It’s not often my daily newspaper makes me sick, but today was one of those days.
An article in today’s New York Daily News extols the “growing” investment value of comic books.
In a shocking twist, the article features a quote and a statistic provided by Wizard Magazine.
I’m sure that most people in the comic business would love nothing more than to have the 1990s speculation boom-time return. They bought houses, some even bought private jets, as we understand it. But that artificial boom-time led to a bust that crippled the industry, both creatively and financially, and nearly destroyed it entirely.
“I would not suggest putting significant amounts of money in comic books,” said New York-based accountant Alan Straus.
At least someone in the piece was talking some sense.
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Some rights reserved.
Fantastic. Just Fantastic.
First the return of the massive-corporate crossovers, and now the return of speculation.
Well, at least Wizard can now justify their ridiculous and inaccurate price guide that was only useful back in
Actually, I would argue that the bust lead to a creative renaissance, where they said, SHIT, we’ve got to sell books somehow, and someone suggested making them good. It was a crazy notion, and they’ve since forgotten it, but I think the creativity in the late 90’s was a latent result of the bust.
And Wizard still has a price guide?
That was a horribly written and researched article. It didn’t clarify enough the idea that the only comics that are worth anything are the vintage golden-age books. No modern comic book is worth anything. Having Midtown comics say sales are up is not a clear statement. Are regular monthly sales up? Yes. But up from what? Sales were shit for years. Now it’s shit, plus 10%. And what does that have to do with the speculation market?
And yeah, he had to put a Ka-Pow in there didn’t he?
Finally, let’s take a look at the quote from the Wizard guy:
“You’ll find a lawyer next to a kid dressed up as Spider-Man trying to buy the same comic,” said Ryan Penagos, price guide editor for Wizard magazine.
How fucking often have you seen anyone in costume at a comic shop?!?!?
Sometimes, I get really angry.
“You’ll find a lawyer next to a kid dressed up as Spider-Man trying to buy the same comic,” said Ryan Penagos, price guide editor for Wizard magazine.
Wow. I stopped reading the article right there. My anger level reached the point of “FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE” right quick.
Because we all know lawyers don’t read comics. Funny, I attended Comic Con with a lawyer last year – and she wasn’t there as an “investor.”
*eye roll*stabs*
You know, it’s this attitude that keeps the comic freak flag folded. I was watching Comedians of Comedy with Patton Oswald. He talked about how he doesn’t usually like to talk about his comics and his love of them because of the way their viewed.
And I can understand it because of articles like these. Geez, like everyone who’s above the age of fifteen and reads comics can’t possibly have a good job or stay out of their Spider-man underoos.
Well, I convert people to comics. I’m a televangelists of the comic book movement. I say we go out there and show these retards that comics are cool, literate and a viable medium! Who’s with me?
What is your teaser comic for people? I used to use Pedro and Me. If they’re really interested, I give them Preacher. Y the Last Man is good too.
The one thing that needs to be said over and over is that this is just one more way to tell good stories. Just like you can tell good stories in movies, or TV, or in novels or short stories. These are just illustrated versions of stories, not kids cartoons.
It’s not a hard concept, but people can’t wrap their heads around it.
Teaser comic? Depends on the person, really. I tend to customize my recommendations (first purchases) on the personality.
I’ve used Elfquest, Strangers In Paradise, Ultimate X-Men and Watchmen.
Y: The Last Man has worked wonders for me.