by Marc-Oliver Frisch

On the surface, November was business as usual for DC, with “Brightest Day” and the latest makeover of the Batman line cheerfully purring along. Apart from a handful of strong major books, though, many DC titles displayed sudden, unusually large drops.

See below for the details, and please consider the small print at the end of the column. Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com’s estimates can be found here.

—–

1 - BATMAN: THE RETURN
11/2010: Batman: The Return #1 --  99,545

2 - BATMAN, INC.
11/2010: Batman, Inc. #1  --  95,587

4 - BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE
05/2010: Batman: TRoBW #1 of 6 -- 108,534          [114,447]
05/2010: Batman: TRoBW #2 of 6 --  93,606 (-13.8%) [ 99,361]
06/2010: Batman: TRoBW #3 of 6 --  92,140 (- 1.6%)
07/2010: Batman: TRoBW #4 of 6 --  88,020 (- 4.5%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: --
10/2010: Batman: TRoBW #5 of 6 --  86,006 (- 2.3%)
11/2010: Batman: TRoBW #6 of 6 --  83,004 (- 3.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.9%

5/10 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
11/2009: Batman and Robin #6  --  95,690 (- 5.8%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: Batman and Robin #7  --  87,780 (- 8.3%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #8  --  87,302 (- 0.6%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #9  --  84,562 (- 3.1%)
03/2010: Batman and Robin #10 --  85,292 (+ 0.9%)
04/2010: Batman and Robin #11 --  84,006 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: Batman and Robin #12 --  84,843 (+ 1.0%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: Batman and Robin #13 --  85,804 (+ 1.1%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Batman and Robin #14 --  82,894 (- 3.4%)
10/2010: Batman and Robin #15 --  80,173 (- 3.3%)
11/2010: Batman and Robin #16 --  80,343 (+ 0.2%)
11/2010: Batman and Robin #17 --  70,600 (-12.1%)
----------------
6 months: -11.1%
1 year  : -26.2%

Grant Morrison got his latest revamp of the Batman line underway in November, with four major books. Obviously, the schedule is all over the place, at this stage — they weren’t quite planned to all come out in the same month, but there you go.

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 and Batman and Robin #16, both of which were meant to be out in September, each had a 1:25 variant-cover edition to boost sales. Batman: The Return #1 (originally scheduled for October) and Batman, Inc. #1 had 1:200 variant editions in addition to the 1:25 ones. Batman and Robin #17, finally, which was solicited with a different creative team and ended up being the first part of a three-issue fill-in run, came with a plain old vanilla 1:10 variant-cover edition.

Given the alternative-cover shenanigans, some distortion is likely to be going on here, but overall, these numbers are solid, if not the kinds of juggernauts you could have expected a couple of years ago. It’s probably not a coincidence that the two books with the 1:200 variants came out on top of the bunch, and it’s probably not a coincidence that the one drawn by David Finch was the best-selling one.

—–

6/7 - BRIGHTEST DAY
04/2010: Brightest Day #0  -- 129,446
05/2010: Brightest Day #1  -- 129,158 (- 0.2%)
05/2010: Brightest Day #2  -- 112,806 (-12.7%)
06/2010: Brightest Day #3  -- 107,269 (- 4.9%)
06/2010: Brightest Day #4  -- 101,730 (- 5.2%)
07/2010: Brightest Day #5  --  97,245 (- 4.4%)
07/2010: Brightest Day #6  --  94,684 (- 2.6%)
08/2010: Brightest Day #7  --  93,459 (- 1.3%)
08/2010: Brightest Day #8  --  91,546 (- 2.1%)
09/2010: Brightest Day #9  --  88,446 (- 3.4%)
09/2010: Brightest Day #10 --  87,241 (- 1.4%)
10/2010: Brightest Day #11 --  83,823 (- 3.9%)
10/2010: Brightest Day #12 --  82,394 (- 1.7%)
11/2010: Brightest Day #13 --  79,955 (- 3.0%)
11/2010: Brightest Day #14 --  78,452 (- 1.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 38.8%

November was business as usual for Brightest Day proper, at least.

—–

9 - GREEN LANTERN
11/2005: Green Lantern #5   --  92,348
11/2006: Green Lantern #14  --  72,894
11/2006: Green Lantern #15  --  70,148
11/2007: --
11/2008: --
--------------------------------------
11/2009: Green Lantern #48  -- 100,371 (- 1.0%)
12/2009: Green Lantern #49  --  97,285 (- 3.1%)
01/2010: Green Lantern #50  -- 106,444 (+ 9.4%)
02/2010: Green Lantern #51  --  95,509 (-10.3%)
03/2010: Green Lantern #52  --  97,369 (+ 2.0%)
04/2010: Green Lantern #53  -- 100,356 (+ 3.1%)
05/2010: Green Lantern #54  --  88,292 (-12.0%)
06/2010: Green Lantern #55  --  85,930 (- 2.7%)
07/2010: Green Lantern #56  --  84,164 (- 2.1%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Green Lantern #57  --  85,179 (+ 1.2%)
10/2010: Green Lantern #58  --  81,626 (- 4.2%)
11/2010: Green Lantern #59  --  76,173 (- 6.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.7%
1 year  : - 24.1%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : - 17.5%

Which brings us to the trend of the month: unusually big drops for an unusually large number of titles. One could say that this doesn’t come as a great surprise, but then again, it wouldn’t have been a great surprise for the last two years or so.

So why is it happening now? Well, maybe the combination of tough economic times, massive cover-price increases, the return of the 1990s gimmick mentality (plastic rings!), Marvel and DC’s increasingly reckless attempts to squeeze their audience dry and the burgeoning alternative of digital comics distribution have finally reached a critical mass.

If November 2010 is any indication, 2011 will be a tough year for the comic-book market, at any rate. Either way, we’re going to find out in a couple of months.

—–

12 - BATMAN
11/2005: Batman #647 --  69,718
11/2006: Batman #658 --  94,349
11/2006: Batman #659 --  90,651
11/2007: Batman #671 --  76,764 [ 80,440]
11/2008: Batman #681 -- 103,151 [114,657]
-------------------------------
11/2009: Batman #693 --  68,983 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman #694 --  65,908 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Batman #695 --  63,467 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Batman #696 --  61,290 (- 3.4%)
03/2010: Batman #697 --  61,157 (- 0.2%)
04/2010: Batman #698 --  60,934 (- 0.4%)
05/2010: Batman #699 --  62,377 (+ 2.4%)
06/2010: Batman #700 -- 104,755 (+67.9%)
07/2010: Batman #701 --  76,398 (-27.1%)
08/2010: Batman #702 --  73,414 (- 3.9%)
09/2010: Batman #703 --  77,033 (+ 4.9%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Batman #704 --  65,212 (-15.4%)
----------------
6 months: + 4.6%
1 year  : - 5.5%
2 years : -36.8%
5 years : - 6.5%

As the book leaves the “Return of Bruce Wayne” storyline behind, sales return to their previous level. Also, there was no variant edition.

—–

15 - THE FLASH
11/2005: Flash #228      --  45,861
11/2006: Flash: FMA #6   --  56,789
11/2007: Flash #234      --  46,435
11/2008: Flash #246      --  27,746
-----------------------------------
11/2009: Rebirth #5 of 6 --  73,875 (-  5.4%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: --
02/2010: Rebirth #6 of 6 --  70,824 (-  4.1%)
03/2010: --
04/2010: Flash #1        -- 100,903 (+ 42.5%)
05/2010: Flash #2        --  76,560 (- 24.1%)
06/2010: Flash #3        --  68,804 (- 10.1%)
07/2010: Flash #4        --  64,832 (-  5.8%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Flash #5        --  62,063 (-  4.3%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Flash #6        --  57,673 (-  7.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.7%
1 year  : - 21.9%
2 years : +107.9%
5 years : + 25.8%

An unhealthy drop.

—–

16 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
11/2005: --
11/2006: Green Lantern Corps #6  -- 41,089
11/2007: Green Lantern Corps #18 -- 55,838 [59,049]
11/2008: Green Lantern Corps #30 -- 43,600
------------------------------------------
11/2009: Green Lantern Corps #42 -- 80,391 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Green Lantern Corps #43 -- 77,774 (- 3.3%)
01/2010: Green Lantern Corps #44 -- 76,458 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Green Lantern Corps #45 -- 75,404 (- 1.4%)
03/2010: Green Lantern Corps #46 -- 76,720 (+ 1.8%)
04/2010: Green Lantern Corps #47 -- 72,163 (- 5.9%)
05/2010: Green Lantern Corps #48 -- 68,826 (- 4.6%)
06/2010: Green Lantern Corps #49 -- 66,652 (- 3.2%)
07/2010: Green Lantern Corps #50 -- 67,035 (+ 0.6%)
08/2010: Green Lantern Corps #51 -- 67,124 (+ 0.1%)
09/2010: Green Lantern Corps #52 -- 63,577 (- 5.3%)
10/2010: Green Lantern Corps #53 -- 60,808 (- 4.4%)
11/2010: Green Lantern Corps #54 -- 57,448 (- 5.5%)
----------------
6 months: -16.5%
1 year  : -28.5%
2 years : +31.8%
5 years :  n.a.

The secondary Green Lantern title also keeps shedding units.

—–

22 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
11/2005: JLA #122           --  80,866
11/2006: Justice League #3  -- 140,939 [143,310]
11/2007: --
11/2008: --
--------------------------------------
11/2009: Justice League #39 --  89,376 (+46.5%)
12/2009: Justice League #40 --  68,672 (-23.2%)
01/2010: Justice League #41 --  62,262 (- 9.3%)
02/2010: Justice League #42 --  57,522 (- 7.6%)
03/2010: Justice League #43 --  56,461 (- 1.9%)
04/2010: Justice League #44 --  62,342 (+10.4%)
05/2010: Justice League #45 --  62,465 (+ 0.2%)
06/2010: Justice League #46 --  62,754 (+ 0.5%)
07/2010: Justice League #47 --  60,368 (- 3.8%)
08/2010: Justice League #48 --  60,733 (+ 0.6%)
09/2010: Justice League #49 --  57,616 (- 5.1%)
10/2010: Justice League #50 --  59,686 (+ 3.6%)
11/2010: Justice League #51 --  50,887 (-14.7%)
----------------
6 months: -18.5%
1 year  : -43.1%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -37.1%

Well, as I said, it’s a trend.

