Mighty Cast Episode 6: Wizard World St. Louis & More

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Mighty Cast Episode 6: Wizard World St. Louis

Well folks, Wizard World St. Louis just went down, find out how the show went, who was there, and what kind of deals were had.  Set up began on Friday, March 22^nd and the first day was a terrific success for the show.  Over 40,000 people ended up attending, and they were treated to amazing guests like Jason Frank, the green ranger, Draco Malfoy, and even The Man, Stan Lee, Friday.

The biggest surprise of the show had to be the low number of comic book dealers.  For an initial show, the high cost of setting up seemed to keep many dealers away, and most of the dealers that were there focused mainly on high end items. A few good deals were found though, and the crowd stayed steady through Saturday.

Sunday however brought a freak blizzard, which not only killed the show atmosphere but made getting home for out of towners downright dangerous.

The Mighty Con Freek’n Weekend is just around the corner, with over 80 tables featuring dozens upon dozens of comic and toy vendors, artists, publishers, and more.  All for free, free admission, free parking, free everything.  Don’t miss this show, April 13^th and 14^th in Palatine, IL.

A multitude of trailers have premiered recently, including The Wolverine, Kick Ass 2, and World War Z, so get the Mighty Casts take on those.

Finally for media is a quick plug for Best Ink Season 2, Wednesdays on Oxygen, and the good friend of Mighty Con’s Tyler Schwarz.  Tune in to root for Tyler every week.

In comic news, we have a few big new releases, including Age of Ultron, which is Marvel’s next big company wide crossover.  The big news about this series involves the person who’s drawing the end of it and a new character that will be introduced to the Marvel universe, even though she (yes, she) has been around the comic world for years.

So sit back and listen to the latest Mighty Cast, as Bill and Paul run down the latest and greatest in the world of comic and comic culture.

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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Keeping An Eye On The Market: Why Overstreet Means Less

Overstreet Price Guide’s relevance is starting to slide.

At Detroit Fanfare a few weeks ago, I had a sadly typical interaction with a potential customer.  They were looking at a copy of Marvel Super Heroes #18, the first Guardians of the Galaxy appearance.  Well, after looking it over, he reached into his bag and pulled out his Overstreet Price Guide.  I rolled my eyes, knowing what was coming next, but waited it out as there were other customers to help.  Sure enough, after a minute, he said that the price was far too high and he’d maybe pay the sticker price if it was a 9.2, but that copy was closer to a 4.5.

Now, I casually pointed out that a 9.2 had just sold on EBay for $1,100 (the issue he was looking at was $100).  I tried explaining what had so drastically changed about the market since his price guide came out, but to no avail.  The price guide said it should be price X, and so that’s what it should be.

Yesterday, I had someone put in a low ball offer on an Iron Man 55, saying that the guide price was way lower than my price and that he didn’t want to pay more than $40 for a copy.  I pointed out that an incomplete copy with a detached cover had sold for more than $40 on EBay, and that the guide had come out before Thanos popped up in the end credit to Avengers, but he wasn’t to be swayed.

I understand.  Sometimes, if we’re told by someone with authority something that doesn’t seem quite right, we just want to follow along.  If the price guide says something should be a certain price, then that’s what it should be, right?  But the problem is that’s not how a market works.  The oldest, most rock solid law of a free market is supply and demand.  When it comes to comics, supply is a constant.  There are, right now, as many issues in the world of any given old collectible issue as there ever will be.  And in fact, as issues get damaged in a flood or lost or stepped on or whatnot, that number can even go down.  So it’s demand that matters.  And when demand can change in a heartbeat, printed price guides tend to lose much of their meaning.

When Did Overstreet Go Under?

Back in the pre-movie, pre-internet days of collecting, a price guide was perfect. Once a year, you could grab a thick volume of every comic you could think of, with prices printed out for every one collected by professionals from a variety of sources.  There wasn’t too much to augment demand, so things stayed pretty steady.

