DC commissioned Nielsen to survey comics readers to see how the DC New Universe / New 52 thang was working out. The goal had been, of course, to bring in lots of new readers by tossing out stodgy continuity, and reinventing the DC heroes in new, fresh, Jim-Lee-costume-bedecked versions.
Results? Very few new readers. Female readership down from a year ago.
Which was completely predictable, since there was not a lot here to appeal to new readers, but plenty to tick off older readers (and, especially, female readers, who got pretty much kicked to the curb, not only by DC's treatment of its female creative talent, but what it did with female characters as well).
Will DC change course again? Doubtful, at least as long as the current talent that engineered the DCnU remains at the helm. And not while the numbers are being spun as positive.
For example, DC is noting that there's a goodly return of former comic book readers (vs. new readers). The finding that only 2% of readers are under 18 could be seen as horrible news for the future of the industry, but DC is spinning it to prove that their more "mature" (skanky) comics approach is legitimate, since so few kids are in their readership. Sales were up — but only in comparison to preceding months, and they're trending back downward again.
So DC either believes that everything is going well, or is unwilling to consider that it isn't. And meanwhile potential audiences that grew up on DC animated TV series (Justice League, Batman, Superman, Teen Titans, a host of video releases) find little in common between those things and the DCnU. And the industry continues to dwindle. #ddtb
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DC Women Kicking Ass – DC Releases Nielsen survey numbers; few new readers, female readership declines
DC Releases Nielsen survey numbers; few new readers, female readership declines The results of the Nielsen Survey that DC did post reboot are in and the results are depressing. In an article on ICv2,….
My interest in DC has dropped to an all-time low. It seems more difficult to care about the characters now. The only book I look forward to is Birds of Prey. Well, maybe Catwoman, too. It has improved since the first issue.
My overall following of the DCU has similarly dropped. I agree BoP is good (and it was good before), and that Catwoman has improved since #1-2. There are still DC titles I enjoy, and others I’m interested in enough to follow, but overall I’m probably less of a DC-follower than I was.
But, then again, I’m not one of the Cherished Demographic, significant weekly investment or not.