January 2015 Sales Discussion

[cray_ws]

I cannot see that happening consistently while the current 8-9 monthly books publishing plan is in place. More books = more opportunity for market and dollar share. Presumably in VEI's calculations they are satisfied with their current status quo, even if some fans (myself included) which they would do more.

I disagree, The top 3 publishers might be cranking out a lot of titles, but as someone pointed out STAR WARS#1 carried Marvel to the top, DC lead with BATMAN #38 and IMAGE always sells well with THE WALKING DEAD.

Valiant needs to raise the quality of their titles, to become a big fish in the sea of so many comics out there. There's like over 400 comics published in any given month, Valiant needs to figure out how to get people's attention, and it can't just be speculative like variants because that's just temporary. It's got to be a long term thing and raising the bar of their titles will get people to take notice and word of the mouth will spread beyond the walls of Valiant fandom. X-O MANOWAR is their most recognizable IP, and more than likely Valiant's top seller. So they need to keep making it a better book. I'm not saying it's bad, but every comic has room for improvement, especially if it's not the leading top seller.

Someone asked who Valiant's rival is....I don't think they have one yet and that itself is a problem. They need to compete to gain any recognition beyond it's own fandom.

[Phantom]

I enjoy valiants output quaility wise, I think it has gotten better since the launch. Also quite diverse, so I am not reading the same story but with different costums. I cannot compare it with any other company, as I don't read any othhers ~~ kinda makes my statement pointless.

The hardest thing for a publisher to do, is to get someone to drop a current title from another company THEN consistantly buy their title without dropping it for another. Valiant must find it bloody frustrating more people are not reding their titles.

I think the longer you are consistant, more people are likely to 'trust' valiant as a company, to read it ~ rather than thinking it was like an Atlas relaunch (bad comparison, but you know what I mean)

Movie will get te company noticed. I would not be suprised if some Marvel and DC readers even know that valiant as a company even exsists.

Insteead of a movie ~ company crossover. Hopefully donee better than the original series, but to find a company that would participate would be hard.

[Tim]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

[bygranddesign]

I was hoping Ivar would be over 20K

And that The Valiant would be over 15K

But overall ... its a solid month

I think its going to get better and better ... This month with Imperium and Divinity should be even better

And Ninjak is going to be huuuge in March

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

[BugsySig]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

[Phoenix8008]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

I know it's anecdotal evidence at best, but I am one of the mods on the /r/Valiant subreddit and I check often on the /r/comicbooks subreddit for any posts about valiant as well. There have been more posts recently about people checking out Valiant, new to Valiant, or getting tired of Marvel/DC, and asking about Valiant or getting reading orders. Someone posted recently about Imperium being their first Valiant comic and wanting advice on what else they might like. I've been seeing more of those kinds of posts recently, and in greater numbers and frequency as well. I'd like to think that the TPB sales bump is from these types of folks jumping into Valiant via the trades. If they're getting into those now, then it means the fanbase is still growing and it hasn't started noticeably affecting the monthly sales of single issues yet. I'm still hopeful that this is the bottom of the slide and they will start working their way back upward soon. Of course, I've been hopeful of that for awhile now.

[dornwolf]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

I know it's anecdotal evidence at best, but I am one of the mods on the /r/Valiant subreddit and I check often on the /r/comicbooks subreddit for any posts about valiant as well. There have been more posts recently about people checking out Valiant, new to Valiant, or getting tired of Marvel/DC, and asking about Valiant or getting reading orders. Someone posted recently about Imperium being their first Valiant comic and wanting advice on what else they might like. I've been seeing more of those kinds of posts recently, and in greater numbers and frequency as well. I'd like to think that the TPB sales bump is from these types of folks jumping into Valiant via the trades. If they're getting into those now, then it means the fanbase is still growing and it hasn't started noticeably affecting the monthly sales of single issues yet. I'm still hopeful that this is the bottom of the slide and they will start working their way back upward soon. Of course, I've been hopeful of that for awhile now.

