Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk is a weekly column by Kendall Swafford of Up Up Away! in Cincinnati, Ohio.  This week, Kendall takes a look at IDW’s decision to move to a one month window between print and digital.

Well, that didn't take long, did it?  I'm talking about IDW moving to a one-month delay from print to digital.  Marvel of course, not wanting to be outdone I suppose, said "Wait, you ain't seen nuthin' yet," promptly announcing day and date delivery of both print and digital editions of the upcoming Invincible Iron Man Annual #1.

I have to admit, I'm far angrier with IDW than Marvel, and let's see if i can articulate why.  Maybe it's because I expect this behavior from Marvel; their consideration for the lowly comic shop retailer being oh, I dunno, non-existent for decades now.  IDW on the other hand, began behaving badly the minute they were anointed to Premier status in the Previews catalog.

First came the announcement that the upcoming Dave Stevens' Rocketeer Artist's Edition would ONLY be available directly from IDW, bypassing comic shops worldwide.  IDW capitulated only after the uproar this bone-headed decision caused.  Fine, one bad decision does not a Marvel wannabe make.  Then the announcement earlier this month that they'd be publishing digitally only one month after print.  That's REALLY not gonna score any points with retailers, I promise.

For me personally, strike three came last week with the arrival of Ashley Wood's FI Magazine.  OK, I'll take some of the blame for FI.  I know what you usually get with Ashley Wood.  HOWEVER; this book should have been in the adult section of Previews, not with the general population, as it is VERY adult in nature (adult being a relative term often used to describe juvenile masturbatory fantasies disguised as art).  I would have disregarded it completely had it appeared in Adult Previews.  And while I am not holding a copy of the Previews it appeared in, nowhere in the online information on Diamond's or IDW's Websites is there ANY indication of the (relative) maturity level of the content.  Again, many might say "Well, what did you expect from Ashley Wood?" and they could be right.  To a point.

There's an old saying, "Dance with the one what brung ya."  IDW seems suddenly hell-bent on proving they have no concern for the very people that got them to the dance, your lowly comic book retailer.  And that's cool, I guess.  They won't be the first publisher to tumble down from the pinnacle of Mt. Previews.  Anyone else remember Acclaim Comics?  They used to be somebody, too.  And as a retailer I like most of what IDW publishes.  Parker The Hunter was my best-selling graphic novel last year, and Bloom County books continue to sell through, steadily and repeatedly.  But we're part of the reason they've found success, and lately I ain't been feelin' the love from IDW, how about you?

Marvel on the other hand, never shows us any love.  That doesn't make it OK, simply expected.  The day and date Invincible Iron Man Annual announcement came just a few days before any FOC adjustments could be made.  I made mine, but I wonder how many retailers either A) missed it or B) don't use Final Order Cutoff.  So I'm sure at some point Marvel's point-of-view will be along these lines; "Day and date delivery of digital and print comics didn't hurt the print side at all.  Complete success!"  Of course, sell-in numbers aren't exactly sell-through numbers, are they?  If we boycotted completely the next comic they attempt this with, would that get their attention?  As I've stated many a time recently, digital can a boon to us all, if handled responsibly.  So far, that hasn't happened.

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.