Apparently, many new readers today prefer a smaller publication, so DC is going after those consumers!
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
As reported here at MajorSpoilers, DC recently announced they will be releasing a line of books called Compact Comics that will be 5.5” by 8.5” (probably best known as a manga or YA/younger reader size). These will be noticeably different from the average comic size—6.625” by 10.25”. They will begin arriving in stores in June of 2024 and will retail for $9.99 each.Why go to this size? The recent DC news release explains:
“The new format pulls bestselling, new-reader-friendly titles from DC’s evergreen library as the first books offered in this new lineup of compact editions of adult graphic novels.”
Anne DePies, DC’s SVP and General Manager, noted: “This paper cut is the most widely circulated softcover book size in the U.S. and is popular among graphic novel aficionados in international markets. At $9.99, it’s a great price point for retailers to stock these classic titles.”
Included among these books will be Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Batman: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, All–Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, Far Sector (a Green Lantern book) by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell, Joker by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee; and Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman by Darwyn Cook and Ed Brubaker.
If the initial launch is successful, I’m sure more titles will be released soon after.
IS SMALLER BETTER?
IS SMALLER BETTER?
As shown in the illustration here, these books will be smaller than the average graphic novel.There are pluses and minuses to this. On the positive side, these books will work on book shelves in “standard” book stores and bigger retail chains like Target and Wal-Mart. The hope is that they will attract new readers used to buying and diving into stories that size. Granted, given the popularity of manga and YA titles these days, it sure seems worth the gamble.
Also, they fit into carry bags more easily, which means you can fit several into a backpack instead of just one or two. Maybe that will encourage new readers to buy more?
On the negative side, readers like me (who are on the older side of things) don’t like things smaller. It may be that our eyes don’t like having to squint in order to read books. Or it’s just that with age comes limited reading ability.
I prefer bigger books these days. I fondly remember the much larger comics that featured the art of Alex Ross. They included the Treasury size Batman: War on Crime and Superman: Peace on Earth. Those I could dive into and feel like I was actually there, just inches away! I loved those!
So, the smaller the book, the less interested I usually am.
However, the recent manga book One Operation Joker has forced me to reconsider that perspective! I even read that backwards (from the American perspective), so I am now more open to changes in my comics!
MOVING FORWARD
MOVING FORWARD
While I am much less likely to pick up the DC Compact Comics line, I remain steadfastly committed to the survival and expansion of the comics industry. In other words, if it will bring in new readers, I’m all for it!But that may change! If they print a story I don’t have a good copy of anymore, I might pick that book up.
So, I applaud DC for being observant regarding what readers are buying and reworking classic stories to a different size. If it works, comics companies who aren’t also printing in that size may follow suit! The more copies of comics that are sold these days, the better!
What do you think? Do you like to read comics in books that resemble the manga size? Or do you intend to steer clear of DC Compact Comics? Do you wish the bigger Treasury Size books would come back? Whatever your opinion, be sure to share it in the space below!
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Wayne Hall creates the Wayne's Comics Podcast. He’s interviewed Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Phil Hester, Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray, David Petersen, Christos Gage, Mike Grell, and Matt Kindt. On this site each week, he writes his "Comics Portal" column (general comics comments and previews) and reviews comics.
1 Comment
I can see why they are trying this kind of format. Manga sells like hotcakes and bookstore shelf space is designed for this kind of format. Some older readers may not be open to this kind of change but with the selection DC is publishing in this format, I don’t see that as a problem. You mean every old dude DC fan doesn’t have Watchmen or All-Star Superman already? They are clearly going after younger, “manga crowd”. Size can certainly be a problem for some people with poor eyesight, thats a good point.
As someone who started reading super hero comics at the age of 6 in the mid 80’s and manga around my early teens, in the 90’s, I encourage you to try more of them. You get used to it, reading “wrong way” and all. :D Manga artists often take smaller size in account when designing their pages, so they aren’t usually as crammed and hard to read as one might think. There are exceptions though. For example, Akira has never been published in traditional manga size, because Otomo didn’t want to shrink his page sizes.