ghostfly70
05-20-2010, 01:05 PM
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26304
The above link provides a detailed look at recent sales figures for all comics, but for this purpose, its Marvels numbers that matter. You will notice that the companies top selling title is about 75000 copies, with a steady decline for all of its other titles.
Looking down the list you can see the company taking the chance for a C-list character such as Sif, and flopping badly. Sif #1, in a time when Thor and Asgrad-based concepts are getting a major push, manage, in a collector-driven market, only 18000 copies for her debut.
Why is that? (The smart ass in me wants to say, because Sif and everything related to Asgard sucks, but thats just me)...Maybe its because the economy is soft and these truly secondary characters stand no chance?
What about Alpha Flight? Alpha has a dedicated fan base where we WANT the characters to succeed. We arent fly-by-night, fair weather readers.
I have no doubts at all that there enough Alpha fans to support a series in a market where Marvels best selling title is topping out at 75000 or so copies a month.
Can an Alpha series draw in 50000 buyers? maybe not at first, but it can certainly do half that or better from the existing fan base right? then its just a matter of attracting new readers with decent story and art, and basic cross promotion.
It just makes good business sense in a soft market to promote properties with proven supporters.
The above link provides a detailed look at recent sales figures for all comics, but for this purpose, its Marvels numbers that matter. You will notice that the companies top selling title is about 75000 copies, with a steady decline for all of its other titles.
Looking down the list you can see the company taking the chance for a C-list character such as Sif, and flopping badly. Sif #1, in a time when Thor and Asgrad-based concepts are getting a major push, manage, in a collector-driven market, only 18000 copies for her debut.
Why is that? (The smart ass in me wants to say, because Sif and everything related to Asgard sucks, but thats just me)...Maybe its because the economy is soft and these truly secondary characters stand no chance?
What about Alpha Flight? Alpha has a dedicated fan base where we WANT the characters to succeed. We arent fly-by-night, fair weather readers.
I have no doubts at all that there enough Alpha fans to support a series in a market where Marvels best selling title is topping out at 75000 or so copies a month.
Can an Alpha series draw in 50000 buyers? maybe not at first, but it can certainly do half that or better from the existing fan base right? then its just a matter of attracting new readers with decent story and art, and basic cross promotion.
It just makes good business sense in a soft market to promote properties with proven supporters.