DC Comics Month-to-Month Sales: October 2013 – After Before Sandman

by Marc-Oliver Frisch
Most significantly, October 2013 was the month after the month in which DC mounted its most aggressive and focussed attempt yet to single-handedly destroy the comics market, by shipping millions of random comics to retailers who had not ordered them. Not surprisingly, sales snapped back to more regular levels as a result.Second-most significantly, October 2013 was the month in which a new Sandman miniseries by sales magnet Neil Gaiman debuted to give Vertigo a much-needed boost.

And so it did: In the 128 months since March 2003 that we’ve got data on, Vertigo’s average new-comic-book sales have never been higher, rising to an estimated 22,228 units. Similarly, Vertigo’s total unit and dollar sales set new records for that period: With an estimated 266,738 total units sold, October 2013 is a solid 46,000 ahead of the previous high-water mark, and total dollar sales for the first time cracked the $1 million barrier with an estimated $1.1 million. Which is an especially big deal, because the previous record month, March 2010, had only managed an estimated $681,000 — and it had needed 19 new books to do so, as opposed to October 2013’s 12.

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

n/a - TOM STRONG AND THE PLANET OF PERIL (Vertigo)
06/2010: Robots of Doom #1 of 6  -- 10,552
07/2010: Robots of Doom #2 of 6  --  7,655
08/2010: Robots of Doom #3 of 6  --  6,989
09/2010: Robots of Doom #4 of 6  --  6,661
10/2010: Robots of Doom #5 of 6  --  6,271
11/2010: Robots of Doom #6 of 6  --  5,995
------------------------------------------
07/2013: Planet of Peril #1 of 6 -- 10,492
08/2013: Planet of Peril #2 of 6 --  7,593 (-27.6%)
09/2013: Planet of Peril #3 of 6 --  6,746 (-11.2%)
09/2013: Planet of Peril #4 of 6 --  ?

The book missed the October chart. The No. 300 book on the chart sold an estimated 6,491 units.

—–

256 - ARROW (Digital-First)
11/2012: Arrow #1  -- 25,442
12/2012: Arrow #2  -- 15,780 (-38.0%)
01/2013: Arrow #3  -- 13,090 (-17.1%)
02/2013: Arrow #4  -- 11,581 (-11.5%)
03/2013: Arrow #5  -- 10,908 (- 5.8%)
04/2013: Arrow #6  -- 10,462 (- 4.1%)
05/2013: Arrow #7  -- 10,017 (- 4.3%)
06/2013: Arrow #8  --  9,671 (- 3.5%)
07/2013: Arrow #9  --  9,334 (- 3.5%)
08/2013: Arrow #10 --  9,028 (- 3.3%)
09/2013: Arrow #11 --  8,621 (- 4.5%)
10/2013: Arrow #12 --  8,148 (- 5.5%)
----------------
6 months: -22.1%

Cancelled with issue #12.

—–

250 - 100 BULLETS: BROTHER LONO (Vertigo)
10/2003: 100 Bullets #47      -- 17,308
10/2008: 100 Bullets #96      -- 10,654
---------------------------------------
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%)
----------------
5 years : -19.4%
10 years: -50.4%

Vertigo’s lowest-selling title. Deeply unimpressive numbers.

—–

244 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
10/2009: The Unwritten #6  -- 15,314
10/2010: The Unwritten #18 -- 12,273
10/2011: The Unwritten #30 -- 10,481
------------------------------------
10/2012: The Unwritten #42 --  8,881 (- 0.7%)
11/2012: The Unwritten #43 --  8,791 (- 1.0%)
12/2012: The Unwritten #44 --  8,532 (- 3.0%)
01/2013: The Unwritten #45 --  8,465 (- 0.8%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.8%
1 year  : - 0.1%
2 years : -15.4%

Waiting to be relaunched in January.

—–

242 - AME-COMI GIRLS (Digital-First)
10/2012: ACG #1: Wonder Woman      -- 24,966
11/2012: ACG #2: Batgirl           -- 16,083 (-35.6%)
12/2012: ACG #3: Duela Dent        -- 13,185 (-18.0%)
01/2013: ACG #4: Power Girl        -- 12,488 (- 5.3%)
02/2013: ACG #5 of 5: Supergirl    -- 12,343 (- 1.2%)
03/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #1         -- 16,558 (+34.2%)
04/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #2         -- 12,878 (-22.2%)
05/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #3         -- 12,007 (- 6.8%)
06/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #4         -- 11,229 (- 6.5%)
07/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #5         -- 10,672 (- 5.0%)
08/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #6         --  9,979 (- 6.5%)
09/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #7         --  9,616 (- 3.6%)
10/2013: Ame-Comi Girls #8         --  8,991 (- 6.5%)
----------------
6 months: -30.2%
1 year  : -64.0%

Cancelled with issue #8.

—–

240 - THE MOVEMENT
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%)

The lowest-selling “New 52” title, and sales remain poor. There can’t be much more rope on this one.

—–

233 - KATANA
02/2013: Katana #1  -- 27,021
03/2013: Katana #2  -- 19,247 (-28.8%)
04/2013: Katana #3  -- 16,157 (-16.1%)
05/2013: Katana #4  -- 14,804 (- 8.4%)
06/2013: Katana #5  -- 12,998 (-12.2%)
07/2013: Katana #6  -- 11,346 (-12.7%)
08/2013: Katana #7  -- 10,386 (- 8.5%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Katana #8  --  9,392 (- 9.6%)
----------------
6 months: -41.9%

Cancelled with issue #10.

—–

230/206/181/118 - DCE ESSENTIALS
10/2013: V for Vendetta #1  --  9,661
10/2013: Wonder Woman #1    -- 11,220
10/2013: The Sandman #1     -- 13,758
10/2013: Batman #1          -- 22,842

A bunch of reprints. Snyder and Capullo seem to have a groovy thing going, there.

