The growth of alternative comics, especially starting in the 1980s, happened for a few important reasons:
Too Many Superheroes: By the 1980s, big companies like Marvel and DC owned more than 70% of the comic book market. This made people want more variety in what they read.
New Publishers: Smaller publishers, such as Fantagraphics and Dark Horse, started to appear. They focused on different kinds of stories. By 1990, independent comics made up about 15% of all comic book sales.
Changing Culture: The 1980s had a cultural movement that liked new and different ways of storytelling. Comics like “Love and Rockets” showed how society was changing.
New Technology: In the 1990s, tools like photocopiers and computers became helpful. They made it cheaper for independent creators to produce their own comics. This led to more self-published works.
More Ways to Buy Comics: Specialty bookstores and comic conventions helped more people find alternative comics. This greatly widened their audience.
The growth of alternative comics, especially starting in the 1980s, happened for a few important reasons:
Too Many Superheroes: By the 1980s, big companies like Marvel and DC owned more than 70% of the comic book market. This made people want more variety in what they read.
New Publishers: Smaller publishers, such as Fantagraphics and Dark Horse, started to appear. They focused on different kinds of stories. By 1990, independent comics made up about 15% of all comic book sales.
Changing Culture: The 1980s had a cultural movement that liked new and different ways of storytelling. Comics like “Love and Rockets” showed how society was changing.
New Technology: In the 1990s, tools like photocopiers and computers became helpful. They made it cheaper for independent creators to produce their own comics. This led to more self-published works.
More Ways to Buy Comics: Specialty bookstores and comic conventions helped more people find alternative comics. This greatly widened their audience.