DC Comics is making an effort to reach out to a new audience with their upcoming Minx line. Publishers such as DC, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics have reached out to libraries, as have many of the smaller, indie presses and the manga publishers. Marvel has not done so, and has repeatedly ignored communications from many of us in the library profession who have been begging them to help us. We in the library profession have been doing exactly what Mr. Robinson has asked. Almost every major library professional journal now includes reviews of graphic novels – I write for two of them. I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years. And now, it’s my main job.

Oh yeah. I’ve been a comics reader for more than 40 years, guys. And I’m a woman. I started when I was 6.

But it’s his attitude in making that call that doesn’t make him very sympathetic. The whole “we demand” thing, makes it seem like readers are to blame for the state of the comics industry.

Stuff like “In short, supporting yourself – not the medium as a whole.” comes off as whiny. And what does it mean, exactly? How many titles a month does one have to buy to “support the medium as a whole”?

Or stuff like “I’m not advocating you purchase everything in the store – nobody is that rich, nor have the time to read it.” make me thing: what is he advocating? Is he asking readers to buy comics that they don’t think are good or that they’re not interested in?

If he doesn’t feel the comics companies’ marketing departments are doing enough, why don’t write to his Editor in Chief, instead of “demanding” for readers to do their job.

Even though I like the mainstream DC stuff right now, I was still on the mailing list for review copies. They never acknowledged the initial request to stop sending , then it took several gos to stop the stuff. What they sent was mostly stuff I could not give comment on given the safe way I am trying to continue my hobby without getting attacked by very conservative church memebrs again. These were things like, The Boys, Deadman, American Virgin TPB, Fables 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Trials of Shazam, etc. I cannot promote this type of stuff to readily. I like some Top Cow stuff, but give it to the next generation, can’t.

I agree that breaking the strangle hold of Diamond would help. I think it would be profitable to produce more 8-15 age appropriate books, and get the money on the other end of the age group if they grow up reading.

People slam CrossGen, and the business greed was messed up. BUT, the idea of getting the books in the schools as a reading help was a great idea. I could give many of the CrossGen titles away as gifts or suggested reads to all ages.

It is not my duty to save the industry again, I helped Marvel during the bad times, but that ship has sailed. I will promote what and who I want, when I want.

So There!

Because Seth Cohen said it on The O.C. this one time. And he reads comics and still manages to get his naughty bits fondled by attractive women. Ergo, talking like him will make the person in question “teh kewlness.” Or something.

I can’t think of a better way to clearly state what my comic needs are. Well done, Matt.

The problem I have regarding my “job” as a comic book fan/shill is finding people who are willing to make time to read. Time, my friends, is the most scarce commodity. I have a wife and 2 year old son, a job, I play hockey, I have a Netflix subscription, I have DVRed myself into oblivion, plus non-picture books, albums (yes I’m old..er than you), beer, sports, chores, blahda blahda…

So much media, so little time. I’m two weeks behind on my weekly comic subs and I LOVE reading comics.

So if I’m not taking the time to take other peoples time to do my part “selling” comics, I guess I should be fired or something.

I am now officially sick of the whining about the “state of the biz/art/hobby”.

If that’s too much for you, stick to the big franchises or manga (where sereies do abruptly end, but less frequently).

In this particular case it could be because Jimmie Robinson’s main comic-of-the-moment is set in neither’s universe. He’s published by Image. (But it’s just a guess, he IS doing a Wolverine one-shot for Marvel)

From the column: “How much money you spend doesn’t fulfill your support of the medium”

Oh man, yes it does. Anything more from fans should be appreciated bonus, not something to be demanded instead of requested.

I think Jimmie is right, by the way. If you like it, let the world know. Of course I think like that, though. I’ve been writing a column for nearly ten years. Maybe his wording was a bit too demanding, but it’s a nifty idea, no matter when it’s being said. I’m happy that the comics industry is small enough that “word of mouth” still has the potential to work. I like that familiarity and that “coziness,” if you will. I think we should all exploit it more.

And I like BOMB QUEEN, too!

If what I generally like is even more traditional/conservative than what Marvel (not so much DC) is giving me now, then why am I going to outside? How is that going to help me get what I want?

If anything, a broad, diverse industry where people can do a lot of creator owned work is completely against my enlightened self interest.

What I want are well written serialized comics that exist in a huge shared universe, and more to the point, ones which are superhero/sci fi/fantasy/ADVENTURE, with the occasional slice of life.

If I can choose between that and slightly better written to just as well written things that exist out of those shared universes, I’ll pick the shared universe every time.

So as much of a jerk as this makes me, I want a lot of the smaller comics not to be completely successful so that the best creators are forced to go to the Big 2 and do their thing. Granted, it’ll also mean that some great creators end up in other fields or never making it, but the ones who I want writing my comics are people who really, truly love what they’re writing, and that want to be in the comics field so badly that they refuse to give up and do anything else.

I’ll read a Grant Morrison or Kurt Busiek superhero comic over a Warren Ellis or Grant Ennis one anyday because I can see love instead of disdain. Just saying.

Oddly enough, having read and sort of enjoyed Bomb Queen, that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t glad to see Robinson on a Marvel title, and I hope he gets more gigs there. That’s what I want after all.

If they just don’t know any of the other stuff out there, sure, encourage them. But if they know what they like and just stick with that, then let them.

I keep reading because I’m always hoping they’ll get better (and sometimes they do), because crappy comics are better than no comics, and because I already payed for the damn things and I’m going to damn well read them if it kills me.