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This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, the 4th of May, as comic publishers set out their wares. Including Marvel Comics and their Blood Hunt.
Posted in: Batman, Comics, Current News, DC Comics, Superman | Tagged: Batman #141, variant cover
DC Comics Reduces Paper Quality Of Covers, But Doubles Their Number
In 2012, Marvel Comics switched to the "self-cover" paper format for their comic books. And now, in 2024, DC Comics have caught up.
Article Summary
- DC Comics now mimics Marvel with lower-quality self-cover comic books.
- Paper costs rise, prompting DC to use thinner covers for their comics.
- LetsTalkFirestar criticizes the drop in physical product quality.
- DC doubles down on covers, offering variant designs for collectors.
In 2012, Marvel Comics switched to the "self-cover" paper format for their comic books. Traditionally, the paper quality of the cover of a comic was of a higher, glossier nature than the newsprint insides. And then suddenly, it wasn't. Marvel Comics countered this by increasing the thickness of their regular print paper. But not by much and not for long.
Thirteen-and-a-half years later, it appears that DC Comics has joined them with a series of self-covers or thinner glossy paper across their regular monthly comic books. It cannot be ignored that paper, printing and shipping costs have risen significantly and haven't shown signs of falling. Thinner, lighter paper costs less to buy and less to ship. However, it doesn't feel as good in the hand. It doesn't half the heft. And people notice.
LetsTalkFirestar tweeted "Well, after years of being able to say "Well… at least DC is still doing COVERS for their books…" that comes to an end. Receiving books at the shop today and Shazam 7 is a "self-cover" just like Marvel and Poison Ivy 18 while glossy is still flimsy newsprint type paper. Cost going up. Physical product quality going down. Doesn't take a genius to figure out IF sales are dropping, why (among other reasons). But you listen to the YouTube bigots screeeeeee-ing and it's the women and queers and black people just infesting the hell out of their hobby… Batman 141, which IS $4.99 is also a "self-cover" book"
However, it appears that a number of DC Comics titles – including Batman #141 are including the regular cover underneath the variant covers. Here's how that looks on tomorrow's Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #3.
And they are using that extra cover to sell… more covers. With Black History Month variant covers by Nikolas Draper-Ivey from DC Comics on the front side…
…and DC's Sweater Weather variant covers on the back.
Using an extra cover to sell extra covers? That is the DC Comics way. Batman #141 and Superman '78 #3 are published tomorrow by DC Comics.
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