Remix

Community of Continuity 

Up until the late 1970's the way to purchase comic books was from your local newsstand or drug store. Publishers would sell their products directly to these markets. An unfortunate result of this was that it was difficult many times to find sequential issues of your favorite comic at the same retailer, making it very difficult to keep up with a multi-part story. Many kids would get the books they could find, read them, and then trade books with other kids who had managed to find different comics. This caused the comics community to be very cut off from each other, many people were only able to interact with those they knew directly that also read comics.

In the late 1970's, a new innovation happened in the comics industry, the introduction of the comics specialty shops. These stores allowed readers access to many more titles than the spinner racks at the drug stores. Suddenly people went from being able to pick up books sporadically as they showed up at the drug store, to being able to select from the wide range of titles put out by all the publishers that the shop owner decided to order from. This was a huge advantage for people who were wanting to get every issue of a certain title. 

With the introduction of specialty stores, many people were introduced to books they had never heard of before. The direct-market system allowed for an individual to be able to be exposed to any comic by any publisher that the shop's distributor carried. This was the start of what was called the "comic book boom" because with so many stores and so much shelf space, publishers were taking on almost any book pitched in order to get more product in the hands of the consumer. This led to a lot of less-than books. 

Having so many books in one place allowed for many readers to meet other readers that they may not have encountered at the local drug store. Many shops had "regulars" that were in every week on the day that comics would arrive, and would hang out in the store reading the issues after purchasing them. These people would then rant or rave about the issues they read. For many people, this was the only time they got to discuss their comic, and they formed good friendships with these people. 

Once the internet started becoming more prominent, the way that comic readers talked about their favorite, and least favorite books, changed immensely. Once people discover message boards, the comics community was drawn to them. There were boards related to individual titles, characters, publishers, and even creators. The comic readers with access to the forums were very outspoken about their opinions on the current state of comics. Many of the people on the forums considered other forum members to be some of their closest friends. 

One of the most important ways that the comics community directly expresses their shared interest in the medium has always been the convention. In the early days, most conventions were a umbrella "sci-fi" convention which celebrated not only comics, but also sci-fi novels, movies, and even the furry population. Soon, many of these individual entities would split off and have their own conventions. During the comic conventions, fans would get the opportunity to meet the creators of their favorite characters, get autographs and sketches, receive first-hand news about upcoming comic events, buy comics that may not be available at their local shops, and most importantly meet and talk to all the other comic fans that come to the conventions. Today, there are comic conventions in every state throughout the year, with the San Diego ComiCon being considered the largest and most influential of all.

Take 2:

Up until the late 1970's, the way to purchase comic books was from a local newsstand or drug store. Publishers would sell their products directly to these markets. This is how Brandon Ottenborg, an employee at Everett Comics and Cards, first got into comics. He was at the local 7-11 with his dad and his brother and saw an issue of Batman on a spinner rack. This began a tradition of Brandon and his brother traveling with their dad once a week to the 7-11 to get their comic book for the week.

An unfortunate result of this was that it was frequently troublesome to find sequential issues of a favorite comic at the same retailer, making it very difficult to keep up with a multi-part story. Many kids would get the books they could find, read them, and then trade books with other kids who had managed to find different comics. Consequently, the comic community became very cut off from each other; many people were only able to interact with those they knew directly that also read comics.

In the late 1970's, a new innovation happened in the comics industry, the introduction of comic specialty shops. These stores allowed readers access to many more titles than the spinner racks at the drug stores. Suddenly people went from being able to pick up books sporadically as they showed up at the drug store, to being able to select from the wide range of titles put out by all the publishers that the shop owner decided to order from. Therefore, this was a huge advantage for people who were wanting to get every issue of a certain title. Comic book lovers were brought to a central location instead of drug stores and newstands spread throughout the city.

With the emergence of specialty stores, many people were introduced to books they had never heard of before. The direct-market system allowed for an individual to be able to be exposed to any comic by any publisher that the shop's distributor carried. This was the start of what was called the "comic book boom" because with so many stores and so much shelf space, publishers were taking on almost any book pitched in order to get more product in the hands of the consumer. This led to a large amount of sub-par books.

Having so many books in one place allowed for many readers to meet other readers that they may not have encountered at the local drug store. Many shops had "regulars" that were in every week on the day that comics would arrive, and would hang out in the store reading the issues after purchasing them. These people would then rant or rave about the issues they read. For many people, this was the only time they got to discuss their comic, and they formed good friendships with these people.

Once the internet started becoming more prominent, the way that comic readers talked about their favorite, and least favorite books, changed immensely. Once people discovered message boards, the comics community was drawn to them. There were boards related to individual titles, characters, publishers, and even creators. The comic readers with access to the forums were very outspoken about their opinions on the current state of comics. Many of the people on the forums considered other forum members to be some of their closest friends. Some people, like Brandon, feel that the internet has ruined the comic book industry. Many websites devoted to comics post content known as “spoilers” which refer to information in books that may have just come out, giving people little time to have actually read the issues for themselves, or may refer to information released in press releases or interviews that give details about current or upcoming plots.

One of the most important ways that the comic community directly expresses their shared interest in the medium has always been the convention. In the early days, most conventions were a umbrella "sci-fi" convention which celebrated not only comics, but also sci-fi novels, movies, and even the furry population. Soon, many of these individual entities would split off and have their own conventions. During the comic conventions, fans would get the opportunity to meet the creators of their favorite characters, get autographs and sketches, receive first-hand news about upcoming comic events, buy comics that may not be available at their local shops, and most importantly meet and talk to all the other fans of comic books that come to the conventions. Today, there are comic conventions in every state throughout the year, with the San Diego ComiCon considered the largest and most influential of all.