Alan Moore on BBC HARDtalk

[JamesC]

When they talk about 'the comics industry'  they mean the American comic industry - it's just shorthand and I think most people get that.
It's the same as when people mention the music industry, and they pretty much mean the British/American music industry and the film industry in most cases just means Hollywood.

[Colin YNWA]

When they talk about 'the comics industry'  they mean the American comic industry - it's just shorthand and I think most people get that.

As I said though in my previous post, if it is the American comics industry then his statements don't seem to work. If the American superhero comic book industry, then yeah he has a valid case (not necessarily right but that's a debate for another time). The problem is I'm not convinced a lot of people outside of us nerdy types would make those leaps? Could be wrong but don't think so.

As someone representing the comics industry, in its broadest sense (though I again acknowledge that he is not doing that by choice necessarily) it would be good if he was more specific and make it clear that there are over comic choices out there. After all he says himself here he's still a fan of the medium. Why use the label 'comics industry' when he's referring to mainly to two publishers (my assumption, could be wrong?).

...Even when he went some way to clarifying that point he did say something along the lines of 'that's pretty much all that's left' which is pretty short sighted and a shame.

This point also still stands even if people do make the leap (A point I'm not convinced of), there's loads more out there and loads of stuff that people watching a show like 'Hardtalk' may not know about and that statements like that just fortify that ignorance?

[JamesC]

I suppose it's all a matter of where you draw the line.

There are a number of comics that survive on the peripheries of the American comics industry that aren't super hero related but the only thing that really approaches being a powerful, profitable industry is still the core super hero stuff. It could even be argued that the real industry is basically just I.P farming.

It's a long way from the days when the stands would be full of western, horror, romance and sci-fi titles - all that stuff is niche now. If you ask the average man on the street to name a comic character he'll say Superman or Spiderman - maybe even Dennis the Menace or Desperate Dan; he won't say Sherriff whatsisface out of The Walking Dead.



To use the film analogy again, if someone makes a statement like 'The film industry don't make monster movies anymore - they're out of fashion' they can be forgiven for not taking into account the Sci-Fi channel's output which makes a monster movie every week.

[Hoagy]

That's my debate. He must know how various the Western market is as a nerdy type. And that most people who are not nerdy types are going to quickly assume Marvel and DC are the comics industry of which he speaks. So, if he could just clarify whether he was speaking on behalf of himself to whom he is assuming a program targeting non comic investors or not the general public. Which makes me suspect he was getting bored of the conversation or he understood there were time limitations. That or no, he needs to clarify himself on the matter of debate, so I can sleep at night!

[TordelBack]

That's my debate. He must know how various the Western market is as a nerdy type. And that most people who are not nerdy types are going to quickly assume Marvel and DC are the comics industry of which he speaks. So, if he could just clarify whether he was speaking on behalf of himself to whom he is assuming a program targeting non comic investors or not the general public.

Zigzagly.  However, I don't think Alan is in any way obliged to clarify his point for a wider audience, he can say what he damned well pleases in whatever way he wants, but I would personally like it if he did.

[Goaty]

Ah! Found this, as was looking for this, Search are crap, sorry for new thread early.

There was funny with caption on Alan Moore interview...

[W. R. Logan]

It's now available on iTunes.

[Modern Panther]

I do enjoy watching and listening to self confessed pornographer Alan Moore's interviews.  Written articles often miss that he is being bitterly sarcastic most of the time.  I don't think I've ever seen a tv interview where, when the interviewee is accused of hypocrisy, they happily admit to it.