The Force is strong this May the Fourth as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.” eBay, the largest Star Wars store in the galaxy, is unveiling new search and sales data that looks at the second installment in the saga, beloved characters and more.
Highlights include:*
9 Million Star Wars items have sold on eBay over the last decade, with action figures and trading cards leading the pack for most popular merchandise.
The order of the original trilogy holds true based on eBay sales; “A New Hope” takes first place with 20% more sales than “The Empire Strikes Back” and 36% more sales than the “Return of the Jedi.”
Beloved “The Empire Strikes Back” characters like Boba Fett inspired some of the most rare and expensive sales of all-time, including a 1979 Star Wars Vintage Prototype Boba Fett Rocket Firing L-Slot AFA 90 which sold for $145,000.
Of the top 3 most popular Star Wars action figure characters on eBay, Sith Lord Darth Vader dominates his son, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker by more than 70%; even Bounty Hunter Boba Fett is more popular than the young Skywalker by nearly 13%.
The marketplace is also celebrating “The Empire Strikes Back” and other epic Star Wars moments at eBay.com/StarWars, by offering a curation of rare, vintage and collectible merch that will wow fans of all ages.
Star Wars May the Fourth: eBay’s Top Inventory PicksAvailable ateBay.com/StarWarswhile supplies last.
These are strange times, but The Daily LITG is becoming a valuable way to quantify just what comic book geek culture is up to in this time of trial. Today would have been Free Comic Book Day, but that has been postponed until the autumn. A number of comic stores were also meant to open their doors for the first time today, but are not. So there may be a subdued feeling. Nevertheless, welcome all, to the daily Lying In The Gutters a long-running run around the day before and the day ahead. You can sign up to receive it as an e-mail here.
Baby Yoda, Alton Brown and Buffy, and the 10 Most-Read Stories yesterday
Bleeding Cool continues to report from the comics industry shutdown, With more from our favourite Baby Yoda, Alton Brown and Buffy The Vampire Slayer comic books. Keep up with your Daily LITG.
There would also have been signings, appearances, symposia, all manner of comic book-related events. But a few have gone online, and here are some still happening today, on the Daily LITG.
What Would Have Been Free Comic Book Day – Daily LITG, 2nd May 2020. Image from 24 Hour Comics.
There may not be much of a party atmosphere right now. Or if there is, the police will come and shut you down. But comic folk are still getting older and still celebrating that special date.
Liam Sharp, artist on The Green Lantern, co-creator of Bloodseed.
Scott Rosenberg of Platinum Studios.
Onrie Kompan, creator of the Yi Soon Shin Trilogy, MARX, and #1500ComicBookBattle.
Lorenzo Ruggiero, Marvel Comics inker.
Sean Howe, comic book industry journalist, author of Marvel Comics: The Untold Story.
Cory Levine, writer of Bowery Boys.
Andy Winter, co-creator of Hero Killers, publisher of Moonface Comics.
Ryan Brown of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Howard Cruse, founder of Gay Comix, creator of Stuck Rubber Baby.
Glenn Herdling, former Editorial Director of Marvel's Custom Publishing, writer of Namor The Sub-Mariner, Wizard Entertainment's Director of Business Development and publisher of thir Black Bull comics line.
Jerry Scott, co-creator of Baby Blues and Zits
Interested in more reminiscing about Free Comic Book Day, Baby Yoda or anything else? Subscribe to our LitG Daily Mailing List. And we'll see you here tomorrow.
As news about revised publisher schedules continue to be revealed, so are other details – like an unannounced First Appearance in Go Go Power Rangers #31, on-sale May 27th.
Both characters have been turned into action figures, Funko Pops and featured in multiple video games – with fans demanding they appear in any new live-action films developed by Hasbro. And if that happens, expect those issues to skyrocket even more.
Well, I understand that Go Go Power Rangers #31 will feature the debut of a new MegaZord – namely the MechaTigerZord. This combines the Tiger Zord with the Mecha Zord that first debuted in Go Go Power Rangers #21. Given that first appearances with connections to Tommy Oliver (the Green Ranger and then the White Ranger, who pilots the Tiger Zord) like Drakkon and the Ranger Slayer remain hot, this issue might be a low risk high reward investment.
After all, comic shops are definitely ordering conservatively now and none of them knew about this First Appearance. Will they up their orders on Go Go Power Rangers #31 to meet potential demand from fans if actor Jason David Frank (who played Tommy) tweets about this new Zord to his millions of followers on social media and drives them into comic shops? Or will they show up to find that copies of the issue are already gone? And will this new Zord join Lord Drakkon and Ranger Slayer in video games, toys & more merchandise raising its profile even more?
