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[BenjaminBirdie]

Hey comic-gaf:

I'm moving to NYC and trying to get rid of stuff/get some monies, and I have a whole bunch of comics that I want to sell. I tried craigslist, no luck. Same for local comics shops. I have no ebay seller credit, so I don't know if it'll sell well there. What would be the best way to sell a bunch of comics?

You can't. I had the same plan and just randomly checked a lot of books on eBay that I thought would fetch at least a decent haul (Identity Crisis) and saw the lot at $7 with no bids.

I donated them all to my local library and am getting a commendation from them later in the year for my generosity.

 

[Face it Tiger..]

Just another friendly reminder about getting your copy of the friendly neighborhood daredevil.

 

[krypt0nian]

You can't. I had the same plan and just randomly checked a lot of books on eBay that I thought would fetch at least a decent haul (Identity Crisis) and saw the lot at $7 with no bids.

I donated them all to my local library and am getting a commendation from them later in the year for my generosity.

Yup, I gave most of the age appropriate comics to my cousins and some I donated to the hospital. A few runs that actually held value (80's X-Men, etc) I was able to unload before they were worthless to a local store.

You know, back when stores bought comics.

So glad I made the jump to digital for monthlies and trades for things I really love.

 

[Parallax]

It makes total sense, man. The X-Men have always been a metaphor for the kind of trod upon misfits who make up comics readers. In the fifties, that sense of "misfitry" was everywhere and comics were booming. Fast forward to 2004, it's abundantly clear that the userbase for mainstream comics has evaporated. The dream that Grant Morrison personified in New X-Men, that comics could be cool and pop and hip enough to make "everyone" want to be a mutant, was dead and strangled. Thus the "mutants" were reduced to a small number, and they had to be protected at all costs. And then we get event after event, not unlike Scott Summers' military mentality. The base of "mutants" currently alive had to be catered to and sustained no matter what. They couldn't let them rest for even a second.

I don't think I'm peering hard enough, "friend".

i dont think they thought all that out while writing the x-men over the years. it seems coincidental at best. especially the killing of the xmen. it seemed like they wanted more character driven series, and with the abundance of young mutants existing at the time, was probably a bit hard to do. so kill of a great portion of the kids at the mansion, and have wanda blank the others. bam. lack of characters means more character driven stories.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

i dont think they thought all that out while writing the x-men. it seems coincidental at best.

But it all fits together, man.

The "Schism" between the X-Men just as DC 52 starts?? I mean, it's all right there if you look hard enough. "Idie"? "ID"? "DC"? Come on. It's staring you right in the face.

 

[Parallax]

But it all fits together, man.

The "Schism" between the X-Men just as DC 52 starts?? I mean, it's all right there if you look hard enough. "Idie"? "ID"? "DC"? Come on. It's staring you right in the face.

im sure if there was a conspiracy, it would go deeper than that....

 

[Anticitizen One]

Just another friendly reminder about getting your copy of the friendly neighborhood daredevil.

Will I be able to read the current Daredevil series without getting major spoilers for Bendis/brubaker's run?

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

im sure if there was a conspiracy, it would go deeper than that....

I'm glad you asked.

In the lead up to Wolverine & The X-Men, Wolverine tries to get the money for the school from his time as a kingpin for Chinatown. In effect, he was "returning to an old empire". If only there was another "kingpin" of editorial that tried to return to his old "empire" of running a comics line.

Oh, WAIT.

There WAS.

BOB HARRAS.

Next witness, your honor.

 

[Dance Inferno]

You know what's weird is that I was looking at Marvel's financial statements from 2007 and they had some ridiculously high margins (over 25%). I think it might have been a combination of its publication and licensing businesses, but those numbers were still impressive. If a company can make that much profit year in and year out, then it will be able to stay in business for a very long time.

Obviously both DC and Marvel are privately owned now so I can't find their most recent financials, but I think it would be an interesting thing to look at.

Edit: This post would have made a lot more sense on the previous page. Curse you Gaffers and your lightning posting speeds.

 

[jetpacks was yes]

You can't. I had the same plan and just randomly checked a lot of books on eBay that I thought would fetch at least a decent haul (Identity Crisis) and saw the lot at $7 with no bids.

I donated them all to my local library and am getting a commendation from them later in the year for my generosity.

