Big Time and the fresh start -- the new sales results and predictions mega-thread

[xavkoenig]

This conversation actually got started in another thread, but it seemed like it might warrant it's own -- how do people think sales will do after the start of Big Time? Personally, I really think Big Time feels like a fresh start and a great jumping on point, with the book and character not burdened with the baggage of OMD, BND, and OMIT -- and I think sales will be stronger as a result.

Am I way off-base with my thinking?

I'm going to buy at least the first arc, and I've completely stayed out of Spider-man since returning to comics (mostly Avengers for me)!
There will definitely be a short up-tick - but as has been said, for how long?

[JGC]

I agree, "Big Time" feels like a new chapter in Amazing Spider-Man. I know I'm anxious to see where Slott takes the title. That being said, characters like Carlie Cooper, Lily Hollister and Norah Winters will always remind me of BND. I'm not sure how prevalent these characters will be during Slott's run, let's hope he doesn't go overboard and have them shoved down our throats. Especially when most prefer classic supporting cast like Harry, MJ, Flash, Betty, Jonah and Robbie.

[CloneSaga]

Well at least it seems that everybody agrees that Brand New Day has been in effect ever since #546. One variant for #646 even has the Brand New Day logo/Banner on it. This was one of the hot discussions the last 2 years and the anti-crowd won that 100%. As for if BND era will continue past the 101 BND issues is more open for debate.

Bachelor equals Brand new day baggage to me(unless the Deal is off and the marriage goes away from some other effect).

"Big Time" is Marvel's attempt to get rid of the OMD/BND stigma. I'm not saying BT won't pick up readers, because even I see that one creative team and only two issues a month will improve the conditions for the buyers.

Regardsless if sales continue to slide or pick up, I just believe that in one year a cinsiderable lot are still labelling everything after OMD as BND rather than discriminating between BND, BT, BS or whatever B-abbreviation they come up with.

Personally I believe that the stories and art will determine if sales stabilize at a higher level than today. Slott is popular among the web-heads so picking him as sole writer may be clever, but Slott is not a fresh new name on ASM anymore. Picking one talented writer that never had written Spidey before could have been even more clever.

So if BT fails, they still have that trick up their sleeve.

[oldschool]

I agree, "Big Time" feels like a new chapter in Amazing Spider-Man. I know I'm anxious to see where Slott takes the title. That being said, characters like Carlie Cooper, Lily Hollister and Norah Winters will always remind me of BND. I'm not sure how prevalent these characters will be during Slott's run, let's hope he doesn't go overboard and have them shoved down our throats. Especially when most prefer classic supporting cast like Harry, MJ, Flash, Betty, Jonah and Robbie.

I think Slott will probably integrate them pretty fairly; part of the problem with the rotating writers is that it seemed each guy had his own "pet" or favorite new character who got a lot of "screen time" and it felt lop-sided. I am hoping Slott evens it all out and I think he will based on his work on the book in the past.

[Mikey Brown]

As long as someone keeps Quesada far away from the book, the plot, and from writing any issues it will do well. Unfortunately, you know he is going to screw over Slott by deciding well into next year that he wants to butt in with his "final story" about Peter and MJ and that is going to tick readers off all over again. Just watch.

Even if this did happen, I doubt it would tick anyone off except for a few people on the internet. Look at the numbers OMIT did.

[Duy]

I dunno if this applies en masse -- but twice a month is easier for me to collect AND I won't need to screen the creative teams, so I'll be switching from trade-waiting to monthly-buying.

[Jer]

This conversation actually got started in another thread, but it seemed like it might warrant it's own -- how do people think sales will do after the start of Big Time? Personally, I really think Big Time feels like a fresh start and a great jumping on point, with the book and character not burdened with the baggage of OMD, BND, and OMIT -- and I think sales will be stronger as a result.

Am I way off-base with my thinking?

No in fact I asked my lcbs to put Spiderman in my hold box again. It feels like the world is starting to make sense again.

[Shade 20x6]

Big Time is not going to bring in an abundance of new long-term readers. The industry is sustained by the lifeblood of the diehards these days, and this new arc offers little in the way of changing that. Comics companies these days just don't seem to realize who their target audience is anymore.

[Will.S]

It's probably going to sell about the same

[Chiasm]

It'll get a big bump initially and then taper off to levels no higher than it was averaging before OMIT. Many, like me, will not buy it because of the price (I don't care about the extra pages, I'd rather have normal pages and $2.99)* and many will not buy it still out of protest over OMD / OMIT. Other than initial curiosity that any "event" book gets I don't see it winning back fans but it probably won't drive them away like OMD / OMIT did.

*Lest anyone try make points here, I've had this discussion already here. I know that at $3.99 and the extra pages it averages out to roughly the same price per page as a $2.99 book. And I know that $3.99 twice a month is cheaper than $2.99 three times a month. But regardless its still a $3.99 book which means for every copy purchased there are going to be $2.99 books that get dropped or not tried (I'm very bitter over the failure of Guardians and Nova to thrive and I blame their failure on the rise in price of other books which kept people from trying them out) and that is why I refuse to buy any $3.99 books.

[Duy]

It'll get a big bump initially and then taper off to levels no higher than it was averaging before OMIT. Many, like me, will not buy it because of the price (I don't care about the extra pages, I'd rather have normal pages and $2.99)* and many will not buy it still out of protest over OMD / OMIT. Other than initial curiosity that any "event" book gets I don't see it winning back fans but it probably won't drive them away like OMD / OMIT did.

*Lest anyone try make points here, I've had this discussion already here. I know that at $3.99 and the extra pages it averages out to roughly the same price per page as a $2.99 book. And I know that $3.99 twice a month is cheaper than $2.99 three times a month. But regardless its still a $3.99 book which means for every copy purchased there are going to be $2.99 books that get dropped or not tried (I'm very bitter over the failure of Guardians and Nova to thrive and I blame their failure on the rise in price of other books which kept people from trying them out) and that is why I refuse to buy any $3.99 books.

I want cold, hard evidence that a significant number of fans were driven away due to OMD or OMIT.

[Jim Thompson]

I want cold, hard evidence that a significant number of fans were driven away due to OMD or OMIT.

Along with cold, hard numbers of the people who picked the book up due to the changes that came about in OMD.

[Duy]

Along with cold, hard numbers of the people who picked the book up due to the changes that came about in OMD.

I don't think the sales on Amazing went up (once we factor in all the other stuff like going thrice-monthly or whatever) after OMD; I think relatively speaking, scaled, it's about the same.

In other words, I don't think anything in terms of story or direction actually affected sales at all.

[Jim Thompson]

I don't think the sales on Amazing went up (once we factor in all the other stuff like going thrice-monthly or whatever) after OMD; I think relatively speaking, scaled, it's about the same.

In other words, I don't think anything in terms of story or direction actually affected sales at all.

I don't know if it did or not -- but it seems if one wants cold, hard facts concerning one aspect of sales, then one ought to try to get all the cold hard facts about sales.

[Karl Cook]

I think there will be a slight upturn in sales but I can't honestly predict whether the sales increase will be sustainable or not.
Mind you, I don't think the sales are bad now so it's a fairly moot point really.