While we posted earlier that comic book movies dominated video sales this week, this growth might not last if the economy doesn’t stabilize. Comics have grown as a genre partially due to their acceptance in the media sphere — yet when Iron Man backers Paramount has cut 100 employees, according to Variety, it hurts the chances of major outlets to experiment with lesser-known properties like a Cloak & Dagger or an Iron Fist.
Yet the doom-and-gloom does not stop there, as Variety also notes of massive cuts in the book publishing industry, including publishers Bantam Dell and Simon & Schuster. Even Borders has been reeling — which is a bad sign, since the massive book chains have been instumental in evangelizing for graphic novels. Indeed, one exec noted that it is so bad “our world needs a message of inspiration now more than ever.”
Amen to that, brother. Because if these publishers go — how long will comics last?
[Via Variety.]
December 4th, 2008 at 1:37 am
oh no Chicken Little, watch your head!
December 4th, 2008 at 6:01 am
In general, this recession is just horrible, but if it means no chance of a Cloak and Dagger movie, I wouldn’t mind keeping it around for a little while longer.
December 4th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Massive job cuts, and hearing news of doom & gloom for companies like Borders is pretty scary stuff, but in the grand scheme of things I’m not all that concerned about the loss of a few comic book movies. There’s too many anyhow. For every Batman Begins/TDK, there’s a Fantastic Four. As for the comics industry itself, it needs to adapt to modern technologies, control prices better, and publish books WORTH READING. That’s especially true of The Big Two.
But really, it’s job losses in the U.S. that’s the problem. Not worrying about funny books or movies based on them.
January 17th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Dude this blog rules i cant believe i finally found what i was looking for, thanks bro.