Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS? - Page 2

kevin75 · 07-06-09, 05:06 PM

i may the voice of dissent here, but the last couple of months have been very lean for me from DCBS. last month there was only one definite book for me to get, but it was only about $15 or so, which ordering by itself would have negated the savings. looking at this month's selections, i only see one 'maybe' book. while it's sad not to place my order for two months in a row, it does give my wallet a break.

Meatwad's Ghost · 07-06-09, 10:31 PM

For this month the R. Crumb book looks interesting. The Strangers Omnibus sounds interested but have never read the book before, just heard some great stuff about it. I'll probable hold off again this month. I'll just save up for the books I know I would end up buying at some point like Astonishing X-Men Omnibus and Tomb of Dracula Omni 2.

stingermck · 07-06-09, 10:43 PM

Here's this months order for me, which was on the high side. Last month was about $200. A friend and I order together to save on shipping. I get DC, he gets Marvel. I order all the singles, and after we read them, eBay em. I buy a ton more comics thanks to DCBS than I ever did at LCS.

Spoiler:

davidh777 · 07-06-09, 10:57 PM

I cringed at the $54.99 tag on this at my LCS, but 32.99 at DCBS is tempting

bishop2knight · 07-07-09, 12:59 PM

Sessa, welcome to the future.

boredsilly · 07-09-09, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessa17

Just placed my July order. The book I'm most excited about for this order is the limited edition Strangers In Paradise Omnibus. The complete series collected in 2 Hardcovers in a slipcase, that is just awesome & DCBS has it for under $80. Aside from that it's a rather weak month.

I'm hoping my order for this sticks. I placed an order on the 5th and had issues adding it to my cart. Eventually, I was able to get it in there and checkout. I emailed Cameron and he said that they did indeed already sell out of their allotment. Hopefully I made the cut. I really want this.

I do agree though that the DCBS site is pretty awful for searches. Same for Instocktrades. I wish they would do something about that because I have the worst time trying to find specific things.

ivelostr2 · 07-09-09, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boredsilly

I'm hoping my order for this sticks. I placed an order on the 5th and had issues adding it to my cart. Eventually, I was able to get it in there and checkout. I emailed Cameron and he said that they did indeed already sell out of their allotment. Hopefully I made the cut. I really want this.

I checked today, and it isn't on there any more, I hope mine went through as well.
I didn't have any issues adding it to my cart when i ordered, but I also ordered it on the 5th...have they sold out of something limited before, and not been able to honor orders that went through?

Sessa17 · 07-09-09, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivelostr2

I checked today, and it isn't on there any more, I hope mine went through as well.
I didn't have any issues adding it to my cart when i ordered, but I also ordered it on the 5th...have they sold out of something limited before, and not been able to honor orders that went through?

Terry Moore posted that Diamond will only be getting 500 copies of it. And that it is a one time print run, so hopefully I get mine. It's still showing up in my account, but I won't be happy until it is in my hands.

boredsilly · 07-09-09, 05:53 PM

Pretty much what Sessa said. I'm not getting rid of my near complete HC collection, until I have this in hand. Since the print run is so low, and the DCBS discount was so great, I'm not banking on this. We shall see.

Patman · 07-10-09, 08:17 PM

Bummer, I had been on the fence on the SiP Omnibus. I guess I'll see if my LCS can put in an order and hope for the best.

Any other online places offering it for pre-order still?

boredsilly · 07-13-09, 02:20 PM

This is the email I recieved regarding the SIP omni

"
Hi Kenneth,

Because we are not entirely sure how many copies we will be receiving, we have not canceled any orders for this item. If we are not able to fill this item for you, we will remove it from your order and issue a credit to your account.

Please let us know if you have any more questions. We appreciate your business!

Thanks,
Josh"

ivelostr2 · 07-13-09, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boredsilly

This is the email I recieved regarding the SIP omni

"
Hi Kenneth,

Because we are not entirely sure how many copies we will be receiving, we have not canceled any orders for this item. If we are not able to fill this item for you, we will remove it from your order and issue a credit to your account.

Please let us know if you have any more questions. We appreciate your business!

Thanks,
Josh"

Yikes, now I'm kinda worried I'm not gonna get it. I wonrder how many they sold before taking it down...

The Bus · 07-14-09, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessa17

If you are a pure comic book fan, you just have to support the monthlies.

No, I don't.

Sessa17 · 07-14-09, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

No, I don't.

You are a casual fan then, not the type I was referring to.

ScottsdaleSaint · 07-14-09, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessa17

You are a casual fan then, not the type I was referring to.