—–

25 - GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS
08/2010: Emerald Warriors #1  -- 68,332
09/2010: Emerald Warriors #2  -- 56,289 (-17.6%)
10/2010: Emerald Warriors #3  -- 50,490 (-10.3%)
11/2010: Emerald Warriors #4  -- 46,319 (- 8.3%)

This one’s taking its time to bottom out, but given that the franchise seems to have peaked, for the time being, it’s still doing very well.

—–

26 - SUPERMAN
11/2005: Superman #223 --  69,739
11/2006: Superman #657 --  62,327
11/2007: Superman #670 --  48,407
11/2008: Superman #682 --  55,435
---------------------------------
11/2009: Superman #694 --  34,430 (-  2.7%)
12/2009: Superman #695 --  32,482 (-  5.7%)
01/2010: Superman #696 --  31,940 (-  1.7%)
02/2010: Superman #697 --  31,504 (-  1.4%)
03/2010: Superman #698 --  33,336 (+  5.8%)
04/2010: Superman #699 --  33,183 (-  0.5%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Superman #700 --  67,571 (+103.6%)
07/2010: Superman #701 --  54,506 (- 19.3%)
08/2010: Superman #702 --  50,023 (-  8.2%)
09/2010: --
10/2010: Superman #703 --  50,460 (+  0.9%)
10/2010: Superman #704 --  46,741 (-  7.4%)
11/2010: Superman #705 --  46,261 (-  1.0%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 34.4%
2 years : - 16.6%
5 years : - 33.7%

Sales have been rather erratic lately, and a trend is unlikely to emerge for another few months, given DC’s chaotic management of the book.

For now, the numbers are within the usual range, which means they failed to capitalize on Straczynski’s name.

—–

27 - BATWOMAN
11/2010: Batwoman #0  --  43,891

An okay number for another Batman spin-off. Compared to Detective Comics #860, the last “Batwoman” issue of the Rucka/Williams team, which sold an estimated 52,295 units in December 2009, this is a marked step down, however. To be fair, the book was already on a slide down the charts back then. There was a 1:10 variant, as usual these days.

—–

33 - SUPERBOY
11/2010: Superboy #1  --  39,701

Solid debut sales for a Superman spin-off. As we know, though, those can be deceiving. There was a 1:10 variant here, as well.

—–

34 - GREEN ARROW
11/2005: Green Arrow #56  -- 32,670
11/2006: Green Arrow #68  -- 32,135
11/2007: Arrow/Canary #2  -- 42,827
11/2008: Arrow/Canary #14 -- 25,599
-----------------------------------
11/2009: Arrow&Canary #26 -- 17,384 (-  3.5%)
12/2009: Arrow&Canary #27 -- 16,904 (-  2.8%)
01/2010: Arrow&Canary #28 -- 16,482 (-  2.5%)
02/2010: Arrow&Canary #29 -- 16,600 (+  0.7%)
02/2010: Black Arrow #30  -- 42,014 (+153.1%)
03/2010: Green Arrow #31  -- 28,486 (- 32.2%)
04/2010: Green Arrow #32  -- 29,137 (+  2.3%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Green Arrow #1   -- 54,400 (+ 86.7%) [57,554]
07/2010: Green Arrow #2   -- 44,118 (- 18.9%)
08/2010: Green Arrow #3   -- 46,308 (+  5.0%)
09/2010: Green Arrow #4   -- 44,220 (-  4.5%)
10/2010: Green Arrow #5   -- 42,188 (-  4.6%)
11/2010: Green Arrow #6   -- 39,575 (-  6.2%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +127.7%
2 years : + 54.6%
5 years : + 21.1%

Another book that doesn’t quite seem to be bottoming out.

—–

38 - DETECTIVE COMICS
11/2005: Detective Comics #813 --  38,338
11/2006: Detective Comics #825 --  58,940
11/2007: Detective Comics #838 --  60,267 [65,293]
11/2008: Detective Comics #850 --  64,196
-----------------------------------------
11/2009: Detective Comics #859 --  54,392 (- 7.2%)
12/2009: Detective Comics #860 --  52,295 (- 3.9%)
01/2010: Detective Comics #861 --  45,937 (-12.2%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Detective Comics #862 --  44,687 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Detective Comics #863 --  43,119 (- 3.5%)
04/2010: Detective Comics #864 --  42,436 (- 1.6%)
05/2010: Detective Comics #865 --  41,501 (- 2.2%)
06/2010: Detective Comics #866 --  46,178 (+11.3%)
07/2010: Detective Comics #867 --  40,371 (-12.6%)
08/2010: Detective Comics #868 --  38,682 (- 4.2%)
09/2010: Detective Comics #869 --  37,394 (- 3.3%)
10/2010: Detective Comics #870 --  35,674 (- 4.6%)
11/2010: Detective Comics #871 --  36,941 (+ 3.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 11.0%
1 year  : - 32.1%
2 years : - 42.5%
5 years : -  3.6%

The arrival of the new creative team attracts a moderate degree of curiosity.

—–

43 - BIRDS OF PREY
11/2005: Birds of Prey #88  -- 32,823
11/2006: Birds of Prey #100 -- 34,607
11/2007: Birds of Prey #112 -- 25,117
11/2008: Birds of Prey #124 -- 20,959
-------------------------------------
05/2010: Birds of Prey #1   -- 50,428 (+135.4%) [54,965]
06/2010: Birds of Prey #2   -- 44,064 (- 12.6%)
07/2010: Birds of Prey #3   -- 43,420 (-  1.5%)
08/2010: Birds of Prey #4   -- 46,149 (+  6.3%)
09/2010: Birds of Prey #5   -- 40,146 (- 13.0%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Birds of Prey #6   -- 34,440 (- 14.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 31.7%
2 years : + 64.3%
5 years : +  4.9%

As I was saying, weve got a bit of a worrying trend going on with a lot of books. This would be one of them, obviously. On the upside, we’re still firmly within the book’s usual range, historically.

—–

45 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
11/2005: JSA #79             --  52,783
11/2007: --
11/2008: Justice Society #20 --  71,355
---------------------------------------
11/2009: Justice Society #33 --  43,218 (-  3.7%)
12/2009: Justice Society #34 --  41,734 (-  3.4%)
01/2010: Justice Society #35 --  39,934 (-  4.3%)
02/2010: Justice Society #36 --  39,060 (-  2.2%)
03/2010: Justice Society #37 --  37,381 (-  4.3%)
04/2010: Justice Society #38 --  36,648 (-  2.0%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Justice Society #39 --  36,630 (-  0.1%)
06/2010: Justice Society #40 --  36,008 (-  1.7%)
07/2010: Justice Society #41 --  48,858 (+ 35.7%)
08/2010: Justice Society #42 --  48,420 (-  0.9%)
09/2010: Justice Society #43 --  36,576 (- 24.5%)
10/2010: Justice Society #44 --  35,483 (-  3.0%)
11/2010: Justice Society #45 --  33,582 (-  5.4%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -22.3%
2 years : -52.9%
5 years : -36.4%

A harsh drop, but that’s just business as usual here. Justice Society has been sliding down the charts for some time now.

—–

46/48 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST
05/2010: Generation Lost #1  -- 50,784
05/2010: Generation Lost #2  -- 44,711 (-12.0%)
06/2010: Generation Lost #3  -- 43,278 (- 3.2%)
06/2010: Generation Lost #4  -- 41,702 (- 3.6%)
07/2010: Generation Lost #5  -- 40,370 (- 3.2%)
07/2010: Generation Lost #6  -- 39,190 (- 2.9%)
08/2010: Generation Lost #7  -- 39,971 (+ 2.0%)
08/2010: Generation Lost #8  -- 38,745 (- 3.1%)
09/2010: Generation Lost #9  -- 37,151 (- 4.1%)
09/2010: Generation Lost #10 -- 36,624 (- 1.4%)
10/2010: Generation Lost #11 -- 35,504 (- 3.1%)
10/2010: Generation Lost #12 -- 34,752 (- 2.1%)
11/2010: Generation Lost #13 -- 33,504 (- 3.6%)
11/2010: Generation Lost #14 -- 32,722 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -30.7%

Nothing out of the ordinary.

—–

47 - ACTION COMICS
11/2005: Action Comics #833 -- 44,613
11/2006: Action Comics #845 -- 66,742 [71,135]
11/2007: Action Comics #859 -- 54,572
11/2008: Action Comics #871 -- 58,547
-------------------------------------
11/2009: Action Comics #883 -- 33,386 (- 3.9%)
12/2009: Action Comics #884 -- 31,873 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Action Comics #885 -- 30,678 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Action Comics #886 -- 29,845 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Action Comics #887 -- 29,460 (- 1.3%)
04/2010: Action Comics #888 -- 29,536 (+ 0.3%)
04/2010: Action Comics #889 -- 29,106 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Action Comics #890 -- 34,744 (+19.4%) [40,039]
07/2010: Action Comics #891 -- 35,328 (+ 1.7%)
08/2010: Action Comics #892 -- 36,401 (+ 3.0%)
09/2010: Action Comics #893 -- 33,948 (- 6.7%)
10/2010: Action Comics #894 -- 42,291 (+24.6%)
11/2010: Action Comics #895 -- 33,089 (-21.8%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : - 0.9%
2 years : -43.5%
5 years : -25.8%

No novelty guest appearances and no variant edition in November, so the numbers return to normal.

——

51 - RED ROBIN
11/2005: Robin #144    -- 32,314
11/2006: Robin #156    -- 31,682
11/2007: Robin #168    -- 50,672 [57,442]
11/2008: Robin #180    -- 28,399
--------------------------------
11/2009: Red Robin #6  -- 42,409 (-  5.3%)
12/2009: Red Robin #7  -- 39,528 (-  6.8%)
01/2010: Red Robin #8  -- 37,869 (-  4.2%)
02/2010: Red Robin #9  -- 36,466 (-  3.7%)
03/2010: Red Robin #10 -- 36,708 (+  0.7%)
04/2010: Red Robin #11 -- 36,205 (-  1.4%)
05/2010: Red Robin #12 -- 36,273 (+  0.2%)
06/2010: Red Robin #13 -- 35,917 (-  1.0%)
07/2010: Red Robin #14 -- 35,652 (-  0.7%)
08/2010: Red Robin #15 -- 34,709 (-  2.7%)
09/2010: Red Robin #16 -- 33,753 (-  2.8%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Red Robin #17 -- 31,825 (-  5.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 12.3%
1 year  : - 25.0%
2 years : + 12.1%
5 years : -  1.5%

Not a disastrous drop, but not healthy, either.

