What the Walmart Distribution means to DC Comics and the future market

[Nightcrawler92]

When do these things launch?

[Carabas]

When do these things launch?

A few weeks ago, I believe

[Wolfsbane]

Well, I guess that's what happens when the percentage of kids reading comics today is low.

Times change. I recently was at my LCS, and a 10ish 11ish year old boy wanted to purchase an issue of X-Men Gold. The 30 something white mother grabbed the book flipped through it and scolded him saying there was too much violence and refused to purchase it for him. She was so rude about it. She guided him to the kids shelf where “my little pony” and “scooby doo” issues were. This is no joke, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Parents are too sensitive about things nowadays and are over protective. So I’d imagine that the percentage will remain low forever.

It’s disgusting if you ask me.

[WebLurker]

Frankly, if I had kids, I wouldn't let them read some of the stuff I follow until they were older. Most comics these days are written for teens on up. Whether that's a good or bad thing can be debated.

[skyvolt2000]

Times change. I recently was at my LCS, and a 10ish 11ish year old boy wanted to purchase an issue of X-Men Gold. The 30 something white mother grabbed the book flipped through it and scolded him saying there was too much violence and refused to purchase it for him. She was so rude about it. She guided him to the kids shelf where “my little pony” and “scooby doo” issues were. This is no joke, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Parents are too sensitive about things nowadays and are over protective. So I’d imagine that the percentage will remain low forever.

It’s disgusting if you ask me.

I would probably advise that mother to visit her kid's schools and see what is on the school library shelf. With some exceptions-Marvel & Dc are TAME compared to the stuff I see.

I would also advise her to take a REAL good look at Cartoon Network. Clarence featured a boy whose mother was unmarried and laid up in bed with her boyfriend-who had no job.
Amazing World of Gumball-mom left home to be with her man. They only got married when she got knocked up.
We won't discuss Regular Show or Adventure Time.

[Wolfsbane]

Frankly, if I had kids, I wouldn't let them read some of the stuff I follow until they were older. Most comics these days are written for teens on up. Whether that's a good or bad thing can be debated.

Case in point. Although, I do agree with you that comic books have gotten more violent nowadays in comparison to the 70’s, 80’s, and most of the 90’s....however like skyvolt2000 just pointed out, kids are subjected to a lot more violent things at school or on tv than X-MEN GOLD.

[The Negative Zone]

I'm very glad that Marvel and DC are trying new models for selling comics. I'm not happy that most of the comics are reprints.. but I'm mainly a Marvel person so I'll be checking these out.

[millernumber1]

I'll have to put that issue down as one to look for.

I have an issue of Comic Book Digest (by Lamp Post Publications) that I kept because it had a great article on what 'All Ages comics' really means and the need for them.
Here's the same article now online.

Oh, man, that's the guy from the Agents of Shield podcast I listened to (when I watched the show ). It's a pretty good take.

I'm hoping that these new comics will be that kind of all-ages take from top talent like Bendis and King. Sholly Fisch and Paul Tobin have a great line in that, so maybe we'll get more attention to that market.

[WebLurker]

Case in point. Although, I do agree with you that comic books have gotten more violent nowadays in comparison to the 70’s, 80’s, and most of the 90’s....however like skyvolt2000 just pointed out, kids are subjected to a lot more violent things at school or on tv than X-MEN GOLD.

Well, like anything, I think it's a case-by-case basis. Not all series are created with the same content level and not all kids are ready for handle the same stuff at the same time. I guess, IMHO, if you're going to introduce your kids to the medium, be involved to and help make sure they're finding stuff that you think is right for them at the time. I mean, they can always get into the more edgy stuff later.

[millernumber1]

Well, like anything, I think it's a case-by-case basis. Not all series are created with the same content level and not all kids are ready for handle the same stuff at the same time. I guess, IMHO, if you're going to introduce your kids to the medium, be involved to and help make sure they're finding stuff that you think is right for them at the time. I mean, they can always get into the more edgy stuff later.

Being involved in your kids' lives sounds like good advice for all things, including comics

[CaptCleghorn]

Being involved in your kids' lives sounds like good advice for all things, including comics

True this. I always had a setup with my son that I MIGHT actually ban him from something, but I always maintained the right to tell him his music sucked. Conversely, he was entitled to say my music sucked, but we all know it doesn't. LOL.

