Hello Friends! I’m very excited to debut a new feature here on The Empire of the Tiny Onion that’s going to be running monthly through 2023. I’ve spent a lot of time talking up how much I value SKTCHD and OFF PANEL, and the man behind them, David Harper. Frankly, I think David does the best work in the comics journalism space today, and I’ve always valued his insight into the comics industry. Beyond that, I think he’s the best interviewer currently working in our corner of the comics business.
Do you remember when BKV's Runaways came out in Manga sized digests in the early 00's? Marvel did the same with Spider-Girl and a few other books. It's a small thing, but I think the Big-2 need to revisit that format while simultaneously asking retailers (both DM and big box) to stock those books in the Manga section.
I passionately loved the first Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle series and asked Dan in person (several times) to size the collections as a manga/digest. I'm a nobody though so my pleading didn't work, we're all poorer for it. :)
The entire discussion about the marketing of comics is a highly fascinating deep dive. This is some true Comics Journal in depth discussion of commerce and how craft functions in relation to the market and art form.
This is the type of stuff I have been looking for in regards to comic talent talking about the economy of comics, and the health of the market is not great. As a consumer it is hard keep up with US comics. I feel that I buy extra copies, particularly for less hit focused WFH because the sales are so bad that anything that feels exciting needs the purchase of multiple copies for books like Nightmare Country or Rosenberg’s Wildcats.
I blame my fondness for SIKTC originated from buying a copy from him at C2E2 2020. I’ll be honest, I do feel that I would have quit comics after 32 years without this series.
This was a very interesting read and I'm excited for this new monthly series.
The first thing of yours I read was NHOTL v1 when it came out and I absolutely loved it. The puzzle box style of it all, phenomenal art, continuity in the layout of the house, and the creative ways you used devices like characters 'order sheets' to tell the story all blew me away. That felt like something super fresh to me. I also fell in love with DOT when honestly it didn't appeal to me while window shopping. SIKTC has been a fun one as well, but I've personally been drawn more to HOS and excited for BOS as they flesh out that world even more. Funny, I live in a city in the mid Prairie area so... I guess I'm statistically exactly where you'd expect LOL
I've been a paid subscriber to SKTCHD since he brought it back after his failed email-thing. This is such a great fit and a wonderful idea on your part. Excited to dive in. David really does do the best work in comics journalism (sorry Team Heidi).
Very interesting read. Looking forward to this every month.
Question that came into my mind as I read this. Actual sales of books are unknown? Is that correct? Publishers will guess at how many to print based on FOC orders, but don't know if they actually sell them all? I find that fascinating and crazy at the same time.
Do you remember when BKV's Runaways came out in Manga sized digests in the early 00's? Marvel did the same with Spider-Girl and a few other books. It's a small thing, but I think the Big-2 need to revisit that format while simultaneously asking retailers (both DM and big box) to stock those books in the Manga section.
I passionately loved the first Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle series and asked Dan in person (several times) to size the collections as a manga/digest. I'm a nobody though so my pleading didn't work, we're all poorer for it. :)
Can we get audio files of these discussions, kind of like a podcast format?
The entire discussion about the marketing of comics is a highly fascinating deep dive. This is some true Comics Journal in depth discussion of commerce and how craft functions in relation to the market and art form.
This is the type of stuff I have been looking for in regards to comic talent talking about the economy of comics, and the health of the market is not great. As a consumer it is hard keep up with US comics. I feel that I buy extra copies, particularly for less hit focused WFH because the sales are so bad that anything that feels exciting needs the purchase of multiple copies for books like Nightmare Country or Rosenberg’s Wildcats.
I blame my fondness for SIKTC originated from buying a copy from him at C2E2 2020. I’ll be honest, I do feel that I would have quit comics after 32 years without this series.
I am looking forward to the next chapter.
This was a very interesting read and I'm excited for this new monthly series.
The first thing of yours I read was NHOTL v1 when it came out and I absolutely loved it. The puzzle box style of it all, phenomenal art, continuity in the layout of the house, and the creative ways you used devices like characters 'order sheets' to tell the story all blew me away. That felt like something super fresh to me. I also fell in love with DOT when honestly it didn't appeal to me while window shopping. SIKTC has been a fun one as well, but I've personally been drawn more to HOS and excited for BOS as they flesh out that world even more. Funny, I live in a city in the mid Prairie area so... I guess I'm statistically exactly where you'd expect LOL
I've been a paid subscriber to SKTCHD since he brought it back after his failed email-thing. This is such a great fit and a wonderful idea on your part. Excited to dive in. David really does do the best work in comics journalism (sorry Team Heidi).
Two of my favorite people in all of comics. This is a dream come true.
Very interesting read. Looking forward to this every month.
Question that came into my mind as I read this. Actual sales of books are unknown? Is that correct? Publishers will guess at how many to print based on FOC orders, but don't know if they actually sell them all? I find that fascinating and crazy at the same time.