Confessions of a Comic Book Guy is a weekly column by Steve Bennett of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  This week, Bennett looks at comics based on licenses vs. original concepts.

I appreciate that Jay Baradyla of Happy Harbor Comics took the time to respond to my comment on licensed comics in last week's column (see "Jay Bardyla of Happy Harbor Comics on TV Comics").  A spot check of my past columns shows  I've written quite a bit about licensed comics over the years but instead of doing what I usually do, which is pull out the pertinent quotes then reference the column they came from (which probably annoys me as much as it does all of you) I thought I would collate some of my past statements into a new one.  So if any of this seems familiar to long time readers, that's why.

I've written repeatedly about how I'm always looking for good, original comics, especially ones that are independently owned and operated, but those titles seem to be increasingly few and far between lately.  I'm not saying that there aren't good licensed comics, if you'll recall the last time I reported on a comic I was blown away by it was Honey West, a licensed comic.  And it's not that I blame licensed comics for the fact we have less original ones, but sometimes I do wonder how many good, original comics we've missed out on because our shelves are clogged with licensed titles.

One of the things that, in my opinion, made the 80's a second Golden Age (a Gilded Age, if you will) was the idea that a creator could (and should) own his own creation, which gave us an embarrassment of riches, titles such as Aztec Ace, Nexus, Badger, Grimjack, American Flagg, Sable, Ms.Tree, Mr. Monster, Fusion, Sabre, Flaming Carrot, Concrete and literally too many to name.  But now the thinking appears to be (to quote a line that I've always loved from Leonard Starr's great comic strip Mary Perkins On Stage) 'any kid can make stuff up.'  Publishing any comic is a gamble but there seems to be an automatic assumption there's a lot less risk going with a comic based on already established property.

I know licensed comics go back to the Golden Age when it seemed like every other movie cowboy, comedian, actor and radio show had their own comic.  DC Comics survived the 1950's in part because of comics based on such forgotten properties as Mr. District Attorney, Dobie Gillis and A Date With Judy.  And in the 80's titles like Transformers and GI Joe made for excellent 'gateway' titles for kids, but I'm afraid most licensed titles don't help grow the market by bringing in new readers, only siphon off existing readers who might read original comics.

Of course original comics are still being published.  A casual look at what's Shipping This Week shows there are half a dozen original comic books coming out this Thursday.  For me personally there's Brandon Graham's incredibly (in the best sense of the word) eccentric King City and from the online previews Ian Churchill's Marineman sure looks like the kind of superhero comic that I keep wishing somebody would publish. But I wish there were a lot more like them because I believe original comics are better; better for the comics medium and for growing the market.  But that's just my opinion.

To Michael Breakfield of Lone Star Comics (see "Michael Breakfield of Lone Star Comics on Superman") about my comment concerning Superman's costume, specifically that "the guy in the comics start wearing a black t-shirt with a 'S' shield insignia and a red hoodie," I was being sarcastic (clearly it was one of those rare times in my life when I wasn't being sarcastic enough).  I love Superman's costume.  I love what his insignia is supposed to stand for* and I really hope they make a Superman movie that actually has Superman in it (and where, you know, he hits something)--but from everything I've read so far it doesn't look good.

And finally in a bit of Super-Fly Comics & Games related news yesterday was the last day for Thatcher E. Cleveland who is relocating to Chicago.  He and Tony Barry created  a comic book shop that was everything a comic book shop should be; not only did have a diverse selection of high quality comics it was always a fun place to be and I'm glad they allowed me to be a small part of it.  Tad will definitely be missed.  Tony will be taking full control of the store, Jared Whittaker will be the new store manager and I will continue to do whatever it is that I do.

* I admit I find it more than a little depressing living in a world where the characters from shows on the USA Network have made a series of Public Service Announcements pledging "to stand against intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and hate, and to promote greater understanding and acceptance" while Superman remains silent on the subject because it might be considered "controversial."

The opinions expressed in this column are solely  those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.