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Getting Small Press (Comics) To The Masses
Comicguy456 writes "At the recent Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo, a panel was held to discuss how to get the masses to check out indy comics. In this transcript, experts including Sean McKeever (The Waiting Place) and Max Ink (Amoeba Adventures) talk extensively about creating, selling, and marketing such books, as well as the small press industry in general. Manga is covered as well. " In many ways, the same advice here applies to people trying to get word about out bands/books/games etc etc.
While it's true comics went on a steady decline, the comic book industry is very cyclical and is starting another upswing. Just look at all the comic book movies coming down the pipe for evidence... X-Men 1 & 2, Spider-Man 1 & 2, Daredevil, Bulletproof Monk, The Hulk, League of Extraordinary Gentleman (As LXG for the movie or something dumb like that), The Punisher, and about five more that are scheduled to begin production within the next two to three years.
What we saw a few years ago was a massive reduction in popularity because comics started catering more to hardcore collectors than casual fans, with the whole six different covers by the hottest new artist for every issue craze and the focus on flash rather than substance, largely brought about by a wealth of artists but a dry spell for great writers. Now with people like Ellis, Millar, Bendis, etc., comics are starting to get more appeal to the casual fan again.
This is especially true with recent pushes toward trade paperback sales rather than individual issues, and the creation of the more Manga-esque Tsunami line by Marvel, which is an attempt to capture the rather large Manga fan base in the United States right now, including a female demographic that's not as well represented in traditional American comics.
Not only was there a boatload of crap in the indy scene but even more so in the "mainstream" lines as well.
God, when Image and Valiant were the companies with the "buzz" soooooooooo much crap came out, and it seemed that overnight practicallly everyone started drawing in the "Image" style, you know what I mean...it really was sad at the time, and then since they were all "creator owned" the prices went up and up and up, quality went down and down and down (unless variant foil cover # 8 special edition equals quality to you :p )
TMNT, that used to be a gritty book, I was thrilled when a year or so ago, I think John Woo(?) was looking to do an "original" TMNT movie, haven't heard anything since.....
Theres some great ones out there today, but you need hip-waders to get through all the crap, I'm all for them trying new distribution types, but it may be tough to find the "gems" and as always one mans crap could be anothers gem....
its better to have more selection than none at all I suppose :)
Sehr geehrter Toilettenbenutzer!