DC Sales Estimates March 2003
Johanna Draper Carlson
Using the figures found at
http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/2401.html
and inspired by Paul O'Brien's Marvel order analysis post, here's DC's
estimated order numbers for March 2003. Please note, as ICV2 posts:
"The quantities in this chart are ICv2 estimates of initial raw orders
to Diamond North America on titles scheduled for shipment in March
2003. They do not include late orders, advance reorders, distributor
extras, or reorders."
They also do not include sales through other distributors, including
newsstands and bookstores, or sales to Europe through Diamond UK.
The number is the ranking on the top 300. The figures are the last six
months' worth of estimated orders, with percentage change from the
previous. (If I keep doing this, that will grow to a year comparison
over time.) My comments, if any, are below. Given DC's large number of
titles, don't expect insightful notes on every book.
1. BATMAN
July Batman 605 - 52,635 ( )
Aug Batman 606 - 44,218 ( -16.0% )
Sep Batman 607 - 43,603 ( -1.4% )
Oct Batman 608 - 113,061 ( 159.3% )
Nov Batman 609 - 95,065 ( -15.9% )
Dec Batman 610 - 109,415 ( 15.1% )
Jan Batman 611 - 120,042 ( 9.7% )
Feb Batman 612 - 125,095 ( 4.2% )
Mar Batman 613 - 122,835 ( -1.8% )
6 month 181.7%
Still #1 for the third month in a row, but the orders may have reached
their peak. Great estimate figures for DC, and they've already acted on
them by extending Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's run on the title an additional
6 months. Still, that will only keep them hot for so long. How can this
be turned into long-term success for the title, franchise, and company?
(On the bright side, it appears that dead girl covers (#613 has an
unconscious Catwoman held by Batman) don't do as well as muscular men
covers (#612 guest stars Superman).)
The rest of the top ten is Marvel, with the usual suspects.
Double-shipping Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men is an effective
way to maintain market share, even if it does seem a bit of a cheap
trick to me. Still, whatever works.
10. JLA
July JLA 68 - 59,978 ( )
Aug JLA 69 - 62,577 ( 4.3% )
Aug JLA 70 - 61,556 ( -1.6% )
Sep JLA 71 - 60,608 ( -1.5% )
Sep JLA 72 - 60,778 ( 0.3% )
Oct JLA 73 - 60,352 ( -0.7% )
Oct JLA 74 - 60,148 ( -0.3% )
Nov JLA 75 - 63,560 ( 5.7% )
Dec JLA 76 - 61,557 ( -3.2% )
Jan JLA 77 - 60,405 ( -1.9% )
Feb JLA 78 - 60,183 ( -0.4% )
Mar JLA 79 - 60,189 ( 0.0% )
6 month -0.7%
No change from last month for the second month in a row. Not a bad place
to stabilize, but awfully low numbers for the top ten seller. The market
needs some more excitement to get people talking and buying.
21. GREEN ARROW
July Green Arrow (resolicited) 15 - 67,004 ( )
Aug Green Arrow 16 - 59,946 ( -10.5% )
Sep Green Arrow 17 - 56,645 ( -5.5% )
Oct Green Arrow 18 - 53,919 ( -4.8% )
Nov Green Arrow 19 - 54,767 ( 1.6% )
Dec Green Arrow 20 - 53,745 ( -1.9% )
Jan Green Arrow 21 - 52,554 ( -2.2% )
Feb Green Arrow (resolicited) 21 - 51,739 ( -1.6% )
Mar Green Arrow 22 - 50,1299 ( -3.1% )
6 month -11.5%
Issue #22 is a stand-alone story by Scott Beatty about Count Vertigo and
a guest star who sounds like Mr. Bones. If the series can keep this
level during this fill-in and the next crossover storyline with Green
Lantern, DC won't have much to worry about until Judd Winick starts his
run.
28. JSA
July JSA 38 - 42,724 ( )
Aug JSA 39 - 43,024 ( 0.7% )
Sep JSA 40 - 42,779 ( -0.6% )
Oct JSA 41 - 41,844 ( -2.2% )
Nov JSA 42 - 41,829 ( -0.0% )
Dec JSA 43 - 41,249 ( -1.4% )
Jan JSA 44 - 40,178 ( -2.6% )
Feb JSA 45 - 40,143 ( -0.1% )
Mar JSA 46 - 41,162 ( 2.5% )
6 month -3.8%
JSA stopped its slide with a new five-part storyline leading up to an
over-sized anniversary issue promised to be the "biggest JSA story in
years". "Bigger and better" is a tried-and-true comic approach, so long
as you remember that once you've gotten to the point where you can't do
anything bigger, you'll wind up restarting, retconning, or dumping the
whole mess in someone else's lap.
31. DETECTIVE COMICS
July Detective 772 - 48,661 ( )
Aug Detective 773 - 42,436 ( -12.8% )
Sep Detective 774 - 41,637 ( -1.9% )
Oct Detective 775 - 41,471 ( -0.4% )
Nov Detective 776 - 39,528 ( -4.7% )
Dec Detective 777 - 40,867 ( 3.4% )
Jan Detective 778 - 38,293 ( -6.3% )
Feb Detective 779 - 37,616 ( -1.8% )
Mar Detective 780 - 37,231 ( -1.0% )
6 month -10.6%
The middle of a storyline, with nothing particularly exciting to move
estimates.
32. THUNDERCATS RETURN
Feb Thundercats Return 1 - 42,282
Mar Thundercats Return 2 - 37,133 ( -12.2% )
Within the expected drop. Also staying within roughly the same area of
the sales chart (it was #26 last month).
34, 35. GREEN LANTERN
July Green Lantern 152 - 37,513 ( )
Aug Green Lantern 153 - 37,864 ( 0.9% )
Sep Green Lantern 154 - 38,523 ( 1.7% )
Oct Green Lantern 155 - 39,017 ( 1.3% )
Nov Green Lantern 156 - 38,872 ( -0.4% )
Dec Green Lantern 157 - 37,869 ( -2.6% )
Jan Green Lantern 158 - 37,033 ( -2.2% )
Feb Green Lantern 159 - 35,990 ( -2.8% )
Mar Green Lantern 160 - 35,610 ( -1.1% )
Mar Green Lantern 161 - 35,598 ( 0.0% )
6 month -7.6%
Two issues this month wrap up Judd Winick's run on the title. After a
rocky start, he was turning out some good superhero comics with
realistic characterization that tackled current issues in involving
ways. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with Green Arrow, a
character more historically suited to those types of stories.
34. AQUAMAN
Dec Aquaman 1 - 45,112 ( )
Jan Aquaman 2 - 36,505 ( -19.1% )
Feb Aquaman 3 - 36,215 ( -0.8% )
Mar Aquaman 4 - 34,983 ( -3.4% )
Ok, I may have spoken too soon last month about this stabilizing. It
looks as though retailers are still searching for the right number of
orders. It seems to be satisfying long-term Aquaman fans, but I'm not
sure how much interest the current storyline has for newer readers.
34. JLA: SCARY MONSTERS
Mar JLA: Scary Monsters 1 - 34,124 ( )
Chris Claremont write a 6-issue miniseries with Art Adams covers. I
suppose occult-type themes are a favorite of JLA writers because magic
gives you a great way to take out heavy hitters quickly without a lot of
explanation, but pesonally I think that genre may be better suited to
the characters of the JSA.
47. SUPERMAN
July Superman 184 - 38,129 ( )
Aug Superman 185 - 36,661 ( -3.9% )
Sep Superman 186 - 37,198 ( 1.5% )
Oct Superman 187 - 35,252 ( -5.2% )
Nov Superman 188 - 33,758 ( -4.2% )
Dec Superman 189 - 34,488 ( 2.2% )
Feb Superman 190 - 31,937 ( -7.4% )
Mar Superman 191 - 33,006 ( 3.3% )
6 month -11.3%
Did the 10-cent comic do some good? Are retailers expecting additional
interest from Superman guest-starring in the Batman book? Does the Flash
guest-starring mean additional readers? The last one is the part I find
most interesting -- is this the latest Flash/Superman race? If so, has
anyone yet started the list of goofy pre-Crisis concepts that HAVEN'T
returned yet? Seems like there's only a handful left to be reintroduced.
55. ACTION COMICS
July Action 793 - 34,676 ( )
Aug Action 794 - 32,651 ( -5.8% )
Sep Action 795 - 33,635 ( 3.0% )
Oct Action 796 - 33,783 ( 0.4% )
Nov Action 797 - 31,238 ( -7.5% )
Dec Action 798 - 32,617 ( 4.4% )
Jan Action 799 - 31,727 ( -2.7% )
Feb Action 800 - 40,318 ( 27.1% )
Mar Action 801 - 30,881 ( -23.4% )
6 month -8.2%
Those who live by the anniversary issue will also die by it. Sales
appear to have dropped back slightly than they were before the special
bump, and it's once again out of the top 50. Maybe I'm not the only one
who didn't know who guest star Girl 13 was.
56. BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS
July Batman: Gotham Knights 31 - 42,466 ( )
Aug Batman: Gotham Knights 32 - 34,565 ( -18.6% )
Sep Batman: Gotham Knights 33 - 35,113 ( 1.6% )
Oct Batman: Gotham Knights 34 - 34,077 ( -3.0% )
Nov Batman: Gotham Knights 35 - 33,016 ( -3.1% )
Dec Batman: Gotham Knights 36 - 33,011 ( -0.0% )
Jan Batman: Gotham Knights 37 - 31,487 ( -4.6% )
Feb Batman: Gotham Knights 38 - 30,823 ( -2.1% )
Mar Batman: Gotham Knights 39 - 29,898 ( -3.0% )
6 month -14.9%
57. HAWKMAN
July Hawkman 5 - 39,218 ( )
Aug Hawkman 6 - 37,187 ( -5.2% )
Sep Hawkman 7 - 35,580 ( -4.3% )
Oct Hawkman 8 - 34,879 ( -2.0% )
Nov Hawkman 9 - 32,950 ( -5.5% )
Dec Hawkman 10 - 31,894 ( -3.2% )
Jan Hawkman 11 - 30,731 ( -3.6% )
Feb Hawkman 12 - 30,085 ( -2.1% )
Mar Hawkman 13 - 29,800 ( -0.9% )
6 month -16.2%
58. BATGIRL
July Batgirl 30 - 35,144 ( )
Aug Batgirl 31 - 35,144 ( 0.0% )
Sep Batgirl 32 - 34,398 ( -2.1% )
Oct Batgirl 33 - 32,697 ( -4.9% )
Nov Batgirl 34 - 32,160 ( -1.6% )
Dec Batgirl 35 - 31,588 ( -1.8% )
Jan Batgirl 36 - 30,431 ( -3.7% )
Feb Batgirl 37 - 29,835 ( -2.0% )
Mar Batgirl 38 - 29,566 ( -0.9% )
6 month -14.0%
These last three books have been hanging out in roughly these slots for
the last few months. Whether or not they make the top 50 depends on what
else is being offered from DC or Marvel. Marvel solicited 4 issues of a
Captain America miniseries that all placed in the top 50, which was a
factor in DC going from 15 top 50 books last month to 11 this month.
61. BATGIRL YEAR ONE
Dec Batgirl: Year One 1 - 32,343 ( )
Jan Batgirl: Year One 2 - 28,630 ( -11.5% )
Feb Batgirl: Year One 3 - 28,622 ( -0.0% )
Mar Batgirl: Year One 4 - 29,370 ( 2.6% )
That's a pleasant sight. Also note that this miniseries was #55 last
month with lesser sales, illustrating how variable placement can be.
62. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
July Adventures of Superman 606 - 34,271 ( )
Aug Adventures of Superman 607 - 32,098 ( -6.3% )
Sep Adventures of Superman 608 - 33,871 ( 5.5% )
Oct Adventures of Superman 609 - 32,347 ( -4.5% )
Nov Adventures of Superman 610 - 30,544 ( -5.6% )
Dec Adventures of Superman 611 - 32,080 ( 5.0% )
Jan Adventures of Superman 612 - 30,707 ( -4.3% )
Feb Adventures of Superman 613 - 29,322 ( -4.5% )
Mar Adventures of Superman 614 - 29,345 ( 0.1% )
6 month -13.4%
If I had to pick one, this would be my favorite Superman book. I don't
often understand what the stories are trying to say, but it's the book
where Joe Casey is playing with contrasting the current Superman with
the original.
64. NIGHTWING
July Nightwing 71 - 34,739 ( )
Aug Nightwing 72 - 33,420 ( -3.8% )
Sep Nightwing 73 - 32,083 ( -4.0% )
Oct Nightwing 74 - 31,058 ( -3.2% )
Nov Nightwing 75 - 31,352 ( 0.9% )
Dec Nightwing 76 - 30,100 ( -4.0% )
Jan Nightwing 77 - 29,278 ( -2.7% )
Feb Nightwing 78 - 28,809 ( -1.6% )
Mar Nightwing 79 - 28,485 ( -1.1% )
6 month -11.2%
Consistent, competent work winds up being rewarded with slowly falling
sales.
67. SMALLVILLE
Mar Smallville 1 - 27,515 ( )
Not a stunning debut, but media tie-in books (that are about media from
this decade, anyway) rarely do as well as I think they should in the
direct market. Its higher cost ($3.50) should help it succeed, as should
the availability of reorders.
