by Marc-Oliver Frisch
The countdown to DC’s big relaunch continued in June with a whole lot of Flashpoint tie-in books — few of which seem to have stood out in any way to retailers, if the sales figures are any indication. Given that the upcoming relaunch titles are drawing on the same pool of creators, characters and concepts, that’s not ideal for DC. If it’s asking too much of readers and retailers to pick and choose among 16 titles of a certain mold, putting out 52 of them at once seems ill-advised.
Over at the publisher’s Vertigo imprint, meanwhile, almost half the current ongoing series are about to end within the next year. There’s still plenty of time for Vertigo to announce replacements, certainly. But in combination with the recent WildStorm shutdown and the re-absorption of a number of key Vertigo properties into the DC Universe line, there seems to be a lot less patience than there used to be at DC for material that’s not expected to immediately do well in the direct market.
See below for the details, and please consider the small print at the end of the column. Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com‘s estimates can be found here.
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3 - FLASHPOINT 05/2011: Flashpoint #1 of 5 -- 86,981 [95,845] 06/2011: Flashpoint #2 of 5 -- 87,505 (+0.6%)
Thanks to a promotional plastic ring that came with every copy of the book, there’s a slight increase in first-month sales.
As you may recall, DC infamously used promotional plastic rings to promote “Blackest Night” in late 2009. Back then, though, comics retailers were required to buy truckloads of books they had no hope of selling to get those rings. This time around, we’re looking at a far more moderate and less potentially destructive proposal.
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8 - BATMAN, INC. 11/2010: Batman, Inc. #1 -- 95,587 12/2010: Batman, Inc. #2 -- 71,544 (-25.2%) [72,957] 01/2011: -- 02/2011: -- 03/2011: Batman, Inc. #3 -- 66,772 (- 6.7%) 03/2011: Batman, Inc. #4 -- 65,315 (- 2.2%) 04/2011: Batman, Inc. #5 -- 62,204 (- 4.8%) 05/2011: Batman, Inc. #6 -- 60,480 (- 2.8%) 06/2011: Batman, Inc. #7 -- 56,108 (- 7.2%) ---------------- 6 months: -21.6%
Interest in Grant Morrison’s Batman saga seems to be fading. Given that it won’t be part of the relaunch, that’s understandable.
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9 - BATMAN AND ROBIN 06/2009: Batman and Robin #1 -- 168,604 [184,826] ---------------------------------------- 06/2010: -- 07/2010: Batman and Robin #13 -- 85,804 (+ 1.1%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: Batman and Robin #14 -- 82,894 (- 3.4%) 10/2010: Batman and Robin #15 -- 80,173 (- 3.3%) 11/2010: Batman and Robin #16 -- 80,343 (+ 0.2%) 11/2010: Batman and Robin #17 -- 70,600 (-12.1%) 12/2010: Batman and Robin #18 -- 68,814 (- 2.5%) 01/2011: Batman and Robin #19 -- 61,785 (-10.2%) 02/2011: Batman and Robin #20 -- 60,642 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: Batman and Robin #21 -- 59,818 (- 1.4%) 04/2011: Batman and Robin #22 -- 59,076 (- 1.2%) 05/2011: Batman and Robin #23 -- 57,525 (- 2.6%) 06/2011: Batman and Robin #24 -- 54,984 (- 4.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -20.1% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : -67.4%
The book is in the middle of a fill-in run while the supposedly regular creative team prepare for the relaunch, so the slide doesn’t come as a great surprise.
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15 - GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS 08/2010: Emerald Warriors #1 -- 68,332 09/2010: Emerald Warriors #2 -- 56,289 (-17.6%) 10/2010: Emerald Warriors #3 -- 50,490 (-10.3%) 11/2010: Emerald Warriors #4 -- 46,319 (- 8.3%) 12/2010: Emerald Warriors #5 -- 44,077 (- 4.8%) 01/2011: Emerald Warriors #6 -- 43,471 (- 1.4%) 02/2011: Emerald Warriors #7 -- 44,828 (+ 3.1%) 03/2011: Emerald Warriors #8 -- 51,322 (+14.5%) [54,110] 04/2011: Emerald Warriors #9 -- 51,784 (+ 0.5%) 05/2011: Emerald Warriors #10 -- 52,971 (+ 2.3%) 06/2011: Emerald Warriors #11 -- 53,927 (+ 1.8%) ---------------- 6 months: +22.4%
Sales keep going up — a moot point, of course, since the book won’t be around after August. Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps failed to come out in June, meanwhile.
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15 - BATMAN 06/2006: Batman #654 -- 76,525 [78,671] 06/2007: -- 06/2008: -- 06/2009: Batman #687 -- 96,913 ------------------------------- 06/2010: Batman #700 -- 104,755 (+67.9%) 07/2010: Batman #701 -- 76,398 (-27.1%) 08/2010: Batman #702 -- 73,414 (- 3.9%) 09/2010: Batman #703 -- 77,033 (+ 4.9%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Batman #704 -- 65,212 (-15.4%) 12/2010: Batman #705 -- 63,262 (- 3.0%) 01/2011: Batman #706 -- 60,231 (- 4.8%) 02/2011: Batman #707 -- 58,803 (- 2.4%) 03/2011: Batman #708 -- 58,594 (- 0.4%) 04/2011: Batman #709 -- 56,578 (- 3.4%) 05/2011: Batman #710 -- 55,086 (- 2.6%) 06/2011: Batman #711 -- 53,113 (- 3.6%) ---------------- 6 months: -16.0% 1 year : -49.3% 2 years : -45.2% 5 years : -30.6%
Stumbling towards the relaunch.
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16 - BRIGHTEST DAY AFTERMATH: THE SEARCH 06/2011: The Search #1 of 3 -- 51,928
The book is selling on the strength of the Brightest Day brand alone, so this is a surprisingly good number.
There was a 1:10 variant edition.
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22 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 06/2007: Justice League #10 -- 129,265 06/2008: Justice League #22 -- 85,013 06/2009: Justice League #34 -- 61,115 -------------------------------------- 06/2010: Justice League #46 -- 62,754 (+ 0.5%) 07/2010: Justice League #47 -- 60,368 (- 3.8%) 08/2010: Justice League #48 -- 60,733 (+ 0.6%) 09/2010: Justice League #49 -- 57,616 (- 5.1%) 10/2010: Justice League #50 -- 59,686 (+ 3.6%) 11/2010: Justice League #51 -- 50,887 (-14.7%) 12/2010: Justice League #52 -- 48,501 (- 4.7%) 01/2011: Justice League #53 -- 47,093 (- 2.9%) 02/2011: Justice League #54 -- 46,269 (- 1.8%) 03/2011: Justice League #55 -- 50,533 (+ 9.2%) 04/2011: Justice League #56 -- 47,179 (- 6.6%) 05/2011: Justice League #57 -- 46,729 (- 1.0%) 06/2011: Justice League #58 -- 45,442 (- 2.8%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.3% 1 year : -27.6% 2 years : -25.7%
A revamp is around the corner.
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23 - FLASHPOINT: BATMAN: KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE 06/2011: Batman #1 of 3 -- 45,129
Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso provide the highest-selling of the 16 Flashpoint spin-off miniseries. Given that it’s the only combination of an A-list character with a top-flight creative team among the bunch, that makes sense.
To further motivate people to pick up these books, the first issue of each miniseries came with a promo button.
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31 - ACTION COMICS 06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 [63,676] 06/2007: -- 06/2008: Action Comics #866 -- 50,158 [53,198] 06/2009: Action Comics #878 -- 40,011 ------------------------------------- 06/2010: Action Comics #890 -- 34,744 (+19.4%) [40,039] 07/2010: Action Comics #891 -- 35,328 (+ 1.7%) 08/2010: Action Comics #892 -- 36,401 (+ 3.0%) 09/2010: Action Comics #893 -- 33,948 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Action Comics #894 -- 42,291 (+24.6%) 11/2010: Action Comics #895 -- 33,089 (-21.8%) 12/2010: Action Comics #896 -- 32,357 (- 2.2%) 01/2011: Action Comics #897 -- 32,134 (- 0.7%) 02/2011: Action Comics #898 -- 31,935 (- 0.6%) 03/2011: Action Comics #899 -- 31,808 (- 0.4%) 04/2011: Action Comics #900 -- 60,152 (+89.1%) [73,004] 05/2011: Action Comics #901 -- 44,143 (-26.6%) 06/2011: Action Comics #902 -- 41,960 (- 5.0%) ----------------- 6 months: + 29.7% 1 year : + 20.8% 2 years : + 4.9% 5 years : - 32.1%
The “Reign of Doomsday” storyline keeps the numbers well above their usual level.
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33 - FLASHPOINT: ABIN SUR THE GREEN LANTERN 06/2011: Abin Sur #1 of 3 -- 41,612
34 - FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN 06/2011: Hal Jordan #1 of 3 -- 39,404
The Green Lantern bonus helps, obviously, even when franchise mastermind Geoff Johns is nowhere to be seen.
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35 - DETECTIVE COMICS 06/2006: Detective Comics #820 -- 65,988 06/2007: Detective Comics #833 -- 54,104 06/2008: Detective Comics #845 -- 48,920 06/2009: Detective Comics #854 -- 72,808 [79,573] ----------------------------------------- 06/2010: Detective Comics #866 -- 46,178 (+11.3%) 07/2010: Detective Comics #867 -- 40,371 (-12.6%) 08/2010: Detective Comics #868 -- 38,682 (- 4.2%) 09/2010: Detective Comics #869 -- 37,394 (- 3.3%) 10/2010: Detective Comics #870 -- 35,674 (- 4.6%) 11/2010: Detective Comics #871 -- 36,941 (+ 3.6%) 12/2010: Detective Comics #872 -- 37,961 (+ 2.8%) [39,758] 01/2011: Detective Comics #873 -- 38,417 (+ 1.2%) 02/2011: Detective Comics #874 -- 39,106 (+ 1.8%) 03/2011: Detective Comics #875 -- 40,047 (+ 2.4%) 04/2011: Detective Comics #876 -- 40,133 (+ 0.2%) 05/2011: Detective Comics #877 -- 39,609 (- 1.3%) 06/2011: Detective Comics #878 -- 39,152 (- 1.2%) ----------------- 6 months: + 3.1% 1 year : - 15.2% 2 years : - 46.2% 5 years : - 40.7%
Back in a slow decline.
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37 - FLASHPOINT: PROJECT SUPERMAN 06/2011: Project Superman #1 of 3 -- 38,045
Presumably, this one gained a slightly higher profile through the involvement of co-writer Scott Snyder and artist Gene Ha.
