What Does Age Of X outselling Uncanny tell us about the state of the x-books?

[Sabrewulf]

For one it suggests that Emma, Scott and Wolverine aren't as big a draw as editorial would like to believe.

It also suggests that the regular x-books have become so stagnant that any revised versions of the characters are seen as more interesting.

Personally I put it down to Frenzy. Lol

[NickFury90]

It suggests books that are part of an event sell more than books that aren't part of an event.

[Washout]

It suggests books that are part of an event sell more than books that aren't part of an event.

Did X-Force sell better than Uncanny during Necrosha (worst event name ever)?

[Pixie_Solanas]

LOL. First issue of a promoted event vs. a non-event issue in the middle of a storyline?

Non-starter.

[Sabrewulf]

It suggests books that are part of an event sell more than books that aren't part of an event.


Its not really even is it though, just a story arc and a two book crossover and that never happens normally.

I bet Marvel are kicking themselves now for not making it a X-book wide event.

It is by far the best x-story ive read in years. Actually utilises a large cast of characters well.

Makes me wanting more of a lot of characters I couldn't care less about normally.

Pixie, Frenzy, Cyclops, Uniscone, Warpath, Hellion, Legion.

[Skaddix]

It suggests books that are part of an event sell more than books that aren't part of an event.

true a well known fact. despite frequent complaints about events.

[Sabrewulf]

LOL. First issue of a promoted event vs. a non-event issue in the middle of a storyline?

Non-starter.


Its as much of an event as the Avengers/Uncanny crossover was. As in not.

Its a story arc and a crossover between two books.

[LordAllMighty]

It wasn't that big of a sells different. Now if it continues, we will have something to really talk about.

[Nite-Wing]

It suggests books that are part of an event sell more than books that aren't part of an event.

All the other X crossover events before this never sold more then Uncanny so I don't really agree with this statement.
AOX would be horrible as a line wide crossover(we really don't need another one for a while) and I don't think anyone but Carey could actually make this story interesting.

New mutants dropped though but its not like thats a surprise.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Its as much of an event as the Avengers/Uncanny crossover was. As in not.

Its a story arc and a crossover between two books.

How is that NOT an event? Christ, they've been leading up to this with character sketches, in-issue promos, interviews, et al.

LOL @ "it's just a story arc".

The Sisterhood was JUST a story arc. Indra and his arranged marriage hijinks was a story arc. This is a bit more than just a story arc.

[NickFury90]

Its as much of an event as the Avengers/Uncanny crossover was. As in not.

Its a story arc and a crossover between two books.

Call it what you like, but if there wasn't an event/crossover/AoX going on right now, Legacy wouldn't be outselling UXM.

[Sabrewulf]

All the other X crossover events before this never sold more then Uncanny so I don't really agree with this statement.
AOX would be horrible as a line wide crossover(we really don't need another one for a while) and I don't think anyone but Carey could actually make this story interesting.

New mutants dropped though but its not like thats a surprise.


Well yeah, I was thinking him weite all the x-books for a month. Lol.

Nah you're right. The quality would suffer. It might make for more sales but this reads better as it is.

But Marvel will be kicking themselves. I doubt they expected it to do this well which says a lot about how much the editors know what works.

If they had exepcted this level of success I gurantee we would ahve had numerous one shots.

No doubt there will be more AOX in the future. Somehow.

[Pro]

For one it suggests that Emma, Scott and Wolverine aren't as big a draw as editorial would like to believe.

I've said it before. You need to look at Marvel as a whole.
The comics are promotional material.
And those three probably are big sellers when it comes to anything but the books.


AOX would be horrible as a line wide crossover(we really don't need another one for a while)

Yes, you do need another one. Crossovers and events are what makes comics profitable. Without crossovers many of the comics you enjoy would be long gone.

Read the annual financial reports Marvel puts out every year. It's explained right in there.

[timbox]

I am literally freaking out right now.

[Sabrewulf]

Call it what you like, but if there wasn't an event/crossover/AoX going on right now, Legacy wouldn't be outselling UXM.

If this didnt include New Mutants it would have still done this well. JUst look at NM sales to back that up.

If it was only in one title it's not an event. It's a story arc. Uncanny could do with a few story arcs like this. Might make it readable again.

[Pro]

I am literally freaking out right now.

Now look what you've done, sabrewulf!

[darknessatnoon]

Good. The Professor is getting the attention he deserves.

[NickFury90]

If this didnt include New Mutants it would have still done this well. JUst look at NM sales to back that up.

If it was only in one title it's not an event. It's a story arc. Uncanny could do with a few story arcs like this. Might make it readable again.

Wait, are you telling me the first chapter in a new, hyped-up for months alternate reality crossover sold more than the later issues?

HOLY SHIT WHAT A REVELATION!