—–

53 - BATMAN: ODYSSEY
07/2010: Batman: Odyssey #1  of  6 -- 61,827
08/2010: Batman: Odyssey #2  of  6 -- 47,675 (-22.9%)
09/2010: Batman: Odyssey #3  of  6 -- 40,046 (-16.0%)
10/2010: Batman: Odyssey #4  of 12 -- 35,307 (-11.8%)
11/2010: Batman: Odyssey #5  of 13 -- 31,386 (-11.1%)

Retailers are still chasing the book’s free-fall. Looks like they were way too confident in Neal Adams’s name as a sales draw early on.

—–

55 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
11/2005: --
11/2006: Superman/Batman #30 --  84,008
11/2007: Superman/Batman #42 --  54,341
11/2008: --
---------------------------------------
11/2009: Superman/Batman #66 --  52,143 (+50.8%)
12/2009: Superman/Batman #67 --  49,650 (- 4.8%)
01/2010: Superman/Batman #68 --  33,869 (-31.8%)
02/2010: Superman/Batman #69 --  33,224 (- 1.9%)
03/2010: Superman/Batman #70 --  32,196 (- 3.1%)
04/2010: Superman/Batman #71 --  31,714 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: Superman/Batman #72 --  32,047 (+ 1.1%)
06/2010: Superman/Batman #73 --  31,425 (- 1.9%)
07/2010: Superman/Batman #74 --  30,847 (- 1.8%)
08/2010: Superman/Batman #75 --  34,324 (+11.3%)
09/2010: Superman/Batman #76 --  32,003 (- 6.8%)
10/2010: Superman/Batman #77 --  31,741 (- 0.8%)
11/2010: Superman/Batman #78 --  31,337 (- 1.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.2%
1 year  : -39.9%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years :  n.a.

Standard attrition.

—–

62 - BATMAN BEYOND
06/2010: Batman Beyond #1 of 6 -- 35,113          [42,283]
07/2010: Batman Beyond #2 of 6 -- 31,397 (-10.6%)
08/2010: Batman Beyond #3 of 6 -- 31,469 (+ 0.2%)
09/2010: Batman Beyond #4 of 6 -- 31,368 (- 0.3%)
10/2010: Batman Beyond #5 of 6 -- 30,121 (- 4.0%)
11/2010: Batman Beyond #6 of 6 -- 28,485 (- 5.4%)

Not a bad performance overall, if not spectacular. Good enough for DC to launch an ongoing series post haste, at any rate.

—–

64 - TEEN TITANS
11/2005: Teen Titans #29 -- 69,558
11/2006: Teen Titans #40 -- 64,176
11/2006: Teen Titans #41 -- 61,714
11/2007: Teen Titans #53 -- 54,387
11/2008: Teen Titans #65 -- 37,880
----------------------------------
11/2009: Teen Titans #77 -- 46,239 (+58.5%)
12/2009: Teen Titans #78 -- 43,400 (- 6.1%)
01/2010: Teen Titans #79 -- 27,790 (-36.0%)
02/2010: Teen Titans #80 -- 26,537 (- 4.5%)
03/2010: Teen Titans #81 -- 25,758 (- 2.9%)
04/2010: Teen Titans #82 -- 25,303 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Teen Titans #83 -- 24,960 (- 1.4%)
06/2010: Teen Titans #84 -- 24,593 (- 1.5%)
07/2010: Teen Titans #85 -- 24,248 (- 1.4%)
08/2010: Teen Titans #86 -- 24,971 (+ 3.0%)
09/2010: Teen Titans #87 -- 23,259 (- 6.9%)
10/2010: Teen Titans #88 -- 27,637 (+18.8%)
11/2010: Teen Titans #89 -- 26,444 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: + 6.0%
1 year  : -42.8%
2 years : -30.2%
5 years : -62.0%

Back to business as usual.

—–

65 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
11/2005: LoSH #12             -- 33,541
11/2006: SLoSH #24            -- 33,985
11/2007: SLoSH #36            -- 26,814
11/2008: LoSH #48             -- 22,917
---------------------------------------
05/2010: LoSH #1              -- 44,415 (+98.9%) [50,106]
06/2010: LoSH #2              -- 39,102 (-12.0%)
07/2010: LoSH #3              -- 36,360 (- 7.0%)
08/2010: LoSH #4              -- 34,239 (- 5.8%)
09/2010: LoSH #5              -- 32,417 (- 5.3%)
10/2010: LoSH #6              -- 30,246 (- 6.7%)
11/2010: LoSH #7              -- 26,439 (-12.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 40.5%
2 years : + 15.4%
5 years : - 21.2%

This was the first issue without a variant edition, so the drop isn’t as bad as it looks. That said, it’s still pretty bad. DC can’t be happy with this performance.

—–

67 - BATGIRL
11/2005: Batgirl #70     -- 27,002
11/2008: Batgirl #5 of 6 -- 21,595
----------------------------------
11/2009: Batgirl #4      -- 34,697 (-  6.3%)
12/2009: Batgirl #5      -- 32,482 (-  6.4%)
01/2010: Batgirl #6      -- 30,403 (-  6.4%)
02/2010: Batgirl #7      -- 29,524 (-  2.9%)
03/2010: Batgirl #8      -- 30,886 (+  4.6%)
04/2010: Batgirl #9      -- 29,445 (-  4.7%)
05/2010: Batgirl #10     -- 28,641 (-  2.7%)
06/2010: Batgirl #11     -- 28,563 (-  0.3%)
07/2010: Batgirl #12     -- 28,011 (-  1.9%)
08/2010: Batgirl #13     -- 27,247 (-  2.7%)
09/2010: Batgirl #14     -- 26,861 (-  1.4%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Batgirl #15     -- 25,827 (-  3.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.8%
1 year  : -25.6%
2 years : +19.6%
5 years : - 4.4%

More than 1,000 units gone since last issue.

—–

69 - SUPERGIRL
11/2005: Supergirl #3  --  99,990 [101,910]
11/2006: Supergirl #11 --  62,544
11/2007: Supergirl #23 --  45,460
11/2008: Supergirl #35 --  45,518
---------------------------------
11/2009: Supergirl #47 --  29,159 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Supergirl #48 --  28,176 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Supergirl #49 --  27,728 (- 1.6%)
02/2010: Supergirl #50 --  33,338 (+20.2%)
03/2010: Supergirl #51 --  29,845 (-10.5%)
04/2010: Supergirl #52 --  29,490 (- 1.2%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Supergirl #53 --  28,317 (- 4.0%)
07/2010: Supergirl #54 --  26,941 (- 4.9%)
08/2010: Supergirl #55 --  25,891 (- 3.9%)
09/2010: Supergirl #56 --  25,034 (- 3.3%)
10/2010: Supergirl #57 --  23,842 (- 4.8%)
11/2010: Supergirl #58 --  25,412 (+ 6.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -12.9%
2 years : -44.2%
5 years : -74.6%

There was a 1:10 variant that may account for the increase.

—–

71 - ADVENTURE COMICS
11/2009: Adventure Comics #4   -- 85,145 (+91.6%)
12/2009: Adventure Comics #5   -- 59,876 (-29.7%)
01/2010: Adventure Comics #6   -- 42,514 (-29.0%)
02/2010: Adventure Comics #7   -- 53,721 (+26.4%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #8   -- 39,351 (-26.8%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #9   -- 37,515 (- 4.7%)
04/2010: Adventure Comics #10  -- 37,573 (+ 0.2%)
05/2010: Adventure Comics #11  -- 34,794 (- 7.4%)
06/2010: Adventure Comics #12  -- 34,663 (- 0.4%)
07/2010: Adventure Comics #516 -- 30,897 (-10.9%)
08/2010: Adventure Comics #517 -- 28,966 (- 6.3%)
09/2010: Adventure Comics #518 -- 27,028 (- 6.7%)
10/2010: Adventure Comics #519 -- 25,346 (- 6.2%)
11/2010: Adventure Comics #520 -- 24,540 (- 3.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.6%
1 year  : - 70.0%

Bottoming out, finally?

—–

72 - TITANS
11/2007: TTE Special #1 -- 49,735
11/2008: Titans #7      -- 41,507
---------------------------------
11/2009: Titans #19     -- 27,099 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Titans #20     -- 25,887 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Titans #21     -- 24,924 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Titans #22     -- 24,489 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: Titans #23     -- 24,260 (- 0.9%)
04/2010: --
05/2010: VfH Special #1 -- 31,718 (+30.7%)
06/2010: Titans #24     -- 33,079 (+ 4.3%)
07/2010: Titans #25     -- 31,505 (- 4.8%)
08/2010: Titans #26     -- 32,800 (+ 4.1%)
09/2010: Titans #27     -- 28,438 (-13.3%)
10/2010: Titans #28     -- 27,430 (- 3.6%)
11/2010: Titans #29     -- 24,138 (-12.0%)
----------------
6 months: -23.9%
1 year  : -10.9%
2 years : -41.9%

The boost from “Brightest Day” has worn off.

—–

77 - DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES
05/2010: DCU Legacies #1  of 10 -- 34,429
06/2010: DCU Legacies #2  of 10 -- 29,286 (-14.9%)
07/2010: DCU Legacies #3  of 10 -- 26,708 (- 8.8%)
08/2010: DCU Legacies #4  of 10 -- 25,691 (- 3.8%)
09/2010: DCU Legacies #5  of 10 -- 25,851 (+ 0.6%)
10/2010: DCU Legacies #6  of 10 -- 24,210 (- 6.4%)
11/2010: DCU Legacies #7  of 10 -- 23,215 (- 4.1%)
----------------
6 months: -32.2%

Standard pattern for this type of book.

