DC Comics Month-to Month Sales: August 2015 – Bombshells Return

by David Carter

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

Back in June 2014, DC kicked off their freely-orderable variant (f.o.v.) cover program (or as DC has taken to calling them, open-to-order variants) with Bombshell variants with covers by Ant Lucia that evoked pin-up art from the 1940s. It was a big success, with the comics sporting them seeing huge gains and has spun off into a line of statues. So it makes sense that DC would want to return to the Bombshells theme, and this month sees a batch of all-new Bombshells covers as well as the launch of a DC Comics Bombshells comic (reprinting the digital-first comic of the same name). It’s a moderate success this time out, especially compared to last month’s Teen Titans Go! variants (all of those sporting both variants see a jump up in sales this time out), and the comic itself sells very well for a digital-first comic. While we can be fairly sure that the f.o.v.s are giving a boost beyond the natural sales level for titles bearing them, it is clear that the size of that boost is greatly dependent on the demand for that month’s theme (or rather the perceived demand by retailers, which as in all cases on these charts has to stand in for actual consumer demand).

Which I suppose makes this a good time to talk about variant covers.

Those of us who have been around comics for a while remember the 1990s, when speculators came in to the comics market, drove up sales, and then left, causing a crash that nearly destroyed the comics market and the effects of which we are still living with to this day. It was a dark, dark time, and one of the symptoms of that diseased market were variant covers. It started so innocently, in 1986 with Man of Steel #1 sporting two different covers (this may or may not have been the first true variant cover, but it’s the first that I remember) and ending in a variant orgy that included covers with holograms, chromium, and even simulated bullet holes.

So you can see why people are getting a little nervous about the current wave of variants.

I am of two minds about the whole thing.

I don’t see much wrong about the freely-orderable variants. Retailers order as many as they think they can sell, at regular cover price, and customers can buy them or not as they see fit. I tend to buy them for the titles that I buy regularly, and I buy only the variant and not the regular cover. They’re fun and I usually like the themes and it doesn’t cost me any more. Sure there are probably some out there with more of a collector mentality who will want to go after a full set of variants for a particular month (such as maybe a Green Lantern fan for September’s Green Lantern 75th Anniversary variants) that adds some to the bottom line, and if the added revenue from extra copies exceeds the cost of producing the variant and that allows for a borderline comic to stay profitable longer, then bully for everyone.

Where I see the problem is in the incentive variants. These are special variants for which a retailer is allowed to order one variant cover if they meet some sort of metric. They generally fall into two kinds: a 1:X variant, where a retailer can order 1 variant for every X number of the regular version that they order; and percentage variant where the retailer can order any number of variants if their sales level meets or exceeds a certain number, usually X% of those for a previous issue or X% or a related (or even unrelated) other comic.

Now if a retailer just orders what they would anyway—e.g. they would normally get 55 copies, and there’s a 1:10 variant, so the retailer get 50 copies of the regular cover and 5 of the variant—then that’s fine. Maybe give the variants to subscribers or just put them out on the rack or whatever. But what the comics company is hoping for is that a retailer who normally orders 45 copies will say: Hey, I can order just ten more and get five of them there variants, and I’ll just mark up the price on the variants to make up for the cost of the extra copies and a little extra profit on top of that.

Why is that a problem? Because that is extra money for copies of a comic that are not likely to sell, and that’s money that could be spent on trying out a new indie series, or an extra rack copy or two of a critically acclaimed but middling-selling book from the same publisher, or whatever. The problem isn’t so bad for a single 1:10 variant; but a 1:50 or a 1:100 or more? Or add up the same calculus over dozens of different incentive variants and you get a bunch of comics being ordered not to be sold to consumers but to gain eligibility to order variants. Yes it inflates order numbers for comics with incentive variants, but at the expense of team comics. It’s a death by a thousand cuts.

(Brian Hibbs goes into the problem of variant ordering from a retailer’s point of view in a recent “Tilting” column over at CBR, and I think he’s pretty much spot on there.)

Oh, and what I said above regarding being generally okay with freely-orderable variants? I make an exception for DC’s December variant stunt: Their f.o.v.s for December are polybagged variants, where there will be multiple variants for those issues sporting them, but they’ll all be sealed in black polybags so a customer won’t know which variant they are getting until they rip open the polybag. Which takes all the fun out of a typical f.o.v. and throws it on the ground and beats it with a stick until it is a pulp of depression and greed.

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 over at Comichron!

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 done with total orders including reorder activity, as opposed to initial orders as was the practice of this column under the previous administration.)

—

3 - BATMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: Batman #643    --  66,396 
08/2005: Batman #644    --  65,128 
08/2010: Batman #702    --  73,414
08/2011: Batman #713    --  51,760
08/2012: Batman #12     -- 125,249 
08/2013: Batman #23     -- 128,230 
----------------------------------
08/2014: Batman #34     -- 112,186 (-  4.9%) 
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 142,980 (+ 27.4%) 
10/2014: Batman #35     -- 118,860 (- 16.9%) 
11/2014: Batman #36     -- 115,183 (-  3.1%) 
12/2014: Batman #37     -- 113,255 (-  1.7%) 
01/2015: Batman #38     -- 110,232 (-  2.7%) 
02/2015: Batman #39     -- 118,106 (+  7.1%) 
03/2015: -- 
04/2015: Batman #40     -- 131,128 (+ 31.8%) [155,690]
05/2015: -- 
06/2015: Batman #41     -- 142,155 (-  8.7%) 
07/2015: Batman #42     -- 117,441 (- 17.4%) 
08/2015: Batman #43     -- 124,697 (+  6.2%) 
-----------------
6 months: +  5.6%
1 year  : + 11.2%
2 years : -  2.8%
5 years : + 69.9%
10 years: + 89.6%

To no one’s surprise, Batman continues to be DC’s best-selling comic. The Bombshell cover adds another 7K in sales this month, one of the larger bombshell increases.—

8 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ($3.99)
08/2005: JLA #117           --  87,995  [89,168]
08/2010: JL of America #48  --  60,733
08/2011: Justice League #1  -- 185,776 [271,173]
08/2012: Justice League #12 -- 120,796 [161,235]
08/2013: Justice League #23 -- 103,936
---------------------------------------
08/2014: --
09/2014: Justice League #33 --  79,447 (-  9.9%)
09/2014: Futures End #1     -- 104,246 (+ 31.2%)
10/2014: Justice League #34 --  75,400 (- 27.7%)
10/2014: Justice League #35 --  75,264 (-  0.2%)
11/2014: Justice League #36 --  74,796 (-  0.6%)
12/2014: Justice League #37 --  72,081 (-  3.6%)
01/2015: Justice League #38 --  68,989 (-  4.3%)
02/2015: Justice League #39 --  72,904 (+  5.7%)
03/2015: -- 
04/2015: Justice League #40 --  78,388 (+  7.5%)
05/2015: -- 
06/2015: Justice League #41 --  97,584 (+ 31.9%) [103,398]
07/2015: Justice League #42 --  81,291 (- 21.4%)
08/2015: Justice League #43 --  82,304 (+  1.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 12.9%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 20.8%
5 years : + 35.5%
10 years: -  7.7%

Justice League, on the other hand, only adds 1K more copies, one of the smallest Bombshell increases.

—

14 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ($3.99)
08/2005: JLA #117          --  87.995  [89,168]
08/2010: JL of America #48 --  60,733
08/2011: JL of America #60 --  42.587
08/2012: --
08/2013: JL of America #7  --  93,777 
-------------------------------------
06/2015: JL of America #1  -- 150,845 (+193.8%)
07/2015: JL of America #2  --  70,979 (- 52.9%)
08/2015: JL of America #3  --  67,118 (-  5.4%)
-----------------
2 years : - 28.4%
5 years : + 10.5%
10 years: - 24.7%

Clearly and by far the most successful of the DCYou launches, though still looking for its level.

—

16 - HARLEY QUINN ($3.99)
08/2014: Harley Quinn #9  --  71,522 (-  6.9%)
08/2014: Harley Quinn #10 --  58,500 (- 18.2%)
09/2014: Futures End #1   -- 119,180 (+103.7%)
10/2014: Harley Quinn #11 --  68,557 (- 42.5%)
11/2014: Harley Quinn #12 --  71,245 (+  3.9%)
12/2014: Harley Quinn #13 --  68,102 (-  4.4%)
01/2015: Harley Quinn #14 --  64,735 (-  4.9%)
02/2015: --
03/2015: Harley Quinn #15 --  66,904 (+  3.4%)
04/2015: Harley Quinn #16 --  72,055 (+  7.7%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Harley Quinn #17 --  68,243 (-  5.3%)
07/2015: Harley Quinn #18 --  59,566 (- 12.7%)
08/2015: Harley Quinn #19 --  64,223 (+  7.8%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 10.2%

Recovers somewhat from last month’s large drop, helped by a bombshell variant.

—

18 - DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS (Digital First) ($3.99)
08/2015: Bombshells #1  --  59,253

Well now, isn’t that a pleasant surprise!

With the exception of Batman: Arkham Knight, which was boosted mightily by its inclusion in a subscription box, this is far and away the best debut for a Digital First comic. Debuting during Bombshells variant month was also likely a factor. But even should sales drop by 50% this will still be a very good selling Digital First comic.

