December 2008 Sales Charts & Market Share Report

[PhotoJones]

Where's the front page interview with Fraction after every issue, recapping events and going into his creative process? We get those bull**** interviews with every issue of WWH, 52, Countdown, CW, Captain America (he's still dead, by the way), etc, but no one can be bothered to give a brand new concept a little nudge.

 

[Dread]

Where's the front page interview with Fraction after every issue, recapping events and going into his creative process? We get those bull**** interviews with every issue of WWH, 52, Countdown, CW, Captain America (he's still dead, by the way), etc, but no one can be bothered to give a brand new concept a little nudge.

Nope, because everyone would rather focus on embellishing characters created in WWII or the 60's-70's.

The fact that neither Marvel or DC can make any new character or franchise work is a potential problem, but promotion is likely one bit. The other is retailer and reader confidence.

 

[PhotoJones]

Hey, I'm all for bringing Golden Age characters back. But I'm also for supporting completely new characters.

I guess I shouldn't place my frustration solely on Marvel. The ignorant fanboy shares a lot of the load, too.

 

[Dread]

Hey, I'm all for bringing Golden Age characters back. But I'm also for supporting completely new characters.

I guess I shouldn't place my frustration solely on Marvel. The ignorant fanboy shares a lot of the load, too.

If I agree, are you going to go, "You bought OMD, so you're no better!", or not, because I actually bought THE ORDER from day one?

I'm also for supporting new characters. The way many of them seem to crash, burn, and be forgotten is staggering sometimes. There's the outside chance the trades sell and it gets revived, but I doubt it.

The blame goes all around. Marvel & the outside sources didn't promote it actively because they expected THE INITIATIVE high to last longer (or some rub-off effect from Mark Millar when his premise was essentially tossed out by Fraction by the end of issue #1, and for the better). Retailers gave it a decent debut order for a new franchise but the stable readership never materialized.

 

[PhotoJones]

There are a lot of crappy books that a lot of people buy. By doing that, that sends a message to Marvel on what kinds of books, characters and stories the general public is most willing to purchase. If good books sold well, Marvel would put out a lot more good books. As it stands, good book do not sell, and that's why there's still an Ultimate line.

 

[Dread]

There are a lot of crappy books that a lot of people buy. By doing that, that sends a message to Marvel on what kinds of books, characters and stories the general public is most willing to purchase. If good books sold well, Marvel would put out a lot more good books. As it stands, good book do not sell, and that's why there's still an Ultimate line.

Heh, ouch. Once upon a time I would have defended Ultimate more, but the books I have dropped from that line I really haven't missed. At all. ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR sort of appeals to me like XM:FC did. That's the exception, though.

But you're right, a lot of fans, myself included, buy a lot of crap just because of the buzz or prestige or characters, and miss some good books via a lack thereof. Hence why when I see CAPTAIN AMERICA sell in the Top 20, I appreciate it. Same with THOR, although CA is a better book in my eyes.

 

[yenaled]

That's a damn shame about the Order. I really love that book, maybe Fraction should start pitching ideas at DC - at least they have the capital to support lower selling titles.

Damn all you people who didn't buy it.

 

[PhotoJones]

What Fraction needs to do is make Five Fists of Science an ongoing series.

 

[Darthphere]

So it can get cancelled?

 

[yenaled]

What Fraction needs to do is make Five Fists of Science an ongoing series.

Haha, I've never heard of that before now.

I'm so ordering it from Amazon when I get home from work!

 

[PhotoJones]

It's awesome, dude. You'll like it.

 

[hippie_hunter]

- 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.

Well, Ultimates 3's debut is not as good as the debuts of Ultimates 1 & 2 if that makes you feel any better.

- 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.

I wouldn't call the skids of Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four slow and steady, they're going down rather hard lately. If this trend continues this year, there is noway in hell we're going to see the Ultimate line continue past 2009/2010.

- FF seems to have slipped back to pre CW levels.

Not a big deal, it'll be a top 5 book very, very soon.

 

[Dread]

Well, Ultimates 3's debut is not as good as the debuts of Ultimates 1 & 2 if that makes you feel any better.

It doesn't, but was expected; Loeb & Joe Mad just aren't as hot right now as Millar & Hitch were. Loeb's hardly been on his A-game for the past few years and Joe Mad is coming out of his video game closet after a near decade, having created the modern definition of "late artist" with BATTLE CHASERS.

I wouldn't call the skids of Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four slow and steady, they're going down rather hard lately. If this trend continues this year, there is noway in hell we're going to see the Ultimate line continue past 2009/2010.

Hmm, very true. Hence why many see 2008 as a make or break year to infuse some steam. In my eyes, the line served it's original purpose and if it fades gracefully, hey, it had a long run. But Marvel won't allow that to happen. It took them years to figure out that a stretched thin X-Line won't print money like it did in the early 90's, and it may take them equally as long to give up on Ultimate. Joe Q's EIC practice is never finding an idea (good, bad, or mediocre) that is unworthy of being repeated.

Besides, the man who may be the key to fixing things is Loeb, and his rep isn't that large right now. He is still A-List, but not for anything he has written since he went Marvel exclusive.

