2014-12-30

Marvel early 1960s sales trends



From the "misleading charts" files, this 1965 Marvel ad published in NEWSDEALER [source].  The complete lack of a consistent scale is obvious when you look at the numbers reported. Even more subtle is how this chart completely ignores the increase in the number of titles Marvel was publishing in each year, which was constantly increasing in this period, from about 103 comics in 1960 to 165 in 1965. Looking at the numbers with that in mind, you get this:

Year Comics Total Sales Average Sales Change in Average Sales
1960 103 16,100,000 156,300
1961 122 18,700,000 153,300 -1.92
1962 133 19,740,000 148,400 -3.20
1963 142 22,530,000 158,700 6.94
1964 154 27,709,000 179,900 13.36
1965 165 32,000,000 193,900 7.78

Sales actually falling slightly in 1961 and 1962, recovering those sales in 1963, a fairly healthy, but hardly extraordinary, increase in 1964 and a smaller increase expected in 1965.

2014-12-26

November Diamond Books Chart, color-coded

Playing around with a different way to present the Diamond book chart, here are the November numbers. New books are listed in white, relist books which also charted in October are listed in green (with their October ranking noted), and relist books last appearing September or earlier are listed in orange, with the number of months since their last appearance on the Top 300 noted. Also listed for each book is the price, publisher, estimated November sales and the year-to-date sales (only counting months where the book appeared on the Diamond charts).

Let me know if there's anything that can be done to improve the readability of this, and any other information you think it might be good to include. I'm thinking of learning enough coding to turn this into a table you can sort and filter, so for example you could isolate all the Dark Horse books listed.

A few stats:

  • In the Top 300, 161 books are new releases, 139 were on the charts before.
  • The average new item that charted shipped 1729 copies, although without that outlier at #1 it's closer to 1600 copies. Note, though, that many books never make the Top 300, probably around 140 new books this month shipping fewer than 445 copies, so the actual average new book sold somewhere in the 900 to 1100 copies range.
  • Of the 139 backlist items, 87 were also on the October chart. Another 13 were on the chart at least once earlier this year. The remaining 39 hit the charts for the first time in 2014 in November. A few of those are new printings of books which had been out of print or evergreen titles which usually just miss the Top 300 but had a small blip last month, but the majority appear to be books that were liquidated at massive discounts (for example, AVENGERS ORIGIN HC at #96 shipped more copies last month than it did when published in November 2010, the only other month it hit the Top 300. Tellingly, the retail rank is way down at #466 and you can find multiple copies for sale on-line for as little as $3, meaning the wholesale price was even less than that).