68. FLASH
July Flash 188 - 29,691 ( )
Aug Flash 189 - 29,591 ( -0.3% )
Sep Flash 190 - 29,423 ( -0.6% )
Oct Flash 191 - 29,305 ( -0.4% )
Nov Flash 192 - 28,805 ( -1.7% )
Dec Flash 193 - 28,185 ( -2.2% )
Jan Flash 194 - 27,562 ( -2.2% )
Feb Flash 195 - 27,258 ( -1.1% )
Mar Flash 196 - 27,417 ( 0.6% )
6 month -6.8%
73. DANGER GIRL HAWAIIAN PUNCH
Mar Danger Girl: Hawaiian Punch - 26,717 ( )
The Danger Girl 3-D Special that just came out did 15,312 and ranked
120, for comparison. Both are priced at $4.95.
74. ROBOTECH
Nov Robotech 0 - 47,880 ( )
Dec Robotech 1 - 53,023 ( 10.7% )
Jan Robotech 2 - 36,589 ( -31.0% )
Feb Robotech 3 - 28,584 ( -21.9% )
Mar Robotech 4 - 26,655 ( -6.7% )
The rate of decline on this 6-issue miniseries has slowed but is still
dropping.
75. SUPERMAN & BATMAN GENERATIONS III
Jan Superman & Batman: Generations III 1 - 30,875 ( )
Feb Superman & Batman: Generations III 2 - 28,384 ( -8.1% )
Mar Superman & Batman: Generations III 3 - 26,643 ( -6.1% )
81. SUPERGIRL
July Supergirl 72 - 19,122 ( )
Aug Supergirl 73 - 18,925 ( -1.0% )
Sep Supergirl 74 - 18,915 ( -0.1% )
Oct Supergirl 75 - 21,470 ( 13.5% )
Nov Supergirl 76 - 19,735 ( -8.1% )
Dec Supergirl 77 - 20,307 ( 2.9% )
Jan Supergirl 78 - 22,508 ( 10.8% )
Feb Supergirl 79 - 23,931 ( 6.3% )
Mar Supergirl 80 - 25,267 ( 5.6% )
6 month 33.6%
Still growing, still cancelled. I'm curious to see if they bring out the
trade and if so, how it does. DC has so few books with positive growth
rates that it's a shame they're going to lose this one. On the other
hand, it might be that cancellation that's helping drive the rise --
people know that they're only signing on for a limited time. This isn't
the only title to get a last issue sales bump.
82. BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
July Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 157 - 27,686 ( )
Aug Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 158 - 27,933 ( 0.9% )
Sep Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 159 - 27,849 ( -0.3% )
Oct Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 160 - 27,349 ( -1.8% )
Nov Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 161 - 27,312 ( -0.1% )
Dec Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 162 - 26,949 ( -1.3% )
Jan Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 163 - 26,049 ( -3.3% )
Feb Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 164 - 25,607 ( -1.7% )
Mar Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 165 - 25,107 ( -2.0% )
6 month -9.8%
83. WONDER WOMAN
July Wonder Woman 183 - 24,828 ( )
Aug Wonder Woman 184 - 24,842 ( 0.1% )
Sep Wonder Woman 185 - 24,235 ( -2.4% )
Oct Wonder Woman 186 - 23,358 ( -3.6% )
Nov Wonder Woman 187 - 24,013 ( 2.8% )
Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 187 - 23,072 ( -3.9% )
Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 188 - 23,096 ( 0.1% )
Feb Wonder Woman 189 - 26,320 ( 14.0% )
Mar Wonder Woman 190 - 24,702 ( -6.1% )
6 month 1.9%
87. BIRDS OF PREY
July Birds of Prey 45 - 26,849 ( )
Aug Birds of Prey 46 - 26,867 ( 0.1% )
Sep Birds of Prey 47 - 28,063 ( 4.5% )
Oct Birds of Prey 48 - 26,976 ( -3.9% )
Nov Birds of Prey 49 - 26,808 ( -0.6% )
Dec Birds of Prey 50 - 27,879 ( 4.0% )
Jan Birds of Prey 51 - 25,245 ( -9.4% )
Feb Birds of Prey 52 - 24,406 ( -3.3% )
Mar Birds of Prey 53 - 23,793 ( -2.5% )
6 month -15.2%
88. FABLES
July Fables 3 - 18,180 ( )
Aug Fables 4 - 18,479 ( 1.6% )
Sep Fables 5 - 19,355 ( 4.7% )
Oct Fables 6 - 19,831 ( 2.5% )
Nov Fables 7 - 21,180 ( 6.8% )
Dec Fables 8 - 22,222 ( 4.9% )
Jan Fables 9 - 21,980 ( -1.1% )
Feb Fables 10 - 22,705 ( 3.3% )
Mar Fables 11 - 23,277 ( 2.5% )
6 month 20.3%
A stand-alone fill-in with art by Bryan Talbot.
91. CATWOMAN
July Catwoman 9 - 28,912 ( )
Aug Catwoman 10 - 27,937 ( -3.4% )
Sep Catwoman 11 - 27,387 ( -2.0% )
Oct Catwoman 12 - 26,524 ( -3.2% )
Nov Catwoman (resolicted) 12 - 25,477 ( -3.9% )
Nov Catwoman 13 - 25,620 ( 0.6% )
Dec Catwoman 14 - 24,739 ( -3.4% )
Jan Catwoman 15 - 23,852 ( -3.6% )
Feb Catwoman 16 - 23,393 ( -1.9% )
Mar Catwoman 17 - 22,872 ( -2.2% )
6 month -16.5%
Are other people as depressed by recent events in this series as I am?
This issue is the start of a new storyline with artist Javier Pulido.
92. Y THE LAST MAN
July Y The Last Man 1 - 14,275 ( )
Aug Y The Last Man 2 - 11,797 ( -17.4% )
Sep Y The Last Man 3 - 13,308 ( 12.8% )
Oct Y The Last Man 4 - 14,517 ( 9.1% )
Nov Y The Last Man 5 - 17,207 ( 18.5% )
Dec Y The Last Man 6 - 19,334 ( 12.4% )
Jan Y The Last Man 7 - 20,719 ( 7.2% )
Feb Y The Last Man 8 - 21,779 ( 5.1% )
Mar Y The Last Man 9 - 22,835 ( 4.8% )
6 month 71.6%
I will repeat what I said last month: Its growth rate has slowed, but
it's still climbing.
93. YOUNG JUSTICE
July Young Justice 47 - 24,102 ( )
Aug Young Justice 48 - 23,674 ( -1.8% )
Sep Young Justice 49 - 23,489 ( -0.8% )
Oct Young Justice 50 - 23,833 ( 1.5% )
Nov Young Justice 51 - 22,949 ( -3.7% )
Dec Young Justice 52 - 22,758 ( -0.8% )
Jan Young Justice 53 - 22,424 ( -1.5% )
Feb Young Justice 54 - 22,342 ( -0.4% )
Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
6 month -3.8%
The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
94. LEGION
July Legion 10 - 24,775 ( )
Aug Legion 11 - 24,988 ( 0.9% )
Sep Legion 12 - 25,355 ( 1.5% )
Oct Legion 13 - 24,218 ( -4.5% )
Nov Legion 14 - 23,880 ( -1.4% )
Dec Legion 15 - 23,962 ( 0.3% )
Jan Legion 16 - 23,744 ( -0.9% )
Feb Legion 17 - 23,005 ( -3.1% )
Mar Legion 18 - 22,516 ( -2.1% )
6 month -11.2%
96. ROBIN
July Robin 104 - 26,986 ( )
Aug Robin 105 - 26,009 ( -3.6% )
Sep Robin 106 - 25,996 ( -0.0% )
Oct Robin 107 - 24,546 ( -5.6% )
Nov Robin 108 - 24,356 ( -0.8% )
Dec Robin 109 - 24,170 ( -0.8% )
Jan Robin 110 - 23,180 ( -4.1% )
Feb Robin 111 - 22,517 ( -2.9% )
Mar Robin 112 - 22,319 ( -0.9% )
6 month -14.1%
97. SUPERMAN METROPOLIS
Feb Superman Metropolis 1 - 22,880
Mar Superman Metropolis 2 - 20,452 ( -10.6% )
100. JSA UNHOLY THREE
Feb JSA Unholy Three 1 - 21,041
Mar JSA Unholy Three 2 - 19,715 ( -6.3% )
102. BIRDS OF PREY CATWOMAN ORACLE
Feb Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Batgirl 1 - 22,580
Mar Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Oracle 2 - 19,580 ( -13.3% )
Several DC miniseries clustering here.
105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
Mar Batman Adventures 2 - 19,187
The first issue is DC's Free Comic Book Day offering, so no estimate
figures available (but see the newsstand edition listed below). This is
good placing for an all-ages book.
107. AQUAMAN SECRET FILES 2003
Mar Aquaman Secret Files 2003 - 18,745
A little over half the estimated sales of the series issue this month.
110. GLOBAL FREQUENCY
Oct Global Frequency 1 - 27,316 ( )
Nov Global Frequency 2 - 22,749 ( -16.7% )
Dec Global Frequency 3 - 21,369 ( -6.1% )
Jan Global Frequency 4 - 19,675 ( -7.9% )
Feb Global Frequency 5 - 18,914 ( -3.9% )
Mar Global Frequency 6 - 18,388 ( -2.8% )
111. GOTHAM CENTRAL
Dec Gotham Central 1 - 26,785 ( )
Dec Gotham Central 2 - 24,651 ( -8.0% )
Jan Gotham Central 3 - 20,227 ( -17.9% )
Feb Gotham Central 4 - 19,227 ( -4.9% )
Mar Gotham Central 5 - 18,216 ( -5.3% )
Yikes, that's not good. Retailers should have an idea of the series by
now, and I was hoping to see the drop slowing.
112. RELOAD
Mar Reload 1 - 17,995 ( )
This 3-issue miniseries is by Warren Ellis with Paul Gulacy and Jimmy
Palmiotti. For comparison, Mek debuted at 17,549 in November, right
around the same level.
114. GEN 13
Aug Gen 13 0 - 108,249 ( )
Sep Gen 13 1 - 30,723 ( -71.6% )
Oct Gen 13 2 - 23,347 ( -24.0% )
Nov Gen 13 3 - 21,323 ( -8.7% )
Dec Gen 13 4 - 19,837 ( -7.0% )
Jan Gen 13 5 - 19,051 ( -4.0% )
Feb Gen 13 6 - 18,251 ( -4.2% )
Mar Gen 13 7 - 17,418 ( -4.6% )
6 month -43.3%
Unless something is announced to bring some attention to this title, I
don't see a happy future for it.
115. HERO
Feb HERO 1 - 20,616
Mar HERO 2 - 16,939 ( -17.8% )
#1 sold out. DC isn't planning to reprint it and hasn't announced how
they may make it otherwise available (as in a bumper edition, for
example). If demand remains strong for #2, the title might be on a good
path. Y The Last Man had a similar drop on lower figures, for example,
although it also had better early reviews.
117. WILDCATS VERSION 3.0
Aug Wildcats Version 3.0 1 - 22,127 ( )
Sep Wildcats Version 3.0 2 - 22,124 ( -0.0% )
Oct Wildcats Version 3.0 3 - 17,660 ( -20.2% )
Nov Wildcats Version 3.0 4 - 17,625 ( -0.2% )
Dec Wildcats Version 3.0 5 - 17,200 ( -2.4% )
Jan Wildcats Version 3.0 6 - 16,302 ( -5.2% )
Feb Wildcats Version 3.0 7 - 16,037 ( -1.6% )
Mar Wildcats Version 3.0 8 - 16,841 ( 5.0% )
6 month -23.9%
The only thing I can figure for the bump is the inclusion of the
conclusion of the free Authority #0 preview story.
118. 100 BULLETS
July 100 Bullets 38 - 17,480 ( )
Aug 100 Bullets (resolicited) 37 - 16,944 ( -3.1% )
Aug 100 Bullets (resolicited) 38 - 16,975 ( 0.2% )
Sep 100 Bullets 39 - 16,962 ( -0.1% )
Nov 100 Bullets 40 - 17,121 ( 0.9% )
Dec 100 Bullets 41 - 17,123 ( 0.0% )
Jan 100 Bullets 42 - 16,914 ( -1.2% )
Feb 100 Bullets (resolicited) 42 - 16,613 ( -1.8% )
Mar 100 Bullets 43 - 16,779 ( 1.0% )
6 month -1.1%
119. HELLBLAZER
July Hellblazer 176 - 19,001 ( )
Aug Hellblazer (resolicited) 175 - 18,956 ( -0.2% )
Aug Hellblazer (resolicited) 176 - 18,704 ( -1.3% )
Sep Hellblazer 177 - 18,557 ( -0.8% )
Oct Hellblazer (resolicited) 177 - 18,067 ( -2.6% )
Nov Hellblazer 178 - 17,977 ( -0.5% )
Dec Hellblazer 179 - 17,572 ( -2.3% )
Jan Hellblazer 180 - 17,094 ( -2.7% )
Feb Hellblazer 181 - 16,825 ( -1.6% )
Mar Hellblazer 182 - 16,779 ( -0.3% )
6 month -9.6%
120. TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES
Aug Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 4 - 19,354 ( )
Oct Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 5 - 18,497 ( -4.4% )
Dec Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 6 - 17,178 ( -7.1% )
Mar Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 7 - 16,620 ( -3.2% )
6 month -14.1%
Anthologies - still a tough sell.
