But the point remains. An independant comic costs less than an independant film, and has the potential to reach a much wider audience. Now, we get to the problem. Comics in America are marketed to an increasingly narrow demographic. What's good for 14 year old boys is often oppressive to girls of all ages.
General retailers tend to avoid comics, as they are percieved as juvenile.
So, we've confined ourselves to specialty comic shops, and driven half the population out of those shops. It's not a good thing. Friends of Lulu tries to open new markets for comics, and change this perception by promoting titles that everyone can enjoy. They've had great success this year getting graphic novels into bookstores and libraries. In coming years, they will likely form a central hub of quality titles online.