2000ad's Circulation figures!

[EddieHitler]

Hello

Out of interest at what point would the publishers pull the plug on 2000ad as I have read (somewhere) that it's readership is no more than 20,000.  Which ain't good!

[Roger Godpleton]

Hi Dez.

[Buttonman]

The trades alone must make them a fortune and that's not considering the licencing, movie rights, merchandice and all the other crap that Commando Forces buys in duplicate.

The readership may be falling but it's also maturing (not in an emotional sense) so the average disposable income per scrot has risen from around 10p to £££££££'s.

[radiator]

I wouldn't be surprised if the readership has stabilised (or even risen slightly) over the last ten years.

2000ad and the Meg aren't reliant on advertising revenue and so aren't so susceptible to circulation figures. And while 2000ad itself is probably not a big money spinner, as BM says, Rebellion must make a nice sum off the Case Files books, and there's the very real prospect of two movie adaptations in the works.

[Paul faplad Finch]

and there's the very real prospect of two movie adaptations in the works.

What have I missed?

[radiator]

Dreamworks recently renewed their option on Button Man, so there is a chance that the film will still happen.

John Wagner:

It is and it isn't (good news). It means that Spielberg really likes it but it also means that after all this time - three years now, I think - they still haven't come up with a script that satisfies him and truly reflects the comic story. I'm glad he's being so demanding, I'd hate it to be typical Hollywood formulaic crap, but I'll be so relieved if and when they finally get a screenplay that works.

[maryanddavid]

2000ads sales figures are not known. The figure quoted I presume was taken from Down the Tubes, which is speculation.

The figure I was given to belive about 4 years ago was nearer 30000, but again its not a definitive number and I dont know if its correct.

The only thing I can say is that 2000ads price goes up very slowly, which suggest a stable readership.  The price is not overly expencive when compared to other comics and cheap compared to niche specialist titles, which would suggest its making a profit, and a reasonably good one.

David

[Paul faplad Finch]

I was aware of Button Man being talked about as a movie a while back but had thought it was a dead concern, at least for the time being. I'd not known it was still being discussed.Not really got my finger on the pulse.

Be great to see this go ahead but the concern, as John Wagner (and apparently Speilberg)clearly understands, is that as a concept it could so easily be done as just another generic action film.

[IndigoPrime]

Probably also worth noting that 'x thousand' is never a measure of profitability and survival unless you know more about the background of a publication. It's perfectly feasible for a newsstand mag to sell 100,000 copies and be in serious trouble, but for another to sell 7500 and be nicely profitable. And for 2000 AD, any comparisons with the comic's 1980s high-point (in terms of sales) are totally worthless: different publication, different market.

[JOE SOAP]

Remember, the index of inter-planetary sales is not published so all estimates are off.

[ThryllSeekyr]

Well I hope it counts that I still buy the graphic novels once in while.

[Daveycandlish]

The readership may be falling but it's also maturing (not in an emotional sense) so the average disposable income per scrot has risen from around 10p to £££££££'s.

When I was a kid I didn't have a mortgage, bills or a wife to pay for, so my disposable income still works out at about 10p!
Although back then I didn't have a credit card to buy all the GNs and case files, so I guess it worked out after all   

[willthemightyW]

readership is no more than 20,000. 

Roughly 18,270 (give or take) readers of 2000ad are members of this forum, and there must be loads all over this country who aren't on the forum. There are about 30 of my friends and acquaintances ( I know that isn't much) that read 2000ad and hardly know about the forum, so there are probably quite a bit more, and that's not counting the readers in places like the U.S and Canada.

[Steven Sterlacchini]

I would hope that circulation has increased, because I think the comic is a good as ever and in some cases better.

A really good Dredd film or that ABC Warriors cartoon that was mentioned, would give any figures a real kick up the arse.

And would also increase any merhandise opportunities.

I think the merchandise opportunities could be exploited more, but there are a lot of other factors which impact on that.

On a side note, I went out on the town for a drink with my good lady wife, and Judge Dredd images made an appearance in the decor of two rather nice 'trendy' bars. So he's definitely a cultural icon who can be exploited independent of comic book success.

[House of Usher]

The readership may be falling but it's also maturing (not in an emotional sense) so the average disposable income per scrot has risen from around 10p to £££££££'s.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... I make that seven pounds.

Sounds about right. My disposable income must be about average then.  



EDIT: I see Daveycandlish got there before me!!