Comics Disassembled: Ten Things of Note from the Past Week in Comics, Led by a Book of the Year Contender

By David Harper

June 21, 2019

Due to solicitations, it was a real noisy week at least in terms of announcements. Naturally, you’d think Comics Disassembled, my column that looks at ten things I liked or didn’t like from the past week in comics, would focus on those upcoming comics at the top. Guess again! Instead, we’re going to start with a genuine comic of the year contender, albeit one that came out last month because come on there are so many comics, everyone!

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Two notes: no Broo because HE’S GOING TO BE IN HICKMAN’S X-MEN and I’d be remiss in not noting how much I’ve enjoyed the whole Agents of Wakanda thing in the current Avengers run.↩
Is that right? Feels weird.↩

Notable Replies

spiritfusion says:

June 21, 2019

I was going to buy Laura Dean while I was in Chicago, but then I realized I would have to haul her everywhere. She politely said ‘Buy Me ;)’ at Challengers and then said ‘Oh, come on, you know everyone is gushing over me’ at Quimby’s Bookstore. I almost caved at a local Books a Million after my travels, but I had that guilty feeling that I need to get my books from a local comic book store. Glad to hear your one of MANY friends who loved this book. I hear you loud and clear.
chrisburton says:

June 21, 2019

I read that Rozanski article and found it to be very strange. The point made by @SKTCHD about Rozanski’s approach working only because he has such a massive inventory of back issues is so important, yet Rozanski seems to think this should be a more universal approach among retailers? As @SKTCHD points out, this would end almost all comics retailers’ businesses rather quickly. Also, I have been to the MHC store twice, and it is spectacularly unpleasant aesthetically. It is literally a warehouse, and not a remotely nice looking one. It is also not in a particularly appealing neighborhood. I think Rozanski even refers to that in the article but adheres to the belief that it doesn’t matter where you are or what your building is if you have what customers want. I disagree with that myself, but I guess his numbers support his beliefs on that. It is relatively ok inside considering it is a warehouse, but definitely isn’t very “polished” for lack of a better word. I think the longtime comics fans who grew up on the stores of the 80s and 90s don’t care or don’t have any expectations for a comics store’s aesthetics, but I would think it would be a bit of a turnoff for casual fans or anyone under the age of 30. I haven’t even mentioned how much of the inventory is over priced, but I digress.

Also, I was a bit confused by all the shots he was taking at Diamond. Yes, comics are more expensive nowadays, but is that Diamond’s fault? He seems to be saying that the expense of new comics now is too financially risky, apparently because they don’t have value as back issues anymore? I’m not sure what to make of it, as his way of thinking is so far removed from the “modern” comics retailers that I almost feel like his thoughts should have been presented within a larger piece with more context. He wants to be a secondary market retailer who deals in back issues, knock yourself out. It seems to work for him. Complaining about Diamond and the cost of new comics, eh, he should get some pushback on that, in my opinion.
Bram says:

June 21, 2019

Most telling for me is that Rozanski considers himself a dealer in pop culture collectibles — not a bookseller, or even comic book seller. Kind of follows that in, his take on possible models for a comic shop, neither of them was “book store.” I suppose, technically, we are in the same business as he is — but we aim sell things, some older, most newer, a decent chunk of them still periodicals, that people want to read.
Prince3PO says:

June 21, 2019

See, my problem with that kind of shop is twofold: one, my wife will hate it. I travel everywhere with her, and if I wanted to go somewhere like that, she’s grimace. For good reason! It looks kinda gross! By comparison, she loved Desert Island Comics in Brooklyn, Blastoff and Secret Headquarters in LA, and my “lcs” Dr Caine’s comics. The thing about these stores? They’re clearly modeled after book shops, with hardly any back issues, and even pretty limited space for new comics!

The other issue I have is that his “business sense” is outdated at best and pointless at worst. I mean, you’re telling new shops to be collectible shops when you came upon 18,000 comics based on extremely fortunate circumstances? You’re telling people to buy their location when you only put $2,000 down to buy your first store? GTFO!!!

Also, THE MARKET HAS SLOWLY BEEN SHIFTING TO THE BOOK MARKET FOR A DECADE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

Ps. I’m actually really happy this guy has been successful and clearly he’s cornered the market in a business-savvy way. It’s just really difficult to imitate and really is just an indicator of privilege, not wild comic genius.
SKTCHD says:

June 21, 2019

Bram:

that people want to read .

I kind of wonder if Chuck even looks at comics as things that people “read.” To a degree, when you acquire that much inventory, I wonder if you even look at it all as anything more than just another thing in a box. His game seems to be acquire lots, find gems within, resell those, sell the remaining at whatever price he can get. It’s a spoilage war.

Prince3PO:

It’s just really difficult to imitate and really is just an indicator of privilege, not wild comic genius.

You’re on fire today, Keigen. That’s a great point. He can’t see the forest for the trees because what he does works for him, so why doesn’t it work for everyone? It’s odd to me.