MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
What Now? PLUS: 10 Questions with Mike Bullock
WHAT NOW?
This Tuesday is a bit of a mish mosh or is that mosh mash, anyway… We have a few things worth you valuable time for this weeks column from a readers email, some great reviews from other than yours truly, and an interview with one of the most popular writers around.
So lets just jump right into it this week. The past couple of week, columns off to the side there, we have been talking about what the future of comics, and more importantly comic fandom may be like. Andrew wrote in with a great letter that touched on most of the frustrations out there. The response from yours truly is below as well.
Hey Mike,
Read your article and to a certain extent I could not agree more on the eventual evolution and possibly the death of comic book stores. I can see the death of comic book stores taking a long time. But the idea of the evolution from comic book stores to cafe shops is in my opinion will not happen. The cost associated with this is from what I assume to be a bit more than the usual comic book. And let's not forget that what is popular in Japan may not be popular in N.A. The real estate associated in a comic book store is already very limited. Where are they going to stash all their old back issues and load them up with computers etc. Let's not forget cafes = food and drinks. And food and drinks in a comic book store = bad news.
In my opinion what needs to be fixed first is the entire market and how comics are ordered. I'll use myself as why I am absolutely frustrated with comic book stores. I have been going to the same store since I was 15. It is now 10 years later and my once weekly pilgrimages have turned into once a month if lucky. What has caused this you asked? Many things. The first being is that the comics I want to read are always delayed or just due to creator's laziness canceled, (see. Ultimates 2, Soul Saga, Battle Chaser etc..). So what does that make me do? Second guess whether I should pick up that number 1 or wait for the trade.
Next due to the low runs of some books they are canned faster than the newest Fox drama. I now invested all this time, money and emotional attachment to a story which doesn't even end properly. Now what does any reasonable man do? Well he sits there and waits for the trade. Also need I also mention that on Amazon trades are usually 30% off the cover price and they ship to your door. 
Now that pretty much sums up why I don't even bother going to my comic book store. There are times when I do want the actual issues just to own a piece of comic history. Like when Buffy S8 came out I did my proper duty. I pre ordered from Previews. Told my comic book lady to make sure you get me all the issues. All of them I will come and pick them up. So when I go what happens, "oh sorry I sold out already." Oh you did... Okay no biggie when #2 comes out make sure you get me my #1 2nd printing. Time passes, "Oh I got your #1, but sold out of #2." Well needless to say you can see where this is going.
Another thing because of how screwed up Diamonds is, if my comic book store doesn't have the TPB, which in most cases it doesn't, the ordering time from Diamonds to the store is like one month. If the item is in stock at Amazon we are only looking at 3 or 4 days to get to my door.
I don't know if I have sworn off comic book stores forever. I do walk every now and then but I rarely find myself buying anything. The thing about comic book stores is that they are supposed to sell comic books. If they can't even do that properly then transforming them all into Internet cafes won't even save them.
-Andrew
Thanks for reading the column and writing in.
Can't argue anything you said. All of what you wrote speaks to the problem.
The comic shop does fill an important role, especially for the first timer.
Without the support of the industry (good products), being informed and
aggressive about having a successful store it really could be the end of the
glory days of fandom. The biggest concern for the comic shop is the lack of
commitment for the monthly, which you mentioned. The commitment is to the
collected edition and in turn the bookstore market, not the comic shop. That
lack of support should scare the comic shops to aggressively attract new
readers and build loyalty today, because soon they will need it. The
easiest, least expensive and best way is to start young with All Ages
comics.
Great email, would you mind if it were included in the column?
Best,
Mike Pellerito
Again never claimed to have all the answers, certainly have a few of the wrong ones, but at least the discussion has started. Something has to change and comic shops are the ones who could be the most affected, not in a good way either. Any one have any ideas?
The past few weeks some great reviews have come in from Penny Kenny, a reviewer here at Silver Bullet Comic books. Never were these solicited or coerced, she simply had some nice things to say about Sonic The Hedgehog and Sabrina the teenage Witch. Thought you’d enjoy someone extolling the virtues of these books other than yours truly.
