Increase in Comic Sales Nationwide

I just read an article talking about the popularity of comic books. The article, found here, states that comic book sales are up 1% over last year.

That is so cool!

Comic Zone has been in business for almost a year now. I have much more confidence after reading this article that we are on the right track, and in the year ahead, may even see increases in sales over this year.

The article also makes reference to Comichron, and I was even more encouraged by this article. Interesting, though, that September saw an overall increase in the industry, and yet, in our store, we saw a decrease in sales compared to the three or four months prior.

Goes to show how unpredictable this business can be.

Still, I am even more optimistic about business after reading these articles.

International Crossover Appeal?

Over at The Beat, Heidi MacDonald points to this articlewritten by a fella named Joe Lawler, who has converted his girlfriend into a comics-reading monster. But said girlfriend is not reading any Superhero comics.

Heidi responds with questioning why Mr. Lawler didn’t recommend comics written by women or manga. I question why manga would even be a factor at all?

Let’s face it; There is very little crossover between manga readers and American comics readers. Comics as a medium is not the same as comics as a genre.

I’ve dipped into the manga/anime pool several times, over the last 15 or so years. I used to tape Sailor Moon every morning, because I had to leave for school before it ended. I watched every single (often-excruciating) episode of Dragon Ball Z on cartoon Network. I own 6 of the 8 Ranma 1/2 season box sets, plus both movies, as well as both seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, and all 3 GITS films. I have the entire series of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I’ve watched all of Hellsing. I have bootleg tapes of Japanese episodes of Transformers: Headmasters. Every single anime that appeared on Toonami, I tried for at least 10 episodes; Many I continued with, such as Tenchi Muyo!. I own volumes of Mermaid’s Scar, Ranma 1/2 and Gon manga, and I’m reading through a lot of Oh My Goddess!, currently. The number of single volumes of manga I’ve read and anime movies I’ve watched are countless. And that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.

But you know what I have absolutely never seen?

Original Japanese superhero comics. You know why? They practically don’t exist.

The vast majority of folks who read American comics are genre fans – We like stories about overdeveloped men and women running around in form-fitting outfits, being overly angsty and smashing things. And that’s what about 90% of American comics is. Over 99% of manga is NOT about that. Yes, there are things like X-Men Manga, where Japanese creators take American characters and bastardize the hell out of the original stories – Much like American moviegoers just experienced with Astro Boy.

But, really. Go to the Manga section of any bookstore. With the exception of Adam Warren’s “Empowered” (which isn’t actually manga, but most book retailers are too ignorant to know the difference), you will not see any spandex-clad superhero stories.

Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for manga want nothing to do with the American comics we carry. They have opinions about them (mostly comprised of why they’re supposedly not as good as manga), but they won’t actually read them. Most of the folks who come into Comic Zone looking for American comics want nothing to do with manga, often because they can’t get past the big eyes on the few anime/manga they’ve seen, and aren’t willing to try something different.

However, even then, it boils down to this; Manga and American Superhero comics have almost nothing in common, except that they are told in the same medium. And people will not automatically like one or the other based on the medium; They’re going to like one or the other based on the quality of stories, and personal taste.

But is there a way to get the two groups to meet? I believe so.

Trying to hand somebody who just read Ultimate X-Men a copy of Bleach is not going to work. But maybe handing somebody who reads Superman a copy of Dragon Ball Z might; Both series have a main protagonist sent to a world while they were infants who grow up in hicksville to become the most powerful fighters on the planet.

If someone digs Vampire Hunter D, show them Spawn. Both have a supernatural presence that the stereotypical 14-year-old Metallica fan would love the hell out of.

For the fan of Wolverine: Old Man Logan, try handing them Fist of the North Star. Mega-violence in a post-apocalyptic world, with a serious badass for a main character? That describes both series, if you ask me.

