{"id":4159,"date":"2017-09-11T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-07-30T18:19:25","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T23:19:25","slug":"dark-days-metal-ships-262k-copies-most","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comichron.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/11\/dark-days-metal-ships-262k-copies-most\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Nights Metal ships 262k copies, most of 2017, beating Rebirth #1’s first month: August comics sales estimates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While comics shop orders during the month of August 2017 were down in all categories versus last August’s blockbuster, we’ve finally found a book that’s been able to top a mark set in that summer of DC<\/b> Rebirth launches. And it’s another DC book: Comichron estimates that Diamond Comic Distributors <\/b>shipped almost exactly 262,000 copies of\u00a0Dark Nights: Metal<\/i> #1<\/a><\/b>, the kickoff point for this fall’s Metal event, to North American retailers in the month \u2014 quite a few more copies than the 235,800 shipped of DC Universe Rebirth<\/i> #1<\/a><\/b>, the corresponding launch book, in its first month. Click to see the full estimates for comics sold in August 2017.\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

After that first month, of course, Rebirth<\/i> #1 would go on to multiple printings and top 300,000 copies in North America \u2014 but Dark Nights<\/i>‘ second printing reached shops last week, and there’s something else of note: Dark Nights<\/i> cost $2 more, at $4.99. It’s also marked by Diamond as the number one dollar title of the month, and if all copies sold at cover price, it’s not just the top-selling comic book of the year in units, but also dollars, eclipsing the $10 Amazing Spider-Man<\/i> #25<\/a><\/b> earlier this year. Click to see our running track of top sellers in 2017<\/a><\/b>, along with our market shares for the year to date.<\/p>\n

The internal benchmarks also showed something positive: the 300th place comic book, Jimmy’s Bastards <\/i>#3<\/a><\/b> from Aftershock<\/b>, moved 5,621 copies in North America, which is more than any book in that position in a five-week month since December 2015<\/b>. While it may not be particularly meaningful as wins go, it’s surprising that any position on the chart could be higher against last August, a month in which far more comics moved overall.
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On the graphic novel side, we find that the top-dollar book for the month is quite a ways further down the unit sales list: IDW’s Jack Kirby Fantastic Four Worlds Greatest Artist Edition<\/a><\/b><\/i> hardcover, a $150 book on the shelves in advance of the King’s 100th birthday.<\/p>\n

The larger picture of this August versus last August<\/a><\/b> has been previously elaborated here; the market year-to-date is off 10%. But 2017 has big events yet on the slate with Metal and Legacy yet to come, and while there remain strong comparative months to come, the potential for a changed dynamic is there. Sometimes retailer money’s on the sidelines, waiting for the right event; sometimes it just isn’t there. This fall should tell us which is the case.<\/p>\n

The data sheet for the month follow at the bottom of this post, but before that, I would like to remember Len Wein<\/b>, comics writer and editor, who passed away on Sunday<\/a><\/b>. Len is a large part of the success comics found in the Direct Market era, from his reboot of the X-Men and his introduction of Wolverine to his hand in developing comics for more sophisticated audiences with Swamp Thing.<\/p>\n

I had the good fortune to spend some time with him at a convention several years ago and he was generous with his knowledge and his advice. His works were and are a big part of so many comics readers’ lives, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to know him. He is already missed.<\/p>\n


\nThe stats for the month:<\/p>\n