The future of comics and graphic novels... and my utopian hopes.

[taniadelrio]

I was checking one of my favorite sites, Mangablog, and from there I was led to a link of a recent blog post by Becky Cloonan about floppies vs. graphic novels and how the whole Original Graphic Novel thing can't keep on the way it is. Too demanding, not enough pay, and individual volumes tend to disapear on the shelves with the rest of the masses

Comments

[tiredfairy]

What's really important about your post is that you clearly list the pros and cons with all the formats. There's a tendency to claim that it's an either/or situation and that's impossible. The way comics work it would be impossible right now to lost monthlies as a format because the industry is based around it. But you can't lose gn's either because they represent a format that reaches another audience than the monthlies. Both have cost issues, and then there's the whole online/downloadable thing.

As a format I prefer gn's because as it stands right now you get more for what you're spending and the industry is moving away from monthlies the way they currently work for a lot of good reasons creatively and financially. But my perspective is from ex-DC editorial so it's a bit biased. Most monthlies that are not superhero titles barely break even, at least at Vertigo where I worked. The trades are what buffer it. But then the ogn's, if they aren't based on something like The Sandman, aren't exactly making big money either.

Mainly I agree with Warren Ellis who, unlike his sychophants, has a very even perspective. You can't just lose monthlies and you can't ignore gn's. Comics is on the verge of some major changes that will hopefully help rather than hinder...my concern is more for independent publishers who often get lost in the battles between the big two. But thankfully companies like SLG are trying new venues too and with more freedom to take risks in certain ways than DC or Marvel.

Also, hi Tania. I don't know if you remember me but I was on a panel with you and Trina Robbins about women in comics at one of the big apple cons. :}

[taniadelrio]

Thanks for the comment! Yes I do remember you - it was real interesting hearing about the editorial side of things on the panel. How is your own gn coming along?

Anyway, yeah I definitely feel that both comic formats are worth having for different reasons. I just worry that if things continue the way they are, that one - or both - will eventually phase out (although at this rate, it's much more likely to be the monthlies.)

[tiredfairy]

I think it's possible monthlies might fade out eventually, but the industry would have to make online/downloadables more viable and they'd really need to start defining gn's better. As it stands all they really are are longer comics without ads that are usually self-contained stories. Although the book market considers trades to be gn's they aren't really.

If they industry does swing more towards gn's, which I think books like Fun Home have at least proven the viability of in the critical acclaim sense, they're going to need to adopt a kind of model like Vertigo does with artist payments since the projects take longer to produce. Artists get paid when they deliver pages, usually in 10 page increments. At least that's how it was working on the MINX books. And At Death's Door by Jill Thompson was done a similar way with timed payments that were worked out in the contract. Of course, DC has the ability to do that in a way other publishers may not.

Which is why your anthology idea is a good one. The Fables ogn, for instance, was all written by Willingham but drawn by different artists. Endless Nights was the same thing, so you can have something for everyone. The only issue there is coordinating the talent and you need some kind of hook, whether it's a name like Gaiman or Willingham or an artist like Manara...or something like Flight that's offering something you can't get anywhere else.

Over at The Engine there was a big discussion about this a few months back, with the We Hate Monthlies and the GN's Forever sounding off. But neither "side" seemed willing to concede that the industry can't just dump one of the formats and survive. Where would get the material for trades if you don't have the monthlies? Doing just gn's would mean altering the entire industry's publishing schedule and model hugely, are people willing to wait that long for each new project? On the flip side the cost of publishing monthlies and the fact that the readership is slowly decreasing means it can't keep up the way it's been.

I don't think monthlies are going to die out, but they will/do need to evolve a bit. And gn's are far from perfect at the moment. But Manga more than anything has changed the landscape and potential of comics so the next few years are going to be mighty interesting. At this point technology is changing so fast anything could happen that could change everything anyway.

My book is coming along slowly but surely. I think having it tied in to my Masters degree has hindered it a bit...but that's nearly done. I find myself in the brand new position of trying to get published. Wish me luck. :}

[taniadelrio]

Excellent points! And it's true - a good "hook" goes a looong way when selling things of this nature.

And, of course, let me wish you the best of luck on your project!