Max J Power
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March 2008 Sales Charts and Market Share Report
- Thread starter Max J Power
- Start date
iloveclones
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Here are the numbers for the top 25 taken off of ICv2:
1 250.56 DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #1 (Of 5)* $3.99 MAR 123,839
2 208.49 NEW AVENGERS #39 SII $2.99 MAR 103,046
3 197.25 THOR #7 $2.99 MAR 97,491
4 181.76 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552* $2.99 MAR 89,835
5 180.18 UNCANNY X-MEN #496 DWS $2.99 MAR 89,054
6 179.93 BUFFY VAMPIRE SLAYER #12 $2.99 DAR 88,930
7 177 JUSTICE LEAGUE O/AMERICA #19 $2.99 DC 87,482
8 167.22 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #553 $2.99 MAR 82,648
9 166.42 MIGHTY AVENGERS #11 $2.99 MAR 82,253
10 166.4 X-MEN LEGACY #209 DWS $2.99 MAR 82,243
11 166.21 MIGHTY AVENGERS #10 $2.99 MAR 82,149
12 165.33 X-FORCE #2 DWS* $2.99 MAR 81,714
13 164.65 CAPTAIN AMERICA #36 $2.99 MAR 81,378
14 164.03 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #554 $2.99 MAR 81,072
15 148.86 ALL STAR SUPERMAN #10 $2.99 DC 73,574
16 138.9 CABLE #1 DWS* $2.99 MAR 68,651
17 137.73 GREEN LANTERN #28 $2.99 DC 68,073
18 137.66 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 8 $2.99 DC 68,038
19 137.62 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 7 $2.99 DC 68,019
20 137.37 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 6 $2.99 DC 67,895
21 136.95 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 5 $2.99 DC 67,688
22 136.4 FANTASTIC FOUR #555 $2.99 MAR 67,416
23 134.62 GREEN LANTERN #29 $2.99 DC 66,536
24 130.45 WOLVERINE #63 DWS $2.99 MAR 64,475
25 128.05 LOGAN #1 (Of 3)* $3.99 MAR 63,289
1 250.56 DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #1 (Of 5)* $3.99 MAR 123,839
2 208.49 NEW AVENGERS #39 SII $2.99 MAR 103,046
3 197.25 THOR #7 $2.99 MAR 97,491
4 181.76 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #552* $2.99 MAR 89,835
5 180.18 UNCANNY X-MEN #496 DWS $2.99 MAR 89,054
6 179.93 BUFFY VAMPIRE SLAYER #12 $2.99 DAR 88,930
7 177 JUSTICE LEAGUE O/AMERICA #19 $2.99 DC 87,482
8 167.22 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #553 $2.99 MAR 82,648
9 166.42 MIGHTY AVENGERS #11 $2.99 MAR 82,253
10 166.4 X-MEN LEGACY #209 DWS $2.99 MAR 82,243
11 166.21 MIGHTY AVENGERS #10 $2.99 MAR 82,149
12 165.33 X-FORCE #2 DWS* $2.99 MAR 81,714
13 164.65 CAPTAIN AMERICA #36 $2.99 MAR 81,378
14 164.03 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #554 $2.99 MAR 81,072
15 148.86 ALL STAR SUPERMAN #10 $2.99 DC 73,574
16 138.9 CABLE #1 DWS* $2.99 MAR 68,651
17 137.73 GREEN LANTERN #28 $2.99 DC 68,073
18 137.66 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 8 $2.99 DC 68,038
19 137.62 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 7 $2.99 DC 68,019
20 137.37 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 6 $2.99 DC 67,895
21 136.95 COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 5 $2.99 DC 67,688
22 136.4 FANTASTIC FOUR #555 $2.99 MAR 67,416
23 134.62 GREEN LANTERN #29 $2.99 DC 66,536
24 130.45 WOLVERINE #63 DWS $2.99 MAR 64,475
25 128.05 LOGAN #1 (Of 3)* $3.99 MAR 63,289
Dread
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The story overall is that comic sales are down about 5-7% over the first quarter of 2008 than they were in 2007. Of course, Q1 2007 for comics were inflated by the end of CW, including a little comic called CAPTAIN AMERICA #25, but a slip is a slip. Some at The Beat called it the worst since 4th quarter 2004. Which only goes to prove the point that CIVIL WAR, like any successful event, was a stimulant to sales and eventually it has to ware off. The fact that the overall economy is bad won't help matters. Still, neither Marvel or DC are dependent on comic sales alone, with merch deals and whatnot. And once again, Marvel is #1 of the month. DC is baring the brunt of the sales slump out of the big two, and frankly it is almost embarassing.
