I See Posts Before My Eyes

deadvicsage asked: It seems like both Marvel and DC should have a person whose full-time job is to try to get comic books in the checkout line at WalMart and Target. Especially all-ages comics. Is there something keeping the big two from getting that kind of distribution? Why can Archie do it and not Marvel?

brevoortformspring:

As you’d imagine, that checkout space is prime real estate and very costly. Archie has it because their arrangements and prices were set and fixed by contract decades ago. But in the times that assorted companies have tried it since then, the cost of accessing the space was more than the revenue that any sales from those areas brought it. It’s all part of the fact that mainstream magazine publishing is in a catastrophic freefall as a business right now, a situation that’s not likely to change any time soon as digital becomes more and more the prevalent format.

The way I heard it, Archie helped set up the process for getting magazines into those grocery store racks, and set themselves up a couple grandfathered spots there in perpetuity.  Good move - Archie has always been able to set themselves up well.  Look at the Comics Code.

I’ve often thought that the way to use stores like WalMart are as introductions to comics.  Rather than get the monthlies into the stores, do reprint books that stay in print for a year or so.  Similar to the “secret files and origins” series DC did - a short new story, some info pages, and a few well-chosen reprints.  Something they can rack wherever they like, and keep in stock.  Include a coupon for your first visit to a comic shop, and there you are.