Spotlight: Andrews McMeel
I have a lot of ways to sort and arrange the data that go into the charts, but only a limited amount of time each week. I’m trying to gauge public interest in the various features by allowing you, Dear Reader, to pick your favourites.
Poll Question: Is the Spotlight feature, as presented below, of value to you? Vote by leaving a comment. Please Note: Since I usually receive no comments on blog posts, any one person with an opinion could end up being the deciding vote on how I report this data.
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I did a short series of Spotlight columns back toward the end of 2008 [ADV Manga, Aurora Publishing, Broccoli Books, CMX, Dark Horse, Del Rey, DMP/DMP June/801, Graphic-Sha & Manga University] and while I don’t necessarily feel the need to do quite as much background research and reporting I’ll try to write up at least a short intro for each company and imprint thrust into the Spotlight.
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Andrews McMeel is the book publishing arm for the Universal Press Syndicate (in fact both are owned by Andrews McMeel Publ., LLC) and in addition to Calvin & Hobbes, Doonesbury, The Boondocks (up until 2006) and The Far Side, they also publish books & calendars based on strips owned by other syndicates (notably Get Fuzzy, Pearls Before Swine, and some but not all of the New Yorker cartoon collections)
Straight to the Source: Andrew McMeel’s website and the “Comics & Humor” category there.
Top 10 Titles, as of 10 January:
164. ↓-2 (162) : Calvin & Hobbes Complete – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [276.4] ::
166. ↑26 (192) : Dilbert 2010 Wall Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [273.2] ::
293. ↓-73 (220) : Far Side Complete – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2003 [195.2] ::
301. ↓-18 (283) : Dilbert 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [191.7] ::
313. ↓-81 (232) : Dilbert 2.0: 20 Years of Dilbert – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2008 [187.3] ::
320. ↓-76 (244) : Peanuts Celebrating Peanuts: 60 Years – Andrews McMeel, Nov 2009 [183.4] ::
323. ↓-22 (301) : Mutts The Gift of Nothing – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [182.6] ::
335. ↓-50 (285) : Calvin & Hobbes Scientific Progress Goes Boink – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1991 [177.6] ::
355. ↓-49 (306) : Dilbert 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2009 [169.2] ::
378. ↓-53 (325) : Calvin & Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1995 [159.6] ::
These are all sliding off of holiday sales highs; comic strip collections do gangbusters business in December (particularly those big hardcover slipcased sets, which sell for quite a bit less online) not to mention the calendars —
Yes, I know calendars aren’t graphic novels. We could also argue the comic strip collections aren’t graphic novels. But I do know I read almost every Far Side gag panel as part of those old page-a-day calendars and for a significant portion of the fan base, that was just about the only way they read them.
[If it makes you feel better, no calendars will be included in the charts starting with reported rankings for Jan. 17th. It’s interesting to track sales in the lead up to a new year, but at some point it’s really kind of sad and I don’t want these hanging around clogging up the charts into March and April.]
Here’s an incomplete of Andrews McMeel titles (just the ones I’ve tracked as having sold online in the past year)
1121. ↓-266 (855) : Baby Blues My Space – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [30.1] ::
2122. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Baby Blues Something Chocolate This Way Comes – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2006 [0.4] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Baby Blues This Is Going to Be Tougher Than We Thought – Andrews McMeel, Apr 1991 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Baby Blues Our Server Is Down – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Baby Blues We Are Experiencing Parental Difficulties, Please Stand By – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1995 [0.0] ::
1944. ↑ (last ranked 30 Aug 09) : Boondocks Because I Know You Don’t Read No Newspaper – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2000 [3.2] ::
Please note: most Boondocks collections are published by Three Rivers Press (Random House)
164. ↓-2 (162) : Calvin & Hobbes Complete – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [276.4] ::
335. ↓-50 (285) : Calvin & Hobbes Scientific Progress Goes Boink – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1991 [177.6] ::
378. ↓-53 (325) : Calvin & Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1995 [159.6] ::
413. ↓-53 (360) : Calvin & Hobbes Indispensable Calvin & Hobbes – Andrews McMeel, Jun 1992 [148.7] ::
418. ↓-41 (377) : Calvin & Hobbes It’s a Magical World – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1996 [146.6] ::
419. ↓-33 (386) : Calvin & Hobbes Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1992 [146.2] ::
453. ↓-52 (401) : Calvin & Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1989 [136.3] ::
467. ↓-43 (424) : Calvin & Hobbes Authoritative Calvin & Hobbes – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1990 [131.2] ::
493. ↓-56 (437) : Calvin & Hobbes Something Under the Bed Is Drooling – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1988 [124.5] ::
498. ↓-66 (432) : Calvin & Hobbes Weirdos from Another Planet – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1990 [123.3] ::
