Dean Phillips of Krypton Comics in Omaha, Nebraska saw our article on Tower Records' bankruptcy (see 'Tower Records To File Chapter 11') and retailer Charlie Platt's comments (see 'Charlie Platt of Anime Mountain on Retailer Bankruptcies'), and gives his opinion on publishers' and manufacturers' handling of multiple channels:

I just read Charlie Platt's article about Tower records and I totally agree.  The publishers are so interested in 'expanding' the audience for graphic novels that they have all but forgotten the retailers that made them the companies they are.  If they give big chains a better deal than small stores then they are taking away the ability to compete.  I personally would love my store to flourish and even be able to open another store or two.  I don't think that just having graphic novels in the 'BIG' stores will pay the bills for the publishers.  The 'small' stores have to be considered in the bigger picture.  It's unfair to provide exclusive merchandise to the big chains and then offer it to my store six months later.  Marvel giving exclusive softcover versions of their Marvel Masterworks to the big bookstores and not even offering them to the direct market is a slap in the face of every comic retailer out there.  Every day on ICv2 there is news about a big chain striking an exclusive deal with a publisher or toy maker.  Most of those deals totally cut the small retailer out of the loop.  Speaking for my store, I won't support a company that doesn't support my interests.  Vote with your dollars people!  Write comments on this site.  We have to stand up for ourselves or we will be shoved aside for the 'bigger better deal.'