Retailing & Marketing

One of the more intriguing developments in recent years in comics retailing has been the resurgence of comics sales in national book chains. Yes I know there are fewer of them, but they are...

Walmart.com has a graphic novel section, with many superhero titles, but also media adaptations and some kids comics. Many publishers have attempted to enter the world of Walmart, and some have been accepted only to be rejected when someone actually reads them and see they are filled with sex and drugs and maybe some violence. But as of now, you can buy Powr Mastrs 4 on the Walmart website for a mere $14.23, with free shipping.

Every Wednesday, I talk about comics with Brandon Montclare, writer of the hit Image series Rocket Girl and co-writer of Marvel’s upcoming Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series. We gab about what we’re reading now, what books we consider classics (Brandon...

This week’s edition of The Retailer’s View is going to be slightly different than most - while most of the time, I’m writing these solo with support and encouragement from my wife, this one...

Ain't art grand?

We're entering a period of disruption, if we're not already well into it. Is it something in the air, an upcoming election, the increasing consolidation of big media/big tech, millennials taking over? Probably all of that. And how does that affect comics? Of late the "slow patch" hit by direct market periodicals due to faltering by the Big Two seems to have cast all of this into discussion. Kate Leth, a creator and also a former comics shop employee, has a much linked to post about the direct market process which talks about how pre-ordering is key in what she calls a "system [that] is so deeply twisted":

Attention good Samaritans: a small Portland based hybrid cafe and comic book store needs your help to re-open after a vandal raided and robbed the shop. Adam Pool, The Spirtely Bean co-owner, and his...

Every Wednesday, I sit down with Brandon Montclare, writer of the hit Image series Rocket Girl and co-writer of Marvel's upcoming Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series.  We gab about what we're reading now, what books we consider classics...

Comics sales have been growing and continue to grow, but we're definitely entering a period of retrenchment and contraction for many, as I reported from this year's Diamond Retailer summit for PW in...

Local Comics Shop Day is the latest holiday on the comics calendar, to be held November 28th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The date has been promoted as "Small Business Saturday" for a while, but...

Today, I’m staring down the initial order deadline for titles releasing in November. The initial order deadline is something I neglect to realize is coming until a few days before they’re due - and...

And as the month's charts and solicitations roll out, here's ICv2's analysis for August. It is an unsettled time in the universe with some things slipping and others gaining. Both Secret Wars and...