123. HARLEY QUINN
July Harley Quinn 22 - 21,054 ( )
Aug Harley Quinn 23 - 20,194 ( -4.1% )
Sep Harley Quinn 24 - 19,661 ( -2.6% )
Oct Harley Quinn 25 - 20,012 ( 1.8% )
Nov Harley Quinn 26 - 18,671 ( -6.7% )
Dec Harley Quinn 27 - 17,857 ( -4.4% )
Jan Harley Quinn 28 - 17,250 ( -3.4% )
Feb Harley Quinn 29 - 16,563 ( -4.0% )
Mar Harley Quinn 30 - 16,165 ( -2.4% )
6 month -17.8%
128. STORMWATCH TEAM ACHILLES
July Stormwatch: Team Achilles 1 - 27,723 ( )
Aug Stormwatch: Team Achilles 2 - 21,463 ( -22.6% )
Sep Stormwatch: Team Achilles 3 - 19,477 ( -9.3% )
Oct Stormwatch: Team Achilles 4 - 17,751 ( -8.9% )
Nov Stormwatch: Team Achilles 5 - 17,273 ( -2.7% )
Dec Stormwatch: Team Achilles 6 - 15,996 ( -7.4% )
Jan Stormwatch: Team Achilles 7 - 14,969 ( -6.4% )
Feb Stormwatch: Team Achilles 8 - 14,511 ( -3.1% )
Mar Stormwatch: Team Achilles 9 - 15,428 ( 6.3% )
6 month -20.8%
Like Wildcats, this issue includes part one of the free Authority #0
preview story. Hopefully, new readers will like what they see, because I
want this book to survive.
129. BATMAN ADVENTURES (NEWSSTAND)
Mar Batman Adventures (Newsstand) 1 - 15,354
This newsstand edition was available to order for retailers who wanted
copies of the issue without the Free Comic Book Day logo.
130. ZATANNA: EVERYDAY MAGIC
Mar Zatanna: Everyday Magic - 15,354
134. SPECTRE
July Spectre 19 - 17,406 ( )
Aug Spectre 20 - 16,582 ( -4.7% )
Sep Spectre 21 - 16,329 ( -1.5% )
Oct Spectre 22 - 15,976 ( -2.2% )
Nov Spectre 23 - 15,724 ( -1.6% )
Dec Spectre 24 - 15,471 ( -1.6% )
Jan Spectre 25 - 14,873 ( -3.9% )
Feb Spectre 26 - 14,423 ( -3.0% )
Mar Spectre 27 - 14,703 ( 1.9% )
6 month -10.0%
Final issue, slight bump.
136. BLOOD & WATER
Mar Blood & Water 1 - 14,409 ( )
A five-issue Vertigo vampire miniseries written by Judd Winick.
138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
July Azrael Agent of the Bat 92 - 15,143 ( )
Aug Azrael Agent of the Bat 93 - 14,871 ( -1.8% )
Sep Azrael Agent of the Bat 94 - 14,555 ( -2.1% )
Oct Azrael Agent of the Bat 95 - 14,053 ( -3.4% )
Nov Azrael Agent of the Bat 96 - 14,136 ( 0.6% )
Dec Azrael Agent of the Bat 97 - 13,502 ( -4.5% )
Jan Azrael Agent of the Bat 98 - 12,893 ( -4.5% )
Feb Azrael Agent of the Bat 99 - 13,035 ( 1.1% )
Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
6 month -2.3%
Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
so.
143. JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES
July Justice League Adventures 9 - 16,822 ( )
Aug Justice League Adventures 10 - 16,171 ( -3.9% )
Sep Justice League Adventures 11 - 15,632 ( -3.3% )
Oct Justice League Adventures 12 - 14,913 ( -4.6% )
Nov Justice League Adventures 13 - 14,659 ( -1.7% )
Dec Justice League Adventures 14 - 14,519 ( -1.0% )
Jan Justice League Adventures 15 - 13,949 ( -3.9% )
Feb Justice League Adventures 16 - 14,298 ( 2.5% )
Mar Justice League Adventures 17 - 13,942 ( -2.5% )
6 month -10.8%
144. LUCIFER
July Lucifer 28 - 14,264 ( )
Aug Lucifer 29 - 14,397 ( 0.9% )
Sep Lucifer 30 - 14,223 ( -1.2% )
Oct Lucifer 31 - 13,974 ( -1.8% )
Nov Lucifer 32 - 14,193 ( 1.6% )
Dec Lucifer 33 - 13,918 ( -1.9% )
Jan Lucifer 34 - 13,637 ( -2.0% )
Feb Lucifer 35 - 13,573 ( -0.5% )
Mar Lucifer 36 - 13,561 ( -0.1% )
6 month -4.7%
146. HELLBLAZER SP LADY CONSTANTINE
Dec Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine 1 - 16,281 ( )
Jan Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine 2 - 14,081 ( -13.5%
)
Feb Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine 3 - 13,898 ( -1.3% )
Mar Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine 4 - 13,426 ( -3.4% )
147. POWER COMPANY
July Power Company 6 - 17,638 ( )
Aug Power Company 7 - 15,852 ( -10.1% )
Sep Power Company 8 - 15,758 ( -0.6% )
Oct Power Company 9 - 14,947 ( -5.1% )
Nov Power Company 10 - 14,383 ( -3.8% )
Dec Power Company 11 - 14,235 ( -1.0% )
Jan Power Company 12 - 13,289 ( -6.6% )
Feb Power Company 13 - 13,097 ( -1.4% )
Mar Power Company 14 - 13,205 ( 0.8% )
6 month -16.2%
Given that this title is the only DCU book in this area of the chart
that hasn't been cancelled, I have to wonder what its future holds.
148. DOOM PATROL
July Doom Patrol 10 - 16,991 ( )
Aug Doom Patrol 11 - 16,480 ( -3.0% )
Sep Doom Patrol 12 - 15,736 ( -4.5% )
Oct Doom Patrol 13 - 15,455 ( -1.8% )
Nov Doom Patrol 14 - 14,811 ( -4.2% )
Dec Doom Patrol 15 - 14,552 ( -1.7% )
Jan Doom Patrol 16 - 14,117 ( -3.0% )
Feb Doom Patrol 17 - 13,660 ( -3.2% )
Mar Doom Patrol 18 - 13,119 ( -4.0% )
6 month -16.6%
Cancelled, but I don't remember which is the final issue.
151. SANDMAN PRESENTS BAST
Jan Sandman Presents Bast 1 - 14,405 ( )
Feb Sandman Presents Bast 2 - 13,097 ( -9.1% )
Mar Sandman Presents Bast 3 - 12,763 ( -2.6% )
156. BATMAN GOTHAM ADVENTURES
July Batman: Gotham Adventures 52 - 12,296 ( )
Aug Batman: Gotham Adventures 53 - 12,469 ( 1.4% )
Sep Batman: Gotham Adventures 54 - 12,318 ( -1.2% )
Oct Batman: Gotham Adventures 55 - 11,826 ( -4.0% )
Nov Batman: Gotham Adventures 56 - 11,683 ( -1.2% )
Dec Batman: Gotham Adventures 57 - 11,740 ( 0.5% )
Jan Batman: Gotham Adventures 58 - 11,440 ( -2.6% )
Feb Batman: Gotham Adventures 59 - 11,421 ( -0.2% )
Mar Batman: Gotham Adventures 60 - 12,112 ( 6.1% )
6 month -1.7%
Yet another final issue bump, although this series is being relaunched
with no delay.
163. HUNTER AGE OF MAGIC
July Hunter Age of Magic 13 - 12,511 ( )
Aug Hunter Age of Magic 14 - 12,545 ( 0.3% )
Sep Hunter Age of Magic 15 - 12,601 ( 0.4% )
Oct Hunter Age of Magic 16 - 12,267 ( -2.7% )
Nov Hunter Age of Magic 17 - 12,273 ( 0.0% )
Dec Hunter Age of Magic 18 - 11,937 ( -2.7% )
Jan Hunter Age of Magic 19 - 11,692 ( -2.1% )
Feb Hunter Age of Magic 20 - 11,559 ( -1.1% )
Mar Hunter Age of Magic 21 - 11,387 ( -1.5% )
6 month -9.6%
Do people even remember that this book exists any more?
164. SLEEPER
Jan Sleeper 1 - 13,829 ( 62.3% )
Feb Sleeper 2 - 10,320 ( -25.4% )
Mar Sleeper 3 - 11,252 ( 9.0% )
Looks like the writer's money back guarantee worked to draw some more
attention, combined with the middle part of the Authority #0 preview
story. Still very low numbers, so the percentages become large quickly,
but the hope is that people liked what they saw.
169. CODENAME KNOCKOUT
July Codename: Knockout 15 - 12,206 ( )
Aug Codename: Knockout 16 - 12,080 ( -1.0% )
Sep Codename: Knockout 17 - 12,000 ( -0.7% )
Oct Codename: Knockout 18 - 11,634 ( -3.0% )
Dec Codename: Knockout 19 - 11,303 ( -2.8% )
Jan Codename: Knockout 20 - 10,996 ( -2.7% )
Feb Codename: Knockout 21 - 10,621 ( -3.4% )
Mar Codename: Knockout 22 - 10,158 ( -4.4% )
6 month -15.3%
Next issue is the last.
174. AMERICAN CENTURY
July American Century 17 - 10,443 ( )
Aug American Century 18 - 10,413 ( -0.3% )
Sep American Century 19 - 10,216 ( -1.9% )
Nov American Century 20 - 10,039 ( -1.7% )
Dec American Century 21 - 9,771 ( -2.7% )
Jan American Century 22 - 9,459 ( -3.2% )
Feb American Century 23 - 9,307 ( -1.6% )
Mar American Century 24 - 9,262 ( -0.5% )
6 month -9.3%
Why is this book still around? I know Howard Chaykin has quite a
reputation, but these numbers are abysmal. There are collected editions,
but I have trouble envisioning them selling well enough to make up for
these estimates.
182. ZERO GIRL FULL CIRCLE
Nov Zero Girl: Full Circle 1 - 11,883 ( )
Dec Zero Girl: Full Circle 2 - 10,351 ( -12.9% )
Jan Zero Girl: Full Circle 3 - 9,207 ( -11.1% )
Feb Zero Girl: Full Circle 4 - 8,619 ( -6.4% )
Mar Zero Girl: Full Circle 5 - 8,353 ( -3.1% )
185. 21 DOWN
Sep 21 Down 1 - 17,873 ( )
Oct 21 Down 2 - 13,420 ( -24.9% )
Nov 21 Down 3 - 10,856 ( -19.1% )
Dec 21 Down 4 - 9,596 ( -11.6% )
Jan 21 Down 5 - 8,751 ( -8.8% )
Feb 21 Down 6 - 8,156 ( -6.8% )
Mar 21 Down 7 - 7,935 ( -2.7% )
6 month -55.6%
Drop has slowed, but it doesn't have much further down it can go.
186. POWERPUFF GIRLS
Aug Powerpuff Girls 29 - 9,330 ( )
Sep Powerpuff Girls 30 - 9,510 ( 1.9% )
Oct Powerpuff Girls 31 - 9,226 ( -3.0% )
Nov Powerpuff Girls 32 - 8,974 ( -2.7% )
Dec Powerpuff Girls 33 - 8,720 ( -2.8% )
Jan Powerpuff Girls 34 - 8,187 ( -6.1% )
Feb Powerpuff Girls 35 - 7,956 ( -2.8% )
Mar Powerpuff Girls 36 - 7,923 ( -0.4% )
6 month -16.7%
187. AUTOMATIC KAFKA
July Automatic Kafka 1 - 15,780 ( )
Aug Automatic Kafka 2 - 12,810 ( -18.8% )
Sep Automatic Kafka 3 - 12,017 ( -6.2% )
Oct Automatic Kafka 4 - 10,831 ( -9.9% )
Nov Automatic Kafka 5 - 9,811 ( -9.4% )
Dec Automatic Kafka 6 - 9,224 ( -6.0% )
Jan Automatic Kafka 7 - 8,391 ( -9.0% )
Feb Automatic Kafka 8 - 8,006 ( -4.6% )
Mar Automatic Kafka 9 - 7,886 ( -1.5% )
6 month -34.4%
The lowest-selling non-cartoon non-cancelled book.
208. SCOOBY-DOO
July Scooby-Doo 62 - 6,743 ( )
Aug Scooby-Doo 63 - 6,827 ( 1.2% )
Sep Scooby-Doo 64 - 6,628 ( -2.9% )
Oct Scooby-Doo 65 - 6,365 ( -4.0% )
Nov Scooby-Doo 66 - 6,122 ( -3.8% )
Dec Scooby-Doo 67 - 6,051 ( -1.2% )
Jan Scooby-Doo 68 - 5,690 ( -6.0% )
Feb Scooby-Doo 69 - 5,892 ( 3.6% )
Mar Scooby-Doo 70 - 5,712 ( -3.1% )
6 month -13.8%
210. RESISTANCE
Sep Resistance 1 - 14,999 ( )
Oct Resistance 2 - 10,560 ( -29.6% )
Nov Resistance 3 - 8,508 ( -19.4% )
Dec Resistance 4 - 7,035 ( -17.3% )
Jan Resistance 5 - 6,422 ( -8.7% )
Feb Resistance 6 - 5,767 ( -10.2% )
Mar Resistance 7 - 5,589 ( -3.1% )
6 month -62.7%
Cancelled.