—–

225 - STORMWATCH
10/2003: StormWatch: TA #16   -- 11,776
10/2008: StormWatch: PHD #15  --  7,411
10/2011: Stormwatch #2        -- 47,520
---------------------------------------
10/2012: Stormwatch #13       -- 17,621 (-19.0%)
11/2012: Stormwatch #14       -- 16,559 (- 6.0%)
12/2012: Stormwatch #15       -- 15,437 (- 6.8%)
01/2013: Stormwatch #16       -- 14,411 (- 6.7%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.1%
1 year  : - 42.9%
2 years : - 78.8%
5 years : + 35.8%
10 years: - 14.5%

Cancelled with issue #30.

—–

224 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA'S VIBE
02/2013: Vibe #1  -- 27,051
03/2013: Vibe #2  -- 19,092 (-29.4%)
04/2013: Vibe #3  -- 16,972 (-11.1%)
05/2013: Vibe #4  -- 14,970 (-11.8%)
06/2013: Vibe #5  -- 13,706 (- 8.4%)
07/2013: Vibe #6  -- 12,241 (-10.7%)
08/2013: Vibe #7  -- 11,184 (- 8.6%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Vibe #8  -- 10,139 (- 9.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.3%

Cancelled with issue #10.

—–

207 - BATWING
10/2011: Batwing #2  -- 42,750
------------------------------
10/2012: Batwing #13 -- 17,166 (-22.5%)
11/2012: Batwing #14 -- 15,967 (- 7.0%)
12/2012: Batwing #15 -- 14,674 (- 8.1%)
01/2013: Batwing #16 -- 13,427 (- 8.5%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -18.1%
1 year  : -35.1%
2 years : -74.0%

I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason why DC hasn’t cancelled this book yet.

—–

201 - FBP: FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS (Vertigo)
07/2013: Collider #1  -- 17,336
08/2013: FBP #2       -- 14,068 (-18.9%)
09/2013: FBP #3       -- 13,977 (- 0.7%)
10/2013: FBP #4       -- 11,600 (-17.0%)

This was the first issue whose sales were not reduced on the chart (by Diamond) and subsequently adjusted (by me) due to being returnable, so it’s quite possible that the drop here is misleading. Since Diamond doesn’t provide accurate information for returnable titles, we can only guess. The picture should become clearer in the next few months, though.

—–

199 - BATMAN: ARKHAM UNHINGED (Digital-First)
10/2012: Arkham Unhinged #7  -- 19,890 (- 1.8%)
11/2012: Arkham Unhinged #8  -- 18,393 (- 7.5%)
12/2012: Arkham Unhinged #9  -- 17,220 (- 6.4%)
01/2013: Arkham Unhinged #10 -- 16,113 (- 6.4%)
02/2013: Arkham Unhinged #11 -- 15,703 (- 2.6%)
03/2013: Arkham Unhinged #12 -- 15,067 (- 4.1%)
04/2013: Arkham Unhinged #13 -- 14,702 (- 2.4%)
05/2013: Arkham Unhinged #14 -- 14,048 (- 4.5%)
06/2013: Arkham Unhinged #15 -- 13,729 (- 2.3%)
07/2013: Arkham Unhinged #16 -- 13,046 (- 5.0%)
08/2013: Arkham Unhinged #17 -- 13,360 (+ 2.4%)
09/2013: Arkham Unhinged #18 -- 12,984 (- 2.8%)
10/2013: Arkham Unhinged #19 -- 11,879 (- 8.5%)
----------------
6 months: -19.2%
1 year  : -40.3%

Cancelled with issue #20.

—–

177 - SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL (Digital-First)
05/2013: Smallville S11 Special #1 -- 13,988
06/2013: --
07/2013: Smallville S11 Special #2 -- 12,858 (-8.1%)
08/2013: --
09/2013: --
10/2013: Smallville S11 Special #3 -- 12,115 (-5.8%)

Definitely a book that came out in October.

—–

192 - THE WITCHING HOUR (Vertigo)
05/2011: Strange Adventures #1  --  9,999
10/2011: The Unexpected #1      -- 10,416
05/2012: Mystery in Space #1    -- 11,184
10/2012: Ghosts #1              -- 16,574
03/2013: Time Warp #1           --  9,964
-----------------------------------------
10/2012: The Witching Hour #1   -- 12,325

These $7.99 anthology one-shots keep doing very well for Vertigo, so there’s absolutely no reason to stop releasing them.

—–

186 - BATMAN: LI'L GOTHAM (Digital-First)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -53.2%

Levelling out, very slowly — but also the lowest-selling Digital-First book that has not been axed, so we’ll see for how much longer it sticks around.

—–

184 - FAIREST (Vertigo)
10/2012: Fairest #8  -- 18,376 (- 1.3%)
11/2012: Fairest #9  -- 17,417 (- 5.2%)
12/2012: Fairest #10 -- 16,919 (- 2.9%)
01/2013: Fairest #11 -- 16,498 (- 2.5%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.8%
1 year  : -29.2%

Standard attrition.

—–

180 - SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 (Digital-First)
10/2012: Smallville S11 #6  -- 19,663 (+ 0.8%)
11/2012: Smallville S11 #7  -- 19,104 (- 2.8%)
12/2012: Smallville S11 #8  -- 18,633 (- 2.5%)
01/2013: Smallville S11 #9  -- 17,845 (- 4.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.4%
1 year  : -29.9%

Cancelled with issue #19, to be continued in a miniseries.