Dang, that kinda sucks. I was hoping to get something at least, after all I invested into them...

oh well

 

[kame-sennin]

The data I found most interesting was this:

13-17 — 1%-2%

18-24 — 14%-22%

25-34 — 37%-42%

35-44 — 27%-35%

45-54 — 7%-11%

55+ — 2%

First, the percentage of 13-17 year-olds reading comics is fucking dire. Your teen years are when you develop obsessions with Star Wars and LoTR and anime, and yet none of these kids want to read comic books. This means that there is almost no audience being developed to replace the current one.

The other interesting bit is that the largest group of comic readers, 25-34 year olds would have been in nearly the same age bracket (8-17) in the year 1995. 1995 was the year when the last comics crash occurred. This means that the largest group of comics fans got into comics in the late 80's and early 90's, and that after the crash, the industry was no longer able to pull in young readers. I don't care for demographically focused publishing strategies, but this data should really be setting off alarm bells, and I'm surprised that nothing has been done.

Comics as a medium, it's clear now, will never grow substantially.

Just because the current crop of publishers is too incompetent to get the job done doesn't mean that no one else will. People around the world love comics. In Japan, comics are mainstream. In France and Belgium, comics are an artform and classic comics sell in the millions. Even in the U.S., Watchmen put up huge numbers and will sell for decades, to say nothing of the massive comics industry we had before 1955. Maybe superhero comics have reached their zenith, but the industry as a whole has more than a fighting chance to expand again.

 

[Shin Johnpv]

World's Finest #1


Maybe once her cape gets ripped off...boob window?

YAY!!!!! To PG being back. Not digging the costume or hair but YAY to PG finally being back.

Now get her back to Earth-1 and with her side cape and long hair.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Just because the current crop of publishers is too incompetent to get the job done doesn't mean that no one else will. People around the world love comics. In Japan, comics are mainstream. In France and Belgium, comics are an artform and classic comics sell in the millions. Even in the U.S., Watchmen put up huge numbers and will sell for decades, to say nothing of the massive comics industry we had before 1955. Maybe superhero comics have reached their zenith, but the industry as a whole has more than a fighting chance to expand again.

Sorry, should have been clearer. Mainstream Superhero Comics.

 

[krypt0nian]

YAY!!!!! To PG being back. Not digging the costume or hair but YAY to PG finally being back.

Now get her back to Earth-1 and with her side cape and long hair.

They are both "trapped" on Earth 1 currently.

 

[Parallax]

why is there even an earth 2 on a line reboot? im guessing all the heroes that you want that dont exist will come from there?

 

[krypt0nian]

why is there even an earth 2 on a line reboot? im guessing all the heroes that you want that dont exist will come from there?

Because DC has a multiverse. It's as canon as Superman is.

This is a good thing.

 

[Shin Johnpv]

They are both "trapped" on Earth 1 currently.

Well that's half of what I want WOOOOT!

Hopefully being stuck on Earth-1 forces her to grow her hair long.

 

[kame-sennin]

Sorry, should have been clearer. Mainstream Superhero Comics.

*Puts down flamethrower*

Fair enough.

 

[Parallax]

Because DC has a multiverse. It's as canon as Superman is.

This is a good thing.

maybe it is. i dont even know what i want from dc anymore.

 

[Satch]

Well that's half of what I want WOOOOT!

Hopefully being stuck on Earth-1 forces her to grow her hair long.

PFFF

PG with a cute inverted bob haircut >>>>>>>>>>>>> PG with long hair

next you're going to tell me that Kate Kane looks flawless as a pastel pink reject from the Broadway performance of Rent

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

The data I found most interesting was this:



First, the percentage of 13-17 year-olds reading comics is fucking dire. Your teen years are when you develop obsessions with Star Wars and LoTR and anime, and yet none of these kids want to read comic books. This means that there is almost no audience being developed to replace the current one.

The other interesting bit is that the largest group of comic readers, 25-34 year olds would have been in nearly the same age bracket (8-17) in the year 1995. 1995 was the year when the last comics crash occurred. This means that the largest group of comics fans got into comics in the late 80's and early 90's, and that after the crash, the industry was no longer able to pull in young readers. I don't care for demographically focused publishing strategies, but this data should really be setting off alarm bells, and I'm surprised that nothing has been done.

