Part 4/12:
A critical concern is the direct market's deteriorating health. Historically, comic book sales relied heavily on physical storefronts, but now this segment is flagged as "on life support." Rumors of canceled titles, layoffs, and budget cuts—particularly after Warner Bros.' merger with Discovery—point to a declining industry consensus on the future viability of traditional print comics.
Jim Lee maintains an optimistic tone, claiming that "things are fine," but industry insiders are wary. Many believe that the platform’s future might be more digital-oriented, with the webtoon market and online content becoming dominant, replacing the monthly comic book format altogether.