Comments on: Marvel Month-to-Month sales: June 2007 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:13:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Shawn Hill http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276804 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:44:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276804 Mystic Arcana: The next one is Black Knight, with nice Tom Grummet art (who's been missed since the Thunderbolts regime change). Avengers Classics: Well, Paul, you certainly nailed my reasoning for not subscribing: all of the Essential Avengers look great on my shelf, and I can check in on them when I want to read the old stories. The addition of color isn't that big of a plus, and the backups by Oeming mostly look like comic relief. We've already got Earth's Mightiest Heroes to tap into the other sides of the old tales: now, if Art Adams or someone of equal stature were providing new backups ... Mystic Arcana: The next one is Black Knight, with nice Tom Grummet art (who’s been missed since the Thunderbolts regime change).

Avengers Classics: Well, Paul, you certainly nailed my reasoning for not subscribing: all of the Essential Avengers look great on my shelf, and I can check in on them when I want to read the old stories. The addition of color isn’t that big of a plus, and the backups by Oeming mostly look like comic relief. We’ve already got Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to tap into the other sides of the old tales: now, if Art Adams or someone of equal stature were providing new backups …

]]> by: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » July 23, 2007: Surviving the Plastic Age http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276386 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:00:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276386 [...] ICv2 has released its look at June 2007 sales through Diamond Distributors to Direct-Market retailers; here’s the overview, market analysis, top-300 bestselling comics and top-100 bestselling graphic novels. It’s much the same as last month: The Usual Suspects are getting what they want, Marvel’s still wailing on DC, et cetera. Over at The Beat, Graeme McMillan has the month-to-month Marvel sales comparisons, while Marc-Oliver Frisch has the comparisons for DC, both now updated through June. [...] […] ICv2 has released its look at June 2007 sales through Diamond Distributors to Direct-Market retailers; here’s the overview, market analysis, top-300 bestselling comics and top-100 bestselling graphic novels. It’s much the same as last month: The Usual Suspects are getting what they want, Marvel’s still wailing on DC, et cetera. Over at The Beat, Graeme McMillan has the month-to-month Marvel sales comparisons, while Marc-Oliver Frisch has the comparisons for DC, both now updated through June. […]

]]> by: Baines http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276050 Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:30:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-276050 "MYSTIC ARCANA debuting at 26k isn’t that bad, is it? Its sales seem a lot healthier than other thematic stuff like MARVEL WESTERNS, LEGION OF MONSTERS and the ROMANCE REDUX stuff." The Mystic Arcana above is an Illyana Rasputin story. She still has some fans, and there is the general X-book connection. Further, it was released while New X-Men has been doing its Quest for Magik storyline, bringing the character back to the minds of readers. The rest of Mystic Arcana might find a colder reception, Though the next issue is Scarlet Witch, who might still be benefitting from her House of M appearance. And even Sister Grimm might sport a questionable enough outfit on the cover to encourage a few people to pick up the book and at least finish the series. But it really doesn't seem that much like Marvel's other thematic stuff. One would hope characters like Magik and Scarlet Witch weren't as poorly received as Western characters or semi-random monsters. “MYSTIC ARCANA debuting at 26k isn’t that bad, is it? Its sales seem a lot healthier than other thematic stuff like MARVEL WESTERNS, LEGION OF MONSTERS and the ROMANCE REDUX stuff.”

The Mystic Arcana above is an Illyana Rasputin story. She still has some fans, and there is the general X-book connection. Further, it was released while New X-Men has been doing its Quest for Magik storyline, bringing the character back to the minds of readers.

The rest of Mystic Arcana might find a colder reception, Though the next issue is Scarlet Witch, who might still be benefitting from her House of M appearance. And even Sister Grimm might sport a questionable enough outfit on the cover to encourage a few people to pick up the book and at least finish the series.

But it really doesn’t seem that much like Marvel’s other thematic stuff. One would hope characters like Magik and Scarlet Witch weren’t as poorly received as Western characters or semi-random monsters.

]]> by: News and commentary about comics » Stark differences between Marvel/DC sales again http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-274525 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:14:25 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-274525 [...] Once again, there’s an amazing difference on display in sales, about how Marvel continues, no matter the low-ranking quality of any of their books now, to maintain [relatively] big sales, World War Hulk being the main example of the moment, whereas DC is falling way behind with a lot of their stuff just now. As Amazons Attack has shown, crossovers, at least at DC, may be starting to backfire (via Newsarama blog). [...] […] Once again, there’s an amazing difference on display in sales, about how Marvel continues, no matter the low-ranking quality of any of their books now, to maintain [relatively] big sales, World War Hulk being the main example of the moment, whereas DC is falling way behind with a lot of their stuff just now. As Amazons Attack has shown, crossovers, at least at DC, may be starting to backfire (via Newsarama blog). […]

]]> by: The Four Color Media Monitor http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-273843 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:47:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-273843 <strong>Stark differences between Marvel/DC sales again...</strong> Once again, there's an amazing difference on display in sales, about how Marvel continues, no matter the low-ranking quality of any of their books now, to maintain [relatively] big sales, World War Hulk being the main example of the moment, whereas D.... Stark differences between Marvel/DC sales again…

Once again, there’s an amazing difference on display in sales, about how Marvel continues, no matter the low-ranking quality of any of their books now, to maintain [relatively] big sales, World War Hulk being the main example of the moment, whereas D….

