Movie prequel comics sales are abysmally low...?

KneonT · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

Covenant wrote:

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.

I have two shops in my town alone. Neither one carries IDW's Transformers books unless you request them. I don't bother.

Whatever I want, I usually just order online from someplace like Mile High Comics. (And I'm guessing online discount retailers such as Mile High, Silver Bullet, etc. order several copies of each book to resell, accounting for at least a good chunk of those Diamond orders)

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Autobloke · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

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

I pay attention.

72% of the time at least.

34% is centered on pie, with the remaining 11% on failing maths.

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KneonT · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject:

Didn't want to bump this again, but Comic Book Resources gave their Feb. sales estimates... this time with Diamond order numbers.

The original listing for these books in Previews were...

Products available this week on February 28th, 2007:
# DEC063648 TRANSFORMERS PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL #1 B&W VAR $3.99

Products available next week on March 7th, 2007:
# DEC063644 TRANSFORMERS PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL #1 $3.99

CBR lists the prequel book at #250 with a Diamond number of DEC063644/8 ... meaning, I have to presume that 2,800 is the estimated combined sales from both editions of the book. Shocked

Here:

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Granted, they could be off a bit, and that printing error MIGHT factor in... but considering that BOTH books were solicited in December, these figures are from the pre-orders taken in that month. The book was pushed back at the last minute, but originally solicited as a Feb. release.

Now Generations #12 was always intended to be a March release, hence the reason it didn't make the list. Pre-orders were taken a month later.

Transformers: Generations #12 [JAN073698], $3.99

Not looking good here. March may tell a different story.

And no -- this isn't a naysayer thing. I like IDW and Chris Ryall has always been a decent guy when we've talked.

Surprising, to be sure.

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Looks like Master Fwiffo just got schooled Laughing

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Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:47 am Post subject:

KneonT wrote:

Didn't want to bump this again, but Comic Book Resources gave their Feb. sales estimates... this time with Diamond order numbers.

The original listing for these books in Previews were...

Products available this week on February 28th, 2007:
# DEC063648 TRANSFORMERS PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL #1 B&W VAR $3.99

Products available next week on March 7th, 2007:
# DEC063644 TRANSFORMERS PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL #1 $3.99

CBR lists the prequel book at #250 with a Diamond number of DEC063644/8 ... meaning, I have to presume that 2,800 is the estimated combined sales from both editions of the book. Shocked

Here:

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Granted, they could be off a bit, and that printing error MIGHT factor in... but considering that BOTH books were solicited in December, these figures are from the pre-orders taken in that month. The book was pushed back at the last minute, but originally solicited as a Feb. release.

Now Generations #12 was always intended to be a March release, hence the reason it didn't make the list. Pre-orders were taken a month later.

Transformers: Generations #12 [JAN073698], $3.99

Not looking good here. March may tell a different story.

And no -- this isn't a naysayer thing. I like IDW and Chris Ryall has always been a decent guy when we've talked.

Surprising, to be sure.

I figured as much.

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

Until I see Generations #12 on that chart, I refuse to believe that my comic store was one of only 300 that got that damn book.

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Covenant · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:44 am Post subject:

'Kay.

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KneonT · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:40 am Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Until I see Generations #12 on that chart, I refuse to believe that my comic store was one of only 300 that got that damn book.

Where'd the 300 number come from? Presuming each store ordered 10 copies? Some stores only order 1 or 2 copies of a title. Usually the owners are pretty tuned in to what their customers buy. Like I said, mine doesn't even carry IDW Transformers books at all unless requested.

But we'll see what March brings.

Personally, I think they would've been better off just releasing the whole thing as a trade paperback in June or July. That way it would've gotten into bookstores just in time for movie's release, and could've shared shelf space with the other tie-in books.

Ah well...

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Autobloke · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject:

KneonT wrote:

Personally, I think they would've been better off just releasing the whole thing as a trade paperback in June or July. That way it would've gotten into bookstores just in time for movie's release, and could've shared shelf space with the other tie-in books

Probably still will.

Isn't the actual movie adaptation being sold in four parts over four weeks right before the movie release date too?

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

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KneonT · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:41 am Post subject:

... OK, that sounds promising... but there are no figures? Sold out of how many copies?

I've been saying March might tell a different story all along. No need for 48 point type. Wink

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Covenant · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:49 am Post subject:

Wouldn't the book selling out now to consumers just be the sold out number stores & services ordered prior?

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KneonT · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:04 am Post subject:

Covenant wrote:

Wouldn't the book selling out now to consumers just be the sold out number stores & services ordered prior?

That would be my understanding. Pre-orders are taken a few months ahead so the publisher knows how many issues to print.

Sometimes certain "hot" issues are deliberately short-run just so they *do* sell out so publishers can boast of that fact, then go back to press for a second printing. This has happened several times over the past year with some of DC's titles.

