Ilan Strasser of Fat Moose Comics and Games in Whippany, New Jersey responds to Ed Sherman’s second Talk Back (see “Ed Sherman of Rising Sun Creation Clarifies Comments on ASM #583”) and Mike Milewski comments (see “Mike Milewski of M & M Comic Service on Amazing Spider-Man #583”) regarding the Amazing Spider-Man #583 Obama variant cover:
In response to Ed Sherman’s explaining things a little better, I’m pretty certain I got it the first time. Those of us who order limited series, or series with little sales potential, or variants (with or without a corresponding ordering requirement) are fanboy retailers. No sir, we are not… we are trying to offer our customers the most diverse selection of titles possible. Yeah, I didn’t like the Angel: Revelations mini from Marvel and thought the art was crap, but about 12 of my customers liked it. Yeah, Captain Britain and MI13 has gone from 21 sold with issue #1 to 6 sold of issue #9, but those six people really want it. Sure, I get stuck on some books and don’t order enough of others, even with cycle sheets, computer programs, and two and a half decades of experience. Sometimes, even with the FOC available, we still can’t adjust in time. But overall, you need to order most of the books Marvel and DC offer because you don’t know who might walk in your door on any given day -- just order sensibly. You don’t order as many copies of the Big Hero 6 limited series as you do of X-Men/Spider-Man.
What does all this have to do with the Obama variant? I had customers who wanted it, both new and old. Those who didn’t want it don’t have to buy it. They are not the target audience. But those who do enjoy collecting variants should have the right to do so. Marvel and DC not offering variants won’t better the industry or save it. What hurts is the customer that came in yesterday who I haven’t seen in over six months. He bought the last five copies of the regular cover and while asking a coworker if she wanted the more expensive limited variant, said: “I may give up comics. These variants have really ruined comics for me.” A nice guy, but he needs to think about what he’s saying. You go to the store, you see what’s there, you buy what you like. End of story. No one complains that there is too large a selection of CD’s at target or too many movies to buy or rent at Blockbuster. We like choices so that we can find what we like best.
As for the comment from M&M Comics, how much more could Marvel have done for us and our customers, as well as its own bottom line, by presenting the book as a 50/50 variant? There were at least four or five Spidey’s in the last year that did so, why not this one? I would have doubled my Spidey order and been done with it. No controversy, no problem, no higher prices, no limited availability. Probably all the calls from new people I’d never seen before, all of whom could have been accommodated. That would have been intelligent -- instead, Marvel is just into playing games. You know, in nine years I’ll be done anyway -- I’ll be 60 and have been operating the store for 35 years. It will be time for a change, a chance to enjoy the rest of my life and to travel, etc. I just don’t know if the mismanagement by the “leaders” of our industry coupled with the faltering economy will do me in that much sooner.
And please, no need to write in to say “well, get out now then.” If I could afford to do so, I would have done it already.
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.