—–

178 - ALL STAR WESTERN
10/2008: Jonah Hex #36 -- 12,629
10/2009: Jonah Hex #48 -- 11,281
10/2010: Jonah Hex #60 -- 11,141
10/2011: ASW #2        -- 39,857
--------------------------------
10/2012: ASW #13       -- 21,481 (- 15.4%)
11/2012: ASW #14       -- 20,186 (-  6.0%)
12/2012: ASW #15       -- 19,190 (-  4.9%)
01/2013: ASW #16       -- 18,254 (-  4.9%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.6%
1 year  : - 33.1%
2 years : - 63.9%
5 years : + 13.9%

There’s no readily evident reason for the bigger drop.

—–

177 - LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT (Digital-First)
10/2003: LotDK #172 -- 25,573
-----------------------------
10/2012: LotDK #1   -- 42,904
11/2012: LotDK #2   -- 30,085 (-29.9%)
12/2012: LotDK #3   -- 25,710 (-14.5%)
01/2013: LotDK #4   -- 22,671 (-11.8%)
02/2013: LotDK #5   -- 21,041 (- 7.2%)
03/2013: LotDK #6   -- 19,681 (- 6.5%)
04/2013: LotDK #7   -- 18,201 (- 7.5%)
05/2013: LotDK #8   -- 17,126 (- 5.9%)
06/2013: LotDK #9   -- 16,678 (- 2.6%)
07/2013: LotDK #10  -- 16,184 (- 3.0%)
08/2013: LotDK #11  -- 15,546 (- 3.9%)
09/2013: LotDK #12  -- 15,166 (- 2.4%)
10/2013: LotDK #13  -- 14,430 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: -20.7%
10 years: -66.4%

Cancelled with issue #13.

—–

176 - ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (Digital-First)
10/2003: Adventures of Superman #621 -- 27,846
----------------------------------------------
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%)
----------------
10 years: -48.0%

Not levelling out.

—–

175 - FABLES (Vertigo)
10/2003: Fables #18  -- 26,350
10/2008: Fables #77  -- 23,761
10/2009: Fables #89  -- 21,118
10/2010: Fables #99  -- 19,656
10/2011: Fables #110 -- 18,109
------------------------------
10/2012: Fables #122 -- 16,513 (- 0.5%)
11/2012: Fables #123 -- 16,229 (- 1.7%)
12/2012: Fables #124 -- 16,018 (- 1.3%)
01/2013: Fables #125 -- 15,983 (- 0.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.6%
1 year  : -11.7%
2 years : -19.5%
5 years : -38.7%
10 years: -44.7%

Holding level. The series is set to end with issue #150. People who read it say it ended years ago, and sales have been slowly declining for ages. Commercially, this won’t be a huge blow to Vertigo, at this stage.

—–

162/161 - HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
10/2003: Snake Men #1   -- 17,674
---------------------------------
10/2012: He-Man #3 of 6 -- 18,269 (- 7.4%)
11/2012: He-Man #4 of 6 -- 17,499 (- 4.2%)
12/2012: He-Man #5 of 6 -- 16,858 (- 3.7%)
01/2013: He-Man #6 of 6 -- 16,441 (- 2.5%)
02/2013: --
03/2013: --
04/2013: He-Man #1      -- 25,254 (+53.6%)
05/2013: He-Man #2      -- 19,410 (-23.1%)
06/2013: He-Man #3      -- 18,277 (- 5.8%)
07/2013: He-Man #4      -- 18,101 (- 1.0%)
08/2013: He-Man #5      -- 16,898 (- 6.7%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: He-Man #6      -- 16,294 (- 3.6%)
10/2013: He-Man #7      -- 16,059 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: -36.0%
1 year  : -11.5%
10 years: - 8.5%

Levelling out, maybe.

—–

155 - ASTRO CITY (Vertigo)
10/2003: Local Heroes #4      -- 32,571
10/2008: Astra Special #2     -- 13,847
---------------------------------------
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%)
-----------------
5 years : + 22.4%
10 years: - 48.0%

Levelling out. Sales have slightly recovered from the book’s sporadic existence at the latter-day WildStorm imprint, it seems, but aren’t remotely what they used to be.

—–

153 - BATMAN BEYOND UNIVERSE (Digital-First)
10/2012: Unlimited #9   -- 19,877 (- 4.9%)
11/2012: Unlimited #10  -- 19,004 (- 4.4%)
12/2012: Unlimited #11  -- 18,089 (- 4.8%)
01/2013: Unlimited #12  -- 17,446 (- 3.6%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 8.4%
1 year  : -11.2%

Back where it was before the relaunch, but it seems to be finding its level quickly.

—–

148 - LARFLEEZE
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%)

Crashing and burning.

Doesn’t DC have another bag of plastic rings lying around the office somewhere? Always works with retailers.

—–

145 - TALON
10/2012: Talon #1  -- 55,737 (- 6.6%)
11/2012: Talon #2  -- 41,250 (-26.0%)
12/2012: Talon #3  -- 35,034 (-15.1%)
01/2013: Talon #4  -- 30,909 (-11.8%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -24.2%
1 year  : -67.3%

Cancelled with issue #17.

—–

144 - SUPERBOY
10/2011: Superboy #2  --  57,424
--------------------------------
10/2012: Superboy #13 --  25,726 (- 19.2%)
11/2012: Superboy #14 --  28,017 (+  8.9%)
12/2012: Superboy #15 --  27,619 (-  1.4%)
01/2013: Superboy #16 --  27,110 (-  1.8%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.3%
1 year  : - 28.7%
2 years : - 68.1%

The book’s free-fall turns catastrophic, slowly but surely.

