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I Was Wrong...

Started by awe4one,

51 posts in this topic

awe4one

awe4one

Posted
Posted

Thought I'd share an observation that's counter to statements I've made here...

 

I held the belief that comic companies were missing a great current opportunity to gain new readers. Based on my observations during in the 90s, comic books, when available, were very popular with deployed military members. Marvel in particular were sending boxes of free comics downrange that were very well received with people you'd think would never be caught dead holding a comic. It's a captured audience for comic companies. These members are starved for something to do and reading comics was a great escape. I personally know many who continued collecting after they returned back to home station.

 

How times have changed...

 

I took 50 current comics and multiple TPBs to Iraq with me. Shortly after arriving, I took these to the local library reading area and made them available for anyone who wanted them. They sat mostly unread the entire time I was deployed. In fact, I would check every couple of weeks and the pile looked like it was untouched during that time. The TPBs, not all SH comics mind you, didn't even have a crack in the binding/cover. No one was interested. And before anyone says they were off to the side and hidden, they were not. They sat next to SI, ESPN Mag, newspapers, etc that were all well read. Also, the Marvel Special Military comics were widely available at the BX. Large piles just sitting for anyone to take for free and unopened boxes of the comic sitting around the pile. That pile never shrank the entire time I was deployed. I probably could have asked for an unopened box and they'd happily given me 2 to get rid of them. Fact is, no one wanted to read comics despite them being very visible and free either at the library or BX...

 

One of the reasons is probably the availablity of the Internet and PS2/X-Box morale areas for deployed troops to spend their off time. These areas were packed at all times with people queuing up to wait for the next available station. Both were not available in the 90s.

 

As a comic collector, it sad to see the indifference shown. I can't help but think that comics have become so passe that you can't even get someone with a lack of entertainment options to pick one up. They say the military is a cross section of American society. If these members are any indication, comics have well passed their time in serving as a viable entertainment option...

 

Jim

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OrangeNemesis

OrangeNemesis

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I live right next to a military base. (Camp Lejeune) and there isnt a comic book store within an hour here.Its sad really. I know its to each his own but it really is amazing how far comics have fallen off in some places. Just 10 years ago or so there were 3 or 4 shops within a 10 mile radius. times are changing i guess.

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Mac Man

Mac Man

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Well, when I was over there, we read anything we could get our greedy little mits on. I'm sad to say many of the guys in my battalion (combat arms no less) were found to read the gossip rags. When care packages came in with a few TPBs, I thought I was in heaven- and I hadn't gotten back into colllecting at this point.

 

But I would agree- I think the general atmosphere surround reading in general the past few years (aside from Harry Potter) has become one of "Whaa? Read?" Maybe my recent experiences in the classroom have jaded me...

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COMICKINGS

COMICKINGS

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I own a comic shop here in Va.Beach,Va..This area is a huge military area.I'd say atleast 30% of my comic business is from guys in the military. Including mine,there are 7 shops that carry new & back issue comics in a 10 mile radius and I'd say it's the same for everybody else here.The ones that get deployed never want any of their books sent out to them.They just wait til they get back. I would think that if I was over there,I'd use comics as an escape.But I am not there and have never been there,and can't imagine what it's like for most of the guys there fighting. We do have to compete with all the video games and card gaming,but the comic books are still going pretty strong with these guys!

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Wally's Comics

Wally's Comics

Posted
Posted
I live right next to a military base. (Camp Lejeune) and there isnt a comic book store within an hour here.Its sad really. I know its to each his own but it really is amazing how far comics have fallen off in some places. Just 10 years ago or so there were 3 or 4 shops within a 10 mile radius. times are changing i guess.

 

It's too bad you don't live closer to Goldsborro

I have a bud that owns a LCS there that has a

real nice shop next to Johnson AFB.

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Jeffro.

Jeffro.

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This has been going on for quite some time actually. All one has to do is look at the sad decline of kids humor type comics like those put out by Harvey, Dell/Gold Key/Whitman, and Charlton. Only Archie has survived.

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lizards2

lizards2

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Only Archie has survived.

 

Or has it... ?

 

 

I saw that scary thing in the supermarket check out line...,

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awe4one

awe4one

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I own a comic shop here in Va.Beach,Va..This area is a huge military area.I'd say atleast 30% of my comic business is from guys in the military. Including mine,there are 7 shops that carry new & back issue comics in a 10 mile radius and I'd say it's the same for everybody else here.The ones that get deployed never want any of their books sent out to them.They just wait til they get back. I would think that if I was over there,I'd use comics as an escape.But I am not there and have never been there,and can't imagine what it's like for most of the guys there fighting. We do have to compete with all the video games and card gaming,but the comic books are still going pretty strong with these guys!

 

That's the same around any stateside military base I've been assigned. But I think that has to do more with the demographic of the area vs. a sign military members read comics any more than say a comic store near a campus gets student readers.

 

Jim

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awe4one

awe4one

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I live right next to a military base. (Camp Lejeune) and there isnt a comic book store within an hour here.Its sad really. I know its to each his own but it really is amazing how far comics have fallen off in some places. Just 10 years ago or so there were 3 or 4 shops within a 10 mile radius. times are changing i guess.

 

In the early 90s there used to be a pretty good store outside Lejeune near the mall. Had a decent selection of back issues. Can't recall the name but I guess it doesn't matter since it's obviously closed shop...

 

Jim

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Wrightson fan

Wrightson fan

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How long before we see a highly suggestive Betty & Veronica statue? Maybe that's all Archie needs to do to stir up some fanboy interest... hm

 

Or maybe take some lessons from Marvel's ad department:

 

avengers_ad-thumb.jpg

 

 

Um...she will be crippled when she gets older as her back would never support that amount of weight for too many years. How realistic she is.

 

Scott

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awe4one

awe4one

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How long before we see a highly suggestive Betty & Veronica statue? Maybe that's all Archie needs to do to stir up some fanboy interest... hm

 

Or maybe take some lessons from Marvel's ad department:

 

avengers_ad-thumb.jpg

 

Now that's what I did wrong. Instead of taking late-90s Marvel comics to the desert, I should have taken the current stable of modern psuedo-soft porn comics. What the hell was I thinkiing... doh!

 

Jim

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bronzilla

bronzilla

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Thanks for your effort, bringing the comics to the Folks overseas. It is a little sad the responses received. Sign of the times, no one really reads anymore (shrug)

And thank you for you and your families sacrifices.

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