—–

79 - BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM
11/2009: Batman: SoG #6  -- 32,303 (- 6.5%)
12/2009: Batman: SoG #7  -- 30,290 (- 6.2%)
01/2010: Batman: SoG #8  -- 28,313 (- 6.5%)
02/2010: Batman: SoG #9  -- 27,023 (- 4.6%)
03/2010: Batman: SoG #10 -- 26,396 (- 2.3%)
04/2010: Batman: SoG #11 -- 25,925 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Batman: SoG #12 -- 25,446 (- 1.9%)
06/2010: Batman: SoG #13 -- 25,205 (- 1.0%)
07/2010: Batman: SoG #14 -- 24,767 (- 1.7%)
08/2010: Batman: SoG #15 -- 24,171 (- 2.4%)
09/2010: Batman: SoG #16 -- 23,830 (- 1.4%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: Batman: SoG #17 -- 22,390 (- 6.0%)
----------------
6 months: -12.0%
1 year  : -30.7%

81 - RED HOOD: LOST DAYS
06/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #1 of 6 -- 34,197
07/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #2 of 6 -- 26,560 (-22.3%)
08/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #3 of 6 -- 24,701 (- 7.0%)
09/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #4 of 6 -- 24,104 (- 2.4%)
10/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #5 of 6 -- 22,967 (- 4.7%)
11/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #6 of 6 -- 22,123 (- 3.7%)

82 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
11/2009: GC Sirens #6  -- 30,990 (- 6.1%)
12/2009: GC Sirens #7  -- 29,709 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: GC Sirens #8  -- 28,254 (- 4.9%)
02/2010: GC Sirens #9  -- 27,172 (- 3.8%)
03/2010: GC Sirens #10 -- 26,550 (- 2.3%)
04/2010: GC Sirens #11 -- 26,359 (- 0.7%)
05/2010: GC Sirens #12 -- 26,029 (- 1.3%)
06/2010: GC Sirens #13 -- 25,867 (- 0.6%)
07/2010: GC Sirens #14 -- 25,315 (- 2.1%)
08/2010: GC Sirens #15 -- 24,589 (- 2.9%)
09/2010: GC Sirens #16 -- 23,821 (- 3.1%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: GC Sirens #17 -- 22,107 (- 7.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.9%
1 year  : - 28.7%

A bunch of Batman spin-off titles whose numbers mainly suggest that there may be too many Batman spin-off titles.

Streets of Gotham is cancelled with issue #21, so I doubt Sirens will be far behind.

—–

85 - ZATANNA
05/2010: Zatanna #1  -- 33,691
06/2010: Zatanna #2  -- 29,564 (-12.3%)
07/2010: Zatanna #3  -- 27,792 (- 6.0%)
08/2010: Zatanna #4  -- 27,203 (- 2.1%)
09/2010: Zatanna #5  -- 25,393 (- 6.7%)
10/2010: Zatanna #6  -- 23,427 (- 7.7%)
11/2010: Zatanna #7  -- 20,671 (-11.8%)
----------------
6 months: -38.7%

The first issue without a variant edition. You know the drill.

—–

91 - SECRET SIX
11/2006: --
11/2008: Secret Six #3      -- 26,053
-------------------------------------
11/2009: Secret Six #15     -- 23,190 (- 0.7%)
12/2009: Secret Six #16     -- 22,638 (- 2.4%)
01/2010: Secret Six #17     -- 38,515 (+70.1%)
02/2010: Secret Six #18     -- 37,876 (- 1.7%)
03/2010: Secret Six #19     -- 23,181 (-38.8%)
04/2010: Secret Six #20     -- 22,695 (- 2.1%)
05/2010: Secret Six #21     -- 22,334 (- 1.6%)
06/2010: Secret Six #22     -- 21,941 (- 1.8%)
07/2010: Secret Six #23     -- 21,554 (- 1.8%)
08/2010: Secret Six #24     -- 21,177 (- 1.8%)
09/2010: Secret Six #25     -- 20,775 (- 1.9%)
10/2010: Secret Six #26     -- 20,377 (- 1.9%)
11/2010: Secret Six #27     -- 19,963 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: -10.6%
1 year  : -13.9%
2 years : -23.4%

Slowly and steadily declining, as always.

—–

92 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo)
03/2010: American Vampire #1  -- 33,762          [36,831]
04/2010: American Vampire #2  -- 26,770 (-20.7%)
05/2010: American Vampire #3  -- 26,510 (- 1.0%)
06/2010: American Vampire #4  -- 25,977 (- 2.0%)
07/2010: American Vampire #5  -- 24,857 (- 4.3%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: American Vampire #6  -- 23,349 (- 6.1%)
10/2010: American Vampire #7  -- 21,910 (- 6.2%)
11/2010: American Vampire #8  -- 19,850 (- 9.4%)
----------------
6 months: -25.1%

Retailers are still adjusting their post-Stephen King orders.

—–

94 - JSA ALL-STARS
12/2009: JSA All-Stars #1  -- 42,493
01/2010: JSA All-Stars #2  -- 32,601 (-23.3%)
02/2010: JSA All-Stars #3  -- 29,666 (- 9.0%)
03/2010: JSA All-Stars #4  -- 28,526 (- 3.8%)
04/2010: JSA All-Stars #5  -- 26,581 (- 6.8%)
05/2010: JSA All-Stars #6  -- 25,306 (- 4.8%)
06/2010: JSA All-Stars #7  -- 24,436 (- 3.4%)
07/2010: JSA All-Stars #8  -- 23,478 (- 3.9%)
08/2010: JSA All-Stars #9  -- 22,347 (- 4.8%)
09/2010: JSA All-Stars #10 -- 21,646 (- 3.1%)
10/2010: JSA All-Stars #11 -- 20,496 (- 5.3%)
11/2010: JSA All-Stars #12 -- 19,630 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -22.4%

Still not really finding its level.

—–

104 - POWER GIRL
11/2009: --
12/2009: Power Girl #7  -- 22,533 (-16.7%)
01/2010: Power Girl #8  -- 21,760 (- 3.4%)
02/2010: Power Girl #9  -- 20,900 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: Power Girl #10 -- 20,801 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Power Girl #11 -- 20,675 (- 0.6%)
05/2010: Power Girl #12 -- 20,681 (+ 0.0%)
06/2010: Power Girl #13 -- 20,583 (- 0.5%)
07/2010: Power Girl #14 -- 19,739 (- 4.1%)
08/2010: Power Girl #15 -- 19,091 (- 3.3%)
09/2010: Power Girl #16 -- 18,404 (- 3.6%)
10/2010: Power Girl #17 -- 17,847 (- 3.0%)
11/2010: Power Girl #18 -- 17,300 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: -16.4%
1 year  :  n.a.

No signs yet that sales are stabilizing again under the new creative team.

—–

105 - BATMAN/CATWOMAN: FOLLOW THE MONEY
11/2010: Batman/Catwoman: FtM #1 -- 17,281

Not bad sales for a $ 4.99 one-shot, although I would have expected Howard Chaykin’s name to shift a few thousand copies more.

—–

106 - BOOSTER GOLD
11/2007: Booster Gold #4  -- 37,683
11/2008: Booster Gold #14 -- 28,260
-----------------------------------
11/2009: Booster Gold #26 -- 57,122 (+164.5%)
12/2009: Booster Gold #27 -- 40,256 (- 29.5%)
01/2010: Booster Gold #28 -- 21,967 (- 45.4%)
02/2010: Booster Gold #29 -- 21,020 (-  4.3%)
03/2010: Booster Gold #30 -- 20,187 (-  4.0%)
04/2010: Booster Gold #31 -- 19,818 (-  1.8%)
05/2010: Booster Gold #32 -- 20,343 (+  2.7%)
06/2010: Booster Gold #33 -- 19,895 (-  2.2%)
07/2010: Booster Gold #34 -- 19,592 (-  1.5%)
08/2010: Booster Gold #35 -- 19,104 (-  2.5%)
09/2010: Booster Gold #36 -- 18,504 (-  3.1%)
10/2010: Booster Gold #37 -- 17,806 (-  3.8%)
11/2010: Booster Gold #38 -- 17,276 (-  3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -15.1%
1 year  : -69.8%
2 years : -38.9%

See Power Girl, basically. The book hasn’t found a foothold since the original creative team left.

—–

112 - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS
11/2010: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1  -- 16,122

Not to sound too cynical, but this is as good a debut as anyone could hope for, given the name recognition of the property and the creators.

Maybe the covers by Darwyn Cooke (who did a 1:10 variant) and Frank Quitely (who did the regular version) helped.

—–

116 - JLA/THE 99
10/2010: JLA/The 99 #1 of 6 -- 19,995
11/2010: JLA/The 99 #2 of 6 -- 15,525 (-22.4%)

127 - KNIGHT AND SQUIRE
10/2010: Knight & Squire #1 of 6 -- 21,867
11/2010: Knight & Squire #2 of 6 -- 14,466 (-33.9%)

Two miniseries with second-issue drops that are too big for comfort. Knight and Squire had a variant edition for the first issue, but that’s not much of an excuse. To be fair, it was obviously going to be a very quirky kind of book.

—–

128 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
11/2007: Batman Confidential #11 -- 27,397
11/2008: Batman Confidential #23 -- 22,909
------------------------------------------
11/2009: Batman Confidential #36 -- 16,664 (- 0.4%)
11/2009: Batman Confidential #37 -- 16,355 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #38 -- 16,132 (- 1.4%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #39 -- 15,906 (- 1.4%)
01/2010: Batman Confidential #40 -- 17,241 (+ 8.4%)
02/2010: Batman Confidential #41 -- 16,856 (- 2.2%)
03/2010: Batman Confidential #42 -- 16,652 (- 1.2%)
04/2010: Batman Confidential #43 -- 16,449 (- 1.2%)
05/2010: Batman Confidential #44 -- 15,279 (- 7.1%)
06/2010: Batman Confidential #45 -- 15,070 (- 1.4%)
07/2010: Batman Confidential #46 -- 14,621 (- 3.0%)
08/2010: Batman Confidential #47 -- 14,341 (- 1.9%)
09/2010: Batman Confidential #48 -- 14,329 (- 0.1%)
10/2010: Batman Confidential #49 -- 14,112 (- 1.5%)
11/2010: Batman Confidential #50 -- 14,450 (+ 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.4%
1 year  : -12.5%
2 years : -36.9%

“Anniversary” boosts aren’t what they used to be. Cancelled with issue #54.

—–

136 - THE OUTSIDERS
11/2005: Outsiders #30 -- 44,682
11/2006: Outsiders #42 -- 35,598
11/2007: Batsiders #1  -- 60,690
11/2007: Batsiders #2  -- 42,827
11/2008: Batsiders #13 -- 42,939
--------------------------------
11/2009: Outsiders #24 -- 50,918 (+137.8%) [55,704]
12/2009: Outsiders #25 -- 37,847 (- 25.7%)
01/2010: Outsiders #26 -- 22,626 (- 40.2%)
02/2010: Outsiders #27 -- 21,167 (-  6.5%)
03/2010: Outsiders #28 -- 19,632 (-  7.3%)
04/2010: Outsiders #29 -- 19,094 (-  2.7%)
05/2010: --
06/2010: Outsiders #30 -- 18,045 (-  5.5%)
07/2010: Outsiders #31 -- 17,173 (-  4.8%)
08/2010: Outsiders #32 -- 15,754 (-  8.3%)
09/2010: --
10/2010: Outsiders #33 -- 15,253 (-  3.2%)
11/2010: Outsiders #34 -- 13,576 (- 11.0%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -73.3%
2 years : -68.4%
5 years : -69.6%

The Outsiders isn’t what it used to be, either.

