The Problem With Comic Stores.

Ahh, the comic book store. The front line in the war to put comics and graphic novels into the hands of new readers everywhere. Why is it, then, that most comic stores are dingy, disorganized, impenetrable fortresses that deflect all but the hardcoriest of fans? Why is it that comic store owners seem to, en masse, disregard the necessity of drawing in and holding on to new customers? That's a problem. But it doesn't have to be.

I've been regularly reading comic books, off and on, since I was child. I've been to a lot of comic stores in my day. None of them have been all that they could be, though some have been closer than most. Following are some "guidelines" that I think would make for a far more kosher comic store experience:

• Be sure the store is a neat, organized, professional-looking set-up. Mazes of cluttered racks are... well, frightening. Lay off the excess of old posters and cardboard cut-outs, please - a little goes a long way. Ideally, one should model their store after a book store chain - clean, easy to browse through, and novice-friendly.

• Hiring clerks that are knowledgeable and passionate about comics? Good. However, do not hire "Comic Book Guy"-esque social misfits who will berate customers' comic choices or complain to them about issue #344 of "Captain Awesome" violating a continuity point from #212. Joe Average, coming in off the street to look around, will hear three seconds of that and immediately leave. Hire staff that the average person could see themselves actually talking to of their own regard. You want to get new blood into comic shops, so don't scare them away.

• Have a good collection of graphic novels. If you have a back issue collection, don't showcase it - put it in a back room, or somewhere tucked away for the "hardcore" fans. It can be overwhelming. New/casual readers likely don't want overpriced singles, they want affordable collected storylines.
  

• An area for customers to sit and flip through comics and graphic novels is a good idea. A few couches, maybe. Most book stores allow their customers to read from their books in the store, and it doesn't seem to negatively impact sales.

• Try and focus on more than just superhero titles. Give the indies and manga some serious presence. Show the world there's more to the art form than spandex and laser beams.

• And one final thing: Try and focus on the comics, and avoid most of the tabletop RPG stuff. I know, a lot of comic fans are into that stuff, but to the casual would-be reader, it's kind of off-putting. If you have a section for this, try and make it as separate from the 'main' area of the store as possible. Definitely don't host RPG games in the store, either. Never, ever. I've been going to comic stores since I was a kid, so I'm pretty comfortable with even the sketchiest of shops. However, walking in on a bunch of fanboys bickering over a tabletop game makes even me want to turn right around and run screaming into the night. What reaction do you think you'll get out of comic store "newbies", then?

The industry is in a precarious position - the market is shrinking, and comic sales are nothing to write home about. However, comic book properties are being gobbled up by Hollywood, made into incredibly successful movie adaptations. The general public is crazy about the characters and concepts that we've been enjoying on paper for years. Despite many golden opportunities to introduce the general public to the world of comics, most attempts have failed. The first step, naturally, is to get people into comic stores. It's important that the stores be accessible to the average customer, instead of geared solely towards the lifelong fans. It's about pleasing the regulars, without turning the "newbies" away.

To put it very simply? It's a business, not a clubhouse for you and your friends. Please treat it as such.

First Post.

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(Seriously, go away.)