Exclusively Online: Tomb Raider and Witchblade Unite at AnotherUniverse.com
The First-Ever Online Exclusive from the Leading Entertainment Collectible Retail
Manassas, VA - AnotherUniverse.com, the leading online retailer of entertainment collectibles, announced the first-ever online exclusive product, Tomb Raider/Witchblade, on its popular web site. This specialty comic crossover unites the nation's most popular video game character, Lara Croft, with the most popular female character in comics, Witchblade.
"We expect sales to exceed 100,000 copies of this exciting collectible, which is remarkable considering comics average sales of only 40,000 copies," stated Steve Milo, president and CEO of AnotherUniverse.com.
Since Witchblade, from Top Cow Productions, is the #1 female comic character and Tomb Raider, from Eidos, is the #1 selling video game, the decision to sell the comic exclusively online has been extremely controversial among traditional retailers.
"I find difficult to understand why any publisher would spend time, money and energy to produce a comic like this, only to limit its availability and make it more difficult for fans to buy," says Ron Hill, manager of Jim Hanley's Universe, a New York based comic retailer.
Not surprisingly, AnotherUniverse.com's Milo sees the exclusive online offer of the Tomb Raider/Witchblade comic exclusively online differently. "The comic book market has been declining in sales for close to five years. We made a spirited presentation to Top Cow and Eidos emphasizing that selling the comic online would help build a new and rapidly growing selling channel. In addition, selling directly to consumers allows all manufacturers to create an invaluable consumer database. A large database of e-mail addresses provides a cost-effective means of contacting fans directly about future projects, promotions, and special events."
According to Milo, the decision to sell a comic book exclusively online may be the clearest signal to date of the Internet's increasing role in online commerce and the dramatic impact it is having on traditional retail sales. "For the first time products are being offered to consumers exclusively online, completely bypassing the traditional retail outlets. Eventually, you will see other online retailers create work with manufacturers to sell albums, books and video games exclusively online. It's just a matter of time. The Internet will fundamentally affect commerce as we know it."
The Tomb Raider/Witchblade comic may be the perfect pop-culture collaboration to usher in this growing trend in online retail and marketing due to the immense popularity of its two heroines, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft and Witchblade's Detective Sara Pezzini. The ravishing Laura Croft, star of the Tomb Raider video games, has helped make Tomb Raider I a smash hit with over 3.5 million units sold. With Tomb Raider II already selling several million units, Laura Croft has become the world's number one video game vixen. Detective Sara Pezzini's adventurous attitude and stunning looks have earned her a similarly devoted following, making Witchblade the most popular comic book starring a female heroine.
"We are pleased to be able to partner with AnotherUniverse.com and look forward to future ventures together," adds Brad Foxhoven, president of Top Cow, the country's fastest growing comic book publisher. "Clearly, AnotherUniverse.com has established itself as a superb web site, capable of attracting both avid comic book and video game enthusiasts."
Founded in 1984 as American Entertainment, AnotherUniverse.com is a retailer specializing in the sale of licensed entertainment and collectible merchandise such as games, toys, and comic books from the science fiction and action adventure/fantasy genres. Today, AnotherUniverse.com is the largest online retailer of collectible entertainment in the world with three retail divisions: direct mail catalogs, mall-based specialty stores, and Internet sales. |