The good news is that it explains why Marvel is being more "patient" with books that they might have considered canceling in 2007 in terms of sales, which is why NEW WARRIORS may survive a bit longer. I mean, this month, POWERS made the Top 100 with 19k sales.
More points and opinions:
- Only 2 books this month, as opposed to 3 in Feb., sold over 100k. Both of them Marvel (the #1 and #2 books, respectively, with NEW AVENGERS of course being one of those). THOR #7 came very close and is still sitting pretty as a Top 5 book.
- Not even ALL STAR SUPERMAN can garner 80k anymore. DC is so ****ed.
- While still selling very well, the gap between MIGHTY AVENGERS and NA is at least 50k at this point so it is easily the "B" book. Interesting, considering it usually has been more entertaining (or the lessor of two evils).
- Once again, THOR is performing very well. Selling that well after the first arc is not a fluke. The Odinson is a hit.
- While ASM no longer sells at over 90k for the first of it's 3 week schedule, it still is outselling the old 3 titles of ASM, FNSM, and SS-M combined. OMD haters will have to endure more annulment stories.
- CA is still selling over 80k and still a solid in the Top 15.
- CABLE debuted in the Top 20, which naturally is down considering his 90's popularity, but given that he's a cliche with legs and guns, that's a great debut.
- OUCH- the second issue of the Millar/Hitch FF title drops from #8 in Feb. to #22 in March. This is still terrific for the FF but many insiders felt this would be a Top 10 lock for at least the first few months, so this has to be seen as some sort of disappointment. Maybe considering the length of time finishing ULTIMATES 2, many retailers and fans are "trade waiting", which puts to rest the lie that schedules don't matter. Or, it could be that the Fantastic Four are hardly Marvel's hottest franchise right now. Still, about double the McDuffie sales.
- BKV decides to write a well paced but generic story about Wolverine, Marvel's most overused character before CW boosted Iron Man, and suddenly a Vaughan title is selling in the Top 25 at 63k. This is why popular characters get overused, and this is why your favorite B-Listers are ignored. When good stories about them are written, like DOCTOR STRANGE: OATH, the mainstream fans pass. Still, great sales for a MK book. Even if it has nothing in it that couldn't have been in a 3 issue arc of WOLVERINE, which sold slightly better.
- AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE has shed about half of it's launch numbers and seems settled at the 54-55k mark, which is fine enough to land in the Top 30. The book is still a hit and outsells a lot of Slott's prior work.
- Considering it is a 20 year old franchise that was untouched in that time, and that it it wasn't even really Mar-Vell, CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 at 40k isn't too bad. For a mini, a modest success.
- It took a down month for UFF to get back within the Top 50. It is still the lowest selling Ultimate title.
- Hmm. THE LAST DEFENDERS #1 debuted at #55 with 33k. That's not terribly good. Even in a down month, any debut below the Top 50 isn't anything to cheer about. If this was December or even January, 33k would barely get you within the Top 70. Still, this is a mini and methinks it was never expected to sell gangbusters. Considering it stars a cast of B-Listers, only one of whom has maintained a solo title for years (She-Hulk, which sold at #92 at about 11-12k less), this isn't too horrid. But the drop for the second issue may be painful. It is a fun, if not a little manic, book.
- IMMORTAL IRON FIST holds steady at 32k, a number that it has maintained for over half a year now. There is clearly a small but dedicated audience, and I am concerned how they will react once most of the launch team leaves with issue #16. RUNAWAYS saw a boost when that happened, but that was because of Whedon (and lateness & fan apathy have caused sales to skid rapidly), and IIF's new creative team isn't anywhere near that A-List worthy.
- PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL holds steady at 31k, lock-step with the other Punisher book, which is the sign of a loyal audience for a franchise.
- MOON KNIGHT no longer sells 30k; obviously fans are fleeing in droves, and I'll be one of them when this arc wraps. Note that a year ago, this book sold at least twice this number.
