Most toy collectors are not interested in the comics.

[maczero]

Is this correct? If so, why?

[Havok]

I would have to say no, this not true. As for why? I think it's obvious if your interested in the toys, then your interested in the story that drives the characters. This may not hold true for everyone, but I think it does for most.

[Steevy Maximus]

I think it is correct TO AN EXTENT. I do think more "hardcore collectors" tend to read the comic, but I also feel at this point, we're starting to see some demographic shift.

A good many of the early Joe collector were introduced to the brand via the comic, launched in 1982. At this point, many of those collectors have started to move on, and now guys like me (mid-late 20s) are more prevalent, and WE grew up on Sunbow reruns and the DiC CARTOONS, not the comics.

But I really think the most telling thing is pure sales numbers:
In 2010, GI Joe comic sales on its core title slid down from around 14K early in the year, to just over 10K by the end. Even the relaunch this year only bumped sales to around 13K.

If Joe comic collectors were reflective of the brand's strength and toy sales, the line would have been ditched by retail years ago.

I think the big reason for the comics' lack of impact is industry-wide: they just aren't available. During the 80s and 90s, comics were everywhere, and cheap. Since the bubble burst around the turn of the century, comics have pretty much been relegated to comic shops (pretty much only in large metropolitan areas, rural areas like mine are SOL), and aside from a small number of dedicated fans, most casual collectors have simply pushed them to the side.
There DOES need to be some consistent exposure to maintain interest: I really didn't have much interest in Transformers Prime until I was able to watch it 5 days a week.

I'd argue that more fans right now are more familiar with the story of GI Joe Renegades than any of the comics

[holyfrog]

I think it depends on what you mean by "toy collectors". If it is someone who collects toys (Joes, MOTU, Transformers, Marvel Universe, etc) in general then I agree. If it is someone who only collects Joes then I would think that most of those people are interested in the comics or at least the cartoon.

[Blaster'spunchingbagg]

Comics these days are very expensive, the stories drag on, and they are half advertisements. On top of that, their re-sale value is non-existent. Action figures on the other hand are still a hot commodity. If you ever go to a Con, you can see there is a very small demand for comics, which is ironic, I just buy trades if I'm interested, it's cheaper and you have the whole story arc at your figure tips, no waiting a month to see what happens.

[SVT_COBRA]

I still have a ton of the old Marvel run, but I would never go out of my way to collect them now. Mine arent even in good shape because I dont really care. Thats the only Joe story to me and I stick to it. I would probably pick up TPBs to relive my favorite story arcs, like Benzheen and Return to Silent Castle, but Im always after books at Barnes and Noble and simply flip through the Joe TPBs.

[Van Hammer]

I think it comes down to money with all the ongoing series and mini-series it really starts to add up.Especially at 5 bucks a po back in the 50s you could get 50 comics for that price.

[spot138]

Bullshit! I'm always going for the comics before the toys, especialy at the flea market.

[spot138]

Especialy the old Marvel run - I got about 70% of it and always look for the rest.

[cobracommanderiv]

Comics these days are very expensive, the stories drag on, and they are half advertisements. On top of that, their re-sale value is non-existent. Action figures on the other hand are still a hot commodity. If you ever go to a Con, you can see there is a very small demand for comics, which is ironic, I just buy trades if I'm interested, it's cheaper and you have the whole story arc at your figure tips, no waiting a month to see what happens.

I think your right. Also, doesn't anyone else find comic plots too convoluted these days, too disappointing and well, boring. Marvel 1980s Joe comics were brilliant, by the end of the run it was pretty crap and too Snake Eyes focused though. I just find IDW's run on Transformers and Joe boring and as Blasters rightly said, expensive to buy.

[Darth Awgmon]

I'm a 36 yr old toy collector. I was into comics alot growing up, but now it's just toys.

[Dunedain]

i also am a 36 yr old toy collector. But i was never into comics of any form, so i have never read the Joe comics. I did however watch the cartoons and bought and continue to buy all the Joe toys and thats without EVER reading one comic issue.

[doomed huh]

I'm a pretty big comic collector

[Steevy Maximus]

i also am a 36 yr old toy collector. But i was never into comics of any form, so i have never read the Joe comics. I did however watch the cartoons and bought and continue to buy all the Joe toys and thats without EVER reading one comic issue.

Shoot, the only time I've read a majority of Classic Joe stories was when Hasbro chucked repaints of them in with figures!

[skinny]

I think you have hit on something here, I am a comic collector not overly interested in the toys, no really hear me out.
I buy joe comics every month, every title and most cover cariants except retail incentives.
Joe toys I look at on the pegs buy one of each toss em in a box and wait for the next wave. If I really like a figure I may buy two or be inspired to make a dio scene.
otherwise the figures have no appeal to me. I just buy em "because it's there" out of habit.
Today I bought the four Renegades figures and will soon toss em in storage.
The comics or shows for that matter I read a few times or watch a few times, spending much more time with those than the figures/vehicles.