—–

143 - BIRDS OF PREY
10/2003: Birds of Prey #60  -- 30,515
10/2008: Birds of Prey #123 -- 21,110
10/2010: --
10/2011: Birds of Prey #2   -- 53,156
-------------------------------------
10/2012: Birds of Prey #13  -- 25,851 (- 15.5%)
11/2012: Birds of Prey #14  -- 24,904 (-  3.7%)
12/2012: Birds of Prey #15  -- 24,026 (-  3.5%)
01/2013: Birds of Prey #16  -- 23,182 (-  3.5%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 15.3%
1 year  : - 28.9%
2 years : - 65.4%
5 years : - 12.9%
10 years: - 39.8%

Another title whose decline is speeding up.

—–

137/98/74/71/67/33 - NEW 52 ANNUALS
10/2013: Swamp Thing Annual #2   -- 19,628
10/2003: Teen Titans Annual #2   -- 26,957
10/2003: Action Comics Annual #2 -- 34,668
10/2013: Aquaman Annual #1       -- 35,403
10/2013: Nightwing Annual #1     -- 36,108
10/2013: Green Lantern Annual #2 -- 47,861

That’s about 200,000 units worth in extra sales total. Got cashflow problems? No worries — just solicit a few Annuals.

—–

136 - TRINITY OF SIN: PHANTOM STRANGER
10/2012: Phantom Stranger #1  -- 33,350 (-16.8%)
11/2012: Phantom Stranger #2  -- 24,979 (-25.1%)
12/2012: Phantom Stranger #3  -- 23,378 (- 6.4%)
01/2013: Phantom Stranger #4  -- 19,903 (-14.9%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: +13.9%
1 year  : -40.8%

Publishing crossover tie-in books without a crossover to tie in with, meanwhile, yields less-than-stellar effects. Perhaps it would pay off to procure the “Civil War” license from Marvel, just for a couple of issues.

Overall, this makes 11 “New 52” books below the 20K mark right now, only four of which have an official ending date yet. More are about to follow, indubitably.

—–

151 - BEWARE THE BATMAN (All-Ages)
10/2003: Batman Adventures #7  -- 13,788
10/2008: Batman Strikes! #50   --  6,413
10/2009: Brave & Bold #10      --  6,646
10/2010: Brave & Bold #22      --  6,044
----------------------------------------
10/2013: Beware the Batman #1  -- 19,830
-----------------
5 years : +209.2%
10 years: + 43.8%

Three years after the last one concluded, an all-new All-Ages Batman title launches.

(Beware the Batman was made returnable by DC and had its numbers reduced on the chart by Diamond, before I re-adjusted them for the column. The same applies to The Sandman: Overture, Hinterkind, Coffin Hill and Trillium. At best, figures will be more accurate as a result; at worst, they’ll be a different kind of wrong from what Diamond provides. Either way, take these with a grain of salt.)

—–

130 - ANIMAL MAN
10/2011: Animal Man #2     -- 53,432
------------------------------------
10/2012: Animal Man #13    -- 34,303 (-10.4%)
11/2012: Animal Man #14    -- 33,503 (- 2.3%)
12/2012: Animal Man #15    -- 32,013 (- 4.5%)
01/2013: Animal Man #16    -- 30,322 (- 5.3%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -25.4%
1 year  : -40.1%
2 years : -61.5%

Ending with issue #29. Sales aren’t terrible yet, but the decline has not been pretty, either. It’s probably a matter of ending the book before the book ends itself.

—–

123 - SWAMP THING
10/2011: Swamp Thing #2  -- 58,634
----------------------------------
10/2012: Swamp Thing #13 -- 36,069 (-10.1%)
11/2012: Swamp Thing #14 -- 42,036 (+16.5%)
12/2012: Swamp Thing #15 -- 33,916 (-19.3%)
01/2013: Swamp Thing #16 -- 32,262 (- 4.9%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -25.7%
1 year  : -39.8%
2 years : -63.0%

Sales keep tumbling down.

—–

117 - CONSTANTINE
10/2003: Hellblazer #189 -- 15,898
10/2008: Hellblazer #248 -- 11,600
10/2009: Hellblazer #260 -- 10,767
10/2010: Hellblazer #272 --  9,650
10/2011: Hellblazer #284 --  9,608
----------------------------------
10/2012: Hellblazer #296 --  9,255 (+  1.2%)
11/2012: Hellblazer #297 --  9,146 (-  1.2%)
12/2012: Hellblazer #298 --  9,132 (-  0.2%)
01/2013: Hellblazer #299 --  9,329 (+  2.2%)
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 (+ 16.1%) [35,027]
08/2013: Constantine #6  -- 25,174 (- 17.9%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Constantine #7  -- 22,954 (-  8.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 25.5%
1 year  : +148.0%
2 years : +138.9%
5 years : + 97.9%
10 years: + 44.4%

No indication yet where sales might stabilize, but they’re still more than twice what they were at Vertigo.

—–

116 - WORLDS' FINEST
10/2012: Worlds' Finest #5  -- 35,951 (-15.9%)
11/2012: Worlds' Finest #6  -- 34,338 (- 4.5%)
12/2012: Worlds' Finest #7  -- 32,010 (- 6.8%)
01/2013: Worlds' Finest #8  -- 30,399 (- 5.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -16.3%
1 year  : -36.0%

Slipping down the chart.

—–

115 - DC UNIVERSE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
09/2013: DCU vs. MotU #1 of 6 -- 35,269
10/2013: DCU vs. MotU #2 of 6 -- 23,037 (-34.7%)

Steep second-issue drop for a miniseries.

—–

129 - TRILLIUM (Vertigo)
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%)

Levelling out nicely, it seems.

—–

112 - SUPERGIRL
10/2008: Supergirl #34 --  33,958
10/2009: Supergirl #46 --  30,377
10/2010: Supergirl #57 --  23,842
10/2011: Supergirl #2  --  61,388
---------------------------------
10/2012: Supergirl #13 --  29,450 (- 14.5%)
11/2012: Supergirl #14 --  31,270 (+  6.2%)
12/2012: Supergirl #15 --  30,814 (-  1.5%)
01/2013: Supergirl #16 --  30,350 (-  1.5%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.1%
1 year  : - 20.8%
2 years : - 62.0%
5 years : - 31.3%

Slipping.