211. LOONEY TUNES
July Looney Tunes 92 - 3,584 ( )
Aug Looney Tunes 93 - 3,560 ( -0.7% )
Sep Looney Tunes 94 - 3,497 ( -1.8% )
Oct Looney Tunes 95 - 3,358 ( -4.0% )
Nov Looney Tunes 96 - 3,346 ( -0.4% )
Dec Looney Tunes 97 - 3,447 ( 3.0% )
Jan Looney Tunes 98 - 3,253 ( -5.6% )
Feb Looney Tunes 99 - 3,328 ( 2.3% )
Mar Looney Tunes 100 - 5,454 ( 63.9% )
6 month 56.0%
A terrific-sounding anniversary issue with big-name guest stars in a
tribute to Warner Bros. animators.
218. FOREVER MAELSTROM
Nov Forever Maelstrom 1 - 9,944 ( )
Dec Forever Maelstrom 2 - 8,305 ( -16.5% )
Jan Forever Maelstrom 3 - 6,074 ( -26.9% )
Feb Forever Maelstrom 4 - 4,854 ( -20.1% )
Mar Forever Maelstrom 5 - 4,164 ( -14.2% )
Only one more issue to go on this miniseries.
224. BIG DADDY DANGER
Aug Big Daddy Danger 1 - 9,675 ( )
Sep Big Daddy Danger 2 - 7,709 ( -20.3% )
Oct Big Daddy Danger 3 - 6,286 ( -18.5% )
Nov Big Daddy Danger 4 - 5,038 ( -19.9% )
Dec Big Daddy Danger 5 - 4,398 ( -12.7% )
Jan Big Daddy Danger 6 - 3,709 ( -15.7% )
Feb Big Daddy Danger 7 - 3,390 ( -8.6% )
Mar Big Daddy Danger 8 - 3,169 ( -6.5% )
6 month -58.9%
This is listed on the Diamond chart as 8 (of 8). It was originally a
9-issue series, but these estimates should show why it was abbreviated.
242. CARTOON CARTOONS
July Cartoon Cartoons 12 - 2,695
Sep Cartoon Cartoons 13 - 3,366 (24.9%)
Nov Cartoon Cartoons 14 - 2,747 (-18.4%)
Jan Cartoon Cartoons 15 - 3,037 (10.6%)
Mar Cartoon Cartoons 16 - 2,494 (-17.9%)
6 month -25.9%
6-Month Summary
Books that had positive percentage rises over that period:
BATMAN, FABLES, LOONEY TUNES, SUPERGIRL, WONDER WOMAN, Y THE LAST MAN
Books that had low negative six-month numbers (under 5% drop):
100 BULLETS, AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT, BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES, JLA,
JSA, YOUNG JUSTICE
Books with the worst (over 20%) drops over the last six months:
21 DOWN (over 55%), AUTOMATIC KAFKA, BIG DADDY DANGER (almost 59%), GEN
13, RESISTANCE (highest, at over 62%), STORMWATCH TEAM ACHILLES,
WILDCATS VERSION 3.0.
--
Johanna Draper Carlson
Reviews of Comics Worth Reading -- http://www.comicsworthreading.com
New: Reviews of Crossovers, Gotham Central, Invincible, Stormwatch
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
>
>34. AQUAMAN
>
>Dec Aquaman 1 - 45,112 ( )
>Jan Aquaman 2 - 36,505 ( -19.1% )
>Feb Aquaman 3 - 36,215 ( -0.8% )
>Mar Aquaman 4 - 34,983 ( -3.4% )
>
>Ok, I may have spoken too soon last month about this stabilizing. It
>looks as though retailers are still searching for the right number of
>orders. It seems to be satisfying long-term Aquaman fans, but I'm not
>sure how much interest the current storyline has for newer readers.
Disappointing relaunch. The Jurgens/Epting finale to the last series
was much more interesting.
>91. CATWOMAN
>
>July Catwoman 9 - 28,912 ( )
>Aug Catwoman 10 - 27,937 ( -3.4% )
>Sep Catwoman 11 - 27,387 ( -2.0% )
>Oct Catwoman 12 - 26,524 ( -3.2% )
>Nov Catwoman (resolicted) 12 - 25,477 ( -3.9% )
>Nov Catwoman 13 - 25,620 ( 0.6% )
>Dec Catwoman 14 - 24,739 ( -3.4% )
>Jan Catwoman 15 - 23,852 ( -3.6% )
>Feb Catwoman 16 - 23,393 ( -1.9% )
>Mar Catwoman 17 - 22,872 ( -2.2% )
> 6 month -16.5%
>
>Are other people as depressed by recent events in this series as I am?
Couldn't tell you. Dropped it after issue 4. DC doesn't want me buying
it since they haven't brought out a trade since.
>93. YOUNG JUSTICE
>
>July Young Justice 47 - 24,102 ( )
>Aug Young Justice 48 - 23,674 ( -1.8% )
>Sep Young Justice 49 - 23,489 ( -0.8% )
>Oct Young Justice 50 - 23,833 ( 1.5% )
>Nov Young Justice 51 - 22,949 ( -3.7% )
>Dec Young Justice 52 - 22,758 ( -0.8% )
>Jan Young Justice 53 - 22,424 ( -1.5% )
>Feb Young Justice 54 - 22,342 ( -0.4% )
>Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> 6 month -3.8%
>
>The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
Whimper?
>105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
>
>Mar Batman Adventures 2 - 19,187
>
>The first issue is DC's Free Comic Book Day offering, so no estimate
>figures available (but see the newsstand edition listed below). This is
>good placing for an all-ages book.
DC are retarded in their FCBD offerings. Who cares about the cartoon
tie-in books? If they feel they must cater to non-existant kids who
are going to come wandering in on FCBD, at least put out a Vertigo
free book and a mainstream DC free book and a kids line free book. Try
and hook people with significant disposable incomes, like you know
teenagers and adults.
>115. HERO
>
>Feb HERO 1 - 20,616
>Mar HERO 2 - 16,939 ( -17.8% )
>
>#1 sold out. DC isn't planning to reprint it and hasn't announced how
>they may make it otherwise available (as in a bumper edition, for
>example). If demand remains strong for #2, the title might be on a good
>path. Y The Last Man had a similar drop on lower figures, for example,
>although it also had better early reviews.
Another series that was good, but not good enough to add to my pull
list. If they release trades, I'll get those. If not, they don't get
my money.
>120. TOM STRONG'S TERRIFIC TALES
>
>Aug Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 4 - 19,354 ( )
>Oct Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 5 - 18,497 ( -4.4% )
>Dec Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 6 - 17,178 ( -7.1% )
>Mar Tom Strong's Terrific Tales 7 - 16,620 ( -3.2% )
> 6 month -14.1%
The ABC line just isn't what it once was. Promethea is really the only
book they have left. Tom Strong only comes out every two months and
looks to be going back to the anthology-style stories, which were a
downturn the first time around. I want longer stories like the early
Saveen arc, or at the least stories that take up an entire issue.
We've got one anthology title in TSTF, we don't need another one in
the main book.
>138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
>
>July Azrael Agent of the Bat 92 - 15,143 ( )
>Aug Azrael Agent of the Bat 93 - 14,871 ( -1.8% )
>Sep Azrael Agent of the Bat 94 - 14,555 ( -2.1% )
>Oct Azrael Agent of the Bat 95 - 14,053 ( -3.4% )
>Nov Azrael Agent of the Bat 96 - 14,136 ( 0.6% )
>Dec Azrael Agent of the Bat 97 - 13,502 ( -4.5% )
>Jan Azrael Agent of the Bat 98 - 12,893 ( -4.5% )
>Feb Azrael Agent of the Bat 99 - 13,035 ( 1.1% )
>Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> 6 month -2.3%
>
>Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
>so.
It is an anniversary issue, too.
-Ralf Haring
"The mind must be the harder, the heart the keener,
the spirit the greater, as our strength grows less."
-Byrhtwold, The Battle of Maldon
Johanna Draper Carlson
> DC doesn't want me buying [Catwoman] since they haven't brought out a
> trade since [issue #4].
We're talking about issue #17 here -- how long is typical for DC to wait
between issues and collections? A year doesn't seem excessive. Compared
to Marvel, it's glacial, yeah, but Marvel is rushing stuff.
> >93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> >Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> >The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
>
> Whimper?
That sounded too pathetic to me. :)
> >105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
> >Mar Batman Adventures 2 - 19,187
> >The first issue is DC's Free Comic Book Day offering, so no estimate
> >figures available (but see the newsstand edition listed below). This is
> >good placing for an all-ages book.
>
> DC are retarded in their FCBD offerings. Who cares about the cartoon
> tie-in books? If they feel they must cater to non-existant kids who
> are going to come wandering in on FCBD, at least put out a Vertigo
> free book and a mainstream DC free book and a kids line free book.
I know a number of adults who find the Batman Adventures book the best
portrayal of the character out there. This isn't a cartoon tie-in so
much as an all-ages brand. I think it's a great choice for them -- it's
also tied into their current best-seller through use of the character.
> The ABC line just isn't what it once was. Promethea is really the only
> book they have left. Tom Strong only comes out every two months and
> looks to be going back to the anthology-style stories, which were a
> downturn the first time around. I want longer stories like the early
> Saveen arc, or at the least stories that take up an entire issue.
> We've got one anthology title in TSTF, we don't need another one in
> the main book.
TSTF? What's that?
James William Moar
newsgroup instead of DC.
--
James
File not found, I'll load something *I* think is interesting.
Sean Walsh
message news:johanna-A9CB4D...@news.fu-berlin.de...
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
> > >93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> > >Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> > >The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
> >
> > Whimper?
>
> That sounded too pathetic to me. :)
Crackle?
> > >105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
> > >Mar Batman Adventures 2 - 19,187
> > >The first issue is DC's Free Comic Book Day offering, so no estimate
> > >figures available (but see the newsstand edition listed below). This is
> > >good placing for an all-ages book.
> >
> > DC are retarded in their FCBD offerings. Who cares about the cartoon
> > tie-in books? If they feel they must cater to non-existant kids who
> > are going to come wandering in on FCBD, at least put out a Vertigo
> > free book and a mainstream DC free book and a kids line free book.
Cartoon tie-in books are the same thing as an Ultimate offering: think about
it. ;p
> > The ABC line just isn't what it once was. Promethea is really the only
> > book they have left. Tom Strong only comes out every two months and
> > looks to be going back to the anthology-style stories, which were a
> > downturn the first time around. I want longer stories like the early
> > Saveen arc, or at the least stories that take up an entire issue.
> > We've got one anthology title in TSTF, we don't need another one in
> > the main book.
>
> TSTF? What's that?
Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, I think.
--
Sean
My webpage: http://www.Sean-Walsh.com
Quantum Piett! http://www.geocities.com/quantumpiett/
My latest eBay auctions: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/slwalsh/
¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø
Sean Walsh
> DC Sales Estimates March 2003
Which is a bit of a shock, as I'm reading this (but not replying to - fixed
that bit) in the Marvel newsgroup..... ;p
> 1. BATMAN
>
> July Batman 605 - 52,635 ( )
> Aug Batman 606 - 44,218 ( -16.0% )
> Sep Batman 607 - 43,603 ( -1.4% )
> Oct Batman 608 - 113,061 ( 159.3% )
> Nov Batman 609 - 95,065 ( -15.9% )
> Dec Batman 610 - 109,415 ( 15.1% )
> Jan Batman 611 - 120,042 ( 9.7% )
> Feb Batman 612 - 125,095 ( 4.2% )
> Mar Batman 613 - 122,835 ( -1.8% )
> 6 month 181.7%
>
> Still #1 for the third month in a row, but the orders may have reached
> their peak. Great estimate figures for DC, and they've already acted on
> them by extending Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's run on the title an additional
> 6 months. Still, that will only keep them hot for so long. How can this
> be turned into long-term success for the title, franchise, and company?
>
> (On the bright side, it appears that dead girl covers (#613 has an
> unconscious Catwoman held by Batman) don't do as well as muscular men
> covers (#612 guest stars Superman).)
So in theory, a cover with an unconscious Batman versus someone like
Congorilla or Detective Chimp would be THE BIGGEST SELLING COMIC BOOK OF ALL
TIME!!!!! ;)
> The rest of the top ten is Marvel, with the usual suspects.
> Double-shipping Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men is an effective
> way to maintain market share, even if it does seem a bit of a cheap
> trick to me. Still, whatever works.
>
> 10. JLA
>
> July JLA 68 - 59,978 ( )
> Aug JLA 69 - 62,577 ( 4.3% )
> Aug JLA 70 - 61,556 ( -1.6% )
> Sep JLA 71 - 60,608 ( -1.5% )
> Sep JLA 72 - 60,778 ( 0.3% )
> Oct JLA 73 - 60,352 ( -0.7% )
> Oct JLA 74 - 60,148 ( -0.3% )
> Nov JLA 75 - 63,560 ( 5.7% )
> Dec JLA 76 - 61,557 ( -3.2% )
> Jan JLA 77 - 60,405 ( -1.9% )
> Feb JLA 78 - 60,183 ( -0.4% )
> Mar JLA 79 - 60,189 ( 0.0% )
> 6 month -0.7%
>
> No change from last month for the second month in a row. Not a bad place
> to stabilize, but awfully low numbers for the top ten seller. The market
> needs some more excitement to get people talking and buying.
That's not a "no change" up there, Johanna! That's an increase of 6 copies!
6 COPIES!!!!!!!!
If you look at the 10-cent Adventure as being a #1, and #190 as a
#2......this kinda makes sense (#2's are usually underordered, aren't they?