I think expecting hardcore fans to support titles by purchasing them multiple times is more than a bit much. Before you say, don't buy the HC's...are you serious? They are printed on nicer paper, wrapped in a much better package, and a whole lot more likely to be read mulitple times if they sit on a shelf, than a stack of weeklies sitting in a longbox. I have over 25,000 comics, but the days of buying more than a half dozen or so books a week are long gone. The wallet is way too weak for that, and with title prices averaging 3.50 or more, collections have way more value.

Sessa17 · 07-14-09, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleSaint

I think expecting hardcore fans to support titles by purchasing them multiple times is more than a bit much.

I don't know what you are talking about. I never said anything about purchasing titles multiple times.

Quote:

Before you say, don't buy the HC's...are you serious?

Again, what are talking about? Why would I say that? Have you seen any of the pics I've posted of my shelves overflowing with my hardcovers? Quality titles need do need to be supported in their monthly format, that is all I stated.
Creators themselves say the same thing, or those titles will die. To me, if you are a fan of the medium, you don't want to see the few truly quality books disappear, thus, you buy them in the monthly format. If you don't care, then you are just a casual fan, which again, is not who I was initially referring to.

ScottsdaleSaint · 07-14-09, 10:26 PM

You stated, that if you're a 'pure comic book fan' you must buy the monthlies...I'm not going to say someone that has switched over to purchasing TPB's is less a comic fan than I am. I still buy monthlies (about fifteen titles), a few of which I upgrade to HC's when they are issued. You obviously love the HC format (as I do), so saying a pure comic fan must buy monthlies, it's implied that a lot of serious fans whom love the HC format, also must buy both to be considered as such, ergo, the double dip. That is purchasing a title twice, and maybe more, if you purchased the smaller six issue HC, and then repurchase a bigger yearly HC, or Omnibus.

I'm seriously not trying to disrespect you here, I'm just saying that people that buy TPB's only deserve respect as collectors, just like the rest of us.

Trevor · 07-15-09, 01:11 AM

Sessa,

I think you're wrong. Blind loyalty and fans throwing money into something not giving them a fair entertainment value is not the answer.

Times have changed, and monthlies are not delivering the same amount of entertainment value/per adjusted dollar as they used to. For the first 50 or so years of comic books, one hour's wages bought 5-10 comic books. Now it buys less than 2. The price of comics has gone up more than other entertainment media.

Times change, comic publishers have to change. I don't have the answers, but blaming the fans for "not supporting comics" is not an option.

boredsilly · 07-15-09, 08:22 AM

My only take on monthly vs collected issues is this -- it isn't my job to prop up the industry. My only requirement when it comes to comics is to get the books in the format I most prefer through the venues available to me. For me that's trades through the library. I definitely hear Sessa's point, but I think it gets muddled with the use of "casual" v "hardcore" because that carries a connotation of elitism with it. I'm not saying that is what was intended, but that's how it can come across. Mark Waid might come out and say "In order for this book to survive, you have to buy the monthlies". That would be great for him, and the companies he works for, but as a consumer that doesn't work for me. It is up to those guys to make comics enticing enough for people to eschew the collected edition for the monthly. Viking has done this, Casanova and Criminal have too, as well as things like Proof and Wednesday Comics. Now, their efforts don't always work, but again, it is on the publishers to sell their products, not for me to support the books I like in a format I do not.

I consider myself a pretty major comic fan. I get about a dozen + trades through the library every month, go to one con each year, and spend a lot of time following the happenings on forums and websites. I just found a way to do that that doesn't break my bank account.

Patman · 07-15-09, 01:30 PM

If you're only borrowing TPBs to read, you're not really supporting the industry, just gaining some entertainment from it. As long as there are enough people buying the monthlies/floppies, then TPBs will continue to be published, but if monthlies/floppies get cancelled, no more TPBs for the trade-waiters. If you buy the TPBs, at least you're supporting the publishers, who can then use the profits to pay the talent to create more comic-related content to publish, et al. Anyhow, it's mainly the titles with the smaller print runs that need the monthly support as the bread-n-butter titles that DC/Marvel put out will continue to have TPBs offered since the print runs are high enough to maintain the title's publication, and they have pretty much decided that the 5-6 issue arc is the way to go with putting out comics these days (since they typically go with year-long contracts for many of the creative teams, unless fill-ins are needed due to work pace of artists, or editorial mandates, which gives publishers 2 TPBs worth of material for each year of monthlies).

fujishig · 07-15-09, 02:05 PM

I've noticed that Marvel has started to price it's trades pretty much at the price of their monthlies now (as opposed to the trades being much cheaper than collecting them monthly). They have small five issue tpbs that are around 15 bucks, non hardcover.

So back to my original question: in this day and age, are there really creators that only get compensated for how well the book does as a monthly and not in trade form?

Sessa17 · 07-15-09, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor

Sessa,

I think you're wrong. Blind loyalty and fans throwing money into something not giving them a fair entertainment value is not the answer.

