Wonder Woman Sales Figures - Now to 1942

[the4thpip]

Had not navigated there yet this morning. Thanks for the update. I date change your #50 to #41 for this quote though! ;>

BTW, as seen in the amended 1942-present sales chart in posting #2, this is the first time in a while (since #32) that a non-"creative team switch" issue has had an upswing in sales! Sure it's only a bit, but it's an upswing!

Yeesh! And I even bought that issue!



I don't know why I wrote that! Heh.



Yeah. That's interesting. I think, as AmericanWonder suggested, it might have had something to do with PG's appearance.

Then again, her book doesn't sell. So I don't know.

We're talking about a 0.7% increase in numbers based on estimates. Chances are there was no increase, or chances are there have been slight increases in those months when sales looked like they were slightly down. Considering the margin of error, I would not try to interpret this in any way.

[AaronJ]

We're talking about a 0.7% increase in numbers based on estimates. Chances are there was no increase, or chances are there have been slight increases in those months when sales looked like they were slightly down. Considering the margin of error, I would not try to interpret this in any way.

True. Excellent point.

[John Asperger]

There are problems collecting most of the missing data.

1984-1988 are years I haven't snagged the SOOs for YET; after that, DC stopped filing them. I'll be getting them, just have not.

1984-2006 is also when the rise of the Direct Market had a major effect. There were two MAJOR direct distributors (Diamond and Capital), numerous smaller ones (Heroes World, Second Genesis, and others), AND there was still a newsstand market. So collating sales figures WITHOUT any SOOs is going to be next to impossible. I have sales charts for several of the distributors, so I can show ranking, but that's a long and laborious process and involves getting a lot of boxes out of storage.

The interesting thing with the SOOs is that the correlation between print run and actual sales was ABSURD. DC was often printing up to three times the amount of actual copies sold. If WW was selling 50,000 copies (including subscriptions), DC might print and ship to newsstands 150,000, of which 100,000 copies would be destroyed!

Once the Direct Market nearly completely took the place of the newsstand market, sales narrowed down more than they ever had, cutting off all but the "fans" who would go to comic book stores; casual buyers who would pick up the title on newsstands thus disappeared, as did their sales.

Then too, one must look at the cultural world around comics, and how outer entertainment factors have affected comics as a whole.
* The rise of television in the 1950s-1960s dealt a major blow to the comics field, probably much moreso than anything Wertham and Kefauver ever did.
* The rise of video games -- and video tapes -- in the 1980s struck the second major blow.
* The rise of the internet in the 1990s struck almost a killing blow.
* These latter two, combined with the rise of the Direct Market supremacy and the strangling to death of newsstand sales, meant that by the 1990s, comics were selling only a fraction of what they once had.
* Add in today's high prices vs. the recession, and it's lucky comic fans have any market to visit.

As to your assertion about the Loebs run, that period will be one of the hardest to graph, as it is post-SOO and smack in the middle of the multiple-distributors newsstand-dying era. But I actually believe, from the evidence I've read, that Byrne's run (which as one can see, was well into the 40K range) was the highest the book had been since the early days of Perez's run. I think the Loebs run started small in sales, and experienced a spike during the Deodato era, but not equal (or possibly barely equal) to Byrne's sales.

So, it's really post-Byrne that the sales -- and fans -- were lost.

...Have the number of comics sold thru newsstand accounts gone up in the " Oughties " , at least , perhaps , before the last year or so , when the recession began to have an effect ???????????
It seems to me that , if nothing else , " McBooks " big chain stores began to carry a rack or so of " standard/regular " comic books in the 00s , which they hadn't done during the 90s .
I get some Archie 32-page titles . They , too , still offer subscriptions and so still run Publishers' - They are VERY!!!!!!! interesting!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually , mightn't post-WWII suburbanization been still another fctor in comics' 1950s decline?

[theultimatewwfan]

Wow, Andy! I'm such a huge fan of yours! Congratulations for all your greatness!!!!

[AndyMangels]

...Have the number of comics sold thru newsstand accounts gone up in the " Oughties " , at least , perhaps , before the last year or so , when the recession began to have an effect ???????????
It seems to me that , if nothing else , " McBooks " big chain stores began to carry a rack or so of " standard/regular " comic books in the 00s , which they hadn't done during the 90s .

Nope, not at all. Some big chain stores remain some of the few places to buy comics off of a newsstand. Almost every other newsstand market is gone (Archie digests being an exception because they have a different distribution deal).

I've lived in Portland 25 years now. When I moved here, almost every grocery store and convenience store (like 7-11) had comics, there were multiple newsstand stores that had comics, and some bookstores did.

