Comments on: Marvel Month-to-Month Sales July 2006 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:33:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: giochi casin italia http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-867711 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:12:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-867711 Just wanted to say hi, thanks and bye Just wanted to say hi, thanks and bye

]]> by: Black Mask Project http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-258312 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:40:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-258312 <strong>Black Mask Project...</strong> Well written! do you have some more resources to recommend? Thanks... Black Mask Project…

Well written! do you have some more resources to recommend? Thanks…

]]> by: Blastbastard http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-3034 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:29:28 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-3034 Hey, great idea to run these monthly sales-figure columns on thexaxis.com. Hopefully, you'll be doing the same here with DC's statistics as well, like over on comicon. Also, it would be nice to see these write ups posted up and delivered each and every month, not just posted every other month or whatnot, y'know? (Are these columns posted anywhere else, on a regular basis, or just on the two sites I'm aware of?) Great stuff. Please keep it coming. Hey, great idea to run these monthly sales-figure columns on thexaxis.com. Hopefully, you’ll be doing the same here with DC’s statistics as well, like over on comicon.

Also, it would be nice to see these write ups posted up and delivered each and every month, not just posted every other month or whatnot, y’know?

(Are these columns posted anywhere else, on a regular basis, or just on the two sites I’m aware of?)

Great stuff.

Please keep it coming.

]]> by: Rob http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2797 Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:40:50 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2797 "I’m not quite so convinced that Steve McNiven is a personal selling point for CIVIL WAR." Paul, IMO, McNiven's artwork is a personal (leading) selling point for Civil War in the same way that Phil Jimenez's artwork was a leading selling point for Infinite Crisis. Yes, the high-concept natures of both series pretty much ensured guaranteed audiences no matter who they put on the books (and Crisis proved that once Jimenez ran into scheduling trouble and DC decided to dilute his artwork by adding additional pencilers and inkers of similar style to pick up the slack -- NO ONE liked that solution, which is why pages are getting redrawn for the trade paper back. But make no mistake, Jimenez's artwork, which evokes that of original Crisis penciller George Perez was indeed a selling point because it further branded the series as a sequel to the original Crisis. McNiven has less personal history to draw on, but make no mistake, he's probably the biggest draw of the series other than the story itself, which has been surprisingly readable. The real problem IMO is that the editorial process is utterly broken -- and it's not CW editor's Tom Brevoort's fault. The problem is an overall stupid, unrealistic, untentable, unethical practice of not giving any penciller sufficient lead time to complete enough issues before solicition of the first issue that the book will have maintained its monthly schedule by the last issue (in the case of a miniseries like CW) or by the last issue by that artist of a continuing series (in the case of a delay-plagued regular book like the Ultimates. The delays are ridiculous and both publishers do it, to the extent that if Niven can only turn out a book of this high quality at a rate of six weeks per issue, then CW #1 shouldn't have been solicited until #4 was entirely in the can, pencils, inks, lettering and all. McNiven needed at least three or four mroe months of lead time and he didn't get it because at Marvel, like at DC, the tail of marketing wags the dog of publishing. That's GOT to stop -- NOW. OTOH, damning-with-faint-praise goes to Brevoort for admitting that the worst case scenario has happened and he's gone with the most severe delays and reschdules possible due to the controversy. Yes, we have to wait one more month for #4 and thereafter, the rest of the series comes out every other month, with the corresponding tie-in issues correspondingly late, but at least he's telling the truth rather than lying the way that Todd MacFarlane did by refusing to cancel the orders for over a year's worth of Spawn until either Eric or Jim told him to knock it off. Breevort's choice is IMO the best one given that the bad situation exists. We know that CW is now on a more leisurely schedule, that's fine with me *because* Brevoort and Marvel were so up front about it in the first place. Finally, the honest delays in this book likely won't hurt it much *because* McNiven is so popular an artist -- but also and more importantly, Marvel were so honest to the fans. For once. It's quite refreshing, really. “I’m not quite so convinced that Steve McNiven is a personal selling point for CIVIL WAR.”