[CentralPower]

Not to mention... when I was a kid, I rarely ever missed an issue of my comics. Because they were available within walking distance and I would go there multiple times per week.

But, as an adult, how much time are you going to waste scraping around.

I am lucky enough to live near a real comic store. I like going there. But, I only go once or twice a week, because it is on my regular flight path....if I have nothing else to to. I do not have the time (or interest) to make fruitless trips to Target or Wal-Mart for hobby-specific items.

No, I just got back from 2 comic shops and one had a cover with a nude women with a pig tail and pig ears humping a pillow or something. That is material that used to be in the porn section of the shop. But evidently, with the extremes of today, anything goes on the racks now.... right along with Archie and Veronica and Superman.

Yikes.

Million Year Picnic (one of the oldest comic stores in the US) has a porn section (maybe 2*6 feet). This is a store in Harvard Square, catering mostly to comic students and hipsters. (I do not recall ever having seen a kid in there.) And, they separate out the porn.

Was this an over-site by the manager of your local store? (I have seen stores make that sort of mistake with quarter-bins.)

Parents are too sensitive about things nowadays and are over protective. So I’d imagine that the percentage will remain low forever.

It’s disgusting if you ask me.

Standards change over time.

There is more concern about violence in 2018 than there was in 1988. This trend is not unique to comics.

A friend of mine is careful about what his 8 year old sees. His logic is that she is going to read a newspaper at some point, and he does not want her conflating violence with entertainment. He will talk about the news with her.

I guess, IMHO, if you're going to introduce your kids to the medium, be involved to and help make sure they're finding stuff that you think is right for them at the time. I mean, they can always get into the more edgy stuff later.

Some parents do that. (It is called....parenting.) Others do not.

Frankly, if I had kids, I wouldn't let them read some of the stuff I follow until they were older. Most comics these days are written for teens on up. Whether that's a good or bad thing can be debated.

It is good for those of us who like comics. (Do you want to read Archie-grade comics?) But, there should be something for kids.

I'm hoping that these new comics will be that kind of all-ages take from top talent like Bendis and King. Sholly Fisch and Paul Tobin have a great line in that, so maybe we'll get more attention to that market.

But, it really does not need to be exclusive to Wal-Mart, especially when the comcs have a-list talent.

[skyvolt2000]

I'm very glad that Marvel and DC are trying new models for selling comics. I'm not happy that most of the comics are reprints.. but I'm mainly a Marvel person so I'll be checking these out.

Guess who else bought that up yesterday when I met him? Deathstroke's current writer. $5 for 12 pages of new stuff did not sound like a bargain to Mr Priest. Especially when the reprinted stuff is already out there.

And for Trey-he also agreed on what Trey has been saying-put the books back on newsprint and lower prices. Because as he said-if you want it on better paper buy the trade. Which makes sense. So yes Trey somebody in the industry agrees with you.

[millernumber1]

Guess who else bought that up yesterday when I met him? Deathstroke's current writer. $5 for 12 pages of new stuff did not sound like a bargain to Mr Priest. Especially when the reprinted stuff is already out there.

And for Trey-he also agreed on what Trey has been saying-put the books back on newsprint and lower prices. Because as he said-if you want it on better paper buy the trade. Which makes sense. So yes Trey somebody in the industry agrees with you.

When did you meet Priest? That's so cool! Was it at SDCC, or some other event? (I would say that the reprinted stuff is for fans like me who don't have it. )

I'm very curious to know what pros think about the Walmart paper and the new paper they're putting their main comics on (starting with Catwoman) - I assume it's because it's cheaper, but it's not newsprint, just not glossy.

[Carabas]

Guess who else bought that up yesterday when I met him? Deathstroke's current writer. $5 for 12 pages of new stuff did not sound like a bargain to Mr Priest. Especially when the reprinted stuff is already out there.

$5 for 100 pages is very good value for money for people who haven't read the reprinted material and are likely unaware it even exists, basically the target audience for these anthologies.
Bad value for collector's, sure.