Learning From Other Genres

Because the rise and fall of publishers affects writers, we often discuss publishers here. Mostly, we talk about books. Sometimes, though, we can learn from others, like comics. Publishers Weekly has an article about comic publisher, Top Cow.

For one thing, the covers are usually eye catching. Link over and check out the cover for The Darkness.

Top Cow has two main properties, The Darkness and Witchblade.

Both series have been collected in a variety of formats, from economical paperbacks to deluxe oversized editions, and huge 1000+ page books collecting 50 issues each, called Compendiums.

There’s another thing Top Cow has done: They work in different formats. Their eggs are not all in one basket.

Here’s another: They sell back stock.

When a new fan discovers Witchblade, often within six months they’ve gone back and brought every Compendium and every single issue they can track down."

Even though the characters were introduced long ago, they keep them fresh by bringing in new “talent.” They’re going digital, as well as staying in print. They’re going into movies and games. They’re spinning off into series.

Now, these are comics, probably not what you write. But can you see anything here that you, a book writer, could learn from?