The Buffy comics in the economics of comics

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Buffy, to me, is a disappointment, for much the same reasons as delineated in the discussion about Dark Tower in the Marvel section. As a periodical comic book, the first issue of Buffy seems to have sold at least 158,437 copies, or more than ten times what the trade sold into the book market. To a certain degree, I’d say that Buffy is the “civilian friendly” comic following an extremely popular property with a rabid and dedicated fanbase that is both well-connected and well-educated about availability. And yet, against all conventional wisdom, the periodical performed significantly better than the collection.

According to Amazon.com, the first Buffy book was released on October 31, and has only had two months to rack up sales. Further, if anecdotal accounts are correct and Buffy fans are buying the comics pamphlets, is there really any reason for them to be rushing right out and getting the bound version three days after it’s released ? I wonder if judging “civilians” by the buying habits of the Wednesday Crowd is really such a good idea. Beyond that, I don’t know what’s happening any more than Hibbs does.

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http://www.tcj.com/journalista/ ?p=535