Well, the Diamond Top 100 is out for November. Let’s see how we’re doing.
A number of folks were quick to point out that “Ultimate Adventures” is now outselling “Captain Marvel.” Well, not exactly. CM #3 is ranked around 86. However, that doesn’t count the alternate CM #3 with the additional Alex Ross illos which is price tagged at $3.99. That’s ranked 141. According to the folks at Marvel, when the numbers for the two books are combined, the total sales jump the ranking of CM #3 to somewhere around #38. If that’s the case, we’re actually climbing in sales. I suppose the make-or-break will be #4.
The single greatest resistence I still hear to buying the book is, “I don’t care about ‘Captain Marvel.'” I know I said as much when I formulated the Countdown System of sales success, ranking buying/ordering priorities as Company (4), Character (3), Artist (2) and Writer (1). But dang, I hate being right.
I just find it fascinating that fans are far more loyal to characters who were, for the most part, created by people who now could not get a job writing those characters.
As for “Supergirl,” my understanding is that #75 is blowing out of stores, and by the end of business today, DC–which currently has less than a hundred copies left–will be sold out. It was ranked #88. So how did #76 sell? Dropped more than 20 places to #110. Apparently retailers didn’t know (or care) that the storyline with Kara continued. Plus it guest featured Superman and Superboy. Didn’t matter.
Sometimes I’m just left wondering.
PAD
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To be totally honest, while I, and several of my customers, are very interested in the Kara storyline, the majority of my customers are just confused. I hear comments like “so how does the angel one fit in” and “what about the current supergirl, who is she again?” and “dang it all, this is just too confusing to me” (we are in Oklahoma). This may be one of those storylines which sells better after the fact. People will be wanting to pick up the books, especially if it has long-lasting ramifications for the Supergirl continuity, and the DC comics continuity in general. If it ends up being a fake-out or a mind game, people won’t bother coming in and getting it. Most readers I think are waiting to see which way it goes.
Just my guesses of course.
Farewell, Dr Smith! http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/04/harris.obit.ap/index.html
I know, it doesn’t have anything to do with this topic. I just thought Peter would want to know.
I’m glad to hear that Captain Marvel sales are improving, I was seriously worried when I initially saw the ranking (I didn’t even know about the Alex Ross edition until I examined the chart closely).
I had a look at the revamped Marvel site earlier and found this:
http://www.marvel.com/comics/trades/detail.htm?id=110
and judging by the description (and price) it looks like Marv will get another good opportunity for a sales boost after #6 with a reference book, as well as a TPB for you to make money off 🙂
Well I’m glad to see that Captain Marvel is doing well. I hope that it continues to increase in readers and sales. It’s a great series with a true direction and deserves to be read. I checked out that Marvel link regarding the CM Trade. When is the trade to be released? Also, what’s the reference book that T is referring to?
As for Supergirl, I didn’t read much of the earlier stories, but I picked up 75 and had no trouble understanding where Supergirl’s been and where this story is going. I don’t know maybe it’s because I’m not from Oklahoma. 😉 I’m in as a new reader and totally enjoying it.
My thoughts in regards to retailers is, perhaps they’re afraid to take a risk and order more of an issue before they’ve read the issue or had any feedback from their customers. Hopefully, retailers will utilize their ability to increase their next order before the issue is released, and then just automatically increase their regular order following. I don’t know if those increases will be reflected in the “sales” figures, but at least it would be a start and would let DC know the actual demand for the storyline and series.
I started working a second job at my local comic store to pick up some extra cash this past August, and have begun to attempt to exert my influence on the ordering process. I was pleased when I was informed that after issues #1 of both Ult. Adventures and Marville, we’re not getting any more. However, we’re ordering quite low on Young Justice and Supergirl. I work with Steve Bennett (CBG reviewer) and he remarked that the cover to SG #75 definitely strikes a chord with those who remember Kara Zor-El.
I’m also interested to hear your thoughts on Jemas saying, in a recent CBG interview (I think it was CBG) that Marville would definitely continue past the first 6 issues…just not with him writing it. A real waste of Mark Bright’s talent if you ask me. And then, you have the cast of Ultimate Adventures apparently being a part of December’s “Ultimate War” storyline. Seems a little unfair to me…
By “reference book” I was referring to the TPB, since it would presumably contain the first six issues of the new run. 🙂
I stopped buying Supergirl after the first eight issues. I don’t remember why. I don’t know if the storytelling seemd less exciting because Gary Frank left, or because I wasn’t working, had to cut back, and realized that I wasn’t as anxious to find out what was happening in the next issue.