—

21 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99)
08/2005: Detective Comics #809 -- 49,087
08/2005: Detective Comics #810 -- 48,270
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 
----------------------------------------
08/2014: Detective Comics #34  -- 58,812 (-  6.4%)
09/2014: Futures End #1        -- 96,081 (+ 63.4%)
10/2014: Detective Comics #35  -- 57,385 (- 40.3%)
11/2014: Detective Comics #36  -- 58,171 (+  1.4%)
12/2014: Detective Comics #37  -- 54,953 (-  5.5%)
01/2015: Detective Comics #38  -- 51,301 (-  6.6%)
02/2015: Detective Comics #39  -- 54,698 (+  6.6%)
03/2015: Detective Comics #40  -- 56,126 (+  2.6%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Detective Comics #41  -- 57,648 (+  2.7%)
07/2015: Detective Comics #42  -- 50,743 (- 12.0%)
08/2015: Detective Comics #43  -- 53,576 (+  5.6%)
-----------------
6 months: -  2.1%
1 year  : -  8.9%
2 years : - 12.8%
5 years : + 38.5%
10 years: + 10.1%

A new creative team takes over in October.

—

25 - SUPERMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: Superman #220 --  61,264
08/2010: Superman #702 --  50,023
08/2011: Superman #714 --  35,919
08/2012: Superman #12  --  53,326
08/2013: Superman #23  --  42,155 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Superman #34   -- 56,568 (- 10.2%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 77,949 (+ 37.8%)
10/2014: Superman #35   -- 53,692 (- 31.1%)
11/2014: Superman #36   -- 52,272 (-  2.6%)
12/2014: Superman #37   -- 50,383 (-  3.6%)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Superman #38   -- 48,987 (-  2.8%)
03/2015: Superman #39   -- 50,260 (+  2.6%)
04/2015: Superman #40   -- 52,666 (+  4.8%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Superman #41   -- 53,393 (+  1.4%)
07/2015: Superman #42   -- 46,691 (- 12.6%)
08/2015: Superman #43   -- 49,825 (+  6.7%)
-----------------
6 months: +  1.7%
1 year  : - 11.9%
2 years : + 18.2%
5 years : -  0.4%
10 years: - 18.7%

The Bombshells variant cannot quite push Superman back over 50K.

—

34 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: --
08/2010: Superman/Batman #75 --  34,324
08/2011: Superman/Batman #87 --  26,425
--------------------------------------
08/2014: Batman/Superman #13 --  55,954 (- 18.1%)
09/2014: Futures End #1      --  87,339 (+ 56.1%)
10/2014: Batman/Superman #14 --  52,270 (- 40.2%)
10/2014: Batman/Superman #15 --  50,226 (-  3.9%)
11/2014: Batman/Superman #16 --  48,581 (-  3.3%)
12/2014: Batman/Superman #17 --  44,714 (-  8.0%)
01/2015: Batman/Superman #18 --  41,750 (-  6.6%)
02/2015: Batman/Superman #19 --  44,134 (+  5.7%)
03/2015: Batman/Superman #20 --  43,428 (-  1.6%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Batman/Superman #21 --  49,204 (+ 13.3%)
07/2015: Batman/Superman #22 --  41,672 (- 15.3%)
08/2015: Batman/Superman #23 --  44,259 (+  6.2%)
-----------------
6 months: +  0.3%
1 year  : - 20.9%
5 years : + 28.9%
10 years:    n.a.

Seriously, these freely-orderable variant cover effects are so strong that it’s hard to get an idea as to how a title is actually performing.

—

35 - GREEN LANTERN ($3.99)
08/2005: Green Lantern #3   -- 108,511
08/2005: Green Lantern #4   --  96,932  [99,525]
08/2010: --
08/2011: --
08/2012: Green Lantern #12  --  77,187
08/2013: Green Lantern #23  --  59,176 (-  5.2%)
--------------------------------------
08/2014: Green Lantern #34  --  43,846 (-  7.3%)
09/2014: Futures End #1     --  77,372 (+ 76.5%)
10/2014: Green Lantern #35  --  45,893 (- 40.7%)
11/2014: Green Lantern #36  --  46,157 (+  0.6%)
12/2014: Green Lantern #37  --  44,033 (-  4.6%)
01/2015: Green Lantern #38  --  39,342 (- 10.7%)
02/2015: Green Lantern #39  --  41,997 (+  6.7%)
03/2015: Green Lantern #40  --  42,334 (+  0.8%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Green Lantern #41  --  45,704 (+  8.0%)
07/2015: Green Lantern #42  --  39,290 (- 14.0%)
08/2015: Green Lantern #43  --  42,482 (+  8.1%)
-----------------
6 months: +  1.2%
1 year  : -  3.1%
2 years : - 28.2%
5 years :    n.a.
10 years: - 59.2%

Surprisingly, ten years ago Green Lantern’s sales of 108K did not make it DC’s best-selling comic; it was outsold by the first issues of Justice (190K) and Supergirl (123K).

—

36 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99)
08/2005: Action Comics #830 -- 48,469
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%)
-------------------------------------
08/2014: Action Comics #34  -- 46,746 (-  5.5%)
09/2014: Futures End #1     -- 74,497 (+ 59.4%)
10/2014: Action Comics #35  -- 45,152 (- 39.4%)
11/2014: Action Comics #36  -- 41,835 (-  7.3%)
12/2014: Action Comics #37  -- 39,168 (-  6.4%)
01/2015: Action Comics #38  -- 35,018 (- 10.6%)
02/2015: Action Comics #39  -- 38,070 (+  8.7%)
03/2015: Action Comics #40  -- 38,216 (+  0.4%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Action Comics #41  -- 44,083 (+ 15.4%)
07/2015: Action Comics #42  -- 37,956 (- 13.9%)
08/2015: Action Comics #43  -- 41,883 (+ 10.3%)
-----------------
6 months: + 10.0%
1 year  : - 10.4%
2 years : -  1.7%
5 years : + 15.1%
10 years: - 13.6%

Business as usual (within the bounds of variant fluctuations, that is).

—

38 - FLASH ($3.99)
08/2005: Flash #225     -- 50,242  [52,386] 
08/2010: --
08/2011: --
08/2012: Flash #12      -- 51,779
08/2013: Flash #23      -- 38,860 (-  0.3%)
---------------------------------
08/2014: Flash #34      -- 37,109 (-  6.5%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 70,368 (+ 89.6%)
10/2014: Flash #35      -- 37,484 (- 46.7%)
11/2014: Flash #36      -- 38,145 (+  1.8%)
12/2014: Flash #37      -- 37,026 (-  2.9%)
01/2015: Flash #38      -- 35,180 (-  5.0%)
02/2015: Flash #39      -- 43,635 (+ 24.0%)
03/2015: Flash #40      -- 38,382 (- 12.0%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Flash #41      -- 41,256 (+  7.5%)
07/2015: Flash #42      -- 37,956 (-  8.0%)
08/2015: Flash #43      -- 40,542 (+  6.8%)
-----------------
6 months: -  7.1%
1 year  : +  9.3%
2 years : +  4.3%
5 years :    n.a.
10 years: - 22.6%

The Bombshell variant pushes Flash back up over the 40K line.

—

39 - WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: Wonder Woman #220 -- 38,370  [51,212]
08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012
08/2011: Wonder Woman #614 -- 29,223
08/2012: Wonder Woman #12  -- 44,584
08/2013: Wonder Woman #23  -- 34,747 
------------------------------------
08/2014: -- 
09/2014: Futures End #1    -- 69,497 (+ 85.7%)
10/2014: Wonder Woman #34  -- 35,774 (- 48.5%)
10/2014: Wonder Woman #35  -- 35,968 (+  0.5%)
11/2014: Wonder Woman #36  -- 58,965 (+ 63.9%)
12/2014: Wonder Woman #37  -- 43,066 (- 27.0%)
01/2015: Wonder Woman #38  -- 39,669 (-  7.9%)
02/2015: Wonder Woman #39  -- 42,634 (+  7.5%)
03/2015: -- 
04/2015: Wonder Woman #40  -- 45,172 (+  6.0%)
05/2015: -- 
06/2015: Wonder Woman #41  -- 45,284 (+  0.2%)
07/2015: Wonder Woman #42  -- 36,668 (- 19.0%)
08/2015: Wonder Woman #43  -- 39,646 (+  8.1%)
-----------------
6 months: -  7.0%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : + 14.1%
5 years : +  4.3%
10 years: - 22.6%

—

40 - HARLEY QUINN & POWER GIRL ($3.99)
06/2015: HQ & PG #1 of 6 -- 71,402 
07/2015: HQ & PG #2 of 6 -- 44,974 (- 37.0%) 
08/2015: HQ & PG #3 of 6 -- 38,853 (- 13.6%)

Selling at 26K below the main Harley Quinn comic, which is a real head-scratcher even taking into account the mini’s lack of a variant cover.

