True, but they are more some sort of ‘extra’ to justify the 3,99.
If they would remove this, it would still be 3,99 im sure of it.
So just be happy at least we got more pages for 3,99.
That being said, im pleased to hear Marvel is dropping prices, I was very strickt on everything..
3,99 for 32 pages? No way…. the only one im buying now is Uncanny X-men…. keep it at 2,99 people!!

Marvel’s policy of pricing most number one issues at $3.99 also has to go. Most of the time you are getting a 22 page story with reprints to pad it out. Because of this I have stopped trying new titles unless it’s something I am extremely interested in. The fact is that unless a new title is related to the Avengers or the X-Men it is very likely that it will be canceled after the first arc. Marvel need to look at why people aren’t trying new series’ and I have to believe $3.99 number one issues is a big reason. Seems to me that it would make a great deal of sense to price number one issues cheaper ($2.50 or $1.99) to give people an incentive to try them.

But let’s take this further – why not have the Budget version published in B&W on the cheapest possible newsprint available and priced at 75c? I know many fans would like to follow characters but the high prices stops them doing this so either you just read up what happened online (not satisfying) or you drift into pirated downloads.

As for the Collector versions let’s really think out of the box. How about Marvel & DC make available the digital files for their comics to Comic bookstores who then publish it in store on quality printers. Modern printers can also staple or bind the comic when done. The price would then be split between the store owner and the publisher – much like iTune purchases. You could even expand it for independents and pay the creators direct!
So you walk in order your comic (or even pre-order by email) and the store has it ready for you.
This way only a comic which is paid for will ever be printed, just think of how much waste would be cut out. No more trees being cut down for comic paper. No more returns of unwanted unsold comics. No more storage problems for stores.

Surely in the eco-conscious age we’re living in, anything to reduce consumption of scarce resources is a good thing.

But, you know what? It’ll never happen – cos it’s too bloody practical!

13 issues a year? Ridiculous! Who is making these decisions?

The rest i will buy i trade and thats only for the Marvel and some Image books. I just dont care if Dc make there books even 1.99 no way am i touching that crap universe ever again.

I mean, sure there are those that actually want to read them, so why not:
1) Put them in it’s own comic book, at a much lower price or
2) Put all hard to sell titles and back ups, through the digital form only – save production costs etc. right there!

I mean really, how stupid does Marvel think it’s customer base is? (Well, I still buy the $3.99 titles, so that’s an indication hahaha) Tell us the truth, nonetheless!

I’d be buying many more titles if they were at $2.99.

Heck, here’s a thought… get rid of the glossy pages, useless back stories, and bring the price down to $2.50! You might not get the profit margin on each comic straight up like you’re doing now, but I’m sure you’d be able to make it up in volume. I guess that’s what they always seem to forget; volume can make up for lower profit margins.

And as for the books $3.99 and up: why don’t they do different versions of books. In other words, have a standard version without the back-up stories for the regular price, and for those who want them, a deluxe version for a dollar more. I remember Marvel doing this back in the ’90s, but instead of extra content, it was different grades of paper (kind of miss that, actually). As comic buyers, we need value for our money!

The “Oral History of the Avengers” is the second-best thing to come out of the latest AVENGERS relaunch. (First obv. is JRJR drawing the stuff he’s been getting to draw.)

I absolutely love Bendis’ take on the history, and the format. Just wish it was much longer, and looking forward to reading it long-form, all in one go. In the meantime, when I’ve been on the fence about one of Bendy’s Avengers books, the “Oral History” puts it on the buy pile every time.

Kill the 10 pages of black and white “oral history” at the back. You could put that junk on a Web site, fer cryin out lout.

Set your watched for May Previews folks!