instead, at least when serious shit happens there it actually means something and you can be sure there won't be any reboots or retcons every few months or artists/writers changing on a whim. Highly recommend Attack on Titan manga 👍

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

There is some truth to that. I mean, how many times has DC rebooted their series now?

[@anthonyramirez5391]

Oh god there’s so much that needs to change like selling single issues, no good starting points for the universe, th e constant renumbering, changing comics to be similar to the movies whether for good or bad (I. E suicide squad and birds of prey changing their rosters to fit the movies that ended up being huge flops and disliked by the majority) the wokeness in all comics right now and mistreatment of the characters like wally west and not allowing characters to grow (I. E Batman and catwoman marriage though they’re getting their own comic now but will they be married not likely) the constant changes to the universe like the news supersons quickly changing because Jon grew up and is now going to be superman along side a new Batman and Wonder Woman the same time Batman and catwoman got a comic going (that won’t be confusing to fans) so much needs to change and Ik it won’t happen

[@exarkun3263]

Birds of Prey was actually a solid movie, critics and people who saw it liked it but WB botched the marketing sooo bad. It's like they actually want DC films to fail.

[@shaun7126]

Do you got get a 3 size bigger Hoodie? for your ears or do you have to wear 3 Beanies one for your head and one for each ear?

[@rodster6campingprepper]

I stopped buying new comics four or five years ago. A month between issues when it's a six month or more story is too long. You get a tiny snippet for the best part of a fiver then have to wait a month for the next tiny snippet. It would be like watching ten minutes of a movie once a month and paying £4 for it every time. On top of that the politics became far too focused on and done in a really ham fisted way, put before good writing and characters like the new Doctor Who.

[@marios6147]

There are still a few good titles I'm currently on the latest daredevil run and I've heard immortal hulk and anything Donny Cates related is pretty good actually

[@christysodan6426]

Here's the problem, it's smarter to pay one time $4 comic (then decide later to continue the series) than to pay $30 ever 6 months for 5-6 comics edited down into a shameless excuse for a graphic novel, the real problem is that writers start off their runs with 6-9 issue arcs (which a g-novel also can't cover) without any build-up, I mean most TV shows don't even work that way; Jack Kirby did it perfectly, every issue should be written as someone's first comic

[@insertgoodnamehere6025]

Manga :start in number 1 Comics: ....... MainstreamComics are dead crowdfunding comics is the future

[@LKaramazov]

Graphic novels are all I care about. All I care about are events. Not stories that have no impact on the larger universe. There are exceptions for exceptional writers like remember, who doesn’t write for marvel anymore. Anihilation to this day is the model. I hate irrelevant single stories.

[@jjmurph876]

I think they should focus on TP only give me 5 issues straight up in a single go and release one every 4-6 months I'll be happy

[@christophertomasello1227]

Because of all the speculation all the movies etc the situation is just becoming so askew that I don't know what to think but there is one thing I do know and that is that when the films become tiresome the comics will again rise or disappear completely

[@emartinez557]

how bout we just let the industry die when it dies instead of trying to constantly milk it for more stories that were already pretty subpar to begin with. I mean movies exist and animated shows too so It wouldn't be like you have to say goodbye to your favorite ips, not to mention those old stories don't go anywhere.

[@alexandredesouza3692]

I think the publishers should focus on making and selling longer arc-long hardcover graphic novels instead of monthly issues that might be placed in the middle of an arc and make no sense to a new reader. They should look at the actual sales and reason which is more popular. After that, they have to focus on fighting piracy. I'll admit, I get all my comics for free and I'm a bastard for it.

[@zionleach3001]

I don't understand the denial. Like saying Manga is inferior or vice versa. For every One Piece there's a writers poorly disquised fetish. For every TMNT the last ronin there's pregnant joker. Both have pros and cons. But telling people to "cope" cause they dare say something about it just make people sound stupid. Nobody is buying "I am not Starfire" or anything from toxic creators. Indie creators are thriving. From Trese, Spawn, and BRZRKR.

[@kelman727]

Stop rebooting everything every couple of years. Don’t pander to trolls - spite them.

[@michaelbleckler9072]

I agree

[@thatonefpsgamer1339]

I feel like the comics writers have lost their mojo. It's kinda sad to see Manga succeed by doing unique things while comics just stick to the olds.

[@ChainsawGenie]

Right now, I'm interested in reading - non-cautionary wish-fulfillment stories (preferably with female genies) - books about oddball/non-human female characters (robots, monster girls, talking body parts, etc) - books that Mx(yzptlk) things up a bit (think *Archie's Madhouse* or the *Teen Titans* episode, Fractured, turned up to 11...hundred) If these comics/graphic novels don't exist yet, opportunity's knocking. ^_^ Also, if you want to write a good crossover, try to think bigger and invite **everyone** to the 'party', not just caped goofballs (Snoopy meeting Garfield and Ruby Gloom helping Courage the Cowardly Dog, come to mind). Anything can happen in a comic book, after all. ^_^

[@AceMoonshot]

Bring back the spinner rack...

[@javierdelavega790]

I prefer to wait for compilations. Hate when a story arc is divided between different comic lines just to grab more money.

[@pilotperry4525]

The Dawn of X storyline is the best I've seen in years.

[@ryancoulter4797]

Lived across the back alley from the drugstore manager who kept all the comics after stripping the covers for credit. Every three months or so until we moved she’d call and there’d be a gigantic cardboard box for me waiting at her back door.

[@ryszakowy]

crysis on infinite earths infinite crysis all were supposed to stop comics from dying basically days of future past and yet we still went there comics are dead villains of old are hailed as modern heroes

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Man, I haven't actually read a comic in years! I'd love to get back into them, but how do you get into something that's already run so long that you'd have no idea what you're reading about?

[@joestriker8518]

I was like this a few years ago. It all depends on what character you like, from there just read their most iconic stories and recommended runs

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@joestriker8518 From DC I mainly like Batman, (actually, like probably isn't a strong enough word!), and the Question, (because he inspired Rorschach, and his stories often illustrate philosophical concepts). From Marvel I like the Punisher, (because he actually kills people). I know most of the must-reads for Batman, but I'm kinda at a loss as for the other two. I have to go through Amazon for anything I wanna read, cuz the closest comics store is over an hour away.

[@joestriker8518]

TH3 F4LC0N Since you’re good with Batman. For The Question you could pick up The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage, it’s his most recent run with only 2 issues out, I’m following it and can say it’s good. It’s standalone and new reader friendly: www.amazon.com/Question-Deaths-Vic-Sage-2019-ebook/dp/B0833F1TBT/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=vic+sage&qid=1581618348&sr=8-7 I haven’t read a lot of the Punisher, but the most recommended run with him is Ellis’s run. You could get the collected vol. which includes born (his origin during the Vietnam war). www.amazon.com/dp/1302900153

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@joestriker8518 Thanks bro! That's a lot of help! You mean they integrated Punisher: Born into a larger collection? Sweet, I'm so there!

[@hydrolito]

Ollie's Outlet sells reprinted books in larger volume at discount prices. They also sell some regular size in 8 and 10 packs at discounted prices so get 8 to 10 comics for about price of 2 or 3 new ones.