Not a big deal, it'll be a top 5 book very, very soon.

I know. Millar & Hitch could make a Forbush Man mini sell in the Top 10. So, how many actual issues of FF will actually ship within 10 months? Earlier this month I guessed four, to be ironic.

 

[PhotoJones]

That chart made the Hype 57% less fun.

 

[Manic]

The Order's getting cancelled? I just added it to my pull list!

- 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.

In all fairness, I didn't know Ultimates 3 #1 sucked until after I bought and read it. I imagine I'm not the only one in that boat.

 

[PhotoJones]

How could anyone think that Ultimates 3 #1 wouldn't suck?

 

[Darthphere]

DIAMOND's 2007 YEAR-END SALES CHARTS & MARKET SHARE REPORT

Domination!:gray:

 

[Dread]

DIAMOND's 2007 YEAR-END SALES CHARTS & MARKET SHARE REPORT

Domination!:gray:

Marvel dominated the Top 100 comics of 2007, but the Trade picture was more mixed. Naturally, it was another solid year for Marvel. They'll learn nothing.

 

[PhotoJones]

What did this year teach us? More Bendis, please!

 

[Dread]

What did this year teach us? More Bendis, please!

But...I've had enough.

 

[PhotoJones]

Don't make Marvel shove it down your throat.

Oh, wait....

 

[Dusty]

How could anyone think that Ultimates 3 #1 wouldn't suck?

I didn't think it sucked.

As far as sales go, Damn, Thor is showing some serious reader retention! That is the mark of strong work, where stunts, crossovers, and the like are generally short term, and they don't really fool the observant people who follow these numbers.

I'm not liking the fact that Jackson (you'll never read me calling him Butch) Guice did the cover of the latest Cap. He's one of my favorite artists, and the cover is stunning, but Epting is the man on that series, especially with the covers. I wish he was faster, something tells me Guice will be replacing Mike Perkins as the rotating partner for Epting, and since he's an A-list guy, too, he's probably going to play a bigger role if he is, indeed, going to split the art duties.

I can't believe Steve Uy is getting to do more Initiative...

ClanDestine is so gonna rock!

I'm liking this new Hulk series, and I'm glad that the green Hulk returns, even though Greg Pak has really been given the shaft.

Solicit of the month!!!!

IRON MAN: LEGACY OF DOOM #1 (of 4)
Written by DAVID MICHELINIE
Art & Cover by RON LIM & bob layton
"A Knight in Hell" Dr. Doom returns to menace Iron Man in the chilling and long-awaited conclusion of The Camelot Trilogy! Mephisto has apparently found a way to bring about The End Of Days and Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom must form an uneasy alliance to try and stop him. But all may not be as it seems. And it takes a journey to Hell itself before the shocking truth is revealed! Iron Man legends David Michelinie and Bob Layton are joined by penciler supreme Ron Lim to bring you the first part of an epic literally decades in the making!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Can't wait for Secret Invasion!

Is Ms. Marvel the new secret project for Adriana Melo?

NOVA #12
Written by ANDY LANNING & DAN ABNETT
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by ALEX MALEEV
The New Mutant Warlock returns in an issue that propels Nova back into ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST! Still threatened by his deadly Phalanx virus, Richard Rider finally reaches Kvch, the never-before-seen Technarchy homeworld. But are the “parents” of the Phalanx still there – and can Nova even reach them? And are you ready for the comeback of the former New Mutant know as Warlock? Join writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning and new ongoing penciler Paul Pelletier (FANTASTIC FOUR) for another chapter of the saga that has Wizard saying “If you’re a fan of out-there sci-fi with a superhero twinge, you should strap yourself in for a ride with the Human Rocket’s series.”
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Nothing like lying, huh? Pelletier is only on for a few issues, and then he's doing a new ongoing Guardians of the Galaxy series. I'm disappointed, because I was going to pick up Nova (still am, for Pelletier's few issues), but the thought of him on a new Guardians series (as long as Marvel leaves him alone for about 25 issues) is about as good of news as I've read in recent memory concerning comics.

I see Val Semieks is doing an issue of She-Hulk. I hate fill-ins, but I loved his art in the latest She-Hulk in the one back up story, and would accept him if Moll ever leaves.

New Exiles pisses me off. It's a perfect series with Claremont and Grummet (an artist who can handle deadlines), so Marvel decides to double ship and use a second penciler... Sometimes, moronic ideas just ooze out of Marvel.

 

[PhotoJones]

Welcome to the Hype.

 

[Manic]

How could anyone think that Ultimates 3 #1 wouldn't suck?

Through pure cosmic wonder, there are only 2 things by Loeb I'd experienced prior to Ultimates 3. The first was two trades of Superman/Batman. I liked the Supergirl story (the last time I'd enjoy the character, apparently), but hated the Public Enemies story. The second thing was the TV show Heroes, which I love.

Simply put, I didn't have prior knowledge that Jeph Loeb sucked that badly.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

New Exiles pisses me off. It's a perfect series with Claremont and Grummet (an artist who can handle deadlines), so Marvel decides to double ship and use a second penciler... Sometimes, moronic ideas just ooze out of Marvel.

Really? There are actually people out there who still like Claremont?