But now, things are different.  All it takes is a casting rumor, or a corporate buy out, or a bit of leaked test footage and the demand for certain issues sky rockets.  I understand that you may have liked Thanos before he was announced as the big Phase 2 villain, and you may have been procrastinating on getting an Iron Man 55 till now, but guess what.  You’re too late.  Because now everyone is interested in him, and everyone wants that issue, and if you still want to have one then you’ll have to pony up the dough.

The moment Kevin Feige got an IMDB page to show upcoming projects, all bets were off.  You may have noticed that I mentioned EBay twice already in this article, and there’s a reason.  When it comes to knowing the market, that’s one of the best places you can start.  Take a look at completed auctions and see what something’s been selling for.  Learn where demand is at.  Know before you talk to someone what you can reasonably get a certain issue for, and also know how much you’re really willing to pay.  At the end of the day, that’s the best way to get a good deal and show that you know what you’re talking about.

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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Top Ten Next Big Comic Movie Characters & Stars

The Top Ten Next Big Comic Book Movies

Comic book movies are bigger than ever, but who will be the next big characters to get a film, and who will be the stars to play them? Rumors have been swirling around lately about Marvel/Disney’s plans for Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My favorite so far is that at some point in Avengers 2, the Hulk gets sent into space, setting up a Hulk sequel based on the “Planet Hulk” storyline, which would in turn set up Avengers 3 to be based on “World War Hulk”.

However, the big question lately has been; Which characters will show up in the movies leading up to Avengers 2? There have been some clear frontrunners lately, especially considering the fact that we know Thanos to be the villain for the sequel. The fact that the iconic Infinity Gauntlet can be seen in Asgard’s weapons vault (yes, its there. Blink and you’ll miss it) makes all us fanboys think back to the galactic story of the same name and the fact that almost every Marvel hero was a part of that classic battle against “The Mad Titan”.

So with all these rumors in mind, here are ten possibilities for characters to show up in the movies, whether they carry their own, or they’re one of the many Easter Eggs we’ll surely be treated to in the coming years.

I’ve given an actor and a director for each character. Keep in mind, its not just about who I think is best. Its also who is logical. Do you really expect to see someone like Scorsese or Eastwood or even Spielberg directing a Marvel movie? If you do, you should let go of that thought right about now.

On to the list:

Adam Warlock
How could they possibly use the Infinity Gauntlet as inspiration for a story without including the man who brought all the heroes together? Whether Adam Warlock shows up in Guardians of the Galaxy(he was a member of the team for a time) or they surprise us with his own movie, I can’t think of anyone better to play him than Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam. He’s not a stranger to the sci-fi realms, with a small part in “Children of Men” and the lead in Guilermo Del Toro’s summer blockbuster, “Pacific Rim”. He can pull off the quiet, stoic presence you would expect from a man who was able to expel all good and evil from his soul.
-Director: Alex Proyas (“The Crow”, “Dark City”, “I, Robot”)

Black Bolt
The Inhumans have become a mainstay of the galactic stories of the Marvel U, but really, do we care a whole ton about them aside from their king? Here’s the tricky part here. Most of the acting would all be in action and expression. Black Bolt only speaks when he wants to fight. A single whisper from his lips can level a building. But keep in mind, he’s the ruler of an alien society, so he needs presence. How about “Mad Men” vet, Jon Hamm? He’s got the presence to be intimidating just by looking at you and the acting chops to do it all without saying a word.
-Director: Joseph Kosinski – (“TRON: Legacy”, “Oblivion”)

Black Panther
I think this is the one I’ve heard people clamoring for the most. And I have to admit, I would love to see this. I became a fan of the Black Panther during Civil War and Secret Invasion, thanks to tremendous writing. The first face that came to mind (and I say face because I don’t think anyone, anywhere can pronounce his name) was Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje(The Bourne Identity, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra).
Yes, I am aware that he’s in Thor: The Dark World, but he’ll probably be in a lot of make up and will probably die. So, there’s that. Look at him and tell me you don’t see T’Challa! Plus, he’s fluent in Swahili and Yoruba.
-Director: Edward Zwick (“The Last Samurai”, “Blood Diamond”, “Glory”)

