What sells in today’s $2.99 and $3.99 comic books?
Not Batman or Spider-Man beating the snot out of a costumed criminal. That’s sooooo back in the day.
It’s the same thing that always sells.
Sex…
…and violence…
…and more sex…
I’m too old and read too many comic books to be bothered much by sophomoric sexy art or cruel and sadistically over the top violence. The comic book genre is no worse than torture porn flicks like Hostel and the Saw series or video games like Grand Theft Auto.
The thing is comics have to depend on cheap titillation because they’re in competition with and losing ground to video games. I’m really bothered more by the bad art, lazy writing, general contempt for the fans by the publishers, and high prices of today’s comic books than the occasionally objectionable content.
Things ain’t what they used to be, but were they ever?
john
June 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I have to strongly disagree, sex does NOT have to be in everything and when it comes to comics action is always best. sex is for porn NOT comics and if comic sells are going down it’s because of the over done violence that leaves you with only sex to try and pretend that it’s action. To find good action in a comic can be tough. Being that it needs good art, basic story, and writing. In writing this i can see how comic sells could be going down being that i get rid of or re-write half of the comics i buy, about a hundred to a hundred and fifty every two weeks. I for one would enjoy less cheap sex tricks and more of what a comic was made to be, ACTION!!!