Dark Horse Gold Key Estimated Print Runs

[Ryan]

Vertigo's business model appears to be to print even books that sell only 7K-ish if they know they will sell in trades. Boom! seems to be taking a similar position, but they are still young so we will see if that works for them over the long run. IDW is similar. I don't see these books getting alot of trade support from DH. We'll see. I doubt they'll still want to keep these in print if they get into the 5-7K range which could happen based on sales of the early issues.

Good points. I think anyone doing comics in this lower tier has to be heavily dependent on the Trade sales. DK is no different, and there already have been trades announced for Magnus and Solar.

http://www.amazon.com/Magnus-Robot-Figh ... 564&sr=8-9

http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Solar-Man- ... 655&sr=1-7

My point was that they're not selling any worse than a lot of books from second tier publishers. And anyone who expected them to stay in the top 100 doesn't understand the comic business. These are old characters with no ties to Marvel, DC, movies, or TV. If any mainstream comic readers have any recollection of the characters at all, it's mostly from the over-hyped crap that glutted the market (and still gluts the quarter bins) after Shooter left. Definitely a tough road to hoe.

The thing is, Dark Horse didn't invest all the time and money into this line just to can the whole thing because Turok 1 only did 12K. They've already started production on Dr. Spektor and M.A.R.S. Patrol, so I don't think they're going to pull the plug until every book at least gets going and has a few trades. But who knows, comics is tough and crazy business.

With damn near all comics, and especially new super hero comics, it is rare that they build an audience in today's comic market. If they don't have a good audience 6 issues in, chances are that it won't develop. Invincible is the only exception that I can think of in the super hero genre and it's one book, not a line of books.

I can't say I've seen alot of DH trades on shelves at shops or in stores. The Hellboy and Star Wars and Usagi stuff, yeah, but not too much else. We'll see if these even get trade support from DH. Can it sustain itself? We'll find out.

Although I won't be buying them off the shelves much going forward, I don't want the line to fail. If people like it, good for them. As someone in business, I like to observe this stuff. I don't understand some of the moves that people in the comic industry (not just on these Dark Key books) make at times and I like to analyze because some things seem so simple to me that I'm not sure what they see differently.

I don't think Dark Key will ever 'catch on' and become the next hot thing in comics. They're too retro and quaint. But that also makes them different from everything else out there and appeal to people like me who miss good old fashioned fun comics.

After only 6 issues, you can already see that underneath these good old adventure stories, Shooter is subtly weaving a more intricate big picture story that will unfold and connect the different time eras of the books. Who knows if they'll find enough readers to get to that point, but I sure hope so.

[400yrs]

I don't think Dark Key will ever 'catch on' and become the next hot thing in comics. They're too retro and quaint. But that also makes them different from everything else out there and appeal to people like me who miss good old fashioned fun comics.

Agreed. That's definitely the market for these books. It just doesn't include me.



Looks like the prices on those trades is about the same as single issue prices. 5 singles for $17.50 or a trade for $15.99. DH trades are always more expensive than other companies. Bummer.

[Second_Death]

I don't think Dark Key will ever 'catch on' and become the next hot thing in comics. They're too retro and quaint. But that also makes them different from everything else out there and appeal to people like me who miss good old fashioned fun comics.

Agreed. That's definitely the market for these books. It just doesn't include me.



Looks like the prices on those trades is about the same as single issue prices. 5 singles for $17.50 or a trade for $15.99. DH trades are always more expensive than other companies. Bummer.

Boom prices are even higher: $3.99 per single issue and most 4-issue trades are $16.99. The difference is the 16.99 Boom trades are printed in the USA and most DH trades unfortunately seem to be printed in China. Congrats to Boom for promoting the home team...............US...A.

[StarBrand]

Anyone know when we can expect print-run info on Dr Solar 4 and Mighty Samson 1? Thanks.

[TheVisitor]

IVc2 published the November 2010 estimates on December 7 so we should be seeing the December estimates any day now.

Phil

[StarBrand]

Cool. Thanks, Phil.

[StarBrand]

Updated the top post in this thread with the estimates on Mighty Samson 1 and Dr Solar 4.

[StarBrand]

Print-runs should really be dropping in this line the way these books keep missing release dates badly. I'm still hopeful Shooter can pull off some brilliant stuff, especially with Dr. Solar, if given more time.

[Ryan]

Updated the top post in this thread with the estimates on Mighty Samson 1 and Dr Solar 4.

whoa Solar down from 22k to 8k. Not totally unexpected but still not good. Maybe that's the reason for the delays? A restructuring/re-planning due to falling sales?

[Ryan]

Print-runs should really be dropping in this line the way these books keep missing release dates badly. I'm still hopeful Shooter can pull off some brilliant stuff, especially with Dr. Solar, if given more time.