Thus the bounce up with "#3")
> 55. ACTION COMICS
>
> July Action 793 - 34,676 ( )
> Aug Action 794 - 32,651 ( -5.8% )
> Sep Action 795 - 33,635 ( 3.0% )
> Oct Action 796 - 33,783 ( 0.4% )
> Nov Action 797 - 31,238 ( -7.5% )
> Dec Action 798 - 32,617 ( 4.4% )
> Jan Action 799 - 31,727 ( -2.7% )
> Feb Action 800 - 40,318 ( 27.1% )
> Mar Action 801 - 30,881 ( -23.4% )
> 6 month -8.2%
>
> Those who live by the anniversary issue will also die by it. Sales
> appear to have dropped back slightly than they were before the special
> bump, and it's once again out of the top 50. Maybe I'm not the only one
> who didn't know who guest star Girl 13 was.
Man, that fall is depressing. Sure, they kept 4%.......but lost 23%. Ouch.
> 68. FLASH
>
> July Flash 188 - 29,691 ( )
> Aug Flash 189 - 29,591 ( -0.3% )
> Sep Flash 190 - 29,423 ( -0.6% )
> Oct Flash 191 - 29,305 ( -0.4% )
> Nov Flash 192 - 28,805 ( -1.7% )
> Dec Flash 193 - 28,185 ( -2.2% )
> Jan Flash 194 - 27,562 ( -2.2% )
> Feb Flash 195 - 27,258 ( -1.1% )
> Mar Flash 196 - 27,417 ( 0.6% )
> 6 month -6.8%
WHY ISN'T THIS MUCH HIGHER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Sorry, had to say it...even with a slight bump up in sales.
> 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
>
> July Azrael Agent of the Bat 92 - 15,143 ( )
> Aug Azrael Agent of the Bat 93 - 14,871 ( -1.8% )
> Sep Azrael Agent of the Bat 94 - 14,555 ( -2.1% )
> Oct Azrael Agent of the Bat 95 - 14,053 ( -3.4% )
> Nov Azrael Agent of the Bat 96 - 14,136 ( 0.6% )
> Dec Azrael Agent of the Bat 97 - 13,502 ( -4.5% )
> Jan Azrael Agent of the Bat 98 - 12,893 ( -4.5% )
> Feb Azrael Agent of the Bat 99 - 13,035 ( 1.1% )
> Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> 6 month -2.3%
>
> Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> so.
Hate to say it, but think of the bump it could've gotten if they'd gotten
Quesada to do the cover (which is what Jerry Ordway told me DC was trying a
year ago or so)...
> 148. DOOM PATROL
>
> July Doom Patrol 10 - 16,991 ( )
> Aug Doom Patrol 11 - 16,480 ( -3.0% )
> Sep Doom Patrol 12 - 15,736 ( -4.5% )
> Oct Doom Patrol 13 - 15,455 ( -1.8% )
> Nov Doom Patrol 14 - 14,811 ( -4.2% )
> Dec Doom Patrol 15 - 14,552 ( -1.7% )
> Jan Doom Patrol 16 - 14,117 ( -3.0% )
> Feb Doom Patrol 17 - 13,660 ( -3.2% )
> Mar Doom Patrol 18 - 13,119 ( -4.0% )
> 6 month -16.6%
>
> Cancelled, but I don't remember which is the final issue.
#21 is the end, I believe.
> 163. HUNTER AGE OF MAGIC
>
> July Hunter Age of Magic 13 - 12,511 ( )
> Aug Hunter Age of Magic 14 - 12,545 ( 0.3% )
> Sep Hunter Age of Magic 15 - 12,601 ( 0.4% )
> Oct Hunter Age of Magic 16 - 12,267 ( -2.7% )
> Nov Hunter Age of Magic 17 - 12,273 ( 0.0% )
> Dec Hunter Age of Magic 18 - 11,937 ( -2.7% )
> Jan Hunter Age of Magic 19 - 11,692 ( -2.1% )
> Feb Hunter Age of Magic 20 - 11,559 ( -1.1% )
> Mar Hunter Age of Magic 21 - 11,387 ( -1.5% )
> 6 month -9.6%
>
> Do people even remember that this book exists any more?
Remember what?
;p
> 210. RESISTANCE
>
> Sep Resistance 1 - 14,999 ( )
> Oct Resistance 2 - 10,560 ( -29.6% )
> Nov Resistance 3 - 8,508 ( -19.4% )
> Dec Resistance 4 - 7,035 ( -17.3% )
> Jan Resistance 5 - 6,422 ( -8.7% )
> Feb Resistance 6 - 5,767 ( -10.2% )
> Mar Resistance 7 - 5,589 ( -3.1% )
> 6 month -62.7%
>
> Cancelled.
With issue #8, so either a slight bump or lower numbers...
> 218. FOREVER MAELSTROM
>
> Nov Forever Maelstrom 1 - 9,944 ( )
> Dec Forever Maelstrom 2 - 8,305 ( -16.5% )
> Jan Forever Maelstrom 3 - 6,074 ( -26.9% )
> Feb Forever Maelstrom 4 - 4,854 ( -20.1% )
> Mar Forever Maelstrom 5 - 4,164 ( -14.2% )
>
> Only one more issue to go on this miniseries.
Thankfully?
Bob Heer
> Double-shipping Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men is an effective
> way to maintain market share, even if it does seem a bit of a cheap
> trick to me. Still, whatever works.
It's especially suspect since multiple issues of the same book are
pretty much by definition selling more books to the same people. I
can see it blowing up in their face. For now people get the two
copies of Ultimate Spider-Man a month and everything else they get.
After a while their going to look at how much they're spending and
something is going to go (especially combined with the price increase
for much of their line).
> 47. SUPERMAN
> Dec Superman 189 - 34,488 ( 2.2% )
> Feb Superman 190 - 31,937 ( -7.4% )
> Mar Superman 191 - 33,006 ( 3.3% )
> 6 month -11.3%
>
> Did the 10-cent comic do some good? Are retailers expecting additional
> interest from Superman guest-starring in the Batman book? Does the Flash
> guest-starring mean additional readers? The last one is the part I find
> most interesting -- is this the latest Flash/Superman race? If so, has
> anyone yet started the list of goofy pre-Crisis concepts that HAVEN'T
> returned yet? Seems like there's only a handful left to be reintroduced.
They've done a few Superman/Flash races since Crisis, I think.
Have they done the Haney Super-Sons post-Crisis?
> 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
> Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> 6 month -2.3%
>
> Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> so.
I plan to, and I haven't picked up consecutive issues since about #35.
I might even have pre-ordered it (since my store usually only has one
or no shelf copies after the first week). Probably the only DCU book
I'll get this month.
> 211. LOONEY TUNES
> Feb Looney Tunes 99 - 3,328 ( 2.3% )
> Mar Looney Tunes 100 - 5,454 ( 63.9% )
> 6 month 56.0%
>
> A terrific-sounding anniversary issue with big-name guest stars in a
> tribute to Warner Bros. animators.
I was wondering what the deal with that increase was. I might have to
check this one out.
Bob Heer
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Johanna Draper Carlson <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote
>
> Which is a bit of a shock, as I'm reading this (but not replying to - fixed
> that bit) in the Marvel newsgroup..... ;p
Did I mis-send this? I knew I was tired after pulling all the numbers,
but ... sorry. My mistake.
> > 55. ACTION COMICS
> >
> > July Action 793 - 34,676 ( )
> > Aug Action 794 - 32,651 ( -5.8% )
> > Sep Action 795 - 33,635 ( 3.0% )
> > Oct Action 796 - 33,783 ( 0.4% )
> > Nov Action 797 - 31,238 ( -7.5% )
> > Dec Action 798 - 32,617 ( 4.4% )
> > Jan Action 799 - 31,727 ( -2.7% )
> > Feb Action 800 - 40,318 ( 27.1% )
> > Mar Action 801 - 30,881 ( -23.4% )
> > 6 month -8.2%
> >
> Man, that fall is depressing. Sure, they kept 4%.......but lost 23%. Ouch.
Actually, based on estimates, they're lower than they were before the
anniversary issue. However, it's all probably within statistical error
or month-to-month variation.
> > 68. FLASH
> >
> > Mar Flash 196 - 27,417 ( 0.6% )
> > 6 month -6.8%
>
> WHY ISN'T THIS MUCH HIGHER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Because it's dark and depressing? :)
> > 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
> >
> > Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> > so.
>
> Hate to say it, but think of the bump it could've gotten if they'd gotten
> Quesada to do the cover (which is what Jerry Ordway told me DC was trying a
> year ago or so)...
Does Quesada draw large numbers? I know his art is followed by fans and
his name is often talked about, but does that translate into sales?
> > 148. DOOM PATROL
> > Mar Doom Patrol 18 - 13,119 ( -4.0% )
> > 6 month -16.6%
> >
> > Cancelled, but I don't remember which is the final issue.
>
> #21 is the end, I believe.
Thanks.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> You should probably do a repost, Johanna -- this went to the Marvel
> newsgroup instead of DC.
Done. Thank you.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> After a while their going to look at how much they're spending and
> something is going to go (especially combined with the price increase
> for much of their line).
Mmm, good point. If Marvel's consistently putting out (let's say) 2
issues of Ultimate Spider-Man a month, then someone who rethinks their
buying habits will save twice the amount by dropping that title.
> Have they done the Haney Super-Sons post-Crisis?
Were they in the banned Elseworlds 80-page giant? I don't remember.
> > 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
> > Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> > 6 month -2.3%
> >
> > Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> > so.
>
> I plan to, and I haven't picked up consecutive issues since about #35.
> I might even have pre-ordered it (since my store usually only has one
> or no shelf copies after the first week). Probably the only DCU book
> I'll get this month.
Why is that? To see how it all wraps up?
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Johanna Draper Carlson <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote i
> > > >93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> > > >Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> > > >The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
> > >
> > > Whimper?
> >
> > That sounded too pathetic to me. :)
>
> Crackle?
Is this going to turn into a thread about sound effects? :)
> > > >105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
>
> Cartoon tie-in books are the same thing as an Ultimate offering: think about
> it. ;p
Yeah, I agree. Basic, more approachable versions of the characters.
Which means DC did them first, only without the marketing and
promotional savvy and vision.
> > TSTF? What's that?
>
> Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, I think.
What's the F for? (She said, leaving open a straight line.)
M.O.R
MOR
"James William Moar" <jw...@st-andrews.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.96.1030301201037.900A-100000@psych...
Adrian Brown
Carlson <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> writes:
>163. HUNTER AGE OF MAGIC
>
>July Hunter Age of Magic 13 - 12,511 ( )
>Aug Hunter Age of Magic 14 - 12,545 ( 0.3% )
>Sep Hunter Age of Magic 15 - 12,601 ( 0.4% )
>Oct Hunter Age of Magic 16 - 12,267 ( -2.7% )
>Nov Hunter Age of Magic 17 - 12,273 ( 0.0% )
>Dec Hunter Age of Magic 18 - 11,937 ( -2.7% )
>Jan Hunter Age of Magic 19 - 11,692 ( -2.1% )
>Feb Hunter Age of Magic 20 - 11,559 ( -1.1% )
>Mar Hunter Age of Magic 21 - 11,387 ( -1.5% )
> 6 month -9.6%
>
>Do people even remember that this book exists any more?
By coincidence I read all of these issues in one sitting today - having
stockpiled a load of comics in recent months.
It's still a very good story which suffers from unnecessary cartoony
characters.
The intrigue involved in Lily getting Tim to do what he wants (or at least
thinking so) has been handled well as a series. The book needs a new artist -
or better still, the artist needs to change the way he draws people, because
the backdrops are often delightful.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
www.starbuckscocacolagap.com CONSUMPTION
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
www.ninthart.com NINTH ART - comics writing with vigour
Adrian Brown
writes:
>>Are other people as depressed by recent events in this series as I am?
>
>Couldn't tell you. Dropped it after issue 4. DC doesn't want me buying
>it since they haven't brought out a trade since.
I decided to stop buying it after the latest cover.
Which is a shame.
Sean Walsh
message news:johanna-EF5232...@news.fu-berlin.de...
> "Sean Walsh" <arcad...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Johanna Draper Carlson <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote
i
> > > ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
> > > > >93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> > > > >Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> > > > >The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
> > > >
> > > > Whimper?
> > >
> > > That sounded too pathetic to me. :)
> >
> > Crackle?
>
> Is this going to turn into a thread about sound effects? :)
I'll behave. :p
> > > > >105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
> >
> > Cartoon tie-in books are the same thing as an Ultimate offering: think
about
> > it. ;p
>
> Yeah, I agree. Basic, more approachable versions of the characters.
> Which means DC did them first, only without the marketing and
> promotional savvy and vision.
>
> > > TSTF? What's that?
> >
> > Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, I think.
>
> What's the F for? (She said, leaving open a straight line.)
Ooh, my bad. Thought that was another "T" (though the "F" could be a typo on
Ralf's part...?)
Sean Walsh
message news:johanna-E910FB...@news.fu-berlin.de...
> "Sean Walsh" <arcad...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Johanna Draper Carlson <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote
> > > DC Sales Estimates March 2003
> >
> > Which is a bit of a shock, as I'm reading this (but not replying to -
fixed
> > that bit) in the Marvel newsgroup..... ;p
>
> Did I mis-send this? I knew I was tired after pulling all the numbers,
> but ... sorry. My mistake.
