He doesn't need to do this to accurately order the next issue. Most stores keep a cycle sheet (I know I do) to keep track of how many issues to order from month to month. Limiting a book to 2 per customer should be how a store needs to account for their monthly orders being accurate.

Trust me this couldn't be farther from the truth, the hot comics still steadily have people buying multiple copies. I am not a huge store at all, & we have customers that regularly by 6 copies of every issue of GL, Identity Crisis, Astonighin, just to name a few. If they want to buy this more power to them, it is up to a retailer to be on the ball & know what titles they can expect to sell out, they should not have to dictate what a customer is allowed to buy. And this guy or any retailer that does this should use this as an excuse to limit copies to their customers in order for an issue to stay in stock either. It is very easy to reorder books, 9 out of 10 times a local comic book shop is out of an issue isn't b/c it is sold out from the distributor, it is b/c the store owner is too lazy to put in a reorder. And the hot comics nowadays almost always get 2nd or even 3rd printings, so even the hottest of comics are easily available to reorder.

Above I explained it all. Basically just reading that guy's column was annoying & I think his attitude in general is the type of comic book retailer I can't stand. He contradicts himseld & it is my biggest pet peeve, as a retailer, store owners that dictate what their customers can buy. With the way Diamond is set up, & each store having their own rep that calls them constantly or that they can call, plus multiple printings of comics, their is no reason a store needs to limit what their cliental can buy. And a retailer complaining about variant covers is just idiotic to me.

Yeah, I agree with that, but with on-line sites & ebay it is a lot easier nowadays to find a missine issue here & there. And yeah, they are a great way for readers to catch up, but that is not how they are used. More & more people aren't buying new series b/c they just have the "wait for the trade attitude. Amazing books like Bloodhound, Hard Time, Captain Marvel, Breach, & so many more are cancelled or being cancelled b/c people don't pick up the monthlies & just wait for the trades.


Absolutely, this is my single biggest problem w/ the comic book industry. Especially Marvel who do it way more than anyone else. Stories in an on-going monthly format are now all written in neat little 5-6 part stories, always wrapped up with no carry over to the next story. I miss the days where little subplots & stories would continue sometimes for over a year. But on the other hand, this is also one of the bright spots for trades. 100 Bullets is one of my favorite comics ever & one of only 2 books I only read in trade format, b/c the story is so dense & complex, it just reads better that way.

Bendis is terrible with making single issues worth picking up. Every story arc of his seems like it works a shit lot better as a trade. Look at New Avengers.. it's going so slow that it's really annoying to pick up the single issues.

In other news.... Geoff Johns is going to stop writing Flash in August. He's been on it for five years now and it's been one hell of a run. But now with the work load of how many books he is on he needs to pass it on. It is actually going to someone who is equally as good. Darwyn cooke.

I love the serialized, monthly books, always have. But let's face it, many books today read better in the collected format. Strictly talking as a reader here, the business side of it doesn't matter. I want good stories, and if I enjoy the entire story in one sitting, then that's the way I'm want to get my comics.

Saying that waiting for the trade is detrimental to comics is short-sighted. I think there will always be room for the serialized format, but if the comics community wants to grow and get new readers, we'll have to embrace original graphic novels.

CRAP!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!

First of all, it really surprises me that people still buy 6 issues of a comic, even "landmark" comics these days. More power to them, I guess. I understand your complaint, though, Sessa, about buyers being able to buy what they choose, without someone dictating to them.

The trend towards original graphic novels: there are a few reasons I don't see this happening:
1. OGNs have no ads, so you lose all advertising revenue
2. Because they're not subsidized by the sale of the original serialized version, they will most likely be more expensive than they are now
3. It's harder for store owners to order, because it's not a monthly book with a cycle sheet, but a more expensive one time offering that may or may not sell. There's also no indication from the serialized comics of how well the story was recieved
4. An OGN of about the size of 6 collected comics will take the creators around 6-8 months to complete. That's 6-8 months where they're not getting revenue, and banking that it'll be successful enough to pay their bills.
5. The general stigma against OGNs. As I said earlier, while people will flock to collected issues, if it hits as a GN first, there's just some psychological barrier that prevents people from trying it out. I'm even surprised the prestige format books are still around.