Paul, IMO, McNiven’s artwork is a personal (leading) selling point for Civil War in the same way that Phil Jimenez’s artwork was a leading selling point for Infinite Crisis. Yes, the high-concept natures of both series pretty much ensured guaranteed audiences no matter who they put on the books (and Crisis proved that once Jimenez ran into scheduling trouble and DC decided to dilute his artwork by adding additional pencilers and inkers of similar style to pick up the slack — NO ONE liked that solution, which is why pages are getting redrawn for the trade paper back. But make no mistake, Jimenez’s artwork, which evokes that of original Crisis penciller George Perez was indeed a selling point because it further branded the series as a sequel to the original Crisis. McNiven has less personal history to draw on, but make no mistake, he’s probably the biggest draw of the series other than the story itself, which has been surprisingly readable.

The real problem IMO is that the editorial process is utterly broken — and it’s not CW editor’s Tom Brevoort’s fault. The problem is an overall stupid, unrealistic, untentable, unethical practice of not giving any penciller sufficient lead time to complete enough issues before solicition of the first issue that the book will have maintained its monthly schedule by the last issue (in the case of a miniseries like CW) or by the last issue by that artist of a continuing series (in the case of a delay-plagued regular book like the Ultimates. The delays are ridiculous and both publishers do it, to the extent that if Niven can only turn out a book of this high quality at a rate of six weeks per issue, then CW #1 shouldn’t have been solicited until #4 was entirely in the can, pencils, inks, lettering and all. McNiven needed at least three or four mroe months of lead time and he didn’t get it because at Marvel, like at DC, the tail of marketing wags the dog of publishing. That’s GOT to stop — NOW.

OTOH, damning-with-faint-praise goes to Brevoort for admitting that the worst case scenario has happened and he’s gone with the most severe delays and reschdules possible due to the controversy. Yes, we have to wait one more month for #4 and thereafter, the rest of the series comes out every other month, with the corresponding tie-in issues correspondingly late, but at least he’s telling the truth rather than lying the way that Todd MacFarlane did by refusing to cancel the orders for over a year’s worth of Spawn until either Eric or Jim told him to knock it off. Breevort’s choice is IMO the best one given that the bad situation exists. We know that CW is now on a more leisurely schedule, that’s fine with me *because* Brevoort and Marvel were so up front about it in the first place. Finally, the honest delays in this book likely won’t hurt it much *because* McNiven is so popular an artist — but also and more importantly, Marvel were so honest to the fans.

For once.

It’s quite refreshing, really.

]]> by: ComicList: News http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2610 Sun, 27 Aug 2006 20:02:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2610 <strong>NEWS: Marvel Sales for July 2006...</strong> The Marvel Month-to-Month Sales July 2006 by Paul O'Brien has been posted at THE BEAT. According to Paul "July was an extremely good month for Marvel, mostly thanks to CIVIL WAR. "... NEWS: Marvel Sales for July 2006…

The Marvel Month-to-Month Sales July 2006 by Paul O’Brien has been posted at THE BEAT. According to Paul “July was an extremely good month for Marvel, mostly thanks to CIVIL WAR. “…

]]> by: Lee K. Seitz http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2458 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:45:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2458 Paul, glad you're trying to makes things easier to read by removing the repeated titles. Can I suggest that you take a cue from what Marc-Oliver did this month with the DC stats and try using PRE tags? I really find it easier to read when the numbers line up. Paul, glad you’re trying to makes things easier to read by removing the repeated titles. Can I suggest that you take a cue from what Marc-Oliver did this month with the DC stats and try using PRE tags? I really find it easier to read when the numbers line up.