Captain Marvel(Mar-Vell)
Yet another character who comes up because of his history battling Thanos. Thanos even greeted him in the afterlife after he succumbed to cancer in one of the most memorable stories of super hero death ever. Like all heroes, he comes back. Unlike all those other heroes, it’s never permanent. Originally sent to spy on Earth, but quickly makes the decision to fight for us. Which of course puts him at odds with his homeworld. Patrick Wilson (“Watchmen”, “The A-Team”, “Prometheus”) has the charisma and presence to portray the alien warrior who becomes Earth’s protector, but also the range to show the conflict within himself.
-Director: Marc Forster – (“World War Z”, “Quantum of Solace”, “Monster’s Ball”)

Dr. Strange
Ok, true, this one has all but been confirmed. Patrick Dempsey has been saying for years now that he’d love to play Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts, but in the past couple months, Marvel movie head honcho, Kevin Feige (and by the way, its pronounced FYE-GEE) has made the announcement that it will happen. Its kind of hard to argue nowadays with putting Liam Neeson in anything. The man could star in My Little Pony and it would be a hit at the box office. But here, he’d simply be perfect. He MAY just be a little on the older side, but its not like Stephen Strange was a spring chicken. He was a world renowned surgeon before the mystic defender of Earth. And how awesome would it be to hear Liam Neeson say “By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth”?
-Director: Francis Lawrence (“Constantine”, “I Am Legend”)

Heroes For Hire
Luke Cage and Iron Fist
Yet, another movie with no official announcement, but a lot of chatter. I actually had a lot of trouble coming up with Luke Cage. It should be someone with the acting chops to pull off the role, the physicality to make you believe he can kick ass with his bare hands, but not someone so well known that you see the actor instead of Luke Cage. I think Billy Brown (“Lights Out”, “Dexter”, “Sons of Anarchy”) is a wonderful fit. As far as Iron Fist goes, rumors have been going around about it for over a decade now. Do you know why? Because EVERYONE knows Ray Park (“Star Wars Episode I”, “X-Men”, “G.I. Joe”) is the only choice for it!
-Director: Shane Black (“Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang”, “Iron Man 3”. He also wrote the original “Lethal Weapon”)

Ms. Marvel
She’s been a mainstay of the Avengers in the comics for a while now, but with her latest ongoing series Carol Danvers has been the beneficiary of some of the best writing in comics. And lets face it, there is a severe deficiency of female characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. And no, that is not a knock on ScarJo or Black Widow. Just a fact. We need more. Bryce Dallas Howard is easily one of the best young actresses going these days (“The Help”, “50/50”) and she has also already hit the sci-fi and the comic book scene (“Spider-Man 3”, “Terminator: Salvation).
-Director: Joss Whedon (“The Avengers”, “Serenity”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) – I know this one would be a long shot, but I can’t think of any director better at handling female heroes in a lead role.

Namor: The Sub-Mariner
I was hesitant to put this one on here. But lets face it, he’s Marvel’s very first hero (he appeared in Marvel Comics #1, way back when). He’s been an Avenger, an X-Man, he’s the king of Atlantis and a world class asshole. You never know if he’s going to help the other heroes of the Marvel U, or if he’s going to wage war against the surface world. But one thing’s for sure, he’s going to try to make every person he meets feel like absolute crap. It was hard figuring out a good actor for him, until I came across Karl Urban (“The Lord of the Rings: TT and ROTK”, “Dredd”, “Star Trek”). He can play the hero, but he’s also got the attitude to piss you off while he’s doing it.
-Director: Joseph Kosinski – (“TRON: Legacy”, “Oblivion”)
I really wanted to stay away from using the same director for any of these, but I truly think he’d do best with this one as well.

