Since it has been nearly a year since I have felt the need to rant in this venue, I thought I should make it as productive as possible upon my return. How can one save the comic industry? Is the comic industry in jeopardy? How can one person help? I will give you ten ways you can help, as well as my justification for each.
1. Digital comics are a gateway drug. Don't be afraid to buy digital comics.
~Yes, you are hearing this from a retailer. No, I am not off my rocker. While other retailers piss and moan about losing business to the digital comic platforms, truth of the matter is those sites are exposing new readers to their products. If you like a book digitally, I would be willing to bet most of you would be inclined to buy the rest and have it in your personal library. Those that are not purchasing the actual books are still going to tell a friend about the book they read online, and they will tell a friend, and they will tell a friend...
2. Utilize your social networking skills to promote the stuff you like...
~...and truth be told, if you don't like it. With more people communicating via social networking and text than verbally or by email the world has changed its preferred form of communication practically overnight. Why wait for an email or a phone call when you can go to one site and know what everyone you know is doing all the time? That said, those reading comic books can generate a huge impact on product sales by telling the world what they like, or even what they do not like. All feedback is positive when it is being exposed to millions...
3. Support all retailers of books, comic books, and graphic novels.
~Yes, a small retailer is advocating sales at chain stores. Why? Oftentimes those larger stores will get a deal to carry the first book in a series, or a limited selection from a publisher. You find yourself in love with the art or the story in a book you purchased at Borders; where do you get more? The mom and pops, or online. This is the same argument as my promotion of digital comics; give a dime bag to your first customer and they will come scrambling back with cash for more of your sweet offerings.
4. Like it? Buy it the easy way: set up a subscription.
~Most brick and mortar retailers offer subscription service free of charge. Don't have the time to get to your store on a weekly basis? Missing books? Establishing subscription service actually helps the retailer tremendously in determining the total numbers they should order on a monthly basis. Stores with a strong subscription base of customers can trim the fat on orders and ensure their potential profits don't become an immediate loss when the excess does not sell. The key to helping your retailer friends in this process is to actually come and pick up your books on a regular basis so they do not have to guess on when you will return. Subscription service is essentially an extension of a loan with no penalties. The only penalty is to the retailer if you bail on your 'loan'.
5. Don't be afraid to switch to trade paperback.
~I find many of my customers still purchasing individual comics because they think there will be a resurgence in collectability. Sorry kids. The cold hard fact is the majority of the current era books you will find increasing in value are either low print run issues or variants offered in low quantities. 99% of the books consumers purchase will not see a noticeable increase in value in their lifetimes, barring a paper shortage or a devastating world war that destroys the hundreds of thousands of other books out there. Most writers write for a collected format. When you feel that abrupt ending in a comic book and hate having to wait an entire month for the follow-up or find yourself having to go back and read the one before just to get up to speed...easily avoidable if you are purchasing the trade paperback. Plus for big kids they look better on a bookshelf than stacked in boxes in a room your wife may someday want to reclaim!
6. Attend Free Comic Book Day at your local retailer.
~Those less inclined to step away from the core titles they read have a great opportunity to step out of the box free of charge and try something new. There are dozens of offerings from dozens of publishers available, and each publisher makes available their best offerings to entice you into reading their books. With most consumers having less and less to spend this is a great opportunity to expand your horizons and your palate. Visit http://www.freecomicbookday.com/ for more details!
7. Give a new writer a shot.
~ Two little known statistics: 1. Since Diamond Comic Distributors has published their top comic sales for each calendar year that the average age of the writer on the top 10 books is over 40 years of age, and 2. Every year the top 10 sales have been dominated by no more than four writers. Without naming those obvious names; next time you go to a convention or chat with one of those favorite writers in your favorite social network, ask them who their favorite writers or up-and-coming talents are. If you fear stepping outside of your comfort zone, why not ask your favorites who to read?
