After nearly thirty years retailing comic books, in my opinion, Marvel Comics has been missing the mark for the last decade.  Poor management and bad decisions are the main cause of the failures.  Overpriced graphic novels and trade paperbacks, horrible art and storytelling continues as the normal practice.

Seventh graders could have avoided some of the problems Marvel has created for itself.  The strength of a publisher is to have a GOOD library of titles and to keep them in print for retailers to sell at fair prices.  Not gouge the consumers in areas of interest because a particular character or team is somewhat popular at the time.

Another area in which Marvel has lost ground in is the advertising co-op program from years ago.  They've lost the visibility they once had and the strength of the rewards from it.  Instead they steam ahead looking for 'new' horizons (Barnes and Noble, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.) -- all outdated and proven failures, and nothing but short of sure failure to them.

In my opinion, it's the lack of GOOD leadership and bad decisions being made for a decade now.  Will they change?  NO.  Their future is very predictable for obvious failure.  Movies aren't enough to pay the bills, and besides, they're publishers and without recognition from the publishing, the movies will become stale and beaten down like tired horses.

Good luck Marvel.  You're on the path to hell.  BTW, I'm not being negative at all.  I've only seen 30 years of retailing and far from one of the newbies they like to put down and trounce on in this industry.  So, Marvel, before you blame retailers, take the blinders off and have a look in the mirror first, bite your tongue and hear us.