comics will always be a niche market that might expand or contract, but there is no real way of expanding the industry beyond the niche. Digital comics aren't even an option in my mind. Trades help bridge the gap between the niche market and the greater book industry but it's nowhere near the audience the music industry has. Comics will never have that large an audience.
Independent comic book publishers, independent online comic books, and a change to following a creator/creative team could be the saving grace of comic books if Marvel/DC weren't so monstrous and fanboys didn't follow according to publisher or character.
when i go to con i like to get sketches of cap and falc and cap related characters by affordable artist i like i guess that has some of the one of kind interaction vibe thing going on
btw anyone going to the big apple/wizard world con in october? i got my tickets
Roughly I feel bands/arists would be equatable to Characters for your comparison. LIke if a drummer was in two bands, if a fan was to find this out they would probably check out a band based on the drummer, like jumping from X-men, to whatever team wolverine is now on (doom patrol right?)
That and the golden rule of different strokes for different folks.
Just as comics and traditional novels should not be compared, so too should comics and music not be compared, except perhaps in that they enhance life for the people who enjoy them.
What works for music doesn't necessarily have to work for comics. They are two completely different forms of media. A band gets together and has a steady lineup for years, doing similar things.
Grant Morrison and Alan Moore aren't alway with Frank Quietly and Dave Gibbons. They get their Tony Danielses and their David Lloyds.
I disagree. And I think you are missing the point.
There are thousands of rap music fans, but none of them will just buy cd's from a certain label. They don't care who released the damn thing, they care about the artist.
But their are comic book fans who are fiercely loyal to Marvel or DC or Indie Publishers. I know people who read ONLY Marvel. You don't see that in the music industry.
We already have digital comics, they're pirated and reading one just isn't the same as reading a comic.
Something which really impressed me and I would love to see more of is when Marvel put out the video for Astonishing XMen, voice over almost still images. That really sold me.
It's not quite a cartoon so shouldn't cost as much to produce but I found if interesting.
Maybe we could use a step beyond Wednesday Comics. A black and white weekly issue at 2.99 with 5 or so series in it. Sort of like Shonen Jump Weekly or other manga mags that are released in Japan. If we could get consistent quality stories a bit at a time then foregoing fantastically shaded and colored artwork would be a worthy compromise.
yeah benn but if those labels started signing artist from a new genre? say would def jam fans pick up a def jam countr music cd? or a def jam classical quartet cd?
if dc or marvel jumped big time into romance comics would fanboys pick them up?
im kinda half and half on the creator vs character thing, ill buy everything Mignola and Templesmith and would walk across fire to see em, but ill buy everything green lantern no matter who does it. as for the music industry comparison the closest thing ive ever seen to a live gig for comics was at birmingham comic show last year, they had a bunch of artists on stage and people would shout characters at em and each would draw live, now that was pretty sweet
i never understand why people constantly compare the comics industry with the music industry...it's FAR more comparable to the publishing industry. and i'm talking novels, not print media.
hi im one of the 3 lol yeah i get what you say elliot but sometimes if the story doesnt add 2 anything and is just terrible people won't buy it they'll probably pick up the next issue to see if it gets better they'll just drop it. I'm more like i just look at some of the previews on DC's website and if it doesnt grab me i wont buy it, I mean Justice League is a big name but the recent story with the Cry for Justice and Royal Flush Gang just doesn't grab me so could be many things.
Not limited to this alone, but the shared universes of Marvel and DC, Elliot, are perhaps why fans are devoted to a company rather the creators themselves. The shared universe gives the comics an added layer of fascination because the actions in one can be felt in the others. It's the idea of team-ups, cross polinating villians(if that makes any sense), and the overall fact that its all happing on this one planet, in this one universe. It's probably why every month they trounce the competition.
Now a Comic Book featuring the Dropkick Murphys or Rollins and I sold.
