Barnes & Noble Sell Tales of the TMNT? [Archive]

Cipher

02-14-2009, 03:31 PM

Or at least, they seem to have started to carry them online with issue 55: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?SZE=10&WRD=TMNT&SAT=1

This is, like, a good thing. Any hopes we might one day see trades on their shelves?

Kendamu

02-14-2009, 03:56 PM

If such is the case, I'm really hoping that this turns out well. #55 is a pretty good place to pick up on something like Tales. It's pretty basic and most casual people won't have a problem following most of the story.

Andrew NDB

02-14-2009, 04:32 PM

Good news, I wonder if this represents some new development at Mirage Publishing's distribution.

Unfortunately, anybody looking there has to wade down through a ton of awful fourth movie stuff to get to the comics.

CyberCubed

02-14-2009, 05:28 PM

Considering Tales probably will only go on for another year, I get the feeling that it's too little, too late.

Roseangelo

02-14-2009, 06:15 PM

Considering Tales probably will only go on for another year, I get the feeling that it's too little, too late.

I'd agree with this. I don't have a B&N near me, but I always see the comic book part of Borders being neglected and mostly ignored.

I don't know on what scale B&N carries and sells comic books in general, but I don't expect it's a big enough scale to save the title, sales of which continue to decline.

Cipher

02-14-2009, 06:33 PM

I don't know on what scale B&N carries and sells comic books in general, but I don't expect it's a big enough scale to save the title, sales of which continue to decline.The comic section of my B&N is actually fairly extensie and always busy, although they only carry trades. I still stand by the opinion that the best thing a comic can do now adays is to get trades onto bookstore shelves, because casual shoppers will see it and be interested.

Roseangelo

02-14-2009, 07:08 PM

The comic section of my B&N is actually fairly extensie and always busy, although they only carry trades. I still stand by the opinion that the best thing a comic can do now adays is to get trades onto bookstore shelves, because casual shoppers will see it and be interested.

The TPB section is not where these Tales issues would be put. They'd be part of periodicals. So it remains that TMNT is still not in bookstores proper, as you point out that would require being in the TPB sections where there is a lot of traffic.

Archon_Turtle

02-14-2009, 07:14 PM

The TPB section is not where these Tales issues would be put. They'd be part of periodicals. So it remains that TMNT is still not in bookstores proper, as you point out that would require being in the TPB sections where there is a lot of traffic.

So what exactly would it take to get you to say something encouraging when there is clear progress made? No, obviously this isn't the perfect solution, but it is definitely not a step in the WRONG direction. I'm failing to see where anything constructive comes out of that attitude. Even Andrew said something positive...No offense bro.

TristanHuwJones

02-14-2009, 07:23 PM

Isn't that a good thing, if they're in the periodicals? Every time I go into a Borders here in Australia, periodicals is always the busiest section, because people can just go in and flip through like they would at any other newsagency. Most of the time, the Graphic Novels are right there near them, because the comics are there too.

The fact that they aren't in bookstores proper is getting a little nitpicky. If B&N have just started stocking with #55, then they're going to be getting things from this point onwards, which means BOOKS that hit from this point onwards, and right now there are no books to go in their bookstores proper.

Roseangelo

02-14-2009, 07:50 PM

So what exactly would it take to get you to say something encouraging when there is clear progress made? No, obviously this isn't the perfect solution, but it is definitely not a step in the WRONG direction. I'm failing to see where anything constructive comes out of that attitude. Even Andrew said something positive...No offense bro.

It's not clear progress, though. At best this helps the title survive to the end of the year, which I will totally and completely go on the record for saying is a good thing.

Selling at B&N will falsely inflate the sales for a few months (B&N has to buy all of the copies for their stores, but that doesn't mean all of those copies are actually purchased), but a black & white comic isn't going to appeal to the people who browse B&N's comic section, which is going to be primarily kids and not comic book people. This move does little to increase actual readership, particularly in the target market. And realistically, chances are B&N will drop the title in a few months.

Yes, it's a good move, but it's still too little too late. And that's how you can pretty much sum up everything this year. The reality of the whole TMNT situation sucks and I'm not going to pretend it doesn't.

Raph's Girl

02-14-2009, 07:58 PM

Last TMNT thing I got at Barnes & Noble was a THB of the American Manga.

I believe Peter Laird said he wouldn't sell the comics to regular book stores because they didn't want the leftovers. Guess he changed his mind!! It looks like Tales 55 - 58 are also gonna be sold there! And muahahaha...Im a member of B&N so I get a $1 off the book!!! :evilgrin:

I'll actually be able to buy the comics!! :o

Oh man oh man...this is just too awesome. Im glad there's a B&N just up the street. :evilgrin:

Cipher

02-14-2009, 08:09 PM

It's not clear progress, though. At best this helps the title survive to the end of the year, which I will totally and completely go on the record for saying is a good thing.

