Current state of comics industry

So what exactly is the current state of the American comics industry? 
I see that superhero comics still holds much of the market though
foreign comics and independents are slowly chipping away at the
Superhero strangehold.  I recently read Scott McCloud's Reinventing
Comics and found his arguments rather interesting.  While it's obvious
that the industry has suffered, is this the deathtoll that will signal
the end of comics (at least in the US) or will the
alternative/independent scene fight to keept the industry alive and
offer bigger selections?

I'm interesting in finding out some views on this because I've been
planning to put out my own comic book within the next two years.