A frequent contributor to these pages, Ilan Strasser of Fat Moose Comics and Games in Whippany, New Jersey was stimulated to write by retailer Paul Bene's comments in favor of limited returnability on new comics (see 'Paul Bene of House of Fantasy on Comic Returns').  Strasser takes a broader look at industry cooperation:

 

I have two somewhat related comments this time.  First of all, thanks to Paul Bene for a voice of sanity.  Paul presents us (and the comics community) with a well thought out, reasonable idea that would not only create more of a partnership between publishers and retailers, but that also would have the publishers think harder on what projects to publish.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if virtually all of Marvel's (not to mention DC, Image & Dark Horse for that matter) projects had the quality of Origin, Daredevil, The Call of Duty: The Brotherhood, etc.


Marvel and DC especially put out too many schlock projects that are weak tie-ins to existing characters or series.  That trend might stop if they had any consequences to suffer or to deal with when a crappy project ends up being a dog on the retailers' shelves.

Secondly, and on a not totally different note:  a number of retailer friends of mine always ask me how I have time to post comments (especially the longer ones!!!) to ICv2?  Apparently, they have the time to read ICv2, but not to add any of their thoughts, opinions, and expertise to the ongoing discussions.  While I have worked on some group projects with some of these retailers, I still feel that the question they've asked me bespeaks to the general insularity of retailers in our industry.

It's a shame that so many of us work in a virtual vacuum and lose the benefits that come from group buying power and a unified voice.  Local and national organizations (such as ERCBRA, CBRI, and PACER et al) never seem to do more than get local retailers together, usually for the short term and to not too much effect.


What's left is accessibility to information, which is something that ICv2 provides.  If we don't have or make the time to share our concerns and opinions here -- then we hurt the industry (and ourselves) through apathy and lethargy.  The end result is that great ideas like Pauls' don't have the chance to germinate into real battle plans.  Or worse, get ignored completely.


Free Comic Book Day, as wonderful as it was for most retailers, happened because the idea was exposed through a magazine (Comics & Games Retailer) that gets a lot of attention from retailers.  But would it have happened at all if Comics & Games Retailer didn't exist?  Could it have gathered the same steam through ICv2 (as wonderful and important as it is) or some similar avenue?  The answer to that depends on whether the retail community could have overcome its' tendency to go it alone long enough to push FCBD through a less visible media organ than Comics & Games Retailer.


The bottom line is though it is extremely important and necessary, we don't just need an ongoing fair partnership with the publishers; we also need to use, rely and depend on each other...because whether we are on a rocket ship going to the moon or sinking on the Titanic, we're all in the same proverbial boat.  We should find a way to start rowing together.