The superhero question: At Ninth Art, Paul O'Brien takes a slightly different look at the old "Why do superheroes dominate comics" debate:

"The reason why the North American comics audience is overrun with fans of the superhero genre is quite simple: where else are they going to get those stories? Yes, there's a handful of TV shows and the occasional film. And there are some novels. But for the most part, those are just spin-offs of the comics. Comics have always been the driving force behind the genre.

"So if you're a fan of the superhero genre, naturally you will come to comics for your fix. You really have no alternative. This is the medium where all the important stuff is happening - for that genre. Comics attract these readers because they have a unique status as a destination for people who want those stories. That status isn't merely historical. It still reflects the position across the media as a whole - superheroes don't exclusively mean comics, but they primarily mean comics. More casual audiences may be satisfied with the occasional film or TV show. But the fan will come to comics.

"Like it or not, this is one of comics' major unique selling points. They do superheroes better, and more, than pretty much anyone else. It's their home turf."