Comics Trend: Trade-Only

[woodwardiocom]

The ninth volume of PS238 (by Aaron Williams) came out this week, collecting issues 45-50. I continue to recommend it as a surprisingly-clever kid-superhero book (though the typos and grammar errors in this volume should have Mr. Williams hanging his head in shame).

Williams announces in this volume that PS238 will no longer be sold as individual issues, instead only coming out in "bookshelf-ready" trade paperbacks. This appears to be part of a small but growing trend. Girl Genius was originally sold in individual issues, before going to a webcomic-hardcover-trade paperback system. Empowered has been trade-only nearly from the start (barring a few one-shots). Given that I only collect things in that form, I can only approve.

Comments

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

I've been hoping the comics industry would go this way for years too. These days I only buy trade which means I miss some things that don't get collected, but I feel like my enjoyment of the books and the overall level of storytelling is improved by writers having to work in narrative arcs that fit within book-length formats. It also means individual collections can be reviewed, meaning they have to stand or fail on their merits rather than just meandering along on the strength of the title.

It does sort of change the culture of collecting though and a lot of fans seem uncomfortable with that.

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

I think it makes sense. The short monthly comic format is fairly frustrating for me... I want more than a few minutes of story at a time! I get impatient at times and read things monthly, but I'd really prefer to just get it all at once.