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by Marc-Oliver Frisch

Although DC’s “New 52” relaunch was well past its prime in February, sales were still good enough for the publisher to take the Top 10 slots on the Diamond Top 300 chart again, for the second month in a row. The average “New 52” title dropped by 7.6% in February, which is in line with January’s 7.4% drop and suggests that, while the bigger drops seem behind us, the numbers haven’t quite found their level yet, either.

The average DC Universe title now sells fewer copies again than it did two years ago (34,456 vs. 35,895), but then again, the company’s main imprint had 20 more titles on sale this time around: In February 2010, it was 47; in February 2012, it’s 67. On balance, consequently, DC is still selling a lot more superhero comics than it has in most months in the last 10 years. In the 108 months since March 2003 we have comparable data on, February 2012 is only No. 71 in terms of average DC Universe sales, but it’s still No. 17 in total DC Universe unit sales (2.3 million) and No. 20 in total DC Universe dollar sales ($7.3 million).

Looking at the individual “New 52” books, meanwhile, we’re once again getting a mixed picture. The top-selling books mostly continue to be very stable, but the farther down the chart you go, the steeper the decline. There were 14 “New 52” books selling below 20K in February (up from 10 in January) and 21 selling below 25K (up from 19).

Moreover, of the 29 “New 52” titles selling above 30K, 21 are part of the Justice League, Batman, Superman and Green Lantern franchises (not counting Flash, Aquaman and Wonder Woman), whereas the 23 titles selling below 30K only include one title (namely, Batwing) that belongs to one of those four top franchises. So it’s fair to say the relaunch didn’t exactly bring a lot of diversity into the market. It’s just selling more of the same books to — as DC’s recent Nielsen survey shows — the same audience as always.

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

And, once again, two procedural notes on the “New 52.”

One: The fact that 37 of the “New 52” titles below are listed with higher numbers than over at ICv2.com is not an error. It’s because Diamond only reported 90% of their sales on the chart, to compensate for the fact that they were made returnable by DC if retailers met a specific quota. Since Diamond’s way of accounting for the incentive seems fairly arbitrary, I’ve re-added the missing 10% for those books to get a more accurate picture. Just keep in mind that those numbers probably wouldn’t have been as high if retailers weren’t required to meet a certain threshold to qualify for returnability. It’s just one more gimmick that publishers use. (As another result of this, don’t be surprised if the chart positions are all over the place, by the way.)

Two: Of the 15 remaining “New 52” books, Batman, Justice League, Action Comics, Green Lantern and Flash have been promoted with multiple variant-cover editions, including 1:200 ones, that are likely to have boosted sales, as well. Special discounts, which also required retailers to meet a certain unit threshold, apply to Stormwatch, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman. Finally, as of January 2012, Detective Comics, Batman: The Dark Knight, Superman, Aquaman, Batwoman, Green Lantern: New Guardians and Swamp Thing were also promoted with variant editions in lieu of discounts or a returnability scheme. Yes, it’s getting complicated. I’ll just mention those here, so keep in mind that these promotional initiatives are likely to have affected the numbers of those books. Whether they affected them more than the thresholds for returnability affected the other titles, or less so, we have no way of knowing.

—–

1 - JUSTICE LEAGUE
02/2007: --
02/2008: Justice League #18  --  89,803
02/2009: Justice League #30  --  69,710
02/2010: Justice League #42  --  57,522
---------------------------------------
02/2011: JL of America #54   --  46,269 (-  1.8%)
03/2011: JL of America #55   --  50,533 (+  9.2%)
04/2011: JL of America #56   --  47,179 (-  6.6%)
05/2011: JL of America #57   --  46,729 (-  1.0%)
06/2011: JL of America #58   --  45,442 (-  2.8%)
07/2011: JL of America #59   --  43,545 (-  4.2%)
08/2011: JL of America #60   --  42,587 (-  2.2%)
08/2011: Justice League #1   -- 185,776 (+336.2%) [261,097]
09/2011: --
10/2011: Justice League #2   -- 196,569 (+  5.8%)
11/2011: Justice League #3   -- 168,679 (- 14.2%)
12/2011: Justice League #4   -- 149,314 (- 11.5%) [152,340]
01/2012: Justice League #5   -- 144,670 (-  3.1%)
02/2012: Justice League #6   -- 140,819 (-  2.7%)
-----------------
6 months: + 23.3%
1 year  : +204.4%
2 years : +144.8%
5 years :   n.a.

Sales of DC’s current flagship are levelling out nicely, with a marginal downward correction in February. The sales of the “Combo Pack” edition (including a download code for the digital copy for an extra dollar), which sold an estimated 5,445 units and charted at No. 272, are included in the above figure.
—–

2 - BATMAN
02/2007: Batman #663 --  83,167
02/2008: Batman #674 --  68,208
02/2009: Batman #686 -- 111,353 [128,780]
02/2010: Batman #696 --  61,290
-------------------------------
02/2011: Batman #707 --  58,803 (-  2.4%)
03/2011: Batman #708 --  58,594 (-  0.4%)
04/2011: Batman #709 --  56,578 (-  3.4%)
05/2011: Batman #710 --  55,086 (-  2.6%)
06/2011: Batman #711 --  53,113 (-  3.6%)
07/2011: Batman #712 --  51,385 (-  3.3%)
08/2011: Batman #713 --  51,760 (+  0.7%)
09/2011: Batman #1   -- 188,420 (+264.0%) [211,520]
10/2011: Batman #2   -- 172,428 (-  8.5%) [177,721]
11/2011: Batman #3   -- 150,984 (- 12.4%)
12/2011: Batman #4   -- 133,781 (- 11.4%) [136,610]
01/2012: Batman #5   -- 135,145 (+  1.0%)
02/2012: Batman #6   -- 128,459 (-  5.0%)
-----------------
6 months: +148.2%
1 year  : +118.5%
2 years : +109.6%
5 years : + 54.5%

Likewise, the core Batman book by new DC darling Scott Snyder keeps performing very strongly. If you consider that the sales of issue #5 include a “Combo Pack” edition — which came out for #6 as well, but didn’t make the chart in February –, the actual month-to-month drop is less than 2%, so there’s definitely something to build on here.
—–

3 - ACTION COMICS
02/2007: Action Comics #846 --  64,554 [66,349]
02/2008: Action Comics #862 --  55,658
02/2009: Action Comics #874 --  48,360
02/2010: Action Comics #886 --  29,845
--------------------------------------
02/2011: Action Comics #898 --  31,935 (-  0.6%)
03/2011: Action Comics #899 --  31,808 (-  0.4%)
04/2011: Action Comics #900 --  60,152 (+ 89.1%) [ 73,004]
05/2011: Action Comics #901 --  44,143 (- 26.6%)
06/2011: Action Comics #902 --  41,960 (-  5.0%)
07/2011: Action Comics #903 --  40,205 (-  4.2%)
08/2011: Action Comics #904 --  39,323 (-  2.2%)
09/2011: Action Comics #1   -- 182,748 (+364.7%) [200,947]
10/2011: Action Comics #2   -- 153,855 (- 15.8%)
11/2011: Action Comics #3   -- 134,875 (- 12.3%)
12/2011: Action Comics #4   -- 112,839 (- 16.3%)
01/2012: Action Comics #5   -- 109,350 (-  3.1%)
02/2012: Action Comics #6   --  96,592 (- 11.7%)
-----------------
6 months: +145.6%
1 year  : +202.5%
2 years : +223.7%
5 years : + 49.6%

The “Combo Pack” edition of Action Comics #6 didn’t make the chart, either, in February, but even accounting for that, you’re still left with a drop of almost 10,000 units since January, which is less than ideal, obviously. Right now, Action Comics is the odd man out among DC’s top-sellers, in terms of finding a solid foothold — because, unlike pretty much everything else DC has in the Top 50, it’s nowhere even close to doing so.
—–

4 - DETECTIVE COMICS
02/2007: Detective Comics #828 --  55,206
02/2008: Detective Comics #841 --  50,535
02/2009: --
02/2010: --
-----------------------------------------
02/2011: Detective Comics #874 --  39,106 (+  1.8%)
03/2011: Detective Comics #875 --  40,047 (+  2.4%)
04/2011: Detective Comics #876 --  40,133 (+  0.2%)
05/2011: Detective Comics #877 --  39,609 (-  1.3%)
06/2011: Detective Comics #878 --  39,152 (-  1.2%)
07/2011: Detective Comics #879 --  39,185 (+  0.1%)
07/2011: Detective Comics #880 --  38,585 (-  1.5%)
08/2011: Detective Comics #881 --  39,729 (+  3.0%)
09/2011: Detective Comics #1   -- 114,880 (+189.2%) [154,427]
10/2011: Detective Comics #2   -- 123,099 (+  7.2%)
11/2011: Detective Comics #3   -- 111,197 (-  9.7%)
12/2011: Detective Comics #4   --  99,366 (- 10.6%)
01/2012: Detective Comics #5   --  99,342 (-  0.0%)
02/2012: Detective Comics #6   --  94,415 (-  5.0%)
-----------------
6 months: +137.7%
1 year  : +141.4%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : + 71.0%

The secondary Batman title takes another step down in sales, but seems to be stabilizing on balance.
—–

5 - GREEN LANTERN
02/2007: Green Lantern #17  --  62,018
02/2008: --
02/2009: Green Lantern #38  --  68,908 [77,372]
02/2010: Green Lantern #51  --  95,509
--------------------------------------
02/2011: Green Lantern #62  --  71,517 (- 1.0%)
03/2011: Green Lantern #63  --  75,632 (+ 5.8%)
03/2011: Green Lantern #64  --  76,898 (+ 1.7%)
04/2011: Green Lantern #65  --  75,780 (- 1.5%)
05/2011: Green Lantern #66  --  75,371 (- 0.5%)
06/2011: --
07/2011: Green Lantern #67  --  74,521 (- 1.1%)
08/2011: --
09/2011: Green Lantern #1   -- 141,682 (+90.1%) [169,159]
10/2011: Green Lantern #2   -- 142,344 (+ 0.5%)
11/2011: Green Lantern #3   -- 122,644 (-13.8%)
12/2011: Green Lantern #4   -- 104,199 (-15.0%)
01/2012: Green Lantern #5   --  97,878 (- 6.0%)
02/2012: Green Lantern #6   --  94,087 (- 3.9%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : + 31.6%
2 years : -  1.5%
5 years : + 51.7%

The lead Green Lantern title continues to stabilize at a perfectly good level.
—–

6 - BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT
02/2011: --
03/2011: Dark Knight #2  --  71,108 (- 21.0%)
04/2011: --
05/2011: --
06/2011: --
07/2011: Dark Knight #3  --  62,792 (- 11.7%)
07/2011: Dark Knight #4  --  57,333 (-  8.7%)
08/2011: Dark Knight #5  --  52,908 (-  7.7%)
09/2011: Dark Knight #1  -- 109,321 (+106.6%) [128,689]
10/2011: Dark Knight #2  -- 100,494 (-  8.1%)
11/2011: Dark Knight #3  --  87,133 (- 13.3%)
12/2011: Dark Knight #4  --  78,689 (-  9.7%)
01/2012: Dark Knight #5  --  76,824 (-  2.4%)
02/2012: Dark Knight #6  --  77,140 (+  0.4%)
-----------------
6 months: + 45.8%
1 year  :    n.a.

