The sales numbers for August have come out and DC hit the top three with Metal #1 and two Batman issues. Here is a link:
https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/38411/top-300-comics-actual-august-2017
Amazingly, Metal #1 sold over a quarter million issues, something I didn't think I'd see again. After those three, Marvel dominates the next 12 slots until All Star Batman slides in at #15. It is clear that D.C. Will milk the Batman cow for all the cash he is going to provide.
But we're not here to discuss Batman. Instead, we are here to discuss the sales on Supergirl. I have good news!
And I can't help but think that Artgerm has a lot to do with that good news.
Supergirl #12 was in the midst of the Fatal Five storyline and was par for the course of the title outside of the new variant cover artist. So how did it sell?
Amazingly the issue sold 27104. That is up, dramatically, from the prior issue which sold 21319.
That's an increase of 27%.
As I said in that prior post, that Artgerm variant on #12 seemed to impact sales. That cover sold out at my LCS. It was on walls for $10 at a con. The issue was reordered. That is crazy but it shows just how much a single artist or how different covers can effect things.
I'm glad people are buying the book. Hopefully, these folks are reading and enjoying the book.
But it is interesting to contrast the sales to that Supergirl Annual #1, a book which was a chapter in the Fatal Five story.
Sp how did the Annual, again without a Artgerm cover and admittedly more expensive Sell?
It only sold 17322, more on par with what sales had been before.
I like this Supergirl book. I like the direction it seems to be taking. I want it to succeed. I can only hope that this trend, seemingly spurred on by cover art continues.
And this post, after months of watching sales erosion, was a joy to write!
5 comments:
"Amazingly, Metal #1 sold over a quarter million issues, something I didn't think I'd see again."
Ohh, boy.
"It is clear that D.C. Will milk the Batman cow for all the cash he is going to provide."
Sadly.
I get it. Batman became DC's cash cow in the late 80's and he never stopped being it. So DC will milk him. It's understandable. It's even logical.
But not at the other characters' expense, which is what usually happens! Every time DC wants to push Batman, someone else -usually Superman- is diminished, put down, mocked...
Plus, nothing guarantees Batman will be a cash cow forever. Superman was DC's cash cow from 1938 to the middle 80's. The X-Men used to be Marvel's cash cow (and before that they were a cancelled book). DC also must show other characters love and attention. You never know when your cash cow will stop printing money or who will become a breakthrough character under the right writer. I repeat: The X-Men were cancelled. Then Marvel gave them another chance, hired a hot writer and artist, and they became a smashing success (although it didn't happen overnight. Funny how the book sold barely above cancellation during the Claremont/Byrne run).
"Amazingly the issue sold 27104. That is up, dramatically, from the prior issue which sold 21319.
That's an increase of 27%."
Yipee!
"That is crazy but it shows just how much a single artist or how different covers can effect things."
Definitely.
Artgem's covers are delightful and Robson Rocha's art is excellent. Let's hope more fans stick around and the sales attrition stops.
"Artgem's covers are delightful and Robson Rocha's art is excellent. Let's hope more fans stick around and the sales attrition stops."
Wait till you see the cover of issue 15...YOWZA!
I got no beef with DC's milking Batman for every shekel, but I sort of gave up on Bruce when they bulked him up to the skill level of "BatGod" a character so intense he can kill Darkseid with a scowl....Batman has become the living embodiment of all the complaints about the Silver Age Superman Family, too powerful and too hard to challenge.
JF
This is good news.
"Good? It's GRRREAT!" (As Tony the Tiger would say.)
These sales reports are always interesting.
Of the 80 titles that precede Supergirl on this list, 35 are DC, 42 are Marvel, and 3 are independent.
Of the Marvel dominated slots 4-14, 3 are limited series (Secret Empire), 3 are one-shots (Generations) and 4 are Star Wars titles (non Marvel Universe). The first Marvel Universe on-going title listed is Amazing Spider-Man 31 at number 18.
If you count only on-going series from all companies, Supergirl comes in at number 54.
If you count only DC Comics, Supergirl is at number 36.
With Artgerm's covers, fantastic interior art by Rocha and Henriques and Orlando's new direction, it looks like things are starting to come together for Supergirl.
Finally, this is unrelated, but I wanted to mention that Things From Another World and Discount Comic Book Service are both currently selling the Tweeterhead Supergirl statue for $199.99, and Hobby Galaxy has it for $204.99, in case anyone is interested.
Thanks for all the comments.
Thrilled we got an uptick!
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