Greetings, sales charts fans! It's time once again to look at Image Comics's sales figures.
Please refer to the
July 2015 column for a preamble and explanation
as to why sales standards for Image books are likely to be different
than those for DC or Marvel.
Image shipped 52 comics in April, compared to 59 in March, 49 in
February, 45 in January, 47 in December, 48 in November, 55 in October
and 52 in September. They shipped 51 in April 2016.
So, it looks like theme variants are a thing now at Marvel? This
month's theme is April Fools. For those titles participating in the
theme variants, the addition or subtraction of one tends to have more of
an affect on sales than the normal month-to-month variance (much like
with DC's theme variant phase a couple of years ago).
Warning: The commentary below may contain reasoned analysis,
speculation (unfounded and otherwise), opinion, and/or snark. Those
looking for a more straightforward analysis are directed to John Jackson
Miller's excellent Comichron analysis, posted in May
over at Comichron!
Please consider the fine print at the end of the column.
(Note that the percentage comparisons are done with total orders including reorder activity, as opposed to initial orders.)
---
10 - THE WALKING DEAD ($2.99)
04/2007: The Walking Dead #36 -- 21,291
04/2012: The Walking Dead #96 -- 36,931
04/2013: The Walking Dead #109 -- 90,362
04/2014: The Walking Dead #125 -- 66,761 [66,782]
04/2014: The Walking Dead #126 -- 67,853 [68,647]
04/2015: The Walking Dead #140 -- 66,553
-----------------------------------------
04/2016: The Walking Dead #153 -- 67,358 (+ 0.1%)
05/2016: The Walking Dead #154 -- 68,922 (+ 2.3%)
06/2016: The Walking Dead #155 -- 71,755 (+ 4.1%)
07/2016: The Walking Dead #156 -- 76,355 (+ 6.4%)
08/2016: The Walking Dead #157 -- 97,689 (+ 37.0%) [104,596]
09/2016: The Walking Dead #158 -- 94,316 (- 9.8%)
10/2016: The Walking Dead #159 -- 91,291 (- 3.2%)
11/2016: The Walking Dead #160 -- 88,367 (- 3.2%)
12/2016: The Walking Dead #161 -- 85,459 (- 3.3%)
01/2017: The Walking Dead #162 -- 85,395 (- 0.1%)
02/2017: The Walking Dead #163 -- 750,000 (+778.3%) **
02/2017: The Walking Dead #164 -- 83,999 (- 88.8%)
03/2017: The Walking Dead #165 -- 70,422 (- 16.2%)
04/2017: The Walking Dead #166 -- 68,205 (- 3.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 25.3%
1 year : + 1.3%
2 years : + 2.5%
5 years : + 84.7%
10 years: +220.3%
Back to standard attrition after months of variant covers and other shenanigans.
---
67 - SEVEN TO ETERNITY ($3.99)
09/2016: Seven to Eternity #1 -- 32,790 [39,394]
10/2016: Seven to Eternity #2 -- 27,968 (- 29.0%)
11/2016: Seven to Eternity #3 -- 26,669 (- 4.6%)
12/2016: Seven to Eternity #4 -- 25,729 (- 3.5%)
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: --
04/2017: Seven to Eternity #5 -- 32,667 (+ 27.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 16.8%
Returns from hiatus with a pretty sizable increase. This is the sort
of sales behavior that you hope for when you release a bargain-priced
first trade collection. (Multiple covers help as well.)
---
80 - PAPER GIRLS ($2.99)
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: Paper Girls #6 -- 36,385 (- 2.2%)
07/2016: Paper Girls #7 -- 35,392 (- 2.7%)
08/2016: Paper Girls #8 -- 33,731 (- 4.7%)
09/2016: Paper Girls #9 -- 32,320 (- 4.2%)
10/2016: Paper Girls #10 -- 32,119 (- 0.6%)
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: Paper Girls #11 -- 30,562 (- 4.8%)
03/2017: Paper Girls #12 -- 29,047 (- 5.0%)
04/2017: Paper Girls #13 -- 27,993 (- 3.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 12.8%
1 year : n.a.
