
People have been predicting the end of bookstores for years now, with the popularity of the Internet. But many bookstores still survive, and the big-box stores like Barnes & Noble are bucking the trend by offering their own reader tablets; thus merging the old with the new. I think the same will apply for comic book shops.
Since comic book producers like DC and Marvel have a vested interest in seeing your local shop thrive, I think there'll be a balance of standard paper comics, digital downloads, and more comics being released as graphic novels. Perhaps you'll be able to download your favorite comic to a tablet, but only on Wednesdays, the same day the comics are released, or only after the paper version has been out for a month or so. Will digital comics be the norm in the future? Only if paperbacks and magazines go away, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
What do YOU think? We'd love to read your comments!