By the year 2000, not a single grocery store or convenience store carried comics, most newsstand stores were out of business (we have three left, and I believe two of them don't carry comics), and of the bookstores that are left (several have closed) I think only two carried periodical comics.

So, no, the newsstand comic market has NOT risen in the Oughties, at least if Portland is indicative.

Beyond that, when you look at the state of magazine and newspaper publishing in general, the amount of periodical publishers that have downsized or disappeared is staggering. (Heck, even in the gay porn magazine world, where there were 40-50 periodical magazines two years ago, there are now less than ten. Even the mafia-run porn magazines stopped publishing, and they owned the magazines, the printer, the distributor, and the shipping company!)

There ARE more comic stores in Portland than ever before, and all seem to be weathering the financial hardships, if only barely.

I believe that as the publishing industry as we know it (i.e. print) collapses completely in the next 2-4 years, comics will be among the last to go. Because unlike most magazines, newspapers, and mass-market books, comic books are considered COLLECTIBLES, not just publications.

[John Asperger]

...Oh . Thank you .
Well , 'tis ironic that a " bad " thing about funneebookiees is going to be , in yr eyes , one of the things that helps them be the Stan Freberg/Have Gun Will Travel old time radios show of Gutenburg-ness !!!!!!!!!!! It's like raii-aaain on yr wedddinng daayy...
I may say more about " newsstand " ( Meaning non-comics shops in general , its always amused me that the term " newsstand " is used by comic shops , literally , " newsstands " as we picture ( Well...I ! ) them don't exist outside of the very downtown/business parts of super-large cities...) comics to-day on another forum...

[John Asperger]

Nope, not at all. Some big chain stores remain some of the few places to buy comics off of a newsstand. Almost every other newsstand market is gone (Archie digests being an exception because they have a different distribution deal).

I've lived in Portland 25 years now. When I moved here, almost every grocery store and convenience store (like 7-11) had comics, there were multiple newsstand stores that had comics, and some bookstores did.

By the year 2000, not a single grocery store or convenience store carried comics, most newsstand stores were out of business (we have three left, and I believe two of them don't carry comics), and of the bookstores that are left (several have closed) I think only two carried periodical comics.

So, no, the newsstand comic market has NOT risen in the Oughties, at least if Portland is indicative.

Beyond that, when you look at the state of magazine and newspaper publishing in general, the amount of periodical publishers that have downsized or disappeared is staggering. (Heck, even in the gay porn magazine world, where there were 40-50 periodical magazines two years ago, there are now less than ten. Even the mafia-run porn magazines stopped publishing, and they owned the magazines, the printed, the distributor, and the shipping company!)

There ARE more comic stores in Portland than ever before, and all seem to be weathering the financial hardships, if only barely.

I believe that as the publishing industry as we know it (i.e. print) collapses completely in the next 2-4 years, comics will be among the last to go. Because unlike most magazines, newspapers, and mass-market books, comic books are considered COLLECTIBLES, not just publications.

...Was the parent company of HONCHO/INCHES , et al , of of those - , um , " vertically integeted " - publishing companies you refer to ???

[AndyMangels]

...Was the parent company of HONCHO/INCHES , et al , of of those - , um , " vertically integeted " - publishing companies you refer to ???

Probably wouldn't be in anyone's best interests to name which parent companies were or were not reputedly affiliated with any hypothetical criminal organization. Could end up with cement galoshes!

But the Mavety Media Group giving up publishing a short while back was certainly a crippling blow in that particular field.

Sadly, I know of one person in the magazine/book distribution field (he'd been doing it all his adult life) who actually committed suicide last year stating it was because he saw the end of publishing coming and found it too depressing. He was the first I know of, but I doubt he'll be the last as the end of publishing creeps forward and the economy slides downward.

On a happier note, my dog just gave me a kiss.

[John Asperger]

Probably wouldn't be in anyone's best interests to name which parent companies were or were not reputedly affiliated with any hypothetical criminal organization. Could end up with cement galoshes!...

And was that an unused storyline from the last ish of " Honcho " ???!!???!!?

[the4thpip]

Nope, not at all. Some big chain stores remain some of the few places to buy comics off of a newsstand. Almost every other newsstand market is gone (Archie digests being an exception because they have a different distribution deal).

I've lived in Portland 25 years now. When I moved here, almost every grocery store and convenience store (like 7-11) had comics, there were multiple newsstand stores that had comics, and some bookstores did.

By the year 2000, not a single grocery store or convenience store carried comics, most newsstand stores were out of business (we have three left, and I believe two of them don't carry comics), and of the bookstores that are left (several have closed) I think only two carried periodical comics.

So, no, the newsstand comic market has NOT risen in the Oughties, at least if Portland is indicative.