- ANNIHILATION CONQUEST and NOVA sell nearly the same at 29-28k, respectively, a small but loyal audience.
- Considering the heaps of dust that the characters of THE TWELVE have, 29k isn't so bad. Still, a book by JMS & Weston was probably expected to do a little better, considering a 12 issue mini is the length that an ongoing title often gets before it is canned after a year, as most are these days.
- GHOST RIDER is at 26k and I am expecting it only looks like it is holding steady due to being a slow month. A shame it is still skidding, considering Aaron is making the book much better than how he found it. Still, the book will survive past 2 years, which is something for a GR title after the 90's boom.
- NEW WARRIORS is at 23k, which is lower than many issues of the Vaughan/Alphona RUNAWAYS, and they had a stable audience. If NW sinks any lower, it is in danger. Still, with sales no longer being inflated, Marvel is being reasonable about sales within the Top 90-100 for now and the book will see a third arc (which will be the last if the book doesn't rebound well off SI, which it won't; tie-ins NEVER, EVER, EV-ERRR, have saved a low selling book from oblivion for long). I'll enjoy it when it lasts, although THE ORDER it ain't.
- THE ORDER's almost last issue, BTW, sells 18k, less than SPAWN, and that is a shame. Still, at least Fraction jumped before he was pushed. The book would not have lasted past #12. Sniffle, I will miss it.
- SI, on the other hand, dramatically boosted MS. MARVEL, all but doubling her sales. Granted, this sort of thing never lasts; it is like blowing air into a balloon animal with a hole. It inflates it shortly, but not long.
The good news is that it explains why Marvel is being more "patient" with books that they might have considered canceling in 2007 in terms of sales, which is why NEW WARRIORS may survive a bit longer. I mean, this month, POWERS made the Top 100 with 19k sales.
More points and opinions:
- Only 2 books this month, as opposed to 3 in Feb., sold over 100k. Both of them Marvel (the #1 and #2 books, respectively, with NEW AVENGERS of course being one of those). THOR #7 came very close and is still sitting pretty as a Top 5 book.
- Not even ALL STAR SUPERMAN can garner 80k anymore. DC is so ****ed.
- While still selling very well, the gap between MIGHTY AVENGERS and NA is at least 50k at this point so it is easily the "B" book. Interesting, considering it usually has been more entertaining (or the lessor of two evils).
- Once again, THOR is performing very well. Selling that well after the first arc is not a fluke. The Odinson is a hit.
- While ASM no longer sells at over 90k for the first of it's 3 week schedule, it still is outselling the old 3 titles of ASM, FNSM, and SS-M combined. OMD haters will have to endure more annulment stories.
- CA is still selling over 80k and still a solid in the Top 15.
- CABLE debuted in the Top 20, which naturally is down considering his 90's popularity, but given that he's a cliche with legs and guns, that's a great debut.
- OUCH- the second issue of the Millar/Hitch FF title drops from #8 in Feb. to #22 in March. This is still terrific for the FF but many insiders felt this would be a Top 10 lock for at least the first few months, so this has to be seen as some sort of disappointment. Maybe considering the length of time finishing ULTIMATES 2, many retailers and fans are "trade waiting", which puts to rest the lie that schedules don't matter. Or, it could be that the Fantastic Four are hardly Marvel's hottest franchise right now. Still, about double the McDuffie sales.
- BKV decides to write a well paced but generic story about Wolverine, Marvel's most overused character before CW boosted Iron Man, and suddenly a Vaughan title is selling in the Top 25 at 63k. This is why popular characters get overused, and this is why your favorite B-Listers are ignored. When good stories about them are written, like DOCTOR STRANGE: OATH, the mainstream fans pass. Still, great sales for a MK book. Even if it has nothing in it that couldn't have been in a 3 issue arc of WOLVERINE, which sold slightly better.
- AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE has shed about half of it's launch numbers and seems settled at the 54-55k mark, which is fine enough to land in the Top 30. The book is still a hit and outsells a lot of Slott's prior work.
- Considering it is a 20 year old franchise that was untouched in that time, and that it it wasn't even really Mar-Vell, CAPTAIN MARVEL #4 at 40k isn't too bad. For a mini, a modest success.
- It took a down month for UFF to get back within the Top 50. It is still the lowest selling Ultimate title.