—

41 - SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
08/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #11 -- 50,550 (+  0.6%)
09/2014: Futures End #1            -- 77,169 (+ 52.7%)
10/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #12 -- 47,885 (- 37.9%)
11/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #13 -- 44,013 (-  8.1%)
12/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #14 -- 41,231 (-  6.3%)
01/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #15 -- 36,877 (- 10.6%)
02/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #16 -- 38,550 (+  4.5%)
03/2015: -- 
04/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #17 -- 39,868 (+  3.4%)
05/2015: -- 
06/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #18 -- 39,787 (-  0.2%)
07/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #19 -- 36,666 (-  7.8%)
08/2015: Superman/Wonder Woman #20 -- 38,834 (+  5.9%)
-----------------
6 months: +  0.7%
1 year  : - 23.2%

—

44 - ROBIN, SON OF BATMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: Robin #141    -- 28,564 
--------------------------------
06/2015: Robin SoB #1  -- 70,505 (+122.5%)
07/2015: Robin SoB #2  -- 44,232 (- 37.3%)
08/2015: Robin SoB #3  -- 38,413 (- 13.2%)
-----------------
10 years: + 34.5%

Looks like it will eventually settle in to the low- to mid-30K area.

—

46 - NEW SUICIDE SQUAD ($2.99)
08/2012: Suicide Squad #12     -- 28,302
08/2013: Suicide Squad #23     -- 22,166 
----------------------------------------
08/2014: New Suicide Squad #2  -- 38,477 (- 21.9%)
09/2014: Futures End #1        -- 73,599 (+ 91.3%)
10/2014: New Suicide Squad #3  -- 39,498 (- 46.3%)
11/2014: New Suicide Squad #4  -- 34,920 (- 11.6%)
12/2014: New Suicide Squad #5  -- 32,834 (-  6.0%)
01/2015: New Suicide Squad #6  -- 32,304 (-  1.6%)
02/2015: New Suicide Squad #7  -- 30,537 (-  5.5%)
03/2015: New Suicide Squad #8  -- 30,443 (-  0.3%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: New Suicide Squad #9  -- 42,225 (+ 38.7%)
07/2015: New Suicide Squad #10 -- 35,365 (- 16.2%)
08/2015: New Suicide Squad #11 -- 37,915 (+  7.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 24.2%
1 year  : -  1.5%
2 years : + 71.1%

The top-selling $2.99 book for DC this month.

So if you’re wondering why DC is starting to abandon the $2.99 price point, there you go. If price were a primary factor in sales, you wouldn’t see so many $3.99 books at the top of the chart.

Where the increase in prices takes its toll is not in the top-selling books, but rather the middle and bottom of the chart, as consumers drop titles to make up for the increase on the books that they feel they need to buy.

—

47 - DEATHSTROKE ($2.99)
08/2012: Deathstroke #12 -- 16,772 
----------------------------------
10/2014: Deathstroke #1  -- 54,059 (+359.4%) 
11/2014: Deathstroke #2  -- 36,356 (- 32.7%) 
12/2014: Deathstroke #3  -- 34,010 (-  6.5%) 
01/2015: Deathstroke #4  -- 33,011 (-  2.9%) 
02/2015: Deathstroke #5  -- 32,863 (-  0.4%) 
03/2015: Deathstroke #6  -- 31,666 (-  3.6%) 
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Deathstroke #7  -- 38,807 (+ 22.6%) 
07/2015: Deathstroke #8  -- 33,648 (- 13.3%) 
08/2015: Deathstroke #9  -- 36,583 (+  8.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: + 11.3%

—

48 - GRAYSON ($3.99)
08/2005: Nightwing #111 -- 36,146
08/2012: Nightwing #12  -- 47,484
08/2013: Nightwing #23  -- 40,522 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Grayson #2     -- 56,486 (- 30.6%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 76,551 (+ 52.7%)
10/2014: Grayson #3     -- 52,849 (- 31.0%)
11/2014: Grayson #4     -- 47,590 (- 10.0%)
12/2014: Grayson #5     -- 42,611 (- 10.5%)
01/2015: Grayson #6     -- 38,505 (-  9.6%)
02/2015: Grayson #7     -- 41,164 (+  6.9%)
03/2015: Grayson #8     -- 40,859 (-  0.7%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Grayson #9     -- 39,610 (-  3.1%)
07/2015: Grayson #10    -- 33,990 (- 14.2%)
08/2015: Grayson #11    -- 36,538 (+  7.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 11.2%
1 year  : - 35.3%
2 years : -  9.8%
10 years: +  1.1%

Thirteen months since its large debut (81K), Grayson has now fallen to the mid list, right about where Nightwing had been.

—

51 - BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT: GENESIS (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2015: BAK Genesis #1 of 6  -- 35,652

A pretty good debut for the digital-first mini-series tie-in to the video game.

—

58 - TEEN TITANS ($2.99)
08/2005: Teen Titans #27  -- 74,782  [75,996]
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 
----------------------------------
08/2014: Teen Titans #2   -- 40,687 (- 22.3%)
09/2014: Futures End #1   -- 62,915 (+ 54.6%)
10/2014: Teen Titans #3   -- 39,198 (- 37.7%)
11/2014: Teen Titans #4   -- 36,364 (-  7.2%)
12/2014: Teen Titans #5   -- 34,101 (-  6.2%)
01/2015: Teen Titans #6   -- 30,955 (-  9.2%)
02/2015: Teen Titans #7   -- 34,051 (+ 10.0%)
03/2015: Teen Titans #8   -- 38,363 (+ 12.7%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Teen Titans #9   -- 33,412 (- 12.9%)
07/2015: Teen Titans #10  -- 28,547 (- 14.6%)
08/2015: Teen Titans #11  -- 32,112 (+ 12.5%)
-----------------
6 months: -  5.7%
1 year  : - 21.1%
2 years : +  1.2%
5 years : + 28.6%
10 years: - 57.7%

How long until the next Teen Titans reboot?

—

59 - BATGIRL ($2.99)
08/2005: Batgirl #67    -- 28,159
08/2010: Batgirl #13    -- 27,247
08/2011: Batgirl #24    -- 22,695
08/2012: Batgirl #12    -- 43,804
08/2013: Batgirl #23    -- 37,707 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Batgirl #34    -- 34,590 (-  7.0%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 67,933 (+ 96.4%)
10/2014: Batgirl #35    -- 62,644 (-  7.8%)
11/2014: Batgirl #36    -- 50,247 (- 19.8%)
12/2014: Batgirl #37    -- 45,060 (- 10.3%)
01/2015: Batgirl #38    -- 45,096 (+  0.1%)
02/2015: Batgirl #39    -- 40,880 (-  9.3%)
03/2015: Batgirl #40    -- 41,729 (+  2.1%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Batgirl #41    -- 33,220 (- 20.4%)
07/2015: Batgirl #42    -- 33,168 (-  0.2%)
08/2015: Batgirl #43    -- 32,079 (-  3.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.5%
1 year  : -  7.3%
2 years : - 14.9%
5 years : + 17.7%
10 years: + 13.9%

Sans a variant cover, it’s straightforward to see the standard attrition at play.

—

64 - BATMAN BEYOND ($2.99)
08/2012: Unlimited #7      -- 21,219
08/2013: Universe #1       -- 23,358 
------------------------------------
08/2014: Universe #13      -- 14,215 (- 1.4%)
09/2014: Universe #14      -- 14,061 (- 1.1%)
10/2014: Universe #15      -- 13,739 (- 2.3%)
11/2014: Universe #16      -- 13,211 (- 3.8%)
12/2014: --
01/2015: --
02/2015: --
03/2015: --
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Batman Beyond #1  -- 59,151 (+347.7%)
07/2015: Batman Beyond #2  -- 35,000 (- 40.8%)
08/2015: Batman Beyond #3  -- 30,806 (- 12.0%)
----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : +116.7%
2 years : + 31.9%

It will be interesting to see how much room this title will have circulation-wise now that it is no longer a digital-first comic.

—

66 - AQUAMAN ($3.99)
08/2005: Aquaman #33    -- 17,621
08/2012: Aquaman #12    -- 61,210
08/2013: Aquaman #23    -- 44,140 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Aquaman #34    -- 33,380 (-  7.6%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 65,212 (+ 95.4%)
10/2014: Aquaman #35    -- 32,238 (- 50.6%)
11/2014: Aquaman #36    -- 32,838 (+  1.9%)
12/2014: Aquaman #37    -- 31,198 (-  5.0%)
01/2015: Aquaman #38    -- 28,356 (-  9.1%)
02/2015: Aquaman #39    -- 32,162 (+ 13.4%)
03/2015: Aquaman #40    -- 32,404 (+  0.8%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Aquaman #41    -- 33,629 (+  3.8%)
07/2015: Aquaman #42    -- 28,158 (- 16.3%)
08/2015: Aquaman #43    -- 30,480 (+  8.2%)
-----------------
6 months: -  5.2%
1 year  : -  8.7%
2 years : - 30.9%
10 years: + 57.2%

—

68 - SECRET SIX ($2.99)
08/2010: Secret Six #24 -- 21,177
08/2011: Secret Six #36 -- 19,104
---------------------------------------
12/2014: Secret Six #1  -- 44,065 (+130.7%)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Secret Six #2  -- 26,579 (- 39.7%)
03/2015: --
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Secret Six #3  -- 28,458 (+  7.1%)
07/2015: Secret Six #4  -- 22,813 (- 19.8%)
08/2015: Secret Six #5  -- 30,418 (+ 33.3%)
-----------------
6 months: + 14.4%
5 years : + 42.6%

If you’re wondering about the large jump this month, it’s because the Bombshells variant featured Harley Quinn.

