tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post6659559974421280254..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: The trouble with comic booksRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-13339170755640119312007-03-22T03:33:00.000-07:002007-03-22T03:33:00.000-07:00Record earnings doesn't mean record comic-book sal...Record earnings doesn't mean record comic-book sales. Both companies earn tons of money from licensing and related products such as movies and games. I doubt they get the majority of their income from comics anymore.<BR/><BR/>Marvel is part of Marvel Entertainment Inc., a publicly owned company. DC is part of Time Warner. This description of Marvel suggests how publishing is only a small part of the business now:<BR/><BR/>http://www.business.com/directory/media_and_entertainment/publishing/magazines/marvel_entertainment_group,_inc/profile<BR/><BR/>Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. is a diversified, youth entertainment company featuring content based on developing, creating powerful brand equity of the more than 3,500 characters, among them are Spiderman and X-man, and other major sports and entertainment properties. The company conducts its business in three ways. One, direct operations such as Marvel Comics Group, Fleer/SkyBox, Panini and the newly created Marvel Software. Two, through relationships such as its equity interest in Toy Biz and its themed restaurant joint venture with Planet Hollywood. Three, licensing of Marvel characters to develop TV series and feature films, videogames, advertising promotions, apparel and consumer products. The company acquired some companies like Skybox, Panini and others in 1995.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-27821116795676196822007-03-22T01:05:00.000-07:002007-03-22T01:05:00.000-07:00I've heard conflicting claims about comic-book sal...I've heard conflicting claims about comic-book sales. I asked my local dealer about them and he said the numbers have been up and down in recent years, but level overall. I wonder if publications like Entertainment Weekly are confusing the popularity of comics made into movies with actual sales.<BR/><BR/>Good point that any statistics have to take the increased price of comics into account. The figures to look at include dollar value of comics sold, inflation-adjusted dollar value of comics sold, and number of comics sold. I'm pretty sure a trade magazine could tell us these numbers and thus answer our questions.<BR/><BR/>But I believe the article is correct in saying the long-term trend (over several decades) is downward. What with the competition from video games and the escalating prices, I don't see it going up again. I doubt comics will ever be the mass medium they once were.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.com