Go Go Power Rangers #31 FOCs on Monday, May 4th and is on-sale Wednesday, May 27th.
A Mega First Appearance in Go Go Power Rangers #31. Art from Previews.
GO GO POWER RANGERS #31 CVR A CARLINI CONNECTING
(W) Ryan Parrott, Sina Grace (A) Francesco Mortarino (CA) Eleonora Carlini
Zack, and Trini are leaving Earth to officially join THE OMEGA RANGERS, but it means their former team is now down three people, with Lord Zedd about to launch his ultimate weapon! Zordon and Alpha-5 search desperately for worthy successors, but will it be enough to stop the enemy?In Shops: May 27, 2020 SRP: $3.99
These are strange times, but The Daily LITG is becoming a valuable way to quantify just what comic book geek culture is up to in this time of trial. Also, to celebrate the latest Baby Yoda products for these dark, dark times. Welcome all, to the daily Lying In The Gutters a long-running run around the day before and the day ahead. You can sign up to receive it as an e-mail here.
Baby Yoda, Yaoyorozu, Yanick Paquette, The Daily LITG, May 1st 2020. The Child, photo from Funko/Hot Topic.
Baby Yoda, Yaoyorozu, and the 10 Most-Read Stories yesterday
Bleeding Cool continues to report from the comics industry shutdown, With more from ou favourite Baby Yoda, Yaoyorozu and changes to Diamond Comics. Keep up with your Daily LITG.
There would also have been signings, appearances, symposia, all manner of comic book-related events. But a few have gone online, and here are some still happening today, on the Daily LITG.
There may not be much of a party atmosphere right now. Or if there is, the police will come and shut you down. But comic folk are still getting older and still celebrating that special date.
Alex Niño, 79, artist for Warren and Heavy Metal Magazine, still self-publishing.
Phil Foglio, 63, creator of Buck Godot.
Tim Sale, 63, artist on Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory, Superman for All Seasons, Catwoman: When in Rome, Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue, Hulk: Gray, Captain America: White with Jeph Loeb.
Mike Anderson, 48, of Rolled & Told.
Matt Silady, writer/artist of The Homeless Channel and the Chair of California College of the Arts MFA in Comics graduate program.
Marco M. Lupoi, Publishing Director at Panini SpA, former Editorial director at Marvel Comics Italia SrL, former Editor in chief at EDIZIONI STAR COMICS SRL
Michael L. Peters, artist on Unbound, Heavy Metal.
Baden James Mellonie, writer/editor/publisher at Eighth Continent Publishing
Mark Walters, Show Director at Dallas Comics Show
John Harris Dunning of Tumult and Salem Brownstone.
David Hopkins, writer of Karma Incorporated and Emily Edison
Interested in more reminiscing about a geeky Barack Obama, Baby Yoda or anything else? Subscribe to our LitG Daily Mailing List. And we'll see you here tomorrow.
The Mandalorian has been a huge success since it's Fall debut in 2019. The show has opened the eyes to fans and non-fans of the expanded universe of Star Wars. After the show's debut, collectors and fans were swept off their feet from the cuteness that is The Child (Baby Yoda). This adorable creature was an instant hit and with its surprise appearance companies rushed to get collectibles to the market. The first wave of these collectibles has already passed as Funko, Build a Bear, Hasbro, and Mattel products are hitting shelves already. However, we are about to prepare for the second wave of The Mandalorian collectibles as a new wave of Funko Pops has been announced. Five new Pop vinyls have been revealed, one will be an exclusive, and one in the series first Pop Moment. First up is the season finale Moff Gideo who is holding onto the elusive and ancient Darksaber. This will be the second Moff figure Funko has revealed and this new mold will be quite a sight after for the weapon in his hand. Next up is the new Pop Moment that features both Mandalorian and The Child in its hovering crib. This is an iconic moment from the series and a perfect moment to capture as a collectible.
The last three are of course the main event that everyone is obsessed over, Baby Yoda (The Child). The first two are based on pretty iconic adorable moments from the television show with the Child having some meals featuring with eating a frog and the cup of soup in his hand. The last The Mandalorian Funko Pop figure will be a Walmart exclusive that shows The Child using the Force. All three of these are new variations of the already available figure but like most Mandalorian collectibles and Baby Yoda products, they will be hard to find in the wild. Good thing for Funko and Star Wars collectors, pre-orders are already live and you can find all of the commons located here. The Walmart exclusive is also up for pre-order too and can be found here.
The Mandalorian and The Child Moment, photo from Funko/Hot Topic.
