Why do comic sales keep decreasing?

So, I was wondering the other day why comic sales keep decreasing every year. With the movie industry getting to the point that almost every film is comic book related and the highest sellers are based on comics, why is the popularity of comic books decreasing as the popularity of comic book culture and characters increasing?

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

@SmashBrawler said:

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

Dat sarcasm

@dmkicksballs13: Comic sales are up from 18 months ago.

@SmashBrawler said:

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

Lol

Comic sales have been worse though like when dc almost sold to marvel or when marvel practically went bankrupt

Welcome to the new world of comics. Most folks would rather follow their favorite superheroes from their television rather than from a comic book. As much as I love my superhero cartoons, as long as their on air, there's no need to run to your local comic shop to keep up with them. Just my opinion.

@SmashBrawler said:

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

This basically.

There are going to be highs and lows. It will never be like it was initially in the 1930'-40's, but it can be better, and it will.

My first thought was cost. $4 a book is pretty steep. Of course, back when they were 60 cents, 60 cents took as much work to earn then as $4 does now, so I'm not so sure that argument flies.

Prices. Comics are too expensive.

Prices. Comics are too expensive.

Because people think that watching the movies pretty much makes them comic book experts, so why read the books?

@SmashBrawler said:

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

this

@JediXMan said:

Prices. Comics are too expensive.

and this.

pretty simple most wont pay for comics

2nd the comic culture isnt very popular, its almost look down if u go buy and read comics. im pretty sure half the people that go to comic con prob never really read comics.

3rd shit pretty confusing to follow, im sure New 52 helped and this marvel now but i think most in general are like how the hell do i start reading this

@The Stegman said:

Because people think that watching the movies pretty much makes them comic book experts, so why read the books?

@SmashBrawler said:

Becuz reading is like totally for losers, dude!

a mix of these two, plus, the prices and acessability of comics doesn't really help the cause...

@The Stegman said:

Because people think that watching the movies pretty much makes them comic book experts, so why read the books?

i think its more like why read when you can watch tv, animated movies, and live action movies.

i dont think anybody watches to be an expert on the subject of superhero comic books. I would say watching it makes them think they are an expert but not the reason why they arnt reading it

@OmegaDynasty said:

@JediXMan said:

Prices. Comics are too expensive.

SOO AGREE I Fu*kin hate Marvel's 4$ comics.

Because people think that watching the movies pretty much makes them comic book experts, so why read the books?

Prices. Comics are too expensive.

I thought they were doing better. Not great but better.

@geoff2005: I've got to agree with everything you said. About number two, it's not just that people haven't read comics, it's that there's no need to. The highlights of comicon are people like Will Ferrell and the big bang theory cast, not Jim Lee or Ed Brubaker. They're associating things with comics that don't have shit to do with it.

Watch Idiocracy. That explains everything. Why people don't read. Why you have trouble filling all the seats to the opera while American Idol is a smash hit and why transformers made so much money.

I think that goes for every form of entertainment. People just don't have as spare money as they used to!

The prices are pretty high for readers who have a budget.

Price is huge especially when you follow certain story arcs and crossovers, you're forced to buy a lot more to keep up with it

I agree. Some prices are high and most of the people that read comics only afford some of the issues or they only buy comics of a single character to keep up with the story line.

Also, there is the kind of people who say: "I don't need to read the comics if I watched the movie".

Literature/reading overall is less popular than it was 10 years ago. People have different ways to entertain themselves now, such as video games, internet, movies and TV, etc.

Newspaper, magazines, books, comics, all of these things are less popular than they were years ago with the change in technology.

Short answer: people read less these days

Possessed by evil spirits, costume change, kidnapped here, personality change here, depressed there, joins a team, split up with romantic interest here, leaves the team...etc. Personally, most superhero comics might seem too random/messed up for an average person to get interested in.

@TheMinister said:

I thought they were doing better. Not great but better.

Weren't comic books more popular in the 1940's? Heck, Captain Marvel was more popular than superman at one point.