Here's the review links:
Sonic the Hedgehog #175 Review
Sabrina the Teenage Witch #85 Review
And one final person who can extol the virtues of Sonic X, because he wrote the upcoming issue of Sonic X (it is good too) the lovely and talented Mike Bullock.
10 Questions with…. Mike Bullock
Mike Bullock is the creator and writer of the all-ages hits Lions, Tigers and Bears and The Gimoles. In addition to those, Bullock is the current writer on Moonstone Books’ The Phantom. He’s also written several short stories, including prose work involving The Phantom and Zorro. Bullock’s first work for Archie, Sonic-X #21, will hit stores later this month.
Mike Pellerito: What are the 3 things going on right now with All Ages comics that you would like to see more of?
Mike Bullock: 1) The Kids Comic Convention. I’d love to see that ignite all across the country so that there’s one in every major city every year.
2) The grand diversification of all-ages comics currently available. Instead of just having super hero fare as the staple, as is the case with the “mainstream” comic market, the all-ages market is wide open. With books from ABADAZAD to Owly to Edgar Alan Poo to Dreamland Chronicles to 
The Hammer Kid and back again, the only thing limiting the content of the current all-ages market are the imaginations of those creating the books. And based on how imaginative my peers are, the limits are sky high.
3) The grassroots movement behind the scenes to unify those of us creating all-ages books. I’ve been talking with Scott Sava, Mike Kunkel and Kevin Grevioux for years about garnering an all-ages section at every major con so that families knew exactly where they could go at every show to find good all-ages materials. Others are exploring similar endeavors as well. I'm praying that by next year it’ll be a reality, not just a topic of conversation.
MP: 2. What 3 things do we need to see more of in All Ages comics, what is missing right now?
MB: More support from the business side of the comic industry. It seems a lot of publishers and retailers look at it as some sort of niche market within a niche market. All-ages comics are what started this industry, not just some passing fad that won’t go away. Luckily, there are several publishers and lots of retailers who support it wholeheartedly, but it would be great to see everyone do so.
More media attention outside the comic industry. The mainstream media will spend eight to ten minutes on the nightly news going on about the latest toy craze, video game or hottest new kid’s movie, but they never talk about comic books, unless it’s Free Comic Book Day.
More big name comic creators doing all-ages titles. JM DeMatteis and Jim Starlin aren’t the only legendary pros out there with great ideas for all ages comics. I’d love to see Gail Simone or Brian Bendis or Kurt Busiek have at an all-ages book with talent like Mark Bagley or Ed Benes or Michael Turner providing the artwork.
MP: If you could work on any character(s) either already in comics or from movies, TV books or other media which would it be and why?
MB: Until this year, I would have said Zorro, but my wish came true and I’m penning a Zorro tale right now for the Tales of Zorro anthology from Moonstone Books. Next up would be John Carter of Mars, ROM: Spaceknight, Conan, The Lone Ranger, Moon Knight, Firestorm and I’ve had a sudden itch of late to write a Batman story. I’d also like to write more Sonic-X… hint, hint.
MP: If you could work on any character(s) outside of the realm of All Ages which one(s) and why?
MB: I think I covered that above.
MP: How old were you when you started reading comics? And which ones were the culprits?
MB: I was three when I started grabbing my older brothers DC 80 Page Giants and Detective Comics and turning the pages and making up my own stories because I couldn’t read yet. It wasn’t long before he got tired of me changing the stories when he taught me how to read, using those very same comics.
MP: What are you doing to help get the word out about comic books in general?
MB: I talk about them to just about everyone I encounter. When my friends and other people I meet find out I write comics, they become so fascinated with the whole process that it rekindles their love of comics from when they were kids. I have hooked one friend on the new Highlander comics, several others on The Phantom and have a small army of people patiently awaiting the conclusion of Lions, Tigers and Bears volume II. In addition to that, I do a lot of school and library programs where I talk to kids about how comics are made and show them how they can create their own characters, stories and comic books. Then, after the presentation, I set up comic book exchanges in the schools and libraries so they can have access to comics even if the nearest comic shop is too far for them to reach.
