Showing posts 31 - 35 of 47 matching: sales
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The latest "DC Comics Month-to-Month Sales" column by Marc-Oliver Frisch at comicsbeat.com is not nearly as pessimistic about recent Booster Gold sales as I was last week.
Comics Beat notes the accelerating month-to-month decrease in sales of 1.5% for July, 2.5% for August, and 3.1% for August, but attributes it to "standard attrition." Their numbers also provide a good comparison against other sinking titles like Power Girl and Red Robin, other middling books showing similar sales trends. So maybe Booster shouldn't be taking the slumping sales personally.
It's also worth remembering that no matter what we fear, Booster Gold is still selling many, many more issues than Batman Confidential, Jonah Hex, and R.E.B.E.L.S., none of which DC seems prepared to axe just yet.
| | Tags: comicsbeat.com marc-oliver frisch sales
Morgenstern posted on Nov. 23, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Have guest-apperances of other Heroes on shows like Smallville influenced their comic book sales?<br />(Booster is scheduled for such a apperances, hence the question...this might actually bring me to watch an episode of that show for once)
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 23, 2010 at 7:39 PM
I've nothing to base this on, but I think DC keeps Jonah Hex in order to say they have some diversity under their belt. As far as I can remember, he's the only monthly western comic out there right now.<br />Batman Confidential is...well...Batman. Need I say more? But R.E.B.E.L.S., its the one that surprises me. I enjoy it A LOT, but I'm just waiting for the month it stops shipping. As long as it continues, it does give me bigger hope for Booster Gold.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 24, 2010 at 3:19 AM
Morgenstern: appearances of comic book characters in media other than comic books rarely translate into a sales boost for the comics. It is very unlikely that many SMALLVILLE watchers will head to a comic book store in search of BOOSTER GOLD even if the episode with Booster is fantastic. But even some new readers are better than none.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The latest sales numbers are in, and the future looks bleak for our favorite time traveler.
Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis assumed creative control of the title with issue 32. (I've included sales of Jurgen's final issue, 31, in the graph above for a baseline comparison of where the book was before G/D took over.) Despite an initial bump from curious buyers interested in seeing the old team together again, the sales of the book have been declining since at an ever increasing pace.
Though my sales numbers are all estimates based on various interpretations of Diamond Comic Distributor reports, the numbers are pretty clear: Booster Gold sales are falling off a cliff:
- about 300 fewer issues of 34 were sold than 33;
- about 450 fewer issues of 35 were sold than 34;
- about 600 fewer issues of 36 were sold than 35;
- about 700 fewer issues of 37 were sold than 36.
Many times a title will find a sales floor of dedicated readers, and sales will decline more gradually once they approach that asymptote of core group of readers. But quite the opposite is currently happening for Booster Gold where it now seems that fewer and fewer readers want the book. As Harry pointed out in the comments yesterday, reviews are still pretty good, and art quality is high (if uneven between issues). So the exact reasons for the exodus is unknown.
Perhaps this sales trend is just more proof of Dan DiDio's claim that there is no significant market support for humorous comic books. Or maybe it is simply an indication of the growing trend of digital comic book sales. (DC does not release sales numbers from digital sales, which by all accounts are the fastest growing comic book sales market.) But it could be that readers who picked up the book for Geoff Johns' vision are rejecting the Giffen/DeMatteis interpretation of the character.
Clearly this accelerating trend of buyers running from Booster Gold spells certain doom for our hero unless something is done soon. At this point, it would appear that a change in the creative team is an absolute necessity simply to send a message to the comic book buying public that DC is serious about salvaging the title. (Assuming, of coruse, that they are.) While Giffen and DeMatteis are both very versatile and capable of changing the tone of their stories between issues, having their names on the book may be a liability at this point after 6 months of increasingly poor sales.
| | Tags: sales
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 2:54 PM
I mentioned this in my Booster blog. I've been a big advocate of DC taking 6 or 7 months and giving them to a big name writer who can sell comics by name alone. At least get the amount sold up by a good amount, and then put Jurgens back on writing again as they did when Johns did quit doing the writing. That way if the sales decrease, there will at least be a bigger space between number sold and cancellation, whereas now Booster is spiraling to a (terrible) ending.
