ICv2.com reports that direct-market sales slipped 5 percent in the first quarter of 2008, the first overall decline since 2004. While graphic novel sales actually rose 5 percent, single issues dipped 7 percent.
March was particularly rough for specialty shops, with a 15-percent drop in single-issue sales versus March 2007.
The news and analysis site points out that March’s top comic, The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home #1, sold just under 124,000 copies, about 48,000 less than the first issue of The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, released in February 2007.
What’s more, just three series — DC’s Countdown to Infinite Crisis and Green Lantern, and Dark Horse’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer – saw increased sales over the previous issue.
March’s top-selling graphic novel was the special edition of Batman: The Killing Joke.
Top 300 comic books for March 2008
Top 300 graphic novels for March 2008
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
I don’t know whether to be particularly worried about this or not. I think it DOES mean that sales when there are big events coming are higher than when there are not. The Summer Events will knock things back up and we’ll see if sales in general are higher next March than this March.
If not, THEN I’d be worried.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
At the risk of repeating myself…
Recession anyone?
Gas prices are skyrocketing.
Food prices are skyrocketing.
People are losing their jobs.
People are losing their homes.