The Four Color Media Monitor

ICV2 put out the latest sales report, and sales of pamphlets again, are not looking good:

Sales of comics to the direct market by Diamond Comic Distributors slipped 7% in the first quarter of 2008 vs. the year ago period, the first quarterly drop since Q4 of 2004, when comic sales were down 4%. Graphic novel sales were up 5% for the quarter, ameliorating the over-all decline to 5% for the quarter in combined comic and graphic novel dollars. Q1 2008 was also the first over-all decline since Q4 of 2004, when combined comic and graphic novel sales were down 3% vs. the year ago period.

March was the ugliest month of the quarter for comic sales, with a 15% drop in comic sales vs. March 2007. Graphic novels were up 4%, bringing the over-all annual rate of change to a positive 4% for the month.

Paperbacks and hardcovers are what many companies may have to change to in the next several years. As for pamphlets, it should be obvious why sales have dropped so badly. When something as terrible as Brand New Day comes along and sours everything, this is what's to be expected.

Labels: sales