#001 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 22 A NEW BEGINNING - $15 - IMA - 22.92k - new book
#002 - TEEN TITANS EARTH ONE HC VOL 01 - $23 - DC - 8.85k - new book
#003 - SAGA DLX ED HC VOL 01 - $50 - IMA - 8.38k - new book
#004 - WICKED & DIVINE TP VOL 01 THE FAUST ACT - $10 - IMA - 7.7k - new book
#005 - SAGA TP VOL 01 - $10 - IMA - 7.29k - last month rank 13 - 51.45k YTD
#006 - SERENITY LEAVES ON WIND HC - $20 - DAR - 6.67k - new book
#007 - AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 09 RIFT PART 3 - $11 - DAR - 6.13k - new book
#008 - BATMAN ETERNAL TP VOL 01 (N52) - $40 - DC - 5.03k - new book
#009 - WAKE HC - $25 - DC - 5.02k - new book
#010 - DEADPOOL TP VOL 06 ORIGINAL SIN - $18 - MAR - 4.74k - new book
#011 - MOUSE GUARD BALDWIN BRAVE OTHER TALES HC - $15 - BOO - 4.2k - new book
#012 - GOTG BY ABNETT AND LANNING COMPLETE COLL TP VOL 02 - $35 - MAR - 3.9k - new book
#013 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE - $15 - IMA - 3.73k - last month rank 36 - 33.63k YTD
#014 - DISNEY FROZEN CINESTORY - $15 - JOE - 3.69k - new book
#015 - INVINCIBLE TP VOL 20 FRIENDS - $17 - IMA - 3.68k - new book
#016 - CIVIL WAR TP - $25 - MAR - 3.67k - last month rank 85 - 13.04k YTD
#017 - DEADPOOL VS X-FORCE TP - $16 - MAR - 3.6k - new book
#018 - GUARDIANS OF GALAXY PREM HC VOL 03 GUARDIANS DISASSEMBLED - $25 - MAR - 3.51k - new book
#019 - JUSTICE LEAGUE TRINITY WAR TP - $20 - DC - 3.45k - new book
#020 - ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GN VOL 04 BITTER SWEETS - $13 - BOO - 3.38k - new book
#021 - BATMAN SUPERMAN TP VOL 01 CROSS WORLD (N52) - $15 - DC - 3.35k - new book
#022 - MILES MORALES ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 REVIVAL - $18 - MAR - 3.23k - new book
#023 - BATMAN & ROBIN TP VOL 04 REQUIEM FOR DAMON (N52) - $17 - DC - 3.1k - new book
#024 - FAIREST IN ALL THE LAND TP - $15 - DC - 3.04k - new book
#025 - BATMAN ADVENTURES TP VOL 01 - $20 - DC - 2.93k - new book
#026 - BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS TP VOL 04 THE WRATH (N52) - $18 - DC - 2.88k - new book
#027 - ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 14 - $11 - RAN - 2.87k - new book
#028 - BTVS SEASON 10 TP VOL 01 - $19 - DAR - 2.84k - new book
#029 - SAGA TP VOL 03 - $15 - IMA - 2.83k - last month rank 17 - 59.99k YTD
#030 - SHUTTER TP VOL 01 WANDERLOST - $10 - IMA - 2.74k - new book
#031 - ORIGINAL SIN TP THOR AND LOKI TENTH REALM - $17 - MAR - 2.7k - new book
#032 - WOLVERINE TP BOOK 02 THREE MONTHS TO DIE - $20 - MAR - 2.63k - new book
#033 - BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM 25TH ANNIV DLX ED TP - $20 - DC - 2.63k - new book
#034 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE TP VOL 06 - $15 - DC - 2.6k - new book
#035 - SAGA TP VOL 02 - $15 - IMA - 2.59k - last month rank 21 - 37.69k YTD
#036 - DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 10 - $30 - MAR - 2.55k - new book
#037 - BATMAN SUPERMAN HC VOL 02 GAME OVER - $25 - DC - 2.54k - new book
#038 - AQUAMAN TP VOL 04 DEATH OF A KING (N52) - $17 - DC - 2.54k - new book
#039 - THOR GOD OF THUNDER TP VOL 03 ACCURSED - $20 - MAR - 2.48k - new book
#040 - BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 05 GOTHTOPIA (N52) - $25 - DC - 2.46k - new book
#041 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US - $15 - IMA - 2.4k - last month rank 79 - 19.55k YTD
#042 - MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDS FOREVER TP VOL 02 - $18 - IDW - 2.39k - new book
#043 - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN LEARNING TO CRAWL TP VOL 01 - $18 - MAR - 2.39k - new book
#044 - INHUMAN TP VOL 01 GENESIS - $18 - MAR - 2.27k - new book
#045 - IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON TP VOL 01 RAGE - $18 - MAR - 2.27k - new book
#046 - ANIMAL MAN TP VOL 05 EVOLVE OR DIE (N52) - $15 - DC - 2.09k - new book
#047 - ELEKTRA TP VOL 01 BLOODLINES - $17 - MAR - 2.08k - new book
#048 - MS MARVEL TP VOL 01 NO NORMAL - $16 - MAR - 2.05k - last month rank 1 - 9.84k YTD
#049 - ASTONISHING X-MEN GIFTED GN HC W/MOTION COMIC DVD - $25 - MAR - 2.02k - return after 27 months - 2.02k YTD
#050 - BATWOMAN TP VOL 05 WEBS (N52) - $20 - DC - 1.94k - new book
#051 - CATWOMAN TP VOL 05 RACE OF THIEVES (N52) - $18 - DC - 1.94k - new book
#052 - BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM 25TH ANNIV DLX ED HC - $30 - DC - 1.92k - new book
#053 - BATMAN BEYOND 2.0 TP REWIRED - $17 - DC - 1.89k - new book
#054 - AQUAMAN HC VOL 05 SEA OF STORMS (N52) - $25 - DC - 1.88k - new book
