Steven Myers of World of Comics in South Daytona, Florida read the news about DC' upcoming reboot (see "DC Renumbering All Titles" and "DC Revising Characters in Reboot") and had this to say.

I was not happy to see DC Comics plans for August and September.  Once again a major publisher is revamping and numbering their comics for a new generation of readers.  My question is: What new generation of readers?

I have been in the business of selling comics for 28 years.  Most of my customers have been with me 28 years and have been reading comics longer than that.  They are the backbone of my business.  Fads come and go.  Publishers come and go.  But these unsung heroes of the comics keep coming in to buy comics.  Some have brought their kids in to buy comics.  Their kids were raised on their parent's comics.  Those are the characters those kid's know and love.  I know this because they turn up their nose at the new comics and head for the back issue bins.

Every time a major publisher re-numbers or re-vamps a title, it gives the current reader a jumping off point.  Publishers may see it as a jumping “on" point but I see it more as an "off."  If they have been dissatisfied with the creative team or they haven't liked the direction the stories have been going lately, they have an easy out.  Their collection remains complete.  It may also be financial their reason for dropping the title.  I could not believe the number of Flashpoint miniseries DC is pumping out this summer.  I was not surprised when I did not get any requests for these or the mini-series.  New interpretations of beloved characters does not guarantee sales or readers will want to see them.  They may just want better art and stories.  Not a new look.  Usually the complaint I hear before a customer drops a title is: I liked it at first but I don't like what they have done with it.  All the titles that were once great at DC suffer from mediocre art and stories now.  The artists and writers have moved on or were removed from the title.  Creative differences may have been the cause but that doesn't mean the title should suffer or the fans.  Get over it.  Think what is best for the characters, not your egos!

If DC really wants to know what will sell or what their customers want, it is time to ask them.  Conventions are not a good place to get their answers.  Only the "die-hards" go to cons, not the readers.  DC should send out a survey.  Publish it in their comics or provide a link on line.  DC should not ask their writers and artists what should work, they don't know.  They have their own agendas.  Ask the customers!

Attracting new readers is not easy.  You can't force it.  The best you can hope for is media attention that will pique the curiosity of a few.  Remember the spike in sales when Superman died or when Captain America was killed?  All were short-term remedies to increase sales.  Those new readers have since moved on.  The re-numbering of DC titles will be a short-term fix.  So will be the redesigning of the characters.  If you want to know what will fix this problem, ask the readers.

Back in the Sixties and Seventies, before the Internet, DC and Marvel were in touch with their readers through their letter columns.  They cared about their readers and what they thought.  That sharing built loyalty that still exists today.  I see it in my older customers.  With the Internet, DC and Marvel have a powerful tool to determine what their readers want. It is time to put that tool to work and ask the readers what they want!

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.