Marvel's Falling Sales 6 6

[ComicConnoisseur]

I think one reason for the bad sales is by trying to bring in the new fans they turned off their loyal fans.

Marvel ticked off their loyal fans, and if we go by these new numbers the loyal fans have abandoned ship.

Good job Axel Alonso. You managed to do what all other Marvel-Editor-In-Chiefs could not do these past 50 years. You killed the goose that laid the golden eggs by chasing away Marvel's most loyal customers.

 

 

[romanheart]

Could it be that all things superhero are on tv/movies that it doesn't require following the characters in print?

Edited September 14, 2017 by romanheart

[1950's war comics]

Or could it be that a one armed bi sexual midget Thor has turned off two entire generations of one time  print fans??

[1Cool]

I blame it on Trump.

[Fan Boy]

Does not surprise me on the topic of Marvel sales. I wonder what the September to December sales look like this year. 

 

[romanheart]

The sales drop affects all publishers so it isn't just Marvel. There appears to be one or more common reasons for the recent plunge. Although, I do believe Marvel needs a strategic rethink.

[VintageComics]

On 4/24/2017 at 7:30 AM, Jeffro. said:

I feel that same way about Joe Kubert's bronze superhero work. I don't feel like his style worked in that context. DC war books? Absolutely. Tarzan? Hell yeah! Superheroes though, not so much. 

Kirby, one of the greatest comic artists of all time, couldn't draw Spider-man one of the greatest characters of all time, to save his life.

Try as he might, his Spidey was always terrible.

[VintageComics]

On 4/25/2017 at 9:52 AM, 1Cool said:

Getting comics into the hands of kids is critical but is becoming more and more difficult.

Kids don't read paper books anymore like they used to.

The latest generations of high school students are getting tablets at the start of the school year in some schools.

Edited September 14, 2017 by VintageComics

[ComicConnoisseur]

2 hours ago, VintageComics said:

Kirby, one of the greatest comic artists of all time, couldn't draw Spider-man one of the greatest characters of all time, to save his life.

Try as he might, his Spidey was always terrible.

Ditko was the perfect artist at the beginning.People can say what they want about Stan,but one thing we all have to admit was Stan Lee had an eye for picking out the right talent and bringing out the best in them on Marvel Comics.

[1Cool]

1 hour ago, VintageComics said:

Kids don't read paper books anymore like they used to.

The latest generations of high school students are getting tablets at the start of the school year in some schools.

My daughters freshmen class got a IPad during orientation so I definitely think they all have far better things to do then read a dusty old comic book or even a new one.

[Aweandlorder]

We need to bring back Frazetta 

[Bookery]

3 hours ago, VintageComics said:

Kids don't read paper books anymore like they used to.

The latest generations of high school students are getting tablets at the start of the school year in some schools.

All print media is dying off... and even faster than I projected.  After 33 years, we are now closing out our used bookstore division.  With about 20,000 volumes in stock, we were lucky to sell 20-30 books per week.  Values on all but the most famous first editions are falling fast.  I predicted awhile back that one of the big 2 comic companies would actually cease producing paper comics (at least in pamphlet form) within 10 years.  I'm thinking now it might be more like 5.  90% of the generation coming up does not read anything they don't absolutely have to... and the other 10% get their stuff digitally.  Collectibles with very strong graphics are hanging in there, whether its comics, pulps, magazines, paperbacks... but value based on content (aside from 1st appearance, 1st book "keys" etc.), is definitely subsiding.

[kav]

8 hours ago, ComicConnoisseur said:

I think one reason for the bad sales is by trying to bring in the new fans they turned off their loyal fans.

Marvel ticked off their loyal fans, and if we go by these new numbers the loyal fans have abandoned ship.

Good job Axel Alonso. You managed to do what all other Marvel-Editor-In-Chiefs could not do these past 50 years. You killed the goose that laid the golden eggs by chasing away Marvel's most loyal customers.

