Dynamite Entertainment from Diamond Distributors for January 16, 2019

DYNAMITE

JUN181070    AGENT 47 GN VOL 01 BIRTH OF HITMAN    $19.99
NOV181123    BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CLASSIC #3 CVR A RUDY    $3.99
NOV181124    BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CLASSIC #3 CVR B HDR    $3.99
AUG181229    ELVIRA MISTRESS OF DARK #4 CVR A LINSNER    $3.99
AUG181230    ELVIRA MISTRESS OF DARK #4 CVR B CERMAK    $3.99
AUG181231    ELVIRA MISTRESS OF DARK #4 CVR C HACK    $3.99
AUG181232    ELVIRA MISTRESS OF DARK #4 CVR D PHOTO SUB VAR    $3.99
NOV181165    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #5 CVR A CASSADAY    $3.99
NOV181166    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #5 CVR B MCKONE    $3.99
NOV181167    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #5 CVR C WALSH    $3.99
NOV181168    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #5 CVR D MOUSTAFA    $3.99
NOV181169    JAMES BOND ORIGIN #5 CVR E BOB Q    $3.99
OCT181181    SHERLOCK HOLMES VANISHING MAN TP    $17.99
OCT181187    SWASHBUCKLERS SAGA CONTINUES TP    $19.99
JUL181325    UNCANNY COLLECTORS SET TRADING CARDS    $19.99

IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for January 16, 2019

IDW PUBLISHING

SEP180696    DICK TRACY DEAD OR ALIVE #3 (OF 4) CVR A ALLRED    $3.99
SEP180697    DICK TRACY DEAD OR ALIVE #3 (OF 4) CVR B TOMMASO    $3.99
NOV180727    FROM HELL MASTER EDITION #3 (MR)    $7.99
NOV180616    GHOSTBUSTERS IDW 2020 SCHOENING    $4.99
DEC170551    HAUNTED HORROR HC CRY FROM THE COFFIN    $24.99
OCT180691    JUDGE DREDD TOXIC #3 CVR A BUCKINGHAM    $3.99
OCT180692    JUDGE DREDD TOXIC #3 CVR B GALLAGHER    $3.99
OCT180730    LODGER #3    $3.99
MAR180562    LOST GIRLS HC EXPANDED ED (MR)    $49.99
NOV180628    MY LITTLE PONY NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS #4 CVR A FLEECS    $3.99
NOV180629    MY LITTLE PONY NIGHTMARE KNIGHTS #4 CVR B HICKEY    $3.99
JUL180943    RICK VEITCH THE ONE HC    $29.99
OCT180647    SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #12 CVR A STANLEY    $3.99
OCT180648    SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #12 CVR B STANLEY    $3.99
OCT180700    STAR TREK VS TRANSFORMERS #4 (OF 4) CVR A MURPHY    $3.99
OCT180701    STAR TREK VS TRANSFORMERS #4 (OF 4) CVR B TRAMONTANO    $3.99
AUG180832    SUPERS TP VOL 01    $14.99
NOV180614    TMNT IDW 2020 DANIEL    $4.99
NOV180656    TMNT SHREDDER IN HELL #1 CVR A SANTOLOUCO    $3.99
NOV180657    TMNT SHREDDER IN HELL #1 CVR B EASTMAN    $3.99
OCT180683    TRANSFORMERS HISTORIA    $5.99
OCT180645    UNCLE SCROOGE MY FIRST MILLIONS #4 (OF 4)    $3.99

Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 19, 2019

IMAGE COMICS

NOV180111    BURNOUTS #5 CVR A BURNHAM (MR)    $3.99
NOV180112    BURNOUTS #5 CVR B GEOFFO (MR)    $3.99
NOV180113    BURNOUTS #5 CVR C GREENWOOD (MR)    $3.99
NOV180121    DAYS OF HATE #12 (OF 12) (MR)    $3.99
OCT180179    DEADLY CLASS #36 CVR A CRAIG (MR)    $3.99
OCT180180    DEADLY CLASS #36 CVR B GI & MCCAIG (MR)    $3.99
NOV180133    EVOLUTION #13 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180065    FARMHAND TP VOL 01 (MR)    $12.99
NOV180139    GIDEON FALLS #10 CVR A SORRENTINO (MR)    $3.99
NOV180140    GIDEON FALLS #10 CVR B WARD (MR)    $3.99
NOV180150    ISOLA #6 CVR A KERSCHL    $3.99
NOV180151    ISOLA #6 CVR B BARTEL    $3.99
NOV180164    MIDDLEWEST #3 (MR)    $3.99
OCT180092    NEW WORLD TP (MR)    $17.99
NOV180173    OUTPOST ZERO #6    $3.99
SEP180237    SAGA PRINCE ROBOT PIN    $10.00
SEP180238    SAGA RAINBOW LOGO PIN    $10.00
NOV180191    SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE TOO #2 (OF 4) CVR A MCFARLANE    $3.99
NOV180192    SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE TOO #2 (OF 4) CVR B B&W MCFARLANE    $3.99
NOV180193    SPAWN KILLS EVERYONE TOO #2 (OF 4) CVR C ROBSON & MCFARLANE    $3.99
OCT180120    STELLAR TP    $16.99
SEP180241    WALKING DEAD BALLOON F*CK YOU PIN    $10.00
SEP180243    WALKING DEAD MICHONNE FACE PIN    $10.00
NOV180198    WARNING #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV180199    WICKED & DIVINE #41 CVR A MCKELVIE & WILSON (MR)    $3.99
NOV180200    WICKED & DIVINE #41 CVR B GANUCHEAU (MR)    $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 16, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

NOV180901    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #13    $3.99
NOV180902    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #13 NOTO MARVEL 80TH VAR    $3.99
NOV180947    ASGARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5    $3.99
NOV180924    BLACK PANTHER #8    $3.99
NOV180925    BLACK PANTHER #8 CAMPBELL GOTG VAR    $3.99
NOV180789    BLACK WIDOW #1    $3.99
OCT181030    CHAMPIONS TP VOL 05 WEIRD WAR ONE    $19.99
NOV180756    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2    $3.99
NOV180758    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 LUPACCHINO VAR    $3.99
JUL181158    CONAN THE BARBARIAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01    $125.00
JUL181159    CONAN THE BARBARIAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 DM VAR    $125.00
OCT188823    DEAD MAN LOGAN #1 (OF 12) 2ND PTG HENDERSON VAR    $4.99
