DC Comics Month-to Month Sales: August 2014 – Multiversity Selfies

by David Carter

Greetings, sales charts fans! It’s time once again to look at DC’s sales figures.

It’s month three of DC’s new variant cover ordering scheme, where retailers can order as many of the month’s themed variant covers as they want at the regular price. As previously suspected, the Selfie variants do not attract as many additional orders as the Bombshell or Batman 75th variants did. It’s hard to tell if that is because of a perceived lack of interest in the covers, or an adjustment based on the previous months, or a combination of factors. Next month DC will have round two of the 3D motion covers, hoping to recapture some of the magic of last year’s 3D cover stunt.

This was a down month for DC. Several of their top sellers did not ship in August: Justice League, Superman Unchained and Sandman Overture. Vertigo sales are particularly moribund: the average Vertigo sales of 9,082 per title is the second lowest since Diamond started reporting actual sales back in 2003. (The lowest month was November 2010, at 9,034.) With The Wake over and Sandman Overture shipping sporadically, Vertigo’s top seller this month is short-timer Fables.

DC is having some amount of luck with recent relaunches; so far Grayson, New Suicide Squad and Teen Titans are doing decently. But besides Harley Quinn, they are not having much of a go with regular series launches. Two of their most recent, Infinity Man and the Forever People and Star-Spangled War Stories featuring G. I. Zombie, are already in the cancellation zone on their third and second issues respectively.

Next month is the third anniversary of The New 52, so this month gives us an opportunity to look at the state of sales compared to the final pre-New 52 month, August 2011. For several of the books below you’ll see a special, one-time only statistic, the New 52 Differential. For comics that existed pre-New 52 and were relaunched in September 2011, and that have survived all the way to issue #34 in August 2014, you’ll see a comparison of how well they are selling three years out compared to how they sold just before being relaunched (rounded off). They range from a whopping +60K increase for Batman (which has never sold below 100K for the entirety of its New 52 existence!) to a depressing -30K for Green Lantern, and pretty much the gamut in between. In both of those extreme cases you could say that it was the creative teams that played as much of a role: the Snyder & Capullo combination on Batman has been extremely popular, and the departure of Geoff Johns from writing Green Lantern has resulted in a marked decrease over the entire line of Green Lantern comics.

It would be foolish to say that The New 52 was anything but a sales success for DC; especially in its debut months DC sold many many copies of comics that they in no way would have been able to sell otherwise except for the huge marketing push that the line-wide reboot afforded them. And three years out the average sales for the DCU are about 9K higher than they were back in August 2011. But it does kind of feel like we’re back to where we started from, and the only ways that DC can boost sales are by crossover events, variant covers, and individual title relaunches. It is extremely rare for a book to grow steadily because of reader interest in the comic. (This is a problem that comics in general have, not just DC.)

There one arena that this fretting leaves out is one that is invisible to us, sales wise: digital. Along with the New 52 relaunch, DC also went day-and-date with digital releases, and over the past three years have instituted a robust digital-first program as well. While an (assumed) average of digital sales being 15% of print sales means that we are a long way from the day that digital will replace print for DC (though compare to the early days of direct sales vs. newsstand…), that’s still a nice bonus layered on top. And digital makes for a possibility of a nice long tail, without the need to keep comics in print and warehoused.

Warning: The commentary below may contain reasoned analysis, speculation (unfounded and otherwise), opinion, and/or snark. Those looking for a more straightforward analysis are directed to John Jackson Miller’s excellent Comichron analysis, posted earlier this month right here at The Beat!

Please consider the fine 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.

(Note that the percentage comparisons are now done with total orders including reorder activity, as opposed to initial orders as was the practice of this column under the previous administration.)

—

1 - BATMAN ($3.99)
08/2004: Batman #631 --  72,287 [74,830] 
08/2009: Batman #689 --  78,392 
08/2010: Batman #702 --  73,414
08/2011: Batman #713 --  51,760
08/2012: Batman #12  -- 125,249 
-------------------------------
08/2013: Batman #23  -- 128,230 (-  2.9%)
09/2013: #23.1: Jkr  -- 151,351 (+ 18.0%)
09/2013: #23.2: Rdlr -- 140,065 (-  7.5%)
09/2013: #23.3: Pngn -- 120,026 (- 14.3%)
09/2013: #23.4: Bane -- 124,382 (+  7.6%) [129,156]
10/2013: Batman #24  -- 124,652 (-  3.5%)
11/2013: Batman #25  -- 125,602 (+  0.8%)
12/2013: Batman #26  -- 119,443 (-  4.9%)
01/2014: Batman #27  -- 115,492 (-  1.7%) [117,395]
02/2014: Batman #28  -- 114,089 (-  1.3%) [115,891]
03/2014: Batman #29  -- 116,926 (+  0.9%)
04/2014: Batman #30  -- 108,998 (-  6.8%)
05/2014: Batman #31  -- 107,499 (+  0.2%) [109,170]
06/2014: Batman #32  -- 130,077 (+ 19.2%) 
07/2014: Batman #33  -- 117,996 (-  9.3%) 
08/2014: Batman #34  -- 112,186 (-  4.9%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  3.2%
1 year  : - 12.5%
2 years : - 10.4%
5 years : + 43.1%
10 years: + 49.9%
Since #1: - 49.8%
New 52 Diff: +60K

Once again, Batman is DC’s #1 comic in units sold. “Zero Year” ended last month so this was a transition issue tying in to the ongoing Batman Eternal story. The Self-Bat variant cover differential issomewhat less than 6K, some of which may be attributable to the interim-ness of this issue.

—

4 - THE MULTIVERSITY ($4.99)
08/2014: The Multiversity #1  --  90,551

The new Grant Morrison series-of-one-shots exploring DC’s multiverse opens under 100K, but due to its $5 cover price it is the top revenue-generating comic of August. Each issue will be a #1 with a different subject and different artist, making it hard to predict what will happen to sales numbers over the coming months. (There were a plethora of order incentive covers, but no standard Selfie variant.)

—

7, 13 - HARLEY QUINN ($2.99)
11/2013: Harley Quinn #0  -- 114,212           [141,580]
12/2013: Harley Quinn #1  --  92,153 (- 10.8%) [120,312]
01/2014: Harley Quinn #2  --  66,363 (- 26.9%) [ 82,031]
02/2014: Harley Quinn #3  --  63,967 (- 18.6%) [ 72,820]
03/2014: Harley Quinn #4  --  63,120 (-  5.5%)
04/2014: Harley Quinn #5  --  63,155 (+  0.1%)
05/2014: Harley Quinn #6  --  62,467 (-  1.1%)
06/2014: Harley Quinn #7  --  93,266 (+ 49.3%)
07/2014: Harley Quinn #8  --  76,827 (- 17.6%)
08/2014: Harley Quinn #9  --  71,522 (-  6.9%)
08/2014: Harley Quinn #10 --  58,500 (- 18.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 10.7%
Since #0: - 58.7%

DC ships two issues of one of the best-selling books this month–because hey, why not?–and the results are highly illustrative. Issue #9 had a freely-orderable Selfie variant (for a Self-Bat differential of more than 5K), while issue #10 had a 1:25 order incentive variant but no Selfie cover. The difference? 13K! Issue #10’s sales of 58.5K are just about exactly where we’d expect them to be given standard attrition based on what the title was selling before DC started their new variant ordering scheme.

—

10, 14, 15, 16 - BATMAN ETERNAL ($2.99)
04/2014: Batman Eternal #1  -- 105,754           [110,916]
04/2014: Batman Eternal #2  --  84,566 (- 20.2%) [ 88,468]
04/2014: Batman Eternal #3  --  79,703 (-  4.8%) [ 84,183]
04/2014: Batman Eternal #4  --  78,009 (-  1.7%) [ 82,743]
05/2014: Batman Eternal #5  --  73,475 (- 11.2%)
05/2014: Batman Eternal #6  --  70,983 (-  3.4%)
05/2014: Batman Eternal #7  --  68,251 (-  3.8%)
05/2014: Batman Eternal #8  --  68,523 (+  0.4%)
06/2014: Batman Eternal #9  --  68,295 (-  0.3%)
06/2014: Batman Eternal #10 --  67,203 (-  1.6%)
06/2014: Batman Eternal #11 --  65,770 (-  2.1%)
06/2014: Batman Eternal #12 --  65,374 (-  0.6%)
07/2014: Batman Eternal #13 --  63,828 (-  2.4%)
07/2014: Batman Eternal #14 --  63,138 (-  1.1%)
07/2014: Batman Eternal #15 --  62,137 (-  1.6%)
07/2014: Batman Eternal #16 --  61,149 (-  1.6%)
07/2014: Batman Eternal #17 --  60,013 (-  1.9%)
08/2014: Batman Eternal #18 --  58,998 (-  1.7%)
08/2014: Batman Eternal #19 --  58,368 (-  1.1%)
08/2014: Batman Eternal #20 --  57,906 (-  0.8%)
08/2014: Batman Eternal #21 --  57,525 (-  0.7%)
-----------------
Since #1: - 48.1%

Batman Eternal numbers drop below 60K. There are a couple of ways to look at these figures. On the one hand, they’re dropping an average just a bit over 1% per issue, which is a very light attrition. On the other hand, that works out to a little over 4% per month, which is a bit on the high side. If it keeps up at the current rate, Batman Eternal will drop to around 40K by the time it ends in March.

—

11 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99)
08/2004: Detective Comics #797 -- 50,695 [52,811]
08/2009: Detective Comics #856 -- 58,859
08/2010: Detective Comics #868 -- 38,682
08/2011: Detective Comics #881 -- 39,729
08/2012: Detective Comics #12  -- 75,998
-----------------------------------------
08/2013: Detective Comics #23  -- 61,448 (-  3.9%)
09/2013: #23.1: Poison Ivy     -- 78,522 (+ 27.8%)
09/2013: #23.2: Harley Quinn   -- 89,636 (+ 14.2%)
09/2013: #23.3: Scarecrow      -- 73,043 (- 18.5%)
09/2013: #23.4: Man-Bat        -- 68,110 (-  6.8%)
10/2013: Detective Comics #24  -- 59,310 (- 12.9%)
11/2013: Detective Comics #25  -- 64,392 (+  8.6%)
12/2013: Detective Comics #26  -- 56,538 (- 12.2%)
01/2014: Detective Comics #27  -- 88,702 (+ 59.8%) [90,335]
02/2014: Detective Comics #28  -- 56,619 (- 37.3%)
03/2014: Detective Comics #29  -- 55,486 (-  2.0%)
04/2014: Detective Comics #30  -- 56,149 (+  1.2%)
05/2014: Detective Comics #31  -- 54,518 (-  2.9%)
06/2014: Detective Comics #32  -- 72,988 (+ 33.9%)
07/2014: Detective Comics #33  -- 62,856 (- 13.9%)
08/2014: Detective Comics #34  -- 58,812 (-  6.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +  3.9%
1 year  : -  4.3%
2 years : - 22.6%
5 years : -  0.1%
10 years: + 11.4%
Since #1: - 62.7%
New 52 Diff: +19K

A Self-Bat differential of about 4K.

