Comments on: Rulk Continues to Sell Out for Marvel

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:12:12 +0000

The books are selling in record numbers because this rendering of the Hulk is a gimmick. It was supposed to be done in 5 issues, but they’re dragging it out because people are surprisingly buying the comic, hoping to dissect it for clues to Rulk’s identity. It is, in all honesty, badly written. It’s the writing style that appeals to third graders. I hope this comes to a conclusion in the near future, for the sake of the Hulk comic in general.

By: Kolwyr

Kolwyr — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:36:31 +0000

Yeah, I realized about 10 seconds after posting they weren’t the Beat’s numbers (which track reprints). There were quite a number of books that seemed to take it on the chin in November. Uncanny shed ~11% from the previous month, Cable ~14%, Herc ~16.5%, Skaar ~21.5%, Thunderbolts ~16%, Guardians of the Galaxy ~ 16.5%, Young X-Men ~17%, Nova a whopping 26%, Captain Britain & MI13 ~21%, etc.

The Hulk has a 3 part Defenders arc coming up and I’m guessing that’ll give it another boost in sales. After which Hulk #600 will be out and maybe a new status quo.

By: Stephen Schleicher

Stephen Schleicher — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:13:36 +0000

You may be right about the tribute covers – the numbers come from ICv2, the math by me.

By: Kolwyr

Kolwyr — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:46:19 +0000

Stephen – Issues #6 and #7 had Turner tribute variant covers which is probably why they were higher than normal. #8 did not, it had a Buschema variant. Also keep in mind that those sales numbers (I’m sure are from the Beat) include 2nd and 3rd printings which aren’t known until at least a month after.

By: doubledumbassonyou

doubledumbassonyou — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:46:05 +0000

Hulk is terrible. I stopped buying it after issue 7 when I determined that it was the printed version of dog poo. Loeb has lost his stroke, and I’m not going to continue to prop up Marvel’s margin by picking this up for the sake of …. well I don’t know. If you want a good title … pick up Incredible Hercules. Greg Pak kicks Loeb’s sorry ass …

By: Albert

Albert — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:36:29 +0000

@ Josh

I understand the frustration about the hatred of this book. Loeb, as of late, hasn’t written anything spectacular, with the exception of Captain America: White #0. And in general, the writing style, as you said, is definitely old school, so it automatically won’t be palatable for everyone. But it’s good for any book to find an audience.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:00:10 +0000

@ Ok

Which is fine. If it’s not your bag, then it’s not your bag. What I’m talking about, are the ridiculous comments I see about things that haven’t in the book yet. Things like calling the Defenders’ upcoming appearance a “flagrant abuse of continuity,” when the specifics of said appearance are not yet known.

By: Ok

Ok — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:42:55 +0000

The hate is that its poorly written. I read the first arc and then quit. It was LOL lame.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:31:32 +0000

@ Salieri

Have you read the upcoming Defenders/Offenders story? ‘Cause it’s one thing to dislike something that you’ve actually read. It’s another thing to dislike something based on something that you haven’t read, but have preconceived notions about.

By: Salieri

Salieri — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:04:50 +0000

Hooray! It’s that good old DEFENDERS that no-one asked for, reunited again in a flagrant abuse of continuity (despite the fact that one is trying to avoid the surface world, one is in deep space and another exiled himself for using his magic in trying to defeat the last one, whose brains have been scraped out with an ice-cream scoop), to bash up their new/old foes! Growly McFinHead! Granitt The 90s Axe Wielder! Baron Boring! And Not Forgetting The One Character Even More Forgettable Than Any Of The Others…whatsisname.

Yes, it’s more roustabout entertainment from the ever-Jolly Jeph Loeb (whose nickname in the office is in fact ’senile’ but he tries to bite us if we get too close so it’s jolly from now on, sorry, oh god get away Joseph. Please. We let you have the Ultimate Universe, what more can you OH GOD MY EEAAARRRR…)

By: Stephen Schleicher

Stephen Schleicher — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:56:13 +0000

In case anyone cares, here’s the percentage difference compared to the previous issue.
Hulk #8 – 90776 (-17%)
Hulk #7 – 110261 (-06%)
Hulk #6 – 117807 (+18%)
Hulk #5 – 96347 (-05%)
Hulk #4 – 101927 (+09%)
Hulk #3 – 92487 (-01%)
Hulk #2 – 93,725 (-30%)
Hulk #1 – 134002

By: Stephen Schleicher

Stephen Schleicher — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:39:13 +0000

Apparently 90,776 people for issue #8… of course that represents a 17% drop in readership from issues 7 and 8.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:36:25 +0000

I don’t know what the deal is with all the hate surrounding this book. Personally, I think it’s loads of fun. The past three issues have been especially great, what with the guest stars and the over the top plot involving the Wendigos. All good fun, told in the old school, Marvel style.

By: Ok

Ok — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:11:34 +0000

Who the f is still reading this? I wouldn’t even bit torrent this.