#Comic Book Sales Figures – 2017.08

Comichron.com Sales Figures Analysis for August 2017

Dark Nights: Metal #1

Well it’s been quite a while since I blogged about stats on comic sales yet again.  As you can see with these past month numbers DC has taken the top 3 spots overtaking Marvel’s many Secret Empire and Star Wars series.  The resulting takeover has pushed Image’s Walking Dead series just outside the top 10 taking the 11th spot.  So Dark Nights: Metal #1 took the top spot with 261,997 estimated units with Batman #28 and #39 taking in around 100K each.  That’s not too bad for DC as they seem to be struggling at times at remaining on top.

What’s really sad is the fact that a lot of the series in the top 10 seem to be part of some major event.  I’ve heard a lot of grumblings in the community from blog sources where comic ordering has dropped near 20% from previous months.  Checking the numbers here show a 30% drop in comic sales from the same month last year.  This is concerning but should I be worried?  I mean really, I haven’t seen a damn thing on the relation between digital sales and print sales.  As more and more apps come out offering more digital content, who is to say the industry is actually in a decline…I mean, are they?  If they were, why would they be dumping so much content out there?  I realize the heart of the movie industry depends upon the content created by the comic industry.  I just wish I could hear the numbers from the publishing side of things…

 

#Comic Book Sales Figures – 2017.03

Comichron.com Sales Figures Analysis for March 2017

Amazing Spider-Man Volume 4 #25 Regular Alex Ross

Well it’s been quite a while since I blogged about stats on comic sales.  Simply put the sales figure site I reference Comichron has been going through a redesign for a while now.  It’s also been creating more historical data sets apparently going all the way back to 1995.  Now if only there was an easy way to grab the data via Microsoft Power BI or Power Query so I could break down the data on various series I personally collect.  Unfortunately screen-scraping with Power Query is still one of the only viable options and rather time consuming to say the least.  Wow, I think I’m heading off course so lets get out of data analysis from an IT perspective and chat more about this months statistics.

As you can see Marvel and DC share about half of the top 10 where Marvel takes the top spot with ASM #24.  What’s amazing to see when comparing previous years is now Image is in the top 10 and near the top consistently with their main flagship title The Walking Dead with 70,422 printed copies sent out while another top competitor Valiant Entertainment was near for their new volume to their flagship title X-O Manawar #1 with 60,524 printed copies sent out.  What I wish I could see were the reporting figures on digital downloads as that market has increased exponentially, while the printed could for comics is apparently still decreasing when compared to same month, previous year statistics.

With the reporting pause I took concerning monthly stats the one thing that really worries me are the print count numbers for the various Transformers series by IDW Publishing.  I’m a long time fan of the Transformers and where each series was near 10K+, each series now is pushing near 6K+, a rather large drop when compared to 2 years ago.  This again makes me wonder where digital sales are at.  Clearly the data is being recorded as Big Data to data centers but for someone that would like to see those stats, where or where do I venture to for that information?  If anyone out there knows, please pass along!

Comic Book Sales Figures for March 2016

Batman #50 Greg Capullo

Comic Book Sales Figures for March 2016

This month’s top 300 list Batman is back on top and I’m sure he’s happy to be there.  Batman’s total estimated sales figures are near 160K+ with none other than the first issue of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1 from Boom Studios.  I’m not sure who is reading power rangers comics but judging from the near 120K estimated print count I’d say it’s more than just little kids.  To think I didn’t know adults actually liked that show or are the comics more adult oriented where as the cheesy ass show was more for the kids?  Comment below if you have some details because I’m a little curious.  As always Marvel still has a commanding presence in the top 10 with 3 of them being Star Wars related comics, the norm these days.  Now that we know Darth Vader will be ending at #25 I’m wondering what from Marvel will fill the void of the series.  I was rather disappointed when I heard the news since that is by far one of the better written series churning out of marvel these days.  Spider-Man had one and Deadpool surprising enough made it in the top 10 at over 70K estimated print count.  Any ways, there’s my brief update for March as I’m running late with this one.

Comic Book Sales Figures for February 2016

Comic Book Sales Figures for February 2016

This month’s top 300 list has something different about it.  Yes something very different indeed.  Can you see the difference with this list from past 300 lists?  Yes, DC Comics steals the top numeral-uno spot!  Not only that but also it has another kind of non-Batman related title in the top 10 mix with Justice League with almost 80,000 in printing.  Can this be because of the release of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice?  Well, if that movie had anything to do with it then I bet it’s gonna most likely do a 180 after the crappy reviews the movie has been receiving.  And to think I was truly excited to see this move that never did it occur to me that Zach Snyder would create a movie with no subsequent character development nor a plot that everyone could grasp on too and run with.  What a shame DC Comics and Warner Brothers, what … a … shame…

So with that little rant I suppose I should actually get to this months statistics.  So Dark Knight III: The Master Race #3 took the top spot with a total print count near 150,000.  Andy Kubert is the artist of the regular cover shown in the post.  Batman #49 took the 3rd spot with Justice League rounding out the last spot in the top 10.  The rest of the 7 spots were all taken by Marvel with the usual series like Star Wars and the Amazing Spider-man with more Deadpool than usual, potentially from the increased interest of the character after it’s very successful rated R movie release with Ryan Reynolds.  I loved it and if you haven’t seen it go, drop everything and go!

