You may not know it, you may not
even think about it, but when you go to your local comic book store you have a
responsibility. That responsibility is to buy monthly issues of comics. Not
trades, not omnibus, not definitive editions, monthly issues. That floppy you
aren't buying because you want to "wait for trade" is killing the
comics industry.
We all have that series that we need to own every
bit of. The original issues, the variant issues, trade paperbacks, omnibus
edition, definitive edition, original art, etc. I'm not talking about that. This is a boots on the
ground, nerd-in-front-of-the-rack war that is being lost, and we are all going
to be casualties. The reality of being a fan of comic books is that it takes
some work. Pre-ordering books from your local retailer months in advance is how
a book may live or die even before it’s born. As much as we would like to be
able to go to our local store and buy whatever comic we want whenever we want, that
isn't how the industry works and it’s up to us to do our part to ensure that
the medium we love continues.
This isn’t meant to be a long rant but a reminder
that creators, publishers and shops rely on us, the fan, to go in weekly and
buy the issues off the rack. Not only that, but you need to research and order
in advanced the titles you think you want to read. If you love comics, and if
you are reading this chances are you do, then do your part. Pre-order, pick up
weekly and enjoy!