Both groups should enjoy Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, written by Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), with art by Takeshi Miyazawa (Robotech: Invasion). Hey, it’s Spider-Man, and what American comics reader doesn’t like him? But because the book focuses around Mary Jane’s point of view, coupled with Takeshi Miyazawa’s über-manga art style, there’s a natural crossover for manga fans.

Similarly, Left-to-Right versions of Gon can appeal to anybody, because the stories about the three-foot tyrannosaurus have no dialogue. Though, I think a lot of American comics fans may have trouble reading the stories in the original Right-to-Left format in which manga is published.

Unfortunately, despite all the similarities, people will still often prefer one country’s storytelling over the other, due to personal preference.

But me? I just enjoy a good story.

Video Games and Comic Books

When we were in the planning stages of Comic Zone, we discussed at length whether or not we should have video game tournaments. We finally decided it would be worthwhile, that there would be a lot of cross-over in our target markets, and besides, it was something Sean really wanted to do.

I have noticed that when we do get a decent showing for our video game tournaments, people DO buy comics too, so I have proven to myself that it’s true to some extent. I notice that video game folks will buy comics, but not all comic book enthusiasts care to play video games. So, it really is an outreach mission to get more video game players into our store so that they will also buy comics.

I found this article about Video Games Turned Comic Books very interesting. It’s a bit of a different take, but I learned a lot from it. Perhaps this is why I have seen the results I have observed between video gamers buying comic books, but not so much vice versa.

In any case, Halo has been one of our best video game tournaments to date, so I am grateful for that cross-over for sure!

Comic Books – Good for Learning

I just read an article entitled Comic Books are Good for Children’s Learning.

I have to say that I totally agree with this. In fact, I am adamant about it. Comic Zone contributes to the Kids Need to Read Foundation precisely for this reason. The foundation does a lot to promote reading in all forms, including selling comic books especially made for them as fundraisers for their causes. We carry some of them in our store.

As a mother, I can say that my younger son was not really into reading much until he discovered comic books, and since then, he is always reading something. My older son got hooked on comics years ago to the point where he aspired to be a comic book artist – and in fact, has done so with web comics. He also applied his love of drawing to a graphic arts education which he has pursued as a career for awhile now.

So, strictly speaking as a mother, I can’t say enough about the value of comic books as a resource and a way for kids to learn.

As a lifelong student of psychology and with a Masters degree in Education, I see much value in comic books for other reasons also.

• Comic books have a way of presenting their stories which make them more mythologically oriented, thus with lasting interest. I could get into the archetypes but I will leave that for another post.

• The graphics are geared more towards visual learners, which gives them access to ideas and concepts that they wouldn’t normally get.

• The stories themselves are abbreviated into just the basics, allowing the readers to fill in the gaps with their imaginations, a great way of maintaining healthy creative thought processes.

• The stories invariably illustrate battles between good and evil, which instill a sense of values in young, impressionable minds.

• Comic books are a great way to engage more of the whole brain, rather than just the logical, thinking part of the brain.

All in all, I can’t say enough about the positive value of comic books for learning.

Veteran’s Day Reads

Yes, new comics DID come out today, even though it’s Veteran’s Day!

Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1 – Not bad. I haven’t kept up with Marve’s cosmic stuff as much as I’d like, but I’m enjoying Gladiator as the new Shi’Ar Majestor.

Dark X-Men #1 – Oh, well. Okay. Let’s just re-introduce a whole bunch of forgotten X-Men family characters, like the Mimic, Weapon Omega, and… The X-Man?

Green Arrow/Black Canary #26 – Wait, what? Two Ollie Queens? …did I miss something? I thought I’ve been reading this series since #1.

Deadpool #17 – Deadpool continues to try and join the X-Men. Good fun, but Daniel Way uses too many censored swear words (#&%@!). More than once per issue is really distracting, and takes me out of the story.

S.W.O.R.D. #1 – A solid start for the SWORD series, but what’s up with Beast’s face? I’m not sure if this series is necessary, but more info on Abigail Brand is certainly needed for casual Marvel readers.

Amazing Spidey #611 – The banter between Spider-Man and Deadpool is always exquisite!