The joys of standard attrition.
---
102 - REDNECK ($3.99)
04/2017: Redneck #1 -- 22,317
108 - ROSE ($3.99)
04/2017: Rose #1 -- 20,499
A couple of debuts fairly close to each other. Both had not only
variants, but Gold Foil variants. So yes, it is the 90s all over again.
Both also had second printings in May.
---
109 - I HATE FAIRYLAND ($3.99)
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: I Hate Fairyland #6 -- 26,095 (+ 5.3%)
07/2016: I Hate Fairyland #7 -- 23,742 (- 9.0%)
08/2016: I Hate Fairyland #8 -- 22,562 (- 5.0%)
09/2016: I Hate Fairyland #9 -- 21,265 (- 5.7%)
10/2016: I Hate Fairyland #10 -- 20,534 (- 3.4%)
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: I Hate Fairyland #11 -- 18,606 (- 9.4%)
04/2017: I Hate Fairyland #12 -- 19,664 (+ 5.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 4.2%
1 year : n.a.
The rise is likely due to the April Fool variant (in addition to its regular variant).
---
110 - KILL OR BE KILLED ($3.99)
08/2016: Kill or Be Killed #1 -- 30,050
09/2016: Kill or Be Killed #2 -- 23,812 (- 20.8%)
10/2016: Kill or Be Killed #3 -- 23,883 (+ 0.3%)
11/2016: Kill or Be Killed #4 -- 22,889 (- 4.2%)
12/2016: --
01/2017: Kill or Be Killed #5 -- 21,261 (- 7.1%)
02/2017: Kill or Be Killed #6 -- 26,312 (+ 23.8%)
03/2017: Kill or Be Killed #7 -- 22,957 (- 12.8%)
04/2017: Kill or Be Killed #8 -- 19,616 (- 14.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.9%
A kind of biggish drop. Not that 19K at eight issues in is bad or
anything, but at this point a drop should be closer to standard
attrition levels (neither issue seven nor eight had variants).
---
111 - BLACK CLOUD ($3.99)
04/2017: Black Cloud #1 -- 19,583
114 - PLASTIC ($3.99)
04/2017: Plastic #1 -- 18,980
Two more debuts. Plastic had both a regular variant and an April
Fools variant, while Black Cloud apparently had neither. Both had second
printings in May.
---
169, 243 - SEX CRIMINALS ($3.99/$4.69)
04/2014: --
04/2015: --
--------------------------
04/2016: Sex Criminals #15 -- 25,937 (- 1.9%)
05/2016: --
06/2016: --
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: Sex Criminals #16 -- 22,494 (- 13.3%)
03/2017: Sex Criminals #17 -- 19,020 (- 15.4%)
04/2017: Sex Criminals #18 -- 17,716 (- 6.9%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 31.7%
2 years : n.a.
Combined sales for the regular and XXX variants.
---
122 - MONSTRESS ($3.99)
04/2016: Monstress #5 -- 21,820 (- 2.6%)
05/2016: Monstress #6 -- 20,850 (- 4.4%)
06/2016: --
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: Monstress #7 -- 20,799 (- 0.2%)
11/2016: Monstress #8 -- 18,830 (- 9.5%)
12/2016: Monstress #9 -- 17,515 (- 7.0%)
01/2017: --
02/2017: Monstress #10 -- 19,345 (+ 10.4%)
03/2017: --
04/2017: Monstress #11 -- 16,757 (- 13.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.4%
1 year : - 23.2%
Back to normal without the variant.
---
126 - GOD COUNTRY ($3.99)
01/2017: God Country #1 of 6 -- 14,322 [19,357]
02/2017: God Country #2 of 6 -- 17,701 (- 8.6%)
03/2017: God Country #3 of 6 -- 15,321 (- 13.4%)
04/2017: God Country #4 of 6 -- 16,174 (+ 5.8%)
There have been multiple printings of each issue, so I think this is growth based on actual demand.
