Movie prequel comics sales are abysmally low...?

KneonT

According to this site, they only moved just under 3,000 copies...

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Whereas Infiltration sold insanely well for an indy...

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And Escalation hovers about 15,000-ish...

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Stormbringer... 20,000ish...

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Even the lukewarm animated movie adaptation sold several times as many copies...

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So, going by these figures, the live-action movie prequel is the lowest selling IDW book to date. Possibly the lowest selling TF book in, like, forever.

Draw your own conclusions...

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Covenant · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

No offense to those giddy about the film and all it's related merchandise/media, but sounds about right to me.

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Autobloke · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject:

Also, you probably have to take into account that the prequel issue one was recalled or delayed or something, which might've affected sales.

And maybe people not wanting possible spoilers about the movie are avoiding it too - although I'd have picked it up to read later after seeing the movie if that was the case.

But most likely no-one really cares about it.

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Covenant · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

Autobloke wrote:

But most likely no-one really cares about it.

Well, think about it. Of the TF fans only such'n'such chunk are interested in Transformers comics. Of those, only a percentage is all that into IDW comics. From them, there's surely a good amount that don't care for the film or have been in some manner jaded thanks to the stellar public relations in the past couple of years regarding the flick the book's attached to. Sooooo, I suppose it would be a fraction of a percent of a chunk in a base that (supposedly) doesn't register on the grand scheme of things (what, 3 billion dollar franchise...? what was that figure again? somebody knows it dagnabbit).

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

All right, you loony movie-hating bastards got me to register (I'm kidding, come on), so I'm gonna make well and good with the first post.

In a word, your wrong. I registered to quash this rumor and quash it I shall.

As I posted over at TFLive...

Quote:

Looking over the chart, I'm curious to see what the date is on these. No indicators, and every major link I click takes me back to last month.

And, after much research, I have discovered that these 3000 are the number of defective copies that were sold in late Febuary. Notice this (omited) link for Transformer Generations:

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It's missing issue 12- which came out the same week as the corrected TF Prequel issue. In other words, the numbers are so low because they don't include the corrected full run of the Prequel comic issue- only the ones sold in late Febuary, most of which were pulled from the shelves.

And as a side note, these appear to be cumulitive, with the total number of copies sold since its initial run (evidenced by that fact that each issue decreases in sales from the first down to the last in all charts). So, is it little wonder that a comic that has been out longer has sold more?

Now, I'm not saying that the prequel comic blew the charts. Most likely it didn't- and I would be less then astonished to learn that it didn't do as well as say escalation, ect.

But lets wait to we actually have the real numbers to make that call. Smile

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Chromia · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

Hiya Fwiff!!!! Very Happy

KneonT · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

Welcome Fwiffo!

Admittedly, those numbers may be off. Though knowing folks who work on other titles, I know figures on many of the other books on the list are pretty darn close. The data comes from Diamond.

Looking at the Top 300 for February, the book ranks slightly higher at an estimated 3,390 issues ordered...

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I just thought it was interesting. I mean, I would have expected it to sell less than IDW's main series (movie adaptations and tie-ins seldom are barnburners)... but I honestly didn't expect sales to be THAT low. Especially with Don Figueroa art and the major pimpin' this book has been getting on the TF sites.

I only stumbled across it as I check the site every month and usually work my way up from the bottom (the books under 2K... you wonder why the publishers even bother, honestly...)

True, they're not final... but the site is seldom off by that much. Usually seems to be +/- 10%.

So, point being, if it's even in the general ballpark... that's WAY lower than the other TF books. I had expected sales to be comparable to at least the animated movie tie-in.

What's more concerning, is that even IDW's better selling TF titles seem to be declining in sales. Confused

Though, things are tough all over in comics. So it may just be a sign of the times...

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KneonT · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject:

Oh, just caught this...

It's missing issue 12- which came out the same week as the corrected TF Prequel issue.

There was an error? I didn't know about that. Though I haven't really been keeping up on TF stuff lately.

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

KneonT wrote:

Welcome Fwiffo!

I see you have heard of me... *Ominus tone....*

Oh, Hiya Chromia. ^^

Quote:

Admittedly, those numbers may be off. Though knowing folks who work on other titles, I know figures on many of the other books on the list are pretty darn close. The data comes from Diamond.

Looking at the Top 300 for February, the book ranks slightly higher at an estimated 3,390 issues ordered...

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I just thought it was interesting. I mean, I would have expected it to sell less than IDW's main series (movie adaptations and tie-ins seldom are barnburners)... but I honestly didn't expect sales to be THAT low. Especially with Don Figueroa art and the major pimpin' this book has been getting on the TF sites.

I only stumbled across it as I check the site every month and usually work my way up from the bottom (the books under 2K... you wonder why the publishers even bother, honestly...)

