Inflation, Shminflation

I am a management student. Therefore, I can understand social issues like inflation. From 1950 to 2000, inflation has stayed between 0 and 10% annually. This is a fact. Look it up on wikipedia. And these are perfectly normal numbers.

But not in the DC Universe. The following comes from Batman and the Outsiders #5, from 1983. This is from the original.



For those who can't bother clicking: "Are YOU in luck! For only 75¢, you have a ringside seat for the deaths of Batman and the Outsiders AND The New Teen Titans... Now is that a BARGAIN or what?" If I were a kid purchasing a comic at that time, I would definitely believe that I was in luck. This is a perfectly reasonable price for the deaths of 14 characters. This is a little bit over 5¢ per character, or, if you would like to break it down differently, 75¢ for the death of Batman and 13 bonus free deaths.

Now, here's what happens in the new Showcase Presents : Batman and the Outsiders.



Again, for you lazy asses: "Are YOU in luck! For only $16.99, you have a ringside seat for the deaths of Batman and the outsiders AND The New Teen Titans... Now is that a BARGAIN or what?" Frankly? No, it isn't. Notwithstanding the fact that your smart-ass editor decided to deliberately change a classic, there are FIFTEEN issues after this one in the collection. A kid could make the math in his head by noticing that his right hand holds much more paper than his left hand, and that if there is still that many paper in his right hand, then surely Batman won't die. And $16.99 for a reprint of Batman + 13 other people's deaths is a bit pricey, if you ask me. And if they think the readers are stupid enough to call them up and complain that, contrary to what they've read, they have paid much more than ¢75 for the complete volume, then why don't they change the prices on each original cover so that they make equal parts of $16.99? Hey, it's gotta be adapted, or else no one's going to understand!

Phew. Okay, now, back to the subject at hand. If a comic that cost 75¢ in 1983 now costs $2.99, that makes about 300% inflation since 1983. Wow, pretty crazy huh? Now consider the mighty wonders of the DC Universe economics. A comic that cost 75¢ in 1983 costs $16.99 right now. That makes about 1700% inflation.

No wonder the people of Gotham City are so poor (it was really the point I was trying to make all along).