Comments on: Archie Sales Figures

By: Archie Sales Figures (Almost Complete) » Comics Worth Reading

Archie Sales Figures (Almost Complete) » Comics Worth Reading — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:42:03 +0000

[...] time for part two of looking at Archie sales figures. I’ve copied over the numbers from the previous post. Remember, these are the Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation figures that Archie files with the [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:14:56 +0000

Actually, no, the number of issues published is a higher number, also included elsewhere in the statement. So I’m just reporting what Archie says their sales are (the first three parts of your equation). But your point is taken. Sadly, we can only work with the numbers available to us, which aren’t many.

My comparison was to give people a rough idea of how Archie sales outside the direct market (for the most part) compared to superhero sales within it. You’re right, it’s not as accurate as some would like.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:13:57 +0000

That’s not exactly a straight comparison.

You’re taking a look at Archie’s circulation numbers based on the number of issues published. But if you’re going to do that for Archie, you have to do that for the other titles that you’re comparing it to.

Instead, you’re comparing:
Archie’s direct market sales + Archie’s subscription sales (if any) + Archie’s newsstand sales + Archie’s unsold/returned newsstand sales (which are included in number of issues published even though they aren’t sold) to
Thor’s direct market sales (the current #5 book)

If you want a fair comparison, you also have to give Thor credit for subscription sales (if any), newsstand sales and unsold/returned newsstand sales (and there are some. I’ve seen comic books- and not just Archies- in several grocery stores, corner stores and book stores. They aren’t as prevalent as they once were, but they’re out there). But that’s not what you’re doing. You’re comparing Archie’s total number of published issues to Thor’s direct market sales only.

It’s true that a greater percentage of Archie’s sales come outside of the direct market. And Archie looks a lot better when you look at the overall totals than just the direct market sales. But if you’re going to look at the overall totals for one, you have to look at the overall totals for everyone.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:34:55 +0000

Heavy Metal magazine does it to: http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/sales.html

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:19:57 +0000

Dave, true, I’ve noticed that in some of them. I wonder if anyone is collecting those?

By: Historical Archie Sales » Comics Worth Reading

Historical Archie Sales » Comics Worth Reading — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:13:15 +0000

[...] response to my posting the 2007 sales figures for Archie comics (at least, those released so far), Heidi asks how they compare to previous [...]

By: Dave Carter

Dave Carter — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:52:39 +0000

Thanks Johanna; this is interesting…

BTW, Marvel also still publishes Statements of Ownership in some of its titles (those for which they sell subscriptions).

By: Journalista - the news weblog of The Comics Journal » Blog Archive » Jan. 21, 2008: Do the floppy flop

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:59:05 +0000

[...] Johanna Draper Carlson presents a few Archie Comics sales [...]