]]> by: Blog@Newsarama » June sales: Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-272082 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:11:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-272082 [...] Over at The Beat, Paul O&#8217;Brien and Marc-Oliver Frisch are looking over last month&#8217;s sales figures already. O&#8217;Brien looks at the Marvel&#8217;s supremacy: Once again, Marvel dominated DC in terms of direct market share, but this month’s margin is outrageously wide. In units, Marvel won by 48% to 29% - in dollars, 44% to 27%. That margin reflects the fact that Marvel are having a good year in the direct market, and DC… well, DC aren’t. [...] […] Over at The Beat, Paul O’Brien and Marc-Oliver Frisch are looking over last month’s sales figures already. O’Brien looks at the Marvel’s supremacy: Once again, Marvel dominated DC in terms of direct market share, but this month’s margin is outrageously wide. In units, Marvel won by 48% to 29% - in dollars, 44% to 27%. That margin reflects the fact that Marvel are having a good year in the direct market, and DC… well, DC aren’t. […]

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270896 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 05:59:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270896 Maybe I blinked, but are there comparisons for the overall Marvel data? Has their circulation increased? averages? and since events turn the graph into a bell curve, would it be possible to get something like a sliding average so that we can judge the present and future against the past? Maybe I blinked, but are there comparisons for the overall Marvel data? Has their circulation increased? averages? and since events turn the graph into a bell curve, would it be possible to get something like a sliding average so that we can judge the present and future against the past?

]]> by: Wraith http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270816 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 05:37:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270816 Paul hit the nail right on the head about why many fans are'nt blown away by the Skrull revelation. This type of storyline has been done at least 3 times before to 3 different characters (Alicia Masters,Iron Fist,and Wolverine have all been replaced by Skrulls in past stories). The hype behind the whole Skrull invasion storyline is just another case of the Quesada regime taking an idea from the often (and unfairly) maligned 90's Marvel comics and proclaiming that they have thought of the most BRILLIANT and BIGGEST story idea in years. Paul hit the nail right on the head about why many fans are’nt blown away by the Skrull revelation. This type of storyline has been done at least 3 times before to 3 different characters (Alicia Masters,Iron Fist,and Wolverine have all been replaced by Skrulls in past stories). The hype behind the whole Skrull invasion storyline is just another case of the Quesada regime taking an idea from the often (and unfairly) maligned 90’s Marvel comics and proclaiming that they have thought of the most BRILLIANT and BIGGEST story idea in years.

]]> by: butch http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270534 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:41:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270534 The purpose of the Mythos books is to end up with a painted TPB with all the origins of the Marvel icons (and movie franchises) that new and casual fans could pick up. Sort of a modern version of Son of Origins. Didn't pick up any of them so far, but the FF one is intriguing me. Is the art on them as confusing as I've heard? The purpose of the Mythos books is to end up with a painted TPB with all the origins of the Marvel icons (and movie franchises) that new and casual fans could pick up.

Sort of a modern version of Son of Origins.

Didn’t pick up any of them so far, but the FF one is intriguing me. Is the art on them as confusing as I’ve heard?

]]> by: Randy Lander http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270393 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:11:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270393 The Anita Blake gone missing for two months isn't as weird when you consider that in July and August, Marvel is publishing a 2-issue Anita Blake series by Laurel K. Hamilton. Oddly sensible to not put two Anita Blake series out at the same time, I thought. The Anita Blake gone missing for two months isn’t as weird when you consider that in July and August, Marvel is publishing a 2-issue Anita Blake series by Laurel K. Hamilton. Oddly sensible to not put two Anita Blake series out at the same time, I thought.

]]> by: Sean W http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270232 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:24:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-270232 MYSTIC ARCANA debuting at 26k isn't that bad, is it? Its sales seem a lot healthier than other thematic stuff like MARVEL WESTERNS, LEGION OF MONSTERS and the ROMANCE REDUX stuff. MYSTIC ARCANA debuting at 26k isn’t that bad, is it? Its sales seem a lot healthier than other thematic stuff like MARVEL WESTERNS, LEGION OF MONSTERS and the ROMANCE REDUX stuff.

]]> by: Ian http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269874 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:41:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269874 I agree with Paul. If I didn't know that it was a big deal from outside of the comics, I wouldn't have known it was a big deal. Yeah, there was a Skrull running the Hand, that IS interesting, but it didn't tell us much. I agree with Paul. If I didn’t know that it was a big deal from outside of the comics, I wouldn’t have known it was a big deal.

Yeah, there was a Skrull running the Hand, that IS interesting, but it didn’t tell us much.

