DC Sales & Estimates

[Bruce Wayne]

I think the idea is that rather than Superman, Action, Superman Unchained, and Superman/WW coming out monthly, you just do a weekly Superman book.

The amount of effort for a weekly is just too much. Look at 52. The model that should aspire to be would be something like Eternal or BND where a editor or writer takes the majority of the workload and planning and doles out the assignments and its parameters to the writers.

[GlennSimpson]

The amount of effort for a weekly is just too much. Look at 52. The model that should aspire to be would be something like Eternal or BND where a editor or writer takes the majority of the workload and planning and doles out the assignments and its parameters to the writers.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but it seems like you just said that a weekly is too much work to do, and then pointed out examples of where they did it and it worked?

[AlexanderLuthor]

The amount of effort for a weekly is just too much. Look at 52. The model that should aspire to be would be something like Eternal or BND where a editor or writer takes the majority of the workload and planning and doles out the assignments and its parameters to the writers.

We still have a ways to go, but it seems that Eternal and what we've seen of Future's End have dealt with some of the problems they had with weeklies in the past - namely those books often felt like 4 or more stories being told that just happened to be in the same book. Now they are modeling them more after TV show writing where there is a "show runner" that guides the process, the whole plot has been decided on, and the original writing credits after the initial plot idea really are just the scripting functions. By having consistent writers writing certain characters you have consistency of character and by having the show runner you have consistency of story. Again, there is a long way to go, but these books seem much higher in quality

[Bruce Wayne]

We still have a ways to go, but it seems that Eternal and what we've seen of Future's End have dealt with some of the problems they had with weeklies in the past - namely those books often felt like 4 or more stories being told that just happened to be in the same book. Now they are modeling them more after TV show writing where there is a "show runner" that guides the process, the whole plot has been decided on, and the original writing credits after the initial plot idea really are just the scripting functions. By having consistent writers writing certain characters you have consistency of character and by having the show runner you have consistency of story. Again, there is a long way to go, but these books seem much higher in quality

Eternal I think uses the showrunner paradigm with Snyder and maybe Tynion as showrunner/head writer. I don't think F'E has escaped the problem. I don't think it uses a main writer. It still feels like 4 people writing one book. I don't think the problem can be or should be avoided in such instances. The main problem is editorial mandates and their dictates unduly shaping the story like it was in Countdown. Time has yet to determine if they can escape that problem. I know Earth's End probably won't escape it.

[Bruce Wayne]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but it seems like you just said that a weekly is too much work to do, and then pointed out examples of where they did it and it worked?

Eternal seems at least to me to be more Snyder/Tynion overseeing the story and getting these other writers to write these individual issues and characters while the main story is in the hands of Snyder/Tynion. 52 from what I recall was very collaborative and required all the writers breaking down and contributing to each issue and thus more work intensive.

[GlennSimpson]

We still have a ways to go, but it seems that Eternal and what we've seen of Future's End have dealt with some of the problems they had with weeklies in the past - namely those books often felt like 4 or more stories being told that just happened to be in the same book. Now they are modeling them more after TV show writing where there is a "show runner" that guides the process, the whole plot has been decided on, and the original writing credits after the initial plot idea really are just the scripting functions. By having consistent writers writing certain characters you have consistency of character and by having the show runner you have consistency of story. Again, there is a long way to go, but these books seem much higher in quality

This. Over time, they are figuring out how to make it work, which definitely suggests that its possible they could do more of them. And obviously, to get the maximum benefit they would have to cancel other books to redirect that manpower and resources to the weeklies, so you'd see more weeklies and fewer monthlies.

[Lee Stone]

We still have a ways to go, but it seems that Eternal and what we've seen of Future's End have dealt with some of the problems they had with weeklies in the past - namely those books often felt like 4 or more stories being told that just happened to be in the same book. Now they are modeling them more after TV show writing where there is a "show runner" that guides the process, the whole plot has been decided on, and the original writing credits after the initial plot idea really are just the scripting functions. By having consistent writers writing certain characters you have consistency of character and by having the show runner you have consistency of story. Again, there is a long way to go, but these books seem much higher in quality

I see comics moving in this direction. Virtually becoming a weekly instead of monthly medium, with the occasional monthly series by select creators. The weeklies would help push comics away from the "rock n' roll creator" where the writers and artists would melt together to where no one could get a "big name". Thus, returning the limelight to the company and its characters.

One day, the average reader won't know the names of the various writers or artists. Just the "important" people: the company publishers and ceo's.

However, we could see "studios" gain prominence. Much like a band of writers and/or artists that are hired as a group for projects/series. Like mini-companies within the Big2.

[Paul Newell]

April update:

DC Sales - Top 300 (Jan-Apr) 2014 - 7,447,209 estimated units.
DC Sales - Top 300 (Jan- Apr) 2013 - 8,624,812 estimated units.

