Publishing sales at IDW Media Holdings rose 27.6% in the quarter ended April 30, 2021 over the comparable period in 2020. Sales in the group, which includes the graphic novel imprints IDW and Top Shelf, increased to $6.0 million in the quarter from $4.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.
The company said the jump in sales was led by the revival of the direct market channel, which had largely shut last spring with the outbreak of the pandemic. Direct-to-consumer sales were also up in the quarter, but digital sale fell. Among the titles and series that sold well in the period were Locke & Key/The Sandman Universe crossover, Sonic the Hedgehog, X-Men, and TMNT.
For the first six months of fiscal 2021, publishing revenue increased 6%, to $11.6 million, over the first half of fiscal 2020.
For the entire company - which includes the production company housed in the IDW Entertainment division - second quarter revenue rose 8.6%, to $10.1 million. The company had net income of $2.5 million compared to a loss of $400,000 in last year’s second quarter. The improvement was mainly due to the sale of its CTM division, which distributes print and digital-based advertising and information advertising.
