DC Edges Marvel In Overall July Sales, "Walking Dead" #100 Best Selling Comic

[CBR News]

DC Comics pulled ahead of Marvel in overall sales for July, but Image Comics' "The Walking Dead" #100 topped the monthly sales charts even as AvX continues to perform and DC ranked 6 of the top 10 best sellers.


Full article here.

[jebsib]

Awww... an issue that ISN'T a big fat "#1" selling through the roof.

Go back to your marketing dept with that one, Marvel boys.

[jediracer]

Makes me want to re-watch the Kirkman manifesto!

[sharkpaul]

Rock and Roll, Kirkman! Congratulations!

[MarvelMaster616]

Not really a surprise, but I think it's a good thing that a series like the Walking Dead has defied all traditional trends in comics. Even with Marvel putting so much marking behind Avengers vs. X-men, it could not top Walking Dead. I hope this causes both Marvel and DC to take notice. I get the sense Marvel will get a huge boost with Marvel NOW! like DC did with the New 52, but if all those #1s can't even approach what Walking Dead #100 did, then I think the industry needs to reevaluate their approach.

[abysslord]

Not really a surprise, but I think it's a good thing that a series like the Walking Dead has defied all traditional trends in comics. Even with Marvel putting so much marking behind Avengers vs. X-men, it could not top Walking Dead. I hope this causes both Marvel and DC to take notice. .

They won't take notice because it's something they already know, especially Marvel. Gimmicks, such as multiple covers, cause short-term sales spikes. Don't get me wrong, it's still impressive that an indie title could top the list even WITH a gimmick, but that's still all it was.

We'll know for sure how well Walking Dead did as far as continuing to gain readership with #101 sales and if there's a huge increase from #99. Otherwise it was just your typical gimmick that Marvel is the king at.

[Ari Gold]

Amazing.

DC owns half of the Top 10 with 5 non-Event books. It can be done.

[Prof. Warren]

Amazing.

DC owns half of the Top 10 with 5 non-Event books. It can be done.

I hope Marvel NOW won't be characterized as an event, then, if DC's New 52 books don't fit that definition. Or Before Watchmen, for that matter.

[Chris S.]

I hope this causes both Marvel and DC to take notice.

Like others have stated, what are they taking notice of? Walking Dead 100 had like 10 covers. Almost everyone I've talked to bought at least 2 or more. My comic shop even had a special order form for covers for the regular subscribers because they knew the book would sell well.

If anything this just confirms Marvel and DC's strategy: Have big event like books with tons of different covers. This was an event book being issue 100.

Glad Kirkman and Walking Dead are doing well though.

[Ari Gold]

I hope Marvel NOW won't be characterized as an event, then, if DC's New 52 books don't fit that definition. Or Before Watchmen, for that matter.

Of course Marvel NOW isn't an Event. Writers finishing their runs and taking up new titles has never been considered an Event before. Marvel is trying to make it one, but it isn't.

However, the "# 1's" will have an effect. But typically the titles in recent past have dropped back to their regular order rate by the 3rd or 4th issues, I'd expect the same here. But by spreading them out over 6 months, Marvel will have retailers over-ordering #1's each week over that span. But once all is said and done I'd be very impressed if Marvel was back and relevant in the Top 10 with ongoing non-crossover titles. When was the last time that happened?


EDIT: No doubt DC's #1's were an Event that affected the sales charts the first couple months. But we're a year into storylines at this point. At what point, in your opinion, will DC's 52 titles no longer be considered an Event?

[PreacherCain]

Not only are Image getting a bigger piece of the pie month by month, but it's also a bigger pie! What were they at this time last year, 4 - 5%?

[Iangould]

So this means that this month, DC fans have bigger dicks than Marel fans?

[Iangould]

Not only are Image getting a bigger piece of the pie month by month, but it's also a bigger pie! What were they at this time last year, 4 - 5%?

Yeah, July 2012 is 15% up on July 2011.

I should point out that IDW is doing extremely well too and so is Dark Horse.

[dupont2005]

Awww... an issue that ISN'T a big fat "#1" selling through the roof.

Go back to your marketing dept with that one, Marvel boys.

Over 16 variant covers. I think they took their marketing strategy directly from Marvel this time.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

So this means that this month, DC fans have bigger dicks than Marel fans?

Yeah its clear Marvel is in the shitter. Marvel is going totally bankrupt now. Pity the House of Ideas.....its all over.























heh