Harry posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 3:15 PM
I'm not sure DC's business model makes the BG title worth saving. The market is currently driven by stunts, crossovers, and new splash titles. It is probably a superior financial strategy to let BG go and put out a new #1... like maybe an Aquaman or Firestorm book.
Harry posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 3:21 PM
More frustrating for me is trying to understand why the sudden drop if so many webfolks like the new direction. What subset of the BG fanclub is just queitly sulking away from our favorite hero? And it has to be that loyal fanbase that keeps the title in print. A title like REBELS has been regularly superior in quality to BG, but that doesn't help with sales. As I have said before, if Booster gets to 50, that will be quite an achievement for a 2nd tier property.
Kevin posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 5:15 PM
The drop can come from alot of different things. First, we have an influx of new books that can be sapping away readers. Generation Lost is a big example of this. People that might normally buy Booster Gold even if they don't like the current take now have a new option, where we have Judd writing a more serious Booster. Add in Time Masters, written by Dan, and even more potential readers are sucked away. <br />You then have people that hate the new direction. While I don't mind it, I still prefer Dan and Geoff to this. The comic made the mistake of going to the Bwa-ha-ha days too fast. In my opinion, they should have focused about 4 months on other stories, THEN moved the the JLI story. <br />Now, what is the fate of Booster Gold? That is a bit more tricky. Dan Jurgens has stated he will be returning. He left to do Time Masters and some of the DC Online stuff. Judd has proven he can handle writing Booster quite well. And finally, Geoff Johns has hinted that Booster Gold will play a big part in Flashpoint (he has mentioned the fact that Booster has not gone after Reverse-Flash is something that will be addressed, and Time Masters' final issue will focus on Flashpoint)<br />Thus, this is my personal opinion of what will happen:<br />DC will allow Keith another 2, 3 issues after what has been previewed...allowing Keith to finish the "Return to 25th Century" arc. This will put them close to the end of Generation Lost and Brightest Day, as well as what they are doing for DC Online, most likely. It will also be when Flashpoint begins.<br />Dan an/or Geoff will then return to the book, with Judd being given a JLI ongoing. The book will be marketed as a companion to Flashpoint, thus boosting sales. <br />Of course, they could always go the route of allowing myself and Russ (from "The Gold Exhange") to write it for scale. I already have a year and a half worth of issues ready, new characters, and the beginings of a half year event arc. DC...are you listening?
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 6:33 PM
Good points, Kevin, though I'm doubtful that DC will bother to try to tie-in to an event to boost sales, but rather find a somewhat organic way to end the title, similar to what happened with BOOSTER GOLD volume 1 and MILLENNIUM. I, like Harry, suspect that this title is doomed to cancellation within the next 12 months (hopefully later rather than sooner) to make way for whatever property DC wants to push next. Booster will be shifted into another title, possibly a JLI or similar team title, where DC can mix the selling power of BOOSTER GOLD with that of similarly smaller market characters. (The formula has worked well in the past for JUSTICE LEAGUE, OUTSIDERS, TITANS, SECRET SIX, etc.) We won't be losing Booster Gold, just his solo title. (For awhile.)
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 11, 2010 at 10:27 PM
I don't want to lose the solo title....sniff.
GodTiger posted on Nov. 12, 2010 at 2:17 PM
;o; this is just too damn horrible... it shouldn't end like this! Well... maybe we'll get more JLI, if things go well.
Erin posted on Nov. 13, 2010 at 3:36 PM
I'd hate to lose the title too. Can't we have a petition or something to boost sales? Maybe buy more than one issue? Anything? Spider-Girl lasted 12 years with poor sales due to fan support, it seems sad that we can't do the same.
KMD posted on Nov. 14, 2010 at 6:45 PM
I could easily see Generation Lost going on to a new group title--and taking the BG solo series out of the picture all together. One thing to keep an eye on. In "The Road Home" one shot with the Outsiders, Bruce Wayne says the group has been a disappointment and he may have to head back to lead them. I wonder if the powers that be at DC will go to "big names" to help push comics--be it making the Outsiders "Batman and the Outsiders" or shoving Guy back with the JLI. His "Emerald Warriors" is doing well so far.