]]> by: Sam Hobart http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2430 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:51:14 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2430 My point is that the day after release, whatever overprint there was has been eaten up by reorders and Marvel is likely going to go back for a second print, which would indicate to me that there's more demand for HEROES FOR HIRE than there was for DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON. As for how much overprint there was, I'm going to take David Gabriel's word that it wasn't insignificant. I'm as jaded as anyone about manufactured sell-outs but considering your own assertion as to how much Civil War has improved sales on tie-ins I thought I'd point out the effect it is likely having on what is essentially a sequel to a low-selling miniseries. My point is that the day after release, whatever overprint there was has been eaten up by reorders and Marvel is likely going to go back for a second print, which would indicate to me that there’s more demand for HEROES FOR HIRE than there was for DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON. As for how much overprint there was, I’m going to take David Gabriel’s word that it wasn’t insignificant. I’m as jaded as anyone about manufactured sell-outs but considering your own assertion as to how much Civil War has improved sales on tie-ins I thought I’d point out the effect it is likely having on what is essentially a sequel to a low-selling miniseries.

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2408 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:21:07 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2408 Oh, just ignore the "Sold out at Diamond" press releases that come out every few days. It's meaningless unless they tell you how big the overprint was. The print run is set AFTER the initial orders come in, so it doesn't exactly take a genius to sell out. Most Marvel books (officially, at least) just have a "margin of error" overprint to cover lost and damaged copies. So it doesn't take very many reorders to sell out! Oh, just ignore the “Sold out at Diamond” press releases that come out every few days. It’s meaningless unless they tell you how big the overprint was. The print run is set AFTER the initial orders come in, so it doesn’t exactly take a genius to sell out. Most Marvel books (officially, at least) just have a “margin of error” overprint to cover lost and damaged copies. So it doesn’t take very many reorders to sell out!

]]> by: Sam Hobart http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2383 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:49:33 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2383 "154. DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON Not a promising start for the HEROES FOR HIRE ongoing title, which spins off from this book." Apparently HEROES FOR HIRE has already sold out its first printing. Amazing what the Civil War trade dress can do for sales. “154. DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON
Not a promising start for the HEROES FOR HIRE ongoing title, which spins off from this book.”

Apparently HEROES FOR HIRE has already sold out its first printing. Amazing what the Civil War trade dress can do for sales.

]]> by: Ralf Haring http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2382 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:36:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2382 Nextwave #6 solicited for June, released June 28. Nextwave #7 solicited for July, released August 16. Nextwave: This is What they Want v1 solicited for August, not yet released. Nextwave #8 solicited for September. Paul is correct. Nextwave #6 solicited for June, released June 28.
Nextwave #7 solicited for July, released August 16.
Nextwave: This is What they Want v1 solicited for August, not yet released.
Nextwave #8 solicited for September.

Paul is correct.

]]> by: Ingimar Bj http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2376 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 23:31:51 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2376 *selling sorry missed that it should read: Where exactly is Spotlighta selling, Ive never seen a TPB of if and I can’t imagine it being sold in Wal Mart *selling

sorry missed that it should read:

Where exactly is Spotlighta selling, Ive never seen a TPB of if and I can’t imagine it being sold in Wal Mart

]]> by: Ingimar Bj http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2356 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 17:59:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2356 Where exactly is Spotlight, Ive never seen a TPB of if and I can't imagine it being sold in Wal MArt Where exactly is Spotlight, Ive never seen a TPB of if and I can’t imagine it being sold in Wal MArt

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2289 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:04:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2289 "No. Skip month, in which the first collection was released." Um... no, no, it wasn't. You're thinking of August. I'm writing about July. “No. Skip month, in which the first collection was released.”

Um… no, no, it wasn’t. You’re thinking of August. I’m writing about July.

]]> by: The Comics Journal: ¡Journalista! http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2257 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:42:29 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2257 [...] Examining the ICv2 numbers on Marvel sales estimates for The Beat, Paul O&#8217;Brien finds a surprising upturn in July, before noting that the recently announced, across-the-line delay of titles due to Civil War production problems will likely erase a good chunk of the momentum recently achieved by The House That Jack Built. [...] […] Examining the ICv2 numbers on Marvel sales estimates for The Beat, Paul O’Brien finds a surprising upturn in July, before noting that the recently announced, across-the-line delay of titles due to Civil War production problems will likely erase a good chunk of the momentum recently achieved by The House That Jack Built. […]

]]> by: Warren Ellis http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2250 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:05:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2250 <i>NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E. Jul 06 — Late.</i> No. Skip month, in which the first collection was released. NEXTWAVE: AGENTS OF H.A.T.E.
Jul 06 —

Late.