—

18 - SUPERMAN ($3.99)
08/2004: Superman #208 -- 129,256
08/2009: Superman #691 --  39,106
08/2010: Superman #702 --  50,023
08/2011: Superman #714 --  35,919
08/2012: Superman #12  --  53,326
---------------------------------
08/2013: Superman #23  --  42,155 (-  1.9%)
09/2013: #23.1: Bzarro --  59,589 (+ 41.4%)
09/2013: #23.2: Brniac --  58,197 (-  2.3%)
09/2013: #23.3: H'el   --  55,069 (-  5.4%)
09/2013: #23.4: Prsite --  59,811 (+  8.6%)
10/2013: Superman #24  --  39,580 (- 33.8%)
11/2013: Superman #25  --  39,295 (-  0.7%)
12/2013: Superman #26  --  36,877 (-  6.2%)
01/2014: Superman #27  --  35,266 (-  4.4%)
02/2014: Superman #28  --  34,296 (-  2.8%)
03/2014: Superman #29  --  33,633 (-  1.9%)
04/2014: Superman #30  --  37,316 (+ 11.0%)
05/2014: Superman #31  --  40,534 (+  8.6%)
06/2014: Superman #32  --  89,140 (+136.8%) [95,972]
07/2014: Superman #33  --  62,998 (- 34.4%)
08/2014: Superman #34  --  56,568 (- 10.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 64.9%
1 year  : + 34.2%
2 years : +  6.1%
5 years : + 44.7%
10 years: - 56.2%
Since #1: - 62.3%
New 52 Diff: +21K

A 10% drop is pretty typical for a third issue, but then that also includes the Self-Bat differential (6K), so actual reader interest may be holding stronger. The variant cover effects are really messing up any cogent analysis of the effect of the new creative team.

—

19 - GRAYSON ($2.99)
08/2004: Nightwing #95  -- 44,558 [47,479]
08/2012: Nightwing #12  -- 47,484
---------------------------------
08/2013: Nightwing #23  -- 40,522 (-  3.7%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Nightwing #24  -- 39,853 (-  1.7%)
11/2013: Nightwing #25  -- 44,039 (+ 10.5%)
12/2013: Nightwing #26  -- 38,452 (- 12.7%)
01/2014: Nightwing #27  -- 38,325 (-  0.3%)
02/2014: Nightwing #28  -- 36,940 (-  3.6%)
03/2014: Nightwing #29  -- 36,814 (-  0.3%)
04/2014: --
05/2014: Nightwing #30  -- 43,923 (+ 19.3%)
06/2014: --
07/2014: Grayson #1     -- 81,433 (+ 85.4%)
08/2014: Grayson #2     -- 56,486 (- 30.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 52.9%
1 year  : + 39.4%
2 years : + 19.0%
10 years: + 19.0%
Since #1: - 30.6%

Thirty percent is a bit on the high side for a second issue drop, but since that also includes the Self-Bat differential it is pretty much in line with what is typical. Grayson will likely end up as a decent-performing mid-list book for DC.

—

20 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN ($3.99)
08/2004: --
08/2009: Superman/Batman #63 --  37,467
08/2010: Superman/Batman #75 --  34,324
08/2011: Superman/Batman #87 --  26,425
---------------------------------------
08/2013: Batman/Superman #3  --  87,337 (-13.6%)
09/2013: #3.1: Doomsday      --  92,290 (+10.4%) [96,453]
10/2013: Batman/Superman #4  --  82,990 (-14.0%)
11/2013: Batman/Superman #5  --  77,198 (- 7.0%)
12/2013: Batman/Superman #6  --  68,857 (-10.8%)
01/2014: Batman/Superman #7  --  61,074 (-11.3%)
02/2014: Batman/Superman #8  --  59,138 (- 3.2%)
03/2014: --
04/2014: Batman/Superman #9  --  56,223 (- 4.9%)
05/2014: Batman/Superman #10 --  54,844 (- 4.9%)
05/2014: Batman/Superman #11 --  53,504 (- 4.9%)
06/2014: --
07/2014: Batman/Superman #12 --  68,345 (+27.7%)
08/2014: Batman/Superman #13 --  55,954 (-18.1%)
-----------------
6 months: -  5.4%
1 year  : - 35.9%
5 years : + 49.3%
10 years:   n.a.
Since #1: - 63.0%

Somehow last month I neglected to include Batman/Superman in the analysis. I swear I proofed that puppy, but I was running so late with the column that I must have rushed and just missed my skipping it. And in my defense, Batman/Superman ‘s schedule has been kind of erratic as of late. Mea culpa, and I’ll recommend to Heidi that she dock my pay for this error.

Anyway, like Justice League (which did not ship in August due to yet more lateness), Batman/Superman is running behind and thus in August had its Batman 75th variant cover, with a Bat-Bomb differential of over 14K.

—

24 - BATMAN AND... ($2.99)
08/2009: Batman and Robin #3  -- 110,594
08/2010: --
08/2011: Batman and Robin #26 --  52,704
08/2012: Batman and Robin #12 --  63,993
----------------------------------------
08/2013: and Nightwing #23    --  55,707 (-  3.6%)
09/2013: #23.1: Two-Face      --  77,073 (+ 38.4%)
09/2013: #23.2: Court of Owls --  75,546 (-  2.0%)
09/2013: #23.3: Ra's al Ghul  --  73,746 (-  2.4%)
09/2013: #23.4: Killer Croc   --  69,428 (-  5.9%)
10/2013: and Two-Face #24     --  52,060 (- 25.0%)
11/2013: and Two-Face #25     --  53,374 (+  2.5%)
12/2013: and Two-Face #26     --  46,611 (- 12.7%)
01/2014: and Two-Face #27     --  45,462 (-  2.5%)
02/2014: and Two-Face #28     --  43,380 (-  4.6%)
03/2014: and Aquaman #29      --  43,295 (-  0.2%)
04/2014: and Wonder Woman #30 --  44,832 (+  3.6%)
05/2014: and Frankenstein #31 --  42,150 (-  6.0%)
06/2014: and Ra's al Ghul #32 --  56,311 (+ 33.6%)
07/2014: Batman and Robin #33 --  56,269 (-  0.1%)
08/2014: Batman and Robin #34 --  53,403 (-  5.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 23.1%
1 year  : -  4.1%
2 years : - 16.5%
5 years : - 51.7%
Since #1: - 54.0%
New 52 Diff: +0.7K

A Self-Bat differential of just under 3K.

—

27 - SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
10/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #1  -- 94,859
11/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #2  -- 60,185 (- 36.6%)
12/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #3  -- 51,357 (- 14.7%)
01/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #4  -- 47,350 (-  7.8%)
02/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #5  -- 44,847 (-  5.3%)
03/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #6  -- 43,308 (-  3.4%)
04/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #7  -- 45,157 (+  4.3%)
05/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #8  -- 47,803 (+  5.9%)
06/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #9  -- 62,659 (+ 31.1%)
07/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #10 -- 50,254 (- 19.8%)
08/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #11 -- 50,550 (+  0.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 12.7%
Since #1: - 46.7%

Actually gains a few sales this month, no doubt due to the continuing strength of the “Superman Doomed” crossover story. The only title this month with a positive Self-Bat differential.

(I suspect that we’re missing some amount of re-order activity on all of the “Superman Doomed” installments, due to Diamond not reporting beyond the top 300 and that threshold being relatively high over the past couple of months.)

—

31 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99)
08/2004: Action Comics #818 -- 43,257
08/2009: Action Comics #880 -- 37,588
08/2010: Action Comics #892 -- 36,401
08/2011: Action Comics #904 -- 39,323
08/2012: Action Comics #12  -- 71,203
--------------------------------------
08/2013: Action Comics #23  -- 42,603 (-  5.0%)
09/2013: #23.1: Cyborg Smn  -- 69,796 (+ 63.8%)
09/2013: #23.2: Zod         -- 69,356 (-  0.6%)
09/2013: #23.3: Lex Luthor  -- 67,621 (-  2.5%)
09/2013: #23.4: Metallo     -- 51,807 (- 23.4%)
10/2013: Action Comics #24  -- 39,620 (- 23.5%)
11/2013: Action Comics #25  -- 46,550 (+ 17.5%)
12/2013: Action Comics #26  -- 37,489 (- 19.5%)
01/2014: Action Comics #27  -- 36,042 (-  3.9%)
02/2014: Action Comics #28  -- 35,305 (-  2.0%)
03/2014: Action Comics #29  -- 34,231 (-  3.0%)
04/2014: Action Comics #30  -- 37,809 (+ 10.5%)
05/2014: Action Comics #31  -- 41,081 (+  8.7%)
06/2014: Action Comics #32  -- 55,400 (+ 34.9%)
07/2014: Action Comics #33  -- 49,457 (- 10.7%)
08/2014: Action Comics #34  -- 46,746 (-  5.5%)
-----------------
6 months: + 32.4%
1 year  : +  9.7%
2 years : - 34.3%
5 years : + 24.4%
10 years: +  8.1%
Since #1: - 76.7%
New 52 Diff: + 7K

But then Action Comics is in the same boat crossover-wise as S/WW , but it takes a more typical Self-Bat drop of 2.5K. So maybe something else is going on with S/WW ?

—

34 - GREEN LANTERN ($2.99)
08/2004: Green Lantern #180 --  36,425
08/2009: Green Lantern #45  -- 102,431
08/2010: --
08/2011: --
08/2012: Green Lantern #12  --  77,187
--------------------------------------
08/2013: Green Lantern #23  --  59,176 (-  5.2%)
09/2013: #23.1: Relic       --  66,495 (+ 12.4%)
09/2013: #23.2: Mongul      --  63,731 (-  4.2%)
09/2013: #23.3: Black Hand  --  62,753 (-  1.5%)
09/2013: #23.4: Sinestro    --  70,893 (+ 13.0%)
10/2013: Green Lantern #24  --  57,109 (- 19.4%)
11/2013: Green Lantern #25  --  54,322 (-  5.2%)
12/2013: Green Lantern #26  --  51,420 (-  5.0%)
01/2014: Green Lantern #27  --  48,831 (-  5.0%)
02/2014: GL/Red Lanterns#28 --  49,200 (+  5.6%) [51,548]
03/2014: Green Lantern #29  --  45,797 (- 11.2%)
04/2014: Green Lantern #30  --  44,483 (-  2.9%)
05/2014: Green Lantern #31  --  43,769 (-  1.6%)
06/2014: Green Lantern #32  --  56,315 (+ 28.7%)
07/2014: Green Lantern #33  --  47,279 (- 16.0%)
08/2014: Green Lantern #34  --  43,846 (-  7.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.9%
1 year  : - 25.9%
2 years : - 43.2%
5 years : - 57.2%
10 years: + 20.4%
Since #1: - 74.1%
New 52 Diff: -30K*

I am amused that issue #34 ranks at #34 this month. (It does not take much to amuse me‚Ķ) A Self-Bat differential of over 3K. (The New 52 differential uses the July 2011 figures, as GL didn’t ship in August 2011.)

—

37 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED ($3.99)
04/2014: Justice League United #0  -- 68,431 
05/2014: Justice League United #1  -- 64,209 (-  6.2%) 
06/2014: Justice League United #2  -- 62,928 (-  2.0%) 
07/2014: Justice League United #3  -- 47,919 (- 23.9%) 
08/2014: Justice League United #4  -- 42,504 (- 11.3%) 
-----------------
Since #0: - 37.9%

A Self-Bat differential of over 5K.

—

38 - SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL ($4.99)
08/2014: Superman/WW Annual #1 -- 42,094

One of two annuals that slipped from last month. Another chapter in “Superman Doomed.” Comes in over 8K below the parent title, but that’s without the benefit of a Selfie cover.

