COMICS CULTURE SHRAPNEL from CBEM 303
I've been thinking about these top ten lists originating from outside publications. You know, the ones from publications like "Time" that list works like "Safe Area Gozarde" and "David Boring." Things I'd never read otherwise. Not because I think they're bad or anything - I'm sure they're all fine works that deserve to be recognized. But they're just not *my* thing. I like science fiction and adventure, and I like my fix to be quick and cheap. I like to pay with a five dollar bill and only a five dollar bill. These works are entire books, books which cost money that I don't have. And I haven't looked at the demographics lately, but Time is not an expensive magazine. Anyone can buy it. How many of these newbies are going to take the risk because Time or some other magazine says so?
Maybe they will, who knows. And just so you know, I'm trying not to pick on Time in particular, it's just the only one I remember clearly. But assuming that someone does read these articles, and so decides to pick one of these books up, what are the chances they'll find them in a store?
Your typical comic store is not very big, not very diverse. They carry mostly superhero stuff, maybe some Vertigo, some funny books, whatever. You know these places - what are the chances they'll have any of these books? (with the exception of Alan Moore's stuff) With notable exceptions like Jim Hanley's Universe (which put up a display in the front with every book on the Time Top Ten list), most comic shops are a dead end.
Maybe our curious reader will try a bookstore. Not a bad choice, I've seen a few of the honored titles there. Except in most bookstores, graphic novels are relegated to a ghetto next to the science fiction and fantasy books. They're wedged in between role-playing games and substandard superhero crap - companions which certainly don't enhance their reputation. Then again, they might not even be there. It's a sad and confusing situation for our newbie.
Ordering online is the last refuge for our curious reader, and gives them no way to preview the book if they wished, makes it hard for them to change their mind. This can impact negatively on future purchases. The comics industry loses another battle for the reader's money.
Just yesterday I listened to two men, probably in their mid-twenties, discussing comics on the bus. They were talking about JLA and Authority with a little bit of Planetary thrown in. I failed to jump in mostly because I was tired and cranky from school. But I listened to every word, and it made me think how important to honor and promote the stuff *we* like instead of letting the outside world make its own judgments. Judgments that might throw us for a loop and leave us shrugging shoulders.