Pulse of the Marketplace
This month, Diamond would like your input on the following question:
What 2007 industry-related events are you most looking forward to, and why?
Please email or fax your responses to your Diamond Customer Service Representative. Answers will be published throughout the month of February in this article.
February Pulse Question Retailer Responses:
“We’ll be hosting a pre-release of the comic this spring by Stephen Lindsay, titled Jesus Hates Zombies, at our Empire Comics Stone Road location in Rochester, NY. This will be a great opportunity to meet Stephen who is also a filmmaker heading to Sundance this year. This book should tie in with the numerous hot zombie titles selling now.”
Tony Furfferi
Manager, Empire Comics
Rochester, NY
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“I always look forward to industry events as opportunities to catch up with all the people I've come to know in the business of comics. I'll be attending WonderCon in early March, APE in April, Comic-Con International: San Diego in July and the Diamond/Alliance Summit in September – all are fun, informative events.
“But the event I'm most looking forward to this year is the first annual meeting of ComicsPRO, April 12-13 in Las Vegas. ComicsPRO is the retailers' trade organization and we're working on a full agenda to do everything we can to improve business for direct market storefront retailers. This will be the industry's first retailer-directed trade event in recent memory, so I hope all comic retailers take the initiative to attend.”
Joe Field
Owner, Flying Color Comics & Other Cool Stuff
Concord, CA
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“With the summer ramping up and a ton of movies coming out, I will be doing cross promotions with the local movie theater to set up a booth in their front lobby to display advertising for my store and upcoming comic events. For example, for the upcoming Ghost Rider movie we’ll be there to promote Ghost Rider trades and comics, as well as stuff for the upcoming Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Spider-Man 3 and 300.
“We are also participating in Sebastacon, which is a convention taking place for the first time in a town about 10 miles from our store. We are in the process of trying to get some comic artists and writers into our store for signings, hopefully related to upcoming movies. Getting people excited about comic books also affects how many comic book movies they will see.
“More ideas always pop up and we try to make the most of them.”
Danny Radovic
Owner, Outer Planes
Santa Rosa, CA
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“This is our 20th year selling comic books and we are giddy with anticipation for the year ahead. We’ve planned several industry and non-industry events for 2007: we kicked off the year once again with TromaDance 2007; hosting the writer of Hatter M and The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor, in our stores this February; a huge DC Comics 52 wrap-up party; Free Comic Book Day; 24 Hour Comic Book Day; The Art of Bill Morrison art exhibit at The City Library; and a library-sponsored comic book symposium.
“Dr. Robyn A. Hill and I, along with several industry greats, will once again present the Secret Origin of Good Readers for educators and librarians at WonderCon and Comic-Con International: San Diego this year. Honestly, I don’t know how I can pick a favorite event!"
Mimi Cruz
Manager, Night Flight Comics
Salt Lake City, UT
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“I’m looking forward to Comic-Con International: San Diego, which I hope to attend this year. As a longtime enthusiast in comics and other related items, I would like to get the chance to attend this event, but will need to save enough to do so. Some day…”
Felix J. Cua
Owner, Druid’s Keep
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
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“We are in Singapore, where most customers look forward to comic-related movies. They are now awaiting the release of Ghost Rider!”
Bill Teoh
Owner, Comics World
Singapore
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“I’m looking forward to conventions, because I believe these kind of events let comic collectors and people see a lot of different kinds of comics and other related stuff. They also offer the chance to have your own comics signed by your favorite writer and artist, and to talk to them personally, even for a short period of time.
“I’m also looking forward to comic book movie adaptations, like Ghost Rider, 300 and Spider-Man 3, because they let people who aren’t inclined to read comics see super-heroes in action, and maybe they’ll become aware of the characters and start to collect comics.”
Filemon J. Barbasa
President & CEO, Filbar’s
Quezon City, Philippines
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“I’m looking forward to Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) on May 5. I also hold my yearly annual sale during FCBD; everything up to 50% off, same day as Free Comic Book Day. Plus, I continue Free Comic Book Day the next day as well, since some customers cannot make it on the main day, making it a two-day annual event. Not only does FCBD bring in the customers, the sale also does its job bringing in the money. I contact the local paper a week before the event, and every year a reporter comes to the store, does an interview and takes pictures, then prints the story two days before the event. This year, I’ll also do more FCBD advertising.”
John Roma
Owner/Manager, The Neutral Zone
Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada
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“I’m looking forward to seeing comics as a whole get broader and more serious attention from mainstream media.
“For TV networks, the fall seems to be the time to make big announcements as to new series, specials, actors, etc. For the comic industry, it usually starts in February and goes to July, centering around conventions. The New York Comic Con in February will likely be the spot for some cool new things to be unveiled. Oni Pres has Stephen Colbert touting hisTek Jansen comic, DC has an event to announce and so on. Wizard World, Comic-Con International: San Diego and others also get media attention, and it all goes to raising awareness of comics’ existence and their renewed popularity. Also at the cons, many book publishers have taken to making announcements and debuting some of their new entries into the comic world.
“DC’s Minx line, First Second Books and Scholastic all have new cool things on the horizon that will hopefully catch the eye of people who don’t’ traditionally read comics. Once they find something they like – they’re mine (or another local comic book shop’s potential new customer)! There’s a saying here in the maritimes of Canada: a rising tide floats all boats. I truly believe that.
“A healthy book-reading public-at-large, willing to try new things, and who are told about new things, will enjoy comics. We need to get the word out to them, and media attention surrounding the cons (and comic book movies to an extent) seems to be the best time to strike and get a few mentions in about some cool new books with broad appeal.
“The best thing to happen in comics this year would be for Entertainment Weekly to start a regular comic book section. Not just once in awhile in the ‘Books’ section, but a dedicated page every week. Then, perhaps some other pop culture media might follow suit.”
Calum Johnston
Owner, Strange Adventures Comic Bookshops
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
