News circulating that Diamond has increased its minimum purchase order for comics from $1,500 to $2,500 has generated a lot of discussion on the Web, with speculation on where the dividing line might fall. Past estimates on The Comics Chronicles suggest some possible, if partial, answers. First, sorry, Chevy Chase, there will be math. First, … Read more
Diamond continues its rollout today of the December 2008 comics sales figures, with a release of a longer (and corrected) market share list and the Top 100 Comics. On the December number score: First off, my hunch was correct that the dollar and unit sales columns were reversed in last week’s “sneak peak,” so I’m … Read more
The release of Amazing Spider-Man #583 with the Barack Obama appearance and its attendant press is old news by now — and while presidents in appearing comics isn’t new (as many including myself have observed), the timing of the press push and the historic nature of the inauguration have already paid off for comics retailers. … Read more
Diamond began its roll-out of December 2008 sales figures today with the release of market shares and the Top 10s for several categories. The Top 10 comics for December and their cover prices, order codes and publishers: 1) Secret Invasion #8 • $3.99 • SEP082358-60 • Marvel Comics2) Final Crisis #5 • $3.99 • AUG080114 … Read more
Under the heading of secondary market activity you just can’t track by watching eBay… Bakersfield, Calif. station KGET reports a local man holding a yard sale for 175,000 comics this weekend. Scott Hudlow is described as history professor who’s worked as a dealer for 15 years, including as a mail-order dealer out of his home … Read more
Heidi MacDonald spied another media report on a California comics retailer battling recession — this one, Earth-2 in Sherman Oaks. The six-year-old operation saw revenue drop by 20% in the year to Black Friday, according to the Daily News report. There have been other newspaper reports noted here on how comics shops are weathering the … Read more