DC's "Aquaman" Outsells Every Marvel Comic!

[samurainoir]

It'S a great book and deserves it's success. I just wsh a title like the current Swamp Thing could get the same kind of sales, given that I personally think the art and story are on par, but swampie's always been a hard sell, even when Moore had so much critical heat. Probably doesn't help that Swamp Thing hasn't appeared in the title yet after half a year in and we've been following Alec Holland.

Can't wait for them to get into the Mera and Black Manta storyline they started in Brightest Day.

[Steeler80]

One of the biggest problems is that the industry slit its own throat when they went to direct sales only. Now you have to go specifically looking for comics at comic shops and comic book conventions in order to find them. New readers can't just stumble across them anymore. They can't find them in drug stores, department stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and on, and on, and on.

Video games, DVDs & Blu-Ray and high prices are factors in keeping readers away too. I won't deny that. But they NEVER should've went to direct sales only. I say it's only a matter of time before the industry has another huge implosion and kills itself. Unless they can get comics back out to the masses and find a way to lower prices.

I have to agree with this. I am a big comic fan and a big fan of the characters in general. I became this big fan by being able to pick up comics at my local Piggly Wiggly. My mom could shop in relative peace while I went through the spinner rack and picked out the 4 comics I could have per trip. Nowadays, my local comic shop is about 30 miles away. If I was that same kid (both parents loved to read but were not comic fans) today, I would not become a comic fan because I have no easy access to them.

And back to the topic at hand , I'm happy that Aquaman (and the DC line as a whole) is doing well despite my dire predictions. There has always been the potential there, but I think he's a hard character to write and so many writers have let the character down. Even in TV, I remember Superman, WW, Batman and Robin, and Aquaman going to take care of 4 missiles. The first four heroes took care of their missiles and everyone returns to the HOJ. What did Aquaman do? Go make a sandwich?

[Figuremod73]

Ive never thought Aquaman was lame. great Character hope this will help get a movie made with him.

[BlackKnight]

Aquaman's a Good Book.
I think the Magic Johns had with Green Lantern, is apparent with this Book , and with the Team of Reis, it's great Eye Candy too. I do think all the Blackest Night Stuff with Aquaman that was Erased ? ...., Added Interest to the character, and Shoulda Stayed, if it hasn't ..., It was really the only thing outta Brightest Day even Worth a Damn. I've Only read to Issue 4 thus far ..., But over all, I really think it's 1 of the Better Books outta the New 52 ...., Which I really don't like Much.

[Figuremod73]

I have to agree with this. I am a big comic fan and a big fan of the characters in general. I became this big fan by being able to pick up comics at my local Piggly Wiggly. My mom could shop in relative peace while I went through the spinner rack and picked out the 4 comics I could have per trip. Nowadays, my local comic shop is about 30 miles away. If I was that same kid (both parents loved to read but were not comic fans) today, I would not become a comic fan because I have no easy access to them.

I started with those Blue Ribbon digest that had those great reprints back in the late seventies and early eighties. They werent to much different than an Archie digest in that they were in the check out lane at the grocery stores. You couldnt miss them as you went to pay! Great idea for character exposure and I dont understand why they quit doing that.

[The Bat]

I guess all of us old farts grumbling about the new 52 didn't know what we were talking about. People have spoken with their dollars.

Chris

It's true! The employees at Newberry Comics tell me the New 52 Comics are selling GREAT!

[samurainoir]

It should be pointed out that comics have returned to the mass market in quite a huge way, except it's not within the dying newsstands market, it's within the uncertain bookstore market... And now a little thang we call the Internet, which cam be accessed 24 hours a day from the comfort of your own home.

Comics via the newsstands would have died out and DC would have likely stopped publishing and parent comany Warner Brothers just focused on exploiting the properties in TV and movies if the direct market did not give them an assured, non returnable avenue of distribution.

Archie being the exception of course, and Harvey, charlton, and all the other newsstand companies being the ones to go away. Dc and Marvel retreating to the niche comic store market. Arguable thecdistribution wars of the nineties was much more harmful.

History has now proven that DC and Marvel survive because of the direct market. Make no mistake... They did not give up the newsstand, the newsstand gave up on them because the profit margins on comics vs the real estate they took up compared to higher price, higher selling glossy magazines ensured their demise on the racks. If they could have turned profit via the newsstands, they would still be there in a significant way. No one leaves money on the table like that.

You've got Comico, who was convinced that the newsstands were the way to go after finding their niche in the direct market... The returns are what killed them, Now Comics as well suffered a similar fate as well I believe going off to try their fortunes within the magazine distribution game.

[Cosmicman]

I remember Aquaman went through this for awhile in the 90s. Lame hero due to bad writing and artists. Bring in Peter David and a good story line and Aquaman books were selling.
I remember as soon as Peter David left Aquaman the book did a slow nose dive into the toilet.
A good writer and a good artist can do anything to a character. Don't get me wrong, I love Aquaman but he has always suffered the the bad writer fate.

Maybe it is his time now? We shall see. I guess I'll go pick it up and the four back issues to see what I think.

[kingdom warrior]

You've got Comico who was convinced that the newsstands were the way to go after finding their niche in the direct market... The returns are what killed them,

Comico was runned by a bunch of Jackasses, they had some staff that were clueless about comics

shame they had some innovative books but as you said the newstand deal killed them.......

[Brue]

no respect

[Figuremod73]

I faintly remember Comico. Didnt they release the Jonny Quest and Robotech stuff? Great comics that were put on good paper. Miss seeing comics like that at the grocery store.

[number 6]

Aquaman #5 was the first issue in the series to be issued with a 1:25 Retailer Incentive cover. I wonder if retailers ordered heavier on this issue than on previous issues in this series to get that cover. I'm not trying to diss Aquaman. But this may be less about love for Aquaman and more about a title that was selling well getting a bump from the old variant cover gimmick.

[VintageMike]

That's crazy. But if a good writer/artist can push Aquaman to that level (I may have to pick it up now) than the industry needs more of both.

[Figuremod73]

I would simply LOVE it if Aquaman became one of the top consistent sellers. Long overdue.