MRCOMICBOOK wrote:
There is a reason why the younger generation has flocked to manga and videogames,as the manga and the video game industry constantly continue to create new and exciting characters each year, while here in our little niche comic book world we contine to get nostalgic about regurgirated characters who continue to get cancelled decade after decade.
On a creative level, I agree.  However, I'm not sure there's much evidence of that from a sales perspective.  The recent BATMAN and SPIDER-MAN films are always among the year's biggest box office, and they're basically doing the same regurgitation.  They're also among the most popular recurring animated television characters (not to mention video games).  Back to comics, Morrison doing BATMAN is going to outsell Morrison doing an original Vertigo book something like 4 to 1.  Millar doing WOLVERINE is going to sell Millar doing an Icon book, etc.  I think the decline in overall comics readership has more to do with the industry intentionally producing a product for a niche audience (i.e. aging adults who like super-heroes), instead of producing more accessible books for younger readers.  But I do think that when publishers are doing both -- i.e. creating original concepts as well as servicing their existing icons -- then they are at their strongest.