All new comics have barcodes, either on the front cover or on the back. Comics from past decades often don't have a barcode. In what year did comics start to have barcodes? Why didn't they have barcodes before? Doesn't every product need an identification number to show that it's an official product? If comics don't have such a number, what sets them apart from fanzines?
comics and barcodes
- Thread starter Extrocomp
- Start date
I do know barcodes first came on the comics scene back in the very early 80's And became very commen place on comic covers in the late 80's.
Now what set's them apart from fanzines I have no idea.
Actually, they started a short time before the direct-only market took off, placing it a few months before the time Dazzler #1 came out, IIRC. The news stand copies of comics had the bar codes, while the direct-only copies did not. The direct-only Marvels usually had a Spider-Man head in that box, the DC's would carry some sort of house-ad. In fact, for a while the speculators were of the mind that the bar code versions weren't real 1st printings since they did not hit the racks until weeks after the same book had been sold in the comic shops. The truth was that they were all printed at the same time, just the distribution channel to the news stands took longer.
Well I think with the advent of even small shops getting barcode scanners and more sophisticated inventory tracking software... I think we won't see barcodes go away, since I know my LCS uses them.
I usually liked the comic book shop versions better anyway, less pawed through, usually in nicer condition color wise, since the rack isn't usually facing a window all day and all night for a month or so, especially when I'm looking through back issue bins.
I usually liked the comic book shop versions better anyway, less pawed through, usually in nicer condition color wise, since the rack isn't usually facing a window all day and all night for a month or so, especially when I'm looking through back issue bins.
So, if it's not the barcodes, what element distinguishes a professionally-published comic from a fan-published comic?
All DVDs have UPC codes. All books have ISBN codes. Why are comics different?
On a somewhat unrelated note: are comics available to borrow from public libraries? The libraries close to my home don't have many comics.
All DVDs have UPC codes. All books have ISBN codes. Why are comics different?
On a somewhat unrelated note: are comics available to borrow from public libraries? The libraries close to my home don't have many comics.
Diamond's warehousing process requires barcodes for product tracking and shipment picking. Because of that, barcodes on comics aren't going away.
It depends on the library.
I can't remember "not" seeing bar codes on comics as a kid.
YES. (in my case)
That was not always the case. I don't remember the libraries having comics ten years back or so. However, now libraries (at least in my neighborhood in US) have tons of TPBs (comic book collections). I have even been able to suggest TPB titles to the library - that's how I'm reading up on Green Lantern after the Rebirth tpb.
Some libraries even get individual comic book (floppies or monthlies or individual issues - whatever you want to call it) but these are for reference only. Can be read while in the library but cannot be checked out and taken home. The tpbs are however exactly like books that can be checked out and taken home.
Basically libraries are my main source of comic books right now.