Doctor Brown and Marty McFly are back and are ready to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future. Originally revealed at the 2020 New York Toy Fair, Funko has recently confirmed all the upcoming figures for its newest wave. This is a pleasant surprise for Back to the Future fans to get to see some of their favorite characters return after all this time. With a lot of the licenses being put on hold due to the pandemic, it is nice to see what lines are making the cut this year. Funko has shown off 7 new pops, 1 new Pop Town, and a Pop Tee bundle. Of course, Marty McFly and Doctor Emmett Brown are the main focus off this wave, we will also be getting a Biff Pop! This will be a Pop debut for the infamous Back to the Future bully that fans have been wanting for quite some time. The only exclusive of the wave will the Marty McFly Funko Pop Tee that shows off his hoverboard skills. It is a basic tee but the Pop included will be a nice little pick up for any dedicated fan. Of this wave we will be getting, the 50s, camcorder, and sunglasses Marty. There will also be a Back to the Future Part II Marty will a shiny futuristic hat. For the Doc Brown Funko Pop figures, there will be a 50s Doc with the science experience hat and a future Doc from Back to the Future II. For the Pop Town, we will be getting the iconic Hill Valley Courthouse that is from the ending of the first film.
Each one of these figures is very dynamic and popping with color. This will be the biggest wave of Back to the Future Funko Pops collectors will have seen since the beginning. It is nice to see some love for the film's second entry and they defiantly picked two good designs for them. Each of the Back to the Future Funko Pop Vinyl Figures is set as a common release and you can find them here. The pops will be between $9-12 depending on the location while the Doctor Brown Pop Town figure will be priced at $29.99 The Pop tee will be a Walmart exclusive so be on the lookout for in store and online drop for it.
We were wondering where the Diamond Comic Distributors March 2020 marketshare statistics might have got to. Well, it has been a peculiar month. Rather than the usual Friday/Monday release, we are getting the marketshare and top tens today followed by the full stats tomorrow. So here we go, Spider-Woman and all.
As it stands comic book sales are down for the month, based on last March, this February and the year as a whole. Sales are down in March -14.90% based on the number of comics sold and -8.21% for the amount of money they brought in. For the year as a whole so far, comics dollars are down -4.39% from 2019 and sales numbers are down -4.55%. And all this was before the shutdowns really hit. March was only a little down on February for comics sales, -0.65% on revenue and -1.35% sales numbers. So where did Spider-Woman come in?
Spider-Woman Most Ordered Comic in Diamond's March 2020 Marketshare.
Marvel Comics was March's top publisher with Spider-Woman helping it to a 40.98% dollar share down from 41.85% in February, and a 46.76% unit share down from 47.3%. DC was second with a 27.34% dollar share down from 29% and a 27.58% unit share down from 30.16%. Image Comics was, as usual, third for the month, with numbers slightly up, a unit share of 6.17% up from 5.41% and a 6.40% dollar share up from 6.02%. It is followed by IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Dark Horse Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment – we will try and run a marketshare-per-capita count for tomorrow to give that further context.
Spider-Woman Most Ordered Comic in Diamond's March 2020 Marketshare. Image from Diamond.
ComicChron and creator John Jackson Miller tells Bleeding Cool his take on the situation. He tells us "at first glance, the overall numbers look much better than you'd expect — because they're computed on what Diamond's sales to retailers were. That part of March was mostly baked in — it's off because there were no reorders, basically, and because Marvel deep-discounted. That's a big chunk of the difference between comics dollars and units: the returnability subtractions are another."
Karla Pacheco and Pete Perez's Spider-Woman #1 from Marvel Comics was the best-selling title – even with the massive variant cover launch, that is still a surprise. I'm told it even surprised Marvel Comics. It beat out Flash #750 even for dollar ranking. While Boom will be very happy with Once & Future: The King Is Undead, and Something Is Killing the Children Volume 1 in first and second place for collections and OGNs.
Marvel Comics had seven titles among March's top ten best-selling comics. In addition to Spider-Woman #1, Thor #4 ranked #3, X-Men #8 ranked #4, Wolverine #2 ranked #5, Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos' Strange Academy #1 ranked #6, X-Men #9 ranked #8, and The Immortal Hulk #33 ranked #9. DC had three titles in the top ten: the oversized anniversary issue The Flash #750 ranked #2, Batman #90 ranked #7, and Batman #91 ranked #10. Among the premier publishers, Jonathan Hickman and Mike Huddleston's Decorum #1 was Image Comics' best-selling book for March at #20, Boom Studios' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 ranked #51, IDW Publishing's Transformers vs. The Terminator #1 ranked #85, Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja: Age of Chaos #3 ranked #92, and Michael Allred's X-Ray Robot #1 was Dark Horse Comics top book for the month at #131.
Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora's Once & Future Volume 1: The King Is Undead, a modern fantasy inspired by the Arthurian legend published by Boom Studios, was the best-selling graphic novel of March. Also from Boom Studios, Something Is Killing the Children Volume 1 ranked #2. Marvel Comics had five titles in the top ten: Al Ewing and Joe Bennett's The Immortal Hulk Volume 6 ranked #3, followed by The History of the Marvel Universe Treasury Edition at #5, New Mutants Volume 1 at #6, Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic's King Thor at #7, and Star Wars Volume 13: Rogues and Rebels at #9. DC had two titles in the top ten: Amy Wolfram and Agnes Garbowska's DC Super Hero Girls: Powerless ranked #4 and Marieke Nijkamp and Manuel Preitano's The Oracle Code ranked #8. Also in the top ten, Oni Press' Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons II: Painscape ranked #10.
Funko's POP! Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta Vinyl Figure, a PREVIEWS Exclusive, was the best-selling toy of March. Also from Funko, the PREVIEWS Exclusive POP! Marvel: Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse: Casual Miles Morales Vinyl Figure ranked #3. Diamond Select Toys had two products in the top ten: the Marvel Select: Spider-Man Figure, based on Sony's best-selling Spider-Man PlayStation 4 video game, ranked #4, and the Disney Select Classic Figures ranked #6. Also in the top ten, DC Collectibles' Batman vs. Harley Quinn Battle Statue (Second Edition) ranked #10.
Paizo Publishing's Pathfinder: Gamemastery Guide, a sourcebook for the second edition of the Pathfinder role-playing game, was March's best-selling game product and one of Paizo's eight products among the month's top ten. Dynamite Entertainment's Elvira, Mistress of the Dark's Spectral Switchboard, a Ouija board-style game starring the horror icon, ranked #6 for the month.
TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHER
DOLLAR
SHARE
UNIT
SHARE
MARVEL COMICS
40.98%
46.76%
DC COMICS
27.34%
27.58%
IMAGE COMICS
6.40%
6.17%
IDW PUBLISHING
4.51%
3.87%
BOOM! STUDIOS
3.25%
3.21%
DARK HORSE COMICS
2.97%
1.94%
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
2.38%
2.05%
VIZ MEDIA
1.61%
0.59%
ONI PRESS
0.80%
0.60%
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT
0.67%
0.75%
OTHER NON-TOP 10
9.11%
6.47%
COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
DOLLARS
UNITS
MARCH 2020 VS. FEBRUARY 2020
COMICS
-1.54%
-0.21%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
1.76%
-15.12%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
-0.65%
-1.35%
TOYS
-15.00%
26.16%
MARCH 2020 VS. MARCH 2019
COMICS
-15.59%
-6.56%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
-13.05%
-26.54%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
-14.90%
-8.21%
TOYS
-6.43%
19.43%
YEAR-TO-DATE 2020 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2019
COMICS
-5.51%
-4.48%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
-1.51%
-5.43%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
-4.39%
-4.55%
TOYS
-0.02%
-6.56%
FIRST QUARTER 2020 VS. FOURTH QUARTER 2019
COMICS
-15.59%
-6.56%
GRAPHIC NOVELS
-13.05%
-26.54%
TOTAL COMICS/GN
-14.90%
-8.21%
TOYS
-6.43%
19.43%
NEW TITLES SHIPPED
PUBLISHER
COMICS SHIPPED
GRAPHIC NOVELS SHIPPED
MAGAZINES SHIPPED
TOTAL
SHIPPED
MARVEL COMICS
99
38
0
137
DC COMICS
83
24
0
107
IDW PUBLISHING
36
16
0
52
IMAGE COMICS
39
11
0
50
DARK HORSE COMICS
19
25
0
44
BOOM! STUDIOS
22
9
0
31
DYNAMITE
21
1
0
22
ONI PRESS INC.
