Shop Talk with Alpha Comics: September 14, 2012

It is time for another Shop Talk with Chris Humphries of Alpha Comics in Calgary, Alberta! This month we discuss Zero Month, “The Kiss”, Marvel NOW! and more!

Aaron Long: Zero month is upon us, the one year anniversary of the New 52. Has there been a lot of buzz about these “origin” issues in your shop? Anybody going all-in for all #0s the way some people did for the #1s?

Chris Humphries: People are picking and choosing. I do see people picking up comics that they haven’t before but no one is going all in and getting all 55 #0’s. So far I’m seeing the Zero issues do a little bit better than the previous month’s New 52 titles, with Green Lantern seeing a big jump.

AL: Last month DC made a bold move with the Wonder Woman/Superman kiss. There was a big media frenzy, but did your patrons care? Any general buzz for or against it?

CH: My regular customers didn’t see what the big deal was. But the issue was getting local media attention on the radio and in the papers. I had more phone calls and emails for Justice League #12 than I did for Walking Dead #100 or Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary. It’s really cool that Jim Lee is providing original art for the 2nd printing.

AL: The creative teams for many of the larger Marvel NOW! books have been revealed. With the creator shakeups and the addition of some legends like Mike Allred, are people starting to jump on the bandwagon more each week?

CH: Marvel Now has had a pretty good momentum but it seems that people are being cautious with this relaunch. Many people are giving it a wait and see treatment rather than signing up subscriptions. The recent Thunderbolts announcement has gotten people really excited. Even Red Hulk haters are going to check this book out.

AL: The Walking Dead #100 put up some astonishing numbers, especially for an indie book. Did those numbers continue for #101 in your shop? Has the fever continued?

CH: A big part of Walking Dead #100’s success on the charts was due to all the covers. People weren’t just picking a favourite, people were getting all 8 regular covers. Post #100 compared to pre #100 My ordering for Walking Dead has more than doubled. I’ve noticed a lot of people going from trade waiting to picking up the monthly books.

AL: A couple weeks ago Rob Liefeld stirred up the comics community with his vocal exit from his three DC Comics titles. He then went after Scott Snyder, proclaiming Batman will always be successful irrespective of the creators. Is this the case in your shop? Do you think people buying Batman because it is Batman, or because of what Snyder and Capullo are bringing to the title?

CH: Yes Batman comics sell. But when you have a great book by Snyder and Capullo sales on the book go over the top. Subscriptions in the store for Batman are bigger numbers than Detective Comics and Dark Knight combined.

AL: You know what’s coming next….crystal ball time: top 3 books for September?

CH: No doubt AvX will continue to dominate with Batman #0 taking the 2nd spot. Justice League will for sure see a boost for September.

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