The Graphic Novels Guy

The Billion Dollar Summer, Notes From NYCC and ALL AGES
More cool things about graphic novels and the Comics Code Authority

Just Write The Story!
During the New York Comic Con I sat in on a panel on self-publishing which was moderated by Jimmy Gownley who writes the Amelia Rules!  series.  Along with us were Harold Bucholtz of Renaissance Press and Scott Sava the creator of a series called The Dreamland Chronicles, during the Q&A session, Jimmy caught on to a trend with the questions which began to run the line of "How do I protect my idea?"   It's funny to think that there is so much riding on the creation of a story.   If the story is a hit then you have all kinds of things to consider: additional print runs, movie rights, video game properties, toys, board games, McDonald Happy Meals....the possibilities can drive a person crazy.  Out of all this I can still hear Jimmy tell the audience this one thing "You have to write the story first!  Dont worry about all that other stuff now-write the story!"   

Block Buster Summer
When you look at the summer line up of potential blockbuster movies, that all seem to be based on a graphic novel, you can sort of understand how it can mess with the mind of any graphic novel creator.  Iron Man basically launched the summer season with an amazing weekend(Robert Downey ROCKS the role of Tony Stark), Speed Racer was off to only a 20 million dollar start but has potential(attention critics: the movie is made for 12 year-olds not 40 plus film geeks). The Hulk is coming as is Hellboy, a new Indiana Jones movie is coming (Dark Horse has some great I. J. books).  This summer has the potential to deliver over a billion dollars from movies based on graphic novels.   If you are beginning to wonder when it will end?   It's only just begun.

Tipping Point-Thy Name Shall Be Age-Ranges
I think I have finally nailed what the tipping point will be for the graphic novel publishing industry and it comes down to the applications of age ranges.   During my recent meetings with some independent bookstore owners it dawned on me that I was hearing exactly the same questions that the public library folks were asking just a few years ago:
How do I buy this stuff?
Where do I (rack)shelve it?
Can I at least see a catalog that is set up with age ranges?   
Can you tell me what is for kids and what is for adults?

All they want is a simple easy-to-follow method for selecting the books that they can trust.   Just like the librarians did.

All Ages and the Comics Code Authority
There is a real reason why comic’s publishers and graphic novels publishers get agitated when the discussion of age ranges raises it's sometimes nasty little head.   The Comics Code was an attempt by the comics industry to show the rest of the world it had standards and was a well behaved group of publishing professionals (and to keep the govt officials off their backs).  It wound up being seen as a censorship tool.   You can certainly understand that when you read some of the rules of the Comics Code.  For instance: (and this is my favorite): 3. Policemen, judges, government officials, and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority.

There are quite a few more details involved in the Comics Code but needless to say, the repercussions have carried on for quite some time.  It was the Code that really had a chilling impact on the sales of comic books for decades.   It still surprises me to read about the book burnings that took place in the heyday of the comics industry.   Book burnings are a sad sad thing anyway.

A Time and Financial Reason for Change
Now that the interest and heat are intensifying for the graphic novel industry, the need to revisit the idea of applying age ranges is certainly quite strong.  One Comics Code tag that is no longer relevant is the use of ALL AGES as a rating for a book.   It is seriously outdated.  I understand the origins of the All Ages lable but it has  become a blanket approach for anything that isn’t overly violent or sexual in nature.  Just because you dont see a gun in the images, doesnt mean that the topic is something a ten-year-old will comprehend. 

The approach really needs to be looked at from the perspective of the novice retailer, librarian and educator.   They want a simple process by which they can select and buy the books.  Age ranges aren’t a deterrent for these people; they are a guideline or a means to determine exactly where the books belong in the store and or library.  With age ranges that run from Children or Juvenile, Teen or Young Adult and Adult or Mature, this allows the buyer a way to determine what they will purchase. The proper application of age ranges would need to focus on the level of comprehension associated with the subject matter of the story.

By doing this we can actually accelerate the buying process.    I know that publishers would love it if every single book published were actually read by the person who buys the books for the library or store.  The fact of the matter is they dont.   There are so many books coming out that this is impossible.   Age ranges, reviews from trade publications, and peer or customer recommendations are what really greases the wheels of the buying process.  When this happens, then we will really see how fast this rocket can fly.

Next time on The Graphic Novels Guy: Heading to BEA, The Miami Book Fair and The NYC Department of Education Graphic Novel Program

John Shableski works for Diamond Book Distributors as a sales manager with a focus on the independent bookstore market, public and school libraries.  He's been a panelist at Book Expo, a moderator for library panels at the New York Comic Con, a guest speaker at library events, regional book shows and a symposium coordinator. He is currently collaborating on several graphic novel symposiums across the country.  He can be reached via email at shjohn@diamondbookdistributors.com