#055 - THOR GOD OF THUNDER PREM HC VOL 04 LAST DAYS MIDGARD - $25 - MAR - 1.85k - new book
#056 - NIGHTCRAWLER TP HOMECOMING VOL 01 - $17 - MAR - 1.83k - new book
#057 - HINTERKIND TP VOL 02 - $15 - DC - 1.67k - new book
#058 - SILVER SURFER EPIC COLLECTION TP WHEN CALLS GALACTUS - $35 - MAR - 1.66k - new book
#059 - ZENITH HC PHASE ONE - $25 - POC - 1.65k - new book
#060 - BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS (N52) - $17 - DC - 1.65k - last month rank 72 - 22.95k YTD
#061 - TOMB RAIDER TP VOL 01 SEASON OF WITCH - $20 - DAR - 1.62k - new book
#062 - FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 02 ORIGINAL SIN - $16 - MAR - 1.61k - new book
#063 - AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 06 INFINITE AVENGERS - $25 - MAR - 1.6k - new book
#064 - HELLBOY WEIRD TALES HC - $25 - DAR - 1.57k - new book
#065 - SEX CRIMINALS TP VOL 01 - $10 - IMA - 1.57k - last month rank 67 - 27.97k YTD
#066 - THOR GOD OF THUNDER HC VOL 01 - $35 - MAR - 1.55k - new book
#067 - RUNAWAYS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 02 - $35 - MAR - 1.54k - new book
#068 - BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC - $18 - DC - 1.53k - last month rank 78 - 21.31k YTD
#069 - DAY MEN TP VOL 01 - $10 - BOO - 1.52k - new book
#070 - BLEACH GN VOL 62 - $10 - VIZ - 1.52k - new book
#071 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 21 ALL OUT WAR PT 2 - $15 - IMA - 1.51k - last month rank 103 - 30.38k YTD
#072 - NEW AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 04 PERFECT WORLD - $25 - MAR - 1.5k - new book
#073 - MIND MGMT HC VOL 04 MAGICIAN - $20 - DAR - 1.5k - new book
#074 - BATMAN TP VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS (N52) - $17 - DC - 1.48k - last month rank 81 - 17.11k YTD
#075 - AVENGERS WORLD TP VOL 02 ASCENSION - $17 - MAR - 1.44k - new book
#076 - ATTACK ON TITAN JUNIOR HIGH GN VOL 02 - $17 - RAN - 1.43k - new book
#077 - AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION TP EARTHS MIGHTIEST HEROES - $35 - MAR - 1.38k - new book
#078 - REALM OF KINGS TP - $35 - MAR - 1.37k - return after 48 months - 1.37k YTD
#079 - AGE OF ULTRON TP - $35 - MAR - 1.35k - last month rank 230 - 8.09k YTD
#080 - BATMAN TP VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY (N52) - $17 - DC - 1.33k - last month rank 87 - 16.08k YTD
#081 - BLACK SCIENCE TP VOL 01 HOW TO FALL FOREVER - $10 - IMA - 1.32k - last month rank 120 - 16.07k YTD
#082 - LAZARUS HC VOL 01 - $35 - IMA - 1.32k - new book
#083 - INFINITY GAUNTLET TP - $25 - MAR - 1.28k - last month rank 136 - 8.46k YTD
#084 - MARVEL UNIVERSE VS PUNISHER HC - $20 - MAR - 1.27k - return after 47 months - 1.27k YTD
#085 - CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP CAPTAIN LIVES AGAIN - $35 - MAR - 1.26k - new book
#086 - BATMAN DEATH OF THE FAMILY BOOK & JOKER MASK SET (N52) - $40 - DC - 1.23k - last month rank 10 - 20.03k YTD
#087 - SIEGE PREM HC - $25 - MAR - 1.23k - return after 46 months - 1.23k YTD
#088 - ALL NEW INVADERS TP VOL 02 ORIGINAL SIN - $17 - MAR - 1.2k - new book
#089 - GOD IS DEAD TP VOL 03 - $20 - AVA - 1.2k - new book
#090 - GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 01 COSMIC AVENGERS - $20 - MAR - 1.19k - last month rank 27 - 22.92k YTD
#091 - MMW INCREDIBLE HULK HC VOL 08 - $70 - MAR - 1.19k - new book
#092 - WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01 - $60 - IMA - 1.18k - last month rank 193 - 9.07k YTD
#093 - OZ TP ROAD TO OZ - $18 - MAR - 1.17k - new book
#094 - AVENGERS UNDERCOVER TP VOL 02 GOING NATIVE - $15 - MAR - 1.17k - new book
#095 - ARCHIE THE MARRIED LIFE TP VOL 06 - $20 - ARC - 1.16k - new book
#096 - AVENGERS ORIGIN HC - $25 - MAR - 1.16k - return after 48 months - 1.16k YTD
#097 - PUNK ROCK JESUS DELUXE EDITION HC - $40 - DC - 1.15k - new book
#098 - CHRONICLES OF CONAN TP VOL 28 BLOOD & ICE - $20 - DAR - 1.14k - new book
#099 - ALL YOU NEED IS KILL 2IN1 MANGA GN - $15 - VIZ - 1.14k - new book
#100 - DEADPOOL BY DANIEL WAY COMPLETE COLL TP VOL 01 - $35 - MAR - 1.13k - last month rank 298 - 7.69k YTD
#101 - MASS EFFECT FOUNDATION TP VOL 03 - $17 - DAR - 1.12k - new book
#102 - KINSKI TP - $15 - IMA - 1.1k - new book
#103 - EAST OF WEST TP VOL 01 THE PROMISE - $10 - IMA - 1.07k - last month rank 108 - 17.34k YTD
#104 - DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP - $15 - MAR - 1.07k - last month rank 123 - 12.73k YTD
#105 - BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP - $20 - DC - 1.06k - last month rank 138 - 14.95k YTD
#106 - FANTASTIC FOUR BY HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 - $125 - MAR - 1.06k - new book
