I'm going to start updating numbers monthly on IDW's comics. Partially to help keep this in the mind of fans, even the casual ones who buy the trades. The reason being I hope that this will stimulate some interest in supporting comics. Many fans seem to take them as a given but like a lot of other things, they're not guaranteed so hopefully a few more comics will be bought as we need to support comics in order for them to keep being made. As those trades people like will start disappearing.

Maximum Dinobots
[Month/Year], [Place], [Comic], [Units Sold to Retailers]
DEC2008: 226 Transformers Maximum Dinobots#1 9,476


All Hail Megatron
DEC2008: 197 Transformers All Hail Megatron #6 11,840

ROTF: Alliance
DEC2008: 199 Transformers Revenge Fallen Movie Prequel Alliance #1 11,551

Commentary:
I monitor comic sales when they come out so I have somewhat a grasp of how comics are doing so. This month, the TF comics ranged lower than there usual spots which is at normally about #120-#130. This had a lot to do with all the event related comics from both Marvel and DC that tied into their massive crossovers. This meant that books normally in the #120 to #130 range were pushed back. Also December is a large month for specials and one offs from the majors publishers with things like Christmas oneshots, What Ifs and random character spotlights. So the low position of the rankings isn't that alarming. It's more the units sold.

IDW's attempt at relaunching the TFs with AHM seems not to have succeeded. Too little too late, I'm afraid. AHM is reaching the end of Devastation's figures but still better than Revelations.

Maximum Dinobots shows that Furman needs to take a new direction. That's a #1 issue for crying out loud. Reboot or whatnot but his series has absolutely no legs. It's a joke. He's a celebrated writer who has done much for TFs but it should be clear by now that other than rabid 90s fans, he has no respect in the comic reading community. I loved his War Within, I've liked some of his UK stuff as well as his Beast Wars stuff. But this is just not acceptable. Sure the world economy is in decline but u only need to look at the other items on the list to see that he has fallen from appeal.

ROTF: Alliance did well. I suspect it will do better closer to the movie as the publicity machinery gathers pace. So against the usual trend in comics, I expect it to actually see a steady strength in the series over the next few months.

All comics have a downward trend. This is a fact. Event related or ongoing or limited series. It doesn't matter. So to judge a decline in comics, u have to also look at the rate of decline. AHM is the only comic that has a previous issue and you can see that there was a 4.42% decline. How good is this number. Decent. On average most decline in the long run (after issues #1 and #2 and #3) by anywhere between 3% and 8%/. Strong books with faithful core audiences are very steady and range in 1 and 2% falls.

Viewed in this light, AHM is doing okay. But I expect that by the end of the series it will be below 10K. Not a successful venture either in the final analysis if that proves to be the case. IDW need more press. They really do.Whether it be for Maximum Dinobots or Alliance or AHM, they aren't doing great.

For the direction, of Maximum Dinobots there is only 1 way from here. Down. Few books experience gains. The last that did I recall were all Robert Kirkman books. Walking dead and Invincible. But even those after the gains experienced declines so given Furman's track record, Maximum Dinobots will be very painful.

I think perhaps what IDW needs to do is take Marvel's model. A writer/artist team is never on a book for longer than 12 months. After that, they throw a new creative team on. This means we give up those broad expansive stories though but that way, at the very least, IDW can maintain interest and keep it fresh. That's what Marvel's model really is these days. Everything is status quo/new direction with a new creative team. This builds momentum which helps push the book and the brand. I'm not necessarily in favour of giving up the complex stories but business wise, something does need to be done b/c this is pretty darn pathetic. Transformers is such a popular brand now yet it hardly registers a bleep on comic readers minds anymore whereas it once did.

Notes
December 2008: Source:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=19758