—

70 - STARFIRE ($2.99)
06/2015: Starfire #1  -- 50,928 
07/2015: Starfire #2  -- 33,659 (- 33.9%) 
08/2015: Starfire #3  -- 30,207 (- 10.3%)

A 10% drop is fairly typical for a third issue. Will probably settle out in the mid-20K area, which isn’t terribly great but DC have far larger problems further down on the chart, so this may be given enough time to find its audience.

—

71 - GREEN ARROW ($2.99)
08/2005: Green Arrow #53  -- 32,474
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 
-----------------------------------
08/2014: Green Arrow #34  -- 22,927 (-  2.2%)
09/2014: Futures End #1   -- 61,915 (+170.1%)
10/2014: Green Arrow #35  -- 23,346 (- 62.3%)
11/2014: Green Arrow #36  -- 21,842 (-  6.4%)
12/2014: Green Arrow #37  -- 20,904 (-  4.3%)
01/2015: Green Arrow #38  -- 20,207 (-  3.3%)
02/2015: Green Arrow #39  -- 19,651 (-  2.8%)
03/2015: Green Arrow #40  -- 19,792 (+  0.7%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Green Arrow #41  -- 29,545 (+ 49.3%)
07/2015: Green Arrow #42  -- 24,921 (- 15.7%)
08/2015: Green Arrow #43  -- 29,998 (+ 20.4%)
-----------------
6 months: + 52.7%
1 year  : + 30.8%
2 years : + 17.9%
5 years : - 35.2%
10 years: -  7.6%

Just a scant two copies shy of 30K. So it’s your fault that Green Arrow didn’t make it up to that line this month. Well, yours and the guy standing next to you at the comic rack’s.

—

73 - CYBORG ($2.99)
07/2015: Cyborg #1  -- 45,187 
08/2015: Cyborg #2  -- 29,167 (- 35.5%)

Unlike most of the rest of the DCYou books, the first issue of Cyborg was not returnable.

—

75 - EARTH 2: SOCIETY ($2.99)
08/2012: Earth 2 #4     -- 67,393
08/2013: Earth 2 #15    -- 40,845 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Earth 2 #26    -- 37,396 (-  5.9%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 65,212 (+ 73.7%)
10/2014: Earth 2 #27    -- 37,925 (- 41.6%)
11/2014: Earth 2 #28    -- 31,722 (- 16.4%)
12/2014: Earth 2 #29    -- 30,273 (-  4.6%)
01/2015: Earth 2 #30    -- 28,618 (-  5.5%)
02/2015: Earth 2 #31    -- 27,513 (-  3.9%)
03/2015: Earth 2 #32    -- 27,361 (-  0.6%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: E2 Society #1  -- 45,102 (+ 64.8%)
07/2015: E2 Society #2  -- 31,663 (- 29.8%)
08/2015: E2 Society #3  -- 28,381 (- 10.4%)
----------------
6 months: +  3.2%
1 year  : - 24.1%
2 years : - 30.5%

Only about 1K above where the previous series ended.

—

79 - GREEN LANTERN: THE LOST ARMY ($2.99)
06/2015: GL Lost Army #1  -- 47,240 
07/2015: GL Lost Army #2  -- 31,170 (- 34.0%) 
08/2015: GL Lost Army #3  -- 27,080 (- 13.1%)

Ending (stealth-cancelled) with issue #6.

—

97, 80, 111, 113 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS (Digital First) ($3.99)
07/2015: Batman #1               -- 28,657 
07/2015: Superman #1             -- 25,204 (- 12.0%) 
08/2015: Wonder Woman #1         -- 23,963 (-  4.9%) 
08/2015: Gods & Monsters #1 of 3 -- 26,994 (+ 12.6%) 
08/2015: Gods & Monsters #2 of 3 -- 21,588 (- 20.0%) 
08/2015: Gods & Monsters #3 of 3 -- 20,851 (-  3.4%)

Not terrible, all things considered.

—

83 - WE ARE ROBIN ($3.99)
06/2015: We Are Robin #1  -- 57,137 
07/2015: We Are Robin #2  -- 31,209 (- 45.4%) 
08/2015: We Are Robin #3  -- 26,830 (- 14.0%)

A ‘Robin War” crossover is coming in December to give a little boost to sales.

—

85 - CATWOMAN ($2.99)
08/2005: Catwoman #46   -- 20,702  [21,718]
08/2012: Catwoman #12   -- 34,117
08/2013: Catwoman #23   -- 24,262  [38,290]
---------------------------------
08/2014: Catwoman #34   -- 23,497 (+ 24.0%)
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 56,939 (+142.3%)
10/2014: Catwoman #35   -- 25,970 (- 54.4%)
11/2014: Catwoman #36   -- 26,237 (+  1.0%)
12/2014: Catwoman #37   -- 25,154 (-  4.1%)
01/2015: Catwoman #38   -- 22,386 (- 11.0%)
02/2015: Catwoman #39   -- 26,450 (+ 18.2%)
03/2015: Catwoman #40   -- 26,534 (+  0.3%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Catwoman #41   -- 27,034 (+  1.9%)
07/2015: Catwoman #42   -- 21,983 (- 18.7%)
08/2015: Catwoman #43   -- 26,451 (+ 20.3%)
-----------------
6 months: +  0.0%
1 year  : + 12.6%
2 years : - 30.9%
10 years: + 21.8%

Sales rebound with the Bombshells variant, but a new creative team and direction are set to arrive in December.

—

90 - SINESTRO ($2.99)
08/2014: Sinestro #5    -- 26,867 (-  4.4%) 
09/2014: Futures End #1 -- 60,761 (+126.2%)
10/2014: Sinestro #6    -- 33,621 (- 44.7%) 
11/2014: -- 
12/2014: Sinestro #7    -- 33,549 (-  0.2%) 
12/2014: Sinestro #8    -- 31,509 (-  6.1%) 
01/2015: Sinestro #9    -- 26,346 (- 16.4%) 
02/2015: Sinestro #10   -- 28,698 (+  8.9%) 
03/2015: Sinestro #11   -- 28,384 (-  1.1%) 
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Sinestro #12   -- 28,848 (+  1.6%) 
07/2015: Sinestro #13   -- 23,044 (- 20.1%) 
08/2015: Sinestro #14   -- 25,505 (+ 10.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 11.1%
1 year  : -  5.1%

Some of you may ask why GL: Lost Army would be cancelled ahead of Sinestro, as the former has better sales (and without the benefit of freely-orderable variants). It’s a good question, and if I had to hazard a guess it would be that sales on Sinestro have more-or-less stabilized (within the normal ebb and flow of f.o.v.s that is), while Lost Army is still in its early days and may continue to drop.

—

93 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED ($3.99)
08/2014: Justice League United #4  -- 42,504 (- 11.3%) 
09/2014: Futures End #1            -- 72,839 (+ 71.4%)
10/2014: Justice League United #5  -- 38,066 (- 47.7%) 
11/2014: Justice League United #6  -- 34,610 (-  9.1%) 
12/2014: Justice League United #7  -- 31,904 (-  7.8%) 
01/2015: Justice League United #8  -- 28,720 (- 10.0%) 
02/2015: Justice League United #9  -- 31,932 (+ 11.2%) 
03/2015: Justice League United #10 -- 31,722 (-  0.7%) 
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: --
07/2015: Justice League United #11 -- 23,140 (- 27.1%) 
08/2015: Justice League United #12 -- 24,360 (+  5.3%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 19.4%
1 year  : - 51.7%

A bit of a bump this month; there was a freely-orderable blank variant, but it may also be that the previous issue was slightly under-ordered.

Ending with issue #16 in December, because there’s no reasonable way that the current comics market can support four monthly Justice League titles.

—

95 - CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER ($2.99)
08/2005: Hellblazer #211    -- 14,727
08/2010: Hellblazer #270    --  9,928
08/2011: Hellblazer #282    --  9,372
08/2012: Hellblazer #294    --  9,396
08/2013: Constantine #6     -- 25,174 
-------------------------------------
08/2014: Constantine #17    -- 15,647 (-  2.8%)
09/2014: Futures End #1     -- 51,990 (+232.3%)
10/2014: Constantine #18    -- 15,648 (- 69.9%)
11/2014: Constantine #19    -- 15,716 (+  0.4%)
12/2014: Constantine #20    -- 15,574 (-  0.9%)
01/2015: Constantine #21    -- 15,209 (-  2.3%)
02/2015: Constantine #22    -- 14,716 (-  3.2%)
03/2015: Constantine #23    -- 14,530 (-  1.3%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: The Hellblazer #1  -- 41,888 (+188.3%)
07/2015: The Hellblazer #2  -- 27,512 (- 34.3%)
08/2015: The Hellblazer #3  -- 24,040 (- 12.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 63.4%
1 year  : + 53.6%
2 years : -  4.5%
5 years : +142.1%
10 years: + 63.2%

I’m curious to see how long DC sticks with this. It’s tracking below the previous iteration, but still quite comfortably above where that version ended. And there’s no longer a television program to keep it alive either. It may end up coming down to trade collection sales.

