By Filip Sablik
This week is yet another busy one here at TC HQ, so rather than one long form entry I thought I’d jot down a few scattered thoughts. Particularly since I’m already a week behind my normal Blog@Newsarama schedule.
Topic 1: I had an interesting conversation recently where the conversation of what the correct price point for digital comics is. Should it be the same as the printed comic so as to not disadvantage brick and mortar comic retailers? Follow the iTunes model of 99¢ per issue? Or is it free? The person I was having the conversation with made a very compelling argument for the 99¢ price point citing research, which indicates that 99¢ is the threshold of what most people consider “not real money”. In other words, at under a dollar most people don’t even think about it as a buying decision, it’s just an impulse. In the end on a store like iTunes they may spend $5-6 in less than $1 increments. Conversely if you gave them the same items grouped together at $5 you’d have fewer people purchase it. Interesting stuff! Personally I suspect the only correct price point for the internet is FREE. The real question for most publishers is how to effectively monetize what we do while giving away our bread and butter for free. That and how to do it without hurting our retail partners in the direct market.
Topic 2: Free Comic Book Day is looming. Or at least looming for us on the publishing side as we scramble to put together our books in time to make the printer cutoff. I’m incredibly proud of the book we’ve put together though – Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer First Look by Mark Waid and Kenneth Rocafort. Waid turned in a script which reads like a text book on how to properly structure a crossover event between two teams and still make it feel unique and new. Rocafort’s art is nothing short of stunning. And colorist Sunny Gho of IFS is adding all sorts of depth and richness to Rocafort’s lines. But what gets me most excited about this project (1st issue in stores in July) is the story BEHIND the story. On the surface it’s going to have many of the elements of a classic team up book, but in the end that’s not what this book is about. It’s about the fear and distrust we all feel right now towards the government and big business. It’s about how technology has become not just an integral part of our lives, but a literal part of us. Scary, scary stuff, folks.
Topic 3: I attended the Annual ComicsPRO Meeting this past weekend and had a blast. ComicsPRO is a group of retailers in the direct market who have banded together to promote professionalism and standards of practice in the comic industry. They also happen to be some of the best and brightest retailers in the country. In addition to running rampant through Beale Street in Memphis, rickrollin’ a karaoke bar with Derrick & The Cheeks, sippin’ 12 year old single malt Scotch over comic talk, eating some darn fine BBQ and listening to Image’s Joe Keatinge panic at the thought of someone spoiling the Battlestar Galactica finale for him; I also had an opportunity to discuss our big retailer friendly promotions, hear about major issues affecting retailers today, and tour the new Diamond warehouse in Olive Branch. It was a tremendously valuable weekend and I wholeheartedly encourage any retailer considering membership in ComicsPRO to give it a serious look.
Topic 4: As many may have heard through the Twitter grapevine, Vikings, the new Image Comics by Ivan Brandon and Nic Klein will be the new buzz book. Having held a physical copy in my hands at ComicsPRO I can attest it is a darn cool looking comic. Get in early so you can be one of those cool kids who jump on early. DC’s announced Wednesday Comics sounds pretty frickin’ cool too.
Topic 5: I have a man crush on Nathan Fillion and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I fell in love with the guy on Buffy and Firefly and I will watch anything he is in. I even watched Waitress and Drive. That being said, he is fantastic in Castle. The show is formulaic and a bit predictable, but Fillion is so charming and convincing you just don’t care. Or at least I don’t.
Topic 6: My wife was out of town for two weeks back to back for business. It was bachelor time for me. I was footloose and fancy free. No curfew, no responsibilities, and no romantic comedies. So what did I do with my freedom? I worked a lot. It’s sad in a way, because given the opportunity to do anything I wanted, I chose to work extra hours*. Which I guess means I really love what I do. Hopefully you see the love in our recent books like Witchblade #125, The Darkness #76, and the previously mentioned Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer First Look.
I think I’ve rambled for quite long enough, don’t you? Let me know what you thought of this format. Do you like the random tidbits of mental Tourette’s Syndrome? Or do you prefer a more thought out entry? Let me know.
