ComicsPRO annual meeting first thoughts
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Discussions were primarily optimistic at the informal meet and greet kicking off the annual ComicsPRO meeting of comic-book retailers. Distributors, publishers and others will discuss their plans for the upcoming year over the next three days with some of the nation’s top comic-book sellers.
While the box office for “Watchmen” might have not been all that Warner Bros. had hoped for, it certainly worked as far as motivating sales of the book. Anecdotal evidence pointed to huge sales of the graphic novel leading up to the movie’s opening.
Anticipation was high for the “Wolverine” movie, with retailers reporting increased interest in Wolverine and Deadpool merchandise as the movie nears.
Free Comic Book Day, coming up on May 2, was also mentioned by retailers, with at least one retailer expecting it to be his most successful Free Comic Book Day ever.
This year’s Free Comic Book Day will feature a Wolverine tie-in comic as well as the launch of DC’s “Blackest Night” event, written by Geoff Johns.
Also on the horizon are opportunities to tie in with the “Jonah Hex” and “Green Lantern” films, slated for 2010.
Not all was rosy, however. The overall economic slump had affected some locations. Furthermore, logistic problems with a large supplier have become more pronounced in recent weeks. And, something on many stores’ minds is the question of how digital content will impact the comic book industry.
Still, the dozens of retailers who met and talked late into the night about trends and ideas for comic-book retail continue to have a passion for their line of work, and optimism about the future.
– Matt Price
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[...] Retailers | Matt Price files a brief report as the direct-market trade organization ComicsPRO kicks off its annual meeting in Memphis, Tenn. [Nerdage] [...]