Crunchtime

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:43 pm

Just looking at some of the stats people have been copying to the IDW forums. Max Dinos is below 10,000 *before* the crunch hits, issue 2's apparently not found its way into many comic shops, and Diamond are going to be closing the door at an estimated 5,000.

Is there cause for worry that we won't make it to the end of the series?

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:30 pm

That's not good news, but considering the distribution problems and (word-of-mouth) reports that where it's been available it's been flying off shelves, I'm holding out hope that we'll at least see the end of MD. Hopefully one or two Spotlights too, but I think this will probably wind up Furman's run until the Hasbro-influenced Thirteen.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:13 pm

I don't think Maximum Dinobots #2 made it to any of the local comic shops. I still don't have it.

I'm not too disappointed, since I was planning to drop IDW completely after Max. Dinos, but I was hoping to see some of the loose threads tied up.

NeoSpringer · Post by **NeoSpringer** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:38 pm

God I hope not. I wasn't sure whether to expect any more of Simon's storyline after Max Dinos anyway, but please let us get through these next three issues. Otherwise we're stuck in a world where AHM is the only G1 comic – and that just ain't right.

It boggles the mind that more people are buying AHM than Max Dinos – but then again, AHM's figures aren't exactly hot either.

Are we blaming Max Dinos sales on the credit crunch? Or have people just forgotten about Simon's storyline? Or are the Dinobots just not popular anymore? Was it not advertised well enough?

If anyone in the London area is still wanting a copy of issue 2 and not been able to get one yet, Orbital near Centrepoint had a load in there on Sunday. FP were all out though.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:06 pm

NeoSpringer wrote:
Are we blaming Max Dinos sales on the credit crunch?

I'm not buying it, and budget plays a part. AHM made me look at my spending more carefully. I'll wait for the trade for Max Dinos, if I get the impression its worth it from you guys.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:25 pm

NeoSpringer wrote:
It boggles the mind that more people are buying AHM than Max Dinos – but then again, AHM's figures aren't exactly hot either.

Are we blaming Max Dinos sales on the credit crunch? Or have people just forgotten about Simon's storyline? Or are the Dinobots just not popular anymore? Was it not advertised well enough?

I don't think it's had anywhere near the marketing push AHM has had, but regardless I think a core reason MD isn't selling anywhere near as well is because apparently it hasn't been distributed properly - you can't buy a comic if you can't find it!

IDW have been v.quiet about it, but I'm sure there is a good reason. It would be insanely bad business to deliberately produce and distribute low numbers of a comic that has the potential to at least equal AHM for sales.

stranger · Post by **stranger** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:40 pm

Have IDW and the distributors gone to any length to point out to stores that Maximum Dinobots is a different beast to Best of UK Dinobots? Just a thought...

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:19 pm

Jack Cade wrote:Diamond are going to be closing the door at an estimated 5,000.

Diamond are fairly unlikely to drop already solicited material; it's bad business for them as well as their publishers. If Animated #6 has been pulled, I'd guess it's more likely by IDW than because Diamond decreed it. Also, a $4 cover price helps the weighting.

After MD and AHM? Things may be in trouble.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:26 pm

Denyer Wrote:
After MD and AHM? Things may be in trouble.

I would've thought beyond transformers IDW had other strong(ish) brands that could make up for any deficit. I personally think the published art material is superb, as is Gentlemen Corpse.

Keeping the subject on transformers - the cracks are really starting to show now aren't they?

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:47 pm

No, IDW themselves aren't in trouble -- it's whether TF titles are convincing in the marketplace. It's doubtful Diamond would boot them unless things got really bad, the question's more whether Hasbro just considers it looks bad to have titles representing it. Even then could see things going to OGN, because they don't seem upset with IDW or anything.

Suspect the focus will shift to movie stuff and Animated won't be back.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:58 pm

Crunchtime? Don't think so.

I would turn your attention to the following stats:

Summary:
Total TF Revenue December 2006: $209,000.
Total TF Revenue November 2006: $208,000
Total TF Revenue October 2006: $189,533
Total TF Revenue January 2007 $161,380
Total TF Revenue for February 2007 $121,024
Total TF Revenue for March 2007 $329,932
Total TF Revenue for April 2007 $198,345
Total TF Revenue for May 2007 $238,936.79
Total TF Revenue for June 2007 $535,169.76
Total TF Revenue for July 2007 $262,600.59 (estimate)
Total TF Revenue for August 2007 $127,860.12 (estimate)
Total TF Revenue for September 2007 $118,460.58 (estimate)
Total TF Revenue for October 2007 $424,635.39 (estimate)
Total TF Revenue for November 2007 $125,453.58
Total TF Revenue for December 2007 $102,105.78
total TF Revenue for January 2008 $247,827.98
total TF Revenue for February 2008 $250,586.39
Total TF Revenue for March 2008 $62,690.88
Total TF Revenue for April 2008 $107,759.55
Total TF Revenue for May 2008 $111,658.23
Total TF Revenue for June 2008 $211,659.50
Total TF Revenue for July 2008 $202,113.45
Total TF Revenue for August 2008 $282,627.66
Total TF Revenue for Sept 2008: $133,329.84
Total TF Revenue for Oct 2008: $152,733.21
Total TF Revenue for Nov 2008: $158,982.55
Total TF Revenue for Dec 2008: $188,709.54

Notice that the revenue of the first month on this list, Dec 06, is about the same as the last, Dec 08.