---
131 - THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS ($4.99)
08/2016: Black Monday Murders #1 -- 26,696
09/2016: Black Monday Murders #2 -- 19,749 (- 26.0%)
10/2016: Black Monday Murders #3 -- 18,371 (- 7.0%)
11/2016: Black Monday Murders #4 -- 17,718 (- 3.6%)
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: --
04/2017: Black Monday Murders #5 -- 15,655 (- 11.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.8%
The dangers of a long hiatus...
---
132 - SPAWN ($2.99)
04/2007: --
04/2012: Spawn #218 -- 12,680
04/2013: Spawn #230 -- 15,994
04/2014: Spawn #242 -- 11,827
04/2015: Spawn #251 -- 17,443
----------------------------------
04/2016: Spawn #262 -- 18,775 (+ 10.8%)
05/2016: Spawn #263 -- 16,109 (- 14.2%)
06/2016: --
07/2016: Spawn #264 -- 17,157 (+ 6.5%)
08/2016: Spawn #265 -- 15,927 (- 7.2%)
09/2016: --
10/2016: Spawn #266 -- 22,304 (+ 40.0%)
11/2016: Spawn #267 -- 16,976 (- 23.9%)
12/2016: Spawn #268 -- 16,652 (- 1.9%)
01/2017: Spawn #269 -- 16,257 (- 2.4%)
02/2017: Spawn #270 -- 15,778 (- 2.9%)
03/2017: Spawn #271 -- 15,517 (- 1.7%)
04/2017: Spawn #272 -- 15,400 (- 0.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 31.0%
1 year : - 18.0%
2 years : - 12.3%
5 years : + 21.5%
10 years: n.a.
---
143 - RAT QUEENS ($3.99)
04/2014: --
04/2015: Rat Queens #10 -- 14,228
---------------------------------
04/2016: --
05/2016: Rat Queens #16 -- 12,092 (+ 0.8%)
06/2016: --
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: Rat Queens #1 -- 22,461 (+ 85.7%)
04/2017: Rat Queens #2 -- 14,057 (- 37.4%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 1.2%
---
144 - OLD GUARD ($3.99)
02/2017: Old Guard #1 -- 23,867
03/2017: Old Guard #2 -- 17,991 (- 24.6%)
04/2017: Old Guard #3 -- 13,978 (- 22.3%)
---
145 - BITCH PLANET ($3.99)
04/2015: Bitch Planet #4 -- 21,569
-----------------------------------
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: Bitch Planet #8 -- 18,158 (+ 2.5%)
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: Bitch Planet #9 -- 15,340 (- 15.7%)
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: --
04/2017: Bitch Planet #10 -- 13,922 (- 9.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 28.9%
Pretty much the exemplar of the adverse effects of an irregular
shipping schedule on issue sales. 14K is still a good number for an
Image series, and the collected editions are doing quite well, so no
worries. But with a more regular schedule, Bitch Planet might have been a
Saga-level success.
This is the end of the second story arc; next up is an anthology
series, during which maybe the regular creative team will get a few
issues in the bag for a more regular schedule?
---
148 - DESCENDER ($3.99)
04/2015: Descender #2 -- 43,946 [41,853]
--------------------------------
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: Descender #12 -- 19,782 (+ 5.0%)
07/2016: Descender #13 -- 17,783 (- 10.1%)
08/2016: Descender #14 -- 17,296 (- 2.7%)
09/2016: Descender #15 -- 16,386 (- 5.3%)
10/2016: Descender #16 -- 15,963 (- 2.6%)
11/2016: --
12/2016: Descender #17 -- 15,296 (- 4.2%)
01/2017: Descender #18 -- 14,526 (- 5.0%)
02/2017: Descender #19 -- 15,753 (+ 8.4%)
03/2017: Descender #20 -- 13,974 (- 11.3%)
04/2017: Descender #21 -- 13,743 (- 1.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.9%
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 67.2%
---
150 - ROYAL CITY ($3.99)
03/2017: Royal City #1 -- 24,597
04/2017: Royal City #2 -- 13,721 (- 44.2%)
The lack of variant covers leads to a percentage drop a bit larger than normal for the second issue.