Virtually no change from January.
—–

10 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
02/2010: Batman and Robin #8  --  87,302
02/2010: Batman and Robin #9  --  84,562
----------------------------------------
02/2011: Batman and Robin #20 --  60,642 (- 1.9%)
03/2011: Batman and Robin #21 --  59,818 (- 1.4%)
04/2011: Batman and Robin #22 --  59,076 (- 1.2%)
05/2011: Batman and Robin #23 --  57,525 (- 2.6%)
06/2011: Batman and Robin #24 --  54,984 (- 4.4%)
07/2011: Batman and Robin #25 --  55,172 (+ 0.3%)
08/2011: Batman and Robin #26 --  52,704 (- 4.5%)
09/2011: Batman and Robin #1  --  94,713 (+79.7%) [116,053]
10/2011: Batman and Robin #2  --  98,807 (+ 4.3%)
11/2011: Batman and Robin #3  --  86,309 (-12.7%)
12/2011: Batman and Robin #4  --  76,000 (-11.9%)
01/2012: Batman and Robin #5  --  72,786 (- 4.2%)
02/2012: Batman and Robin #6  --  70,103 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: +33.0%
1 year  : +15.6%
2 years : -18.4%

Another Batman book finding its level.
—–

7 - SUPERMAN
02/2007: Superman #659 --  58,258
02/2008: Superman #673 --  41,580
02/2009: Superman #685 --  48,027
02/2010: Superman #697 --  31,504
---------------------------------
02/2011: Superman #708 --  40,639 (-  2.9%)
03/2011: Superman #709 --  39,846 (-  2.0%)
04/2011: Superman #710 --  39,644 (-  0.5%)
05/2011: Superman #711 --  38,471 (-  3.0%)
06/2011: Superman #712 --  37,362 (-  2.9%)
07/2011: Superman #713 --  36,646 (-  1.9%)
08/2011: Superman #714 --  35,919 (-  2.0%)
09/2011: Superman #1   -- 131,529 (+266.2%) [150,128]
10/2011: Superman #2   -- 104,703 (- 20.4%)
11/2011: Superman #3   --  86,386 (- 17.5%)
12/2011: Superman #4   --  76,532 (- 11.4%)
01/2012: Superman #5   --  73,719 (-  3.7%)
02/2012: Superman #6   --  69,633 (-  5.5%)
-----------------
6 months: + 93.9%
1 year  : + 71.4%
2 years : +121.0%
5 years : + 19.5%

Given the early changes in the creative team here, that’s a perfectly decent drop-off for the secondary Superman book.
—–

8 - FLASH
02/2007: Flash: FMA #9   --  47,214
02/2008: Flash #237      --  37,719
02/2010: Rebirth #6 of 6 --  70,824
-----------------------------------
02/2011: Flash #9        --  55,980 (+  3.7%)
03/2011: --
04/2011: Flash #10       --  54,953 (-  1.8%)
04/2011: Flash #11       --  54,633 (-  0.6%)
05/2011: Flash #12       --  54,914 (+  0.5%)
06/2011: --
07/2011: --
08/2011: --
09/2011: Flash #1        -- 129,260 (+135.4%) [147,818]
10/2011: Flash #2        -- 114,137 (- 11.7%)
11/2011: Flash #3        --  90,417 (- 20.8%)
12/2011: Flash #4        --  77,336 (- 14.5%)
01/2012: Flash #5        --  71,611 (-  7.4%)
02/2012: Flash #6        --  68,061 (-  5.0%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : + 21.6%
2 years : -  3.9%
5 years : + 44.2%

Stabilizing, and still solid historically.
—–

9 - AQUAMAN
09/2011: Aquaman #1  -- 80,302          [108,545]
10/2011: Aquaman #2  -- 79,156 (- 1.4%) [ 83,626]
11/2011: Aquaman #3  -- 69,137 (-12.7%)
12/2011: Aquaman #4  -- 64,961 (- 6.0%)
01/2012: Aquaman #5  -- 65,094 (+ 0.2%)
02/2012: Aquaman #6  -- 63,450 (- 2.5%)

The new Aquaman by Johns and Reis is one of the breakout successes among the “New 52,” certainly.
—–

15 - WONDER WOMAN
02/2007: Wonder Woman #4   --  69,860
02/2008: Wonder Woman #17  --  41,948
02/2009: Wonder Woman #29  --  33,237
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41  --  25,354
-------------------------------------
02/2011: Wonder Woman #607 --  33,053 (-  1.6%)
03/2011: Wonder Woman #608 --  32,540 (-  1.6%)
03/2011: Wonder Woman #609 --  31,421 (-  3.4%)
04/2011: Wonder Woman #610 --  31,002 (-  1.3%)
05/2011: --
06/2011: Wonder Woman #611 --  30,874 (-  0.4%)
06/2011: Wonder Woman #612 --  30,690 (-  0.6%)
07/2011: Wonder Woman #613 --  29,720 (-  3.2%)
08/2011: Wonder Woman #614 --  29,223 (-  1.7%)
09/2011: Wonder Woman #1   --  76,214 (+160.8%) [95,902]
10/2011: Wonder Woman #2   --  79,060 (+  3.7%)
11/2011: Wonder Woman #3   --  65,621 (- 17.0%)
12/2011: Wonder Woman #4   --  57,675 (- 12.1%)
01/2012: Wonder Woman #5   --  57,626 (-  0.1%)
02/2012: Wonder Woman #6   --  54,190 (-  6.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 85.4%
1 year  : + 64.0%
2 years : +113.7%
5 years : - 22.4%

Presumably, the erratic-looking drops in January and February are statistical noise due to the fact that DC overhauled its incentive schemes in January (see last month’s column). Overall, Wonder Woman appears to be on its way levelling out around the 50K mark, which is reasonably solid in the context of the last 10 years.
—–

30 - BATGIRL
02/2010: Batgirl #7      -- 29,524
----------------------------------
02/2011: Batgirl #18     -- 24,390 (-  3.2%)
03/2011: Batgirl #19     -- 24,821 (+  1.8%)
04/2011: Batgirl #20     -- 24,310 (-  2.1%)
05/2011: Batgirl #21     -- 24,043 (-  1.1%)
06/2011: Batgirl #22     -- 23,323 (-  3.0%)
07/2011: Batgirl #23     -- 22,619 (-  3.0%)
08/2011: Batgirl #24     -- 22,695 (+  0.3%)
09/2011: Batgirl #1      -- 90,543 (+299.0%) [107,055]
10/2011: Batgirl #2      -- 83,586 (-  7.7%)
11/2011: Batgirl #3      -- 69,971 (- 16.3%)
12/2011: Batgirl #4      -- 59,972 (- 14.3%)
01/2012: Batgirl #5      -- 57,030 (-  4.9%)
02/2012: Batgirl #6      -- 53,151 (-  6.8%)
-----------------
6 months: +134.2%
1 year  : +117.9%
2 years : + 80.0%

Levelling out, more or less.
—–

18 - TEEN TITANS
02/2007: --
02/2008: Teen Titans #56  -- 50,283
02/2009: Teen Titans #68  -- 35,096
02/2010: Teen Titans #80  -- 26,537
-----------------------------------
02/2011: Teen Titans #92  -- 26,170 (+  2.9%)
03/2011: Teen Titans #93  -- 24,957 (-  4.6%)
04/2011: Teen Titans #94  -- 25,187 (+  0.9%)
05/2011: Teen Titans #95  -- 24,738 (-  1.8%)
06/2011: Teen Titans #96  -- 23,849 (-  3.6%)
07/2011: Teen Titans #97  -- 23,138 (-  3.0%)
07/2011: Teen Titans #98  -- 23,095 (-  0.2%)
08/2011: Teen Titans #99  -- 23,756 (+  2.9%)
08/2011: Teen Titans #100 -- 27,459 (+ 15.6%)
09/2011: Teen Titans #1   -- 73,675 (+168.3%) [89,056]
10/2011: Teen Titans #2   -- 72,107 (-  2.1%)
11/2011: Teen Titans #3   -- 60,758 (- 15.7%)
12/2011: Teen Titans #4   -- 54,929 (-  9.6%)
01/2012: Teen Titans #5   -- 54,606 (-  0.6%)
02/2012: Teen Titans #6   -- 53,123 (-  2.7%)
-----------------
6 months: +107.5%
1 year  : +103.0%
2 years : +100.2%
5 years :   n.a.

This one seems to have found its level, and it’s more than twice that of the previous volume. Not bad.
—–

31 - NIGHTWING
02/2007: Nightwing #129 -- 32,651
02/2008: Nightwing #141 -- 30,980
---------------------------------
09/2011: Nightwing #1   -- 69,686         [87,561]
10/2011: Nightwing #2   -- 73,054 (+ 4.8%)
11/2011: Nightwing #3   -- 64,098 (-12.3%)
12/2011: Nightwing #4   -- 57,409 (-10.4%)
01/2012: Nightwing #5   -- 56,040 (- 2.4%)
02/2012: Nightwing #6   -- 53,036 (- 5.4%)
-----------------
5 years : + 62.4%

Another Batman spin-off stabilizing at a rock-solid level.
—–

32 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
02/2007: Green Lantern Corps #9  -- 34,897
02/2008: Green Lantern Corps #21 -- 47,582
02/2009: Green Lantern Corps #33 -- 44,607 [50,171]
02/2010: Green Lantern Corps #45 -- 75,404
------------------------------------------
02/2011: Green Lantern Corps #57 -- 52,770 (- 1.6%)
03/2011: Green Lantern Corps #58 -- 60,100 (+13.9%)
04/2011: Green Lantern Corps #59 -- 60,162 (+ 0.1%)
05/2011: Green Lantern Corps #60 -- 60,964 (+ 1.3%)
06/2011: --
07/2011: Green Lantern Corps #61 -- 60,836 (- 0.2%)
07/2011: Green Lantern Corps #62 -- 57,928 (- 4.8%)
08/2011: Green Lantern Corps #63 -- 53,372 (- 7.9%)
09/2011: Green Lantern Corps #1  -- 83,077 (+55.7%) [94,800]
10/2011: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 78,501 (- 5.5%)
11/2011: Green Lantern Corps #3  -- 65,393 (-16.7%)
12/2011: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 57,180 (-12.6%)
01/2012: Green Lantern Corps #5  -- 54,088 (- 5.4%)
02/2012: Green Lantern Corps #6  -- 51,168 (- 5.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.1%
1 year  : - 3.0%
2 years : -32.4%
5 years : +46.6%
27 - GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS
02/2011: Emerald Warriors #7  -- 44,828 (+ 3.1%)
03/2011: Emerald Warriors #8  -- 51,322 (+14.5%) [54,110]
04/2011: Emerald Warriors #9  -- 51,784 (+ 0.5%)
05/2011: Emerald Warriors #10 -- 52,971 (+ 2.3%)
06/2011: Emerald Warriors #11 -- 53,927 (+ 1.8%)
07/2011: Emerald Warriors #12 -- 48,087 (-10.8%)
08/2011: Emerald Warriors #13 -- 44,228 (- 8.0%)
09/2011: New Guardians #1     -- 84,033 (+90.0%) [96,596]
10/2011: New Guardians #2     -- 71,713 (-14.7%)
11/2011: New Guardians #3     -- 59,774 (-16.7%)
12/2011: New Guardians #4     -- 53,305 (-10.8%)
01/2012: New Guardians #5     -- 52,305 (- 1.9%)
02/2012: New Guardians #6     -- 50,319 (- 3.8%)
----------------
6 months: +13.8%
1 year  : +12.3%

Two Green Lantern spin-off titles settling down around 50,000 units, it seems. The franchise keeps going strong.
—–

29 - BATWOMAN
09/2011: Batwoman #1  --  72,228 (+64.6%) [87,952]
10/2011: Batwoman #2  --  74,392 (+ 3.0%)
11/2011: Batwoman #3  --  61,997 (-16.7%)
12/2011: Batwoman #4  --  52,757 (-14.9%)
01/2012: Batwoman #5  --  51,924 (- 1.6%)
02/2012: Batwoman #6  --  49,227 (- 5.2%)

The first issue not drawn by J.H. Williams III doesn’t make much of a difference, sales-wise.
—–

42 - RED LANTERNS
09/2011: Red Lanterns #1  -- 73,940          [89,170]
10/2011: Red Lanterns #2  -- 74,163 (+ 0.3%)
11/2011: Red Lanterns #3  -- 60,823 (-18.0%)
12/2011: Red Lanterns #4  -- 50,271 (-17.4%)
01/2012: Red Lanterns #5  -- 46,992 (- 6.5%)
02/2012: Red Lanterns #6  -- 43,450 (- 7.5%)

Taking its time finding its level. Given it’s the third franchise spin-off, though, these are still perfectly decent numbers.
—–

