New Comic prices!

[joe_collector]

To hazard a guess, $1.50 would be the standard cost of an average monthly today, if they were printed on the same paper stock.

 

But remember that paper makes up only a small part of the cover price, and I guarantee that creator revenues and comic shop profits are the two major perps when it comes to cover prices.

 

Drop back the paper quality and Bendis still needs a paycheck and royalties, and your LCS still needs its cut, so with current microscopic print runs on most books, I can't even imagine $1.50 as a cover price.

[musicmeta]

I like the paper stock for comics that were printed in the 70's.

[musicmeta]

I vote cheap newsprint again with reasonable prices.....comics were priced low for a reason back in the day.....I might even start buying moderns again.

 

I wouldn't want to go all the way back to cheap 70s style newsprint - but the better paper quality with a matte finish that was popular in the late 80s is preferred to the slick paper of today - I'm also not fond of the "painted" coloring found in many current books - sometimes it's done well, but usually not.

 

I really like the 70's style comics and the paper they were printed on. FANTASTIC!

[joe_collector]

I like the paper stock for comics that were printed in the 70's.

 

Me too, and when they changed to that ultra-white paper in the mid to late-80's, it produced a terrible coloring effect (like a cheap paint-by-numbers kit), and it crops up on many TPBs as well.

 

I still prefer the look of comic artwork on newsprint.

[shadroch]

Most shops work on a 40 to 45% discount.

A $3.00 cover breaks down approx. like this

 

Shop pays $1.65. If they sell-out at no discount,they make $1.35 a book.They are stuck with any unsold books.

 

Diamond has different deals with different publishers.They pretty much just pass DC books along at a fixed amount for each book they handle,other publishers give about a 60% discount.

 

Publisher sells a $3.00 comic for around $1.00. Out of that comes all costs associated with creating and printing the book,then getting it to Diamond.

[joe_collector]

Publisher sells a $3.00 comic for around $1.00.

 

Exactly, so 2/3 of a comic book's price is not even associated with Marvel, printing or employee/royalty expenses.

 

So if they lowered paper quality, a $3.00 comic would probably sell for $2.90.

[toro]

Scary numbers, both price and estimated sales! All because those darn freeloaders keep getting their fix at the local library and not the LCS,,,,,only kidding!!!!

 

JULY 2006 Comic Book orders from Diamond Comic Distributors Comic-book Title Issue Price Publisher Est. sales

