>>104068177The consumer has the power to decide what sells and what doesn't.
If the consumer didn't care about superhero's, then superhero comics would not sell, and Marvel and DC would be forced to do something new.
And the consumer does have some other options, like Image Comics and Dark Horse comics, but superhero's always outsell everything else.
But why?
Why does the consumer have such shit taste?
The reason for this is because comic distribution is monopolized. Diamond Comic Distributors is responsible for the distribution of Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, IDW comics, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, and more. They're a literal monopoly.
DCD do not distribute comics to supermarkets, or books stores, or anywhere that they might come in contact with a broader audience. DCD only distribute comics to small, isolated hobbyist shops, AKA "your friendly local comic store."
Comic stores are trash. They're not common enough for the average person to stumble across, and the only people who would actively seek out their local comic shop are people who have an established interest in western comics (superheroes), which means comic stores are inhabited almost entirely by people with shit taste.
Because DCD has a monopoly, they have no incentive to change their business model in any way.
So, American comics are stuck in a stasis in which to be successful, you have to pander to disgusting nerds — the sort of nerds who actually enjoy reading capeshit. Published comics can't reach other demographics, because DCD has a monopoly, and they only distribute comics to isolated hobbyist shops.
Superhero's rule the American industry because the only people with easy access to comics are losers who actually do like superheros.
To be honest, the average person would feel ashamed to enter a comic book store, let alone actually seek one out. In Japan, manga are sold in supermarkets and at corner stalls, which is why that industry is so varied and vast in comparison to America's.
