Michael Tierney of Collector's Edition in North Little Rock, Arkansas comments on the recent controversy centering around ComicsPRO members being able to sell Marvel's Formic Wars: Burning Earth #1 early (see "ComicsPRO Retailers Get Early Release") and had this to say.

As a member of ComicsPRO since the very beginning, I think there's a misconception about the organization, which has arisen as a result of the recent banter over Marvel's now-defunct Formic Wars promotion.  Several replies have pointed out that ComicsPRO's stated mission is to work for the betterment of all Comics Retailers.  This has never changed.  It's my understanding that, in the case of Formic Wars, the publisher approached us and offered the promotion.  They were not solicited.

Sure, the organization does work to create benefits for their members, like cheaper credit card processing and insurance.  The Travelers' insurance program for retail stores alone saves me 10 times what my membership costs.  So the benefits are more than worth it.  

But the organization is not working in a sinister manner to give its members a market advantage over non-member stores.  This was simply a case of someone making us an offer that we couldn't refuse.  While no one expected any kind of windfall sales bonanza, it seemed like a good promotional idea at the time, which might also help make more non-member retailers aware of ComicsPRO's existence.  In that respect, it worked.  Just not in the way one would hope.

Speaking strictly as a member with no official capacity, the fact remains that ComicsPRO is, and always has been, dedicated to the betterment of all comics retailers.

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