Ultimate Comics Walk-Up Sales For Oct 29th, 2008

From Lee Newman of Ultimate Comics, the list of top-selling books at one of their locations in North Carolina for what was released on 10/29/08. Pull lists are not included, as this is meant to capture what is being bought off the shelf.

1. Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns

2. Presidential Material: Barack Obama

3. Avengers: The Intitiative #18

4. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

5. Ultimate Captain America Annual #1

6. Spike: After the Fall #4

7. Hellboy: In the Chapel of Moloch

8. Spawn #185

9. Amazing Spider-Man #575

10. Thor #11

Commentary:

Despite online grumblings about Astonishing X-Men Ghost Boxes and its price, the fact that we were short shipped had more to do with this book not being on the list then the price point. The few folks who did get ahold of it seemed to have good things to say about it, in store. Online is another matter altogether.

1. Johns is the MAN!!!! We knew this would sell well and despite it being short shipped it still brought people in the door. That is a book with huge potential. Why it doesn't translate into sales I haven't figured out, but with the hardcover of Secret Origins hitting the shelves early next month, maybe the book will get the boost the fans and almost certainly DC wants.

2. We weakened and did one last reorder. I, also, pulled them off the shelves from two of my other stores. (Wednesday saw a run on the Ross Obama Tee)

3. Skrull Kill Crew seemas to be full of win this time around.

4. People really liked One Brand More Day... it probably helped that this story pretty much came out of the Secret Invasion tie in series.

5. Kevin may be right, people may want to see this universe end, we'll know for sure next week.

6. This book like Amory Wars and Umbrella Academy seemed to pick up the further it got along until at the end you had people coming in to buy the whole thing in one fatal swoop. I don't know if there is a disconnect with reaching the fans in a timely matter like the Who Wants to Be a Superhero book a couple years ago or if they just don't like the monthly thing (which I don't see reflected in Buffy or Angel).

7 & 8. Put the original creators on their books and people will check them out. The key now is to retain that interest.

9. Hmmm. Amazing Spider-Man has dropped another slot in the top ten. I'd be curious to know if it is because more of the walk-up purchasers have added it to their pull (thus not counted here) or sales are returning to normal after the New Ways To Die arc.

5. I'll be just as shocked as anyone if I wind up being right about something. ;)

4. Wait wait wait...what? They named the annual story "One More Day"? I don't know whether to call it ballsy or retarded.

2. Barack Obama: helping the economy before even in office. I wore my Ross OBAMA shirt to the polls...before being reminded I couldn't wear a shirt seen as campaigning into the polling place. Had to turn it inside out before going in the building.

1. FINAL CRISIS on the cover and being a key part of the set-up to BLACKEST NIGHT? Yeah...that's a recipe for success cooked up by Geoff.

Note to Retailers: If anyone out there would like to provide similar information regarding sales at their store, I'd love to have it (with or without commentary). A link to your store's online presence will be included in any installment that uses your data. More data = more gooder.

Fourthman Reviews: Buffy Season 8 #12

By Lee Newman

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8 #12
Published by Dark Horse
Written by Drew Goddard
Pencils by Georges Jeanty

Yeah, I’m returning to this book. I think it is because some people like to torture me. I’ll dispense with the usual admittance of ignorance about the characters as I am starting to get the hang of things. It would be nice if Buffy would explain her powers to me in one of her diatribes at a Vampire. Oh yeah, and name tags, that would be helpful.

So, this is the big issue that everyone has been talking about? I don’t get it. There is the nice character moment with Xander and some short haired girl. Then there is the big moment when Buffy starts batting for the other team. I hope that all the fuss is about how this played out better fifty years ago in Abbot and Castello movies. Then there is something wrong with the vamps. Really nothing happens in this comic. At least there’s nothing to cause all the hooping and hollering.

"Ultimate Comics, we have more comics then your shop has!"

I will tell you this reading part of the Vaughan, Whedon and now Goddard runs, there is not much unity in the voices of these characters. They seem like different people every time I pick it up, but there is minimal character development in the issues themselves. Either the writers need to get together and decide how all these people talk or there has to be a hell of a lot happening in the issues I have missed. Either way, this is becoming less painful every time.

Jeanty is not doing his best work here. Ridley, get off your butt, write something to inspire this guy. Thanks.

If I really cared, I am sure I could go on wikipedia and sort it all out, but until then, customers can fill me in on what is I am missing. I might keep reading just for the heck of it. I kind of want to know what’s up with the vampires.

Dear God, Tell Me Girl Wonder Will Be All Over This?

Well...the news is out, apparently: Buffy has visited the Isle of Lesbos.

More interesting than the development on the page is how people are reacting in the real world. I mean...forget about whether it was done for titillation or not (I'd contend that it was, to some degree). Focus on how frat boy some of the average reader reactions are going to be.

The Thursday Morning Quarterback over at Wizard Universe might be a microcosm of what is going on in many comic shops this week:

RICKEY: “It was different here with Buffy; she’s just experimenting. Not being a girl myself, I don’t know what’s up with girls ‘experimenting’ with sex like this; I thought it usually happened in college when they’re drunk. But here, I’m not sure why it happened, especially after last issue, when she told Satsu to leave her alone.”

ANDY: “But isn’t that sort of right in line with Buffy’s character? She shouldn’t love Angel…but she did. She shouldn’t have slept with Spike…but she did. She claims not to be attracted to Satsu…but of course, she is! And seriously, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s well known that women like women; some just take it further than others!”

RICKEY: “Yeah, but it’s like switching from hockey to baseball!”

[LAUGHS]

TJ: “It just seems like she’s a little old to be experimenting. Buffy’s the same age as me, 25, so it seems like she should be over this kind of stuff at this point.”

ANDY: “Yeah, but Buffy’s so lonely, and there aren’t much in the ways of guys around right now besides Xander. And c’mon—girls feel nice! Who wouldn’t want to get up next to one?”

[LAUGHS]

RICKEY: “This issue really did a good job of making me imagine things from outside the scene; the story really took me places in my own mind. Like the scene where Willow’s flying Andrew in and they see Dawn sleeping in the barn: Does Dawn sleep out the cold when it’s not raining? That must suck! And of course, what was going on with Buffy and Satsu BEFORE we see them under the sheets! I’m going to imagine that one some more right now!”


Well, that's some really good stuff right there. Nice to see Wizard unabashedly trying to attract the 40 Year Old Virgin style of fanboy.