i'm in the middle of reading this article @ Comics Alliance, basically its a mailbag answer column; and someone asked "What's up with the Comics of the 90's"

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/07/2 ... h-the-90s/

While reading it I can't help but draw parallels to our own little hobby of independent toys right now. Admittedly it's on a much smaller scale, but it's an interesting read about the concept of collectables, creating scarcity and speculation.

Check it out if you like!

phil

I am not so sure I see the parallel, but I did like the article as I was an avid comic reader in the 90s... especially black and white independent stuff like Frank Miller's Sin City and Bob Burden's The Flaming Carrot. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the first two years of Todd McFarlane's Spawn as well but the other Image books were all style and 0 substance until the second wave with Sam Kieth's The Maxx and Kieth Giffen's Trencher.

I see a parallel with the idea of something being collectable just because its collectable and "rare", not because it's actually good. Admittedly its all personal opinion, but there are certainly toys being put out and hyped in this community that I just scratch my head about when I see them sell for big amounts.

Very interesting read. The 90s certainly were a game changer, because, at least for myself, it not only marked a transition towards a whole new type of comic, the change from reading material to collectable hit me personally in the prices they were now demanding. Basically, I was never a comic collector, only a reader, and this shift lost me as part of it's audience. I am glad as heck that the bubble shrunk (I will argue that the whole comic as collectible is still strong as anything - though the marketing is different, thankfully) but what I wish is that the price would have come back down. Forgive me for waxing nostalgic, and I am not going to go into the local shop and demand an entertaining, if not excellent product, for 0.35, but I specifically remember not being able (followed by not wanting to) shell out the kinds of dollars comics were costing. I don't know what it is like for young readers these days, they obviously do have some source of disposable income looking at all the clothers and gadgets they constantly have, but it seems the market has almost completely shifted towards an older audience. Sure, we are still a market base, but what happens when that runs out, if you are not developing new fan followings? Removing the affordability that at least existed still in the 80s was sure short-sighted.

Toys, hype, collectibles, well that discussion is pretty much self-evident here.

You know, I loved the Valiant line all the way up to and shortly after "Unity". Especially Magnus, Solar, XO Manowar, Rai and Harbinger. But the Gold issues and 0 issues were kinda lame concept wise.

Thanks for posting that Phil. It was a great read.

I remember when those Valiant #0s came out. The concept of a #0 issue blew my young mind. Haha.

nags are the rob liefeld comics of the vinyl world.

I dunno, supply far outnumbered demand in terms of Youngblood comics

ha! just clicked on the link and saw liefeld being discussed.
dude is a total polarizing figure.




i didn't mean to compare the run numbers aspect

Speaking of liefeld this is great

http://www.progressiveboink.com/2012/4/ ... d-drawings

http://www.progressiveboink.com/2012/6/ ... d-drawings

Wiser than Yoda!

love that article, but it's missing the piece that started my dislike of liefeld art!

let me rephrase that: nags are the rob liefeld () of the vinyl world.
that makes more sense

I read through both of those Liefeld lists. Awesome stuff.

Super limited chromium hologram edition! Only $500 a piece!

haha, you just brought back a shit load of terrible comics to my memory... thanks.

i think the Liefeld conversation has happened before here.
and i agree that most of his stuff is terrible.
i always enjoy seeing him back on board DC on occassion whenever they do something involving Hawk & Dove. his Lobo is always pretty good too, though i would like to see a Liefeld version of Lobo vs. Ripclaw sometime. I guarantee the reader would be confused as to which is which on many panels. I see DC brought Rob back on board yet again for the Deathstroke monthly. The thing that sucks about that, not only is his artwork filled with flaws, but he's one of the slowest artist out there. the only slower artist i can think of right now is Jim Lee! every book is always trampled by release dates being pushed back. which i guess might have been fine with something like Youngblood, which was a bunch of unfinished series anyways (or 1-shots building up to some story arc that never happens), but with the whole "universe" thing that DC and Marvel always tries to tie between their books, pacing is crucial. so yeah, unsure how i feel about liefeld.

however, he is a very nice, talkative guy. i always enjoy hitting up his booth at comic conventions. many artists and writers in the industry just kind of I FART A LOT about stuff all the time. the "direction" books are going, there own artwork, working with other artists/writers/editors. some comic creators are just a drag to be around. i remember being excited to meet Mark Waid and talk with him about the relaunch of Legion back in 2004-2005, and all he did was give me a whine session about what DC was doing to "his" book. whatever dude. kitson was the better part of that relaunch anyway.

genius post right there.