Reported death of comic books has been greatly exaggerated
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Despite increasing sales and the nearly $900 million worldwide take of "Spider-Man 3,” a Los Angeles Times opinion writer thinks comics are "dying.” Comic-book retailers disagree. PHOTO PROVIDED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES
That's the opinion of Tim Cavanaugh, Web editor of The Times' editorial page, even though sales of comic books have risen steadily for five straight years.
"What's strange about this grim reprieve for the industry is that it is so hard to see in the popular culture,” Cavanaugh writes, perhaps missing the $900 million that "Spider-Man 3” grossed worldwide this summer.
Oh, wait, Cavanaugh has an explanation for that.
"While half-century-old superheroes continue to dominate the dying medium of motion pictures, and manga and graphic novels have provided a transfusion for the dying medium of books, there's precious little anecdotal evidence that comics are anything but moribund,” Cavanaugh writes.
Well, perhaps Cavanaugh missed "300,” which topped box-office charts in spring; or the strong sales enjoyed by the Frank Miller graphic novel on which the film was based. Or the upcoming "Stardust” based on Neil Gaiman's serialized story from DC Comics.
He writes around this a bit by saying few things optioned were created in the "last decade,” but given development times in Hollywood, I think that's more of an indictment of films than comics. I suppose comics should feel in good company, since Cavanaugh also considers movies, books and newspapers as part of dying culture. I suppose as the Web editor of The Times' editorial page, he'll give a reprieve to the Internet.
What really seems short-sighted about Cavanaugh's article is his complete ignorance of modern comic-book stores, which for the most part have left the "comic-book guy” stereotypes in the past. Cavanaugh must have found some exception, however.
"If you take your kids to a comic shop (as I foolishly did a few weeks back), the cloying, creepy, did-I-accidentally-enter-a-porn-shop vibe will underscore just how empty and depressed the place is. Visit a full-service newsstand and the lone, ragged Green Lantern title brings home the grim news that there's nothing left for the guardians of Oa to guard,” Cavanaugh writes.
This was far from the impression this writer was left with upon attending the ComicsPro annual meeting in Las Vegas this spring, where a group of energized, industrious comic store retail owners talked about growth and professionalism.
ComicsPro board member Carr D'Angelo of Earth-2 comics in Sherman Oaks, Calif., took exception to Cavanaugh's stereotyping of L.A. comic-book stores.
"Los Angeles is home to some of the most progressive comic-book stores in the country, such as Golden Apple, House of Secrets, Meltdown, Secret Headquarters,” D'Angelo said via e-mail. "None of these shops, nor our shop Earth-2, give off a ‘porn-shop vibe.' There is a wide range of great comics that can be found at any of these shops. Unfortunately, the writer chooses to judge the entire art form by one visit to a poorly stocked ‘Android's Dungeon.'”
Amanda Fisher, a member of the founding board of ComicsPro ( www.comicspro.org), responded to The Oklahoman about Cavanaugh's column.
"The same way that you can still find old, dusty bookstores, I'm sure you can happen upon an old, depressing comic-bookstore. But just as you wouldn't walk away from that lonely bookstore thinking that all booksellers everywhere are worn out and tired, you shouldn't make the same assumption of comic-book stores!” said Fisher, who owns Muse Comics in Missoula, Mont. "With rising comic-booksales every year, and new comic-book retailers springing up all over the country, one creepy comic store should not be held up as an example of the comic-book industry as a whole. Comic retailers today love promoting pop culture in professional, family-friendly stores, and we are proud to advocate the wonderful storytelling and beautiful artwork that can be found within the comic-book medium.”