Been peaking at that thread. Been seeing quite a few of those "just started reading thread"

[Keith]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

I know it's anecdotal evidence at best, but I am one of the mods on the /r/Valiant subreddit and I check often on the /r/comicbooks subreddit for any posts about valiant as well. There have been more posts recently about people checking out Valiant, new to Valiant, or getting tired of Marvel/DC, and asking about Valiant or getting reading orders. Someone posted recently about Imperium being their first Valiant comic and wanting advice on what else they might like. I've been seeing more of those kinds of posts recently, and in greater numbers and frequency as well. I'd like to think that the TPB sales bump is from these types of folks jumping into Valiant via the trades. If they're getting into those now, then it means the fanbase is still growing and it hasn't started noticeably affecting the monthly sales of single issues yet. I'm still hopeful that this is the bottom of the slide and they will start working their way back upward soon. Of course, I've been hopeful of that for awhile now.

Along those lines, the Independents board on CBR has seen an influx in posts similar to what you are seeing on reddit. Seems like every other day someone is asking how best to start.

[Chris Campbell]

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

[Phoenix8008]

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

Hopefully they corrected the last page of the Bloodshot TPB that was all fuzzy/derezzed and had the words in the wrong places.

[BugsySig]

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

Still, how many people are ordering them just for the new trade dress? I know there are a few hard core people who would, but it must be a small number.

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

Hopefully they corrected the last page of the Bloodshot TPB that was all fuzzy/derezzed and had the words in the wrong places.

That page was fuzzy because they corrected the error with the word balloons IIRC.

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

I know it's anecdotal evidence at best, but I am one of the mods on the /r/Valiant subreddit and I check often on the /r/comicbooks subreddit for any posts about valiant as well. There have been more posts recently about people checking out Valiant, new to Valiant, or getting tired of Marvel/DC, and asking about Valiant or getting reading orders. Someone posted recently about Imperium being their first Valiant comic and wanting advice on what else they might like. I've been seeing more of those kinds of posts recently, and in greater numbers and frequency as well. I'd like to think that the TPB sales bump is from these types of folks jumping into Valiant via the trades. If they're getting into those now, then it means the fanbase is still growing and it hasn't started noticeably affecting the monthly sales of single issues yet. I'm still hopeful that this is the bottom of the slide and they will start working their way back upward soon. Of course, I've been hopeful of that for awhile now.

Along those lines, the Independents board on CBR has seen an influx in posts similar to what you are seeing on reddit. Seems like every other day someone is asking how best to start.

I was just going to say that. Really picked up nicely lately.

[dornwolf]

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

Still, how many people are ordering them just for the new trade dress? I know there are a few hard core people who would, but it must be a small number.

Those two TPBs that sold over 1k are new printings with the new trade dress.

Hopefully they corrected the last page of the Bloodshot TPB that was all fuzzy/derezzed and had the words in the wrong places.

That page was fuzzy because they corrected the error with the word balloons IIRC.

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

I hadn't looked at the TPB sales... Definitely bodes well for VEI if trade sales are picking up on these previous releases ones.

I know it's anecdotal evidence at best, but I am one of the mods on the /r/Valiant subreddit and I check often on the /r/comicbooks subreddit for any posts about valiant as well. There have been more posts recently about people checking out Valiant, new to Valiant, or getting tired of Marvel/DC, and asking about Valiant or getting reading orders. Someone posted recently about Imperium being their first Valiant comic and wanting advice on what else they might like. I've been seeing more of those kinds of posts recently, and in greater numbers and frequency as well. I'd like to think that the TPB sales bump is from these types of folks jumping into Valiant via the trades. If they're getting into those now, then it means the fanbase is still growing and it hasn't started noticeably affecting the monthly sales of single issues yet. I'm still hopeful that this is the bottom of the slide and they will start working their way back upward soon. Of course, I've been hopeful of that for awhile now.

Along those lines, the Independents board on CBR has seen an influx in posts similar to what you are seeing on reddit. Seems like every other day someone is asking how best to start.

I was just going to say that. Really picked up nicely lately.

It's really cool seeing those comments show up during stories on sites like IGN suggesting people read Valiant.

[rjrjr]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

Two years ago, Valiant had *all* of their titles consistently over 10K:

January 2013
X-O Manowar #9 - 16,599
Shadowman #3 - 13,327
Harbinger #8 - 12,824
Archer & Armstrong #6 - 12,642
Bloodshot #7 - 11,918

With only 5 titles and 2 trades in January 2013, they had 0.93% of the unit share and 0.86% of the dollar share. (Roughly the same as January 2015.)

