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I’ve already soapboxed the evils of pirating comic books, but there’s a impact on the industry which I think a lot of people are ignoring.
/thread + info dump
/thread + info dump
Way back in 2016 @slicedfriedgold took a closer look at comic pirating sites in his article Money for Nothing: A Look at the Popularity and Questionable Legality of Free Comic Sites.
This snapshot he pulled together speaks volumes:
Read: https://sktchd.com/longform/money-for-nothing-a-look-at-the-popularity-and-questionable-legality-of-free-comic-sites/
This snapshot he pulled together speaks volumes:
Read: https://sktchd.com/longform/money-for-nothing-a-look-at-the-popularity-and-questionable-legality-of-free-comic-sites/
I won’t spoil David’s conclusions as his article is absolutely worthy of a read today, but if you consider that the popularity of these sites has only risen and that the direct market has shrunk...well, it’s kinda obvious why pirating is a bad thing in 2019.
You aren’t just *not paying* for a comic book when you use a scan site. You are potentially hurting the creators of the art you’re consuming.
Case Study: Future Foundation (2019) by Jeremy Whitely.
This new book was cancelled based on the sales of its first issue alone.
Diamond Direct Market Sales: 41,673
Views on ONE pirate site: 52,212
A single pirate site has more full-issue views than the book did actual sales.
This new book was cancelled based on the sales of its first issue alone.
Diamond Direct Market Sales: 41,673
Views on ONE pirate site: 52,212
A single pirate site has more full-issue views than the book did actual sales.
Often new run comic series suffer a particular buyer drop-off pattern in the direct market. #2 issues tend to fall up to half before subsequently dropping an additional 3-8% per issue.
By issue #5 the sales estimates for FF would have been under 20k and that’s not sustainable.
By issue #5 the sales estimates for FF would have been under 20k and that’s not sustainable.
A cynic’s perspective may be one of “Who cares? Marvel and Disney can take the hit,” but I can tell you the creative team that lost their jobs on this book doesn’t feel that way.
When you consume art but starve the artist it damages the industry, culture, and the dividends we reap from them. Like good comics.
Now, I’m not ignorant to economic woes and I don’t expect money to magically appear in people’s wallets. I certainly have had to trim my pull at times due to competing interests.
Moreover, the price of a new comic book is often $4.99 USD and after conversion and tax I end up paying $7.64 CND. Believe me, I GET that collecting singles is a considerable expense, digital or floppy.
I also know that there are places in the world where Marvel Unlimited, ComiXology, and LCSs don’t exist.
So, this is not an indictment of all online comic readers regardless of circumstance— just the ones who CAN financially support a run but don’t when it counts.
So, this is not an indictment of all online comic readers regardless of circumstance— just the ones who CAN financially support a run but don’t when it counts.
I believe that if you can you should put your money where your fandom is or find other ways to enjoy your comics, such as:
- Waiting for the trade paperback!
- Borrowing through your library!
- Sharing digital comic codes!
- Meeting people in real life and sharing your books!
- Waiting for the trade paperback!
- Borrowing through your library!
- Sharing digital comic codes!
- Meeting people in real life and sharing your books!
Just don’t CHOOSE to read an illegal scan of a brand new book instead of paying for the product.
The smaller the publisher’s bottom line, the less support for lower selling books, the fewer opportunities and worse income/benefits for creatives.
THAT’S THE BIG PICTURE
/end
The smaller the publisher’s bottom line, the less support for lower selling books, the fewer opportunities and worse income/benefits for creatives.
THAT’S THE BIG PICTURE
/end