I think there's still hope because these types of books usually make the bulk of their money through trade sales. If DH is willing to be patient and let all the books get a couple trades in there's still a chance they'll find a solid audience.

An interesting comparison is DC's First Wave line since it's also a mini imprint/universe of classic pulpy heroes.

203 13.72 DOC SAVAGE #9 $3.99 DC 8,681
204 13.72 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #4 $3.50 DAR 8,677

Nearly identical sales. This is even with big names Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales doing the main launch mini.

[400yrs]

If DH is willing to be patient and let all the books get a couple trades in there's still a chance they'll find a solid audience.

At the current rate, getting a few trades out may take a decade or two.

An interesting comparison is DC's First Wave line since it's also a mini imprint/universe of classic pulpy heroes.

203 13.72 DOC SAVAGE #9 $3.99 DC 8,681
204 13.72 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #4 $3.50 DAR 8,677

Nearly identical sales. This is even with big names Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales doing the main launch mini.

Probably a fair comparison, but if Solar makes it to #9, attrition will probably have taken more of a toll.

[Ryan]

If DH is willing to be patient and let all the books get a couple trades in there's still a chance they'll find a solid audience.

At the current rate, getting a few trades out may take a decade or two.

with Turok coming out bi-annually at this point that might not be far off.

An interesting comparison is DC's First Wave line since it's also a mini imprint/universe of classic pulpy heroes.

203 13.72 DOC SAVAGE #9 $3.99 DC 8,681
204 13.72 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #4 $3.50 DAR 8,677

Nearly identical sales. This is even with big names Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales doing the main launch mini.

Probably a fair comparison, but if Solar makes it to #9, attrition will probably have taken more of a toll.

That's true. The only hope is that with trades and consistently putting out good comics *cough* the 'universe' will catch on and numbers will start growing like Valiant.

[StarBrand]

If DH is willing to be patient and let all the books get a couple trades in there's still a chance they'll find a solid audience.

At the current rate, getting a few trades out may take a decade or two.

An interesting comparison is DC's First Wave line since it's also a mini imprint/universe of classic pulpy heroes.

203 13.72 DOC SAVAGE #9 $3.99 DC 8,681
204 13.72 DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF ATOM #4 $3.50 DAR 8,677

Nearly identical sales. This is even with big names Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales doing the main launch mini.

Probably a fair comparison, but if Solar makes it to #9, attrition will probably have taken more of a toll.

I assume you mean attrition in the reading audience, such as death by old age, rare mishaps, etc.

[ian_house]

Wheres JCV recently? Maybe he'd know a little more.

[JCVaughn]

Wheres JCV recently?

Sick, in bed, with a respiratory virus. And getting tired of it.

[ian_house]

Wheres JCV recently?

Sick, in bed, with a respiratory virus. And getting tired of it.

Nasty! Sorry to hear that dude. Hope things pick up soon!

[JCVaughn]

Wheres JCV recently?

Sick, in bed, with a respiratory virus. And getting tired of it.

Nasty! Sorry to hear that dude. Hope things pick up soon!

Thanks! Me, too. I'm supposed to head to Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

[greg]

Wheres JCV recently?

Sick, in bed, with a respiratory virus. And getting tired of it.

Nasty! Sorry to hear that dude. Hope things pick up soon!

Thanks! Me, too. I'm supposed to head to Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

Dallas? If your trip isn't related to sports, I feel VERY sorry for you.

[Daniel Jackson]

Sorry you're feeling under the weather, JC. Here's to a speedy recovery.

[StarBrand]

Sorry you're feeling under the weather, JC. Here's to a speedy recovery.

I was wondering about you myself. Here's to a speedy recovery, as well.

[400yrs]

I assume you mean attrition in the reading audience, such as death by old age, rare mishaps, etc.

Attrition of readers. Readers that fall off the book.




Although, at the rate these come out........

I assume you mean attrition in the reading audience, such as death by old age, rare mishaps, etc.

Yeah, I guess that's possible.

[TheVisitor]

February 2011 numbers -

Magnus Robot Fighter #3 8,890 copies #182
Solar Man of the Atom #5 7,778 copies #197
Mighty Samson #2 4,914 copies #247

Phil

[hulk181man]

February 2011 numbers -

Magnus Robot Fighter #3 8,890 copies #182
Solar Man of the Atom #5 7,778 copies #197
Mighty Samson #2 4,914 copies #247

Phil

Whoa - those Mighty Samson numbers are looking rather....Acclaimesque.

[StarBrand]

February 2011 numbers -

Magnus Robot Fighter #3 8,890 copies #182
Solar Man of the Atom #5 7,778 copies #197
Mighty Samson #2 4,914 copies #247

Phil

Thanks for pointing out those numbers, Phil. Magnus 3 was ordered long before Solar 5 was, which may account for why it outsold Solar 5.

[StarBrand]

The top post now has the new numbers.