It IS funny that Newsarama got the year wrong for the sales report from Dec. 2007. We can either shrug and go, "human error" or laugh at them because they're supposed to be "pro's" and they make a common MB error? Take your pick.
Thoughts:
- The fact that ULTIMATES 3 #1 was the Top seller, and OMD #4 the second best seller, essentially show that fans don't vote with their wallets even when they lambaste something. To my credit, I didn't buy U3. To my debit, I did buy OMD #4. Granted, #1 issues are almost always overordered.
- THOR is stilling hanging on within the Top 5. Go Odinson!
- Naturally, NEW AVENGERS remains where it is, the best selling regular ongoing. Late MIGHTY AVENGERS isn't far behind.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA at #13; a rare great book that sells great. Yeah, still riding Cap's death and the buzz of New Cap is helping, but c'mon, good books selling like they deserve is bloody rare (just look at THE ORDER). Appreciate it.
- MESSIAH COMPLEX has been good to the X-titles. I haven't been reading it, though.
- Wow, AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE took a dive, falling at least 5 slots from where it was in November. The annual sold about the same numbers, it seems, so there is still a strong audience for this. Still, crossovers helped inflate this title so finding it's level may still be something it has to do. No need to worry yet, though.
- USM continues to slip with Bagley's leaving; maybe many readers took the "end of an era" promotions literally and decided to bail then. Or, Bagley remains a draw with Spider-material. Ultimate Power has to have been seen as a disappointment, and Ult. XM & UFF continue their slow and steady skid. Many are believing 2008 may be a "make or break" year for Ultimate, as many question it's reason to exist after 7-8 years. Much of the core talent is gone and so are many of the ideas. They simply sell too well to cancel at this time. With BND, USM has also become extra-redundant.
- ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #1, which I didn't buy, couldn't even debut within the Top 25. When the first volume launched, I recall it in the Top 10. That goes to show you what a difference a few years have made to Ultimate.
- FF seems to have slipped back to pre CW levels.
- CAPTAIN MARVEL is skidding, but one supposes a hero who has been dead for 20 years with zero fanbase screaming for his return, and following CW: THE RETURN, #2 within the Top 70 isn't so bad. Reed & Weeks have done well with the execution.
- PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL and IMMORTAL IRON FIST appear to be holding steady, more or less. IIF has proven to have a small but steady audience of around 32-35k.
- NOVA is slipping, and is now outsold by AC #2, when I believe the first issue of AC didn't outsell NOVA. This could be troubling. Still, NOVA should be able to hang on until issue #12, and AC is within the Top 80. Not matching the prior event's numbers, and ANNIHILATION had to compete with CIVIL WAR.
- WOLVERINE FIREBREAK, one of the better Logan stories of 2007, sold within the Top 70, which I suppose is decent considering the X-line isn't what it used to be, hence why Marvel has limited the X-mini's and one-shots from even their volume 2-3 years ago.
- GHOST RIDER continues to skid. The new creative team may not have long to try to salvage something. Getting nearly 2 years out of a GR title at this time may be the most Marvel can hope for.
- NEW WARRIORS is skidding; they shipped 2 issues in December and issue #7 sold 14 slots lower than issue #6. That shows reader/shop demand fell within only a few weeks, which isn't good.
- Similarly, THE ORDER is facing that same problem. They shipped two issues in December, #5 and #6. Issue 5 sold at #94 of the Top 95, and issue #6 is nowhere within the Top 100 at all. The book will be canceled as I feared (Marvel usually announces cancelations either by issue #9 of a 12 issue run, or quietly solicts the book as a "mini-series"). Enjoy the hell out of it while it lasts, and pray the trade/hardcover sales warrent a resurrection. This is a damn, damn shame. I saw it coming, but still a damn shame.
