The problems with the traditional single issue comic format
For decades, the single issue comic book’s been popular. However, like the penny, it’s clearly showing problems as things now stand.
trade paperback
2016 comics sales up by 5%, thanks to graphic novel sales
Comichron and ICv2 have released overall comics sales figures for 2016. Graphic novel sales are the biggest area of growth.
How to save money on comics
Comics, especially single issues, can be a pretty expensive medium to follow. Fortunately, there’s various ways to save money on your comic budget.
2015 comics sales top $1 billion; majority from trade paperbacks and graphic novels
Once again, Comichron and ICv2 have released their annual joint report on the fiscal state of the comics industry. The good news is that 2015 was one of the best years in awhile; comics sales reached a record modern-era high of $1.03 billion, up 10% over 2014.
Anthony’s trade paperback and graphic novel recommendations (spring 2016)
I thought it might be useful to offer up a post listing my recommended trade paperbacks and graphic novels. The list is compiled from my comics solicitations posts for the period from January to March 2016. I’ve also added a few suggestions based on the New York Times’ graphic novel best seller list. Given the popularity and evergreen … Read more
DC Comics raises its newsstand books to $5
Bleeding Cool reported a few days ago that DC Comics is raising the price of its newsstand comics to $5. Not a rumor, but true. I saw on a trip to Barnes and Noble earlier today that their issues of “Superman/Wonder Woman,” “Batman,” and “Detective Comics” all cost $5 each. While “Looney Tunes” and “Scooby-Doo” were still $3, I’d … Read more
Comic review: Kevin Keller: Welcome to Riverdale
Kevin Keller: Welcome to Riverdale Written by: Dan Parent Art by: Dan Parent “Welcome to Riverdale” is a trade paperback that collects the first first four issues of Kevin Keller’s current ongoing series. (His appearances in “Veronica” and stand-alone miniseries were collected in an earlier volume.) Archie’s first openly gay character has proven to be … Read more
Superheroes and mainstream comics addendum: Diamond sales
Here’s an addendum to the previous post about how “mainstream” superheroes are: Diamond sales. Diamond, the monopoly distributor to comic book stores, offers general rankings for comic book store sales of both floppy single-issue comics and trade paperbacks. For 2011, the top 10 ranking single-issue comics: Justice League #1 Batman #1 Action Comics #1 Justice … Read more
Are superheroes still the “mainstream” of comics?
There’s been a lot of words written online lately about who “real” comic fans are, spurred by comic book illustrator Tony Harris’ recent sexism-filled rant against women “cosplayers” (i.e., those who wear costumes for fun, particularly for comic book conventions) as not “true comic fans.” The sexism aside, much of the rant seemed to be … Read more
Anthony’s trade paperback picks for December 2012
Here’s what trade paperbacks of interest are coming out for December 2012. Information taken from various solicitations plus Amazon.com’s listings. DC Showcase Presents: The Justice League of America, vol. 6, on sale Jan. 23, $20 Green Lantern: The Animated Series, on sale Jan. 16, $13 Marvel Spider-Man: Ends of the Earth TPB, $25 IDW Popeye, … Read more