#107 - TRINITY OF SIN PANDORA TP VOL 02 (N52) - $17 - DC - 1.06k - new book
#108 - BATGIRL HC VOL 01 THE DARKEST REFLECTION (N52) - $23 - DC - 1.05k - return after 25 months - 1.05k YTD
#109 - BLUE EXORCIST GN VOL 12 - $10 - VIZ - 1.04k - new book
#110 - ANGRY BIRDS COMICS HC VOL 01 WELCOME TO THE FLOCK - $10 - IDW - 1.04k - new book
#111 - PRINCESS UGG TP VOL 01 - $16 - ONI - 1.03k - new book
#112 - HAWKEYE TP VOL 03 LA WOMAN - $16 - MAR - 1.02k - last month rank 2 - 8.77k YTD
#113 - RAT QUEENS TP VOL 01 SASS & SORCERY - $10 - IMA - 1.01k - last month rank 53 - 18.7k YTD
#114 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS - $15 - IMA - 1k - last month rank 132 - 13.6k YTD
#115 - NEW YORK FOUR DARK HORSE ED TP - $20 - DAR - 1k - new book
#116 - BATMAN COURT OF OWLS BOOK & MASK SET (N52) - $25 - DC - 1k - return after 3 months - 3.31k YTD
#117 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE - $15 - IMA - 0.98k - last month rank 216 - 10.55k YTD
#118 - SUPER HERO SQUAD TP VOL 01 GET YER HERO ON DIGEST - $10 - MAR - 0.95k - return after 56 months - 0.95k YTD
#119 - BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP - $25 - DC - 0.95k - last month rank 131 - 15.4k YTD
#120 - DEADPOOL TP VOL 01 DEAD PRESIDENTS NOW - $16 - MAR - 0.94k - last month rank 121 - 11.37k YTD
#121 - RESIDENT EVIL MARHAWA DESIRE GN VOL 01 - $13 - VIZ - 0.94k - new book
#122 - TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE TP VOL 06 - $20 - IDW - 0.93k - new book
#123 - MARVEL ZOMBIES 04 HC - $20 - MAR - 0.93k - return after 28 months - 0.93k YTD
#124 - MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 HC - $25 - MAR - 0.92k - return after 49 months - 0.92k YTD
#125 - HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW - $17 - MAR - 0.91k - last month rank 149 - 11.68k YTD
#126 - FLASH TP VOL 01 MOVE FORWARD (N52) - $17 - DC - 0.9k - last month rank 166 - 7k YTD
#127 - GRANDVILLE NOEL HC - $20 - DAR - 0.9k - new book
#128 - HELLBLAZER TP VOL 01 ORIGINAL SINS NEW ED - $20 - DC - 0.9k - last month rank 225 - 4.88k YTD
#129 - BATMAN TP VOL 04 ZERO YEAR SECRET CITY (N52) - $17 - DC - 0.9k - last month rank 3 - 8.45k YTD
#130 - CASANOVA COMPLETE ED HC VOL 01 LUXURIA - $30 - IMA - 0.89k - new book
#131 - WATCHMEN TP - $20 - DC - 0.89k - last month rank 111 - 13.09k YTD
#132 - HARLEY QUINN PRELUDES AND KNOCK KNOCK JOKES TP - $20 - DC - 0.87k - return after 3 months - 4.87k YTD
#133 - WOLVERINE BY AARON COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 04 - $35 - MAR - 0.87k - new book
#134 - AXE COP TP VOL 06 AMERICAN CHOPPERS - $13 - DAR - 0.86k - new book
#135 - LOCKE & KEY TP VOL 01 WELCOME TO LOVECRAFT - $20 - IDW - 0.86k - return after 2 months - 7.48k YTD
#136 - MANARA BORGIAS HC - $60 - DAR - 0.85k - new book
#137 - UNCANNY X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY TP - $25 - MAR - 0.84k - return after 61 months - 0.84k YTD
#138 - ASSASSINS CREED GN VOL 05 EL CAKR - $10 - RAN - 0.84k - new book
#139 - SATOSHI KON OPUS TP - $20 - DAR - 0.83k - new book
#140 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 20 ALL OUT WAR PT 1 - $15 - IMA - 0.83k - last month rank 106 - 39.36k YTD
#141 - DEADLY CLASS TP VOL 01 REAGAN YOUTH - $10 - IMA - 0.83k - last month rank 187 - 9.75k YTD
#142 - SANDMAN TP VOL 01 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES NEW ED - $20 - DC - 0.83k - last month rank 130 - 12.12k YTD
#143 - BOUNCE TP - $25 - IMA - 0.82k - new book
#144 - JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 01 ORIGIN (N52) - $17 - DC - 0.81k - last month rank 150 - 11.34k YTD
#145 - WORST OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS HC - $28 - IDW - 0.81k - new book
#146 - STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONIST GN BOOK 01 - $20 - TOP - 0.8k - new book
#147 - AVENGERS PREM HC FIRST TO LAST - $35 - MAR - 0.8k - return after 42 months - 0.8k YTD
#148 - MONSTER MUSUME GN VOL 05 - $13 - STM - 0.8k - new book
#149 - LOCKE & KEY TP SLIPCASE SET HOLIDAY ED - $100 - IDW - 0.8k - new book
#150 - ARMOR HUNTERS TP VOL 01 - $15 - VAL - 0.79k - new book
#151 - BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP - $25 - DC - 0.79k - last month rank 181 - 11.7k YTD
#152 - CLAYMORE GN VOL 25 - $10 - VIZ - 0.78k - new book
#153 - PRETTY DEADLY TP VOL 01 - $10 - IMA - 0.78k - last month rank 146 - 12.5k YTD
#154 - SUPERMAN GOLDEN AGE SUNDAYS 1946-1949 HC - $50 - IDW - 0.78k - new book
#155 - TMNT LEGENDS SOULS WINTER MICHAEL ZULLI HC - $25 - IDW - 0.77k - new book
