Mainstream comic book publishers turned a handsome profit from major events like “Infinite Crisis” and “House of M.” However, Rick Berg, manager of Graham Cracker Comics, 901 Lucinda Ave., believes the major comic book events in publishers like DC and Marvel make bad business for other publishers.

“Anything with the “Infinite Crisis” logo is selling five books more than usual,” Berg said of DC’s much-anticipated crossover. “But anything in the independent section is selling five books less.”

Liberal Arts and Sciences adviser Jacques Betts doesn’t mind the growth in mainstream comics, which bring interesting developments to characters Betts has enjoyed since he was a child.

Betts can recall the moment he saw comic books — once regarded as juvenile escapism — become a big-business market.

“I went to the store and there was a lawyer, suit, tie and briefcase,” Betts said. “And I had to race him for the last copy of ‘Legends of the Dark Knight.'”

However, Betts believes the transition to darker material hasn’t worked well for all characters.

“I don’t like what they’ve done to Spider-Man. Comics work because they revolve around a central myth,” Betts said. “But they’ve gotten so far from that myth that it’s gotten twisted.”

Art student Bill Mitchell, self-publisher of the indie comic “PULPit”, is indifferent to the developments in the mainstream boom.

“It’s a mainstream world out there. People are pretty persistent about getting their voice heard,” Mitchell said. “I think it’s reassuring there’s a counter-cultural movement running through the indies right now.”