The most recent sales data I saw seemed to come to the conclusion that overall sales have settled down to more or less what they were before the big to-do -- with, I suppose you could add, some small additive in digital sales (but it's still a very small additive). I wouldn't necessarily say this indicates "failure," because I think DC accomplished a great deal here. They took some big risks, and I think they were well-rewarded.

But I think if you look at one specific metric, if you look at success in reaching beyond the small number of people who regularly read comics to attract new readers and hold on to them, keep them coming back -- and I think that was at least part of the goal -- DC has probably failed. (I don't know how much of that is down to the format or the content -- but I suspect it's mostly the content.)

Don't misunderstand, I think it was no small accomplishment that they were able to attract people to sample -- they just don't seem to have been able to encourage them to keep buying. And I think that remains a big problem (for both Marvel and DC), because I think that will preclude long-term growth and stabilization.

A Week Ago Tuesday: My blog, where I never, ever write about comics (though I think I did, once or twice).