Conan Comics Sales Thread
Dec 6, 2016 20:35:07 GMT -5
Post by mrp on Dec 6, 2016 20:35:07 GMT -5
It's always the first Saturday in May. They do a Halloween Comicfest giveaway too around the end of October.
As for the 0 issue generating interest in Red Sonja, that hasn't panned on in increased orders on #1 or #2 again. The three retailers I talked (owning the 3 largest stores in the region, a region that has 10-12 shops in a 40 minute driving radius) to ordered a few dozen copies of the 0 issue as they often sell well or are cheap giveaways, but when I asked how they planned to order the series they all answered, same as I did the other series, ordering pull copies preordered by their customers plus 2-3 copies of #1, and pull + 1-2 copies of 2 and 3, and after they see what actually sells, they will keep ordering pull + average shelf sales and if they don't move shelf copies they will go back to ordering just enough copies to cover their pulls. So unless their is a huge spike in pre-orders via pull lists before orders for #1 1 are due (and they are due before #0 hits the stores and goes on sale for people to actually see it) the #0 issue is not likely to generate interest or sales on the series moving forward. There's simply too many books on the market fighting for shelf space for them to gamble their money and space on a book with a small proven track record, and since all the risk is on the retailer in the direct market because books aren't returnable, that's not likely to change any time soon.
When Dynamite launched Sonja initially with a 25 cent 0 issue a decade ago I was told by retailers they bought more copies of the 0 issue than they did of the first year's worth of issues combined and that they sold 30-40 copies of the zero issue for each copy of #1 they sold the following month. SO yes, it generates interest and people are willing to plunk down a quarter to try it, but most don't come back for #1 and most retailers don't increase their orders for the series after the promo issue because of it.
The vast majority of those 110K copies Red Sonja #0 were probably ordered by places like Lonestar (mycomicshop), Thing From Another World, Westfield, Mile High, Midtown Comics, etc. places with a large online sales platform who sell back issues too and they will be selling those quarter books for $1-$1.50 a year from now making it profitable for them, but not for Dynamite (it's what they do with most of the books given away on Free Comic Book Day/Halloween ComicFest after the event has passed-and just an fyi, those free comics aren't free for retailers, who are paying on average 25 to 50 cents per comic for them plus shipping but have to give them away for free on FCBD).
The tactic of selling something at a loss to make money down the line is called a loss leader and many (non-comics) retailers use the tactic frequently (Black Friday sees a lot of loss leaders advertised to get people in the store where they will spend more money on other things making it profitable for the store). Comic retailers use events like FCBD as a loss leader to get people in the shops where they buy other stuff-usually as part of sales/specials the shops run that day). Something like Sonja #0 doesn't work well as a loss leader because it doesn't lead to additional sales for Dynamite and it is not going to bring people to the shops in droves where the spend more money with the retailers. At best, it might get a few hardcore super-hero customers to try something without capes and tights for a quarter and create a little buzz on the book, but it's doubtful the buzz will last past the next thing that dominates the comic news cycle (such as Lin Manuel Miranda mentioning in an interview he wants to play Carnage in a Marvel movie, that then gets all the buzz and not Sonja #0 until the next casting rumor or relaunch rumor or what have have you. The comic customer base is now a closed circle and a niche market and the money moves ot the next new shiny thing, but long term growth on titles is non-existent and a quarter zero issue is not going to move the buzz meter enough to make any difference long term.
-M
As for the 0 issue generating interest in Red Sonja, that hasn't panned on in increased orders on #1 or #2 again. The three retailers I talked (owning the 3 largest stores in the region, a region that has 10-12 shops in a 40 minute driving radius) to ordered a few dozen copies of the 0 issue as they often sell well or are cheap giveaways, but when I asked how they planned to order the series they all answered, same as I did the other series, ordering pull copies preordered by their customers plus 2-3 copies of #1, and pull + 1-2 copies of 2 and 3, and after they see what actually sells, they will keep ordering pull + average shelf sales and if they don't move shelf copies they will go back to ordering just enough copies to cover their pulls. So unless their is a huge spike in pre-orders via pull lists before orders for #1 1 are due (and they are due before #0 hits the stores and goes on sale for people to actually see it) the #0 issue is not likely to generate interest or sales on the series moving forward. There's simply too many books on the market fighting for shelf space for them to gamble their money and space on a book with a small proven track record, and since all the risk is on the retailer in the direct market because books aren't returnable, that's not likely to change any time soon.
When Dynamite launched Sonja initially with a 25 cent 0 issue a decade ago I was told by retailers they bought more copies of the 0 issue than they did of the first year's worth of issues combined and that they sold 30-40 copies of the zero issue for each copy of #1 they sold the following month. SO yes, it generates interest and people are willing to plunk down a quarter to try it, but most don't come back for #1 and most retailers don't increase their orders for the series after the promo issue because of it.
The vast majority of those 110K copies Red Sonja #0 were probably ordered by places like Lonestar (mycomicshop), Thing From Another World, Westfield, Mile High, Midtown Comics, etc. places with a large online sales platform who sell back issues too and they will be selling those quarter books for $1-$1.50 a year from now making it profitable for them, but not for Dynamite (it's what they do with most of the books given away on Free Comic Book Day/Halloween ComicFest after the event has passed-and just an fyi, those free comics aren't free for retailers, who are paying on average 25 to 50 cents per comic for them plus shipping but have to give them away for free on FCBD).
The tactic of selling something at a loss to make money down the line is called a loss leader and many (non-comics) retailers use the tactic frequently (Black Friday sees a lot of loss leaders advertised to get people in the store where they will spend more money on other things making it profitable for the store). Comic retailers use events like FCBD as a loss leader to get people in the shops where they buy other stuff-usually as part of sales/specials the shops run that day). Something like Sonja #0 doesn't work well as a loss leader because it doesn't lead to additional sales for Dynamite and it is not going to bring people to the shops in droves where the spend more money with the retailers. At best, it might get a few hardcore super-hero customers to try something without capes and tights for a quarter and create a little buzz on the book, but it's doubtful the buzz will last past the next thing that dominates the comic news cycle (such as Lin Manuel Miranda mentioning in an interview he wants to play Carnage in a Marvel movie, that then gets all the buzz and not Sonja #0 until the next casting rumor or relaunch rumor or what have have you. The comic customer base is now a closed circle and a niche market and the money moves ot the next new shiny thing, but long term growth on titles is non-existent and a quarter zero issue is not going to move the buzz meter enough to make any difference long term.
-M