Print or Web?

[Reverend]

I'm not sure where to post this, though this thread seemed the most general place.

As some of you know, over the course of the past few years I've been compiling information with regard to a reference guide for alternative/underground British comics. I've painstakingly combed over just about every conceivable resource for information: libraries, booksellers, auctions, old newspapers and fanzines, publishers, printers, artists, and friends and associates thereof, etc. I've sent thousands of e-mails, written letters and made phone calls. You name it. I'm obsessed.

I've amassed an enormous amount of information as well as comics themselves. My aim is to create a Kennedy-esque guide, sans pricing information. Each entry will have the same level of detail that his did. I've even toyed with the idea of including expanded information such as binding types (e.g., 2-staple, 3-staple, perfect bound, stitched). Simply put, an enormous level of detail.

I've been see-sawing back and forth between publishing an actual book and a website. I lean toward the idea of a book because it seems more . . . permanent, more important, even.

The reason I'm posting this is because I'd like to get some feedback from you, the collector, as to what you'd like to see. Which medium would be more useful to you?

[Visitor Q]

Hands Down... Book, without a doubt.

Jason

[50Cent #II (1st print)]

Book.

[EggsAckley]

Book

[dr_s]

A book and get some one to illustrate it.

[Comix Junky]

I lean toward the idea of a book because it seems more . . . permanent, more important, even.

Ouch!

Well if ya decide to put it on the web.
We'd be happy to provide space for it here.

[Reverend]

I appreciate that, CJ. And I meant no offense about the above comment. It's just that I've seen so many websites come and go for whatever reasons. An actual book seems more lasting, is what I meant.

[awillis]

A book. When society breaks down, it will still be there. Copywrite it and it will be in the Library of Congress. Excerpt it to the web.

[awillis]

A book and get some one to illustrate it.

Multiple someones?

[Rick Bradford]

A book. But an online version would sure be handy too (and could be updated on a whim if that was part of the plan).

[Comix Junky]

A book. When society breaks down, it will still be there.

That's right.
The more books we make now, the more we'll have to burn, to heat our shacks, when society breaks down.

I'm as much of a fan as anybody. But when the power goes off for ever, i don't think i'm gonna care about this stuff anymore. Can't eat comix.

[jaylynch]

The basic info (without the prices) should be in a hardbound book.  In the book, you give a website address wherein the reader can look up the current prices.  All that would be on the website would be current prices.  All the other stuff would be in the book. The website would have an order form for the book.

[Reverend]

I like your thinking, Jay.

[jaylynch]

Yeah...and then don't invest a fortune into printing up thousands of copies of the book.  Just upload it to one of those print on demand places.  But make sure they don't use ink that melts when it gets wet...and make sure their hardcover binding is good...sewn rather than glued.  And sell it without a dust jacket.

Then, use what money you have to print a dustjacket for the book in photo offset.  Get some Bro-Dart covers and Bro-dart the dust jackets...and put a paragraph in the book that sez collectors can send you $10 plus postage and handling and get a nice full-color dust jacket for the book. 

The profit on the print-on-demand isn't too great....but it is similar to what you'd get from a publisher.
But the profit margin on the dust jacket would be good enough so that you could make some kind of a profit.

[jaylynch]

Let me clarify the above a little. The print on demand place would sell individually ordered copies of the book and ship them from their webpage.  You would never see the full retail price of the book. The print on demand place would just send you royalties on what copies they sell.  However, the book would still be listed on Amazon...So that the average person could buy it thru Amazon. This would cut down on your per-copy royalty, but it would sell more books.

You would sell the dust jackets from your address, though.

It's the old razors and razorblades concept.  The razor is cheap...but the blades are costly.  Your profit is in the dustjacket.  And to the collector...a book is of less value without the dust jacket.  So since your audience consists of collectors....that's the way to do it.