519. ↓-47 (472) : Calvin & Hobbes Essential Calvin & Hobbes – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1988 [118.6] ::
522. ↓-247 (275) : Calvin & Hobbes Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1994 [117.9] ::
626. ↓-84 (542) : Calvin & Hobbes There’s Treasure Everywhere – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1996 [90.3] ::
666. ↓-92 (574) : Calvin & Hobbes The Revenge of the Baby-Sat – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1991 [84.7] ::
706. ↑257 (963) : Calvin & Hobbes – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1987 [77.1] ::
731. ↓-101 (630) : Calvin & Hobbes The Days Are Just Packed – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1993 [73.5] ::
789. ↓-107 (682) : Calvin & Hobbes Yukon Ho – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1989 [66.2] ::
2312. ↓-797 (1515) : Calvin & Hobbes Sunday Pages ’85-‘95 – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2001 [0.1] ::
2075. ↑ (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Close to Home A Million Little Pieces – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2006 [1.1] ::
166. ↑26 (192) : Dilbert 2010 Wall Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [273.2] ::
301. ↓-18 (283) : Dilbert 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [191.7] ::
313. ↓-81 (232) : Dilbert 2.0: 20 Years of Dilbert – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2008 [187.3] ::
355. ↓-49 (306) : Dilbert 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2009 [169.2] ::
573. ↓-59 (514) : Dilbert Freedom’s Just Another Word for People Finding Out You’re Useless – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2009 [102.6] ::
1001. ↓-184 (817) : Dilbert This Is the Part Where You Pretend to Add Value – Andrews McMeel, May 2008 [41.1] ::
1076. ↑1161 (2237) : Dilbert 2010 Mini Wall Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [34.2] ::
1975. ↑new (0) : Dilbert Another Day in Cubicle Paradise – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2002 [2.4] ::
2060. ↑ (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Dilbert Try Rebooting Yourself – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2006 [1.3] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Dilbert Words You Don’t Want to Hear During Your Annual Review – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2003 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 28 Jun 09) : Dilbert Cubes & Punishment – Andrews McMeel, Nov 2007 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Dilbert Bring Me the Head of Willy the Mailboy – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1995 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Dilbert Build a Better Life by Stealing Office Supplies – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1994 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Dilbert Casual Day Has Gone Too Far – Andrews McMeel, Feb 2003 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Dilbert I’m Not Anti-Business, I’m Anti-Idiot – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1998 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Dilbert It’s Not Funny If I have to Explain It – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2004 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 9 Aug 09) : Dilbert Positive Attitude – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2007 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 30 Aug 09) : Dilbert The Fluorescent Light Glistens Off Your Head – Andrews McMeel, May 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 30 Aug 09) : Dilbert What Would Wally Do – Andrews McMeel, Jun 2006 [0.0] ::
701. ↓-78 (623) : Doonesbury Tee Time in Berzerkistan – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2009 [78.1] ::
2045. ↑ (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Doonesbury The War Within – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2006 [1.5] ::
2106. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Doonesbury The Long Road Home – Andrews McMeel, Jun 2005 [0.6] ::
. (last ranked 16 Aug 09) : Doonesbury Dude: The Big Book of Zonker – Andrews McMeel, Dec 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Duplex Bad Habits – Andrews McMeel, Nov 2006 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 3 May 09) : F Minus: This Can’t Be Legal – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [0.0] ::
293. ↓-73 (220) : Far Side Complete – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2003 [195.2] ::
464. ↓-48 (416) : Far Side Gallery 1 – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1984 [131.9] ::
647. ↓-117 (530) : Far Side Gallery 2 – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1986 [87.0] ::
845. ↓-138 (707) : Far Side Gallery 5 – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1995 [59.8] ::
943. ↓-163 (780) : Far Side Prehistory – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1989 [47.7] ::
961. ↓-212 (749) : Far Side Gallery 3 – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1988 [45.7] ::
996. ↓-246 (750) : Far Side Gallery 4 – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1993 [41.6] ::
1482. ↓-425 (1057) : Far Side Wiener Dog Art – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1990 [11.0] ::
2125. ↓-837 (1288) : Far Side Beyond the Far Side – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1983 [0.3] ::
2271. ↑new (0) : Far Side Valley of the Far Side – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1985 [0.1] ::
2318. ↓-738 (1580) : Far Side The Chickens Are Restless – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1993 [0.1] ::