I never said anything about blind loyalty or throwing money at something not giving fair entertaiment. Blind loyalty is too expensive, I agree. All I'm saying is to support the truly great books monthly. I am not talking to the people that read 3 comics a month or just pick up X-men or whatever. I'm talking about people that love good comics, let's say Criminal for instance. There are not a lot of comics like that being published, so if you are a big fan, would you not want more quality comics like that? And thus, buying it every month, supports a quality title like that to continue on. I'm all for switching to trades, I've been doing it, I'm just saying for the really good stuff, especially the books like Criminal that offer extra content, I still feel deserve to be supported in their monthly format.

boredsilly · 07-15-09, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patman

If you're only borrowing TPBs to read, you're not really supporting the industry, just gaining some entertainment from it.

Not true. My library system buys tons of trades, and they get that money from me and other tax payers. Ask any creator if they want their books in libraries and the overwhelming answer is yes. The more people that check those books out, the more trades the library buys. I'm not concerned with supporting the industry per se, but checking stuff out at the library does help after a fashion.

There are something like 120k libraries in the US. Comic creators are salivating to get their books in those places.

fujishig · 07-16-09, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sessa17

I never said anything about blind loyalty or throwing money at something not giving fair entertaiment. Blind loyalty is too expensive, I agree. All I'm saying is to support the truly great books monthly. I am not talking to the people that read 3 comics a month or just pick up X-men or whatever. I'm talking about people that love good comics, let's say Criminal for instance. There are not a lot of comics like that being published, so if you are a big fan, would you not want more quality comics like that? And thus, buying it every month, supports a quality title like that to continue on. I'm all for switching to trades, I've been doing it, I'm just saying for the really good stuff, especially the books like Criminal that offer extra content, I still feel deserve to be supported in their monthly format.

I agree. But saying you HAVE to support the monthlies if you're a pure comic book fan is what I think people take issue with. Not a huge deal, but if someone prefers trades, then they're still supporting the industry. Now pirates, and moochers who sit around the bookstore reading and bending all the tpbs are a whole other thing...

Patman · 07-16-09, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boredsilly

Not true. My library system buys tons of trades, and they get that money from me and other tax payers. Ask any creator if they want their books in libraries and the overwhelming answer is yes. The more people that check those books out, the more trades the library buys. I'm not concerned with supporting the industry per se, but checking stuff out at the library does help after a fashion.

There are something like 120k libraries in the US. Comic creators are salivating to get their books in those places.

But by your logic, every taxpayer is supporting the comic industry via library purchases of TPB. That's a very inactive manner to support the comic industry, and it doesn't really promote the publication of new material through sales that show publishers what titles sell enough copies to continue with the titles.

The reason any comic creator wants their work in libraries is to be more marketable for the next project. If they are the actual publishers of the work and actually derive profits from getting their books in the library system, good for them.

07-06-09, 05:06 PM	#26
kevin75 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: east texas Posts: 5,400	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS i may the voice of dissent here, but the last couple of months have been very lean for me from DCBS. last month there was only one definite book for me to get, but it was only about $15 or so, which ordering by itself would have negated the savings. looking at this month's selections, i only see one 'maybe' book. while it's sad not to place my order for two months in a row, it does give my wallet a break. __________________ "There are just some things you can't compromise on. Some things you can. A new suit...yeah. Dream house...maybe. But the girl...you can't compromise on the girl." -- Ed Stevens

07-06-09, 10:31 PM	#27
Meatwad's Ghost Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 59	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS For this month the R. Crumb book looks interesting. The Strangers Omnibus sounds interested but have never read the book before, just heard some great stuff about it. I'll probable hold off again this month. I'll just save up for the books I know I would end up buying at some point like Astonishing X-Men Omnibus and Tomb of Dracula Omni 2.

07-06-09, 10:57 PM	#29
davidh777 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,147	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS I cringed at the $54.99 tag on this at my LCS, but 32.99 at DCBS is tempting

07-07-09, 12:59 PM	#30
bishop2knight DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Denver Posts: 7,086	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS Sessa, welcome to the future.

07-09-09, 05:53 PM	#34
boredsilly DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3,486	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS Pretty much what Sessa said. I'm not getting rid of my near complete HC collection, until I have this in hand. Since the print run is so low, and the DCBS discount was so great, I'm not banking on this. We shall see. __________________ XBL tag: johnnybvo

07-10-09, 08:17 PM	#35
Patman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Duluth, GA, USA Posts: 34,378	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS Bummer, I had been on the fence on the SiP Omnibus. I guess I'll see if my LCS can put in an order and hope for the best. Any other online places offering it for pre-order still? __________________ PatCave; HT; DVDs; Dragon*Con 2009 According to DGibFen, I'm a "freaking genius." "Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there." - Roger Sterling