—

39, 41, 42, 44 - The New 52 – Futures End ($2.99)
05/2014: Futures End #0  -- ?????? 
05/2014: Futures End #1  -- 77,867 
05/2014: Futures End #2  -- 62,862 (- 19.3%) 
05/2014: Futures End #3  -- 59,148 (-  5.9%)
05/2014: Futures End #4  -- 58,496 (-  1.1%)
06/2014: Futures End #5  -- 53,645 (-  8.3%)
06/2014: Futures End #6  -- 51,543 (-  3.9%)
06/2014: Futures End #7  -- 50,266 (-  2.5%)
06/2014: Futures End #8  -- 49,138 (-  2.2%)
07/2014: Futures End #9  -- 52,083 (+  6.0%)
07/2014: Futures End #10 -- 46,001 (- 11.7%)
07/2014: Futures End #11 -- 45,222 (-  1.7%)
07/2014: Futures End #12 -- 43,228 (-  4.4%)
07/2014: Futures End #13 -- 42,803 (-  1.0%)
08/2014: Futures End #14 -- 41,185 (-  3.8%)
08/2014: Futures End #15 -- 40,541 (-  1.6%)
08/2014: Futures End #16 -- 40,077 (-  1.1%)
08/2014: Futures End #17 -- 39,750 (-  0.8%)
-----------------
Since #1: - 49.0%

The previous three month’s worth were returnable, but this month was not. And lo and behold the non-adjusted figures for August fall right in line with the adjusted numbers for the previous months.

Falls below 40K for the first time, which must be a bit worrying since next month’s big Futures End stunt is tying in to this series. This has not turned into the linchpin series that DC was probably expecting it to be. If I were running DC, I’d take this as a sign that readers are becoming increasingly weary of the top-down imposition of cross-title continuity, and that multiple weekly titles may not be the best publishing strategy.

—

40 - TEEN TITANS ($2.99)
08/2004: Teen Titans #14  -- 63,894
08/2009: Teen Titans #74  -- 30,380
08/2010: Teen Titans #86  -- 24,971
08/2011: Teen Titans #99  -- 23,756
08/2011: Teen Titans #100 -- 27,459
08/2012: Teen Titans #12  -- 42,817
-----------------------------------
08/2013: Teen Titans #23  -- 31,742 (-  4.0%)
09/2013: #23.1: Trigon    -- 48,974 (+ 54.3%)
09/2013: #23.2: Dthstroke -- 49,920 (+  1.9%)
10/2013: Teen Titans #24  -- 34,536 (- 30.8%)
11/2013: Teen Titans #25  -- 32,395 (-  6.2%)
12/2013: Teen Titans #26  -- 29,149 (- 10.0%)
01/2014: Teen Titans #27  -- 27,558 (-  5.5%)
02/2014: Teen Titans #28  -- 26,732 (-  3.0%)
03/2014: Teen Titans #29  -- 25,969 (-  2.9%)
04/2014: Teen Titans #30  -- 25,709 (-  1.0%)
05/2014: --
06/2014: --
07/2014: Teen Titans #1   -- 52,358 (+103.7%)
08/2014: Teen Titans #2   -- 40,687 (- 22.3%)
-----------------
6 months: + 52.2%
1 year  : + 28.2%
2 years : -  5.0%
5 years : + 33.9%
10 years: - 36.3%

A typical second issue drop.

—

46 - ACTION COMICS ANNUAL ($4.99)
10/2012: Action Comics Annual #1 -- 50,485 
10/2013: Action Comics Annual #2 -- 34,668 (- 31.3%)
08/2014: Action Comics Annual #3 -- 38,504 (+ 11.1%)

An increase of nearly 4K more than last year’s Annual, due no doubt to interest in the “Superman Doomed” crossover.

—

47 - NEW SUICIDE SQUAD ($3.99)
08/2012: Suicide Squad #12     -- 28,302
-----------------------------------------
08/2013: Suicide Squad #23     -- 22,166 (-  1.3%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Suicide Squad #24     -- 27,762 (+ 25.3%)
11/2013: Suicide Squad #25     -- 27,067 (-  2.5%)
12/2013: Suicide Squad #26     -- 25,346 (-  6.4%)
01/2014: Suicide Squad #27     -- 24,175 (-  4.6%)
02/2014: Suicide Squad #28     -- 22,882 (-  5.3%)
03/2014: Suicide Squad #29     -- 22,162 (-  3.1%)
04/2014: --
05/2014: Suicide Squad #30     -- 22,063 (-  0.4%)
06/2014: --
07/2014: New Suicide Squad #1  -- 49,260 (+123.3%)
08/2014: New Suicide Squad #2  -- 38,477 (- 21.9%)
-----------------
6 months: + 68.2%
1 year  : + 73.6%
2 years : + 36.0%

A typical second issue drop.

—

50 - EARTH 2 ($3.99)
08/2012: Earth 2 #4  -- 67,393
------------------------------
08/2013: Earth 2 #15 -- 40,845 (-  2.8%)
09/2013: #15.1: Desd -- 51,850 (+ 26.9%)
09/2013: #15.2: SlGr -- 52,369 (+  1.0%)
10/2013: Earth 2 #16 -- 38,389 (- 26.7%)
11/2013: Earth 2 #17 -- 39,846 (+  3.8%)
12/2013: Earth 2 #18 -- 37,130 (-  6.8%)
01/2014: Earth 2 #19 -- 36,103 (-  2.8%)
02/2014: Earth 2 #20 -- 35,732 (-  1.0%)
03/2014: Earth 2 #21 -- 35,295 (-  1.2%)
04/2014: Earth 2 #22 -- 34,970 (-  0.9%)
05/2014: Earth 2 #23 -- 34,531 (-  1.3%)
06/2014: Earth 2 #24 -- 47,277 (+ 36.9%)
07/2014: Earth 2 #25 -- 39,726 (- 16.0%)
08/2014: Earth 2 #26 -- 37,396 (-  5.9%)
----------------
6 months: +  4.7%
1 year  : -  8.4%
2 years : - 44.5%
Since #1: - 63.5%

A Self-Bat differential of under 3K.

—

52 - FLASH ($2.99)
08/2004: Flash #213       --  41,363
08/2009: Flash Rebirth #4 --  78,107
08/2010: --
08/2011: --
08/2012: Flash #12        --  51,779
-----------------------------------
08/2013: Flash #23        --  38,860 (-  0.3%)
09/2013: #23.1: Grodd     --  52,901 (+ 36.1%)
09/2013: #23.2: RvrsFlsh  --  53,359 (+  0.9%)
09/2013: #23.3: Rogues    --  51,072 (-  4.3%)
10/2013: Flash #24        --  38,190 (- 25.2%)
11/2013: Flash #25        --  41,838 (+  9.6%)
12/2013: Flash #26        --  36,601 (- 12.5%)
01/2014: Flash #27        --  34,902 (-  4.6%)
02/2014: Flash #28        --  33,853 (-  3.0%)
03/2014: Flash #29        --  33,241 (-  1.8%)
04/2014: Flash #30        --  33,300 (+  5.8%) [35,157]
05/2014: Flash #31        --  34,240 (-  2.6%)
06/2014: Flash #32        --  47,188 (+ 37.8%)
07/2014: Flash #33        --  39,669 (- 15.9%)
08/2014: Flash #34        --  37,109 (-  6.5%)
-----------------
6 months: +  9.6%
1 year  : -  4.5%
2 years : - 28.3%
5 years : - 52.5%
10 years: - 10.3%
Since #1: - 74.9%

A Self-Bat differential of around 2.5K.

—

60 - BATGIRL ($2.99)
08/2004: Batgirl #55 -- 39,469 [43,494]
08/2010: Batgirl #13 -- 27,247
08/2011: Batgirl #24 -- 22,695
08/2012: Batgirl #12 -- 43,804
----------------------------------
08/2013: Batgirl #23 -- 37,707 (-  3.9%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Batgirl #24 -- 36,666 (-  2.8%)
11/2013: Batgirl #25 -- 40,752 (+ 11.1%)
12/2013: Batgirl #26 -- 34,885 (- 14.4%)
01/2014: Batgirl #27 -- 37,226 (+  6.7%)
02/2014: Batgirl #28 -- 34,567 (-  7.1%)
03/2014: Batgirl #29 -- 33,223 (-  3.9%)
04/2014: Batgirl #30 -- 32,698 (-  1.6%)
05/2014: Batgirl #31 -- 31,522 (-  3.6%)
06/2014: Batgirl #32 -- 47,304 (+ 50.1%)
07/2014: Batgirl #33 -- 37,186 (- 21.4%)
08/2014: Batgirl #34 -- 34,590 (-  7.0%)
-----------------
6 months: +  0.1%
1 year  : -  8.3%
2 years : - 21.0%
10 years: - 20.5%
Since #1: - 67.7%
New 52 Diff: +12K

A Self-Bat differential of about 2.5K. The new creative team arrives in October with issue #35.

—

65 - AQUAMAN ($2.99)
08/2004: Aquaman #21 -- 23,486
08/2012: Aquaman #12 -- 61,210
------------------------------
08/2013: Aquaman #23 -- 44,140 (-  3.3%)
09/2013: #23.1: BMta -- 58,207 (+ 31.9%)
09/2013: #23.2: OMtr -- 53,679 (-  7.8%)
10/2013: Aquaman #24 -- 42,248 (- 21.3%)
11/2013: Aquaman #25 -- 41,264 (-  2.3%)
12/2013: Aquaman #26 -- 38,841 (-  5.9%)
01/2014: Aquaman #27 -- 36,610 (-  5.7%)
02/2014: Aquaman #28 -- 34,939 (-  4.6%)
03/2014: Aquaman #29 -- 33,907 (-  3.0%)
04/2014: Aquaman #30 -- 32,859 (-  3.1%)
05/2014: Aquaman #31 -- 32,076 (-  2.4%)
06/2014: Aquaman #32 -- 44,853 (+ 39.8%)
07/2014: Aquaman #33 -- 36,140 (- 19.4%)
08/2014: Aquaman #34 -- 33,380 (-  7.6%)
-----------------
6 months: -  4.5%
1 year  : - 24.4%
2 years : - 45.5%
10 years: + 42.1%
Since #1: - 69.2%

A Self-Bat differential of under 3K.

—

75 - SENSATION COMICS FEAT WONDER WOMAN (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2014: Sensation Comics #1 -- 29,640

The debut print version of the digital-first comic featuring Wonder Woman comes in a just under 30K, which this month is good enough to make it the highest-selling non-DCU title. That debut is just over 1K fewer that what its brother title, Adventures of Superman , debuted at, and AoS has its final issue next month with #17. Can Sensation stick it out longer? It will likely depend on how well the digital version sells, and if DC can effectively drum up publicity on a continuing basis for the title’s constantly changing creators.

—

76 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS ($2.99)
08/2009: Green Lantern Corps #39 -- 82,241
08/2010: Green Lantern Corps #51 -- 67,124
08/2011: Green Lantern Corps #63 -- 53,372
08/2012: Green Lantern Corps #12 -- 41,778
------------------------------------------
08/2013: Green Lantern Corps #23 -- 36,229 (- 14.1%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Green Lantern Corps #24 -- 37,312 (+  3.0%)
11/2013: Green Lantern Corps #25 -- 38,369 (+  2.8%)
12/2013: Green Lantern Corps #26 -- 32,797 (- 14.5%)
01/2014: Green Lantern Corps #27 -- 31,447 (-  4.1%)
02/2014: Green Lantern Corps #28 -- 29,142 (-  7.3%)
03/2014: Green Lantern Corps #29 -- 27,754 (-  4.8%)
04/2014: Green Lantern Corps #30 -- 26,640 (-  4.0%)
05/2014: Green Lantern Corps #31 -- 28,449 (+  6.8%)
06/2014: Green Lantern Corps #32 -- 40,734 (+ 43.2%)
07/2014: Green Lantern Corps #33 -- 32,877 (- 19.3%)
08/2014: Green Lantern Corps #34 -- 29,471 (- 10.4%)
----------------
6 months: +  1.1%
1 year  : - 18.7%
2 years : - 29.5%
5 years : - 64.2%
Since #1: - 68.9%
New 52 Diff: -12K

A Self-Bat differential of over 3K, and just 1K more than the pre-variant sales. A new line-wide crossover begins in October.

