Digital Comic Revolution or Industries Last Gasp
Comic book characters like Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Ironman etc have experienced a massive increase in influence on popular culture consciousness. Comic book stories in general can be seen in countless cartoons and dvds, live action smash hit tv shows like Heroes or Walking Dead, mega- record breaking block buster movies. Warner Bros. is in the process of making the DC universe the staple franchise after Harry Potter. Disney is using Marvel characters as their top brand to expand their demographic internationally as well as locally. It couldn't be a better time to be a comic book fan it seems.
In reality, comic books as a literary art form, which was once one of the staple past time for children and teens are becoming a relic of the past. Finding itself in the company of color-forms, wooden tops, train sets and action figures. Sales of print comics have been dropping steadily year after year (combined comic sales were worth $635 million in 2010, down from $680 million in 2009). The average age of comic book collectors continue to get older. The younger generations are searching out video games, mp3's, social networking, internet and the slumping in front of the tv to watch a plethora of channels. The options are endless now and comic books are not one of them.
Market demand is causing many comic shops to close making comic books less acessable, which has always been on of the greatest appeals of a comic book. It was always there, not just in comic stores but in newsstands, some pharmacies sold it, corner delis, it was easy to get, and it was cheap. Comics use to be about the price of candy, now for about 2 comics you can get a used video game, a bunch of songs on Itunes, or rent a couple movies.
Then you have an American economy that is struggling to stay afloat and escape from economic armageddon. Not just small businesses are collapsing, but bigger companies are seeing themselves file for bankruptcy. The music industry is shrinking, the movie industry is in trouble experiencing less block busters, even the cable industry is being swallowed up by the digital television revolution led by Netflix, Youtube, and Googletv. Sports franchises are filing for bankruptcy and several leagues are engaged in labor battles currently. Times are changing fast and the facets of human life will move on as always. So what's happening to comic books is not an isolated incident, but the difference is those other industries have a way of adapting much easier than the medium of comic books. This is where digital-comics come in.
Same time, we must also remember that the black-market bootleggers are taking a hefty chunk out of all forms of entertainment including the comic book industry. This is the dark side to the promise of what can be the last bastion of hope for the industry: digital-comics.
In my personal opinion, I feel that if digital-comics are going to replace or be successful, they have to do the following:
1) If an opportunity arises, rivals must join forces and find a way to get out of this mess before it gets worse. Meaning Marvel and DC needs to open the door to the possibility of doing something unique artistically or market wise. Different than they have done in the past. Getting publicity by killing off that guy is not going to cut it. Something creative must be done. Also more support for independent publishers.
2) they have to become what comics books USE TO BE. Which means they have to be accessible, which they will be. If the apps are easy to download and fans don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a DC, Marvel or Indi app.
3) they have to be amongst the MOST affordable things out there. There was a reason people considered comic books throwaways, cause they were cheap and they were sold to casual vendors. Regardless they were the most low maintenance things kids could get.
4) They have to be multi-medium friendly which means that the comic book writers and editors etc, have to be creative about this, find a way to connect their comic books to the social networks, tie it in somehow. Don't isolate comic book stories to just the book. They have to reach out and utilize the best concepts possible. Lots of guerilla marketing and support for independent websites, blog-sites. Anything and everything is game.
5) Web-comics are also a key to integrating the comic book industry to modern era. If anything else, I feel there is an untapped potential in web comics that has not been touched yet. The creative formats that many independent comic book writers and artists are utilizing online can totally revolutionize comic books as a medium all by itself.
There is always hope as long as there is imagination, but from the looks of things, there needs to be a changing and it all needs to be done before the final wave hits. Which means it must all be done soon and collectively.
Sources:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Comic-Book-Stores-Cling-to-Life-126030484.html
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/07/28/digital-comics-comic-con/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504943_162-20080827-10391715.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-11-pastimes-childhood_x.htm
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/digital-and-future-of-comic-book-shops-110810.html
by Duran Rivera
In reality, comic books as a literary art form, which was once one of the staple past time for children and teens are becoming a relic of the past. Finding itself in the company of color-forms, wooden tops, train sets and action figures. Sales of print comics have been dropping steadily year after year (combined comic sales were worth $635 million in 2010, down from $680 million in 2009). The average age of comic book collectors continue to get older. The younger generations are searching out video games, mp3's, social networking, internet and the slumping in front of the tv to watch a plethora of channels. The options are endless now and comic books are not one of them.
Market demand is causing many comic shops to close making comic books less acessable, which has always been on of the greatest appeals of a comic book. It was always there, not just in comic stores but in newsstands, some pharmacies sold it, corner delis, it was easy to get, and it was cheap. Comics use to be about the price of candy, now for about 2 comics you can get a used video game, a bunch of songs on Itunes, or rent a couple movies.
Then you have an American economy that is struggling to stay afloat and escape from economic armageddon. Not just small businesses are collapsing, but bigger companies are seeing themselves file for bankruptcy. The music industry is shrinking, the movie industry is in trouble experiencing less block busters, even the cable industry is being swallowed up by the digital television revolution led by Netflix, Youtube, and Googletv. Sports franchises are filing for bankruptcy and several leagues are engaged in labor battles currently. Times are changing fast and the facets of human life will move on as always. So what's happening to comic books is not an isolated incident, but the difference is those other industries have a way of adapting much easier than the medium of comic books. This is where digital-comics come in.
Same time, we must also remember that the black-market bootleggers are taking a hefty chunk out of all forms of entertainment including the comic book industry. This is the dark side to the promise of what can be the last bastion of hope for the industry: digital-comics.
In my personal opinion, I feel that if digital-comics are going to replace or be successful, they have to do the following:
1) If an opportunity arises, rivals must join forces and find a way to get out of this mess before it gets worse. Meaning Marvel and DC needs to open the door to the possibility of doing something unique artistically or market wise. Different than they have done in the past. Getting publicity by killing off that guy is not going to cut it. Something creative must be done. Also more support for independent publishers.
2) they have to become what comics books USE TO BE. Which means they have to be accessible, which they will be. If the apps are easy to download and fans don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a DC, Marvel or Indi app.
3) they have to be amongst the MOST affordable things out there. There was a reason people considered comic books throwaways, cause they were cheap and they were sold to casual vendors. Regardless they were the most low maintenance things kids could get.
4) They have to be multi-medium friendly which means that the comic book writers and editors etc, have to be creative about this, find a way to connect their comic books to the social networks, tie it in somehow. Don't isolate comic book stories to just the book. They have to reach out and utilize the best concepts possible. Lots of guerilla marketing and support for independent websites, blog-sites. Anything and everything is game.
5) Web-comics are also a key to integrating the comic book industry to modern era. If anything else, I feel there is an untapped potential in web comics that has not been touched yet. The creative formats that many independent comic book writers and artists are utilizing online can totally revolutionize comic books as a medium all by itself.
There is always hope as long as there is imagination, but from the looks of things, there needs to be a changing and it all needs to be done before the final wave hits. Which means it must all be done soon and collectively.
Sources:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Comic-Book-Stores-Cling-to-Life-126030484.html
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/07/28/digital-comics-comic-con/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504943_162-20080827-10391715.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-11-pastimes-childhood_x.htm
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/digital-and-future-of-comic-book-shops-110810.html
by Duran Rivera
Posted by Duran Rivera at 8/16/2011 7:18 AM 
Categories: Comic Books
Tags: Digital Comic Books Marvel Comics DC Comics
Categories: Comic Books
Tags: Digital Comic Books Marvel Comics DC Comics
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