In Part III of this far-ranging interview, the person in charge of DC's business operation talks about its option to buy Diamond, the public dialogue with Marvel, circulation estimates, media tie-ins, the prospect for radical change at DC, and DC's growing toy and statue business.

In Part II of this far-ranging interview, the person in charge of DC's business operation talks about the future of direct market retailing, the growing importance of the bookstore channel, the original graphic novel format, overprinting, the future of newsstand distribution and the periodical format of comics, and the potential impact of Japanese pop culture on American.

In Part I of this far-ranging interview, the person in charge of DC's business operation talks about how his background in the business, the organization of DC's top management, the comic market size and trends, the state of DC, and the comics code.

Retailers have been debating the proposed change with some vigor.

As the time since the attacks on the U.S. lengthens, it's becoming increasingly clear that some are using the attacks to further their own agendas regarding entertainment and pop culture.

As it becomes increasingly clear that the U.S. (and perhaps the rest of the world) is slipping into a recession, we decided to take a look at the potential impact on sales of the product categories carried in pop culture stores -- anime, comics, toys, games, and movie/TV merchandise.

The biggest surprises at the top of the lists in August are the #1 toys product -- Clive Barker's Tortured Souls from Mcfarlane -- and the #1 anime -- the El Hazard OVA DVD box set.

The initial advance orders to Diamond Comic Distributors for comics shipping in September showed surprising strength this year, with an increase of around 6% vs. August.

Estimated quantities for the top 300 comics ordered by pop culture stores for shipping in August, 2001.

Collectible Dreams put together an excellent display that included anime, manga, and some great related merchandise. Note the appeal of shojo merchandise to college women, something that first place winner Planet Comics was also able to exploit.

Second Place Grow with Shojo Display Contest winner All About Comics fielded an extensive display of products that include shojo titles as well as the kind of shonen titles (Ranma, Inu-Yasha, Shadow Lady, etc.) that also appeal to shojo fans.

It isn't enough that the Sooners won the National Championship last year, Planet Comics also managed to win our Grow with Shojo Display Contest.