—–

125 - HINTERKIND (Vertigo)
10/2013: Hinterkind #1  -- 23,516

—–

124 - COFFIN HILL (Vertigo)
10/2013: Coffin Hill #1  -- 24,129

Two new Vertigo launches with promising numbers. The imprint has seen a lot worse in recent years. That said, these were both returnable, there was a big spotlight on Vertigo in October, and it’s rarely a good sign when two completely different books are being ordered at pretty much the same (token?) level by retailers just because they happen to be part of a particular imprint or initiative — because that suggests that there’s no actual, substantial demand to fall back on once the push is over. But we’ll see.

—–

106 - GREEN ARROW
10/2003: Green Arrow #31  -- 39,525
10/2008: Arrow/Canary #13 -- 26,890
10/2009: Arrow&Canary #25 -- 18,013
10/2010: Green Arrow #5   -- 42,188
10/2011: Green Arrow #2   -- 58,708
-----------------------------------
10/2012: Green Arrow #13  -- 22,057 (- 22.4%)
11/2012: Green Arrow #14  -- 21,825 (-  1.1%)
12/2012: Green Arrow #15  -- 20,672 (-  5.3%)
01/2013: Green Arrow #16  -- 19,888 (-  3.8%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.7%
1 year  : + 11.6%
2 years : - 58.1%
5 years : -  8.4%
10 years: - 37.7%

Slipping down the charts.

—–

105 - INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US (Digital-First)
01/2013: Injustice #1  -- 20,733          [35,438]
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%)
----------------
6 months: +14.4%

To be relaunched after issue #12, presumably to profit from its evident buzz.

—–

103 - BATWOMAN
10/2011: Batwoman #2  --  74,392
--------------------------------
10/2012: Batwoman #13 --  37,315 (-10.5%)
11/2012: Batwoman #14 --  36,395 (- 2.5%)
12/2012: Batwoman #15 --  34,964 (- 3.9%)
01/2013: Batwoman #16 --  34,103 (- 2.5%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -18.8%
1 year  : -31.4%
2 years : -65.6%

Slowly drifting down.

—–

102 - TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA
07/2013: Pandora #1  -- 35,106          [41,678]
07/2013: Pandora #2  -- 32,170 (- 8.4%)
08/2013: Pandora #3  -- 34,563 (+ 7.4%)
09/2013: --
10/2013: Pandora #4  -- 25,708 (-25.6%)

There are many things in the comic-book direct market that my mind routinely struggles with just in terms of accepting that they exist and function in a specific way. This being an ongoing title is one of them.

Because you demanded it? Apparently you didn’t. But someone must have. Right?

…

Hello?

—-

97 - RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS
10/2011: Red Hood #2  -- 59,382
-------------------------------
10/2012: Red Hood #13 -- 35,420 (- 6.7%)
11/2012: Red Hood #14 -- 37,710 (+ 6.5%)
12/2012: Red Hood #15 -- 64,103 (+70.0%)
01/2013: Red Hood #16 -- 59,621 (- 7.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -25.9%
1 year  : -23.4%
2 years : -54.3%

Sliding down the sliding down the ch-ch-ch.

—–

96 - SUICIDE SQUAD
10/2011: Suicide Squad #2       -- 49,570
-----------------------------------------
10/2012: Suicide Squad #13      -- 27,644 (- 13.3%)
11/2012: Suicide Squad #14      -- 63,691 (+130.4%) [69,185]
12/2012: Suicide Squad #15      -- 57,132 (- 10.3%)
01/2013: Suicide Squad #16      -- 27,061 (- 52.6%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 14.3%
1 year  : +  0.4%
2 years : - 44.0%

The tie-in with the “Forever Evil” crossover brings a slight increase.

—–

90 - BATMAN '66 (Digital-First)
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%)

Levelling out, slowly, slowly.

—–

86 - RED LANTERNS
10/2011: Red Lanterns #2  -- 74,163
-----------------------------------
10/2012: Red Lanterns #13 -- 42,804 (+10.0%)
11/2012: Red Lanterns #14 -- 40,779 (- 4.7%)
12/2012: Red Lanterns #15 -- 39,071 (- 4.2%)
01/2013: Red Lanterns #16 -- 38,223 (- 2.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -11.3%
1 year  : -28.1%
2 years : -58.5%

A slight increase, as the Green Lantern books tie in with the new Gene Luen Yang book.

—–

83 - FOREVER EVIL: A.R.G.U.S.
10/2013: A.R.G.U.S. #1 of 6 -- 32,146

Crossover spin-off miniseries time. Unimpressive sales.

—–

77 - WONDER WOMAN
10/2003: Wonder Woman #197 --  28,944 [29,854]
10/2008: Wonder Woman #25  --  33,583
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37  --  26,972
10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 --  37,405
10/2011: Wonder Woman #2   --  79,060
-------------------------------------
10/2012: Wonder Woman #13  --  43,731 (- 12.2%)
11/2012: Wonder Woman #14  --  42,384 (-  3.1%)
12/2012: Wonder Woman #15  --  41,641 (-  1.8%)
01/2013: Wonder Woman #16  --  40,105 (-  3.7%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.2%
1 year  : - 21.6%
2 years : - 56.6%
5 years : +  2.2%
10 years: + 18.5%

Sales appear to be levelling out around 34K.

