The Four Color Media Monitor

While it's great to see that the Iron Man movie has been pretty successful, taking in more than $100 million in the past week since it opened, Marvel's comics sales, by contrast, don't seem to be doing well, if this Yahoo business article is any indication (via The Beat):

Marvel’s Publishing Segment net sales declined by $1.0 million or 4% to $26.5 million in Q1 2008 principally due to the timing of major publishing initiatives. Q1 2008 net sales reflected a decline in comic book sales within the direct channel and lower advertising and custom sales, offset in part by continued strong growth in the Mass Market channel. The year-over-year decline in direct channel sales principally reflects strong sales of high profile titles Civil War and The Death of Captain America in the year ago period, versus no comparable specialty titles in Q1 2008. Operating income in the Publishing segment declined by 14% on a year-over-year basis to $9.9 million in Q1 2008 with an operating margin of approximately 37% compared to approximately 42% in the prior-year-period. Based on its planned slate of publishing initiatives, including the release of the Secret Invasion series in late Q2 2008, Marvel expects its Publishing segment to return to traditional margins for the full year 2008.

As great as it is to see that Iron Man has made an auspicuous debut on the silver screen, it's depressing, but understandable, that Marvel's core comics are not doing well, and are unlikely to be helped by the movie's success. I think the article may have gotten it right in part, more so than the writers might've thought, about why Marvel's own books are declining: because they're still burying themselves in too many crossovers, and other pointless storylines, making it impossible for newcomers to be encouraged to try any of their new books. By now, they're not even trying to cash in on the success of any movie they make, if Secret Invasion will be any indication. And that's a shame.

Labels: Iron Man, marvel comics, sales