6
5
0
11
VIZ MEDIA LLC
0
10
0
10
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC
6
2
0
8
OTHER NON-TOP 10
140
156
16
312
TOTAL
471
297
16
784
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
SPIDER-WOMAN #1
$4.99
JAN200803-M
MARVEL COMICS
2
THE FLASH #750
$7.99
DEC190400-M
DC COMICS
3
THOR #4
$3.99
JAN200930-M
MARVEL COMICS
4
X-MEN #8
$3.99
JAN200843-M
MARVEL COMICS
5
WOLVERINE #2
$3.99
JAN200832-M
MARVEL COMICS
6
STRANGE ACADEMY #1
$4.99
JAN200795-M
MARVEL COMICS
7
BATMAN #90
$3.99
JAN200509-M
DC COMICS
8
X-MEN #9
$3.99
JAN200845-M
MARVEL COMICS
9
THE IMMORTAL HULK #33
$5.99
JAN200899-M
MARVEL COMICS
10
BATMAN #91
$3.99
JAN200511
DC COMICS
TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
SPIDER-WOMAN #1
$4.99
JAN200803-M
MARVEL COMICS
2
THE FLASH #750
$7.99
DEC190400-M
DC COMICS
3
ROBIN 80TH-ANNIVERSARY 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR #1
$9.99
JAN200496-M
DC COMICS
4
THE IMMORTAL HULK #33
$5.99
JAN200899-M
MARVEL COMICS
5
STRANGE ACADEMY #1
$4.99
JAN200795-M
MARVEL COMICS
6
STRANGE ADVENTURES #1 [*]
$4.99
JAN200506-M
DC COMICS
7
X-MEN #8
$3.99
JAN200843-M
MARVEL COMICS
8
WOLVERINE #2
$3.99
JAN200832-M
MARVEL COMICS
9
HELLIONS #1
$4.99
JAN200820-M
MARVEL COMICS
10
X-MEN #9
$3.99
JAN200845-M
MARVEL COMICS
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY UNITS SHIPPED
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
ONCE & FUTURE VOL. 1: THE KING IS UNDEAD TP
$16.99
DEC191235
BOOM! STUDIOS
2
SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN VOL. 1 TP
$14.99
DEC191236
BOOM! STUDIOS
3
THE IMMORTAL HULK VOL. 6 TP
$15.99
DEC190988
MARVEL COMICS
4
DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: POWERLESS TP
$9.99
NOV190498
DC COMICS
5
HISTORY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
TREASURY EDITION TP
$29.99
NOV190960-M
MARVEL COMICS
6
NEW MUTANTS BY HICKMAN VOL. 1 TP
$15.99
FEB201054
MARVEL COMICS
7
KING THOR TP
$15.99
DEC190986
MARVEL COMICS
8
THE ORACLE CODE TP
$16.99
NOV190499
DC COMICS
9
STAR WARS VOL. 13: ROGUES AND REBELS TP
$17.99
DEC190989
MARVEL COMICS
10
RICK AND MORTY VS. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS II: PAINSCAPE TP
$19.99
NOV191821
ONI PRESS
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
X-MEN: CHILDREN OF ATOM HC BOX SET
$500.00
SEP190974
MARVEL COMICS
2
UNCANNY X-FORCE BY REMENDER OMNIBUS HC
$100.00
SEP190971
MARVEL COMICS
3
WONDER WOMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE OMNIBUS VOLUME 4 HC
$150.00
MAR190609
DC COMICS
4
HISTORY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
TREASURY EDITION TP
$29.99
NOV190960-M
MARVEL COMICS
5
BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT DELUXE EDITION HC
$49.99
NOV190529
DC COMICS
6
ONCE & FUTURE VOL. 1: THE KING IS UNDEAD TP
$16.99
DEC191235
BOOM! STUDIOS
7
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: DAZZLER VOL. 1 HC
$75.00
SEP190975-M
MARVEL COMICS
8
POWER PACK CLASSIC OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC
$125.00
SEP190972-M
MARVEL COMICS
9
THE WICKED & THE DIVINE VOLUME 4 HC (MR)
$64.99
OCT190161
IMAGE COMICS
10
SOMETHING IS KILLING CHILDREN VOL. 1 TP
$14.99
DEC191236
BOOM! STUDIOS
TOP 10 TOYS BY DOLLARS INVOICED
RANK
DESCRIPTION
ITEM CODE
VENDOR
1
POP! DRAGON BALL Z: SUPER SAIYAN 2 VEGETA FIGURE
JAN199073
FUNKO
2
PERSONA 5: FUTABA SAKURA FIGMA
MAR198472
GOOD SMILE COMPANY
3
POP! MARVEL: SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE: CASUAL MILES MORALES VINYL FIGURE
JAN199071
FUNKO
4
MARVEL SELECT: SPIDER-MAN (PS4 VIDEO GAME) FIGURE
AUG192734
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS
5
IRON GIANT DIECAST 1/12-SCALE ACTION FIGURE
JAN188313
1000 TOYS INC.
6
DISNEY SELECT CLASSIC FIGURES
AUG192721
DIAMOND SELECT TOYS
7
IRON GIANT (BATTLE MODE) DIECAST 1/12-SCALE FIGURE
