A LITTLE MONDAY RANT / MEGACON / GSP

You dont want to miss this one

Alright, today is one of those days that i need to get some things off my chest. I am waking up every day with a new doom and gloom for the comic industry. So, its time for a RANT.

I am good at RANT’S! If you don’t believe me read GRANITE STATE PUNK that book is full of them!! So, I haven't done one of these in a while but I am going to do it. So, strap in and let me rant and rave. I kind of feel like my two characters in Broke Down And Four Dead Bodies just trying to recover from a huge bloodbath.

One of my biggest frustrations with fellow comic creators is their lack of awareness beyond what’s right in front of them. I’ve seen so many celebrate Diamond’s decline while publishers either complain about its fall or brag, “We saw this coming, that’s why we’ve been exploring other options.” That’s the wrong mindset.

Even worse, tariffs are on the horizon, and they’re going to hit the industry hard. Rumor has it that comic prices will rise, and as a Kickstarter creator, I’m well aware of the balancing act between cost and profit margins. The best industry estimate puts the number of comic shops in the U.S. at around 2,500—a painfully small market, but still one filled with opportunities for creators. Unfortunately, with Diamond on the verge of collapse (or barely hanging on), that opportunity is shrinking fast.

To add insult to injury this new TARIFF war we have going on in the USA. Looks like it will increase price of comic books even further. So, what can we do?? How can we fight this and also be able to grow.

So, let’s address all the answers that the internet has to say

1) We need to go into bookstores - So, there is a theory that if we get our books in bookstores then all of our problems will be solved!! Look at DOGMAN!! Well here is the real truth. As of January 2023, there were 61,336 bookstores in the United States. This includes large chain stores like Barnes & Noble and small independent bookstores. Now, that’s some great numbers but bookstore books are RETURNABLE. What happens to returned books? Generally, books are returnable either with delivery or with destruction. The bookstore is reimbursed the wholesale value of the books, and you or your publisher are responsible for any shipping and handling fees.

This would topple a small indie company. They may make money for a bit but when its time to return. Thats gonna hurt.

2) We need to do more digital - Great idea!! Lets go digital but the problem with that is again. Lack of payment. Here is my weekly analytics for GLOBALCOMIX.

As you can see last week i made not even a single issue worth of money for my efforts and i am at 29 titles on GLOBAL COMIX. My publishing is way higher than the average comic creator. I am making very little.

YOU SHOULD FOLLOW ME IF YOU ARE NOT DOING SO ALREADY!

https://globalcomix.com/a/orange-cone-publishing

So, i guess that’s not gonna save comics. At least at any rate that matters.

3) SPINNER RACKS!!

This is the wildest thing that I see so often. “If I saw a comic at a grocery store. I would buy it!!”

No, you wouldn’t!!

How many magazines have you bought in the last year? I would bet less than 10. Its just not the best place to get comics. NEITHER is Walmart!! Also, these both have the same problem as bookstores and that’s returnablity.

So here we are—stuck in the storm. I want to make this a career, but the waves keep crashing down, harder and faster. We’ve been searching for lifeboats, but just like the Titanic, we didn’t bring enough. And the harsh reality? Some of us won’t make it.

Comics, in my opinion, are the best storytelling medium. We can tell stories faster, bolder, and in ways no other medium can. But if we want to survive, we need REAL solutions. We need to double down on what’s working and build a strategy that actually gets creators paid. The markets and business plans people keep chasing? They aren’t going to save us.

Here’s what will:

1) SHARE

If you love something, talk about it. Hype it up. Tell your friends. Share it online. Excitement builds movements, and movements keep comics alive.

2) SUPPORT COMIC SHOPS

Want your book in stores? Then shop at them. Want to be a name people recognize? Do signings. I’ll use Jen King as an example—she runs a store in Texas, and when I’ve had books there, I didn’t just dump them and hope for the best. I helped her sell them because I care about building a fanbase.

3) BUILD YOUR BRAND

The creators who break through aren’t just making books—they’re making a name for themselves. A brand builds trust, and trust gets books into more hands, beyond just comic shops.

4) SUPPORT ARTIST ALLEY

Maybe—just maybe—skip one $150 autograph that’ll sit in a frame and instead buy a comic from the hardworking people grinding in Artist Alley. These are the creators who keep the industry alive.

I know this isn’t some revolutionary take, but that’s the point—we’ve lost sight of the basics. Stop looking for lifeboats. Start building the damn ship.

Speaking of getting back to work… let’s talk about what I’m working on!

1) CONVENTION TIME!! Come join me at MEGACON!!

2) We are finishing of GRANITE STATE PUNK!! The last issue for this season is here and we would love for you to jump on and show some support! I really want this campaign to be my biggest GRANITE STATE PUNK!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/orangecone/granite-state-punk-live-free-of-die-1-5-punk-rock-horror

3) Last but not least!! Next week!! I want to show you a little tease for a new book we have coming out. Here is just a little hint of what’s coming!! FULL RELEASE!! NEXT MONDAY!!