VALIANT October Sales Discussion

[BugsySig]

Putting this up today in anticipation of Diamond publishing their sales numbers tomorrow.

October should be an interesting sales month as it was the first month without a #1 issue or a major first appearance since the company launched. It was also the first month with a VEI trade.

For the sake of comparison, here are VEI's September sales numbers:

Unit Share = .98%
Dollar Share = .86%

94. XO Manowar #5 - 23,800
144. Harbinger #4 - 15,298
147. Archer & Armstrong #2 - 14,539
148. Bloodshot #3 - 14,517

Total Units = 68,154

[drmirage]

Oct #'s are going to be interesting.

I dont even want to try to guess the sales #.

[erwinrafael]

The most interesting thing about these sales numbers is that Bloodshot's popularity in the 90s had me expecting that his title would be leading the VEI titles. It does not appear to be the case.

[fury143]

manowar #5 had the first ninjak app

[BugsySig]

manowar #5 had the first ninjak app

That was September, which are the numbers I posted. We are waiting for October, which hopefully will be out today.

[SJS4]

I posted this in a different thread, but here is my prediction (based on prior sales trends):

X-O Manowar: 15,446
Harbinger: 14,647
Bloodshot: 14,344
Archer & Armstrong: 13,172
Total: 57,610 (-15.5% from September)

So far every month VEI has outperformed my estimates, if only by a little.

[GGSAE]

I posted this in a different thread, but here is my prediction (based on prior sales trends):

X-O Manowar: 15,446
Harbinger: 14,647
Bloodshot: 14,344
Archer & Armstrong: 13,172
Total: 57,610 (-15.5% from September)

So far every month VEI has outperformed my estimates, if only by a little.

You expect the titles to drop that much? I would be very surprised to see Harbinger drop that much...

[GGSAE]

Putting this up today in anticipation of Diamond publishing their sales numbers tomorrow.

October should be an interesting sales month as it was the first month without a #1 issue or a major first appearance since the company launched. It was also the first month with a VEI trade.

For the sake of comparison, here are VEI's September sales numbers:

Unit Share = .98%
Dollar Share = .86%

94. XO Manowar #5 - 23,800
144. Harbinger #4 - 15,298
147. Archer & Armstrong #2 - 14,539
148. Bloodshot #3 - 14,517

Total Units = 68,154

Why is the dollar share less than the unit share? Valiants are usually the other way around...

[SJS4]

Putting this up today in anticipation of Diamond publishing their sales numbers tomorrow.

October should be an interesting sales month as it was the first month without a #1 issue or a major first appearance since the company launched. It was also the first month with a VEI trade.

For the sake of comparison, here are VEI's September sales numbers:

Unit Share = .98%
Dollar Share = .86%

94. XO Manowar #5 - 23,800
144. Harbinger #4 - 15,298
147. Archer & Armstrong #2 - 14,539
148. Bloodshot #3 - 14,517

Total Units = 68,154

Why is the dollar share less than the unit share? Valiants are usually the other way around...

On new releases of ongoing titles you are probably right, but they have essentially no TPB's to sell, which are probably very low volume but relatively high $$$. October may be a bit different because of the BS HC.

[SJS4]

I posted this in a different thread, but here is my prediction (based on prior sales trends):

X-O Manowar: 15,446
Harbinger: 14,647
Bloodshot: 14,344
Archer & Armstrong: 13,172
Total: 57,610 (-15.5% from September)

So far every month VEI has outperformed my estimates, if only by a little.

You expect the titles to drop that much? I would be very surprised to see Harbinger drop that much...

Its not a value judgement, just a trend. The only large drop I am projecting is in X-O manowar because of the unusual nature of marketing/variants put out for the Ninjak appearance.

I am hoping/expecting VEI to beat the numbers, but I just don't think it will be by much. I have used the same model since month 2 and while it has consistently underestimated VEI's sales, it has been surprisingly close every month. I do my best to not push qualitative adjustments into the analysis.

[BugsySig]

Putting this up today in anticipation of Diamond publishing their sales numbers tomorrow.

October should be an interesting sales month as it was the first month without a #1 issue or a major first appearance since the company launched. It was also the first month with a VEI trade.

For the sake of comparison, here are VEI's September sales numbers:

Unit Share = .98%
Dollar Share = .86%

94. XO Manowar #5 - 23,800
144. Harbinger #4 - 15,298
147. Archer & Armstrong #2 - 14,539
148. Bloodshot #3 - 14,517

Total Units = 68,154

Why is the dollar share less than the unit share? Valiants are usually the other way around...

On new releases of ongoing titles you are probably right, but they have essentially no TPB's to sell, which are probably very low volume but relatively high $$$. October may be a bit different because of the BS HC.

What he said. They actually have the shares just out of the top 300, which are much higher (over 1%), as are the numbers just for monthly editions (non-trades).

[BugsySig]

Early numbers just in at Newsarama.

VALIANT does not appear on the top 10 for Units or Dollars. They would be included in "other", but this means they were below 1.03% in dollar share (which could still have been an increase or decrease) and below .80% in unit share (a decrease).

A decrease in shares does not necessarily mean a drop in sales, however, as October was a huge month accross the board compared to September, where sales dropped accross the board (though not VALIANT).

EDIT: Of note is that October was a 5 Wednesday month. That could explain VEI slipping out of the top 10 due to only publishing 4 books and a trade compared with 5 weeks worth of books from other companies.

More specifics should be out later today.

