Part 8/10:
The core issue remains the declining viability of the traditional comic book direct market. Sales are shrinking, manga’s dominance grows, and audiences increasingly turn to digital or alternative media. For creators, this environment offers both peril and opportunity: those tied to corporate IPs may face layoffs, pay cuts, or creative restrictions, while independents find avenues for direct engagement.
Tinian’s departure illustrates that the smarter move for many top talent is to “run while the runnings are good,” leveraging their reputation to establish personal brands and ownership over their work. The risk, however, is that industry insiders and fans may criticize creators for “abandoning” mainstream comics, made worse by industry-wide personnel instability.