No. Skip month, in which the first collection was released.

]]> by: Blake http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2186 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:25:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2186 Very interesting read, thank you for taking the time to write all that out. It's interesting to see how Marvel is messing up what could be a very important series for their future -- in terms of building their business. I know that I'm pretty ticked at their inability to maintain a consistent schedule. Very interesting read, thank you for taking the time to write all that out. It’s interesting to see how Marvel is messing up what could be a very important series for their future — in terms of building their business. I know that I’m pretty ticked at their inability to maintain a consistent schedule.

]]> by: Blog@Newsarama » Marvel’s July: The air is thin when you’re above the clouds. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2158 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:58:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2158 [...] Paul O&#8217;Brien looks at the July sales figures for Marvel, and he likes what he sees: Well, here’s something I never thought I’d see - a month where most of the six-month comparisons are going up. July was an extremely good month for Marvel, mostly thanks to CIVIL WAR. On top of that, X-MEN and UNCANNY X-MEN get new creative teams, a new GHOST RIDER title launches, and the BEYOND! miniseries begins. Once again, Marvel are the runaway market leader. They beat DC in dollar share by 40.4% to 33.9%, and in unit share by 44.3% to 35.9%. [...] […] Paul O’Brien looks at the July sales figures for Marvel, and he likes what he sees: Well, here’s something I never thought I’d see - a month where most of the six-month comparisons are going up. July was an extremely good month for Marvel, mostly thanks to CIVIL WAR. On top of that, X-MEN and UNCANNY X-MEN get new creative teams, a new GHOST RIDER title launches, and the BEYOND! miniseries begins. Once again, Marvel are the runaway market leader. They beat DC in dollar share by 40.4% to 33.9%, and in unit share by 44.3% to 35.9%. […]

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2147 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:34:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2147 Thanks, Brian. It's tricky to know quite how to deal with variant covers when they account for the entire second printing. On the one hand, a lot of the sales will just be legitimate, normal sales to people buying whatever cover happens to be on the shelves. On the other hand, the variant must be intended to spike collector buys or they wouldn't waste the money paying for a second cover. It's hard to separate them out, although I'd be amazed if the variant cover wasn't playing a significant part. Anyhow, that's why I just lump them all in together for the grand totals - a sale is a sale, at the end of the day, and breaking it down much beyond that would be speculation. Thanks, Brian. It’s tricky to know quite how to deal with variant covers when they account for the entire second printing. On the one hand, a lot of the sales will just be legitimate, normal sales to people buying whatever cover happens to be on the shelves. On the other hand, the variant must be intended to spike collector buys or they wouldn’t waste the money paying for a second cover. It’s hard to separate them out, although I’d be amazed if the variant cover wasn’t playing a significant part. Anyhow, that’s why I just lump them all in together for the grand totals - a sale is a sale, at the end of the day, and breaking it down much beyond that would be speculation.

]]> by: Brian Hibbs http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2118 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 05:58:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2118 Wow, that DUAGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #6 (N/C) -- that's a first isn't it? Never ever seen that on a chart before. Keep up the great work, this is essential reading each month! Though, I don't know if it is fair to call 2nd printings "variant covers" -- they technically are, yes, but the variant isn't WHY they went back to press. Plus, David Gabriel gets too little love to begin with. -B Wow, that DUAGHTERS OF THE DRAGON #6 (N/C) — that’s a first isn’t it?

Never ever seen that on a chart before.

Keep up the great work, this is essential reading each month!

Though, I don’t know if it is fair to call 2nd printings “variant covers” — they technically are, yes, but the variant isn’t WHY they went back to press. Plus, David Gabriel gets too little love to begin with.

-B

]]> by: Anonymous http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2112 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 05:22:20 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/21/marvel-sales/#comment-2112 Reggie Hudlin doesn't own BET -- he works there. Big difference. Viacom owns BET. Reggie Hudlin doesn’t own BET — he works there. Big difference. Viacom owns BET.

]]>