Please ignore my ignorance but

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Okay, I amdittedly have come to the comic game late. I maybe bought one issue of Spiderman when I was a kid, and I read the old Sonic comic from Archie for a while, but I didn't really become a comic book reader until a few years ago when I got into manga via my friend who also got me into anime. Most of what I have read is old Marvel stuff in my library, but I've gone to Free Comic Book Day two times now(went two years ago, missed last year, went this year) and every time the Marvel books are printed on nice magazine paper but DC is on this cheap rough paper. Is DC in worse shape than Marvel right now and hence they can't afford the good paper? It doesn't help their reputation with me, certainly.

[Vyce 0]

While I think Marvel generally sells better than DC comics, I don't imagine DC is in bad shape......after all, they're owned by Time Warner, who has some deep pockets.

 

The flashy Marvel paper is really more of a style thing. The Marvel head honchos go for that sort of thing to draw your attention, make their product look snazzier.

 

Frankly, I'm the type of guy who'd go for the industry using cheaper paper if it'll help drop the cost of books down.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

While I think Marvel generally sells better than DC comics, I don't imagine DC is in bad shape......after all, they're owned by Time Warner, who has some deep pockets.

 

The flashy Marvel paper is really more of a style thing. The Marvel head honchos go for that sort of thing to draw your attention, make their product look snazzier.

 

Frankly, I'm the type of guy who'd go for the industry using cheaper paper if it'll help drop the cost of books down.

I think part of it is that DC doesn't want to put out high quality paper as a giveaway. It would cost more, and they want to save money, being part of a major corporation and all. Their comics are usually on paper that's equal to Marvel, though.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The high-quality paper thing is far less frequent with DC than Marvel: you'll find it in Superman/Batman, Identity Crisis, and Loeb/Lee's Batman run.

[Steviekick 0]

They mostly use the nice paper for special books.

 

It also seems like an effective cost cutting devise...DC books are usually cheaper.