It probably makes good sense for them to not flooding the market with more titles. As they added more titles in the past, the individual sales on those titles dropped. I suspect they found a good number (8 titles) which gives them the flexibility to produce good stories, keep their fanbase engaged and spending, and more importantly, helps keep them profitable.

Interestingly, I could give a copy of Dr. Mirage #5 to every kid at my son's high school and would run out of comics before I ran out of kids with less than 4,000 copies produced. That is an extremely low number. It is sad how far sales have fallen, not just on Valiant titles, but on the industry as a whole. I remember when early Rai (VH1) had "low" print runs of 30,000 copies. Now, 30,000 copies would land a book in the top 65 titles.

[BugsySig]

Ivar: Timewalker #1 - 15784
The Valiant #2 - 11623
Rai #6 - 8301
X-O Manwar #32 - 7042
Quantum and Woody Must Die - 5771
Unity #14- 5722
Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #3 - 4889
Q2 #4 - 4606
Dr. Mirage #5 - 3915

I'm pretty sure (I only took a quick glance) that Valiant's #1 title this month beat Dark Horse's #1 title this month. I think 2 titles over 10K is probably one of the best outings yet for our fellas.
Can't believe Q&W beat out Unity. And I guess if you tally the Q&W input this month, they're over 10K too...

Also, in the Top 300 Graphic Novels, Q&W Vol 1, and Bloodshot Vol 1 both sold over 1,000 copies. A very unusual feat for a Valiant TPB. Was there a sale? This wasn't the first month for either TPB obviously. The other TPBs for the month were in the 600-800 range of sales....that has been more in line with what Valiant normally does. Anyone know why the boost? Lemire coming onto Bloodshot?

Two years ago, Valiant had *all* of their titles consistently over 10K:

January 2013
X-O Manowar #9 - 16,599
Shadowman #3 - 13,327
Harbinger #8 - 12,824
Archer & Armstrong #6 - 12,642
Bloodshot #7 - 11,918

With only 5 titles and 2 trades in January 2013, they had 0.93% of the unit share and 0.86% of the dollar share. (Roughly the same as January 2015.)

It probably makes good sense for them to not flooding the market with more titles. As they added more titles in the past, the individual sales on those titles dropped. I suspect they found a good number (8 titles) which gives them the flexibility to produce good stories, keep their fanbase engaged and spending, and more importantly, helps keep them profitable.

Interestingly, I could give a copy of Dr. Mirage #5 to every kid at my son's high school and would run out of comics before I ran out of kids with less than 4,000 copies produced. That is an extremely low number. It is sad how far sales have fallen, not just on Valiant titles, but on the industry as a whole. I remember when early Rai (VH1) had "low" print runs of 30,000 copies. Now, 30,000 copies would land a book in the top 65 titles.

Very true. As we've mentioned in these threads before, retailers are not willing to take a risk on something outside the Big 2 or known independent title (TWD, Hellboy, Saga, Invincible, etc). 3-5 books from a publisher outside of that group, sure (a la VEI in 2013), but any more than that and the books start cannibalizing each other because the retailers will only devote so much money and shelf space.

VEI needs the trade market to get their stories into the hands of consumers, who can then hopefully ask their stores for copies and/or just increase overall awareness. Plus, a TPB takes up less space and costs less money than a stack of monthly books on the shelf.

But outside of a movie/TV deal, I don't know if any VEI books will crack 25k again for a long time.

[mateo107]

the range of this month is rather unusual. while the sales for the top selling book are the highest this century, the bottom 300 sales are also some of the lowest ever, almost 1,000 units below the average. it's as if Star Wars siphoned the sales out of every other book.

[StarBrand]

So, perhaps Valiant's sales were affected by Star Wars 1, as retailers tried to stay on budget.

[bygranddesign]

But outside of a movie/TV deal, I don't know if any VEI books will crack 25k again for a long time.

Ninjak is going to be big, imo.

Paradise I think has sold over 50 sets of Ninjak #1 to VEI board members. As of 7 days ago, he has ordered 2,750 copies by himself.

