THE COST OF COMICS — Are we paying too much?


Over my years as a comic book fan not much has changed when it comes to story and artwork. But the prices fluctuate faster than gasoline cost in the Winter. When I started reading back in the 90’s issues rarely reached $3.50 and if they did it was something special like X-Men #25 with the holographic cards on the cover.

XMen25_cover As a collector it’s easy to see the gradual price increase, hell the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1 was only 10 cents when it released.

In the end you really have to look at who has the best value. For me it’s a battle between Marvel and DC but for others its publishers such as Image, IDW, 2000ADDynamite, Aspen and Zenescope.

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 17:05:29As a comic reader this can be pretty frustrating. Living on a budget trying to afford your habits but wanting a book with the most story and pages. On Marvel‘s own website they don’t even list the count and it seems really deceptive. For example Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man always leaves me a little ticked off because in 10 minutes you can have all twenty pages read! And now you’re angry because you have to wait another month for the next one.

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 17:33:54

At least DC will charge $3.99 for 10-15 pages more. This still doesn’t explain how comics have gone up to double what they were in the 90’s. Even for an issue so spectacular as Batman getting his back broke or Superman dying we didn’t have to pay over $2.00. 

This brings me to the second part of my rant: DIGITAL COMICS.

Are you aware that even if you buy a digital copy of a comic, you don’t really own it. Your paying the same cover price for a book you’re only renting from the service. Lets say something happens to Comixology or Amazon, what then for those purchases stored in the cloud? Will they go bye bye forever? It’s the same with digital versions of films, sure you have access to those videos you watch but you never really own them. I purchase a lot from digital because I can’t afford to go to the local comic shops and I don’t want to wait for those issues I can start reading right on launch day. But why are we paying full retail price for a digital version of a book that gives us no resale value?

action1percent100

The same goes to digital copies of video games. I never understood why people purchased that way when you can’t let a friend barrow them and you can’t sell them. Could you Imagine if the original Action Comics #1 launched in digital as well as physical? How angry would you be once you found out that one version was worth close to 2 million while the other wasn’t worth the 10 cents you downloaded it for?

I know it sounds like I despise them but in truth I just loath those prices. And sure, after they have been out for a few months they drop but you don’t get that fresh smell, the excitement of changing the page and the challenge of reading that comic while still trying to keep it mint. And to me, adding the panel to panel view that digital offers just isn’t enough to warrant the price. What needs to happen is that comics should always include a digital copy much like buying a Blu-ray combo pack.

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 17:42:52In all honesty the only reason to purchase digital is convenience but Marvel Unlimited offers a flat rate subscription to view an entire archive of comics. At $9.99 a month you get massive amounts of comics but it isn’t the same. And DC has yet to follow along and I don’t believe it’s because of their business sense. Maybe they’re embarrassed to show how much different their heroes were but hey I could be wrong.

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 16:47:29

As a reader who started out in the 90’s I’ve noticed a huge price inflation for comic books and now that there are more options it makes me wonder what the future holds? Are they going to start printing less and releasing more digital? Is Panel to Panel really worth paying for something you don’t ever really own? I have no real answer but I would hate to one day find out that digital is the only thing we have left. Because even if you look at the terms and agreements of ComiXology you have no control. You’re bound to whatever they say.

I don’t want to scare anyone away because if you don’t have a shop close to you or you’re impatient or you happen to prefer the awesomeness of the Panel to Panel View then go digital. But if you like that physical feel just get a real copy and if you’re rich buy both!

COMIXOLOGY TERMS OF USE  

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 17:07:52

Screenshot from 2014-06-09 17:09:13