The Sentry
He’s relatively new to Marvel comics (1st appearing in 2000) and he’s already dead, but he made an impact. He’s one of the most powerful characters, but also one of the most complicated. His dual personality, self-doubt and agoraphobia will all be hard for an actor to convey while he’s also supposed to possess “power of one million exploding suns”. That’s why I had such a hard time deciding on this one. I’m going for the acting chops here. Yes, he’ll have to bulk up a bit, but who’s going to argue that Ryan Gosling could pull this off?
-Director: Matthew Vaughn – (“Kick-Ass”, “X-Men: First Class”)

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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Comic Book Values Market Watch: 2012 In Review

Well, 2012 is over, so what did it give us as far as comic book values?  We had some big ups and downs this year, mostly ups actually, and saw some interesting trends starting to form.  We saw how quickly the collectors industry can change, and just how fast we’ll have to be to the buzzer in the future.

The good

                Comic book movies are huge.  Like really huge.  Like Avengers made more money in theaters alone than the gross national product of some small countries.  And, with that massive popularity comes massive demand for source material.  So much so, that origin and key books in the last year absolutely skyrocketed in value based off even just rumors.  When Thanos was slated to appear in a post credit scene in Avengers, Iron Man #55 saw nearly a 500-1000% increase in value.  Marvel Premiere #47, the first new Ant-Man, always had a solid guide price but a rather lukewarm market demand. Once Ant-Man was officially declared an upcoming project, that demand went nuts, making that issue go for over double the previously respectable guide price.  What this really means is that 2012 was the first year where we really saw that printed guides, like the venerable Overstreet, are no longer the carved in stone bibles they once were (if you ever did consider them to be that reliable, that is).  The market showed that it can go nuts based off a simple tweet from a producer, making the guide that was printed on Tuesday worthless by Wednesday.  For investors, this is great news as what this really means in the end is that new people are flocking to the hobby in droves, and we could be seeing a trend that lasts for years.

The Bad

                Variants were huge this year.  Like really huge.  Like single issues coming out with 5 different variants of different rarities, and issues that had no real importance getting limited edition variants.  Look, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  This isn’t a good thing.  These issues will not hold their value.  Seriously, go on Ebay and look up Civil War variants. Remember when those were going for a ton?  Or even look up the AvX variants, which came out last year.  Huge huge demand right when they launched, which has tapered out into the issues being thrown in as incentives for real purchases.  The real reason this is a problem is that it artificially inflates the sales numbers for certain issues, making those issues get printed in way higher quantities, meaning that a few years from now none of them are worth anything.  Releasing 5 different variants for a single issue isn’t encouraging people to get into collecting, it’s punishing those who are foolish enough to buy that $100 variant right when it comes out or even the “key” issue it’s based on hoping that it will go up in value.  Did X-Men #1 teach us nothing?  Sigh, look, if you have an artist on staff who can draw a really amazing cover for an issue, then just release that cover, okay?  Stop making us jump through hoops.  Or at least bring back holograms.  I liked holograms.

The meh

                2012 Also saw the big relaunches.  With the New 52 in full swing and Marvel NOW getting launched, this was as good a time as ever for new fans to into the hobby.  Now, the real issue is seeing how these relaunches are handled.  We all remember Crisis and what happened afterwards.  Sure, re-launching is a good idea every now and then, since after a while you just need a refresher.  But will these titles get the editorial oversight needed to make sure everything stays nice and consistent, or will we fall back into the old continuity holes that got us all annoyed before?  2013 will tell!

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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Geek Gift Guide: A New Perspective

The holidays are upon us!  And the Mighty Con Geek Gift Guide is here to help you out. It’s time to buy gifts for the geek in your life, and that means you’re probably at a bit of a loss.  You see, geeks tend to be a bit tough to shop for.  Let’s take a quick look at why, and offer some very simple advice as to what you can do about it.