#156 - TERMINATOR SALVATION FINAL BATTLE TP VOL 01 - $20 - DAR - 0.77k - new book
#157 - EAST OF WEST TP VOL 03 THERE IS NO US - $15 - IMA - 0.76k - last month rank 4 - 8.1k YTD
#158 - MARVEL 75TH ANNIVERSARY OMNIBUS HC - $100 - MAR - 0.76k - new book
#159 - MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS GN VOL 02 GOING GREEN - $8 - NBM - 0.76k - new book
#160 - WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 02 - $60 - IMA - 0.75k - return after 2 months - 4.71k YTD
#161 - SOUTHERN BASTARDS TP VOL 01 HERE WAS A MAN - $10 - IMA - 0.75k - last month rank 6 - 7.24k YTD
#162 - FABLES TP VOL 01 LEGENDS IN EXILE NEW ED - $13 - DC - 0.75k - last month rank 101 - 13.31k YTD
#163 - MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE DIGEST TP VOL 03 - $10 - MAR - 0.75k - new book
#164 - ABSOLUTE BATMAN HAUNTED KNIGHT HC - $100 - DC - 0.74k - new book
#165 - TALES OF HONOR TP VOL 01 - $20 - IMA - 0.74k - new book
#166 - LITTLEST PET SHOP HC - $10 - IDW - 0.74k - new book
#167 - SAVAGE WOLVERINE PREM HC VOL 04 BEST THERE IS - $25 - MAR - 0.74k - new book
#168 - MANIFEST DESTINY TP VOL 01 - $10 - IMA - 0.74k - last month rank 286 - 9.8k YTD
#169 - VAMPIRE DIARIES TP - $25 - DC - 0.73k - new book
#170 - POKEMON ADVENTURES GN VOL 25 FIRERED LEAFGREEN - $10 - VIZ - 0.73k - new book
#171 - DANGER GIRL MAYDAY TP - $18 - IDW - 0.73k - new book
#172 - ASTONISHING THOR HC - $25 - MAR - 0.73k - return after 38 months - 0.73k YTD
#173 - DOOMWAR HC - $25 - MAR - 0.73k - return after 49 months - 0.73k YTD
#174 - BRYAN LEE O MALLEY SECONDS GN - $25 - RAN - 0.72k - last month rank 126 - 8.83k YTD
#175 - V FOR VENDETTA BOOK AND MASK SET - $30 - DC - 0.72k - return after 2 months - 2.5k YTD
#176 - BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP PART 01 BROKEN BAT - $20 - DC - 0.71k - return after 15 months - 0.71k YTD
#177 - HELLO KITTY GN WORK OF ART - $8 - VIZ - 0.7k - new book
#178 - DC COMICS THE NEW 52 ZERO OMNIBUS HC (N52) - $150 - DC - 0.7k - return after 23 months - 0.7k YTD
#179 - FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 44 - $11 - RAN - 0.69k - new book
#180 - SANDMAN ENDLESS NIGHTS TP NEW EDITION - $20 - DC - 0.69k - return after 13 months - 0.69k YTD
#181 - MARCH GN BOOK 01 - $15 - TOP - 0.69k - last month rank 301 - 6.1k YTD
#182 - UNITY TP VOL 03 ARMOR HUNTERS - $15 - VAL - 0.68k - new book
#183 - V FOR VENDETTA NEW EDITION TP - $20 - DC - 0.68k - last month rank 189 - 8.07k YTD
#184 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 19 MARCH TO WAR - $15 - IMA - 0.68k - last month rank 168 - 14.66k YTD
#185 - CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 01 HIGHER FURTHER FASTER MORE - $18 - MAR - 0.68k - last month rank 28 - 3.58k YTD
#186 - FOREVER SMURFETTE GN - $6 - NBM - 0.67k - new book
#187 - DRAGONS RIDERS OF BERK GN VOL 02 - $7 - RAN - 0.67k - new book
#188 - INCREDIBLE CHANGE BOTS TWO POINT SOMETHING GN - $20 - TOP - 0.67k - new book
#189 - GREEN LANTERN v1 HC VOL 01 THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR - $25 - DC - 0.66k - return after 67 months - 0.66k YTD
#190 - WALTER SIMONSON MANHUNTER ARTIST ED HC - $95 - IDW - 0.66k - new book
#191 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 05 BEST DEFENSE - $15 - IMA - 0.66k - last month rank 196 - 8.79k YTD
#192 - EAST OF WEST TP VOL 02 WE ARE ALL ONE - $15 - IMA - 0.66k - last month rank 143 - 15.63k YTD
#193 - BATMAN HC VOL 05 ZERO YEAR DARK CITY (N52) - $25 - DC - 0.66k - last month rank 5 - 7.43k YTD
#194 - BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC - $15 - DC - 0.66k - last month rank 259 - 11.41k YTD
#195 - MOON KNIGHT TP VOL 01 FROM DEAD - $18 - MAR - 0.66k - last month rank 9 - 5.63k YTD
#196 - GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 02 ANGELA - $20 - MAR - 0.65k - last month rank 93 - 7.24k YTD
#197 - JOKER DEATH OF THE FAMILY TP (N52) - $25 - DC - 0.65k - last month rank 152 - 11.68k YTD
#198 - WOLVERINE OLD MAN LOGAN TP - $30 - MAR - 0.64k - last month rank 169 - 6.59k YTD
#199 - ROYAL BLOOD HC - $17 - RAN - 0.63k - new book
#200 - BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM MADNESS HC - $20 - DC - 0.63k - return after 52 months - 0.63k YTD
#201 - DEADPOOL TP VOL 03 GOOD BAD AND UGLY NOW - $16 - MAR - 0.63k - last month rank 96 - 6.66k YTD
#202 - SAMURAI EXECUTIONER OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 - $20 - DAR - 0.63k - new book
#203 - ARCHIE GIANT COMICS FESTIVAL TP - $8 - ARC - 0.63k - new book
#204 - WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS HC VOL 05 - $100 - IMA - 0.62k - new book
