Filed under: Comics
I’m not the first person to complain about this and I know I won’t be the last, but I’ve really got a problem with the pricing structure Marvel’s got for their graphic novels.
Here’s an example. We get the comic shipment in yesterday. Amongst the goodies are All-Star Superman, Volume 1 from DC and Spider-Man: Reign from Marvel. Both are hardcover, the same size and equally thick; both are $19.99 USD. Where they differ is in their Canadian prices:
Superman: $23.99
Spider-Man: $32.00
$8. EIGHT FRIGGIN’ DOLLARS difference on two for all intents and purposes identical $20USD books! Yes, I will grant you that the paper used in Spider-Man is slightly higher grade than that used in Superman, but it’s not EIGHT DOLLARS BETTER. WHY, MARVEL?! Why do you hate Canadians?! Is it because Joe Shuster co-created Superman and he was Canadian?! C’mon, he was living in the States at the time and that was ages ago! You’ve hired tons of Canadians since then; quit hating on us and our decently performing dollar! We still like you… you know, most of the time… when you’re not killing off your major characters really badly. *cough*captainamerica*cough*
Okay, I’m calm now. I just needed to get that out of my system. And as a matter of interest, the Superman’s awesome. A perfect, smart, energetic, ’60s-cum-new-millennium update to a character who was both literally and figuratively dead only a decade ago. Completely fun. I haven’t read the Spider-Man yet.
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The other sad thing about Marvel pricing is that the books are printed in Canada (it says so inside, I thought). So…. Why not just have a “Canadjun” backcover file saved so you can print the covers off with the right prices - hey maybe start putting some info on the backcover in French since we speak that too.
And now, just to double-post what I said at facebook: All Star Superman is 6 issues, and Spider-Reign was 4. So Reign should be about 18.99, even in hardcover. Reign should be about 2/6, or 1/3 cheaper. I don’t think the paper’s that much better - and All Star Superman has way better colouring, so go figure.
Marvel: The House of Strange New Ideas About What to Charge People for Our Garbage. “Agents of HSNEAWCPOG!” Hey, maybe somebody will say something in “Omega Flight.” Puck will notice that he’s only getting forty cents for every yanky dollar the USAgents making.
Meanwhile, I could lick and nuzzle somebody at DC for pricing the All Star Superman hardcover so cheaply. Glossy and beautiful, and under 25 bucks (before taxes). Just like me, baby! God bless the good people at DC who know how badly the world needs a good new collection of Frank Quitely art. I’m gonna pump that book until the levy goes dry, and then I’ll fill the levy up with extra copies.
Comment by Savage Henry Lee 04.13.07 @ 6:57 amLeave a comment
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Is that the Morrison run on All-Star Superman? I bought the monthlies when they came out and, yeah, Morrison blends mythology and weird science very nicely. And Quitely’s art rocks.
The funny part: I haven’t read Superman for over twenty years. All it took was a good story and good art to draw me in. Take note, Marvel.
And I do agree with the outrageous (but not truly outrageous) Canadian pricing. Is it because the books need to cross the border? Our treachous, quasi-socialist border?
Comment by Jay 04.13.07 @ 3:08 am