07-13-09, 02:20 PM	#36
boredsilly DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3,486	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS This is the email I recieved regarding the SIP omni " Hi Kenneth, Because we are not entirely sure how many copies we will be receiving, we have not canceled any orders for this item. If we are not able to fill this item for you, we will remove it from your order and issue a credit to your account. Please let us know if you have any more questions. We appreciate your business! Thanks, Josh" __________________ XBL tag: johnnybvo

07-14-09, 10:26 PM	#42
ScottsdaleSaint Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 247	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS You stated, that if you're a 'pure comic book fan' you must buy the monthlies...I'm not going to say someone that has switched over to purchasing TPB's is less a comic fan than I am. I still buy monthlies (about fifteen titles), a few of which I upgrade to HC's when they are issued. You obviously love the HC format (as I do), so saying a pure comic fan must buy monthlies, it's implied that a lot of serious fans whom love the HC format, also must buy both to be considered as such, ergo, the double dip. That is purchasing a title twice, and maybe more, if you purchased the smaller six issue HC, and then repurchase a bigger yearly HC, or Omnibus. I'm seriously not trying to disrespect you here, I'm just saying that people that buy TPB's only deserve respect as collectors, just like the rest of us. Last edited by ScottsdaleSaint; 07-15-09 at 01:45 AM.

07-15-09, 01:11 AM	#43
Trevor DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 12,917	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS Sessa, I think you're wrong. Blind loyalty and fans throwing money into something not giving them a fair entertainment value is not the answer. Times have changed, and monthlies are not delivering the same amount of entertainment value/per adjusted dollar as they used to. For the first 50 or so years of comic books, one hour's wages bought 5-10 comic books. Now it buys less than 2. The price of comics has gone up more than other entertainment media. Times change, comic publishers have to change. I don't have the answers, but blaming the fans for "not supporting comics" is not an option. __________________ current exclusives & comparisons threads - Unwatched film thread - Spending - Challenge Compendium - DVD "upgrades" missing features from original release - DVDTalk Facebook - My Pathetic GamerTag/Score - 31 Day Subset - my horror list My Countdown Counting down to: The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge The 5th Annual DVDTalk Horror Challenge is Live

07-15-09, 08:22 AM	#44
boredsilly DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3,486	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS My only take on monthly vs collected issues is this -- it isn't my job to prop up the industry. My only requirement when it comes to comics is to get the books in the format I most prefer through the venues available to me. For me that's trades through the library. I definitely hear Sessa's point, but I think it gets muddled with the use of "casual" v "hardcore" because that carries a connotation of elitism with it. I'm not saying that is what was intended, but that's how it can come across. Mark Waid might come out and say "In order for this book to survive, you have to buy the monthlies". That would be great for him, and the companies he works for, but as a consumer that doesn't work for me. It is up to those guys to make comics enticing enough for people to eschew the collected edition for the monthly. Viking has done this, Casanova and Criminal have too, as well as things like Proof and Wednesday Comics. Now, their efforts don't always work, but again, it is on the publishers to sell their products, not for me to support the books I like in a format I do not. I consider myself a pretty major comic fan. I get about a dozen + trades through the library every month, go to one con each year, and spend a lot of time following the happenings on forums and websites. I just found a way to do that that doesn't break my bank account. __________________ XBL tag: johnnybvo

07-15-09, 01:30 PM	#45
Patman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Duluth, GA, USA Posts: 34,378	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS If you're only borrowing TPBs to read, you're not really supporting the industry, just gaining some entertainment from it. As long as there are enough people buying the monthlies/floppies, then TPBs will continue to be published, but if monthlies/floppies get cancelled, no more TPBs for the trade-waiters. If you buy the TPBs, at least you're supporting the publishers, who can then use the profits to pay the talent to create more comic-related content to publish, et al. Anyhow, it's mainly the titles with the smaller print runs that need the monthly support as the bread-n-butter titles that DC/Marvel put out will continue to have TPBs offered since the print runs are high enough to maintain the title's publication, and they have pretty much decided that the 5-6 issue arc is the way to go with putting out comics these days (since they typically go with year-long contracts for many of the creative teams, unless fill-ins are needed due to work pace of artists, or editorial mandates, which gives publishers 2 TPBs worth of material for each year of monthlies). __________________ PatCave; HT; DVDs; Dragon*Con 2009 According to DGibFen, I'm a "freaking genius." "Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there." - Roger Sterling

07-15-09, 02:05 PM	#46
fujishig DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 8,887	Re: Anyone remember my rants for supporting comic shops & never using sites like DCBS I've noticed that Marvel has started to price it's trades pretty much at the price of their monthlies now (as opposed to the trades being much cheaper than collecting them monthly). They have small five issue tpbs that are around 15 bucks, non hardcover. So back to my original question: in this day and age, are there really creators that only get compensated for how well the book does as a monthly and not in trade form?