45 - CATWOMAN
02/2007: Catwoman #64 -- 20,767
02/2008: Catwoman #76 -- 18,798
-------------------------------
09/2011: Catwoman #1  -- 59,633          [75,566]
10/2011: Catwoman #2  -- 63,573 (+ 6.6%)
11/2011: Catwoman #3  -- 52,196 (-17.9%)
12/2011: Catwoman #4  -- 45,581 (-12.7%)
01/2012: Catwoman #5  -- 44,034 (- 3.4%)
02/2012: Catwoman #6  -- 41,447 (- 5.9%)
-----------------
5 years : + 99.6%
38 - SWAMP THING
09/2011: Swamp Thing #1  -- 54,757          [73,683]
10/2011: Swamp Thing #2  -- 58,634 (+ 7.1%)
11/2011: Swamp Thing #3  -- 52,300 (-10.8%)
12/2011: Swamp Thing #4  -- 44,660 (-14.6%)
01/2012: Swamp Thing #5  -- 43,806 (- 1.9%)
02/2012: Swamp Thing #6  -- 41,235 (- 5.9%)

pre>51 – RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS
09/2011: Red Hood #1 — 56,112 [70,244]
10/2011: Red Hood #2 — 59,382 (+ 5.8%)
11/2011: Red Hood #3 — 50,140 (-15.6%)
12/2011: Red Hood #4 — 44,278 (-11.7%)
01/2012: Red Hood #5 — 42,560 (- 3.9%)
02/2012: Red Hood #6 — 39,898 (- 6.3%)

53 - SUPERGIRL
02/2007: Supergirl #14 --  52,977
02/2008: Supergirl #26 --  34,186
02/2009: Supergirl #38 --  34,225
02/2010: Supergirl #50 --  33,338
---------------------------------
02/2011: Supergirl #61 --  22,048 (-  2.3%)
03/2011: Supergirl #62 --  21,786 (-  1.2%)
04/2011: Supergirl #63 --  21,598 (-  0.9%)
05/2011: Supergirl #64 --  21,411 (-  0.9%)
06/2011: Supergirl #65 --  20,985 (-  2.0%)
07/2011: Supergirl #66 --  20,001 (-  4.7%)
08/2011: Supergirl #67 --  19,764 (-  1.2%)
09/2011: Supergirl #1  --  60,058 (+203.9%) [74,218]
10/2011: Supergirl #2  --  61,388 (+  2.2%)
11/2011: Supergirl #3  --  50,784 (- 17.3%)
12/2011: Supergirl #4  --  44,180 (- 13.0%)
01/2012: Supergirl #5  --  41,446 (-  6.2%)
02/2012: Supergirl #6  --  38,719 (-  6.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 95.9%
1 year  : + 75.6%
2 years : + 16.1%
5 years : - 26.9%
54 - ANIMAL MAN
09/2011: Animal Man #1     -- 46,051          [65,229]
10/2011: Animal Man #2     -- 53,432 (+16.0%)
11/2011: Animal Man #3     -- 49,184 (- 8.0%)
12/2011: Animal Man #4     -- 42,630 (-13.3%)
01/2012: Animal Man #5     -- 40,573 (- 4.8%)
02/2012: Animal Man #6     -- 38,504 (- 5.1%)

Hey, still here?

Well, that’s a bunch of “New 52” books with sales around 40,000 units that may or may not be settling down any time soon. Let’s give retailers another month or two to make up their minds.
—–

55 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK
09/2011: Justice League Dark #1   -- 69,840          [81,955]
10/2011: Justice League Dark #2   -- 63,392 (- 9.2%)
11/2011: Justice League Dark #3   -- 51,674 (-18.5%)
12/2011: Justice League Dark #4   -- 44,750 (-13.4%)
01/2012: Justice League Dark #5   -- 40,996 (- 8.4%)
02/2012: Justice League Dark #6   -- 38,360 (- 6.4%)
59 - JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
09/2011: Justice League International #1  -- 67,866          [78,869]
10/2011: Justice League International #2  -- 66,100 (- 2.6%)
11/2011: Justice League International #3  -- 54,413 (-17.7%)
12/2011: Justice League International #4  -- 44,062 (-19.0%)
01/2012: Justice League International #5  -- 41,147 (- 6.6%)
02/2012: Justice League International #6  -- 37,534 (- 8.8%)

Two Justice League spin-off books that retailers don’t seem quite sure about yet, either.
—–

65 - SUPERBOY
02/2011: Superboy #4  --  27,448 (-  7.1%)
03/2011: Superboy #5  --  27,215 (-  0.9%)
04/2011: Superboy #6  --  30,490 (+ 12.0%)
05/2011: Superboy #7  --  24,622 (- 19.3%)
06/2011: Superboy #8  --  23,037 (-  6.4%)
07/2011: Superboy #9  --  22,102 (-  4.1%)
08/2011: Superboy #10 --  20,563 (-  7.0%)
08/2011: Superboy #11 --  20,317 (-  1.2%)
09/2011: Superboy #1  --  55,608 (+173.7%) [69,283]
10/2011: Superboy #2  --  57,424 (+  3.3%)
11/2011: Superboy #3  --  47,442 (- 17.4%)
12/2011: Superboy #4  --  40,002 (- 15.7%)
01/2012: Superboy #5  --  37,419 (-  6.5%)
02/2012: Superboy #6  --  34,520 (-  7.8%)
-----------------
6 months: + 68.9%
1 year  : + 25.8%
71 - SUICIDE SQUAD
02/2008: Raise the Flag #6 of 8 -- 16,152
-----------------------------------------
09/2011: Suicide Squad #1       -- 49,979          [61,815]
10/2011: Suicide Squad #2       -- 49,570 (- 0.8%)
11/2011: Suicide Squad #3       -- 40,827 (-17.6%)
12/2011: Suicide Squad #4       -- 34,550 (-15.4%)
01/2012: Suicide Squad #5       -- 32,726 (- 5.3%)
02/2012: Suicide Squad #6       -- 30,834 (- 5.8%)

And two more titles that are neither here nor there yet, in terms of where they might end up on the chart when the dust has settled.
—–

74 - BIRDS OF PREY
02/2007: Birds of Prey #103 -- 28,327
02/2008: Birds of Prey #115 -- 23,157
02/2009: Birds of Prey #127 -- 21,424
-------------------------------------
02/2011: Birds of Prey #9   -- 30,641 (-  3.1%)
03/2011: Birds of Prey #10  -- 30,777 (+  0.4%)
04/2011: Birds of Prey #11  -- 30,270 (-  1.7%)
05/2011: Birds of Prey #12  -- 29,690 (-  1.9%)
06/2011: Birds of Prey #13  -- 28,992 (-  2.4%)
07/2011: Birds of Prey #14  -- 27,102 (-  6.5%)
08/2011: Birds of Prey #15  -- 26,043 (-  3.9%)
09/2011: Birds of Prey #1   -- 56,073 (+115.3%) [66,423]
10/2011: Birds of Prey #2   -- 53,156 (-  5.2%)
11/2011: Birds of Prey #3   -- 40,891 (- 23.1%)
12/2011: Birds of Prey #4   -- 34,460 (- 15.7%)
01/2012: Birds of Prey #5   -- 31,700 (-  8.0%)
02/2012: Birds of Prey #6   -- 30,376 (-  4.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 16.6%
1 year  : -  0.9%
5 years : +  7.2%

Birds of Prey does seem to be finding its level, and it’s pretty much exactly where it was a year ago.
—–

77 - GREEN ARROW
02/2007: Green Arrow #71  -- 31,470
02/2008: Arrow/Canary #5  -- 36,662
02/2009: Arrow/Canary #17 -- 23,392
02/2010: Arrow&Canary #29 -- 16,600
02/2010: Black Arrow #30  -- 42,014
-----------------------------------
02/2011: Green Arrow #9   -- 33,922 (-  3.9%)
03/2011: Green Arrow #10  -- 33,085 (-  2.5%)
04/2011: Green Arrow #11  -- 32,669 (-  1.3%)
05/2011: Green Arrow #12  -- 31,742 (-  2.8%)
06/2011: Green Arrow #13  -- 27,552 (- 13.2%)
07/2011: Green Arrow #14  -- 25,568 (-  7.2%)
08/2011: Green Arrow #15  -- 23,883 (-  6.6%)
09/2011: Green Arrow #1   -- 61,680 (+158.3%) [72,359]
10/2011: Green Arrow #2   -- 58,708 (-  4.8%)
11/2011: Green Arrow #3   -- 46,899 (- 20.1%)
12/2011: Green Arrow #4   -- 37,116 (- 20.9%)
01/2012: Green Arrow #5   -- 33,593 (-  9.5%)
02/2012: Green Arrow #6   -- 30,097 (- 10.4%)
-----------------
6 months: + 26.0%
1 year  : - 11.3%
2 years : +  2.7%
5 years : -  4.4%

Well, we’re not there yet, obviously. Retailers are still trying to catch up with the free-fall here, it seems. Then again, it’s still doing okay for a Green Arrow title, of course, if you look at the longer-term comparisons.
—–

79 - BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED
02/2011: Batman Beyond #2      -- 28,956 (-19.3%)
03/2011: Batman Beyond #3      -- 28,295 (- 2.3%)
04/2011: Batman Beyond #4      -- 26,722 (- 5.6%)
05/2011: Batman Beyond #5      -- 25,413 (- 4.9%)
06/2011: Batman Beyond #6      -- 24,524 (- 3.5%)
07/2011: Batman Beyond #7      -- 22,945 (- 6.4%)
08/2011: Batman Beyond #8      -- 21,838 (- 4.8%)
----------------------------------------
02/2012: Unlimited #1          -- 26,589 (+21.8%)
----------------
6 months: +21.8%
1 year  : - 8.2%

This is a $3.99 title collecting stories that were previously released digitally along with new material. Given that sales are right where you’d expect them to be based on the previous series from 2011, retailers don’t seem to mind that the book’s content isn’t all new. If this is a trend that holds, this may become a frequent way of doing business.
—–

87 - ALL STAR WESTERN
02/2007: Jonah Hex #16 -- 17,490
02/2008: Jonah Hex #28 -- 13,614
02/2009: Jonah Hex #40 -- 11,631
02/2010: Jonah Hex #52 -- 11,213
--------------------------------
02/2011: Jonah Hex #64 -- 10,255 (-  4.6%)
03/2011: Jonah Hex #65 -- 10,353 (+  1.0%)
04/2011: Jonah Hex #66 -- 10,335 (-  0.2%)
05/2011: Jonah Hex #67 -- 10,288 (-  0.5%)
06/2011: Jonah Hex #68 -- 10,224 (-  0.6%)
07/2011: Jonah Hex #69 -- 10,521 (+  2.9%)
08/2011: Jonah Hex #70 -- 10,369 (-  1.5%)
09/2011: ASW #1        -- 43,681 (+321.3%) [54,992]
10/2011: ASW #2        -- 39,857 (-  8.8%)
11/2011: ASW #3        -- 32,776 (- 17.8%)
12/2011: ASW #4        -- 29,349 (- 10.5%)
01/2012: ASW #5        -- 27,206 (-  7.3%)
02/2012: ASW #6        -- 26,170 (-  3.8%)
-----------------
6 months: +152.4%
1 year  : +155.2%
2 years : +133.4%
5 years : + 49.6%

By all appearances, Jonah Hex, a.k.a. All Star Western, is about to end up selling two-and-a-half times as many units as it did before, thanks to the relaunch. That’s quite remarkable.
—–

81 - STORMWATCH
02/2007: Stormwatch: PHD #4   -- 15,893
02/2008: --
02/2009: Stormwatch: PHD #19  --  5,708
---------------------------------------
09/2011: Stormwatch #1        -- 46,397          [57,287]
10/2011: Stormwatch #2        -- 47,520 (+ 2.4%)
11/2011: Stormwatch #3        -- 39,262 (-17.4%)
12/2011: Stormwatch #4        -- 30,987 (-21.1%)
01/2012: Stormwatch #5        -- 29,112 (- 6.1%)
02/2012: Stormwatch #6        -- 26,076 (-10.4%)
----------------
5 years : +64.1%

Over here, on the other hand, we’re getting into the part of the “New 52” that’s not doing well. Drops really shouldn’t be in the double-digits, at this point, but it’s a common occurrence, from here on down for most of the remaining titles. To be fair, Stormwatch has a better excuse for losing readers than most of them, since the original creative team left fairly quickly.
—–