]]> by: JD http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269753 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:24:39 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269753 Re White Tiger: these delays are baffling, especially considering they've put the artist on Sub-Mariner. Re White Tiger: these delays are baffling, especially considering they’ve put the artist on Sub-Mariner.

]]> by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269604 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:58:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269604 Or maybe it's because it's a story idea we've seen before and it never amounted to very much. We already did "Wolverine turns out to be a Skrull" back in the late nineties. The Skrulls have tried impersonating government officials before. None of these stories were especially worldshaking. "Elektra is a Skrull", in itself, is a pretty trivial plot development. Without the hype, I don't think it would have even occurred to anyone that this was a big deal. Or maybe it’s because it’s a story idea we’ve seen before and it never amounted to very much. We already did “Wolverine turns out to be a Skrull” back in the late nineties. The Skrulls have tried impersonating government officials before. None of these stories were especially worldshaking. “Elektra is a Skrull”, in itself, is a pretty trivial plot development. Without the hype, I don’t think it would have even occurred to anyone that this was a big deal.

]]> by: Ian http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269600 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:56:19 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269600 Marvel is trying something different with Spider-Man, and I think it might just be the shot in the arm that both the character and the book need. I guess we'll see. It makes me happy to see so much success. When I look at the 6 or 12 month comparisons, there is very little that is worrisome. Yeah I like Blade and Antman, and I'll be sorry to see them go, but kudos to Ironfist, Ms. Marvel, and Nova. Marvel is trying something different with Spider-Man, and I think it might just be the shot in the arm that both the character and the book need. I guess we’ll see.

It makes me happy to see so much success. When I look at the 6 or 12 month comparisons, there is very little that is worrisome. Yeah I like Blade and Antman, and I’ll be sorry to see them go, but kudos to Ironfist, Ms. Marvel, and Nova.

]]> by: BradyDale http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269597 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:51:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269597 The last page of New Avengers is a very big deal. The Skrulls get smart? What? What??? The implications are enormous. So much conjecture comes from that stuff. Man-o-man. I don't see how anyone could see that last page and say: "Is that it?" Maybe it's because the idea was so heavily leaked? The last page of New Avengers is a very big deal. The Skrulls get smart? What? What???
The implications are enormous. So much conjecture comes from that stuff. Man-o-man. I don’t see how anyone could see that last page and say: “Is that it?”
Maybe it’s because the idea was so heavily leaked?

]]> by: SF http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269577 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:38:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269577 rich: "Really, if you’re not interested in reading the exploits of EVERYONE in the Marvel (or DC) universe, there’s little to read from these companies." I don't know if that's true. With the various crossovers, I'll pick up the event book (Civil War, say), and the stuff I'd be picking up anyway (Cap, New Avengers) and I don't seem to have trouble following anything. Same with the Ultimate line - just following Ultimate Spidey, no other series or mini-series, and it reads just fine. rich:
“Really, if you’re not interested in reading the exploits of EVERYONE in the Marvel (or DC) universe, there’s little to read from these companies.”

I don’t know if that’s true. With the various crossovers, I’ll pick up the event book (Civil War, say), and the stuff I’d be picking up anyway (Cap, New Avengers) and I don’t seem to have trouble following anything. Same with the Ultimate line - just following Ultimate Spidey, no other series or mini-series, and it reads just fine.

]]> by: rich http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269484 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:58:24 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/07/19/marvel-month-to-month-sales-june-2007/#comment-269484 "So much for the 'event fatigue' theory." I dunno ... I'm happy that Marvel is selling stuff. But "Event Fatique" set in long ago for me. I don't think I've purchased a Marvel title since Sable &#38; Fortune, which was quite good. Really, if you're not interested in reading the exploits of EVERYONE in the Marvel (or DC) universe, there's little to read from these companies. THE SPIRIT gets high marks ... I think I'm just not interested in crossovers, anymore, and that's how these companies are getting you to purchase everything ... or losing some readers. "Pulling [The Hulk] out of the mainstream Marvel Universe for a year (and putting him in a well-received storyline in the meantime) has done the trick in terms of building anticipation." Well, now ... if only they'd try that with Spider-Man ... and the X-Men. There is no such word as "Overkill" in Marvel's dictionary. “So much for the ‘event fatigue’ theory.”

I dunno … I’m happy that Marvel is selling stuff. But “Event Fatique” set in long ago for me. I don’t think I’ve purchased a Marvel title since Sable & Fortune, which was quite good. Really, if you’re not interested in reading the exploits of EVERYONE in the Marvel (or DC) universe, there’s little to read from these companies. THE SPIRIT gets high marks … I think I’m just not interested in crossovers, anymore, and that’s how these companies are getting you to purchase everything … or losing some readers.

“Pulling [The Hulk] out of the mainstream Marvel Universe for a year (and putting him in a well-received storyline in the meantime) has done the trick in terms of building anticipation.”

Well, now … if only they’d try that with Spider-Man … and the X-Men. There is no such word as “Overkill” in Marvel’s dictionary.

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