True, they're not final... but the site is seldom off by that much. Usually seems to be +/- 10%.

So, point being, if it's even in the general ballpark... that's WAY lower than the other TF books. I had expected sales to be comparable to at least the animated movie tie-in.

What's more concerning, is that even IDW's better selling TF titles seem to be declining in sales. Confused

Though, things are tough all over in comics. So it may just be a sign of the times...

Yeah, you missed the point. It wasn't broadly released in Febuary- it wasn't even supposed to be available on the shelves until March (6?7? Somewhere around there) due to a misprint. Any issue that shipped out on the original release date (The Febuary one) was pulled for the shelf. So of course, that would limit it to ridiculously low numbers. Heck, I'm surprised that even 3000 went out!

So the reality is, that we don't actually have any real numbers for the Prequel comic, simply because the real numbers aren't available yet. I don't imagine they will be for another week and a half or so.

So, no, we don't know if its tanking yet. Again, I wouldn't be surprised if it sold less then stellar, but that is a ridiculously low number. Especially when most of the reviews of the comic I've seen have actually been good.

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Bubbalou · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject:

there are plenty of comics that disappear off the shelves after the first week.

oh, and Hi, fwiff!

I remember you from back in the day. you know... before tfl got canned... Confused

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KneonT · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

Comic Buyers Guide reports the same thing. The movie tie-in ranked #250 with an estimated Diamond Distribution order of 2,819.

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(scroll all the way down)

We'll see what March brings, I guess.

Disappointing, if true. And this isn't a nay-sayers thing, but I really dig what IDW is doing with the books and would hate to see them take a hit like this on their tentpole series.

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

But again, those are using the same number - the absurdly low number for the misprint that was pulled.

Don't trust any prequel comic sale numbers till you see Generations # 12 alongside it.

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Talking To Vapour · Lost Post Whore Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 821

Doesn't surprise me that it isn't doing well (most hardcore fans, I'd wager, from what I read online are put off by the Bayformer designs whereas the other IDW stuff caters to classic tastes) but those figures look disastrous!?? I mean, that is pitiful. It's not like the this adaption doesn't have the advantages either, like heralding a massive blockbuster film..

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

Talking To Vapour wrote:

Doesn't surprise me that it isn't doing well (most hardcore fans, I'd wager, from what I read online are put off by the Bayformer designs whereas the other IDW stuff caters to classic tastes) but those figures look disastrous!?? I mean, that is pitiful. It's not like the this adaption doesn't have the advantages either, like heralding a massive blockbuster film..

ARGGHH. See? This is why I had to register! ><

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Talking To Vapour · Lost Post Whore Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 821

zzzz..

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Masterpiece wishlist:

Galvatron
Shockwave
Devastator
Grimlock (dino)
Sludge (dino)
Slag (dino)
Megatron (tank)
Ultra Magnus (with trailer)
Inferno
Soundwave
Ironhide
Blitzwing
Astrotrain
Warpath
Upscaled Starscream

Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:06 am Post subject:

Fwiff, the thing is the number supplied for the prequal comic is preorders from the comic shops that would be selling it. Errors in printing would be after the fact. As a friend would point out, the number of those issues ordered would be both debatable, and likely even lower than the preorder total.

Btw, since I sure as heck never get to say this to you; Welcome to the fold.

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Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:33 am Post subject:

But on another, yet similar/related note;

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Bubbalou · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:38 am Post subject:

soundwave spotlight is also out.

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Bubbalou · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

It wasn't broadly released in Febuary- it wasn't even supposed to be available on the shelves until March (6?7? Somewhere around there) due to a misprint. Any issue that shipped out on the original release date (The Febuary one) was pulled for the shelf.

the moisprint was a "coloring error" according to my "comic book guy."

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KneonT · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:52 am Post subject:

Covenant wrote:

But on another, yet similar/related note;

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Then it stands to reason if #2 is out now, #1 was out in late February?

And yes, those numbers are Diamond's orders. A coloring error *shouldn't* affect pre-order numbers, as shops ordered their books when they were solicited a few months ago.

On the bright side, if sales really were that low, the books may be worth more someday. Wink

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Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:54 am Post subject:

Regardless, it's already in my collection, and so shall #2 be. It's the TF comic collector in me. Gotta have it. Smile

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

Covenant wrote:

Fwiff, the thing is the number supplied for the prequal comic is preorders from the comic shops that would be selling it. Errors in printing would be after the fact. As a friend would point out, the number of those issues ordered would be both debatable, and likely even lower than the preorder total.

But wait, those numbers are even less likely to be right then. There are more then 3000 comic stores in the US - and if this measuring preorders only, that means less then 3000 comic stores ordered one issue a piece. Since I know my store was getting several in, (and has sold at least 8 copies - there were 10 (that I saw), and now there are 2), that means that my comic store is one of only 300 stores who ordered any number of them at all. Does that really sound likely to you?

