It would seem the comic book business model is as follows - Success, Bloating, Collapse. First an endeavor is successful, then the concept is copied and copied until it becomes bloated, then it collapses on itself when fan support dwindles and series begin to be cancelled.

We've seen this with all the crossover events of the 90's, the horror eruption of the 2000's, and with series like The X-Men. Unfortunatley, or fortunately as one may look at it, this model is also cyclical in nature. It keeps coming back. The crossover events made a big splash latley, the horror series evolved into biographies, and the The Avengers are the new X-men. Don't get me wrong, I love The Avengers, but it is funny how The Avengers are going on the same path as Marvel's Merry Mutants.

The most recent series to be announced is Avengers Academy, which is very reminiscent of The New Mutants, if I may say so. I really hope they succeed, as I have always been a fan of Avengers (I think I was one of the few to collect Solo Avengers and West Coast Avengers). It's just sort of funny to see this play out time and again. I doubt it will change as this model seems to be present in most businesses, especially where fandom is concerned.

Image Copyright Marvel Comics

One of the things to come out of this electric age of easy to access software programs is motion comics. Some people are making their own, using programs like Flash to animate their webcomics. Others have used this technology to create adaptations of comics currently out there, such as the motion comics adaptation of the Watchmen comics. I've seen a couple recently that caught my eye. One was a indie made endeavor and the other is from a group with large pockets behind it.

The first was the intro to an online flash video game - Foreign Creature 2. The intro was pretty well done and was completely in a motion comic style. It worked very well for this free endeavor. The other is the latest release from Moving Picture Books with their Sesame Street collection. While not a comic per se, it was very much in the style and spirit of current motion comic books.

Of the two, the first was free (obviously) and the second costs $1.99 per book. Either way its a pretty cool way to see this kind of technology used. I've noticed that the whole motion comic thing really doesn't seem to be blowing up in the comic book world. The ones that do seem to be using it are in other pop culture realms such as the motion picture world to promote their movies or add extras to DVD's. I don't know where you stand on the topic, but I much prefer my comic the old fashioned way. I do like these bits, but they all have this sort of cheesiness to them that reminds me of the really old cartoons and the first motion comics to come out in my opinion. These videos were basically the original art from the comic cut out and had some basic motions added to them. I still just can't get past that feeling. Can you?

Image Copyright Moving Pictures Books

One of the great things about collecting comics is the other kinds of things we collect with it. I know I also have some comic book art for my collection, action figures around the house, DVD's and Blu Rays of my favorite comic book movies, and even some comic book clothing that I sport at events or my local comic shop. Action figures are a favorite of mine as they are a physical incarnation of that comic book hero or villain. When I was younger, I used action figures to tell my own stories of heroes and villains fighting each other in epic battles.

Marvel Comics is doing a nice little poll to have the fans choose who the next Marvel action figure will be. Up on the block are Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, Archangel, and Ms. Marvel. Head over to Marvel.com and vote for your favorite character to become the latest in a long line of Marvel Comic action figures. Me? I guess I'd have to vote for Norman Osborn. I love a good villain and I hope he has some sort of Green Goblin head swap out accessory. I love me my accessories.

We've had two comics break the million dollar mark this past month, and it would seem a good time to look at investing in comics. Commodities are hot right now, as they are a sure thing that one can hold onto, appreciate, and watch rise in price. These collectibles are great investments in that we can own a piece of history, hold a piece of the character we love and hold dear, and watch our investment grow.

With that being said, be careful. Don't rush out there and buy up "old" comics just because they might be worth something. Do your homework. Check sites like eBay, Heritage Auctions, and Comic Seeker to get a good idea what they are going for now. If you want to take a risk, buy a comic that is not CGC graded as they normally sell for less, then get it CGC graded. The big thing to be careful about is fad comics or comics that spike in price for one reason or another.

Take Captain America #25 for instance, this comic was selling for hundreds of dollars when it first hit. Mainstream media picked it up on a feeding frenzy was birthed. You can now get the same comic for a couple of bucks on eBay and I've seen a 9.8 graded copy go for $40. Keep in mind it costs at least $17 to get it graded, not including shipping.

There are many ways to make your money grow, but the cool thing about comic books is the connection we have with the product. This can be a danger though, so keep a level head when seeking comics to invest in.