—

98 - RED HOOD/ARSENAL ($2.99)
08/2010: Red Hood #3 (of 6)     -- 24,701
08/2011: --
08/2012: Red Hood & Outlaws #12 -- 34,439
08/2013: Red Hood & Outlaws #23 -- 28,821 
-----------------------------------------
08/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #34 -- 20,069 (-  2.9%)
09/2014: Futures End #1         -- 54,984 (+174.0%)
10/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #35 -- 19,837 (- 63.9%)
11/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #36 -- 19,245 (-  3.0%)
12/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #37 -- 18,723 (-  2.7%)
01/2015: Red Hood & Outlaws #38 -- 18,014 (-  3.8%)
02/2015: Red Hood & Outlaws #39 -- 17,270 (-  4.1%)
03/2015: Red Hood & Outlaws #40 -- 17,110 (-  0.9%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Red Hood/Arsenal #1    -- 44,078 (+157.6%)
07/2015: Red Hood/Arsenal #2    -- 26,829 (- 39.1%)
08/2015: Red Hood/Arsenal #3    -- 23,841 (- 11.1%)
-----------------
6 months: + 38.0%
1 year  : + 18.8%
2 years : - 17.3%
5 years : -  3.5%

A fairly normal third issue drop. This will likely end up around the 20K line, which is the danger zone these days.

—

101 - BLACK CANARY ($2.99)
06/2015: Black Canary #1  -- 44,865 (+ 52.6%)
07/2015: Black Canary #2  -- 27,512 (- 38.7%)
08/2015: Black Canary #3  -- 23,253 (- 15.5%)

That’s a larger percentage drop than you’d like to see for a third issue. But it wasn’t in the first round of cancellations, so maybe DC are willing to wait to see how it does in collections. It would be a shame to lose this title; Annie Wu did a fantastic action sequence in this issue!

—

103 - MAD MAX FURY ROAD (Vertigo) ($4.99)
05/2015: Nux & Immortan Joe #1 -- 11,569           [18,776]
06/2015: Furiosa            #1 -- 20,733 (+ 40.9%) [26,458]
07/2015: Max           #1 of 2 -- 79,955 (+202.2%)
08/2015: Max           #2 of 2 -- 23,172 (- 71.0%)

As expected, a steep drop after last month’s Nerd Block-enhanced sales. It’s still good enough to make it the top-selling Vertigo title of the month.

—

108 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER ($2.99)
06/2015: Martian Manhunter #1  -- 40,239 (+ 81.4%)
07/2015: Martian Manhunter #2  -- 24,957 (- 38.0%)
08/2015: Martian Manhunter #3  -- 22,540 (-  9.7%)

—

119 - BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT (Digital-First) ($3.99)
03/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #1  -- 73,266 
04/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #2  -- 25,479 (- 65.2%)
04/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #3  -- 23,370 (-  8.3%)
05/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #4  -- 21,083 (-  9.8%)
06/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #5  -- 21,317 (+  1.1%)
07/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #6  -- 20,324 (-  4.7%)
08/2015: Batman Arkham Knight #7  -- 19,354 (-  4.8%)

Slipping just a bit more than is comfortable.

—

122 - DOCTOR FATE ($2.99)
06/2015: Doctor Fate #1  -- 39,558 
07/2015: Doctor Fate #2  -- 22,967 (- 41.9%) 
08/2015: Doctor Fate #3  -- 18,951 (- 17.5%)

Yowza.

—

124 - JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 ($2.99)
08/2014: Justice League 3K #9   -- 20,974 (-  7.2%)
09/2014: --
10/2014: Justice League 3K #10  -- 19,623 (-  6.4%)
11/2014: Justice League 3K #11  -- 18,642 (-  5.0%)
12/2014: Justice League 3K #12  -- 18,659 (+  0.1%)
01/2015: Justice League 3K #13  -- 17,432 (-  6.6%)
02/2015: Justice League 3K #14  -- 16,778 (-  3.8%)
03/2015: Justice League 3K #15  -- 16,604 (-  1.0%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Justice League 3K1 #1  -- 35,391 (+113.1%)
07/2015: Justice League 3K1 #2  -- 21,301 (- 39.8%)
08/2015: Justice League 3K1 #3  -- 18,931 (- 11.1%)
-----------------
6 months: + 12.8%
1 year  : -  9.7%

Not much wiggle room left…

—

126 - GOTHAM ACADEMY ($2.99)
10/2014: Gotham Academy #1  -- 43,338
11/2014: Gotham Academy #2  -- 31,110 (- 28.2%)
12/2014: Gotham Academy #3  -- 26,509 (- 14.8%)
01/2015: Gotham Academy #4  -- 22,576 (- 14.8%)
02/2015: Gotham Academy #5  -- 20,844 (-  7.7%)
03/2015: Gotham Academy #6  -- 20,361 (-  2.3%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Gotham Academy #7  -- 26,594 (+ 30.6%)
07/2015: Gotham Academy #8  -- 22,359 (- 15.9%)
08/2015: Gotham Academy #9  -- 18,048 (- 19.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 13.4%

The previous two issues had f.o.v.s, but this one didn’t, thus the large drop.

I really hope this does well in trades and/or digital, otherwise it probably won’t last much longer. Then five years from now some editor will get the idea to bring back Maps as a grim-and-gritty version, and none of us want that.

—

131 - BIZARRO ($2.99)
06/2015: Bizarro #1 of 6 -- 38,511 
07/2015: Bizarro #2 of 6 -- 21,070 (- 45.3%) 
08/2015: Bizarro #3 of 6 -- 17,057 (- 19.0%)

Another large drop, which makes me sad.

—

132 - MIDNIGHTER ($2.99)
06/2015: Midnighter #1  -- 35,420 (+257.2%)
07/2015: Midnighter #2  -- 19,812 (- 44.1%)
08/2015: Midnighter #3  -- 16,563 (- 16.4%)

Unless things stabilize soon and there are strong sales in other channels, I’ll be surprised if this lasts past issue #12.

—

137, 139 - INJUSTICE: YEAR FOUR (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2013: Injustice #8     -- 25,223 
-----------------------------------
08/2014: Injustice Y2 #9  -- 18,397 (-  2.8%)
08/2014: Injustice Y2 #10 -- 18,068 (-  1.8%)
09/2014: Injustice Y2 #11 -- 18,086 (+  0.1%)
09/2014: Injustice Y2 #12 -- 17,829 (-  1.4%)
10/2014: Injustice Y3 #1  -- 19,307 (+  8.3%)
10/2014: Injustice Y3 #2  -- 17,884 (-  7.4%)
11/2014: Injustice Y3 #3  -- 17,243 (-  3.6%)
11/2014: Injustice Y3 #4  -- 16,741 (-  2.9%)
12/2014: Injustice Y3 #5  -- 16,611 (-  0.8%)
12/2014: Injustice Y3 #6  -- 16,141 (-  2.8%)
01/2015: Injustice Y3 #7  -- 15,796 (-  2.1%)
02/2015: Injustice Y3 #8  -- 15,816 (+  0.1%)
02/2015: Injustice Y3 #9  -- 15,345 (-  3.0%)
02/2015: Injustice Y3 #10 -- 15,417 (+  0.5%)
03/2015: Injustice Y3 #11 -- 15,526 (+  0.7%)
03/2015: Injustice Y3 #12 -- 15,322 (-  1.3%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: Injustice Y4 #1  -- 17,958 (+ 17.2%)
05/2015: Injustice Y4 #2  -- 15,653 (- 12.8%)
06/2015: Injustice Y4 #3  -- 15,982 (+  2.1%)
06/2015: Injustice Y4 #4  -- 15,493 (-  3.1%)
07/2015: Injustice Y4 #5  -- 15,905 (+  2.7%)
07/2015: Injustice Y4 #6  -- 15,556 (-  2.2%)
08/2015: Injustice Y4 #7  -- 15,559 (+  0.0%)
08/2015: Injustice Y4 #8  -- 15,269 (-  1.9%)
----------------
6 months: -  0.7%
1 year  : - 15.5%
2 years : - 38.9%

Continues to be DC’s best-selling digital title, so print sales of 15K are perfectly fine. A Year Five is already in the works.

—

141 - GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT ($2.99)
11/2014: Gotham by Midnight #1  -- 38,436
12/2014: Gotham by Midnight #2  -- 27,849 (- 27.5%)
01/2015: Gotham by Midnight #3  -- 21,330 (- 23.4%)
02/2015: Gotham by Midnight #4  -- 18,643 (- 12.6%)
03/2015: Gotham by Midnight #5  -- 17,604 (-  5.6%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Gotham by Midnight #6  -- 22,366 (+ 26.9%)
07/2015: Gotham by Midnight #7  -- 18,427 (- 17.5%)
08/2015: Gotham by Midnight #8  -- 14,747 (- 20.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 20.9%

Ending with issue #12.