1 Civil War 3 $2.99 Marvel 290,700

2 Justice League of America 0 $2.99 DC 162,400

3 New Avengers 22 CW $2.99 Marvel 124,600

4 52 Week 11 $2.50 DC 122,000

5 Batman 655 $2.99 DC 113,600

6 Amazing Spider-Man 534 CW $2.99 Marvel 113,500

7 Civil War Front Line 3 $2.99 Marvel 111,400

8 Wolverine Origins 4 $2.99 Marvel 110,800

9 Civil War X-Men 1 $2.99 Marvel 106,100

10 Wolverine 44 CW $2.99 Marvel 105,200

11 Uncanny X-Men 475 $2.99 Marvel 104,000

12 Civil War Front Line 4 $2.99 Marvel 103,100

13 52 Week 9 $2.50 DC 102,100

14 52 Week 10 $2.50 DC 100,800

15 Ghost Rider 1 $2.99 Marvel 98,800

16 52 Week 12 $2.50 DC 98,700

17 X-Men 188 $2.99 Marvel 95,500

18 Superman Batman 28 $2.99 DC 92,600

19 Uncanny X-Men 476 $2.99 Marvel 88,800

20 Civil War Young Avengers & Runaways 1 $2.99 Marvel 85,300

21 Supergirl 7 (Res) $2.99 DC 85,200

22 Ultimate Fantastic Four 31 $2.99 Marvel 84,400

23 X-Men 189 $2.99 Marvel 82,300

24 Green Lantern 12 $2.99 DC 80,300

25 Flash Fastest Man Alive 2 $2.99 DC 77,500

26 Supergirl 8 (Res) $2.99 DC 76,900

27 Ultimate Spider-Man 97 $2.99 Marvel 76,600

28 Eternals 2 $3.99 Marvel 74,200

29 Teen Titans 37 $2.99 DC 71,300

30 Ultimate X-Men 72 $2.99 Marvel 70,600

31 Black Panther 18 CW $3.99 Marvel 69,900

32 Superman 654 $2.99 DC 69,500

33 X-Factor 9 CW $2.99 Marvel 68,800

34 Detective Comics 821 $2.99 DC 67,300

35 Action Comics 841 $2.99 DC 58,600

36 Sensational Spider-Man 28 $2.99 Marvel 58,500

37 Green Lantern Corps 2 $2.99 DC 56,900

38 Cable Deadpool 30 CW $2.99 Marvel 56,800

39 Thunderbolts 104 CW $2.99 Marvel 54,100

40 Omac 1 $2.99 DC 54,100

41 Ion 4 $2.99 DC 50,000

42 All New Atom 1 $2.99 DC 50,000

43 JSA 87 $2.99 DC 49,600

44 Daredevil 87 $2.99 Marvel 49,400

45 Incredible Hulk 96 $2.99 Marvel 49,200

46 Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 10 $2.99 Marvel 48,900

47 Captain America 20 $2.99 Marvel 47,400

48 Secret Six 2 $2.99 DC 47,300

49 Civil War 2 $2.99 Marvel 46,100

50 Squadron Supreme 5 $2.99 Marvel 46,000

51 Nightwing 122 $2.99 DC 42,500

52 Outsiders 38 $2.99 DC 42,000

53 Supergirl & Legion Of Super Heroes 20 $2.99 DC 41,700

54 Uncle Sam & Freedom Fighters 1 $2.99 DC 40,700

55 New X-Men 28 $2.99 Marvel 39,800

56 Annihilation Silver Surfer 4 $2.99 Marvel 39,200

57 Ms Marvel 5 $2.99 Marvel 38,900

58 Crisis Aftermath Spectre 3 $2.99 DC 38,800

59 Iron Man 10 $2.99 Marvel 38,100

60 Robin 152 $2.99 DC 37,500

61 Crisis Aftermath Battle For Bludhaven 6 $2.99 DC 37,100

62 New Excalibur 9 $2.99 Marvel 36,500

63 Shadowpact 3 $2.99 DC 36,300

64 Green Arrow 64 $2.99 DC 36,100

65 Beyond 1 $2.99 Marvel 35,700

66 Blue Beetle 5 $2.99 DC 35,500

67 Annihilation Nova 4 $2.99 Marvel 35,200

68 Checkmate 4 $2.99 DC 34,700

69 Punisher 35 $2.99 Marvel 34,100

70 Witchblade 100 $4.99 Image 33,800

71 JSA Classified 14 $2.99 DC 33,800

72 Annihilation Super Skrull 4 $2.99 Marvel 33,600

73 Star Wars Legacy 2 $2.99 Dark Horse 33,300

74 Red Sonja 12 $2.99 Dynamic 33,200

75 Civil War Directors Cut 1 $4.99 Marvel 32,900

76 Exiles 84 $2.99 Marvel 32,900

77 Birds of Prey 96 $2.99 DC 32,200

78 Annihilation Ronan 4 $2.99 Marvel 31,700

79 JLA Classified 24 $2.99 DC 31,700

80 Conan 30 $2.99 Dark Horse 31,100

81 JLA Classified 25 $2.99 DC 30,700

82 Aquaman Sword of Atlantis 43 $2.99 DC 30,600

83 She-Hulk 2 9 $2.99 Marvel 29,900

84 Batman Secrets 5 $2.99 DC 27,900

85 Catwoman 57 $2.99 DC 27,300

86 Jack of Fables 1 $2.99 DC 27,100

87 Y The Last Man 47 $2.99 DC 25,800

88 Transformers Infiltration 6 $2.99 IDW 25,300

89 Hawkgirl 54 $2.99 DC 25,200

90 Conan & Songs of the Dead 1 $2.99 Dark Horse 25,100

91 Fables 51 $2.99 DC 25,100

92 Runaways 18 $2.99 Marvel 24,700

93 Transformers Stormbringer 1 $2.99 IDW 24,500

94 Astro City Samaritan Sp $3.99 DC 24,400

95 Batman Legends of the Dark Knight 208 $2.99 DC 24,000

96 Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 7 $2.99 Dark Horse 23,500

