Best laid plans....We had a our best month in comic sales since the mid-90's bubble.

Twice, over the years, I've been caught with too high a percentage of my sales in one product, only to have it collapse and almost take the store down with it. Both times, it wasn't so much that I dropped product lines as that sales became too powerful and overwhelmed everything else. Sports cards grew exponentially for a few years; then comics followed with their own boom.

Nevertheless, I've tried mightily over the years to add diversity to my product line. I'd prefer to have no one product be more than 50% of sales. I thought I'd succeeded last year.

But last month, comics pushed their way to 65% of sales again.

Comic monthlies, which had been doing about 60% of the category, with 40% being graphic novels, pushed their way to 70%.

What ya gonna do? Turn down sales?

I'm surprised by the resurgence of monthies, vs graphic novels. Even back-issues seem to be doing better. In some ways, it's a good sign, because the mass market can and does do books, but I think will always have problems with the verities of monthlies.

Three areas of concern. I have a new customer that spent a lot of the increase in comics last month. I love that he is younger, around 18, and that he's enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I worry that he might burn out quicker, by spending too much.

Secondly, I'm uncomfortable with how much of the increase is tied to huge Marvel crossovers and tie-ins. I've mentioned before that I think it's asking your base customers to spend more and more to keep up, instead of creating new customers.

Third, gimmicks and variant covers. These are purely collectible, which I've de-emphasized over the years in favor of actually reading and enjoying. But again, What ya gonna do? Turn down the sales?

I'm going along with it. I've already upped my orders on monthlies, and am more willing than ever to reorder quick sell outs. I'm even thinking of revamping my back issues, which have been neglected for years now. I have a huge back inventory of comics which are basically in storage. When I was on the coast, I saw a new system of boxes that would more or less double the number of back-issues I could display.

So, I'll just enjoy the comic sales for awhile, but be certain I don't neglect my other product lines.