Why Geeks Are Hard To Buy For

                Geeks tend to be a fairly logical breed.  Not always mind you, and their passions of certain things can take them down illogical roads, but at the end of the day they tend to have a very straightforward predictable nature.  That means that if there’s something essential that their life is lacking, they get it.  They don’t wait and hope that it arrives as a gift, or just suffer without.  The geek in your life is probably an Amazon prime member and has his credit card info saved in every site that offers one click checkout on the web.  Their electric toothbrush is broken?  New one on the way.  Too many devices in their entertainment center?  The new universal remote will be here Tuesday.  The combination of logic, strong problem solving skills, and a slight impulse control problem that make up geeks everywhere mean that searching for the right item for the one in your life is going to be tough.

Now, you’re going to find a lot of guides out there recommending this product or that, hawking items that you had never heard of till clicking on that site.  We’re not going to do that.  No, it isn’t about some higher standard of practices or anything.  We’d sell our souls to Mephisto for a whole lot less than making the world forget our secret identity.  No, we’re just a bit lazy, and besides, you can shop yourself.  We are here, however, to tell you how to shop.

Buy. Something. Useless.

                Look, the geek in your life has everything useful thing he wants or needs.  The things he doesn’t have that are useful he probably doesn’t have for a reason, namely that they’re probably way too expensive which means you can’t afford them either.  But, geeks love trophies.  I mean really love them.  Who do you think video game achievements were invented for?  They serve no actual purpose, but any true video game geek is so proud of his long list of achievements that he’s ready to burst.  So try this out if you’re stumped for what to get a geek.  Go out to your local comic book show.  Now, find what you, as a normal functioning member of society, deem to be the most useless thing there.  That.  That is what you get for them.

It’s probably going to be a statue of some kind.  And it’s probably going to be big.  Because small statues are easy to store and display, which is why normal people love them.  So forget that.  If you were actually able to find your geek a life size Silver Surfer statue, something that any normal person would look at as a complete burden on their lives, said geek would likely spontaneously combust in gratitude.  Seriously, it’s that easy.  So stop trying to find some gadget that you think will improve their quality of life, and just make them happy.  You’ll save yourself tons of time and hassle, and in the end you will now be declared the coolest person on the planet.

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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How To Save The Comic Book Industry Part 2: Diamond Comic Distributors

The Comics You Buy All Start Here Diamond Comic Distributors

For those of you who don’t now, comic books will typically come to your local shop through a distributor called Diamond Comic

 Distributors.  Now there may be some smaller, independent titles that come right from that publisher, but at the end of the day, odds are the book you just bought came in a box marked Diamond Distribution.  These are the people with their fingers firmly on the pulse of the comic book world, and it’s here at the top that there is the biggest opportunity to change.

Now I should start by saying that, at the core of what they do, Diamond Comic Distributors is doing a good job.  The comics you go to your local shop to by arrive on time, in good condition, and the shop owners can continue their business (well, to an extent.  See part 1 for more on that).  But, in an age where a new comic book movie is coming out every few months and Saturday morning TV is flooded with characters that kids should be running down to their local shop to get more info on, why isn’t Diamond doing more to grow their business?

What Can A Distributor Do To Grow?

The very best example of this is anecdotal, but at least it’s first hand.  It was some time ago, at C2E2 in Chicago I believe (great show by the way, get more info here if you’ve never been).  I walked up to the Diamond booth, introduced myself to the first person there who acknowledged me, and mentioned that I was interested in setting up an account with them.  Now, at this point most companies would have a few guys fighting over who gets to put their name down on the new signup sheet, since even if you don’t work on commission, you at least want to look good for your annual review.  But, the guy I spoke to reached under a display, grabbed some sheets out of a box, and simply said “fill these out and mail them in”.  He smiled and was polite about it, but then turned away, as our time for interaction was done.