>
> > > 55. ACTION COMICS
> > >
> > > July Action 793 - 34,676 ( )
> > > Aug Action 794 - 32,651 ( -5.8% )
> > > Sep Action 795 - 33,635 ( 3.0% )
> > > Oct Action 796 - 33,783 ( 0.4% )
> > > Nov Action 797 - 31,238 ( -7.5% )
> > > Dec Action 798 - 32,617 ( 4.4% )
> > > Jan Action 799 - 31,727 ( -2.7% )
> > > Feb Action 800 - 40,318 ( 27.1% )
> > > Mar Action 801 - 30,881 ( -23.4% )
> > > 6 month -8.2%
> > >
> > Man, that fall is depressing. Sure, they kept 4%.......but lost 23%.
Ouch.
>
> Actually, based on estimates, they're lower than they were before the
> anniversary issue. However, it's all probably within statistical error
> or month-to-month variation.
Ah, didn't look at the sales numbers. So let me restate it, in now-needed
capital letters: OUCH.
> > > 68. FLASH
> > >
> > > Mar Flash 196 - 27,417 ( 0.6% )
> > > 6 month -6.8%
> >
> > WHY ISN'T THIS MUCH HIGHER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
>
> Because it's dark and depressing? :)
It's not that dark. The Ultimate books are darker than Flash. And
depressing? Any book that at any time features gorillas parachuting into a
prison should NEVER be considered depressing, Johanna..... :p
> > > 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
> > >
> > > Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> > > so.
> >
> > Hate to say it, but think of the bump it could've gotten if they'd
gotten
> > Quesada to do the cover (which is what Jerry Ordway told me DC was
trying a
> > year ago or so)...
>
> Does Quesada draw large numbers? I know his art is followed by fans and
> his name is often talked about, but does that translate into sales?
Considering it's a 138th-placed DC comic, I think Quesada could've bumped it
up.......to around #130... ;p
(If he did have a fan-following, it'd either tamely support this book or
burn the comic stores that sold it down....)
> > > 148. DOOM PATROL
> > > Mar Doom Patrol 18 - 13,119 ( -4.0% )
> > > 6 month -16.6%
> > >
> > > Cancelled, but I don't remember which is the final issue.
> >
> > #21 is the end, I believe.
>
> Thanks.
Anything to help the data gathering and analyzing process. :)
Jim Connick
"Sean Walsh" <arcad...@yahoo.com> wrote
: > > > TSTF? What's that?
: > >
: > > Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, I think.
: >
: > What's the F for? (She said, leaving open a straight line.)
:
: Ooh, my bad. Thought that was another "T" (though the "F" could be a typo
on
: Ralf's part...?)
It is, Tom Strong's Terrific Tales is the book's name.
James Schee
wrote:
> DC Sales Estimates March 2003
>
> 1. BATMAN
>
> July Batman 605 - 52,635 ( )
> Aug Batman 606 - 44,218 ( -16.0% )
> Sep Batman 607 - 43,603 ( -1.4% )
> Oct Batman 608 - 113,061 ( 159.3% )
> Nov Batman 609 - 95,065 ( -15.9% )
> Dec Batman 610 - 109,415 ( 15.1% )
> Jan Batman 611 - 120,042 ( 9.7% )
> Feb Batman 612 - 125,095 ( 4.2% )
> Mar Batman 613 - 122,835 ( -1.8% )
> 6 month 181.7%
No offense intended here I just wanted to ask this. Is there any chance
of changing the format for this? I would prefer to see the new issue on
top, then look down and see what sales were prior. Rather then the way
it is now where I have to read up to see what sales were like. Which
just seems like more work to read. (I don't like to read upwards:))
>Still, that will only keep them hot for so long. How can this
> be turned into long-term success for the title, franchise, and company?
Keep plugging in big name creators with differenct visions of the
characters every few months? (Not allowing people to get used to
something and thus make it old hat.)
> 34. AQUAMAN
>
> Dec Aquaman 1 - 45,112 ( )
> Jan Aquaman 2 - 36,505 ( -19.1% )
> Feb Aquaman 3 - 36,215 ( -0.8% )
> Mar Aquaman 4 - 34,983 ( -3.4% )
>
> Ok, I may have spoken too soon last month about this stabilizing. It
> looks as though retailers are still searching for the right number of
> orders. It seems to be satisfying long-term Aquaman fans, but I'm not
> sure how much interest the current storyline has for newer readers.
As a new Awuaman reader I'm reading and liking it so far.
>
> 55. ACTION COMICS
>
> July Action 793 - 34,676 ( )
> Aug Action 794 - 32,651 ( -5.8% )
> Sep Action 795 - 33,635 ( 3.0% )
> Oct Action 796 - 33,783 ( 0.4% )
> Nov Action 797 - 31,238 ( -7.5% )
> Dec Action 798 - 32,617 ( 4.4% )
> Jan Action 799 - 31,727 ( -2.7% )
> Feb Action 800 - 40,318 ( 27.1% )
> Mar Action 801 - 30,881 ( -23.4% )
> 6 month -8.2%
>
> Those who live by the anniversary issue will also die by it. Sales
> appear to have dropped back slightly than they were before the special
> bump, and it's once again out of the top 50. Maybe I'm not the only one
> who didn't know who guest star Girl 13 was.
I still think it's odd that they were hyping the guest appearance of a
character who hadn't made her first appearance at the time. Seems like
they thought she'd be a bigger hit with fans than she turned out to be.
> 61. BATGIRL YEAR ONE
>
> Dec Batgirl: Year One 1 - 32,343 ( )
> Jan Batgirl: Year One 2 - 28,630 ( -11.5% )
> Feb Batgirl: Year One 3 - 28,622 ( -0.0% )
> Mar Batgirl: Year One 4 - 29,370 ( 2.6% )
>
> That's a pleasant sight. Also note that this miniseries was #55 last
> month with lesser sales, illustrating how variable placement can be.
>
I've been really enjoying this miniseries. Which is a surprise since I'm
not a huge fan of Dixon or Beatty's past work, and the artist was new to
me.
>
> 64. NIGHTWING
>
> July Nightwing 71 - 34,739 ( )
> Aug Nightwing 72 - 33,420 ( -3.8% )
> Sep Nightwing 73 - 32,083 ( -4.0% )
> Oct Nightwing 74 - 31,058 ( -3.2% )
> Nov Nightwing 75 - 31,352 ( 0.9% )
> Dec Nightwing 76 - 30,100 ( -4.0% )
> Jan Nightwing 77 - 29,278 ( -2.7% )
> Feb Nightwing 78 - 28,809 ( -1.6% )
> Mar Nightwing 79 - 28,485 ( -1.1% )
> 6 month -11.2%
>
> Consistent, competent work winds up being rewarded with slowly falling
> sales.
That's a shame as to me it's the best Batman book going right now.
> 73. DANGER GIRL HAWAIIAN PUNCH
>
> Mar Danger Girl: Hawaiian Punch - 26,717 ( )
>
> The Danger Girl 3-D Special that just came out did 15,312 and ranked
> 120, for comparison. Both are priced at $4.95.
Hmm, I wonder who is doing this book? I'm not interested in reading it,
I just wonderat the reason for sales difference.
> 81. SUPERGIRL
>
> July Supergirl 72 - 19,122 ( )
> Aug Supergirl 73 - 18,925 ( -1.0% )
> Sep Supergirl 74 - 18,915 ( -0.1% )
> Oct Supergirl 75 - 21,470 ( 13.5% )
> Nov Supergirl 76 - 19,735 ( -8.1% )
> Dec Supergirl 77 - 20,307 ( 2.9% )
> Jan Supergirl 78 - 22,508 ( 10.8% )
> Feb Supergirl 79 - 23,931 ( 6.3% )
> Mar Supergirl 80 - 25,267 ( 5.6% )
> 6 month 33.6%
>
> Still growing, still cancelled. I'm curious to see if they bring out the
> trade and if so, how it does. DC has so few books with positive growth
> rates that it's a shame they're going to lose this one. On the other
> hand, it might be that cancellation that's helping drive the rise --
> people know that they're only signing on for a limited time. This isn't
> the only title to get a last issue sales bump.
I know I'm dissappinted in seeing it end since I'm really enjoying it
currently. On the other hand, it's the storyline that I'm enjoying most.
Given my dislike for most of the previous run before this, chances are
after this storyline it might not have been able to keep my interest
anyway.
> 83. WONDER WOMAN
>
> July Wonder Woman 183 - 24,828 ( )
> Aug Wonder Woman 184 - 24,842 ( 0.1% )
> Sep Wonder Woman 185 - 24,235 ( -2.4% )
> Oct Wonder Woman 186 - 23,358 ( -3.6% )
> Nov Wonder Woman 187 - 24,013 ( 2.8% )
> Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 187 - 23,072 ( -3.9% )
> Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 188 - 23,096 ( 0.1% )
> Feb Wonder Woman 189 - 26,320 ( 14.0% )
> Mar Wonder Woman 190 - 24,702 ( -6.1% )
> 6 month 1.9%
Hmm hopefully word of mouth on this book with Simonson and Ordway will
cause some reorders after the first issue is out.
> 91. CATWOMAN
>
> July Catwoman 9 - 28,912 ( )
> Aug Catwoman 10 - 27,937 ( -3.4% )
> Sep Catwoman 11 - 27,387 ( -2.0% )
> Oct Catwoman 12 - 26,524 ( -3.2% )
> Nov Catwoman (resolicted) 12 - 25,477 ( -3.9% )
> Nov Catwoman 13 - 25,620 ( 0.6% )
> Dec Catwoman 14 - 24,739 ( -3.4% )
> Jan Catwoman 15 - 23,852 ( -3.6% )
> Feb Catwoman 16 - 23,393 ( -1.9% )
> Mar Catwoman 17 - 22,872 ( -2.2% )
> 6 month -16.5%
>
> Are other people as depressed by recent events in this series as I am?
I stopped reading it after the tortue scene, it just went WAY too far
for me.
> 93. YOUNG JUSTICE
>
> July Young Justice 47 - 24,102 ( )
> Aug Young Justice 48 - 23,674 ( -1.8% )
> Sep Young Justice 49 - 23,489 ( -0.8% )
> Oct Young Justice 50 - 23,833 ( 1.5% )
> Nov Young Justice 51 - 22,949 ( -3.7% )
> Dec Young Justice 52 - 22,758 ( -0.8% )
> Jan Young Justice 53 - 22,424 ( -1.5% )
> Feb Young Justice 54 - 22,342 ( -0.4% )
> Mar Young Justice 55 - 22,602 ( 1.2% )
> 6 month -3.8%
>
> The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
A pop?
> 111. GOTHAM CENTRAL
>
> Dec Gotham Central 1 - 26,785 ( )
> Dec Gotham Central 2 - 24,651 ( -8.0% )
> Jan Gotham Central 3 - 20,227 ( -17.9% )
> Feb Gotham Central 4 - 19,227 ( -4.9% )
> Mar Gotham Central 5 - 18,216 ( -5.3% )
>
> Yikes, that's not good. Retailers should have an idea of the series by
> now, and I was hoping to see the drop slowing.
I still say not using the characters fans think of when they think
Gotham City Police hurt this title. I think it would have been smarter
to start with the established guns, then slowly shift focus to your own
pet characters.
> 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
>
>
> Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> 6 month -2.3%
>
> Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> so.
Especially in this case where it's likely the character won't be seen
again. With O'Neil pretty much out of comics now, and this being his
character and from the apparent lack of interest in the character by the
current creative teams. This is likely the last time to see this
character, and may offer that rarity of things in the DCU, an ending.
> 174. AMERICAN CENTURY
> Why is this book still around? I know Howard Chaykin has quite a
> reputation, but these numbers are abysmal. There are collected editions,
> but I have trouble envisioning them selling well enough to make up for
> these estimates.
Didn't it get a good write-up in Entertainment Weekly?
Thanks for all the hard work and time you must put into this.
James
Jim Connick
"James Schee" <jameswsc...@earthlink.net> wrote
: > 73. DANGER GIRL HAWAIIAN PUNCH
: >
: > Mar Danger Girl: Hawaiian Punch - 26,717 ( )
: >
: > The Danger Girl 3-D Special that just came out did 15,312 and ranked
: > 120, for comparison. Both are priced at $4.95.
: Hmm, I wonder who is doing this book? I'm not interested in reading it,
: I just wonderat the reason for sales difference.
Phil Noto is doing this one.
Tom Galloway
Only in the Elseworlds 80-page Giant that got pulped other than in Britain.
Even written by Haney if I recall correctly.
tyg t...@panix.com
--
Currently looking for high-level tech writer/course developer/trainer work.
Extensive writing/training experience as well as software engineering skills.
Willing to do either contract or permanent work, as well as relocate.
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>
>> DC doesn't want me buying [Catwoman] since they haven't brought out a
>> trade since [issue #4].
>
>We're talking about issue #17 here -- how long is typical for DC to wait
>between issues and collections? A year doesn't seem excessive. Compared
>to Marvel, it's glacial, yeah, but Marvel is rushing stuff.
It's 16 months and counting. 17 - 4 = 13 + 3(previews) = 16.
Yes, a year is excessive. You have to strike while the iron is hot,
and if a series is generating interest, you need to publish a
collection ASAP. DC's trade schedule is not just glacial compared to
Marvel, they're just horrendous in general.
No trades for a book tells me that a publisher has no confidence in
their product, that they are lazy, and/or that they are ridiculously
stupid for being satisfied with making money only once of off work
they've paid for and then letting it gather dust for all eternity
instead of reprinting it.
>> >105. BATMAN ADVENTURES
>> >Mar Batman Adventures 2 - 19,187
>> >The first issue is DC's Free Comic Book Day offering, so no estimate
>> >figures available (but see the newsstand edition listed below). This is
>> >good placing for an all-ages book.
