Valiant Comics sales talk

**Zagra** · 06-30-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by BugsySig

Orders for XO 2 were due through diamond before XO 1 was released, so stores bought heavy on the relaunch issue and then cut orders assuming they wouldnt sell as many...turns out they were wrong. I think next month will be a better indicator of where the book may eventually level out at. Though we may not know for sure until well into the winter when all four titles are out at the same time.

Actually, I think we should wait until the first story act finishes, since a lot of people tend to give comics at least one arc before deciding wether they'll keep it or not. I know I do. Sadly, I don't buy Valiant, didn't care for it's relaunch, since I was born like 4 years before Valiant began in the 90s (i think) and when I saw it's roster was many superhero variants, I wasn't interested as such. I think that after the momentum of it's relaunch dies down, Valiant won't be selling as much. Let's face it, the sales are a mix of nostalgia, speculators hoping XO #1 is gonna make them rich, people trying out new stuff and the guys that sincerely love those stories. I know Valiant was the big deal back in the day, challenging the Big 2, and would be awesome if it took away some sales off Marvel and DC, just for the sake of competition, but we'll have to wait (and I mean, really wait more than ZOMG!!! XO #1 sold a lot!!) before being able to tell if Valiant is back in force.

**Manga4life** · 07-05-2012, 07:52 AM

So in a bit of unexpected news, I was just walking around my local comic book store and noticed that they no longer had any Harbinger #1 or X-O #1's on their new release wall, the only Valiant title I saw was X-O #2. I asked the owner (who I've gotten to know pretty well) why he didn't have anymore and he told me that he sold them all and is waiting on his 2nd shipment of the second printing! This is huge in my eyes because his store is primarily Marvel and DC customers and when I asked him some months back if he was going to order any of the Valiant books he told me it was doubtful because he can't move anything that's not the "big two", but he ended up ordering the Valiant stuff anyway. I can't even get my Dynamite stuff from him, I have to drive about a half an hour to a much larger and very snotty comic book store to get my indy fill but to see him carrying Valiant and selling out of it apparently twice is just plain awesome!

He said he order 10 X-O #1's and 8 Harbinger #1's and sold out of them both, than he got a second shipment of second printed 8 X-O #1's and first printings of 8 Harbinger #1's and sold out of them all too. So that's 34 copies worth of Valiant sold in one small little store in the middle of nowhere that caters to primarily the Marvel and DC crowd (and CCG's)! Just an awesome thing to hear this morning, to say the least. :)

**BugsySig** · 07-05-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Manga4life

So in a bit of unexpected news, I was just walking around my local comic book store and noticed that they no longer had any Harbinger #1 or X-O #1's on their new release wall, the only Valiant title I saw was X-O #2. I asked the owner (who I've gotten to know pretty well) why he didn't have anymore and he told me that he sold them all and is waiting on his 2nd shipment of the second printing! This is huge in my eyes because his store is primarily Marvel and DC customers and when I asked him some months back if he was going to order any of the Valiant books he told me it was doubtful because he can't move anything that's not the "big two", but he ended up ordering the Valiant stuff anyway. I can't even get my Dynamite stuff from him, I have to drive about a half an hour to a much larger and very snotty comic book store to get my indy fill but to see him carrying Valiant and selling out of it apparently twice is just plain awesome!

He said he order 10 X-O #1's and 8 Harbinger #1's and sold out of them both, than he got a second shipment of second printed 8 X-O #1's and first printings of 8 Harbinger #1's and sold out of them all too. So that's 34 copies worth of Valiant sold in one small little store in the middle of nowhere that caters to primarily the Marvel and DC crowd (and CCG's)! Just an awesome thing to hear this morning, to say the least. :)

That is awesome. Hopefully he will be upping his orders for the next two books as well, along with XO and Harby. It will be interesting to see the sales numbers for the second (and third) prints of XO and if Harby 1 ends up with a sell out eventually as well. It would at least show the word about these books is spreading, and continues to spread, even if we won't know the eventual level-off point for some time.

**BugsySig** · 07-06-2012, 07:27 PM

Valiant #9 in unit market share in June (.70%)! That is really impressive considering they only published two new books and a second printing in the month. Dollar share would, of course, be higher if they were shipping any trades. As is, they are close to Dark Horse's unit market share. Congrats VALIANT!

**Manga4life** · 07-07-2012, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by BugsySig

Valiant #9 in unit market share in June (.70%)! That is really impressive considering they only published two new books and a second printing in the month. Dollar share would, of course, be higher if they were shipping any trades. As is, they are close to Dark Horse's unit market share. Congrats VALIANT!

And that' with only TWO titles on store shelves, wait until all 4 initial titles have been released or until next year when all 6 titles will be available! Still, #9 with two freakin' books in unbelievable.