97 - DEMON KNIGHTS
09/2011: Demon Knights #1  -- 41,602          [52,329]
10/2011: Demon Knights #2  -- 42,230 (+ 1.5%)
11/2011: Demon Knights #3  -- 34,681 (-17.9%)
12/2011: Demon Knights #4  -- 28,109 (-19.0%)
01/2012: Demon Knights #5  -- 25,823 (- 8.1%)
02/2012: Demon Knights #6  -- 23,476 (- 9.1%)
98 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
02/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #27 -- 31,387
02/2008: Supergirl & LoSH #39 -- 31,123
---------------------------------------
02/2011: LoSH #10             -- 23,738 (-  2.0%)
03/2011: LoSH #11             -- 23,667 (-  0.3%)
04/2011: LoSH #12             -- 23,419 (-  1.1%)
05/2011: LoSH #13             -- 23,105 (-  1.3%)
06/2011: LoSH #14             -- 22,600 (-  2.2%)
07/2011: LoSH #15             -- 21,788 (-  3.6%)
08/2011: LoSH #16             -- 21,373 (-  1.9%)
09/2011: LoSH #1              -- 50,402 (+135.8%) [58,325]
10/2011: LoSH #2              -- 47,227 (-  6.3%)
11/2011: LoSH #3              -- 34,979 (- 25.9%)
12/2011: LoSH #4              -- 27,832 (- 20.4%)
01/2012: LoSH #5              -- 25,624 (-  7.9%)
02/2012: LoSH #6              -- 23,428 (-  8.6%)
-----------------
6 months: +  9.6%
1 year  : -  1.3%
5 years : - 25.4%
102 - BATWING
09/2011: Batwing #1  -- 45,980          [53,721]
10/2011: Batwing #2  -- 42,750 (- 7.0%)
11/2011: Batwing #3  -- 35,110 (-17.9%)
12/2011: Batwing #4  -- 26,726 (-23.9%)
01/2012: Batwing #5  -- 24,036 (-10.1%)
02/2012: Batwing #6  -- 21,643 (-10.0%)
103 - THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN
02/2007: Hawkgirl #61       -- 16,575
-------------------------------------
09/2011: Savage Hawkman #1  -- 55,954          [63,959]
10/2011: Savage Hawkman #2  -- 47,763 (-14.6%)
11/2011: Savage Hawkman #3  -- 35,177 (-26.4%)
12/2011: Savage Hawkman #4  -- 28,263 (-19.7%)
01/2012: Savage Hawkman #5  -- 23,967 (-15.2%)
02/2012: Savage Hawkman #6  -- 21,316 (-11.1%)
----------------
5 years : +28.6%
104 - DEATHSTROKE
09/2011: Deathstroke #1  -- 47,028          [56,820]
10/2011: Deathstroke #2  -- 44,647 (- 5.1%)
11/2011: Deathstroke #3  -- 33,754 (-24.4%)
12/2011: Deathstroke #4  -- 26,367 (-21.9%)
01/2012: Deathstroke #5  -- 23,872 (- 9.5%)
02/2012: Deathstroke #6  -- 21,306 (-10.8%)

Five more “New 52” books that continue to slide down the charts with drops that are in the double-digits or close.
—–

92 - THE HUNTRESS
10/2011: Huntress #1 of 6 -- 36,099
11/2011: Huntress #2 of 6 -- 28,377 (-21.4%)
12/2011: Huntress #3 of 6 -- 25,215 (-11.1%)
01/2012: Huntress #4 of 6 -- 23,863 (- 5.4%)
02/2012: Huntress #5 of 6 -- 22,259 (- 6.7%)

This the best-selling post-“New 52” launch of a DC Universe title.
—–

108 - FRANKENSTEIN: AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.
09/2011: Frankenstein #1          -- 41,551          [50,817]
10/2011: Frankenstein #2          -- 40,423 (- 2.7%)
11/2011: Frankenstein #3          -- 31,869 (-21.2%)
12/2011: Frankenstein #4          -- 24,812 (-22.1%)
01/2012: Frankenstein #5          -- 22,737 (- 8.4%)
02/2012: Frankenstein #6          -- 20,463 (-10.0%)
110 - DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS
09/2011: DCU Presents #1  -- 45,701          [53,103]
10/2011: DCU Presents #2  -- 41,584 (- 9.0%)
11/2011: DCU Presents #3  -- 31,019 (-25.4%)
12/2011: DCU Presents #4  -- 24,398 (-21.4%)
01/2012: DCU Presents #5  -- 22,048 (- 9.6%)
02/2012: DCU Presents #6  -- 20,188 (- 8.4%)
116 - LEGION LOST
09/2011: Legion Lost #1  -- 46,362          [54,588]
10/2011: Legion Lost #2  -- 42,650 (- 8.0%)
11/2011: Legion Lost #3  -- 31,226 (-26.8%)
12/2011: Legion Lost #4  -- 24,020 (-23.1%)
01/2012: Legion Lost #5  -- 21,549 (-10.3%)
02/2012: Legion Lost #6  -- 19,447 (- 9.8%)
119 - THE FURY OF FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MEN
09/2011: Firestorm #1  -- 51,537          [62,076]
10/2011: Firestorm #2  -- 43,990 (-14.6%)
11/2011: Firestorm #3  -- 31,654 (-28.0%)
12/2011: Firestorm #4  -- 25,610 (-19.1%)
01/2012: Firestorm #5  -- 21,329 (-16.7%)
02/2012: Firestorm #6  -- 19,162 (-10.2%)

Four more “New 52” books that aren’t stabilizing.
—–

105 - BATMAN: ODYSSEY VOL. 2
07/2010: Batman: Odyssey #1  of 6  -- 61,827
08/2010: Batman: Odyssey #2  of 6  -- 47,675 (-22.9%)
09/2010: Batman: Odyssey #3  of 6  -- 40,046 (-16.0%)
10/2010: Batman: Odyssey #4  of 12 -- 35,307 (-11.8%)
11/2010: Batman: Odyssey #5  of 13 -- 31,386 (-11.1%)
02/2011: Batman: Odyssey #6  of 13 -- 29,093 (- 7.3%)
--------------------------------------------
10/2011: Odyssey Vol. 2 #1  of 7   -- 30,410 (+ 4.5%)
11/2011: Odyssey Vol. 2 #2  of 7   -- 24,271 (-20.2%)
12/2011: Odyssey Vol. 2 #3  of 7   -- 23,089 (- 4.9%)
01/2012: Odyssey Vol. 2 #4  of 7   -- 20,722 (-10.3%)
02/2012: Odyssey Vol. 2 #5  of 7   -- 19,013 (- 8.5%)
----------------
1 year  : -34.7%

This Neal Adams vehicle is dropping off the map.
—–

121 - RESURRECTION MAN
09/2011: Resurrection Man #1  -- 41,740          [50,230]
10/2011: Resurrection Man #2  -- 38,560 (- 7.6%)
11/2011: Resurrection Man #3  -- 29,480 (-23.6%)
12/2011: Resurrection Man #4  -- 23,060 (-21.8%)
01/2012: Resurrection Man #5  -- 20,750 (-10.0%)
02/2012: Resurrection Man #6  -- 18,569 (-10.5%)

Sales remain in free-fall.
—–

124 - I, VAMPIRE
09/2011: I, Vampire #1  -- 39,683          [46,993]
10/2011: I, Vampire #2  -- 34,599 (-12.8%)
11/2011: I, Vampire #3  -- 26,070 (-24.7%)
12/2011: I, Vampire #4  -- 21,601 (-17.1%)
01/2012: I, Vampire #5  -- 18,816 (-12.9%)
02/2012: I, Vampire #6  -- 18,153 (- 3.5%)

The January and February issues listed Batman as a guest-star, and I, Vampire is now a title “that mixes Super Heroes [sic] and horror,” evidently, so maybe that’s what caused the sudden halt of the book’s decline.
—–

126 - GRIFTER
09/2011: Grifter #1  -- 41,222          [50,959]
10/2011: Grifter #2  -- 39,900 (- 3.2%)
11/2011: Grifter #3  -- 29,802 (-25.3%)
12/2011: Grifter #4  -- 22,486 (-24.6%)
01/2012: Grifter #5  -- 20,060 (-10.8%)
02/2012: Grifter #6  -- 18,057 (-10.0%)

Another “New 52” book sliding down the charts.
—–

111 - PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE
10/2011: Penguin #1 of 5 -- 26,380
11/2011: Penguin #2 of 5 -- 21,021 (-20.3%)
12/2011: Penguin #3 of 5 -- 19,131 (- 9.0%)
01/2012: Penguin #4 of 5 -- 18,452 (- 3.6%)
02/2012: Penguin #5 of 5 -- 17,974 (- 2.6%)

Fairly average sales behavior for a miniseries.
—–

117 - FABLES (Vertigo)
02/2007: --
02/2008: Fables #69  -- 24,337
02/2008: Fables #70  -- 23,975
02/2009: Fables #81  -- 22,517
02/2010: --
------------------------------
02/2011: Fables #102 -- 19,215 (+ 0.2%)
03/2011: Fables #103 -- 18,910 (- 1.6%)
04/2011: Fables #104 -- 18,811 (- 0.5%)
05/2011: Fables #105 -- 18,749 (- 0.3%)
06/2011: Fables #106 -- 18,505 (- 1.3%)
07/2011: Fables #107 -- 18,523 (+ 0.1%)
08/2011: Fables #108 -- 18,390 (- 0.7%)
09/2011: Fables #109 -- 18,072 (- 1.7%)
10/2011: Fables #110 -- 18,109 (+ 0.2%)
11/2011: Fables #111 -- 17,687 (- 2.3%)
12/2011: Fables #112 -- 17,602 (- 0.5%)
01/2012: Fables #113 -- 17,588 (- 0.1%)
02/2012: Fables #114 -- 17,374 (- 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.5%
1 year  : - 9.6%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years :   n.a.

Standard attrition!
—–

130 - BLUE BEETLE
02/2007: Blue Beetle #12 -- 18,555
02/2008: Blue Beetle #24 -- 14,378
----------------------------------
09/2011: Blue Beetle #1  -- 44,448          [52,288]
10/2011: Blue Beetle #2  -- 39,396 (-11.4%)
11/2011: Blue Beetle #3  -- 27,612 (-29.9%)
12/2011: Blue Beetle #4  -- 21,408 (-22.5%)
01/2012: Blue Beetle #5  -- 19,042 (-11.1%)
02/2012: Blue Beetle #6  -- 17,034 (-10.6%)
----------------
5 years : - 8.2%

Sales keep crashing.
—–

132 - VOODOO
09/2011: Voodoo #1  -- 40,301          [47,112]
10/2011: Voodoo #2  -- 34,690 (-13.9%)
11/2011: Voodoo #3  -- 25,067 (-27.7%)
12/2011: Voodoo #4  -- 20,703 (-17.4%)
01/2012: Voodoo #5  -- 17,683 (-14.6%)
02/2012: Voodoo #6  -- 16,422 (- 7.1%)

Levelling out? Let’s wait and see.
—–

125 - THE SHADE
10/2011: Shade #1  of 12 -- 30,648
11/2011: Shade #2  of 12 -- 21,431 (-30.1%)
12/2011: Shade #3  of 12 -- 18,922 (-11.7%)
01/2012: Shade #4  of 12 -- 17,512 (- 7.5%)
02/2012: Shade #5  of 12 -- 16,255 (- 7.2%)

Still dropping quickly. Given the creators involved, they must have expected more from this, especially since it was launched on the back of the “New 52.”
—–

136 - HAWK & DOVE
09/2011: Hawk & Dove #1  -- 42,294          [47,999]
10/2011: Hawk & Dove #2  -- 36,068 (-14.7%)
11/2011: Hawk & Dove #3  -- 27,464 (-23.9%)
12/2011: Hawk & Dove #4  -- 20,016 (-27.1%)
01/2012: Hawk & Dove #5  -- 17,528 (-12.4%)
02/2012: Hawk & Dove #6  -- 15,879 (- 9.4%)

