The State of Home Media

Today I read an interesting article on the state of DVD sales and home vs. Internet sales of movies. It certainly is and has been in flux for a number of years. Also the same with comics. No one knows which way to go. Maybe both?

I say both. Those who want the method they prefer will get it. I know it sucks for rental places however. Some of my favorite video rental stores that carried obscure movies are now out of business. Its too bad there isn't a Netflix for rare movies. Netflix has some rare ones, sure. But there's a lot more to be harvested from the zillions of rotting VHS tapes out there that need to be remastered and made digitally available.

For me, I am liking BluRay. I like the clean up of the prints to the BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY I CAN SEE and the tons of extras on the disc. Digital doesn't allow for the best picture so much, nor are there any extras at all. It seems if it all goes digital, hardcore fans like me will be missing out on the making of documentaries and commentaries.

In comics, its tough. Price of comics has rose and no one wants to stock physical media anymore. Bagging and boarding is a very lost art except for the hardcore. Hell, I don't bag and board. Never really have. I read and stuff and toss it in a pile. Then maybe get it all in Tradebooks so I can read it in one sitting. I don't read many online webcomics. Just those done by people I know. Even though soon I am throwing my hat into the webcomics ring. You have to! Its just the way it is now. People want their stuff for free and right now. Welcome to 2011. Media downloaded to your skull in the fastest form possible. All bookstores and physical media places closing one right after the other and us old fogies are sad about it. I don't think the younger ones care really. I mean you might find a few that like BluRays and collect them, like you see some kids collect vinyl records today. But I think mostly, we're in trouble. The people who love the shelf porn (like me) and keep the discs and books they like as trophies are slowly dying out.

Sad. But I'm fine with it. I'll just be sitting on my rocker on the porch, yelling at the kids to stay off my lawn. Then go inside and watch the best print of Metropolis that exists.