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Post by rberman on Apr 29, 2019 12:27:00 GMT -5
I've talked previously about how I feel little incentive to buy single issues for an incomplete story when I can wait a few months for the trade. Buying single issues of a six or twelve-issue arc seems akin to buying single episodes of a TV series (if such a thing existed) rather than waiting for the full season boxset. This is me. Also, I wait to see what has a consensus that it was worth it in retrospect. I don't have to have the very newest publications. I am in no hurry. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 13:06:50 GMT -5
Well, Secret Empire, when released as a trade, was about £14 from Forbidden Planet. Eleven issues in total, I think. Imagine what that would have cost to buy monthly. So I chose to patiently wait for that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 13:24:55 GMT -5
I think a more realistic question would be "why aren't comic shops closing?". I'm amazed that the physical medium has survived this long - music has largely gone digital, video is digital, newspapers and magazines are dying, why should physical comics survive? While there is a certain physical charm (and arguably better readability) to the product, in most ways the digital equivalent is actually better than the physical - you don't need to store them, the quality doesn't degrade, delivery is instantaneous.
In the same way as music and video didn't grasp the nettle early enough and lost massive market to piracy, comics are doing the same. In the US, comics are available first in physical form. In every other nation, very good quality scanned versions are actually available at least a day before they hit the shops - with a choice of waiting an extra day, to pay what a large amount of money for a short read, and having to store them afterwards, it's no stretch to see why there's domand for electronic verions - if the publishers aren't going to do it, the pirates will, and they are.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 13:30:10 GMT -5
One advantage to comics for me is that the likes of splash pages work better in a physical copy.
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Post by rberman on Apr 29, 2019 13:42:31 GMT -5
I'm leery of rented media. When Netflix first started their streaming service, they had an impressive library including tons of classic movies as well as modern blockbusters. But now all the media owners are gearing up their own competing subscription services, and Netflix is left with the dregs, which is why they are developing their own series and raiding foreign libraries. Spotify is going to go the same way. Marvel and DC may have online libraries by subscription now, but only as long as it's profitable to do so. I could turn to pirates in that case, but I'd rather not get a "Your computer is locked" ransomware message from the Russian mafia. And I'd rather incentivize the actual owners to mobilize their IP. So I buy compilations instead of relying on digital versions that I can only read in certain circumstances, out of bright sunlight, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 14:17:48 GMT -5
One advantage to comics for me is that the likes of splash pages work better in a physical copy. Depends on what it's being read on - a tablet/iPad, I see your point; a widescreen monitor - not so much |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 14:23:13 GMT -5
Thinking of an iPad. It's okay on a monitor.
Plus, you can swat a fly or hornet easier with a comic. Who wants to risk breaking an iPad when a flying ant or hornet enters your apartment?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2019 19:21:34 GMT -5
I support a brick and mortar store, but it's in another city -- so I get my comics mail order from them.
it helps that it's owned by someone I met back in CBR days, and I consider him a friend, so of COURSE I want to support his store (nevermind it's a fantastic store: Zeus! Comics in Dallas).
but it's cost.
period.
I'd be buying way more from Zeus if the comics weren't so expensive.
(and hell, the reason I went to them many years ago was because my local store - that I had shopped at for well over 15 years, suddenly stopped offering subscriber discount).
so yeah.. that's my 2cents.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,868
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Post by shaxper on Apr 29, 2019 21:16:00 GMT -5
What LCSes still have going for them is the sense of community. Adult geeks desperately want a hang-out where they can shoot the breeze with like-minded individuals, lose all track of time, and spend money they shouldn't spend. I think LCSes need to find more innovative ways to fill this demand. Being a slave to Diamond is too tenuous an arrangement upon which to base the stability of your business.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 30, 2019 0:08:34 GMT -5
What LCSes still have going for them is the sense of community. Adult geeks desperately want a hang-out where they can shoot the breeze with like-minded individuals, lose all track of time, and spend money they shouldn't spend. I think LCSes need to find more innovative ways to fill this demand. Being a slave to Diamond is too tenuous an arrangement upon which to base the stability of your business. That's what I come here for  |
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Post by rberman on Apr 30, 2019 0:41:30 GMT -5
What LCSes still have going for them is the sense of community. Adult geeks desperately want a hang-out where they can shoot the breeze with like-minded individuals, lose all track of time, and spend money they shouldn't spend. I think LCSes need to find more innovative ways to fill this demand. Being a slave to Diamond is too tenuous an arrangement upon which to base the stability of your business. That's what I come here for True. In fact, I wonder why there are not a hundred regulars here. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 7:09:48 GMT -5
What LCSes still have going for them is the sense of community. Adult geeks desperately want a hang-out where they can shoot the breeze with like-minded individuals, lose all track of time, and spend money they shouldn't spend. I think LCSes need to find more innovative ways to fill this demand. Being a slave to Diamond is too tenuous an arrangement upon which to base the stability of your business. This is an important point. Why do I go to Waterstones for my books instead of getting them cheaper via Amazon? Because while there, and provided there's no queue, I can chat to the booksellers about books of all kind. I can seek recommendations. I started reading Ray Bradbury's work last year based on a recommendation given to me. And now I am the go-to-guy in that store when others wish to have Ray Bradbury's work recommended to them. It's about that community spirit. The community spirit doesn't quite translate to other things. I wouldn't particularly feel it in, say, a table lamp shop. How much can you really say about table lamps? But in a comic store, Waterstones, HMV or the car parts store, I like the chats and interactions. |
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Post by impulse on Apr 30, 2019 10:52:06 GMT -5
I am all in favor of more nerd-focused hangout spots. That is a great idea.
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Post by brutalis on Apr 30, 2019 13:16:49 GMT -5
I am all in favor of more nerd-focused hangout spots. That is a great idea. Opening soon near you, pack up the car and bring the kids: Nerds R' Us and around the corner you can visit Geeks and Things. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 30, 2019 13:51:02 GMT -5
I am all in favor of more nerd-focused hangout spots. That is a great idea. That is essentially what successful comic book stores have become. They sell CCGs, run tournaments, sell Euro-board games and toys.. some even have baseball cards or RPG stuff. |
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