—–

140 - I, ZOMBIE
05/2010: I, Zombie #1  -- 33,025
06/2010: I, Zombie #2  -- 18,620 (-43.6%)
07/2010: I, Zombie #3  -- 16,898 (- 9.3%)
08/2010: I, Zombie #4  -- 15,772 (- 6.7%)
09/2010: I, Zombie #5  -- 14,839 (- 5.9%)
10/2010: I, Zombie #6  -- 13,782 (- 7.1%)
11/2010: I, Zombie #7  -- 12,800 (- 7.1%)
----------------
6 months: -61.2%

Another book that’s not bottoming out.

—–

144 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
11/2009: The Unwritten #7  -- 14,763 (- 3.6%)
12/2009: The Unwritten #8  -- 14,257 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: The Unwritten #9  -- 13,792 (- 3.3%)
02/2010: The Unwritten #10 -- 13,644 (- 1.1%)
03/2010: The Unwritten #11 -- 13,630 (- 0.1%)
04/2010: The Unwritten #12 -- 13,507 (- 0.9%)
05/2010: The Unwritten #13 -- 13,467 (- 0.3%)
06/2010: The Unwritten #14 -- 13,396 (- 0.5%)
07/2010: The Unwritten #15 -- 13,023 (- 2.8%)
08/2010: The Unwritten #16 -- 12,778 (- 1.9%)
09/2010: The Unwritten #17 -- 12,796 (+ 0.2%)
10/2010: The Unwritten #18 -- 12,273 (- 4.1%)
11/2010: The Unwritten #19 -- 12,036 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: -10.6%
1 year  : -18.5%

This one seems to be settling into a slow decline again, meanwhile.

—–

153 - FREEDOM FIGHTERS
11/2006: US & FF #5 of 8      -- 25,144
11/2007: US & FF #3 of 8      -- 17,157
---------------------------------------
09/2010: Freedom Fighters #1  -- 19,378
10/2010: Freedom Fighters #2  -- 12,758 (-34.2%)
11/2010: Freedom Fighters #3  -- 11,186 (-12.3%)

159 - R.E.B.E.L.S.
11/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #10 -- 51,100 (+352.9%)
12/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 -- 31,489 (- 38.4%)
01/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #12 -- 12,428 (- 60.5%)
02/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #13 -- 11,836 (-  4.8%)
03/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #14 -- 11,362 (-  4.0%)
04/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #15 -- 11,271 (-  0.8%)
05/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #16 -- 11,120 (-  1.3%)
06/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #17 -- 11,048 (-  0.7%)
07/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #18 -- 11,007 (-  0.4%)
08/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #19 -- 10,851 (-  1.4%)
09/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #20 -- 11,745 (+  8.2%)
10/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #21 -- 11,262 (-  4.1%)
11/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #22 -- 10,797 (-  4.1%)
-----------------
6 months: -  2.9%
1 year  : - 78.9%

160 - JONAH HEX
11/2005: Jonah Hex #1  -- 33,771
11/2006: Jonah Hex #13 -- 18,747
11/2007: Jonah Hex #25 -- 14,577
11/2008: Jonah Hex #37 -- 12,537
--------------------------------
11/2009: Jonah Hex #49 -- 11,146 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Jonah Hex #50 -- 15,131 (+35.8%)
01/2010: Jonah Hex #51 -- 11,184 (-26.1%)
02/2010: Jonah Hex #52 -- 11,213 (+ 0.3%)
03/2010: Jonah Hex #53 -- 11,565 (+ 3.1%)
04/2010: Jonah Hex #54 -- 11,306 (- 2.2%)
05/2010: Jonah Hex #55 -- 11,327 (+ 0.2%)
06/2010: Jonah Hex #56 -- 13,441 (+18.7%)
07/2010: Jonah Hex #57 -- 12,318 (- 8.4%)
08/2010: Jonah Hex #58 -- 11,775 (- 4.4%)
09/2010: Jonah Hex #59 -- 11,444 (- 2.8%)
10/2010: Jonah Hex #60 -- 11,141 (- 2.7%)
11/2010: Jonah Hex #61 -- 10,796 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.7%
1 year  : - 3.1%
2 years : -13.9%
5 years : -68.0%

Freedom Fighters is slowly bottoming out, at a fairly atrocious level. That was to be expected, though, so maybe they were hoping for another Jonah Hex or R.E.B.E.L.S. — terribly low but consistent numbers.

——

166 - DOOM PATROL
11/2005: Doom Patrol #18 -- 13,853
----------------------------------
11/2009: Doom Patrol #4  -- 53,748 (+168.3%)
12/2009: Doom Patrol #5  -- 35,348 (- 34.2%)
01/2010: Doom Patrol #6  -- 17,117 (- 51.6%)
02/2010: Doom Patrol #7  -- 15,689 (-  8.3%)
03/2010: Doom Patrol #8  -- 14,197 (-  9.5%)
04/2010: Doom Patrol #9  -- 13,126 (-  7.5%)
05/2010: Doom Patrol #10 -- 12,334 (-  6.0%)
06/2010: Doom Patrol #11 -- 11,857 (-  3.9%)
07/2010: Doom Patrol #12 -- 11,267 (-  5.0%)
08/2010: Doom Patrol #13 -- 10,878 (-  3.5%)
09/2010: Doom Patrol #14 -- 10,780 (-  0.9%)
10/2010: Doom Patrol #15 -- 10,081 (-  6.5%)
11/2010: Doom Patrol #16 --  9,955 (-  1.3%)
----------------
6 months: -19.3%
1 year  : -81.5%
5 years : -28.1%

The numbers have been too erratic lately to make any observation other than that they’re obviously not very good.

—–

168 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
11/2005: Hellblazer #214 -- 14,766
11/2006: Hellblazer #226 -- 13,388
11/2007: Hellblazer #238 -- 12,536
11/2008: Hellblazer #249 -- 11,445
----------------------------------
11/2009: Hellblazer #261 -- 10,553 (-2.0%)
12/2009: Hellblazer #262 -- 10,334 (-2.1%)
01/2010: Hellblazer #263 -- 10,179 (-1.5%)
02/2010: Hellblazer #264 -- 10,025 (-1.5%)
03/2010: Hellblazer #265 -- 10,295 (+2.7%)
04/2010: Hellblazer #266 -- 10,256 (-0.4%)
05/2010: Hellblazer #267 -- 10,155 (-1.0%)
06/2010: Hellblazer #268 -- 10,221 (+0.7%)
07/2010: Hellblazer #269 -- 10,048 (-1.7%)
08/2010: Hellblazer #270 --  9,928 (-1.2%)
09/2010: Hellblazer #271 --  9,851 (-0.8%)
10/2010: Hellblazer #272 --  9,650 (-2.0%)
11/2010: Hellblazer #273 --  9,645 (-0.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.0%
1 year  : - 8.6%
2 years : -15.7%
5 years : -44.7%

Holding level.

—–

172 - THE X-FILES/30 DAYS OF NIGHT (WildStorm)
07/2008: Special #0      -- 23,805
11/2008: X-Files #1 of 6 -- 16,042 (-32.6%)
12/2008: X-Files #2 of 6 -- 11,562 (-27.9%)
01/2009: X-Files #3 of 6 --  9,808 (-15.2%)
02/2009: X-Files #4 of 6 --  9,268 (- 5.5%)
03/2009: X-Files #5 of 6 --  8,999 (- 2.9%)
04/2009: X-Files #6 of 6 --  8,789 (- 2.3%)
----------------------------------
07/2010: XF30DoN #1 of 6 -- 16,109 (+83.3%)
08/2010: XF30DoN #2 of 6 -- 11,163 (-30.7%)
09/2010: XF30DoN #3 of 6 -- 10,803 (- 3.2%)
10/2010: XF30DoN #4 of 6 --  9,780 (- 9.5%)
11/2010: XF30DoN #5 of 6 --  9,403 (- 3.9%)
----------------
2 years : -41.4%

The top-selling WildStorm comic book in November, selling 4k more than the imprint’s average.

—–

175 - DOC SAVAGE
04/2010: Doc Savage #1   -- 24,539
05/2010: Doc Savage #2   -- 19,073 (-22.3%)
06/2010: Doc Savage #3   -- 16,153 (-15.3%)
07/2010: Doc Savage #4   -- 14,621 (- 9.5%)
08/2010: Doc Savage #5   -- 13,125 (-10.2%)
09/2010: Doc Savage #6   -- 11,838 (- 9.8%)
10/2010: Doc Savage #7   -- 10,050 (-15.1%)
11/2010: Doc Savage #8   --  9,257 (- 7.9%)
----------------
6 months: -51.5%

The numbers continue to crash.

—–

180 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo)
11/2009: Sweet Tooth #3  -- 10,363 (- 8.4%)
12/2009: Sweet Tooth #4  --  9,817 (- 5.3%)
01/2010: Sweet Tooth #5  --  9,787 (- 0.3%)
02/2010: Sweet Tooth #6  --  9,740 (- 0.5%)
03/2010: Sweet Tooth #7  --  9,718 (- 0.2%)
04/2010: Sweet Tooth #8  --  9,612 (- 1.1%)
05/2010: Sweet Tooth #9  --  9,654 (+ 0.4%)
06/2010: Sweet Tooth #10 --  9,570 (- 0.9%)
07/2010: Sweet Tooth #11 --  9,478 (- 1.0%)
08/2010: Sweet Tooth #12 --  9,246 (- 2.5%)
09/2010: Sweet Tooth #13 --  9,097 (- 1.6%)
10/2010: Sweet Tooth #14 --  8,933 (- 1.8%)
11/2010: Sweet Tooth #15 --  8,750 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.4%
1 year  : -15.6%

The decline has been accelerating again lately, but judging from Vertigo’s overall lineup, there’s still a lot of rope.

—–

181 - THE SPIRIT
11/2007: The Spirit #11 -- 18,892
11/2008: The Spirit #23 -- 10,372
---------------------------------
04/2010: The Spirit #1  -- 19,849 (+158.8%)
05/2010: The Spirit #2  -- 14,274 (- 28.1%)
06/2010: The Spirit #3  -- 13,030 (-  8.7%)
07/2010: The Spirit #4  -- 11,915 (-  8.6%)
08/2010: The Spirit #5  -- 11,015 (-  7.6%)
09/2010: The Spirit #6  -- 10,083 (-  8.5%)
10/2010: The Spirit #7  --  9,233 (-  8.4%)
11/2010: The Spirit #8  --  8,706 (-  5.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 39.0%
2 years : - 16.1%

Finally settling down?