- Hmm. THE LAST DEFENDERS #1 debuted at #55 with 33k. That's not terribly good. Even in a down month, any debut below the Top 50 isn't anything to cheer about. If this was December or even January, 33k would barely get you within the Top 70. Still, this is a mini and methinks it was never expected to sell gangbusters. Considering it stars a cast of B-Listers, only one of whom has maintained a solo title for years (She-Hulk, which sold at #92 at about 11-12k less), this isn't too horrid. But the drop for the second issue may be painful. It is a fun, if not a little manic, book.
- IMMORTAL IRON FIST holds steady at 32k, a number that it has maintained for over half a year now. There is clearly a small but dedicated audience, and I am concerned how they will react once most of the launch team leaves with issue #16. RUNAWAYS saw a boost when that happened, but that was because of Whedon (and lateness & fan apathy have caused sales to skid rapidly), and IIF's new creative team isn't anywhere near that A-List worthy.
- PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL holds steady at 31k, lock-step with the other Punisher book, which is the sign of a loyal audience for a franchise.
- MOON KNIGHT no longer sells 30k; obviously fans are fleeing in droves, and I'll be one of them when this arc wraps. Note that a year ago, this book sold at least twice this number.
- ANNIHILATION CONQUEST and NOVA sell nearly the same at 29-28k, respectively, a small but loyal audience.
- Considering the heaps of dust that the characters of THE TWELVE have, 29k isn't so bad. Still, a book by JMS & Weston was probably expected to do a little better, considering a 12 issue mini is the length that an ongoing title often gets before it is canned after a year, as most are these days.
- GHOST RIDER is at 26k and I am expecting it only looks like it is holding steady due to being a slow month. A shame it is still skidding, considering Aaron is making the book much better than how he found it. Still, the book will survive past 2 years, which is something for a GR title after the 90's boom.
- NEW WARRIORS is at 23k, which is lower than many issues of the Vaughan/Alphona RUNAWAYS, and they had a stable audience. If NW sinks any lower, it is in danger. Still, with sales no longer being inflated, Marvel is being reasonable about sales within the Top 90-100 for now and the book will see a third arc (which will be the last if the book doesn't rebound well off SI, which it won't; tie-ins NEVER, EVER, EV-ERRR, have saved a low selling book from oblivion for long). I'll enjoy it when it lasts, although THE ORDER it ain't.
- THE ORDER's almost last issue, BTW, sells 18k, less than SPAWN, and that is a shame. Still, at least Fraction jumped before he was pushed. The book would not have lasted past #12. Sniffle, I will miss it.
- SI, on the other hand, dramatically boosted MS. MARVEL, all but doubling her sales. Granted, this sort of thing never lasts; it is like blowing air into a balloon animal with a hole. It inflates it shortly, but not long.
Dread
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Good sales for Immortal Iron Fist.
Yeah, it has been steady for nearly a year now.
Dread
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CaptainCanada
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They're prequels to King's "Dark Tower" series of books; King's involved, but the actual writing is done by Peter David and Robin Furth (the latter being one of King's personal assistants).
I think the numbers for FF illustrate that the Four by themselves just can't go too high anymore; what will be really interesting will be seeing the numbers for Millar and McNiven's Wolverine, a much more marketable character, to see if the difference really is with the core property.
Dread
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Yeah, that will be interesting. I'm fairly certain WOLVERINE will outsell it or sell in a more stable way.
Despite it all, some characters in terms of monthly sales seem to hit "middle of the road" after a while. Despite a movie, IRON MAN continues to struggle to move up the Top 50.
BrianWilly
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Everytime I feel the need to lose even more respect for my fellow readers, all I have to do is to look at the monthly charts.
Doc Destruction
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I hear that!
iloveclones
spooky....
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Oh, give me a break. That's so condescending. Let me clue you guys in on something: You read crap, too.
BrianWilly
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Yup! 
up: The difference, though, is that I don't pay a single cent for it, and never will.
Don't tell me that the JLA being at the very worst it's ever been in years and still number ****ing seven in the game isn't the most depressing thing you've ever seen in your life other than kids with no legs. And Blue Beetle isn't even on the chart? And Nova is seventy?