Comic Book Sales Figures for January 2016

The Walking Dead #150 Regular Charlie Adlard & Dave Stewart

Comic Book Sales Figures for January 2016

With the start of the new year it looks like Image Comics has taken the top spot with their prized property The Walking Dead.  Although I have never gotten into this whole zombie craze seems like a lot of people have.  With the print count over 156,000 Image has done wonders with this property both in print and T.V.  The rest of the top 10 was filled in with mostly Marvel series and one, yes count it one DC Comics series that being of course, Batman…  DC’s next spot isn’t until #24 with yet another Batman series with those amazing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Marvel has been killing it and it seems like they are continuing that trend from last year.  I guess we’ll see what the new Batman vs. Superman movie does for the company and the news that they will yet again reboot their series sometime early Summer 2016.

Comic Book Sales Figures for December 2015

Secret Wars #8 Regular Alex Ross

Comic Book Sales Figures for December 2015

Another month has closed and it looks like interest in the mega Secret Wars event from Marvel has picked up some steam and managed to take the top spot.  Star Wars has managed to obliterate the competition in the top 10 since their debut.  This month is no exception to the rule taking 4 of the coveted top 10 spots.  Although it’s been a poor year for DC they have seen a return to the Top 10 with a few Batman titles, including a team-up with the legendary Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I wonder if IDW is getting anything thing from that publication.

Walking Dead is Image Comics top publication at the 26th spot of the list with their 150th issue.  Another winner for Image Comics has consecutively been Saga in at around 50,000 sold at the 41st spot.  However the best damn series out there right now is none other than Transformers and Transformers More Than Meets The Eye published by IDW Publishing.  Dammit people start reading the series as it has been the best damn run I have ever seen!

Comic Book Sales Figures for November 2015

Dark Knight III The Master Race #1 Regular Andy Kubert

Comic Book Sales Figures for November 2015

Oh here comes Batman to the rescue for poor DC Comics.  Yes, their flagship character took the #1 spot at around 440,000 copies sold.  As for the rest of the coveted top 10 for this month, Marvel is the winner taking each and every spot 2-10.  All I can say is Marvel is just killing it with titles relating to Star Wars, Deadpool, and X-Men related titles.  Yeah Deadpool was suppose to be dead but apparently Marvel couldn’t ignore the simple fact that Deadpool’s mouth sells issues, a lot of issues.  Now that the movie will be coming out soon and I’m taking my daughter to see the new Star Wars flick well it looks to be a very Merry Christmas indeed for the folks over at Marvel Entertainment.  Of course poor DC Comics will be getting a lot of coal in their stockings and quite possibly some pink slips if they can’t turn their sales nose dive around.  What are your thoughts?

Comic Book Sales Figures for October 2015

Invincible Iron Man Vol 2 #1

Comic Book Sales Figures for October 2015

Well it’s finally happened for Marvel!  They have officially taken control of the top 10 spots for this month pushing the top selling DC comic Batman down to the #11 spot.  As you may know this is a big deal as it’s the first time in quite a long time that DC has not held one of the top 10 month print count spots.  The top dog though this month is the first issue of the new series Invincible Iron Man volume 2.  It had a total of 279,514 printed issues. I think that this may be a fluke month in that over half of the top 10 for this month are new volumes to already existing series for Marvel.  That means next month I foresee Batman regaining it’s position in the top 10 selling in November.  Also note that Star Wars is still going very strong in the #6 spot for issue #10 of the series.  Any ways, that’s my quick take on this month’s selling figures. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend, eat lots of turkey and pie!

Comic Book Sales Figures for September 2015

Star Wars Shattered Empire #1

Comic Book Sales Figures for September 2015

Like last month new comer to the top 10 Image Comics hangs in there with Walking Dead #146 in the number 9 position.  DC Comics also hangs in there with Batman #44 (3rd spot) and Justice League #44 (8th spot).  Having said that Marvel easily takes over the rest of the top 10 with none other than a title in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Shattered Empire printing well over 200,000 copies.  Oh how long can Marvel keep this up you think?  With the new movie fast approaching Star Wars Shattered Empire offers readers a prequel of sorts in events following the destruction of the second Death Star.  I’m curious and so I too will be reading the events after Return of the Jedi so yeah, I’m excited, but how long can Marvel last?

Comic Book Sales Figures for August 2015

Secret Wars #5

Comic Book Sales Figures for August 2015

This month seems to read just the same as last months news that DC is still down for the count while Marvel is enjoying the high life.  Secret Wars #5 is still cranking out covers as the series churns through each month.  However this week Marvel is sharing the spotlight with a fellow publisher not DC and that is Image Comics for Walking Dead #145.  Amazing that a small publisher has made it to the top 10 in the number 7 spot.  DC also smuggled in another issue besides their flagship Batman; Justice League #43.  So now for what I believe to be the first time a new publisher has entered into the ranks of the top 10, in legitimate sales and that’s pretty darn cool.