It's strange how super hero movies don't really lead to increased sales anymore. Alan Grant always tells the story that when he took over Detective Comics DC was thinking of cancelling it (because it was selling around 80,000 heh) but as soon as Batman 89 came out the book started selling 7-800k and became a huge success. It would seem like movies would be a huge way to get kids into comic books. There seems to be more of a disconnect then there was back then. I wonder why?

Also, I know Watchmen did very well after the movie came out, it seems to be an exception.

 

[Satch]

It's strange how super hero movies don't really lead to increased sales anymore. Alan Grant always tells the story that when he took over Detective Comics DC was thinking of cancelling it (because it was selling around 80,000 heh) but as soon as Batman 89 came out the book started selling 7-800k and became a huge success. It would seem like movies would be a huge way to get kids into comic books. There seems to be more of a disconnect then there was back then. I wonder why?

Also, I know Watchmen did very well after the movie came out, it seems to be an exception.

video games

 

[Garryk]

It's strange how super hero movies don't really lead to increased sales anymore. Alan Grant always tells the story that when he took over Detective Comics DC was thinking of cancelling it (because it was selling around 80,000 heh) but as soon as Batman 89 came out the book started selling 7-800k and became a huge success. It would seem like movies would be a huge way to get kids into comic books. There seems to be more of a disconnect then there was back then. I wonder why?

Also, I know Watchmen did very well after the movie came out, it seems to be an exception.

Now kids go play the licensed video game or buy action figures.

Watchmen has boobies in it.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

video games

I loved X-Men the Animated Series and the many X-Men games on the Sega Genesis (except Wolverine: Adamantium Rage), but that didn't stop me from buying the comics. The first X-Men comic I bought made me feel like I had been in the minor leagues.

 

[kame-sennin]

It's strange how super hero movies don't really lead to increased sales anymore. Alan Grant always tells the story that when he took over Detective Comics DC was thinking of cancelling it (because it was selling around 80,000 heh) but as soon as Batman 89 came out the book started selling 7-800k and became a huge success. It would seem like movies would be a huge way to get kids into comic books. There seems to be more of a disconnect then there was back then. I wonder why?

Also, I know Watchmen did very well after the movie came out, it seems to be an exception.

My take is that accessibility is a huge factor. If I go to see the Watchmen movie, or see a commercial for it on TV, I can go to Barnes & Noble and pick up the single volume GN to get the whole story. On the other hand, if I enjoyed The Dark Knight, I need a tour guide to bring me to my local comics shop and help me figure out where I should jump in. In the 1980's this wasn't a huge problem because single-issue stories were much more common. My experience reading comics in the late 80's was that having no knowledge of continuity didn't really hurt the entertainment value of the comic.

The other factor is that the experience of seeing a movie is very different from the experience of reading a comic. In my opinion, superhero movies have more in common with other big budget blockbusters like Transformers than they do with superhero comics. The experience is about massive special effects action sequences. Comics provide a very different experience, so there's no reason they would satisfy someone who enjoyed watching Iron Man or Thor in theaters.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

My take is that accessibility is a huge factor. If I go to see the Watchmen movie, or see a commercial for it on TV, I can go to Barnes & Noble and pick up the single volume GN to get the whole story. On the other hand, if I enjoyed The Dark Knight, I need a tour guide to bring me to my local comics shop and help me figure out where I should jump in. In the 1980's this wasn't a huge problem because single-issue stories were much more common. My experience reading comics in the late 80's was that having no knowledge of continuity didn't really hurt the entertainment value of the comic.

The other factor is that the experience of seeing a movie is very different from the experience of reading a comic. In my opinion, superhero movies have more in common with other big budget blockbusters like Transformers than they do with superhero comics. The experience is about massive special effects action sequences. Comics provide a very different experience, so there's no reason they would satisfy someone who enjoyed watching Iron Man or Thor in theaters.

Good call on Watchmen, I've always said it's a good gateway drug to comics. It's 12 issues with no outside continuity and it's 20 dollars. You basically get your money's worth. Most people move on to books like Long Halloween, which has a similar price/page count. After that you realize that most trades are a lot more expensive per issue and they can all be read in one sitting.