The article gives no numbers on total issues sold.

If one publishers sells out of 500 issues and another of 50,000, both can boast of being "sold out."

In this case, it may very well be that they sold out of the 2,800 issues printed or whatever.

But again -- March may tell a different story. I'll totally admit that. I'd have expected sales of this book to be in the neighborhood of 8K-10K at least.

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Bubbalou · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:12 am Post subject:

well, I must say...

at my comic book store, the nonnew shelf only has 2 prequel comics on it.

fwiff's link appears credible to me.

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KneonT · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:21 am Post subject:

Bubbalou wrote:

well, I must say...

at my comic book store, the nonnew shelf only has 2 prequel comics on it.

fwiff's link appears credible to me.

Never said it wasn't credible, just curious how many issues were sold out. It's possible to be sold out at 500 or 50,000 like I said before.

And if the numbers were much higher than reported by ICv2, then I really would have to question how they gather their data. Confused

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

KneonT wrote:

Covenant wrote:

Wouldn't the book selling out now to consumers just be the sold out number stores & services ordered prior?

That would be my understanding. Pre-orders are taken a few months ahead so the publisher knows how many issues to print.

Sometimes certain "hot" issues are deliberately short-run just so they *do* sell out so publishers can boast of that fact, then go back to press for a second printing. This has happened several times over the past year with some of DC's titles.

The article gives no numbers on total issues sold.

If one publishers sells out of 500 issues and another of 50,000, both can boast of being "sold out."

In this case, it may very well be that they sold out of the 2,800 issues printed or whatever.

But again -- March may tell a different story. I'll totally admit that. I'd have expected sales of this book to be in the neighborhood of 8K-10K at least.

Well, knowing both issue 1 and 2 sold out, I see several scenarios.

1) The greater whole of the comic book stores in the US severely underestimated demand, not just once, but twice.

2) I am correct about the whole March-issue thing, and the comic sold a lot better then anybody anticipated.

3) Diamond is a very careful about they're lying tactics, and is on Paramounts payroll. (Not Likely, otherwise, why lie about this one, which they

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. IDW Doesn't either).

Don't know which it is, but that's hardly bad news on any front.

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Covenant · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

Don't know which it is, but that's hardly bad news on any front.

True enough. Smile

We just need official final tallys, dagnabbit. Mad

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Bubbalou · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:55 am Post subject:

as far as ACTUAL numbers go, i'm just as in the dark as all the rest of you. but i'd guess more than 75% sold.

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Autobloke · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject:

Like the TF comics whore that I am, I got at least three of the covers for issue one (there were a lot of comics to be collected that month, and I know one stayed in the save - just don't know which it was) and two for issue two. Maybe the real issue here shouldn't be how many were sold - more how many were sold to different people. Certainly for issue one, I could be counted as three (or four) different customers if anyone wanted to massage the number of people buying these comics, whereas I'm only actually one person.

It's that constant thing of variant covers producing unclear actual sales to however many people.

Still, I suppose as long as the sellers get their money, it could be just one very rich person buying every copy printed and it wouldn't matter. Certainly, the sales of these comics can't be used to determine how well the movie might do.

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KneonT · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject:

Well now, I'm seeing it ranked at #88 this month at around 29,000 copies...

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See Fwiffo, you got all worked up over nothing. Wink

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

KneonT wrote:

Well now, I'm seeing it ranked at #88 this month at around 29,000 copies...

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See Fwiffo, you got all worked up over nothing. Wink

So I was right! Very Happy

I actually expected between 10-15,000. 29,000 is great news!

I told you 3000 was way too low! Wink

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KneonT · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:22 am Post subject:

Master Fwiffo wrote:

KneonT wrote:

Well now, I'm seeing it ranked at #88 this month at around 29,000 copies...

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See Fwiffo, you got all worked up over nothing. Wink

So I was right! Very Happy

I actually expected between 10-15,000. 29,000 is great news!

I told you 3000 was way too low! Wink

Yes, yes... you were right. And I'm man enough to admit it. Laughing

So, I'll have my crow medium rare, please...

Seriously... good news for IDW.

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Covenant · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:27 am Post subject:

You thought that was great news, Prequal comics selling like hotcakes;

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Happy to hear it for IDW. Smile

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Covenant · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:28 am Post subject:

Say, Fwiff, if you like, you can post that in the TFL topic. I'm running through right now to take a fifteen minute breather for work. Peace.

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Juci · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject:

Ok so its a surprise that the prequel to the live movie is low?

Also its no surprise that this prequel will be given away for free at Free Comic book day in May 5th, so that could explain the low sales of the books. People aren't buying something that in a few months will be given for free. DUH! Rolling Eyes

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