What was the top-selling issue at Fantastic Comics in 2022? This should not come as a surprise, but it’s…
Of course, Saga’s return at issue 55 would be the winner, but let’s look at the runners-up.
Saga #55
Saga #56
Saga #57
Saga #58
THREE DOLLAR COMIC (catchall barcode for $3 back issues)
Saga #59
Saga #60
Batman #125
Poor Batman!
BTW, Sagamaniacs, your chance to keep Saga the undisputed champ in 2023 is on the line this week as a new story arc of Saga #61 is set to hit the shelves.
In the trades section, there’s a bit of an upset as Alex Ross’s magnificent Fantastic Four Full Circle project unseated the Saga TPB as the number one seller. The also excellent Nice House on the Lake takes third place.
It’s a well-deserved win, especially considering how difficult it was to keep in stock.
So what do we make of this?
Berkeley is not the rest of the country, and Fantastic Comics is definitely a different store since the move, but the numbers really favor independent and original projects over the licensed superhero works (Alex Ross’s Fantastic Four is the exception that proves the rule; it’s bizarrely not published directly by Marvel, but rather an imprint of Abrams, presumably to foster more outre and artsy productions).
Excitement that gets generated from various Cinematic Multiverses doesn’t seem to trickle down into hard sales of books, at least not to the point where deep niche indie books like Ed Piskor’s gore-fest Red Room can’t stand shoulder to shoulder with X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man, and sometimes even outsell them.
That isn’t to say that the various event books and Marvel/DC superhero issues don’t make up the meaty bulk of business. If anything, Fantastic Comics has boosted its “fights in tights” percentage since the move. But the real action is taking place in back issues — Saga would have a hard time competing against the appetite for vintage nostalgia, though let’s face it, Saga #1s are still going for engagement ring prices.
But in terms of pure, through-the-roof excitement, if our bestselling DC trade is Nice House on the Lake, and if trends continue, it wouldn’t be surprising if mainline titles start fading into the background while Black Label and prestige mini-series start stealing the spotlight. We’ve definitely sold more of the excellent Wonder Woman: Historia series than any regular Wonder Woman issue.
So the strange but somewhat promising takeaway in a world of hurt (if strange and somewhat promising in a world of hurt can sum up 2022) is, the hype machine that used to dominate comic book sales is still in effect, but that effect is concentrated on old key issues and auctions. In other words, The Rock raising an eyebrow overtime for a floppy Black Adam movie did much more for old Fawcett books than it did for current titles. For the stuff that’s coming out now, the bestselling books are ones that people genuinely want to read.
2023 Resolutions
A self-imposed BatBan
In keeping with an arms-length rejection/legs-length embrace of the mainstream, Uel has vowed not to read any Bat-titles this year (poor Batman!), but probably will end up reading any major event books that feature the caped crusader. Can he do it? Will he endure, like Batman? Or will he fold, like Batman’s back?
Join Uel’s Book Club
So what is Uel reading instead of Batman? Uel has the inaugural four titles of his book club announced in the latest show. Apparently there’s a five dollar credit in it for those of you who can stick with a title up till the end.
Three new regular neighborhood customers for 2023
Because of the hours, size, and owner-operator nature of the shop, there’s an elusive sweet spot in terms of numbers of in-person customers. Too few, and the lonely hours drag on by. Too many, and we threaten to become an unsanctioned block party. Oddly enough, the difference between Too Few, Too Many, and Just Right may be exactly Three New Neighborhood Customers.
Or maybe this analysis is overly informed by Goldilocks and the Three Bears. If you are in the neighborhood and are itching to become a regular again, drop on by and see if you can’t pick up some analog reading habits in 2023. Of course, those out of the neighborhood are always welcome to make the trip, and if you’re out of state, we have another resolution you can help with…
Hit Like & Subscribe (Ugh!)
The Fantastic Comics YouTube channel is just shy of the 1000 subscriber mark. Once we hit that, we’ll be well on our way to catching up to ComicTom! Honestly, though, we should be able to hit this goal easily for 2023 if we ever got the energy to turn it into a 24/7 Gizmo stream. Speaking of which…
For 2023, Gizmo would like a corporate sponsorship for doggie treats and poop bags
This little monster pooped four times on his last walk! That’s doggie-speak for, “I need a mattress company to subsidize the things that go in and out of my body.”