—–

76 - TEEN TITANS
10/2003: Teen Titans #4   -- 69,082 [71,828]
10/2008: Teen Titans #64  -- 39,695
10/2009: Teen Titans #76  -- 29,166
10/2010: Teen Titans #88  -- 27,637
10/2011: Teen Titans #2   -- 72,107
-----------------------------------
10/2012: Teen Titans #13  -- 41,059 (- 13.2%)
11/2012: Teen Titans #14  -- 39,745 (-  3.3%)
12/2012: Teen Titans #15  -- 68,707 (+ 72.9%)
01/2013: Teen Titans #16  -- 63,726 (-  7.3%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 12.6%
1 year  : - 15.9%
2 years : - 52.1%
5 years : - 13.0%
10 years: - 50.0%

A “Forever Evil” crossover keeps the numbers slightly above previous levels.

—–

72 - CATWOMAN
10/2003: Catwoman #24 -- 23,164
10/2011: Catwoman #2  -- 63,573
-------------------------------
10/2012: Catwoman #13 -- 40,147 (+ 2.6%) [60,257]
11/2012: Catwoman #14 -- 63,653 (+58.6%)
12/2012: Catwoman #15 -- 35,020 (-45.0%)
01/2013: Catwoman #16 -- 33,915 (- 3.2%)
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%) [32,158]
09/2013: --
10/2013: Catwoman #24 -- 35,134 (+44.8%)
-----------------
6 months: + 25.2%
1 year  : - 12.5%
2 years : - 44.7%
10 years: + 51.7%

Featuring Joker’s Daughter, apparently one of the more popular aspects of the “Villains Month” stunt.

—–

70 - GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS
10/2010: Emerald Warriors #3  -- 50,490
10/2011: New Guardians #2     -- 71,713
---------------------------------------
10/2012: New Guardians #13    -- 48,500 (+ 3.8%)
11/2012: New Guardians #14    -- 47,062 (- 3.0%)
12/2012: New Guardians #15    -- 45,136 (- 4.1%)
01/2013: New Guardians #16    -- 43,770 (- 3.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.6%
1 year  : -27.0%
2 years : -50.6%

Crossover.

—–

64 - FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES' REBELLION
10/2013: Rogues' Rebellion #1 of 6 -- 36,545

Crossover.

—–

63 - BATGIRL
10/2003: Batgirl #45     -- 28,029
10/2008: Batgirl #4 of 6 -- 23,501
10/2009: Batgirl #3      -- 37,011
10/2010: --
10/2011: Batgirl #2      -- 83,586
----------------------------------
10/2012: Batgirl #13     -- 50,074 (-  0.7%) [71,109]
11/2012: Batgirl #14     -- 77,468 (+ 54.7%)
12/2012: Batgirl #15     -- 75,341 (-  2.8%)
01/2013: Batgirl #16     -- 72,470 (-  3.8%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 20.2%
1 year  : - 26.8%
2 years : - 56.1%
5 years : + 56.0%
10 years: + 30.8%

Slipping.

—–

61 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
10/2008: Green Lantern Corps #29 -- 46,316
10/2009: Green Lantern Corps #41 -- 81,377
10/2010: Green Lantern Corps #53 -- 60,808
10/2011: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 78,501
------------------------------------------
10/2012: Green Lantern Corps #13 -- 50,773 (+ 7.3%)
11/2012: Green Lantern Corps #14 -- 49,594 (- 2.3%)
12/2012: Green Lantern Corps #15 -- 47,841 (- 3.5%)
01/2013: Green Lantern Corps #16 -- 45,387 (- 5.1%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -15.0%
1 year  : -26.5%
2 years : -52.5%
5 years : -19.4%

Crossover.

—–

60 - BATMAN BLACK & WHITE
09/2013: Batman B&W #1 of 6 -- 65,018
10/2013: Batman B&W #2 of 6 -- 37,523 (-42.3%)

Horrible second-issue drop for a miniseries. But sales of the debut issue seemed surprisingly high to begin with, so maybe DC got retailers to load up on comics nobody wants to buy again, it being so central to the business model.

—–

58 - FLASH
10/2003: Flash #203      --  35,467
10/2008: Flash #245      --  28,085
10/2010: --
10/2011: Flash #2        -- 114,137
-----------------------------------
10/2012: Flash #13       --  49,936 (- 12.2%)
11/2012: Flash #14       --  48,012 (-  3.9%)
12/2012: Flash #15       --  45,925 (-  4.4%)
01/2013: Flash #16       --  44,093 (-  4.0%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 10.2%
1 year  : - 23.5%
2 years : - 66.5%
5 years : + 36.0%
10 years: +  7.7%

Levelled out around 38K.

—–

56 - EARTH 2
10/2012: Earth 2 #5  -- 61,529 (-11.0%)
11/2012: Earth 2 #6  -- 58,271 (- 4.8%)
12/2012: Earth 2 #7  -- 54,409 (- 6.6%)
01/2013: Earth 2 #8  -- 50,860 (- 6.5%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -15.6%
1 year  : -37.6%

Slipping.

—–

52 - SUPERMAN
10/2003: Superman #198 --  33,680
10/2008: Superman #681 --  54,611 [57,212]
10/2009: Superman #693 --  35,395
10/2010: Superman #703 --  50,460
10/2010: Superman #704 --  46,741
10/2011: Superman #2   -- 104,703
---------------------------------
10/2012: Superman #13  --  52,155 (- 13.8%)
11/2012: Superman #14  --  52,572 (+  0.8%)
12/2012: Superman #15  --  51,225 (-  2.6%)
01/2013: Superman #16  --  50,621 (-  1.2%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.6%
1 year  : - 24.1%
2 years : - 62.2%
5 years : - 27.5%
10 years: + 17.5%

Slipping.