—–

187 - THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
11/2005: Batman Strikes! #15   --  8,840
11/2006: Batman Strikes! #27   --  7,567
11/2007: Batman Strikes! #39   --  6,464
----------------------------------------
11/2009: Brave & Bold #11      --  6,438 (-  3.1%)
12/2009: Brave & Bold #12      --  6,342 (-  1.5%)
01/2010: Brave & Bold #13      --  6,129 (-  3.4%)
02/2010: Brave & Bold #14      --  6,084 (-  0.7%)
03/2010: Brave & Bold #15      --  6,208 (+  2.0%)
04/2010: Brave & Bold #16      --  6,506 (+  4.8%)
05/2010: Brave & Bold #17      --  6,103 (-  6.2%)
06/2010: Brave & Bold #18      --  6,270 (+  2.7%)
07/2010: Brave & Bold #19      --  6,489 (+  3.5%)
08/2010: Brave & Bold #20      --  6,244 (-  3.8%)
09/2010: Brave & Bold #21      --  6,345 (+  1.6%)
10/2010: Brave & Bold #22      --  6,044 (-  4.7%)
11/2010: All-New BBB #1        --  8,408 (+ 39.1%)
----------------
6 months: +37.8%
1 year  : +30.6%
2 years : +30.1%
5 years : - 4.9%

A relaunched Johnny DC title. See small print.

—–

190 - TINY TITANS/LITTLE ARCHIE (Johnny DC)
10/2010: TT/LA #1 of 3   --  9,968
11/2010: TT/LA #2 of 3   --  8,025 (-19.5%)

A Johnny DC miniseries. See small print.

—–

192 - NIGHTMÄSTER: MONSTERS OF ROCK
11/2010: Nightmäster #1 -- 7,890

This is probably the oddest thing DC published in November. Predictably low numbers.

—–

193 - AZRAEL
11/2009: Azrael #2  -- 21,392 (-39.4%)
12/2009: Azrael #3  -- 17,757 (-17.0%)
01/2010: Azrael #4  -- 14,703 (-17.2%)
02/2010: Azrael #5  -- 12,856 (-12.6%)
03/2010: Azrael #6  -- 11,825 (- 8.0%)
04/2010: Azrael #7  -- 11,080 (- 6.3%)
05/2010: Azrael #8  -- 10,228 (- 7.7%)
06/2010: Azrael #9  --  9,802 (- 4.2%)
07/2010: Azrael #10 --  9,223 (- 5.9%)
08/2010: Azrael #11 --  8,930 (- 3.2%)
09/2010: Azrael #12 --  8,559 (- 4.2%)
10/2010: Azrael #13 --  8,198 (- 4.2%)
11/2010: Azrael #14 --  7,841 (- 4.4%)
----------------
6 months: -23.3%
1 year  : -63.4%

Cancelled with issue #18.

—–

194/201 - CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER: CITY OF DEMONS (Vertigo)
10/2010: CH: CoD #1 of 5 -- 8,784
10/2010: CH: CoD #2 of 5 -- 8,097 (-7.8%)
11/2010: CH: CoD #3 of 5 -- 7,791 (-3.8%)
11/2010: CH: CoD #4 of 5 -- 7,566 (-2.9%)

Okay sales for a Hellblazer spin-off, I suppose, but maybe they were hoping for more from Sean Murphy’s name. It’s more of a bookshelf item anyway, though.

—–

197 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
11/2008: Tiny Titans #10 --  9,239
----------------------------------
11/2009: Tiny Titans #22 --  8,100 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Tiny Titans #23 --  8,017 (- 1.0%)
01/2010: Tiny Titans #24 --  7,844 (- 2.2%)
02/2010: Tiny Titans #25 --  8,566 (+ 9.2%)
03/2010: Tiny Titans #26 --  7,878 (- 8.0%)
04/2010: Tiny Titans #27 --  8,224 (+ 4.4%)
05/2010: Tiny Titans #28 --  7,959 (- 3.2%)
06/2010: Tiny Titans #29 --  8,195 (+ 3.0%)
07/2010: Tiny Titans #30 --  8,038 (- 1.9%)
08/2010: Tiny Titans #31 --  7,987 (- 0.6%)
09/2010: Tiny Titans #32 --  8,073 (+ 1.1%)
10/2010: Tiny Titans #33 --  8,045 (- 0.4%)
11/2010: Tiny Titans #34 --  7,713 (- 4.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.1%
1 year  : - 4.8%
2 years : -16.5%

Johnny DC, see small print.

—–

200 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
11/2008: House of Mystery #7  -- 15,120
---------------------------------------
11/2009: House of Mystery #19 -- 10,478 (- 4.1%)
12/2009: House of Mystery #20 -- 10,175 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: House of Mystery #21 --  9,888 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: House of Mystery #22 --  9,401 (- 4.9%)
03/2010: House of Mystery #23 --  9,350 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: House of Mystery #24 --  9,168 (- 2.0%)
05/2010: House of Mystery #25 --  9,253 (+ 0.9%)
06/2010: House of Mystery #26 --  8,742 (- 5.5%)
07/2010: House of Mystery #27 --  8,481 (- 3.0%)
08/2010: House of Mystery #28 --  8,238 (- 2.9%)
09/2010: House of Mystery #29 --  8,087 (- 1.8%)
10/2010: House of Mystery #30 --  7,913 (- 2.2%)
11/2010: House of Mystery #31 --  7,610 (- 3.8%)
----------------
6 months: -17.8%
1 year  : -27.4%
2 years : -49.7%

Slowly declining, but the drops are adding up.

—–

202 - WORLD OF WARCRAFT: CURSE OF THE WORGEN (WildStorm)
11/2007: World of WarCraft #1  -- 44,508 [49,271]
11/2008: World of WarCraft #13 -- 17,017
11/2009: World of WarCraft #25 -- 10,067
12/2009: WoW Special #1        -- 10,323
----------------------------------------
11/2010: WoW: CotW #1 of       --  7,521 (-27.1%)
----------------
1 year  : -25.3%
2 years : -55.8%

The videogame adaptations will keep coming even after WildStorm itself will be officially gone, so presumably DC is capitalizing on them in a way that has little, or nothing, to do with the direct market.

—–

206 - MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
11/2008: Madame Xanadu #6  -- 12,340
------------------------------------
11/2009: Madame Xanadu #17 --  8,856 (- 4.6%)
12/2009: Madame Xanadu #18 --  8,686 (- 1.9%)
01/2010: Madame Xanadu #19 --  8,439 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: Madame Xanadu #20 --  8,285 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: Madame Xanadu #21 --  8,191 (- 1.1%)
04/2010: Madame Xanadu #22 --  8,158 (- 0.4%)
05/2010: Madame Xanadu #23 --  8,028 (- 1.6%)
06/2010: Madame Xanadu #24 --  7,979 (- 0.6%)
07/2010: Madame Xanadu #25 --  7,811 (- 2.1%)
08/2010: Madame Xanadu #26 --  7,656 (- 2.0%)
09/2010: --
10/2010: Madame Xanadu #27 --  7,453 (- 2.7%)
10/2010: Madame Xanadu #28 --  7,230 (- 3.0%)
11/2010: Madame Xanadu #29 --  7,040 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -12.3%
1 year  : -20.5%
2 years : -43.0%

Cancelled.

—–

207 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
11/2008: Northlanders #12 -- 10,048
-----------------------------------
11/2009: Northlanders #22 --  8,136 (- 2.7%)
12/2009: Northlanders #23 --  8,069 (- 0.8%)
01/2010: Northlanders #24 --  7,935 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Northlanders #25 --  7,807 (- 1.6%)
03/2010: Northlanders #26 --  7,824 (+ 0.2%)
04/2010: Northlanders #27 --  7,683 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Northlanders #28 --  7,630 (- 0.7%)
06/2010: Northlanders #29 --  7,498 (- 1.7%)
07/2010: Northlanders #30 --  7,421 (- 1.0%)
08/2010: Northlanders #31 --  7,376 (- 0.6%)
09/2010: Northlanders #32 --  7,321 (- 0.8%)
10/2010: Northlanders #33 --  7,169 (- 2.1%)
11/2010: Northlanders #34 --  7,018 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.0%
1 year  : -13.7%
2 years : -30.2%

Standard attrition. Sales are still a few notches above the point where you’d be worried, and Brian Wood’s books tend to sell well as collections.

—–

208 - ASSASSIN'S CREED: THE FALL (WildStorm)
11/2010: The Fall #1 of 3 -- 6,941

A videogame adaptation by, believe it or not, Karl Kerschl and Cameron Stewart.

—–

218 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
11/2007: Scalped #11 --  7,323
11/2008: Scalped #23 --  6,910
------------------------------
11/2009: --
12/2009: Scalped #33 --  6,752 (- 2.2%)
01/2010: --
02/2010: Scalped #34 --  6,731 (- 0.3%)
02/2010: Scalped #35 --  6,443 (- 4.3%)
03/2010: Scalped #36 --  6,648 (+ 3.2%)
04/2010: Scalped #37 --  6,584 (- 1.0%)
05/2010: Scalped #38 --  6,632 (+ 0.7%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: Scalped #39 --  6,682 (+ 0.8%)
08/2010: Scalped #40 --  6,593 (- 1.3%)
09/2010: --
10/2010: Scalped #41 --  6,623 (+ 0.5%)
10/2010: Scalped #42 --  6,476 (- 2.2%)
11/2010: Scalped #43 --  6,324 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.6%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : - 8.5%

Slipping a bit, but still comparatively solid.

—–

221 - GOD OF WAR (WildStorm)
03/2010: God of War #1 of 6 -- 9,842
04/2010: --
05/2010: God of War #2 of 6 -- 9,501 (- 3.5%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: God of War #3 of 6 -- 8,220 (-13.5%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: God of War #4 of 6 -- 7,194 (-12.5%)
10/2010: --
11/2010: God of War #5 of 6 -- 6,088 (-15.4%)
----------------
6 months: -35.9%

222 - VICTORIAN UNDEAD II: SHERLOCK HOLMES VS. DRACULA (WildStorm)
11/2009: Victorian Undead #1 of 6 -- 11,422
12/2009: Victorian Undead #2 of 6 --  7,430
01/2010: Victorian Undead #3 of 6 --  6,663
02/2010: Victorian Undead #4 of 6 --  6,365
03/2010: Victorian Undead #5 of 6 --  6,285
04/2010: Victorian Undead #6 of 6 --  6,102
-------------------------------------------
10/2010: Victorian Undead Special --  5,723 (-6.2%)
11/2010: Holmes/Dracula #1 of     --  6,066 (+6.0%)
----------------
1 year  : -46.9%

Two WildStorm books with sales significantly above the average.

