Where can I find a recent history of comics?

brianlock · Post by **brianlock** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:17:54 pm

Hey everyone. I'm looking for a link to a website that clearly explains the rise and fall of comics from the late 80's to today. We all know what happened in the 90s and how it killed comics, but I was hoping to find some detailed information about it. Please let me know if you know of somwhere that I can find a summary.

cinlach@aol.com · Post by **cinlach@aol.com** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:21:33 pm

hmmm...probably lots of info out there. the question is what opinion are you going to get.

there's a lot of different theories about what caused the crash in the 90's...we've actually got a pretty detailed thread from recent history here on the boards.

i guess it's all going to come down to which ideaology you agree with most.

IMJ · Post by **IMJ** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:23:20 pm

I mean this half heartedly as a joke and seriously at the same time:

Try the message boards, man! Most everyone here knows what there talking about. You've got dealers AND collectors who were there at the time! We ARE inadvertantly the experts as to that market because we lived it, created it AND decimated it!

brianlock · Post by **brianlock** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:31:08 pm

LOL, I know what you mean, we are the best sources for this stuff, but I am hoping to find some specific data about comics in the 90s. We all know how the speculation market (with each book having 5 gate-fold covers) was a big part of the problem, along with an emphasis on art and not story, but I want to see some #s. How much did the comics industry make in 1993 compared to 1999 or today? How many issues did top books sell then compared to today? I'm looking for that stuff on google, and finding some good data, but I'm still looking for all that info neatly presented in a few paragraphs. Does this exist?

lobo · Post by **lobo** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:37:43 pm

I'm sure ZWH is typing up an essay for you right now.

Kidding!

putz · Post by **putz** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:36:40 pm

He already has.
Just look for his rants, err...threads.

heh

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Tue May 10, 2005 11:36:51 pm

putz wrote:He already has.
Just look for his rants, err...threads.

heh

There needs to be a <raises left eyebrow> emoticon.

Quick, someone find one.

1993 - $1.5 Billion in business.

1999 - $500 Million.

Source: Forbes

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:23:16 am

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:29:21 am

I have a stack of Retailer related magazines & promo packs from that period. They are full of this type of info, with pie charts, graphs, etc., showing market shares for comic companies, including various other items like cards. If you need any other specific info, I may be able to track it down. I also have near full runs of Previews & Advance Comics catalogs, which list monthly top sellers, but no specific numbers.---Steve

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:11:19 am

brianlock wrote:LOL, I know what you mean, we are the best sources for this stuff, but I am hoping to find some specific data about comics in the 90s. We all know how the speculation market (with each book having 5 gate-fold covers) was a big part of the problem, along with an emphasis on art and not story, but I want to see some #s. How much did the comics industry make in 1993 compared to 1999 or today? How many issues did top books sell then compared to today? I'm looking for that stuff on google, and finding some good data, but I'm still looking for all that info neatly presented in a few paragraphs. Does this exist?

As pointed out many times on these forums, early 1990's lead lead comic titles sold 1million+ copies. Today's lead comic titles sell 100,000 on a good month (more like 50,000 on average)

greg · Post by **greg** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:26:03 am

The numbers may be "inching upward".

Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2001: 70,000 copies
Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2003: 100,000 copies
Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2005: 120,000 copies
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:41:04 am

As long as that's not people buying "multiples" and/or 2nd + print "varaints." If people who were buying during the early '90's rush return, are they likely to do the same crazy things?

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:41:48 am

brianlock wrote:LOL, I know what you mean, we are the best sources for this stuff, but I am hoping to find some specific data about comics in the 90s. We all know how the speculation market (with each book having 5 gate-fold covers) was a big part of the problem, along with an emphasis on art and not story, but I want to see some #s. How much did the comics industry make in 1993 compared to 1999 or today? How many issues did top books sell then compared to today? I'm looking for that stuff on google, and finding some good data, but I'm still looking for all that info neatly presented in a few paragraphs. Does this exist?

Diamond sales charts (Top 100, Top 300, ect) were posted all the time in the Misc comics group now on Google groups. Just search for charts from 1993, 1999, and today. Diamond Comics. com might also have those charts too (I think they archive them).

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Wed May 11, 2005 6:27:19 pm

greg wrote:The numbers may be "inching upward".

Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2001: 70,000 copies
Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2003: 100,000 copies
Average of the Top 10 Sellers in March 2005: 120,000 copies
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html

This is great news. I know Marvel had plans to place some books in Q-trips and possibly over venues if those did well. Even if they fail they should bringin new blood. Basically anywhere you can convince a kid to buy new comics you should place a handful in there. It might not do well this decade but I gaurentee the hobby will still exsist in the next 2 decades.

brianlock · Post by **brianlock** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:18:42 pm

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all of the information.,