Juggernaut Slowing, Still Not Stopped

ICV2 reports that comics sales were down 6% and graphic novels sales down 5% in the most recent quarter, but says that with the economy as it is, that's actually not so bad. Comics weathers the storm better than other sectors so far, and I expect this to continue, unless there is serious backlash from the cover price increases on certain comic books ($4.99 a pop!). I just wish that comic strips weren't being dropped from so much, and that editorial cartoonists were in better shape.

It'll be interesting to see how the economy and reactions to it shape the comics industry, especially since there seems to be no stop to movie studios seeing comics characters as viable commodities. DC is keeping it's second tier characters fresh by bringing back back-up stories in many of its main books. Marvel has most of its most interesting players in solo and team books, but they are being very budget-conscious of whom they pay and how much they pay out for their future movie releases.

Will the price increase finally move folks to the trade/graphic novel route as more wait to get the pamphlet stories collected? Is that the hope of the companies? Will Spidey save Madam Web?