2024 is here, so it’s time to reflect. Instead of offering up a bevy of New Year’s resolutions, let’s look at what went right and wrong in 2023 as indicators of what we can expect as our deepest hopes and fears for 2024.
The Big 2
It’s fair to say 2023 was a bust for big events at the Big 2. Lazarus Planet, A.X.E, Knight Terrors, and Dark Web all landed with a thud loud enough to rattle your fillings. Monthly floppy sales are down across the board, and the latest crop of writers is pushing storytelling quality down across almost all titles.
Our Hopes? The Big 2 can and should swap in new leadership committed to righting both ships with quality creators delivering consistently good stories and character work.
Our Fears? The Big 2 only remains consistent in their bad creative strategies and talent hiring practices. Without a turnaround, 2024 could be a breaking point.
The Non-Big 2 Publishers
Smaller Publishers such as Mad Cave, Dynamite, and Image had a better 2023 than the Big 2, but other Publishers are on the brink of collapse. Scout, IDW, and Valiant may not survive 2024 if they don’t get their act together. For the smaller publishers that can focus and lean into what they do best, the opportunity is ripe to fill the gap the Big 2’s mistakes are creating.
Our Hopes? Smaller and mid-sized publishers need to get focused on their core audience and how they serve that audience. The key for 2024 is “curation.” If the small publishers can get disciplined and consistent about curating their fanbase, 2024 could be a banner year.
Our Fears? If too many small publishers try to follow the Big 2, or worse, focus on those ever-elusive Hollywood deals, more than one bankruptcy announcement is on the horizon.
Independent Creators
It’s never been easier to create an independent comic, so the time is right to get going for creators who have an itch to finally publish their big idea. That said, the indie scene is struggling with infighting and confusion about which creation model is the right one.
Our Hopes? Indie creators will learn that collaboration and mentoring are the right way to go, leading to a golden age for indie creators. Partnerships and support could create a grassroots movement that makes indie comic creation even simpler for a creator willing to put in the work.
Our Fears? Infighting, bickering, and flame wars could scare off new creators because the noise and hassle kill enthusiasm. “Comics will break your heart” should not be a mantra that’s reinforced by other creators.
Digital Comics
Digital is still digital. Unless an indie creator has story ideas that fit within the Web Toons audience, it’s up to the Publishers to get on board with an aggressive, common-sense digital strategy. Viz proved that digital works, so the market is there for the Publisher willing to go after it.
Our Hopes? Small, medium, and Big Publishers will finally embrace digital as a viable alternative instead of treating it like the Boogeyman. Take a measured approach instead of an all-or-nothing strategy, and commit to making digital a viable channel for comic distribution.
Our Fears? Publishers who put all their eggs in the “Print” basket will either shutter their digital offerings completely or relegate digital to a dumping ground for low-quality comics that aren’t fit to print, poisoning future potential.
The Direct Market
The Direct Market (DM) has taken a beating of late, mostly from creators bullying LCS owners who speak up about poor quality. If the DM is suffering, the DM has to take fate into it’s hands.
Our Hopes? The DM will consolidate, collaborate, and pivot in any way possible to make every LCS a sought-after destination for comics and more. If that means pivoting to Manga, back issues, or anything else that serves the local market, make it happen. Survive!
Our Fears? Lamenting about poor quality from the Big 2 becomes an excuse to not pivot away from the Big 2. More shops will close, and the DM risks extinction.
The Future
The future is ripe for the taking, but everyone who participates in the Comics Industry needs to stop whining, get smart, and get creative about solutions.
Concentrate on the audience, hire and promote on merit, and prioritize good business decisions. The Industry can no longer afford to operate like a hobby, so let’s act like a business and make great comics.
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