Why Brian Hibbs pulled out of a group called ComicsPRO
2 Comments Published by Avi Green on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 8:28 PM.
San Francisco-based retailer Brian Hibbs wrote about the staggering fiasco that is now DC Entertainment, citing examples like the "Villain Month", which will get its own share of multiple variant covers in 3-D. He boldly makes a point by stating:
It's good to find a store manager who realizes how speculation ruined the market and writing. Just one more reason why comics have to abandon pamphlet format.
Let me be clear here: I loath speculators, I think that collecting comics for value alone is the work of both the moron and the devil, I think that multiple covers on single stories is purely a way to trick and exploit you the consumer, and to prey upon the lowest and basest instincts and compulsions of the customer base. I think it shows contempt for you.Agreed. Luckily, I've always known better than to buy multiple copies of the same issue with different covers. Now, Hibbs has left a group he co-founded called ComicsPRO because:
“The org that I formed was intended to look out for the little guy; the current Board seems much more interested in keeping the big guys big. Democracy in action, I suppose, so I vote with my dollars.”He did the right thing. The organization betrayed its original purpose, and there's no need to prop them up any longer.
It's good to find a store manager who realizes how speculation ruined the market and writing. Just one more reason why comics have to abandon pamphlet format.
Labels: bad editors, crossoverloading, dc comics, sales
Speculators usually end up getting burned. Today's market is a catch-22. Most buyers are collectors or investors who save their comics, as opposed to the 1960s and earlier, when kids would buy comics, read them once, and throw them away. Older comics fetch high prices because the supply is lower than the demand. With new comics (especially with variant editions) the situation is the exact opposite.
Just because speculation is the devil doesn't in any way, shape or form mean the market should abandon the periodical. Without the periodical, I can ASSURE YOU, there would be fewer opportunities for cartoonists, and certainly fewer stores and publishers.
To me, this is like saying, "TV shows shouldn't be serialized, just only released as boxed sets." Even if you PREFER "binging" on shows (and many do), it should be fairly obvious that the economics of production would work against 99% of shows.
-B