Comics trade site ICV2 reports sales of periodical comics in the US declined in May – the fourth month sales have dropped in a row, posting a 6% drop compared with sales in May of 2007 when, led by the Death of Captain America, some 15 titles sold over 100,000 copies (versus just 7 in May 2008).
Marvel’s Secret Invasion series topped the sales charts, although orders were down on #1 by 27%.
Although this may sound like bad news, periodical comics have still posted a 7% gain from April, though it was not enough to compete with May 2007.
ICV2 also reports that for the second month in a row graphic novel sales declined and actually dropped more precipitously than periodical comics, dropping 17% when compared with May 2007, which was a very strong month for graphic novel releases led by Y: The Last Man Vol. 9, Walking Dead Vol. 6, five various Civil War-related trades plus DC’s 52 Vol. 1, Archaia Studios’ Mouseguard and Dynamite Entertainment’s The Boys.
Top Ten US Comics
Thesw figures are based on ICv2’s estimates of the sales by Diamond Comic Distributors to comic stores on the top 25 comic titles in May
182,443 Secret Invasion #2 (of 8)
144,826 Final Crisis #1 (of 7)
109,185 New Avengers #41
108,136 Avengers/Invaders #1 (of 12)
105,864 Invincible Iron Man #1
105,508 Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1
105,039 Batman #676 RIP
96,890 Mighty Avengers #13
96,116 Batman #677 RIP
95,281 Mighty Avengers #14
• Read the full IVC2 report
• For the top 300 comics in May, see ICVc2’s Top 300 Comics Actual–May 2008 • For the top 100 graphics novels in May, see ICVc2’s Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual–April 2008.”
• For an overview and analysis of the best-selling comics and graphic novels in May, see ICVc2’s feature ‘Secret Invasion’ on Top Again
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: US Comics
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