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Robin The Boy Wonder

June 2008 Sales Figures

As promised, please see the link below:

June 2008 Sales Figures

Firstly, and most importantly, these are sales estimates based upon comics sold to North American retailers by Diamond. This is as close to accurate as we're going to get although a good reflection of how our favourites are performing.

Once again, Secret Invasion dominates the top spot with over 175K copies of its third issue sold. DC's big event slips to third with 126K comics sold, behind Marvel's Ultimate Origins 1 (136K). The only other title to sell more than 100K is New Avengers.

The highest selling independent title is, as per usual, Dark Horse's Buffy The Vampire Slayer (12th overall - 80K sold). Second highest is IDW's Angel After The Fall (43rd). I have to ask. Is Angel the Buffy spin-off or something different?

Amazing Spider-Man continues to endure its sales decling, now averaging in the 70K region. This means, per month, ASM sells 210K in total. August's New Ways To Die should see a sales increase for Spidey although, with the continued (and expected) decline, the thrice-monthly title may soon be under threat.

Marvel dominated the market with a 48.39% market share in contrast to DC's 29.56%. Maybe the Big Two is now only a Big One.

Interestingly, it seems that sales in June 2008 were down on the same month last year (4%).
Reaper

The Angel is a Buffy spin off, I think 'After the Fall' is a comment on the end of series 5.
Robin The Boy Wonder

So the higher selling 'indie' titles are adapted from popular TV series...?

Somehow that doesn't seem fair to proper indie titles; although I do see how smaller publishers can enjoy higher sales (and, of course, higher profits) by publishing such titles (Buffy, Aliens, Transformers etc).
Reaper

For them it's probably the big licenses that allow them to fund the smaller titles.
Batmanuel

Interesting Stats
Have you just posted these to show that Amazing Spiderman still ranks in the top twenty? based upon comics sold to North American retailers by Diamond that is
and is this as close to accurate as we're going to get? and is it a good reflection of how your favourite is performing?

Still fact an figures, votes and ballots, it must be true.
but out of all of this i am quite worried that the core (Grant Morrison) Batman title seems to be doing worse than say Detective comics? Birds Of Prey?? or the truly awful Batman Death Mask, only in North America it seems. (and this i see as a fundamental flaw in these figures)

and you shouldn't knock the independents for the poor showing in this chart, after all it is a former independent writer artist who now is chief at Marvel, and another former independent writer and artist who writes marvels most successful stories, it cant be helped if it takes Mr Pubic twenty years to catch up with what we knew then, and another twenty years to catch up with what we know now Smile

the one thing that has and always will be, is what sells commercially well in one comic shop sells commercially well in all comic shops.
(i use the term commercially because it discounts the odd comic shop owner favorites which may differ from shop to shop)

and i am sure that given the time and patience i could probably find facts and figures that contradict these that have been posted.

at the end of the day it doesnt make Terry Wogan a better musician than Lemmy because he got to number one in the charts and Motorhead didn't.
It also doesnt make the Birdy song a better song than Ace of Spades now does it, if you catch my drift Smile

Oh and as a matter of fact, and using the very figures that you have submitted
sales on AMS on the same week as the release of Civil War issue seven was, 142,930 with an over all product placement of number three in the chart.
The stats you provided show Spider-Man 563 (sorry if i could not bring myself to use the word amazing) sales have dropped to 70,766 with a product placement 20 in the chart? forgive me for being a bit thick, but is that not more than a 50% drop in both sales and popularity?

Yes, you can say ouch, i will forgive you Laughing
Robin The Boy Wonder

Bats: Your post was not the one I expected from you. The only reason I'm about to post this on an open forum is that you've done the same. Before I begin, I must tell you that, after reading your post, I'm feeling a touch... insulted. Mad. Steaming, in fact. So I apologise in advance if anything I say from hereon may be viewed as a potential slight; none is intended.

Batmanuel wrote:
Interesting Stats
Have you just posted these to show that Amazing Spiderman still ranks in the top twenty? based upon comics sold to North American retailers by Diamond that is
and is this as close to accurate as we're going to get? and is it a good reflection of how your favourite is performing?


Interesting stats. Good start, I think. Then I read...

No.