[Lody]

Most collectors have not read the entire series

They should

But haven't

[sn8keyes]

I read all the new gi Joe comics on my iPad it is just simply amazing!!!

The comics are good.

[Weezus]

I would have to say no, this not true. As for why? I think it's obvious if your interested in the toys, then your interested in the story that drives the characters. This may not hold true for everyone, but I think it does for most.

i think gi joe as a story is pure crap and the only parts i actually like are the parts that arent popular such as cobra la and the like.


i do like a couple of the cobra characters but the rest is garbage.

the toys are awesome though. ive got hundreds so they are doing something right.

as a kid i was way more interested in having gi joes get massacred by whatever monster toys from other toy lines [inhumanoids!] i had than whatever crap was going on in the cartoon.

as a kid and an adult i will say i love the gi joe episode where dusty huffs hallucinogenic gas balloons and sees cobra commander turn into freaky snake fingered guy. that was awesome. loved it.

[MeLikeJinx]

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.

[Gallows]

When I was younger the toys and comics went hand in hand. Now in my late 30's I'd say the comics are my priority and I like seeing what is coming out in the 3-3/4 line and really enjoy the custom forum but haven't and likely won't ever buy another 3-3/4 figure again but with more disposable income I have been picking up the figures in the Sideshow line for display.

[maczero]

I was hoping this thread would stay over in the toy forums for two reasons. First, it gets more activity than the comic section. Second, I figure the people I most wanted to hear from (i.e. toy collectors who don't read the comics) would be more likely to check out that section.

Anyway, I'm getting the impression that some aren't aware of the new batch of Joe comics or have a personal take on G.I. Joe that isn't satisfied by reading comics (new or old). Although, I'm surprised money was brought up a few times. I figure spending $4-$16 (1 to 4 issues) a month wouldn't be very much compared to what's spent on vintage toys or sideshow figures.

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.Funny, I and a few comic collectors would say the same about the toys.;)

[PROVOST]

From my own experience as a comic reader and toy collector there's been a problem of confluence.

When the comics I read were really doing it for me,there was no action figure line and then when there were action figures the comics had long deviated off of what I loved about the comic.

[Shogi]

I can only speak for myself but when it comes to GI Joe, I'll buy up the classic trades because I'd like to have all the marvel run.

Due to money issues I had to stop collecting any new Joe comics back around 2002. I tried picking it back up with the IDW series that is a continuation of the Marvel run....I wasn't thrilled with the story, there were some continuity issues for me and the price of comics is just too high. $3.95 can buy me a bit more than a comic that's half full of ads and doesn't have a good story.

[MeLikeJinx]

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.
Funny, I and a few comic collectors would say the same about the toys.;)
Touche. LOL.

[darkwise]

Not this guy, I still love the comics (especially with how gritty they are in the IDW-verse).

[Trojan Gambit]

I honestly can't remember what got me started with Joes. I think it was the toys, but the tv show and comics came soon after.

My first Joe comic was issue #16 and I stayed until around issue #60. Even as a kid, I really enjoyed the slightly more "real" action in the comics. I loved the cartoon, but even I knew it was childish and silly back then.

I started buying figs again near the end of the 25th run, and then last year started buying the IDW comics. I still have my old Marvel comics, but am buying the TPBs now to complete the run. So, I'm about even regarding figures and comics, and any toys that I collect (Joe and Marvel Universe) are tied into comics.

[sharky]

I think it depends on what you mean by "toy collectors". If it is someone who collects toys (Joes, MOTU, Transformers, Marvel Universe, etc) in general then I agree. If it is someone who only collects Joes then I would think that most of those people are interested in the comics or at least the cartoon.

i also am a 36 yr old toy collector. But i was never into comics of any form, so i have never read the Joe comics. I did however watch the cartoons and bought and continue to buy all the Joe toys and thats without EVER reading one comic issue.

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.
That's pretty much me. I was always into the toys and the cartoon as a kid. I never was a big comic book person. Joe is just one part of my toy collection.

[Stormgard]

I'm totally into the comics. I collected and played with the toys in the 90s, but was always aware that I had missed out on some of the classic characters and vehicles.

I collect pretty much all the comics now but haven't gotten back into the toys at all - I just can't afford another hobby like that. I don't have the time or the storage space.

My Joeverse as it stands now is based on the original ARAH run especially between around issues 50 to 120 or so. The new comics are interesting and I'm liking IDWs stuff much more than the Devils' Due run. It's still hard for me to get used to a completely new continuity.