Obviously Paradise is not the normal retailer when it comes to Valiant ... but I think a lot of LCS's will order big on Ninjak

I think it sells over 25K ... maybe even outsells Rai #1

[BugsySig]

But outside of a movie/TV deal, I don't know if any VEI books will crack 25k again for a long time.

Ninjak is going to be big, imo.

Paradise I think has sold over 50 sets of Ninjak #1 to VEI board members. As of 7 days ago, he has ordered 2,750 copies by himself.

Obviously Paradise is not the normal retailer when it comes to Valiant ... but I think a lot of LCS's will order big on Ninjak

I think it sells over 25K ... maybe even outsells Rai #1

Sorry, I should have quantified that more. A 1st issue wia big push could certainly crack that number a la Rai or Unity. But as a monthly occurrence, it seems unlikely for a book to do so. Ninjak #1 could, but considering even The Valiant with Kindt, Lemire and Rivera attached didn't reach that level, I doubt it will.

[jaspersk]

Glad to see numbers pick up plus Valiant making multiple regular price Variants doesnt hurt. I feel Valiant to this point spent time reintroducing characters rehashing some old storylines while adding something to it. I think they're at a point similar to post unity with the difference being that post unity Valiant was getting great numbers but after around Rai 0 creating crap stories with crap art whereas in the new Valiant they are coming out with new storylines with great art and stories. Marvel and Dc are killing their universes and Valiant is building theirs. Image doesnt really matter outside a few titles the rest sell based on speculation and have subpar writing and art. It may have taken awhile but it seems Valiant is here to stay

[cray_ws]

the range of this month is rather unusual. while the sales for the top selling book are the highest this century, the bottom 300 sales are also some of the lowest ever, almost 1,000 units below the average. it's as if Star Wars siphoned the sales out of every other book.

Which goes to show you how small the market is despite STAR WARS wonderful sellout. It's a bubble or seesaw with retailers who are trying to cash in on hot selling STAR WARS and skipping out on lower-ordered book. While it makes total sense to buy up hot selling comics, it's only a short term fix. Retailers need new customers so they can expand their budget, so they wouldn't have to drop low selling books to do these short term sellouts that crop up once in awhile.

[cray_ws]

Image doesnt really matter outside a few titles the rest sell based on speculation and have subpar writing and art.

Please don't make blanket statements about Image like that. Some of the best written titles are at Image. Read LAZARUS by Greg Rucka, or try DEADLY CLASS by Rick Remender, SEX CRIMINALS by Matt Fraction, or how about Warren Ellis TREES. These are well written titles by reputable writers who have done work for Marvel and DC. I'm only listing a fraction of all the other well written titles. As for art, it does vary but I wouldn't label as subpar. I think most readers who grow up reading Marvel and DC grow very accustom to their homogenized style across all their titles. It's kinda interesting that I say this considering the recent indie influence in the artwork of Marvel titles. I'm going bet that these Post-Convergence titles that DC is going be putting out will have more indie influence. So please don't chalk up Image as irrelevant and subpar.

[lorddunlow]

Image doesnt really matter outside a few titles the rest sell based on speculation and have subpar writing and art.

Please don't make blanket statements about Image like that. Some of the best written titles are at Image. Read LAZARUS by Greg Rucka, or try DEADLY CLASS by Rick Remender, SEX CRIMINALS by Matt Fraction, or how about Warren Ellis TREES. These are well written titles by reputable writers who have done work for Marvel and DC. I'm only listing a fraction of all the other well written titles. As for art, it does vary but I wouldn't label as subpar. I think most readers who grow up reading Marvel and DC grow very accustom to their homogenized style across all their titles. It's kinda interesting that I say this considering the recent indie influence in the artwork of Marvel titles. I'm going bet that these Post-Convergence titles that DC is going be putting out will have more indie influence. So please don't chalk up Image as irrelevant and subpar.

I actually agree with jaspersk. Most of my favorite titles are Image, and they make a bunch of great stuff, but Image sells in the #3 spot because of TWD and speculation. I stopped taking many chances on new Image books. The good ones are the ones that become talked about. I try the titles that sound cool when they have massive discounts but otherwise, I wait and see.

[StarBrand]

cray_ws is free to speak his mind, though.

[Joshua]

Dr. Mirage had some low numbers. I know I had a hard time getting some of these issues. I think Ninjak has a pretty big release.