OG Comic Retailer Proclaims LCS’s In Death Spiral
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- Опубліковано 3 гру 2023
- Many LCS owners are talking about the decline of the comics industry, including OG comic retailer Chuck Rozanski. The Mile High Comics owner has an even more dire prognosis than Phil Boyle. Rozanski believes the current death spiral of American comics is irreversible. Wes talks about Chuck Rozanski's words and explains why he doesn't seem to care about the end of American comics. OG comic book retailer proclaims MCS's in irreversible death spiral.
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The fact that Marvel had an unprecedented dominance at the box office year after year and failed to increase readership AT ALL during that period tells me that there is no hope for them. I agree with Rozanski that they've priced themselves out of the market and agree with Wes that the quality of most books is so poor that I wouldn't want them at any price. There are too many other entertainment options that people can choose from and comic books have been left behind.
I am no fan of Mile High Comics. The pricing is terrible, I have other stores from their old locations that are all gone. He only has a Warehouse left. The Colorado Blvd, Littleton and Lakewood location have been closed for years. Chuck does a lot in the area (hats of to him), but never like his bragging.
Younger readers have been snatched up by Manga, Manwha, and Manhua, as well as the Webcomics stuff. The American comics industry has committed willing seppuku.
Everyone who ever been to Mile high have told me pricing is ridiculously high.
Is the future of LCS in the sales of back issues from the pre-2000 era where Marvel & DC is concerned? I would rather spend $35 on several 1970s Superman issues than three current Superman ones.
They need to stop with trying to attract young people unless they are going to start producing $1 comics. The few kids that are reading comics is because a parent is into comics and they want do it on their own. I haven't seen a teen in a comic shop since the late 90s. Scholastic doesn't sell comics. Stop including them. If Walmart is selling it, it's not a comic.
Manga sells. Retro collections sell. Random merch sells. Only trash written by hacks who hate Marvel/DC lore and the fans isn't selling.
When I sold my shop in 2019, I told the guy to heavily limit purchasing of new comics to pulls mostly and then stock a bit the household name stuff. Take what you would spend with Diamond and such and put that toward back issues. That and focus on manga and dogman etc. it would take time but, build that back issue selection. He did the opposite and has since closed.
They'll always hate anyone who knows and cared about comics before MCU and twitter- because we're constant reminders that they have no idea what they're doing.
Not only did they abandon those males in their 40s but they cut out future generations. These hobbies have been generational. Passed down to their children because they love these characters. It's the same with Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who. These companies wanted to cut out the older fans but didn't realize they cut the conveyer belt to new fans in the process.
Prices are an issue. Quality is definitely an issue. Lack of trust is an issue. I have kids and want to share the titles I loved with my kids, but the big two have made themselves untrustworthy for kids. Maybe small kids...but there is just too much of everything you mentioned--gay romance, teen coming of age, etc. Aging readers want to share what they loved with their kids. This doesn't reflect what we loved. $5 a pop certainly doesn't help
I think there is a difference in the idea that in America, comics are something to collect, but in Japan, manga is considered entertainment to be consumed.
I used to have a huge weekly pull list for decades. I also was working toward trying to break into the industry as an artist...then 2014...it all fell apart. I've never had so little interest now.
My brother and I have a table at our local convention. For years we saw that no local creators had kids comics, so that’s what we brought to the market. We also do a superhero comic catered to teenage boys. You’re right in that Marvel and DC need to catered for what a younger audience wants.
I met Chuck once in Lowell, Massachusetts.
I have been to Mile High Comics and several Coliseum of Comics stores. The photo you showed of the Mile High warehouse is accurate. He has tons of back issues and has an extensive online website so he has a much more sustainable business than those who rely on the monthly new comics
There are people who can save the industry, but the industry does not want to be saved.
I have not set foot in a comic book store in over 4 years now. You don't want my money, you DON'T get my money. And I'm a wealthier man for it.
Comics succeeded because they were an affordable / disposable form of entertainment that appealed to a broad range of customers and or were suitable for most all audiences. Thats simply and sadly no longer the case and hasnt been for decades now. theyre no longer affordable to the customer or cost effective to the publisher. Us old men, as i've said before, have all but singlehandedly kept the industry alive for the last few decades and continued doing so, albeit largely out of habit / compulsion, the last 10-20yrs, but also due to love and appreciation (to a fault) of the medium and the individual properties. That adoration and desire though is not limitless. While its true we are "dying off", we're also being turned away at much higher and quicker rates. Why? Whats happened in the last 5-10 years? whats changed? The product was no longer made with that audience in mind, increasingly less and less so, and worse, that audience was suddenly cast as the enemy... in everything. Thats the worst and most prominent example. But add it to a lengthy list of issues surrounding the hobby and disaster cant be far behind. Im in my early 50s now, but still have some years left I'd be happy and willing to continue spending on comics. If you make something worthy.
At one point DC really was expanding with Vertigo…then they slit their own throats.