It's not a question of how much it sells in relation to how much they hoped, I was referring to how much it sells in relation to Secret Invasion.

Like anyone here could even answer that.

"Sightings" doesn't even make sense. What's being "sighted"? I thought it was leading into a ghost story.

Then they would say that Final Crisis (the main title, at least) isn't selling up to their highest expectations.

Even if it is only selling, say, 75% of what they hoped, that's far from a "lukewarm" response. Plus, you have to consider the additional success the series is bound to have once it is collected. I'm waiting for the trade, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I like my Grant Morrison in hardcover!

Keep in mind that even "Countdown" sold fairly well, and that response was far more negative than the Final Crisis response (so far). So immediate internet response is not always representative of sales/success.

It’s their best seller.

I agree. Just because people complain about it on the internet doesn't mean it has a "lukewarm" reaction. People on the internet complain about everything (reminds of this Shortpacked strip: http://shortpacked.com/d/20080730.html )

Final Crisis outsells any other monthly DC book (jury is still out on All-Star Batman since it hasn't come out in months). Just because it doesn't sell Secret Invasion levels does not mean the reaction is "lukewarm."

It makes me wonder if the lukewarm reaction to Final Crisis is causing DC to back off the tie-ins. Plus, it didn’t seem to have much to do with FC (other than it takes place in the multiverse).

What lukewarm reaction?

It's their best seller.

I know I work in book publishing rather than comic publishing, but as an illustrator, neither I nor my direct editor ever ses anything regarding the cover of the book until we receive our comp copy after the printing's done. We've actually had issues where we thought something was going to be the cover art (having been told so by the publisher) and so included a small copy of that on the first page, only to see the final cover entirely different, so the first page (editorially-approved) no longer makes a lick of sense.

In short, I doubt it's any sort of conspiracy or change in direction -- someone just didn't talk to someone else...

Didio likely figured out it was a stupid idea and dropped it quietly.

Something about that course of action doesn't say "Didio" to me.

And people are always complaining about Marvel’s marketing gimmicks because?

Because they're lame too? Shot in the dark.

Hmm, I guess it would have to be a change in the script or format for the annual. Maybe it was supposed tob e a self contained story that saw the return of Power Girl to Final Crisis / our Earth at the end of the issue and Johns ended up taking it in another direction.

You don't pay Alex Ross to paint a cover and then cover it with TWO logos.