I stopped back later, as quite honestly I was hoping for a bit of an expedited process (frankly I would have been ready to place my first order then and there if they had been able to sign me up), but the next person I talked to gave me roughly the same, this time adding that I could call or email them if I had any questions.

So What’s Wrong With Just Not Being Super Helpful

Look, this isn’t a horrible thing.  These guys were not rude or arrogant or stand offish.  They just weren’t willing to go that extra mile.  And in a business that’s still somewhat recovering from almost dying off 10 years ago, that extra mile should no longer be considered “extra”.  I lost count long ago of the number of comic shows I’ve worked, but big or small one thing I have never seen was a rep from Diamond going from booth to booth trying to sign people up.  I certainly get approached enough by people asking “do you have new comics?” to know that the market at these shows is there.

This is an industry built on the backs of people who don’t really know much about business, but just love super heroes, so certain concessions have to be made.  But the industry won’t grow itself.  The organizations at the top, the ones who actually send out these comics that we rush out every week to buy, need to start being proactive instead of reactive.  Diamond Comic Distributors not actively being bad right now, but just not being bad isn’t good enough.  In fact, just being good isn’t good enough.  It’s time to be great guys.  It’s time to shine like the Diamond you’re named after.

For Part 1 Of This Series, Click Here

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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How To Save The Comic Industry

Don’t Let This Happen To the Comic Industry

Before we start, let much just say that the comic industry doesn’t necessarily need saving.  Not right now, not right this second.  The industry is doing well, people are buying issues and seeing the movies and playing with the toys.  Just like they did in the early 90s.  And we all remember how that ended, don’t we?  So what can we do to help?  How can we make sure that stockholders don’t receive the same bankruptcy notice that I remember getting in the 90s when my Marvel stock suddenly began to tank?  It’s going to take more than just a single article to really get into this, but we’ve got to start somewhere, so let’s start right at the bottom.

The bottom of the funnel, that is.  Like every other industry, comic book sales follow a funnel.  At the top it’s very wide, which consumer awareness coming from a variety of sources.  Maybe you saw Avengers in the theater, maybe you saw a cool toy at Wal-Mart, maybe you overheard a conversation that sounded interesting on the bus, or saw a poster in a store window, or saw an ad online, or saw….you get the idea.  This stage is important, and we’ll get to it later, but let’s keep moving down.

The next stage in the funnel is a bit narrower. You take whatever it was that piqued your interest and you move forward with it.  Let’s say it was seeing the Avengers in the theater, since judging by the box office take it seems like everyone in the world saw it.  So, after you left the theater you decided to go home and look up the Avengers online.  You just enjoyed it so much, you want a little more, somehow.  Well, odds are the next stage is something along the lines of seeing some Avengers related material in Netflix, so you turn on your 360, kick back on your couch, and watch some more of this new interesting team you’re discovering.

Now from here on out you keep moving down the funnel, your interest growing till the point where you finally hit that end mark.  You walk into a comic shop.  For some people the funnel hits that point right after they saw Avengers in the theater.  For some, it’s after watching everything Netflix has to offer, reading wiki articles, playing video games they borrowed from their friends, and talking to people about how to get more out of these characters.  But one way or another, you’re now in the comic shop.  And here’s where the industry needs the most help.

How the comic industry and comic shops really work!

You see, your average comic shop owner is not a business person.  They don’t have an MBA, they didn’t develop a 10 year plan before opening their doors, and they certainly don’t take steps to insulate themselves against competition.  No, your average shop owner is a fan.  They’re just like you.  They love comics.  In fact, they loved them so much, and collected so many, that they opened a shop.  They’re passionate and interested and they have favorite heroes and villains and series.  And that, in many cases, is a problem.

