Dammit. I hesitantly grabbed that yesterday without even looking at the price. Unless this issue causes me to orgasm, I will not get part 2.

Just for comparison, all the Marvel annuals that came out yesterday were also $3.99 - not that I love the price, but at least a better value.

The annuals have about 36-40 pages of story/art, so while not exactly a bargain, they're in line with the industry.

So WTF with $4 for 16 pages?

What is the deal with Ghost Boxes, I read the last 2 issues of astonishing X-men, is this a contiuation from that story that i will need to understand the sext issue or is this just an extention of a story that I dont need to read...

They're just stand-alone stories that tie into Ellis' Astonishing book, but they're dispensable - especially at that price.

For some perspective, if a TPB collection of 10 issues was priced accordingly, it'd be $60 retail instead of the typical $20.

I know without a doubt that I'm not the first person to suggest this, but here goes:

I remember in the mid to late 80s, going to my local CBS, and buying a handful of comics each week. I was spending over $20 per week (again, the mid 80s) and buying shit that I'd never heard of, thinking that for $.75 (later a buck), "what the hell?" If comics were rolled back to a dollar, wouldn't you likely spend the same amount you currently do, but buy a lot more? I stopped collecting in the 1993 time-frame, and sold off all 11 long boxes (including Hulk 180, 181, and 182). I started again a few years ago, and had 38 long boxes, but after getting sick of spending $30-$40 per week, and likely getting crap like Amazing Spider-Man and massive DC crossovers, I gave it up about 9 months ago and sold off the collection again...

I don't see getting back into them, but if prices dropped to $1 a piece, I'd probably jump back in: I loved the idea of looking for a "treasure" or two each week, but at $4 per issue, I won't be coming back - it's just not worth the risk. I'd pass up a lot of comics that intrigued me, just because I couldn't spend $50 per week. And that was with my son's very nice discount (he worked at a CBS). Anyway, I wonder how many people would go back to reading them at $1 and how it would affect their bottom line. I just HAVE to believe that alot of folks would be walking out with a fist-full every week...

Back in the days when comics were $1 or less, comic books was a mainstream hobby that appealed to a wide age group from young kids all the way to adults who had grown up reading comics. Sure the paper was newspaper quality, but nobody cared. Comic books had value because of the big fanbase and being able to get older issues really meant something.

Nowadays, comics cost so much even an adult with a well-paying job would have think twice before buying. Kids definitely can't afford it. The fanbase is nowhere near what it is making comics just about worthless. Who cares that comics are now printed on special paper when their "worth"-iness is nowhere near what it used to be.

So, yes, I'm in agreement that the comic book companies should consider making comics $1 again just to increase the fanbase and make it a mainstream hobby again.

Now 3.99 for an 8 page story . . .They act like this is a selling point! I can't believe I ordered this. It was one of those secret solicits. I am truly a sucker.

SECRET INVASION: REQUIEM
Written by DAN SLOTT
Pencils & Cover by KHOI PHAM
An important stepping stone to the big shake-up in MIGHTY AVENGERS by the new creative team of Dan Slott and Khoi Pham, featuring a new name and identity for one of Marvel's classic characters! In this 8-page story after the tragic events of SECRET INVASION #8, two of Earth's mightiest heroes reflect on the life and times of a fallen comrade.
Plus over 40 pages reprinting two classic tales from Marvel’s Silver and Bronze ages: the Wasp’s first appearance (TALES TO ASTONISH #44) and the infamous Hank-hitting-Jan story (AVENGERS #213) — presented with all-new, modern coloring.
64 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99
FOC – 12/4, On-Sale – 12/24

But it's got reprints with with all-new, modern coloring!! How could that not be worth $3.99??

I went and checked DCBS and I paid $2 for it. Not as big of a deal, but I fully expect these to rot on the shelves at 3.99. I see no reason why this story couldn't have been a back -up in another 3.99 comic.

I've been collecting for about 30 years and have been attending San Diego Comic Con for the past 25 years. I have a personal collection of over 18,000 comics.

My personalized license plate is "Fanboy." My overall point is that I'm pretty hardcore about my love of comics. I also understand it's a business and publishers need to make money.

Marvel is making a ton of money off of their movies and their tie-in merchandise. They consistently have 50% or more of the monthly market share. We're in a recession and people have less and less discretionary income.

So Marvel decides to raise their prices by 33%. I have a decent paying job and can actually afford the increase. On principle, I will not abide. My online order placed in December did NOT inlclude Hulk - Fuck Rulk. Loeb is not firing on all cylinders over the past few years. Why in the HELL would I pay 18 cents a page for this? (That's rhetorical)

There will be exceptions, but they will be very, very rare. If there's more content for the money, I have no problem. Or if it's an author I adore (Ellis), but other than that...? If DC keeps their books at $2.99, I may have to give them the business that I've given Marvel over the years.

$4 an issue and I'm gone. I'll buy HCs and trades and wait to purchase until I hear feedback online whether or not the general opinions/reviews are favorable.

This really pisses me off.