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38 - SUPERMAN 06/2006: Superman #653 -- 69,079 06/2007: Superman #663 -- 53,384 06/2008: Superman #677 -- 54,634 06/2009: Superman #689 -- 40,366 --------------------------------- 06/2010: Superman #700 -- 67,571 (+103.6%) 07/2010: Superman #701 -- 54,506 (- 19.3%) 08/2010: Superman #702 -- 50,023 (- 8.2%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: Superman #703 -- 50,460 (+ 0.9%) 10/2010: Superman #704 -- 46,741 (- 7.4%) 11/2010: Superman #705 -- 46,261 (- 1.0%) 12/2010: Superman #706 -- 43,027 (- 7.0%) 01/2011: Superman #707 -- 41,843 (- 2.8%) 02/2011: Superman #708 -- 40,639 (- 2.9%) 03/2011: Superman #709 -- 39,846 (- 2.0%) 04/2011: Superman #710 -- 39,644 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Superman #711 -- 38,471 (- 3.0%) 06/2011: Superman #712 -- 37,362 (- 2.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 13.2% 1 year : - 44.7% 2 years : - 7.4% 5 years : - 45.9%
Biding its time until the relaunch.
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40 - FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES 06/2011: Wonder Woman #1 of 3 -- 36,365
41 - FLASHPOINT: THE WORLD OF FLASHPOINT 06/2011: World of Flashpoint #1 of 3 -- 36,358
42 - FLASHPOINT: EMPEROR AQUAMAN 06/2011: Emperor Aquaman #1 of 3 -- 36,297
46 - FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST 06/2011: Kid Flash Lost #1 of 3 -- 34,148
47 - FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN 06/2011: Secret Seven #1 of 3 -- 33,069
48 - FLASHPOINT: CITIZEN COLD 06/2011: Citizen Cold #1 of 3 -- 32,969
49 - FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS 06/2011: Deadman #1 of 3 -- 32,950
50 - FLASHPOINT: THE REVERSE FLASH 06/2011: Reverse Flash #1 of 1 -- 32,554
51 - FLASHPOINT: DEATHSTROKE AND THE RAVAGER 06/2011: Deathstroke #1 of 3 -- 32,188
53 - FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE 06/2011: Lois Lane #1 of 3 -- 31,325
54 - FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM 06/2011: Legion #1 of 3 -- 31,244
And here’s most of the rest of the Flashpoint minis, with the Reverse Flash one-shot stuck in the middle.
At first glance, sales of 30K+ are all right for this type of book, all things considered. Then again, it’s obvious that retailers just shrugged and lumped the bulk of them together when it came to placing their orders, and you can’t really blame them. In terms of creators or concepts, it’s not clear what’s meant to be the selling point of these books or, for that matter, what distinguishes one from the other.
And that’s just 16 books. Retailers must be ecstatic about having to do this for 52 of them.
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55/68 - BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY 05/2011: Arkham City #1 of 5 -- 36,597 06/2011: Arkham City #2 of 5 -- 31,141 (-14.9%) 06/2011: Arkham City #3 of 5 -- 28,443 (- 8.7%)
Regular sales patterns.
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56/57 - WONDER WOMAN 06/2006: Wonder Woman #1 -- 132,580 [139,562] 06/2007: Wonder Woman #10 -- 54,472 06/2008: Wonder Woman #21 -- 37,086 06/2009: Wonder Woman #33 -- 32,755 ------------------------------------- 06/2010: Wonder Woman #600 -- 53,525 (+110.4%) [63,700] 07/2010: Wonder Woman #601 -- 39,672 (- 25.9%) 08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012 (- 4.2%) 09/2010: Wonder Woman #603 -- 38,852 (+ 2.2%) 10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 -- 37,405 (- 3.7%) 11/2010: -- 12/2010: Wonder Woman #605 -- 35,495 (- 5.1%) 01/2011: Wonder Woman #606 -- 33,601 (- 5.3%) 02/2011: Wonder Woman #607 -- 33,053 (- 1.6%) 03/2011: Wonder Woman #608 -- 32,540 (- 1.6%) 03/2011: Wonder Woman #609 -- 31,421 (- 3.4%) 04/2011: Wonder Woman #610 -- 31,002 (- 1.3%) 05/2011: -- 06/2011: Wonder Woman #611 -- 30,874 (- 0.4%) 06/2011: Wonder Woman #612 -- 30,690 (- 0.6%) ----------------- 6 months: - 13.3% 1 year : - 42.5% 2 years : - 6.3% 5 years : - 76.8%
Winding off, to be relaunched.
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58 - FLASHPOINT: FRANKENSTEIN AND THE CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN 06/2011: Frankenstein #1 of 3 -- 30,508
61 - FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER 06/2011: The Outsider #1 of 3 -- 30,030
Two more Flashpoint minis. Jeff Lemire is writing a new Frankenstein title that’s set to debut in September, so that one looks a little less inconsequential than most of the others.
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63/91/94/96 - GREEN LANTERN MOVIE PREQUELS 06/2011: Hal Jordan -- 29,245 06/2011: Kilowog -- 25,496 06/2011: Abin Sur -- 24,890 06/2011: Tomar Re -- 24,811
The books were released several weeks late. The numbers suggest that retailers were hopeful about the prospect of selling them to people excited by the movie.
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65 - BIRDS OF PREY 06/2006: Birds of Prey #95 -- 33,954 06/2007: Birds of Prey #107 -- 28,632 06/2008: Birds of Prey #119 -- 21,593 ------------------------------------- 06/2010: Birds of Prey #2 -- 44,064 (- 12.6%) 07/2010: Birds of Prey #3 -- 43,420 (- 1.5%) 08/2010: Birds of Prey #4 -- 46,149 (+ 6.3%) 09/2010: Birds of Prey #5 -- 40,146 (- 13.0%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Birds of Prey #6 -- 34,440 (- 14.2%) 12/2010: Birds of Prey #7 -- 33,114 (- 3.9%) 01/2011: Birds of Prey #8 -- 31,616 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: Birds of Prey #9 -- 30,641 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: Birds of Prey #10 -- 30,777 (+ 0.4%) 04/2011: Birds of Prey #11 -- 30,270 (- 1.7%) 05/2011: Birds of Prey #12 -- 29,690 (- 1.9%) 06/2011: Birds of Prey #13 -- 28,992 (- 2.4%) ----------------- 6 months: - 12.5% 1 year : - 34.2% 5 years : - 14.6%
To be relaunched.
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71 - RED ROBIN 06/2006: Robin #151 -- 38,921 06/2007: Robin #163 -- 26,284 06/2008: -- 06/2009: Red Robin #1 -- 64,261 [71,925] -------------------------------- 06/2010: Red Robin #13 -- 35,917 (- 1.0%) 07/2010: Red Robin #14 -- 35,652 (- 0.7%) 08/2010: Red Robin #15 -- 34,709 (- 2.7%) 09/2010: Red Robin #16 -- 33,753 (- 2.8%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Red Robin #17 -- 31,825 (- 5.7%) 12/2010: Red Robin #18 -- 30,873 (- 3.0%) 01/2011: Red Robin #19 -- 30,547 (- 1.1%) 02/2011: Red Robin #20 -- 30,149 (- 1.3%) 03/2011: Red Robin #21 -- 29,652 (- 1.7%) 04/2011: Red Robin #22 -- 31,786 (+ 7.2%) 05/2011: Red Robin #23 -- 29,097 (- 8.5%) 06/2011: Red Robin #24 -- 28,367 (- 2.5%) ----------------- 6 months: - 8.1% 1 year : - 21.0% 2 years : - 55.9% 5 years : - 27.1%
Cancelled with issue #26.
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72 - FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES 06/2011: Green Arrow #1 of 1 -- 28,358
This one-shot outsells the regular Green Arrow title.
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77 - BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM 05/2011: Gates of Gotham #1 of 6 -- 32,432 06/2011: Gates of Gotham #2 of 6 -- 27,777 (-14.4%)
A regular miniseries drop-off.
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78 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN 06/2006: Superman/Batman #27 -- 95,717 06/2007: Superman/Batman #36 -- 65,866 06/2007: Superman/Batman #37 -- 72,635 06/2008: Superman/Batman #49 -- 52,579 06/2009: Superman/Batman #61 -- 38,228 --------------------------------------- 06/2010: Superman/Batman #73 -- 31,425 (- 1.9%) 07/2010: Superman/Batman #74 -- 30,847 (- 1.8%) 08/2010: Superman/Batman #75 -- 34,324 (+11.3%) 09/2010: Superman/Batman #76 -- 32,003 (- 6.8%) 10/2010: Superman/Batman #77 -- 31,741 (- 0.8%) 11/2010: Superman/Batman #78 -- 31,337 (- 1.3%) 12/2010: Superman/Batman #79 -- 30,586 (- 2.4%) 01/2011: Superman/Batman #80 -- 30,363 (- 0.7%) 02/2011: Superman/Batman #81 -- 29,567 (- 2.6%) 03/2011: Superman/Batman #82 -- 28,913 (- 2.2%) 04/2011: Superman/Batman #83 -- 28,403 (- 1.8%) 05/2011: Superman/Batman #84 -- 27,991 (- 1.5%) 06/2011: Superman/Batman #85 -- 27,581 (- 1.5%) ---------------- 6 months: - 9.8% 1 year : -12.2% 2 years : -27.9% 5 years : -71.2%
Cancelled with issue #87.
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79 - GREEN ARROW 06/2006: Green Arrow #63 -- 37,803 06/2007: Green Arrow #75 -- 35,022 06/2008: Arrow/Canary #9 -- 30,330 06/2009: Arrow/Canary #21 -- 20,807 ----------------------------------- 06/2010: Green Arrow #1 -- 54,400 (+ 86.7%) [57,554] 07/2010: Green Arrow #2 -- 44,118 (- 18.9%) 08/2010: Green Arrow #3 -- 46,308 (+ 5.0%) 09/2010: Green Arrow #4 -- 44,220 (- 4.5%) 10/2010: Green Arrow #5 -- 42,188 (- 4.6%) 11/2010: Green Arrow #6 -- 39,575 (- 6.2%) 12/2010: Green Arrow #7 -- 36,835 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Green Arrow #8 -- 35,307 (- 4.2%) 02/2011: Green Arrow #9 -- 33,922 (- 3.9%) 03/2011: Green Arrow #10 -- 33,085 (- 2.5%) 04/2011: Green Arrow #11 -- 32,669 (- 1.3%) 05/2011: Green Arrow #12 -- 31,742 (- 2.8%) 06/2011: Green Arrow #13 -- 27,552 (- 13.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 25.2% 2 years : - 49.4% 1 year : + 32.4% 5 years : - 27.1%
No variant edition in June, hence the steep drop.