As for the alternative to comics, what about digital comics? A drive, you plug it in ala Kindle and subscribe to certain titles and it automaticly DLs to your lil drive. Admittedly it'll kill every comic store in existence and I am deffinately against that (Cept for the store here in Denver that won't carry Wuvable Oaf) but they could make it where you have to sign up there...
i think your comparision between comics and music is flawed its not marvel and dc its the characters we are following and the spinoffs
its more like tv we are following the wb we followed buffy then over to angeland followed buf to upn if whedon came out with the long rumored ripper series fans would have watched that but if joss 's next tv show was about 20 somethings and their soap operary lives ala melrose place i doubt most of buffys fan would follow
I'm either too tired or drunk or something but I have no idea where you guys are going with this. I'll wait till the second part to see if any of this makes any sense
That makes two of us. Elliott and I rarely discuss what last rants will be about. He just starts talking and we see where it goes. If you couldn't tell by my facial expressions I had no idea where he was going with this topic either. Most of it didn't make any sense to me.
Well thats one take on the comparison to a band but what if the characters themselves: Wolverine, Spidey, Supes, and Batman are the band and the writers/artists are the line-up? By and large fans follow bands, even if there are extensive changes to whose in the band, what matters is the core.
That's where I would disagree. Imagine the Beatles with 4 guys OTHER THAN John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. That wouldn't be the same band and I wouldn't follow it. When titles change creative teams, there is no 'core' that they hold onto, the change is often wholesale. So I'm afraid your argument doesn't really hold up. Sorry,
I see your point but your also comparing one band out of many. Did AC/DC lose a ton of fans because of one death? Do people still see the same bands on tour years later when people have come and gone? Superman never stops being from Krypton. The Dark Knight is always a detective. Did this books tank when their original creators left?
But where do you have the LIVE INTERACTION between creator and audience? That's the thing about music that makes it unique, that as a fan, you get to share in the creation of the art you enjoy. You get to actually witness it as it happens. You just don't have that in comics.
discuss: are comics an art form?
Cheers guys!
kalivid 2 years ago
I think it's stupid how people will follow a character regardless of how bad the book gets.
I know someone that will buy Batman no matter how awful it is. Any Batman books out there.
The character doesn't give creedance to the story. Any character can be interesting given the right team behind it.
TheComicRant 2 years ago
i suppose i could argue that the genre of music (eg; neo classic rock) ;) - would be the characteristics of it.
:P
DVGamer7 2 years ago
i bought 3 wednesday comics as a marvel fan and i enjoyed them.
i crunched them up and it kinda added to the "fad" of it. It also introduced me to a lot of DC characters. (love the way Commandi got his name btw)
but i think its a great addition to the collection but as a marvel fan i think ive had enough of that. still enjoyed it though.
i can take out pages that i dont want and insert them all together.
price wasnt a issue nowadays - quality is!
DVGamer7 2 years ago
The future of comics is online, but I think there needs to be some kind of tech/platform specific to comics like a I-pod, tablet etc..
deemar325 2 years ago
comics will always be a niche market that might expand or contract, but there is no real way of expanding the industry beyond the niche. Digital comics aren't even an option in my mind. Trades help bridge the gap between the niche market and the greater book industry but it's nowhere near the audience the music industry has. Comics will never have that large an audience.
pobra17 2 years ago
Independent comic book publishers, independent online comic books, and a change to following a creator/creative team could be the saving grace of comic books if Marvel/DC weren't so monstrous and fanboys didn't follow according to publisher or character.
smallmaniac 2 years ago
People follow creators now
deemar325 2 years ago
I know that, I'm saying that if it were more widespread. There are more Marvel/DC fanboys than their are creator fanboys, wouldn't you agree?
smallmaniac 2 years ago
Sadly yes
deemar325 2 years ago
when i go to con i like to get sketches of cap and falc and cap related characters by affordable artist i like i guess that has some of the one of kind interaction vibe thing going on
btw anyone going to the big apple/wizard world con in october? i got my tickets
kurumais 2 years ago
I was thinking the same thing today, kurumais. Good call. I'm taking you off my s*** list.