You see, your tastes and theirs may not line up.  They may disagree with you.  Now, we’ve all heard the expression “the customer is always right”, and it’s cases like this where that phrase is important. Superman may be your favorite hero, but if the customer tells you they hate him, you need to know how to keep smiling, nod your head, say “I see your point” and then continue with the sale.  But that’s hard for a fan who feels like someone just walked into their private corner and blasphemed. I’ve seen many a comic shop owner get into such a heated argument with a customer over something trivial that they lost a sale, and lost the customer.  And if that customer was the new guy that just finally hit the bottom of the sales funnel after developing a new interest, then the comic industry has lost a fan.

And what’s more, many of these shop owners where just not meant to be the face of a business.  A lack of advertising and proper store setup can certainly kill a comic shop, but so can an unhappy face behind the counter.  One shop owner in my own area, who I’ve personally come to know well and is a genuinely nice guy, rarely smiles.  He just doesn’t, nor does he often joke around.  This may seem like a minor thing at first glance, but in the business world, when you have a position that involves direct customer interaction, your business lives or dies on a smile.  Disney’s motto isn’t “the most mildly satisfied place on Earth”.

So the bottom of the funnel is where it all begins, and for many people where it ends.  And if we’re going to keep the industry fresh and growing, that’s the first point that needs work.  In our next installment, we’ll talk a bit on what can be done there, as well as moving into other points of the industry that can make it or break it.  We’d love to get your input on this subject, since as you’ve probably started to pick up from this article it all starts and ends with you, so post a comment below to let us know your thoughts.

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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Why You Should Look Forward To The New Uncanny X-Force

The New Uncanny X-Force Is The Greatest Lineup Ever

Yeah, you heard me.  The new Uncanny X-Force that will be part of Marvel NOW.  It’s great.  It’s outstanding.  It has the potential to lead to some of the greatest storylines you’ve ever read, and you should rush to your local comic shop to put it on your pull list right now.

Seriously though, while most of the known universe saw the lineup and immediately exclaimed a word that rhymed with the name of its shortest member,   there’s some genuine potential in a lineup that otherwise would have “we know Wolverine” be it’s only selling point (looking at you Alpha Flight).  And what is that amazing potential?  No one cares.

No one cares about Storm.  Oh sure you’ve known her for a long time, you say you like the character, maybe you’ve even followed her storylines.  But if you have, you know that she’s one of the most inconsistent characters in the Marvel universe.  She’s a perennial gimmick of the week character, so much so that when Halle Berry played her in the X movies, we all just kinda said “close enough” because the character was ill-defined enough that Berry could just do whatever she wanted.

Psylocke has a minor following, but again is a character that’s perpetually cast into the background, to the point where writers have a lot of leeway with the character.  Need to change up something major?  Go ahead, there’s enough mystery to her that you can explain it away.

Spiral is a complete wild card, with enough vagueness that any writer can do pretty much anything they want.  Not only she at best a 2^nd tier character, but she’s had so little main title time that they can go any direction they want with her any comic fans everywhere will just shrug and go with it.

Which brings us to Puck.  Oh Puck, how little anyone cares.  Here’s a guy that’s made a career off of having a famous friend, and now he’s finally got a real chance in the spotlight.  This new series could literally re-write the character from the ground up, destroying every bit of canon around him, and I have yet to meet the person who will genuinely care. This guy right here, he’s the reason in a nutshell that this series will succeed.  Because it’s a group of characters who have established storylines, quirks, powers and so on.  But at the end of the day, a creative team can treat them like they’re making fan fiction and comic fans will be fine with it.  It’s all on you Puck.  This is your chance to make something of yourself, so don’t screw it up!

Here’s another piece about it on IGN:  http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/17/uncanny-x-force-relaunched

Bill A.

I’ve been a fan of comics since I first tuned in to the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings and got hooked as a kid. I started my business in 2010, Geek Inc Comics, and have been selling both online and at shows all over the Midwest since then. My heart belongs to Marvel, but I’ll happily discuss any series, any artist, any movie, any time.

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