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83 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA 06/2006: JSA #86 -- 50,338 06/2007: -- 06/2008: Justice Society #16 -- 77,328 06/2009: Justice Society #28 -- 52,673 --------------------------------------- 06/2010: Justice Society #39 -- 36,630 (- 0.1%) 06/2010: Justice Society #40 -- 36,008 (- 1.7%) 07/2010: Justice Society #41 -- 48,858 (+ 35.7%) 08/2010: Justice Society #42 -- 48,420 (- 0.9%) 09/2010: Justice Society #43 -- 36,576 (- 24.5%) 10/2010: Justice Society #44 -- 35,483 (- 3.0%) 11/2010: Justice Society #45 -- 33,582 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: Justice Society #46 -- 31,497 (- 6.2%) 01/2011: Justice Society #47 -- 30,071 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: Justice Society #48 -- 29,139 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: Justice Society #49 -- 28,634 (- 1.7%) 04/2011: Justice Society #50 -- 32,251 (+ 12.6%) 05/2011: Justice Society #51 -- 28,256 (- 12.4%) 06/2011: Justice Society #52 -- 27,195 (- 3.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -13.7% 1 year : -25.1% 2 years : -48.4% 5 years : -46.0%
Cancelled with issue #54.
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86 - FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR 06/2011: Grodd #1 of 1 -- 26,348
Good sales for this type of thing, surely.
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87 - BOOSTER GOLD 06/2008: Booster Gold #10 -- 34,435 06/2009: Booster Gold #21 -- 23,222 ----------------------------------- 06/2010: Booster Gold #33 -- 19,895 (- 2.2%) 07/2010: Booster Gold #34 -- 19,592 (- 1.5%) 08/2010: Booster Gold #35 -- 19,104 (- 2.5%) 09/2010: Booster Gold #36 -- 18,504 (- 3.1%) 10/2010: Booster Gold #37 -- 17,806 (- 3.8%) 11/2010: Booster Gold #38 -- 17,276 (- 3.0%) 12/2010: Booster Gold #39 -- 16,686 (- 3.4%) 01/2011: Booster Gold #40 -- 16,324 (- 2.2%) 02/2011: Booster Gold #41 -- 15,864 (- 2.8%) 03/2011: Booster Gold #42 -- 16,093 (+ 1.4%) 04/2011: Booster Gold #43 -- 16,018 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Booster Gold #44 -- 23,332 (+ 45.7%) 06/2011: Booster Gold #45 -- 26,183 (+ 12.2%) ---------------- 6 months: +56.9% 1 year : +31.6% 2 years : +12.8%
Another Flashpoint-fueled increase.
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98 - BATMAN BEYOND 06/2010: Batman Beyond #1 of 6 -- 35,113 [42,283] 07/2010: Batman Beyond #2 of 6 -- 31,397 (-10.6%) 08/2010: Batman Beyond #3 of 6 -- 31,469 (+ 0.2%) 09/2010: Batman Beyond #4 of 6 -- 31,368 (- 0.3%) 10/2010: Batman Beyond #5 of 6 -- 30,121 (- 4.0%) 11/2010: Batman Beyond #6 of 6 -- 28,485 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: -- 01/2011: Batman Beyond #1 -- 35,880 (+26.0%) 02/2011: Batman Beyond #2 -- 28,956 (-19.3%) 03/2011: Batman Beyond #3 -- 28,295 (- 2.3%) 04/2011: Batman Beyond #4 -- 26,722 (- 5.6%) 05/2011: Batman Beyond #5 -- 25,413 (- 4.9%) 06/2011: Batman Beyond #6 -- 24,524 (- 3.5%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : -30.2%
Cancelled with issue #8.
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100 - SUPERBOY 11/2010: Superboy #1 -- 39,701 12/2010: Superboy #2 -- 31,761 (-20.0%) 01/2011: Superboy #3 -- 29,550 (- 7.0%) 02/2011: Superboy #4 -- 27,448 (- 7.1%) 03/2011: Superboy #5 -- 27,215 (- 0.9%) 04/2011: Superboy #6 -- 30,490 (+12.0%) 05/2011: Superboy #7 -- 24,622 (-19.3%) 06/2011: Superboy #8 -- 23,037 (- 6.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -27.5%
Cancelled with issue #11.
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101 - TEEN TITANS 06/2006: -- 06/2007: Teen Titans #48 -- 60,786 06/2008: Teen Titans #60 -- 45,036 06/2009: Teen Titans #72 -- 32,512 ---------------------------------- 06/2010: Teen Titans #84 -- 24,593 (- 1.5%) 07/2010: Teen Titans #85 -- 24,248 (- 1.4%) 08/2010: Teen Titans #86 -- 24,971 (+ 3.0%) 09/2010: Teen Titans #87 -- 23,259 (- 6.9%) 10/2010: Teen Titans #88 -- 27,637 (+18.8%) 11/2010: Teen Titans #89 -- 26,444 (- 4.3%) 12/2010: Teen Titans #90 -- 25,997 (- 1.7%) 01/2011: Teen Titans #91 -- 25,443 (- 2.1%) 02/2011: Teen Titans #92 -- 26,170 (+ 2.9%) 03/2011: Teen Titans #93 -- 24,957 (- 4.6%) 04/2011: Teen Titans #94 -- 25,187 (+ 0.9%) 05/2011: Teen Titans #95 -- 24,738 (- 1.8%) 06/2011: Teen Titans #96 -- 23,849 (- 3.6%) ---------------- 6 months: - 8.3% 1 year : - 3.0% 2 years : -26.7% 5 years : n.a.
Relatively stable numbers over the last 12 months.
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104 - BATGIRL 06/2010: Batgirl #11 -- 28,563 (- 0.3%) 07/2010: Batgirl #12 -- 28,011 (- 1.9%) 08/2010: Batgirl #13 -- 27,247 (- 2.7%) 09/2010: Batgirl #14 -- 26,861 (- 1.4%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Batgirl #15 -- 25,827 (- 3.9%) 12/2010: Batgirl #16 -- 25,225 (- 2.3%) 01/2011: Batgirl #17 -- 25,189 (- 0.1%) 02/2011: Batgirl #18 -- 24,390 (- 3.2%) 03/2011: Batgirl #19 -- 24,821 (+ 1.8%) 04/2011: Batgirl #20 -- 24,310 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: Batgirl #21 -- 24,043 (- 1.1%) 06/2011: Batgirl #22 -- 23,323 (- 3.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.5% 1 year : -18.4%
To be revamped and relaunched again.
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105 - FLASHPOINT: THE CANTERBURY CRICKET 06/2011: Cricket #1 of 1 -- 22,948
Well. Awesome sales, really.
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106 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 06/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #19 -- 43,918 06/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #31 -- 30,385 06/2008: -- --------------------------------------- 06/2010: LoSH #2 -- 39,102 (-12.0%) 07/2010: LoSH #3 -- 36,360 (- 7.0%) 08/2010: LoSH #4 -- 34,239 (- 5.8%) 09/2010: LoSH #5 -- 32,417 (- 5.3%) 10/2010: LoSH #6 -- 30,246 (- 6.7%) 11/2010: LoSH #7 -- 26,439 (-12.6%) 12/2010: LoSH #8 -- 25,063 (- 5.2%) 01/2011: LoSH #9 -- 24,230 (- 3.3%) 02/2011: LoSH #10 -- 23,738 (- 2.0%) 03/2011: LoSH #11 -- 23,667 (- 0.3%) 04/2011: LoSH #12 -- 23,419 (- 1.1%) 05/2011: LoSH #13 -- 23,105 (- 1.3%) 06/2011: LoSH #14 -- 22,600 (- 2.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 9.8% 1 year : - 42.2% 5 years : - 48.5%
DC looked at these numbers and concluded that Paul Levitz needed to write a new Legion of Super-Heroes title in September.
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113 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS 06/2009: GC Sirens #1 -- 52,439 -------------------------------- 06/2010: GC Sirens #13 -- 25,867 (- 0.6%) 07/2010: GC Sirens #14 -- 25,315 (- 2.1%) 08/2010: GC Sirens #15 -- 24,589 (- 2.9%) 09/2010: GC Sirens #16 -- 23,821 (- 3.1%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: GC Sirens #17 -- 22,107 (- 7.2%) 12/2010: GC Sirens #18 -- 21,344 (- 3.5%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: GC Sirens #19 -- 21,631 (+ 1.4%) 02/2011: GC Sirens #20 -- 20,822 (- 3.7%) 03/2011: GC Sirens #21 -- 20,807 (- 0.1%) 04/2011: GC Sirens #22 -- 24,438 (+17.5%) 05/2011: GC Sirens #23 -- 21,488 (-12.1%) 06/2011: GC Sirens #24 -- 21,288 (- 0.9%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.3% 1 year : -17.7% 2 years : -59.4%
Cancelled with issue #26.
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114 - ADVENTURE COMICS 06/2010: Adventure Comics #12 -- 34,663 (- 0.4%) 07/2010: Adventure Comics #516 -- 30,897 (-10.9%) 08/2010: Adventure Comics #517 -- 28,966 (- 6.3%) 09/2010: Adventure Comics #518 -- 27,028 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Adventure Comics #519 -- 25,346 (- 6.2%) 11/2010: Adventure Comics #520 -- 24,540 (- 3.2%) 12/2010: Adventure Comics #521 -- 23,787 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Adventure Comics #522 -- 22,821 (- 4.1%) 02/2011: Adventure Comics #523 -- 23,127 (+ 1.3%) 03/2011: Adventure Comics #524 -- 22,836 (- 1.3%) 04/2011: Adventure Comics #525 -- 22,946 (+ 0.5%) 05/2011: Adventure Comics #526 -- 22,271 (- 2.9%) 06/2011: Adventure Comics #527 -- 21,211 (- 4.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -13.6% 1 year : -38.8%
Cancelled with issue #529.
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116 - SUPERGIRL 06/2006: -- 06/2007: Supergirl #18 -- 50,279 06/2008: Supergirl #30 -- 29,553 06/2009: Supergirl #42 -- 32,705 --------------------------------- 06/2010: Supergirl #53 -- 28,317 (- 4.0%) 07/2010: Supergirl #54 -- 26,941 (- 4.9%) 08/2010: Supergirl #55 -- 25,891 (- 3.9%) 09/2010: Supergirl #56 -- 25,034 (- 3.3%) 10/2010: Supergirl #57 -- 23,842 (- 4.8%) 11/2010: Supergirl #58 -- 25,412 (+ 6.6%) 12/2010: Supergirl #59 -- 22,606 (-11.0%) 01/2011: Supergirl #60 -- 22,568 (- 0.2%) 02/2011: Supergirl #61 -- 22,048 (- 2.3%) 03/2011: Supergirl #62 -- 21,786 (- 1.2%) 04/2011: Supergirl #63 -- 21,598 (- 0.9%) 05/2011: Supergirl #64 -- 21,411 (- 0.9%) 06/2011: Supergirl #65 -- 20,985 (- 2.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.2% 1 year : -25.9% 2 years : -35.8% 5 years : n.a.
Another one of the more questionable September relaunches.
