Not content to rely on across-the-board sellouts and online commentary to gauge response to the New 52, DC Comics has hired Nielsen National Research Group to survey readers and retailers about the line-wide relaunch -- the first survey of its kind conducted by a comics publisher.

"As we made clear from the beginning, our goal was to expand the market by appealing to new/lapsed readers, and our initial sales results would indicate that this has indeed happened," DC said in an email sent Tuesday to direct market outlets. "But we want to do more than just assume any results -- we want to find ways to measure it accurately in partnership with you."

The reader survey is available online through Oct. 7 at the website of Nielsen NRG, the division of Nielsen Media Research that conducts market research for the film industry. Consumers are asked which relaunch titles they bought, and didn't buy, their comics-buying habits, their overall impression of the relaunch, reasons for purchasing the first issues (and where they bought them), and so on -- including whether they plan to preserve any of the New 52 books "as an investment."

Retailers will be asked to complete a separate survey; Nielsen NRG will also visit a handful of stores nationwide for in-person interviews. According to Previews, DC has promised to release the results of the surveys sometime next year.

(via DC Women Kicking Ass)