---
152 - INVINCIBLE ($2.99)
04/2007: Invincible #40 -- 13,230
04/2012: Invincible #90 -- 14,393
04/2013: Invincible #102 -- 15,249
04/2014: Invincible #110 -- 12,557
04/2015: Invincible #119 -- 13,492
----------------------------------
04/2016: Invincible #127 -- 12,038 (- 3.2%)
05/2016: Invincible #128 -- 11,982 (- 0.5%)
06/2016: Invincible #129 -- 12,510 (+ 4.4%)
07/2016: --
08/2016: Invincible #130 -- 11,921 (- 4.7%)
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: Invincible #131 -- 11,579 (- 2.9%)
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: Invincible #132 -- 11,505 (- 0.6%)
02/2017: Invincible #133 -- ??????
03/2017: Invincible #134 -- 11,605
04/2017: Invincible #135 -- 13,658 (+ 17.7%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : + 13.5%
2 years : + 1.2%
5 years : - 5.1%
10 years: + 3.2%
Adds an April Fools variant, gets a sales boost.
---
156 - THE WICKED + THE DIVINE ($3.99)
04/2015: --
--------------------------------------
04/2016: Wicked + Divine #18 -- 17,722 (- 4.1%)
05/2016: Wicked + Divine #19 -- 16,929 (- 4.4%)
06/2016: Wicked + Divine #20 -- 17,831 (+ 5.3%)
07/2016: Wicked + Divine #21 -- 16,283 (- 8.7%)
08/2016: Wicked + Divine #22 -- 15,969 (- 1.9%)
09/2016: W + D 1831 one-shot -- 16,408 (+ 2.7%)
10/2016: --
11/2016: Wicked + Divine #23 -- 15,238 (- 7.1%)
12/2016: Wicked + Divine #24 -- 14,666 (- 3.8%)
01/2017: Wicked + Divine #25 -- 14,164 (- 3.4%)
02/2017: Wicked + Divine #26 -- 15,651 (+ 10.5%)
03/2017: Wicked + Divine #27 -- 14,589 (- 6.8%)
04/2017: Wicked + Divine #28 -- 13,045 (- 10.6%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 26.4%
2 years : n.a.
No theme variant (just the regular variant) = a larger than normal drop this time out.
---
165 - CURSE WORDS ($3.99)
01/2017: Curse Words #1 -- 18,162
02/2017: Curse Words #2 -- 15,248 (- 16.0%)
03/2017: Curse Words #3 -- 12,116 (- 20.5%)
04/2017: Curse Words #4 -- 12,219 (+ 0.9%)
The April Fools theme cover variant offsets a potential drop.
---
168 - EXTREMITY ($3.99)
03/2017: Extremity #1 -- 17,917
04/2017: Extremity #2 -- 11,973 (- 33.2%)
In line with second issue expectations.
---
171 - BLACK SCIENCE ($3.99)
04/2014: Black Science #5 -- 25,492
04/2014: Black Science #6 -- 24,892
04/2015: Black Science #13 -- 17,876
------------------------------------
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: --
07/2016: Black Science #22 -- 12,829 (- 2.0%)
08/2016: Black Science #23 -- 12,466 (- 2.8%)
09/2016: Black Science #24 -- 11,810 (- 5.3%)
10/2016: Black Science #25 -- 11,425 (- 3.3%)
11/2016: --
12/2016: Black Science #26 -- 11,041 (- 3.4%)
01/2017: Black Science #27 -- 10,631 (- 3.7%)
02/2017: Black Science #28 -- 10,478 (- 1.4%)
03/2017: --
04/2017: Black Science #29 -- 11,542 (+ 10.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 1.0%
1 year : - 35.4%
2 years : n.a.
Adds an April Fools variant, gets a sales boost.
