Comments on: Image Comics Ditches Single-Issue Reprints for Sold-Out Books http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Gevian Dargan http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777745 Gevian Dargan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:15:52 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777745 @"I presume that’s the same Eric Stephenson who a couple of years ago wrote a remarkably arrogant and offensive piece about going into a comic-and-other-stuff shop that didn’t have some Image book. Funny to see him climb down so fast over this." Yep. @”I presume that’s the same Eric Stephenson who a couple of years ago wrote a remarkably arrogant and offensive piece about going into a comic-and-other-stuff shop that didn’t have some Image book. Funny to see him climb down so fast over this.”

Yep.

]]> By: Joe S. Walker http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777732 Joe S. Walker Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:49:24 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777732 I presume that's the same Eric Stephenson who a couple of years ago wrote a remarkably arrogant and offensive piece about going into a comic-and-other-stuff shop that didn't have some Image book. Funny to see him climb down so fast over this. I presume that’s the same Eric Stephenson who a couple of years ago wrote a remarkably arrogant and offensive piece about going into a comic-and-other-stuff shop that didn’t have some Image book. Funny to see him climb down so fast over this.

]]> By: Gevian Dargan http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777647 Gevian Dargan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:33:10 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777647 Stephenson said that for second printings of Saga #1, they doubled what they normally do for a second printing and the actual demand was not even half of the print run. Here's a hint. Let's say the demand was 25% of that second printing. Since you doubled your typical second print run, take 50% of what you normally do for a second printing and print by that much more in the future for your initial print runs. But that would mean more math for Ms. Guzman and company. The point is publishers who are not Marvel and DC can figure out retailer ordering patterns, and thus consumer demand, the same way retailers can figure out consumer purchasing patterns...by observation. Once you observe a pattern, have the guts to make an educated, risky guess. If you can't, then you shouldn't be publishing. Stephenson said that for second printings of Saga #1, they doubled what they normally do for a second printing and the actual demand was not even half of the print run. Here’s a hint. Let’s say the demand was 25% of that second printing. Since you doubled your typical second print run, take 50% of what you normally do for a second printing and print by that much more in the future for your initial print runs. But that would mean more math for Ms. Guzman and company.

The point is publishers who are not Marvel and DC can figure out retailer ordering patterns, and thus consumer demand, the same way retailers can figure out consumer purchasing patterns…by observation. Once you observe a pattern, have the guts to make an educated, risky guess. If you can’t, then you shouldn’t be publishing.

]]> By: Gevian Dargan http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777638 Gevian Dargan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:24:29 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777638 I'm sorry but I've spoken to publishers who are not Marvel or DC, they know or can make a reasonable guess about print runs. If Image doesn't want to overprint because of the risk involved, then they should say so. Oh wait, that's exactly what Eric Stephenson said they do and why. They are clearly afraid of having the same "belief" in their product that they want retailers to have, and it's easy for them to ask the retailers to take on more of the risk because they share in none of it. If Saga #7 sold 46,000+ copies, Image got paid for each and every copy sold, the same can't be said for retailers. If Image wants retailers to act as their defacto sales force, pay them a commission or something, but don't create the false equivalency that Stephenson creates between publisher and retailer. The risk is not the same and the reward is not the same. That's the whole point of the direct market and why publishers love it so much. Publishers who can't adjust their print runs to exceed retailer orders in anticipation of perceived consumer demand should be equally scolded. They suffer from the same deficits, whatever they may be. Stephenson and Guzman miss the point that whatever complaints they lob at retailers can be made about them. The point is they want others to do as they say but not as they do. I’m sorry but I’ve spoken to publishers who are not Marvel or DC, they know or can make a reasonable guess about print runs. If Image doesn’t want to overprint because of the risk involved, then they should say so. Oh wait, that’s exactly what Eric Stephenson said they do and why. They are clearly afraid of having the same “belief” in their product that they want retailers to have, and it’s easy for them to ask the retailers to take on more of the risk because they share in none of it. If Saga #7 sold 46,000+ copies, Image got paid for each and every copy sold, the same can’t be said for retailers. If Image wants retailers to act as their defacto sales force, pay them a commission or something, but don’t create the false equivalency that Stephenson creates between publisher and retailer. The risk is not the same and the reward is not the same. That’s the whole point of the direct market and why publishers love it so much. Publishers who can’t adjust their print runs to exceed retailer orders in anticipation of perceived consumer demand should be equally scolded. They suffer from the same deficits, whatever they may be. Stephenson and Guzman miss the point that whatever complaints they lob at retailers can be made about them. The point is they want others to do as they say but not as they do.

]]> By: Michael Payton http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777617 Michael Payton Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:37:50 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777617 If your shop can't figure out how many copies of Saga to sell by issue #7, then your shop deserves to be scolded by the publisher. If your shop can’t figure out how many copies of Saga to sell by issue #7, then your shop deserves to be scolded by the publisher.

]]> By: Gevian Dargan http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777513 Gevian Dargan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:57:24 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777513 It should read "You are selling a commercial product, people, you want more customers, advertise." It should read “You are selling a commercial product, people, you want more customers, advertise.”