Still though, Captain America made 370 million dollars, you'd think enough people would at least pick up one book enough to make a sales impact. Didn't Marvel even put out a new number 1 for the movie?

 

[Anticitizen One]

My take is that accessibility is a huge factor. If I go to see the Watchmen movie, or see a commercial for it on TV, I can go to Barnes & Noble and pick up the single volume GN to get the whole story. On the other hand, if I enjoyed The Dark Knight, I need a tour guide to bring me to my local comics shop and help me figure out where I should jump in. In the 1980's this wasn't a huge problem because single-issue stories were much more common. My experience reading comics in the late 80's was that having no knowledge of continuity didn't really hurt the entertainment value of the comic.

You start here:

or Here:

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Is Batman Earth One out?

 

[notworksafe]

You start here:

Doesn't exist for another four months, but it'll be a good starting point when it does arrive.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Doesn't exist for another four months, but it'll be a good starting point when it does arrive.

It will be out for Dark Knight Rises at least

 

[notworksafe]

It will be out for Dark Knight Rises at least

IIRC it'll be out 10 days before the movie. Perfect timing.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I still think having origin stories or #1s be the only way to introduce new characters to a comic is the wrong way to go about it. I'm not saying that every issue has to have Jim Shooter levels of exposition, but when you pick up a random issue you shouldn't even have to ask if it's a good jumping on point.

That's for mainstream super hero comics, creator owned comics can do whatever they want.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I still think having origin stories or #1s be the only way to introduce new characters to a comic is the wrong way to go about it. I'm not saying that every issue has to have Jim Shooter levels of exposition, but when you pick up a random issue you shouldn't even have to ask if it's a good jumping on point.

That's for mainstream super hero comics, creator owned comics can do whatever they want.

I think they should just drop the monthlies and go OGN only. Release 120-150 page books every 6 months and release them in bookstores and digitally at the same time. There already experimenting with this at DC (Earth-One books and that Marv Wolfman/Perez titan book) and at Marvel (the Season One books). For those who enjoyed monthlies they can do 10 page 99 cent digital comics like they are doing with Justice League Beyond.

I think the Ultimate tpbs were a big success for Marvel too. The first 2 marvel comics I ever bought were Ultimate Spider Man Vol. 1 & 2 shortly after seeing Spider-Man in theaters.

 

[MC Safety]

It's strange how super hero movies don't really lead to increased sales anymore. Alan Grant always tells the story that when he took over Detective Comics DC was thinking of cancelling it (because it was selling around 80,000 heh) but as soon as Batman 89 came out the book started selling 7-800k and became a huge success. It would seem like movies would be a huge way to get kids into comic books. There seems to be more of a disconnect then there was back then. I wonder why?

Also, I know Watchmen did very well after the movie came out, it seems to be an exception.

Comic books are generally unfriendly to new readers. It's no surprise any spike in sales from comic book films is quickly negated.

Comics are expensive. And the trend is not toward making comics more approachable, but rather catering toward the existing fanbase. Just about everything is written toward the inevitable trade paperback, and the continuity is so convoluted it's oftentimes impenetrable.

 

[BluWacky]

Definitely adding this inevitable collection to my non-comics reader list of suggestions.

*adds to list* Scott Snyder appears to be the second coming of comics writers at the moment judging from how often I see his name pop up.

Also, I read Fun Home! 'twas brilliant (if a bit depressing) - thank you again for the rec.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I think they should just drop the monthlies and go OGN only. Release 120-150 page books every 6 months and release them in bookstores and digitally at the same time. There already experimenting with this at DC (Earth-One books and that Marv Wolfman/Perez titan book) and at Marvel (the Season One books). For those who enjoyed monthlies they can do 10 page 99 cent digital comics like they are doing with Justice League Beyond.

I think the Ultimate tpbs were a big success for Marvel too. The first 2 marvel comics I ever bought were Ultimate Spider Man Vol. 1 & 2 shortly after seeing Spider-Man in theaters.

I saw the Fantastic Four Season One hardcover in Barnes and Noble today...25 bucks for a 136 page graphic novel! I don't think that's the answer.

