Print Run Predictions

Draco · Post by **Draco** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:37 am

maraxusofkeld wrote:I know this isn't completely Dark Horse related but I am shocked that big selling books now sell under 100,000 copies like Uncany!

Its been this way since the mid 90's although we did see growth around the early 2000's.
Now they are up and down every six months or so.
Sometimes there are a few books over 100,000 and the last few months they are all sitting just under.

So not a good amount has changes in the last 15 years from what i can see in actual print runs ( cue the big boss with some figures).

IM pretty sure overall there are more comics being printed as the amount of smaller publishers that are here to stay hopefully have grown.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:45 am

I agree i think there are about the same amount printed for 15 years just spread over more titles like all 10 x books and 5 avengers books have the same run as the old 3 x books and 2 avengers books from 10 years ago

maraxusofkeld · Post by **maraxusofkeld** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:26 am

I think raising the cover prices is driving fans away too. If you are little kid getting a little allowance are you going to buy 12 comics at $4 bucks a pop or a video game?

sanman · Post by **sanman** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:04 pm

maraxusofkeld wrote:I think raising the cover prices is driving fans away too. If you are little kid getting a little allowance are you going to buy 12 comics at $4 bucks a pop or a video game?

And if a kid does buy a comic it will most likely be a TPB. I fear monthly issue may be coming to an end.

I’m considering dropping all of my titles except Batman and Detective and moving over to trades entirely. I will keep the Bat titles because I need the monthly fix and I’ve been collecting them for almost 20 years.

Comics are so expensive now that committing to an unseen or read arc listed in Previews just doesn’t make a lot of sense any more. Let the issues come out, read the reviews and then buy the collected volume.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:04 pm

sanman wrote:
maraxusofkeld wrote:I think raising the cover prices is driving fans away too. If you are little kid getting a little allowance are you going to buy 12 comics at $4 bucks a pop or a video game?
And if a kid does buy a comic it will most likely be a TPB. I fear monthly issue may be coming to an end.

I’m considering dropping all of my titles except Batman and Detective and moving over to trades entirely. I will keep the Bat titles because I need the monthly fix and I’ve been collecting them for almost 20 years.

Comics are so expensive now that committing to an unseen or read arc listed in Previews just doesn’t make a lot of sense any more. Let the issues come out, read the reviews and then buy the collected volume.

The prices are definitely driving more and more people away from comics everyday. It's a shame to see this wonderful hobby slowly dying because of the outrageous $$ they want for a comic.

I don't need a hot overpriced artist or slick fancy paper in a comic. Just tell a good story with great characters for a reasonable price. If that can't be done anymore, then I guess it's time for them to shut the doors and move on to something else.

maraxusofkeld · Post by **maraxusofkeld** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:47 pm

I really want to support my LCS but the one in my town never helps me out when I am looking for any back issues (when he has them but is too lazy to look in the back of the store). If all books go to $4 I will be buying everything from DCBS.

geocarr · Post by **geocarr** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:53 pm

maraxusofkeld wrote:I really want to support my LCS but the one in my town never helps me out when I am looking for any back issues (when he has them but is too lazy to look in the back of the store). If all books go to $4 I will be buying everything from DCBS.

I already have for the past three months and have no complaints. I miss the LCS experience, but not more than the money I am saving now.

geocarr · Post by **geocarr** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:56 pm

sanman wrote:And if a kid does buy a comic it will most likely be a TPB. I fear monthly issue may be coming to an end.
I’m considering dropping all of my titles except Batman and Detective and moving over to trades entirely.
Comics are so expensive now that committing to an unseen or read arc listed in Previews just doesn’t make a lot of sense any more. Let the issues come out, read the reviews and then buy the collected volume.

I already have moved away from single new issues and just buy collected editions now and I enjoy the hobby more because of it and feel like I actually get more quality reading out of it now too.

I wonder what will happen to the overall comic industry and market though as more readers stop buying monthlies and make this switch to collected editions.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:54 pm

print runs will continue to shrink and comics will die out sooner or later or if there is a resurgance all those issues of the last 10 years with tiny print runs will be big ticket items

maraxusofkeld · Post by **maraxusofkeld** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:26 pm

That's why I dont think hoarding key Vertigo, and indy type books like Goon, 1st Hellboy etc, is a bad idea.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:38 pm

the indy stuff is great due to the fact it is printed so little and if a series takes off boom its walking dead or invincible

look out for

Echo and the Sword to take off soon