Cancelled with issue #8.
—–

131 - LEGION: SECRET ORIGIN
10/2011: Secret Origin #1 of 6 -- 38,248
11/2011: Secret Origin #2 of 6 -- 22,435 (-41.3%)
12/2011: Secret Origin #3 of 6 -- 20,033 (-10.7%)
01/2012: Secret Origin #4 of 6 -- 16,585 (-17.2%)
02/2012: Secret Origin #5 of 6 -- 15,310 (- 7.7%)

Well, it’s a Legion spin-off.
—–

140 - CAPTAIN ATOM
09/2011: Captain Atom #1  -- 44,110          [51,314]
10/2011: Captain Atom #2  -- 38,309 (-13.2%)
11/2011: Captain Atom #3  -- 26,829 (-30.0%)
12/2011: Captain Atom #4  -- 19,908 (-25.8%)
01/2012: Captain Atom #5  -- 17,437 (-12.4%)
02/2012: Captain Atom #6  -- 15,220 (-12.7%)

Still not officially cancelled yet, surprisingly. They can’t let this type of break-neck decline continue for much longer, surely.
—–

137 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo)
02/2011: American Vampire #12 -- 16,522 (- 2.6%)
03/2011: American Vampire #13 -- 17,269 (+ 4.5%)
04/2011: American Vampire #14 -- 16,168 (- 6.4%)
05/2011: American Vampire #15 -- 15,876 (- 1.8%)
06/2011: American Vampire #16 -- 15,705 (- 1.1%)
07/2011: American Vampire #17 -- 15,565 (- 0.9%)
08/2011: American Vampire #18 -- 15,423 (- 0.9%)
09/2011: American Vampire #19 -- 15,288 (- 0.9%)
10/2011: --
11/2011: American Vampire #20 -- 15,685 (+ 2.6%)
12/2011: American Vampire #21 -- 15,026 (- 4.2%)
12/2011: American Vampire #22 -- 14,759 (- 1.8%)
01/2012: American Vampire #23 -- 14,240 (- 3.5%)
02/2012: American Vampire #24 -- 14,278 (+ 0.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.4%
1 year  : -13.6%

Vertigo’s second-best-selling ongoing title remains solid in February.
—–

150 - O.M.A.C.
09/2011: O.M.A.C. #1  -- 37,312          [42,871]
10/2011: O.M.A.C. #2  -- 32,704 (-12.4%)
11/2011: O.M.A.C. #3  -- 25,080 (-23.3%)
12/2011: O.M.A.C. #4  -- 18,371 (-26.8%)
01/2012: O.M.A.C. #5  -- 16,242 (-11.6%)
02/2012: O.M.A.C. #6  -- 14,051 (-13.5%)

Cancelled with issue #8.
—–

144 - SPACEMAN (Vertigo)
10/2011: Spaceman #1 of 9 -- 22,355
11/2011: Spaceman #2 of 9 -- 14,962 (-33.1%)
12/2011: Spaceman #3 of 9 -- 13,492 (- 9.8%)
01/2012: --
02/2012: Spaceman #4 of 9 -- 13,394 (- 0.7%)

Levelling out quickly now, it appears.
—–

160 - STATIC SHOCK
06/2011: Special #1 of 1  --  9,976
-----------------------------------
09/2011: Static Shock #1  -- 37,782 (+278.7%) [43,046]
10/2011: Static Shock #2  -- 32,360 (- 14.4%)
11/2011: Static Shock #3  -- 24,374 (- 24.7%)
12/2011: Static Shock #4  -- 17,514 (- 28.2%)
01/2012: Static Shock #5  -- 15,056 (- 14.0%)
02/2012: Static Shock #6  -- 13,081 (- 13.1%)
164 - MISTER TERRIFIC
09/2011: Mister Terrific #1  -- 41,450          [48,352]
10/2011: Mister Terrific #2  -- 35,963 (-13.2%)
11/2011: Mister Terrific #3  -- 25,282 (-29.7%)
12/2011: Mister Terrific #4  -- 17,963 (-29.0%)
01/2012: Mister Terrific #5  -- 15,336 (-14.6%)
02/2012: Mister Terrific #6  -- 12,890 (-16.0%)

Two more “New 52” books cancelled with issue #8 each.
—–

155/156 - DC UNIVERSE ONLINE: LEGENDS
02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #1  -- 36,517
02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #2  -- 28,953 (-20.7%)
03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #3  -- 24,824 (-14.3%)
03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #4  -- 23,001 (- 7.3%)
04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #5  -- 21,427 (- 6.8%)
04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #6  -- 20,461 (- 4.5%)
05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #7  -- 20,064 (- 1.9%)
05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #8  -- 19,471 (- 3.0%)
06/2011: DCU Online: Legends #9  -- 18,759 (- 3.7%)
06/2011: DCU Online: Legends #10 -- 18,178 (- 3.1%)
07/2011: DCU Online: Legends #11 -- 17,509 (- 3.7%)
07/2011: DCU Online: Legends #12 -- 17,223 (- 1.6%)
08/2011: DCU Online: Legends #13 -- 16,540 (- 4.0%)
08/2011: DCU Online: Legends #14 -- 16,018 (- 3.2%)
09/2011: --
10/2011: DCU Online: Legends #15 -- 15,460 (- 3.5%)
10/2011: DCU Online: Legends #16 -- 15,238 (- 1.4%)
11/2011: DCU Online: Legends #17 -- 14,226 (- 6.6%)
11/2011: DCU Online: Legends #18 -- 13,955 (- 1.9%)
12/2011: DCU Online: Legends #19 -- 13,350 (- 4.3%)
12/2011: DCU Online: Legends #20 -- 13,219 (- 1.0%)
01/2012: DCU Online: Legends #21 -- 12,578 (- 4.9%)
01/2012: DCU Online: Legends #22 -- 12,455 (- 1.0%)
02/2012: DCU Online: Legends #23 -- 12,250 (- 1.7%)
02/2012: DCU Online: Legends #24 -- 12,072 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: -25.3%
1 year  : -62.9%

Ending with issue #26.
—–

167 - MEN OF WAR
09/2011: Men of War #1  -- 37,488
10/2011: Men of War #2  -- 31,446 (-16.1%)
11/2011: Men of War #3  -- 23,770 (-24.4%)
12/2011: Men of War #4  -- 16,641 (-30.0%)
01/2012: Men of War #5  -- 14,110 (-15.2%)
02/2012: Men of War #6  -- 12,080 (-14.4%)
172 - BLACKHAWKS
09/2011: Blackhawks #1  -- 40,014          [46,435]
10/2011: Blackhawks #2  -- 31,704 (-20.8%)
11/2011: Blackhawks #3  -- 22,349 (-29.5%)
12/2011: Blackhawks #4  -- 16,810 (-24.8%)
01/2012: Blackhawks #5  -- 13,630 (-18.9%)
02/2012: Blackhawks #6  -- 11,922 (-12.5%)

Two more “New 52” books axed with #8 each.
—–

169 - THE RAY
12/2011: The Ray #1 of 4 -- 17,779
01/2012: The Ray #2 of 4 -- 13,587 (-23.6%)
02/2012: The Ray #3 of 4 -- 10,859 (-20.1%)

Another DC Universe miniseries launched in the wake of the “New 52.” Obviously, it didn’t help much.
—–

181/183 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
02/2010: The Unwritten #10 -- 13,644
------------------------------------
02/2011: The Unwritten #22 -- 11,371 (- 0.6%)
03/2011: The Unwritten #23 -- 11,319 (- 0.5%)
04/2011: The Unwritten #24 -- 11,028 (- 2.6%)
05/2011: The Unwritten #25 -- 11,137 (+ 1.0%)
06/2011: The Unwritten #26 -- 10,979 (- 1.4%)
07/2011: The Unwritten #27 -- 10,787 (- 1.8%)
08/2011: The Unwritten #28 -- 10,731 (- 0.5%)
09/2011: The Unwritten #29 -- 10,511 (- 2.1%)
10/2011: The Unwritten #30 -- 10,481 (- 0.3%)
11/2011: The Unwritten #31 -- 10,434 (- 0.5%)
11/2011: The Unwritten #.5 -- 10,183 (- 2.4%)
12/2011: The Unwritten #32 -- 10,073 (- 1.1%)
12/2011: The Unwritten #.5 --  9,759 (- 3.1%)
01/2012: The Unwritten #33 --  9,888 (+ 1.3%)
01/2012: The Unwritten #.5 --  9,483 (- 4.1%)
02/2012: The Unwritten #34 --  9,789 (+ 3.2%)
02/2012: The Unwritten #.5 --  9,595 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year  : -14.8%
2 years : -29.0%

Holding steady again in February, more or less.
—–

184 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
02/2007: Hellblazer #229 -- 13,032
02/2008: Hellblazer #241 -- 11,998
02/2009: Hellblazer #252 -- 11,174
02/2010: Hellblazer #264 -- 10,025
----------------------------------
02/2011: Hellblazer #276 --  9,466 (-0.4%)
03/2011: Hellblazer #277 --  9,525 (+0.6%)
04/2011: Hellblazer #278 --  9,417 (-1.1%)
05/2011: Hellblazer #279 --  9,454 (+0.4%)
06/2011: Hellblazer #280 --  9,329 (-1.3%)
07/2011: Hellblazer #281 --  9,225 (-1.1%)
08/2011: Hellblazer #282 --  9,372 (+1.5%)
09/2011: Hellblazer #283 --  9,597 (+2.4%)
10/2011: Hellblazer #284 --  9,608 (+0.1%)
11/2011: Hellblazer #285 --  9,500 (-1.1%)
12/2011: Hellblazer #286 --  9,404 (-1.0%)
01/2012: Hellblazer #287 --  9,368 (-0.4%)
02/2012: Hellblazer #288 --  9,553 (+2.0%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.9%
1 year  : + 0.9%
2 years : - 4.7%
5 years : -26.7%

A slight sales increase for no readily apparent reason is always good news.
—–

189 - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS
02/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4  -- 10,124 (- 4.5%)
03/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5  --  9,934 (- 1.9%)
04/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #6  --  9,680 (- 2.6%)
05/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7  --  9,453 (- 2.4%)
06/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #8  --  8,954 (- 5.3%)
07/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #9  --  8,710 (- 2.7%)
08/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #10 --  8,453 (- 3.0%)
09/2011: --
10/2011: --
11/2011: Vol. 2 #1 of 6            -- 14,794 (+75.0%)
12/2011: Vol. 2 #2 of 6            -- 12,015 (-18.8%)
01/2012: Vol. 2 #3 of 6            -- 10,354 (-13.8%)
02/2012: Vol. 2 #4 of 6            --  8,970 (-13.4%)
----------------
6 months: + 6.1%
1 year  : -11.4%

Still selling above the last few issues of the previous series, if you’re looking for a silver lining.
—–

201 - I, ZOMBIE (Vertigo)
02/2011: I, Zombie #10 -- 11,182 (- 3.1%)
03/2011: I, Zombie #11 -- 10,874 (- 2.8%)
04/2011: I, Zombie #12 -- 10,727 (- 1.4%)
05/2011: I, Zombie #13 -- 10,567 (- 1.5%)
06/2011: I, Zombie #14 -- 10,320 (- 2.3%)
07/2011: I, Zombie #15 -- 10,006 (- 3.0%)
08/2011: I, Zombie #16 --  9,568 (- 4.4%)
09/2011: I, Zombie #17 --  9,316 (- 2.6%)
10/2011: I, Zombie #18 --  9,237 (- 0.9%)
11/2011: I, Zombie #19 --  8,999 (- 2.6%)
12/2011: I, Zombie #20 --  8,805 (- 2.2%)
01/2012: I, Zombie #21 --  8,514 (- 3.3%)
02/2012: I, Zombie #22 --  8,344 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: -12.8%
1 year  : -25.4%

