I have been in the business of selling comic books for 24 years and I do not understand why the publishers are so closed-lipped on the content of their new releases.  When I order my books through Diamond Comics, the information the publishers provide in the catalogue does not reveal anything important.  Take for example, Captain America #25 that came out today.  Why was I not informed by Marvel that Captain America would be killed off?  The only clue I got was in Marvel Previews Special Initiative Edition under Captain America #25 was, 'this issue...will stun readers and send shockwaves through the entire Marvel Universe for the next year!'  Come on, that sounds like all the other hype from the Civil War cross-over titles and does not tell me or my customers anything. Why keep it a secret anyway?  Why not come out and say 'Captain America dies this issue!'  Keeping me and the customer guessing does not make me richer.  I could have ordered more if I knew, making Diamond and Marvel richer.  I got half a dozen calls today from regulars and non-regulars wanting CA #25 because they saw an article in the local paper and it was on TV (CNN). 

I know I am not the only retailer that lost sales today and all because Marvel wanted to 'stun readers.'  Big Deal!  If Marvel really wanted to stun readers, they would promote books in a way that made sense.  Isn't selling comics what it is all about in the end?

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