97 Last Planet Standing 5 $2.99 Marvel 23,500

98 Star Wars Rebellion 4 $2.99 Dark Horse 23,200

99 Powers 19 $2.95 Marvel 23,200

100 Next 1 $2.99 DC 22,700

101 Spider-Girl 100 $3.99 Marvel 22,700

102 Escapists 1 $1.00 Dark Horse 21,700

103 Storm 6 $2.99 Marvel 21,500

104 Transformers Evolutions Hearts of Steel 1 $2.99 IDW 20,500

105 Walking Dead 29 $2.99 Image 20,400

106 Jonah Hex 9 $2.99 DC 20,400

107 Thing 8 $2.99 Marvel 20,400

108 Xena 1 $3.50 Dynamic 20,300

109 All New Off Handbook Marvel Universe A To Z 7 $3.99 Marvel 20,100

110 Planet Hulk Gladiator Guidebook $3.99 Marvel 20,000

111 Firestorm Nuclear Man 27 $2.99 DC 19,800

112 Street Fighter II 4 $2.95 Udon 19,100

113 Wolverine Origins Directors Cut (Pp 718) $3.99 Marvel 18,400

114 X-Men Fairy Tales 3 $2.99 Marvel 18,100

115 Marvel Team-Up 22 $2.99 Marvel 17,900

116 Spawn 158 $2.95 Image 17,700

117 Fantastic Four First Family 5 $2.99 Marvel 16,900

118 Superman Returns Movie Adaptation $6.99 DC 16,800

119 Gi Joe Americas Elite 13 Cvr A $2.95 Devil's Due 16,700

120 Neil Gaimans Neverwhere 8 $2.99 DC 16,600

121 Fury Peacemaker 6 $3.50 Marvel 16,600

122 BPRD Universal Machine 4 $2.99 Dark Horse 16,000

123 Ares 5 $2.99 Marvel 15,800

124 Amazing Spider-Man 533 CW $2.99 Marvel 15,700

125 Civil War Front Line 2 $2.99 Marvel 15,600

126 Man Called Kev 1 $2.99 DC 15,500

127 Man-Bat 4 $2.99 DC 15,500

128 Army of Darkness 9 $2.99 Dynamic 15,500

129 Wolverine 42 CW $2.99 Marvel 15,100

130 Civil War 1 $3.99 Marvel 15,000

131 Battler Britton 1 $2.99 DC 14,800

132 Warlord 6 $2.99 DC 14,800

133 Dmz 9 $2.99 DC 14,800

134 Manhunter 24 $2.99 DC 14,600

135 Loveless 9 $2.99 DC 14,400

136 She-Hulk 2 8 CW $2.99 Marvel 14,200

137 Bite Club Vampire Crime Unit 4 $2.99 DC 14,200

138 Hellblazer 222 $2.99 DC 13,900

139 Amazing Spider-Man 532 CW $2.99 Marvel 13,600

140 Jack Kirbys Galactic Bounty Hunters 1 $3.99 Marvel 13,500

141 New Avengers Illuminati Sp $3.99 Marvel 13,300

142 American Virgin 5 $2.99 DC 13,300

143 100 Bullets 74 $2.99 DC 13,300

144 Rush City 1 $2.99 DC 13,100

145 Shaolin Cowboy 6 $3.50 Burlyman 12,800

146 Thunderbolts 103 CW $2.99 Marvel 12,800

147 Cyberforce 4 $2.99 Image 12,500

148 Fantastic Four 538 CW $2.99 Marvel 12,000

149 Blood of the Demon 17 $2.99 DC 11,900

150 Haunt of Horror Edgar Allan Poe 3 $3.99 Marvel 11,600

151 Goon 18 $2.99 Dark Horse 11,500

152 Claw The Unconquered 2 $2.99 DC 11,500

153 Elephantmen 1 $2.99 Image 11,300

154 Daughters of the Dragon 6 $2.99 Marvel 11,200

155 Transformers Generations 5 $2.49 IDW 11,100

156 Spike Vs Dracula 4 $3.99 IDW 11,100

157 Testament 8 $2.99 DC 11,100

158 Rokkin 1 $2.99 DC 10,800

159 Girls 15 $2.99 Image 10,800

160 Exterminators 7 $2.99 DC 10,700

161 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Grind 3 $3.99 Avatar 10,600