RETAIL MARKET SHARE
MARVEL COMICS
35.14%

DC COMICS
31.51%

IMAGE COMICS
8.47%

IDW PUBLISHING
4.62%

DARK HORSE COMICS
3.81%

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
2.71%

BOOM! STUDIOS
1.29%

AVATAR PRESS INC
1.26%

RANDOM HOUSE
1.19%

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC
1.03%

OTHER NON-TOP 10
8.96%


UNIT MARKET SHARE

MARVEL COMICS
39.54%

DC COMICS
34.40%

IMAGE COMICS
7.60%

IDW PUBLISHING
3.82%

DARK HORSE COMICS
3.11%

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
2.78%

BOOM! STUDIOS
1.39%

AVATAR PRESS INC
1.04%

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC
1.03%

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
0.80%

OTHER NON-TOP 10
4.49%

[drmirage]

Very interesting. I guess the goal of VEI to be #3 is more difficult than just number of copies sold.

I see a lot of hope and potential with Shadowman just being released.

[BugsySig]

Very interesting. I guess the goal of VEI to be #3 is more difficult than just number of copies sold.

I see a lot of hope and potential with Shadowman just being released.

If you just look at their per-title sale avg, they are well above the other indy publishers. But obviously they are lower in total due to only publishing 4 (now 5) titles and in dollars by only just starting trade collections.

If they eventually reach 12 ongoing titles with 3-4 trades every month, they should be competing or outperforming Dynamite, Boom!, Zenoscope, Archie and maybe even IDW and Dark Horse.

And with the big corporations continuing to buy properties, like Disney buying LucasFilm, that will only hurt many of the Indy's liscensing agreements as they move to Marvel and DC.

[MoonChild]

12 titles..hmm..

1. X-O
2. Harbinger
3. BloodShot
4. Archer & Armstrong
5. Shadowman
6. Eternal Warrior
7. RAI
8. Quantum & Woody
9. Ninjak
10. Doctor Mirage?
11. Timewalker?
12. Secret Weapons?

Hard CORPS?
Maybe a villian line like Darque?

[Elveen]

12 titles..hmm..



Hard CORPS?

Coming sooner than you think.

[MoonChild]

12 titles..hmm..



Hard CORPS?

Coming sooner than you think.

In their own monthly? I'd hate to think they'd come before the second half of my list..

..Well they can come before Secret Weapons I guess

[BugsySig]

12 titles..hmm..



Hard CORPS?

Coming sooner than you think.

In their own monthly? I'd hate to think they'd come before the second half of my list..

..Well they can come before Secret Weapons I guess

I'd love to see what someone like Dysart could do with HARD Corps. I think that concept has so much potential to be great because it could be so different from anything else out there right now. Older heroes, becoming what they hate/hunt in order to control them...could have ties to PRS, Bloodshot, Harbinger, etc...Bring it on!

[MoonChild]

Yea, me too but man...I want me sum o dem Q&W, RAI, EW first

[BugsySig]

Yea, me too but man...I want me sum o dem Q&W, RAI, EW first

Def agree there, too

[grendeljd]

12 titles..hmm..



Hard CORPS?

Coming sooner than you think.

Bugger! What do you know, Elveen... what. do. you. KNOW?!!

I've said it before 'round these parts - Hard CORPs has huge potential as a concept ripe for re-imagining. [I'd still like to see RAI & EW before it got its own title, though]

[BugsySig]

I think one thing VEI is willing to do (as we discussed the last time Elveen dropped a big tease) is be fluid with their plans. While they may know exactly when they are launching their next title, or ten titles for that matter, they are willing to plug in the best concept and creative team at that time.

I believe that is how we got Shadowman when we did...The pitch came in, the team came together, and VEI plugged it into their Winter 2012 spot. Next up is Spring 2013, and while I would like nothing more than Rai to be that book, if the best pitch by the best team is something else, then so be it.

[MoonChild]

I think one thing VEI is willing to do (as we discussed the last time Elveen dropped a big tease) is be fluid with their plans. While they may know exactly when they are launching their next title, or ten titles for that matter, they are willing to plug in the best concept and creative team at that time.

I believe that is how we got Shadowman when we did...The pitch came in, the team came together, and VEI plugged it into their Winter 2012 spot. Next up is Spring 2013, and while I would like nothing more than Rai to be that book, if the best pitch by the best team is something else, then so be it.

Well Said

[drmirage]

I didnt ask this in the LBCC Panel.. but I would love a 1st 2nd or 3rd Life of Dr Mirage book.

Would love to see Bernard Chang do the work too!

Rai and HARD Corps should also get going.

[kjjohanson]

I think one thing VEI is willing to do (as we discussed the last time Elveen dropped a big tease) is be fluid with their plans. While they may know exactly when they are launching their next title, or ten titles for that matter, they are willing to plug in the best concept and creative team at that time.

I believe that is how we got Shadowman when we did...The pitch came in, the team came together, and VEI plugged it into their Winter 2012 spot. Next up is Spring 2013, and while I would like nothing more than Rai to be that book, if the best pitch by the best team is something else, then so be it.

Agreed. This is pretty much what Warren indicated at NYCC. Someone had asked whether there were any characters that they were going to completely avoid. His response (I'm paraprasing here) was that with the right team and concept, any character could be worthy of publication.

It's been forever since I read Secret Weapons, but if I remember correctly, it started as a team of all of the front-line characters and was then redirected as a Bloodshot-led team. That seemed to make sense in the '90s to get as many books out there as possible, but I don't see it working now. The concepts behind the solo books (everything but Harbinger right now) are so diverse that a combination would detract form overall quality, I think. If they're looking for a team book, HARDCorps or Armorines would probably be the conceot to look to right now.