2013 was another great year for Pittsburgh Comics. It started with the insanity of purchasing the building (a stressful experience I never wish to repeat) and then pretty much cruised the rest of the year. Another amazing Free Comic Book Day, another creator signing and a couple of Adam Warrock concerts rounded out the “events” at the store. Other than that it was just another great year. Thank you.
Store sales were up 12.29% over 2012. Which still blows me away. This was my 6th full calendar and I am thrilled to be still growing at that rate.
Now on to some fun and exciting numbers (this is for you Joe!) And you can skip ahead. There’s more stuff below.
Top 24ish Graphic Novels:
1. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 18 WHAT COMES AFTER
2. PUNK ROCK JESUS TP
3. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US
4. BATMAN HC VOL 03 DEATH OF THE FAMILY
4. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 19 MARCH TO WAR
6. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 17 SOMETHING TO FEAR
7. BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN TP NEW ED
8. BATMAN TP VOL 01 THE COURT OF OWLS
8. REVIVAL TP VOL 01 YOU’RE AMONG FRIENDS
10. BATMAN THE KILLING JOKE SPECIAL ED HC
10. SAGA TP VOL 01
10. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE
10. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS
14. HAWKEYE TP MY LIFE AS WEAPON VOL 01 NOW
14. SUPERMAN EARTH ONE HC VOL 02
14. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE
17. SAGA TP VOL 02
17. WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 01 BLOOD
19. NIGHTWING TP VOL 01 TRAPS AND TRAPEZES
19. SUPERMAN RED SON TP (NOV058130)
21. BATMAN HC VOL 02 THE CITY OF OWLS
21. BATMAN HUSH COMPLETE TP
21. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 04 HEARTS DESIRE
24. AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP
24. BATMAN THE BLACK MIRROR TP
24. BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC
24. CIVIL WAR TP
24. DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE TP
24. FLASHPOINT TP
24. GRIMM FAIRY TALES TP VOL 01 LTD PRICE CUT ED
24. NIGHTWING TP VOL 02 NIGHT OF THE OWLS
24. WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM TP VOL 01
Why, yes. The Walking Dead TV show IS selling books. Still. But media promotion success it is not universal. Only a couple of Superman books and no Thor or Iron Man on the list. Now there is far more of a connection between book and show for the Walking Dead than any of those movies. No one was looking for the story of Maleketh, but lots of people are getting the Walking Dead books to see what’s coming next.
I am personally proud of Punk Rock Jesus landing #2 on the list. That’s from me forcing it on you guys. Expect Six Gun Gorilla up there next year.
And you guys seem to like Batman a little.
Top 25 or so Comics:
1. WALKING DEAD #115
2. BATMAN #23.1 JOKER
3. BATMAN #16
4. BATMAN #17
5. BATMAN #21
6. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1
7. BATMAN #23
8. BATMAN #22
9. BATMAN #18
9. BATMAN #23.2 RIDDLER
11. BATMAN #19
12. FOREVER EVIL #1 (OF 7)
13. BATMAN #20
14. BATMAN #25
15. BATMAN #24
16. FOREVER EVIL #2 (OF 7)
17. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2
18. AGE OF ULTRON #1 FOIL CVR (OF 10)
19. BATMAN SUPERMAN #1
20. FOREVER EVIL #3 (OF 7)
21. BATMAN ANNUAL #2
21. JUSTICE LEAGUE #22
23. BATMAN #26
23. JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
23. JUSTICE LEAGUE #23
24. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3
25. JUSTICE LEAGUE #18
Well, we can certainly see what sells. Yowza!
Lets try it again, removing Batman & Justice League
1. WALKING DEAD #115
2. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 (I forgot to add up all the covers on the prior list)
3. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #1 128
4. FOREVER EVIL #1 (OF 7) 114
5. FOREVER EVIL #2 (OF 7) 105
6. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2 99
7. AGE OF ULTRON #1 FOIL CVR (OF 10) 98
8. BATMAN SUPERMAN #1 94
9. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1
10. FOREVER EVIL #3 (OF 7) 92
11. SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3 88
12. AGE OF ULTRON #10 (OF 10) 84
12. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 84
14. INFINITY #1 (OF 6) 83
15. AGE OF ULTRON #2 (OF 10) 81
15. JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 81
17. AGE OF ULTRON #3 (OF 10) 80
17. BATMAN 66 #1
17. INFINITY #2 (OF 6)
17. JUPITERS LEGACY #1
21. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2
21. INFINITY #3 (OF 6)
23. LETTER 44 #1 PHANTOM VAR
24. BATMAN AND ROBIN #16
25. JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23
A little more balanced. Events are definitely the big sellers.
Just for fun, here are my publisher sales percentages of Comics & Graphic Novels for the year.
BOOM 1.77%
DYNAMITE 2.38%
DARK HORSE 3.97%
DC 41.74%
IDW 5.82%
IMAGE 7.09%
MARVEL 28.64%
VALIANT 1.98%
My New Years Resolutions:Now I tend to make the same ones, but I really hope to make these stick this year.
- Read more. I know it seems simple, but I find myself either too lazy or too distracted at home to read much. I am vowing to watch less stupid TV (the stuff that is just kind of on that I find myself watching) and read more. Both comics and books. I’m not condemning TV, but I really don’t need to watch 3 hours of Bar Rescue on a Sunday.
- Blog more. I really do like writing stupid stuff to put up here. I will also try to be more positive and not just wrote when I have something to complain about (but that does tend to get my blood flowing)
- Be more productive with my social media.
- Write more reviews. This kind of ties into #1. You all bought several cases of Punk Rock Jesus because I told you too. Maybe I just need to tell you about more. (Six Gun Gorilla)
- Be more creative. You guys tend to like the Festivus sales and there’s no reason I can’t do that all year long. A long time ago (1993 specifically) when I first started thinking about opening the store, I had a neat idea about running some monthly promotions. But those really never came to fruition due to … laziness, time, organization? I tend to find myself just working to get through each week. I am going to work on some actual planning this year. We’ll see how it works out. I have a magic notebook of all of these ideas that I had when I really got serious about opening the store. It might be time to dig that out and give it a look.
- Get more organized. Lol. This has been on my list for 30 some odd years. Good luck with that.
- Put more planning into the Podcast. The problem with doing it Wednesday is that by the end of the day I am spent and my brain is fried. I really need to write some stuff down during the week to talk about at the podcast.
- Get more people at the Podcast. You know you want to sit around talking about comics. Start coming. Its easy and painless.
That’s about all I have. Thanks again for a great year and I’ll see you soon to kick off 2014!