Cancelled with #28.
—–

211 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
02/2008: Tiny Titans #1  -- 15,238
02/2009: Tiny Titans #13 --  8,710
02/2010: Tiny Titans #25 --  8,566
----------------------------------
02/2011: Tiny Titans #37 --  7,426 (- 0.7%)
03/2011: Tiny Titans #38 --  7,372 (- 0.7%)
04/2011: Tiny Titans #39 --  7,445 (+ 1.0%)
05/2011: Tiny Titans #40 --  7,847 (+ 5.4%)
06/2011: Tiny Titans #41 --  7,811 (- 0.5%)
07/2011: Tiny Titans #42 --  7,664 (- 1.9%)
08/2011: Tiny Titans #43 --  7,534 (- 1.7%)
09/2011: Tiny Titans #44 --  7,619 (+ 1.1%)
10/2011: Tiny Titans #45 --  7,836 (+ 2.9%)
11/2011: Tiny Titans #46 --  7,748 (- 1.1%)
12/2011: Tiny Titans #47 --  7,689 (- 0.8%)
01/2012: Tiny Titans #48 --  7,819 (+ 1.7%)
02/2012: Tiny Titans #49 --  7,862 (+ 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: + 4.4%
1 year  : + 5.9%
2 years : - 8.2%

A Johnny DC title. See small-print.
—–

219 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo)
02/2010: Sweet Tooth #6  --  9,740
----------------------------------
02/2011: Sweet Tooth #18 --  8,466 (- 0.7%)
03/2011: Sweet Tooth #19 --  8,532 (+ 0.8%)
04/2011: Sweet Tooth #20 --  8,361 (- 2.0%)
05/2011: Sweet Tooth #21 --  8,360 (- 0.0%)
06/2011: Sweet Tooth #22 --  8,252 (- 1.3%)
07/2011: Sweet Tooth #23 --  8,018 (- 2.8%)
08/2011: Sweet Tooth #24 --  7,948 (- 0.9%)
09/2011: Sweet Tooth #25 --  7,896 (- 0.7%)
10/2011: Sweet Tooth #26 --  7,963 (+ 0.9%)
11/2011: Sweet Tooth #27 --  7,923 (- 0.5%)
12/2011: Sweet Tooth #28 --  7,699 (- 2.8%)
01/2012: Sweet Tooth #29 --  8,128 (+ 5.6%)
02/2012: Sweet Tooth #30 --  7,584 (- 6.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.6%
1 year  : -10.4%
2 years : -22.1%

The boost from last month’s variant edition disappears, as usual. Sweet Tooth remains the lowest-selling Vertigo title that hasn’t been cancelled.
—–

231 - YOUNG JUSTICE (Johnny DC)
02/2011: Young Justice #1  -- 10,777 (+14.5%)
03/2011: Young Justice #2  --  9,612 (-10.8%)
04/2011: Young Justice #3  --  9,407 (- 2.1%)
05/2011: Young Justice #4  --  9,729 (+ 3.4%)
06/2011: Young Justice #5  --  8,988 (- 7.6%)
07/2011: Young Justice #6  --  8,642 (- 3.9%)
08/2011: Young Justice #7  --  8,062 (- 6.7%)
09/2011: Young Justice #8  --  7,930 (- 1.6%)
10/2011: Young Justice #9  --  7,737 (- 2.4%)
11/2011: Young Justice #10 --  7,650 (- 1.1%)
12/2011: Young Justice #11 --  7,221 (- 5.6%)
01/2012: Young Justice #12 --  7,288 (+ 0.9%)
02/2012: Young Justice #13 --  7,237 (- 0.7%)
----------------
6 months: -10.2%
1 year  : -32.9%
236 - THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
02/2007: Batman Strikes! #30   --  7,335
02/2008: Batman Strikes! #42   --  6,623
02/2009: Brave & Bold #2       --  8,678
02/2010: Brave & Bold #14      --  6,084
----------------------------------------
02/2011: All-New BBB #4        --  6,561 (+  0.1%)
03/2011: All-New BBB #5        --  6,463 (-  1.5%)
04/2011: All-New BBB #6        --  6,324 (-  2.1%)
05/2011: All-New BBB #7        --  6,869 (+  8.6%)
06/2011: All-New BBB #8        --  6,645 (-  3.3%)
07/2011: All-New BBB #9        --  6,404 (-  3.6%)
08/2011: All-New BBB #10       --  6,351 (-  0.8%)
09/2011: All-New BBB #11       --  6,410 (+  0.9%)
10/2011: All-New BBB #12       --  6,771 (+  5.6%)
11/2011: All-New BBB #13       --  7,143 (+  5.5%)
12/2011: All-New BBB #14       --  6,724 (-  5.9%)
01/2012: All-New BBB #15       --  6,827 (+  1.5%)
02/2012: All-New BBB #16       --  7,105 (+  4.1%)
----------------
6 months: +11.9%
1 year  : + 8.3%
2 years : +16.8%
5 years : - 3.1%

Two more Johnny DC books.
—–

241 - MY GREATEST ADVENTURE
01/2011: Weird Worlds #1 of 6 -- 14,964
02/2011: Weird Worlds #2 of 6 -- 11,587 (- 22.6%)
03/2011: Weird Worlds #3 of 6 -- 10,470 (-  9.6%)
04/2011: Weird Worlds #4 of 6 --  9,665 (-  7.7%)
05/2011: Weird Worlds #5 of 6 --  9,043 (-  6.4%)
06/2011: Weird Worlds #6 of 6 --  8,536 (-  5.6%)
---------------------------------------
10/2011: MGA #1 of 6          -- 17,222 (+101.8%)
11/2011: MGA #2 of 6          -- 11,782 (- 31.6%)
12/2011: MGA #3 of 6          --  8,858 (- 24.8%)
01/2012: MGA #4 of 6          --  7,591 (- 14.3%)
02/2012: MGA #5 of 6          --  6,868 (-  9.5%)
----------------
1 year  : -40.7%

Another post-“New 52” DCU launch.
—–

245 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
02/2008: Northlanders #3  -- 14,699
02/2009: --
02/2010: Northlanders #25 --  7,807
-----------------------------------
02/2011: Northlanders #37 --  7,006 (+ 2.9%)
03/2011: Northlanders #38 --  7,020 (+ 0.2%)
04/2011: Northlanders #39 --  6,983 (- 0.5%)
05/2011: Northlanders #40 --  7,055 (+ 1.0%)
06/2011: Northlanders #41 --  6,954 (- 1.4%)
07/2011: Northlanders #42 --  6,989 (+ 0.5%)
08/2011: Northlanders #43 --  6,901 (- 1.3%)
09/2011: Northlanders #44 --  6,858 (- 0.6%)
10/2011: Northlanders #45 --  6,973 (+ 1.7%)
11/2011: Northlanders #46 --  6,792 (- 2.6%)
12/2011: --
01/2012: Northlanders #47 --  6,665 (- 1.9%)
02/2012: Northlanders #48 --  6,609 (- 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.2%
1 year  : - 5.7%
2 years : -15.4%

Cancelled with issue #50.
—–

259 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
02/2007: Scalped #2  -- 10,005
02/2008: Scalped #14 --  6,903
02/2009: Scalped #25 --  6,887
02/2010: Scalped #34 --  6,731
02/2010: Scalped #35 --  6,443
------------------------------
02/2011: Scalped #46 --  6,179 (- 0.1%)
03/2011: Scalped #47 --  6,222 (+ 0.7%)
04/2011: Scalped #48 --  6,272 (+ 0.8%)
05/2011: --
06/2011: Scalped #49 --  6,333 (+ 1.0%)
06/2011: Scalped #50 --  6,471 (+ 2.2%)
07/2011: --
08/2011: Scalped #51 --  6,409 (- 1.0%)
09/2011: Scalped #52 --  6,270 (- 2.2%)
10/2011: Scalped #53 --  6,203 (- 1.1%)
11/2011: Scalped #54 --  6,157 (- 0.7%)
12/2011: --
01/2012: Scalped #55 --  6,083 (- 1.2%)
02/2012: Scalped #56 --  5,999 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.4%
1 year  : - 2.9%
2 years : - 8.9%
5 years : -40.0%

Ending with issue #60.
—–

262 - SUPERNATURAL
10/2011: Supernatrl #1 of 6 --  8,896
11/2011: Supernatrl #2 of 6 --  7,506 (-15.6%)
12/2011: Supernatrl #3 of 6 --  6,638 (-11.6%)
01/2012: Supernatrl #4 of 6 --  6,251 (- 5.8%)
02/2012: Supernatrl #5 of 6 --  5,969 (- 4.5%)

A TV adaptation.
—–

283 - UNCHARTED
11/2011: Uncharted #1 of 6 -- 6,171
12/2011: Uncharted #2 of 6 -- 4,532 (-26.6%)
01/2012: Uncharted #3 of 6 -- 4,643 (+ 2.5%)
02/2012: Uncharted #4 of 6 -- 4,903 (+ 5.6%)

A video-game adaptation.
—–

291 - SCOOBY DOO: WHERE ARE YOU? (Johnny DC)
02/2007: Scooby Doo #117 -- 4,275
02/2008: Scooby Doo #129 -- 4,161
02/2009: Scooby Doo #141 -- 3,861
02/2010: Scooby Doo #153 -- 3,780
---------------------------------
02/2011: SD:WAY? #6      -- 4,456 (- 1.9%)
03/2011: SD:WAY? #7      -- 4,522 (+ 1.5%)
04/2011: SD:WAY? #8      -- 4,599 (+ 1.7%)
05/2011: SD:WAY? #9      -- 4,838 (+ 5.2%)
06/2011: SD:WAY? #10     -- 4,774 (- 1.3%)
07/2011: SD:WAY? #11     -- 4,791 (+ 0.4%)
08/2011: SD:WAY? #12     -- 4,686 (- 2.2%)
09/2011: SD:WAY? #13     -- 4,701 (+ 0.3%)
10/2011: SD:WAY? #14     -- ?
11/2011: SD:WAY? #15     -- 4,701
12/2011: SD:WAY? #16     -- 4,627 (- 1.6%)
01/2012: SD:WAY? #17     -- 4,533 (- 2.0%)
02/2012: SD:WAY? #18     -- 4,655 (+ 2.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.7%
1 year  : - 4.5%
2 years : +23.2%
5 years : + 8.9%

Another Johnny DC book.
—–

300 - GEARS OF WAR
02/2009: GoW #4  -- 12,864
02/2010: --
--------------------------
02/2011: --
03/2011: GoW #16 --  4,719 (+ 0.2%)
04/2011: --
05/2011: --
06/2011: GoW #17 --  4,652 (- 1.4%)
07/2011: GoW #18 --  4,327 (- 7.0%)
08/2011: GoW #19 --  ?
09/2011: --
10/2011: GoW #20 --  ?
11/2011: --
12/2011: GoW #21 --  4,374
01/2012: --
02/2012: GoW #22 --  4,185 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: ?
1 year  : n.a.
2 years : n.a.

Another video-game adaptation, cancelled with issue #24.