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122 - TITANS 06/2008: Titans #3 -- 54,512 06/2009: Titans #14 -- 32,321 --------------------------------- 06/2010: Titans #24 -- 33,079 (+ 4.3%) 07/2010: Titans #25 -- 31,505 (- 4.8%) 08/2010: Titans #26 -- 32,800 (+ 4.1%) 09/2010: Titans #27 -- 28,438 (-13.3%) 10/2010: Titans #28 -- 27,430 (- 3.6%) 11/2010: Titans #29 -- 24,138 (-12.0%) 12/2010: Titans #30 -- 22,483 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Titans #31 -- 21,749 (- 3.3%) 02/2011: Titans #32 -- 20,949 (- 3.7%) 03/2011: Titans #33 -- 20,723 (- 1.1%) 04/2011: Titans #34 -- 20,590 (- 0.6%) 05/2011: Titans #35 -- 20,553 (- 0.2%) 06/2011: Titans #36 -- 19,780 (- 3.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -12.0% 1 year : -40.2% 2 years : -38.8%
Cancelled with issue #38.
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123 - SECRET SIX 06/2006: -- 06/2009: Secret Six #10 -- 24,272 ------------------------------------- 06/2010: Secret Six #22 -- 21,941 (- 1.8%) 07/2010: Secret Six #23 -- 21,554 (- 1.8%) 08/2010: Secret Six #24 -- 21,177 (- 1.8%) 09/2010: Secret Six #25 -- 20,775 (- 1.9%) 10/2010: Secret Six #26 -- 20,377 (- 1.9%) 11/2010: Secret Six #27 -- 19,963 (- 2.0%) 12/2010: Secret Six #28 -- 19,587 (- 1.9%) 01/2011: Secret Six #29 -- 20,327 (+ 3.8%) 02/2011: Secret Six #30 -- 19,763 (- 2.8%) 03/2011: Secret Six #31 -- 19,822 (+ 0.3%) 04/2011: Secret Six #32 -- 19,714 (- 0.6%) 05/2011: Secret Six #33 -- 19,733 (+ 0.1%) 06/2011: Secret Six #34 -- 19,562 (- 0.9%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.1% 1 year : -10.8% 2 years : -19.4% 5 years : n.a.
Cancelled with issue #36.
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127/130 - DC UNIVERSE ONLINE: LEGENDS 02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #1 -- 36,517 02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #2 -- 28,953 (-20.7%) 03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #3 -- 24,824 (-14.3%) 03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #4 -- 23,001 (- 7.3%) 04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #5 -- 21,427 (- 6.8%) 04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #6 -- 20,461 (- 4.5%) 05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #7 -- 20,064 (- 1.9%) 05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #8 -- 19,471 (- 3.0%) 06/2011: DCU Online: Legends #9 -- 18,759 (- 3.7%) 06/2011: DCU Online: Legends #10 -- 18,178 (- 3.1%)
Not cancelled, after all. The videogame adaptation just takes a break in September, so as not to interfere with the relaunch.
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128 - FABLES (Vertigo) 06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210 06/2007: Fables #62 -- 25,726 06/2008: -- 06/2009: Fables #85 -- 23,439 ------------------------------ 06/2010: Fables #96 -- 19,842 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: -- 08/2010: Fables #97 -- 19,625 (- 1.1%) 09/2010: Fables #98 -- 19,594 (- 0.2%) 10/2010: Fables #99 -- 19,656 (+ 0.3%) 11/2010: -- 12/2010: Fables #100 -- 23,014 (+17.1%) 01/2011: Fables #101 -- 19,183 (-16.7%) 02/2011: Fables #102 -- 19,215 (+ 0.2%) 03/2011: Fables #103 -- 18,910 (- 1.6%) 04/2011: Fables #104 -- 18,811 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Fables #105 -- 18,749 (- 0.3%) 06/2011: Fables #106 -- 18,505 (- 1.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -19.6% 1 year : - 6.7% 2 years : -21.1% 5 years : -29.4%
Standard attrition.
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134 - ZATANNA 06/2010: Zatanna #2 -- 29,564 (-12.3%) 07/2010: Zatanna #3 -- 27,792 (- 6.0%) 08/2010: Zatanna #4 -- 27,203 (- 2.1%) 09/2010: Zatanna #5 -- 25,393 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Zatanna #6 -- 23,427 (- 7.7%) 11/2010: Zatanna #7 -- 20,671 (-11.8%) 12/2010: Zatanna #8 -- 19,321 (- 6.5%) 01/2011: Zatanna #9 -- 18,482 (- 4.3%) 02/2011: -- 03/2011: Zatanna #10 -- 18,645 (+ 0.9%) 03/2011: Zatanna #11 -- 18,431 (- 1.2%) 04/2011: Zatanna #12 -- 18,432 (+ 0.0%) 05/2011: Zatanna #13 -- 18,259 (- 0.9%) 06/2011: Zatanna #14 -- 17,856 (- 2.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.6% 1 year : -39.6%
Cancelled with issue #16.
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137 - POWER GIRL 06/2009: Power Girl #2 -- 36,756 --------------------------------- 06/2010: Power Girl #13 -- 20,583 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: Power Girl #14 -- 19,739 (- 4.1%) 08/2010: Power Girl #15 -- 19,091 (- 3.3%) 09/2010: Power Girl #16 -- 18,404 (- 3.6%) 10/2010: Power Girl #17 -- 17,847 (- 3.0%) 11/2010: Power Girl #18 -- 17,300 (- 3.1%) 12/2010: Power Girl #19 -- 16,763 (- 3.1%) 01/2011: Power Girl #20 -- 16,823 (+ 0.4%) 02/2011: Power Girl #21 -- 16,940 (+ 0.7%) 03/2011: Power Girl #22 -- 17,232 (+ 1.7%) 04/2011: Power Girl #23 -- 17,071 (- 0.9%) 05/2011: Power Girl #24 -- 17,208 (+ 0.8%) 06/2011: Power Girl #25 -- 17,251 (+ 0.3%) ---------------- 6 months: + 2.9% 1 year : -16.2% 2 years : -53.1%
Cancelled with issue #27.
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138 - JSA 80-PAGE GIANT 2011 06/2011: JSA 80-Page Giant 2011 #1 of 1 -- 17,242
Perfectly good numbers for a $ 5.99 one-shot.
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139 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (Vertigo) 06/2011: Survival #1 of 5 -- 17,160
The spin-off miniseries outsells its mother title, probably thanks to artist Sean Murphy.
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141 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS 06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109 06/2007: Outsiders #48 -- 32,966 06/2008: Batsiders #8 -- 34,640 06/2009: Outsiders #19 -- 27,485 -------------------------------- 06/2010: Outsiders #30 -- 18,045 (- 5.5%) 07/2010: Outsiders #31 -- 17,173 (- 4.8%) 08/2010: Outsiders #32 -- 15,754 (- 8.3%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: Outsiders #33 -- 15,253 (- 3.2%) 11/2010: Outsiders #34 -- 13,576 (- 11.0%) 12/2010: Outsiders #35 -- 13,133 (- 3.3%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: Outsiders #36 -- 12,848 (- 2.2%) 03/2011: Outsiders #37 -- 20,074 (+ 56.2%) 04/2011: Outsiders #38 -- 13,092 (- 34.8%) 05/2011: Outsiders #39 -- 12,840 (- 1.9%) 06/2011: Batsiders #40 -- 16,265 (+ 26.7%) ---------------- 6 months: +23.9% 1 year : - 9.9% 2 years : -40.8% 5 years : -63.1%
Axed, after a long and embarrassing sales decline.
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144 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo) 06/2010: American Vampire #4 -- 25,977 (- 2.0%) 07/2010: American Vampire #5 -- 24,857 (- 4.3%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: American Vampire #6 -- 23,349 (- 6.1%) 10/2010: American Vampire #7 -- 21,910 (- 6.2%) 11/2010: American Vampire #8 -- 19,850 (- 9.4%) 12/2010: American Vampire #9 -- 19,019 (- 4.2%) 12/2010: American Vampire #10 -- 17,761 (- 6.6%) 01/2011: American Vampire #11 -- 16,969 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: American Vampire #12 -- 16,522 (- 2.6%) 03/2011: American Vampire #13 -- 17,269 (+ 4.5%) 04/2011: American Vampire #14 -- 16,168 (- 6.4%) 05/2011: American Vampire #15 -- 15,876 (- 1.8%) 06/2011: American Vampire #16 -- 15,705 (- 1.1%) ---------------- 6 months: -14.6% 1 year : -39.5%
Standard attrition.
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162 - CINDERELLA: FABLES ARE FOREVER (Vertigo) 11/2009: Cinderella: FFwL #1 of 6 -- 20,337 12/2009: Cinderella: FFwL #2 of 6 -- 16,598 01/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #3 of 6 -- 15,827 02/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #4 of 6 -- 15,421 03/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #5 of 6 -- 15,285 04/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #6 of 6 -- 14,956 --------------------------------------------- 02/2011: Fables Are Forever #1 of 6 -- 15,026 03/2011: Fables Are Forever #2 of 6 -- 14,029 (-6.6%) 04/2011: Fables Are Forever #3 of 6 -- 13,668 (-2.6%) 05/2011: Fables Are Forever #4 of 6 -- 13,377 (-2.1%) 06/2011: Fables Are Forever #5 of 6 -- 12,799 (-4.3%)
The numbers aren’t spectacular, at this stage, but adding another Fables book to the backlist is probably the real pay-off here. More spin-off titles to follow.
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176 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo) 06/2009: The Unwritten #2 -- 16,290 ------------------------------------ 06/2010: The Unwritten #14 -- 13,396 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: The Unwritten #15 -- 13,023 (- 2.8%) 08/2010: The Unwritten #16 -- 12,778 (- 1.9%) 09/2010: The Unwritten #17 -- 12,796 (+ 0.2%) 10/2010: The Unwritten #18 -- 12,273 (- 4.1%) 11/2010: The Unwritten #19 -- 12,036 (- 1.9%) 12/2010: The Unwritten #20 -- 11,684 (- 2.9%) 01/2011: The Unwritten #21 -- 11,443 (- 2.1%) 02/2011: The Unwritten #22 -- 11,371 (- 0.6%) 03/2011: The Unwritten #23 -- 11,319 (- 0.5%) 04/2011: The Unwritten #24 -- 11,028 (- 2.6%) 05/2011: The Unwritten #25 -- 11,137 (+ 1.0%) 06/2011: The Unwritten #26 -- 10,979 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.0% 1 year : -18.0% 2 years : -32.6%
182 - I, ZOMBIE (Vertigo) 06/2010: I, Zombie #2 -- 18,620 (-43.6%) 07/2010: I, Zombie #3 -- 16,898 (- 9.3%) 08/2010: I, Zombie #4 -- 15,772 (- 6.7%) 09/2010: I, Zombie #5 -- 14,839 (- 5.9%) 10/2010: I, Zombie #6 -- 13,782 (- 7.1%) 11/2010: I, Zombie #7 -- 12,800 (- 7.1%) 12/2010: I, Zombie #8 -- 12,038 (- 6.0%) 01/2011: I, Zombie #9 -- 11,536 (- 4.2%) 02/2011: I, Zombie #10 -- 11,182 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: I, Zombie #11 -- 10,874 (- 2.8%) 04/2011: I, Zombie #12 -- 10,727 (- 1.4%) 05/2011: I, Zombie #13 -- 10,567 (- 1.5%) 06/2011: I, Zombie #14 -- 10,320 (- 2.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -14.3% 1 year : -44.6%
Standard attrition for two of Vertigo’s better comic-book performers.
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185 - JONAH HEX 06/2006: Jonah Hex #8 -- 21,006 06/2007: Jonah Hex #20 -- 16,150 06/2008: Jonah Hex #32 -- 12,969 06/2009: Jonah Hex #44 -- 11,592 -------------------------------- 06/2010: Jonah Hex #56 -- 13,441 (+18.7%) 07/2010: Jonah Hex #57 -- 12,318 (- 8.4%) 08/2010: Jonah Hex #58 -- 11,775 (- 4.4%) 09/2010: Jonah Hex #59 -- 11,444 (- 2.8%) 10/2010: Jonah Hex #60 -- 11,141 (- 2.7%) 11/2010: Jonah Hex #61 -- 10,796 (- 3.1%) 12/2010: Jonah Hex #62 -- 10,899 (+ 1.0%) 01/2011: Jonah Hex #63 -- 10,752 (- 1.4%) 02/2011: Jonah Hex #64 -- 10,255 (- 4.6%) 03/2011: Jonah Hex #65 -- 10,353 (+ 1.0%) 04/2011: Jonah Hex #66 -- 10,335 (- 0.2%) 05/2011: Jonah Hex #67 -- 10,288 (- 0.5%) 06/2011: Jonah Hex #68 -- 10,224 (- 0.6%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.2% 1 year : -23.9% 2 years : -11.8% 5 years : -51.3%
To be relaunched in September.
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188 - STATIC SHOCK SPECIAL 06/2011: Static Shock Special #1 of 1 -- 9,976
This doesn’t suggest that there’s a lot of demand for the upcoming Static Shock series.
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195 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo) 06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973 06/2007: Hellblazer #233 -- 13,201 06/2008: Hellblazer #245 -- 11,897 06/2009: Hellblazer #256 -- 10,898 ---------------------------------- 06/2010: Hellblazer #268 -- 10,221 (+0.7%) 07/2010: Hellblazer #269 -- 10,048 (-1.7%) 08/2010: Hellblazer #270 -- 9,928 (-1.2%) 09/2010: Hellblazer #271 -- 9,851 (-0.8%) 10/2010: Hellblazer #272 -- 9,650 (-2.0%) 11/2010: Hellblazer #273 -- 9,645 (-0.1%) 12/2010: Hellblazer #274 -- 9,342 (-3.1%) 01/2011: Hellblazer #275 -- 9,507 (+1.8%) 02/2011: Hellblazer #276 -- 9,466 (-0.4%) 03/2011: Hellblazer #277 -- 9,525 (+0.6%) 04/2011: Hellblazer #278 -- 9,417 (-1.1%) 05/2011: Hellblazer #279 -- 9,454 (+0.4%) 06/2011: Hellblazer #280 -- 9,329 (-1.3%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.1% 1 year : - 8.7% 2 years : -14.4% 5 years : -33.2%
As always, Hellblazer keeps an even keel.
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201 - YOUNG JUSTICE (Johnny DC) 01/2011: Young Justice #0 -- 9,412 02/2011: Young Justice #1 -- 10,777 (+14.5%) 03/2011: Young Justice #2 -- 9,612 (-10.8%) 04/2011: Young Justice #3 -- 9,407 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: Young Justice #4 -- 9,729 (+ 3.4%) 06/2011: Young Justice #5 -- 8,988 (- 7.6%)
A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers below.
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202 - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS 11/2010: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 -- 16,122 12/2010: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 -- 11,227 (-30.4%) 01/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3 -- 10,602 (- 5.6%) 02/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4 -- 10,124 (- 4.5%) 03/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5 -- 9,934 (- 1.9%) 04/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #6 -- 9,680 (- 2.6%) 05/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 -- 9,453 (- 2.4%) 06/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #8 -- 8,954 (- 5.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -20.3%
Cancelled with issue #10, with a follow-up miniseries around the corner.
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209 - WEIRD WORLDS 01/2011: Weird Worlds #1 of 6 -- 14,964 02/2011: Weird Worlds #2 of 6 -- 11,587 (-22.6%) 03/2011: Weird Worlds #3 of 6 -- 10,470 (- 9.6%) 04/2011: Weird Worlds #4 of 6 -- 9,665 (- 7.7%) 05/2011: Weird Worlds #5 of 6 -- 9,043 (- 6.4%) 06/2011: Weird Worlds #6 of 6 -- 8,536 (- 5.6%)
A follow-up is scheduled for October.
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214 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo) 06/2010: Sweet Tooth #10 -- 9,570 (- 0.9%) 07/2010: Sweet Tooth #11 -- 9,478 (- 1.0%) 08/2010: Sweet Tooth #12 -- 9,246 (- 2.5%) 09/2010: Sweet Tooth #13 -- 9,097 (- 1.6%) 10/2010: Sweet Tooth #14 -- 8,933 (- 1.8%) 11/2010: Sweet Tooth #15 -- 8,750 (- 2.1%) 12/2010: Sweet Tooth #16 -- 8,602 (- 1.7%) 01/2011: Sweet Tooth #17 -- 8,522 (- 0.9%) 02/2011: Sweet Tooth #18 -- 8,466 (- 0.7%) 03/2011: Sweet Tooth #19 -- 8,532 (+ 0.8%) 04/2011: Sweet Tooth #20 -- 8,361 (- 2.0%) 05/2011: Sweet Tooth #21 -- 8,360 (- 0.0%) 06/2011: Sweet Tooth #22 -- 8,252 (- 1.3%) ---------------- 6 months: - 4.1% 1 year : -13.8%
Standard attrition. All Vertigo titles selling below this point — DMZ, Northlanders, Scalped and House of Mystery — are all going to end within the next year.
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219 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC) 06/2008: Tiny Titans #5 -- 10,909 06/2009: Tiny Titans #17 -- 8,640 ---------------------------------- 06/2010: Tiny Titans #29 -- 8,195 (+ 3.0%) 07/2010: Tiny Titans #30 -- 8,038 (- 1.9%) 08/2010: Tiny Titans #31 -- 7,987 (- 0.6%) 09/2010: Tiny Titans #32 -- 8,073 (+ 1.1%) 10/2010: Tiny Titans #33 -- 8,045 (- 0.4%) 11/2010: Tiny Titans #34 -- 7,713 (- 4.1%) 12/2010: Tiny Titans #35 -- 7,515 (- 2.6%) 01/2011: Tiny Titans #36 -- 7,480 (- 0.5%) 02/2011: Tiny Titans #37 -- 7,426 (- 0.7%) 03/2011: Tiny Titans #38 -- 7,372 (- 0.7%) 04/2011: Tiny Titans #39 -- 7,445 (+ 1.0%) 05/2011: Tiny Titans #40 -- 7,847 (+ 5.4%) 06/2011: Tiny Titans #41 -- 7,811 (- 0.5%) ---------------- 6 months: + 3.9% 1 year : - 4.7% 2 years : - 9.6%
A Johnny DC book, see disclaimers.
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229 - XOMBI 03/2011: Xombi #1 -- 12,035 04/2011: Xombi #2 -- 8,345 (-30.7%) 05/2011: Xombi #3 -- 7,977 (- 4.4%) 06/2011: Xombi #4 -- 7,500 (- 6.0%)
Cancelled with issue #6.
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237 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo) 06/2008: -- 06/2009: Northlanders #18 -- 8,877 ----------------------------------- 06/2010: Northlanders #29 -- 7,498 (- 1.7%) 07/2010: Northlanders #30 -- 7,421 (- 1.0%) 08/2010: Northlanders #31 -- 7,376 (- 0.6%) 09/2010: Northlanders #32 -- 7,321 (- 0.8%) 10/2010: Northlanders #33 -- 7,169 (- 2.1%) 11/2010: Northlanders #34 -- 7,018 (- 2.1%) 12/2010: Northlanders #35 -- 7,061 (+ 0.6%) 01/2011: Northlanders #36 -- 6,806 (- 3.6%) 02/2011: Northlanders #37 -- 7,006 (+ 2.9%) 03/2011: Northlanders #38 -- 7,020 (+ 0.2%) 04/2011: Northlanders #39 -- 6,983 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Northlanders #40 -- 7,055 (+ 1.0%) 06/2011: Northlanders #41 -- 6,954 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 1.5% 1 year : - 7.3% 2 years : -21.7%
Cancelled with issue #50.
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242 - DOC SAVAGE 06/2010: Doc Savage #3 -- 16,153 (-15.3%) 07/2010: Doc Savage #4 -- 14,621 (- 9.5%) 08/2010: Doc Savage #5 -- 13,125 (-10.2%) 09/2010: Doc Savage #6 -- 11,838 (- 9.8%) 10/2010: Doc Savage #7 -- 10,050 (-15.1%) 11/2010: Doc Savage #8 -- 9,257 (- 7.9%) 12/2010: Doc Savage #9 -- 8,681 (- 6.2%) 01/2011: Doc Savage #10 -- 8,407 (- 3.2%) 02/2011: Doc Savage #11 -- 7,972 (- 5.2%) 03/2011: Doc Savage #12 -- 7,747 (- 2.8%) 04/2011: Doc Savage #13 -- 7,426 (- 4.1%) 05/2011: Doc Savage #14 -- 7,201 (- 3.0%) 06/2011: Doc Savage #15 -- 6,902 (- 4.2%) ---------------- 6 months: -20.5% 1 year : -57.3%
Cancelled with issue #17.
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247 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo) 06/2008: House of Mystery #2 -- 19,485 06/2009: House of Mystery #14 -- 12,039 --------------------------------------- 06/2010: House of Mystery #26 -- 8,742 (- 5.5%) 07/2010: House of Mystery #27 -- 8,481 (- 3.0%) 08/2010: House of Mystery #28 -- 8,238 (- 2.9%) 09/2010: House of Mystery #29 -- 8,087 (- 1.8%) 10/2010: House of Mystery #30 -- 7,913 (- 2.2%) 11/2010: House of Mystery #31 -- 7,610 (- 3.8%) 12/2010: House of Mystery #32 -- 7,348 (- 3.4%) 01/2011: House of Mystery #33 -- 7,227 (- 1.7%) 02/2011: House of Mystery #34 -- 7,092 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: House of Mystery #35 -- 7,170 (+ 1.1%) 04/2011: House of Mystery #36 -- 7,096 (- 1.0%) 05/2011: House of Mystery #37 -- 6,909 (- 2.6%) 06/2011: House of Mystery #38 -- 6,763 (- 2.1%) ---------------- 6 months: -22.6% 1 year : -43.8% 2 years : -65.3%
Cancelled with issue #42.
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249 - THE SPIRIT 06/2007: The Spirit #7 -- 22,621 06/2008: The Spirit #18 -- 13,257 06/2009: The Spirit #29 -- 8,273 --------------------------------- 06/2010: The Spirit #3 -- 13,030 (- 8.7%) 07/2010: The Spirit #4 -- 11,915 (- 8.6%) 08/2010: The Spirit #5 -- 11,015 (- 7.6%) 09/2010: The Spirit #6 -- 10,083 (- 8.5%) 10/2010: The Spirit #7 -- 9,233 (- 8.4%) 11/2010: The Spirit #8 -- 8,706 (- 5.7%) 12/2010: The Spirit #9 -- 8,297 (- 4.7%) 01/2011: The Spirit #10 -- 7,830 (- 5.6%) 02/2011: The Spirit #11 -- 7,417 (- 5.3%) 03/2011: The Spirit #12 -- 7,342 (- 1.0%) 04/2011: The Spirit #13 -- 7,041 (- 4.1%) 05/2011: The Spirit #14 -- 6,911 (- 1.9%) 06/2011: The Spirit #15 -- 6,693 (- 3.2%) ----------------- 6 months: - 19.3% 1 year : - 48.6% 2 years : - 19.1%
Cancelled with issue #17.
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250 - THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC) 06/2006: Batman Strikes! #22 -- 8,104 06/2007: Batman Strikes! #34 -- 7,115 06/2008: Batman Strikes! #46 -- 7,118 06/2009: Brave & Bold #6 -- 7,614 ---------------------------------------- 06/2010: Brave & Bold #18 -- 6,270 (+ 2.7%) 07/2010: Brave & Bold #19 -- 6,489 (+ 3.5%) 08/2010: Brave & Bold #20 -- 6,244 (- 3.8%) 09/2010: Brave & Bold #21 -- 6,345 (+ 1.6%) 10/2010: Brave & Bold #22 -- 6,044 (- 4.7%) 11/2010: All-New BBB #1 -- 8,408 (+ 39.1%) 12/2010: All-New BBB #2 -- 6,688 (- 20.5%) 01/2011: All-New BBB #3 -- 6,557 (- 2.0%) 02/2011: All-New BBB #4 -- 6,561 (+ 0.1%) 03/2011: All-New BBB #5 -- 6,463 (- 1.5%) 04/2011: All-New BBB #6 -- 6,324 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: All-New BBB #7 -- 6,869 (+ 8.6%) 06/2011: All-New BBB #8 -- 6,645 (- 3.3%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.6% 1 year : + 6.0% 2 years : -12.7% 5 years : -18.0%
Another Johnny DC book.
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253/257 - SCALPED (Vertigo) 06/2007: Scalped #6 -- 8,689 06/2008: Scalped #18 -- 7,020 06/2009: Scalped #29 -- 7,078 ------------------------------ 06/2010: -- 07/2010: Scalped #39 -- 6,682 (+ 0.8%) 08/2010: Scalped #40 -- 6,593 (- 1.3%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: Scalped #41 -- 6,623 (+ 0.5%) 10/2010: Scalped #42 -- 6,476 (- 2.2%) 11/2010: Scalped #43 -- 6,324 (- 2.4%) 12/2010: Scalped #44 -- 6,192 (- 2.1%) 01/2011: Scalped #45 -- 6,187 (- 0.1%) 02/2011: Scalped #46 -- 6,179 (- 0.1%) 03/2011: Scalped #47 -- 6,222 (+ 0.7%) 04/2011: Scalped #48 -- 6,272 (+ 0.8%) 05/2011: -- 06/2011: Scalped #49 -- 6,333 (+ 1.0%) 06/2011: Scalped #50 -- 6,471 (+ 2.2%) ---------------- 6 months: + 3.4% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : - 8.6%
270 - DMZ (Vertigo) 06/2006: DMZ #8 -- 14,999 06/2007: DMZ #20 -- 12,704 06/2008: DMZ #32 -- 9,760 06/2009: DMZ #42 -- 7,927 -------------------------- 06/2010: DMZ #54 -- 6,661 (-1.5%) 07/2010: DMZ #55 -- 6,581 (-1.2%) 08/2010: DMZ #56 -- 6,524 (-0.9%) 09/2010: DMZ #57 -- 6,333 (-2.9%) 10/2010: DMZ #58 -- 6,198 (-2.1%) 11/2010: DMZ #59 -- 6,046 (-2.5%) 12/2010: DMZ #60 -- 6,023 (-0.4%) 01/2011: DMZ #61 -- 5,855 (-2.8%) 02/2011: DMZ #62 -- 5,781 (-1.3%) 03/2011: DMZ #63 -- 5,877 (+1.7%) 04/2011: DMZ #64 -- 5,851 (-0.4%) 05/2011: DMZ #65 -- 5,865 (+0.2%) 06/2011: DMZ #66 -- 5,825 (-0.7%) ---------------- 6 months: - 3.3% 1 year : -12.6% 2 years : -26.5% 5 years : -61.2%
Ending with issues #60 and #72, respectively.
—–
296 - SCOOBY DOO: WHERE ARE YOU? (Johnny DC) 06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423 06/2007: Scooby Doo #121 -- 4,415 06/2008: Scooby Doo #133 -- 4,501 06/2009: Scooby Doo #145 -- 4,093 --------------------------------- 06/2010: Scooby Doo #157 -- ? 07/2010: Scooby Doo #158 -- 4,147 08/2010: Scooby Doo #159 -- 4,092 (- 1.3%) 09/2010: SD:WAY? #1 -- 6,186 (+51.2%) 10/2010: SD:WAY? #2 -- 4,926 (-20.4%) 11/2010: SD:WAY? #3 -- 4,861 (- 1.3%) 12/2010: SD:WAY? #4 -- 4,802 (- 1.2%) 01/2011: SD:WAY? #5 -- 4,540 (- 5.5%) 02/2011: SD:WAY? #6 -- 4,456 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: SD:WAY? #7 -- 4,522 (+ 1.5%) 04/2011: SD:WAY? #8 -- 4,599 (+ 1.7%) 05/2011: SD:WAY? #9 -- 4,838 (+ 5.2%) 06/2011: SD:WAY? #10 -- 4,774 (- 1.3%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.6% 1 year : ? 2 years : +16.5% 5 years : + 7.9%
A Johnny DC title, see small print.
—–
299 - GEARS OF WAR 06/2009: -- -------------------------- 06/2010: GoW #12 -- 6,165 (-13.9%) 07/2010: -- 08/2010: GoW #13 -- 5,962 (- 3.3%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: GoW #14 -- 5,204 (-12.7%) 11/2010: -- 12/2010: GoW #15 -- 4,709 (- 9.5%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: -- 03/2011: GoW #16 -- 4,719 (+ 0.2%) 04/2011: -- 05/2011: -- 06/2011: GoW #17 -- 4,652 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 1.2% 1 year : -24.5% 2 years : n.a.
A videogame adaptation. Another one, Deus Ex #5, failed to make the Top 300 in June. As usual, for the purposes of the average-sales charts below, I’m presuming it sold as many units as the No. 300 title on the chart.
—–
6-MONTH COMPARISONS + 56.9%: Booster Gold + 29.7%: Action Comics + 23.9%: Outsiders + 22.4%: Emerald Warriors + 3.9%: Tiny Titans + 3.4%: Scalped + 3.1%: Detective Comics + 2.9%: Power Girl - 0.1%: Hellblazer - 0.1%: Secret Six - 0.3%: GC Sirens - 0.6%: All-New BBB - 0.6%: Scooby-Doo - 1.2%: Gears of War - 1.5%: Northlanders - 3.3%: DMZ - 4.1%: Sweet Tooth - 6.0%: Unwritten - 6.2%: Jonah Hex - 6.3%: JLA - 7.2%: Supergirl - 7.5%: Batgirl - 7.6%: Zatanna - 8.1%: Red Robin - 8.3%: Teen Titans - 9.8%: LoSH - 9.8%: Superman/Batman - 12.0%: Titans - 12.5%: Birds of Prey - 13.2%: Superman - 13.3%: Wonder Woman - 13.6%: Adventure Comics - 13.7%: JSA - 14.3%: I, Zombie - 14.6%: American Vampire - 16.0%: Batman - 19.3%: Spirit - 19.6%: Fables - 20.1%: Batman and Robin - 20.3%: THUNDER Agents - 20.5%: Doc Savage - 21.6%: Batman, Inc. - 22.6%: House of Mystery - 25.2%: Green Arrow - 27.5%: Superboy
—–
1-YEAR COMPARISONS + 31.6%: Booster Gold + 20.8%: Action Comics + 6.0%: All-New BBB - 3.0%: Teen Titans - 4.7%: Tiny Titans - 6.7%: Fables - 7.3%: Northlanders - 8.7%: Hellblazer - 9.9%: Outsiders - 10.8%: Secret Six - 12.2%: Superman/Batman - 12.6%: DMZ - 13.8%: Sweet Tooth - 15.2%: Detective Comics - 16.2%: Power Girl - 17.7%: GC Sirens - 18.0%: Unwritten - 18.4%: Batgirl - 21.0%: Red Robin - 23.9%: Jonah Hex - 24.5%: Gears of War - 25.1%: JSA - 25.9%: Supergirl - 27.6%: JLA - 30.2%: Batman Beyond - 34.2%: Birds of Prey - 38.8%: Adventure Comics - 39.5%: American Vampire - 39.6%: Zatanna - 40.2%: Titans - 42.2%: LoSH - 42.5%: Wonder Woman - 43.8%: House of Mystery - 44.6%: I, Zombie - 44.7%: Superman - 48.6%: Spirit - 49.3%: Batman - 49.4%: Green Arrow - 57.3%: Doc Savage
—–
2-YEAR COMPARISONS + 32.4%: Green Arrow + 16.5%: Scooby-Doo + 12.8%: Booster Gold + 4.9%: Action Comics - 6.3%: Wonder Woman - 7.4%: Superman - 8.6%: Scalped - 9.6%: Tiny Titans - 11.8%: Jonah Hex - 12.7%: All-New BBB - 14.4%: Hellblazer - 19.1%: Spirit - 19.4%: Secret Six - 21.1%: Fables - 21.7%: Northlanders - 25.7%: JLA - 26.5%: DMZ - 26.7%: Teen Titans - 27.9%: Superman/Batman - 32.6%: Unwritten - 35.8%: Supergirl - 38.8%: Titans - 40.8%: Outsiders - 45.2%: Batman - 46.2%: Detective Comics - 48.4%: JSA - 53.1%: Power Girl - 55.9%: Red Robin - 59.4%: GC Sirens - 65.3%: House of Mystery - 67.4%: Batman and Robin
—–
5-YEAR COMPARISONS + 7.9%: Scooby-Doo - 14.6%: Birds of Prey - 18.0%: All-New BBB - 25.7%: JLA - 27.1%: Green Arrow - 27.1%: Red Robin - 29.4%: Fables - 30.6%: Batman - 32.1%: Action Comics - 33.2%: Hellblazer - 40.7%: Detective Comics - 45.9%: Superman - 46.0%: JSA - 48.5%: LoSH - 51.3%: Jonah Hex - 61.2%: DMZ - 63.1%: Outsiders - 71.2%: Superman/Batman - 76.8%: Wonder Woman
—–
Average Periodical Sales
(not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, Johnny DC titles and magazines)
DC COMICS 06/2006: 42,339 06/2007: 34,017 06/2008: 27,367 06/2009: 25,880 --------------- 06/2010: 25,788 (- 7.2%)** 07/2010: 25,841 (+ 0.2%)** 08/2010: 23,331 (- 9.7%)** 09/2010: 23,212 (- 0.5%)** 10/2010: 23,756 (- 2.3%)** 11/2010: 25,497 (+ 7.3%)** 12/2010: 23,869 (- 6.4%)** 01/2011: 21,922 (- 8.2%)** 02/2011: 23,252 (+ 6.1%)** 03/2011: 23,976 (+ 3.1%)** 04/2011: 25,651 (+ 7.0%) 05/2011: 24,561 (- 4.3%)** 06/2011: 25,814 (+ 5.1%)** ---------------- 6 months: + 8.2% 1 year : + 0.1% 2 years : - 0.3% 5 years : -39.0%
DC UNIVERSE 06/2006: 53,274 06/2007: 47,986 06/2008: 35,800 06/2009: 36,329 --------------- 06/2010: 34,612 (- 7.6%)** 07/2010: 35,372 (+ 2.2%) 08/2010: 33,411 (- 5.5%) 09/2010: 32,042 (- 4.1%) 10/2010: 32,832 (+ 2.5%) 11/2010: 34,180 (+ 4.1%) 12/2010: 30,870 (- 9.7%) 01/2011: 24,321 (-21.2%)** 02/2011: 25,887 (+ 6.4%)** 03/2011: 26,720 (+ 3.2%)** 04/2011: 29,126 (+ 9.0%) 05/2011: 27,745 (- 4.7%)** 06/2011: 28,673 (+ 3.4%)** ---------------- 6 months: - 7.1% 1 year : -17.2% 2 years : -21.1% 5 years : -46.2%
VERTIGO 06/2006: 14,965 06/2007: 12,732 06/2008: 10,491 06/2009: 11,166 --------------- 06/2010: 10,995 (- 6.5% 07/2010: 9,515 (-13.5%) 08/2010: 9,094 (- 4.4%) 09/2010: 11,622 (+27.8%) 10/2010: 9,546 (-17.9%) 11/2010: 9,034 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: 11,193 (+23.9%) 01/2011: 10,145 (- 9.4%) 02/2011: 10,295 (+ 1.5%) 03/2011: 10,450 (+ 1.5%) 04/2011: 10,014 (- 4.2%) 05/2011: 10,668 (+ 6.5%) 06/2011: 10,415 (- 2.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.0% 1 year : - 5.3% 2 years : - 6.7% 5 years : -30.4%
—–
Disclaimers, et cetera
The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
ICv2.com‘s estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.
Bear in mind that the figures measure sales to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to bookstores, newsstands, other mass-market retail chains or the United Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book’s initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month.
If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a book’s initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in parenthesis behind those issues (e.g. “[36,599]”). Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used.
Titles released under the Johnny DC imprint and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct-market sales don’t tell us much about their performance. For most Vertigo titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well. To learn (a little) more about Vertigo’s collection sales, go right here.
** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that month. In those cases, it’s assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.
For a more lyrical approach to discussing sales figures that covers all the essentials in a more condensed, less tedious fashion, finally, go right here.
—–
Marc-Oliver Frisch writes about comics at his weblog and at Comicgate. You can also follow him on Twitter.
Would it be too hard for Diamond to give total DSM orders to include Europe?
Again, wonderful analysis. Thank you.
Oddly enough it looks like many of the books that are holding study, such as Secret Six, will not be one of the ones being relaunched, while books that are showing no interest like Static Shock, have earned their own books. Sometimes I wonder if DC have any idea what their doing. Perhaps their simply throwing darts at a board.
i’ve heard good things about a lot of Flashpoint books, but i’m kinda burnt out and overwhelmed with the sheer number of them so i just sat this one out.
Looking at all the new 52’s…too many choices. Don’t even know what to get.
Very overwhelming volume of stuff coming.
So… with the relaunch, how will you do year-to-year comparisons?
When the New 52 launches, could you add a paragraph at the beginning reviewing the Big Picture, which is now seen in the Average Periodical Sales section? (Percentage of market, dollar share…)
Or will there be a new reviewer in September? }]
Weird- certain corners of the ‘net seem to think that Flashpoint and it’s tie ins are doing pretty well… I dunno. There’s an awful lot of ’em at my favorite online “everything for a dollar” store.
Boy, everyone’s looking to September… but I’m more interested in, say, November’s numbers.
Did they cancel Doc Savage before the storyline was actually concluded? I thought it was supposed to run to issue 18?
JSF-looks that’s way. I’m pissed. Sure, the First Wave series wasn’t on the carts that high, but I liked the concept. So, yeah, in the issue 17 was the last before 18 was in the prints.
Actually my friend has been reading a lot of the Flashpoint books and he says they’ve been crap. But you know, everyone likes different things.
I read Secret Seven, and that was pretty much a giant waste of $9. What even happened in that book? Oh yeah, they made a villain look more villainy. That was necessary…
When DC’s “New 52” relaunch was announced, I lost interest in “Flashpoint.” If DC was just moving on to another “imaginary world,” it made the Elseworlds type adventure of “Flashpoint” seem less important. I wonder if there would have been higher sales of “Flashpoint” and the spinoffs if the relaunch wasn’t happening. Probably not, as the spinoff talent is not the most well-known for the most part…
Flashpoint minis have been hit or miss. Secret Seven was a complete waste of time, while Frankenstein has been quite delightful to read.
I think the reason the Static Shock special was so low is that it was written by Felicia Henderson who I think now has the reputation of being the worst comic writer out there.
This month’s “analysis” is teeming with special snark. The thought of a reboot and its attendant sales increases just has marc’s black little heart even more nasty than usual.
Beat, the tonal disparity between Marvel’s and DC’s analyses continues to be a black eye for your site.
I like both analyses, myself. Keep it up, guys.
I’ve been loving Flashpoint through and through. It will be interesting to see if any of the tie-ins carry over through to the reboot. If that’s the case, then Secret Seven may have a better pay-off in Justice League Dark.
Thanks for crunching numbers Marc!
svenj, I detected zero snark in the commentary. Maybe it’s you.
Looking at the 1-, 2-, and 5-year comparisons for DC (and Marvel), the sales numbers and declines are just horrible. Considering that the overall market has only slightly shrunk, it looks like more readers are spending their dollars on non-Big-Two publishers – which is why we really have more of a Big Six now…
More like a little six!
Usually, Marc’s right on the line with me – sometimes interesting, sometimes overly pessimistic. Still please tell me, is this what you’d write about the 3rd GL book that’s in the Top 20 with improving sales: “Sales keep going up — a moot point, of course, since the book won’t be around after August. Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps failed to come out in June, meanwhile.”
Sales are going up, but the world is ending so who cares? Where’s the analysis in that exactly?
To all the Marc-bashers: obviously DC was so unthrilled with these numbers that they pulled the pin on their own Doomsday plan.
American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest: “The spin-off miniseries outsells its mother title, probably thanks to artist Sean Murphy.”
Or probably due to the fact that it’s a #1 issue, and sells much better as a result just like every other comic on the planet.
Pretty sad that no titles were anywhere near the 100k mark.
But I guess the plus side is that these Flashpoint minis did better they all the low selling series that DC just cancelled. So their Average Periodical Sales are the highest they have been for the last 10 months.
On the other hand. Whats pissing me off the most about these FP minis is the last minute change in artists. I was really looking forward to Scott Clark’s mini after his great work on BD, but all he did was one issue?!? That will get old for me real quick come the relaunch.
@The Beat – I’m sure that if Marc can dish out a few smart arse comments every month about DC titles – he can take a few digs from commenters too. He doesn’t really need you protecting him I’m sure.
James: Marc is a big boy and can take his lumps; I was more pointing out that it’s very clear that DC is not happy with these numbers, either. As Bob Wayne put it, “We need a bigger pie.”
DC clearly think they can do better. I’m not sure it necessarily follows that they think their current sales are bad.
@Jason F: On the whole, spin-off miniseries tend to sell below the parent title, even with their first issue, unless they’ve been marketed as some sort of special event.
Hey! I bought, Flashpoint #2, Kid Flash Lost and Reverse Flash; but did not get any plastic ring or pin! Do you guys know if it was an incentive thing that my store might have been missing, or was I simply robbed off of my free promotional stuff? :-(
And between, Justin H. wrote:
“There’s an awful lot of ‘em at my favorite online “everything for a dollar” store.”
Which is??
>Hey!
Retailers had to meet certain ordering threshholds to get the pins (which they then also had to pay extra for). Many stores did not order the pins because they did not feel they could sell thay many copies of what appreared to be some pretty lame mini-series by Grade-C creators. (I think the ordering threshhold was 25 copies of each first issue.) Looks like DC was expecting this to be another “Blackest Night” — those books sold like crazy. Flashpoint didn’t come close.
LL
DC is killing me…pulling the real writers and artists off long-running books and replacing them with horrible writers ending long runs of books with no fanfare. I bought Batman 266 as my first comic and this final issue was one of the worst issues I ever read…most of these DC books the last couple months are horrible looking and badly written. I am getting every number one in September and if that book doeen’t impress me right off the bat then they’re done. DC has really let me (the long-time fan) down here with these lame endings. No respect at all for the people paying out 2.99 for these things.
@BiffordMichael
I couldnt agree more. The final issue of Green Lantern Corps was one of the most dreadful out of the 63 issue run. I’m glad it’s not just me noticing the overall line decline these last few months.
Torsten:
“So… with the relaunch, how will you do year-to-year comparisons?”