Now go get me a sammich!
LOL.
Elliott
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
pb and j coming right up
kurumais 2 years ago
Roughly I feel bands/arists would be equatable to Characters for your comparison. LIke if a drummer was in two bands, if a fan was to find this out they would probably check out a band based on the drummer, like jumping from X-men, to whatever team wolverine is now on (doom patrol right?)
That and the golden rule of different strokes for different folks.
agent42q 2 years ago
Just as comics and traditional novels should not be compared, so too should comics and music not be compared, except perhaps in that they enhance life for the people who enjoy them.
3Reviews 2 years ago
What works for music doesn't necessarily have to work for comics. They are two completely different forms of media. A band gets together and has a steady lineup for years, doing similar things.
Grant Morrison and Alan Moore aren't alway with Frank Quietly and Dave Gibbons. They get their Tony Danielses and their David Lloyds.
3Reviews 2 years ago
I disagree. And I think you are missing the point.
There are thousands of rap music fans, but none of them will just buy cd's from a certain label. They don't care who released the damn thing, they care about the artist.
But their are comic book fans who are fiercely loyal to Marvel or DC or Indie Publishers. I know people who read ONLY Marvel. You don't see that in the music industry.
johnnyhorror92182 2 years ago
I know, if a book is good just buy it and support the creators. Who gives a shit who publishes it.
pobra17 2 years ago
Very true, and it's getting harder for independent comics in print, but online that's another matter
deemar325 2 years ago
We already have digital comics, they're pirated and reading one just isn't the same as reading a comic.
Something which really impressed me and I would love to see more of is when Marvel put out the video for Astonishing XMen, voice over almost still images. That really sold me.
It's not quite a cartoon so shouldn't cost as much to produce but I found if interesting.
StevieEvs 2 years ago
I liked that also, that's why I'm kinda curious how Spider-woman will do
deemar325 2 years ago
Maybe we could use a step beyond Wednesday Comics. A black and white weekly issue at 2.99 with 5 or so series in it. Sort of like Shonen Jump Weekly or other manga mags that are released in Japan. If we could get consistent quality stories a bit at a time then foregoing fantastically shaded and colored artwork would be a worthy compromise.
SetTrend 2 years ago
Fanboys are called "scenesters" in the music world and they do indeed follow particular record labels and sub-genres based upon their hipness.
BENWONDER 2 years ago
yeah benn but if those labels started signing artist from a new genre? say would def jam fans pick up a def jam countr music cd? or a def jam classical quartet cd?
if dc or marvel jumped big time into romance comics would fanboys pick them up?
kurumais 2 years ago
I feel that going to a huge con like New York or San Diego is the comics equivalent to attending a music festival.
BENWONDER 2 years ago
im kinda half and half on the creator vs character thing, ill buy everything Mignola and Templesmith and would walk across fire to see em, but ill buy everything green lantern no matter who does it. as for the music industry comparison the closest thing ive ever seen to a live gig for comics was at birmingham comic show last year, they had a bunch of artists on stage and people would shout characters at em and each would draw live, now that was pretty sweet
Thecomicsketch 2 years ago
i never understand why people constantly compare the comics industry with the music industry...it's FAR more comparable to the publishing industry. and i'm talking novels, not print media.
fanboydee 2 years ago
Oh look, it's fanboydee! The answer to the question NOBODY ASKED!
LOL.
That's a Simpsons reference, btw.
I'm adding you to the list with John Layman, dee. Enjoy your stay.
Elliott
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
...list of possible matches on E-Harmony?
deemar325 2 years ago
'list'?! what list???
fanboydee 2 years ago
hi im one of the 3 lol yeah i get what you say elliot but sometimes if the story doesnt add 2 anything and is just terrible people won't buy it they'll probably pick up the next issue to see if it gets better they'll just drop it. I'm more like i just look at some of the previews on DC's website and if it doesnt grab me i wont buy it, I mean Justice League is a big name but the recent story with the Cry for Justice and Royal Flush Gang just doesn't grab me so could be many things.