8. Try a new title.
~This is not a plea to try an independent book (I am saving that for #10). Some of the best books (in my opinion) have been produced by large publishers in recent years. Both Image and Dark Horse have produced most of Comic Evolution's top 10 selling books, both in single issue and trade format. Both companies, while producing their top sellers balance their inventory with new titles offered by industry favorites and newcomers. For a constantly rotating list of some of our top sellers, visit the 'OUR FAVES' link at http://www.comic-evolution.com/
9. Try a new vendor or retailer.
~I have been in business for three years now, and all of my business had to come from somewhere. I constantly push my regular customers to visit other local retailers. Bottom line: not every store carries everything. You may be missing what could become your favorite book because your local retailer does not buy it. While loyalty is an endearing quality in a consumer, rest assured there is something out there you may be missing. Venture down to that other local store. If you find something you like, go back to your favorite and request they purchase it for you. Also, there are a number of other viable channels for purchasing books online. Try my personal favorite http://www.amusedom.com/ . This is a site where the creator and small publisher can easily upload their books and make their products available for digital, print on demand, or pull from their printed inventory. Diversifying your purchasing options helps the industry as a whole and helps ensure more options continue to be available in the future.
10. Support independent publishers.
~I am going to tackle this argument from a numbers standpoint rather than an emotional perspective. This has been a hot topic in recent months and unfortunately most that have discussed this topic approach it from an emotional perspective. While the big two continue to increase their market shares due to effective promotion (i.e film, television, merchandising) the cost for small publishers continues to increase. The expense for small publishers continues to increase as print numbers go down. The less they produce, the more it costs to stay in business. With rising costs in the paper industry, and large printers going bankrupt, smaller publishers are seeing their business displaced and are in a constant state of flux depending on where they can affordably print their books. Many publishers resort to producing their books overseas rather than domestically. If there is not some modicum of diversity in the comic industry, you will see the gap between the poor and the rich continue to grow. The comic industry is a mirror of the current state of our economy. In simple terms, by supporting independent publishers and small businesses as a whole, you can:
1. Ensure diversity in the market and avoid corporate monopolies.
2. Avoid stagnancy in product by supporting fresh and innovative concepts.
3. Keep the market competitive and ensure all publishers maintain consistently high quality product.
4. Help keep printing and production of books in the United States and help support job growth in your local economy.
By doing any one of the top 10, you can help provoke change. By doing all of the top 10, you can help fuel a revolution that may very well save the industry you know and love.
Chuck has spoken!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Confidence
One of my partners in Creator's Edge noted this morning that we all had confidence issues, to which I promptly responded 'not me'. I knew better as soon as I said it, but it brings up an even larger question regarding the flaw in my personal design.
I haven't met many people like me, that just refuse to be second to anyone. If I can't be number one then I move on. Or so I thought. I have been pumping out more scripts and stories in the last six months than I can even count. With ten years behind me of refusal to write, and ten years prior to that refusing to let anyone see what I wrote, how can I be so frivolous now with my concepts?
Its not a confidence issue. It is simply that I finally found kindred spirits. I don't mind being told my thoughts aren't top sellers...because I can tell them the same with no fear of recrimination. Where other publishers in the past have had either ego or humility, we actually have both. the true foundation of success lies in the ability to not accept defeat, but to use it as a tool for further promotion.
You will see some amazing things out of Creator's Edge. This WE promise.
I haven't met many people like me, that just refuse to be second to anyone. If I can't be number one then I move on. Or so I thought. I have been pumping out more scripts and stories in the last six months than I can even count. With ten years behind me of refusal to write, and ten years prior to that refusing to let anyone see what I wrote, how can I be so frivolous now with my concepts?
Its not a confidence issue. It is simply that I finally found kindred spirits. I don't mind being told my thoughts aren't top sellers...because I can tell them the same with no fear of recrimination. Where other publishers in the past have had either ego or humility, we actually have both. the true foundation of success lies in the ability to not accept defeat, but to use it as a tool for further promotion.
You will see some amazing things out of Creator's Edge. This WE promise.
Friday, January 15, 2010
What is Creator's Edge Press? The answer!
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The answer is the world's first truly artist friendly publisher. Our story: In the back of a crappy little comic book store in Puyallup Washington the idea was spawned by 8 frustrated writers and artists who had varying conflicts with getting their personal property produced. I personally had submitted a couple of books to various publishing sources, never to get rejected, but never to receive a response either. Add 7 more starving artists to the mix, stir, and you have Creator's Edge.