]]> By: Gevian Dargan http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777511 Gevian Dargan Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:55:57 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777511 I would point to the reply by Mr. Hibbs. Retailers did account for Saga's popularity, despite the hiatus, and you have to regard #8 as issue #2 of a new arc, series, whatever. This statement just reflects Image's displeasure at the fact that Saga has a Direct Market audience of 40,000 readers. They want more orders, try some persuasive advertising to the rest of the consuming public. BTW, if one more publisher or creator tells me or a retailer or to "believe" in or "support" this industry when they won't do it themselves, I'm going to gag. You are selling a commercial people, you want more customers, advertise. Other than that, it is what it is. Ms. Guzman's "Field of Dreams" marketing tactic of "If you order it, they will come..." betrays that something is going on at Image (and this industry at large) that none of us really wants to know about. I would point to the reply by Mr. Hibbs. Retailers did account for Saga’s popularity, despite the hiatus, and you have to regard #8 as issue #2 of a new arc, series, whatever. This statement just reflects Image’s displeasure at the fact that Saga has a Direct Market audience of 40,000 readers. They want more orders, try some persuasive advertising to the rest of the consuming public.

BTW, if one more publisher or creator tells me or a retailer or to “believe” in or “support” this industry when they won’t do it themselves, I’m going to gag. You are selling a commercial people, you want more customers, advertise. Other than that, it is what it is. Ms. Guzman’s “Field of Dreams” marketing tactic of “If you order it, they will come…” betrays that something is going on at Image (and this industry at large) that none of us really wants to know about.

]]> By: Elly Patino http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777396 Elly Patino Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:40:15 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777396 The demand for this series is proven, and I’m sure orders can be bumped up at least a little to meet demand the first time around. The demand for this series is proven, and I’m sure orders can be bumped up at least a little to meet demand the first time around.

]]> By: Steve http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777392 Steve Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:37:46 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777392 I wouldn't consider Luthor Strode to be a new property. I wouldn’t consider Luthor Strode to be a new property.

]]> By: Joe S. Walker http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777218 Joe S. Walker Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:27:24 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777218 If I ran a comic shop, that snotty announcement would prompt me to order one extra copy and hang it up as toilet paper. If I ran a comic shop, that snotty announcement would prompt me to order one extra copy and hang it up as toilet paper.

]]> By: Mechagamera http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777066 Mechagamera Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:34:44 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777066 If all the exclusive content you have to offer single issue buyers are letter columns (which is also the case with all Marvel and DC comics), then don't complain when people buy more trades, especially when the trade for an arc comes out the month after the last issue of the arc. If all the exclusive content you have to offer single issue buyers are letter columns (which is also the case with all Marvel and DC comics), then don’t complain when people buy more trades, especially when the trade for an arc comes out the month after the last issue of the arc.

]]> By: Brian Hibbs http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-777007 Brian Hibbs Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:09:16 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-777007 "in the example of Saga – which is on #7 and a proven hit – makes a lot of sense to me. The demand for this series is proven, and I’m sure orders can be bumped up at least a little to meet demand the first time around." It certainly appears that they did -- SAGA #6 sold a reported 40,584 copies, while #7 sold a reported 46,971 copies -- about a 16% increase. Data is here:http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html. #7 is Nov '12, #6 is Aug '12 When Jennifer complains about a 4% drop on #8, math would suggest that this, as well, would be over 10% on #6 as well. (SAGA #8 is *effectively* "arc #2, ISSUE #2" -- a mere 4% drop for a second issue is PHENOMENAL) Also: SAGA is (at least here) breaking a lot of rules right now -- I've been selling since the day of release an average of 1.1 copies of the TP each and every day. That simply doesn't happen -- even WALKING DEAD doesn't sell that explosively here. -B “in the example of Saga – which is on #7 and a proven hit – makes a lot of sense to me. The demand for this series is proven, and I’m sure orders can be bumped up at least a little to meet demand the first time around.”

It certainly appears that they did — SAGA #6 sold a reported 40,584 copies, while #7 sold a reported 46,971 copies — about a 16% increase. Data is here:http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html. #7 is Nov ’12, #6 is Aug ’12

When Jennifer complains about a 4% drop on #8, math would suggest that this, as well, would be over 10% on #6 as well.

(SAGA #8 is *effectively* “arc #2, ISSUE #2″ — a mere 4% drop for a second issue is PHENOMENAL)

Also: SAGA is (at least here) breaking a lot of rules right now — I’ve been selling since the day of release an average of 1.1 copies of the TP each and every day. That simply doesn’t happen — even WALKING DEAD doesn’t sell that explosively here.

-B

]]> By: Pirahna Plant http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-776998 Pirahna Plant Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:45:38 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-776998 You mean like the letters column in the single issues of Saga that aren't/won't be reprinted in the TPB? You mean like the letters column in the single issues of Saga that aren’t/won’t be reprinted in the TPB?

]]> By: Mechagamera http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/12/12/image-comics-ditches-single-issue-reprints-for-sold-out-books/comment-page-1/#comment-776982 Mechagamera Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:12:12 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=34588#comment-776982 Image is making itself into the new Vertigo, outside of Fatale, why wouldn't you just wait for trades? If they want more single issue sales, they should follow the Fatale route and give you something you can't get in the trades. Image is making itself into the new Vertigo, outside of Fatale, why wouldn’t you just wait for trades? If they want more single issue sales, they should follow the Fatale route and give you something you can’t get in the trades.

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