#205 - HULK GREEN HULK RED HULK HC - $40 - MAR - 0.62k - return after 50 months - 0.62k YTD
#206 - DREAM STATES THE COLLECTED DREAMING COVERS HC - $50 - DC - 0.62k - new book
#207 - SUICIDE SQUAD TP VOL 01 KICKED IN THE TEETH (N52) - $15 - DC - 0.62k - last month rank 294 - 3.9k YTD
#208 - REGULAR SHOW SKIPS TP - $20 - BOO - 0.62k - new book
#209 - HULK VISIONARIES JOHN BYRNE TP VOL 01 - $25 - MAR - 0.61k - return after 78 months - 0.61k YTD
#210 - MARVEL SUPER HERO SQUAD INFINITY SWORD QUEST HC - $25 - MAR - 0.61k - return after 55 months - 0.61k YTD
#211 - MY LITTLE PONY DIGEST TP VOL 01 - $7 - IDW - 0.61k - return after 14 months - 0.61k YTD
#212 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 06 SORROWFUL LIFE - $15 - IMA - 0.61k - last month rank 227 - 7.45k YTD
#213 - GRINDHOUSE MIDNIGHT TP VOL 02 BRIDE BLOOD FLESH DOLL - $18 - DAR - 0.61k - new book
#214 - MARVEL ADVENTURES BLACK WIDOW & AVENGERS TP DIGEST - $10 - MAR - 0.61k - return after 40 months - 0.61k YTD
#215 - MMW GOLDEN AGE ALL WINNERS TP VOL 02 - $30 - MAR - 0.61k - new book
#216 - STRAIN TP VOL 01 - $20 - DAR - 0.61k - last month rank 167 - 2.92k YTD
#217 - AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVX - $35 - MAR - 0.6k - last month rank 231 - 7.1k YTD
#218 - KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS GN VOL 01 - $10 - VIZ - 0.6k - new book
#219 - ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW TP - $18 - CAL - 0.6k - return after 23 months - 0.6k YTD
#220 - TALES O/T TMNT TP VOL 06 - $20 - IDW - 0.6k - new book
#221 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR - $15 - IMA - 0.6k - last month rank 211 - 9.07k YTD
#222 - XXXHOLIC REI GN VOL 02 - $11 - RAN - 0.6k - new book
#223 - NISEKOI FALSE LOVE GN VOL 06 - $10 - VIZ - 0.59k - new book
#224 - ATTACK ON TITAN BEGINNING BOX SET - $44 - RAN - 0.59k - new book
#225 - WALKING DEAD HC VOL 01 - $35 - IMA - 0.58k - return after 2 months - 3.31k YTD
#226 - NAILBITER TP VOL 01 THERE WILL BE BLOOD - $10 - IMA - 0.58k - last month rank 11 - 4.96k YTD
#227 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 18 WHAT COMES AFTER - $15 - IMA - 0.58k - last month rank 195 - 10.49k YTD
#228 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS TP BOOK 01 - $25 - DC - 0.57k - last month rank 15 - 4.43k YTD
#229 - PUNISHER HC FRANKEN-CASTLE - $40 - MAR - 0.57k - return after 48 months - 0.57k YTD
#230 - WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 01 BLOOD (N52) - $15 - DC - 0.57k - last month rank 250 - 6.98k YTD
#231 - WHITE SUITS TP - $18 - DAR - 0.57k - new book
#232 - HAUNTED HORROR HC VOL 02 COMICS MOTHER WARNED ABOUT - $25 - IDW - 0.57k - new book
#233 - ZENITH HC PHASE TWO - $25 - POC - 0.57k - new book
#234 - BETTY & VERONICA SHOPPING SPREE TP - $10 - ARC - 0.57k - new book
#235 - CIVIL WAR HC - $40 - MAR - 0.57k - return after 71 months - 0.57k YTD
#236 - POKEMON ADV BLACK & WHITE GN VOL 05 - $10 - VIZ - 0.56k - new book
#237 - HARLEY QUINN HC VOL 01 HOT IN THE CITY - $25 - DC - 0.56k - last month rank 7 - 6.17k YTD
#238 - BATMAN WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER TP - $15 - DC - 0.56k - return after 36 months - 0.56k YTD
#239 - PARADISE X TP VOL 01 - $30 - MAR - 0.56k - return after 88 months - 0.56k YTD
#240 - DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE HC VOL 06 LOST LANDS LONG AGO - $35 - FAN - 0.56k - new book
#241 - DEADPOOL CLASSIC TP VOL 01 - $30 - MAR - 0.55k - last month rank 251 - 4.43k YTD
#242 - PAINKILLER JANE 22 BRIDES TP - $18 - MAR - 0.55k - new book
#243 - TEEN TITANS A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS HC - $40 - DC - 0.55k - new book
#244 - AVENGERS WEST COAST AVENGERS ASSEMBLE PREM HC - $30 - MAR - 0.55k - return after 51 months - 0.55k YTD
#245 - SUPERMAN RED SON TP - $18 - DC - 0.54k - last month rank 224 - 8.49k YTD
#246 - SILVER TP VOL 01 - $13 - DAR - 0.52k - new book
#247 - CONSTANTINE TP VOL 01 SPARK AND THE FLAME (N52) - $15 - DC - 0.52k - return after 9 months - 3.2k YTD
#248 - SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 01 - $13 - DC - 0.52k - return after 5 months - 1.5k YTD
#249 - DRAGONAR ACADEMY GN VOL 04 - $13 - STM - 0.52k - new book
#250 - PREACHER TP BOOK 01 - $20 - DC - 0.52k - last month rank 218 - 7.61k YTD
#251 - IRON MAN PREM HC LEGACY OF DOOM - $20 - MAR - 0.52k - return after 42 months - 0.52k YTD
#252 - MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 01 - $18 - IDW - 0.52k - last month rank 277 - 4.08k YTD
#253 - HEROIC AGE TP - $25 - MAR - 0.52k - return after 48 months - 0.52k YTD