OCT181012    DECADES MARVEL IN 40S TP HUMAN TORCH VS SUB-MARINER    $24.99
OCT188824    DEFENDERS DOCTOR STRANGE #1 2ND PTG SMALLWOOD VAR    $4.99
OCT188828    DEFENDERS IMMORTAL HULK #1 2ND PTG DI MEO VAR    $4.99
OCT188831    DEFENDERS NAMOR #1 2ND PTG MAGNO VAR    $4.99
OCT188832    DEFENDERS SILVER SURFER #1 2ND PTG LATOUR VAR    $4.99
OCT188825    FANTASTIC FOUR #4 2ND PTG CASELLI VAR    $3.99
NOV180816    FANTASTIC FOUR #6    $3.99
NOV180820    FANTASTIC FOUR #6 FERRY GOTG VAR    $3.99
NOV180819    FANTASTIC FOUR #6 NOTO MARVEL 80TH VAR    $3.99
OCT188827    IMMORTAL HULK #10 2ND PTG BENNETT VAR    $3.99
OCT188826    IMMORTAL HULK #9 2ND PTG BENNETT VAR    $3.99
OCT181036    INCREDIBLE HULK EPIC COLLECTION TP GHOSTS FUTURE    $39.99
NOV180804    INVADERS #1    $4.99
OCT180934    IRONHEART #2    $3.99
OCT188829    KILLMONGER #1 (OF 5) 2ND PTG FERREYRA VAR    $4.99
OCT181018    LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL TP    $15.99
OCT181019    LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL TP QUESADA DM VAR    $15.99
NOV180830    MAN WITHOUT FEAR #3    $3.99
NOV180832    MAN WITHOUT FEAR #3 CAMUNCOLI CONNECTING VAR    $3.99
NOV180856    MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #1    $4.99
NOV180857    MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #1 LIM VAR    $4.99
NOV180919    MARVEL TALES VENOM #1    $7.99
OCT188830    MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #1 2ND PTG GARRON VAR    $3.99
JUL181165    MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 11    $100.00
JUL181166    MMW UNCANNY X-MEN HC VOL 11 DM VAR ED 270    $100.00
OCT180959    RETURN OF WOLVERINE #4 (OF 5)    $3.99
OCT180960    RETURN OF WOLVERINE #4 (OF 5) SHALVEY VAR    $3.99
NOV180921    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #44    $3.99
OCT188833    STAR WARS AGE REPUBLIC QUI-GON JINN #1 2ND PTG SMITH VAR    $3.99
NOV180970    STAR WARS AOR SPECIAL #1    $4.99
NOV180971    STAR WARS AOR SPECIAL #1 PHAM VAR    $4.99
NOV180765    TRUE BELIEVERS CONAN CURSE OF GOLDEN SKULL #1    $1.00
NOV180766    TRUE BELIEVERS CONAN QUEEN OF BLACK COAST #1    $1.00
NOV180867    UNCANNY X-MEN #10    $4.99
NOV180870    UNCANNY X-MEN #10 CHRISTOPHER ACTION FIGURE VAR    $4.99
NOV180868    UNCANNY X-MEN #10 LIM VAR    $4.99
OCT188834    UNCANNY X-MEN #2 2ND PTG SILVA VAR    $3.99
OCT188835    UNCANNY X-MEN #3 2ND PTG CINAR VAR    $3.99
NOV180916    VENOM #10    $3.99
NOV180917    VENOM #10 NOTO MARVEL 80TH VAR    $3.99
OCT181035    WHAT IF? CLASSIC TP COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 01    $39.99

