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well that make some seance.

I think the original intent of the word was a good idea, as a method of trying to bring comics into the bookstore and legitimize them. But really, I'm debating whether or not at some point we should just start shelving Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane in teen romance, Owly with the kids books and Hellblazer over next to the other horror. You know, where all the the other fiction of that genre lives.
The only downside I can see to this is that first, there's no longer and nice convenient Comics section (but who couldn't live with that as long as we got to keep Comic Book Stores) and second, they're going to have to create a couple extra sections. Mostly because I believe Superheroes really do constitute, if not their own genre, their own section (where would you put them?).
I think the only non-feasible part of this at the moment is the size of comics renders them too large to fit on typical bookstore shelves without adjustments. Well, mass chain stores like Borders anyway, which size shelves very much to accommodate digest size and leave anything larger (including hardcovers) on tables or the top shelf. Maybe if we just put the comics in their genre appropriate sections on the top shelf? That shelf is just above eye-level anyway...it's not exactly badly placed...

Oh, the original intent was certainly good. But over time, it's been warped. Watchmen couldn't possibly be a comic book, it's far too intellectually indulging. It a graphic novel. The Dark Knight Returns couldn't be a comic book; it's too violent and comics are for children. It must be a graphic novel. As time goes on, the general public is gearing more and more towards viewing it as a medium of it's own, rather than a way of legitimizing an existing medium, which is really just counterproductive to the original intent.

As for putting GNs in with the regular books in bookstores... Well, I can't say I would support it, as I work right next to a bookstore while the LCS is a 10 minute drive, and finding them all in one spot is just too convenient. xp I could see a valid argument being made for them to be put in with the rest of the novels, though. As for where to put Superhero books? Guess it depends on the title. I'd probably end up sticking a grand majority of them in the Science Fiction section, but that's not really befitting of characters like Captain America (especially the current series) or Batman.

Superheroes tend to have several elements of various genres coupled into the overarching theme of Person Wears Costumes and Fights Evil. I think because there's just so much of it that's like that, they would need their own area. I couldn't put Batman into the crime or mystery section, even though he's supposed to be a detective. He rarely goes out and solves mysteries for one. Usually it's, "Villian does something bad, Batman must find villain." Which turns the comic into more of a chase than a mystery.

We think about placement like comic book fans. We want comics, so having them all together is the most convenient. But that's not necessarily what's best for the medium. Taking comics into bookstores was fantastic because it gave access to a world of people who had no comic book stores anywhere (like me, for the longest time in order to get comics I had to order them by mail. This was in the year 2000) and put them in front of people who would otherwise never set foot in a comic book store. It couldn't hurt comics to have SM<3MJ with the teen romance because that's what the book is. Comic book sections in stores are still often camped out by the fringes of society, tucked away in the a**-end of the serialized fantasy/sci-fi novels (Star Trek and Dungeons&Dragons novels), huddled beneath or sometimes amongst the gaming manuals. Black cover designs, bitter swordslingers, what 13 year old girl wants to go there? Compare that to the bright, pristine manga sections (is there are reason I can't find a chain bookstore that cleans up their comics?).
It's more convenient for me to have a Comics section, but it's not better for the medium.

oh damn that does suck. could you not report this to some home owner deal, I mean, I got a letter in the mail practcily every week, because I parked my car, on the road, in front of MY house. Apparently the Home Owners Association, say we can't do that. I only did it, because my Old car leaked oil, and my mom didn't want to have a oil stain on our drive way. Not only that, but I don't leave my house till about 12, hours after my mom and brother left. So it's kind of a pain in the a** when they realized I park behind them, and they having to wake me up, because they are in a hurry, and I need to move my car.

So I park on the side, and yet the HOA can't have that. they where even going as far as to issue a court order fine to my mother for it. And yet, our neighbors never get in trouble for having like 8 cars taking up every space on the road (including the space in front of my house) when they have a party, or what ever the hell they do, that need that many people and they stay over night. And this isn't something that take place one a month, oh no. this is something they do practically twice to three, even four, time a week.

Sorry, got of topic with a rant. Well, I hope you find a solution for this problem. One that works for that matter, since you know how white trash people can be stupidly stubborn. I mean, can't you have them brought up on charges of property damage or something?

The leash was gone when I got home from work. At least we have the pics to show the landlord.

Just in time for free comic book day, I got a shirt from from the comic book Charlatan Ball, the shirt is made by the artist Andy Suriano. You can buy them on his site, and they are cheap, like 20 (plus 5.00 for shiping)
link

but what was also cool, he added in this sketch free of charge of the character Demon Empty from the comic. I though it was really cool of him.