The reason I posted these sales figures here was to provide a source of information for those who post here on the Whatever Comics forum, you included.

If you think I've posted this only because of Spider-Man, then you're a complete idiot. Why did I do it in May...? Why am I doing it now...? Not to prove a fucking point, that's for sure.

Batmanuel wrote:
Still fact an figures, votes and ballots, it must be true.
but out of all of this i am quite worried that the core (Grant Morrison) Batman title seems to be doing worse than say Detective comics? Birds Of Prey?? or the truly awful Batman Death Mask, only in North America it seems. (and this i see as a fundamental flaw in these figures)


Batman didn't ship in June. That's why it's not included.

Batman 676 & 677 both shipped in May. Batman 678 shipped in the first week of July.

Out of interest, Batman is the pivotal point in which these sales figures are established as Diamond view the title as one that usually maintains a steady sales figure month-on-month.

Batmanuel wrote:
and you shouldn't knock the independents for the poor showing in this chart, after all it is a former independent writer artist who now is chief at Marvel, and another former independent writer and artist who writes marvels most successful stories, it cant be helped if it takes Mr Pubic twenty years to catch up with what we knew then, and another twenty years to catch up with what we know now Smile


I'm not knocking the independents. I was only commenting on where the higher selling independents ranked.

Batmanuel wrote:
the one thing that has and always will be, is what sells commercially well in one comic shop sells commercially well in all comic shops.
(i use the term commercially because it discounts the odd comic shop owner favorites which may differ from shop to shop)


Obviously.

Batmanuel wrote:
and i am sure that given the time and patience i could probably find facts and figures that contradict these that have been posted.


You're welcome to try; however, these are the ones that are more immediately published and also those available to the public through the world wide web. To be honest, I don't believe there are any other published sales figures that we can obtain; certainly not ones that are intended for our eyes. Even Comics International in its prime used these sales figures, stats presented to them by Diamond.

This particular website is a very trusted source and is trying to do far, far more than post monthly sales figures. Try browsing the site to see what they're doing and then judge for yourself.

Batmanuel wrote:
at the end of the day it doesnt make Terry Wogan a better musician than Lemmy because he got to number one in the charts and Motorhead didn't.
It also doesnt make the Birdy song a better song than Ace of Spades now does it, if you catch my drift Smile


It's not about what's better. It's about sales.

Batmanuel wrote:
Oh and as a matter of fact, and using the very figures that you have submitted
sales on AMS on the same week as the release of Civil War issue seven was, 142,930 with an over all product placement of number three in the chart.
The stats you provided show Spider-Man 563 (sorry if i could not bring myself to use the word amazing) sales have dropped to 70,766 with a product placement 20 in the chart? forgive me for being a bit thick, but is that not more than a 50% drop in both sales and popularity?


This isn't about Spider-Man. That's for another thread; however, Marvel are basing Spider-Man sales figures on an overall monthly score with Brand New Day rather than an individual issue one. It doesn't prove a point and isn't about the quality; it's about information that's already been divulged to the public.

Batmanuel wrote:
Yes, you can say ouch, i will forgive you Laughing


I said more than 'ouch'.

Seriously, you haven't even come this close to offending me on the Tony Stark thread. You've completely misread and misinterpreted why I spent the time presenting these figures on your website. In my naivety, all I wanted to do was provide you with an informative source that your current, and future, forum members may find of interest.
CatFang

Well, I guess you're waiting for a reply from Batmanuel, not me at this point, but I just wanted to let you know that I was very interested in the figures, and pleased that you posted the original link to the site that holds all the back stats.

Not only are these things interesting as a reader, but as someone who works in another area of publishing at the moment, and also as an Indy creator looking at the shape of the industry and making decisions on where to pitch stuff.

So, thanks from me, anyway.
Robin The Boy Wonder

Thanks Cat.

I find these figures interesting too; admittedly, I guess my interest leads more toward Marvel & DC although you can get a very good indication of what may happen with any given title dependent upon its performance sales-wise.

One interesting point I've always found with Marvel is how they see the 20K sales figure as one that usually spells cancellation. There are exceptions (Marvel Adventures) although this is the historical trend (over the last ten years, certainly) with Marvel.