—

82 - SINESTRO ($2.99)
04/2014: Sinestro #1  -- 46,480 
05/2014: Sinestro #2  -- 34,640 (- 25.5%) 
06/2014: Sinestro #3  -- 30,422 (- 12.2%) 
07/2014: Sinestro #4  -- 28,095 (-  7.6%) 
08/2014: Sinestro #5  -- 26,867 (-  4.4%) 
-----------------
Since #1: - 42.2%

No variant covers here…

—

85 - SUPERGIRL ($2.99)
08/2009: Supergirl #44 -- 33,819
08/2010: Supergirl #55 -- 25,891
08/2011: Supergirl #67 -- 19,764
08/2012: Supergirl #12 -- 30,420
---------------------------------
08/2013: Supergirl #23 -- 24,747 (-  3.0%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Supergirl #24 -- 23,321 (-  5.8%)
11/2013: Supergirl #25 -- 25,377 (+  8.8%)
12/2013: Supergirl #26 -- 22,646 (- 10.8%)
01/2014: Supergirl #27 -- 21,954 (-  3.1%)
02/2014: Supergirl #28 -- 23,567 (+  7.3%)
03/2014: Supergirl #29 -- 22,883 (-  2.9%)
04/2014: Supergirl #30 -- 23,410 (+  2.3%)
05/2014: Supergirl #31 -- 22,783 (-  2.7%)
06/2014: Supergirl #32 -- 22,481 (-  1.3%)
07/2014: Supergirl #33 -- 22,802 (+  1.4%)
08/2014: Supergirl #34 -- 26,510 (+ 16.3%)
-----------------
6 months: + 12.5%
1 year  : +  7.1%
2 years : - 12.9%
5 years : - 21.6%
Since #1: - 64.3%
New 52 Diff: + 7K

Supergirl gets a nice boost by joining the “Superman Doomed” crossover, which is working out better than crossing over with Red Lanterns . One has to wonder why there wasn’t a Selfie variant this month, as a Selfie cover would seem to make perfect sense for a comic starring a teenage girl‚Ķ

—

89 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ($3.99)
08/2012: Justice League Dark #12 -- 30,754
-------------------------------------------
08/2013: Justice League Dark #23 -- 71,157 (+  4.2%) [75,782]
09/2013: #23.1: Creeper          -- 46,326 (- 34.9%)
09/2013: #23.2: Eclipso          -- 45,138 (-  2.6%)
10/2013: Justice League Dark #24 -- 45,401 (+  0.6%)
11/2013: Justice League Dark #25 -- 38,760 (- 14.6%)
12/2013: Justice League Dark #26 -- 36,353 (-  6.2%)
01/2014: Justice League Dark #27 -- 32,576 (- 10.4%)
02/2014: Justice League Dark #28 -- 30,519 (-  6.3%)
03/2014: Justice League Dark #29 -- 29,202 (-  4.3%)
04/2014: Justice League Dark #30 -- 27,695 (-  5.2%)
05/2014: Justice League Dark #31 -- 25,337 (-  8.5%)
06/2014: Justice League Dark #32 -- 38,219 (+ 50.8%)
07/2014: Justice League Dark #33 -- 28,297 (- 26.0%)
08/2014: Justice League Dark #34 -- 25,258 (- 10.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.2%
1 year  : - 66.7%
2 years : - 17.9%
Since #1: - 69.2%

A Self-Bat differential of 3K, which is enough to bring sales down below issue #31, before DC’s new variant program.

—

92 - BATMAN '66 MEETS THE GREEN HORNET (Digital-First) ($2.99)
06/2014: Batman 66/GH #1 of 6 -- 32,983
07/2014: Batman 66/GH #2 of 6 -- 25,392 (- 23.0%)
08/2014: Batman 66/GH #3 of 6 -- 24,409 (-  3.9%)

That’s a drop of under 1000, which at this stage is a very light drop indeed.

—

96 - SECRET ORIGINS ($4.99)
04/2014: Secret Origins #1  -- 38,742 
05/2014: Secret Origins #2  -- 32,966 (- 14.9%) 
06/2014: Secret Origins #3  -- 28,351 (- 14.0%) 
07/2014: Secret Origins #4  -- 37,181 (+ 31.1%) 
08/2014: Secret Origins #5  -- 24,126 (- 35.1%) 
-----------------
Since #1: - 37.7%

Without Harley Quinn headlining, sales drop right back down.

—

98 - CATWOMAN ($2.99)
08/2004: Catwoman #34 -- 37,033 [42,098]
08/2012: Catwoman #12 -- 34,117
-------------------------------
08/2013: Catwoman #23 -- 24,262 (-  1.9%) [38,290]
09/2013: --
10/2013: Catwoman #24 -- 35,134 (+ 44.8%)
11/2013: Catwoman #25 -- 29,471 (- 16.1%)
12/2013: Catwoman #26 -- 26,482 (- 10.1%)
01/2014: Catwoman #27 -- 24,956 (-  5.8%)
02/2014: Catwoman #28 -- 23,974 (-  3.9%)
03/2014: Catwoman #29 -- 22,236 (-  7.2%)
04/2014: Catwoman #30 -- 20,968 (-  5.7%)
05/2014: Catwoman #31 -- 20,144 (-  3.9%)
06/2014: Catwoman #32 -- 33,694 (+ 67.3%)
07/2014: Catwoman #33 -- 18,945 (- 43.8%)
08/2014: Catwoman #34 -- 23,497 (+ 24.0%)
-----------------
6 months: -  2.0%
1 year  : - 38.5%
2 years : - 31.1%
10 years: - 44.2%
Since #1: - 68.9%

Exhibit N in the effects of DC’s new variants program: After skipping the Batman 75th variant last month, Catwoman returns with a Selfie variant and sales pop up another 4.5K.

—

101 - GREEN ARROW ($2.99)
08/2004: Green Arrow #41  -- 32,269
08/2009: Arrow/Canary #23 -- 19,452
08/2010: Green Arrow #3   -- 46,308
08/2011: Green Arrow #15  -- 23,883
08/2012: Green Arrow #12  -- 23,126
-----------------------------------
08/2013: Green Arrow #23  -- 25,449 (-  2.8%)
09/2013: #23.1: CtVertigo -- 43,234 (+ 69.9%)
10/2013: Green Arrow #24  -- 24,620 (- 43.1%)
11/2013: Green Arrow #25  -- 29,591 (+ 20.2%)
12/2013: Green Arrow #26  -- 24,687 (- 16.6%)
01/2014: Green Arrow #27  -- 23,785 (-  3.7%)
02/2014: Green Arrow #28  -- 26,725 (+ 12.4%)
03/2014: Green Arrow #29  -- 23,698 (- 11.3%)
04/2014: Green Arrow #30  -- 23,577 (-  0.5%)
05/2014: Green Arrow #31  -- 23,475 (-  0.4%)
06/2014: Green Arrow #32  -- 23,602 (+  0.5%)
07/2014: Green Arrow #33  -- 23,452 (-  0.6%)
08/2014: Green Arrow #34  -- 22,927 (-  2.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.2%
1 year  : -  9.9%
2 years : -  0.9%
5 years : + 17.9%
10 years: - 29.0%
Since #1: - 68.3%
New 52 Diff: -0.2K

Dips just a few hundred copies, but that’s enough to push sales under 23K. The new creative team arrives in October.

—

103 - RED LANTERNS ($2.99)
08/2012: Red Lanterns #12 -- 35,070
-----------------------------------
08/2013: Red Lanterns #23 -- 29,623 (- 15.9%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Red Lanterns #24 -- 30,771 (+  3.9%)
11/2013: Red Lanterns #25 -- 27,786 (-  9.7%)
12/2013: Red Lanterns #26 -- 26,242 (-  5.6%)
01/2014: Red Lanterns #27 -- 24,477 (-  6.7%)
02/2014: Green Lant/RL#28 -- 49,200 (+110.6%) [51,548]
03/2014: Red Lanterns #29 -- 25,153 (- 51.2%)
04/2014: Red Lanterns #30 -- 24,350 (-  3.2%)
05/2014: Red Lanterns #31 -- 24,307 (-  0.2%)
06/2014: Red Lanterns #32 -- 23,720 (-  2.4%)
07/2014: Red Lanterns #33 -- 23,355 (-  1.5%)
08/2014: Red Lanterns #34 -- 22,761 (-  2.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 55.8%
1 year  : - 23.2%
2 years : - 35.1%
Since #1: - 74.5%

107 - GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS ($2.99)
08/2012: New Guardians #12 -- 42,479
---------------------------------------
08/2013: New Guardians #23 -- 34,473 (-15.5%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: New Guardians #24 -- 35,417 (+ 2.7%)
11/2013: New Guardians #25 -- 32,069 (- 9.5%)
12/2013: New Guardians #26 -- 30,489 (- 4.9%)
01/2014: New Guardians #27 -- 28,346 (- 7.0%)
02/2014: New Guardians #28 -- 27,212 (- 4.0%)
03/2014: New Guardians #29 -- 25,296 (- 7.0%)
04/2014: New Guardians #30 -- 24,727 (- 2.2%)
05/2014: New Guardians #31 -- 23,886 (- 3.4%)
06/2014: New Guardians #32 -- 23,142 (- 3.1%)
07/2014: New Guardians #33 -- 22,797 (- 1.5%)
08/2014: New Guardians #34 -- 22,052 (- 3.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 19.0%
1 year  : - 36.0%
2 years : - 48.1%
Since #1: - 77.2%

The line-wide crossover starts in October.

—

109 - BATMAN '66 (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2013: Batman '66 #2  -- 37,113 (-26.4%)
09/2013: Batman '66 #3  -- 32,954 (-11.2%)
10/2013: Batman '66 #4  -- 30,099 (- 8.7%)
11/2013: Batman '66 #5  -- 26,785 (-11.0%)
12/2013: Batman '66 #6  -- 24,374 (- 9.0%)
01/2014: Batman '66 #7  -- 21,802 (-10.6%)
02/2014: Batman '66 #8  -- 19,795 (- 9.2%)
03/2014: Batman '66 #9  -- 18,802 (- 5.0%)
04/2014: Batman '66 #10 -- 17,917 (- 4.7%)
05/2014: Batman '66 #11 -- 18,642 (+ 4.0%)
06/2014: Batman '66 #12 -- 17,286 (- 7.3%)
07/2014: Batman '66 #13 -- 17,264 (- 0.1%)
08/2014: Batman '66 #14 -- 21,456 (+24.3%)
-----------------
6 months: +  8.4%
1 year  : - 42.2%
Since #1: - 57.5%

There was a selfie variant this time out, and it appears to work just as well for the digital-first titles as it does for the DCU books. I wonder when Vertigo will start to get freely-orderable variants?

—

114 - JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 ($2.99)
12/2013: Justice League 3K #1 -- 57,726
01/2014: Justice League 3K #2 -- 41,423 (-28.2%)
02/2014: Justice League 3K #3 -- 33,308 (-19.6%)
03/2014: Justice League 3K #4 -- 30,127 (- 9.6%)
04/2014: Justice League 3K #5 -- 27,529 (- 8.6%)
05/2014: Justice League 3K #6 -- 25,738 (- 6.5%)
06/2014: Justice League 3K #7 -- 24,172 (- 6.1%)
07/2014: Justice League 3K #8 -- 22,604 (- 6.5%)
08/2014: Justice League 3K #9 -- 20,974 (- 7.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 37.0% 
Since #1: - 63.7%

Continues to shed readers at an unsustainable rate.