Take care,
Filip Sablik
Publisher Guy
Filip Sablik is the Publisher of Top Cow Productions, Inc. He’s been in the business for eight years and just officially entered his thirties. Occasionally, he does a bit of writing and drawing. He loves comics. Top Cow Productions, Inc. was founded by Marc Silvestri, co-founder of Image Comics. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades.
*Admittedly, I did turn on the X-Box 360 once to play a bit of Bioshock. That’s right, I still haven’t beaten Bioshock. I know, I know, it’s sad.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:17 am
As someone who already digitally distributes his comic books for free online, I totally agree with your assessment about the future of online comics being free.
The ad revenue model for sites like ComicsXP or Wowio (where my books are) isn’t very lucrative but any time you can keep a consumer from opening up their wallet, you’re giving the industry breathing room to grow, especially in this day and age where people don’t view digital anything (books, movies, music, etc.) as “real” and refuse to pay for things that aren’t “real” (tangible).
Finding a perfect model that works IS problematic but, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
I think Marvel’s got a pretty good thing going for them right now, barring the clunky browser-based viewer that’s keeping a lot of people (myself included) from signing up. I don’t care if I can download the book or not, I just want to be able to read it and, with the Internet being practically everywhere now, I’m not worried about being denied access to it. Lose that reader — maybe substitute it for the way Wowio presents pages — and I think Marvel could clean up.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Your “retail partners” are going to feel pain no matter how this shakes out, i think.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hi Filip,
Really enjoyed the article. May I ask 2 questions? (3, including this one.)
1. Is the FCBD issue related to the Fusion minseries in any way?
2. Looks like Cyblade #4 is up next week. Is that a final issue, or is there more to come?
Cheers,
B
March 25th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
@Brian:
1) Fusion will act as a lead-in to Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer. Fusion #3 will ship at the beginning of July and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 will ship at the end of July (Comic-Con time!). The FCBD First Look will give you an advanced look at Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1.
2) For the time being Cyblade #4 will be it for that series. It completes the first story arc and should give fans a satisfying conclusion. We may revisit the series down the line, but unfortunately the market support just isn’t there for the series right now. You can read more Cyblade in Fusion and Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer though!
@eaglesfillthesky: I actually disagree. I think the customers coming in to LCS currently are the diehard fans rather than casual customers. The vast majority of them will want to continue buying physical copies of comics, because it is about the physical act of reading and buying and collecting. The internet does open up the possibility of capturing new casual fans and hopefully if we do things right turning them into semi-regular trade paperback buyers.
Filip Sablik
Publisher, Top Cow Productions
Read a free issue of Witchblade at http://www.topcow.com/witchblade
March 25th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I think Warren Ellis is going the right way with Freak Angels. He gives us 6 pages free almost every week. Then it is collected it into a trade. I already own Vol 1 and have Vol 2 on order, even thou I have already read everything online for free. Also he offers Freak Angels product on his own site. And here is the big one, no advertisement on his site to read his comic for free.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:26 am
On the topic of prices for digital comics, I think a combination of free previews, 1$ downloads (downloads, not just view them like Marvel) and a monthly fee would be good.
A monthly fee would appeal to those that enjoy reading them on their computer screens or other devices and 1$ comics would be good for people who want to sample the work.
I only buy TPB/HC, mostly non superheroes, and I cannot say how many times I have downloaded the first 2-3 issues of a comic out of a hosting site to then buy the TPB/HC off Amazon.
For me, I just want a big preview of the work to make up my mind, I dont buy monthlies since many years, but it always baffles me when a see an OGN or a TPB listed with 5-6 pages preview !
Really, publishers expect me to make a decision based on such a tiny fraction of the work ? It happens but rarely. If the TPB is 150 pages, why not put a 10-12 pages preview instead of 5-6 ?
Another aspect of downloads that I like for me is this:
When I download a comic and decide that it is not for me and that I wont buy the TPB (or continue to download it for that matter) I will keep giving the writer or artist a look when they come out with projects.
Its less likely when I buy something that I dont like and that I feel burned about it.
I know the fact that I download comics to get a better preview does not make it “right” in the eyes of some, I know some people will only download them and not buy any, wether they like it or not, but often this aspect of sampling the work translating in sales is not talked about.
Take care