At The Counter #7: Shipping Delays & Politics

It’s that time again, when Comicon.com Features Editor Tony Thornley sits down with comics retailer Greg Gage of Black Cat Comics in Salt Lake City’s Sugarhouse neighborhood. It’s back to the heavy, but important topics this week, as we look at the state of the world.

Tony Thornley: Morning Greg. So we had one key topic we wanted to discuss, but you brought up something when we were talking recently that I wanted to hit on for a minute. But first of all, you’ve had a big signing this past weekend. How do you normally prep for a big event like this?

Greg Gage: So much. So very, very much. Especially with the huge collections I’ve bought recently. I have to move all that stuff around, move all the shipments of next week’s books so they’re out of the way, pull books that the guests have worked on… it just goes on and on.

Tony: You often have an interesting mix of local and out of town talent. Is that an attempt to have a marquee name to get attention for others? Or more to it than that?

Greg: I love to have a good mix of people here. It’s nice that if someone comes to check out a certain person’s work, they may just become a fan of another creator just due to the proximity. Of course, some of that initial draw is going to be with the bigger names, similar to what happens at a con. 

Tony: Now, you mentioned that one of the artists you’re including had a variant cover that was supposed to be out this week, but was quietly delayed. What’s the impact of that for you?

Greg: Thankful, nothing but temporary stress. I was able to get the book early, due to Lunar’s shipping time, which is a damn sight better than Diamond was. Joanie will be able to sign the books, but I’ll have to treat it like a prepay and not give it out until next Wednesday. Logistical problems aside, it’ll work out.

Tony: Now I’m not singling out the publisher or book because this is a growing problem I’ve seen at every publisher recently. There are some IDW books that seem to be on an every 5 or 6 week schedule instead of a monthly schedule for example. Meanwhile, Marvel delayed Daredevil #1 two weeks and buried that new date in a variant cover press release. But regardless, none of these things seem to be well publicized. Why aren’t you as the retailer hearing about it?

Greg: I don’t really know. I think it may be a situation where, in the publishers’ minds, if they don’t talk about it, the problem doesn’t exist. My big problem is that they commit to a release date, then hardly ever hit it. That makes retailers look like they don’t have any idea what’s going on in their own stores, and that’s frustrating.

Tony: The industry has always experienced delays. I mean there are still books that famously just kept getting delayed to the point that they’ve been effectively cancelled. Would you rather hear about the behind the scenes issues causing the delay, or have them continue to just get pushed?

Greg: I’d like a reason and an explanation for a few reasons. First, I think it shows a lack of respect for the people on the ground selling these things for them. It comes across as, “Well, we don’t really need to tell these retailers anything. They don’t matter. We just need that bottom line at the end of the day.” Now, I’m not saying that’s the case, but that’s how it comes across. Another thing relates to what I said before. I’d love to let my customers know what’s going on. They deserve that. They’re giving me their hard earned money, and they should have whatever information they need. Sometimes buying decisions are based on budget, and people budget for what’s supposed to be here. Lastly, maybe if it was made public why these delays were happening, whoever’s responsible might take it a little more seriously and try to fix it next time.

Tony: Yeah, I had a lot of respect for Ryan Browne when he directly stepped forward and said Eight Billion Genies was delayed because of his health issues. Suddenly a frustrating situation turned into a “you get better, we’ll be here when you get back” attitude from the readers.

Now, I’m going to get into a meaty topic that I think you and I both are passionate about. The world is a mess right now, and the politics of this moment are raw to say the least. I see your shop as extremely welcoming, and you have a remarkably diverse customer and employee base. Is it important to make your stance clear?

Greg: I don’t push my stance on anyone. Anybody that knows me or comes in this shop is probably pretty clued in on where I stand on things. I’ll happily discuss things, but never lecture. I don’t like when people do that to me, and I’m sure they’d hate it if I did that. That being said, if someone is terrible and offensive to a person in the shop, I’ll gladly call them out, and I have. This is a welcoming, safe space. For everyone. Unless you screw it up. Then, you can leave.

Tony: Do you have customers ever pull out the old “I wish they would just keep politics out of my comics” very often?

Greg: I still do. And, again, that’s their opinion, and they’re certainly entitled to it. 

Tony: What’s your response when they do?

Greg: I usually say that I agree with them. We should go back to the good old days when Captain America punches nazis, and Superman sells war bonds. Maybe that non political time in Spider-Man when they were dealing with the civil rights movement? Those sure were great, non political days, weren’t they?

Tony: Or in the 1980s when the war on drugs was happening in every comic. Or the 1990’s when the X-Men had a decade-long AIDS allegory in the Legacy Virus.

Art is inherently political, and comics especially so. Why do you think most fans are drawn to these heroes, who are often literal social justice warriors?

Greg: I’d say it’s because, even though the comics industry is huge, and crosses many diverse groups of people, there’s still something about it appealing to the misfits, underdogs, and outsiders. Some of us have grown up, have families, work 9 to 5, etc., but there’s still that part of us that lives inside. It’s nice to see someone fighting for that.

Tony: Do you ever have to find yourself correcting customers saying things like “Batman would/wouldn’t support (blank)”?

Greg: Sure. But, once again, that’s just my opinion. It just happens to be right. Always. Forever. Never wrong. Seriously, though, I feel like I’m educated enough in this industry to have a good feel for what a particular character would or would not do/say/support. Some people just want to bring their own feelings into it, and, most of the time that’s okay. Sometimes it’s not.  *ahem* Punisher stickers on law enforcement vehicles *ahem*. 

Tony: What’s most important to you when these more charged situations arise?

Greg: Three things are very important. Humor, respect, and an even tone. You know me. You know that sometimes my energy can get pretty intense. (Note from Tony: The only time I saw it was when a payment processor was holding thousands of dollars of Greg’s hostage with no explanation. It was like watching your friend get disciplined by their dad while you were over at their house for a playdate. He’s a very even-tempered guy.) That’s never good when there’s a stressful situation. Not to mention, it automatically puts that person on the defensive. Then we have a problem. This store is not a place for that. That sort of thing brings down the whole vibe, and it turns a conversation into an argument. Humor is so important. Most people can’t be pissed at you if they’re laughing. 

Black Cat Comics is on the web at https://blackcat-comics.com/ and via all the usual social media channels. If you live in or are visiting the Salt Lake City area, you can visit the store at 2261 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, or call Greg and his team at (801) 461-4228.