Gabrial Habman of DreamStrands Comics sent us this comment on the speed at which Marvel is releasing collected editions of periodical content, in at least one case before all of the periodicals are even released:

 

Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that the new Marvel Age Spider-Man Digest, which just shipped today, contains issues 1-4 of this new series when issues 3 and 4 haven't even shipped yet?

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the fact that Marvel is publishing these formats, especially for these titles, as I am positive that I will be able to successfully market them to younger readers.  However, unless Marvel has plans to make issues 3 and 4 of the periodical format returnable, I guarantee you that I'll cut my orders completely (except for box customers) on both Marvel Age: Spider-Man AND Marvel Age: Fantastic Four.

 

I have noticed that Marvel, as a whole, has been getting the TPB collections for many of their story arcs to the public much more quickly than in previous years.  I think its a testament to the fact that the company is responding better to the desires of the consumer, but I also know that it kills back issue sales for my shop.  As a result I've had to pare my monthly orders down to the bare minimum for shelf copies often completely selling out (Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but with Marvel not having reorder availability it makes initial numbers much more difficult to gauge) to avoid getting stuck with too much overstock.  Before this quick-to-press TPB policy was instituted, I could consistently keep four months of recent issues on the new rack and get good shelf-life sell-thru out of them.  This pleased many customers and would bring them back into my shop.  Mostly from folks who only get around to the comic shop every couple of months, and with kids whose allowance is slightly insufficient.  Now these people just purchase the TPBs.  Not really a complaint because the customer is still spending the money and I've adapted to the situation. BUT -- shipping a TPB which contains issues I have already committed to ordering is a completely different matter entirely.  Especially with no returnability available (unless I've missed something).

 

Would anyone at Marvel care to respond to this situation?

 

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