—–

51 - ACTION COMICS
10/2003: Action Comics #808 --  30,978
10/2008: Action Comics #870 --  57,407
10/2009: Action Comics #882 --  34,754
10/2010: Action Comics #894 --  42,291
10/2011: Action Comics #2   -- 153,855
--------------------------------------
10/2012: Action Comics #13  --  67,241 (- 14.5%)
11/2012: Action Comics #14  --  64,341 (-  4.3%)
12/2012: Action Comics #15  --  61,298 (-  4.7%)
01/2013: Action Comics #16  --  58,645 (-  4.3%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.8%
1 year  : - 41.1%
2 years : - 74.3%
5 years : - 31.0%
10 years: + 27.9%

Slipping.

—–

49 - NIGHTWING
10/2003: Nightwing #86  -- 29,579
10/2008: Nightwing #149 -- 50,588
10/2011: Nightwing #2   -- 73,054
---------------------------------
10/2012: Nightwing #13  -- 47,171 (-11.2%)
11/2012: Nightwing #14  -- 50,720 (+ 7.5%)
12/2012: Nightwing #15  -- 74,407 (+46.7%)
01/2013: Nightwing #16  -- 69,643 (- 6.4%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 15.2%
1 year  : - 15.5%
2 years : - 45.5%
5 years : - 21.2%
10 years: + 34.7%

May be levelling out again.

—–

40 - AQUAMAN
10/2003: Aquaman #11 -- 24,918
10/2011: Aquaman #2  -- 79,156 [83,626]
------------------------------
10/2012: Aquaman #13 -- 54,648 (-10.8%)
11/2012: Aquaman #14 -- 53,664 (- 1.8%)
12/2012: Aquaman #15 -- 75,947 (+41.5%)
01/2013: Aquaman #16 -- 62,153 (-18.2%)
02/2013: Aquaman #17 -- 58,578 (- 5.8%)
03/2013: Aquaman #18 -- 53,337 (- 9.0%)
04/2013: --
05/2013: Aquaman #19 -- 53,415 (+ 0.2%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : - 22.7%
2 years : - 46.6%
10 years: + 69.6%

Slipping.

—–

38 - BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT
10/2011: Dark Knight #2  -- 100,494
-----------------------------------
10/2012: Dark Knight #13 --  65,271 (- 10.5%)
11/2012: Dark Knight #14 --  62,792 (-  3.8%)
12/2012: Dark Knight #15 --  60,569 (-  3.6%)
01/2013: Dark Knight #16 --  58,258 (-  3.8%)
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 (+ 17.9%) [86,016]
10/2013: Dark Knight #24 --  43,382 (- 33.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.6%
1 year  : - 33.5%
2 years : - 56.8%

Slipping.

Issue #23.4 made the chart again in October, meanwhile, selling an estimated 21,064 additional units. It must be the popular one of the bunch.

—–

37 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK
10/2011: Justice League Dark #2   -- 63,392
-------------------------------------------
10/2012: Justice League Dark #13  -- 30,008 (- 12.5%)
11/2012: Justice League Dark #14  -- 28,966 (-  3.5%)
12/2012: Justice League Dark #15  -- 27,712 (-  4.3%)
01/2013: Justice League Dark #16  -- 26,902 (-  2.9%)
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 (+176.9%) [76,570]
08/2013: Justice League Dark #23  -- 71,157 (+  4.2%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 78.7%
1 year  : + 51.3%
2 years : - 28.4%

Crossover.

—–

32 - FOREVER EVIL: ARKHAM WAR
10/2013: Arkham War #1 of 6 -- 52,004

Crossover.

—–

31 - BATMAN AND TWO-FACE
10/2009: Batman and Robin #5  -- 101,607
10/2010: Batman and Robin #15 --  80,173
10/2011: Batman and Robin #2  --  98,807
----------------------------------------
10/2012: Batman and Robin #13 --  63,097 (- 8.8%)
11/2012: Batman and Robin #14 --  75,543 (+19.7%)
12/2012: Batman and Robin #15 --  89,878 (+19.0%)
01/2013: Batman and Robin #16 --  81,494 (- 9.3%)
02/2013: Batman and Robin #17 --  60,988 (-25.2%)
03/2013: Batman and Robin #18 --  69,614 (+14.1%) [76,575]
04/2013: and Red Robin #19    --  89,182 (+28.1%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -41.6%
1 year  : -17.5%
2 years : -47.3%

Slipping.

—–

26 - GREEN LANTERN
10/2003: Green Lantern #170 --  32,679
10/2008: Green Lantern #35  --  63,383
10/2009: Green Lantern #47  -- 101,349
10/2010: Green Lantern #58  --  81,626
10/2011: Green Lantern #2   -- 142,344
--------------------------------------
10/2012: Green Lantern #13  --  91,814 (+ 2.1%)
11/2012: Green Lantern #14  --  78,499 (-14.5%)
12/2012: Green Lantern #15  --  74,363 (- 5.3%)
01/2013: Green Lantern #16  --  72,884 (- 2.0%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.6%
1 year  : - 37.8%
2 years : - 59.9%
5 years : -  9.9%
10 years: + 74.8%

Crossover. And slipping.

—–

24 - DETECTIVE COMICS
10/2008: Detective Comics #849 --  65,878
10/2009: Detective Comics #858 --  58,599
10/2010: Detective Comics #870 --  35,674
10/2011: Detective Comics #2   -- 123,099
-----------------------------------------
10/2012: Detective Comics #13  --  76,392 (-  9.1%)
11/2012: Detective Comics #14  --  74,560 (-  2.4%)
12/2012: Detective Comics #15  -- 106,395 (+ 42.7%)
01/2013: Detective Comics #16  --  92,300 (- 13.3%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.9%
1 year  : - 22.4%
2 years : - 51.8%
5 years : +  1.2%
10 years: - 10.0%

Slipping.