162 Teen Titans Go 33 $2.25 DC 10,500

163 Simpsons Comics 120 $2.99 Bongo 10,300

164 Justice League Unlimited 23 $2.25 DC 10,300

165 Tarot Witch of the Black Rose 39 $2.95 Broadsword 9,500

166 Marvel Advs Avengers 3 $2.99 Marvel 9,000

167 Angel Spotlight Doyle One Shot $3.99 IDW 8,900

168 Friday The 13th Fearbook 1 $3.99 Avatar 8,900

169 Zombies 2 $3.99 IDW 8,900

170 Strangers in Paradise 83 $2.95 Abstract 8,900

171 Elfquest Discovery 4 $3.99 DC 8,800

172 Nightmare of Elm St Fearbook 1 $3.99 Avatar 8,700

173 Marvel Westerns Kid Colt & Arizona Girl $3.99 Marvel 8,600

174 American Way 6 $2.99 DC 8,500

175 Manifest Eternity 2 $2.99 DC 8,400

176 New Avengers 21 CW $2.99 Marvel 8,300

177 Franklin Richards Son of Genius Spr Smmr Spctclr $2.99 Marvel 8,300

178 Marvel Westerns Western Legends $3.99 Marvel 8,300

179 Skye Runner 3 $2.99 DC 8,200

180 Savage Dragon 0 $1.95 Image 8,200

181 Batman Strikes 23 $2.25 DC 8,200

182 Futurama Comics 26 $2.99 Bongo 8,100

183 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Fearbook 1 $3.99 Avatar 8,000

184 Occult Crimes Taskforce 1 $2.99 Image 7,900

185 Friday The 13th Jason Vs Jason X 2 $3.99 Avatar 7,800

186 Dragonlance Chronicles Vol. 2 1 Cvr A $4.95 Devil's Due 7,800

187 Bearers of the Blade Sp $2.99 Image 7,700

188 Simpsons Super Spectacular 3 $2.99 Bongo 7,700

189 Sonic The Hedgehog 164 $2.25 Archie 7,600

190 Superman Batman 25 2nd Ptg $2.99 DC 7,100

191 Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane 8 $2.99 Marvel 6,800