Selling at B&N will falsely inflate the sales for a few months (B&N has to buy all of the copies for their stores, but that doesn't mean all of those copies are actually purchased), but a black & white comic isn't going to appeal to the people who browse B&N's comic section, which is going to be primarily kids and not comic book people.This isn't just some random-ass black and white title, though. This is TMNT. This holds appeal for casual people who might pick up a comic for the first time out of curiosity. This would hold appeal for someone going to pick up a Batman trade (I buy Batman trades bookstores, so there you go), who might see TMNT and be interested.

It's a vague step in the right direction.

For the record, I'm not sure every B&N actually has a periodicals section. I don't think mine does, anyway. But even selling issues online is a nice step and good god, would it be terrific if they get trades into the graphic novel sections.

gobo

02-15-2009, 06:02 AM

I wonder if this setup will extend to Mirage's other published works or be limited to Tales... Wouldn't it be a good marketing strategy for the Forever War?

VaughnMichael

02-15-2009, 07:42 AM

I think it's def. a step in the right direction.
The focus for 2009 is the comics so it's about time they try and get it out in the public eye to little or to late or not.

LeoNerdo

02-15-2009, 11:23 AM

I'll finally be able to buy some!! Every real comic shop in like a 40 mile radius from me has closed down.

Raph's Girl

02-15-2009, 12:18 PM

I wonder if this setup will extend to Mirage's other published works or be limited to Tales... Wouldn't it be a good marketing strategy for the Forever War?

I think Archie's doing that by selling the TPB of TMNT Adventures they're doing in grocery stores and stuff.

Either way this is a good year for me. Finally be able to buy some comics in stores instead of online and waiting for the TPBs or THBs

junkboy

02-16-2009, 01:23 PM

What must be done to save Mirage has been talked about more than once/twice/on and on in the past i guess.
Just for this occasion; in my book, this is a good step.

joe-eyeball

02-16-2009, 01:31 PM

trustno1

02-16-2009, 08:55 PM

Yeah, I gotta agree with Rose on this one. I to am not willing to pretend things are looking up for the TMNT. I know that when it appears they are doing the right thing with the property we should all find it in ourselves to be positive and say something positive, but I believe that would be me just kidding myself. This comic thing with B&N is a step in the right direction. It just isn't a BIG ENOUGH step!!!

i thought things were looking up for the comics. this is the first time there's ever been any real focus on them isnt it? the comic figures from playmates, the books fcbd and now barnes and nobles. at least all the people complaining about not being able to get the comics will be able to now. more people need to realize the comics are better than btts and the money they are sinking into a dead toy line would be better spent on the comics. wouldnt it make sense that if the comic selss then the next movie is more likely to reflect it?

Roseangelo

02-17-2009, 09:13 AM

I've been informed that while B&N.com is carrying Tales, the brick & mortar stores are NOT. Do with that info what you will.

Cipher

02-17-2009, 09:44 AM

I've been informed that while B&N.com is carrying Tales, the brick & mortar stores are NOT. Do with that info what you will.That's what I initially assumed. So it's a very, very small step in the right direcion. I just hope its a sign of, maybe, getting trades into actual stores.

willtupper

02-17-2009, 10:17 AM

Question: do any of you smarties know where B&N get their comics from?

Is it Diamond (like with "real" comic book stores), or their regular magazine distributor?

Raph's Girl

02-17-2009, 10:50 AM

Question: do any of you smarties know where B&N get their comics from?

Is it Diamond (like with "real" comic book stores), or their regular magazine distributor?

As far as I am aware this is the first time B&N will even be selling actual comics. You can get TPB's, THB's, and Manga's but I have never seen regular comics. Except the ones seen in the magazines.

But it looks like it's going thru Diamond.
http://www.diamondbookdistributors.com/why_choose.asp

willtupper

02-17-2009, 01:59 PM

Raph's Girl

02-17-2009, 02:48 PM

That's cool. Thank you, Raph's Girl.

It's interesting to see B&N's main competitor (and my former employer) Bordrers, on that list as well. Borders used to use Amazon for their online orders and distribution, and only lately (within the last year or two) went back to their own distro.

It makes me wonder if we'll soon be able to order TMNT products through Borders as well.

Looking at Border's site it seems they only have the sticker book, a couple novels, the movie, and the American Manga. I do know they sell comics (or used to anyways).

Doesn't really matter to me.... the closest Borders is like 40 min away while Barnes and Noble is just up the street.

Mr._Mutant_Man

02-18-2009, 06:09 AM

I guess it does seem like too little, too late. Still better than taking no steps at all, though.

If things don't work out for the physical copies of Tales, I'd still like to see them go digital like the main book. I'd prefer to have a physical copy, but digital TMNT comics would be better than none at all.