People always point to the manga market, which deals almost exclusively now with cheaper graphic-novel-only issues. But those are pretty much reprints of foreign material that was serialized, albeit in a different way. Even the Humanoids stuff has been cancelled by DC, and by all accounts that was some high quality stuff. If anything, a move to OGNs will further ostracize the guy on the street, who I believe is already put off by high single-issue prices.

SATURDAY JUNE 4th

Meet
GEOFF JOHNS!!




JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE RELEASE

OF
GREEN LANTERN #1!






Earth-2 Comics

15017 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-386-9590
www.earth2comics.com
(2 blocks east of the Galleria/Sepulveda/101-405)

At comicbookresources, a recent LITG article stated:

Over the last few years it seems as if there have been a succession of similar errors, including missing pages, dialogue, repeated dialogue and corrupted dialogue in trade paperbacks and hardcovers. Some of the more significant include X-Men: Dream's End, Daredevil HC 1, Fantastic Four HC 1 and Wolverine: The Best There Is.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/co...gi?column=litg

Question - does anyone know what the errors/problems were with the Daredevil HC Vol 1 (is this the original with white/red/black cover or the reissue with the cover to #1?) and Fantastic Four HC Vol 1 (which reprints the Doom arc, right?)?

Thanks!

And Mark Millar had this to say about the situation:
However, Wolverine: Enemy Of The State writer Mark Millar jokingly had an alternative take on his board "I like to see these Marvel misprints as a big fuck you to all the lazy bastards who wait for the trade."

I thought that was a pretty ignorant comment to make. I actually own or have owned the original issues of most of what I buy in HC (tho not to that run on Wolverine), I just prefer to buy the HCs as well for presentation sake (no ads, oversized pages, extras, nice binding). I don't see why anyone should get screwed for buying a hardcover, for whatever the reason, especially considering they usually aren't that cheap ($20-$35).

I agree completely. Regardless of how you buy his work, you are still supporting him. This comment is a complete slap in the face. Pamphlet comics are a dying breed, caused by the industry itself, Millar included. I personally look at (some) comics as legitimate a form of entertainment & art as movies, literature, etc. I don't buy novels one chapter at a time, why should I a buy & read a complete comic story, told in 12 chapters/issues, seperately when I could get them in a beutifully packaged hardcover format? I'm tempted to say "screw Millar". I'll have to give it some thought.

I don't feel the need to own the monthlys before I buy the hardcover or tpb. And I refuse to be guilted into by the like of Millar.

The few comics I get in the monthly format are Plastic Man, Solo, Conan, Grimjack & Sable. And I mostly do that because I was concerned that sales might not warrent collections on these.

You've got to be kidding me! Do you shop at this store? That's actually my regular store. It's great, the staff is extraordinarily knowledgeable, not to mention Mark Waid shops there and frequently autographs items. They've also always got some cool signings, they had JMS for spiderman 500 and recently the warner brothers animation department on free comic book day.

It's near my Job so I only shop there when i'm in the area during the daytime. It's a nice place.

I was there for Free Comic book day to get my Young Justice series signed.

I've probably seen you guys in the store sometime and just didn't know. Speaking of comics though,

EVERYONE needs to go out and grab FF 527. This is JMS's first issue and regardless of where you stand on JMS and Sins Past this is the single best issue of Fantastic Four that I have read, maybe ever. It is that good.

Boy I couldn't disagree more, you must not have ever read the FF before if you think this is the best issue ever. This issue doesn't even come close to anything Waid has done on the book. Personally I thought it was a rather bad start tfor JMS's run. The humor was crude & horribly forced & the issue as a whole just feels like JMS trying to mimic Waid rather than put his own stamp on the book. McKone's art is gorgeuous as usual though, but if this is the best FF you have ever read, then you need to seriously hunt down some trades & back issues.