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for January 16, 2019

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT188792    (USE JUL182285) FEARSCAPE #1 (3RD PTG) (MR)    $3.99
NOV181394    ALBERT EINSTEIN TIME MASON #4 CVR A HUDDLESTON    $3.99
NOV181395    ALBERT EINSTEIN TIME MASON #4 CVR B DONLEY    $3.99
NOV181822    APAMA THE UNDISCOVERED ANIMAL #7    $3.99
NOV182277    APOSIMZ GN VOL 02    $12.95
NOV181683    APPALACHIAN APOCALYPSE #1    $3.99
NOV181545    ARCHIE AND ME COMICS DIGEST #14    $6.99
AUG181465    BABYTEETH #14 (MR)    $3.99
MAY182144    BELLE BEAST HUNTER TP    $19.99
NOV182185    BLACK BUTLER GN VOL 27    $13.00
NOV181995    BREAKNECK #2 (OF 5) CVR A GUGLIELMINI    $3.99
NOV181996    BREAKNECK #2 (OF 5) CVR B SCOTT    $3.99
OCT182114    BTOOOM GN VOL 23 (MR)    $17.00
NOV181437    CAPTAIN GINGER #4    $3.99
NOV182186    CASE STUDY OF VANITAS GN VOL 05    $13.00
NOV181872    CATALYST PRIME SUMMIT #12    $3.99
NOV181867    CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #16    $3.99
NOV182183    CERTAIN MAGICAL INDEX GN VOL 16 MANGA    $13.00
NOV182158    CHILDREN OF WHALES GN VOL 08    $12.99
OCT182164    CLOCKWORK PLANET GN VOL 09    $12.99
OCT181869    CREEPY CREATIONS HC VOL 01    $21.99
NOV181431    DARK ARK #13    $3.99
NOV182157    DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION GN VOL 04 (MR)    $14.99
NOV182187    DEATH MARCH PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY GN VOL 06 MANGA    $13.00
OCT181456    DELLEC VOL 2 #4 CVR A GUNNELL    $3.99
OCT181457    DELLEC VOL 2 #4 CVR B BARRIOS    $3.99
FEB181500    DF ACTION COMICS #1000 BENDIS GOLD SGN ED    $89.99
SEP181745    DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #800 BAGLEY SGN    $62.00
OCT181654    DF DC DECEMBER HOLIDAY PACKAGE    $29.99
APR181517    DF MAN OF STEEL #1-6 SUPER SIX PACK SGN BENDIS    $99.99
OCT181655    DF MARVEL DECEMBER HOLIDAY PACKAGE    $29.99
OCT181652    DF RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1 CSA UNMASKED GRANOV EXC    $39.99
OCT181653    DF RETURN OF WOLVERINE #1 CSA VIRGIN GRANOV EXC    $39.99
MAY181628    DF SUPERMAN #1 SGN BENDIS    $19.38
SEP182265    DIE WERGELDER GN VOL 02 (RES) (MR)    $19.99
NOV181826    DIOSAMANTE GN (MR)    $19.95
NOV182181    DIVE GN VOL 01    $13.00
NOV181859    ENCOUNTER #10    $3.99
NOV181784    ETERNAUT HC (CURR PTG)    $49.99
NOV182159    FIRE PUNCH GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
NOV182106    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #11 CVR A ERIC J    $3.99
NOV182107    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #11 CVR B LEISTER    $3.99
NOV182108    GFT TALES OF TERROR VOL 4 #11 CVR C REYES    $3.99
OCT182198    I WANT TO EAT YOUR PANCREAS GN    $19.99
OCT181582    IAN GN VOL 02 LESSONS OF DARKNESS    $11.95
OCT182059    INFINI-T FORCE GN VOL 04    $13.99
NOV181861    INFINITY 8 #9 (MR)    $3.99
NOV182189    IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON GN VOL 10    $13.00
NOV182190    IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON SWORD ORATORIA GN VOL 06    $13.00
OCT181873    JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 32    $25.99
NOV182191    KAKEGURUI COMPULSIVE GAMBLER GN VOL 08    $15.00
MAY182059    KIRBY & LEE STUF SAID    $24.95
NOV181854    KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN SUN #3    $3.99
OCT181512    KORD & HARLEY HC (MR)    $24.95
OCT181583    LADY S GN VOL 06 SECOND OF ETERNITY    $11.95
SEP181690    LARGO WINCH GN VOL 17 MORNING STAR    $11.95
NOV181676    LEGENDLORE REALM CHRONICLES TP VOL 04    $14.99
NOV181434    LOST CITY EXPLORERS TP VOL 01 ODYSSEY    $14.99
SEP181691    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 71 COWBOY IN PARIS    $11.95