192 Rival Schools 2 $4.95 Udon 6,700

193 DCU Brave New World 1 $1.00 DC 6,600

194 She Dragon 1 $5.99 Image 6,400

195 Snakewoman 1 $2.99 Virgin 6,400

196 Casanova 2 $1.99 Image 6,300

197 Justice 5 $3.50 DC 6,300

198 Red Star Sword of Lies $4.50 Archangel 6,300

199 Grimm Fairy Tales 7 $2.99 Zenescope 6,200

200 Art of the Witchblade One Shot $2.99 Image 6,100

201 Marvel Advs Spider-Man 17 $2.99 Marvel 6,100

202 X-Factor 8 CW $2.99 Marvel 6,000

203 Sonic X 11 $2.25 Archie 5,900

204 Devi 1 $2.99 Virgin 5,900

205 Clive Barkers Great & Secret Show 4 $3.99 IDW 5,900

206 Avengers & Power Pack Assemble 4 $2.99 Marvel 5,800

207 Kabuki Reflections Book 6 $5.99 Marvel 5,800

208 Ant 7 (Res) $2.99 Image 5,500

209 Marvels Greatest Comics Fantastic Four 52 $2.99 Marvel 5,500

210 Cryptics 1 $3.50 Image 5,400

211 Fear Agent 6 (Res) $2.99 Image 5,200

212 Knights of the Dinner Table 116 $4.99 Kenzer 5,200

213 Wasteland 1 $2.99 Oni 5,000

214 Eternals 1 $3.99 Marvel 4,900

215 Innocents 1 $2.99 Image 4,900

216 Gumby 1 $3.99 Wildcard 4,900

217 Civil War Front Line 1 $2.99 Marvel 4,900

218 Scooby Doo 110 $2.25 DC 4,800

219 Death Jr Vol. 2 1 $4.99 Image 4,800

220 Exalted 4 Reg Ed $3.49 Udon 4,800

221 Battle Pope Color 9 (Res) $3.50 Image 4,800

222 Marvel Advs Fantastic Four 14 $2.99 Marvel 4,700

223 Godland 12 $2.99 Image 4,600

224 Zoom Suit 3 $2.95 Superverse 4,600

225 Casefiles Sam & Twitch 24 $2.95 Image 4,500

226 Donald Duck & Friends 342 $2.95 Gemstone 4,500

227 Sidekick 2 $3.50 Image 4,500

228 Flash Fastest Man Alive 1 $2.99 DC 4,300

229 Archenemies 4 $2.99 Dark Horse 4,300

230 Road To Hell 1 $3.99 IDW 4,200

231 Lullaby 4 (Res) $3.50 Alias 4,200

232 Lady Death Shi Preview $2.50 Avatar 4,100

233 Mickey Mouse & Friends 291 $2.95 Gemstone 4,000

234 Marvel Spotlight Robert Kirkman Greg Land $2.99 Marvel 4,000

235 Wolverine 43 CW $2.99 Marvel 4,000

236 Sadhu 1 $2.99 Virgin 3,900

237 Mouse Guard 1 $3.50 Archaia 3,900

238 Scarlet Traces Great Game 1 (Res) $2.99 Dark Horse 3,800

239 Public Enemy 1 $3.99 American Mule 3,800

240 Task Force One 1 $3.50 Image 3,800

241 Hate Annual 6 $4.95 Fantagraphics 3,700

242 Raymond E Feist Magician Apprentice 2 Cvr A $2.95 Dabel 3,700

243 Walt Disneys Comics & Stories 671 $6.95 Gemstone 3,700

244 52 Week 8 $2.50 DC 3,700

245 Blade of the Immortal 115 $2.99 Dark Horse 3,600

246 Tick Days of Drama 6 $3.95 New England 3,400

247 Hero Squared Ongoing 2 $3.99 Boom 3,300

248 Shark-Man 1 $3.99 Thrillhouse 3,300

249 Black Harvest 6 $3.25 Devil's Due 3,300

250 Star Wars Legacy 1 $2.99 Dark Horse 3,200

251 Wonder Woman 1 $2.99 DC 3,200

252 Uncle Scrooge 356 $6.95 Gemstone 3,200

253 Stargate SG1 2006 Con Sp $2.99 Avatar 3,100

254 Castle Waiting Vol. II 1 $5.95 Fantagraphics 3,100

255 Strange Girl 9 $2.99 Image 3,100

256 Hawaiian Last Resort 4 $2.99 Image 2,800

257 Black Plague One Shot $3.99 Boom 2,800

258 Mouse Guard 2 $3.50 Archaia 2,800

259 Moon Knight 3 $2.99 Marvel 2,800

260 Betty & Veronica 219 $2.25 Archie 2,700

261 Revolution of the Planet of the Apes 5 $3.95 Markosia 2,700

262 Revved 1 $2.99 Image 2,700

263 Looney Tunes 140 $2.25 DC 2,700

264 G.I. Joe Americas Elite 13 Cvr B $5.95 Devil's Due 2,600

265 Simpsons Classics 9 $3.99 Bongo 2,600

266 Second Wave War of the Worlds 4 $2.99 Boom 2,600

267 Starship Troopers 4 $3.50 Marvel 2,600

268 Sabrina Vol. 2 77 $2.25 Archie 2,500

269 52 Week 7 $2.50 DC 2,400

270 Angel Scriptbook 5 $3.99 IDW 2,300

271 Veronica 172 $2.25 Archie 2,300

272 Archie & Friends 102 $2.25 Archie 2,300

273 Tales of Leonardo Blind Sight 2 $3.25 Mirage 2,300

274 Rocketo 10 $3.99 Image 2,200

275 Second Wave War of the Worlds 5 $2.99 Boom 2,200

276 Jeremiah Harm 4 $3.99 Boom 2,200

277 Batman 654 $2.99 DC 2,100

278 Nightmare of Elm St Paranoid 3 $3.99 Avatar 2,100

279 Cobb Off Leash 2 $3.99 IDW 2,000

280 Betty & Veronica Double Digest 144 $3.69 Archie 2,000

281 Lost Squad 5 $2.95 Devil's Due 2,000

282 Pigtale 4 $2.99 Image 2,000

283 Cartoon Network Block Party 23 $2.25 DC 2,000

284 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Grind 2 $3.99 Avatar 2,000