—–

21 - DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN
10/2013: Son of Batman #1 of 4 -- 63,453

Not a bad figure, despite the 1:25 and 1:100 variants.

—–

13 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
10/2003: JLA #88             --  59,448
10/2003: JLA #89             --  59,007 [59,955]
10/2008: JL of America #25   --  80,731
10/2008: JL of America #26   --  77,353
10/2009: JL of America #38   --  61,012
10/2010: JL of America #50   --  59,686
---------------------------------------
02/2013: JL of America #1    -- 307,734          [326,959]
03/2013: JL of America #2    --  91,734 (-70.2%)
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 (+20.1%) [91,344]
08/2013: JL of America #7    --  93,777 (+ 8.8%)
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 (+ 3.3%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
5 years : -  2.2%
10 years: + 30.5%

Crossover.

—–

11 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN
10/2003: Superman/Batman #3  -- 103,569 [115,814]
10/2008: Superman/Batman #53 --  48,187
10/2009: Superman/Batman #65 --  34,585
10/2010: Superman/Batman #77 --  31,741
---------------------------------------
06/2013: Batman/Superman #1  -- 143,457          [151,054]
07/2013: Batman/Superman #2  --  92,558 (-35.5%) [ 97,961]
08/2013: Batman/Superman #3  --  87,337 (- 5.6%)
09/2013: #3.1: Doomsday      --  92,290 (+ 5.7%)
10/2013: Batman/Superman #4  --  82,990 (-10.1%)
-----------------
5 years : + 72.2%
10 years: - 19.9%

Still finding its level.

—–

8 - SANDMAN: OVERTURE (Vertigo)
10/2013: Overture #1 of 6 -- 103,668

Probably Vertigo’s biggest single-issue sales to date — certainly in the period we’ve got reliable data on.

—–

7 - SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN
10/2013: Superman/Wonder Woman #1  -- 94,859

There’s a host of variant-cover editions, but still.

Without any top-flight creators involved, DC must be ecstatic about these sales.

—–

6 - JUSTICE LEAGUE
10/2003: JLA #88             --  59,448
10/2003: JLA #89             --  59,007 [59,955]
10/2008: JL of America #25   --  80,731
10/2008: JL of America #26   --  77,353
10/2009: JL of America #38   --  61,012
10/2010: JL of America #50   --  59,686
10/2011: Justice League #2   -- 196,569
---------------------------------------
10/2012: Justice League #13  -- 117,752 (-  6.5%)
11/2012: Justice League #14  -- 113,094 (-  4.0%)
12/2012: Justice League #15  -- 115,074 (+  1.8%)
01/2013: Justice League #16  -- 117,719 (+  2.3%)
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 (- 19.1%)
09/2013: #23.4: Secret Socty --  78,014 (+ 21.7%)
10/2013: Justice League #24  --  98,491 (+ 26.3%)
-----------------
6 months: -  2.4%
1 year  : - 16.4%
2 years : - 49.9%
5 years : + 24.6%
10 years: + 66.3%

Crossover.

—–

4 - FOREVER EVIL
09/2013: Forever Evil #1 of 7 -- 139,976
10/2013: Forever Evil #2 of 7 -- 112,944 (-19.3%)

Regular big-event-miniseries second-issue drop.

—–

2 - BATMAN
10/2003: Batman #620 -- 107,538 [111,206]
10/2008: Batman #680 -- 103,941
10/2009: Batman #692 --  70,322
10/2010: --
10/2011: Batman #2   -- 172,428 [177,721]
-------------------------------
10/2012: Batman #13  -- 148,305 (-  5.3%) [174,642]
11/2012: Batman #14  -- 159,729 (+  7.7%)
12/2012: Batman #15  -- 151,568 (-  5.1%)
01/2013: Batman #16  -- 145,923 (-  3.7%)
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 (+ 10.1%) [156,845]
07/2013: Batman #22  -- 132,047 (-  7.1%)
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 (+  3.6%)
10/2013: Batman #24  -- 124,652 (+  0.2%)
-----------------
6 months: -  5.7%
1 year  : - 16.0%
2 years : - 27.7%
5 years : + 19.9%
10 years: + 15.9%

Snyder.

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

DC COMICS
10/2003: 28,677
10/2008: 29,109
10/2009: 27,525**
10/2010: 23,756**
10/2011: 51,280**
---------------
10/2012: 32,901 (-  8.1%)**
11/2012: 33,872 (+  3.0%)
12/2012: 34,272 (+  1.2%)
01/2013: 31,759 (-  7.3%)
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: 32,239 (- 41.3%)**
-----------------
6 months: +  7.8%
1 year  : -  2.0%
2 years : - 37.1%
5 years : + 10.8%
10 years: + 12.4%

DC UNIVERSE
10/2003: 34,572
10/2008: 37,273
10/2009: 34,795
10/2010: 32,832
10/2011: 59,146**
---------------
10/2012: 36,571 (-  7.2%)
11/2012: 36,585 (+  0.0%)
12/2012: 36,880 (+  0.8%)
01/2013: 33,485 (-  9.2%)
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: 33,955 (- 44.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +  8.1%
1 year  : -  7.2%
2 years : - 42.6%
5 years : -  8.9%
10 years: -  1.8%

VERTIGO
10/2003: 18,326
10/2008: 11,284
10/2009: 10,551
10/2010:  9,546
10/2011: 10,643
---------------
10/2012: 11,496 (- 1.8%)**
11/2012: 11,487 (- 0.1%)
12/2012: 11,771 (+ 2.5%)
01/2013: 10,764 (- 8.6%)
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%)**
-----------------
6 months: + 93.8%
1 year  : + 93.4%
2 years : +108.9%
5 years : + 97.0%
10 years: + 21.3%

—–
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 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.

** 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.

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