NOV181865    MAE VOL 2 #5    $3.99
OCT182201    MAGICAL GIRL SPECIAL OPS ASUKA GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
SEP181353    MEN OF MYSTERY #110    $29.95
NOV181690    MERMAID PROJECT GN VOL 01 EPISODE 1    $11.95
NOV182279    MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING GLORY OF THE LOSERS GN VOL 10    $12.95
NOV182179    MONSTER WRESTLING VOL 01    $13.00
NOV182193    MONTHLY GIRLS NOZAKI KUN GN VOL 10    $13.00
NOV182194    MURCIELAGO GN VOL 09 (MR)    $13.00
OCT182204    NOW LOADING GN VOL 01    $12.99
NOV182178    NYANKEES GN VOL 01    $13.00
NOV181789    OLYMPIANS GN VOL 11 HEPHAISTOS GOD OF FIRE    $10.99
JUL182171    PENNY DREADFUL HC VOL 1 THE AWAKENING ARTIST ED    $29.99
SEP181445    PINK PANTHER PINK WINTER SPECIAL #1 LTD ED RETRO ANIMATION C    $9.99
SEP181443    PINK PANTHER PINK WINTER SPECIAL #1 MAIN TAPIE CVR    $3.99
SEP181444    PINK PANTHER PINK WINTER SPECIAL #1 SPECIAL HOLIDAZE CVR    $3.99
AUG182134    PRE CODE CLASSICS TALES OF HORROR HC VOL 01    $44.99
AUG182135    PRE CODE CLASSICS TALES OF HORROR SLIPCASE ED VOL 01    $54.99
AUG182136    PRE CODE CLASSICS WEB OF MYSTERY HC VOL 04    $54.99
AUG182137    PRE CODE CLASSICS WEB OF MYSTERY SLIPCASE ED VOL 04    $59.99
NOV181400    PRINCELESS FIND YOURSELF #4 CVR A MARTIN & GRUNIG    $3.99
NOV181401    PRINCELESS FIND YOURSELF #4 CVR B KNIGHT    $3.99
AUG182138    PS ARTBOOKS PRESENTS AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES HC VOL 01    $44.99
AUG182139    PS ARTBOOKS PRESENTS AUTHENTIC POLICE CASES SLIPCASE ED VOL    $54.99
NOV182002    ROBOTECH #16 CVR A ROCHE    $3.99
NOV182003    ROBOTECH #16 CVR B ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
NOV182004    ROBOTECH #16 CVR C LAMING    $3.99
NOV182195    SACRIFICIAL PRINCESS & KING BEASTS GN VOL 04    $13.00
NOV182196    SAGA OF TANYA EVIL GN VOL 05    $13.00
OCT181717    SEA HC VILLADSEN    $19.99
JUL181998    SECOND COMIING OF KRENT ABLE GN    $19.99
NOV182197    SEKIREI GN VOL 07 (MR)    $24.00
NOV182006    SHADES OF MAGIC #4 (OF 4) STEEL PRINCE CVR A OLIMPIERI    $3.99
NOV182007    SHADES OF MAGIC #4 (OF 4) STEEL PRINCE CVR B INGRANATA & SAH    $3.99
NOV182051    SHADOWMAN (2018) #11 CVR A ZONJIC    $3.99
NOV182052    SHADOWMAN (2018) #11 CVR B GRANT    $3.99
NOV182053    SHADOWMAN (2018) #11 CVR C BIVENS    $3.99
SEP181568    SIMON BISLEY SKETCHBOOK 2018 TP #1 (OF 1) (MR)    $15.00
SEP181569    SIMON BISLEY SKETCHBOOK 2018 TP #1 (OF 1) LTD SIGNED EDITION    $20.00
OCT182176    SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING GN VOL 11 (RES)    $12.99
OCT181573    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #107 STUDIO DELUXE EDITION (MR    $19.99
SEP181677    TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #113 COSPLAY TAROT PHOTO CVR E    $19.99
NOV182198    TEASING MASTER TAKAGI SAN GN VOL 03    $13.00
OCT188795    THESE SAVAGE SHORES #1 (3RD PTG) (MR)    $3.99
OCT181584    THORGAL GN VOL 20 KRISS OF VALNOR    $11.95
NOV182199    TODAY CERBERUS GN VOL 11    $13.00
OCT182207    ULTRA KAIJU ANTHROPOMORPHIC PROJECT GN VOL 02 (RES)    $12.99
OCT182208    VOYNICH HOTEL GN VOL 03 (MR)    $12.99
OCT181329    WALK THROUGH HELL #7    $3.99
AUG182163    WHITE WIDOW #1 MAIN CVR    $3.99
AUG182164    WHITE WIDOW #1 RED FOIL CVR    $3.99
NOV181976    WIRES AND NERVE SC GN VOL 01 (OF 2)    $17.99
NOV181977    WIRES AND NERVE SC GN VOL 02 (OF 2) GONE ROGUE    $17.99
NOV182200    WITCH PT 5 BOOK OF ELEMENTS GN VOL 01    $15.00
NOV182201    WITCH PT 5 BOOK OF ELEMENTS GN VOL 02    $15.00
NOV182180    WITCHS HOUSE DIARY OF ELLEN GN VOL 01    $13.00
NOV181677    WRATH OF GOD (MR)    $14.99
NOV182239    YAMADA KUN & SEVEN WITCHES GN VOL 17    $16.99
NOV182202    ZO ZO ZOMBIE GN VOL 02    $12.00