—

142 - BAT-MITE ($2.99)
06/2015: Bat-Mite #1 of 6 -- 38,204 
07/2015: Bat-Mite #2 of 6 -- 18,628 (- 51.2%) 
08/2015: Bat-Mite #3 of 6 -- 14,585 (- 21.7%)

—

143 - BATMAN '66 (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2013: Batman '66 #2  -- 37,113 
---------------------------------
08/2014: Batman '66 #14 -- 21,456 (+ 24.3%)
09/2014: Batman '66 #15 -- 16,842 (- 21.5%)
10/2014: Batman '66 #16 -- 15,923 (-  5.5%)
11/2014: Batman '66 #17 -- 15,585 (-  2.1%)
12/2014: Batman '66 #18 -- 15,409 (-  1.1%)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Batman '66 #19 -- 14,770 (-  4.1%)
02/2015: Batman '66 #20 -- 14,525 (-  1.7%)
03/2015: Batman '66 #21 -- 14,238 (-  2.0%)
04/2015: Batman '66 #22 -- 14,135 (-  0.7%)
05/2015: Batman '66 #23 -- 20,045 (+ 41.8%)
06/2015: Batman '66 #24 -- 13,653 (- 31.9%)
07/2015: Batman '66 #25 -- 17,001 (+ 24.5%)
08/2015: Batman '66 #26 -- 14,562 (- 14.3%)
-----------------
6 months: -  0.6%
1 year  : - 32.1%
2 years : - 60.8%

Ending with issue #30, though there will be a series of mini-series teaming up Batman ’66 with other 60s TV icons.

—

154 - THE OMEGA MEN ($2.99)
06/2015: Omega Men #1  -- 33,174 
07/2015: Omega Men #2  -- 17,093 (- 48.5%) 
08/2015: Omega Men #3  -- 13,246 (- 22.5%)

Was announced as cancelled as of issue #7, then that was apparently changed to issue #12.

—

155 - ALL-STAR SECTION EIGHT ($2.99)
06/2015: A-S Section 8 #1 of 6 -- 34,209 
07/2015: A-S Section 8 #2 of 6 -- 16,695 (- 51.2%) 
08/2015: A-S Section 8 #3 of 6 -- 13,032 (- 21.9%)

Except for event series, don’t look for DC to have too many mini-series in the near future; it appears that putting an ‘of 6’ in the solicits is an invitation for many to not buy.

—

158 - MORTAL KOMBAT X (Digital-First) ($3.99)
01/2015: Mortal Kombat X #1  -- 21,062 
02/2015: Mortal Kombat X #2  -- 13,277 (- 37.0%) 
02/2015: Mortal Kombat X #3  -- 12,581 (-  5.2%)
03/2015: Mortal Kombat X #4  -- 14,038 (+ 11.6%)
04/2015: Mortal Kombat X #5  -- 14,741 (+  5.0%)
05/2015: Mortal Kombat X #6  -- 14,603 (-  0.9%)
06/2015: Mortal Kombat X #7  -- 14,720 (+  0.8%)
07/2015: Mortal Kombat X #8  -- 13,991 (-  5.0%)
08/2015: Mortal Kombat X #9  -- 12,626 (-  9.8%)
-----------------
6 months: -  4.9%

Was stable for a few months, but starting to slide again.

—

162 - DOOMED ($2.99)
06/2015: Doomed #1  -- 35,485 
07/2015: Doomed #2  -- 17,630 (- 50.3%) 
08/2015: Doomed #3  -- 12,387 (- 29.7%)

Then again, not announcing that a series is limited doesn’t necessarily help sales either. Ending with issue #6.

—

167 - LOBO ($2.99)
10/2014: Lobo #1  -- 39,047 (+190.6%)
11/2014: Lobo #2  -- 25,881 (- 33.7%)
12/2014: Lobo #3  -- 20,208 (- 21.9%)
01/2015: Lobo #4  -- 16,889 (- 16.4%)
02/2015: Lobo #5  -- 14,770 (- 12.5%)
03/2015: Lobo #6  -- 13,715 (-  7.1%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: Lobo #7  -- 19,281 (+ 40.6%)
07/2015: Lobo #8  -- 12,459 (- 35.4%)
08/2015: Lobo #9  -- 11,568 (-  7.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.7%

Ending with issue #13.

—

171 - ASTRO CITY (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2005: Dark Age #3     -- 29,721 
08/2010: Silver Agent #2 -- 12,486
08/2011: --
08/2012: --
08/2013: Astro City #3   -- 18,802 (- 6.9%)
------------------------------------
08/2014: Astro City #14  -- 13,069 (- 2.6%)
09/2014: Astro City #15  -- 12,660 (- 3.1%)
10/2014: Astro City #16  -- 12,480 (- 1.4%)
11/2014: Astro City #17  -- 12,055 (- 3.4%)
12/2014: Astro City #18  -- 11,985 (- 0.6%)
01/2015: Astro City #19  -- 11,734 (- 2.1%)
02/2015: Astro City #20  -- 11,603 (- 1.1%)
03/2015: Astro City #21  -- 11,492 (- 1.0%)
04/2015: Astro City #22  -- 11,359 (- 1.2%)
05/2015: Astro City #23  -- 11,215 (- 1.3%)
06/2015: Astro City #24  -- 11,226 (+ 0.1%)
07/2015: Astro City #25  -- 11,242 (+ 0.1%)
08/2015: Astro City #26  -- 11,118 (- 1.1%)
-----------------
6 months: -  4.2%
1 year  : - 14.9%
2 years : - 40.9%
5 years : - 11.0%
10 years: - 62.6%

One of the more consistent titles in the DC stable.

—

173 - HE-MAN: ETERNITY WAR ($2.99)
08/2012: -- 
08/2013: He-Man & MotU #5   -- 16,898 (- 6.6%)
-------------------------------------
08/2014: He-Man & MotU #16  -- 11,721 (-  1.5%)
09/2014: He-Man & MotU #17  -- 11,756 (+  0.3%)
10/2014: He-Man & MotU #18  -- 11,501 (-  2.2%)
11/2014: He-Man & MotU #19  -- 11,022 (-  4.2%)
12/2014: He-Man Eternity #1 -- 18,884 (+ 71.3%)
01/2015: He-Man Eternity #2 -- 12,104 (- 35.9%)
02/2015: He-Man Eternity #3 -- 11,700 (-  3.3%)
03/2015: He-Man Eternity #4 -- 11,746 (+  0.4%)
04/2015: He-Man Eternity #5 -- 11,625 (-  1.0%)
05/2015: He-Man Eternity #6 -- 11,426 (-  1.7%)
06/2015: --
07/2015: He-Man Eternity #7 -- 11,315 (-  1.0%)
07/2015: He-Man Eternity #8 -- 11,096 (-  1.9%)
08/2015: He-Man Eternity #9 -- 11,053 (-  0.4%)
----------------
6 months: -  5.5%
1 year  : -  5.7%
2 years : - 34.6%

Also very stable.

—

174 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SECOND CYCLE (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2010: --
08/2011: American Vampire #18    --  15,423
08/2012: American Vampire #30    --  15,081
08/2013: Anthology #1            --  12,695
-------------------------------------------
08/2014: --
09/2014: --
10/2014: American Vampire 2Cy #5 --  14,621 (-  7.4%)
11/2014: --
12/2014: --
01/2015: --
02/2015: American Vampire 2Cy #6 --  13,234 (-  7.2%)
03/2015: --
04/2015: American Vampire 2Cy #7 --  12,273 (-  7.3%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: --
07/2015: American Vampire 2Cy #8 --  11,738 (-  4.4%)
08/2015: American Vampire 2Cy #9 --  11,034 (-  6.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 16.6%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 13.1%
5 years :    n.a.

Wow, new issues two months in a row!

—

180 - PREZ ($2.99)
06/2015: Prez #1 of 6 -- 31,140 
07/2015: Prez #2 of 6 -- 13,178 (- 57.7%) 
08/2015: Prez #3 of 6 -- 10,360 (- 21.4%)

DC claims this will be back for a second six-issue series, but unless the trade sales are really good I just don’t see that happening.

—

182 - SENSATION COMICS FEAT WONDER WOMAN (Digital-First) ($3.99)
08/2014: Sensation Comics #1  -- 29,640
09/2014: Sensation Comics #2  -- 22,085 (- 25.5%)
10/2014: Sensation Comics #3  -- 17,996 (- 18.5%)
11/2014: Sensation Comics #4  -- 16,573 (-  7.9%)
12/2014: Sensation Comics #5  -- 14,323 (- 13.6%)
01/2015: Sensation Comics #6  -- 12,927 (-  9.7%)
02/2015: Sensation Comics #7  -- 12,115 (-  6.3%)
03/2015: Sensation Comics #8  -- 11,399 (-  5.9%)
04/2015: Sensation Comics #9  -- 11,007 (-  3.4%)
05/2015: Sensation Comics #10 -- 10,565 (-  4.0%)
06/2015: Sensation Comics #11 -- 10,761 (+  1.9%)
07/2015: Sensation Comics #12 -- 10,623 (-  1.3%)
08/2015: Sensation Comics #13 -- 10,175 (-  4.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.8%

Ending with issue #17, which is exactly the same number of print issues that Adventures of Superman had. Look, I get it—I too really enjoyed these continuity-light stories by a variety of creators, but it appears that this is the natural lifespan of a series like this these days.

