You can squarely file this one under hype, but it is also of interest for you sales chart followers. The original digital comic THE LOOKOUTS, by the Penny Arcade crew of Tycho and Gabe, Cryptozoic’s Cory Jones, Ben McCool, and artist Robb Mommaerts, is currently the number #3 digital comic at comiXology. Here are the top ten as of midnight Sunday:
Top In-App Purchases
Avengers vs. X-Men #7 (of 12)$3.99
Earth 2 (2012-) #3$2.99
Lookouts: May We Die In The Fores t$0.99
Before Watchmen Ozymandias #1 (of 6)$3.99
Action Comics (2011-) #11$3.99
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 2 #12$3.99
Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2 #15$3.99
Justice League (2011- ) #10$3.99
Detective Comics (2011-) #11$3.99
Legends of the Dark Knight (2012-) #5$0.99
Now, the $0.99 price tag can’t hurt. Also, the kid-friendly nature of the comics is a plus. But the strong sales are another confirmation that the Penny Arcade brand can extend beyond the core strip. The original concept—a bunch of youngsters trekking through a dangerous fantasy world as part of a Boy Scout-like organization—was developed in a series of regular PA strips by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulikin 2009. Now it’s being spun off into a comic and a board game. So far. Holkins, aka Gabe, sees a bigger future for the property:
I’ve always thought that Lookouts has the potential to be a big deal. I can see YA novels, Saturday morning cartoons, movies and action figures all based on the Lookouts world. This comic book is beautiful and I hope it’s just the tip of the iceberg. So tell your friends and tell your friends to tell their friends. I would love for Lookouts to be huge!
So far the digital comic is beating out Superman and Spider-Man—not a bad start.
[Disclaimer: Writer Ben McCool is married to the owner of this site.]
Lookouts was one of my favorite reads last week. Glad it’s doing so well!
The price tag was what got me to give it a try and I loved it.
I guess being Mr. Beat helps in getting coverage. Otherwise this would most likely be ignored.
That Ben McCool guy wrote a terrific book! Good on him!
I’ve been a Lookouts fan ever since the first comic strip debuted a few years ago. I’m really glad the comic turned out so well.
“I guess being Mr. Beat helps in getting coverage. Otherwise this would most likely be ignored.”
That might be the case, but the success of this comic is notable either way. Still, it’s not shocking given that the writers have a huge following. PENNY ARCADE probably reaches more eyeballs than most things published by DC or Marvel.
MIkeal, I realize you’re role is as gadfly, but I think if Marvel, DC or any company had launched a kids fantasy comics which landed at #3 on Comixology I’d have found it equally newsworthy.
Holkins is Tycho. Krahulik is Gabe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Holkins
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Krahulik
@Rich
“PENNY ARCADE probably reaches more eyeballs than most things published by DC or Marvel.”
Believe it or not, Penny Arcade reaches more eyeballs than everything published by Marvel and DC combined. They’re big.
At this very moment Lookouts is #2 on Comixology.
I bought this for my daughter was amazed at the quality of both the art and script! It was easily the best thing I bought last week on Comixology.