Archie Sales Figures for 2010

Archie Comics logo

It’s that time of year again! Here are the Archie Comics sales figures based on the Statements of Ownership, Management, and Circulation the company is required to file in their publications.

Here are figures for the single issues, all cover priced at $2.99. These are the Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation figures that Archie files with the government. The first number is the Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months; the second is No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date. These figures appeared between January 19 and February 23, 2011. I’ll be comparing to last year’s figures in talking about trends.

Title Issue Average Nearest Issue % Change
Archie #617 14,413 18,545 29%
Archie & Friends #151 8,850 8,643 -2%
Betty #190 8,952 8,772 -2%
Betty & Veronica #252 11,319 9,923 -12%
Jughead #205 8,585 8,058 -6%
Veronica #205 8,756 8,109 -7%

I’ve left Veronica out because her figures weren’t available in January and March, when the rest of these books were published. I suspect her numbers are due in #205, scheduled to be released tomorrow. Unlike last year, when the percentages were all positive, you’ll notice that all but Archie are declining — which probably explains why Archie is the only non-Sonic title that’s still monthly. The others are all six times a year. (Although the numbers are close enough, except for Betty & Veronica, that it could be within margin of error.)

Archie Comics logo

Update: (4/9/11) I’ve added in the Veronica numbers here and below.

That frequency change also explains why Betty was temporarily removed from the Archie online comic store, leading to rumors of cancellation. As is typical, Betty, Jughead, and Archie & Friends are all clustered about the same sales level.

I don’t know if I never noticed this field before or if it’s new this year, but I also gathered Total Published (Average, 12 months) and Total Published (Nearest Issue). This is the traditional big problem with newsstand distribution — you print a lot more than you end up selling.

Title Issue Average Nearest Issue % Sold of Published (Nearest Issue)
Archie #617 35,151 47,296 39%
Archie & Friends #151 20,403 17,692 49%
Betty #190 20,700 18,167 48%
Betty & Veronica #252 24,808 22,257 45%
Jughead #205 20,469 18,339 44%
Veronica #205 20,885 19,823 41%

Let’s look at digests. There are no single digests any more, only double digests, which cost $3.99 and come out 10 times a year. I’m also including the monthly magazine-format Life With Archie: Married Life here, since it’s the same price.

Title Issue Average Nearest Issue % Change
Archie Double Digest #215 95,236 86,961 -9%
Archie & Friends Double Digest
(was Archie’s Pals ‘n’ Gals Double Digest)
#2 70,806 64,559 -9%
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #188 80,307 72,120 -10%
B & V Friends Double Digest #211 51,099 48,809 -4%
Jughead Double Digest #167 70,927 62,286 -12%
World of Archie Double Digest #4 62,822 57,302 -9%
Life With Archie #7 57,266 n/a

The digests show a similar sales decline as the comics, only without a positive bright spot. But wow, the magazine is selling better than one of the digests. That’s got to be considered a success — until you look at how much they’re having to print for those sales. Here are the figures for number published.

Title Issue Average Nearest Issue % Sold of Published (Nearest Issue)
Archie Double Digest #215 212,995 186,792 47%
Archie & Friends Double Digest #2 183,937 160,778 40%
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #188 206,610 179,468 40%
B & V Friends Double Digest #211 141,473 123,092 40%
Jughead Double Digest #167 181,724 161,523 39%
World of Archie Double Digest #4 166,975 152,010 38%
Life With Archie #7 204,882 28%

And last, here’s the ranking, based on nearest issue sales.

  1. Archie Double Digest
  2. Betty & Veronica Double Digest
  3. Archie & Friends Double Digest
  4. Jughead Double Digest
  5. World of Archie Double Digest
  6. Life With Archie
  7. B & V Friends Double Digest
  8. Archie
  9. Betty & Veronica
  10. Veronica
  11. Betty
  12. Archie & Friends
  13. Jughead

This is just about the same as last year, with only #3 and 4 swapping.



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