How you feel about Uncanny X-men is irrelevant. If you're seriously taking this as anything more than "crossover sells more than non-crossover" incident, please don't go into business.

[Faded]

Its not really even is it though, just a story arc and a two book crossover and that never happens normally.

I bet Marvel are kicking themselves now for not making it a X-book wide event.

It is by far the best x-story ive read in years. Actually utilises a large cast of characters well.

Makes me wanting more of a lot of characters I couldn't care less about normally.

Pixie, Frenzy, Cyclops, Uniscone, Warpath, Hellion, Legion.

Age of X probably wouldn't be as good if it involved other writers.

[Sabrewulf]

Wait, are you telling me the first chapter in a new, hyped-up for months alternate reality crossover sold more than the later issues?

HOLY SHIT WHAT A REVELATION!

How you feel about Uncanny X-men is irrelevant. If you're seriously taking this as anything more than "crossover sells more than non-crossover" incident, please don't go into business.

I went into Forbidden Planet in Manchester 3 days after the book came out. They were both sold out. Went across the road to GOSH and they had also sold out. The guy who worked there said that hardly ever happens anymore 3 days after realease then he rushed over to Forbidden Planet to check if they had any stashed away because he hadn't saved any for himself.

The truh is I was excited for this book. I've not been excited about anything Uncanny since Fraction took over.

[scamprin]

The thing is that nowadays crossovers involving a given title are going on almost as much they aren't, and the promotion that goes on around these everyday crossovers can be gigantic. It's like events (which are almost world-spanning crossovers, usually in the form of a limited series) became so successful that the model was transferred to smaller crossovers. Everything is under some banner, whether it's the Heroic Age, Endangered Species, Shadowland, blah blah blah. I think they've really fudged the lines between a standalone story arc and a much larger mess.

Also, Uncanny is garbage and I only buy it when it relates to an event I'm reading. I'm guessing I'm not alone, and this is part of the reason why the sales show Uncanny as not soaring so high. Or something. I didn't really put a lot of thought into this.

[nikbackm]

Legacy sold about 50 issues more than Uncanny so saying it "outsold" it, while technically true, gives the wrong impression.

Additionally, Legacy had two extra variant covers while Uncanny had none.

Take this in combination with the New Mutants crossover, AoA "rip-off" and heavy promotion during the last few months and the result is really not that surprising.

Still a good sales performance by Legacy, but hardly sensational.

[Sabrewulf]

Now look what you've done, sabrewulf!

Im actually excited because good stroytelling and interesting storylines won out for once.

Can you imagine what Marvel would be like if those two things were seen to equal sales.

[NickFury90]

And yeah, selling 50 issues that UXM isn't exactly this incredible achievement that we should be banging on Marvel's door to revise the entire X-men line-up. I won't blink an eye if it falls below UXM in March.

[Sabrewulf]

And yeah, selling 50 issues that UXM isn't exactly this incredible achievement that we should be banging on Marvel's door to revise the entire X-men line-up. I won't blink an eye if it falls below UXM in March.

They will still have had a large increase as opposed to Uncannys constanly dropping sales.

The X-Editors have been pushing Uncanny and Gen Hope on us for months and nobody is reacting.

So sue me if Im glad if this starts to make the editors rethink what fans want.

[Kunoichi]

For one it suggests that Emma, Scott and Wolverine aren't as big a draw as editorial would like to believe.

It also suggests that the regular x-books have become so stagnant that any revised versions of the characters are seen as more interesting.

Personally I put it down to Frenzy. Lol
I take away from it that events just sell better.

Or at least have that potential.

[DarthCyclopsRLZ]

Events >>>> Regular issues

Regarding this sales 'victory' as significant before chapters 3 & 4 is utterly ridiculous.

[MartinRedmond]

Its not really even is it though, just a story arc and a two book crossover and that never happens normally.

I bet Marvel are kicking themselves now for not making it a X-book wide event.

It is by far the best x-story ive read in years. Actually utilises a large cast of characters well.

Makes me wanting more of a lot of characters I couldn't care less about normally.

Pixie, Frenzy, Cyclops, Uniscone, Warpath, Hellion, Legion.

I'm THRILLED it's only a 2 book event. This and Necrosha are good forms of cross overs as far as I'm concerned.

[ExodusCloak]

Don't LCS's order as many copies as that they think will sell? Thus they ordered more of Age of X because it's an event and thought it will sell. To find out if it sold well you'll have to see how many copies the next issue of Legacy sells. Because by then LCS owners can estimate how much demand there is for the issue thus they can increase or cut down the amount of product required.

Those numbers for AoX don't guarantee that there was a buyer for every issue. In the case of UXM those figures are more or less the same every week. These constant figures lead us to believe that there is a buyer for each issue of UXM because LCS's aren't drastically reducing their orders for it.