Well I have FF Masterworks the first three volumes, I've got the essentialls, Byrne Visionaries 1-4, FF Hardcover V1 and 2 and the single issues for the rest of Waids run, plus other issues scattered throughout the years so I do have a pretty good idea of the FF. I was chatting with the folks in my shop last week (talking about the preview issue) and you are the first person I've heard that didn't like it. The opening was beautifully done and the way JMS is immediately working to his strengths (sci-fi space action) was wonderful. One bit of humor I found forced, but otherwise it was great.

That said, Waid is my all time favorite comic book writer and I do have a standing "everything waid" pull list including Hunter Killer and City of Heroes which were pretty good.

Edited to add: I also fail to see how this in any way mimics anything Waid did on the title. Waid's approach was very unique. JMS's is similarly unique and I don't really see a connection between the two outside of the fact that JMS tries to connect his run to things that happened in the past. Continuity is not the same as mimicing a previous writer.

Wow, I have to chime in with Sessa - couldn't disagree more with this. It wasn't TERRIBLE, but this was blah, average and unmemorable, another overrated comic from the overrated JMS (and I do like Supreme Power). The original Lee/Kirby issues, the Byrne run, the short Walt Simonson run and then the Mark Waid series that just finished, were all offering better issues than this one. I just don't see it as "great", myself. I'm not planning on picking up future issues.

Well to each their own, at least your comments didn't boil down to, I disagree with you so you must be ignorant (ahem, Sessa). Sorry you didn't like it.

If ya'll haven't been reading GOTHAM CENTRAL, the Half a Life arc is now collected. Go get it. It's awesome. Should be required reading for anyone who enjoys detective stories.

My comments were nothing like that. I disagreed & explained why. The legacy of one of the most iconic comics in the history of the medium & this is the issue that you think is the best ever, is pretty suprising to me, your posts read like you haven't read the book much, so I suggested tracking down some trades & back issues b/c there is a lot better out there. You really need to relax b/c I am clueless how you got me calling you "ignorant" from my post.

Ignorant means a lack of knowledge. Your first sentence was that if I thought this was the best issue ever I must not have ever read FF before. How you fail to see the connection is beyond me. You clearly imply that I am ignorant when it comes to FF because otherwise my opinion would just be plain crazy.

Sorry, I liked the issue. I liked it a lot. I understand others may have different opinions but that doesn't mean they are inferior to me in some way (ignorant).

While that is still on topic as it is about FF 527, to stay even more on topic, I picked up GL #1 and OMAC 2 and was also impressed by both. In fact I would say GL#1 is the single best issue of Green Lantern (in this volume).

While OMAC # 2 was in the top 2 for that volume of that title, right?

Personally, I thought Waid's FF run started off strong (and I love Ringo's art anyway), but the direction he took some of the characters just didn't feel right to me. The whole insane Reed thing seemed odd to me, and then the Latveria/Doom confrontation didn't really hit home. I'm a big FF fan, though, and am loving the Byrne visionaries volumes, and even suffered through that confusing mess in the early 90's, when Alicia turned out to be a skrull and adult Franklin came back from the future (or something).

I'm glad JMS's run is at least getting some acclaim, so that moviegoers have a stand-up title to get into if they decide to get some comics. But as I've missed my preorder for this one, I'll probably wait for the trade. Sigh, I know, I know.

I'm still collecting Waid and Kitson's Legion month-to-month, even though the continuity-obsessed fanboy in me is screaming out at me whenever I read an issue... and I sorely miss both Young Justice (even if Titans is good, I didn't like how they pretty much just got rid of the side characters, and have now all-but-replaced Arrowette) and Supergirl.

I am loving what Waid is doing with Legion, but you definitely just have to pretend that this is the first legion title that has ever existed to truly enjoy it. And what do you mean terrible nineties stuff. Lyja the Laserfist is the single greatest creation in all of marvel history! (That was a joke, I can't imagine anyone who read FF 358 or was it 348 and didn't just say WTF?)

