Estimated quantities for initial orders on graphic novels shipping in December 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on comics shipping in December 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

Finishing out a softer fourth quarter, comic store orders for the top comics were weaker in December, with over twice as many titles dropping (sixteen) as increased (seven) in the top 25.

Retailer Timothy Davis of Alternate Realilty in Chicago, stimulated a lot of immediate response with his well thought-out plea for more comics for young children. One retailer that responded commented that there was also a dearth of comics for young girls. Davis responded.

Don Lynch of Gateway Comics in Morgantown, West Virginia saw Timothy Davis' appeal for publishers to produce comics appropriate for young children and sent us this strong message of agreement.

Lots of projects of interest to pop culture retailers were bandied about in Hollywood this week with some projected as feature films and others as TV series.

ICv2 has learned that Marvel and Graphitti Designs have settled the dispute that had brought a halt to all shipments of Marvel t-shirts from Graphitti in September.

Shawn Hamilton of the Great Escape in Nashville, Tennessee responded to Bill Jemas' Open Letter to Retailers and Marvel's quick scheduling of a Must Have for The Truth with this comment on another aspect of Marvel's No Overprint policy (difficulty in replacing shortages), and a happy ending.

Following the trend established in October, comic store orders on most top comics slipped again in November, with only five of the top twenty-five posting increases (all below #15).

Michael Tierney of the Comic Book Store in Little Rock, Arkansas and Collector's Edition in North Little Rock saw Bill Jemas' comments on oveprinting in conjunction with Marvel's plan to tweak its no overprint policy, and sent us this comment.