—

117 - RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS ($2.99)
08/2012: Red Hood #12 -- 34,439
-------------------------------
08/2013: Red Hood #23 -- 28,821 (-  5.6%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Red Hood #24 -- 27,128 (-  5.9%)
11/2013: Red Hood #25 -- 30,632 (+ 12.9%)
12/2013: Red Hood #26 -- 25,382 (- 17.1%)
01/2014: Red Hood #27 -- 24,813 (-  2.2%)
02/2014: Red Hood #28 -- 23,236 (-  6.4%)
03/2014: Red Hood #29 -- 22,316 (-  4.0%)
04/2014: Red Hood #30 -- 21,718 (-  2.7%)
05/2014: Red Hood #31 -- 21,257 (-  2.1%)
06/2014: Red Hood #32 -- 33,081 (+ 55.6%)
07/2014: Red Hood #33 -- 20,669 (- 37.5%)
08/2014: Red Hood #34 -- 20,069 (-  2.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 13.6%
1 year  : - 30.4%
2 years : - 41.7%
Since #1: - 71.4%

Drops just 600 copies.

—

119 - WORLDS' FINEST ($2.99)
08/2012: Worlds' Finest #4  -- 39,629 
-------------------------------------
08/2013: Worlds' Finest #15 -- 24,159 (-  3.9%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Worlds' Finest #16 -- 22,987 (-  4.9%)
11/2013: Worlds' Finest #17 -- 21,920 (-  4.6%)
12/2013: Worlds' Finest #18 -- 21,039 (-  4.0%)
01/2014: Worlds' Finest #19 -- 20,998 (-  0.2%)
02/2014: Worlds' Finest #20 -- 25,585 (+ 31.5%) [27,613]
03/2014: Worlds' Finest #21 -- 25,676 (-  7.0%)
04/2014: Worlds' Finest #22 -- 21,485 (- 16.3%)
05/2014: Worlds' Finest #23 -- 21,118 (-  1.7%)
06/2014: Worlds' Finest #24 -- 20,900 (-  1.0%)
07/2014: Worlds' Finest #25 -- 19,957 (-  4.5%)
08/2014: Worlds' Finest #26 -- 19,772 (-  0.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 28.4%
1 year  : - 18.2%
2 years : - 50.1%
Since #1: - 71.6%

Drops fewer than 200 copies.

—

123 - AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS ($2.99)
04/2014: Aquaman & Others #1  -- 34,056 
05/2014: Aquaman & Others #2  -- 26,198 (- 23.1%) 
06/2014: Aquaman & Others #3  -- 23,109 (- 11.8%) 
07/2014: Aquaman & Others #4  -- 20,520 (- 11.2%) 
08/2014: Aquaman & Others #5  -- 18,639 (-  9.2%) 
-----------------
Since #1: - 45.3%

Drops below 19K.

—

124, 126 - INJUSTICE: YEAR TWO (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2013: Injustice #8     -- 25,223 (- 2.0%)
09/2013: Injustice #9     -- 24,333 (- 3.5%)
10/2013: Injustice #10    -- 24,788 (+ 1.9%)
11/2013: Injustice #11    -- 22,704 (- 8.4%)
12/2013: Injustice #12    -- 21,871 (- 3.7%)
01/2014: Injustice Y2 #1  -- 24,700 (+12.9%)
02/2014: Injustice Y2 #2  -- 22,703 (- 8.1%)
03/2014: Injustice Y2 #3  -- 20,693 (- 8.9%)
04/2014: Injustice Y2 #4  -- 20,310 (- 1.9%)
05/2014: Injustice Y2 #5  -- 19,834 (- 2.3%)
06/2014: Injustice Y2 #6  -- 19,353 (- 2.4%)
07/2014: Injustice Y2 #7  -- 19,811 (+ 2.4%)
07/2014: Injustice Y2 #8  -- 18,931 (- 4.4%)
08/2014: Injustice Y2 #9  -- 18,397 (- 2.8%)
08/2014: Injustice Y2 #10 -- 18,068 (- 1.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 19.7%
1 year  : - 27.8%
Since #1: - 26.9%

DC’s best-selling-in-digital-form digital-first title is still above 18K in its print incarnation. Year Three starts in October.

—

128 - SWAMP THING ($2.99)
08/2004: Swamp Thing #6  -- 19,973
08/2012: Swamp Thing #12 -- 36,696
----------------------------------
08/2013: Swamp Thing #23 -- 22,695 (- 5.0%)
09/2013: #23.1: Arcane   -- 40,390 (+78.0%)
10/2013: Swamp Thing #24 -- 21,724 (-46.2%)
11/2013: Swamp Thing #25 -- 21,141 (- 2.7%)
12/2013: Swamp Thing #26 -- 20,247 (- 4.2%)
01/2014: Swamp Thing #27 -- 19,755 (- 2.4%)
02/2014: Swamp Thing #28 -- 19,146 (- 3.1%)
03/2014: Swamp Thing #29 -- 18,837 (- 1.6%)
04/2014: Swamp Thing #30 -- 18,458 (- 2.0%)
05/2014: Swamp Thing #31 -- 18,249 (- 1.1%)
06/2014: Swamp Thing #32 -- 18,483 (+ 1.3%)
07/2014: Swamp Thing #33 -- 17,905 (- 3.1%)
08/2014: Swamp Thing #34 -- 17,570 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: -  8.2%
1 year  : - 22.6%
2 years : - 52.1%
10 years: - 12.0%
Since #1: - 76.2%

Writer Charles Soule announced that he’s going Marvel exclusive; will DC use his departure as an opportunity to revamp Swamp Thing , or just put it to bed?

—

129 - BATMAN ESSENTIAL DARK KNIGHT RETURNS SPECIAL EDITION #1 ($1.00)
08/2014: Batman Essential DKR #1  -- 17,518

A bargain-priced reprint of the first issue of Frank Miller’s mid-80s classic sells a good deal more than other recent DC Essentials.

—

132 - BATWOMAN ($2.99)
08/2012: Batwoman #12 -- 38,980
--------------------------------
08/2013: Batwoman #23 -- 26,223 (-  4.3%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Batwoman #24 -- 25,609 (-  2.3%)
11/2013: Batwoman #25 -- 25,987 (+  1.5%)
12/2013: Batwoman #26 -- 23,311 (- 10.3%)
01/2014: Batwoman #27 -- 22,461 (-  3.6%)
02/2014: Batwoman #28 -- 20,672 (-  8.0%)
03/2014: Batwoman #29 -- 19,750 (-  4.5%)
04/2014: Batwoman #30 -- 19,204 (-  2.8%)
05/2014: Batwoman #31 -- 18,463 (-  3.9%)
06/2014: Batwoman #32 -- 33,538 (+ 81.6%)
07/2014: Batwoman #33 -- 23,922 (- 28.7%)
08/2014: Batwoman #34 -- 16,909 (- 29.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 18.2%
1 year  : - 35.5%
2 years : - 56.6%
Since #1: - 80.8%

No variant this time, and sales drop to their lowest level yet. This was the ‘break-up’ issue. In an alternate universe, the highly-publicized wedding issue includes an awesome Selfie variant of all of the wedding guests, and sells much, much better.

—

141 - CONSTANTINE ($2.99)
08/2004: Hellblazer #199 -- 14,768
08/2009: Hellblazer #258 -- 10,665
08/2010: Hellblazer #270 --  9,928
08/2011: Hellblazer #282 --  9,372
08/2012: Hellblazer #294 --  9,396
----------------------------------
08/2013: Constantine #6  -- 25,174 (- 28.1%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Constantine #7  -- 22,954 (-  8.8%)
11/2013: Constantine #8  -- 20,981 (-  8.6%)
12/2013: Constantine #9  -- 22,403 (+  6.8%)
01/2014: Constantine #10 -- 20,729 (-  7.5%)
02/2014: Constantine #11 -- 20,385 (-  1.7%)
03/2014: Constantine #12 -- 20,051 (-  1.6%)
04/2014: Constantine #13 -- 18,454 (-  8.0%)
05/2014: Constantine #14 -- 17,422 (-  5.6%)
06/2014: Constantine #15 -- 16,704 (-  4.1%)
07/2014: Constantine #16 -- 16,235 (-  2.8%)
08/2014: Constantine #17 -- 15,647 (-  2.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.2%
1 year  : - 37.8%
2 years : + 66.5%
5 years : + 46.7%
10 years: +  6.0%
Since #1: - 58.3%

The TV show is scheduled to debut on October 24.

—

145 - BIRDS OF PREY ($2.99)
08/2004: Birds of Prey #71 -- 32,298
08/2004: Birds of Prey #72 -- 31,835
08/2010: Birds of Prey #4  -- 46,149
08/2011: Birds of Prey #15 -- 26,043
08/2012: Birds of Prey #12 -- 26,587
-------------------------------------
08/2013: Birds of Prey #23 -- 19,364 (-  4.2%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Birds of Prey #24 -- 18,382 (-  5.1%)
11/2013: Birds of Prey #25 -- 22,751 (+ 23.8%)
12/2013: Birds of Prey #26 -- 17,497 (- 23.1%)
01/2014: Birds of Prey #27 -- 19,387 (+ 10.8%)
02/2014: Birds of Prey #28 -- 18,092 (-  6.7%)
03/2014: Birds of Prey #29 -- 16,795 (-  7.2%)
04/2014: Birds of Prey #30 -- 16,358 (-  2.6%)
05/2014: Birds of Prey #31 -- 15,947 (-  2.5%)
06/2014: Birds of Prey #32 -- 16,397 (+  2.8%)
07/2014: Birds of Prey #33 -- 15,379 (-  6.2%)
07/2014: Birds of Prey #34 -- 15,397 (+  0.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.9%
1 year  : - 20.5%
2 years : - 42.1%
10 years: - 52.0%
Since #1: - 76.8%
New 52 Diff: -11K

Adds 18 copies for the final regular issue.

—

146 - INFINITE CRISIS: FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE (Digital-First) ($3.99)
07/2014: Infinite Crisis FftM #1 -- 26,096
08/2014: Infinite Crisis FftM #2 -- 15,340 (- 41.2%)

Ouch, that’s a very hefty second issue drop.

Oh, while I’m at it (and since perhaps someone is wondering), a typical 2nd issue drop is around 25%, while a typical third issue drop is around 10%. Standard attrition, once a title has settled in, is around 2-3%.

—

150 - BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2012: Unlimited #7  -- 21,219
---------------------------------
08/2013: Universe #1   -- 23,358 (+52.9%)
09/2013: Universe #2   -- 18,332 (-21.5%)
10/2013: Universe #3   -- 17,658 (- 3.7%)
11/2013: Universe #4   -- 16,889 (- 4.4%)
12/2013: Universe #5   -- 15,857 (- 6.1%)
01/2014: Universe #6   -- 15,070 (- 5.0%)
02/2014: Universe #7   -- 14,435 (- 4.2%)
03/2014: Universe #8   -- 14,097 (- 2.3%)
04/2014: Universe #9   -- 13,807 (- 2.1%)
05/2014: Universe #10  -- 13,869 (+ 0.4%)
06/2014: Universe #11  -- 14,068 (+ 1.4%)
07/2014: Universe #12  -- 14,419 (+ 2.5%)
08/2014: Universe #13  -- 14,215 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: -  1.5%
1 year  : - 39.1%
2 years : - 33.0%
Since #1: - 39.1%

After three straight months of small growth, BB drops down again.