 

[kame-sennin]

You start here:
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/batman-earth-one.jpg[/img]

or Here:

http://thwpdotnet.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/dcu-new-52-week-3-batman-11.jpg[/img]

Neither of those were out when The Dark Knight released in theaters, but I'll go along with the example. You told me I should read Batman Earth One or Batman #1. But if I didn't have you to tell me that, and I walked into a store today I would see:

All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #16
Batman and Robin #6
Detective Comics #6
Batman #5
Batman: Odyssey #4

Is "The Brave and the Bold" in continuity? Is the Batman in "Batman and Robin" the same as the one in "Detective Comics"? If so, which should I read first? Do I need to buy ALL of these comics to understand the story? Which of these comics is the best? Should I start at issue #1 or just jump right in? Are issues 2-5 available?

Like I said, a new customer would be adrift without help.

Edit: BluWacky, what is this:

 

[Anticitizen One]

Scott Snyder will single-handidly save comics. He is currently writing 4 books at once (Swamp Thing, Batman, Severed, and American Vampire) all of which are awesome and already has a sizable list of paperback collections to check out (The Black Mirror, American Vampire volumes 1 &2). He will be heading up DC's big Batman saga this year (Court of Owls) and he has the backing and support of one of literatures most respected writers (Stephen King).

Not bad for a guy who just entered comics in late 2010.

 

[charsace]

I still hate Marvel for cancelling x-23's book. It was one of their best books and they canceled it.

 

[fredrancour]

Scott Snyder will single-handidly save comics. He is currently writing 4 books at once (Swamp Thing, Batman, Severed, and American Vampire) all of which are awesome and already has a sizable list of paperback collections to check out (The Black Mirror, American Vampire volumes 1 &2). He will be heading up DC's big Batman saga this year (Court of Owls) and he has the backing and support of one of literatures most respected writers (Stephen King).

Not bad for a guy who just entered comics in late 2010.

Severed just ended, right? Bring on more Snyder books!

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Didn't Marvel even put out a new number 1 for the movie?

They did. Its gone right back to selling the pre-relaunch numbers, though

 

[Anticitizen One]

Neither of those were out when The Dark Knight released in theaters, but I'll go along with the example. You told me I should read Batman Earth One or Batman #1. But if I didn't have you to tell me that, and I walked into a store today I would see:

All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold #16
Batman and Robin #6
Detective Comics #6
Batman #5
Batman: Odyssey #4

Is "The Brave and the Bold" in continuity? Is the Batman in "Batman and Robin" the same as the one in "Detective Comics"? If so, which should I read first? Do I need to buy ALL of these comics to understand the story? Which of these comics is the best? Should I start at issue #1 or just jump right in? Are issues 2-5 available?

Like I said, a new customer would be adrift without help.

No, yes, either one, no, batman & robin, start at #1, yes

Cmon son how hard is it? especially with the internet. Besides who the hell goes into comic shops now a days anyway? They would go to the bookstore where there would be big ass displays filled to the brim with Batman: Earth One and Batman Year One books as well some of the best batman stories to read (Long Halloween, The Black Mirror, Morrison's Batman run).

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

No, yes, either one, no, batman & robin, start at #1, yes

Cmon son how hard is it? especially with the internet. Besides who the hell goes into comic shops now a days anyway? They would go to the bookstore where there would be big ass displays filled to the brim with Batman: Earth One and Batman Year One books as well some of the best batman stories to read (Long Halloween, The Black Mirror, Morrison's Batman run).

So they have to make an 18 dollar (+tax) investment just to understand what is going on in one of five Batman books?

 

[Anticitizen One]

So they have to make an 18 dollar (+tax) investment just to understand what is going on in one of five Batman books?

$18? They can just pick up batman #1 for $2.99 ($1.99 on iPad) or they can buy Earth one for $14. If it's a matter of money DC provides plenty of free issues both at Free Comic Book Day and on the app store or you can just go to the local library and enjoy the huge backlog of batman graphic novels. Pick and choose what you like. This isn't even mentioning the free preview of each issue they put up every month all over the internet.

4 of those "5 batman books" are crap cash grabs and are only there to attract suckers. It's like saying "Do I need to buy every Call of Duty game + COD Elite to understand the story of MW3?"

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

$18? They can just pick up batman #1 for $2.99 ($1.99 on iPad) or they can buy Earth one for $14

4 of those "5 batman books" are crap cash grabs and are only there to attract suckers. It's like saying "Do I need to buy every Call of Duty game + COD Elite to understand the story of MW3?"