---
176 - LOW ($3.99)
04/2015: --
--------------------------
04/2016: Low #13 -- 13,956 (- 3.7%)
05/2016: --
06/2016: Low #14 -- 13,903 (- 0.4%)
07/2016: --
08/2016: Low #15 -- 12,955 (- 6.8%)
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: Low #16 -- 13,478 (+ 4.0%)
04/2017: Low #17 -- 10,915 (- 19.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 21.8%
2 years : n.a.
You guessed it: no theme variant this month.
---
179 - ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN ($3.99)
04/2017: Rock Candy Mtn #1 -- 10,794
The debut issue of Kyle Stark's new comic has an April Fools variant.
---
206 - INJECTION ($2.99)
04/2016: Injection #9 -- 11,433 (- 3.6%)
05/2016: --
06/2016: Injection #10 -- 11,771 (+ 3.0%)
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: Injection #11 -- 9,052 (- 23.1%)
04/2017: Injection #12 -- 8,615 (- 4.8%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 24.6%
---
224 - MOTOR CRUSH ($3.99)
12/2016: Motor Crush #1 -- 21,801
01/2017: Motor Crush #2 -- 12,643 (- 42.0%)
02/2017: Motor Crush #3 -- 9,757 (- 22.8%)
03/2017: Motor Crush #4 -- 9,071 (- 7.0%)
04/2017: Motor Crush #5 -- 7,065 (- 22.1%)
No theme variant (just the regular variant) = a larger than normal drop this time out.
---
237 - GREEN VALLEY ($2.99)
10/2016: Green Valley #1 of 9 -- 16,091
11/2016: Green Valley #2 of 9 -- 9,713 (- 39.6%)
12/2016: Green Valley #3 of 9 -- 8,219 (- 15.4%)
01/2017: Green Valley #4 of 9 -- 7,553 (- 8.1%)
02/2017: Green Valley #5 of 9 -- 7,187 (- 4.8%)
03/2017: Green Valley #6 of 9 -- 7,204 (+ 0.2%)
04/2017: Green Valley #7 of 9 -- 6,842 (- 5.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 57.5%
---
258 - COPPERHEAD ($3.99)
04/2015: Copperhead #6 -- 10,148
---------------------------------
04/2016: --
05/2016: --
06/2016: --
07/2016: --
08/2016: --
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: Copperhead #11 -- 6,369 (- 26.5%)
04/2017: Copperhead #12 -- 5,517 (- 13.4%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 45.6%
---
262 - THE BEAUTY ($3.99)
04/2016: --
05/2016: The Beauty #7 -- 9,178 (- 13.4%)
06/2016: The Beauty #8 -- 9,577 (+ 4.3%)
07/2016: The Beauty #9 -- 8,340 (- 12.9%)
08/2016: --
09/2016: The Beauty #10 -- 7,986 (- 4.2%)
10/2016: The Beauty #11 -- 7,210 (- 9.7%)
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: --
02/2017: The Beauty #12 -- 6,179 (- 14.3%)
03/2017: The Beauty #13 -- 6,067 (- 1.8%)
04/2017: The Beauty #14 -- 5,465 (- 9.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.2%
1 year : n.a.
