Superhero Comics - The Love/Hate Relationship

Ok, after weeks of goofing off, here's a (hopfully) thought provoking essay.

Let me begin by saying that I love superhero comics. I would venture to say about 60% of my comic intake is superhero. I believe them to a modern mythology, iconic characters that everyone can relate to and recognize.

With that said, superhero comics are probably killing the American Comics industry. How could that be you ask? Aren't Superhero comics the best sellers? Aren't they what's popular? All that's true, but there is an undeniable glut of superhero comics. Granted, things are a lot better than they use to be, but Superhero comics are still dominating the industry to it's own potential detriment.

I really think McCloud makes this arguement better than I can in Reinventing Comics, but here's my sumation. Everytime a new book comes out, it is fighting for shelf space (and inventory money). A comic shop owner is probably going to buy a new superhero book put out by the Big Two, because it's a proven comodity that could sell, than some new indy book that might not be as popular. But what does this, or this, or this add to the superhero genre that some other book doesn't? Who's buying these books? It's a lot harder to take a chance on a book as a consumer that cost $3.

Again, as a result of these books being bought and put on the shelf, no one is ever exposed to things like this or this. No one gets a chance to try something new. New readers aren't gained, because people think that all comics have to talk about are superheroes. Because of this, some creators have sworn off superheroes, saying all superhero comics should be destroyed. I don't go that far; I just wish that the superhero stuff would become consolidated. Do we need 7 Batman titles? 5 Superman books? 10 X-Men? 6 Spider-man? I really can't see it.

Another thing that I wish potential creators would realize is that there is very little room for a new superhero book or universe. Marvel and DC have that market on lock. No one' s going outside of that. People who try to start a new superhero universe or book now are pretty much doomed to failure from the start. Future Comics had no chance. Even Image's "re-launch" of superhero comics only weilded one really true superhero book that had any success, Invincible, and still that doesn't sell nearly as well as i might if it had a big Marvel or DC logo on it. Wildguard is another great book that suffers the same problem. These are just recent examples. Even in the past 15 years or so,we've seen Superhero companies come and burn out quick - Ultraverse, Dark Horse's Comics Greatest World, Valiant.

But, people love Superheroes so much they've got to try it on their own. I respect the love of the genre, but I can't get behind it. Recently, a local creator launched his own new, self-published superhero book. This is what got me thinking on the topic. I usually try and support local people, but there was nothing about the book that reached out and said "ah, THIS is a refreshing idea." Again, these folks are welcome to do this, and I respect their love and work; but sad to say, they're doomed to fail.

Come on folks - let's do somethign new. Let's try something no one else has done. Then, you can go write your Batman story.