Fallows1985 2 years ago
Not limited to this alone, but the shared universes of Marvel and DC, Elliot, are perhaps why fans are devoted to a company rather the creators themselves. The shared universe gives the comics an added layer of fascination because the actions in one can be felt in the others. It's the idea of team-ups, cross polinating villians(if that makes any sense), and the overall fact that its all happing on this one planet, in this one universe. It's probably why every month they trounce the competition.
BlackPhoenix06 2 years ago
I'm freakin 31 and Tiffany still scares me....
Now a Comic Book featuring the Dropkick Murphys or Rollins and I sold.
As for the alternative to comics, what about digital comics? A drive, you plug it in ala Kindle and subscribe to certain titles and it automaticly DLs to your lil drive. Admittedly it'll kill every comic store in existence and I am deffinately against that (Cept for the store here in Denver that won't carry Wuvable Oaf) but they could make it where you have to sign up there...
MicahSps 2 years ago
i think your comparision between comics and music is flawed its not marvel and dc its the characters we are following and the spinoffs
its more like tv we are following the wb we followed buffy then over to angeland followed buf to upn if whedon came out with the long rumored ripper series fans would have watched that but if joss 's next tv show was about 20 somethings and their soap operary lives ala melrose place i doubt most of buffys fan would follow
kurumais 2 years ago
I would watch a show about paint drying if Joss Whedon had something to do with it.
J.
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
That was my point too kurumais
mastulogan 2 years ago
i always said you were a genius mastulogan
kurumais 2 years ago
I think both kurumais and mustulogan are flawed.
;-)
Elliott
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
ppl that go see shows like lollapoooza are young with no real bills its pretty much disposable income
kurumais 2 years ago
I'm either too tired or drunk or something but I have no idea where you guys are going with this. I'll wait till the second part to see if any of this makes any sense
locusmortis 2 years ago
That makes two of us. Elliott and I rarely discuss what last rants will be about. He just starts talking and we see where it goes. If you couldn't tell by my facial expressions I had no idea where he was going with this topic either. Most of it didn't make any sense to me.
J.
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
Hahaha. You guys really need your own TV show. Perhaps on G4.
BlackPhoenix06 2 years ago
What I didn't follow is that point about people singing about going to the mall. Was that a thing back in his hayday?
agent42q 2 years ago
Look up "Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now".
You'll understand the Mall refference.
johnnyhorror92182 2 years ago
Comment removed
agent42q 2 years ago
Gotcha!
johnnyhorror92182 2 years ago
wow the introduction music sounds awsome with my head phones :)
generaldark 2 years ago
Well thats one take on the comparison to a band but what if the characters themselves: Wolverine, Spidey, Supes, and Batman are the band and the writers/artists are the line-up? By and large fans follow bands, even if there are extensive changes to whose in the band, what matters is the core.
mastulogan 2 years ago
That's where I would disagree. Imagine the Beatles with 4 guys OTHER THAN John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. That wouldn't be the same band and I wouldn't follow it. When titles change creative teams, there is no 'core' that they hold onto, the change is often wholesale. So I'm afraid your argument doesn't really hold up. Sorry,
Elliott
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
I see your point but your also comparing one band out of many. Did AC/DC lose a ton of fans because of one death? Do people still see the same bands on tour years later when people have come and gone? Superman never stops being from Krypton. The Dark Knight is always a detective. Did this books tank when their original creators left?
mastulogan 2 years ago
Well we do have comic book movies, video games, cartoons and stuff like that.
ZipBlockBloody 2 years ago
But where do you have the LIVE INTERACTION between creator and audience? That's the thing about music that makes it unique, that as a fan, you get to share in the creation of the art you enjoy. You get to actually witness it as it happens. You just don't have that in comics.
Elliott
comicculturewarrior 2 years ago
Yeah thats true.
ZipBlockBloody 2 years ago