Two thought pieces on comics and the economy at The Beat and The Comics Reporter today… one wonders whether comics has seen the worst of the recession, or if the effects are simply delayed; the other defends comics’ right to survive the economic turmoil.
Comics, or specifically the direct market mode of non-returnable distribution, may be shielded somewhat from the more dire consequences of the recession, but it isn’t immune. Here’s an illuminating quote from our monthly Diamond product solicitation email:
Another important note, I am sure you are all aware of the current economic realities. As a result, we will be a bit more selective on what we are able to carry. Posters and prints, except in rare circumstances, will not be considered. Additionally, we will be forced to cut back on offered again items. All items will be reviewed.
That’s pretty significant. Looking through several issues of Previews Adult, where we hang out, there seems to be a couple pubs that rely heavily on high-end posters.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Diamond should actually lower its minimum sales threshhold during this recession? I sure hope the direct market doesn’t repeat the mistake of Borders and B&N, which is to cut buying so aggressively, they became even more unprofitable because they had nothing to sell.
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Top Japanese digital works seller DLSite is opening its doors to Francophones… creators may now submit their comics, CGs, photos, or games in French via Curious Factory. If you wish to reach a wider Japanese audience, who seem to have embraced for-pay comics downloads far more than the West, CF also offers Japanese translation services…
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Missed it - eroge pub/retailer JAST USA is having a 5-dollar off sale on select titles, plus a free Hirameki International game for every two games purchased. Since Hirameki is long defunct, this might be your last opportunity to get those games…
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Brigid Alversion, writing for the School Library Journal, interviews Tokyopop editor Bryce Coleman about the publisher’s growing line of non-Japanese comics. Much attention is given to Orange, a visually unique full color comic from China.
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Anime Vice has gone live, and it’s looking good… real good.
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Remember the Supreme Court case that legalized vertical pricing? In that trial, a small, specialty jeans maker succesfully argued that maintaining a minimum price and level of service was critical to its branding strategy. The ruling, which said vertical pricing can only be allowed when it promotes competition and benefit consumers, was closely observed by the direct market, specifically the card gaming segment where many retailers have wanted gaming distributors to enforce minimum pricing.
The Wall Street Journal now reports that super-big companies such as Sony and Samsung, manufacturers which really don’t compete on floor service, have literally created an industry of price enforcers who scour the internet and threaten to blackball authorized dealers who break their MAP (minimum advertised price) policies. As for unauthorized sellers, the manufacturers resort to issuing trademark infringement claims. Major discounter Costco and online auction site eBay, among others, are now preparing to challenge MAP in court.
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ANN notes that popular manga Kannagi has been placed on hiatus due to illness. Having neither seen the anime nor read the manga, this story is only amusing to me in that the real reason may be the laughably preposterous otaku outrage directed at the author for a recent revelation in the manga regarding the “chasteness” of the lead female character. Maybe this is grounds for 2D marriage annulment. Sigh.
Then again, some otaku have done much, much worse things…
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Also via ANN, the Mainichi newspaper reports that an unemployed man being held by police for murdering a 5-year old girl is an anime/manga fan. For media which is quick to point to the corrupting influence of violent or sexually explicit manga, there’s a twist… the killer’s extensive collection is mostly of shoujo, i.e. anime and manga made for young girls such as Pretty Cure.
Sankaku Complex has more details, along with photos of the murderer days before his arrest. Apparently, he was in trouble for stalking other women in his neighborhood… and a reporter was able to make a connection before the police did.
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