Archon_Turtle

02-18-2009, 04:44 PM

Shameless Blog Redirect. It is and interesting read on the Barnes and Noble Subject though.

http://theturtlevan.blogspot.com/2009/02/creative-forces-take-on-barnes-and.html

Cipher

02-18-2009, 05:20 PM

Shameless Blog Redirect. It is and interesting read on the Barnes and Noble Subject though.

http://theturtlevan.blogspot.com/2009/02/creative-forces-take-on-barnes-and.htmlYeah. I don't know. I guess I'm just excited about anything that would gain the comics themselves a little more noteriety.

And, uh, you seem to have misspelled my anonymous internet pseudonym in your last blog post, but no big deal.

Archon_Turtle

02-18-2009, 05:25 PM

And, uh, you seem to have misspelled my anonymous internet pseudonym in your last blog post, but no big deal.

Occulus Repairo!

And yeah, I'm not saying I agree or disagree with said person. Just wanted to put it out there as an opinion.

Dragon Turtle

02-18-2009, 05:28 PM

Raph's Girl

02-18-2009, 05:34 PM

Wait...this is only gonna be sold online and not in the B&N bookstore itself??? *confusled*.....

Archon_Turtle

02-18-2009, 05:37 PM

Wait...this is only gonna be sold online and not in the B&N bookstore itself??? *confusled*.....

Correct hun.

CyberCubed

02-18-2009, 07:27 PM

LOL!

I guess this wasn't a step in the right direction after all. How is this any different than ordering from Mirage or an online comic shop?

People browsing the stores in person won't see them and won't pick them up.

I swear, this is like a comedy. Its almost like fate turns against the TMNT comics and franchise in general in almost every way possible.

turkishproverb

02-18-2009, 08:29 PM

To paraphrase Johnathan Crane: No..not fate...Gary.

DISTURBEDStheMOL

02-18-2009, 08:41 PM

I went to Barnes and Noble down the street and they do not have any of the TMNT issues in yet still, are they just doing this online or are they actually trying to get a few copies in stores as well? As for comic book stores, I know of two around here and neither of them carry any turtle comics :ohwell: although we just opened up a new shop this past weekend, I've been trying to drop by to see if they carry any but I've been busy... I really hope so, I've been trying for a while now to start reading, especially now that the series is coming to an end but the only way I knew of buying an issue is through the actual ninja turtles website until this Barnes and Noble series and they're only carrying a couple from a single series... Any tips on where else I might be able to get started on buying the issues and catching up? Maybe even help on hich to specifically look for...

(I don't have an iPhone or iPod touch so I couldn't get any off of iTunes)

sorry, just read the rest of the posts and realized it was already stated that the issues are only being sold online...

Raph's Girl

02-19-2009, 02:43 PM

I went to Barnes and Noble down the street and they do not have any of the TMNT issues in yet still, are they just doing this online or are they actually trying to get a few copies in stores as well? .

Well even tho they are SUPPOSADLY only gonna be sold online...supposadly....Im still going to the store on the 28th and at least ask if they have em.

Barnes and Noble is just weird....I love em and all but not everything on their site is sold in stores. You have to special order many of their things (like any book on the artist Donatello). I don't mind having to order them online as I get a discount for being a member of their book club. But Im still going there on the 28th cuz there's a book I wanna get anyways. *shrugs*

VaughnMichael

02-19-2009, 06:29 PM

*face palm*?

Raven

02-19-2009, 08:15 PM

*Reads news about the Turtles being sold at B & N, hands up in the air!

*Sees that its only online....WTF?:cry:

willtupper

02-21-2009, 10:21 PM

It really stinks, but at bookstore shelf space = money.

Back in the day (I'm totally writing this post with my old man pants on :)), employees at bookstores were allowed (even encouraged) to sort of make the stores their own. The endcaps (the displays at the ends of shelves) were often covered with flyers advertising certain book themes (decided on by store employees), or certain genres (the same).

Then, some smartie-pants figured out that the space could be sold to publishers. So instead of a, "Five Amazing Books You've Probably Never Heard Of," display by super-store employee Randy Righteous Reader, you're stuck with a collection of technical books in their place, with the space paid for by the publisher.

On the one hand, I'm sure this has offered more revenue to the stores themselves (and their respective companies). But on the other, the small store charm of even the big box retailers is now all but gone.

So (the moral of this long-windedness) is that I'm not surprised to hear that Tales won't be in stores. But I am glad as I can be to see that you'll be able to order it online.

However, if Mirage has made the decision to do this, it kind of makes no sense to me that they don't do the same thing through Amazon.com (?).

Raph's Girl

02-21-2009, 10:53 PM

However, if Mirage has made the decision to do this, it kind of makes no sense to me that they don't do the same thing through Amazon.com (?).

Im thinking this came out of left field for everyone. Dan Berger posted on the official site that he was extremely shocked to find out that the books are gonna be sold at B&N.