MAGAZINES
JUN181661    007 MAGAZINE OMNIBUS VOL 02    $25.99
SEP181942    2000 AD PACK NOVEMBER 2018    $22.40
OCT181870    2000 AD PROG #2110    $5.60
OCT181871    2000 AD PROG #2111 2018 XMAS SPECIAL    $9.99
OCT181971    BACK ISSUE #110    $8.95
NOV181699    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1648    $PI
OCT181833    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #533    $11.99
NOV181692    FANGORIA VOL 2 #2    $19.79
SEP182062    HOBBY JAPAN DECEMBER 2018    $20.00
AUG182288    HOBBY JAPAN NOVEMBER 2018    $20.00
OCT181872    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #403    $13.00
NOV181853    LOCUS #696    $7.50

BOOKS
NOV182172    DEATH MARCH PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY NOVEL SC VOL 07    $14.00
OCT181750    DOCTOR WHO COMP HIST HC VOL 86 12TH DOCTOR STORIES 269-271 (    $18.99
OCT181745    DOG MAN GN VOL 06 BRAWL OF THE WILD    $9.99
NOV181926    DR THIRTEENTH    $5.99
NOV182170    FINAL FANTASY VII LATERAL BIOGRAPHY TURKS LIGHT NOVEL SC    $14.00
NOV182173    GOBLIN SLAYER LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06    $14.00
OCT182209    HOW REALIST HERO REBUILT KINGDOM LIGHT NOVEL VOL 02    $13.99
NOV182038    LIFE & TIMES WARD KIMBALL MAVERICK OF DISNEY ANIMATION    $30.00
NOV182175    OVERLORD LIGHT NOVEL HC VOL 09    $20.00
NOV182171    SISTERS ALL YOU NEED LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 03    $14.00
NOV182176    STRIKE THE BLOOD LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11    $14.00

The Incomes of Authors Has Dropped 42 Percent Since 2009

Authors Guild Survey Shows Drastic 42 Percent Decline in Authors Earnings in Last Decade

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Authors Guild’s 2018 Author Income Survey, the largest survey of writing-related earnings by American authors ever conducted finds incomes falling to historic lows to a median of $6,080 in 2017, down 42 percent from 2009.

    “When you impoverish a nation’s authors, you impoverish its readers”

The Authors Guild surveyed its membership and the members of 14 other writers organizations in 2018, receiving detailed responses from 5,067 authors. This included traditionally, hybrid and self-published authors who have commercially published one or more books. When discussing median incomes, the survey looked at both full-time and part-time authors.

The respondents reported a median author income of $6,080, continuing a sharp decline over the last decade: $8,000 in 2014 and $10,500 in 2009 (per the Authors Guild’s 2015 Survey), down again from $12,850 in 2007, as reported in a joint Authors Guild/PEN survey.

Earnings from book income alone fell even more, declining 21 percent to $3,100 in 2017 from $3,900 in 2013 and just over 50 percent from 2009’s median book earnings of $6,250.

The survey showed a shift in book earnings to other writing-related activities, such as speaking engagements, book reviewing or teaching. Including those sources, respondents who identified themselves as full-time book authors still only earned a median income of $20,300, well below the federal poverty line for a family of three or more. To access the full results and data, please click here.

“When you impoverish a nation’s authors, you impoverish its readers,” said James Gleick, the Authors Guild’s president. He noted that more books are being published than ever, but that books of quality often demand time and research that can’t be sustained if an author also needs to teach and lecture to make ends meet.

The drop appears to affect almost all categories of authorship, with writers of literary fiction experiencing the biggest recent decline in book earnings: 43 percent since 2013. This raises serious concerns about the future of American literature—books that not only teach, inspire and elicit empathy in readers, but help define who Americans are and how the U.S. is perceived by the world.

The only exception came among self-published authors, who saw book-related income almost double since 2013. Despite this uptick, self-published income levels remain 58 percent lower than traditionally published authors.

The Causes
Among the factors contributing to the pressure on authorship, the Guild cited the growing dominance of Amazon over the marketplace, forcing publishers to accept narrower margins and passing those losses onto authors through lower advances and royalties, including the extremely low royalties paid on the increasing number of deeply discounted sales and the 25 percent of net ebook royalty.

In addition, many electronic uses, such as classroom course packs, Google Books and Open Library, are now made on a royalty-free basis arguing fair use, whereas royalties traditionally were paid for comparable analog uses.

Increased competition from Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program adds to the equation, as do the massive number of books sold cheaply as new by Amazon resellers right alongside the publisher’s copies, often even claiming the buy box.

Amazon controls approximately 85% of the self-published market and so most self-published authors have no options other than to accept Amazon’s non-negotiable terms.

“Amazon, but also Google, Facebook and every other company getting into the content business, devalue what we produce to lower their costs for content distribution, and then take an unfair share of the profits from what remains for delivering that reduced product. We get that they like to move fast and break things, but it’s no longer in their own interest to break us. If even the most talented of authors can no longer afford to write, to create, who’s going to provide the content?” asked Authors Guild vice president Richard Russo.

What Can Be Done?