One more adaptation, End of Nations #4, also shipped in January, but failed to make the chart. As always, for the purposes of the average-sales statistics below, I’m assuming it sold as many units as the No. 300 title on the chart, which was 4,185 in February.
—–

REORDERS:
268:  5,626 -- Batman #1 (3rd)
280:  4,964 -- Detective Comics #1 (5th)
292:  4,562 -- Justice League #1 (6th)
298:  4,288 -- Batman #5

—–

"NEW 52" #6 CHANGES
+  0.4%: Dark Knight
-------
-  2.5%: Aquaman
-  2.7%: Justice League
-  2.7%: Teen Titans
-  3.5%: I, Vampire
-  3.7%: Batman and Robin
-  3.8%: All-Star Western
-  3.8%: New Guardians
-  3.9%: Green Lantern
-  4.2%: BoP
-  5.0%: Batman
-  5.0%: Detective Comics
-  5.0%: Flash
-------
-  5.1%: Animal Man
-  5.2%: Batwoman
-  5.4%: GL Corps
-  5.4%: Nightwing
-  5.5%: Superman
-  5.8%: Suicide Squad
-  5.9%: Catwoman
-  5.9%: Swamp Thing
-  6.0%: Wonder Woman
-  6.3%: Red Hood
-  6.4%: JLD
-  6.6%: Supergirl
-  6.8%: Batgirl
-  7.1%: Voodoo
-  7.5%: Red Lanterns
-  7.8%: Superboy
-  8.4%: DCU Presents
-  8.6%: LoSH
-  8.8%: JLI
-  9.1%: Demon Knights
-  9.4%: Hawk & Dove
-  9.8%: Legion Lost
- 10.0%: Batwing
- 10.0%: Frankenstein
- 10.0%: Grifter
-------
- 10.2%: Firestorm
- 10.4%: Green Arrow
- 10.4%: Stormwatch
- 10.5%: Resurrection Man
- 10.6%: Blue Beetle
- 10.8%: Deathstroke
- 11.1%: Hawkman
- 11.7%: Action Comics
- 12.5%: Blackhawks
- 12.7%: Captain Atom
- 13.1%: Static Shock
- 13.5%: OMAC
- 14.4%: Men of War
-------
- 16.0%: Mister Terrific

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+152.4%: All-Star Western
+148.2%: Batman
+145.6%: Action Comics
+137.7%: Detective Comics
+134.2%: Batgirl
+107.5%: Teen Titans
+ 95.9%: Supergirl
+ 93.9%: Superman
+ 85.4%: Wonder Woman
+ 68.9%: Superboy
+ 45.8%: Dark Knight
+ 33.0%: Batman and Robin
+ 26.0%: Green Arrow
+ 23.3%: JLA
+ 21.8%: BB Unlimited
+ 16.6%: BoP
+ 13.8%: New Guardians
+ 11.9%: All-New BBB
+  9.6%: LoSH
+  6.1%: THUNDER Agents
+  4.4%: Tiny Titans
+  1.9%: Hellblazer
-  0.7%: Scooby-Doo
-  4.1%: GL Corps
-  4.2%: Northlanders
-  4.6%: Sweet Tooth
-  5.5%: Fables
-  6.4%: Scalped
-  7.4%: American Vampire
-  9.7%: Unwritten
- 10.2%: Young Justice
- 12.8%: I, Zombie
- 25.3%: DCU Online

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+204.4%: Justice League
+202.5%: Acttion Comics
+155.2%: ASW
+141.4%: Detective Comics
+118.5%: Batman
+117.9%: Batgirl
+103.0%: Teen Titans
+ 75.6%: Supergirl
+ 71.4%: Superman
+ 64.0%: Wonder Woman
+ 31.6%: Green Lantern
+ 25.8%: Superboy
+ 21.6%: Flash
+ 15.6%: Batman and Robin
+ 12.3%: New Guardians
+  8.3%: All-New BBB
+  5.9%: Tiny Titans
+  0.9%: Hellblazer
-  0.9%: BoP
-  1.3%: LoSH
-  2.9%: Scalped
-  3.0%: GL Corps
-  4.5%: Scooby-Doo
-  5.7%: Northlanders
-  8.2%: BB Unlimited
-  9.3%: Fables
- 10.4%: Sweet Tooth
- 11.3%: Green Arrow
- 11.4%: THUNDER Agents
- 13.6%: American Vampire
- 14.8%: Unwritten
- 25.4%: I, Zombie
- 32.9%: Young Justice
- 34.7%: Batman: Odyssey
- 40.7%: MGA
- 62.9%: DCU

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+223.7%: Action Comics
+144.8%: Justice League
+133.4%: ASW
+121.0%: Superman
+113.7%: Wonder Woman
+109.6%: Batman
+100.3%: Teen Titans
+ 80.0%: Batgirl
+ 23.2%: Scooby-Doo
+ 16.8%: All-New BBB
+ 16.1%: Supergirl
+  2.7%: Green Arrow
-  1.5%: Green Lantern
-  3.9%: Flash
-  4.7%: Hellblazer
-  8.2%: Tiny Titans
-  8.9%: Scalped
- 15.4%: Northlanders
- 18.4%: Batman and Robin
- 22.1%: Sweet Tooth
- 29.0%: Unwritten
- 32.4%: GL Corps

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 99.6%: Catwoman
+ 71.0%: Detective Comics
+ 64.1%: Stormwatch
+ 62.4%: Nightwing
+ 54.5%: Batman
+ 51.7%: Green Lantern
+ 49.6%: ASW
+ 49.6%: Action Comics
+ 46.6%: GL Corps
+ 44.2%: Flash
+ 28.6%: Hawkman
+ 19.5%: Superman
+  8.9%: Scooby-Doo
+  7.2%: BoP
-  3.1%: All-New BBB
-  4.4%: Green Arrow
- 22.4%: Wonder Woman
- 25.4%: LoSH
- 26.7%: Hellblazer
- 26.9%: Supergirl
- 40.0%: Scalped

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

DC COMICS
02/2007: 31,051
02/2008: 27,652
02/2009: 23,080
02/2010: 26,199**
---------------
02/2011: 23,252 (+  6.1%)**
03/2011: 23,976 (+  3.1%)**
04/2011: 25,651 (+  7.0%)
05/2011: 24,561 (-  4.3%)**
06/2011: 25,814 (+  5.1%)**
07/2011: 26,138 (+  1.3%)**
08/2011: 25,632 (-  1.9%)**
09/2011: 57,224 (+123.3%)
10/2011: 51,280 (- 10.4%)**
11/2011: 41,414 (- 19.2%)**
12/2011: 35,397 (- 14.5%)**
01/2012: 33,887 (-  4.3%)**
02/2012: 31,535 (-  6.9%)**
-----------------
6 months: + 23.0%
1 year  : + 35.6%
2 years : + 20.4%
5 years : +  1.6%
DC UNIVERSE
02/2007: 39,976
02/2008: 35,994
02/2009: 30,224
02/2010: 35,895
---------------
02/2011: 25,887 (+  6.4%)**
03/2011: 26,720 (+  3.2%)**
04/2011: 29,126 (+  9.0%)
05/2011: 27,745 (-  4.7%)**
06/2011: 28,673 (+  3.4%)**
07/2011: 28,586 (-  0.3%)**
08/2011: 27,761 (-  2.9%)**
09/2011: 67,411 (+142.8%)
10/2011: 59,146 (- 12.3%)**
11/2011: 46,670 (- 21.1%)**
12/2011: 39,390 (- 15.6%)**
01/2012: 37,145 (-  5.7%)**
02/2012: 34,456 (-  7.2%)**
-----------------
6 months: + 24.1%
1 year  : + 33.1%
2 years : -  4.0%
5 years : - 13.8%
VERTIGO
02/2007: 11,855
02/2008: 10,885
02/2009: 11,353
02/2010:  9,256
---------------
02/2011: 10,295 (+ 1.5%)
03/2011: 10,450 (+ 1.5%)
04/2011: 10,014 (- 4.2%)
05/2011: 10,668 (+ 6.5%)
06/2011: 10,415 (- 2.4%)
07/2011: 10,784 (+ 3.5%)
08/2011: 10,147 (- 5.9%)
09/2011:  9,995 (- 1.5%)
10/2011: 10,643 (+ 6.5%)
11/2011: 10,355 (- 2.7%)
12/2011: 11,082 (+ 7.0%)
01/2012:  9,995 (- 9.8%)
02/2012: 10,252 (+ 2.6%)
-----------------
6 months: +  1.0%
1 year  : -  0.4%
2 years : + 10.8%
5 years : - 13.5%

—–
Disclaimers, et cetera

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

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

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

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

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

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

For a more lyrical approach to discussing sales figures that covers all the essentials in a more condensed, less tedious fashion, finally, go right here.

—–
Marc-Oliver Frisch writes about comics at his weblog and at Comicgate. You can also follow him on Twitter.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thank you for the analysis.

    A quick correction, however: 38 – Swamp Thing is listed between 45 – Catwoman and 51 – Red Hood and the Outlaws. Given its sales, I presume it should be listed as 48 – Swamp Thing.

  2. Resurrection Man sales make me sad.

    Just have to continue to buy and enjoy this book while I can I suppose.

  3. Matthew:

    “A quick correction, however: 38 – Swamp Thing is listed between 45 – Catwoman and 51 – Red Hood and the Outlaws.”

    Thanks, but that’s precisely as it should be. The explanation is cleverly hidden in the text.

  4. The only two DC titles on my horizon are Earth 2 and Dial H. Other than that not replacing any DC titles that I’m dropping.

  5. Not surprised that Action is still experiencing double-digit declines. It’s been wildly inconsistent on various levels. Detective will probably pass it in sales soon; I guess we’re in a weird era in which Batman + Tony Daniel > Superman + Grant Morrison, at least in terms of sales.

    It’s a shame that books like Frankenstein and Demon Knights aren’t doing a little better. I don’t read either of them (might pick up the trades), but have heard such positive things about those titles from various internet comics sites. On the other hand, Animal Man seems to be selling just fine even though it only has a marginally better online buzz than Frankenstein and Demon Knights…

  6. Good to see the success Jonah Hex is having in All-Star Western. Although the book has changed slightly with the ‘Hex meets civilization’ tone, I’m still enjoying it.

    On a side note, I almost dropped this book over the history the name has associated with it and the end of the Justice Society’s run in All-Star Comics.

  7. I have not bought a DC or Vertigo book since the relaunch and won’t. My comic guy tried to give me a copy of New Deadwardians because they over-shipped him; I would not take it. I love Morrison and Frankenstein / Shade type DC stuff and I won’t touch it. I hope other fans are withholding their $2.99. I sympathize BryanD, Ressurection Man is a great character and I would have read it had things not been handled the way they were. Before Watchmen sealed it, I hope I am hurting them, even if in some small way.

  8. @STAM – It seems like you were predicting half the titles would be cancelled by issue 12 during the December numbers. Now you say half will be cancelled by January 2013? Looks like you’re adjusting your negative predictions..?
    Respectfully, kdc

  9. Just saw the July 2012 solicits and DC must be setting the bar really low here if those books which were to be cancelled still have not been officially removed yet. It gives hope for some titles sliding out of the top 100 to hold out a bit longer. I’m relatively sure DC isn’t changing its philosophy to an indie publisher and waiting for a book to drop below 5,000 copies before cancelling it.

  10. “I hope I am hurting them, even if in some small way.”

    —did you read this article? did you see the numbers?

    carry on…

  11. Over on Bleeding Cool they’re saying rumor has it (as is always the case with that site) DC is wanting to cancel twelve (12) additional (excluding what’s going to hit in April/May) titles within the next year or so. OUCH.

    I, too, am sad to see the sales for Resurrection Man. But I have to say, am I the only one that just doesn’t feel like the writers are giving it their all? Or is it just a slow burn book, and readers are impatient. Cause the storyline kinda dropped off so the main character could start making his required “around the DC universe” visits. But it sorta put a cramp in what was a good storyline so far. Still love it though, I’ll stick it out til the (obvious?) end…

  12. For the life of me I can’t understand how this is an okay way to do business. Once or twice a year Marvel and DC put together some big marketing event to sell-in more units, but a standard decline just keeps continuing month after month. I realize that they are both just IP farms at this point, and the periodical business is a loss leader for the parent companies. But are the people in charge so bereft of ideas that they can’t dare to risk trying something new creatively to actually grow circulation, not just artifically stimulate it? From where I’m standing the marketing isn’t even getting more readers, just moving more units to retailers, whether those units are returnable, more deeply discounted or completely free.

  13. DC, please keep Sweet Tooth around out of charity if nothing else. It’s a real shame it is selling so poorly. As for the New 52, I am buying more DC books than I was before (which was zero), but it’s more “having discovered Lemire and Snyder” than anything. The second wave of titles doesn’t look even remotely interesting to me.

  14. Chris said: “I have not bought a DC or Vertigo book since the relaunch and won’t. …Before Watchmen sealed it, I hope I am hurting them, even if in some small way.”

    … What? Anyway, I hope Sweet Tooth sticks around too. I’m surprised Swamp Thing’s dropping a bit (though still doing well considering) because I think it’s doing a very fine job of being creepy and atmospheric. I dropped Action Comics. There’s something off about the way it’s written that prevents me from getting into the story and characters. It feels unnecessarily distant to me. But other than that and Batwoman I’ve stuck with all the other New 52 books I had started with.

  15. Apart from the top 20-25 titles, everything else in the nu52 is losing approx 10% of reader a month! Not good at all. Even Frankenstein – which I’m a little in shock about, because I’m loving it! and OMAC – which gets alot of praise (so it must be a small, vocal group!).