>>
>> DC are retarded in their FCBD offerings. Who cares about the cartoon
>> tie-in books? If they feel they must cater to non-existant kids who
>> are going to come wandering in on FCBD, at least put out a Vertigo
>> free book and a mainstream DC free book and a kids line free book.
>
>I know a number of adults who find the Batman Adventures book the best
>portrayal of the character out there. This isn't a cartoon tie-in so
>much as an all-ages brand. I think it's a great choice for them
It's a horrible choice because it's their *ONE* offering. Giving a
variety -- like Oni did last year -- is a much better choice. We both
know this book will be seen as very bland by a lot of people. These
are people DC could be trying to hook. It is in no way representative
of the type of comics DC publishes. People looking for more books like
that will not find them.
>it's also tied into their current best-seller through use of the character.
So then give away your best seller and not some ancillary book by a
different writer, a different artist and with a totally different
style from said best seller. This is ridiculous logic, Johanna. You
know that just because characters in one book are the same characters
that are featured in a different good book, that that doesn't make the
first book good.
>> The ABC line just isn't what it once was. Promethea is really the only
>> book they have left. Tom Strong only comes out every two months and
>> looks to be going back to the anthology-style stories, which were a
>> downturn the first time around. I want longer stories like the early
>> Saveen arc, or at the least stories that take up an entire issue.
>> We've got one anthology title in TSTF, we don't need another one in
>> the main book.
>
>TSTF? What's that?
A typo. Tom Strong's Terrific Tales.
Ralf Haring
<jameswsc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>No offense intended here I just wanted to ask this. Is there any chance
>of changing the format for this? I would prefer to see the new issue on
>top, then look down and see what sales were prior. Rather then the way
>it is now where I have to read up to see what sales were like. Which
>just seems like more work to read. (I don't like to read upwards:))
Boooo. Hiss. No changes. Sales data format good.
>> 83. WONDER WOMAN
>>
>> July Wonder Woman 183 - 24,828 ( )
>> Aug Wonder Woman 184 - 24,842 ( 0.1% )
>> Sep Wonder Woman 185 - 24,235 ( -2.4% )
>> Oct Wonder Woman 186 - 23,358 ( -3.6% )
>> Nov Wonder Woman 187 - 24,013 ( 2.8% )
>> Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 187 - 23,072 ( -3.9% )
>> Jan Wonder Woman (resolicited) 188 - 23,096 ( 0.1% )
>> Feb Wonder Woman 189 - 26,320 ( 14.0% )
>> Mar Wonder Woman 190 - 24,702 ( -6.1% )
>> 6 month 1.9%
>
>Hmm hopefully word of mouth on this book with Simonson and Ordway will
>cause some reorders after the first issue is out.
Doubtful. Expect a bigger push when Rucka starts.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Yes, a year is excessive. You have to strike while the iron is hot,
> and if a series is generating interest, you need to publish a
> collection ASAP.
At the same time, though, if you're treating retailers as your partners,
you don't want to undercut their back issue sales for a reasonable time.
> No trades for a book tells me that a publisher has no confidence in
> their product, that they are lazy, and/or that they are ridiculously
> stupid for being satisfied with making money only once of off work
But that's not what we're talking about here, is it? There is a Catwoman
trade -- there just hasn't been a second one in the amount of time you'd
like. The series got a lot of press early, but unlike (say) Batman or Y
The Last Man, that buzz has dropped off. Given limited resources, I can
see why DC would find other things more pressing. Also, since we're
talking about policy, some of their books aren't worthy of being
available long-term, in my opinion.
Now, if you're saying that DC should expand its collected books
department and as a result, its line of collections, yeah, I agree. But
in the current circumstance, especially now that they're starting to
look backwards for historical material as well (like Shade the Changing
Man), I can understand that we're going to not be able to get everything
in book form.
> It's a horrible choice because it's their *ONE* offering.
Ah, you're arguing that they should have more than one, not that Batman
Adventures was a bad choice. Ok, yes, given DC's various lines, I agree.
If you have to go with only one for some reason, though, I think they
made the best choice.
> >it's also tied into their current best-seller through use of the character.
>
> So then give away your best seller and not some ancillary book by a
> different writer, a different artist and with a totally different
> style from said best seller.
I disagree -- the best-seller isn't appropriate for kids, so I wouldn't
want that to be their only selection.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> > > > 68. FLASH
> It's not that dark. The Ultimate books are darker than Flash.
The Ultimate books didn't start out any other way, unlike Flash.
> depressing?
Yep -- every story I check out seems to feature someone Wally knows
(although they're characters I'm not that familiar with) injured or
dealing with the death of a loved one or worried into depression. I
expect my superheroes to have more positive effect on their friends and
family. As it is, you could make the case that Wally should leave for
his acquaintances' mental health. :)
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Is there any chance of changing the format for this? I would prefer
> to see the new issue on top, then look down and see what sales were
> prior.
Not likely, because then I'd have to reformat every title every month.
Too much work, sorry.
> > 55. ACTION COMICS
> I still think it's odd that they were hyping the guest appearance of a
> character who hadn't made her first appearance at the time. Seems like
> they thought she'd be a bigger hit with fans than she turned out to be.
I still don't know who she is!
> > 81. SUPERGIRL
> Given my dislike for most of the previous run before this, chances are
> after this storyline it might not have been able to keep my interest
> anyway.
It's possible that that's a factor in the decision. Sometimes absence
makes the heart grow fonder while presence just gets on your nerves. :)
> > 93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> > The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
>
> A pop?
Someone already suggested crackle, right? Are we all thinking of
breakfast?
> > 174. AMERICAN CENTURY
> Didn't it get a good write-up in Entertainment Weekly?
Yeah, but so did Doom Patrol, and that didn't help it.
W. Blaine Dowler
> Mmm, good point. If Marvel's consistently putting out (let's say) 2
> issues of Ultimate Spider-Man a month, then someone who rethinks their
> buying habits will save twice the amount by dropping that title.
BMB is under contract for 18 issues per year, so that's 1.5 per month, just
in case anyone here is doing the math.
--
- Blaine
http://www.bureau42.com
XFW # 299792458, WM, SW, WNS, NRMTPB, FPSSG
SVS# 0.00729735308002..., CoC #36, SSUCS
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>
>> Yes, a year is excessive. You have to strike while the iron is hot,
>> and if a series is generating interest, you need to publish a
>> collection ASAP.
>
>At the same time, though, if you're treating retailers as your partners,
>you don't want to undercut their back issue sales for a reasonable time.
Considering most retailers I've known grossly overcharge for back
issues, I have no problem at all undercutting them.
>But that's not what we're talking about here, is it? There is a Catwoman
>trade -- there just hasn't been a second one in the amount of time you'd
>like.
...and there's a history of DC putting out one trade and then never
putting out another one. No confidence.
>Now, if you're saying that DC should expand its collected books
>department and as a result, its line of collections, yeah, I agree. But
>in the current circumstance, especially now that they're starting to
>look backwards for historical material as well (like Shade the Changing
>Man), I can understand that we're going to not be able to get everything
>in book form.
Let's run through a few of these from last month's previews:
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 12 (hc)
Spirit Archives Vol. 10 (hc)
Adam Strange: Man of Two Worlds (tpb)
Batman: Harvest Breed (tpb)
Green Arrow: Quiver (tpb)
Brooklyn Dreams (tpb)
Gen^13: Meanwhile... (tpb)
These are either old or reprints of pre-existing collections.
Batman: Hush (hc)
JSA: Fair Play (tpb)
Lucifer Vol. 4: Divine Comedy (tpb)
And so we come to the current series.
And lets take a look at the new previews:
Batman: Contagion (old)
JLA: Obsidian Age (new)
Teen Titans: Terror of Trigon (new printing)
Batman Archives (new printing)
JLA Archives (old)
Thunder Agents Archives (old)
Hellblazer: Freezes Over (old)
Transmetropolitan: Dirge (old)
What current DC (non-Vertigo) titles are being offered consistently as
trade paperbacks? JLA, JSA...any others? Flash miraculously had a
second trade recently. No confidence.
Bob Heer
> bob...@canada.com (Bob Heer) wrote:
> > > 138. AZRAEL AGENT OF THE BAT
> > > Mar Azrael Agent of the Bat 100 - 14,225 ( 9.1% )
> > > 6 month -2.3%
> > >
> > > Final issue, large bump. Do people really come back for the end? Guess
> > > so.
> >
> > I plan to, and I haven't picked up consecutive issues since about #35.
> > I might even have pre-ordered it (since my store usually only has one
> > or no shelf copies after the first week). Probably the only DCU book
> > I'll get this month.
>
> Why is that? To see how it all wraps up?
Pretty much. There were some interesting thematic bits to it early on
that I wouldn't mind seeing resolved. I actually didn't, in
retrospect, mind the writing in the scattered few I read over the
years since I dropped it, just realized that it wasn't being written
for me (which is the case with just about the entire DCU right now,
and is probably a good thing).
Plus I'll always have a soft spot for Denny O'Neil's writing, and him
managing 100 straight issues (plus assorted annuals and specials along
the way) is well worth saluting.
Bob Heer
where...@yahoo.com
Although calling the book 'Jonni Future's Terrific Tail' might be more descriptive.
Jason Michael
"Ralf Haring" <ra...@duke.edu> wrote in message
news:3e625690....@news.verizon.net...
> On Sun, 02 Mar 2003 08:04:27 -0500, Johanna Draper Carlson
> <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> > ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
> >
> >> Yes, a year is excessive. You have to strike while the iron is hot,
> >> and if a series is generating interest, you need to publish a
> >> collection ASAP.
> >
> >At the same time, though, if you're treating retailers as your partners,
> >you don't want to undercut their back issue sales for a reasonable time.
>
> Considering most retailers I've known grossly overcharge for back
> issues, I have no problem at all undercutting them.
>
I believe Johanna was talking about this from DC's point of view, not yours.
Why do you think DC should immediately put all their titles out as trade
paperbacks? Do you really think everything they publish deserves that
treatment? I'd prefer the publishers concentrate their energies to making
classic, time-tested material available then just pumping out more hackneyed
product, which is what the majority of their monthly offerings are. Pumping
out trades willy-nilly hoping something will stick is Marvel's current modus
operandi, not DC's. DC has always had a slow growth approach to the book
market. And Marvel is also pumping out all those titles to make up for the
decade that DC has led the way in trades for the super-hero market.
Besides, I'd think that if sales on the first volume warranted a second
volume, DC would be putting one together.
Personally,I dropped the book after the first story arc, because the ending
to it was VERY weak, and the solicitations for the (then) upcoming issues
seemed to point to too much focus on Selina saving her friends from various
misfortunes that seemed too depressing to me.
Jason
Ralf Haring
<jwmi...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>Why do you think DC should immediately put all their titles out as trade
>paperbacks?
Not all. More than two, though.
Personally, I love CrossGen's trade policy. Everything gets collected.
I don't demand that of other publishers, though it would be nice. I do
demand a middle ground.
>Do you really think everything they publish deserves that treatment?
I do not cosider trade format a "reward" for being a good series. I
consider it my preferred reading format. I consider it a way for a
publisher to make money off of work they have already paid for.
Letting it fester in limbo is like burning money.
>I'd prefer the publishers concentrate their energies to making
>classic, time-tested material available then just pumping out more hackneyed
>product, which is what the majority of their monthly offerings are. Pumping
>out trades willy-nilly hoping something will stick is Marvel's current modus
>operandi, not DC's. DC has always had a slow growth approach to the book
>market. And Marvel is also pumping out all those titles to make up for the
>decade that DC has led the way in trades for the super-hero market.
Marvel does not publish enough trades of their past material for my
tastes either. It's ridiculous that things like CAGE or FURY get
priority over Simonson's THOR or Byrne's FF. I want both. I want
consistent collections of good current series while the series is
still going on and I want collections of good past material.
DC and Marvel are both closer to the two extremes rather than the
middle in that regard.
>Besides, I'd think that if sales on the first volume warranted a second
>volume, DC would be putting one together.
It can't be that every series DC tries to collect sells so abysmally
in trade that they stop collecting them after the first one. If that
is the case, they need to rework their trade department.
James Schee
wrote:
> James Schee <jameswsc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > Is there any chance of changing the format for this? I would prefer
> > to see the new issue on top, then look down and see what sales were
> > prior.
>
> Not likely, because then I'd have to reformat every title every month.
> Too much work, sorry.
Hmm how do you do this then? I thought you used a text file and then
added the newest entry at the bottom every mont. Thus I imagined just
reversing that wouldn't be a huge undertaking.
Apparently such isn't correct though, so I'd love a look into your
process if you don't mind sharing.
> > > 55. ACTION COMICS
> > I still think it's odd that they were hyping the guest appearance of a
> > character who hadn't made her first appearance at the time. Seems like
> > they thought she'd be a bigger hit with fans than she turned out to be.
>
> I still don't know who she is!
all I know is that she appeared in a four part storyline that wrapped up
in SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL #133 and ACTION COMICS #798. My biggest
memories of it where these bug like monster things attached to everyone
making them depressed. Oh plus Clark and Lana kissing, and Superman
breaking up an illegal porn movie ring
> > > 81. SUPERGIRL
> > Given my dislike for most of the previous run before this, chances are
> > after this storyline it might not have been able to keep my interest
> > anyway.
