Ed Sherman of Rising Sun Creation in San Diego, CA read Ilan Strasser’s response (see “Ilan Strasser of Fat Moose Comics and Games on Amazing Spider-Man #583”) to his previous Talk Back and would like to clarify some things:

I just read Ilan Strasser's (of Fat Moose Comics) comments on my feelings about publishers and in particular Amazing Spider-Man #583.  I guess he just did not understand what I am trying to say. Let me try to explain it better.

What Marvel did with Amazing Spider-Man #583 is a travesty.  Why couldn't they have just let us order what we needed of this issue with no conditions?  Erik Larsen did it with Savage Dragon (kudos to you Erik by the way!).  I'll tell you why.  They did it this way because they have done this on other books and obviously it works for them.  If retailers just refused to buy into this type of gimmick, then Marvel would stop this foolish practice and today we could have all had all the Obama covers we needed at cover price.  But unfortunately too many retailers fall for it and so Marvel just keeps doing it.

Now we as retailers are in one of two positions today.  The first position is the one I am in.  I did not order any of the Obama variants because I just refuse to play Marvel's little game.  So now I will have to explain a hundred times today why I did not get the Obama variant.  The other position that some retailers will find themselves in today is in the position that requires them to charge more than cover price or some other kind of deal for the Obama variant.  I understand that they have to do this in order to offset the cost of the extra regular ASM #583s that they had to order to obtain the variant.

Both positions have a negative effect on our individual retail operations and the comics industry in general.  We disappoint our existing and potential new customers by either not having the variant cover or forcing them to spend more than cover price for the book.  It also perpetuates the terrible idea that comics are investments or collectibles.  Just look on eBay.  Just what our struggling industry needs in today's uncertain times.  Enough already.

I could care less about the Obama variant.  What I do care about is changing the image of the comic book industry for the better.  Do you really think that a civilian is suddenly going to become a comics fan just because Obama is on the cover of Amazing Spider-Man?  Spider-Man!!?  I really doubt it.  Now maybe if they had put Obama on the cover of Fables.....

The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.