Comics UK

Digifiend wrote:That's strange. The WHSmith in Hull's Prospect Centre has Futurama next to Simpsons among all the other kids comics, but has Strip next to 2000AD and the Marvel and DC collectors editions in a whole different section, near Doctor Who Magazine and SFX. I think it's a similar story at the Whitefriargate and Kingswood branches too.

And in the Ipswich branch; they had a dozen copies next to DWM and 2000AD.

SID wrote:You would think that because it is a new comic, they would have stuck it in the front for new readers to catch it, even it is just the first 1 or 2 issues.

You're assuming newsagents care about promoting comics. They don't. They're just stock to them, along with birthday cards or sandwiches. I'm sure it's been mentioned before that Smiths and other big retailers charge publishers a fee for where every title is displayed. The more prominent the display, the higher the fee. Publishers spend what they can afford.

I'm not assuming anything, Lew. Yep, I did read somewhere that the publishers are charged shelf space though presumably WHSmiths also makes money when they sell magazines. So surely it would make business sense to show off any new publications in the event people will (a) buy and (b) order regular copies. Both makes money for the shop.

At the very least, put it alongside other comics of similar ilk - not in the "kiddie's section" as it was in Bromley. I'm glad that other Smiths are not following the same tack.

SID wrote:I'm not assuming anything, Lew.

I didn't mean it to sound like I was having a go, Sid, but comics are low on the priorities for retail chains.

As regards where they display them, shops are advised where to position each title but if some shops ignore that it goes undetected. Publishers can't monitor every shop. For example, my corner shop puts CLiNT right amongst the nursery comics. My other local newsagent had Strip on the top shelf beside Mighty World of Marvel and the softcore porn mags! My local Smiths always has The Dark Knight right next to The Beano, but in the Smiths 8 miles away it's next to the Panini Marvels. At the end of the day, staff in shops will do what they like.

Incidentally, Futurama has an all-ages following. It's a very funny comic, worth trying.

wilsia wrote:Much to my annoyance Forbidden Planet in belfast dont have it. There are WH smiths in N.Ireland so dont know whereelse I would get it. Did anyone on a subscription get it yet?

Both Forbidden Planet chains have ordered copies and they should be in store from Wednesday (17th).

tony ingram wrote:

Lew Stringer wrote: I never really liked the original King Cobra

I could never resist Ron Smith's artwork. His King Cobra always seemed so pleasingly mental...

Some of the villains in the original are brilliant! Expect Mongoose to show up, but not how you might expect...

Wilsia, I didn't look at lunchtime today, but have you tried Easons? As it's not a Smiths exclusive, EM may be distributing it here.

Has anyone received their subscriptions?

I could have sworn I ordered 12 issues and so should still be getting them (I got the Xmas special last year).

SID wrote:Has anyone received their subscriptions?

I could have sworn I ordered 12 issues and so should still be getting them (I got the Xmas special last year).

This is from the Strip Facebook page:

Today's Update: We're still investigating what's happening with subscription copies, which were dispatched from Bosnia in exactly the same manner, and using the same service as we did with #7 (volume 1). Aside from four known no-shows, that magazine turned up before Christmas as planned.

So the delay to delivery on #1 is mystifying as they were dispatched with the aim and promise that they would reach subscribers during the initial "on sale week".

We're still hopeful they'll show up this week but it does look like we may have to re-post them all out, but by sending copies to the UK and dispatching from here.

Again, we are very sorry this has happened.

The Uxbridge WHSmiths still doesn't have any copies in, and remains clueless about when or if they will get it in.

Thanks, Terry for the heads up.

Saw a number of Strips in WHSmiths in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Stuart V wrote:The Uxbridge WHSmiths still doesn't have any copies in, and remains clueless about when or if they will get it in.

The WHSmiths in Watford had loads of copies when I was in there yesterday!.

django wrote:

Stuart V wrote:The Uxbridge WHSmiths still doesn't have any copies in, and remains clueless about when or if they will get it in.

The WHSmiths in Watford had loads of copies when I was in there yesterday!.

Unfortunately, that's around a 20 mile drive for me, which would effectively push up the price a few extra pounds in travel costs. Given the comments above about publishers having to pay Smiths to put their titles in specific stores, it'd be nice if Smiths would actually put the magazine in the stores they are meant to.

Strip was in Croydon alongside the likes of 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine so good positioning.

Stuart V wrote:

django wrote:

Stuart V wrote:The Uxbridge WHSmiths still doesn't have any copies in, and remains clueless about when or if they will get it in.

The WHSmiths in Watford had loads of copies when I was in there yesterday!.

Unfortunately, that's around a 20 mile drive for me, which would effectively push up the price a few extra pounds in travel costs. Given the comments above about publishers having to pay Smiths to put their titles in specific stores, it'd be nice if Smiths would actually put the magazine in the stores they are meant to.

What about Harrow?...I haven't been there myself lately but I would've thought they'd have it in stock!.