Is It Worth It? Plus- Showcase Presents- Batman Vol. 1

We talk a lot about how kids comics help stores grow tomorrow’s full time comic book readers, otherwise known as customers. But, is it worth the time and the effort for comic shops to do all this extra work? Well seeing something the other week sparked a through on how it might be more worth it more than ever.

It might take a minute or two to get to the point this week, but there is a point.
Took a friend to the Apple store to help her pick out a new Mac computer. Having to be able to work both PC and Mac at Archie Comics HQ and for years having one of each at home (thought I was so cool) it was a good excuse to head over to the mall and look at some of the new things Mac has to offer. The line was massive. The help in the store was great. One glaring thing popped out, a lot of adults were there picking up Macs, but a ton of college bound students were there. Why?


Then I happened to stumble upon an Amazon review:

Macintosh in high schools. (Apple microcomputers) (Macintosh Special Issue supplement): An article from: T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education) Macintosh in High Schools
In 1984, when the Mac was first introduced, industry pundits questioned for whom it was developed. Its memory (then 128K) and power were, at the time, considered insufficient for business users, and there was little software available.
Others recognized early on that its simplicity made it ideally suited to education, and even to relatively young computer users. In fact, it was rumored that one member of the original Mac development team wanted to make the machine easy enough for his 13-year-old brother to use.

They focused on tomorrow’s customers.

Growing up every school seemed to be getting Mac computers for their computer labs. Parents were complaining for lot of reasons but most common was that most homes had PC’s. Fast-forward a few decades later and the computer of choice; the cool computer is the Mac. Granted the i-Pod didn’t hurt put Mac in demand.

After becoming accustomed to using a Mac every day, it becomes the norm and preferred computer. So how does that relate to comics?

Schools and Libraries are for the first time in history openly and in large numbers going after comics and Graphic Novels to feed the shelves and minds of kids. Seeing the point develop?

We have an opportunity now for the first time in comics to have some real support in the mainstream. How do we capitalize on this?

A lot of this falls on the comic book store. With their support and efforts the industry benefits and the comic shops will really benefit.

The first and most important plan should be to hit these kids up with comics fast and early. The standard thinking here works:

• Place the kids comics and graphic novels near the front of the store

• This way the kids stay in one spot and don’t wreck the place. The hardcore comic readers like yours truly don’t mind traipsing through the store. We are there every week anyway we know where everything is.

• All the kids’ stuff should be in one section. Graphic Novels and comics all together. Most kids and their parents have no clue of the difference. They may think a graphic is too expensive and opt for the $2.25 comic instead. Which is fine, the kid will probably want more and they will be back later.

• FORGET Alphabetical order! Think like Blockbuster Video stores, you know those little signs “If you like this movie you like this movie” Sonic X and Teen Titans Go! should be together. Amelia Rules! and WJHC next to each other and so on.

• Remember “think: LOW!”. Kids have historically been shorter than most adults through history. Keep stuff for kids below 4 feet! Use that upper wall space for a “Hey, Kids Comics” or “Free Comic Book Day” poster. Or even better, toys that kids would love and you would love to sell.

Another great idea by Mike Bullock, a comic’s writer and creator of the All Ages smash hit Lions, Tigers and Bears; (Review: CLICK HERE) had come up with a great program to encourage interaction between comic shops and libraries. The same program would work with schools or camps. CLICK HERE

Is it worth it? If you want to comics to be around stronger than ever in 20 years, then yes. Is it a lot of work for the local comic stores? Yes.

However if you comic shop people don’t have the time to do the work, bribe some kids to do it. They volunteer if you offer free comics!

If you are a comic storeowner or employee, drop an email. It would be great to hear your thoughts on this!

Another thing in life that I’ve always felt was worth it, is marriage. My fellow Archie co-worker and all around great guy Stephen Oswald just tied the not. Congratulations!


source : www.comicsbulletin.com