[zedhatch]

I have collected GI Joe since 1982, I have bought tons over the years, Some would say you can only be a hardcore collector if you are a completeist, but I would label myself one step below that definition. I am by far not a completeist and I have plenty of complaints about the toys, but I do consider myself fairly hardcore in the way of collecting. I don't need 50 of every character but I have tons of multiples and tons of figures.

That being said, I have very little interest in the comics. I have read most of the Marvel run, I have looked over several IDW books, I read the DD series but overall I could take or leave them. I don't hate them but I have to say I have very little interest in them. I have had some fun rewatching the old Sunbow series, but again nothing obsessive. I haven't picked up much out of IDW as nothing about thier series has been very appealing to me.

So not speaking for everyone in the universe, but for me at least I would have to say the above is correct.

Edit: Some more thoughts on this, Comics, in general, are something I enjoy a great deal as well. I have read Marvel and DC almost as long as I have been able to read.

Also my personal Joe-Verse has always been it's own thing with very little from the comics or cartoon. It would take to long to get into all the details, but they are not connected very much.

Also I always hated how the comic connected Snake Eyes to everyone too, got to be very unrealistic after a while IMO.

[THE RED SHADOWS]

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.
LOL most people grow out of toys too

[TheFallen]

I got in to GI Joe because of the toys but I absolutely loved the original Marvel series. I never saw the cartoon here (I am pretty sure it was never aired here) so the comics is what I had to read the stories of GI Joe. My first issue was #77 and I have since read and re-read the series many times. It is still great.

As for the current comic, I do read it but I don't buy it. I love reading comics but they are cost prohibitive for what they are.

[PitViper]

I didn't read the comic as a kid when I was head over heels for the toys. I did start reading it on and off when I started reading comics in general regularly.

Since the Tank I've went back and read all the classics and alot of the DDP stuff.

I'm probably more of Joe comic fan now than I ever was. I think it added to my toys, seeing them different now with so many deep back stories.

[maczero]

I think most people just grow out of reading comics.

LOL most people grow out of toys tooI said the same thing.

This kinda reminds me of a thread I posted on another forum about the geek hierarchy. I felt toy collectors were bigger geeks than comic book collectors. Kinda funny seeing toy collectors looking down on the comics.

[agent888]

i had joe's back in the early 70's, as well as jonny west, big jim, action jackson, big jim, 6 million $man,the(mego?) super heroes, star trek, planet of the apes, ect.(i also vividly remember some very kicka$$ pirate fig's from somewhere.), but not as a collector. just as a kid. playing with my bro's and kid's in the hood.
i also loved and read comic's all the time. just mainstream stuff you could buy at the same places you could get toy's or junk food. never made the connection at the time.
all that changed in 77-78 with the 3 3/4 sw stuff! still played with toy's still read comic's but the mold was set. lost intrest in 6 & 12 inch figs, started to understand story arc's.
82 brought small joes i went nut's the comic's , commercial's, cartoon's, tie-in's, ect. it changed the game. i was(12 & in love) with collecting. by 85-86 i was done with toys(but i never stopped checking out the toy aisle), but still a comic's guy. i still got toys here and there , but not much. the late 90's i stopped buying comics as much in favor of tpb's.
fast forward to the present. i really dig so much of the new toy lines. i am not a moc collector or a completionist collector. but i love so much of the lines (i play with toy's), and i cant stop picking them up.
back to the OP, i dig the DDP tbs's , but the only IDW tpb's i have are the first 2 IDW origins tps's , and i am not sure how much i lke them, very confused where to pick this up from?
what do you guys think?

[agent888]

would really like a reply in this thread(subscibed just now) or please PM me.

[THE RED SHADOWS]

I only follow the IDW hama written book---that is until it majorily contradicts the DDP stuff, when it does and it most likely will soon, I will drop it that month.

[maczero]

back to the OP, i dig the DDP tbs's , but the only IDW tpb's i have are the first 2 IDW origins tps's , and i am not sure how much i lke them, very confused where to pick this up from?
what do you guys think?
IDW has two continuities. One picks up where the Marvel series ended. There is only one title in this continuity and it's called G.I. Joe A Real American Hero.

The other continuity is referred to as the Reboot verse. It's comprised of the following series:

G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe Origins
G.I. Joe Cobra (later changed to just Cobra)
Snake-Eyes

The stories in the Origins series take place before most of the stories in the other books. However you don't need to read these series in a particular order. For the most part their storylines are self contained to their respective titles. This does change at the start of the Cobra Civil War. There's much more crossover between the series once the Civil War starts. Also, I should mention the Origins series was cancelled and replaced by Snake-Eyes.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions.