By David Carter
It’s time once again to look at DC’s sales figures.
Once again DC takes the top two slots on the Diamond sales charts. But February is a down month overall for the Diamond NA comics market, and DC follows suit. Forever Evil returns with a new issue in February, but both Sandman Overture and Superman Unchained are still MIA. When retailers tie up their order volume with large orders for comics that don’t ship, that means fewer potential sales across the board.
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.
(Mea Culpa Department: In reviewing last month’s column while preparing this month’s, I discovered several places where the historical comparisons were off due mainly to transcription errors. Most of these were minor, and I’ll chalk it up to it being my first-month. For a couple of titles the errors were a bit more severe, and I’ve noted those places below.)
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1 - BATMAN ($3.99) 02/2004: Batman #624 -- 84,081 02/2009: Batman #686 -- 111,353 [128,780] 02/2010: Batman #696 -- 61,290 02/2011: Batman #707 -- 58,803 02/2012: Batman #6 -- 128,459 [135,435] ------------------------------- 02/2013: Batman #17 -- 150,684 (+ 3.3%) 03/2013: Batman #18 -- 137,893 (- 8.5%) 04/2013: Batman #19 -- 132,147 (- 4.2%) 05/2013: Batman #20 -- 129,039 (- 2.4%) 06/2013: Batman #21 -- 142,088 (+ 21.5%) [156,845] 07/2013: Batman #22 -- 132,047 (- 15.8%) 08/2013: Batman #23 -- 128,230 (- 2.9%) 09/2013: #23.1: Jkr -- 151,351 (+ 18.0%) 09/2013: #23.2: Rdlr -- 140,065 (- 7.5%) 09/2013: #23.3: Pngn -- 120,026 (- 14.3%) 09/2013: #23.4: Bane -- 124,382 (+ 7.6%) [129,156] 10/2013: Batman #24 -- 124,652 (- 3.5%) 11/2013: Batman #25 -- 125,602 (+ 0.8%) 12/2013: Batman #26 -- 119,443 (- 4.9%) 01/2014: Batman #27 -- 115,492 (- 1.7%) [117,395] 02/2014: Batman #28 -- 114,089 (- 1.3%) [115,891] ----------------- 6 months: - 9.6% 1 year : - 23.0% 2 years : - 14.4% 5 years : - 9.9% 10 years: + 37.9% Since #1: - 48.1%
DC’s flagship title—outselling even their major crossover series—shows a slight dip. This issue took an (unsolicited) break from the “Zero Year” storyline to flash forward into a preview for the upcoming Batman Eternal comic.
An additional 1802 copies came from the combo edition, the only one of DC’s combo editions to show up in the top 400. Kind of makes one wonder why they bother with the combo editions at all…
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2 - FOREVER EVIL ($3.99) 09/2013: Forever Evil #1 -- 139,976 [147,016] 10/2013: Forever Evil #2 -- 112,944 (- 23.2%) 11/2013: Forever Evil #3 -- 105,755 (- 6.4%) 12/2013: Forever Evil #4 -- 99,351 (- 6.1%) 01/2014: -- 02/2014: Forever Evil #5 -- 92,014 (- 7.4%) ----------------- Since #1: - 37.4%
Forever Evil returns after missing a month, and it’s still dropping. With two issue left to go, it seems unlikely that the first major crossover of the New 52 era will finish above 90K. (Marvel’s most recent crossover, Infinity, finished with all six issues above 100K.) Also, as is frequently the case when major crossovers start to run late, the already projected delay in the final issue will ripple through the line, causing delays in other titles such as Justice League and Nightwing.
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5 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ($3.99) 02/2004: JLA #93 -- 57,461 02/2009: JL of America #30 -- 69,710 02/2010: JL of America #42 -- 57,522 02/2011: JL of America #54 -- 46,269 02/2012: Justice League #6 -- 140,819 --------------------------------------- 02/2013: Justice League #17 -- 105,304 (- 10.6%) 03/2013: Justice League #18 -- 102,494 (- 2.7%) 04/2013: Justice League #19 -- 100,943 (- 1.5%) 05/2013: Justice League #20 -- 97,676 (- 3.2%) 06/2013: Justice League #21 -- 94,054 (- 3.7%) 07/2013: Justice League #22 -- 110,194 (+ 17.2%) [124,026] 08/2013: Justice League #23 -- 103,936 (- 6.4%) 09/2013: #23.1: Darkseid -- 111,142 (+ 6.9%) 09/2013: #23.2: Lobo -- 79,244 (- 28.7%) 09/2013: #23.3: Dial E -- 64,119 (- 14.4%) [67,855] 09/2013: #23.4: Secret Socty -- 78,014 (+ 23.1%) [83,500] 10/2013: Justice League #24 -- 98,491 (+ 18.0%) 12/2013: Justice League #25 -- 94,004 (- 4.6%) 12/2013: Justice League #26 -- 90,592 (- 3.6%) 01/2014: Justice League #27 -- 84,674 (- 6.5%) 02/2014: Justice League #28 -- 80,901 (- 4.5%) ----------------- 6 months: - 22.2% 1 year : - 23.2% 2 years : - 42.5% 5 years : + 16.1% 10 years: + 40.8% Since #1: - 70.2%
Forever Evil continues to push down sales on Justice League, as perhaps readers want more of the actual Justice League in a comic titled Justice League. On the other hand, 80K is a fantastic number for what is essentially the first issue of a New 52 Metal Men comic.
This title will not ship in March due to Forever Evil lateness…
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are being outsold by Image’s The Walking Dead…)
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11 - HARLEY QUINN ($2.99) 11/2013: Harley Quinn #0 -- 114,212 [121,172] 12/2013: Harley Quinn #1 -- 92,153 (- 14.5%) [103,591] 01/2014: Harley Quinn #2 -- 66,363 (- 29.9%) [ 73,358] 02/2014: Harley Quinn #3 -- 63,967 (- 12.8%) ----------------- Since #0: - 45.2%
Initial orders are starting to level around above 60K, and there are reorders this month for issues #1 & #2, which means that, at least in some stores, there is greater reader demand than anticipated by retailers. That’s the kind of good news that DC needs for more of their titles.
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13 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN ($3.99) 02/2004: Superman/Batman #6 -- 99,930 [109,952] 02/2009: Superman/Batman #55 -- 43,962 02/2010: Superman/Batman #69 -- 33,224 02/2011: Superman/Batman #81 -- 29,567 --------------------------------------- 06/2013: Batman/Superman #1 -- 143,457 [151,054] 07/2013: Batman/Superman #2 -- 92,558 (-33.1%) [101,104] 08/2013: Batman/Superman #3 -- 87,337 (-13.6%) 09/2013: #3.1: Doomsday -- 92,290 (+10.4%) [96,453] 10/2013: Batman/Superman #4 -- 82,990 (-14.0%) 11/2013: Batman/Superman #5 -- 77,198 (- 7.0%) 12/2013: Batman/Superman #6 -- 68,857 (-10.8%) 01/2014: Batman/Superman #7 -- 61,074 (-11.3%) 02/2014: Batman/Superman #8 -- 59,138 (- 3.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 32.3% 5 years : + 34.5% 10 years: - 46.2% Since #1: - 60.8%
The start of the crossover with Worlds’ Finest—and the return of artist Jae Lee—sees the smallest drop yet, so the crossover may be having a slight positive effect.
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14 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99) 02/2004: Detective Comics #791 -- 34,995 02/2009: -- 02/2010: -- 02/2011: Detective Comics #874 -- 39,106 02/2012: Detective Comics #6 -- 94,415 ----------------------------------------- 02/2013: Detective Comics #17 -- 85,824 (- 7.0%) 03/2013: Detective Comics #18 -- 76,237 (- 11.2%) 04/2013: Detective Comics #19 -- 77,922 (+ 2.2%) 05/2013: Detective Comics #20 -- 78,252 (+ 0.4%) 06/2013: Detective Comics #21 -- 65,200 (- 16.7%) 07/2013: Detective Comics #22 -- 63,949 (- 1.9%) 08/2013: Detective Comics #23 -- 61,448 (- 3.9%) 09/2013: #23.1: Poison Ivy -- 78,522 (+ 27.8%) 09/2013: #23.2: Harley Quinn -- 89,636 (+ 14.2%) 09/2013: #23.3: Scarecrow -- 73,043 (- 18.5%) 09/2013: #23.4: Man-Bat -- 68,110 (- 6.8%) 10/2013: Detective Comics #24 -- 59,310 (- 12.9%) 11/2013: Detective Comics #25 -- 64,392 (+ 8.6%) 12/2013: Detective Comics #26 -- 56,538 (- 12.2%) 01/2014: Detective Comics #27 -- 88,702 (+ 59.8%) [90,335] 02/2014: Detective Comics #28 -- 56,619 (- 37.3%) ----------------- 6 months: - 7.9% 1 year : - 34.0% 2 years : - 40.0% 5 years : n.a. 10 years: + 61.8% Since #1: - 64.1%
After last month’s big anniversary issue, sales slide right back to where they were the issue before. A new creative team is set to come on in issue #30.
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15 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ($3.99) 02/2004: JLA #93 -- 57,461 02/2009: JL of America #30 -- 69,710 02/2010: JL of America #42 -- 57,522 02/2011: JL of America #54 -- 46,269 --------------------------------------- 02/2013: JL of America #1 -- 307,734 [326,959] 03/2013: JL of America #2 -- 91,734 (-71.9%) 04/2013: -- 05/2013: JL of America #3 -- 83,283 (- 9.2%) 05/2013: JL of America #4 -- 77,856 (- 6.5%) 06/2013: JL of America #5 -- 71,793 (- 7.8%) 07/2013: JL of America #6 -- 86,192 (+32.2%) [94,923] 08/2013: JL of America #7 -- 93,777 (- 1.2%) 09/2013: #7.1: Deadshot -- 66,815 (-28.8%) 09/2013: #7.2: Killer Frost -- 62,706 (- 6.2%) 09/2013: #7.3: Shadow Thief -- 60,397 (- 3.7%) 09/2013: #7.4: Black Adam -- 74,875 (+24.0%) 10/2013: JL of America #8 -- 77,305 (+ 3.2%) 11/2013: JL of America #9 -- 71,008 (- 8.1%) 12/2013: JL of America #10 -- 65,678 (- 7.5%) 01/2014: JL of America #11 -- 65,365 (- 0.5%) 02/2014: JL of America #12 -- 56,259 (-13.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 40.0% 1 year : - 82.8% 5 years : - 19.3% 10 years: - 2.1% Since #1: - 82.8%
Ouch. That’s a sizable drop as the Forever Evil crossover continues to take its toll. But looked at a different way, that’s a decent number for The Adventures of Stargirl and Martian Manhunter.
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22 - BATMAN: JOKER'S DAUGHTER ($4.99) 09/2013: Batman tDK #23.4: JkrsDgtr -- 64,952 [86,016] 02/2014: Batman Joker's Daughter #1 -- 51,066 (- 40.6%)
DC is putting out a few one-shots starring their supporting female characters, which seems like a good way to test the waters. Not surprisingly, the best selling is the one starring the popular new Joker’s Daughter character. Because Batman.
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25 - GREEN LANTERN/RED LANTERNS ($2.99) 02/2004: Green Lantern #174 -- 29,403 02/2009: Green Lantern #38 -- 68,908 [77,372] 02/2010: Green Lantern #51 -- 95,509 02/2011: Green Lantern #62 -- 71,517 02/2012: Green Lantern #6 -- 94,087 -------------------------------------- 02/2013: Green Lantern #17 -- 71,060 (- 2.5%) 03/2013: Green Lantern #18 -- 69,801 (- 1.8%) 04/2013: Green Lantern #19 -- 71,018 (+ 1.7%) 05/2013: Green Lantern #20 -- 67,414 (- 5.1%) 06/2013: Green Lantern #21 -- 71,870 (+ 6.6%) 07/2013: Green Lantern #22 -- 62,415 (-13.2%) 08/2013: Green Lantern #23 -- 59,176 (- 5.2%) 09/2013: #23.1: Relic -- 66,495 (+12.4%) 09/2013: #23.2: Mongul -- 63,731 (- 4.2%) 09/2013: #23.3: Black Hand -- 62,753 (- 1.5%) 09/2013: #23.4: Sinestro -- 70,893 (+13.0%) 10/2013: Green Lantern #24 -- 57,109 (-19.4%) 11/2013: Green Lantern #25 -- 54,322 (- 5.2%) 12/2013: Green Lantern #26 -- 51,420 (- 5.0%) 01/2013: Green Lantern #27 -- 48,831 (- 5.0%) 02/2013: GL/Red Lanterns#28 -- 49,200 (+ 0.8%) ----------------- 6 months: - 16.9% 1 year : - 30.8% 2 years : - 47.7% 5 years : - 36.4% 10 years: + 67.3% Since #1: - 70.9%
25 - GREEN LANTERN/RED LANTERNS ($2.99) 02/2012: Red Lanterns #6 -- 43,450 ----------------------------------- 02/2013: Red Lanterns #17 -- 35,839 (- 6.2%) 03/2013: Red Lanterns #18 -- 35,203 (- 1.8%) 04/2013: Red Lanterns #19 -- 34,673 (- 1.5%) 05/2013: Red Lanterns #20 -- 33,923 (- 2.2%) 06/2013: Red Lanterns #21 -- 37,312 (+ 10.0%) 07/2013: Red Lanterns #22 -- 35,236 (- 5.6%) 08/2013: Red Lanterns #23 -- 29,623 (- 15.9%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Red Lanterns #24 -- 30,771 (+ 3.9%) 11/2013: Red Lanterns #25 -- 27,786 (- 9.7%) 12/2013: Red Lanterns #26 -- 26,242 (- 5.6%) 01/2013: Red Lanterns #27 -- 24,477 (- 6.7%) 02/2013: Green Lant/RL#28 -- 49,200 (+101.0%) ---------------- 6 months: + 66.1% 1 year : + 37.3% 2 years : + 13.2% Since #1: - 44.8%
Viewed as an issue of Green Lantern, this merged/double issues shows a very slight increase (which is better than the typical -5% decrease for the past few months). As an issue of Red Lanterns, it’s a very impressive doubling of the usual sales. What this probably means is that most people who are regular readers of Red Lanterns are already regular readers of the main Green Lantern comic. The proof in the pudding will come in March & April, as we see how many readers stick around on Red Lanterns.
(Note: this will only count once in the summary statistics at the end of the column.)
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31 - SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN ($3.99) 10/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #1 -- 94,859 11/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #2 -- 60,185 (-36.6%) 12/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #3 -- 51,357 (-14.7%) 01/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #4 -- 47,350 (- 7.8%) 01/2014: Superman/Wonder Woman #5 -- 44,847 (- 5.3%) ----------------- Since #1: - 52.7%
The declines are decelerating. Should be selling more IMHO, given the nice job that Soule is doing mixing action with a bit of romance, and blending the sensibilities of the current Wonder Woman comic with the rest of the DCU. But there are a lot of Superman titles being published right now, and Wonder Woman has never really been able to support more that one title. Still, Wonder Woman fans who are unhappy with the take on the character in the New 52 may want to give this title another look.
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32 - BATMAN AND… ($2.99) 02/2010: Batman and Robin #8 -- 87,302 02/2011: Batman and Robin #20 -- 60,642 02/2012: Batman and Robin #6 -- 68,010 ---------------------------------------- 02/2013: Batman and Robin #17 -- 60,988 (-25.2%) 03/2013: Batman and Robin #18 -- 69,614 (+25.6%) [76,575] 04/2013: and Red Robin #19 -- 89,182 (+16.5%) 05/2013: and Red Hood #20 -- 65,222 (-26.9%) 06/2013: and Batgirl #21 -- 60,601 (- 7.1%) 07/2013: and Catwoman #22 -- 57,808 (- 4.6%) 08/2013: and Nightwing #23 -- 55,707 (- 3.6%) 09/2013: #23.1: Two-Face -- 77,073 (+38.4%) 09/2013: #23.2: Court of Owls -- 75,546 (- 2.0%) 09/2013: #23.3: Ra's al Ghul -- 73,746 (- 2.4%) 09/2013: #23.4: Killer Croc -- 69,428 (- 5.9%) 10/2013: and Two-Face #24 -- 52,060 (-25.0%) 11/2013: and Two-Face #25 -- 53,374 (+ 2.5%) 12/2013: and Two-Face #26 -- 46,611 (-12.7%) 01/2014: and Two-Face #27 -- 45,462 (- 2.5%) 02/2014: and Two-Face #28 -- 43,380 (- 4.6%) ---------------- 6 months: - 22.1% 1 year : - 28.9% 2 years : - 36.2% Since #1: - 62.6%
The final Two-Face issue shows more slippage. It’s fairly safe to say that Two-Face has not been the most popular of Batman’s co-stars on this book.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Dark Horse’s adaptation of an early draft of George Lucas’s Star Wars script…)
We’ve now reached the mid-list portion of DC’s sales: Those books that mostly feature their long time characters that tend to sell in the 30-40K range (barring any events, crossovers, reboots, creative team changes, etc.)
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44 - NIGHTWING ($2.99) 02/2004: Nightwing #90 -- 28,688 02/2009: Nightwing #153 -- 37,651 02/2012: Nightwing #6 -- 53,036 --------------------------------- 02/2013: Nightwing #17 -- 62,107 (-10.8%) 03/2013: Nightwing #18 -- 48,223 (-22.4%) [53,978] 04/2013: Nightwing #19 -- 46,978 (- 2.6%) 05/2013: Nightwing #20 -- 45,038 (- 4.1%) 06/2013: Nightwing #21 -- 43,353 (- 3.7%) 07/2013: Nightwing #22 -- 42,073 (- 3.0%) 08/2013: Nightwing #23 -- 40,522 (- 3.7%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Nightwing #24 -- 39,853 (- 1.7%) 11/2013: Nightwing #25 -- 44,039 (+10.5%) 12/2013: Nightwing #26 -- 38,452 (-12.7%) 01/2014: Nightwing #27 -- 38,325 (- 0.3%) 02/2014: Nightwing #28 -- 36,940 (- 3.6%) ----------------- 6 months: - 8.8% 1 year : - 40.5% 2 years : - 30.3% 5 years : - 1.9% 10 years: + 28.8% Since #1: - 57.8%
Continues its drift down to it final issue, #30—which is delayed until May due to Forever Evil lateness.
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47 - EARTH 2 ($2.99) 02/2013: Earth 2 #9 -- 48,208 (- 5.2%) 03/2013: Earth 2 #10 -- 46,213 (- 4.1%) 04/2013: Earth 2 #11 -- 45,468 (- 1.6%) 05/2013: Earth 2 #12 -- 43,983 (- 3.3%) 06/2013: Earth 2 #13 -- 42,916 (- 2.4%) 07/2013: Earth 2 #14 -- 42,022 (- 2.1%) 08/2013: Earth 2 #15 -- 40,845 (- 2.8%) 09/2013: #15.1: Desd -- 51,850 (+26.9%) 09/2013: #15.2: SlGr -- 52,369 (+ 1.0%) 10/2013: Earth 2 #16 -- 38,389 (-26.7%) 11/2013: Earth 2 #17 -- 39,846 (+ 3.8%) 12/2013: Earth 2 #18 -- 37,130 (- 6.8%) 01/2014: Earth 2 #19 -- 36,103 (- 2.8%) 02/2014: Earth 2 #20 -- 35,732 (- 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 12.5% 1 year : - 25.9% Since #1: - 65.1%
A tiny drop; looks to be stabilizing around 35K.
(Meanwhile, last month’s Earth 2 Annual sees an additional 1,624 in reorder activity.)
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48 - FOREVER EVIL: ARKHAM WAR ($2.99) 10/2013: Arkham War #1 of 6 -- 52,004 11/2013: Arkham War #2 of 6 -- 44,133 (-15.1%) 12/2013: Arkham War #3 of 6 -- 39,919 (- 9.5%) 01/2014: Arkham War #4 of 6 -- 37,973 (- 4.9%) 02/2014: Arkham War #5 of 6 -- 35,564 (- 6.3%) ----------------- Since #1: - 31.6%
Another drop for the Batman-related crossover tie-in mini-series.
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49 - BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT ($2.99) 02/2011: -- 02/2012: Dark Knight #6 -- 77,140 [80,464] ----------------------------------- 02/2013: Dark Knight #17 -- 55,990 (- 3.9%) 03/2013: Dark Knight #18 -- 54,269 (- 3.1%) 04/2013: Dark Knight #19 -- 52,644 (- 3.0%) 05/2013: Dark Knight #20 -- 50,423 (- 4.2%) 06/2013: Dark Knight #21 -- 48,612 (- 3.6%) 07/2013: Dark Knight #22 -- 47,096 (- 3.1%) 08/2013: Dark Knight #23 -- 45,584 (- 3.2%) 09/2013: #23.1: Vtrlqust -- 57,363 (+ 25.8%) 09/2013: #23.2: MrFreeze -- 57,349 (- 0.0%) 09/2013: #23.3: Clayface -- 55,084 (- 4.0%) 09/2013: #23.4: JkrsDgtr -- 64,952 (+ 56.2%) [86,016] 10/2013: Dark Knight #24 -- 43,382 (- 49.6%) 11/2013: Dark Knight #25 -- 41,634 (- 4.0%) 12/2013: Dark Knight #26 -- 39,980 (- 4.0%) 01/2014: Dark Knight #27 -- 37,898 (- 5.2%) 02/2014: Dark Knight #28 -- 35,455 (- 6.4%) ----------------- 6 months: - 22.2% 1 year : - 36.7% 2 years : - 55.9% Since #1: - 72.4%
The penultimate issue continues to slide.
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51 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99) 02/2004: Action Comics #812 -- 51,466 [70,458] 02/2009: Action Comics #874 -- 48,360 02/2010: Action Comics #886 -- 29,845 02/2011: Action Comics #898 -- 31,935 02/2012: Action Comics #6 -- 96,592 -------------------------------------- 02/2013: Action Comics #17 -- 57,189 (- 2.5%) 03/2013: Action Comics #18 -- 61,879 (+ 8.2%) 04/2013: Action Comics #19 -- 52,007 (- 16.0%) 05/2013: Action Comics #20 -- 48,324 (- 7.1%) 06/2013: Action Comics #21 -- 46,475 (- 3.8%) 07/2013: Action Comics #22 -- 44,861 (- 3.5%) 08/2013: Action Comics #23 -- 42,603 (- 5.0%) 09/2013: #23.1: Cyborg Smn -- 69,796 (+ 63.8%) 09/2013: #23.2: Zod -- 69,356 (- 0.6%) 09/2013: #23.3: Lex Luthor -- 67,621 (- 2.5%) 09/2013: #23.4: Metallo -- 51,807 (- 23.4%) 10/2013: Action Comics #24 -- 39,620 (- 23.5%) 11/2013: Action Comics #25 -- 46,550 (+ 17.5%) 12/2013: Action Comics #26 -- 37,489 (- 19.5%) 01/2014: Action Comics #27 -- 36,042 (- 3.9%) 02/2014: Action Comics #28 -- 35,305 (- 2.0%) ----------------- 6 months: - 17.1% 1 year : - 38.3% 2 years : - 63.4% 5 years : - 27.0% 10 years: - 49.9% Since #1: - 82.4%
The drops are starting to slow. The creative team has finally stabilized, and IMHO are doing good solid Superman work. But I fear it is being lost under the weight of more Superman titles than the market can reasonably be expected to support.
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46 - AQUAMAN ($2.99) 02/2004: Aquaman #15 -- 24,753 02/2012: Aquaman #6 -- 63,450 ------------------------------ 02/2013: Aquaman #17 -- 58,578 (- 5.8%) 03/2013: Aquaman #18 -- 53,337 (- 8.9%) 04/2013: -- 05/2013: Aquaman #19 -- 53,415 (+ 0.1%) 05/2013: Aquaman #20 -- 49,697 (- 7.0%) 06/2013: Aquaman #21 -- 46,832 (- 5.8%) 07/2013: Aquaman #22 -- 45,653 (- 2.5%) 08/2013: Aquaman #23 -- 44,140 (- 3.3%) 09/2013: #23.1: BMta -- 58,207 (+31.9%) 09/2013: #23.2: OMtr -- 53,679 (- 7.8%) 10/2013: Aquaman #24 -- 42,248 (-21.3%) 11/2013: Aquaman #25 -- 41,264 (- 2.3%) 12/2013: Aquaman #26 -- 38,841 (- 5.9%) 01/2014: Aquaman #27 -- 36,610 (- 5.7%) 02/2014: Aquaman #28 -- 34,939 (- 4.6%) ----------------- 6 months: - 20.8% 1 year : - 40.4% 2 years : - 44.9% 10 years: + 41.2% Since #1: - 67.8%
Continues to drop at an unhealthy rate. Yet a spin-off series starts in April. These are the things that make DC Kremlinology such a challenge.
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53 - BATGIRL ($2.99) 02/2004: Batgirl #49 -- 25,258 02/2010: Batgirl #7 -- 29,524 02/2011: Batgirl #18 -- 24,390 02/2012: Batgirl #6 -- 53,151 ---------------------------------- 02/2013: Batgirl #17 -- 65,751 (- 9.6%) 03/2013: Batgirl #18 -- 51,677 (- 21.4%) 04/2013: Batgirl #19 -- 45,939 (- 11.1%) 05/2013: Batgirl #20 -- 42,600 (- 7.3%) 06/2013: Batgirl #21 -- 40,252 (- 5.5%) 07/2013: Batgirl #22 -- 39,218 (- 2.6%) 08/2013: Batgirl #23 -- 37,707 (- 3.9%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Batgirl #24 -- 36,666 (- 2.8%) 11/2013: Batgirl #25 -- 40,752 (+ 11.1%) 12/2013: Batgirl #26 -- 34,885 (- 14.4%) 01/2014: Batgirl #27 -- 37,226 (+ 6.7%) 02/2014: Batgirl #28 -- 34,567 (- 7.1%) ----------------- 6 months: - 8.3% 1 year : - 47.4% 2 years : - 35.0% 10 years: + 36.9% Since #1: - 67.7%
Drops back to where it was prior to the “Gothtopia” crossover.
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54 - SUPERMAN ($2.99) 02/2004: Superman #202 -- 50,449 [66,640] 02/2009: Superman #685 -- 55,435 02/2010: Superman #695 -- 32,482 02/2011: Superman #708 -- 46,261 02/2012: Superman #6 -- 69,633 --------------------------------- 02/2013: -- 03/2013: Superman #17 -- 49,666 (- 1.9%) 03/2013: Superman #18 -- 48,236 (- 2.9%) 04/2013: Superman #19 -- 48,598 (+ 0.8%) 05/2013: Superman #20 -- 45,458 (- 6.5%) 06/2013: Superman #21 -- 44,285 (- 2.6%) 07/2013: Superman #22 -- 42,961 (- 3.0%) 08/2013: Superman #23 -- 42,155 (- 1.9%) 09/2013: #23.1: Bzarro -- 59,589 (+ 41.4%) 09/2013: #23.2: Brniac -- 58,197 (- 2.3%) 09/2013: #23.3: H'el -- 55,069 (- 5.4%) 09/2013: #23.4: Prsite -- 59,811 (+ 8.6%) 10/2013: Superman #24 -- 39,580 (- 33.8%) 11/2013: Superman #25 -- 39,295 (- 0.7%) 12/2013: Superman #26 -- 36,877 (- 6.2%) 01/2014: Superman #27 -- 35,266 (- 4.4%) 02/2014: Superman #28 -- 34,296 (- 2.8%) ----------------- 6 months: - 18.6% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : - 50.7% 5 years : - 38.1% 10 years: - 48.5% Since #1: - 77.2%
Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. arrive in June to save the day.
(Apologies department: Last month’s historical comparison figures for Superman were all out-of-whack; I was apparently looking at the wrong column in my spreadsheet.)
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55 - FLASH ($2.99) 02/2004: Flash #207 -- 41,982 [46,626] 02/2010: Flash Rebirth #6 -- 70,824 02/2011: Flash #9 -- 55,980 02/2012: Flash #6 -- 68,061 ----------------------------------- 02/2013: Flash #17 -- 42,936 (- 2.6%) 03/2013: Flash #18 -- 41,659 (- 3.0%) 04/2013: Flash #19 -- 42,079 (+ 1.0%) 05/2013: Flash #20 -- 39,667 (- 5.7%) 06/2013: Flash #21 -- 38,848 (- 2.1%) 07/2013: Flash #22 -- 38,993 (+ 0.4%) 08/2013: Flash #23 -- 38,860 (- 0.3%) 09/2013: #23.1: Grodd -- 52,901 (+ 36.1%) 09/2013: #23.2: RvrsFlsh -- 53,359 (+ 0.9%) 09/2013: #23.3: Rogues -- 51,072 (- 4.3%) 10/2013: Flash #24 -- 38,190 (- 25.2%) 11/2013: Flash #25 -- 41,838 (+ 9.6%) 12/2013: Flash #26 -- 36,601 (- 12.5%) 01/2014: Flash #27 -- 34,902 (- 4.6%) 02/2014: Flash #28 -- 33,853 (- 3.0%) ----------------- 6 months: - 12.9% 1 year : - 21.2% 2 years : - 50.3% 10 years: - 27.4% Since #1: - 77.1%
Continuing to mark time until the new creative team comes aboard in issue #30.
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57 - JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 ($2.99) 12/2013: Justice League 3K #1 -- 57,726 01/2014: Justice League 3K #2 -- 41,423 (-28.2%) 02/2014: Justice League 3K #3 -- 33,308 (-19.6%) ----------------- Since #1: - 42.3%
Continuing to drop. Things are not looking good for this to last beyond eight to twelve issues.
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61 - WONDER WOMAN ($2.99) 02/2004: Wonder Woman #201 -- 29,210 02/2009: Wonder Woman #29 -- 33,237 02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 02/2011: Wonder Woman #607 -- 33,053 02/2012: Wonder Woman #6 -- 54,190 ------------------------------------- 02/2013: Wonder Woman #17 -- 39,110 (- 2.5%) 03/2013: Wonder Woman #18 -- 38,406 (- 1.8%) 04/2013: Wonder Woman #19 -- 46,492 (+ 21.1%) 05/2013: Wonder Woman #20 -- 37,132 (- 20.1%) 06/2013: Wonder Woman #21 -- 35,999 (- 3.1%) 07/2013: Wonder Woman #22 -- 35,539 (- 1.3%) 08/2013: Wonder Woman #23 -- 34,747 (- 2.2%) 09/2013: #23.1: Cheetah -- 49,297 (+ 41.9%) 09/2013: #23.2: First Born -- 44,154 (- 10.4%) 10/2013: Wonder Woman #24 -- 34,308 (- 22.3%) 11/2013: Wonder Woman #25 -- 33,532 (- 2.3%) 12/2013: Wonder Woman #26 -- 32,773 (- 2.3%) 01/2014: Wonder Woman #27 -- 32,035 (- 2.3%) 02/2014: Wonder Woman #28 -- 31,464 (- 1.8%) ----------------- 6 months: - 9.4% 1 year : - 19.5% 2 years : - 41.9% 5 years : - 5.3% 10 years: + 7.7% Since #1: - 67.2%
Meredith and David Finch have been announced as taking over later in the year after Azzarello & company wrap up their run.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Dynamite Entertainment’s reboot of the classic Gold Key character Turok: Dinosaur Hunter …)
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66 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ($3.99) 02/2012: Justice League Dark #6 -- 38,360 ------------------------------------------- 02/2013: Justice League Dark #17 -- 25,841 (- 3.9%) 03/2013: Justice League Dark #18 -- 25,664 (- 0.7%) 04/2013: Justice League Dark #19 -- 25,407 (- 1.0%) 05/2013: Justice League Dark #20 -- 24,693 (- 2.8%) 06/2013: Justice League Dark #21 -- 24,663 (- 0.1%) 07/2013: Justice League Dark #22 -- 68,294 (+225.6%) [80,302] 08/2013: Justice League Dark #23 -- 71,157 (+ 4.2%) [75,782] 09/2013: #23.1: Creeper -- 46,326 (- 34.9%) 09/2013: #23.2: Eclipso -- 45,138 (- 2.6%) 10/2013: Justice League Dark #24 -- 45,401 (+ 0.6%) 11/2013: Justice League Dark #25 -- 38,760 (- 14.6%) 12/2013: Justice League Dark #26 -- 36,353 (- 6.2%) 01/2014: Justice League Dark #27 -- 32,576 (- 10.4%) 02/2014: Justice League Dark #28 -- 30,519 (- 6.3%) ----------------- 6 months: - 59.7% 1 year : + 18.1% 2 years : - 20.4% Since #1: - 62.8%
Sill up about 5K units from its pre-crossover level.
This ends the DCU mid-list. The DCU titles beyond this point should be considered to be ‘in trouble.’ That doesn’t necessarily mean that cancellation is on the immediate horizon, but *something* is going to have to change, whether it be a change in creative teams or a crossover or a gimmick, to keep them away from the cancellation bear…
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69 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS ($2.99) 02/2009: Green Lantern Corps #33 -- 44,607 [50,171] 02/2010: Green Lantern Corps #43 -- 80,391 02/2011: Green Lantern Corps #55 -- 57,448 02/2012: Green Lantern Corps #6 -- 65,393 ------------------------------------------ 02/2013: Green Lantern Corps #17 -- 44,497 (- 2.0%) 03/2013: Green Lantern Corps #18 -- 44,215 (- 0.6%) 04/2013: Green Lantern Corps #19 -- 43,903 (- 0.8%) 05/2013: Green Lantern Corps #20 -- 43,026 (- 2.0%) 06/2013: Green Lantern Corps #21 -- 45,423 (+ 5.6%) 07/2013: Green Lantern Corps #22 -- 42,194 (- 7.1%) 08/2013: Green Lantern Corps #23 -- 36,229 (-14.1%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Green Lantern Corps #24 -- 37,312 (+ 3.0%) 11/2013: Green Lantern Corps #25 -- 38,369 (+ 2.8%) 12/2013: Green Lantern Corps #26 -- 32,797 (-14.5%) 01/2014: Green Lantern Corps #27 -- 31,447 (- 4.1%) 02/2014: Green Lantern Corps #28 -- 29,142 (- 7.3%) ---------------- 6 months: - 19.6% 1 year : - 34.5% 2 years : - 55.4% 5 years : - 41.9% Since #1: - 69.3%
Another drop as the title slips below 30K. Set to crossover (again) with the main Green Lantern title starting in April.
(Apology Department, Part 2: This is another title where last month I was apparently looking at the wrong column in the spreadsheet…)
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71 - GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS ($2.99) 02/2012: New Guardians #6 -- 50,319 --------------------------------------- 02/2013: New Guardians #17 -- 42,285 (- 3.4%) 03/2013: New Guardians #18 -- 42,028 (- 0.6%) 04/2013: New Guardians #19 -- 41,481 (- 1.3%) 05/2013: New Guardians #20 -- 40,569 (- 2.2%) 06/2013: New Guardians #21 -- 42,290 (+ 4.2%) 07/2013: New Guardians #22 -- 40,788 (- 3.6%) 08/2013: New Guardians #23 -- 34,473 (-15.5%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: New Guardians #24 -- 35,417 (+ 2.7%) 11/2013: New Guardians #25 -- 32,069 (- 9.5%) 12/2013: New Guardians #26 -- 30,489 (- 4.9%) 01/2014: New Guardians #27 -- 28,346 (- 7.0%) 02/2014: New Guardians #28 -- 27,212 (- 4.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 21.1% 1 year : - 35.6% 2 years : - 45.9% Since #1: - 71.8%
And yet DC is launching another title in the Green Lantern family (Sinestro) in April. Seems like this would be a good time to consolidate the GL titles, rather than expand.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by IDW’s My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic…)
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74 - THE WAKE (Vertigo) ($2.99) 05/2013: The Wake #1 of 10 -- 44,867 [50,188] 06/2013: The Wake #2 of 10 -- 32,562 (-35.1%) 07/2013: The Wake #3 of 10 -- 30,622 (- 6.0%) 08/2013: -- 09/2013: The Wake #4 of 10 -- 31,674 (+ 3.4%) 10/2013: -- 11/2013: The Wake #5 of 10 -- 30,463 (- 3.8%) 12/2013: -- 01/2014: -- 02/2014: The Wake #6 of 10 -- 26,843 (-11.9%) ----------------- 6 months: n.a. Since #1: - 46.5%
Vertigo’s best-selling title this month. It looked to be stabilizing around 30K before its two-month break, but the hiatus apparently gave retailers a chance to reassess customers’ interest, and the result was probably not was DC was hoping for.
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75 - BATMAN BLACK & WHITE ($4.99) 09/2013: Batman B&W #1 of 6 -- 65,018 10/2013: Batman B&W #2 of 6 -- 37,523 (-42.3%) 11/2013: Batman B&W #3 of 6 -- 33,370 (-11.6%) 12/2013: Batman B&W #4 of 6 -- 30,577 (- 8.4%) 01/2014: Batman B&W #5 of 6 -- 28,623 (- 6.4%) 02/2014: Batman B&W #6 of 6 -- 26,744 (- 6.6%) ----------------- Since #1: - 58.9%
Concludes with decent numbers for this sort of thing.
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76 - TEEN TITANS ($2.99) 02/2004: Teen Titans #8 -- 68,190 02/2009: Teen Titans #68 -- 35,096 02/2010: Teen Titans #80 -- 26,537 02/2011: Teen Titans #92 -- 26,170 02/2012: Teen Titans #6 -- 53,123 ----------------------------------- 02/2013: Teen Titans #17 -- 39,186 (- 38.5%) 03/2013: Teen Titans #18 -- 42,055 (+ 7.3%) 04/2013: Teen Titans #19 -- 39,532 (- 6.0%) 05/2013: Teen Titans #20 -- 36,391 (- 8.0%) 06/2013: Teen Titans #21 -- 34,710 (- 4.6%) 07/2013: Teen Titans #22 -- 33,062 (- 4.8%) 08/2013: Teen Titans #23 -- 31,742 (- 4.0%) 09/2013: #23.1: Trigon -- 48,974 (+ 54.3%) 09/2013: #23.2: Dthstroke -- 49,920 (+ 1.9%) 10/2013: Teen Titans #24 -- 34,536 (- 30.8%) 11/2013: Teen Titans #25 -- 32,395 (- 6.2%) 12/2013: Teen Titans #26 -- 29,149 (- 10.0%) 01/2014: Teen Titans #27 -- 27,558 (- 5.5%) 02/2014: Teen Titans #28 -- 26,732 (- 3.0%) ----------------- 6 months: - 15.8% 1 year : - 31.8% 2 years : - 49.7% 5 years : - 23.8% 10 years: - 60.8% Since #1: - 70.0%
The last remaining title in DC’s New 52 “Young Justice” line comes to an end with issue #30.
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77 - GREEN ARROW ($2.99) 02/2004: Green Arrow #35 -- 35,507 02/2009: Arrow/Canary #17 -- 23,392 02/2010: Arrow&Canary #29 -- 16,600 02/2011: Green Arrow #9 -- 33,922 02/2012: Green Arrow #6 -- 30,097 ----------------------------------- 02/2013: Green Arrow #17 -- 36,043 (+ 81.2%) 03/2013: Green Arrow #18 -- 28,080 (- 22.1%) 04/2013: Green Arrow #19 -- 29,922 (+ 6.6%) 05/2013: Green Arrow #20 -- 27,541 (- 8.0%) 06/2013: Green Arrow #21 -- 26,924 (- 2.2%) 07/2013: Green Arrow #22 -- 26,172 (- 2.8%) 08/2013: Green Arrow #23 -- 25,449 (- 2.8%) 09/2013: #23.1: CtVertigo -- 43,234 (+ 69.9%) 10/2013: Green Arrow #24 -- 24,620 (- 43.1%) 11/2013: Green Arrow #25 -- 29,591 (+ 20.2%) 12/2013: Green Arrow #26 -- 24,687 (- 16.6%) 01/2014: Green Arrow #27 -- 23,785 (- 3.7%) 02/2014: Green Arrow #28 -- 26,725 (+ 12.4%) ----------------- 6 months: + 5.0% 1 year : - 25.9% 2 years : - 11.2% 5 years : + 14.2% 10 years: - 24.7% Since #1: - 63.1%
One of the few titles to show growth this month. In the middle of a storyline, no less. Perhaps good word of mouth is starting to catch up with this title? (Yes there were two covers, but that was also true for plenty of other titles this month that didn’t show growth.)
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85 - WORLDS' FINEST ($2.99) 02/2013: Worlds' Finest #9 -- 28,332 (- 6.8%) 03/2013: Worlds' Finest #10 -- 28,469 (+ 0.5%) 04/2013: Worlds' Finest #11 -- 27,453 (- 3.6%) 05/2013: Worlds' Finest #12 -- 27,073 (- 1.4%) 06/2013: Worlds' Finest #13 -- 25,815 (- 4.7%) 07/2013: Worlds' Finest #14 -- 25,143 (- 2.6%) 08/2013: Worlds' Finest #15 -- 24,159 (- 3.9%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Worlds' Finest #16 -- 22,987 (- 4.9%) 11/2013: Worlds' Finest #17 -- 21,920 (- 4.6%) 12/2013: Worlds' Finest #18 -- 21,039 (- 4.0%) 01/2014: Worlds' Finest #19 -- 20,998 (- 0.2%) 02/2014: Worlds' Finest #20 -- 25,585 (+21.8%) ----------------- 6 months: + 5.9% 1 year : - 9.7% Since #1: - 63.2%
Another title showing growth, but this time it’s due to a crossover with the much better selling Batman/Superman. Still, any port in a storm…
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87 - CATWOMAN ($2.99) 02/2004: Catwoman #27 -- 23,955 02/2012: Catwoman #6 -- 41,447 ------------------------------- 02/2013: Catwoman #17 -- 30,194 (-11.0%) 03/2013: Catwoman #18 -- 33,220 (+10.0%) 04/2013: Catwoman #19 -- 28,058 (-15.5%) 05/2013: Catwoman #20 -- 26,886 (- 4.2%) 06/2013: Catwoman #21 -- 25,611 (- 4.7%) 07/2013: Catwoman #22 -- 24,737 (- 3.4%) 08/2013: Catwoman #23 -- 24,262 (- 1.9%) [38,290] 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Catwoman #24 -- 35,134 (+44.8%) 11/2013: Catwoman #25 -- 29,471 (-16.1%) 12/2013: Catwoman #26 -- 26,482 (-10.1%) 01/2014: Catwoman #27 -- 24,956 (- 5.8%) 02/2014: Catwoman #28 -- 23,974 (- 3.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 37.4% 1 year : - 20.6% 2 years : - 42.2% 10 years: + 0.1% Since #1: - 68.3%
Still part of “Gothtopia,” which is still not affecting sales one lick.
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88 - FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES' REBELLION ($2.99) 10/2013: Rogues' Rebellion #1 of 6 -- 36,545 11/2013: Rogues' Rebellion #2 of 6 -- 30,317 (-17.0%) 12/2013: Rogues' Rebellion #3 of 6 -- 27,363 (- 9.7%) 01/2014: Rogues' Rebellion #4 of 6 -- 25,657 (- 6.2%) 02/2014: Rogues' Rebellion #5 of 6 -- 23,725 (- 7.5%) ----------------- Since #1: - 35.1%
Sales continue to trend downward.
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90 - SUPERGIRL ($2.99) 02/2009: Supergirl #38 -- 34,525 02/2010: Supergirl #50 -- 33,338 02/2011: Supergirl #61 -- 22,048 02/2012: Supergirl #6 -- 38,719 --------------------------------- 02/2013: Supergirl #17 -- 30,146 (- 0.7%) 03/2013: Supergirl #18 -- 28,051 (- 7.0%) 04/2013: Supergirl #19 -- 29,558 (+ 5.4%) 05/2013: Supergirl #20 -- 27,509 (- 6.9%) 06/2013: Supergirl #21 -- 25,856 (- 6.0%) 07/2013: Supergirl #22 -- 25,514 (- 1.3%) 08/2013: Supergirl #23 -- 24,747 (- 3.0%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Supergirl #24 -- 23,321 (- 5.8%) 11/2013: Supergirl #25 -- 25,377 (+ 8.8%) 12/2013: Supergirl #26 -- 22,646 (- 10.8%) 01/2014: Supergirl #27 -- 21,954 (- 3.1%) 02/2014: Supergirl #28 -- 23,567 (+ 7.3%) ----------------- 6 months: - 4.8% 1 year : - 21.8% 2 years : - 39.1% 5 years : - 31.7% Since #1: - 68.2%
Supergirl becomes a Red Lantern, and sales show a bit of an uptick, but not even up to the level of six months ago.
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91 - RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS ($2.99) 02/2012: Red Hood #6 -- 39,898 ------------------------------- 02/2013: Red Hood #17 -- 53,076 (-11.0%) 03/2013: Red Hood #18 -- 37,731 (-28.9%) [42,901] 04/2013: Red Hood #19 -- 36,630 (- 2.9%) 05/2013: Red Hood #20 -- 35,542 (- 3.0%) 06/2013: Red Hood #21 -- 32,416 (- 8.8%) 07/2013: Red Hood #22 -- 30,534 (- 5.8%) 08/2013: Red Hood #23 -- 28,821 (- 5.6%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Red Hood #24 -- 27,128 (- 5.9%) 11/2013: Red Hood #25 -- 30,632 (+12.9%) 12/2013: Red Hood #26 -- 25,382 (-17.1%) 01/2014: Red Hood #27 -- 24,813 ( -2.2%) 02/2014: Red Hood #28 -- 23,236 ( -6.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 19.4% 1 year : - 56.2% 2 years : - 41.8% Since #1: - 66.9%
Continuing down. DC have some tricks up their sleeve for future issues to try to boost sales, including creative changes and covers with Starfire in provocative poses.
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95 - SUICIDE SQUAD ($2.99) 02/2012: Suicide Squad #6 -- 30,834 ----------------------------------------- 02/2013: Suicide Squad #17 -- 26,370 (- 2.6%) 03/2013: Suicide Squad #18 -- 25,232 (- 4.3%) 04/2013: Suicide Squad #19 -- 24,300 (- 3.7%) 05/2013: Suicide Squad #20 -- 23,537 (- 3.1%) 06/2013: Suicide Squad #21 -- 22,907 (- 2.7%) 07/2013: Suicide Squad #22 -- 22,447 (- 2.0%) 08/2013: Suicide Squad #23 -- 22,166 (- 1.3%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Suicide Squad #24 -- 27,762 (+ 25.3%) 11/2013: Suicide Squad #25 -- 27,067 (- 2.5%) 12/2013: Suicide Squad #26 -- 25,346 (- 6.4%) 01/2014: Suicide Squad #27 -- 24,175 (- 4.6%) 02/2014: Suicide Squad #28 -- 22,882 (- 5.3%) ----------------- 6 months: + 3.2% 1 year : - 13.2% 2 years : - 25.8% Since #1: - 63.0%
Just barely ahead of its pre-Forever Evil numbers. Cancelled with issue #30.
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93 - INJUSTICE: YEAR TWO (Digital-First) ($2.99) 02/2013: Injustice #2 -- 17,068 (-17.7%) [29,096] 03/2013: Injustice #3 -- 18,608 (+ 9.0%) [24,469] 04/2013: Injustice #4 -- 21,669 (+16.5%) [26,739] 05/2013: Injustice #5 -- 25,215 (+16.4%) 06/2013: Injustice #6 -- 26,011 (+ 3.2%) 07/2013: Injustice #7 -- 25,731 (- 1.1%) 08/2013: Injustice #8 -- 25,223 (- 2.0%) 09/2013: Injustice #9 -- 24,333 (- 3.5%) 10/2013: Injustice #10 -- 24,788 (+ 1.9%) 11/2013: Injustice #11 -- 22,704 (- 8.4%) 12/2013: Injustice #12 -- 21,871 (- 3.7%) 01/2014: Injustice Y2 #1 -- 24,700 (+12.9%) 02/2014: Injustice Y2 #2 -- 22,703 (- 8.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 10.0% 1 year : - 22.0% Since #1: - 8.1%
A digital-first comic, so the usual economics don’t apply. But it may be worth noting that this is the only one of DC’s digital first comics that regularly shows up on Amazon’s Comics & Graphic Novels chart in the top 50.
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96 - SUPERMAN: LOIS LANE ($4.99) 02/2014: Superman Lois Lane #1 -- 21,550
Another one-shot featuring DC’s female supporting characters. If this was intended as a try-out for a regular Lois Lane title, it doesn’t bode well.
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100 - BATWOMAN ($2.99) 02/2012: Batwoman #6 -- 49,227 -------------------------------- 02/2013: Batwoman #17 -- 32,041 (- 6.1%) 03/2013: Batwoman #18 -- 31,381 (- 2.1%) 04/2013: Batwoman #19 -- 31,538 (+ 0.5%) 05/2013: Batwoman #20 -- 29,698 (- 5.8%) 06/2013: Batwoman #21 -- 28,173 (- 5.1%) 07/2013: Batwoman #22 -- 27,400 (- 2.7%) 08/2013: Batwoman #23 -- 26,223 (- 4.3%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Batwoman #24 -- 25,609 (- 2.3%) 11/2013: Batwoman #25 -- 25,987 (+ 1.5%) 12/2013: Batwoman #26 -- 23,311 (-10.3%) 01/2014: Batwoman #27 -- 22,461 (- 3.6%) 02/2014: Batwoman #28 -- 20,672 (- 8.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 21.1% 1 year : - 35.5% 2 years : - 58.0% Since #1: - 76.5%
Still dropping. Meanwhile, during the twenty-four hour period in which same-sex marriage wasn’t explicitly illegal in my home state of Michigan, approximately 300 same-sex couples were married.
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101 - CONSTANTINE ($2.99) 02/2004: Hellblazer #193 -- 15,000 02/2009: Hellblazer #252 -- 11,174 02/2010: Hellblazer #264 -- 10,025 02/2011: Hellblazer #276 -- 9,466 02/2012: Hellblazer #288 -- 9,533 ---------------------------------- 02/2013: Hellblazer #300 -- 12,522 (+ 34.2%) 03/2013: Constantine #1 -- 37,564 (+200.0%) 04/2013: Constantine #2 -- 30,789 (- 18.0%) 05/2013: Constantine #3 -- 29,106 (- 5.5%) 06/2013: Constantine #4 -- 26,417 (- 9.2%) 07/2013: Constantine #5 -- 30,664 (+ 32.6%) [35,027] 08/2013: Constantine #6 -- 25,174 (- 28.1%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Constantine #7 -- 22,954 (- 8.8%) 11/2013: Constantine #8 -- 20,981 (- 8.6%) 12/2013: Constantine #9 -- 22,403 (+ 6.8%) 01/2014: Constantine #10 -- 20,729 (- 7.5%) 02/2014: Constantine #11 -- 20,385 (- 1.7%) ----------------- 6 months: - 19.0% 1 year : + 62.8% 2 years : +113.8% 5 years : + 82.4% 10 years: + 35.9% Since #1: - 45.7%
Still skirting the 20K line.
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105 - BATMAN '66 (Digital-First) ($3.99) 07/2013: Batman '66 #1 -- 50,430 08/2013: Batman '66 #2 -- 37,113 (-26.4%) 09/2013: Batman '66 #3 -- 32,954 (-11.2%) 10/2013: Batman '66 #4 -- 30,099 (- 8.7%) 11/2013: Batman '66 #5 -- 26,785 (-11.0%) 12/2013: Batman '66 #6 -- 24,374 (- 9.0%) 01/2014: Batman '66 #7 -- 21,802 (-10.6%) 02/2014: Batman '66 #8 -- 19,795 (- 9.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 46.7% Since #1: - 60.7%
Still dropping an unhealthy percentage of readers each month. A spin-off mini-series, co-written by Kevin Smith and co-starring the Green Hornet, was recently announced.
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107 - FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S. ($2.99) 10/2013: A.R.G.U.S. #1 of 6 -- 32,146 11/2013: A.R.G.U.S. #2 of 6 -- 25,071 (-22.0%) 12/2013: A.R.G.U.S. #3 of 6 -- 22,758 (- 9.2%) 01/2014: A.R.G.U.S. #4 of 6 -- 20,294 (-10.8%) 02/2014: A.R.G.U.S. #5 of 6 -- 19,157 (- 5.6%) ----------------- Since #1: - 40.4%
The good news is that after next month it won’t be able to drop any further…
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108 - SWAMP THING ($2.99) 02/2012: Swamp Thing #6 -- 41,235 ---------------------------------- 02/2013: Swamp Thing #17 -- 31,497 (- 2.4%) 03/2013: Swamp Thing #18 -- 30,716 (- 2.5%) 04/2013: Swamp Thing #19 -- 29,254 (- 4.8%) 05/2013: Swamp Thing #20 -- 27,338 (- 6.6%) 06/2013: Swamp Thing #21 -- 25,186 (- 7.9%) 07/2013: Swamp Thing #22 -- 23,885 (- 5.2%) 08/2013: Swamp Thing #23 -- 22,695 (- 5.0%) 09/2013: #23.1: Arcane -- 40,390 (+78.0%) 10/2013: Swamp Thing #24 -- 21,724 (-46.2%) 11/2013: Swamp Thing #25 -- 21,141 (- 2.7%) 12/2013: Swamp Thing #26 -- 20,247 (- 4.2%) 01/2014: Swamp Thing #27 -- 19,755 (- 2.4%) 02/2014: Swamp Thing #28 -- 19,146 (- 3.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 15.6% 1 year : - 39.2% 2 years : - 53.6% Since #1: - 74.0%
While the drops aren’t huge, they’re still drops. Swamp Thing may have a bit more rope than other titles, but soon these numbers will be testing DC’s patience if they don’t turn around.
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109 - TRILLIUM (Vertigo) ($2.99) 08/2013: Trillium #1 of 8 -- 30,712 09/2013: Trillium #2 of 8 -- 24,482 (-20.3%) 10/2013: Trillium #3 of 8 -- 23,037 (- 5.9%) 11/2013: Trillium #4 of 8 -- 20,915 (- 9.2%) 12/2013: Trillium #5 of 8 -- 20,035 (- 4.2%) 01/2014: -- 02/2014: Trillium #6 of 8 -- 18,819 (- 6.1%) ----------------- 6 months: - 38.7% Since #1: - 38.7%
Heading towards the finish line below 20K.
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110 - DC UNIVERSE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ($2.99) 09/2013: DCU vs. MotU #1 of 6 -- 35,269 10/2013: DCU vs. MotU #2 of 6 -- 23,037 (-34.7%) 11/2013: -- 12/2013: DCU vs. MotU #3 of 6 -- 21,325 (- 7.4%) 01/2013: DCU vs. MotU #4 of 6 -- 19,289 (- 9.5%) 02/2013: DCU vs. MotU #5 of 6 -- 18,769 (- 2.7%) ----------------- Since #1: - 46.8%
The drops are finally declining as the mini-series approaches its end. I always wonder what the point is of these kinds of things. I went and looked to see if there are any MouU toys currently being produced. Apparently there is now a “Masters of the Universe Classics” line, which according to the He-Man.org site is “Sure to excite every adult collector, taking a cue from the original series, the new MOTU Classics combine the charm and design of the original line with 21st century detail, poseability, and paint applications!” So pretty much the same audience then that DC is targeting for most of their comics.
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112 - BIRDS OF PREY ($2.99) 02/2004: Birds of Prey #64 -- 29,731 02/2009: Birds of Prey #127 -- 21,424 02/2011: Birds of Prey #9 -- 30,641 02/2012: Birds of Prey #6 -- 30,376 ------------------------------------- 02/2013: Birds of Prey #17 -- 22,112 (- 4.6%) 03/2013: Birds of Prey #18 -- 21,957 (- 0.7%) 04/2013: Birds of Prey #19 -- 21,707 (- 1.1%) 05/2013: Birds of Prey #20 -- 21,126 (- 2.7%) 06/2013: Birds of Prey #21 -- 20,767 (- 1.7%) 07/2013: Birds of Prey #22 -- 20,209 (- 2.7%) 08/2013: Birds of Prey #23 -- 19,364 (- 4.2%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Birds of Prey #24 -- 18,382 (- 5.1%) 11/2013: Birds of Prey #25 -- 22,751 (+ 23.8%) 12/2013: Birds of Prey #26 -- 17,497 (- 23.1%) 01/2014: Birds of Prey #27 -- 19,387 (+ 10.8%) 02/2014: Birds of Prey #28 -- 18,092 (- 6.7%) ----------------- 6 months: - 6.6% 1 year : - 18.2% 2 years : - 40.4% 5 years : - 15.6% 10 years: - 39.1% Since #1: - 72.8%
“Gothtopia” continues. Birds of Prey has never been a hit title, but historically the pre-New 52 iterations never dropped below 20K.
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122 - TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA ($2.99) 07/2013: Pandora #1 -- 35,106 [41,678] 07/2013: Pandora #2 -- 32,170 (-15.1%) [35,385] 08/2013: Pandora #3 -- 34,563 (- 2.3%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Pandora #4 -- 25,708 (-25.6%) 11/2013: Pandora #5 -- 21,267 (-17.3%) 12/2013: Pandora #6 -- 20,563 (- 3.3%) 01/2014: Pandora #7 -- 18,984 (- 7.7%) 02/2014: Pandora #8 -- 17,703 (- 6.7%) ---------------- 6 months: - 48.8% Since #1: - 57.5%
Still part of Forever Evil. Still dropping. Surprisingly (to me at least) issue #12 was not solicited as the final issue.
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116 - ANIMAL MAN ($2.99) 02/2012: Animal Man #6 -- 38,504 ------------------------------------ 02/2013: Animal Man #17 -- 29,425 (- 3.0%) 03/2013: Animal Man #18 -- 28,711 (- 2.4%) 04/2013: Animal Man #19 -- 27,562 (- 4.0%) 05/2013: Animal Man #20 -- 25,807 (- 6.4%) 06/2013: Animal Man #21 -- 23,862 (- 7.5%) 07/2013: Animal Man #22 -- 22,974 (- 3.7%) 08/2013: Animal Man #23 -- 21,634 (- 5.8%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Animal Man #24 -- 20,554 (- 5.0%) 11/2013: Animal Man #25 -- 19,710 (- 4.1%) 12/2013: Animal Man #26 -- 18,823 (- 4.5%) 01/2014: Animal Man #27 -- 18,401 (- 2.2%) 02/2014: Animal Man #28 -- 17,559 (- 4.6%) ---------------- 6 months: -18.8% 1 year : -40.3% 2 years : -54.4% Since #1: -73.1%
Penultimate issue.
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120 - TRINITY OF SIN: THE PHANTOM STRANGER ($2.99) 02/2013: Phantom Stranger #5 -- 18,032 (- 9.4%) 03/2013: Phantom Stranger #6 -- 17,375 (- 3.6%) 04/2013: Phantom Stranger #7 -- 17,326 (- 0.3%) 05/2013: Phantom Stranger #8 -- 16,269 (- 6.1%) 06/2013: ToS: PS #9 -- 17,241 (+ 6.0%) 07/2013: ToS: PS #10 -- 20,636 (+19.7%) 08/2013: ToS: PS #11 -- 26,986 (+30.8%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: ToS: PS #12 -- 19,732 (-26.9%) 11/2013: ToS: PS #13 -- 17,779 (- 9.9%) 12/2013: ToS: PS #14 -- 18,649 (+ 4.9%) 01/2013: ToS: PS #15 -- 17,435 (- 6.5%) 02/2014: ToS: PS #16 -- 17,012 (- 2.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 15.5% 1 year : - 12.4% Since #1: - 56.5%
Still part of Forever Evil. Still not cancelled.
—–
122 - SUPERBOY ($2.99) 02/2011: Superboy #4 -- 27,448 02/2012: Superboy #6 -- 34,520 -------------------------------- 02/2013: Superboy #17 -- 26,762 (- 1.3%) 03/2013: Superboy #18 -- 24,455 (- 8.6%) 04/2013: Superboy #19 -- 24,211 (- 1.0%) 05/2013: Superboy #20 -- 22,508 (- 7.0%) 06/2013: Superboy #21 -- 20,952 (- 6.9%) 07/2013: Superboy #22 -- 19,984 (- 4.6%) 08/2013: Superboy #23 -- 20,235 (+ 1.3%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Superboy #24 -- 18,341 (- 9.4%) 11/2013: Superboy #25 -- 21,449 (+ 16.9%) 12/2013: Superboy #26 -- 17,690 (- 17.5%) 01/2014: Superboy #27 -- 17,392 (- 1.7%) 02/2014: Superboy #28 -- 16,448 (- 5.4%) ----------------- 6 months: - 18.7% 1 year : - 38.5% 2 years : - 52.4% Since #1: - 76.3%
The Bold New Direction doesn’t appear to be helping sales at all.
—–
124 - DC COMICS PRESENTS: HARLEY QUINN #1 ($7.99) 02/2014: DCP Harley Quinn #1 -- 15,587
I’ve never really understood the rationale for these DC Comics Presents reprints. Wouldn’t it make more sense to jack up the price to $9.99, put a stiffer cover and an ISBN on them, and get them into bookstores? I suspect that it has something to do with the royalty rates for book collections vs. comic reprints.
—–
128 - TALON ($2.99) 02/2013: Talon #5 -- 28,003 (- 9.4%) 03/2013: Talon #6 -- 25,440 (- 9.2%) 04/2013: Talon #7 -- 24,045 (- 5.5%) 05/2013: Talon #8 -- 22,710 (- 5.6%) 06/2013: Talon #9 -- 21,755 (- 4.2%) 07/2013: Talon #10 -- 20,296 (- 6.7%) 08/2013: Talon #11 -- 19,449 (- 4.2%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Talon #12 -- 18,218 (- 6.3%) 11/2013: Talon #13 -- 17,218 (- 5.5%) 12/2013: Talon #14 -- 16,373 (- 4.9%) 01/2014: Talon #15 -- 15,455 (- 5.6%) 02/2014: Talon #16 -- 14,691 (- 4.9%) ---------------- 6 months: - 24.5% 1 year : - 47.5% Since #1: - 75.4%
Penultimate issue.
—–
135 - BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE (Digital-First) ($3.99) 02/2012: Unlimited #1 -- 26,589 [30,683] --------------------------------- 02/2013: Unlimited #13 -- 17,025 (- 2.4%) 03/2013: Unlimited #14 -- 16,456 (- 3.3%) 04/2013: Unlimited #15 -- 16,283 (- 1.1%) 05/2013: Unlimited #16 -- 15,822 (- 2.8%) 06/2013: Unlimited #17 -- 15,464 (- 2.3%) 07/2013: Unlimited #18 -- 15,275 (- 1.2%) 08/2013: Universe #1 -- 23,358 (+52.9%) 09/2013: Universe #2 -- 18,332 (-21.5%) 10/2013: Universe #3 -- 17,658 (- 3.7%) 11/2013: Universe #4 -- 16,889 (- 4.4%) 12/2013: Universe #5 -- 15,857 (- 6.1%) 01/2014: Universe #6 -- 15,070 (- 5.0%) 02/2014: Universe #7 -- 14,435 (- 4.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 38.2% 1 year : - 15.2% 2 years : - 53.0% Since #1: - 38.2%
Continuing to fall.
—–
138 - ASTRO CITY (Vertigo) ($3.99) 02/2004: -- 02/2009: -- 02/2010: -- 02/2011: -- 02/2012: -- --------------------------------------- 06/2013: Astro City #1 -- 27,700 07/2013: Astro City #2 -- 20,193 (-27.1%) 08/2013: Astro City #3 -- 18,802 (- 6.9%) 09/2013: Astro City #4 -- 17,641 (- 6.2%) 10/2013: Astro City #5 -- 16,927 (- 4.1%) 11/2013: Astro City #6 -- 16,031 (- 5.3%) 12/2013: Astro City #7 -- 15,360 (- 4.2%) 01/2014: Astro City #8 -- 14,831 (- 3.4%) 02/2014: Astro City #9 -- 14,289 (- 3.7%) ----------------- 6 months: - 24.0% 5 years : n.a. 10 years: n.a. Since #1: - 48.4%
Looks to be stabilizing around 14K. I was asked in the comments section last month as to how long I think DC will keep publishing Astro City. The short answer is that I just don’t know. The economics of a creator-owned title such as this are largely opaque to us, but I suspect that at these levels DC is at around the break-even point. So as long as the creators want to keep doing it, and DC wants to remain in good favor with Busiek, Anderson & Ross, it will remain on the schedule.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Boom Studio’s Adventure Time…)
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134 - FABLES (Vertigo) ($2.99) 02/2004: Fables #22 -- 25,317 02/2009: Fables #81 -- 22,517 02/2010: -- 02/2011: Fables #102 -- 19,215 02/2012: Fables #114 -- 17,374 ------------------------------ 02/2013: Fables #126 -- 15,480 (- 3.2%) 03/2013: Fables #127 -- 15,529 (+ 0.3%) 04/2013: Fables #128 -- 15,606 (+ 0.5%) 05/2013: Fables #129 -- 15,380 (- 1.5%) 06/2013: Fables #130 -- 15,129 (- 1.6%) 07/2013: Fables #131 -- 15,109 (- 0.1%) 08/2013: Fables #132 -- 14,893 (- 1.4%) 09/2013: Fables #133 -- 14,639 (- 1.7%) 10/2013: Fables #134 -- 14,575 (- 0.4%) 11/2013: Fables #135 -- 14,383 (- 1.3%) 12/2013: Fables #136 -- 14,220 (- 1.1%) 01/2014: Fables #137 -- 14,172 (- 0.3%) 02/2014: Fables #138 -- 14,109 (- 0.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 5.3% 1 year : - 8.9% 2 years : - 18.8% 5 years : - 37.3% 10 years: - 44.3% Since #1: - 35.9%
Those tiny little month-to-month percentage drops should be the envy of just about every other title in the DC stable.
—–
137 - HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ($2.99) 04/2013: He-Man & MotU #1 -- 25,254 (+53.6%) 05/2013: He-Man & MotU #2 -- 19,410 (-23.1%) 06/2013: He-Man & MotU #3 -- 18,227 (- 5.8%) 07/2013: He-Man & MotU #4 -- 18,101 (- 1.0%) 08/2013: He-Man & MotU #5 -- 16,898 (- 6.6%) 09/2013: He-Man & MotU #6 -- 16,294 (- 3.6%) 10/2013: He-Man & MotU #7 -- 16,059 (- 1.4%) 11/2013: He-Man & MotU #8 -- 15,154 (- 5.6%) 12/2013: He-Man & MotU #9 -- 14,465 (- 4.5%) 01/2014: -- 02/2014: He-Man & MotU #10 -- 13,816 (- 4.5%) ---------------- 6 months: - 18.2% Since #1: - 45.3%
A new storyline begins in issue #14…
—–
138 - LARFLEEZE ($2.99) 06/2013: Larfleeze #1 -- 36,638 07/2013: Larfleeze #2 -- 30,221 (-17.5%) 08/2013: Larfleeze #3 -- 21,955 (-27.4%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Larfleeze #4 -- 18,061 (-17.7%) 11/2013: Larfleeze #5 -- 16,157 (-10.5%) 12/2013: Larfleeze #6 -- 15,081 (- 6.7%) 01/2014: Larfleeze #7 -- 13,950 (- 7.5%) 02/2014: Larfleeze #8 -- 13,338 (- 4.4%) ----------------- 6 months: - 39.0% Since #1: - 63.6%
Finally cancelled with issue #12, presumably to make room on the schedule for Sinestro.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Avatar’s God is Dead…)
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147 - ALL STAR WESTERN ($3.99) 02/2009: Jonah Hex #40 -- 11,631 02/2010: Jonah Hex #52 -- 11,213 02/2011: Jonah Hex #64 -- 10,255 02/2012: ASW #6 -- 26,170 -------------------------------- 02/2013: ASW #17 -- 17,398 (- 4.7%) 03/2013: ASW #18 -- 16,897 (- 2.9%) 04/2013: ASW #19 -- 16,838 (- 0.4%) 05/2013: ASW #20 -- 16,184 (- 3.9%) 06/2013: ASW #21 -- 15,788 (- 2.5%) 07/2013: ASW #22 -- 15,376 (- 2.6%) 08/2013: ASW #23 -- 15,276 (- 0.7%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: ASW #24 -- 14,378 (- 5.9%) 11/2013: ASW #25 -- 13,937 (- 3.1%) 12/2013: ASW #26 -- 13,440 (- 3.6%) 01/2014: ASW #27 -- 13,238 (- 1.5%) 02/2014: ASW #28 -- 12,782 (- 3.4%) ----------------- 6 months: - 13.9% 1 year : - 27.5% 2 years : - 51.3% 5 years : + 9.1% Since #1: - 75.9%
There was a bit of confusion last month, as first there were reports that DC announced ASW as cancelled at the Diamond Summit, then reports denying the cancellation. For now ASW remains on the schedule, continued proof that Jonah Hex has a guardian angel at DC.
—–
148 - ROYALS: MASTERS OF WAR #1 (Vertigo) ($2.99) 02/2014: Royals #1 of 6 -- 14,031
Returnable, so the figures here are adjusted up 10% to account for Diamond’s reporting them lower than actual.
Unless there’s an amazing amount of retention, these numbers are not going to look good at all by the end of the mini-series. Though it is probably fair to point out that these numbers do not include numbers from Diamond UK, and this is a very British-oriented comic, so overall sales may be higher than is indicated by the Diamond US sales.
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151 - FAIREST (Vertigo) ($2.99) 02/2013: Fairest #12 -- 16,141 (- 2.2%) 03/2013: Fairest #13 -- 15,693 (- 2.8%) 04/2013: Fairest #14 -- 15,269 (- 2.7%) 05/2013: Fairest #15 -- 14,959 (- 2.0%) 06/2013: Fairest #16 -- 14,289 (- 4.5%) 07/2013: Fairest #17 -- 13,915 (- 2.6%) 08/2013: Fairest #18 -- 13,511 (- 2.9%) 09/2013: Fairest #19 -- 13,278 (- 1.7%) 10/2013: Fairest #20 -- 13,008 (- 2.0%) 11/2013: -- 12/2013: Fairest #21 -- 12,718 (- 2.2%) 01/2014: Fairest #22 -- 12,434 (- 2.2%) 02/2014: Fairest #23 -- 12,350 (- 0.7%) ---------------- 6 months: - 8.6% 1 year : - 23.5% Since #1: - 61.1%
The drops are slightly larger (percentage-wise) than the mother title (Fables), but still admirable compared to the DC standard.
—–
155 - BATWING ($2.99) 02/2012: Batwing #6 -- 21,643 ------------------------------ 02/2013: Batwing #17 -- 12,595 (- 6.2%) 03/2013: Batwing #18 -- 12,084 (- 4.1%) 04/2013: Batwing #19 -- 13,570 (+12.3%) 05/2013: Batwing #20 -- 13,302 (- 2.0%) 06/2013: Batwing #21 -- 12,437 (- 6.5%) 07/2013: Batwing #22 -- 12,062 (- 3.0%) 08/2013: Batwing #23 -- 11,584 (- 4.0%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Batwing #24 -- 11,114 (- 4.1%) 11/2013: Batwing #25 -- 16,207 (+45.8%) 12/2013: Batwing #26 -- 10,753 (-33.7%) 01/2014: Batwing #27 -- 12,461 (+15.9%) 02/2014: Batwing #28 -- 11,786 (- 5.4%) ---------------- 6 months: + 1.7% 1 year : - 6.4% 2 years : - 45.5% Since #1: - 78.1%
Part of “Gothtopia.”
—–
164 - ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (Digital-First) ($3.99) 05/2013: Adventures of Superman #1 -- 30,992 06/2013: Adventures of Superman #2 -- 22,407 (-27.7%) 07/2013: Adventures of Superman #3 -- 19,453 (-13.2%) 08/2013: Adventures of Superman #4 -- 17,370 (-10.7%) 09/2013: Adventures of Superman #5 -- 16,011 (- 7.8%) 10/2013: Adventures of Superman #6 -- 14,484 (- 9.5%) 11/2013: Adventures of Superman #7 -- 13,140 (- 9.3%) 12/2013: Adventures of Superman #8 -- 12,142 (- 7.6%) 01/2014: Adventures of Superman #9 -- 11,425 (- 5.9%) 02/2014: Adventures of Superman #10 -- 11,075 (- 3.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 36.2% Since #1: - 64.3%
At this level, that -3.1% change represents a loss of just 350 copies.
—–
165 - SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 ALIEN (Digital-First) ($3.99) 02/2004: -- ------------------------------ 02/2013: Smallville S11 #10 -- 17,024 (- 4.6%) 03/2013: Smallville S11 #11 -- 16,502 (- 3.1%) 04/2013: Smallville S11 #12 -- 15,930 (- 3.5%) 05/2013: Smallville S11 #13 -- 15,442 (- 3.1%) 06/2013: Smallville S11 #14 -- 15,097 (- 2.2%) 07/2013: Smallville S11 #15 -- 14,930 (- 1.1%) 08/2013: Smallville S11 #16 -- 14,640 (- 1.9%) 09/2013: Smallville S11 #17 -- 14,153 (- 3.3%) 10/2013: Smallville S11 #18 -- 13,794 (- 2.5%) 11/2013: Smallville S11 #19 -- 13,286 (- 3.7%) 12/2013: Smallville Alien #1 -- 13,019 (- 2.0%) 01/2014: Smallville Alien #2 -- 11,768 (- 9.6%) 02/2014: Smallville Alien #3 -- 11,061 (- 6.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 24.4% 1 year : - 35.0% 10 years: n.a. Since #1: - 15.0%
There’s another miniseries, Lantern, scheduled after Alien, but unless the digital sales are stronger than usual I don’t see this lasting much after that.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Valiant’s Unity…)
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171 - COFFIN HILL (Vertigo) ($2.99) 10/2013: Coffin Hill #1 -- 24,129 11/2013: Coffin Hill #2 -- 14,472 (-40.0%) 12/2013: Coffin Hill #3 -- 12,337 (-14.8%) 01/2014: Coffin Hill #4 -- 11,306 (- 8.4%) 02/2014: Coffin Hill #5 -- 10,435 (- 7.7%) ----------------- Since #1: - 53.1%
The ‘second story arc’ begins with issue #8, so this will be around at least a little bit longer…
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Oni’s Bunker…)
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174 - BATMAN: LI'L GOTHAM (Digital-First) ($2.99) 04/2013: Li'l Gotham #1 -- 27,591 05/2013: Li'l Gotham #2 -- 18,573 (-32.7%) 06/2013: Li'l Gotham #3 -- 18,578 (+ 0.0%) 07/2013: Li'l Gotham #4 -- 21,646 (+16.5%) 08/2013: Li'l Gotham #5 -- 14,696 (-32.1%) 09/2013: Li'l Gotham #6 -- 13,654 (- 7.1%) 10/2013: Li'l Gotham #7 -- 12,919 (- 5.4%) 11/2013: Li'l Gotham #8 -- 12,054 (- 6.7%) 12/2013: Li'l Gotham #9 -- 11,078 (- 8.1%) 01/2014: Li'l Gotham #10 -- 10,639 (- 4.0%) 02/2014: Li'l Gotham #11 -- 10,030 (- 5.7%) ---------------- 6 months: - 35.1% Since #1: - 63.6%
Ending with issue #12. But absolutely, positively not because of low sales. Really.
Meanwhile, the other Batman comic drawn by Nguyen this month sold more than ten times as many copies.
—–
178 - DEAD BOY DETECTIVES (Vertigo) ($2.99) 12/2013: Dead Boy Detectives #1 -- 21,478 01/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #2 -- 12,276 (-42.8%) 02/2014: Dead Boy Detectives #3 -- 9,889 (-19.4%) ----------------- Since #1: - 42.8%
The first two issues were returnable, but #3 was not.
While there are likely many reasons why Vertigo has had a hard time with new ongoing series as of late, I think that one is that DC have conditioned consumers to not buy them. Crazy? Bear with me here: There’s been a long-standing tradition of DC making the first volumes of their Vertigo collections bargain-priced at $9.99. What this means is that the month after DBD #6 hits the stands, there will be a collection of issues #1-6, plus the short stories from last year’s Vertigo anthologies available for $8 less (and no ads!) The same for Hinterkind, FBP, Coffin Hill, etc. That’s great if you’re trying to drive sales of the trade collections, but it gives very little incentive for readers to purchase the individual comics. And if sales cannot support the comics, there won’t be enough future volumes of the trades to make discounting the first volume worthwhile.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz and Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog…)
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199 - TEEN TITANS GO! (Digital-First) ($2.99) 02/2004: Teen Titans Go! #4 -- 16,085 -------------------------------------- 12/2013: Teen Titans Go! #1 -- 13,441 (+82.0%) 01/2014: -- 02/2014: Teen Titans Go! #2 -- 9,038 (-32.8%) ----------------- 10 years: - 43.8% Since #1: - 32.8%
Returnable, and adjusted accordingly.
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190 - HINTERKIND (Vertigo) ($2.99) 10/2013: Hinterkind #1 -- 23,516 11/2013: Hinterkind #2 -- 13,994 (-40.5%) 12/2013: Hinterkind #3 -- 11,659 (-16.7%) 01/2014: Hinterkind #4 -- 9,693 (-16.9%) 02/2014: Hinterkind #5 -- 8,948 (- 7.7%) ----------------- Since #1: - 61.9%
See DBD above.
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211 - THE UNWRITTEN V2 APOCALYPSE (Vertigo) ($3.99) 02/2010: The Unwritten #8 -- 15,314 02/2011: The Unwritten #20 -- 12,273 02/2012: The Unwritten #32 -- 10,481 ------------------------------------ 02/2013: The Unwritten #46 -- 8,352 (- 1.3%) 03/2013: The Unwritten #47 -- 8,267 (- 1.0%) 04/2013: The Unwritten #48 -- 8,226 (- 0.5%) 05/2013: The Unwritten #49 -- 8,234 (+ 0.1%) 06/2013: The Unwritten #50 -- 10,124 (+23.0%) 07/2013: The Unwritten #51 -- 9,143 (- 9.7%) 08/2013: The Unwritten #52 -- 9,033 (- 1.2%) 09/2013: The Unwritten #53 -- 8,982 (- 0.6%) 10/2013: The Unwritten #54 -- 8,871 (- 1.2%) 11/2013: -- 12/2013: -- 01/2014: Unwritten vol2 #1 -- 11,975 (+35.0%) 02/2014: Unwritten vol2 #2 -- 8,291 (-30.8%) ---------------- 6 months: - 8.2% 1 year : - 0.7% 2 years : - 20.9% Since #1: - 30.8%
Returnable, and adjusted accordingly. Right back to where it was before the relaunch.
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201 - STORMWATCH ($2.99) 02/2004: Stormwatch: TA #20 -- 10,488 02/2009: StormWatch: PHD #19 -- 5,708 02/2012: Stormwatch #6 -- 26,076 --------------------------------------- 02/2013: Stormwatch #17 -- 13,657 (- 5.2%) 03/2013: Stormwatch #18 -- 13,255 (- 2.9%) 04/2013: Stormwatch #19 -- 13,626 (+ 2.8%) 05/2013: Stormwatch #20 -- 13,049 (- 4.2%) 06/2013: Stormwatch #21 -- 12,277 (- 5.9%) 07/2013: Stormwatch #22 -- 11,792 (- 4.0%) 08/2013: Stormwatch #23 -- 10,969 (- 7.0%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Stormwatch #24 -- 10,067 (- 8.2%) 11/2013: Stormwatch #25 -- 9,881 (- 1.9%) 12/2013: Stormwatch #26 -- 9,052 (- 8.4%) 01/2014: Stormwatch #27 -- 8,612 (- 4.9%) 02/2014: Stormwatch #28 -- 8,207 (- 4.7%) ----------------- 6 months: - 25.2% 1 year : - 39.9% 2 years : - 68.5% 5 years : + 43.8% 10 years: - 21.7% Since #1: - 85.7%
Barreling towards its final issue (#30).
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Terry Moore’s Rachel Rising…)
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215 - 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO (Vertigo) ($2.99) 02/2004: -- 02/2009: -- --------------------------------------- 06/2013: Brother Lono #1 of 8 -- 17,489 07/2013: Brother Lono #2 of 8 -- 11,984 (-31.5%) 08/2013: Brother Lono #3 of 8 -- 10,051 (-16.1%) 09/2013: Brother Lono #4 of 8 -- 8,891 (-11.5%) 10/2013: Brother Lono #5 of 8 -- 8,591 (- 3.4%) 11/2013: Brother Lono #6 of 8 -- 7,954 (- 7.4%) 12/2013: -- 01/2014: Brother Lono #7 of 8 -- 7,597 (- 4.5%) 02/2014: Brother Lono #8 of 8 -- 7,357 (- 3.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 26.8% 5 years : n.a. 10 years: n.a. Since #1: - 57.9%
Hopefully the trade sales will be more robust.
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219 - SCRIBBLENAUTS UNMASKED - CRISIS OF IMAGINATION (Digital-First) ($2.99) 01/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #1 -- 11,572 02/2014: Scribblenauts Crisis #2 -- 7,101 (-38.6%) ---------------- Since #1: - 38.6%
A typical second issue drop, but this didn’t start at a very high level to begin with…
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254 - BEWARE THE BATMAN (All-Ages) ($2.99) 02/2004: Batman Adventures #11 -- 12,082 02/2009: Brave & Bold #2 -- 8,678 02/2010: Brave & Bold #14 -- 6,084 02/2011: All-New BBB #4 -- 6,561 02/2012: All-New BBB #16 -- 7,105 ---------------------------------------- 10/2013: Beware the Batman #1 -- 19,830 11/2013: Beware the Batman #2 -- 10,368 (-47.7%) 12/2013: Beware the Batman #3 -- 8,627 (-16.8%) 01/2014: Beware the Batman #4 -- 7,226 (-16.2%) 02/2014: Beware the Batman #5 -- 6,494 (-10.1%) ----------------- 2 years : + 3.5% 5 years : - 15.2% 10 years: - 39.1% Since #1: - 67.3%
Still returnable (and adjusted accordingly), still dropping.
The cartoon on which it is based is now officially off of the Cartoon Network schedule, and no further issues have been solicited. So while it wasn’t marked as the final issue, this appears to be the end of Beware the Batman. And with the end of Li’l Gotham next month, there will no longer be an all-ages Batman comic option (not counting Batman ’66, which let’s face it isn’t really targeted at kids). Which is just crazy.
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237 - THE MOVEMENT ($2.99) 05/2013: The Movement #1 -- 29,246 06/2013: The Movement #2 -- 18,001 (-38.5%) 07/2013: The Movement #3 -- 14,524 (-19.3%) 08/2013: The Movement #4 -- 11,095 (-23.6%) 09/2013: -- 10/2013: The Movement #5 -- 9,110 (-17.9%) 11/2013: The Movement #6 -- 7,957 (-12.7%) 12/2013: The Movement #7 -- 7,252 (- 8.9%) 01/2014: The Movement #8 -- 6,629 (- 8.6%) 02/2014: The Movement #9 -- 6,417 (- 3.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 54.4% Since #1: - 77.3%
Now the lowest-selling DCU title. Batgirl guest stars, which may have kept it from dropping even further.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by United Plankton Picture’s SpongeBob Comics…)
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246 - THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (Digital-First) ($3.99) 01/2014: The Vampire Diaries #1 -- 10,855 02/2014: The Vampire Diaries #2 -- 6,132 (-43.5%)
Ouch. Digital versions are still being published, so this will be around for at least a few more issues.
(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by Bongo’s Futurama Comics…)
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310 - SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (All-Ages) ($2.99) 02/2004: Scooby-Doo #81 -- 5,297 02/2009: Scooby-Doo #141 -- 3,861 02/2010: Scooby-Doo #153 -- 3,780 02/2011: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #6 -- 4,456 02/2012: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #18 -- 4,655 ---------------------------------------- 02/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #30 -- 4,752 (+0.5%) 03/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #31 -- 4,770 (+0.4%) 04/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #32 -- 4,688 (-1.7%) 05/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #33 -- ????? 06/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #34 -- 4,881 07/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #35 -- ????? 08/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #36 -- 4,903 09/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #37 -- 4,840 (-1.3%) 10/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #38 -- 4,983 (+3.0%) 11/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #39 -- ????? 12/2013: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #40 -- 4,754 01/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #41 -- 4,649 (-2.2%) 02/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #42 -- 4,540 (-2.3%) ----------------- 6 months: ????% 1 year : - 1.7% 2 years : + 2.6% 5 years : + 22.3% 10 years: - 12.4% Since #1: - 24.8%
Still returnable (and adjusted accordingly); still hanging in there, protecting the trademark.
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368 - LOONEY TUNES (All-Ages) ($2.99) 02/2004: Looney Tunes #111 -- 3,220 02/2009: Looney Tunes #171 -- ????? 02/2010: Looney Tunes #183 -- ????? 02/2011: Looney Tunes #195 -- ????? 02/2012: Looney Tunes #205 -- ????? ---------------------------------------- 02/2013: Looney Tunes #211 -- ????? 03/2013: -- 04/2013: Looney Tunes #212 -- ????? 05/2013: -- 06/2013: Looney Tunes #213 -- ????? 07/2013: -- 08/2013: Looney Tunes #214 -- ????? 09/2013: -- 10/2013: Looney Tunes #215 -- ????? 11/2013: -- 12/2013: Looney Tunes #216 -- 2,822 01/2014: -- 02/2014: Looney Tunes #217 -- 2,784 (-1.3%) ----------------- 6 months: ????% 1 year : ????% 2 years : ????% 5 years : ????% 10 years: - 13.5%
Returnable (and adjusted accordingly). DC’s lowest selling regular comic is also its longest running!