You can't buy issue 1 and then go to issue 6 and know what's going on, you have to read them all. How's a new reader supposed to know what's a cash grab and what isn't?

 

[BluWacky]

Edit: BluWacky, what is this:

It's Juna Ariyoshi from Earth Girl Arjuna, a much-derided anime series about a girl tasked with saving the world from creatures that feed on mankind's sin and pollution. It also happens to be one of my favourites, despite it being eye-rollingly hamfisted in promoting the views of the cult that its director joined and filled with psuedo-science and unlikeable characters.

Cmon son how hard is it? especially with the internet. Besides who the hell goes into comic shops now a days anyway? They would go to the bookstore where there would be big ass displays filled to the brim with Batman: Earth One and Batman Year One books as well some of the best batman stories to read (Long Halloween, The Black Mirror, Morrison's Batman run).

Do major US book shops sell a large variety of comics that are easy to browse through? In the UK places like Waterstones will have some artbooks and maybe a copy or two of Alan Moore's stuff, but it's not immediately obvious what you should be picking up just based on that.

And while it's easy enough to research Batman et al, how would you go about Googling something like Sweet Tooth, or Testament, to use two of the more "odd" examples I've come across in the month or so since I really started reading comics?

 

[Anticitizen One]

You can't buy issue 1 and then go to issue 6 and know what's going on, you have to read them all. How's a new reader supposed to know what's a cash grab and what isn't?

If the new reader is an adult I expect them to either do basic research or just pick up book 1/issue 1 and see if they like where it's going and then they can decide if they want to continue with the series.

If the new reader is a child...the kid is just gonna pick up whatever looks cool to look at the pictures and the action they aren't going to obsess over minute continuity details.

Let me tell you something, when I got into comics back in the 90s they were doing story arcs and the continuity was convoluted back then I didn't give a shit I just picked up whatever had cool covers at the supermarket. Here are some of the books I remember picking up:

Oh noess the continuity! I still too this day have not hunt down the previous issues in any of those series and was able to figure out roughly what was going on and over time learned about these characters and became fans of them. My parents spent about $10 and I became an avid DC fan for life. Thats all it took. But I guess your implying that 80s/90s kids are somehow superior to the people of today who lack the mental capacity to just pick up whatever looks cool.

I don't understand why you are getting hung up on "where to start" or the price when I think both DC and Marvel have done an outstanding job of making it clear with the help of bookstores like Amazon, barnes & nobel, borders, etc. where to start or what the best stuff is. This is even assuming you somehow have no access to the internet

And while it's easy enough to research Batman et al, how would you go about Googling something like Sweet Tooth, or Testament, to use two of the more "odd" examples I've come across in the month or so since I really started reading comics?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Tooth_(Vertigo)

http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Cool-Graphic-Novels/lm/R16S0UPYU2OMA2/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs0

Less than 5 minutes to read up on the series and quickly go buy what you like.

 

[fredrancour]

Do major US book shops sell a large variety of comics that are easy to browse through? In the UK places like Waterstones will have some artbooks and maybe a copy or two of Alan Moore's stuff, but it's not immediately obvious what you should be picking up just based on that.

And while it's easy enough to research Batman et al, how would you go about Googling something like Sweet Tooth, or Testament, to use two of the more "odd" examples I've come across in the month or so since I really started reading comics?

Major book stores usually have a mediocre-to-good selection of graphic novels and a very small monthlies presence. Not ideal for browsing.

 

[Slayven]

Shit, Ultraforce is on netflix? Oh shit it is Prime Time!.

 

[Parallax]

I don't understand why you are getting hung up on "where to start" or the price when I think both DC and Marvel have done an outstanding job of making it clear with the help of bookstores like Amazon, barnes & nobel, borders, etc. where to start or what the best stuff is. This is even assuming you somehow have no access to the internet

thats the problem a lot of people that want to get into comics have unfortunately. and unlike a good portion of us who would grab comics that had cool looking covers, or characters that we liked on them, some people feel intimidated by missing an issue as though they are missing out on something huge, so they dont bother. in that way, i am glad for the digital medium to exist, since it would help some people overcome this issue.