—–

223 - DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1  -- 18,705
11/2006: DMZ #13 -- 14,228
11/2007: DMZ #25 -- 11,277
11/2008: DMZ #36 --  8,851
--------------------------
11/2009: DMZ #47 --  7,187 (-2.9%)
12/2009: DMZ #48 --  6,977 (-2.9%)
01/2010: DMZ #49 --  6,872 (-1.5%)
02/2010: DMZ #50 --  7,262 (+5.7%)
03/2010: DMZ #51 --  6,840 (-5.8%)
04/2010: DMZ #52 --  6,826 (-0.2%)
05/2010: DMZ #53 --  6,759 (-1.0%)
06/2010: DMZ #54 --  6,661 (-1.5%)
07/2010: DMZ #55 --  6,581 (-1.2%)
08/2010: DMZ #56 --  6,524 (-0.9%)
09/2010: DMZ #57 --  6,333 (-2.9%)
10/2010: DMZ #58 --  6,198 (-2.1%)
11/2010: DMZ #59 --  6,046 (-2.5%)
----------------
6 months: -10.6%
1 year  : -15.9%
2 years : -31.7%
5 years : -67.7%

Nearing its 2012 conclusion at an incredibly consistent pace, overall.

—–

224 - TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM (WildStorm)
06/2010: RoD #1 of 6    -- 10,552
07/2010: RoD #2 of 6    --  7,655 (-27.5%)
08/2010: RoD #3 of 6    --  6,989 (- 8.7%)
09/2010: RoD #4 of 6    --  6,661 (- 4.7%)
10/2010: RoD #5 of 6    --  6,271 (- 5.9%)
11/2010: RoD #6 of 6    --  5,995 (- 4.4%)

225 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
11/2006: --
11/2007: Prime #2 of 6        -- 17,717
11/2008: The Authority v4 #4  -- 12,450
---------------------------------------
11/2009: The Authority v4 #16 --  8,066 (- 1.3%)
12/2009: The Authority v4 #17 --  7,829 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: The Authority v4 #18 --  7,952 (+ 1.6%)
02/2010: The Authority v4 #19 --  7,943 (- 0.1%)
03/2010: The Authority v4 #20 --  7,781 (- 2.0%)
04/2010: The Authority v4 #21 --  7,563 (- 2.8%)
05/2010: The Authority v4 #22 --  7,295 (- 3.5%)
06/2010: The Authority v4 #23 --  7,226 (- 1.0%)
07/2010: The Authority v4 #24 --  7,062 (- 2.3%)
08/2010: The Authority v4 #25 --  6,860 (- 2.9%)
09/2010: The Authority v4 #26 --  6,596 (- 3.9%)
10/2010: The Authority v4 #27 --  6,556 (- 0.6%)
11/2010: The Authority v4 #28 --  5,984 (- 8.7%)
----------------
6 months: -18.0%
1 year  : -25.8%
2 years : -51.9%
5 years :  n.a.

238 - FRINGE: TALES FROM THE FRINGE (WildStorm)
09/2008: Fringe #1 of 6 -- 15,929
01/2009: Fringe #2 of 6 --  8,239 (-48.3%)
03/2009: Fringe #3 of 6 --  7,426 (- 9.9%)
04/2009: Fringe #4 of 6 --  6,899 (- 7.1%)
05/2009: Fringe #5 of 6 --  6,744 (- 2.3%)
06/2009: Fringe #6 of 6 --  6,646 (- 1.5%)
---------------------------------
06/2010: Tales #1 of 6  --  8,099 (+21.9%)
07/2010: --
08/2010: Tales #2 of 6  --  6,506 (-19.7%)
08/2010: Tales #3 of 6  --  5,928 (- 8.9%)
09/2010: Tales #4 of 6  --  5,619 (- 5.2%)
10/2010: Tales #5 of 6  --  5,297 (- 5.7%)
11/2010: Tales #6 of 6  --  5,187 (- 2.1%)

239 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
11/2005: Nemesis #3 of 9 -- 16,154
11/2006: --
11/2008: World's End #5  -- 11,280
----------------------------------
11/2009: World's End #17 --  6,691 (- 2.8%)
12/2009: World's End #18 --  6,487 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: World's End #19 --  6,791 (+ 4.7%)
02/2010: World's End #20 --  6,669 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: World's End #21 --  6,491 (- 2.7%)
04/2010: World's End #22 --  6,367 (- 1.9%)
05/2010: World's End #23 --  6,185 (- 2.9%)
06/2010: World's End #24 --  6,051 (- 2.2%)
07/2010: World's End #25 --  5,823 (- 3.8%)
08/2010: World's End #26 --  5,607 (- 3.7%)
09/2010: World's End #27 --  5,514 (- 1.7%)
10/2010: World's End #28 --  5,532 (+ 0.3%)
11/2010: World's End #29 --  5,151 (- 6.9%)
----------------
6 months: -16.7%
1 year  : -23.0%
2 years : -54.3%
5 years : -68.1%

240 - DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS (WildStorm)
04/2010: Gods and Monsters #1 of 8 -- 10,203
05/2010: Gods and Monsters #2 of 8 --  6,671 (-34.6%)
06/2010: Gods and Monsters #3 of 8 --  6,295 (- 5.6%)
07/2010: Gods and Monsters #4 of 8 --  5,918 (- 6.0%)
08/2010: Gods and Monsters #5 of 8 --  5,598 (- 5.4%)
09/2010: Gods and Monsters #6 of 8 --  5,488 (- 2.0%)
10/2010: Gods and Monsters #7 of 8 --  5,226 (- 4.8%)
11/2010: Gods and Monsters #8 of 8 --  5,112 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: -23.4%

Various WildStorm titles on their way out — Wildcats and The Authority both end in December.

—–

242 - THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS
05/2010: Special #1               -- 7,017
06/2010: --
07/2010: Mighty Crusaders #1 of 6 -- 9,361 (+33.4%)
08/2010: Mighty Crusaders #2 of 6 -- 6,751 (-27.9%)
09/2010: Mighty Crusaders #3 of 6 -- 6,035 (-10.6%)
10/2010: Mighty Crusaders #4 of 6 -- 5,436 (- 9.9%)
11/2010: Mighty Crusaders #5 of 6 -- 5,006 (- 7.9%)
----------------
6 months: -28.7%

Another victim of the popular throw-it-at-the-wall approach.

—–

245 - UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Vertigo)
11/2008: Unknown Soldier #2  -- 10,553
--------------------------------------
11/2009: Unknown Soldier #14 --  6,359 (- 4.2%)
12/2009: Unknown Soldier #15 --  6,134 (- 3.5%)
01/2010: Unknown Soldier #16 --  5,848 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Unknown Soldier #17 --  5,701 (- 2.5%)
03/2010: Unknown Soldier #18 --  5,611 (- 1.6%)
04/2010: Unknown Soldier #19 --  5,542 (- 1.2%)
05/2010: Unknown Soldier #20 --  5,466 (- 1.4%)
06/2010: Unknown Soldier #21 --  5,371 (- 1.7%)
07/2010: Unknown Soldier #22 --  5,238 (- 2.5%)
08/2010: Unknown Soldier #23 --  5,090 (- 2.8%)
09/2010: --
10/2010: Unknown Soldier #24 --  5,100 (+ 0.2%)
11/2010: Unknown Soldier #25 --  4,962 (- 2.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.2%
1 year  : -22.0%
2 years : -53.0%

Cancelled.

—–

248 - SCOOBY DOO: WHERE ARE YOU? (Johnny DC)
11/2005: Scooby Doo #102 -- 4,587
11/2006: Scooby Doo #114 -- 4,387
11/2007: Scooby Doo #126 -- 4,237
11/2008: Scooby Doo #138 -- 4,068
---------------------------------
11/2009: Scooby Doo #150 -- 4,044 (+ 1.0%)
12/2009: Scooby Doo #151 -- 3,906 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Scooby Doo #152 -- 3,724 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Scooby Doo #153 -- 3,780 (+ 1.5%)
03/2010: Scooby Doo #154 -- 3,846 (+ 1.8%)
04/2010: Scooby Doo #155 -- 3,836 (- 0.3%)
05/2010: Scooby Doo #156 -- 3,857 (+ 0.6%)
06/2010: Scooby Doo #157 -- ?
07/2010: Scooby Doo #158 -- 4,147
08/2010: Scooby Doo #159 -- 4,092 (- 1.3%)
09/2010: SD:WAY? #1      -- 6,186 (+51.2%)
10/2010: SD:WAY? #2      -- 4,926 (-20.4%)
11/2010: SD:WAY? #3      -- 4,861 (- 1.3%)
----------------
6 months: +26.0%
1 year  : +20.2%
2 years : +19.5%
5 years : + 6.0%

A Johnny DC title.

—–

270/272/284/294 - DC COMICS PRESENTS
10/2010: Green Lantern #1   -- 4,418
10/2010: Jack Cross #1      -- 3,662
10/2010: Batman/Catwoman #1 -- 4,076
10/2010: Brightest Day #1   -- 4,988
10/2010: Batman #1          -- 4,643
10/2010: Superman #1        -- 3,685
10/2010: Young Justice #1   -- ?
11/2010: Flash/GL #1        -- 3,664
11/2010: Batman #2          -- 3,643
11/2010: Brightest Day #2   -- 3,292
11/2010: Superman #2        -- 2,915

A bunch of $ 7.99 reprint books, all of which again have much better first-month sales in the direct market than they likely would have achieved as paperback collections.

—–

281 - WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE (WildStorm)
12/2006: Welcome to Tranquility #1  -- 24,352
01/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #2  -- 15,087 (-38.1%)
02/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #3  -- 12,334 (-18.3%)
03/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #4  -- 11,423 (- 7.4%)
04/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #5  -- 10,407 (- 8.9%)
05/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #6  -- 10,280 (- 1.2%)
06/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #7  --  9,858 (- 4.1%)
07/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #8  --  9,509 (- 3.5%)
08/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #9  --  9,135 (- 3.9%)
09/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #10 --  8,611 (- 5.7%)
10/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #11 --  8,439 (- 2.0%)
11/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #12 --  8,076 (- 4.3%)
---------------------------------------------
07/2010: One Foot i/t Grave #1 of 6 --  6,219 (-23.0%)
08/2010: One Foot i/t Grave #2 of 6 --  4,776 (-23.2%)
09/2010: One Foot i/t Grave #3 of 6 --  ?
10/2010: One Foot i/t Grave #4 of 6 --  3,734
11/2010: One Foot i/t Grave #5 of 6 --  3,446 (- 7.4%)

282 - RATCHET AND CLANK (WildStorm)
09/2010: Ratchet and Clank #1 of 6 -- 5,655
10/2010: Ratchet and Clank #2 of 6 -- 4,001 (-29.3%)
11/2010: Ratchet and Clank #3 of 6 -- 3,382 (-15.5%)

Two WildStorm minis with miserable numbers.