—

154 - SUPERBOY ($2.99)
08/2011: Superboy #10 -- 20,563
08/2011: Superboy #11 -- 20,317
08/2012: Superboy #12 -- 27,518
--------------------------------
08/2013: Superboy #23 -- 20,235 (+  1.3%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Superboy #24 -- 18,341 (-  9.4%)
11/2013: Superboy #25 -- 21,449 (+ 16.9%)
12/2013: Superboy #26 -- 17,690 (- 17.5%)
01/2014: Superboy #27 -- 17,392 (-  1.7%)
02/2014: Superboy #28 -- 16,448 (-  5.4%)
03/2014: Superboy #29 -- 15,776 (-  4.1%)
04/2014: Superboy #30 -- 15,382 (-  2.5%)
05/2014: Superboy #31 -- 14,795 (-  3.8%)
06/2014: Superboy #32 -- 14,451 (-  2.3%)
07/2014: Superboy #33 -- 14,004 (-  3.1%)
08/2014: Superboy #34 -- 13,785 (-  1.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 16.2%
1 year  : - 31.9%
2 years : - 49.9%
Since #1: - 80.1%
New 52 Diff: -16K

The final regular issue drops below 14K.

—

155 - FABLES (Vertigo) ($2.99)
08/2004: Fables #28  -- 25,076
08/2009: Fables #87  -- 21,876
08/2010: Fables #97  -- 19,625
08/2011: Fables #108 -- 18,390
08/2012: Fables #120 -- 16,704
------------------------------
08/2013: Fables #132 -- 14,893 (- 1.4%)
09/2013: Fables #133 -- 14,639 (- 1.7%)
10/2013: Fables #134 -- 14,575 (- 0.4%)
11/2013: Fables #135 -- 14,383 (- 1.3%)
12/2013: Fables #136 -- 14,220 (- 1.1%)
01/2014: Fables #137 -- 14,172 (- 0.3%)
02/2014: Fables #138 -- 14,109 (- 0.4%)
03/2014: Fables #139 -- 13,936 (- 1.2%)
04/2014: --
05/2014: Fables #140 -- 13,977 (+ 0.3%)
06/2014: Fables #141 -- 13,997 (+ 0.1%)
07/2014: Fables #142 -- 13,831 (- 1.2%)
08/2014: Fables #143 -- 13,672 (- 1.1%)
----------------
6 months: -  3.1%
1 year  : -  8.2%
2 years : - 18.2%
5 years : - 37.5%
10 years: - 45.5%
Since #1: - 37.9%

With The Wake now over, Sandman Overture not shipping this month, and American Vampire on a skip month, Fables is the top Vertigo title of August, in what is a very soft month for the imprint.

—

160 - ASTRO CITY (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2004: Supersonic #1   -- 27,982
08/2009: Dark Age 3 #4   -- 14,684
08/2010: Silver Agent #2 -- 12,486
08/2011: --
08/2012: --
---------------------------------------
08/2013: Astro City #3   -- 18,802 (- 6.9%)
09/2013: Astro City #4   -- 17,641 (- 6.2%)
10/2013: Astro City #5   -- 16,927 (- 4.1%)
11/2013: Astro City #6   -- 16,031 (- 5.3%)
12/2013: Astro City #7   -- 15,360 (- 4.2%)
01/2014: Astro City #8   -- 14,831 (- 3.4%)
02/2014: Astro City #9   -- 14,289 (- 3.7%)
03/2014: Astro City #10  -- 14,094 (- 1.4%)
04/2014: Astro City #11  -- 13,909 (- 1.3%)
05/2014: Astro City #12  -- 13,795 (- 0.8%)
06/2014: Astro City #13  -- 13,419 (- 2.7%)
07/2014: --
08/2014: Astro City #14  -- 13,069 (- 2.6%)
-----------------
6 months: -  8.5%
1 year  : - 30.5%
5 years : - 11.0%
10 years: - 53.3%
Since #1: - 51.6%

Standard attrition.

—

162 - INFINITY MAN AND THE FOREVER PEOPLE ($2.99)
06/2014: Infinity Man & FP #1 -- 24,907
07/2014: Infinity Man & FP #2 -- 15,903 (- 36.2%)
08/2014: Infinity Man & FP #3 -- 12,390 (- 22.1%)

Dropping fast. Ties in with the Green Lantern books starting in October.

—

171 - ALL STAR WESTERN ($3.99)
08/2009: Jonah Hex #45 -- 12,588
08/2010: Jonah Hex #56 -- 13,441
08/2011: Jonah Hex #68 -- 10,224
08/2012: ASW #11       -- 23,572
--------------------------------
08/2013: ASW #23       -- 15,276 (- 0.7%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: ASW #24       -- 14,378 (- 5.9%)
11/2013: ASW #25       -- 13,937 (- 3.1%)
12/2013: ASW #26       -- 13,440 (- 3.6%)
01/2014: ASW #27       -- 13,238 (- 1.5%)
02/2014: ASW #28       -- 12,782 (- 3.4%)
03/2014: ASW #29       -- 12,503 (- 2.2%)
04/2014: ASW #30       -- 12,285 (- 1.7%)
05/2014: ASW #31       -- 12,023 (- 2.1%)
06/2014: ASW #32       -- 11,675 (- 2.9%)
07/2014: ASW #33       -- 11,488 (- 1.6%)
08/2014: ASW #34       -- 11,758 (+ 2.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.2%
1 year  : - 25.3%
2 years : - 51.3%
5 years : -  8.7%
Since #1: - 79.1%
New 52 Diff: +1.5K

Sales rise a bit for the final, Darwyn Cooke-drawn issue.

Before we move on, let us pause and reflect on the fact that, when you include ASW and its prior incarnation as Jonah Hex , DC published over 100 issues (and one OGN) of a Western comic, and they were (IMHO) darn fine comics at that.

—

172 - STAR-SPANGLED WAR STORIES FEAT GI ZOMBIE ($2.99)
07/2014: SSWS GI Zombie #1 -- 18,762 
08/2014: SSWS GI Zombie #2 -- 11,724 (-37.5%)

A perfect example of how not to launch a new series, as SSWS received not a lot of promotion, and what little there was didn’t give a sense of the actual content of the comic. Since the New 52 relaunch, none of the DCU titles in the form of Classic Series Title feat. Obscure Classic Character have done well (the most successful being All Star Western , which ended this month). I’m not sure what DC was thinking.

So here, I’ll do their job for them with this simple elevator pitch: G. I. Zombie is a topical espionage thriller starring a ex-solider who is now a zombie, drawn expertly by Harvey Award-winner Scott Hampton.

It’s a solid title; give it a chance, won’t you?

—

173 - HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ($2.99)
08/2012: -- 
------------------------------------
08/2013: He-Man & MotU #5  -- 16,898 (- 6.6%)
09/2013: He-Man & MotU #6  -- 16,294 (- 3.6%)
10/2013: He-Man & MotU #7  -- 16,059 (- 1.4%)
11/2013: He-Man & MotU #8  -- 15,154 (- 5.6%)
12/2013: He-Man & MotU #9  -- 14,465 (- 4.5%)
01/2014: --
02/2014: He-Man & MotU #10 -- 13,816 (- 4.5%)
03/2014: He-Man & MotU #11 -- 13,090 (- 5.3%)
04/2014: He-Man & MotU #12 -- 12,718 (- 2.8%)
05/2014: He-Man & MotU #13 -- 12,430 (- 2.3%)
06/2014: He-Man & MotU #14 -- 12,144 (- 2.3%)
07/2014: He-Man & MotU #15 -- 11,905 (- 2.0%)
08/2014: He-Man & MotU #16 -- 11,721 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 15.2%
1 year  : - 30.6%
2 years :    n.a.
Since #1: - 53.6%

Looks like it’s maybe set for a relaunch in December?

—

174 - BODIES (Vertigo) ($2.99)
07/2014:Bodies #1 of 8 -- 17,500 
08/2014:Bodies #2 of 8 -- 11,283 (-33.8%)

Unlike issue #1, #2 was not returnable.

—

177 - FAIREST (Vertigo) ($2.99)
08/2012: Fairest #6  -- 19,446
------------------------------
08/2013: Fairest #18 -- 13,511 (- 2.9%)
09/2013: Fairest #19 -- 13,278 (- 1.7%)
10/2013: Fairest #20 -- 13,008 (- 2.0%)
11/2013: --
12/2013: Fairest #21 -- 12,718 (- 2.2%)
01/2014: Fairest #22 -- 12,434 (- 2.2%)
02/2014: Fairest #23 -- 12,350 (- 0.7%)
03/2014: Fairest #24 -- 11,872 (- 3.9%)
04/2014: Fairest #25 -- 11,801 (- 0.6%)
05/2014: Fairest #26 -- 11,493 (- 2.6%)
06/2014: --
07/2014: Fairest #27 -- 11,329 (- 1.4%)
08/2014: Fairest #28 -- 10,989 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 11.0%
1 year  : - 18.7%
2 years : - 43.5%
Since #1: - 65.4%

Slips below 11K. Can Fairest remain above 10K all the way until it ends sometime next year?

—

179 - TRINITY OF SIN: THE PHANTOM STRANGER ($2.99)
08/2013: ToS: Phantom Stranger #11 -- 26,986 (+30.8%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: ToS: Phantom Stranger #12 -- 19,732 (-26.9%)
11/2013: ToS: Phantom Stranger #13 -- 17,779 (- 9.9%)
12/2013: ToS: Phantom Stranger #14 -- 18,649 (+ 4.9%)
01/2013: ToS: Phantom Stranger #15 -- 17,435 (- 6.5%)
02/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #16 -- 17,012 (- 2.4%)
03/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #17 -- 16,395 (- 3.6%)
04/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #18 -- 14,788 (- 9.8%)
05/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #19 -- 13,641 (- 7.8%)
06/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #20 -- 12,720 (- 6.8%)
07/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #21 -- 11,682 (- 8.2%)
08/2014: ToS: Phantom Stranger #22 -- 10,882 (- 6.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 36.0%
1 year  : - 59.7%
Since #1: - 72.9%

The final regular issue drops below 11K.

—

180 - ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2013: Adventures of Superman #4  -- 17,370 (-10.7%)
09/2013: Adventures of Superman #5  -- 16,011 (- 7.8%)
10/2013: Adventures of Superman #6  -- 14,484 (- 9.5%)
11/2013: Adventures of Superman #7  -- 13,140 (- 9.3%)
12/2013: Adventures of Superman #8  -- 12,142 (- 7.6%)
01/2014: Adventures of Superman #9  -- 11,425 (- 5.9%)
02/2014: Adventures of Superman #10 -- 11,075 (- 3.1%)
03/2014: Adventures of Superman #11 -- 11,102 (+ 0.2%)
04/2014: Adventures of Superman #12 -- 10,130 (- 8.8%)
05/2014: Adventures of Superman #13 -- 10,045 (- 0.8%)
06/2014: Adventures of Superman #14 -- 11,144 (+10.9%)
07/2014: Adventures of Superman #15 -- 10,004 (-10.2%)
08/2014: Adventures of Superman #16 -- 10,758 (+ 7.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 12.4%
1 year  : - 48.6%
Since #1: - 67.7%

Adds a few hundred copies for the penultimate issue. I’ll certainly miss this title; it was the most consistently enjoyable Superman title I’ve read in a long while.

