CNN’s Money section reports that Marvel Comics – as in the actual, good old-fashioned printed comics are doing very well, with, according to CNN, strong increases in sales and profit margins, which, as they point out, kicks against the perception that the traditional comic is a declining medium. Still, I can’t help but wonder at this article since just the other week various sites were speculating about how the financial meltdown of Western Civilisation was hitting publishers like Marvel with a sharp drop in advertising revenue – I wonder which is correct? Still it is interesting to see some positive words on the tradition of the specialist comics shop (not that I am biased in anyway on that subject, ahem):
“There’s a few interesting messages in this, not least of which is the reminder that new formats of media don’t necessarily replace old, and that some habits don’t change as quickly as people think. And it probably doesn’t hurt to be in a corner of the media world that is effectively a duopoly. Indeed, the figures are all the more striking considering that, by most industry estimates, some 60% of comic book sales still take place via one of the most archaic distribution systems in existence: ye olde comic booke shoppe.”
The article by Richard Siklos goes on to some question she asked David Maisel, chairman of Marvel Studios, which has had a couple of pretty damned bona fide hits under its belt, although Maisel declined to say how much he thought the movies’ success contributed to increased comics sales. Which I know is another area where there has been much speculation over recent years on various comics sites as to whether successful comics-based movies boost sales of the actual comics and graphic novels or just the merchandise. I’m sure folks will be discussing the claims in this article in due course. (thanks to Michael Moran for the link)
Mon, Oct 13, 2008
Comics and cartoons