Once more, with feeling...

Hey Guys,

I know it's been a while. Sorry. I'm the kind of guy that only speaks when I have something to say.
Therefore...

As a comic fan, it's impossible not to be aware of the DC re-launch coming in Sept. But in case your rock doesn't have wi-fi... At the end of Flashpoint, the current big event running through all DC titles, every DC title will be cancelled. Then, beginning the last week of August and fully in September, DC will be releasing 52 titles, all bearing the #1 issue numbering. Including Action Comics, Detective Comics, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more. for an entire list and the company's "line" on the matter, click here.

Well, I have a few thoughts on this.

Remember when "52" ended and we were re-introduced to the Multi-verse? It was revealed that there were 52 alternate universes, or some such crap, but we only knew what was up with 38 of them.

Also, as we all know, Detective comics is coming up on it's 900th issue in about a year. There is no way DC Comics is going to let that pass without the rightfully due hooplah. Therefore, most likely we will see a return to original numbering sometime around then.

So, what if we are given these all-new 52 titles for about a year, only to find out at the end of that year, that we've been poking in on one of the unknown alternate realities, a la pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths? How many fanboy heads would explode then?

Another thought: DC also announced their new "Day and Date" release, (don't Day and Date mean the same thing?) where both the digital and printed copies of the comics will be released on the same day. Wouldn't it be interesting if, when we return to the "real" DC universe, that they keep the "alternate" universe comics going, but only release them in digital format... no print copies? (More fanboy brains splattered on the wall) That way, if they actually do bring in new, younger readers, these customers would probably have no problem just buying the digital comics. That's what they're used to. Buying music and games through a digital medium.

One last thought (sorry for the tome): Why are digital comics so expensive? I am a graphic designer by trade and I have published my own comics. I understand printing costs. If you aren't actually printing a comic book on paper, you are saving the cost of printing (paper, ink, plates etc.) and distribution. You are literally cutting out between a third to half of your costs. How is it necessary to charge the same amount of money for an intangible copy of a comic that I will have to wrestle with the concept of holding an expensive piece of technology to read while sitting on the toilet, as opposed to a paper copy that is light and easy to hold, even upside down while lying on the couch?

Digital comics, like digital music, should cost about a dollar. 99c is plenty for a 22 page digital comic. Seriously, some websites give them away free. Maybe $1.50, $1.99 AT THE MOST. But not full price. These freakin' price increases are killing this industry. $3 & $4 is too high a price for a digital file that I am most likely going to enjoy once, maybe twice. I can buy a song that I will listen to many, many times in a number of places for only a dollar. 

All this said, I didn't even address how the digital thing is going to kill the local comic shop.
That's a whole different rant.

These are my thoughts. What are yours? Email us at: ComicEx@gmail.com

And if you would like, please check out some of my work on my websites:
www.RickmanArt.com  and  www.RickmanGrafx.com
You'll see some of my comics at the bottom of the "Illustration" link on the second site.

Thanks for your indulgence,
-Rickman

Happy Krimble!

Hey Kids! Christmas! Weeeee!
So, did everyone get what they wanted? Hope so! If not, be sure to come by Comic Explosion January 7th from Noon to 8pm or the 8th from Noon to 6pm for our "Astounding Post-Holiday Sale!" Where everything (with a few exceptions) is 50% OFF! This includes Back issues, hard covers, trades, statues, toys, magazines and a whole lot more! So come on down, case the joint, and make off with your loot! Get what Santa forgot to bring on Christmas!

And while you're there, let us know what you think of the current state of the industry. The prices of Marvel and DC comics and the proposed reductions. Will they happen? Will it be enough? Will it change your buying habits?

Also, what do you think of the upcoming major events? Spidey's new costume! The impending death of Ultimate Spider-Man and a member of the Fantastic Four! The new direction for Wonder Woman! Batman's new incorporation! Or maybe you have something else on you mind. Let us know. Drop us an email at: ComicEx@Gmail.com, or post something here on the blog, or even come into the stop and say hello.