An M. posted on Nov. 14, 2010 at 7:13 PM
Okay, THAT is just horrible.<br />The first title I got myself as an Abo and now it's just one inch from being cancelled? Oh boy I totally pick the wrong books to like, don't I? <br />Well, I won't see this title in Germany anyhow (the sales SUCKED...and yes I'm talking about the Geoff Johns run.) so I hope it will last just a little longer...<br />*sniff*<br />(come on DC... I can't afford three books with Booster in them! And the solo title is a good idea...)<br />...so I really hope it won't 'just' be dropped and end in a total mess.<br />Although I like it very much -I'm obviously a reader who likes humour-books...- I have to admit maybe the turn to the funny side of Booster was too fast. I felt relieved after such a long time of Booster moaning to read something with more fun parts in it...and in contrast feel the same shock as Booster when something terrible happened. It was really a nice fresh turn in the very first issues of the run...<br />...I guess reader's had enough of it... :/<br />Now we have to wait and see :/<br />My last guess for today?<br />It will be cancelled and will start again at #1 after the Smallville episode...<br />Or he'll get a one-shot...something like that.<br />With a cool extra-gimmick. So people will buy it ;P
Monday, November 1, 2010
New week, new attitude.
I'm now over my hatred for Justice League: Generation Lost #12. It seems clear that there is a generational divide on this issue: long-time JLA readers felt betrayed but younger fans enjoyed the story. Since the industry really needs all the new blood that it can get (and opposing the change has done nothing other than make me feel old), maybe it's time to embrace the change. Especially since Marc-Oliver Frisch's latest 6 months sales reviews of DC Comics at Comics Beat.com indicated that recent across-the-board sales were about as bad as it gets.
If letting a hack like Judd Winick make Ice a patricidal amnesiac increases sales for a series that I otherwise enjoyed, I should probably either quit reading comics or quit my bitching and get on board the bandwagon. It's a new 52-verse, and if Booster can be reborn with a new purpose, so can Ice. Maybe the change can earn a little buzz and drive some sales.
See? Like Booster, I can be a team player when I have to be.
| | Tags: august 2010 comicsbeat.com marc-oliver frisch sales
KMD posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Fascinating to say the least. It's pretty clear the two "Blackest Night" issues did nothing to bring in new readers. It's also clear that "Generation Lost" and "Vanishing Point" have done little to boost Booster's sales either. <br />Some of the numbers are not surprising. "Mighty Crusaders" was a flop but so were the Red Circle books. DC did nothing to promote "The Web" and "The Shield" so that can't be a surprise. The JSA related numbers can't be much of one either. Did the All Stars need their own book? Did Magog? I think Power Girl has enough fans to survive a while longer and it does have its own niche.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 3:44 PM
I agree, KMD. I believe that history is pretty clear: event crossovers will drive up book sales in the short-term only. We should be thankful that BOOSTER GOLD hasn't suffered significantly from any notable falloff thanks to it's temporary $4 price hike.
BoosterPowershot posted on Nov. 1, 2010 at 11:20 PM
Booster Gold is my favorite superhero. Power Girl is second. The fact that both of these have hit below the 20K mark now is distressing.
Lissbirds posted on Nov. 2, 2010 at 1:13 AM
Interesting perspective. I like your attitude towards Generation Lost #12. Hopefully I can move on, too. What bugs me most is that the comics industry isn't self-aware and losing touch with its fans. The weird thing is, I'm a new reader. (But I read JLI first, so I guess that puts me in the old category.)
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Nov. 2, 2010 at 2:00 AM
I recognize that a slavish devotion to continuity can be a detriment to story telling, and I'm willing to accept changes to characters that provide genuine development. However, I just really don't appreciate unnecessary, 180 degree about-faces to the history of a character in the middle of a story, especially when the change appears to serve no purpose other than to fill an issue or two of a series that is off the rails. In other words, I am and always have been opposed to change for change's sake.
I suppose if I had faith in Winick to pull this story out, and make this seemingly abrupt change organic, I wouldn't be experiencing such grief over the death of the character that I knew as Ice. However, Winick's track record of disregarding established characters has never earned anything but my scorn. So I naturally expect only the worst from this sudden, unexpected story development. (I'm not by nature an optimistic person.)
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sales numbers are in for September, and the decline on Booster Gold isn't as bad as word of mouth might have you believe. The graph below is only for the Giffen/DeMatteis issues to date, and the slope of decline is pretty similar to what was seen with Jurgens at the helm. It will be interesting to see what the future holds following the nearly universal distaste for Booster Gold #37.
