Haunted Fire Studio :: Benjamin Hall :: Illustrator and Comic Book Artist

You know as well as I do that comics retailing, even at its best, is a business model like no other. If it's the chain I suspect you're talking about, you also know that (A) any book with the word "XXX" in the title was going to be ordered in tiny amounts, if at all; (B) the individual store location probably had no say whatsoever in how many copies they received; and (C) the clerk likely has to shrug his shoulders and blame the customer dozens of times a day for his store's, and his chain's, shortcomings.

It's bizarre how programmed we, as long-time comics buyers, have become to the "get there as soon as they open" idea. I'm so hardwired now that the thought of someone touching my books before I can purchase them makes me throw up in my mouth a little. How fucked up is that?

It takes a damaged mentality to participate in comics at any level, from the creators to the retailers to the fans. I say this as all three, to someone who is (or has been) all three. If I were Robin Williams and you were Will Hunting, I'd be hugging you in my uncomfortably hirsute arms and repeating "It's not your fault, it's not your fault" until you punched me.

On the practical side of things, I am more than happy to bring you a copy of Crawl Space this weekend. Lemme know if you still need it.
 

HAHA. I actually was not trying to blame the store or chain as much as I was trying to make a point about comics culture. I went to another location in the chain where they were actually helpful, and told me they'd save me a copy if they ever got another one.

And yes, if Austin is plentiful with XXXombies than buy all means bring me one!!!!!! Thank you Mr. Williams
 

I think the store owners are just in a tough spot- They would gladly order more books if they thought they any hope of selling them. Comic books are non-returnable (unlike books) so when they dont sell the comics just go into a bin and sit there for the life of the shop. They order small numbers cause theyd rather disapoint a custumer or two rather than be out the cost of the book.

The problem is more with the comicbook industry in general. rather than a bad buisness model for comic shops. The direct sales market works great if there are actually people buying from comic shops. when I was kid the shops were always crowded with other kidsbuying comics. Now every time I go into a shop its either deserted, or theres one other middle age guy like me looking around. Im surprised theres any shop owners still around, given the sparsness of the business.
 

I totally agree, the store owners have a raw deal. Although back issues are normally a plus. When I was running a shop, if we had 4 issues of a comic, our goal was to sell 3 and keep one for the bin, for that customer that missed it the first time... we could also charge a little more if it was a back issue.

-Unless it was a back issue of a comic nobody wanted. There's the clincher. That's why store's don't order high numbers (or at all) of indies, because they don't want to take the chance they wont sell it at all.

But you are absolutely correct about non-returnability. I think making indies returnable would allow stores to order more liberally and the burden of the book doing well would be on the creators rather than the stores.

There are actually many reasons comics are not doing better. From the stores, to the system, to the content. My main beef this week was with a new facet, that I had yet to really think about. The fact that due to the way the store or the system is set up, I can't walk into a store with money in hand and order a comic that I missed that week.

Comics!