MP: You’ve been nominated and winning quite a few awards. Can you tell us about that?
MB: I wouldn’t say a lot, but Lions, Tigers and Bears did win the Angoulême Discovery Prize for Youth this year. It was quite the surprise to find out we won, as I didn’t even know we were nominated. LTB has also been nominated for the Ursa Major Comic Award two years in a row and also won the Paper Screen Gem Award for All-Ages in 2005.
MP: What are you working on right now, what is and isn’t All Ages friendly?
MB: I’ve just finished the most massive, multi-layered, ambitious plot I’ve ever written that will see the light of day as The Phantom #21-25. The kind folks at Comics in the Classroom.net gave the Phantom a “teen/young adult” rating, so I’d say that makes it not all-ages friendly. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for anyone under the age of around fourteen, depending on the intellectual and emotional maturity of the child. I just finished a short story for Shannon Denton & Keith Giffen’s Grunts trade paperback, which is absolutely not all-ages. In fact, it might not be suitable for some adults. However, if war & gore is your thing, check it out. Also in the “not kid friendly” arena is my third prose story “Mr. Keen: Hunter” coming through Moonstone in the “Sex, Lies and Private Eyes” prose anthology.
MP: You are and have been heavily involved in several programs to promote All Ages comic books and help children. Can you tell us about some of these endeavors?
MB: I think I covered this above)
MP: What should people be looking for from you that’s on or soon to be on the shelves? And any appearances coming up?
MB: If you don’t have the Lions, Tigers and Bears trade paperback, go get it! Get in on the ground floor before the movie hits and your friends call you a band wagon jumper! (Just kidding).
In all seriousness, the next book to hit the shelves will be Sonic-X #21, which was simply one of the most fun experiences I’ve had so far when writing an all-ages comic.
Following soon thereafter is The Phantom #17, which starts the summer long Invisible Children story arc, where The Phantom takes on a fictionalized version a the real life warlord who steals children from their homes to use as child soldiers in his army. Needless to say, The Phantom doesn’t stand for that sort of thing. God willing, the final issue of Lions, Tigers and Bears volume II will also hit this summer as well.
Beyond that, I’m currently working on a pitch for a boy’s chapter book series that will hopefully hit the store shelves some time in 2008. One of the things I’m currently most excited about is an opportunity I may have to start writing two monthly books for an overseas publisher that is looking to make a splash in the all-ages market. We’re currently in negotiations and it looks like things will start moving ahead in earnest very soon. Keep you eyes peeled for some announcements on that later this summer.
As for appearances, I don’t currently have anything planned, but you never know what’s right around the corner.
Around the corner is next Tuesday’s column, has it been a year already?
See ya’ next Tuesday!
Hope everyone had a happy Memorial Day here in America. Thank you to all our solders, past present and future.
If you have a great All Ages project, let us know!
Get in touch: MikeP@SilverBulletComicbooks.com
Thanks for the opportunity to talk about comics! Here are some more comics to talk about-
Check out some new All Ages comic reads on sale this week:
MAR070209 JSA PRESENTS STARS AND STRIPES VOL 1 TP $17.99
APR070231 SCOOBY DOO #121 $2.25
APR072366 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS VOL 3 DIGEST TP $6.99
APR072313 MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #2 $2.99
APR072384 MARVEL HEROES FLIP MAGAZINE #26 $4.99
APR073391 ARCHIE #576 $2.25
MAY062772 BUMPERBOY & LOUD LOUD MOUNTAIN GN $8.95
APR073688 CASTLE WAITING VOL II #7 $3.95
APR073490 SIMPSONS COMICS #131 $2.99
APR073408 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES VOL 4 TP $7.49
APR073410 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #21 $2.49
APR073716 UNCLE SCROOGE ADV LAND PYGMY INDIANS WAR OF WENDIGO TP $8.50
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