And here are the figures for 1997-2012:
2013 - 28,184,085 estimated units
2012 - 29,602,125 estimated units
2011 - 26,522,201 estimated units
2010 - 23,528,000 estimated units
2009 - 24,126,336 estimated units
2008 - 25,760,378 estimated units
2007 - 29,597,217 estimated units
2006 - 30,243,575 estimated units
2005 - 26,995,698 estimated units
2004 - 23,895,322 estimated units
2003 - 22,344,120 estimated units
2002 - 20,687,488 estimated units - Dan Didio joins DC as VP of Editorial.
2001 - 21,220,332 estimated units
2000 - 23,243,656 estimated units
1999 - 25,141,760 estimated units
1998 - 22,869,060 estimated units
1997 - 26,323,968 estimated units


And, out of interest, here's the Marvel numbers:

Marvel Sales - Top 300 (Jan- Apr) 2014 - 9,858,996 estimated units.
Marvel Sales - Top 300 (Jan- Apr) 2013 - 11,388,530 estimated units.

And here are the figures for 1997-2012:
2013 - 31,243,347 estimated units
2012 - 30,278,745 estimated units.
2011 - 29,522,809 estimated units
2010 - 29,998,200 estimated units
2009 - 34,167,744 estimated units
2008 - 37,269,988 estimated units
2007 - 38,132,744 estimated units
2006 - 34,647,105 estimated units
2005 - 32,461,832 estimated units
2004 - 32,021,066 estimated units
2003 - 28,974,336 estimated units
2002 - 28,473,404 estimated units
2001 - 25,349,296 estimated units
2000 - 21,948,494 estimated units - Joe Quesada becomes EIC.
1999 - 24,111,104 estimated units
1998 - 27,015,555 estimated units
1997 - 32,664,192 estimated units

[Shinomune]

Maybe is too soon for for such predictions, but I think that in the end, the DC Sales go back to 2012-2013 numbers (at least, the difference between 2013-2014 will be less than 2012-2013, if in the end 2014 didn't surpass 2013 numbers). But for Marvel, I didn't see right now anything that like that, and probably the Marvel numbers will be like 2010-2011.

[Joe Kalicki]

Maybe is too soon for for such predictions, but I think that in the end, the DC Sales go back to 2012-2013 numbers (at least, the difference between 2013-2014 will be less than 2012-2013, if in the end 2014 didn't surpass 2013 numbers). But for Marvel, I didn't see right now anything that like that, and probably the Marvel numbers will be like 2010-2011.

Marvel got a huge boost with ASM 1, and DC has a bunch of big titles they're about to put out, so I'd be pretty surprised if that numbers for 2014 are significantly lower than the numbers from 2013. Add in digital growing every day, and I think things are looking pretty good.

[GlennSimpson]

Marvel got a huge boost with ASM 1, and DC has a bunch of big titles they're about to put out, so I'd be pretty surprised if that numbers for 2014 are significantly lower than the numbers from 2013. Add in digital growing every day, and I think things are looking pretty good.

Frankly, if DC's numbers stay above 2010, I think it's all good.

I was going to make a point that comics sales overall are down now, so lower sales for DC should be discounted, but I can't say that I remember how comics sales were doing overall in the pre-relaunch period either so it wouldn't be fair to discount on one side and not the other.

[Username taken]

Frankly, if DC's numbers stay above 2010, I think it's all good.

I was going to make a point that comics sales overall are down now, so lower sales for DC should be discounted, but I can't say that I remember how comics sales were doing overall in the pre-relaunch period either so it wouldn't be fair to discount on one side and not the other.

Comic sales were dismal before the re-launch.

The new 52 really re-energized the industry (despite several nay sayers) sales wise. DC really took control of the market for a while (it obviously wasn't going to last forever) but it was extremely impressive for a while. If DC stays above 2010 numbers, then that'll be great.

That being said, putting out more product and trumpeting increased sales isn't the way to go IMO (which is what pumping out weekly series will simply do). Marvel have been doing something like that with their double shipping but sales per unit have been going down however the increased output is simply masking the decline.

If sales per unit are trending down (which is what is happening) then it's an industry wide problem that needs addressing. For DC (and the major publishers) concrete strategies should be employed to get more people into stores and convert more people digitally which is an area that Marvel to their credit have been pushing very effectively. Stuff like a DC Unlimited app (with DCs very vast library) should be employed and for customers outside the US, access to the DC app should be re-addressed (it's no longer available on most foreign apple app stores).

[Joe Kalicki]

The weeklies aren't actually creating more product, as each one is replacing four cancelled titles. The New 52 will still be averaging 13 books per week, as usual.

[Username taken]

The weeklies aren't actually creating more product, as each one is replacing four cancelled titles. The New 52 will still be averaging 13 books per week, as usual.

Oh, really?

I stand corrected.

[Joe Kalicki]

Oh, really?

I stand corrected.

This is the most recent list I found, which doesn't include the Earth 2 weekly:

Justice League
Justice League United
Justice League 3000
Aquaman
Aquaman and The Others
Wonder Woman
The Flash
Green Arrow
Earth 2
Worlds' Finest
Secret Origins
Batman
Detective Comics
Batman and...
Batgirl
Batwoman
Batwing
Birds of Prey
Catwoman
Red Hood and the Outlaws
Harley Quinn
Superman
Action Comics
Superboy
Supergirl
Batman/Superman
Superman/Wonder Woman
Green Lantern
Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern: New Guardians
Red Lanterns
Sinestro
All-Star Western
Infinity Man and the Forever People
Star-Spangled War Stories
Justice League Dark
Swamp Thing
Constantine
Trinity of Sin: Pandora
Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger
Batman Eternal
Future's End

42 or 48 depending on how you count the weeklies.

4 more books a month would make it 52.