—–

290 - VERTIGO RESURRECTED (Vertigo)
10/2010: Vertigo Resurrected #1 -- 10,358
11/2010: The Extremist #1       --  3,041

This one’s all reprint material, so I’m not counting it as a new release. Overall, though, see above: I doubt The Extremist would have cracked 1,500 units in its first month as a paperback collection, so we can probably expect a lot more of these.

In November, the WildStorm titles Ides of Blood #4 and Telara Chronicles #3 failed to chart. As always, for the purposes of the average periodical statistics below, I’m presuming each of them sold as many units as the No. 300 book on the chart, although the actual number is likely to be lower.

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 37.8%: Batman: B&B
+ 26.0%: Scooby-Doo
+  6.0%: Teen Titans
+  4.6%: Batman
-  2.2%: Superman/Batman
-  2.9%: REBELS
-  3.1%: Tiny Titans
-  4.6%: Scalped
-  4.7%: Jonah Hex
-  5.0%: Hellblazer
-  5.4%: Batman Confidential
-  8.0%: Northlanders
-  9.2%: Unknown Soldier
-  9.4%: Sweet Tooth
-  9.8%: Batgirl
- 10.6%: DMZ
- 10.6%: Secret Six
- 10.6%: Unwritten
- 11.0%: Detective Comics
- 11.1%: Batman and Robin
- 12.0%: Batman: SoG
- 12.3%: Madame Xanadu
- 12.3%: Robin
- 13.7%: Green Lantern
- 15.1%: Booster Gold
- 16.4%: Power Girl
- 16.5%: GL Corps
- 16.7%: Wildcats
- 17.8%: House of Mystery
- 17.9%: Batman: TRoBW
- 18.0%: Authority
- 18.5%: JLA
- 19.3%: Doom Patrol
- 22.4%: JSA All-Stars
- 23.3%: Azrael
- 23.4%: DV8
- 23.9%: GC Sirens
- 23.9%: Titans
- 24.7%: Flash
- 25.1%: American Vampire
- 26.6%: Adventure Comics
- 28.7%: Mighty Crusaders
- 30.7%: Generation Lost
- 31.7%: Birds of Prey
- 32.2%: DCU Legacies
- 35.9%: God of War
- 38.7%: Zatanna
- 38.8%: Brightest Day
- 39.0%: Spirit
- 40.5%: LoSH
- 51.5%: Doc Savage
- 61.2%: I, Zombie

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+127.7%: Green Arrow
+ 34.4%: Superman
+ 30.6%: Batman: B&B
+ 20.2%: Scooby-Doo
-  0.9%: Action Comics
-  3.1%: Jonah Hex
-  4.8%: Tiny Titans
-  5.5%: Batman
-  8.6%: Hellblazer
- 10.9%: Titans
- 12.5%: Batman Confidential
- 12.9%: Supergirl
- 13.7%: Northlanders
- 13.9%: Secret Six
- 15.6%: Sweet Tooth
- 15.9%: DMZ
- 18.5%: Unwritten
- 20.5%: Madame Xanadu
- 21.9%: Flash
- 22.0%: Unknown Soldier
- 22.3%: JSA
- 23.0%: Wildcats
- 24.1%: Green Lantern
- 25.0%: Red Robin
- 25.3%: WoW
- 25.6%: Batgirl
- 25.8%: Authority
- 26.2%: Batman and Robin
- 27.4%: House of Mystery
- 28.5%: GL Corps
- 28.7%: GC Sirens
- 30.7%: Batman: SoG
- 32.1%: Detective Comics
- 39.9%: Superman/Batman
- 42.8%: Teen Titans
- 43.1%: JLA
- 46.9%: Victorian Undead
- 63.4%: Azrael
- 69.8%: Booster Gold
- 70.0%: Adventure Comics
- 73.3%: Outsiders
- 78.9%: REBELS
- 81.5%: Doom Patrol

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+107.9%: Flash
+ 64.3%: Birds of Prey
+ 54.6%: Green Arrow
+ 31.8%: GL Corps
+ 30.1%: Batman: B&B
+ 19.6%: Batgirl
+ 19.5%: Scooby-Doo
+ 15.4%: LoSH
+ 12.1%: Red Robin
-  8.5%: Scalped
- 13.9%: Jonah Hex
- 15.7%: Hellblazer
- 16.1%: Spirit
- 16.5%: Tiny Titans
- 16.6%: Superman
- 23.4%: Secret Six
- 30.2%: Northlanders
- 30.2%: Teen Titans
- 31.7%: DMZ
- 36.8%: Batman
- 36.9%: Batman Confidential
- 38.9%: Booster Gold
- 41.4%: X-Files
- 41.9%: Titans
- 42.5%: Detective Comics
- 43.0%: Madame Xanadu
- 43.5%: Action Comics
- 44.2%: Supergirl
- 49.7%: House of Mystery
- 51.9%: Authority
- 52.9%: JSA
- 53.0%: Unknown Soldier
- 54.3%: Wildcats
- 55.8%: WoW
- 68.4%: Outsiders

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 25.8%: Flash
+ 21.1%: Green Arrow
+  6.0%: Scooby-Doo
+  4.9%: Birds of Prey
-  1.5%: Red Robin
-  3.6%: Detective Comics
-  4.4%: Batgirl
-  4.9%: Batman: B&B
-  6.5%: Batman
- 17.5%: Green Lantern
- 21.2%: LoSH
- 25.8%: Action Comics
- 28.1%: Doom Patrol
- 33.7%: Superman
- 36.4%: JSA
- 37.1%: JLA
- 44.7%: Hellblazer
- 62.0%: Teen Titans
- 67.7%: DMZ
- 68.0%: Jonah Hex
- 68.1%: Wildcats
- 69.6%: Outsiders
- 74.6%: Supergirl

—–

Average Periodical Sales
(not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, Johnny DC titles and magazines)

DC COMICS
11/2005: 32,971
11/2006: 34,907
11/2007: 29,429
11/2008: 25,340
---------------
11/2009: 28,913 (+ 5.1%)**
12/2009: 25,904 (-10.4%)**
01/2010: 25,657 (- 1.0%)**
02/2010: 26,199 (+ 2.1%)**
03/2010: 23,299 (-11.1%)**
04/2010: 23,740 (+ 1.9%)**
05/2010: 27,785 (+17.0%)**
06/2010: 25,788 (- 7.2%)**
07/2010: 25,841 (+ 0.2%)**
08/2010: 23,331 (- 9.7%)**
09/2010: 23,212 (- 0.5%)**
10/2010: 23,756 (- 2.3%)**
11/2010: 25,497 (+ 7.3%)**
----------------
6 months: - 8.2%
1 year  : -11.1%
2 years : + 0.6%
5 years : -22.7%

DC UNIVERSE
11/2005: 42,342
11/2006: 45,399
11/2007: 37,257
11/2008: 33,096
---------------
11/2009: 38,488 (+10.6%)
12/2009: 35,473 (- 7.8%)**
01/2010: 33,698 (- 5.0%)
02/2010: 35,895 (+ 6.5%)
03/2010: 32,375 (- 9.8%)
04/2010: 32,859 (+ 1.5%)
05/2010: 37,463 (+14.0%)
06/2010: 34,612 (- 7.6%)**
07/2010: 35,372 (+ 2.2%)
08/2010: 33,411 (- 5.5%)
09/2010: 32,042 (- 4.1%)
10/2010: 32,832 (+ 2.5%)
11/2010: 34,180 (+ 4.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.8%
1 year  : -11.2%
2 years : + 3.3%
5 years : -19.3%

VERTIGO
11/2005: 15,730
11/2006: 13,773
11/2007: 10,946
11/2008: 11,936
---------------
11/2009: 11,036 (+ 4.6%)
12/2009: 10,583 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: 11,267 (+ 6.5%)
02/2010:  9,256 (-17.9%)
03/2010: 11,394 (+23.1%)
04/2010: 10,815 (- 5.1%)
05/2010: 11,756 (+ 8.7%)
06/2010: 10,995 (- 6.5%
07/2010:  9,515 (-13.5%)
08/2010:  9,094 (- 4.4%)
09/2010: 11,622 (+27.8%)
10/2010:  9,546 (-17.9%)
11/2010:  9,034 (- 5.4%)
----------------
6 months: -23.2%
1 year  : -18.1%
2 years : -24.3%
5 years : -42.6%

WILDSTORM
11/2005: 16,255
11/2006: 18,987
11/2007: 15,109
11/2008: 10,220
---------------
11/2009:  7,111 (-27.2%)**
12/2009:  7,260 (+ 2.1%)**
01/2010:  6,532 (-10.0%)**
02/2010:  5,692 (-12.9%)**
03/2010:  7,691 (+35.1%)**
04/2010:  5,923 (-23.0%)**
05/2010:  6,808 (+14.9%)**
06/2010:  6,140 (- 9.8%)**
07/2010:  7,054 (+14.9%)**
08/2010:  6,179 (-12.4%)**
09/2010:  6,046 (- 2.2%)**
10/2010:  5,158 (-14.7%)**
11/2010:  5,429 (+ 5.3%)**
----------------
6 months: -20.3%
1 year  : -23.4%
2 years : -46.9%
5 years : -66.6%

—–
Disclaimers, et cetera

The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.

ICv2.com’s estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.

Bear in mind that the figures measure sales to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to bookstores, newsstands, other mass-market retail chains or the United Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book’s initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month.

If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a book’s initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in parenthesis behind those issues (e.g. “[36,599]“). Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used.

Titles released under the Johnny DC imprint and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct-market sales don’t tell us much about their performance. For most Vertigo and some WildStorm titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well. To learn (a little) more about Vertigo’s collection sales, go right here.

** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that month. In those cases, it’s assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.

For a more lyrical approach to discussing sales figures that covers all the essentials in a more condensed, less tedious fashion, finally, go right here.
—–
Marc-Oliver Frisch writes about comics at his weblog and at Comicgate. You can also follow him on Twitter.