—

181 - SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 CHAOS (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2004: --
08/2012: Smallville S11 #4     -- 19,861
--------------------------------------
08/2013: Smallville S11 #16    -- 14,640 (- 1.9%)
09/2013: Smallville S11 #17    -- 14,153 (- 3.3%)
10/2013: Smallville S11 #18    -- 13,794 (- 2.5%)
11/2013: Smallville S11 #19    -- 13,286 (- 3.7%)
12/2013: Smallville Alien #1   -- 13,019 (- 2.0%)
01/2014: Smallville Alien #2   -- 11,768 (- 9.6%)
02/2014: Smallville Alien #3   -- 11,061 (- 6.0%)
03/2014: Smallville Alien #4   -- 10,570 (- 4.4%)
04/2014: Smallville Lantern #1 -- 12,391 (+17.2%)
05/2014: Smallville Lantern #2 -- 11,372 (- 8.2%)
06/2014: Smallville Lantern #3 -- 11,401 (+ 0.3%)
07/2014: Smallville Lantern #4 -- 11,243 (- 1.4%)
08/2014: Smallville Chaos #1   -- 10,716 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: -  3.1%
1 year  : - 26.8%
2 years : - 46.0%
10 years:    n.a.

No sales bump for the first issue of Chaos .

—

182 - TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA ($2.99)
08/2013: ToS: Pandora #3  -- 34,563 (- 2.3%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: ToS: Pandora #4  -- 25,708 (-25.6%)
11/2013: ToS: Pandora #5  -- 21,267 (-17.3%)
12/2013: ToS: Pandora #6  -- 20,563 (- 3.3%)
01/2014: ToS: Pandora #7  -- 18,984 (- 7.7%)
02/2014: ToS: Pandora #8  -- 17,703 (- 6.7%)
03/2014: ToS: Pandora #9  -- 17,032 (- 3.8%)
04/2014: ToS: Pandora #10 -- 15,337 (-10.0%)
05/2014: ToS: Pandora #11 -- 13,859 (-10.9%)
06/2014: ToS: Pandora #12 -- 12,540 (- 8.2%)
07/2014: ToS: Pandora #13 -- 11,299 (- 9.9%)
08/2014: ToS: Pandora #14 -- 10,651 (- 5.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 39.8%
1 year  : - 69.2%
Since #1: - 74.4%

The final regular issue drops below 11K.

—

216 - TINY TITANS: RETURN TO THE TREEHOUSE (All-Ages) ($2.99)
08/2009: Tiny Titans #19   --  8,432
08/2010: Tiny Titans #31   --  7,987
08/2011: Tiny Titans #43   --  7,534
---------------------------------------
06/2014: Treehouse #1 of 6 -- 13,021 (+ 55.7%)
07/2014: Treehouse #2 of 6 -- 11,387 (- 12.5%)
08/2014: Treehouse #3 of 6 --  8,929 (- 21.6%)
-----------------
5 years : +  5.9%
Since #1: - 31.4%

Returnable, and adjusted accordingly.

After a mild second issue drop, Return to the Treehouse takes a surprising large drop for its third issue. A correction perhaps?

—

221 - TEEN TITANS GO! (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2004: Teen Titans Go! #10 -- 14,609
--------------------------------------
12/2013: Teen Titans Go! #1  -- 13,441 (+82.0%)
01/2014: --
02/2014: Teen Titans Go! #2  --  9,038 (-32.8%)
03/2014: --
04/2014: Teen Titans Go! #3  --  8,185 (- 9.4%)
05/2014: --
06/2014: Teen Titans Go! #4  --  8,667 (+ 5.9%)
07/2014: --
08/2014: Teen Titans Go! #5  --  8,688 (+ 0.2%)
-----------------
6 months: -  3.9%
10 years: - 40.5%
Since #1: - 35.4%

Returnable, and adjusted accordingly.

Another twenty-one copies are added, which while tiny small (and no doubt within a margin of error…) is the second straight issue with positive growth.

—

214 - BATWING ($2.99)
08/2012: Batwing #12 -- 18,279
------------------------------
08/2013: Batwing #23 -- 11,584 (- 4.0%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Batwing #24 -- 11,114 (- 4.1%)
11/2013: Batwing #25 -- 16,207 (+45.8%)
12/2013: Batwing #26 -- 10,753 (-33.7%)
01/2014: Batwing #27 -- 12,461 (+15.9%)
02/2014: Batwing #28 -- 11,786 (- 5.4%)
03/2014: Batwing #29 --  9,864 (-16.3%)
04/2014: Batwing #30 --  9,313 (- 5.6%)
05/2014: Batwing #31 --  8,941 (- 4.0%)
06/2014: Batwing #32 --  8,664 (- 3.1%)
07/2014: Batwing #33 --  8,380 (- 3.3%)
08/2014: Batwing #34 --  8,223 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 30.2%
1 year  : - 29.0%
2 years : - 55.5%
Since #1: - 84.7%

The final regular issue manages to stay above the 8K line.

—

225 - COFFIN HILL (Vertigo) ($2.99)
10/2013: Coffin Hill #1  -- 24,129
11/2013: Coffin Hill #2  -- 14,472 (-40.0%)
12/2013: Coffin Hill #3  -- 12,337 (-14.8%)
01/2014: Coffin Hill #4  -- 11,306 (- 8.4%)
02/2014: Coffin Hill #5  -- 10,435 (- 7.7%)
03/2014: Coffin Hill #6  --  9,982 (- 4.3%)
04/2014: Coffin Hill #7  --  9,547 (- 4.4%)
05/2014: --
06/2014: Coffin Hill #8  --  8,764 (- 8.2%)
07/2014: Coffin Hill #9  --  8,396 (- 4.2%)
08/2014: Coffin Hill #10 --  7,710 (- 8.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.1%
Since #1: - 68.0%

The unhealthy drops continue.

—

255 - THE UNWRITTEN V2 APOCALYPSE (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2010: The Unwritten #16 -- 12,778
08/2011: The Unwritten #28 -- 10,731
08/2012: The Unwritten #40 --  9,127
------------------------------------
08/2013: The Unwritten #52 --  9,033 (- 1.2%)
09/2013: The Unwritten #53 --  8,982 (- 0.6%)
10/2013: The Unwritten #54 --  8,871 (- 1.2%)
11/2013: --
12/2013: --
01/2014: Unwritten vol2 #1 -- 11,975 (+35.0%)
02/2014: Unwritten vol2 #2 --  8,291 (-30.8%)
03/2014: Unwritten vol2 #3 --  7,890 (- 4.8%)
04/2014: Unwritten vol2 #4 --  7,652 (- 3.0%)
05/2014: Unwritten vol2 #5 --  7,267 (- 5.0%)
06/2014: Unwritten vol2 #6 --  7,133 (- 1.8%)
07/2014: Unwritten vol2 #7 --  6,575 (- 5.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 20.7%
1 year  : - 27.2%
2 years : - 28.0%
Since #1: - 45.1%

Limping towards the ending in December.

—

266 - HINTERKIND (Vertigo) ($2.99)
10/2013: Hinterkind #1  -- 23,516
11/2013: Hinterkind #2  -- 13,994 (-40.5%)
12/2013: Hinterkind #3  -- 11,659 (-16.7%)
01/2014: Hinterkind #4  --  9,693 (-16.9%)
02/2014: Hinterkind #5  --  8,948 (- 7.7%)
03/2014: Hinterkind #6  --  8,306 (- 7.2%)
04/2014: --
05/2014: Hinterkind #7  --  7,487 (- 9.9%)
06/2014: Hinterkind #8  --  7,212 (- 3.7%)
07/2014: Hinterkind #9  --  6,686 (- 7.3%)
08/2014: Hinterkind #10 --  6,283 (- 6.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 29.8%
Since #1: - 73.3%

Another 400 copies drop away. Issue #13, solicited for December, starts a new story arc.

—

268 - FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS (Vertigo) ($2.99)
08/2013: FBP #2      -- 14,068 (-30.9%)
09/2013: FBP #3      -- 13,977 (- 0.6%)
10/2013: FBP #4      -- 11,600 (-17.0%)
11/2013: FBP #5      -- 10,391 (-10.4%)
12/2013: FBP #6      --  9,543 (- 8.2%)
01/2014: FBP #7      --  8,971 (- 6.0%)
02/2014: --
03/2014: FBP #8      --  7,852 (-12.5%)
04/2014: FBP #9      --  7,619 (- 3.0%)
05/2014: FBP #10     --  7,242 (- 4.9%)
06/2014: FBP #11     --  6,958 (- 3.9%)
07/2014: FBP #12     --  ????? (< 6,594)
08/2014: FBP #13     --  6,189
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 50.6%
Since #1: - 69.6%

277 - DEAD BOY DETECTIVES (Vertigo) ($2.99)
12/2013: Dead Boy Detectives #1 -- 21,478
01/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #2 -- 12,276 (-42.8%)
02/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #3 --  9,889 (-19.4%)
03/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #4 --  8,872 (-10.3%)
04/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #5 --  7,957 (-10.3%)
05/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #6 --  7,305 (- 8.2%)
06/2014: --
07/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #7 --  ????? (< 6,594)
08/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #8 --  5,968
-----------------
6 months: - 39.7%
Since #1: - 72.2%

A couple of low-selling Vertigo titles return to the top 300 this month, but that’s because the floor fell lower, not because of a sales improvement.

—

+301 - SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED - CRISIS OF IMAGINATION (Digital-First) ($2.99)
01/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #1 -- 11,572
02/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #2 --  7,101 (-38.6%)
03/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #3 --  6,738 (- 5.1%)
04/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #4 --  6,467 (- 4.0%)
05/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #5 --  6,045 (- 6.5%)
06/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #6 --  5,833 (- 3.5%)
07/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #7 --  ????? (< 6,594)
08/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #8 --  ????? (< 5,357)
----------------
Since #1:   ???%

The penultimate issue doesn’t make the chart.

—

+302 - SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (All-Ages) ($2.99)
08/2004: Scooby-Doo #87                -- 5,436
08/2009: Scooby-Doo #147               -- 4,111
08/2010: Scooby-Doo #159               -- 4,092
08/2011: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #12 -- 4,686
08/2012: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #24 -- ?????
----------------------------------------
08/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #36 -- 4,903 
09/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #37 -- 4,840 (-1.3%)
10/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #38 -- 4,983 (+3.0%)
11/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #39 -- ????? 
12/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #40 -- 4,754 
01/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #41 -- 4,649 (-2.2%)
02/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #42 -- 4,540 (-2.3%)
03/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #43 -- 4,623 (+1.8%)
04/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #44 -- 4,650 (+0.6%)
05/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #45 -- 4,840 (+4.1%)
06/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #46 -- ????? (< 4,560)
07/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #47 -- ????? (< 6,594)
08/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #48 -- ????? (< 5,357)
-----------------
6 months:    ???%
1 year  :    ???%
2 years :    ???%
5 years :    ???%
10 years:    ???%
Since #1:    ???%

I really wish that Diamond would go back to releasing the top 400, as we are also likely missing a good deal of data on reorder activity.

