[paw broon]

So, it's come to this.  The mighty DC Comics, or their masters, have had their own night of the long knives.
Bleeding Cool posted this:-
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-lee-bob-harras-marie-javins-new-dc-comics-implosion-rumors/

and this:-
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-appoints-new-general-manager-mid-september/

and this:-
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-to-cancel-aquaman-with-65-in-november/

and this:-
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/letter-confirms-dc-comics-layoff-details/

More on the site.
What do we make of this?  How will this affect specialist comic book stores?  Do we care?  Could there be a return for the titles remaining to be available more widely in bookshops and other outlets?

[The Australian Panther]

This isn't surprising. It is surprising that it has taken this long for something like this to happen. DCs output has already decreased in the last few months. Also, DC comics is now one small part of a very large Mulitnational, WarnerMedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarnerMedia.
The major decisions from now on will be made at a higher corporate level. The comics arm is now important mostly to publicize the properties that become films. the Money, and therefore the decision-making is with the films. That is why Batman, Superman and JLA will survive. [In some form] Internet publishing will increase and may at some point supercede physical publishing.
This is also why there will not be, in the forseeable future any more cross publishing teamups, in any form, because the lawyers will never allow it. The creative future in comics now lies elsewhere. In the independents? In Europe? In Japan? We will just have to wait and see.
Everything changes and sometimes the changes are fast and unexpected.             

[Andrew999]

I'm pleased to see DC and Marvel struggling - as a duopoly they have squeezed out creativity over decades, reduced the range of comics available to little more than superheroes, and restricted access to independents through cosy arrangements with Diamond.

With the growth of web publishing and the ability of creators to test the market through crowd funding, I am optimistic that - at least for a time - we might see an explosion of new talent, genres and exciting ways of presenting sequential art in the future.

As for comic book stores, they might take a leaf from the Japanese and charge people to read as many comic books (manga in Japan) and graphic novels as they want on-site for an hourly fee - tea and sushi sales adding to income (probably substitute coffee and pastries in the UK) - encouraging the 'community' aspect with drawing workshops and cosplay events

[The Australian Panther]

As for comic book stores, they might take a leaf from the Japanese and charge people to read as many comic books (manga in Japan) and graphic novels as they want on-site for an hourly fee - tea and sushi sales adding to income (probably substitute coffee and pastries in the UK) - encouraging the 'community' aspect with drawing workshops and cosplay events

Count me in! I'm there!

But I'm Australian,

Coffee and cake please! Tea when I'm in a special mood.

[paw broon]

Great idea - at first look.  But I'm not sure if it's practical in the U.K.  More on that later, as they say.  If you go into FNAC, you often can't get near the comics for folk standing or sitting on the floor, reading the books.  They don't like to be asked to move.
But a version of the Japanese idea, given the eating practices of some British fans might mean the books are covered in more than just fingerprints.  Would the shop need to put aside a certain amount of each title, because I'm not sure many could be sold if they were covered in greasy marks. It might depend on what the charge for reading and eating/drinking was to be.  I'd be happy to see many more comics available in non specialist shops but I think the economics are against it.
I need to have a ponder.
It occurs to me that some comic shops in France do a similar thing wit a cafe which also offers signings and workshops.  HMMMMMM!

[Andrew999]

Yes, Japanese comic shops put aside copies in the 'library' section of the shop - they still sell masses in the separate sales part of the shop (and I mean shedloads). I guess the idea of the library section is that it introduces customers to new series that they can then decide to buy more regularly (not every issue is found there - usually just the first three of a series). The entrance fee (usually about

[SuperScrounge]

Many people have been predicting something like this for a long time, mostly on YouTube comic review sites (Comics Matter with Ya Boy Zack, Ethan Van Sciver's Comic Artist Pro Secrets, even Clownfish TV).

The closest thing to a surprise is most people expected Disney to end Marvel Comics first and license out the characters to other publishers like they do with all their other characters.

Calling it an implosion doesn't seem right, this is a pruning. Trying to save the tree by removing the diseased and rotting branches. Will DC survive and become profitable again. Hard to say.

[Captain Audio]

Soft drinks in disgusting flavours and terribly sweet Japanese candy also sell by the case!

Ah yes Squid and diesel flavor, my favorite.