Strange #1 – Quite fun. Emma Rios & Christina Strain KILL on the artwork chores. I wish more comics were like this; everything is far too epic and crossover-y, right now. I like simple, fun, one-off adventures.

Batgirl #4 - Ah, yes. This is what I was waiting for the last three issues to get to. Stephanie with Oracle backing her up. Wonderful issue.

Batman & Robin #6 – Wait, whaaaat? So, is this out-of-continuity? Or are the DC editors just THAT out of touch with each other…?

Red Robin #6 – I read about half the issue and gave up. I just don’t care. Glad to see Marcus To getting work, though.

Batman #693S – Intriguing.

No more 20% off Tuesdays

Today was the last day of our attempt to lure customers into the store on Tuesdays…. namely, offering 20% off on all back issues. It didn’t work. We have offered it for months now, and have had very few takers. In fact, let’s face it. People don’t want to come into comic book stores on Tuesdays. They’d rather wait for Wednesdays – new comic book day.

So, we decided to end our sale. It wasn’t really doing what it was meant to do. Instead, we are scheming about some other ideas – such as a punch card for trade paperbacks, and/or preferred customer discounts. So, stay tuned. We still have some tricks up our sleeves.

Updates, quickies

So, I’ve been kinda poor at keeping this thing as updated as I would like. But there’s a very good reason for that; I’ve been working on the NEW ComicZoneAZ.com! Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, it will be up and running before Thanksgiving.

Here’s some quickies from our Twitter account – Twitter.com/comiczoneaz

Wednesday, 5:20 pm
If Superman sales were so poor already, why was it a good idea to take Supes out of his own book? Who’ll buy “Superman” without Clark Kent?

Wednesday, 5:22 pm
Clearly, DC didn’t think this one through. People are already dropping Justice League, because Mon-El is just not an interesting character.

Wednesday, 5:24 pm
I think Blackest Night: Superman actually using him just goes to prove that the New Krypton experiment didn’t work. Put Kal in his own book!

Wednesday, 5:26 pm
Inversely, how great has Batman been since Dick Grayson took over the cowl? It’s nice to give Bruce a rest, and put Dick in the limelight.

Thursday, 6:50 pm
How did X-Men Origins: Iceman get Iceman’s origin wrong? “I got mutant powers and my dad kicked me out of the house” isn’t hard to do right.

Thursday, 7:00 pm
Deadpool Team-Up #899, meanwhile, made me into a big Hercules fan. I should probably start reading his solo book. Can’t wait for #898 in 30.

Thursday, 7:05 pm
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man continues to be wonderful. Just the right mix of high-octane action and high school drama. Magnifique!

Thursday, 7:25
The Psylocke/Revanche/Betsy Braddon/Kwannon story (X-Men #20-23) was my first X-Men story. So this new Psylocke miniseries feels like home.

Thursday, 7:27
Re: Psylocke #1 still, I’m digging Harvey Toliabao’s action panels, but I’m not sold on his storytelling quite yet.

Brand Man

Wow, I was reading through some other industry blogs, and came across a reference to Brand Man.

The story goes that Tom McAlister was looking for a job and decided to leverage his creativity by having an artist help him design a comic book for his resume. If you click here, you can see the actual comic resume.

Isn’t that a great idea?

Reminds me of how I included caricatures and comic fonts in the business plan I wrote.

Missing Comics!

Today when we received our new order, we found that about a third of our order was missing! We were NOT happy campers!

Andy called our distributor to find out what was going on. In the meantime, I looked up our shipment on the UPS site and noticed that one box had been marked “Exception.” I called UPS and found out that it was still waiting for pickup.

Apparently, they had a new employee who hadn’t checked the COD amount when he checked out the order. NOT good!

But all’s well that end’s well, and we now have our new comics – which are jumping off the shelves!

The lesson? Make sure that the person picking up the order knows how many boxes to expect and that s/he gets a total from the UPS attendant prior to handing over the check!