—

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

DC COMICS
08/2004: 29,318
08/2009: 29,977
08/2010: 23,331
08/2011: 25,632
08/2012: 33,500
---------------
08/2013: 30,843 (- 10.4%)
09/2013: 54,892 (+ 78.0%)
10/2013: 31,928 (- 41.8%)**
11/2013: 32,664 (+  2.3%)
12/2013: ??????
01/2014: 27,881 
02/2014: 27,070 (-  2.9%)
03/2014: 26,776 (-  1.1%)
04/2014: 29,202 (+  9.1%)**
05/2014: 31,764 (+  8.8%)
06/2014: 32,834 (+  3.4%)**
07/2014: 32,760 (+  0.2%)**
08/2014: 29,295 (- 10.6%)**
-----------------
6 months: +  8.2%
1 year  : -  5.0%
2 years : - 12.6%
5 years : -  2.3%
10 years: -  0.1%

DC UNIVERSE
08/2004: 34,018
08/2009: 37,300
08/2010: 33,411
08/2011: 27,761
08/2012: 38,047
---------------
08/2013: 33,583 (-  8.1%)
09/2013: 61,036 (+ 81.8%)
10/2013: 33,568 (- 45.0%)**
11/2013: 35,282 (+  5.1%)
12/2013: ??????
01/2014: 33,120 
02/2014: 33,327 (+  0.6%) 
03/2014: 32,007 (-  4.0%) 
04/2014: 36,447 (+ 13.9%) 
05/2014: 39,555 (+  8.5%) 
06/2014: 42,733 (+  8.0%) 
07/2014: 40,945 (-  4.2%) 
08/2014: 36,645 (- 10.5%) 
-----------------
6 months: + 10.0%
1 year  : +  9.1%
2 years : -  3.7%
5 years : -  1.8%
10 years: +  7.7%

VERTIGO
08/2004: 18,298
08/2009: 11,369
08/2010:  9,094
08/2011: 10,147
08/2012: 11,764
---------------
08/2013: 14,130 (- 12.2%)
09/2013: 14,951 (+  5.8%)
10/2013: 22,228 (+ 48.7%)**
11/2013: 13,958 (- 37.2%)
12/2013: ??????
01/2014: 11,473 
02/2014: 13,215 (+ 15.2%) 
03/2014: 19,179 (+ 45.1%) 
04/2014: 11,214 (- 41.5%) 
05/2014: 11,778 (+  5.0%) 
06/2014: 11,372 (-  3.4%) 
07/2014: 15,803 (+ 39.0%)** 
08/2014:  9,082 (- 42.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 31.3%
1 year  : - 35.7%
2 years : - 22.8%
5 years : - 20.1%
10 years: - 50.4%


6 month comparisons
===================

+ 68.2% - New Suicide Squad (Suicide Squad)
+ 64.9% - Superman
+ 52.9% - Grayson (Nightwing)
+ 52.2% - Teen Titans
+ 32.4% - Action Comics
+ 23.1% - Batman and Robin
+ 12.7% - Superman/Wonder Woman
+ 12.5% - Supergirl
+  9.6% - Flash
+  8.4% - Batman '66
+  4.7% - Earth 2
+  3.9% - Detective Comics
+  1.1% - Green Lantern Corps
+  0.1% - Batgirl
-  1.5% - Batman Beyond Universe
-  2.0% - Catwoman
-  3.1% - Fables
-  3.1% - Smallville Season 11
-  3.2% - Batman
=  3.9% - Teen Titans Go!
-  4.5% - Aquaman
-  5.4% - Batman/Supeman
-  8.2% - Swamp Thing
-  8.5% - Astro City
- 10.7% - Harley Quinn
- 11.0% - Fairest
- 12.4% - Adventures of Superman
- 13.2% - All Star Western
- 13.6% - Red Hood and the Outlaws
- 14.2% - Green Arrow
- 14.9% - Green Lantern
- 15.2% - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
- 16.2% - Superboy
- 17.2% - Justice League Dark
- 18.2% - Batwoman
- 19.0% - Green Lantern New Guardians
- 19.7% - Injustice
- 20.7% - Unwritten Apocalypse
- 23.2% - Constantine
- 26.1% - Coffin Hill
- 28.4% - Worlds' Finest
- 29.8% - Hinterkind
- 30.2% - Batwing
- 36.0% - Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger
- 37.0% - Justice League 3000
- 39.7% - Dead Boy Detectives
- 39.8% - Trinity of Sin: Pandora
- 55.8% - Red Lanterns

1 year comparisons
===================

+ 73.6% - New Suicide Squad (Suicide Squad)
+ 39.4% - Grayson (Nightwing)
+ 34.2% - Superman
+ 28.2% - Teen Titans
+  9.7% - Action Comics
+  7.1% - Supergirl
-  4.1% - Batman and Robin
-  4.3% - Detective Comics
-  4.5% - Flash
-  8.2% - Fables
-  8.3% - Batgirl
-  8.4% - Earth 2
-  9.9% - Green Arrow
- 12.5% - Batman
- 18.2% - Worlds' Finest
- 18.7% - Fairest
- 18.7% - Green Lantern Corps
- 20.5% - Birds of Prey
- 22.6% - Swamp Thing
- 23.2% - Red Lanterns
- 24.4% - Aquaman
- 25.3% - All Star Western
- 25.9% - Green Lantern
- 26.8% - Smallville Season 11
- 27.2% - The Unwritten
- 27.8% - Injustice
- 29.0% - Batwing
- 30.4% - Red Hood and the Outlaws
- 30.5% - Astro City
- 30.6% - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
- 31.9% - Superboy
- 35.5% - Batwoman
- 35.9% - Batman/Superman
- 36.0% - Green Lantern New Guardians
- 37.8% - Constantine
- 38.5% - Catwoman
- 39.1% - Batman Beyond
- 42.2% - Batman '66
- 48.6% - Adventures of Superman
- 50.6% - FBP
- 59.7% - Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger
- 66.7% - Justice League Dark
- 69.2% - Trinity of Sin: Pandora

2 year comparisons
===================

+ 66.5% - Constantine (Hellblazer)
+ 36.0% - New Suicide Squad (Suicide Squad)
+ 19.0% - Grayson (Nightwing)
+  6.1% - Superman
-  0.9% - Green Arrow
-  5.0% - Teen Titans
- 10.4% - Batman
- 12.9% - Supergirl
- 16.5% - Batman and Robin
- 17.9% - Justice League Dark
- 18.2% - Fables
- 21.0% - Batgirl
- 22.6% - Detective Comics
- 28.0% - The Unwritten
- 28.3% - Flash
- 29.5% - Green Lantern Corps
- 31.1% - Catwoman
- 33.0% - Batman Beyond
- 34.3% - Action Comics
- 35.1% - Red Lanterns
- 41.7% - Red Hood and the Outlaws
- 42.1% - Birds of Prey
- 43.2% - Green Lantern
- 43.5% - Fairest
- 44.5% - Earth 2
- 45.5% - Aquaman
- 46.0% - Smallville Season 11
- 48.1% - Green Lantern New Guardians
- 49.9% - Superboy
- 50.1% - Worlds' Finest
- 51.3% - All Star Western
- 52.1% - Swamp Thing
- 55.5% - Batwing
- 56.6% - Batwoman

5 year comparisons
===================

+ 49.3% - Batman/Superman (Superman/Batman)
+ 46.7% - Constantine (Hellblazer)
+ 44.7% - Superman
+ 43.1% - Batman
+ 33.9% - Teen Titans
+ 24.4% - Action Comics
+ 17.9% - Green Arrow
+  5.9% - Tiny Titans
-  0.1% - Detective Comics
-  8.7% - All Star Western
- 11.0% - Astro City
- 21.6% - Supergirl
- 37.5% - Fables
- 51.7% - Batman and Robin
- 52.5% - Flash
- 57.2% - Green Lantern
- 64.2% - Green Lantern Corps

10 year comparisons
===================

+ 43.9% - Batman
+ 42.1% - Aquaman
+ 20.4% - Green Lantern
+ 19.0% - Grayson (Nightwing)
+ 11.4% - Detective Comics
+  8.1% - Action Comics
+  6.0% - Constantine (Hellblazer)
- 10.3% - Flash
- 12.0% - Swamp Thing
- 20.5% - Batgirl
- 29.0% - Green Arrow
- 36.3% - Teen Titans
- 40.5% - Teen Titans Go!
- 44.2% - Catwoman
- 45.5% - Fables
- 52.0% - Birds of Prey
- 53.3% - Astro City
- 56.2% - Superman


Sales Indices
=============

DCU: Average: 36,645. Median: 37,109. 

3.1 - Batman
2.5 - Multiversity
2.0 - Harley Quinn (9)
1.6 - Batman Eternal (18)
1.6 - Detective Comics
1.6 - Harley Quinn (10)
1.6 - Batman Eternal (19)
1.6 - Batman Eternal (20)
1.6 - Batman Eternal (21)
1.5 - Grayson
1.5 - Superman
1.5 - Batman/Superman
1.5 - Batman and Robin
1.4 - Superman/Wonder Woman
1.3 - Action Comics
1.2 - Green Lantern
1.2 - Justice League Unlimited
1.1 - Superman/Wonder Woman Annual
1.1 - Futures End (14)
1.1 - Teen Titans
1.1 - Futures End (15)
1.1 - Futures End (16)
1.1 - Futures End (17)
1.1 - Action Comics Annual
1.0 - New Suicide Squad
1.0 - Earth 2
1.0 - Flash
0.9 - Batgirl
0.9 - Aquaman
0.8 - Green Lantern Corps
0.7 - Sinestro
0.7 - Supergirl
0.7 - Justice League Dark
0.7 - Secret Origins
0.6 - Catwoman
0.6 - Green Arrow
0.6 - Red Lanterns
0.6 - Green Lantern New Guardians
0.6 - Justice League 3000
0.5 - Red Hood and the Outlaws
0.5 - Worlds' Finest
0.5 - Aquaman and the Others
0.5 - Swamp Thing
0.5 - Batwoman
0.4 - Constantine
0.4 - Birds of Prey
0.4 - Superboy
0.3 - Infinity Man and the Forever People
0.3 - All Star Western
0.3 - Star-Spangled War Stories
0.3 - Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger
0.3 - Trinity of Sin: Pandora
0.2 - Batwing

Vertigo: Average: 9,082. Median: 7,710

1.5 - Fables
1.4 - Astro City
1.2 - Bodies
1.2 - Fairest
0.8 - Coffin Hill
0.7 - Unwritten Apocalypse
0.7 - Hinterkind
0.7 - FBP
0.7 - Dead Boy Detectives

Digital First & Other: Average: 14,467*. Median: 12,968*.

2.0 - Sensation Comics feat. Wonder Woman
1.7 - Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet
1.5 - Batman '66
1.3 - Injustice Year 2 (9)
1.2 - Injustice Year 2 (10)
1.1 - Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Mutliverse
1.0 - Batman Beyond Universe
0.8 - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
0.7 - Adventures of Superman
0.7 - Smallville Chaos
0.6 - Tiny Titans Return to the Treehouse
0.6 - Teen Titans Go!
0.4 - Scribblenauts Unmasked
0.3 - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?

The sales index number is a ratio of the title’s current month sales to the average sales figure of the line to which is belongs for that month. So a sales index number of 1.0 means that a title sold very close to the sales average for that line.

—The Fine Print (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 of physical comics 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. Keep in mind that sales for some titles may include incentives to acquire variants and not every unit sold is necessarily even intended to be sold to a customer.
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 brackets 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 which are returnable have their numbers artificially adjusted down by Diamond. To make up for that this column increases the reported numbers for those titles by 10%. Which is likely also wrong, but it’s a different and likely less wrong kind of wrong, and experience has shown that this leads to sales figures which are more consistent.
Titles released under the All-Ages line 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 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.

Please keep in mind that raw sales numbers do not tell us about how profitable a book is for a publisher or for the creators.
Above all, do not allow sales numbers to dictate your purchasing and enjoyment of a particular comic. If you enjoy reading a comic series then go right on buying and reading that comic, no matter what the sales figures say.
** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300/400 chart in that month. In those cases, it’s assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300/400 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.
Opinions expressed in this column are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer, Heidi MacDonald or anyone at The Comics Beat, the Comic-Con International Organizing Committee, or my neighbor’s dog Miles.
The author of this column does weekly snapshots of Amazon comic sales charts at http://yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com/ and tweets about comics and related subjects on Twitter at @davereadscomics (PM me there is you need to contact me).
As always, we welcome your comments and corrections below. Please try to keep things civilized.