#254 - LEGO LEGENDS OF CHIMA GN VOL 03 CHI QUEST - $8 - NBM - 0.51k - new book
#255 - DEADPOOL VS CARNAGE TP - $17 - MAR - 0.51k - last month rank 212 - 7.36k YTD
#256 - SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM TP VOL 01 NUCLEAR FAMILY - $17 - DE - 0.51k - new book
#257 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA HC VOL 01 (N52) - $25 - DC - 0.51k - return after 12 months - 0.51k YTD
#258 - ORPHAN BLADE GN - $20 - ONI - 0.51k - new book
#259 - ATTACK ON TITAN GN VOL 01 - $11 - RAN - 0.51k - last month rank 242 - 8.92k YTD
#260 - UQ HOLDER GN VOL 03 - $11 - RAN - 0.5k - new book
#261 - X-FILES SEASON 10 HC VOL 03 - $25 - IDW - 0.5k - new book
#262 - IRON MAN TP MANY ARMORS OF IRON MAN - $25 - MAR - 0.5k - return after 81 months - 0.5k YTD
#263 - ORIGINAL SIN HC - $75 - MAR - 0.5k - last month rank 23 - 3.72k YTD
#264 - SANDMAN TP VOL 02 THE DOLLS HOUSE NEW ED - $20 - DC - 0.49k - last month rank 300 - 6.03k YTD
#265 - DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL TP - $15 - MAR - 0.49k - last month rank 204 - 8.08k YTD
#266 - NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL TP - $17 - MAR - 0.49k - last month rank 232 - 8.62k YTD
#267 - GREEN LANTERN v1 HC VOL 02 THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR - $25 - DC - 0.49k - return after 67 months - 0.49k YTD
#268 - JSA OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 - $150 - DC - 0.49k - new book
#269 - INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US TP VOL 01 - $15 - DC - 0.49k - last month rank 201 - 6.53k YTD
#270 - X-MEN SECOND COMING REVELATIONS HC - $25 - MAR - 0.49k - return after 49 months - 0.49k YTD
#271 - NEW AVENGERS HC VOL 02 - $30 - MAR - 0.49k - return after 79 months - 0.49k YTD
#272 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 10 WHAT WE BECOME - $15 - IMA - 0.49k - return after 2 months - 4.53k YTD
#273 - DEADPOOL TP VOL 05 WEDDING OF DEADPOOL - $16 - MAR - 0.49k - last month rank 163 - 7.44k YTD
#274 - DEADPOOL TP VOL 02 SOUL HUNTER NOW - $16 - MAR - 0.49k - last month rank 184 - 6.92k YTD
#275 - LUCIFER AND THE BISCUIT HAMMER TP VOL 01 - $19 - STM - 0.48k - new book
#276 - AVENGERS WORLD TRUST PREM HC - $25 - MAR - 0.48k - return after 58 months - 0.48k YTD
#277 - HELLBOY TP VOL 01 SEED OF DESTRUCTION - $18 - DAR - 0.47k - return after 6 months - 2.37k YTD
#278 - AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 01 PARKER LUCK - $18 - MAR - 0.47k - last month rank 8 - 5.47k YTD
#279 - CHEW TP VOL 01 - $10 - IMA - 0.47k - last month rank 222 - 7.46k YTD
#280 - PUNKROCKPAPERSCISSORS TP - $30 - IMA - 0.47k - new book
#281 - EC GEORGE EVANS ACES HIGH HC - $30 - FAN - 0.47k - new book
#282 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 07 THE CALM BEFORE - $15 - IMA - 0.47k - last month rank 262 - 6.26k YTD
#283 - MODESTY BLAISE TP VOL 25 GRIM JOKER - $20 - TTN - 0.47k - new book
#284 - SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY HC VOL 03 - $25 - DAR - 0.47k - new book
#285 - DIARY OF A WIMPY KID HC VOL 09 LONG HAUL - $14 - ABR - 0.46k - new book
#286 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 11 FEAR THE HUNTERS - $15 - IMA - 0.46k - last month rank 297 - 3.88k YTD
#287 - SKY ART OF FINAL FANTASY HC VOL 02 - $35 - DAR - 0.46k - new book
#288 - WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER - $15 - IMA - 0.46k - last month rank 285 - 5.5k YTD
#289 - AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 04 SEARCH PART 1 - $11 - DAR - 0.46k - return after 2 months - 2.8k YTD
#290 - GREEN LANTERN SECRET ORIGIN HC - $20 - DC - 0.46k - return after 48 months - 0.46k YTD
#291 - JUDGE DREDD CITY LIMITS GN - $30 - IDW - 0.46k - new book
#292 - METALLICA NOTHING ELSE MATTERS GN - $20 - PUT - 0.46k - new book
#293 - SUPERMAN EARTH ONE TP VOL 02 - $15 - DC - 0.46k - return after 8 months - 3.68k YTD
#294 - AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 01 PROMISE PART 1 - $11 - DAR - 0.45k - return after 2 months - 2.43k YTD
#295 - GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO TP VOL 10 - $20 - IDW - 0.45k - new book
#296 - HIGH SCHOOL DXD GN VOL 03 - $13 - HAC - 0.45k - new book
#297 - CABLE CLASSIC TP VOL 02 - $30 - MAR - 0.45k - return after 64 months - 0.45k YTD
#298 - FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 3IN1 TP VOL 09 - $15 - VIZ - 0.45k - new book
#299 - BLACKEST NIGHT TP - $20 - DC - 0.45k - last month rank 237 - 6.45k YTD
#300 - ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF CLOVER KNIGHTS KNOWLEDGE GN VOL 03 - $14 - STM - 0.45k - new book

