ComicsPRO meeting: Thoughts and comments

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the third annual ComicsPRO members’ meeting drew to a close, retailers said they felt refreshed and recharged from the three-day conference.

“This experience has refined my understanding of what my job is,” said Atom! Freeman, of Brave New World Comics in Santa Clarita, Calif. “The day to day can really muddy your perceptions … being in a room full of people who know what you’re going through can refine what is you should be doing.”

Several retailers revealed in informal conversation that they believe the ComicsPRO conference to be the most important event on the comics retail calendar; the increasing membership and presence of the largest suppliers, most available to connect with on a one-to-one basis, would seem to bear that out.

While some retailers shared fears with me prior to the meeting, after the meeting, retailers said they felt better prepared to face the challenges of the future.

Some additional notes:

– While I plan much more in-depth coverage on this later, I’ll say now that talking to Geoff Johns about the upcoming “Flash: Rebirth” and “Blackest Night” has me very excited about the DC Universe in 2009.