Also then, why would they call them sales estimates rather then preorders?

And finally, I also know (for a fact here) that a lot of stores never got the misprinted issue- for example, mine. It was called back before the shipment came out. I'm still positive that these numbers are absurdly low due to the pulled printing.

If they're still ridiculously low when another month goes by and we get the full numbers, I'll believe it tanked. Until then, we're looking at the number of pulled misprint copies.

Quote:

Btw, since I sure as heck never get to say this to you; Welcome to the fold.

Thanks. I think. Am I sure this fold isn't gonna taint me and turn me into someone who demands that Megatron is a gun? Wink

[quote=Bubbalou]the moisprint was a "coloring error" according to my "comic book guy."[/quote]

Actually, according to IDW, some of the more important dialouge on one of the pages was replaced with repeat dialouge from an earlier page.

Wow, maybe you guys *do* need me. Am I the only TF fan who pays attention to these things? 0o

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KneonT · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:22 am Post subject:

Dialogue error? Again? Wow, is any IDW book based on a TF movie jinxed or what? Laughing

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Master Fwiffo · Lost Addict Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 178

KneonT wrote:

Covenant wrote:

But on another, yet similar/related note;

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Then it stands to reason if #2 is out now, #1 was out in late February?

Noooo, it was *supposed* to be, then pulled due to the dialouge box error. Several places got shipments, and others didn't.

Quote:

And yes, those numbers are Diamond's orders. A coloring error *shouldn't* affect pre-order numbers, as shops ordered their books when they were solicited a few months ago.

On the bright side, if sales really were that low, the books may be worth more someday. Wink

Still doesn't make any sense. I'm fairly sure a lot more then 300 comic shops got 10 copies like mine did.

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Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:31 am Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Covenant wrote:

Fwiff, the thing is the number supplied for the prequal comic is preorders from the comic shops that would be selling it. Errors in printing would be after the fact. As a friend would point out, the number of those issues ordered would be both debatable, and likely even lower than the preorder total.

But wait, those numbers are even less likely to be right then. There are more then 3000 comic stores in the US - and if this measuring preorders only, that means less then 3000 comic stores ordered one issue a piece. Since I know my store was getting several in, (and has sold at least 8 copies - there were 10 (that I saw), and now there are 2), that means that my comic store is one of only 300 stores who ordered any number of them at all. Does that really sound likely to you?

Also then, why would they call them sales estimates rather then preorders?

Well, few things.

For one it sounds like you're assuming all comic shops picked up not only IDW but this movie comic as well. Of the two easy drive shops on my home location's immediate range (five, ten minutes...everything else you have to drive fifteen+ for) one never carried IDW until I ordered it, then they carried it only for me. The other place, while carrying IDW titles like Generations, Escalation, TAM Adaptation in small numbers, didn't even know about the movie prequal until I mentioned it.

For two, just presenting the info as it was to myself, and there's little reason to doubt it's validity at this time. CBP's good info, and you can work it for yourself. Sales Charts > CBG Charts > By Publisher > IDW > Prime Directive. Bang.

Diamond Comic Sales rank it (it being Prime Directive) as #250 in the final tally with the exact number CBP came up with;

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It obviously didn't do well enough to so much as register on the newsarama top 100 sales in just the month of February;

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Master Fwiffo wrote:

And finally, I also know (for a fact here) that a lot of stores never got the misprinted issue- for example, mine. It was called back before the shipment came out. I'm still positive that these numbers are absurdly low due to the pulled printing.

If the misprint had such little effect, all the more reason to take the numbers provided at face value. Wink

Master Fwiffo wrote:

If they're still ridiculously low when another month goes by and we get the full numbers, I'll believe it tanked.

Fair enough. "Reserving judgement with the evidence at hand" and "Taking what's there for what it is" are two sides we're very familiar with by now. Wink

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Quote:

Btw, since I sure as heck never get to say this to you; Welcome to the fold.

Thanks. I think. Am I sure this fold isn't gonna taint me and turn me into someone who demands that Megatron is a gun? Wink

But...Megatron is a gun..http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK10668&mode=retail&picture=aux1

Razz

And no, it's just a welcoming. Didn't 'taint' RDB, Sledge, or Pris, for a few examples. Wink

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Bubbalou wrote:

the moisprint was a "coloring error" according to my "comic book guy."

Actually, according to IDW, some of the more important dialouge on one of the pages was replaced with repeat dialouge from an earlier page.

That's what I thought it was. I'm pretty sure it was even in the preview they supplied. Go check the links in the topic here on the IDW Five page preview. If they still work they might actually show it...

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Wow, maybe you guys *do* need me. Am I the only TF fan who pays attention to these things? 0o

What things, exactly, do you think you're paying attention to that no one else is?

And no one needs you, Fwiff. Razz

j/k

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