Mike Savage of Read More Comics of Tampa, Florida saw our article on Marvel adding he Comic Shop Locator Service Link to the Marvel.com homepage (see 'Marvel Puts CSLS on Website') and likes it, but first has a 'rant' on subs:

As a comic book retailer, there is nothing more frustrating than hearing a customer tell you no thank you to a book because, 'They subscribe through Marvel.'  I don't mean a flat no, I mean a no after discussing how much the person LOVES the book and how they can't wait for it every month.  The kind of conversation where the person is already a subscriber in our shop and their spouse gifted them a subscription to the book after seeing a Marvel ad.  And who could pass up the deep discount given by Marvel.

This is probably my only complaint with Marvel and their marketing.  I understand that the subscription service actually helps in areas where shops are scarce.  My only request has been that in every ad Marvel include a tag line like, 'or purchase it from your local comic book specialty store,' and then include the CSLS number.

It has been explained to me that they would love to do it, but that would make Marvel partially responsible if a child and mother walked into a store and there were items that maybe wouldn't be approved by the mother or Marvel.

Now that my rant is finished... it's great to see that Marvel is directing people from their site to the backbone of this industry... us retailers!