Comics Are Far Too Expensive These Days

One thing most comic book fans agree on is, comics are far too expensive these days. Comics fans are going to be blown away by who the cheapest and most expensive comic publishers are in 2024. Comics are no longer an impulse buy for kids, they've become a full-on collectible item for adults. In fact, most comics published in 2024 are done so with no expectation of being read by a customer. Wes breaks down the insane pricing of comics and identifies which publishers have the most expensive and cheapest comics. Comics are far too expensive these days.

Support Thinking Critical On Patreon For Exclusive Content!

🛒 SHOP THINKING CRITICAL - Official Merch!

Thank you for supporting the channel!

Twitch Channel

Contact Thinking Critical:

#marvel #dccomics #comicbooks

[PrivateCitizen]

I'm old enough to remember comics were affordable for blue collar kids. So getting into comics way later whoa I realised comics was for adult pricing. They not only lost a generation of kids maybe two, but also an entire class of kids.

[RamManNo]

I remember when I was 15, scrounging lunch money, being pissed when they went up to $1.50 from $1.25. I remember when I had 25 books on my pull list at $2.99. Now I buy 2 comics a month at $4.99. So now I spend $10/mth vs $75/mth. They obviously don’t want my money these days!!!

[REDALERTUSA]

Expensive and TERRIBLE! Don’t forget TERRIBLE!

[sebastianstark]

Comic prices have far out-paced income levels to the point I used to be able to make impulse buys if I saw something that looked interesting on the shelf. Now, the quality is far below what I expect and the cost is far higher than I'm willing to pay. The result? I'm priced out. I only buy books on discount and back issues these days, and that's just fine with me.

[brianerickson]

I remember when comics were a 0.25.
I didn't buy them. My Uncle would read two comics books during his lunch hour.
I would pick them up on floor of the back seat.
Bored, I would read them.
At $7, that's two gallons of gas. He would be spending $280 per month
compared to $20 per month.
$280 is a car payment.
Looks like Comics is status symbol for the wealthy.

[maotendoo]

New readers are priced out. Kids are priced out. Even diehard fans that have read for decades are cutting down or quitting altogether. Comic prices aren't even worth it if they were competently created, which they aren't anymore. What's shocking is the masochists that still buy the overpriced garbage

[ComicBookMuscle]

bought some old comics and found posters inside and thought, why aren’t they just selling variants as posters?

Or putting it in as extra content in floppies.

We both know the answer but the greed is out of control, when they could be offering greater value for readers.

It would even give them a one up on Manga by putting variant covers inside as posters.

Wes is right.

Most companies AND retailers are price gouging their small audience to keep the industry afloat.

They do not realize it makes them entirely inaccessible to young (NEW) readers that they are in desperate need of.

“buyers control the market price” - Nick GQ (YouTube online comic retailer)

[billybarnett]

When you look at it historically, Marvel has been the one pushing price increases. Personally, I wished it had stopped at $1.50.

[sweatyheroes]

how is it cheaper to buy a brand-new blu-ray movie than a comic book?

[davidsutton]

I am an independent comic book maker, and the cost of printing just keep increasing . It has increased twice this year from the printer company I use, and I will not print my comics in China.

[maxmazzotti]

Remember $2.99? Todd McFarlane still does!

I would hunger for comics that are anywhere between $1-$3

[bradfrederick]

DC’s decision to make Action Comics weekly is baffling. Especially with the $5 cover price. At least cut the backup story (that most people skip) and make it $3.99.

[RoyalFizzbin]

I just picked up a copy of that new small “DC Compact Comics” Hush paperback for $9.99. That seems like a great price for freaking Lee and Loeb.

[EvandroACruz]

Comics are very expensive here in Brazil too in these days. I confess that is more and more hard to be a comic book collector lately.

[scottforste]

Spawn books are the more affordable at mostly 2.99

[sidneyrivera]

Tough to shell out all that cash on NEW books. I was at a Con this weekend and people were going nuts on OLD books at a vender that was doing $30…for an ENTIRE short-box🤑

[paulmay]

Funny you bring up Image. I started reading Spawn again because of their $2.99 price tag and I'm enjoying it.

[ljkelty]

Agreed! 5 - 6 is way too much. I remember in the late 90s/ early 00s 2.75 or 3.50 comics were considered top of the line - Annuals, small collected editions, deluxe books. It's totally crazy now.

[yamatokira]

Agree. Comics are way too expensive right now. This price tag is a huge barrier for new readers, especially younger ones.
Kids cannot afford 6 dollar for regular Ultimate Spider-Man comics with their pocket money. Probably, they even keep their money and buying Lego set at the end of the month.😂
We don't even discuss about competitors, like Manga or Anime.

[darkadmiralmarchhare]

They’ve priced out their future audience and a good deal of their existing customers. I give out comics at Halloween and the kids love it. But I’ve also seen parents bring them into the shop and bawk at the prices (among other things). The well will eventually run dry with “collectors “. Alterna still has reasonably priced books and it’s a big reason I can give them out. My LCS also cuts me a deal on $1 books and leftovers from free comics days. But even if they find something they want to continue reading, the price is a deterrent. Most kids that come into the shop either leave with toys, manga or empty handed. It’s sad honestly. I’ve watched my shop pivot away from new books for awhile now. Not to mention I haven’t seen anything hyped enough to drive lines of customers in since the failed Bat/Cat marriage debacle.