2539. ↑ (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Far Side The Curse of Madame C – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1994 [0.1] ::
2561. ↑ (last ranked 9 Aug 09) : Far Side In Search of the Far Side – Andrews McMeel, Jul 1984 [0.1] ::
2614. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Far Side Cows of Our Planet – Andrews McMeel, Jun 1992 [0.1] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Far Side Last Chapter & Worse – Andrews McMeel, Sep 1996 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 12 Jul 09) : Far Side Unnatural Selections – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1991 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Far Side It Came from the Far Side – Andrews McMeel, Jul 1986 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 9 Aug 09) : Far Side Observer – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1987 [0.0] ::
2099. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : For Better or for Worse Striking a Chord – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2005 [0.7] ::
2273. ↑new (0) : For Better or for Worse It’s the Thought That Counts – Andrews McMeel, Aug 1994 [0.1] ::
2548. ↑ (last ranked 12 Jul 09) : For Better or for Worse The Last Straw – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1985 [0.1] ::
2578. ↑ (last ranked 23 Aug 09) : For Better or for Worse Pushing 40 – Andrews McMeel, Jan 1988 [0.1] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : For Better or for Worse Graduation – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2001 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : For Better or for Worse Just A Simple Wedding – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : For Better or for Worse Never Wink at a Worried Woman – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [0.0] ::
427. ↓-44 (383) : FoxTrot Wrapped-Up – Andrews McMeel, May 2009 [143.8] ::
449. ↓-26 (423) : FoxTrot Math, Science, & Unix Underpants – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2009 [137.7] ::
1988. ↓-203 (1785) : FoxTrot Jam-Packed – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2006 [2.3] ::
2081. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : FoxTrot My Hot Dog Went Out, Can I Have Another – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2005 [1.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : FoxTrot FoxTrotius Maximus – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2004 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 17 May 09) : FoxTrot Death by Field Trip – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2001 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : FoxTrot Beyond a Doubt – Andrews McMeel, Mar 1997 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : FoxTrot Orlando Bloom Has Ruined Everything – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Frazz Live at Bryson Elementary – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2005 [0.0] ::
396. ↑29 (425) : Garfield Make Lunch, Not Landfills: 2010 Garfield “Green” Wall Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [152.9] ::
814. ↑20 (834) : Garfield 2010 Mini Day-to-Day Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [63.4] ::
833. ↓-13 (820) : Garfield 2010 Day-to-Day Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [61.4] ::
Garfield Collections are published by Ballantine Books (Random House)
532. ↓-70 (462) : Get Fuzzy Ignorance Thy Name Is Bucky – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2009 [114.2] ::
1008. ↓-203 (805) : Get Fuzzy The Potpourrific Great Big Grab Bag of Get Fuzzy – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2008 [40.6] ::
1763. ↓-411 (1352) : Get Fuzzy Take Our Cat, Please – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2008 [5.9] ::
2010. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Get Fuzzy Loserpalooza – Andrews McMeel, May 2007 [2.0] ::
. (last ranked 12 Jul 09) : Get Fuzzy Groovitude – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2002 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 9 Aug 09) : Get Fuzzy Bucky Katt’s Big Book of Fun – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2004 [0.0] ::
1910. ↓-432 (1478) : Lio: Happiness Is a Squishy Cephalopod – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2007 [3.6] ::
. (last ranked 18 Jan 09) : Manga Clip Art – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2006 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 8 Feb 09) : Manga Clip Art Female Characters – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [0.0] ::
323. ↓-22 (301) : Mutts The Gift of Nothing – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [182.6] ::
1284. ↓-372 (912) : Mutts Stop & Smell the Roses – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [19.4] ::
1932. ↑new (0) : Mutts Cats & Dogs – Andrews McMeel, Oct 1997 [3.3] ::
2284. ↑new (0) : Mutts – Andrews McMeel, Jul 1996 [0.1] ::
. (last ranked 17 May 09) : Mutts Sunday Evenings – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 2 Aug 09) : Mutts The Best of Mutts – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2007 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Mutts Dog-Eared – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2004 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Mutts Who Let the Cat Out? – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2005 [0.0] ::
488. ↓-3 (485) : Naruto Shippuden 2010 Calendar – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2009 [125.8] ::
. (last ranked 22 Feb 09) : Naruto Wall Calendar 2009 – Andrews McMeel, Jul 2008 [0.0] ::
Naruto, of course, is a Viz Shonen Jump title.