What will be up next in the digital-first realm? Maybe a Brave and the Bold series teaming up various heroes?

—

186 - TEEN TITANS GO! (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2005: Teen Titans Go! #22 -- 13,166
--------------------------------------
08/2014: Teen Titans Go! #5  --  8,688 (+ 0.2%)
09/2014: --
10/2014: Teen Titans Go! #6  --  8,677 (- 0.1%)
11/2014: --
12/2014: Teen Titans Go! #7  --  8,254 (- 4.9%)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Teen Titans Go! #8  --  7,917 (- 4.1%)
03/2015: --
04/2015: Teen Titans Go! #9  --  8,395 (+ 6.0%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Teen Titans Go! #10 --  8,883 (+ 5.8%)
07/2015: --
08/2015: Teen Titans Go! #11 --  9,771 (+10.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 23.4%
1 year  : + 12.5%
10 years: - 25.8%

That’s three straight issues with sales growth, which is just about unheard of in this day and age. Will TTG! rise back up over 10K? Come back in two months to find out…

—

194 - THE FLASH: SEASON ZERO (Digital-First) ($2.99)
10/2014: Flash Season 0 #1  -- 23,501 
11/2014: Flash Season 0 #2  -- 14,287 (- 39.2%) 
12/2014: Flash Season 0 #3  -- 12,247 (- 14.3%) 
01/2015: Flash Season 0 #4  -- 10,806 (- 11.8%) 
02/2015: Flash Season 0 #5  -- 10,450 (-  3.3%) 
03/2015: Flash Season 0 #6  -- 10,188 (-  2.5%) 
04/2015: Flash Season 0 #7  -- 10,152 (-  0.4%) 
05/2015: Flash Season 0 #8  -- 11,037 (+  8.7%) 
06/2015: Flash Season 0 #9  --  9,689 (- 12.2%) 
07/2015: Flash Season 0 #10 --  9,951 (+  2.7%) 
08/2015: Flash Season 0 #11 --  9,577 (-  3.8%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  8.4%

215 - ARROW: SEASON 2.5 (Digital-First) ($2.99)
08/2013: Arrow #10            --  9,028 
--------------------------------------
10/2014: Arrow Season 2.5 #1  -- 17,364 (+113.1%) 
11/2014: Arrow Season 2.5 #2  -- 11,121 (- 36.0%) 
12/2014: Arrow Season 2.5 #3  --  9,862 (- 11.3%) 
01/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #4  --  9,302 (-  5.7%) 
02/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #5  --  9,060 (-  2.6%) 
03/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #6  --  9,055 (-  0.1%) 
04/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #7  --  8,671 (-  4.2%) 
05/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #8  --  8,644 (-  0.3%) 
06/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #9  --  8,592 (-  0.6%) 
07/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #10 --  8,608 (+  0.2%) 
08/2015: Arrow Season 2.5 #11 --  8,225 (-  4.4%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  9.2%
2 years : -  8.9%

Both series are ending with issue #12, and so far no replacement series have been announced.

—

226 - FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US (Vertigo) (Digital-First) ($3.99)
01/2015: Fables: TWAU #1  -- 13,620 
02/2015: Fables: TWAU #2  -- 10,224 (- 24.9%) 
03/2015: Fables: TWAU #3  --  9,352 (-  8.5%) 
04/2015: Fables: TWAU #4  --  8,793 (-  6.0%) 
05/2015: Fables: TWAU #5  --  8,378 (-  4.7%) 
06/2015: Fables: TWAU #6  --  8,019 (-  4.3%) 
07/2015: Fables: TWAU #7  --  7,683 (-  4.2%) 
08/2015: Fables: TWAU #8  --  7,398 (-  3.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 27.6%

I’m interested to see how much longer this will continue…

—

277 - SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (All-Ages) ($2.99)
08/2005: Scooby-Doo #99                -- 4,654
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 
-----------------------------------------------
08/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #48 -- ????? (< 5,357)
09/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #49 -- ????? (< 6,262)
10/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #50 -- ????? (< 6,298)
11/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #51 -- ????? (< 5,214)
12/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #52 -- ????? (< 5,053)
01/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #53 -- 4,703 
02/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #54 -- ????? (< 4,804) 
03/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #55 -- ????? (< 4,917) 
04/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #56 -- ????? (< 6,352) 
05/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #57 -- 4,794  
06/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #58 -- 5,033 (+ 5.0%)  
07/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #59 -- ????? (< 5,446)  
08/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #60 -- 5,091  
-----------------
6 months:    ???%
1 year  :    ???%
2 years : +  3.8%
5 years : + 24.4%
10 years: +  9.4%

The floor of the Top 300 chart lowers enough to see Scooby-Doo, which has remarkably stable sales over the past ten years.

—

+300 - COFFIN HILL (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2014: Coffin Hill #10 -- 7,710 (- 8.1%)
09/2014: Coffin Hill #11 -- 7,422 (- 3.7%)
10/2014: Coffin Hill #12 -- 7,136 (- 3.9%)
11/2014: Coffin Hill #13 -- 6,752 (- 5.4%)
12/2014: Coffin Hill #14 -- 6,410 (- 5.1%)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Coffin Hill #15 -- 5,933 (- 7.4%)
03/2015: Coffin Hill #16 -- 5,785 (- 2.5%)
04/2015: Coffin Hill #17 -- ????? (< 6,352)
05/2015: Coffin Hill #18 -- 5,423 
06/2015: Coffin Hill #19 -- 5,319 (- 1.9%) 
07/2015: Coffin Hill #20 -- ????? (< 5,446)
08/2015: Coffin Hill #21 -- ????? (< 4,286)
-----------------
6 months:    ???%
1 year  :    ???%

+300 - FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS (Vertigo) ($3.99)
08/2013: FBP #2      -- 14,068
------------------------------
08/2014: FBP #13     --  6,189
09/2014: --
10/2014: FBP #14     --  ????? (< 6,298)
11/2014: FBP #15     --  5,288
12/2014: FBP #16     --  ????? (< 5,053)
01/2015: FBP #17     --  4,707
02/2015: FBP #18     --  ????? (< 4,804)
03/2015: FBP #19     --  ????? (< 4,917)
04/2015: --
05/2015: FBP #20     --  ????? (< 4,462)
06/2015: FBP #21     --  ????? (< 4,684)
07/2015: FBP #22     --  ????? (< 5,446)
08/2015: FBP #23     --  ????? (< 4,286)
-----------------
6 months:   ????%
1 year  :   ????%
2 years :   ????%

Two Vertigo titles miss the Top 300: The final issue of Coffin Hill and the penultimate issue of FBP.

—

+300 - LOONEY TUNES (All-Ages) ($2.99)
08/2005: Looney Tunes #129 -- 2,736
08/2010: Looney Tunes #189 -- ?????
08/2011: Looney Tunes #201 -- ?????
08/2012: Looney Tunes #208 -- ?????
08/2013: Looney Tunes #214 -- ????? 
----------------------------------------
08/2014: Looney Tunes #220 -- ????? (< 5,357)
09/2014: -- 
10/2014: Looney Tunes #221 -- ????? (< 6,298)
11/2014: -- 
12/2014: Looney Tunes #222 -- ????? (< 5,053)
01/2015: --
02/2015: Looney Tunes #223 -- ????? (< 4,804)
03/2015: --
04/2015: Looney Tunes #224 -- ????? (< 6,352)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Looney Tunes #225 -- ????? (< 4,684)
07/2015: --
08/2015: Looney Tunes #225 -- ????? (< 4,286)
-----------------
6 months:   ????%
1 year  :   ????%
2 years :   ????%
5 years :   ????%
10 years:   ????%

Last month in the commentary about Fables I said that it was the end of the last remaining title with issue numbers in the triple digits for DC. Not true—I had forgotten about Looney Tunes! Still chugging along every other month with sales well below the top-300 cutoff.