285 Sidekick 1 $3.50 Image 1,900

286 Action Comics 840 $2.99 DC 1,900

287 Cartoon Network Action Pack 3 $2.25 DC 1,900

288 Lady Death Shi Preview Ryp Cvr $2.99 Avatar 1,900

289 Legend of Isis 10 (Res) $3.50 Alias 1,900

290 Betty & Veronica Digest 167 $2.49 Archie 1,800

291 Shojo Beat Vol. 2 38937 $5.99 Viz 1,800

292 Housewives At Play 16 $4.95 Fantagraphics 1,800

293 Umbra 2 $5.99 Image 1,800

294 Pals N Gals Double Digest 104 $3.69 Archie 1,800

295 52 Week 6 $2.50 DC 1,700

296 Revere 1 $3.50 Alias 1,700

297 Blackbeard Legacy 2 $3.50 Alias 1,700

298 Screwtooth 1 $2.95 Slave Labor 1,700

299 Young Avengers 12 $2.99 Marvel 1,700

300 Jughead 175 $2.25 Archie 1,700

Note: Orders for 52 estimated to account for returns.

[shadroch]

Young Avengers 12-299th place with 1700 sales? I thought this book was a hit?

Something is very wrong with these numbers. No way 52 is selling that low.My shop is selling 15 or 20 itself.

[DKB]

I think reorders show up on there too, hence 52 Week 6 being there in 295th place.

[shadroch]

Ah Ha,

So that YA might be a reorder as well.

[VintageComics]

I like the paper stock for comics that were printed in the 70's.

 

Me too, and when they changed to that ultra-white paper in the mid to late-80's, it produced a terrible coloring effect (like a cheap paint-by-numbers kit), and it crops up on many TPBs as well.

 

I still prefer the look of comic artwork on newsprint.

 

I liked it too. I find the glossy pages difficult to read in some types of light because of the glare.

 

Newsprint

[Davenport]

Here's a great article:

Funny Business:A History of the Comics Industry part 1

Funny Business:A History of the Comics Industry part 2

 

Looking at "Batman"...

(per month)

1942... 913,000

1946... 1,451,053

1960... 502,000

 

1966: "Batman, the comic book, tops out in popularity in 1966, with a circulation of 898,470 per issue. This is nearly double the title's usual sales, but it is still far less than the character's devoted following throughout the 1940s."

 

1968... 533,450

1974... 193,223

1980... 129,299

1986... 89,747

1998... 51,000

 

And some modern numbers taken from ICv2

 

2001... (Batman #593) 43,654

 

2005... (Batman #640) 66,640

2005... (Batman #642) 65,435

 

2006... (Batman #654) 76,525

2006... (Batman #655) 113,576

[shadroch]

To keep this a little in perspective,.

You could also say that Batman has tripled its sales since 2001,and is on a par with sales from the 80s. Very few books can state either of these.

[Aman619]

If you 'haven't seen the free Spideys that newspapers are giving away,they are on the cheapest paper I've ever seen.Terrible is too nice a word.

Most of the reason comics are so much is that Geppi wants them to be.He needs to make a certain profit per book,and as time goes by,he seems to want more and more per book.

 

wow Shad, I cant believe you wrote that!

 

Its Geppi's fault? Geppi/Diamond is only the sales agent for DC and the rest. He doesnt even buy the comics from them. He handles them and takes a fee from the sales. He's like an employee, or a freelancer. Thts changed back during the distributor wars of the 90s after Marvekl bought Heroes World and went direct (leaving Diamond in the process). In signing DC and others to exclusive distribution contracts, their arrangement changed to that of sales agent, not the typical distributor who actually owns the merchandise. Geppi's upside became limited, but his downside was protected. And he had no choice in the matter. Levitz/DC realized they were calling the shots! (Levitz even bragged to his Warners bosses about what a sweet deal he had made in a secret memo that was leaked to Comics Journal.

 

And whatever gave you the idea that Geppi tells publishers what to charge for a cover price?

[shadroch]

Quite frankly,I put a great deal of the blame on the current state of the market on Geppi. I do,indeed.