Same as always, really. If there’s something to compare a book with, there will be long-term comparisons. Relaunches have been happening all the time, so it’s not like the last eight years’ worth of numbers will suddenly be wiped clean.
As for the market shares, average sales, total sales, etc., I’ve covered these in the introduction when there was something to say about them. I’ll expect that will be the case again once the September figures roll in.
Jason:
“Or probably due to the fact that it’s a #1 issue, and sells much better as a result just like every other comic on the planet.”
Yeah, like FABLES ARE FOREVER #1, you mean.
“Interest in Grant Morrison’s Batman saga seems to be fading. Given that it won’t be part of the relaunch, that’s understandable.”
Except the orders you’re analyzing came before the announcement of the relaunch, thereby making your comment entirely superfluous.
“Sales keep going up — a moot point, of course, since the book won’t be around after August.”
Nobody is buying this title because of the name “Emerald Knights”. The book is continuing, the same writer, the same character, just under the Corps name as it used to be before. So again, I ask, what kind of analysis is this?
“Biding its time until the relaunch.”
You’ve got nothing to add about the fact Superman #712 was an unannounced fill-in? Look, Marc, we all know you’re disillusioned with comics, especially DC. We all know you’d rather be doing the Marvel analysis, but Paul got it first. However, we’re all putting time into reading your column under the assumption you do more than cut & paste generic diatribe and snark up the ass. I won’t even question the amount of time it takes you to do what literally anyone… ANYONE… can do and do it much faster (since the delay in posting this appears to be Heidi’s doing). But what’s the point in bothering to say anything when you clearly aren’t actually paying attention?
“with the Reverse Flash one-shot stuck in the middle.”
That one-shot was originally announced as issue 13 of Flash. Why not compare it to said series’s sales and mention this situation? Oh right, you can’t be bothered to give a damn.
“And that’s just 16 books. Retailers must be ecstatic about having to do this for 52 of them.”
Except a bunch of event Elseworld mini’s alongside the main monthly books aren’t correlative to relaunching the entire monthly line. Most of the books are the same books starting over with #1’s. Between that and the assload of incentives for ordering high on all of the #1’s, any retailer who finds ordering for the relaunch exactly as troubling as ordering for the Flashpoint mini’s is a complete idiot who will be setting fire to his shop soon for the insurance money anyway.
“Cancelled with issue #11.”
Last I checked, Superboy was getting relaunched. Again, are you even paying attention?
“DC looked at these numbers and concluded that Paul Levitz needed to write a new Legion of Super-Heroes title in September.”
It’s pretty well known Levitz had LoSH built in as some kind of golden parachute. You SHOULD be pointing out how DC looked at the numbers for Outsiders and concluded the Dan Didido/Keith Giffen team needed to write the new OMAC book in September. At least Levitz is getting demoted from two titles to one (though there’s also a mini in the future, it’s still a step down).
“So… with the relaunch, how will you do year-to-year comparisons?
Considering when Gotham City Sirens launched he treated it as a defacto continuation of Birds of Prey (despite having nothing in common other than being a book of Bat-related females, when Batgirl had much more in common than it did), what does it matter? He could compare Aquaman to Scooby Doo and he’d still find cause to complain about how the book “technically sells better, but if you look at ten years ago between the months of April and May there were less people who dropped it than people who picked this up while hopping on one foot and rubbing their heads. They can’t be happy with these results because I sure am not!”
“Except the orders you’re analyzing came before the announcement of the relaunch, thereby making your comment entirely superfluous.”
Good point. The announcement only came in June, so it can’t have affected the June numbers.
“Last I checked, Superboy was getting relaunched.”
Also correct. I’ll try to pay more attention next time.
Dreamer- dunno how Heidi feels about plugging a place, so no link, but google Fearless Readers Online. Great place.
Wow, the crybabies are really coming out of the woodwork this month, aren’t they?
Maybe they’re all upset, soiling their diapers, thinking about the reboot/relaunch and how it will “throw their world upside down”?!?
And as usual, thanks Marc, for all your hard work!!!
Justin — pleas elink away. I consider the comments a place for added value.
“Beat, the tonal disparity between Marvel’s and DC’s analyses continues to be a black eye for your site.”
I don’t know about a black eye, but it is pretty clear that the DC numbers get a more negative spin on them than Marvel’s.
For example, one of the most interesting things about these numbers is how the standalone Flashpoint books did much better than the standalone Fear Itself titles, even though there were far more FP than FI comics. And while Booster Gold was the only real FP tie-in title, the percentage increase in its sales compares pretty well to the FI tie-in issues at Marvel.
Of course, another of the most interesting things is DC’s utter failure with Doc Savage and the Spirit compared to Dynamite’s relative success with The Green Hornet.
Mike
I always laugh at how riled up people get over the “spin” attributed to these numbers and how they’re making one company look bad. Neither needs any help making the other look bad – the numbers for both companies are miserable.
Man, DC’s few remaining fans are almost as desperate and ugly as DC itself is these days.
“Man, DC’s few remaining fans are almost as desperate and ugly as DC itself is these days.”
I grew up a Marvel zombie and even I can tell that the monthly DC sales analysis is consistently more bitter than the one for Marvel.
Mike
Well, let’s relax.
For what it’s worth, I can see how people with a special attachment to DC can get riled up here. I chalk it up to me being tone-deaf to the Marvel/DC rivalry as it extends beyond the fact that they happen to be the two major companies in a particular market place. I reserve my emotional investment for other things, really. So the notion of being “biased” or “bitter” when it comes to a bunch of comics companies seems pretty outlandish to me, personally, and toning down my comments because Paul may be less critical over in the Marvel column is not something I think about.
That said, I’m aware that the rivalry is part of comics fandom, of course, so the fact that not everybody loves my approach to this stuff doesn’t surprise me. I try to write the kind of column I’d want to read myself. That’s not everybody’s cup of tea, obviously, and that’s okay with me.
The one comment that I found a bit harsh was about “franchise mastermind Geoff Johns”. Otherwise — the sales figures demand some type of negativity. SUPERMAN selling under 40K? WONDER WOMAN selling under 40K during the relaunch? In a country of more than 300 million people, one would think that the mere public awareness of Superman and Wonder Woman would guarantee much higher sales. Why is there such a disconnect between their status as cultural icons and the sales of their publications?
And another relaunch of LoSH, given its sales figures, fits the definition of “insanity.” Would producers revamp a TV pilot five or six times before finally giving up on it? Perhaps Time Warner should consider licensing the comics rights to some other publisher, and just keep the merchandising and other media rights.
SRS
Synsidar:
“The one comment that I found a bit harsh was about “franchise mastermind Geoff Johns”.”
Erm, why, if I may ask? It says that Geoff Johns is the mastermind of the Green Lantern franchise, and that the reason why the two FLASHPOINT minis in question probably outsold most of the other ones because they benefit from belonging to that franchise.
I’m at a loss.
I read it as a reference to Johns’ involvement with the GREEN LANTERN movie. I might have read the item too quickly and been influenced by the complaints.
SRS
Synsidar:
“I read it as a reference to Johns’ involvement with the GREEN LANTERN movie.”
Oh. No, it wasn’t meant as such.
People are really bringing some weird baggage to these monthly reviews.
For my part? I find them interesting; don’t change a thing.
>the numbers for both companies are miserable.
Yeah, ICV2.com’s source data and these analysis columns regularly feature the most depressing comics-related info on the internet.
LL
I look forward to these columns so don’t stop them. I personally get upset about the numbers not the comments. I appreciate that DC at least acknowledges that sales are a problem while Marvel tries to spin that they’re the kingpins as a reason to NOT change anything
Marc kick’s ass.
Love this column just like it is.
What going on here?!? Haven’t seen Marc in the comments this much since the last time he and Brian Wood had words! haha….
I actually thought that his snarky comments have been toned down in the last few months. Or maybe I just don’t mind it as much anymore.
Anyway, with both Heidi and Marc present – let me say that I’d really like to see Marc do a Marvel sales month – cause it would be fun to read it when its not sugar coated. Like we get here every month. haha… :)
Get a grip!
None of these numbers really matter.
We’re just treading water here until we see what happens to the reboot.
I agree with the poster that pointed out how it seems like DC has been mailing it in a bit with their titles of the last couple of months. The ending and follow up to War of the GLs has been dreadful, just for one example.
“I agree with the poster that pointed out how it seems like DC has been mailing it in a bit with their titles of the last couple of months. The ending and follow up to War of the GLs has been dreadful, just for one example.”
That usually happens when a title gets cancelled and the creative team on the book knows whatever they write will be meaningless anyway…you don’t get their best work out of them!
Is the indie sales chart coming out soon? :)
The numbers for June coming out really late (ie. in August), combined with a lack of internet at my house, and then a two week trip to visit family and go to a wedding mean that I was unable to get the June column done.
I’m going to combine it with the July one and it should be out…next week? I’m pretty busy this week too.
@dreamer: the pins were only for the main mini-series, not all the one shots and other tie-ins, so that might explain not always getting one
@synisdar: Levitz gets to write the Legion because he’s Levitz. That is the way the fans want it. We’re happy with our niche comic. Nicieza is providing an alternative. It’s only sad that Shooter’s fan loyalty wasn’t as potent, but then he’s never been as convivial as Levitz.
Being English, a long-term DC reader and someone with no interest at all in what Marvel put out every month, I look forward to Marc’s column every month, mostly because it is full of little put-downs and sarcastic comments. Maybe it’s because I can identify with German humour, which tends (without wishing to stereotype) to be very dry, or maybe it’s because these figures are truly awful for a once major player that’s completely lost its way.
What do people want, “Hooray and well done to DC as legendary character and first-ever superhero Superman once again fails to shift in excess of 40,000 units this month…” or something that states just how bad these figures are?
As an almost devoted reader, I want DC to do better, and maybe this reboot will reduce some of the baggage that’s made their titles so wholly inaccessible to the casual reader for the past few years. Then again, if they had stable teams of decent writers and artists telling consistently good stories, people might pay to read them.
UK comics have pretty much died out over the past decade, with the exception of TV, toy and video game tie-ins. Kids just don’t care about comics anymore, so they don’t buy them. I imagine the US market to be much the same. With that in mind, if Superman and Wonder Woman don’t sell, who would bother to pick up the planned series for Static Shock, Hawk and Dove, Animal Man, OMAC, Grifter, Blue Beetle ormany of the other ‘New 52’?
Certainly when my local retailer offered me a list of DC’s September output I ticked most but not all of the Batbooks, Action Comics simply because it’s Morrison and Wonder Woman because it’s Azzarello. Frankly, they can keep the rest, and jolly good luck to them. How long before Batman, Detective, Superman, Action and Wonder Woman revert to their original numbering as the New 52 are steadily whittled down by poor sales, delayed shipping, ever-changing creative teams and general lack of either interest or quality?
That sucks Scalped will be ending in a few issues.