Revenue-wise, things are pretty steady still.

Granted, it might take an extra title or two, but revenue remains steady.

Yes? No?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:49 am

Yaya wrote:Notice that the revenue of the first month on this list, Dec 06, is about the same as the last, Dec 08.

Revenue-wise, things are pretty steady still.

Granted, it might take an extra title or two, but revenue remains steady.

Yes? No?

I would say No.

Aside from the fact that you've reversed the ordering of Oct-Nov-Dec 2006, looking at those figures, to me it shows an overall slow decline in revenue with slight rises probably coinciding with new series or TPBs. Following that trend, January's figures may pass the $200,000 mark, but I doubt February's or March's will even reach $175,000.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:09 am

Rebis wrote:
Yaya wrote:Notice that the revenue of the first month on this list, Dec 06, is about the same as the last, Dec 08.

Revenue-wise, things are pretty steady still.

Granted, it might take an extra title or two, but revenue remains steady.

Yes? No?
I would say No.

Aside from the fact that you've reversed the ordering of Oct-Nov-Dec 2006, looking at those figures, to me it shows an overall slow decline in revenue with slight rises probably coinciding with new series or TPBs. Following that trend, January's figures may pass the $200,000 mark, but I doubt February's or March's will even reach $175,000.

Yes, but Jan 07 and Feb 07, for example, didn't either.

Dollars have been pretty steady. Of course, businesses are not just about profits, but expenses. Which we don't really know about.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:06 am

put them on a graph with a line of best fit, and I think it will sow a decline.
the high points coincide with the TF movie no?
perhaps TF comic popularity will rise this summer to...

KJ · Post by KJ » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:22 am

IDW are in a better position than most, as their books are already at a higher tag.

However, I doubt that we will still be paying 3.99 for IDW books by the end of the year.

I'd place money on a price-hike by Christmas.

Also, IDW also gets a bit of leeway as a larger publisher, from my understanding.

It's going to hurt independents, and non-licensed, non-franchised titles the most.

For those independents still going, hopefully this will spur them on to maintain a regular schedule, to keep readers.

So many Image books, for example, are constantly late. Their sales are hovering around this line, so if they don't pick their act up, they're gone.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:06 am

I'm really not sure how the company making less money with more titles (at a higher selling price than they started at IIRC) equals things "Holding steady".

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:57 pm

inflatable dalek wrote:I'm really not sure how the company making less money with more titles (at a higher selling price than they started at IIRC) equals things "Holding steady".

As gross income seems steady, yes, the question rests with the expenses.

Even though it takes more titles to get the same gross IDW had at the start, when you have fans who are now creators eager to peddle their wares for very little a price (how much do you think the guys working on Spotlight Jazz asked for?), expenses may not be quite as high as one might expect. Hell, if I were given the opportunity, I'd do it for free.

And there is no expense to raising the price from $2.99 to $3.99. It's something you do, and fans stick with it or they don't.

Reprinted things like MTMTE, the UK stuff, Armada, etc. has much less expense to it than the new stuff.

And apparently, most of the TF comic stuff is sold through non-Diamond channels. According to IDW, they moved thousands of units through these channels.

So when I see Maximum Dinobots selling 3,000 copies less than the average IDW title, I would think it not as big a deal to IDW as one might think.

I would say that if printing costs and licensure costs are the same as they were when IDW took the license, then we really are pretty steady.

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:07 pm

Yaya wrote:And apparently, most of the TF comic stuff is sold through non-Diamond channels. According to IDW, they moved thousands of units through these channels.

As far as we know those were movie trades in places such as Wal-Mart. Helps the bottom line lots but doesn't help get singles on store shelves.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:10 am

Denyer wrote:
Yaya wrote:And apparently, most of the TF comic stuff is sold through non-Diamond channels. According to IDW, they moved thousands of units through these channels.
As far as we know those were movie trades in places such as Wal-Mart. Helps the bottom line lots but doesn't help get singles on store shelves.

Who cares if that doesn't translate to singles sales?

If the TF license is overall profitable for IDW, wouldn't it behoove them to carry on as they are doing?

KJ · Post by KJ » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:46 am

Yaya wrote:
Denyer wrote:
Yaya wrote:And apparently, most of the TF comic stuff is sold through non-Diamond channels. According to IDW, they moved thousands of units through these channels.
As far as we know those were movie trades in places such as Wal-Mart. Helps the bottom line lots but doesn't help get singles on store shelves.
Who cares if that doesn't translate to singles sales?

If the TF license is overall profitable for IDW, wouldn't it behoove them to carry on as they are doing?

Chris Ryall has been quite emphatic about the need for single issue support, over the past few months.

It defrays the costs involved in trades, and I don't want ads in my trades. (I hate the ones that do that)

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