Anyhow, it's the morning after the night before and I've now had the chance to reflect on last night's post. I haven't edited the post as that would only put a lie to how I felt last night when I read Bats' post.

Although, in reflection, I think I see where Bats may be coming from.

Elsewhere on the forum, and about a month ago, I posted sales figures for Amazing Spider-Man. My intention there wasn't to prove a point about sales equalling quality (very misleading, if we're all honest here), same as it isn't here.

I think Bats may have the impression that I'm trying to make a point about Amazing Spider-Man, especially after my paragraph on the subject above; however, that simply isn't the case. It may be worth your re-reading what I've written on Spider-Man and its sales decline. It's a comment, some speculation on my part too, but certainly not anything to prove a point. The only reason I passed comment on it was because of the recent debate on the forum about Spider-Man.

I've calmed down a little but I'm still disappointed.
Xeall

I miss Cap O, this fight could have got good with no-one calming down.....


wait no i dont.  Shocked

sales figures actually dont intrest me that much, i likes what i likes and i dont what i dont, who cares where the majority is as long as im enjoying it, unless it is the naughty word (which starts fights and starts with s and ends winth man) then i have an opinion. Cos im arrogant like that  Very Happy
Robin The Boy Wonder

Fair play.

Bet you never thought I'dve said that, eh?

Oh. Stark. Stark. Stark. Stark. Stark. Stark! STARK!!!

On another note, I don't want anyone to think I'm ragging on Bats in general. He's actually one of my closest friends and I've known him for a very long time now; he probably remembers me as a wet-behind-the-ears mousey kid who could barely muster up the courage to say Boo to a goose.

We once agreed that whatever was said on the site was the 617 universe; what we say and do in the real world is the 616. Nothing personal, never is. And that's they way it's going to stay!  Very Happy

Of course, on the forum... anything goes... now where's my Anti-Batmanuel shark repellent...?  Wink  Razz
Batmanuel

Boy Wonder
Quote:
I must tell you that, after reading your post, I'm feeling a touch... insulted. Mad. Steaming,

Well it has to be said, this was by far not my intention, perhaps i should reread my post, try and isolate where it is i went wrong, and learn from my mistake.
Quote:
now where's my Anti-Batmanuel shark repellent...?

Now that is acually quite funny Laughing
But i am pretty much solid on one thing, the Birdy Song is NOT a better song than Ace of Spades, even if it did out sell it.... Ha have at thee young philistine Laughing

Quote:
I think Bats may have the impression that I'm trying to make a point about Amazing Spider-Man,


well acually... i did, whoops. still wont be the first time i have misinterpreted something, i dont for a minute suppose it will be the last. i dont mind being told when i am wrong so long as its not followed up with a "sign here sir, or else."  Wink

Still after all said and done, i will still stand by what i have said, even if perhaps it was said in the wrong place at the wrong time and in the wrong context. Smile
Robin The Boy Wonder

Nah, it was just said in the wrong thread.

You're forgiven. Despite my recent purchase of shares in the Anti-Batmanuel Shark Repellant Company!  Wink

Next time round, I'll just stick to commenting on Trinity's sales figures; because, despite the apparent positive word-of-mouth for the series, it's been speculated that the poor sales figures (following Countdown, some suspect) are a sign that DC's weekly series plan will soon be coming to an end.
Xeall

ha there is not anti-xeall shark repelent. I win!
Batmanuel

Ha, i wouldn't bank on it.

Hey Xeall, here's 14 pints of Larger, twenty Cigarettes, and a Wonder Woman Costume  Laughing
Robin The Boy Wonder

14 pints of Larger...?

Besides, after 14 pints of larger and 20 cigarettes, he'll porbably wear the Wonder Woman costume!  Laughing
Batmanuel

Heh Smile

What with you in your boy wonder outfit,
Xeall in a wonder woman out fit.
This is becoming very sureal Smile

See, like i said, somthing for everone here!
Robin The Boy Wonder

Yeah, forget the Zombie walk.

Whatever could stage a superhero dressing up contest!!!
Batmanuel

Boy Wonder:
Quote:
Whatever could stage a superhero dressing up contest!!!

Did I Tell You... that we are haveing one soon  Wink

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