>
> It's possible that that's a factor in the decision. Sometimes absence
> makes the heart grow fonder while presence just gets on your nerves. :)
Hah maybe so. I know I'm bummed that the tv show Buffy for instance is
ending this season. Yet the more i thought on it, I came to realize that
it's better to end it now when the quality is good. Maybe the same case
can be made here, since I'm really enjoying Supergirl right now, and
maybe it's best to leave me wanting more.
> > > 93. YOUNG JUSTICE
> > > The final issue goes out with a baby bang. (A snap?)
> >
> > A pop?
>
> Someone already suggested crackle, right? Are we all thinking of
> breakfast?
Possibly! How about out with a fizzle?:)
James
Bob Heer
> In article <f558d7a2.03030...@posting.google.com>,
> Bob Heer <bob...@canada.com> wrote:
> >Have they done the Haney Super-Sons post-Crisis?
>
> Only in the Elseworlds 80-page Giant that got pulped other than in Britain.
> Even written by Haney if I recall correctly.
Damn, now I want one.
Y'know, there's really no good reason the BIZARRO COMIX hardcover
didn't include all of the 80-Page Giant, just by reducing the framing
sequence to its proper 10 page length (at which length it might have
been funny rather than tedious). Must be nice to be DC and be
swimming in money so you can throw out 60 pages(*) of completed and
paid for comics...
(*)actually a lot more if you count all the stuff they've bought and
paid for and didn't publish that are known about, not to mention much
more that are completely unknown to the public at large
Bob Heer
--
No matter how some of our more gutless political leaders might feel,
there is still a place for extreme violence in today's urban police
force.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> >
> >At the same time, though, if you're treating retailers as your partners,
> >you don't want to undercut their back issue sales for a reasonable time.
>
> Considering most retailers I've known grossly overcharge for back
> issues, I have no problem at all undercutting them.
I'm sorry you've had such bad encounters. In my experience, there are
plenty of retailers out there who charge a fair price for older comics.
> ...and there's a history of DC putting out one trade and then never
> putting out another one. No confidence.
A year's a short time after which to conclude "never", in my opinion,
but I can understand why you wouldn't have much confidence in them.
> What current DC (non-Vertigo) titles are being offered consistently as
> trade paperbacks? JLA, JSA...any others?
Superman and Batman. If you want other series that can be relied on to
be collected, then Vertigo is your best bet. Which makes a certain
amount of sense -- people who are interested in ongoing superhero
stories know (or figure out) that they should go to a speciality shop
for that. The bookstore market is either about well-known characters
(the franchises) or more adult-targeted stories (Vertigo).
Johanna Draper Carlson
> I believe Johanna was talking about this from DC's point of view, not yours.
Oh, yes, definitely.
> Personally,I dropped the book after the first story arc, because the ending
> to it was VERY weak, and the solicitations for the (then) upcoming issues
> seemed to point to too much focus on Selina saving her friends from various
> misfortunes that seemed too depressing to me.
You were right, as I'm sure you found out, about the direction of the
book.
It is an interesting point, though, to try and look at what DC's goals
may be for collections. In the case of something like Y The Last Man,
the quick book release seemed to be geared to allow people to jump onto
the series, not to serve an additional market. Alternately, with
something like Superman, the trades seem to be to pick up readers that
don't go into comic shops, since the issues are often recut to make a
better story package. Fancy library editions are for dedicated
collectors who'll pay $75 for a nice presentation of a favored artist's
work. Miniseries collections, for those who want to read the story more
easily.
There are a bunch of possible groups and motives to balance.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Personally, I love CrossGen's trade policy. Everything gets collected.
That's a lot easier to do when you have, what, 12 titles a month instead
of something like 60. :)
> I don't demand that of other publishers, though it would be nice. I do
> demand a middle ground.
Could you elaborate a bit more on what your ideal world would be for
trade releases? How many a month, roughly, and how would they be divided
between upscale presentations, older material, and newer material? What
would be your time frame for releasing a collection of newer work?
> I do not cosider trade format a "reward" for being a good series. I
> consider it my preferred reading format.
I do too, but there are some comics that I hope are never seen again. A
collected edition of Get Kraven, for example, while it might happen,
would be a waste of paper, in my opinion.
> Letting it fester in limbo is like burning money.
Publishing a trade has costs, though. It's not free money. You have to
pay for cleanup, corrections, recoloring (if we're talking about older
work), editorial to pull the package together (making decisions on what
additional material should be included, for example), marketing to
survey retailers and promote the book, storage space for the book's
expected shelf life...
> I want consistent collections of good current series while the series is
> still going on and I want collections of good past material.
That's a good way to put things. If we can agree on "good". :)
> It can't be that every series DC tries to collect sells so abysmally
> in trade that they stop collecting them after the first one.
It could be that DC wants to sell down stock to a certain point before
putting together and storing a second volume. It could be that what
looks like a hot title with lots of appeal turns out not to be, and
people lose interest in the series.
(That, by the way, seems to be what happened with Catwoman. It's dropped
2-4% based on estimates every month for the last 8, and it's barely in
the top 100, ranked at #91 in March.)
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Y'know, there's really no good reason the BIZARRO COMIX hardcover
> didn't include all of the 80-Page Giant, just by reducing the framing
> sequence to its proper 10 page length (at which length it might have
> been funny rather than tedious). Must be nice to be DC and be
> swimming in money so you can throw out 60 pages(*) of completed and
> paid for comics...
The saddest part to me is that I enjoyed some of the other stories a lot
more than the Kyle Baker one.
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>
>> Personally, I love CrossGen's trade policy. Everything gets collected.
>
>That's a lot easier to do when you have, what, 12 titles a month instead
>of something like 60. :)
So then it shouldn't be too hard to collect 12 out of those 60, right?
;-)
>> I don't demand that of other publishers, though it would be nice. I do
>> demand a middle ground.
>
>Could you elaborate a bit more on what your ideal world would be for
>trade releases? How many a month, roughly, and how would they be divided
>between upscale presentations, older material, and newer material? What
>would be your time frame for releasing a collection of newer work?
No necessary limit for X per month. I would like a collection of a
given storyline at the earliest the week after completion (very
unrealistic) and at the latest 6 or so months down the road (eminently
doable). For already completed series that they're collecting, I'd
expect a new volume every 3-4 months. <glares at Transmet>
Upscale presentations? Meaning hardcovers? I'm not the target market,
really. From what I've seen, DC does a reasonable job of releasing
Archives and things like those Deadman and GA/GL hardcovers. Marvel
doesn't seem to solicit too many Masterworks, though. My hardcover
purchases are very few and far between, limited to series that I think
are *really* worth it.
There should be a balance of older and newer material in any given
month. I think we can all agree that there's a lot more stuff that
could be in trade that isn't (whether or not you think it should be
the old stuff or the new stuff). The point is that it's not like
there's a lack of material out there.
>> I do not consider trade format a "reward" for being a good series. I
>> consider it my preferred reading format.
>
>I do too, but there are some comics that I hope are never seen again. A
>collected edition of Get Kraven, for example, while it might happen,
>would be a waste of paper, in my opinion.
If there's people out there who will buy it, I say publish it. There
is some merit in selling to the rubberneckers. Marvel will probably
never publish a Clone Saga collection, but I'm sure some people would
be drawn to it to see just how bad it was and what all the hubbub was
about. That's why I picked up Liefeld's CAPTAIN AMERICA (after the
fact, and for cheap...real cheap).
>> Letting it fester in limbo is like burning money.
>
>Publishing a trade has costs, though. It's not free money. You have to
>pay for cleanup, corrections, recoloring (if we're talking about older
>work), editorial to pull the package together (making decisions on what
>additional material should be included, for example), marketing to
>survey retailers and promote the book, storage space for the book's
>expected shelf life...
All of which should be offset by the fact that the meat of the
collection, the work itself, need no longer be paid for. I hadn't
taken the recoloring of older stuff into account, but once you've had
a few months of no older stuff, the cycle should be in place and you
should be able to produce a steady stream of it. It's the collections
editor's job to pull the package together. I don't buy that as an
extra cost unless they hire more editors.
>(That, by the way, seems to be what happened with Catwoman. It's dropped
>2-4% based on estimates every month for the last 8, and it's barely in
>the top 100, ranked at #91 in March.)
Not a good argument. Most of Vertigo sells around that point. CrossGen
as well. Heck, most other DC books are in the lower half of the top
100, too.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> given storyline at the earliest the week after completion (very
> unrealistic) and at the latest 6 or so months down the road (eminently
> doable).
Would you be collecting everything, then?
> Upscale presentations? Meaning hardcovers?
Yes, and Archives.
> >Publishing a trade has costs, though. It's not free money. You have to
> >pay for cleanup, corrections, recoloring (if we're talking about older
> >work), editorial to pull the package together (making decisions on what
> >additional material should be included, for example), marketing to
> >survey retailers and promote the book, storage space for the book's
> >expected shelf life...
>
> All of which should be offset by the fact that the meat of the
> collection, the work itself, need no longer be paid for.
Not so -- DC pays reprint fees and/or royalties, as I think they should
for additional use of the work.
> >(That, by the way, seems to be what happened with Catwoman. It's dropped
> >2-4% based on estimates every month for the last 8, and it's barely in
> >the top 100, ranked at #91 in March.)
>
> Not a good argument. Most of Vertigo sells around that point.
DCU and Vertigo have different expectations.
It's not the placement so much as the continued decline that I think is
most significant here.
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>> <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
>>
>> No necessary limit for X per month. I would like a collection of a
>> given storyline at the earliest the week after completion (very
>> unrealistic) and at the latest 6 or so months down the road (eminently
>> doable).
>
>Would you be collecting everything, then?
Would I collect things as trades that I wouldn't get as issues? Yes.
>> >(That, by the way, seems to be what happened with Catwoman. It's dropped
>> >2-4% based on estimates every month for the last 8, and it's barely in
>> >the top 100, ranked at #91 in March.)
>>
>> Not a good argument. Most of Vertigo sells around that point.
>
>DCU and Vertigo have different expectations.
I don't care. Vertigo's got their shit together with respect to
collections, so why can't the DCU? Is there anything inherent in say
HERO that makes it significantly different from your run of the mill
Vertigo book?
>It's not the placement so much as the continued decline that I think is
>most significant here.
So instead I should hope for titles to have upswings in sales, so that
they will be collected and then canned before there is enough material
for a second collection? ;-)
Johanna Draper Carlson
> >>
> >> No necessary limit for X per month. I would like a collection of a
> >> given storyline at the earliest the week after completion (very
> >> unrealistic) and at the latest 6 or so months down the road (eminently
> >> doable).
> >
> >Would you be collecting everything, then?
>
> Would I collect things as trades that I wouldn't get as issues? Yes.
No, not you as fan, you as Collected Edition Planner (Hypothetical).
Where would you draw the line?
> I don't care. Vertigo's got their shit together with respect to
> collections, so why can't the DCU?
They appeal to different audiences, with Vertigo being more suitable to
the adult bookstore market.
Ralf Haring
<joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>> <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
>> > ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>> >>
>> >> No necessary limit for X per month. I would like a collection of a
>> >> given storyline at the earliest the week after completion (very
>> >> unrealistic) and at the latest 6 or so months down the road (eminently
>> >> doable).
>> >
>> >Would you be collecting everything, then?
>>
>> Would I collect things as trades that I wouldn't get as issues? Yes.
>
>No, not you as fan, you as Collected Edition Planner (Hypothetical).
>Where would you draw the line?
If I'm trying to hype a series, yes.
If a series sells well, yes.
If a series is good (lets say this means it gets good reviews), yes.
If there's a niche market for it, yes. *cough*Legion Archives*cough*
The line? Fill-ins? Stuff that is universally panned? I know I said
earlier one could sell to rubberneckers, but I don't think a
collection of the Liefeld Cap should take precedence over say
Stern/Byrne Cap.
>> I don't care. Vertigo's got their shit together with respect to
>> collections, so why can't the DCU?
>
>They appeal to different audiences, with Vertigo being more suitable to
>the adult bookstore market.
The regular DC superhero books are all bought primarily by adults,
too.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> <joh...@discardme.comicsworthreading.com> wrote:
> > ra...@duke.edu (Ralf Haring) wrote:
>
> >> I don't care. Vertigo's got their shit together with respect to
> >> collections, so why can't the DCU?
> >
> >They appeal to different audiences, with Vertigo being more suitable to
> >the adult bookstore market.
>
> The regular DC superhero books are all bought primarily by adults,
> too.
That's why I said "bookstore market". The Vertigo books seem to be more
appealing to the reader, not the collector or long-time fan.
Paul O'Brien
<ra...@duke.edu> writes
>
>I don't care. Vertigo's got their shit together with respect to
>collections, so why can't the DCU? Is there anything inherent in say
>HERO that makes it significantly different from your run of the mill
>Vertigo book?
The argument is that Vertigo books are more saleable to bookstores and
to trade paperback audiences. Whether this is true or not is hard to
verify from available sales figures.
--
Paul O'Brien
THE X-AXIS - http://www.thexaxis.com
ARTICLE 10 - http://www.ninthart.com
The American century was the 1900s.
Steven Rowe
>bob...@canada.com (Bob Heer) wrote:
>
>> Y'know, there's really no good reason the BIZARRO COMIX hardcover
>> didn't include all of the 80-Page Giant, just by reducing the framing
>> sequence to its proper 10 page length (at which length it might have
>> been funny rather than tedious). Must be nice to be DC and be
>> swimming in money so you can throw out 60 pages(*) of completed and
>> paid for comics...
Bob, if they destroy the art: it is a tax write-off....
steven rowe
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