Sales Review: April 2017

The sales results for April 2017 were posted a while back on ICv2 and as usual, I think there is a story to tell in the numbers. Here is a link for the coverage:http://ift.tt/2pWJw0o

For me, one of the things that truly vexes me is that DC puts out 4 super-titles in the same week. We get Action Comics, Supergirl, Superwoman, and New Super-Man all released on the same week. If you want to buy all of them, it would run you about $15. And that isn't even counting all the other titles you might be interested in! It seems like a big block to swallow all at once to keep up with the Superman family.

And let's face it, comic readers don't want to pick up an issue that came out the prior week. Our minds don't work that way. So I don't think many people would put an issue aside for a week.

So something's got to give.

In the best of all worlds, DC's release schedule would look like this

Wk1: Action, Supergirl
Wk 2: Superman, New Super-Man
Wk 3. Action, Superwoman
Wk 4: Superman, Super-Sons

They have the bandwidth to do this.

And isn't that better than:

Wk 1: Action, Supergirl, New Super-Man, Superwoman
Wk 2: Superman
Wk 3: Action
Wk 4: Superman, Super-Sons 

I just think that Superman fans might be more apt to plunk down their money if titles and therefore costs were spread out!

Instead, the average consumer needs to choose. Let's see if there is a pattern.

Supergirl #8 was a brilliant issue, reuniting Supergirl and Superman and establishing them as a loving family. The covers were perfect, especially this Bengal one which drips joy.

I called this issue the one Supergirl fans had been waiting 6 years for.

Supergirl and Superman fans should have been lining up to get this one.

It sold just under 24K, another drop in sales.

We are right where we were when K. Perkins and Mike Johnson got unplugged for the New 52. And there doesn't seem to be a bottom. I am perplexed. This book is a very good Supergirl book. I love the characterization. Maybe the art isn't great but that is changing.

I don't know why this isn't selling better? Or being marketed better?

Superwoman #9, a book with an entirely new creative team and a new outlook on their characters also came out.

After the complete disarray of the end of the Phil Jimenez, I am not surprised to see Superwoman coming in at 17K. But K.Perkins, Steven Segovia, and Art Thibert deserve a chance.

But more importantly, I wonder what sales would be if Superwoman wasn't sold on the same week as Supergirl. Would some folks buying Supergirl buy Superwoman if it was available on a different week and $4 more were in their pockets?

Who knows. And now it seems too late.

You see, Lana Lang and Steel have some street cred with Superman fans.

New Super-Man #10 came out and brought in the Flash from China. Superman was in the issue and enlisted Kenan to help fight whatever the upcoming threat is.

I love this book. It is a perfect mix of action, humor, and world-building. It is a joy ... an unexpected joy!

The last issue sold just under 15K.

Now maybe some people would try this book, or continue to have read it, if they weren't already plunking down $8 or $12 bucks on super-books already.

Maybe I am grasping at straws. Maybe I am trying to understand why all these books aren't selling more.

But still ...

It seems like a poor marketing strategy to make Superman fans choose between Family books they might be interested in.

So do the right thing DC! Split these books up over the course of the month!!!

Posted in: Reviews