People are great big idiots. It's not even some subjective opinion up for debate, it's a cold bitter fact that gets proven by lists like this month after month.
up: The difference, though, is that I don't pay a single cent for it, and never will.Don't tell me that the JLA being at the very worst it's ever been in years and still number ****ing seven in the game isn't the most depressing thing you've ever seen in your life other than kids with no legs. And Blue Beetle isn't even on the chart? And Nova is seventy?
People are great big idiots. It's not even some subjective opinion up for debate, it's a cold bitter fact that gets proven by lists like this month after month.
iloveclones
spooky....
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Have you read(bought) Runaways lately? Outside of Exiles, I haven't seen a title turn to crap so quickly.
Let me clue you in on something: If New Avengers weren't selling like hotcakes, they wouldn't even be taking the chance on Nova. Same with JLA/BB. So instead of playing the bitter 20-something "I only read indy" crap, how about being thankful that those titles give the companies some breathing room to give titles like Spider-Girl, Runaways, and the like a chance to find an audience.
And frankly, if you guys spent a tenth of the amount of time pushing titles you like (like I used to do for say, MTU or Thing), instead of finding ever increasingly "clever" insults to Bendis or coming up with witty names like Joephisto, maybe you could actually have an effect on a title you like.
I understand what you're saying, though. I look at American Idol and wonder why adults could ever like this show. The groups they grew up with: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, these guys wouldn't have even made the first cut. But, to each their own...
Let me clue you in on something: If New Avengers weren't selling like hotcakes, they wouldn't even be taking the chance on Nova. Same with JLA/BB. So instead of playing the bitter 20-something "I only read indy" crap, how about being thankful that those titles give the companies some breathing room to give titles like Spider-Girl, Runaways, and the like a chance to find an audience.
And frankly, if you guys spent a tenth of the amount of time pushing titles you like (like I used to do for say, MTU or Thing), instead of finding ever increasingly "clever" insults to Bendis or coming up with witty names like Joephisto, maybe you could actually have an effect on a title you like.
I understand what you're saying, though. I look at American Idol and wonder why adults could ever like this show. The groups they grew up with: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, these guys wouldn't have even made the first cut. But, to each their own...
Doc Destruction
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You sure are doing a lot of clueing in on something today!
Doc Destruction
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Well for the record, let me clue YOU in on something:
I pushed Spider-Girl until my fingers bled, I'm pushing Dreamwar, I MAKE people read Checkmate that I know and so on and so on.
Assumptions are truly ugly, my friend. Reading that top ten and understanding the crap that is on there is NOT assumption.
yenaled
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But a lot of people here do spend a vast amount of time pushing books they like - Brian even did in the post you are *****ing to him about.
And yeah people do have crap on their pulllists - I've read the whole of Countdown - but I also wrote into DC when they cancelled Manhunter.
For me it's not about what books people buy, it's about what books people don't buy.
In a perfect world everyone who bought Countdown would read Blue Beetle, everyone who bought Mighty Avengers would read Nova and the world would be much happier.
And yeah people do have crap on their pulllists - I've read the whole of Countdown - but I also wrote into DC when they cancelled Manhunter.
For me it's not about what books people buy, it's about what books people don't buy.
In a perfect world everyone who bought Countdown would read Blue Beetle, everyone who bought Mighty Avengers would read Nova and the world would be much happier.
BrianWilly
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You think I read indies? :gray: Well I never! It is to laugh!
iloveclones
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I've also seen you make excuses for the drivel that passes for writing every time that Claremont comes out with something.
You all read and buy crap at some point or another. Sometime's it's a guilty pleasure, sometimes it's just collector mentality. So what? Live and let live.
BrianWilly
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Nope, I never buy crap. And I think it's stupid that most people do. Don't read it any more than I have to, either.
Doc Destruction
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Actually, that's not true. I said I'd give Exiles a shot ONLY after reading a couple of positive reviews. That said, I'm probably going to drop it.
If I was talking him up, I was probably referring to his better days as a writer.
And we aren't faulting the one off bad book here and there. Fact is, the top 10 is LOADED with crap. The masses have never been into quality in ANY entertainment medium. Otherwise we wouldn't have country music, NASCAR, American Idol and reality TV.
If I was talking him up, I was probably referring to his better days as a writer.
And we aren't faulting the one off bad book here and there. Fact is, the top 10 is LOADED with crap. The masses have never been into quality in ANY entertainment medium. Otherwise we wouldn't have country music, NASCAR, American Idol and reality TV.
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