698. ↓-63 (635) : New Yorker Cartoon Collections On the Money: The Economy in Cartoons, 1925-2009 – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2009 [78.5] ::
. (last ranked 28 Jun 09) : New Yorker Cartoon Collections The New Yorker Book of Mom Cartoons – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2008 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 26 Jul 09) : New Yorker Cartoon Collections The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2008 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 16 Aug 09) : Non Sequitur Sunday Color Treasury – Andrews McMeel, Nov 2005 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Non Sequitur Lucy And Danae: Something Silly This Way Comes – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2005 [0.0] ::
320. ↓-76 (244) : Peanuts Celebrating Peanuts: 60 Years – Andrews McMeel, Nov 2009 [183.4] ::
1729. ↑new (0) : Peanuts Sudoku Comic Digest: 200 Puzzles Plus 50 Classic Peanuts Cartoons – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2008 [6.4] ::
1972. ↑new (0) : Peanuts Around the World in 45 Years: Charlie Brown’s Anniversary Celebration – Andrews McMeel, Nov 1994 [2.5] ::
2319. ↓-737 (1582) : Peanuts Being a Dog Is a Full-Time Job – Andrews McMeel, Apr 1994 [0.1] ::
(At least one person at Universal Press Syndicate probably has an aneurysm each time the Fantagraphics collections are mentioned)
508. ↓-45 (463) : Pearls Before Swine The Saturday Evening Pearls – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [121.4] ::
730. ↓-61 (669) : Pearls Before Swine The Crass Menagerie – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2008 [73.6] ::
902. ↓-132 (770) : Pearls Before Swine Lions & Tigers & Crocs, Oh My! – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2006 [53.0] ::
1048. ↑43 (1091) : Pearls Before Swine Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata – Andrews McMeel, May 2007 [36.6] ::
1416. ↓-353 (1063) : Pearls Before Swine Sgt. Piggy’s Lonely Hearts Club Comic – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2004 [13.4] ::
1656. ↓-9 (1647) : Pearls Before Swine Pearls Sells Out – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2009 [7.4] ::
2027. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Pearls Before Swine The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2006 [1.7] ::
2112. ↓-482 (1630) : Pearls Before Swine Nighthogs – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2005 [0.4] ::
. (1982) : Pearls Before Swine Macho Macho Animals – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2008 [0.0] ::
. (2514) : Pearls Before Swine BLTs Taste So Darn Good – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2003 [0.0] ::
1052. ↓-90 (962) : Pickles Still Pickled After All These Years – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2004 [36.1] ::
1071. ↓-185 (886) : Pickles Let’s Get Pickled – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2006 [34.6] ::
2263. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Rose Is Rose Red Carpet Rose – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2006 [0.2] ::
2587. ↑ (last ranked 30 Aug 09) : Rose Is Rose Running on Alter Ego – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2005 [0.1] ::
2004. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Sherman’s Lagoon In Shark Years I’m Dead – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2006 [2.1] ::
2090. ↑new (0) : Sherman’s Lagoon A Day at the Beach – Andrews McMeel, Apr 2005 [0.8] ::
2110. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Sherman’s Lagoon Surfer Safari – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2005 [0.5] ::
2289. ↑new (0) : Sherman’s Lagoon 1991 to 2001: Greatest Hits – Andrews McMeel, Aug 2002 [0.1] ::
1992. ↑ (last ranked 30 Aug 09) : The Flying McCoys – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2006 [2.3] ::
2154. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Tina’s Groove – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2006 [0.3] ::
2015. ↑ (last ranked 19 Jul 09) : Ziggy A Little Character Goes a Long Way – Andrews McMeel, May 2006 [1.9] ::
2022. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Ziggy Ziggy’s Gift – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [1.8] ::
431. ↓-70 (361) : Zits My Bad – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2009 [143.6] ::
1599. ↓-248 (1351) : Zits Alternative Zits – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2007 [8.4] ::
2032. ↑ (last ranked 5 Jul 09) : Zits Are We Out of the Driveway Yet? – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2006 [1.6] ::
2089. ↑ (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Zits Pimp My Lunch – Andrews McMeel, Oct 2005 [0.9] ::
2331. ↓-554 (1777) : Zits Crack of Noon – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2006 [0.1] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Zits Humongous Zits – Andrews McMeel, Mar 2000 [0.0] ::
. (last ranked 6 Sep 09) : Zits Busted – Andrews McMeel, Sep 2002 [0.0] ::
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That’s it for this week’s special feature; comments, questions, concerns?