[scamprin]

This is true, but I think the general trend is that the comic has been selling well in stores. So, we'll see if the stores order a large number again.

[Sabrewulf]

Don't LCS's order as many copies as that they think will sell? Thus they ordered more of Age of X because it's an event and thought it will sell. To find out if it sold well you'll have to see how many copies the next issue of Legacy sells. Because by then LCS owners can estimate how much demand there is for the issue thus they can increase or cut down the amount of product required.

Those numbers for AoX don't guarantee that there was a buyer for every issue. In the case of UXM those figures are more or less the same every week. These constant figures lead us to believe that there is a buyer for each issue of UXM because LCS's aren't drastically reducing their orders for it.

THe prelude sold well thus comic shops ordered accordingly.

[ExodusCloak]

THe prelude sold well thus comic shops ordered accordingly.

But then why didn't they do the same with New Mutants? It really doesn't make much sense. Surely those 30,000 extra people who picked up X-Men Legacy want to read the second issue of AoX?

I think they added possibly 20% more orders onto their regular orders for Legacy and New Mutants. I think the same thing happened with X-Force after the Necrosha one-shot.

[Seresecros]

I could've sworn Wolverine was prominent on Age of X's Chris Bachalo cover.

[MarvelMaster616]

All the latest sales figures show is that Age of X is an event story while Uncanny isn't at the moment. Age of X is a story that has been hyped up since the Fall of 2010. Of course it's going to sell more. The current arc of Uncanny isn't part of any major X-event. Same goes for Uncanny X-Force. This is how these events usually work. When they're given some marketing, they tend to sell better. It's economics. It works even in the world of comics.

[Home made ectoplasm]

Jean Grey is in Age of X, but not in Uncanny.

[Valeria Kementari]

Jean Grey is in Age of X, but not in Uncanny.

oy vey.....

[MartinRedmond]

It sold well even without Scott/Emma/Wolverine being of any real importance. At least, we might get some character variety back soon.

[darknessatnoon]

oy vey.....

Storm admitted she's not a goddess in it as well. The fans want honest characters.

[Skaddix]

Storm admitted she's not a goddess in it as well. The fans want honest characters.

She just took her husband's title and gets to be Queen. Honestly that is not really much of a reduction esepcially since Atlantis has an old school monarchy.

[Swashbuckler]

Feral was name dropped in AOX part one. That could explain the New Mutants not catching on.

[MartinRedmond]

Maybe Clay Mann is finaly achieving star status? :eek: All the more reason to keep him on Legacy.:mad::cool: with Travel Foreman, Sienkiewicz, JP Leon III, Jame Jean and all the others that are slated for arcs soon.

[ZNOP]

For one it suggests that Emma, Scott and Wolverine aren't as big a draw as editorial would like to believe.

It also suggests that the regular x-books have become so stagnant that any revised versions of the characters are seen as more interesting.

Personally I put it down to Frenzy. Lol


Ach mein Gott! I saw the title of this thread and was going to say/post damn near the very same thought(s) -- Sans the Frenzy part of course :cool:

[Karl H]

Hype and misplaced 90's nostalgia > Uncanny.

That said, given Gillen a chance. He'll come good.

[Foon4000]

Hyped up crossovers sell better than stories about Fantomex (who?) and Sebastian Shaw.

[Seresecros]

Fantomex (who?)

Marry me!

_

[RolandJP]

That the mutant persecution angle has more exciting stories than the current Lord Cyclops and his merry X-men storyline.

That dissenting opinion is great for character development. And Jean Grey is better than Emma.

[Mike O]

This thread tells us more about the state of the x-forums than it does the state of the x-books.

Basically, a very loud minority of readers is upset because (insert obscure character here) isn't featured in the flagship x-book and they want it to mean that Uncanny X-Men is a failing title.

But it isn't, Uncanny X-Men will continue to be one of Marvels top selling books until Marvel stops publishing comics. You can enjoy it for what it is or hang out on message boards and whine all day.

[MartinRedmond]

Basically, a very loud minority of readers is upset because (insert obscure character here) isn't featured in the flagship x-book

I don't care who's featured, I'm sick of seeing the same 3 same old same old hogging all the spotlight. It's an ensemble cast, it's not the Fantastic Four or zzz JLA, it's the x-books.

[ohsnapulon5000]

Maybe Clay Mann is finaly achieving star status? :eek: All the more reason to keep him on Legacy.:mad::cool: with Travel Foreman, Sienkiewicz, JP Leon III, James Jean and all the others that are slated for arcs soon.

KWEH?! James Jean?! whowhatwhen?

[Seresecros]

I don't care who's featured, I'm sick of seeing the same 3 same old same old hogging all the spotlight. It's an ensemble cast, it's not the Fantastic Four or zzz JLA, it's the x-books.

You don't care who's featured. Your concern is with who is featured?

[We R. Venom]

This tells me nothing. Events sell. That's why they are created. So don't trip.

[direction9]

stories that are inventive and exciting, sometimes, sell better than ones that are a bit less so.
that's what we're being told here.

uncanny is not under some sort of obligation to be the best selling and best quality xbook at all times. that would be ludicrous.

[MartinRedmond]

KWEH?! James Jean?! whowhatwhen?

Well everyone keeps getting their posting daydreams fulfilled here, if I post it enough, it should happen, amirite?

[MartinRedmond]

You don't care who's featured. Your concern is with who is featured?

I like variety in a casting, it's pretty simple.

[Skaddix]

This thread tells us more about the state of the x-forums than it does the state of the x-books.

Basically, a very loud minority of readers is upset because (insert obscure character here) isn't featured in the flagship x-book and they want it to mean that Uncanny X-Men is a failing title.

But it isn't, Uncanny X-Men will continue to be one of Marvels top selling books until Marvel stops publishing comics. You can enjoy it for what it is or hang out on message boards and whine all day.

Actually must people complain because their favorite classic x-men characters get no panel time. Fake x-men like mags and namor score more panel time then Storm, Iceman, Xavier etc get. Unless u don't count those characters are not famous enough for u.

[Slant]

Where was this thread those few months adjectiveless sold better than Uncanny?

[AcesX1X]

Actually must people complain because their favorite classic x-men characters get no panel time. Fake x-men like mags and namor score more panel time then Storm, Iceman, Xavier etc get. Unless u don't count those characters are not famous enough for u.

watch who you're calling fake, skaddix. unless you are insinuating that the x-line is not canon.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Cliff Chiang for Uncanny. Like, duh, now.

[DevilishRogue]

The current books are in a transition phase. Its always rocky. But new creative teams and new ideas are starting. We have an new editor and some different line-ups and everyone seems enthusiastic. As I said, this is not the first time there have been such changes and it did not go 100 percent smooth. It will pick up.

[fortyseven]

I think every storyline should be event worthy.
Every story arc should get heavy promos and hype.
Why are we allowing our comic books to just be 'regular story arcs'?

[Skaddix]

watch who you're calling fake, skaddix. unless you are insinuating that the x-line is not canon.

Mags will backstab again and Namor has been fighting for mutant rights for less time then the NXM. I am not even sure its been a year in marvel time. Probably to prop up his book which sales of about 14k in feb tells me should be getting the cancellation pretty soon. I consider Pixie and Armor far more X-men then he is.

[Pixie_Solanas]

I consider Pixie and Armor far more X-men then he is.

As you should. It's engraved canon that Pixie is a full-fledged x-man. "Now, always, and forever" - Mike Carey.

[Bronze Badger]

I don't trust people without avatars.

[darknessatnoon]

As you should. It's engraved canon that Pixie is a full-fledged x-man. "Now, always, and forever" - Mike Carey.

Who is better - Mike Carey's slutcore Nightmare or Gillen's Dark Pixie? You have five second to answer upon reading this post.

[DeadXMan]

It says Factions removal couldn't happen fast enough:biggrin:

[Skaddix]

I don't trust people without avatars.

Lol, I actually spent quite awhile without an avatar. Age of X got me to care enough to get one.


Who is better - Mike Carey's slutcore Nightmare or Gillen's Dark Pixie? You have five second to answer upon reading this post.

Slutcore Nightmare all the way.

[DevilishRogue]

It sold well even without Scott/Emma/Wolverine being of any real importance. At least, we might get some character variety back soon.

True. This was shown already in the past. Even in the 80's when Logan left and it was just the rest of the team. Or when Storm and Logan left and there was just Kurt, Rogue, Colossus and Rachel. Then Logan and Scott were also gone during archs. Its not impossible. And I really don't believe in bad characters but that fans don't give new characters a chance.

[airdreams]

lol. First issue of a promoted event vs. A non-event issue in the middle of a storyline?

Non-starter.

quoted for truth.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Actually must people complain because their favorite classic x-men characters get no panel time. Fake x-men like mags and namor score more panel time then Storm, Iceman, Xavier etc get. Unless u don't count those characters are not famous enough for u.

Namor doesn't even get that much panel time.

Other than his ongoing, the only other place Namor shows up is Uncanny. And his appearances there only amount to cameos at best. He doesn't even appear in every issue.

[AcesX1X]

D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite;12759087']Namor doesn't even get that much panel time.

Other than his ongoing, the only other place Namor shows up is Uncanny. And his appearances there only amount to cameos at best. He doesn't even appear in every issue.

star writer kieron gillen is about to write his next flagship arc starring namor and don't forget namor is the main protagonist in the fear itself x-men tie-in.

[Cayman]

It suggests any old crap will sell as long as you make it sound like a 90s event.