By the way, comics WILL ship on Wednesday this and next week! Being that the Holidays are falling on Saturdays, they are not affecting the shipping schedule! So we get our comics on our regular day! Yay!

Take care,
-Rickman

P.S: So far, I still haven't heard ANYTHING from Scott indicating that he knows he even has a blog. I wonder how long this will go on.

The MARVEL Menace!

Hey kids! So last blog I mentioned that I was a bit out of sorts because of the price of comics today. Hey, I'm not that old, but I remember when I would get a dollar from my Mom and go into the corner store to buy 5 comics. That's right.. 5! (Math: 20¢ each) I even remember the day I was incredibly disappointed when I could only get 4! Today, if a kid actually ventured into a comic shop, he could only get 2 comics if his folks gave him $10!! This is obscene! It's impossible to think that this industry can withstand the failing economy and the absurdly rising cost of 28 color pages. Maybe 15 to 30 minutes of entertainment.

Last month at the NYC Comic Con DC and Marvel announced that they would be lowering the prices of their 22 page $3.99 books back to $2.99. An awesome start. And, so far, DC seems to be moving forward on that claim. But, if Previews is any indication, the recently Disney-acquired, Marvel Comics has here-to-fore not lowered the price of more than a mere 3 titles. This cannot be allowed to stand. Marvel has to understand that A) they cannot lie to us, and B) that prices NEED to go down.  Now, I'm no revolutionary, but I for one am going to stop buying most, if not ALL, of the Marvel titles I currently buy until they make good on their promise. And I strongly suggest that this is the only way we can make our position heard. We have to "vote with our wallet." I suggest that we all decide that if Marvel is not going to keep their promise of dropping the 22 page regular titles from $3.99 to $2.99, that we boycott those over priced books.

Can you do it? If you can, I believe that Disney... sorry, Marvel will hear us and comply.

Let me know what you think. Email me at ComicEx@Gmail.com.

VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

-Rickman

P.S.: So far Scott still hasn't noticed he has a blog. For that matter, he hasn't noticed the Dr. Doom riding the Unicorn surrounded by a rainbow on the home page. What's up with Doom on a Unicorn with a rainbow anyway? Is Doom trying to tell us something?  -R

Kicking and screaming...

Hey folks!

Welcome to the first ever Comic Explosion Blog. This is Rickman. I design the Comic Explosion website and I basically drag Scott, the owner of Comic Explosion,  kicking and screaming into the new millennium... He doesn't even know he has a blog yet. We'll see how long it takes him to see it.

I would love to hear from you. To hear what you love, hate, wish would change about comics and the comic industry. Email me your thoughts at ComicEx@Gmail.com.

One of my issues (get it... issues? Yeah, it's gonna be like that... deal with it) is the cost of comics.
Last February at the NY Comic Con, Marvel spoke about how they "were going to make the retailers a lot of money with the new $3.99 and $4.99 price tags." That's when I stood up and said that, in this economy, that type of thinking will kill the industry. It's times like this when we need to re-think our product and make it more accessible. A customer who loses his job is going to start cutting back. And what's the first thing that goes? Entertainment. Right now we should be trying to create a $2.50 comic, not a $5 comic.

Here's one idea: Marvel and Archie put out some comics on Free Comic Book Day that were about and inch smaller on either side. Not too much of a difference, but enough that it would cut the cost of the print run significantly. I'm ok with the comics being a bit smaller. Also, maybe we don't use such expensive paper. I'm sure there are many more ways costs can be cut and the savings passed along to the consumer. I like comics. I like PAPER comics. I would like them to be around for a while.

All that said, I was at the NY Comic Con a few weeks ago and both DC and Marvel announced that they are going to drop or keep many, if not all of their 22 page comics to $2.99. That's a great start.
Hopefully it goes through.

So send me your thoughts on all of this, or whatever you may have on you mind, to: ComicEx@Gmail.com.
And, while you're on the site, check out the Art Gallery. You can see some of my Prints and Sketch Cards that are available for sale at the store.

See you on Wednesday!

-Rickman