**cdgodin** · 07-07-2012, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by BugsySig

Valiant #9 in unit market share in June (.70%)! That is really impressive considering they only published two new books and a second printing in the month. Dollar share would, of course, be higher if they were shipping any trades. As is, they are close to Dark Horse's unit market share. Congrats VALIANT!

At the same time, this makes me happy and sad. Happy because this new publisher is doing really well. Sad because they've almost caught up with DH, my FAVE comic publisher.

**BugsySig** · 07-07-2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Manga4life

And that' with only TWO titles on store shelves, wait until all 4 initial titles have been released or until next year when all 6 titles will be available! Still, #9 with two freakin' books in unbelievable.

Someone on another board did the math based on the known numbers from May and thus far from June and figures ~60,000 units were sold by Valiant. XO #2 was announced as selling out at 23,000 so that leaves ~37,000 units between Harbinger #1 and the XO #1 second printing.

That second printing was estimated to be fairly small at 2,000-3,000 units, so Harbinger likely sold between 32,000-35,000 units. Not too bad for a book that had to be ordered before any retailers knew how XO #1 would sell and had to share the shelf with XO.

The same guy also estimates a 25-30% increase in Valiant units from May to June. That means retailers ordered more Valiant books under those circumstances, showing confidence in the launch. That bodes well for the Bloodshot and Archer and Armstrong launches as well.

I have said for a while I think Bloodshot #1 could end up being the biggest seller yet for Valiant, as it's orders we're due just after the big XO #1 debut, is the first relaunch with some big mainstream names on the creative team, and might have the best brand recognition of the 4 titles. Look for Walking Dead type numbers for that issue...believe it.

**Manga4life** · 07-07-2012, 12:03 PM

I think I'm going to write an "awareness" blog for Valiant and try to help promote them a little like I did with Dynamite early on. I have over 5,000 monthly readers so maybe if I pump out some Valiant related blogs that it will get some more heads turning their way? Either way, I'm loving that my local guys can't keep the books in stock and that with only two books on store shelves they've made such a splash. I seriously can't wait until all 6 (and maybe more) are available and we know where they'll be standing for the long haul.

**BugsySig** · 07-07-2012, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Manga4life

I think I'm going to write an "awareness" blog for Valiant and try to help promote them a little like I did with Dynamite early on. I have over 5,000 monthly readers so maybe if I pump out some Valiant related blogs that it will get some more heads turning their way? Either way, I'm loving that my local guys can't keep the books in stock and that with only two books on store shelves they've made such a splash. I seriously can't wait until all 6 (and maybe more) are available and we know where they'll be standing for the long haul.

I think that is a great idea!

Come over to the dark side at ValiantFans.com, too. Lots of good resources over there for a blog writer such as yourself.

**Destro777** · 07-07-2012, 03:13 PM

Not that my local shop is everywhere - but most of the Valiant books here are completely sold out. Cant wait for next Wed's books. Im back in the Valiant mode - recently re-reading BWS' Archer&Armstrong 0-12 and Pre Unity Harbinger.

**BugsySig** · 07-12-2012, 02:29 PM

Valiant comics is the #8 publisher for the month of June...with two books shipping in the month!

(at least they only list two, so I'm not sure if the numbers include the XO #1 second print or not)

Congratulations VALIANT!!!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?i...4&page=article

**Manga4life** · 07-12-2012, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by BugsySig

Valiant comics is the #8 publisher for the month of June...with two books shipping in the month!

(at least they only list two, so I'm not sure if the numbers include the XO #1 second print or not)

Congratulations VALIANT!!!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?i...4&page=article

So, that's 1 step up from #9 last month and with Bloodshot being released this month they could rise to #7 next month possibly! Heck, by the time all 4 books are out with the other 2 on their way maybe they could be #6 or #5, creeping up the charts little by little. :)

**BugsySig** · 07-12-2012, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Manga4life

So, that's 1 step up from #9 last month and with Bloodshot being released this month they could rise to #7 next month possibly! Heck, by the time all 4 books are out with the other 2 on their way maybe they could be #6 or #5, creeping up the charts little by little. :)

It would take another 40,000 units to move into #7, so that may have to wait until August when all four books are out. Unless Bloodshot outperforms even my high expectations when the July numbers come out, of course.

October will be interesting with 4 book on the shelves, including Ninjak's appearance in XO, and the Bloodshot hardcover trade. That may be the first month Valiant breaks 100,000 units.

It is also interesting to note that Valiant had 1/3 the sales of Dynamite with 1/10 the number of books. Imagine if Valiant maintains the current quality with 8 or 10 books down the line? They will be crushing it.