What Does The Future Hold For Independent Comics and Graphic Novels?
There has been a lot of discussion on different blogs and forums regarding the future of comics lately. Part of this stems from not only the problems facing the economy on a local and global scale but also the certainty of the monthly comic book price rising to as much as $3.99. I would suggest checking out Tom Spurgeon’s The Comics Reporter blog to get a good idea of what people- both fans and creators- are saying and thinking about these issues.
The direct market as it is today is heading for a change. There is no denying it. Every facet of the direct market- from distributors to comic shops to creators to publishers- will be affected. To me, there is no larger sign of an upheaval than the recent news of Marvel Comics spending close to $10 million dollars on their digital media / comics initiative. While there will be some casualties (I have a feeling most of the casualties will be the comic shop owners), these changes could perhaps bring about a much needed change for comics in general.
Here are some of the more notable changes which could happen:
1) A number of comic shops will close due to the recession and higher cover prices
2) Independent publishers and self-publishers will focus more on building and establishing their titles online first, only publishing those titles which has a large enough audience and demand
3) Art and boutique publishers will still operate as usual but will focus more on using the web to build their audience and sell their products
4) More publishers and creators will focus on digital distribution and developing their titles for portable platforms such as the iPhone
5) The number of monthly comic books will begin to shrink till they are eventually replaced by the monthly digital version. As a result, publishers will release TPBs which collect the monthly digital versions of their titles.
6) Digital comics will not follow the same format as the monthly comic does now. Digital comics will become more of an “experience” where readers will be able to download bonus material pertaining to the digital comic for a small price, for example.
7) The number of comic conventions will shrink with those surviving incorporating web comics, digital distributors, and digital media into their programming and exhibitor mix.
These are just some of the potential changes which may come about as a result of what is happening now in today’s market. What do you think? How has this economic recession affected your comic buying habits? For you creators, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments section below.
I had a long talk about this with a friend of mine the other day and it seems that the biggest change will be the loss of the small comic shop. While it might seem that this will not affect comic book readers, I would disagree. If it wasn’t for browsing the shelfs at my local shop I would have never cracked open American Elf and now it’s one of my favorites.
The biggest problem I have with digital comics, as presented by Marvel, is that they are just taking the print format and slapping it up on the interwebs without adapting the format to the new medium. It’s the same mistake publishers make with e-books. Comic books, like other books, have reached the pinnacle of their respective format and medium, to change the medium and keep the old format is to take what works well and make it work less well. This is their opportunity to create a new format better suited to the interwebs than the normal two pages up view (as you predict in number 6). I doubt that they will take the opportunity to do so, as a new format would be less suited to trade paperback printing, which will remain a major source of income. However, I’m interested to see what happens in the near future.
As for my reading habits, they haven’t really changed. I’m a graduate student and I work a second job at the university library to support my comic buying habits, which aren’t that excessive to begin with.
[...] Comic News has some thoughts about What The Future Holds For Independent Comics and Graphic Novels. I’d like to see how point number six works [...]
[...] Comic News makes some very interesting points about what the future holds for Indy comics and graphic novels. I think the author brings up some pretty valid points. I especially agree with [...]
Great article!
[...] direct-sell comics industry headed for a shake-up? What Does The Future Hold For Independent Comics and Graphic Novels? | Indy Comics News - Independen… What Does The Future Hold For Independent Comics and Graphic [...]
Excellent Article.
While it is mostly likely, we we will absolutley see the doors close of many brick n mortar comic book stores, we are still forgetting a very, very important human element; which is the inate sense of touch.
The ability for a human to be able to browse,touch as well as be visualy stimulated by the colorful graphics and words, at the same time are not ready for a physicologial shift for about another 100 years or so.
Amazon can sell as many Kindels as they wish, humans are still romantically in love with paper.
Hi there, Sandra, and thanks for the comment.
I agree with you. I prefer to read and hold a comic or graphic novel myself. And I love going to a great comic shop and just take in all the cool sights, covers, toys, and such.
But I’m afraid those of us who prefer paper to digital will be few and far between in the years to come. I compare people like us to those who prefer vinyl records to CDs. There will always be a market for printed comics and graphic novel but I think the market will be more of a collectors / nostalgia market.
Wesley
Indy Comic News
Hi there, Izzy, and thanks for the comment.
I agree in that the aesthitics (sp) of comic storytelling will indeed change do to the rise of digital and web comics.
Considering there is no standard format regarding digital comics, I think it would be wise for creators who plan on making their work available as a web comic or digital comic is to focus on single panels and not pages as a whole.
Wesley
Indy Comic News
[...] What Does The Future Hold For Independent Comics and Graphic Novels? http://indycomicnews.net/what-does-the-future-hold-for-independent-comics-and-graphic-novels/ [...]