We are producing our own books, printing your books, working on licensing deals that will allow us to showcase new artists...we are starting a revolution. If you can produce sequential art, you stand a great shot of being printed with us. All art types/mediums accepted. Those that know my store know I have a wide variety of art preferences. Don't let your artwork be overlooked due to an inferiority complex. Get over it. We can help.
Send all art submissions to : creatorsedgepress@hotmail.com
Whether looking for a pencilling, coloring, inking, or lettering position, please produce five pages of sequential art showcasing your talent. If you cannot follow instructions your portfolio will be deleted for all eternity. No writing submissions are currently being accepted.
Join the revolution!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
RESPECT.
I learned valuable lessons today.
On my way to work I was detoured due to the funeral procession for yet another local police officer shot in the line of duty. As I made my way down the opposite side of the river it hit home: hundreds of police and domestic vehicles in a funeral procession spanning easily more than ten miles with thousands of people standing out in the pouring rain paying their respects.
The lesson I learned was not from the thousands of onlookers or those involved in the procession. the lesson I learned was from the self centered, soulless, waste of oxygen fuckbags that ruined the spirit of the event by yelling, honking, using choice fingers, and generally causing a ruckus due to their own inability to pay respect to those due and postpone their venture from Point A to Point B in that act.
I pride myself on being a joyously cynical human being. I often grumble about stupidity, children, adolesecence, and other typical cultural failures all the while professing my deep seated hostility towards humanity as a whole. But I don't think once I have ever shown disrespect to those that did not deserve it.
On a typical day I don't spend much time thinking about the world outside my little shell. It hurts too much. My personal philosophy is that the general populace of the world only wants to hear the negative. There is no such thing as positive media. If something good is to be said about anyone in the world, that information is followed by report after report of death, rape, bad politicians, terrorists, child abductions; the list goes on and on. I create my own world at my comic book store. Although I am the resident grumbly 'old man', I ensure that all exposed to my store feel joy. Its what I do.
The only reason I am able to provide this service to my customers is because there are others out there performing selfless jobs day in and day out to ensure my freedom and security. I recognize that. I was overwhelmed today by the sheer beauty of the event, then mind raped by the sheer stupidity of a chosen few. In my heightened state of rage, I took cell phone pictures of the douchebags and wrote down their license plates. Be aware. There are those of us in the world fully prepared to publish your personal info everywhere just to let the world know how much you suck. Don't make me do it.
Two lessons learned today:
1. I like my bubble. When I venture out of it I will make a concerted effort to pay my respects to those worthy.
2. I will make a concerted effort to hone my doucehbaggery and save it for those most worthy of my wrath.
On my way to work I was detoured due to the funeral procession for yet another local police officer shot in the line of duty. As I made my way down the opposite side of the river it hit home: hundreds of police and domestic vehicles in a funeral procession spanning easily more than ten miles with thousands of people standing out in the pouring rain paying their respects.
The lesson I learned was not from the thousands of onlookers or those involved in the procession. the lesson I learned was from the self centered, soulless, waste of oxygen fuckbags that ruined the spirit of the event by yelling, honking, using choice fingers, and generally causing a ruckus due to their own inability to pay respect to those due and postpone their venture from Point A to Point B in that act.
I pride myself on being a joyously cynical human being. I often grumble about stupidity, children, adolesecence, and other typical cultural failures all the while professing my deep seated hostility towards humanity as a whole. But I don't think once I have ever shown disrespect to those that did not deserve it.
On a typical day I don't spend much time thinking about the world outside my little shell. It hurts too much. My personal philosophy is that the general populace of the world only wants to hear the negative. There is no such thing as positive media. If something good is to be said about anyone in the world, that information is followed by report after report of death, rape, bad politicians, terrorists, child abductions; the list goes on and on. I create my own world at my comic book store. Although I am the resident grumbly 'old man', I ensure that all exposed to my store feel joy. Its what I do.
The only reason I am able to provide this service to my customers is because there are others out there performing selfless jobs day in and day out to ensure my freedom and security. I recognize that. I was overwhelmed today by the sheer beauty of the event, then mind raped by the sheer stupidity of a chosen few. In my heightened state of rage, I took cell phone pictures of the douchebags and wrote down their license plates. Be aware. There are those of us in the world fully prepared to publish your personal info everywhere just to let the world know how much you suck. Don't make me do it.