But with the things Peter has mentioned about the book, the fact that Ed Benes is now taking over Leonard Kirk’s job (sorry, but Kirk’s and Rigg’s artwork was just never adequate to me), #75 sounded like a good jumping-on point, so I bought it. If I like it, I’ll not only continue with it (giving me another monthly PAD title to read), but try and get the intervening 67 issues. Just thought you might like to know, Peter.
Posted by Victor M.:
My thoughts in regards to retailers is, perhaps they’re afraid to take a risk and order more of an issue before they’ve read the issue or had any feedback from their customers. Hopefully, retailers will utilize their ability to increase their next order before the issue is released, and then just automatically increase their regular order following. I don’t know if those increases will be reflected in the “sales” figures, but at least it would be a start and would let DC know the actual demand for the storyline and series.
Sounds about right. Sales for CM #2 took a dive compared to #1, and now #3 is rising back to #1 sale figures, presumably after retailers saw how well #1 was doing. Hopefully the trend will continue 🙂
I’m interested in knowing what you’ve got to say about Jemas’ statements too, plus if you could help campaign to get more people to read Supergirl and Young Justice too. What’s your take on that?
What I’ve got to say about Jemas’ statements? You’re gonna have to be more specific than that. He’s got a *lot* of statements. To which are you referring?
PAD
Peter: I’ve always felt that RANK was just about the least useful metric in determining sales. The only good thing to pay attention to is the actual sales figures.
I use ICV2.com’s estimates of preorders, and it shows that SUPERGIRL #74 sold in approximately 18,195 copies, #75 did 21,470, and #76 did 19,735 — about a 1600 copy gain from #74 to 76; or 8%.
I really don’t see how you can be unhappy with that, and I have to imagine that advance reorders, from the sales strength of #75, will drive that up even higher. Unless the readers sampled and walk away, #78 or 79 should come in safely above 20k.
“Rank” only meant, in this case, that 20 OTHER titles either gained in sales, or debuted higher than SUPERGIRL.
As for the “why” of the sales “drop”, as you know retailers buy several months in advance and books are non-returnable — I’d say a “blind” rise of 8% is pretty darn respectful.
-B
What I’ve got to say about Jemas’ statements? You’re gonna have to be more specific than that. He’s got a *lot* of statements. To which are you referring?
Well, specifically, the fact that he has said that Marville will continue past the initial 6 issues, no matter what happens, although he said that he would no longer write it. Regardless, the response to the book seems fairly overwhelmingly negative, so it’s frustrating to me, as a fan of CM, to think that CM could be cancelled, but Marville would go on regardless (even if Ult. Adventures beats it).
Speaking of Ultimate Adventures, it’s inclusion in the Ultimate War storyline this Decemeber seems almost like unfair exposure, especially when we haven’t seen CM appearing in other books, and the guest stars in CM haven’t been promoted at all in the past.
I’m sure, with the way things have gone down throughout this whole thing, this kind of stuff isn’t surprising, but was curious to any specific responses.
How many issues does that mean were sold?
I’ve been doing some searching, and I’ve learned just how small comics numbers are when compared to tv numbers. I’ve been involved with the //Birds of Prey// arguments (against) on the DC board, and those of us who read the comic number approximately 22,000, which is less than half a Nielsen point. This is the reason we are not a large enough audience to market a tv show towards, and that’s just plain ridiculous: Making an adaptation of material from another medium that isn’t intended to capture the audience from that original medium? It’s absurd that that would even be lucrative.
In spite of suggestions that the WB will be dropping the BoP show, it was watched by several times the number of people who read comics.
This is the sort of thing I’m trying to change. I apologize for pushing my own cause here, but I need the awareness.
I’ve drafted an online petition (at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?Nekouken) intended to expand the comics audience to the point that it would be financially wise to listen to us. I could use all the signatures I can get (21 at the moment — I posted it yesterday) and if you could help me get the word out as well, I’d appreciate it. This will benefit us all. Comics might even become so popular that the iconoclasts among us have to drop them in favor of something even more unpopular.
Thank you very much, and I welcome your e-mails with any questions.