How will the coronavirus affect comics?

[Drops Of Venus]

Well, looks like the ComicHub initiative was DOA.

https://www.newsarama.com/49692-comi...g-forward.html

Funny how they say publishers were interested but now aren't anymore. I'm willing to bet retailer response has something to do with it. I guess it's back to waiting to see which one of the Big Two caves in first and decides to find a way to publish comics while everyone else won't.

[Mike_Murdock]

I think that's disappointing. There were legitimate concerns there, but I feel like the brick and mortar stores just accidentally gave their blessing to resuming digital sales.

[Holt]

Manga publisher Kodansha is sticking with its digital releases while delaying physical for now.
https://aiptcomics.com/2020/04/03/ko...-print-titles/

[Journey]

Manga publisher Kodansha is sticking with its digital releases while delaying physical for now.
https://aiptcomics.com/2020/04/03/ko...-print-titles/

Their smart

[cranger]

Manga publisher Kodansha is sticking with its digital releases while delaying physical for now.
https://aiptcomics.com/2020/04/03/ko...-print-titles/

Not sure what exactly went into the decision, but something to note is that these are collected editions. They publish individual chapters digitally before they go to print.

[Rzerox21xx]

I suppose whenever a new documentary comes out on the comic industry or superheroes, like 9/11...COVID19 halting the physical and digital market will get a good chuck on mention in it

[Holt]

''and any publisher that goes for it is my enemy''

Maybe they'll stand their ground and save their shop by refusing to order Marvel and DC titles. That'll show 'em.

[skyvolt2000]

Maybe they'll stand their ground and save their shop by refusing to order Marvel and DC titles. That'll show 'em.

We will see.

They haven't yet except when it comes to books starring certain demographics.

I want to see the store that does that.

I want to see the store that makes a ton of money off of these number one variants that has the guy who buys up every version no matter the title. Yes I know a store that has this happen no matter the title MULTIPLE guys come in buy all those variants of a first issue and that is it.

[Holt]

I'm mostly being sarcastic because the guy quoted is the one who keeps making threats about how Marvel and DC will become his enemy if they release digital comics or how he "won't forget this" when I'm sure he'll be ordering Marvel and DC books again as soon as this is over.

[Digifiend]

Not sure what exactly went into the decision, but something to note is that these are collected editions. They publish individual chapters digitally before they go to print.

Therefore, no different to DC's Batman: The Adventure Continues, which did come out this week.

[Triniking1234]

Manga publisher Kodansha is sticking with its digital releases while delaying physical for now.
https://aiptcomics.com/2020/04/03/ko...-print-titles/

Considering how manga and its fans works, they'll be fine.

[Gaastra]

DC donating money for comic shops.

https://www.newsarama.com/49711-dc-d...ok-stores.html

[Gaastra]

Other posters in the other forums posted this but i'll repost it here. All credit goes to them for the links.

Dark horse giving away free digital comics and letting kids read many of their Disney, popeye and scary godmother comics for free.

https://digital.darkhorse.com/pages/...k-horse-comics

Devils due is also giving away free digital comics.

https://devils-due-1first-comics.mys...-comics?page=1

[The Overlord]

I do not want to seem glib in the face of this pandemic, but I wonder if this crisis will just hasten trends that were in the works. I wonder how long the direct market could have survived with the move to online, where we are seeing more brick and mortar stores are going under. Look at Gamestop, their stores were closing even before the pandemic, due to people buying games online. I wonder how long the direct market would have lasted even before this crisis.

[Ptrvc]

I do not want to seem glib in the face of this pandemic, but I wonder if this crisis will just hasten trends that were in the works. I wonder how long the direct market could have survived with the move to online, where we are seeing more brick and mortar stores are going under. Look at Gamestop, their stores were closing even before the pandemic, due to people buying games online. I wonder how long the direct market would have lasted even before this crisis.

I think the big difference is that the consumers switched to digital on the video game market awhile ago.

A lot of folks just aren't willing to switch so easily in comics or in printed media in general. For music and games it doesn't really make a difference how you get the media, your listening to it or playing it on th same device.

For any kind of book or magazine, however there is a big difference between screen, or having a physical dead tree format.