2014-12-21

The November charts are up

November numbers are up at the usual places, including Comichron. Check the other links in the sidebar. It might be the last fairly normal month for a while, with a lot of chart deforming events coming up, including a Loot Crate exclusive cover for BATMAN #36 which will probably more than double the 115k it shipped in November, various Star Wars launches at Marvel next year, with a print run for #1 reportedly already over 1 million (and dozens of covers), possibly not all of those going through the direct market.

Top book was AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #9, which launched an event and had many extra covers. Not surprisingly, #10 dropped right down to normal sales for the title, which are still respectable in the current market. The actual main SPIDER-VERSE event it launched is down a bit further in the charts, about half of what #9 sold. Second issues continue to have average drops in the 33% range, which seems to be the new normal. A big increase for INHUMAN #8, about 70%, apparently engineered by shipping many free copies. The retail rank indicates that it saw a pretty big drop in actual paid copies. The 64% increase for the new creative team on WONDER WOMAN #36 was probably more genuine, though probably short-lived.

On the books chart, 161 new items, 139 backlist, which is about normal for a month without DC or Marvel doing a huge high-discount dump (although there is some of that on this chart). New WALKING DEAD TP book is of course on top, only a few books can ship over 20k out of the gate like that. TEEN TITANS EARTH ONE HC VOL 01 did pretty good at almost 9k, but still only about half the first month sales of the previous EARTH ONE books. SAGA DLX ED HC VOL 01 did remarkably well for a $50 book at over 8k, which also gives it the top retail rank.

Maybe more later this week if I have time, otherwise look forward to the year-end numbers coming up soon.

2014-12-02

A look at some specific numbers - WYTCHES #1

Sorry I haven't been updating lately. I might have some time this month to do some of the playing with spreadsheets that I've been wanting to do, especially if the November numbers are reasonably normal. Check the links in the sidebar for the latest updated charts, articles and podcasts.

I did want to take a look at a rare example of a publisher giving precise sales numbers.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=56841

On WYTCHES #1 : "Image has confirmed that the issue has reached 92,131 copies between its first two printings, with the first printing netting 81,083 in initial retailer orders."


The second print didn't ship until November, so the October numbers should represent the first print numbers only (and the second print should make the November charts).


On the October charts, WYTCHES #1 came in at 67,996, However, it was returnable, and Diamond makes an adjustment for that. The common wisdom is that they reduce the number by 10%, which would put the estimates sales at 75,551. That still leaves a gap of 5532 copies. I'd assume that the number Image reported was the entire print run, including Diamond UK, which isn't included in the North American sales estimates. The common wisdom there is that Diamond UK represents around 10% of the the sales, but that varies wildly by specific book (and down to 0% for some items with licensing or content restrictions), so at about 7% that might seem a bit on the low side, but there were also a number of retailer-specific variant covers for WYTCHES #1 which would definitely lean the numbers more towards North America.

So the numbers would seem to make sense. My initial guess when I read about the print run was that the estimates would come in about 66,000, before I looked at the specific variants which would lean it towards North American sales.