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<DIV>To everyone involved in the discussion so far:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>First, I'd like to complement all the participants for the high quality of
the ongoing discussion. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Everyone has something important to say -- and everyone says it with
respect and civility! Take a bow, everyone! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gary and Travis's point on trade paperbacks is quite correct, and they
are doing the right thing for Gemstone. My personal preference is just
toward the series periodical over the isolated TPB so, naturally, I'm going to
argue in that direction. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Travis said: "...unnumbered books don't carry the "baggage" of
300-700 previous issues, so they provide a better entry point for new
readers." <BR><BR>He is correct but, strictly personally, I can't say the
"baggage" deterred me much as a younger reader. I became a regular reader
of WDC&S with issue # 284 and BATMAN with # 179. Today, they are at #
685 and # 670, respectively. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I KNEW there were lots of previous issues I'd never see (...because in the
Silver Age, when an issue was "gone" it was "gone"), and it just made me want to
know more about the characters... and the only way to do that was to keep buying
future issues of the title! And I've purchased every issue of each
released since then. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>...and, until recently, the TPB option was nonexistent anyway! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Another factor working against the indoctrination of the potential
reader is awareness of the product -- and where to obtain it! When I
casually drop the notion of my occasional scripting assignment for Gemstone, the
question I am asked most by "civilians" is "I'd like to see it! Where do I
get one?" The answer is almost always "Nowhere around here!" </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I explain about comic shops (I go to the next county to get mine!), and
online retailers, but interest is lost when they need do anything more than go
to the neighborhood store, as we did in the Silver Age! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That, alas is a problem for the entire industry... not just Gemstone!
And that, of course, brings us to chain bookstores, trade paperbacks, and the
undeniable validity of Gary and Travis's point. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Still, I'd like that monthly DONALD AND MICKEY book... sigh! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Special thanks to Jonathan for his copious comments! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>About the Gottfredson Library, he writes: "I think that's why guys
like Joe and Dean and I are foaming at the mouth and saying
DOITNOWDOITNOWDOITNOWPRINTITPRINTITPRINTIT!!!!!!! because this is one chance we
may not get again for a *very VEEERRY* long time"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Well, I won't presume to speak for Dean... But YES!!! YES!!!
YES!!! Oh, and did I mention... YES!!! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joe Torcivia. <BR></DIV></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the <A title="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" href="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" target="_blank">hottest products</A> and <A title="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" href="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" target="_blank">top money wasters</A> of 2007.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>