Beyond that, when you look at the state of magazine and newspaper publishing in general, the amount of periodical publishers that have downsized or disappeared is staggering. (Heck, even in the gay porn magazine world, where there were 40-50 periodical magazines two years ago, there are now less than ten. Even the mafia-run porn magazines stopped publishing, and they owned the magazines, the printer, the distributor, and the shipping company!)

There ARE more comic stores in Portland than ever before, and all seem to be weathering the financial hardships, if only barely.

I believe that as the publishing industry as we know it (i.e. print) collapses completely in the next 2-4 years, comics will be among the last to go. Because unlike most magazines, newspapers, and mass-market books, comic books are considered COLLECTIBLES, not just publications.

The newsstands at several US airports still had spinner racks in the 00s. Have not been back in 2 years, so I don't know if that is still the case. I always bought something to read on the plane when I left Miami.

[AndyMangels]

Final February 2010 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of The Beat:

17 BLACKEST NIGHT WONDER WOMAN #3 $2.99 58,700
71 WONDER WOMAN #41 $2.99 25,354

No TPBs or HCs were solicited this month.

And here are comparisons in sales

17 - BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN
12/2009: BN: Wonder Woman #1 of 3 -- 70,758
01/2010: BN: Wonder Woman #2 of 3 -- 61,372 (-13.3%)
02/2010: BN: Wonder Woman #3 of 3 -- 58,700 (- 4.4%)

71 - WONDER WOMAN
Comparisons for six years:
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354
02/2009: Wonder Woman #29 -- 33,237
02/2008: Wonder Woman #17 -- 41,948
02/2007: Wonder Woman #4 -- 69,860
02/2006: Wonder Woman #226 -- 45,682
02/2005: Wonder Woman #213 -- 24,728
-------------------------------------
Last Year in Sales:
02/2009: Wonder Woman #29 -- 33,237 (+ 1.9%)
03/2009: Wonder Woman #30 -- 33,365 (+ 0.4%)
04/2009: Wonder Woman #31 -- 31,857 (- 4.5%)
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32 -- 33,065 (+ 3.8%)
06/2009: Wonder Woman #33 -- 32,755 (- 0.9%)
07/2009: Wonder Woman #34 -- 30,131 (- 8.0%)
08/2009: Wonder Woman #35 -- 29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38 -- 26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: -14.5%
1 year : -23.7%
2 years : -39.6%
5 years : + 2.5%

[AndyMangels]

Preliminary March 2010 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of Newsarama:

85 WONDER WOMAN #42 $2.99

Sales numbers aren't advertised yet, but this is definitely a drop in ranking. This could easily be because there were multiple Siege variants and one-shots, however, and is not a sign of alarm.

No TPBs or HCs were in the Top 10 this month.

[AndyMangels]

Final March 2010 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of CBR:

85 WONDER WOMAN #42 $2.99 25,240

TRADES
24 Wonder Woman Chronicles v1 $17.99 2,219
48 Wonder Woman Ends of the Earth TPB $14.99 1,590

And here are comparisons in sales

Last Year in Sales:
03/2009: Wonder Woman #30 -- 33,365 (+ 0.4%)
04/2009: Wonder Woman #31 -- 31,857 (- 4.5%)
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32 -- 33,065 (+ 3.8%)
06/2009: Wonder Woman #33 -- 32,755 (- 0.9%)
07/2009: Wonder Woman #34 -- 30,131 (- 8.0%)
08/2009: Wonder Woman #35 -- 29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38 -- 26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240
----------------

[AndyMangels]

Sales analysis and comments (bolding by me) about March from THE BEAT

85 - WONDER WOMAN
03/2005: Wonder Woman #214 -- 30,473
03/2007: Wonder Woman #5 -- 64,414
03/2008: Wonder Woman #18 -- 40,771
-------------------------------------
03/2009: Wonder Woman #30 -- 33,365 (+ 0.4%)
04/2009: Wonder Woman #31 -- 31,857 (- 4.5%)
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32 -- 33,065 (+ 3.8%)
06/2009: Wonder Woman #33 -- 32,755 (- 0.9%)
07/2009: Wonder Woman #34 -- 30,131 (- 8.0%)
08/2009: Wonder Woman #35 -- 29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38 -- 26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: -12.4%
1 year : -24.4%
2 years : -38.1%
5 years : -17.2%

Sales have been rock-solid for the last two months.

After issue #44, Wonder Woman hits #600 and gets a new creative team headed by J. Michael Straczynski.

[AndyMangels]

Preliminary April 2010 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of Newsarama:

78 WONDER WOMAN #43 $2.99 -- 25,369

There were no TPBs or GNs this month.