—

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

DC COMICS
08/2005: 27,075
08/2010: 23,331
08/2011: 25,632
08/2012: 33,500
08/2013: 30,843 
---------------
08/2014: 28,951 (- 11.6%)**
09/2014: 46,869 (+ 61.9%)**
10/2014: 31,598 (- 32.6%)**
11/2014: 28,654 (-  9.3%)**
12/2014: 29,047 (+  1.4%)**
01/2015: 24,289 (- 16.4%)
02/2015: 24,537 (+  1.0%)**
03/2015: 23,466 (-  4.4%)**
04/2015: 38,318 (+ 63.3%)**
05/2015: 31,237 (- 18.5%)**
06/2015: 35,318 (+ 13.1%)**
07/2015: 27,005 (- 23.5%)**
08/2015: 27,301 (+  1.1%)**
-----------------
6 months: + 11.3%
1 year  : -  5.7%
2 years : - 11.5%
5 years : + 17.0%
10 years: +  0.8%

DC UNIVERSE
08/2005: 46,527
08/2010: 33,411
08/2011: 27,761
08/2012: 38,047
08/2013: 33,583 
---------------
08/2014: 36,645 (- 10.5%) 
09/2014: 63,401 (+ 73.0%)** 
10/2014: 39,978 (- 36.9%)
11/2014: 36,710 (-  8.2%)
12/2014: 34,882 (-  5.0%)
01/2015: 30,680 (- 12.0%)
02/2015: 32,403 (+  5.6%)
03/2015: 28,559 (- 11.9%)
04/2015: 49,845 (+ 74.5%)
05/2015: 42,635 (- 14.5%)
06/2015: 46,980 (+ 10.2%)
07/2015: 32,688 (- 30.4%)
08/2015: 33,079 (+  1.2%)
-----------------
6 months: +  2.1%
1 year  : -  9.7%
2 years : -  1.5%
5 years : -  1.0%
10 years: - 28.9%

VERTIGO
08/2005: 13,652
08/2010:  9,094
08/2011: 10,147
08/2012: 11,764
08/2013: 14,130 
---------------
08/2014:  9,082 (- 42.5%)
09/2014: 10,022 (+ 10.4%)**
10/2014:  9,066 (-  9.5%)**
11/2014:  8,511 (-  6.1%)**
12/2014: 13,195 (+ 55.0%)**
01/2015:  8,361 (- 36.6%)
02/2015:  8,612 (+  3.0%)**
03/2015:  7,055 (- 15.6%)**
04/2015:  7,257 (+  2.9%)**
05/2015: 10,616 (+ 46.3%)**
06/2015:  8,011 (- 24.5%)**
07/2015: 15,251 (+ 90.4%)**
08/2015:  9,216 (- 39.6%)**
-----------------
6 months: +  7.0%
1 year  : +  1.5%
2 years : - 34.8%
5 years : +  1.3%
10 years: - 32.5%

—

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

+ 63.4% - Constantine
+ 52.7% - Green Arrow
+ 38.0% - Red Hood/Arsenal (Red Hood & the Outlaws)
+ 24.2% - New Suicide Squad
+ 14.4% - Secret Six
+ 12.9% - Justice League
+ 12.8% - Justice League 3001 (JL3K)
+ 11.3% - Deathstroke
+ 10.0% - Action Comics
+  5.6% - Batman
+  3.2% - Earth 2
+  1.7% - Superman
+  1.2% - Green Lantern
+  0.7% - Superman/Wonder Woman
+  0.3% - Batman/Superman
+  0.0% - Catwoman
-  0.6% - Batman '66
-  0.7% - Injustice
-  2.1% - Detective Comics
-  4.2% - Astro City
-  4.9% - Mortal Kombat X
-  5.2% - Aquaman
-  5.5% - He-Man Eternity War
-  5.7% - Teen Titans
-  7.0% - Wonder Woman
-  7.1% - Flash
-  8.4% - Flash Season Zero
-  9.2% - Arrow Season 2.5
- 11.1% - Sinestro
- 11.2% - Grayson
- 13.4% - Gotham Academy
- 16.6% - American Vampire
- 17.8% - Sensation Comics feat. Wonder Woman
- 19.4% - Justice League United
- 20.9% - Gotham By Midnight
- 21.5% - Batgirl
- 21.7% - Lobo
- 27.6% - Fables: The Wolf Among Us


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

+116.7% - Batman Beyond
+ 53.6% - Constantine
+ 30.8% - Green Arrow
+ 18.8% - Red Hood/Arsenal (Red Hood & the Outlaws)
+ 12.6% - Catwoman
+ 11.2% - Batman
+  9.3% - Flash
-  1.5% - New Suicide Squad
-  3.1% - Green Lantern
-  5.1% - Sinestro
-  5.7% - He-Man Eternity War (He-Man & MotU)
-  7.3% - Batgirl
-  8.7% - Aquaman
-  8.9% - Detective Comics
-  9.7% - Justice League 3001 (JL3K)
- 10.2% - Harley Quinn
- 10.4% - Action Comics
- 11.9% - Superman
- 14.9% - Astro City
- 15.5% - Injustice
- 20.9% - Batman/Superman
- 21.1% - Teen Titans
- 23.2% - Superman/Wonder Woman
- 24.1% - Earth 2
- 32.1% - Batman '66
- 35.3% - Grayson
- 51.7% - Justice League United

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

+ 71.1% - New Suicide Squad (Suicide Squad)
+ 31.9% - Batman Beyond
+ 18.2% - Superman
+ 17.9% - Green Arrow
+ 14.1% - Wonder Woman
+  4.3% - Flash
+  3.8% - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?
+  1.2% - Teen Titans
-  1.7% - Action Comics
-  2.8% - Batman
-  4.5% - Constantine
-  8.9% - Arrow
-  9.8% - Grayson (Nightwing)
- 12.8% - Detective Comics
- 13.1% - American Vampire
- 14.9% - Batgirl
- 17.3% - Red Hood/Arsenal (Red Hood & the Outlaws)
- 20.8% - Justice League
- 28.2% - Green Lantern
- 28.4% - Justice League of America
- 30.5% - Earth 2
- 30.9% - Catwoman
- 30.9% - Aquaman
- 34.6% - He-Man Eternity War (He-Man & MotU)
- 38.9% - Injustice
- 40.9% - Astro City
- 60.8% - Batman '66

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

+142.1% - Constantine (Hellblazer)
+ 69.9% - Batman
+ 42.6% - Secret Six
+ 38.5% - Detective Comics
+ 35.5% - Justice League (JLA)
+ 28.9% - Batman/Superman (Superman/Batman)
+ 28.6% - Teen Titans
+ 24.4% - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?
+ 17.7% - Batgirl
+ 15.1% - Action Comics
+ 10.5% - Justice League of America
+  4.3% - Wonder Woman
-  0.4% - Superman
-  3.5% - Red Hood
- 11.0% - Astro City
- 35.2% - Green Arrow

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

+ 89.6% - Batman
+ 63.2% - Constantine (Hellblazer)
+ 57.2% - Aquaman
+ 34.5% - Robin
+ 21.8% - Catwoman
+ 13.9% - Batgirl
+ 10.1% - Detective Comics
+  9.4% - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?
+  1.1% - Grayson
-  7.6% - Green Arrow
-  7.7% - Justice League (JLA)
- 13.6% - Action Comics
- 18.7% - Superman
- 22.6% - Wonder Woman
- 24.7% - Justice League of America
- 57.7% - Teen Titans
- 59.2% - Green Lantern
- 62.6% - Astro City

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

DCU: Average: 33,079. Median: 29,998. No.: 47. Total: 1,554,714

3.8 - Batman
2.5 - Justice League
2.0 - Justice League of America
1.9 - Harley Quinn
1.6 - Detective Comics
1.5 - Superman
1.3 - Batman/Superman
1.3 - Green Lantern
1.3 - Action Comics
1.2 - Flash
1.2 - Wonder Woman
1.2 - Harley Quinn & Power Girl
1.2 - Superman/Wonder Woman
1.2 - Robin, Son of Batman
1.1 - New Suicide Squad
1.1 - Deathstroke
1.1 - Grayson
1.0 - Teen Titans
1.0 - Batgirl
0.9 - Batman Beyond
0.9 - Aquaman
0.9 - Secret Six
0.9 - Starfire
0.9 - Green Arrow
0.9 - Cyborg
0.9 - Earth 2 Society
0.8 - Green Lantern Lost Army
0.8 - We Are Robin
0.8 - Catwoman
0.8 - Sinestro
0.7 - Justice League United
0.7 - Constantine: The Hellblazer
0.7 - Red Hood/Arsenal
0.7 - Black Canary
0.7 - Martian Manhunter
0.6 - Doctor Fate
0.6 - Justice League 3001
0.5 - Gotham Academy
0.5 - Bizarro
0.5 - Midnighter
0.4 - Gotham By Midnight
0.4 - Bat-Mite
0.4 - The Omega Men
0.4 - All-Star Section Eight
0.4 - Doomed
0.3 - Lobo
0.3 - Prez

Vertigo: Average: 10,216*. Median: 9,216*. No.: 6. Total: 61,294*

2.3 - Mad Max Fury Road
1.1 - Astro City
1.1 - American Vampire
0.7 - Fables: The Wolf Among Us
0.4 - Coffin Hill *
0.4 - FBP *

Digital First & Other: Average: 17,908*. Median: 14,916*. No.: 18. Total: 322,347*

3.3 - DC Comics Bombshells
2.0 - Batman Arkham Knight Genesis
1.5 - JL Gods & Monsters (1)
1.3 - JL Gods & Monsters Wonder Woman
1.2 - JL Gods & Monsters (2)
1.2 - JL Gods & Monsters (3)
1.1 - Batman Arkham Knight
0.9 - Injustice Year Four (7)
0.9 - Injustice Year Four (8)
0.8 - Batman '66
0.7 - Mortal Kombat X
0.6 - He-Man Eternity War
0.6 - Sensation Comics feat. Wonder Woman
0.5 - Teen Titans Go!
0.5 - Flash Season Zero
0.5 - Arrow Season 2.5
0.3 - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?
0.2 - Looney Tunes *

—

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 Civilian Marksmanship Program, or my former 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.