Here is what I picked up yesterday on the last Wed. in May. . .

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #640 - Kersch is perfect for a Superman title. I've been disspointed witih Rucka's run though & could care less who Ruin is.

BATGIRL #64 - This use to be one of my favorite comics for the frist 25 issues then it become dreadful for about 2 years & now it has become really good again. This incarnation of Batgirl is one of my favortie Bat-characters ever.

CAPTAIN AMERICA #6- One of the 2 best titles Marvel publishes. Brubaker is brilliant.

CATWOMAN #43 - The book has never been the same since Stewart & Brubaker left.

DAY OF VENGEANCE #2 - Been diggin' the hell out of all things Countdown/Crisis.

DC SPECIAL THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY #1 - I really hate the "Collector's Item first issue" logo on the cover. But Garcia-Lopez art is always worth it.

EXPATRIATE #2- Pretty cool pseudo-noir comic so far.

FANTASTIC FOUR #527

FLASH #222 - I've been saying it for almost 5 years now. The best solo superhero comic on the market. Rogue's War has been awesome so far.

GIRLS #1 - AWESOME! More Luna Bros. Been looking foward to this since Ultra ended.

GREEN LANTERN #1 - So glad to see Pacheco on this book. I'm one of the few who can't stand Van Sciver's art.

HELLBLAZER #208 - Carry has probably had the most underrated run ever on this comic.

HUNGER #1 - Speakeasy is a new publisher that is quietly putting out some great work. Although the zombie trend is annoying the hell out of me now, this is an interesting first issue.

INCREDIBLE HULK #81 - What a great Frazetta Deathbringer tribut cover.

JLA #114 - Thank the comic book gods that this dreadful Busiek story is over with one of the worse artists in the business IMO in Rob Garney.

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #6 - I though Abnett/Lanning had maybe the best run ever on this comic, but I do love Waid so while I wish this was never relaunched again, Waid's run has been solid so far.

NEW WEST #2 - I get this just for Noto's art.

NEW X-MEN: HELLIONS #1 - New X-men is a guilty pleasure.

OMAC PROJECT #2 - Damn this was good.

OUTSIDERS #24

RUNAWAYS #4 - The other book that is the best thing Marvel publishes. It is a comic book crime not to be reading this.

SLEEPER SEASON TWO #12 - My favorite comic right now along with Walking Dead. Breaks my heart that this is the last issue.

STORMBREAKER SAGA OF BETA RAY BILL #5 - Always loved Beta Ray.

X-MEN #170 - The single worse comic being published today & I get it b/c I have every issue & the hopes that one day it will turn around.

YEAR ONE BATMAN SCARECROW #1 - Really dig the art.

So what's happening in the donna troy book? Anything interesting? I absolutely hated "Graduation Day," and I had little hope that anything good would come out of that miniseries (well, besides the Titans regular book).

Nope, nothing interesting. I loved Flash. Johns should really do a Rouges monthly book since that's what FLASH has turned into. Not saying it's bad. I love it. I just would like a bit more Wally. even before Rouge War there was a lot of focus on the Rouges. I would gladly buy a Rouges monthly title in a heart beat.

Wow -- just like you took Mhepburn to task for ignoring Lee/Kirby, Byrne, and Waid/Ringo on FF in favor of JMS, I'm going to take you to task for ignoring Shooter/Swan and Levitz's second run on the title, either of which are undeniably better than the best of Abnett/Lanning, not to mention Waid/Peyer/McCraw or Levitz's first run, either of which are also superior to Abnett/Lanning, although that's a closer call.

And that's not even counting the horrible Abnett/Lanning issues against them -- in my opinion, Abnett/Lanning didn't hit their stride until the Legion series started. Their runs on LSH and Legionnaires, Legion Lost, and Legion Worlds were all, in my opinion, as bad as the worst of the Legion (the Bierbaums, Roy Thomas, J.M. DeMatteis, and later Peyer/McCraw/Stern).