Keeping track of Post-Rebirth Superman sales

[Vordan]

August 2018 sales: http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomi...8/2018-08.html

Superman #2 - 77,464
Action Comics #1002 - 61,916
Adventures of the Super Sons #1 - 36,794
Supergirl #21 - 28,507

Pretty steep drop from the first issues. I hope they stabilize where they’re at now or this is going to be a short run. 40k is the cutoff for Superman I think, since that’s where Tomasi ended his run.

[Kuwagaton]

That steep drop is built into modern comics. The two spin-off titles had modest debuts, but 30k is just fine on titles without large orders. Those books are less likely to lose readers although it’s definitely a problem if Supergirl does. Super sons is a limited series.

[Sacred Knight]

If it drops below 40k I'll be concerned. But even then that would actually pretty par for course for Superman to level out there. My thing is just it makes me mad because it shouldn't be where he levels out. Its a current standard but it shouldn't be a standard that DC is satisfied with considering its freaking Superman, so I want to see a direction rise above. Nothing's done it to this point. Realistically, this probably won't either.

All that said, even if it does fall to that point, I highly doubt it spells a shorter run for Bendis. Seems like as of now he has plans for a couple years. Those numbers would get him at least that much. There'd have to be a catastrophic fall, the likes not even seen in the past two initiatives, to change that, outside of Bendis himself deciding its time to move on.

[Last Son of Krypton]

It's a big drop compared to previous relaunches.

[Sacred Knight]

True, its definitely fallen quicker than New 52 and Rebirth. We'll see where it leverls.

[Lvenger]

Heh can't deny some satisfaction at that steep drop for Bendis' Superman even if it's indicative of the spiralling sales of the comics industry. Also another point of note is that the Rebirth Superman comics were released twice a month so overall sales were still 80Kish. Each issue of Bendis' Superman & Action only comes out once a month so if sales fall to 40K, that's a net loss for the Bendis run.

[JAK]

If it drops below 40k I'll be concerned. But even then that would actually pretty par for course for Superman to level out there. My thing is just it makes me mad because it shouldn't be where he levels out. Its a current standard but it shouldn't be a standard that DC is satisfied with considering its freaking Superman, so I want to see a direction rise above. Nothing's done it to this point. Realistically, this probably won't either.

All that said, even if it does fall to that point, I highly doubt it spells a shorter run for Bendis. Seems like as of now he has plans for a couple years. Those numbers would get him at least that much. There'd have to be a catastrophic fall, the likes not even seen in the past two initiatives, to change that, outside of Bendis himself deciding its time to move on.

Seeing how Superman tended to be a bigger draw to the non-comics crowd, I think Superman would have to be back on newsstands to sell better. But even then, it could be that he's been away from them for so long that people don't even look anymore.

[Vordan]

If it drops below 40k I'll be concerned. But even then that would actually pretty par for course for Superman to level out there. My thing is just it makes me mad because it shouldn't be where he levels out. Its a current standard but it shouldn't be a standard that DC is satisfied with considering its freaking Superman, so I want to see a direction rise above. Nothing's done it to this point. Realistically, this probably won't either.

All that said, even if it does fall to that point, I highly doubt it spells a shorter run for Bendis. Seems like as of now he has plans for a couple years. Those numbers would get him at least that much. There'd have to be a catastrophic fall, the likes not even seen in the past two initiatives, to change that, outside of Bendis himself deciding its time to move on.

I’m not sure about that. Plans change, especially if the sales aren’t there. If the trades don’t sell well that would be a cause to worry. Unless Bendis has a King-like contract where he’s guaranteed a certain # of issues. But as others have pointed out, the fact that he’s not double-shipping means that he’d be making less money than Tomasi if he fell to 40k.

[Kuwagaton]

I don't mean to compare how well King and Bendis are treated at DC, but I think it means a lot that Bendis has been given his own imprint. Superman being in the top 10 as opposed to being #1 doesn't speak ill of his star power.

If it drops below 40k I'll be concerned. But even then that would actually pretty par for course for Superman to level out there. My thing is just it makes me mad because it shouldn't be where he levels out. Its a current standard but it shouldn't be a standard that DC is satisfied with considering its freaking Superman, so I want to see a direction rise above. Nothing's done it to this point. Realistically, this probably won't either.

I imagine they do things like give the title to Bendis and Reis precisely because they don't find it satisfying. But I wish that "40K" number wasn't randomly thrown out and getting these hypothetical statements, because that's not present right now. Superman is the best selling brand right behind Justice League, Batman, and Spider-Man. Action by itself is apparently neck and neck with the Captain America relaunch, which has been a pretty big deal for Marvel.

Weird summer, though. That month had no big event, no strong indie or X-Men presence. Just these launches really.

Heh can't deny some satisfaction at that steep drop for Bendis' Superman even if it's indicative of the spiralling sales of the comics industry. Also another point of note is that the Rebirth Superman comics were released twice a month so overall sales were still 80Kish. Each issue of Bendis' Superman & Action only comes out once a month so if sales fall to 40K, that's a net loss for the Bendis run.

Maybe creator pay does factor in, but you're talking about one book for $4 vs $6 for two books of the same length. Also less of a general workload and last minute fill-ins. At some point I think Mahnke had four inkers on one issue.

[Sacred Knight]

Well I'm certainly no expert of course. If the nuances of the math do indeed tell a different tale, then I would be nothing but pleased.

[Lvenger]

Maybe creator pay does factor in, but you're talking about one book for $4 vs $6 for two books of the same length. Also less of a general workload and last minute fill-ins. At some point I think Mahnke had four inkers on one issue.

That was my point, technically the previous Superman comics are now more profitable than Bendis' current Superman run because they were released twice monthly at a cheaper price. That does mean a higher number of sales at the end of the day. Though I agree monthly comics allow more quality art and a steadier workload and I remember reading somewhere that either Tomasi or Gleason said the twice monthly release schedule was exhausting them.

[Vordan]

That was my point, technically the previous Superman comics are now more profitable than Bendis' current Superman run because they were released twice monthly at a cheaper price. That does mean a higher number of sales at the end of the day. Though I agree monthly comics allow more quality art and a steadier workload and I remember reading somewhere that either Tomasi or Gleason said the twice monthly release schedule was exhausting them.

From what I remember it was both of them, which is why they needed filler. It definitely has an effect. King’s 12 issue monthlies are typically held in higher regard than his Batman series, and I think the double-shipping issue plays into that.

[adrikito]

It's a big drop compared to previous relaunches.

WOW.. However, I should not be surprised for this.. Bendis name was related with problems since the first time that I heard it.

[Miles To Go]

Comixology Top 25 For The Week


Batman #55
Justice League #8
Mister Miracle #11
Batman: Damned #1
Return of Wolverine #1
Avengers #8
Thor #5
Star Wars #54
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
The Immortal Hulk #6
The Wild Storm #17
West Coast Avengers #2
Venom #6
X-Men Gold #36
Captain America Annual #1
Nightwing #49
Teen Titans #22
Fantastic Four #2
Green Lanterns #55
Doctor Strange #5
Aquaman #40
Mr. and Mrs. X #3
Infinity Wars: Soldier Supreme #1
Black Hammer: Age of Doom #5
Dark Nights: Metal- Deluxe Edition (20% off)

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/09...ist-nightwing/

[Miles To Go]

Bleeding Cool Top Ten For The Week

Batman: Damned #1
Batman #55
Return Of Wolverine #1
Justice League #8
Venom #6
Mister Miracle #11
Immortal Hulk #6
Venom First Host #4
Thor #5
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/09...eptember-2018/