•     Publishers and self-published authors should be able to negotiate collectively with Amazon, Google and Facebook to equalize the bargaining power. Congress should enact an exemption to antitrust law to permit it.
•     Royalties should be paid by resellers to authors for resellers’ sales of new books.
•     U.S. should establish a federally funded equivalent of a public lending right to provide authors a benefit from the public use of books; and libraries should be better funded.
•     Publishers should pay higher royalties on ebooks and deeply discounted books; and they should destroy all bookstore returns to prevent them from getting into the secondary market.

The following writers organizations and publishing platforms participated in the survey: Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, Society of Children’s Book Writers, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Textbook and Academic Authors Association, National Association of Science Writers, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association for Garden Communicators, Independent Book Publishers Association, PEN American Center, Authors Alliance, Next Big Writer, B&N Press, Authors Registry, IngramSpark, Reedsy and Lulu.


About the Authors Guild
The Authors Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for writers. Its mission is to empower working writers by advocating for the rights of authors and journalists. The Guild protects free speech and authors’ copyrights, fights for fair contracts and a living wage and provides an engaged and welcoming community for all published authors. For more, visit www.authorsguild.org.

[1] Book-related income is based on royalties, advances, ebook subscriptions contracts, subsidiary and international rights, audio and film rights, reprints, distribution rights and earnings from book awards or prizes. Writing-related income refers to 18 types of jobs that rely on professional skills published book authors possess to earn income beyond book sales, such as speaking engagements, teaching creative writing, freelance journalism, editing and ghostwriting. Author-related income is the combination of both these two amounts.

-----------------------

Review: MOON KNIGHT #188

MOON KNIGHT No. 188
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Max Bemis
ART: Jacen Burrows
COLORS: Mat Lopes
LETTERS: VC's Cory Petit
COVER: Jacen Burrows and Mat Lopes
VARIANT COVERS: John Tyler Christopher; Daniel Warren Johnson with Mike Spicer; Bill Sienkiewicz (based on his cover for Moon Knight #25)
36pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated  “T+”

Moon Knight created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin

Moon Knight is a Marvel Comics superhero character.  Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin, Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32 (cover dated: August 1975) and is Marvel's version of Batman (at least, some think so).  Moon Knight is Marc Spector, an American-born mercenary who died in Egypt, under the statue of Khonshu, an ancient Egyptian moon god.

Khonshu appeared to Spector and offered him a second chance at life.  Spector wrapped himself with the silver shroud that covered Khonshu’s statue, turning it into a silver cloaked costume, becoming the Moon Knight.  A superb athlete and master of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, Spector is also a skilled acrobat, gymnast, detective, marksman, and is an aviator who uses both traditional and sophisticated weaponry.

With the Marvel “Legacy” initiative, Moon Knight gets a “Legacy” number change, so instead of a new Moon Knight #1, we get Moon Knight #188.  This issue also sees the start of a new creative team:  writer Max Bemis; artist by Jacen Burrows; colorist by Mat Lopes; and letterer by Cory Petit.

Moon Knight #188 opens in Ravencroft Asylum where Dr. Emmett is involved with Patient 86.  He is a pyromaniac(?) and killed some number of people while in the military.  Marc Spector was also a patient of Dr. Emmett's, and there may be a connection between her old and new patients.

After reading this comic book, you can enjoy the afterword written by Max Bemis and Jacen Burrows.  Both seem quite confident that they are going to deliver something exciting and unique in their run on Moon Knight, and I am willing to believe them.  I think the creative team of Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey on Moon Knight from 2014 showed that the character can be a truly unique in comic book stories that defy the usual.

Bemis and Burrows seem determined to launch their run from the spirit of possibilities Ellis and Shalvey offered.  Bemis is new to me, but I am familiar from Burrows for his time with Avatar Press.  Over a decade I ago, I thought that he had potential, and he is showing that now.  Also, Mat Lopes gorgeous coloring surprisingly makes this a good looking comic book, which in turn makes the creepiness of this story even creepier.  Yes, I already have issue #189, and I am recommending this “Legacy” Moon Knight to Moon Knight fans.

[This comic book includes a three-page “Marvel Primer” origin-overview story about Moon Knight, written by Robbie Thompson; drawn by German Peralta; colored by Rachelle Rosenberg; and lettered by VC's Cory Petit.]

7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------------