Guest starvenger Report post Posted January 2, 2003 Budget concious true believers, be warned!! While Marvel strenuously said that they were not planning on raising the cover prices of any of their books for the foreseeable future in 2002 when DC raised its cover prices on over 20 monthly series, it appears that the future is now. Newsarama has learned that Marvel will raise the cover prices on 13 titles beginning in April. For the most part, the price increase adds $.74 to the cover price, and affects books selling in Marvel’s lower tier, corresponding to titles selling at #30 or below in the Top 300 sales chart. According to ICV2 sales estimates, the increase affects books cover priced at $2.25 that are ordered at (roughly, given ICV2’s estimates) less than 45,000 copies per month. All of the 13 titles will raise in cover price from $2.25 to $2.99, effective with the April-shipping issue. The titles and issue numbers affected are: Agent X #10, Black Panther #57, Captain Marvel #8, Exiles #25, Iron Man # 67, Marville # 7, Soldier X # 10, Spider-Girl # 59,Thor # 62, Thunderbolts # 78, Ultimate Adventures # 5, Weapon X # 8, and X-Statix #10. This new pricing structure pulls the titles into line with Marvel’s other titles selling at the #30 spot or greater on the Top 300 list (mostly Marvel Knights and MAX titles), all of which are priced at $2.99. Reached for a comment late Tuesday, a Marvel spokesperson said: ”This is simply a situation where we either raise the cover price of some of these series or be faced with canceling them. This option allows us to continue publishing titles that enjoy loyal fan bases and puts the choice in the hands of the readers as to whether or not to continue following them.” This doesn't affect me that much, since I was already dropping Agent X for budget reasons and only collect Exiles out of that bunch, but for some of you this is gonna mean more ramen and Big 'n' Tastys... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Karnage Report post Posted January 2, 2003 I think all comic prices should be lowered... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Youth N Asia Report post Posted January 2, 2003 I don't really read comics anymore, I just pick up TPB's cheap when I can get them. I think it really sucks though that just like with sports cards they have priced the kids right out of the hobby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pochorenella Report post Posted January 2, 2003 From that list the only title I regularly get is Iron Man, but I have a subscription going so it won't affect me (yet). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest gthureson Report post Posted January 3, 2003 You know, if they dropped the price to maybe $2, maybe more people would be willing to stick it out on a book to see if it gets better, or take a flyer on it and buy it for awhile to see if its any good. Raising the price pretty much just guarantees the sales won't go higher, and that people will drop it that much quicker if the quality takes a stumble. Long term, its not going to work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sassquatch Report post Posted January 4, 2003 As a collector of Iron Man all I can say is: Fucking lame. Marvel thinks that raising the price will in turn help them earn back their lost profits which has been hit or miss (specifically Xtreme X-Men). But in this case, raising the prices to these books will just be more of a turn off for fans and threaten the futures of these books even more. Marvel loves shitting on DC for their poor mismanagement and lower selling books yet Marvel is just as guilty as DC. The interviews that Marvel honchos Jemas and Quesada have given have all been smoke and mirrors this year as they swore up and down that no other books would be priced higher and promised that they would do everything possible to keep that from happening. Nice job guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Youth N Asia Report post Posted January 4, 2003 I worked in a comic book store for a couple years. I read a lot to get familar with stuff, I liked it. Earlier this year I went to a comic book store to see what's what, thought about getting back in. But they've restarted everything?! WHY?! DC comics still has all their books they way there were, Action and Detective are going to reach 1,000 issues. But Marvel's started everything all over...and I flipped though an couple newer Spiderman books, and the art sucked. I'm really turned off by the new books Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sassquatch Report post Posted January 4, 2003 But they've restarted everything?! WHY?! DC comics still has all their books they way there were, Action and Detective are going to reach 1,000 issues. But Marvel's started everything all over...and I flipped though an couple newer Spiderman books, and the art sucked. Most of Marvel's books became so unreadable in 1996 to 1998 that the company decided to give the books a face lift and restart the series' with a brand new #1 issue. It was supposed to make fans think that the 1st series' problems were gone but many of the revamped books stagnated and were cancelled/revamped again just recently. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cynicalprofit Report post Posted January 5, 2003 They seriously need to stop making books and turn it into a cd media. It would be cheaper to make and produce, a cd cost what 15 cents, stick a dollar on it to make money and another 10 to make it 1.25 even, and everyone wins. Sure it kills the paper aspect, and they can still do paper comic books, but this method would be a lot cheaper and I think this time society is read for the comic book cd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted January 5, 2003 It's this type of shit which will help send the comic business back on the path to extinction. I pick up Exiles & Agent X, and now I have to seriously consider dropping both of them. I agree - fucking lame. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Report post Posted January 5, 2003 So if all 3 U-Decide books prices are raised what was the point of U-Decide. Marvel should drop some of those books anyway. keep Panther, Marvel, Thunderbolts, Thor, and Iron man at 2.25, drop the rest, and BOOM! You're making a profit again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted January 5, 2003 Of those, I only buy Exiles & X-Statix, so a difference of $1.50/month won't affect me that much. It really does suck, though. Marvel should drop some of those books anyway. keep Panther, Marvel, Thunderbolts, Thor, and Iron man at 2.25, drop the rest, and BOOM! You're making a profit again. As of December 2002, Exiles & X-Statix sell better than any of those (Thor & Iron Man are close though). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest subliminal_animal Report post Posted January 6, 2003 It's this type of shit which will help send the comic business back on the path to extinction. I pick up Exiles & Agent X, and now I have to seriously consider dropping both of them. I agree - fucking lame. From my understanding, they'd be losing money by continuing to print the books at the current prices. If they're just doing it to save them for the axe for people that want them spared, what's wrong with this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted January 6, 2003 The problem is economics. Like any company, Marvel is trying to get the maximum net profit out of their products, which keeps the board and the owners (ie investors) happy. In this case, the product happens to be comics, and Marvel's decision was to raise prices, in the hope that the increased $0.74 will not cause them to lose many readers, thus increasing profitability. That's really the key, though. While I doubt that they'll lose to many people that are working, seeing as they can better absorb a 74 cent hit, those that aren't - essentially college-age and younger - may end up dropping one or more of the higher-priced comics. OK, that's a bit simplified. I'm not taking inflation, costs of paper, probable salary increases, Jemas' kickbacks etc into account, but that's more or less the basics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest netslob Report post Posted January 6, 2003 great, i'm fucked...i buy 5 outta that 13...oh well, hopefully by April i'll be making more money, assuming i get more hours at work (*grumblegrumblegrumble*) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HellSpawn Report post Posted January 7, 2003 Well, Its a shame, but like Starvenger said "This doesn't affect me that much." Im not reading any of that titles. BUT, c'mon, they raised 70+ cents and they think people still gonna buy the book? are they dumb? I do believe some of you is correct, if you DROP the price is easier for people to try the book, and that means more $$$ and another thing... Black Panther #57?? What? are you sayin that BP has been out for 57 issues?? why??? And spider girl raised too, I guees this is really the final nail in her coffin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest areacode212 Report post Posted January 7, 2003 I think they should do some kind of short-term price cut on groups of books at a time to hook new readers. Like lower, say, Alias, Daredevil and Punisher, to $1.99 for 4 months. Then raise them back up to the normal prices, then do the same for Avengers, Thor & Iron Man for another 4 months. The readers who liked them will (hopefully) stick with the books, even at the regular price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted January 8, 2003 But they've restarted everything?! WHY?! DC comics still has all their books they way there were, Action and Detective are going to reach 1,000 issues. But Marvel's started everything all over...and I flipped though an couple newer Spiderman books, and the art sucked. Most of Marvel's books became so unreadable in 1996 to 1998 that the company decided to give the books a face lift and restart the series' with a brand new #1 issue. It was supposed to make fans think that the 1st series' problems were gone but many of the revamped books stagnated and were cancelled/revamped again just recently. My Uncle has been collecting comics since the early 60s and had every X-Men book up until 96-98 and just quit it because the story sucked and all the crosovers pissed him off. If they are turning off 40 year fans then they have a problem, no matter what the price is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted January 9, 2003 It's this type of shit which will help send the comic business back on the path to extinction. I pick up Exiles & Agent X, and now I have to seriously consider dropping both of them. I agree - fucking lame. From my understanding, they'd be losing money by continuing to print the books at the current prices. If they're just doing it to save them for the axe for people that want them spared, what's wrong with this? Honestly, I'd rather they just cancel the books then. I'd rather lose a title I enjoyed than have to pay through the teeth for the book and STILL know that it is always, in some way, on the chopping block. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sassquatch Report post Posted January 12, 2003 Marvel and DC have shafted the readers before by raising the prices on the books that were deemed "unsalvagable" by the front offices but then the books went through some changes and they were no longer on the chopping block. I have collected dozens of books that were always thought to be axed come the next month so I have gotten use to the poor business policies of the comic book industry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pochorenella Report post Posted January 12, 2003 So what's the deal with all this "9 cent" comics and stuff like that? They filled their mouths saying they lost money left and right with this but then they're "doing it for the fans", and next thing you know they're pulling out shit like this price raising policy. Areacode's idea sounds nice. If somebody could at least make it reach the head honchos at either company then maybe they can open their eyes. I can dream, can I? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted January 13, 2003 So what's the deal with all this "9 cent" comics and stuff like that? They filled their mouths saying they lost money left and right with this but then they're "doing it for the fans", and next thing you know they're pulling out shit like this price raising policy. In the case of Daredevil, it's pretty obvious that it was done in conjunction with the DD movie. With the others, it's basically to help raise the profiles of books that already sell well. I can't say that it's a bad business move though - you're trying to draw in new readers, and it's better to draw them to a solid draw like FF as opposed to something that's likely to be cancelled like Marville. Doesn't mean that it doesn't suck, though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sassquatch Report post Posted January 14, 2003 The cheap price deal was simply done to wrangle in some new fans who might have an interest in buying comic books only to then be cock slapped by DC and Marvel with high priced books of paper and pictures. While the big guns have pulled in huge numbers due to the cheap price tag, other books suffer due to having to pick up the bill where DC and Marvel might have not been able to with the cheap comic price deal. Selling nearly a quarter of a million comic books looks nice on paper but when the books are priced at 10 cents instead of $2.25 it falls short from being declared a monumental win for comic books. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
