Why buy a dead-tree version?
Submitted by kittykatya on February 24, 2004 - 16:10
My partner and I are considering the dead-tree route now that we feel we have enough strips to justify a collection; however, we're now at the point of "Well, what can we offer as a set of extras to make people want to buy our work?"
I've asked on our forum, but our forumites are notoriously shy. So, what would make you (the average reader) want to buy a print copy of any web comic as opposed to clutching tightly to CD copies of a comic's archives pulled down for free? Alternately, if you've produced a book, what extras did you add that you felt made the purchase worthwhile?
- Array
by SleepyJim - 02/24/2004 - 16:32
Book collections have value simply by virtue of being books. Most people prefer reading off a page to off a screen, and there is significantly more convenience and comfort afforded by them. You can't lie in your bed and curl up with a good computer. Even laptops are fairly cumbersome.
by AmyGanter - 02/24/2004 - 16:51
I don't like to always read my comics on a glowing screen, I prefer paper books that I can carry with me and read on the train. I like seeing things in real print so I can see all the intricate details and read the text clearly. I enjoy the feeling of a book in my hand, turning the pages. I love the internet for its accessibility and freedom, but I prefer print and I'll be printing GN's of my online comic soon, too.
by Pepius - 02/24/2004 - 19:40
You can read them while on the WC! :D
Seriously speaking, I'd (keeping in mind that I don't have any kind of experience in this things) focus on what can you offer to the "established" fan who wants to re-read the strips rather than the potential new reader, as the formers are the ones who are more likely to buy the thing
by kjc - 02/26/2004 - 05:48
I buy dead tree versions for multiple reasons:
1. To support the creator(s)
2. Because having paper copies lying around is great. You pick one up, flip through it & suddenly two hours have gone by & you've re-read half your collection.
3. To get new stuff not available online, although this sometimes feels a bit like I've been blackmailed. It feels like "you can't see it unless you give us money!" - but I understand the motivation (added incentive to buy) so I don't get angry.
4. Dead tree versions are easy to give as gifts & create NEW addicts! Bwa-ha-ha!
Kelly J.
by Anonymous - 02/26/2004 - 07:37
"dead tree versipns"-- I find that term, completely silly. It's like saying-- let's go eat some dead animals!-- Hey, much of the paper in books now is recycled, so they're more like "zombie tree versions!"--- Anyways, just ranting about that term-- i dont see why people can't just call them books!
by Uncle Ghastly - 02/26/2004 - 14:42
Mmmm... I love dead animal sandwiches.
by Pepius - 02/26/2004 - 14:52
Oh! I prefer alive animal sandwiches! those little critters are crusty and tickle you when they try to escape from their inpending death! :D
Seriously speaking, I think that it's hard to find some real life related term in the Internet that isn't in some way despective...
by Pepius - 02/26/2004 - 15:42
A turkey club. That's a classy sandwich, it denotes the quality of a comic :D
by Anonymous - 02/28/2004 - 14:21
I buy them because I simply do not have time to read every comic online. I'll read twenty or thirty strips, decide if I like it, then look for a book.. if there's not one, .. I'll come back later maybe.
by Anonymous - 02/29/2004 - 03:09
I find print comics aren't worth the price being asked for the amount of material offered, so I usually don't buy them unless the artist has something I feel I can successfully swipe without it getting noticed.
On the other hand, I find a lot of webcomics aren't worth the price being asked for as well. But I tend to be picky about my comic entertainment.
by scarfman - 03/12/2004 - 18:24
One reason may be that books make good gifts. My stepkids talked up webcomics to me for years, but I never really checked any out till my stepdaughter bought me Megatokyo Chapter 0 for Father's Day.
Bonus features unavailable online are standard practice. (It's not just webcomics; compiliation volumes of monthly comic books have been offering the like since forever.) I assume that means somewhere there's a marketing study that shows there are people who'll buy extras in addition to the people who'll buy the book anyway, but now I'm thinking twice about it I wonder whether they do.
Paul Gadzikowski, paul@arthurkingoftimeandspace.com
Arthur, King of Time and Space New cartoons daily
by Rebelsun - 03/14/2004 - 10:22
Have sympathy for those who don't have internet access or don't know crap about the internet. For they are shut out of the greatest comics ever done online.
Which is why we encourage them to buy the book version. To get as much mainstream exposure as possible, and to expose to these masses to our greatest of works!
Amen!
by Uncle Ghastly - 03/14/2004 - 20:13
They'll also never vicariously know the joys of eating a hot dead animal sandwich while nearly frozen to death.