As the exclusive distributor for DC and Marvel,he has stood in the way of many attempts to restart newstand distribution,he has steadily refused to allow any sort of advertising co-op deals,he has dictated the prices of many independant companies,and much more.When an idea was floated a few years ago for a company that wanted to publish monthly comics at $1.00,it was shot down. There wasn't enough profit in it for him.

As for that memo,so what? Ron Perlman bragged about the sweet deal he got from the Snyders for Heroes World,and we all know how well that worked out.Don't forget,part of the Diamond/DC agreement was an option for Warner to buy Geppi out after a few years. Never happened,did it? Don't you think it would have if the deal favored TW?

Power corrupts,and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

As you say,Geppi has completely protected his downside,leaving all the risk to the publishers and the store-owners.Most of whom are,in reality,little more than unpaid Diamond employees.

[Zonker]

Don't forget,part of the Diamond/DC agreement was an option for Warner to buy Geppi out after a few years. Never happened,did it? Don't you think it would have if the deal favored TW?

 

I don't follow that part of your argument. If Geppi's operation is such a cash cow, wouldn't Warners want to add it to their balance sheet? On the other hand, if the status quo deal favors Warners, then I can certainly see why they would never exercise an option that would rock their boat.

[toro]

 

271 Veronica 172 $2.25 Archie 2,300

272 Archie & Friends 102 $2.25 Archie 2,300

300 Jughead 175 $2.25 Archie 1,700

 

 

Poor Jughead,,,I almost want to go out and buy a copy. It's funny for a few months ago many Grocery stores in the area had comics in the magazine section. Now if they have any they are Archie books, yet they always have such low numbers.

[Scrooge]

271 Veronica 172 $2.25 Archie 2,300

272 Archie & Friends 102 $2.25 Archie 2,300

300 Jughead 175 $2.25 Archie 1,700

 

 

Poor Jughead,,,I almost want to go out and buy a copy. It's funny for a few months ago many Grocery stores in the area had comics in the magazine section. Now if they have any they are Archie books, yet they always have such low numbers.

 

The chart posted only counts direct market sales and therefore does not include grocery stores sales, which we have to presume swell up those Archie numbers.

[shadroch]

Don't forget,part of the Diamond/DC agreement was an option for Warner to buy Geppi out after a few years. Never happened,did it? Don't you think it would have if the deal favored TW?

 

I don't follow that part of your argument. If Geppi's operation is such a cash cow, wouldn't Warners want to add it to their balance sheet? On the other hand, if the status quo deal favors Warners, then I can certainly see why they would never exercise an option that would rock their boat.

 

But I never said Diamond was a cash cow,did I?What I said was that they were greatly responsible for the current woeful state of the market.Two very different statements,not related to one another.

DCs deal with Diamond worked great for DC,better for Geppi.It effectively eliminated all of Diamonds competitors and gave Diamond the chance to dictate whatever terms it wanted to the thousands of stores depending on the product he had and they needed.

In 1988,my two stores bought on a 52.5 % discount,with free in-store delivery.We also had several hundred dollars a quarter in co-op advertising.Heroes World became the Marvel distributor and my discount dropped to 45%,due to the loss of volume.I realized I couldn't succeed under such conditions and sold out.Within two years,my former employee was getting books at 43%,even though Marvel was back at Diamond.Plus,now stores paid for shipping,another $50 plus a week out of pocket.

But I digress.

Warner is a publisher,not a magazine distributor.They have a nice deal going and I can see why they would choose not to take over a business like Diamond. I suspect Marvel would be looking very hard into the legal ramifications of their largest competitor becoming their distributor as well.

[Aman619]

Zonker made my first point for me. As for your comment on his comment, Warners hasnt exercized their option because its such small potatoes in the wake of TimeWarners current woes. I think they already have a book distribution wing, too, but comics is so small why not just let Geppi run it and ship their books and collect their money for them?

 

I agree that it was unfair for Geppi to start charging for shipping once retailers had no choice. But, again, I dont think he made any moves back then without saying "May I" first. Geppi had suddenly gotten HIS share reduced to a fee % of sales. Before that, he gave free shippping because he was GETTING more. DC changed the terms, keeping more for themselves - - -OUT OF DIAMONDS TAKE! So Geppi couldnt throw in free shipping anymore.