Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment

Civil War II Tie-Ins Costing Sales? Big Bang's Theory And Practice When Ordering Comics

Published Thu, 29 Sep 2016 12:00:00 -0500

Last updated Sun, 02 Oct 2016 15:04:15 -0500

Big Bang Comics of Dublin is one of the finer comic stores in the world. And every week they break down what sold – and what didn't – that week. And have some harsh truths to share for publishers and creators alike.

Here's what went down this week – but we start with rules, and thoughts about returnability.

Welcome one and all to our Weekly Comic Counts thingamajiggie! As always, here are the rules! pic.twitter.com/rbU0itiNCu

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Did you see that the direct market had its best month in years and years? GO DIRECT MARKET COMICS INDUSTRY!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Now, here's the million dollar question. Who bought all these comics?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Why did retailers order so many of the DC Rebirth books? Amazing confidence on the end product?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Maybe. Just maybe… was it the fact that these comics were… returnable?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Could it be that by doing what everyone has been asking the industry to do, make stock returnable like the books industry, we ordered more?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Imagine a situation where a publisher works with a retailer and not against them?! And the retailer orders more because of that?! Balderdash

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Just think, for one moment, how much healthier the industry would be if we all acted like grown-ups? What a dream…

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Which will never happen in the current industry because it doesn't benefit the moneymakers (duh)

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

The distributor makes its money, because… well, they make the rules.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

And customers? They get deprived of choice. They don't see niche titles do well in a market that is conditioned to play it safe.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

And that is why the Direct Market (aka comic book stores supplied by Diamond) is just like this sort of cannibal massacre.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Today DC is up there. Tomorrow it will be Marvel. Then DC again. Then Marvel. Then… God, aren't you all sick of this?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Ugh, you all have to excuse the rant. Was finishing up the Previews order today and this is your mind on Previews/

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

But… They haven't stopped printing books, have they? There's still a book industry and books are returnable?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

And in an industry that won't even tell retailers why they should order their books and who's writing or drawing them… can that happen?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

They sure run that TBA guy ragged, hope he has time to finish all his covers! pic.twitter.com/5pUTvwiYsE

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

That retweet is the OFFICIAL solicitation for CIVIL WAR II #8, the final chapter of the 7 issue event. Marvel's most important book

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

BUT ANYWAY. We're here to talk comics. Don't let my Post-Previews depression derail this conversation

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

So, after this wee intro, let's look at the comics out on the week of the 21st.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

ALIENS LIFE AND DEATH #1, 90% first week. ALIENS are always one to catch random customers'sattention

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18 gained new readers! Is it the siren's call of the upcoming CLONE CONSPIRACY story?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

You know what does really well for us? The AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER LIBRARY EDITIONS. They're gorgeous and very popular!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

BATMAN #7 (MONSTER MEN), 90% first week. Crossovers be damned!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

BRITANNIA #1, new Valiant series, doing the exact same numbers every Valiant #1 does. It's uncanny. Everytime we order a few extra, but…

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

(btw, has anyone seen DARK KNIGHT III #6? We're all very worried about it. It's months now since it was meant to be out. Hope ur ok, hun!)

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Problem is that this isn't selling event numbers here. It sells around a _third_ of what BATMAN does, for example.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

Speaking of Marvel books. We asked some of our retailer friends in the UK if there was any enthusiasm for the upcoming Marvel Now books.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

DARK KNIGHT III THE MASTER RACE #1 DIRECTORS CUT, 20% first week. Gotta remind the people this still exists!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

DEMONIC #2, 68% first week.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

CYBORG #1, sold HALF of the REBIRTH one-shot. This, er, this does not bode well.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

The delays with DK3 and SANDMAN OVERTURE annoyed me SO much. DC Created a golden opportunity: Miller is back! Gaiman is back! (cont)

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

It wasn't there. They came back when we told them it SHOULD be out. And it wasn't there. Repeat. Repeat. They stopped coming.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

SURELY someone thought "hold on, maybe we should at least get half this series in the can before the first issue is out"? No? Just us? Ok.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

GREEN ARROW #7, 95%. Art by the amazing @StephenByrne86 made this hot title even hotter for us!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

HARLEY QUINN #4, 65%. One of the slowest performers of the Rebirth books in the sense that it didn't attract many new readers.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

HORIZON #3, 75% first week. A slip, but not a dangerous one!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

HOUSE OF PENANCE #6 finished this week. Solid Dark Horse numbers for an EXCELLENT horror series. I urge you all to pick this up!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

KARNAK #5! It's still coming out! 76% first week, some people still remember it!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

I'm just mentioning "MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #7 UNLOCK VILLIAN VAR" so I can show you how they spelled villain in the system.

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

PUNISHER #5, 90% first week. People really are digging Becky and Steve's Punisher, and those covers by Dec don't hurt!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

REVOLUTION #1, 60% first week. Not an amazing start for IDW's big Hasbrovent, but there is a bit of buzz around it alright…

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

SUPERMAN #7 continues to both be excellent and sell excellently. Wasn't this issue so damn good?!

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

AND FINALLY, to appease Kieron, what about that WICKED & DIVINE 1831 ONE SHOT, hey?

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

(I think. It sold out before I could get a copy. I hope it's good, or I'll be really embarrassed)

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

And that was the end of matters.

This Wednesday, @jock4twenty is instore for a signing! Buy ART OF JOCK here and get this sweet bookplate for free! pic.twitter.com/uLrEK2vcIm

— Big Bang Comics (@TheBigBang_) September 26, 2016

And so he did…