Business Booms at Comics Conspiracy

Ryan Higgins of Comics Conspiracy

Ryan Higgins started working in comic stores at age 12, and bought his first store at age 27. Now, at age 39, he's seen a lot as his store, Comics Conspiracy, is gong through a boom cycle. See what's he's learned here at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Does Comics Have an Inferiority Complex?

Chart courtesy icv2.com and comichron.com

Comic publishing—the publishing alone, to say nothing of merchandising and other media—is a billion-dollar-a-year industry. And your grandma knows who Thanos is.

You'd think these would be great times for comic fans, but some see nothing but gloom. So we ask the question: Does comics have an inferiority complex? Spoiler alert: Probably, but it shouldn't. Read ALL about it over at Wired.

Jim McLauchlin

Convention Changes: Lower Prices, Street Closures

Getting around at San Diego Comic-Con, 2018

The comic convention business is hyper-competitive, and getting BIGGER. In the wake of competition, some cons are offering lower ticket prices. And some of the biggest cons are getting Super Bowl-like traffic closures. Find out what today's landscape is over at Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin

Almost a stockbroker, now a comic store owner

Mike Banks, owner and operator of Samurai Comics

Mike Banks had a crazy year in 2002: He had a stockbroker job disappear from under his feet, and then got married, had a kid, and opened his own business, all in one year.

Today, Samurai Comics is three stores strong, and you can learn what Banks has learned over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

The porny Dungeons & Dragons module that costs $5000

The cover to the original "Palace of the Silver Princess"

So when Dungeons and Dragons was first becoming a Real Big Deal in the early ’80s, sales were doubling every year. Management had one clear directive: Crank out more product!

But one product was so bad, TSR had to bury the entire print run in a landfill. Check out what made it so bad, and why copies today trade for $5000 on the collector market over at Wired.

Jim McLauchlin

Tiny Margins in Internet Business

Part of the warehouse at InStockTrades

An internet-based business can be low overhead, but also low margin. Christina Merkler at Discount Comic Book Service and In Stock Trades has been living on that thin margin for almost 20 years, and she'll tell you what she's learned HERE.

Jim McLauchlin

Maxxing out your in-store appearance

George Pérez at Bedrock City Comics via GetSynd.com

If you're a store having an author appearance, you might as well get the MOST bang for your buck. Here's your tips and tricks for running a great—and profitable!—event at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin