More info and tad bit of relief.

Same day digital release and 52 new #1'2.

With all these kinds of announcements, I've learned it's best not to jump to too many conclusions. Otherwise, I'd be having a nervous breakdown every other day.

My compatriot over in Roseburg, Brett from Heroes Haven, had the best comment: As long as we keep getting a shipment of new comics to sell every Wednesday, not that much will change.

I used that line on several customers; otherwise I shrugged. (Interestingly, just about every customer had heard about the news...)

So -- later in the afternoon -- further news was released, which will ameliorate most short term problems. The digital price will be the same as the regular price. They will be giving us steep discounts on a few of the more significant titles, and returnability (-10%) on most of the rest of the titles. (A host of variant covers, but I expected that.)

So, knowing this, I'll probably order considerably more than usual.

And, hey, how often do you get a chance to buy a #1 Batman or Superman or Wonderwoman?

I'm hoping a bunch of people will give these new starts a shot.

The other news is that they aren't complete reboots --which was concerning to many current readers.

So, I'm going to try to see this as a positive.

As far as the long term viability of the process and the long term effects of digital -- well, the long term is always a bit dodgy and doubtful, you know?

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Meanwhile, someone who works at Barnes and Noble and knows comic books, had a few more details on their new comic program. Something like 10 each of 60 different titles.

Ummm.....that's utterly ridiculous. If they sell more than 10% of that, I'd be amazed. That is a HUGE number of comics for a town like Bend, and presumably other similar sized population areas.

Good luck with that.

Only question I have about that -- who eats the vast majority of comic returns? B & N or the comic companies? Either way, I don't see that as sustainable....

I think B & N is about to get a huge surprise.....

(My friend Paul pointed out --- "Isn't it interesting that the B & N program is starting at about the same time as the DC initiative? ummmm?" I hadn't thought of that -- especially with the returnability aspect.)

Even if B & N tries to fine tune their orders -- you know, 10 of that, 3 of that, 12 of that, the comics change so frequently and often that it would require a full-time staff person in each individual store to keep up. You know, someone like me.