---
265 - THE FEW ($4.99)
01/2017: The Few #1 of 6 -- 10,571
02/2017: The Few #2 of 6 -- 8,431 (- 20.2%)
03/2017: The Few #3 of 6 -- 6,067 (- 28.0%)
04/2017: The Few #4 of 6 -- 5,119 (- 15.6%)
---
276 - BLACK ROAD ($3.99)
04/2016: Black Road #1 -- 16,572
05/2016: Black Road #2 -- 10,131 (- 38.9%)
06/2016: Black Road #3 -- 10,484 (+ 3.5%)
07/2016: Black Road #4 -- 7,292 (- 30.4%)
08/2016: Black Road #5 -- 6,912 (- 5.2%)
09/2016: --
10/2016: --
11/2016: --
12/2016: --
01/2017: Black Road #6 -- 5,748 (- 16.8%)
02/2017: Black Road #7 -- 5,340 (- 7.1%)
03/2017: Black Road #8 -- 5,030 (- 5.8%)
04/2017: Black Road #9 -- 4,809 (- 4.4%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 64.9%
---
280 - LOOSE ENDS ($3.99)
01/2017: Loose Ends #1 of 4 -- 10,847
02/2017: Loose Ends #2 of 4 -- 5,858 (- 46.0%)
03/2017: Loose Ends #3 of 4 -- 4,912 (- 16.1%)
04/2017: Loose Ends #4 of 4 -- 4,672 (- 4.9%)
---
283 - UNDERWINTER ($3.99)
03/2017: Underwinter #1 -- 10,555
04/2017: Underwinter #2 -- 4,576 (- 56.6%)
---
287 - ECLIPSE ($3.99)
09/2016: Eclipse #1 -- 12,375
10/2016: Eclipse #2 -- 7,764 (- 37.3%)
11/2016: Eclipse #3 -- 6,818 (- 12.2%)
12/2016: Eclipse #4 -- 5,762 (- 15.5%)
01/2017: --
02/2017: --
03/2017: Eclipse #5 -- ????? (< 4,812)
04/2017: Eclipse #6 -- 4,486
-----------------
6 months: - 42.2%
---
300 - MAGDELENA ($3.99)
04/2012: --
--------------------------------
03/2017: Magdalena #1 -- 7,567 (+ 52.0%)
04/2017: Magdalena #2 -- 4,244 (- 43.9%)
-----------------
5 years : n.a.
---
Image titles shipping but not making the Top 300 in April (cutoff at
4,244) include: Circuit Breaker, Drifter, Elephantmen, Hadrian's Wall,
Horizon, Mirror, Planetoid Praxis, Savage Dragon, She Wolf, Sons of the
Devil, Stray Bullets, Sun Bakery, They're Not Like Us, Think Tank,
Throwaways.
Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that any of them are in
danger of being cancelled; there are many reasons that the creators of
these books may desire to keep them going.
---
The Fine Print (Disclaimers, et cetera)
The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North
American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart
and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
ICv2.com's estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but
they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are
fairly accurate. Since it's a "month-to-month" column, the comments,
unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.
Bear in mind that the figures measure sales of physical comics to
retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to
bookstores, newsstands, other mass-market retail chains or the United
Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores
in a book's initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to
make the chart again in a subsequent month. Keep in mind that sales for
some titles may include incentives to acquire variants and not every
unit sold is necessarily even intended to be sold to a customer.
If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a
book's initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number
of copies sold in brackets behind those issues (e.g. "[36,599]"). Should
more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one
of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used.
Titles which are returnable have their numbers artificially adjusted
down by Diamond. To make up for that this column increases the reported
numbers for those titles by 10%. Which is likely also wrong, but it's a
different and likely less wrong kind of wrong, and experience has shown
that this leads to sales figures which are more consistent.
Image is not a normal comics publisher, and the typical metrics for
sales success may not apply. For many titles, collection sales tend to
be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken
with a grain of salt as well.
Please keep in mind that raw sales numbers do not tell us about how profitable a book is for a publisher or for the creators.
Above all, do not allow sales numbers to dictate your purchasing and
enjoyment of a particular comic. If you enjoy reading a comic series
then go right on buying and reading that comic, no matter what the sales
figures say.
** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that
one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that
month. In those cases, it's assumed that said releases sold as many
units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes
of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.
Opinions expressed in this column are mine alone, and do not
necessarily reflect those of my employer, Heidi MacDonald or anyone at
The Comics Beat, The International Organization for Standardization, or
my former neighbor's dog Miles.
The author of this column does weekly snapshots of Amazon comic
sales charts at http://yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com/ and tweets
about comics and related subjects on Twitter at @davereadscomics (PM me
there if you need to contact me).
As always, we welcome your comments and corrections below. Please try to keep things civilized.
Here are the Top 50 Comics & Graphic Novels on Amazon Friday morning. See About the Amazon Top 50 Lists for more information on how this list is compiled.
