Feeling the Pinch II: Comics Jump from 20¢ to 25¢

Yesterday I posted an old "Dear Fans" letter from the editors of DC Comics, who were practically falling on their swords over a recent bump in cover price from 12¢ to 15¢.  The post generated a pretty good response from readers, some of whom mentioned the same sort of announcements Marvel used to publish at "price increase time".  Well, I thought I'd track down one of the more dramatic "Dear Fans" letters I vaguely recalled reading once upon a time. 

Sure enough, I found it in the Marvel Comics cover-dated June of 1974.  While not as formal as DC's pseudo-letterhead I posted yesterday, this "special announcement" has underlined words....which really emphasized their anguish and concern over raising the cover prices from 20¢ to a whole quarter! Here, check it out...and feel the drama!  (you'll definitely have to click on the ad for a larger view this time around...the type is really small on the original)

Once again, it's all there: 

1.  A humble, almost embarrassed admission they had to raise prices

2.  The endearing "we're just gonna level with you" rap-session feel.

3.  An honest acknowledgment of our suspicion of Stan and Roy ("What is this, some kind of rip-off, so that Stan and Roy can vacation on the Riviera this year?")

4.  The lesson in basic economics.

5.  A promise to do better and try harder.

6.  A "we're all in this together" wrap-up.

7.  Last, but not least, a good old-fashioned Marvel sales pitch (man, nobody could peddle comics like old Jedi Stan and his young Padawan Roy).

Hey, speaking of price increases and sales pitches, there's still time to order my Still Only 25¢ t-shirts and gifts for Christmas....or any of the forty comic book and sci-fi themed designs in my Secret Identity Shop.  Check 'em out..you're bound to find something to please your inner geek.

Comments

[Matthew Byrd]

I love the shameless plug at the end. :)
Seriously, how did comics go from $0.12 to $2.99? I can barely afford my regulars now, not to mention the "special of the week".

[Mark Engblom]

"I love the shameless plug at the end. :)"

Hey, 'tis the season to be plugging! Just trying to help out those last-minute internet shoppers (and get a few pennies into my kettle at the same time).

I have no idea how comics went from 12¢ to 299¢. Still...just when I'm about to give up on 'em forever, along comes something as magnificent as this week's conclusion to the Green Lantern vs. Sinestro Corps war. Just mindblowingly good stuff.

[Matthew Byrd]

Green Lantern #25 was like finishing an epic novel you've be reading since the Summer. No one but Geoff Johns could pull off such an amazing story. Some of these double sized issues are not worth the normal cover price, little lone the higher price (*cough* One More Day). But this super-sized end of the Sinestro War was worth every penny and then some. I bought it yesterday and have already read it twice. I haven't said that since, oh I don't know, The Sinestro Corps one shot back in June. And when was the last time a writer set up his next story arc two years in advance. Glad to hear I wasn't the only one that loved this story.
P.S. Keep up the great Blogging