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377 - VILLAINS MONTH 3D MOTION COMPLETE SET ($199.99) 02/2014: Villains Month Complete -- 2,261
It may be the lowest charting DC offering on the comics chart, but thanks to the hefty $200 price tag this set of second printings of all 52 of the Villain Month motion comics is also the top dollar item of the month, beating even Batman!
Average Periodical Sales (not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, All-Ages titles and magazines)
DC COMICS 02/2004: 26,900 02/2009: 23,080 02/2010: 26,199 02/2011: 23,252 02/2012: 31,535 --------------- 02/2013: 34,711 (+ 9.1%) 03/2013: 30,819 (- 11.2%)** 04/2013: 29,914 (- 2.9%) 05/2013: 31,412 (+ 5.0%) 06/2013: 34,517 (+ 9.9%) 07/2013: 34,402 (- 0.3%) 08/2013: 30,843 (- 10.4%) 09/2013: 54,892 (+ 78.0%) 10/2013: 31,928 (- 41.8%)** 11/2013: 32,664 (+ 2.3%) 12/2013: ?????? 01/2014: 27,881 02/2014: 27,070 (- 2.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 12.2% 1 year : - 22.0% 2 years : - 14.2% 5 years : + 17.3% 10 years: + 0.6% DC UNIVERSE 02/2004: 30,632 02/2009: 30,224 02/2010: 35,895 02/2011: 25,887 02/2012: 34,456 --------------- 02/2013: 36,838 (+ 10.0%) 03/2013: 32,294 (- 12.3%)** 04/2013: 31,426 (- 2.7%) 05/2013: 32,015 (+ 1.9%) 06/2013: 37,133 (+ 16.0%) 07/2013: 36,524 (- 1.6%) 08/2013: 33,583 (- 8.1%) 09/2013: 61,036 (+ 81.8%) 10/2013: 33,568 (- 45.0%)** 11/2013: 35,282 (+ 5.1%) 12/2013: ?????? 01/2014: 33,120 02/2014: 33,327 (+ 0.6%) ----------------- 6 months: - 0.8% 1 year : - 9.5% 2 years : - 3.3% 5 years : + 10.3% 10 years: + 8.8% VERTIGO 02/2004: 14,808 02/2009: 11,353 02/2010: 9,956 02/2011: 10,295 02/2012: 10,252 --------------- 02/2013: 12,019 (+11.7%) 03/2013: 11,055 (- 8.0%) 04/2013: 11,467 (+ 3.7%) 05/2013: 20,860 (+81.9%) 06/2013: 17,368 (-16.7%) 07/2013: 16,099 (- 7.3%) 08/2013: 14,130 (-12.2%) 09/2013: 14,951 (+ 5.8%) 10/2013: 22,228 (+48.7%)** 11/2013: 13,958 (-37.2%) 12/2013: ?????? 01/2014: 11,473 02/2014: 13,215 (+15.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 6.5% 1 year : + 10.0% 2 years : + 28.9% 5 years : + 16.4% 10 years: - 10.8% —– 6 month comparisons =================== + 5.9% - Worlds' Finest + 5.0% - Green Arrow + 3.2% - Suicide Squad + 1.7% - Batwing - 4.8% - Supergirl - 5.3% - Fables - 6.6% - Birds of Prey - 7.9% - Detective Comics - 8.2% - The Unwritten - 8.3% - Batgirl - 8.6% - Fairest - 8.8% - Nightwing - 9.4% - Wonder Woman - 9.6% - Batman - 10.0% - Injustice - 12.5% - Earth 2 - 12.9% - Flash - 13.9% - All Star Western - 15.5% - Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger - 15.6% - Swamp Thing - 15.8% - Teen Titans - 16.9% - Green Lantern - 17.1% - Action Comics - 18.2% - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - 18.6% - Superman - 18.7% - Superboy - 18.8% - Animal Man - 19.0% - Constantine - 19.4% - Red Hood and the Outlaws - 19.6% - Green Lantern Corps - 20.8% - Aquaman - 21.1% - Green Lantern: New Guardians - 21.1% - Batwoman - 21.1% - Batman and… - 21.2% - Justice League - 21.2% - Batman: The Dark Knight - 24.0% - Astro City - 24.4% - Smallville Season 11 - 24.5% - Talon - 24.5% - Stormwatch - 26.8% - 100 Bullets - 32.3% - Batman/Superman - 35.1% - Batman: Li'l Gotham - 36.2% - Adventures of Superman - 37.4% - Catwoman - 38.2% - Batman Beyond Universe - 39.0% - Larfleeze - 40.0% - Justice League of America - 46.7% - Batman '66 - 48.8% - trinity of Sin: Pandora - 54.4% - The Movement - 59.7% - Justice League Dark 1 year comparisons =================== + 62.8% - Constantine (Hellblazer) + 18.1% - Justice League Dark - 0.7% - The Unwritten - 6.4% - Batwing - 8.9% - Fables - 9.7% - Worlds' Finest - 12.4% - Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger - 13.2% - Suicide Squad - 15.2% - Batman Beyond - 18.2% - Birds of Prey - 19.5% - Wonder Woman - 20.6% - Catwoman - 21.2% - Flash - 21.8% - Supergirl - 22.0% - Injustice - 23.0% - Batman - 23.2% - Justice League - 23.5% - Fairest - 25.9% - Earth 2 - 27.5% - All Star Western - 28.9% - Batman and… - 30.8% - Green Lantern - 31.8% - Teen Titans - 34.0% - Detective Comics - 34.5% - Green Lantern Corps - 35.0% - Smallville Season 11 - 35.5% - Batwoman - 35.6% - Green Lantern: New Guardians - 36.7% - Batman: The Dark Knight - 38.3% - Action Comics - 38.5% - Superboy - 39.2% - Swamp Thing - 39.9% - Stormwatch - 40.3% - Animal Man - 40.4% - Aquaman - 40.5% - Nightwing - 47.4% - Batgirl - 47.5% - Talon - 56.2% - Red Hood and the Outlaws - 82.8% - Justice League of America 2 year comparisons =================== +113.8% - Constantine (Hellblazer) - 11.2% - Green Arrow - 14.4% - Batman - 18.8% - Fables - 20.4% - Justice League Dark - 25.8% - Suicide Squad - 30.3% - Nightwing - 30.8% - The Unwritten - 35.0% - Batgirl - 36.2% - Batman and… - 39.1% - Supergirl - 40.0% - Detective Comics - 40.4% - Birds of Prey - 41.8% - Red Hood and the Outlaws - 41.9% - Wonder Woman - 42.2% - Catwoman - 42.5% - Justice League - 44.9% - Aquaman - 45.5% - Batwing - 45.9% - Green Lantern: New Guardians - 47.7% - Green Lantern - 49.7% - Teen Titans - 50.3% - Flash - 50.7% - Superman - 51.3% - All Star Western - 52.4% - Superboy - 53.0% - Batman Beyond - 53.6% - Swamp Thing - 54.4% - Animal Man - 55.4% - Green Lantern Corps - 55.9% - Batman: The Dark Knight - 58.0% - Batwoman - 63.4% - Action Comics - 68.5% - Stormwatch 5 year comparisons =================== + 82.4% - Constantine (Hellblazer) + 43.8% - Stormwatch + 34.5% - Batman/Superman (Superman/Batman) + 16.1% - Justice League (JLA) + 14.2% - Green Arrow + 9.1% - All Star Western (Jonah Hex) - 1.9% - Nightwing - 5.3% - Wonder Woman - 9.9% - Batman - 15.6% - Birds of Prey - 19.3% - Justice League of America - 23.8% - Teen Titans - 27.0% - Action Comics - 31.7% - Supergirl - 36.4% - Green Lantern - 37.3% - Fables - 38.1% - Superman - 41.9% - Green Lantern Corps 10 year comparisons =================== + 67.3% - Green Lantern + 61.8% - Detective Comics + 41.2% - Aquaman + 40.8% - Justice League (JLA) + 37.9% - Batman + 36.9% - Batgirl + 35.9% - Constantine (Hellblazer) + 28.8% - Nightwing + 7.7% - Wonder Woman + 0.1% - Catwoman - 2.1% - Justice League of America - 21.7% - Stormwatch - 24.7% - Green Arrow - 27.4% - Flash - 39.1% - Birds of Prey - 43.8% - Teen Titans Go! - 44.3% - Fables - 46.2% - Batman/Superman (Superman/Batman) - 48.5% - Superman - 49.9% - Action Comics - 60.8% - Teen Titans Sales Indices ============= DCU: Average: 33,327. Median: 27,212 3.5 - Batman 2.8 - Forever Evil 2.4 - Justice League 1.9 - Harley Quinn 1.8 - Batman/Superman 1.7 - Detective Comics 1.7 - Justice League of America 1.5 - Batman: Joker's Daughter 1.5 - Green Lantern/Red Lanterns 1.3 - Superman/Wonder Woman 1.3 - Batman and Two Face 1.1 - Nightwing 1.1 - Earth 2 1.1 - Forever Evil: Arkham War 1.1 - Batman: The Dark Knight 1.1 - Action Comics 1.0 - Aquaman 1.0 - Batgirl 1.0 - Superman 1.0 - Flash 1.0 - Justice League 3000 0.9 - Wonder Woman 0.9 - Justice League Dark 0.9 - Green Lantern Corps 0.8 - Green Lantern: New Guardians 0.8 - Teen Titans 0.8 - Green Arrow 0.8 - Worlds' Finest 0.7 - Catwoman 0.7 - Forever Evil: Rogues' Rebellion 0.7 - Supergirl 0.7 - Red Hood and the Outlaws 0.7 - Suicide Squad 0.6 - Superman: Lois Lane 0.6 - Batwoman 0.6 - Constantine 0.6 - Forever Evil: ARGUS 0.6 - Swamp Thing 0.5 - Birds of Prey 0.5 - Trinity of Sin: Pandora 0.5 - Animal Man 0.5 - Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger 0.5 - Superboy 0.4 - Talon 0.4 - Larfleeze 0.4 - All Star Western 0.4 - Batwing 0.4 - Stormwatch 0.4 - The Movement Vertigo: Average: 13,215. Median: 12,350. 2.0 - The Wake 1.4 - Trillium 1.1 - Astro City 1.1 - Fables 1.1 - The Royals 0.9 - Fairest 0.8 - Coffin Hill 0.7 - Dead Boy Detectives 0.7 - Hinterkind 0.6 - The Unwritten vol. 2 0.6 - 100 Bullets: Brother Lono Other (non-all-ages): Average: 14,225. Median: 12,466. 1.9 - Batman Black & White 1.6 - Injustice Year 2 1.4 - Batman '66 1.3 - DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe 1.0 - Batman Beyond Universe 1.0 - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 0.8 - Adventures of Superman 0.8 - Smallville Season 11: Alien 0.7 - Batman: Li'l Gotham 0.6 - Teen Titans Go! 0.5 - Scribblenauts Unleashed 0.4 - The Vampire Diaries
The sales index number is a ratio of the title’s current month sales to the average sales figure of the line to which is belongs for that month. So a sales index number of 1.0 means that a title sold very close to the sales average for that line.
—–
The Fine Print (Disclaimers, et cetera)
The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
ICv2.com‘s estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.
Bear in mind that the figures measure sales of physical comics to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to bookstores, newsstands, other mass-market retail chains or the United Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book’s initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month. Keep in mind that sales for some titles may include incentives to acquire variants and not every unit sold is necessarily even intended to be sold to a customer.
If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a book’s initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in brackets behind those issues (e.g. “[36,599]“). Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used.
Titles which are returnable have their numbers artificially adjusted down by Diamond. To make up for that this column increases the reported numbers for those titles by 10%. Which is likely also wrong, but it’s a different and likely less wrong kind of wrong, and experience has shown that this leads to sales figures which are more consistent.
Titles released under the All-Ages line and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct-market sales don’t tell us much about their performance. For most Vertigo titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well. To learn (a little) more about Vertigo’s collection sales, go right here.
Please keep in mind that raw sales numbers do not tell us about how profitable a book is for a publisher or for the creators.
Above all, do not allow sales numbers to dictate your purchasing and enjoyment of a particular comic. If you enjoy reading a comic series then go right on buying and reading that comic, no matter what the sales figures say.
** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 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.
As always, we welcome your comments and corrections below. Please try to keep things civilized.
Not to denigrate any creators, but I find it rather satisfying that Batwoman’s been hemorrhaging readers since the abrupt departure of J.H. Williams III and all the editorial shenanigans that happened around that.
another good columns, thanks for the work. Definitely fascinating to watch DC continue to pump out more and more low-selling schlock to compensate for its numerous failures.
I’m a lifelong DC fan, and I’m down to my lowest amount of DC titles ever. I was all for giving the New 52 a chance, but DC is producing so much crap right now. I love the characters, but I can’t bear to read most of them. Thankfully there are a few bright spots; Batman, Wonder Woman, The Wake, and Swamp Thing are great reads every month. The majority of my comic budget now goes to Image though, as they are producing some really great books.
Still sticking with WW, green arrow, the movement, batwoman.
And most Vertigo to be fair
dc is producing an unbelievable amount of garbage. this is why they will always be number two..literally and figuratively
The “since #1” stat is really interesting. So almost every New 52 book has lost 60-80% of its readers since the Sept launch? That’s pretty obvious evidence that their sales bump was either due to speculators, or actual new readers that didn’t stay interested in the horrible stories. I’m not sure which scenario is worse.
I’m really curious about what the “since prior final issue” would be for any books that existed prior to the New 52 launch.
“I’m a lifelong DC fan, and I’m down to my lowest amount of DC titles ever.”
Then maybe you’re not a lifelong DC fan. Maybe you’re just a regular consumer like everybody else.
@Dasbender:
I am (or letÄs say I was) an actual new reader that didn’t stay interested in the horrible stories. Last week I kicked out my last DCU book (Batwoman). Now I’m left with two Vertigo books (Sandman and Hinterkind) but that’s probably not gonna last through the year.
The good thing: Ober the last two and a half years I really learned to appreciate the consistancy that manga offers its readers. So back to the cool stuff now!
The huge drop in comic sales for my store was last fall. For the first 2.75 months of 2014 sales seem to have leveled out finally with what seems to be an ever so slight sales increase happening in March for the big 2.
Afterlife with Archie sells better than than most Marvel and DC and definitely better than any other independents except for Walking Dead and Saga.
I stopped ordering any super hero books from any publisher except DC and Marvel. They do super heroes very well. Please Image, Dark Horse, and the rest of you publishers, stop trying to do super heroes. We just do not need any more stinking super hero books! Nobody cares……
And Valiant, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Did you get that Dynamite?
Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #42 — 4,540 (-2.3%)
Still returnable (and adjusted accordingly); still hanging in there, protecting the trademark.
Nonsense: the value in the licensed properties such as Scooby Doo is in foreign reprint sales. I’ve just finished a lengthy stint as cover artist for the UK reprints of Scooby Doo (please check out my work by hitting my name above), the sales for which at the end of the last decade were 45,000. They’ve since fallen (the lasted reported sales were 35,000) but think about those figures in comparison to current sales. One country’s reprints of an old cartoon character were outselling Wonder Woman in the US during the same period.
@Dasbender, 95% of the comics lose around 60-80% of the sales in 3 years when compared to shiny #1 unless sales were too low to drop in the first place.
Some of the DC drop off has got to be attributable to the length of the “Forever Evil” cross-over. If people don’t want to invest in the whole series, they may not be buying any of it.
Corrections Dept.: Beware the Batman #6 comes out today. I swear I checked Previews and didn’t see it solicited there. But there don’t appear to be any issues solicited beyond #6 (I’ve triple checked!)
RE: Red Lanterns
There’s a tie-in now with Supergirl. That makes three Earth-based RLs. (One WL, three GLs, one SS, no blue, orange, yellow, indigo?)
Adventures of Superman #10 should be read by all Superman fans. It’s a “Metropolis Mailbag” issue, containing two excellent stories.
DC needs to fire someone in their production department. The “Dark” titles had a Forever Evil tie-in arc (“Blight”), but the covers never noted this.
As for the Vertigo question… the comics pay for the production of the comic and graphic novel. DC is printing to order, so there’s no unsold inventory. Royalties kick in at a certain level of sales, which DC can calculate on the P&L. Also, with the single issues on the stands, DC can also predict sales of the graphic novel, which is returnable in some markets. Those single issues also help pay the creators while they are producing the book, replacing the more risky system of author advances. Those issues are also being reviewed, generating publicity.
As for the combo packs… I’ve never seen one in the wild. Probably being sold to completists. It’s like a variant cover.
I read the full monthly output of DC comics. What rises to the top: the digital first titles and Vertigo.
“(After this point in the chart, all further titles are outsold by IDW’s My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic…)” – THIS is perfection. :)
What will it TAKE to get you people to read Swamp Thing?! What? No, I’m serious! What? Sure, Snyder’s Rotworld kinda killed the book for many people for a while, but it has returned to great form with Soule at the helm. And Jesus Saiz doing art? WHAT will it take to not make Swamp Thing’s monthly numbers drop? Please, give the title another chance! You won’t be disappointed.
Also, DC killed Phantom Stranger. The book started out with Didio writing it. Ugh. And then they did something amazing (but waited way too long) and put DeMatteis on the title! And it started going strong! And just when there was a chance at redemption, they decided to make it part of their Rotworld Part Two (because apparently DC didn’t learn it’s lesson with that one) and make it part of the EIGHTEEN ISSUE Blight crossover. OMG.
I’m not sure the flip book for Red Lanterns and Green Lantern was a good thing. The month prior, DC sold 73,308 copies of both titles combined. Now, because of the flipbook, they only sold 49,200 copies. They essentially gave away Red Lanterns for free that month. I don’t think there are a lot of people that read Red Lanterns that don’t read Green Lantern so I don’t see where the new reader pick up is coming from.
” So pretty much the same audience then that DC is targeting for most of their comics.”
Wow, elegantly crafted piece of snark there. Pretty perfect line.
——-
Pandora and Phantom Stranger are also harmed, IMO, because the “Trinity of Sin” subline only includes two comics!
-B
” DC is printing to order, so there’s no unsold inventory. ”
Torsten, I very much doubt that is correct. DC is generally superb about overprinting enough so that EVERY comic they offer can be copiously reordered until they announce the final pulping.
Every Vertigo title on this month’s list has AT LEAST 500 copies sitting at Diamond right this very second (and I say “at least” because 500 is the maximum that Diamond’s computer system will allow a retailer to try and purchase at once) – therefore that’s AT LEAST a 4-5% overage (almost certainly for Overages, Shortages, and Damages — OSDs)
Even LOONEY TUNES #217, which has reported Diamond sales of 2784 has AT LEAST 500 copies in stock at Diamond this very moment — nearly 10% of the base number.
-B
Brisn Hibbs is right — no publisher prints to demand.
Even HarperCollins when they do their high-end pubs such as the two hundred dollar edition of Gaiman’s Neverwhere: The Authors Preferred Text simply printed a number, eight hundred in this case. It took three years (according to an editor I talked to) to sell all the copies.
DC obviously makes a guess asked on past sales of what they will see but it’s just a guess. It’s one reason that they like digital sales — no overruns, no extra copies to pulp. And pretty much pure profit after a certain.
Always fascinated that people will get about 4 issues into something like Forever Evil and then just say…nah, I don’t need to finish this. ?
Also, I think the rises on Batman/Superman and Worlds’ Finest speak to the power of the crossover, for those who say they are killing the industry. Having super-heroes team up is interesting.
Glenn: “Always fascinated that people will get about 4 issues into something like Forever Evil and then just say…nah, I don’t need to finish this. ?”
I know I’ve done it before. I used to be much more of a completist, but at this point, if there are three issues left of something I’m not digging at $4 a pop? That $12 is a lot to spend on something boring me to tears that could be much better spent toward that TPB or graphic novel I’ve been eyeing over there.
Or, basically, there are already more comics out there that I want to read than I have the time and money to read. So if the first half of something was a waste of my time and money, why double what I’ve already lost? It’s much more preferable to cut my losses on the dreck and keep hunting for the good stuff.
“The month prior, DC sold 73,308 copies of both titles combined. Now, because of the flipbook, they only sold 49,200 copies.”
Gosh, you must hate it when they release free books on Free Comics Day, or dollar promotional issues.
So many assumptions made in your article, that I kind of wish the other reviewer Marc was back.
“Vertigo’s best-selling title this month. It looked to be stabilizing around 30K before its two-month break, but the hiatus apparently gave retailers a chance to reassess customers’ interest, and the result was probably not was DC was hoping for.”
“apparently gave retailers a chance…” – where’s your proof?
“There’s another miniseries, (Smallville) Lantern, scheduled after Alien, but unless the digital sales are stronger than usual I don’t see this lasting much after that.”
Really? You do know this is a digital-first comic, right, with print later? Same with Vampire Diaries. Both aimed at a totally different audience. Maybe the print audience isn’t interested, but they’re not the main audience.
“While there are likely many reasons why Vertigo has had a hard time with new ongoing series as of late, I think that one is that DC have conditioned consumers to not buy them…”
Again, more assumptions. Stop making these!
Talking of Vertigo, I am sad about these books, but I think that’s down to stores not supporting them, not the quality of the books. My local store, Kent Comics, sells nothing other than fanboy Marvel/DC stuff, nothing else. I think Vertigo is being sold in the wrong market/outlet.
@Jason Green – I understand, but in this example, it took you (the rhetorical you) four issues to decide you didn’t want to read it? I would think people would know if they like it or not after the first couple of issues.
It does occur to me that what we might be seeing is a reduction in shelf copies at this point, since nobody is going to START reading Forever Evil at issue #5. So at this point, anybody who doesn’t have it on their pull list is probably going to wait for the trade…
We should wait and see on the First Contact crossover with Batman/Superman and World’s Finest. The feedback I’ve seen are typically Batman/Superman readers who were shocked by the drastically lower production value on World’s Finest.
Not just that but the latest Batman/Superman (which was Part 1–followed by WF being Part 2 with a “To Be Continued in Batman/Superman”) failed to ship its Part 3 but instead tacked on a Part 3 on the outside of the latest WF with a Part 4 on the title page of the same WF.
The First Contact crossover is looking like a Grade A cockup.
Much of these comments could use a measure of salt and the knowledge that these numbers are retailers making (hopefully) educated and sagacious guesses on what will sell. All the while they are the ones taking the brunt of risk.
This is why we perpetually see hype in the form of #1s or events or gimmicks, not to mention proven sellers, garnering the most interest–and likely the best publisher-to-retailer deals. This is also why gaps in shipping illustrate an enthusiasm gap as much as anything. Infinity came out so quickly retailers and consumers didn’t have so much time on their hands to evaluate whether or not they liked it. This is probably why DC is doubling-down on weeklies. Those are a classic smash&grab.
Vertigo is no longer the premier outlet for creator-led comics. That’s Image. And anyone who’s been around long enough will be able to chart Vertigo’s trajectory and generally holds Vertigo in less esteem. The line is a shadow of its former glory–in both content and sales.
“I know I’ve done it before. I used to be much more of a completist, but at this point, if there are three issues left of something I’m not digging at $4 a pop?”
The Big 2 broke me of my completist urge as well. I suppose I should thank them for that.
Mike
Brian, thanks for the correction.
My point was that the Direct Market is non-returnable, so there is less risk and uncertainty in the printing of copies. (Newstand: 33% sell-through, unsold copies destroyed. Comics Shops: 75%?+ sell-through, unsold copies recycled, repackaged.)
HarperCollins is a returnable publisher, so their “First printing” number is a bit harder to calculate. Sometimes, they can make a high-end item non-returnable, as Taschen frequently does with their $1000+ artist editions.
I was not aware of that limited edition, which would explain why it took so long to sell. 1000 copies, $200. Meanwhile, the Ltd Ed of “Ocean” is currently out of stock, although available on Amazon.
None of this matters because DC is asking all its beanfield hands to fill out a corporate survey, chock-full of management-speak & arrows pointing upwards. That will fix everything, as anyone who has ever filled out endless questions designed by market research and/or sat through a day-long seminar with powerpoint presentation can attest.
“Again, more assumptions. Stop making these!”
He’s not making assumptions. He said “I think.” He’s speculating, as he’s free to do, this being his column.
If it bothers you so damn much that you have to start bossing him around, just read the figures only and be done with it.
I don’t read much DC comics these days. Most of their titles are just blah.
But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TO EVERYONE READING THIS POST!
Start reading Swamp Thing!! You will not be disappointed. It is one of my favourite reads every month, and I don’t want it cancelled! :)
Well, guess everyone’s getting into the act.
Funny how quite a few DC titles are pointed out as being in serious trouble, yet the LOWEST-SELLING non-cancelled book hasn’t any mention of danger. Wow, even the comic book “media” is jumping on the Batwing bandwagon. Well, I guess that tells us who’s reading that dog excrement. At this rate, Batwing’ll be the first new 52 book to make it to #50—if not the only one, considering how all the others will either be cancelled and/or relaunched.
” – I understand, but in this example, it took you (the rhetorical you) four issues to decide you didn’t want to read it? I would think people would know if they like it or not after the first couple of issues.”
Nope. Especially not if it’s a big event book with the promise of lots of excitement. Maybe issue one was alright so you pick up issue two, which is pretty good, but then three is kind of terrible followed by an equally blah four and you decide ‘I’m done’. I don’t understand why people continue to buy a series once they’ve stopped enjoying it for more than one issue (other than those that have a completionist interest in the series).
I guess I just don’t see 3 more issues as being that much of a completionist. I suppose it depends on your budget and how you purchase them.
@rob e – here’s the thing about Batwing – it might not be a concept anybody is excited about, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with the book. It’s a perfectly acceptable super-hero adventure book. So I’m not sure why you’re calling it “dog excrement” – what did Batwing ever do to you?
Glenn: I guess one way I’m peculiar (though I’m sure I’m not alone in this) is that I rarely read comics the week they come out. I should probably wait for trade at this point because I generally read stuff in 3 or 4 issue chunks anyway. I try to keep up with first issues at least to make sure stuff is worth reading but life/work/kid/grad school/blah blah blah…I fall behind and read my comics in batches.
A couple recent examples:
– I bought 4 issues of Pretty Deadly before I read any of it. Then I read all 4 and haaaaated it, and was really mad I was out that much money.
– I read the first issue of Ten Grand and thought it was one of the best debuts I had read in a long time. I let it stack up a bit and didn’t read more until I had #2-6 all in one big stack. And man, each issue was worse than the last, and again, I was kicking myself.
– I have every issue of Satellite Sam (it’s up to #6 or 7 now, I think?), but have not, as of yet, read any of them, but I keep buying it under the assumption that it’ll be as good as Sex Criminals. Guess I’ll find out!
I can’t think of many DC examples of late just because DC’s lack of quality of late has caused me to be even more cautious and to make sure I stay up to date on the books I’m not 100% sure about, so it’s much rarer that I get much past 2 issues of a DC book before I make the decision whether or not to drop it.
Hey, where’s Marc? No offense to the new (er? ish?) guy, but I liked the snarky, often non-sensical analysis that came with these numbers.
“Hey, where’s Marc? No offense to the new (er? ish?) guy, but I liked the snarky, often non-sensical analysis that came with these numbers.”
You must not have liked him that much, or else you’d know why he’s not writing the column anymore.
It seems DC fans are way too touchy :) Marc was too snarky this new guy takes the liberty to make assumptions, maybe De Didio should write this column?
>Meredith and David Finch have been announced as taking over later in the year after Azzarello & company wrap up their run.
This is only a rumor according to Bleedingcool. Given the lateness of FE, it seems more unlikely unless DC wants a repeat of the Heinberg WW.
>And yet DC is launching another title in the Green Lantern family (Sinestro) in April. Seems like this would be a good time to consolidate the GL titles, rather than expand.
Probably cancellation for the deadwood and consolidate the characters back into the main book.
nWoJeffDW
> I don’t think there are a lot of people that read Red Lanterns that don’t read Green Lantern so I don’t see where the new reader pick up is coming from.
You’d be surprised. For example, I’m not reading the main GL title, but I’m certainly reading RL. There is certainly imo some decent word of mouth about RLs due to the new writer.
@rob e – here’s the thing about Batwing – it might not be a concept anybody is excited about, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with the book. It’s a perfectly acceptable super-hero adventure book. So I’m not sure why you’re calling it “dog excrement” – what did Batwing ever do to you?
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“It might not be a concept anyone is excited about”.
Understatement of the year.
It amazes me as to how DC can cancel book after book with far better sales than Batwing. I thought the “new 52” was all about diversity. Instead, we’re losing unique books by the month, while this sad old book stays around, just because it’s connected to the Bat-family. And even THAT can’t provide any help, sales-wise. STILL lower sales figures than most of the cancelled new 52 books.
And, yes, I did give Batwing a try. In my opinion, dog excrement is an appropriate description of Batwing
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