As much as I'd rather not encourage anyone to stop buying Booster Gold, those of you who hate the antics of Giffen and DeMatteis need to stop buying until they are replaced. That is the kind of message that DC cannot ignore (and the sort of free-market advice that Booster Gold would appreciate).
| | Tags: graph sales
BoosterPowershot posted on Oct. 21, 2010 at 10:26 AM
I'm just afraid that they'll pull the plug on the series. I'm not a big Geoff Johns fan, but if putting him back as the writer for Booster Gold would increase sales, I'd ask him to write 6 more issues after Giffen/DM but before bringing Jurgens back.
tiggerpete posted on Oct. 21, 2010 at 11:24 AM
I think Johns is a little too busy to pick up writing Booster Gold right now, at my count he is writing only 4 books, bu is trying to do some DC work outside of comics as well, and being CCO is probably a time consuming job
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Oct. 21, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Putting a high-profile artist/writer on the book is the best way to increase sales. (Other than a ring promotion, of course.) Jim Lee pushed Batman and Superman to the top a few years ago. That's probably the best strategy if DC wanted to pay prime prices to promote a book with limited mainstream market appeal like BOOSTER GOLD. (BOOSTER GOLD is slavishly devoted to DC history and nostalgia -- perfect for devoted fanboys/fangirls, bad for new readers.) I believe that to some degree, that is what DC was attempting to do with Giffen/DeMatteis. Unfortunately G&D's tone is just too far afield from what it seems the majority of readers were accustomed to, and it's leading to a very rough transition.
Booster's sales still aren't terrible in this weak comic book market. So there's no need for panic. Stick Booster Gold in the midst of the next major crossover and see what happens. Event books may suck, but they do drive sales.
Harry posted on Oct. 21, 2010 at 9:19 PM
BG sales are tracking right along with Power Girl sales. Maybe BG fans and PG fans should ban together and buy the other's book? We can look to Rebels and Doom Patrol to see what timeline BG is on (both titles at 10k but not yet cancelled). Seems like we got at least one more year before things are dire.
BoosterPowershot posted on Oct. 22, 2010 at 12:17 AM
I just have this fear that they'll randomly cancel Booster Gold. Anything involving him and PG's main title are what really drive me to the comic shop each week.
Erin posted on Oct. 22, 2010 at 12:20 AM
I'm considering it. I usually drop books that don't hold my interest or annoy me. #37 definitely ranked up there. But worrying about losing the book altogether makes me a little unsure. I think you're right about a high profile team until Jurgens returns but it has to be someone who gets the previous tone of the book. <br />I didn't know there was such a strong distaste for #37. I've barely been able to find comments on it and the most of the ones I've seen have been gushing about it.
Boosterrific [Official Comment] posted on Oct. 22, 2010 at 1:10 AM
Thought exercise for those of you who are worried about losing BOOSTER GOLD altogether, would you rather keep reading another 20 issues like the last 3? Booster the character will survive for years to come even if Booster the current series does not.
@Erin: I don't trust online opinions (present company excluded, of course). The people I know who read comics have been pretty universally disappointed in #37. And those who have left feedback here at Boosterrific.com have been pretty negative.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
In continuing the discussion of sales over time for DC titles, you may be interested in this article over at comicsbeat.com. Each month The Beat runs a wrap up of month-to-month sales trends that are both illuminating and quite frequently baffling and surprisingly pleasing.
Of course the big industry discussion right now is the sudden lack of sales across the board for August. (More details here, here, and here.) Whether this is due to bad economy + high book prices, buyer fatigue, or the lack of a current mega-event (love 'em or hate 'em, they do drive sales across the board because we fans really are sheep), sales are dead flat.
Rumor has it that Warner Brothers is planning a big restructuring of DC in the immediate future, so don't be surprised if DC responds to this crisis by exploding into other media (movies, television, video games, underoos, etc.).
| | Tags: comicbookresources.com comicsalliance.com comicsbeat.com sales warner brothers
Superman posted on Sep. 22, 2010 at 11:22 PM
*Cue sarcasm* Great, 'cause I'm dying to have underwear with Hal Jordan's face on it. :/