Two lessons learned today:
1. I like my bubble. When I venture out of it I will make a concerted effort to pay my respects to those worthy.
2. I will make a concerted effort to hone my doucehbaggery and save it for those most worthy of my wrath.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
I resolve to...
...keep writing.
...dance with myself in the mirror more.
...party like its...wait, what year is it?
...keep smiling for the masses, while silently passing gasses.
...smile so much it hurts my face.
...do dirty things to your couch.
...tolerate things I normally wouldn't.
...stand behind the few decisions I make that change the world.
...reinstate my prior philanthropic ways.
...love my wife more and more each year.
...loathe children more and more each year.
...continue calling friends and family that can't seem to figure out how a fucking phone works.
...promote each and every up and coming artist and writer who impresses me.
...find a shampoo that will address my hyperkeratosis.
...use big words like hyperkeratosis.
...have a full year with no breakdowns or breakdancing.
...cry like a school girl only during sad commercials.
...be a better man.
...pick up my underwear in the bathroom.
...take a walk every once in awhile.
...shimmy while I shake.
...have my gut smaller than my butt.
...tell myself things I won't tell anyone else.
...not dissolve.
...dance with myself in the mirror more.
...party like its...wait, what year is it?
...keep smiling for the masses, while silently passing gasses.
...smile so much it hurts my face.
...do dirty things to your couch.
...tolerate things I normally wouldn't.
...stand behind the few decisions I make that change the world.
...reinstate my prior philanthropic ways.
...love my wife more and more each year.
...loathe children more and more each year.
...continue calling friends and family that can't seem to figure out how a fucking phone works.
...promote each and every up and coming artist and writer who impresses me.
...find a shampoo that will address my hyperkeratosis.
...use big words like hyperkeratosis.
...have a full year with no breakdowns or breakdancing.
...cry like a school girl only during sad commercials.
...be a better man.
...pick up my underwear in the bathroom.
...take a walk every once in awhile.
...shimmy while I shake.
...have my gut smaller than my butt.
...tell myself things I won't tell anyone else.
...not dissolve.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Are you offended?
Apparently others are...and this is a hot topic this morning. I got up at the butt ass crack of dawn to meet with a potential printer for our upcoming comic book projects. We provided them with an example of what type of material we were going to produce two weeks ago. Admittedly filled with graphic violence; their representative told us he had shown it to his boss and that it was ok.
Then they show up this morning, look at the book again, tell us they need to go pray because they feel dirty and walk away with a look of disgust. What the fuck?
This came up a couple of months ago with the picture above and another printer. I was informed that this image was offensive and my normal printer would not reproduce this image on a t-shirt. Are you offended? If so, what is so offensive? This is an amazing piece that I commissioned the great Ben Templesmith to produce for me. I have had this on the wall just inside the front door and have yet to have someone complain.
Is it right to force your principles on another in business? Should I refuse to sell superhero books because 99% of them are heaping loads of crap? Should I refuse to sell magic cards to youngsters because it promotes 'satanic ritualistic paganesque principles'?
Fuck you. Get over yourself.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A week off you say?
I have been challenged to address the upcoming 'week without comics' decision made by Diamond Comic Distributors. I should apparently be irate and ready to take a stand against the man for costing me revenue the last week of my fiscal year. How dare they cut off our only revenue source? How will my customers cope?
Nope.
How many independent business owners charged with the day-to-day operations of their business 365 days a year would complain when given an opportunity to take a break? I hope I am not alone. Truth be told, the week after Christmas never generates any significant sales anyway. Shipments are delayed, distributors and manufacturers are taking mental if not physical breaks. Customers frankly need the break too. I can't tell you how many customers I have breathing a sigh of relief that they can spend their hard earned cash on someone other than themselves for one week (ok only 5 confirmed but it is a valid point).
I have not taken two consecutive days off since I went into business for myself; and I am not one to complain, but I will be quick to praise the decision made by the industry to allow us retailers a much needed reprieve. Thank you Diamond, you won't hear that often from me :)
Merry Christmas to all, and to all...a couple days off!
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