 

 

Yep he tried to shove 'what he thought people should read' down people's throats instead of the time honored tradition of giving people what they want. 

[kimik]

5 hours ago, romanheart said:

The sales drop affects all publishers so it isn't just Marvel. There appears to be one or more common reasons for the recent plunge. Although, I do believe Marvel needs a strategic rethink.

Marvel put out 106 titles in August, which is roughly 25% more than DC (78)? I did not think any company had over 100 titles - how many of those are money losers?

 

Looking at the number of titles and market capture, the indie publisher are in bad shape. Image and IDW published 62 and 56 titles respectively last month, but only received corresponding dollar shares of 10.06% and 4.81%? How many Image creators are working for pennies an hour at that rate?

[1Cool]

2 hours ago, Bookery said:

All print media is dying off... and even faster than I projected.  After 33 years, we are now closing out our used bookstore division.  With about 20,000 volumes in stock, we were lucky to sell 20-30 books per week.  Values on all but the most famous first editions are falling fast.  I predicted awhile back that one of the big 2 comic companies would actually cease producing paper comics (at least in pamphlet form) within 10 years.  I'm thinking now it might be more like 5.  90% of the generation coming up does not read anything they don't absolutely have to... and the other 10% get their stuff digitally.  Collectibles with very strong graphics are hanging in there, whether its comics, pulps, magazines, paperbacks... but value based on content (aside from 1st appearance, 1st book "keys" etc.), is definitely subsiding.

Thanks for the info and I'm sorry to hear about the books section having to close.  Rough to hear how difficult it has become to make a buck in some previously vibrant businesses.

[Bookery]

1 hour ago, 1Cool said:

Thanks for the info and I'm sorry to hear about the books section having to close.  Rough to hear how difficult it has become to make a buck in some previously vibrant businesses.

As I've joked with some of my customers... the Used Book Seller has been a profitable occupation for the past 500 years... and it all has to fall apart on my watch!  

[lizards2]

51 minutes ago, Bookery said:

2 hours ago, 1Cool said:

Thanks for the info and I'm sorry to hear about the books section having to close.  Rough to hear how difficult it has become to make a buck in some previously vibrant businesses.

As I've joked with some of my customers... the Used Book Seller has been a profitable occupation for the past 500 years... and it all has to fall apart on my watch!  

Well at least we have a goat to scape now. 

I recommend reallocating to buggy whips.

 

[porcupine48]

7 minutes ago, lizards2 said:

Well at least we have a goat to scape now. 

I recommend reallocating to buggy whips.

 

 

[HouseofComics.Com]

5 hours ago, Bookery said:

 With about 20,000 volumes in stock, we were lucky to sell 20-30 books per week.  Values on all but the most famous first editions are falling fast.  I predicted awhile back that one of the big 2 comic companies would actually cease producing paper comics (at least in pamphlet form) within 10 years. 

Wow, down to 20-30 books? That's a stunning decline.

I actually remember your prediction about one of the big two ceasing publication. Guess it depends on how they value the comics contribution to the IP. A lot of the movie and tv concepts come from fairly recent comics--this iteration of GOTG, Civil War, etc. Maybe they will try actually cutting back on the number they publish, which would help everyone, store owners included.

[lizards2]

4 minutes ago, HouseofComics.Com said:

Wow, down to 20-30 books? That's a stunning decline.

I actually remember your prediction about one of the big two ceasing publication. Guess it depends on how they value the comics contribution to the IP. A lot of the movie and tv concepts come from fairly recent comics--this iteration of GOTG, Civil War, etc. Maybe they will try actually cutting back on the number they publish, which would help everyone, store owners included.

I always wonder, with the numbers so dire, who buys all that carp out of previews?  Or maybe most of it is solicited and never produced? 

I usually crack up over those soft-porn comics with 10 different variant covers with different outfits and different states of undress.  Sadly, that garbage is probably what sells.