    And I hope and pray that don’t cancel Sweet Tooth. I only just started on the trades a few months back! And I’m loving it! Has Lemire said how long he wants the series to run for? Arn’t majority of Vertigo series 50-60 issues?

    And to everyone who hasn’t tried Scalped? Buy the first trade and you’ll be hooked! It kind of reminds me of Sons of Anarchy meets The Shield. Gritty and Addictive!

  16. @Chris – is your only reason for not reading DC because they had their reboot? Because that just sounds silly, especially as your saying you want to read certain titles, but won’t? You are missing out on some great reads.

    Whats irritating me alot lately is the decompression that going way over the top! The first Batman & Robin story is 8 issues! Eight months to tell ONE STORY! It is dragging something shocking! When I finished issue #6 and it was still to be continued, I was pissed! We used to get 3 issue arcs! 4 stories a year! Now we won’t even be getting 2. I’ll be canceling it.

  17. “My comic guy tried to give me a copy of New Deadwardians because they over-shipped him; I would not take it.”

    Not sure how much you’re hurting DC but you’re certainly hurting your comic book guy.

  18. @James: I like Batman and Robin but also couldn’t believe it had 8 issues to its first arc. I felt the same way about the regular Batman title but now I see the whole City of Owls thing is going to be a crossover so that one might be even longer. Is Frankenstein good? I looked through the first issue but it didn’t grab me and haven’t really looked at it since.

  19. Sadly a lot of my favs from the relaunch are down near the bottom. So I’ll plug them and give them some love. Winick is developing a real interesting backdrop for Batwing; this is a fringe bat-book that does everything right. It leans on the parent book just enough, and then develops its own mythology against a realistic backdrop.

    All-Star Western is PERFECT. The previous volume had all done-in-one’s, which sometimes didn’t allow the story to breathe. This format is working great for the team.

    I, Vampire is a creepy horror book which is aptly spiced with Jae Lee-style art. The story is moving at a break-neck speed, but I appreciate the long-form story-telling.

    And Demon Knights is fantasy setting pilfering a smidge from Morrison’s Seven Soldiers. Art is great and the characters are working well for the story.

    Give these books a try, either for the CHEAP collected trades, or online at the discounted price.

  20. @PeterCSM730 Yeah, Frankenstein is great, in a noisy, smashy, monster movie with loads of destruction kind of way. Definitely deserving of a wider readership.

  21. I can’t stand Winick b/c he gave Mia Dearden HIV and killed Lian Harper (god forbid he quit the title in protest and then go to Twitter to alert the fans that DC was trying to kill a little girl).

    So I’m glad to see that Batwing is collapsing.

  22. My point was I would have been reading some of the smaller titles and helping DC’s sales there. (although I am just 1 man). I really don’t see any issue with withholding dollars out of principal. And I am happy overall with comics in fact not reading DC has allowed me to go back and check out things I would have missed. Example I never read Goon and just burned through 9 trades which is also good for my comic guy. Apologies for my silliness.


  23. Has Lemire said how long he wants the series to run for?

    When it started, I think he said he pictured 25 or 30 issues. We’re already past that, obviously. He was a pretty new writer at the time and I’m sure he had no idea how long he would be allowed to go, and probably wasn’t entirely sure how long it would take to get to his destination. I imagine once they get to Alaska (if they get to Alaska), we’ll be nearing the end instead of it being open-ended from there. I hope we get an entire story, no matter how soon it ends–something that may find second life on bookshelves. All I know is it continues to be good every month, and we’re getting another one of those neat “childrens’ book” issues soon.

  24. Green Arrow is doing okay? Six issues in, it’s already lower than the Smith/Winick run was after seventy-fricking-one issues.

    DC damn well better be willing to bring back the real Ollie, with his family and all, and bury this reboot ASAP.

  25. @Chris – thats ok, don’t apologise. To each their own. I was just curious (and still am)why your boycotting DC.

    @saipaman – one was just announced! And I’m at least buying the first 4 months worth! 4 single issue stories! A done in one a month! FINALLY!!

    @Jackie – didn’t Winnick create Mia? I’m sure it was on the cards for her to have HIV all along. I think its actually a positive (that wasn’t meant to be a pun!). You can still live a long healthy life while having HIV and he showed that with Mia.

  26. based on the July solicits it appears Sweet Tooth is getting into the last stories (prehaps arc).

    “This is the issue fans have been waiting for as the mysteries of SWEET TOOTH are revealed and the story amps up to its climax!”

    Sure seems like the run is ending sooner rather than later.

  27. “I can’t stand Winick b/c he gave Mia Dearden HIV and killed Lian Harper.”

    1. These are fictional characters. Winick did not hurt or kill anybody.

    2. He did not write Cry for Justice either, but you keep on believing he did anyway.

  28. “@Jackie – didn’t Winnick create Mia? I’m sure it was on the cards for her to have HIV all along. I think its actually a positive (that wasn’t meant to be a pun!). You can still live a long healthy life while having HIV and he showed that with Mia.”

    Kevin Smith created her. But I assume Phil Hester gets co-creator credit and he was still with the book when the HIV story was published.

  29. Yeah, Winnick wasn’t even writing Green Arrow when MIA was killed. That was probably the dude that is writing Captain Atom right now, whose name I forget.

  30. Still buying Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Batman, Batwoman, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and stayed with OMAC till the end. Dropped Stormwatch, it’s yet another failed Authority knockoff after all.

  31. GREEN ARROW is not only doing worse than the Winnick run, it’s doing a hell lot of worse than last year’s series! BoP too! And GREEN LANTERN CORPS! And the other GL spin-offs! And JLI! And SUPERBOY! And LEGION! DCnU collapses month after month having alienated old fans for nothing. I mean I have given up even LEGION which was not rebooted along with the rest of New 52 crap! My love for DC Comics is gone and I really take joy now watching Didio’s “I’ll be the new Stan Lee” dream crash and burn month after month! Well Didio, if you envisioned yourself as the New Stan Lee you should have created new characters instead of destroying other people’s creations! But you knew yours would not sell so you had to play it on the safe side; except it backfired!

  32. Wow, a whole month with no attacks on Marc-Oliver! It’s almost like everyone’s acting like adults – well, with one exception…

    @Jackie Haas – Really? Really? There is not a single right thing about that entire post.

  33. “Wow, a whole month with no attacks on Marc-Oliver!”

    I think I can state the number of attacks on MOF will greatly decline as long as he’s not the one doing these posts.

    Mike

  34. I’m in agreement that the 6 to 8 month arcs are killers. I’m old enough to remember when the comics used to have two to three stories per issue. (Ah, those were the days!) Now, the arcs are so long that I often forget what was happening back at the beginning of the story some months before — compounded by the fact that I’m reading several of these drawn-out stories each month. Worse, eight months into the new 52 and I don’t feel like I really know most of these new incarnations like I should, or even care.

    Continuity is something of a mess, especially in the Batman books: there are several titles in the franchise, but I can’t tell which order the arcs are supposed to run — or if it even matters. (Boy, I really miss the days when continuity flowed smoothly – more or less – from one franchise title to the next.)

    In my estimation, the winning titles are Batwing (the most interesting and easiest to follow of the Bat-books), Action Comics (one of the best Superman runs I’ve read in a decade and a half), Stormwatch (an intriguing read), Frankenstein, and I Vampire (one of the few genuine surprises of the bunch — seriously, I had no great expectations for this one at all; boy, was I wrong). There are several others I also find enjoyable, but the biggest disappointment to me has been Green Arrow, which bears no relation whatsoever to the character I’ve loved and enjoyed for decades, except that he shoots arrows. And the first couple of issues by the new creative team just left me dismayed, disappointed and disgusted, not to mention disinterested, so I’m dropping it.

  35. I don’t think it’s particularly illuminating to compare sales of “Stormwatch” with sales of the 2007-2009 “Stormwatch PHD,” since the series concepts are quite different, and, as far as I can recall, they don’t even feature any of the same characters. The current “Stormwatch” is basically a reboot of the revisionist Warren Ellis-created superhero team title “The Authority”–which, admittedly, did evolve out of an earlier WildStorm superhero team book called “Stormwatch.” The late lamented “Stormwatch PHD,” on the other hand, was closer to a WildStorm equivalent of the Gotham City police procedural (with occasional glimpses of the Bat, or, more often, Bat-villains like Two Face or the Joker) “Gotham Central.” The main difference was that the more “ground level” characters of Stormwatch PHD weren’t actually cops, and, unlike the typical Gotham City police detective, most members of the (mostly non-costume-wearing) Stormwatch PHD squad did have relatively low key, not particularly useful–or at least showy–in a fight super-powers. (The official field leader of the team was an African-American ex-SWAT team commander who had no metahuman powers at all, but a lot more training and experience in police and first-responder-type work than any of his subordinates.)

    To compare sales of the current version of “Stormwatch” with the previous iteration of the alien spaceship-dwelling high-powered super-team whose membership includes Apollo, Midnighter, Jenny Quantum, the Engineer, and Jack Hawksmoor, you’d have to evaluate them against sales figures for whichever mini- or maxiseries featuring the Authority appeared most recently before the New 52 was launched.

  36. I was also disappointed to spot buried in the fine print the information that my favorite Vertigo title, “iZombie” (a series by Chris [“Cinderella: Fables Are Forever”] Roberson and Mike Allred whose premise could best be described as a cross between a much more female-centric version of “Supernatural” and “What if Veronica Mars were a mystery-solving smart zombie with a were-terrier and a miniskirted 1960’s-vintage ghost as sidekicks?”), is set to be cancelled after issue #28.

  37. Thanks Joe! I’ve read both runs, but its been a while. I didn’t even know she actually died. So I’ll just shut up now!

    I think the neg comments towards Marc arn’t there, because he didn’t really say much this month. ;)

    I don’t collect iZombie – but mentioning that its like Veronica Mars (one of my favorite shows!) has me intrigued!

    Going back to the decompression subject – I just read Batman #7, and while Snyder has been a favorite of mine lately, (his detective run was awesome!) nothing happened! It was just page after page of nothing happening! When I was finished – I was thinking the whole issue could of been told in 5 pages! – And there is still something like 5 more months to go! 1 whole story in a year. 12 months. 1 arc. Its insane!

  38. James–

    You should read the latest Swamp Thing. It could basically be summed up:

    Swamp Thing to horde: “I’m going to kick your ass!”

    And then he takes two swings.

    Obviously a bit of an exaggeration, but if you have a problem with that Batman issue, that one would really sting.

    I’ve only read the first 11 issues of iZombie, but I didn’t get a VM vibe from it. I did kind of have a comic crush on the Gwen Stacy-like ghost girl, though.

  39. >DC needs a new title, “Done in One”. I’d probably buy it to support the concept.

    DC recently announced NATIONAL COMICS, a series of one-shots.

    LL

  40. I, Vampire is now a title “that mixes Super Heroes [sic] and horror,”

    I’ve noticed that both Marvel and DC have been spelling “superhero” as “Super Hero” lately – I wonder if this has to do with trying to hold onto their shared trademark, now that the word “superhero” has become part of common usage.

  41. >Why doesn’t DC switch to miniseries and one-shots only?

    Dropping regular series would be financial suicide for the publishers and badly damage retailers. The industry likely would collapse.

    LL

  42. Do you remember the action movies in the 90s? There was a Rambo – like leading character (usually acted by Stallone himself, or by Schwarzenegger) forced to fight against innumerous enemies: any other man would have been doomed, but our hero, with his guns, muscles, fight techniques and (last but not least) brain, was always able to find a way out. “Grifter” has the same storyboard, it is the exact translation of those movies in the comic book language: no matter how many enemies he has to face and how complicated their plans are, you can be sure Grifter will find a solution to all his problems. The stories are easy but cleverly written, and the drawings are simply explosive. It is definitely one of the best DC comics right now, so I can’t understand why it doesn’t sell: it should be at the top of the list of every comic book lover.

  43. I take back dropping Stormwatch, it’s good again now that Peter Milligan’s taken over. I agree with the above that it should be compared to whatever Authority series last lived, however. DC’s scared of the title still, if not of the characters any longer.