brightest_day_10.jpgby Marc-Oliver Frisch

September was a fairly low-profile month for DC’s comic-book business. In terms of new releases, there were the debut of the Freedom Fighters series, a Justice Society of America Special and a bunch of one-shots reviving the company’s old war titles. Still, thanks to a handful of returning DC Universe and Vertigo books that had missed their release dates in August, average and overall periodical sales slightly recovered, as expected. WildStorm published a few one-shot specials tying in with the Red film and reviving Wetworks, of all things, with less than spectacular results.

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.

—–

2/3 - BRIGHTEST DAY
04/2010: Brightest Day #0  -- 129,446
05/2010: Brightest Day #1  -- 129,158 (- 0.2%)
05/2010: Brightest Day #2  -- 112,806 (-12.7%)
06/2010: Brightest Day #3  -- 107,269 (- 4.9%)
06/2010: Brightest Day #4  -- 101,730 (- 5.2%)
07/2010: Brightest Day #5  --  97,245 (- 4.4%)
07/2010: Brightest Day #6  --  94,684 (- 2.6%)
08/2010: Brightest Day #7  --  93,459 (- 1.3%)
08/2010: Brightest Day #8  --  91,546 (- 2.1%)
09/2010: Brightest Day #9  --  88,446 (- 3.4%)
09/2010: Brightest Day #10 --  87,241 (- 1.4%)

DC’s current flagship title continues a slow decline.

—–

4 - GREEN LANTERN
09/2005: --
09/2006: Green Lantern #13  --  78,101
09/2007: Green Lantern #23  --  79,084 [82,168]
09/2008: Green Lantern #34  --  63,825
--------------------------------------
09/2009: Green Lantern #46  -- 103,666 (+ 1.2%)
10/2009: Green Lantern #47  -- 101,349 (- 2.2%)
11/2009: Green Lantern #48  -- 100,371 (- 1.0%)
12/2009: Green Lantern #49  --  97,285 (- 3.1%)
01/2010: Green Lantern #50  -- 106,444 (+ 9.4%)
02/2010: Green Lantern #51  --  95,509 (-10.3%)
03/2010: Green Lantern #52  --  97,369 (+ 2.0%)
04/2010: Green Lantern #53  -- 100,356 (+ 3.1%)
05/2010: Green Lantern #54  --  88,292 (-12.0%)
06/2010: Green Lantern #55  --  85,930 (- 2.7%)
07/2010: Green Lantern #56  --  84,164 (- 2.1%)
08/2010: --
07/2010: Green Lantern #57  --  85,179 (+ 1.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 12.5%
1 year  : - 17.8%
2 years : + 33.5%
5 years :   n.a.

Rock-solid numbers, as always.

—–

5 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
09/2009: Batman and Robin #4  -- 106,925 (- 3.3%)
10/2009: Batman and Robin #5  -- 101,607 (- 5.0%)
11/2009: Batman and Robin #6  --  95,690 (- 5.8%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: Batman and Robin #7  --  87,780 (- 8.3%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #8  --  87,302 (- 0.6%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #9  --  84,562 (- 3.1%)
03/2010: Batman and Robin #10 --  85,292 (+ 0.9%)
04/2010: Batman and Robin #11 --  84,006 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: Batman and Robin #12 --  84,843 (+ 1.0%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: Batman and Robin #13 --  85,804 (+ 1.1%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Batman and Robin #14 --  82,894 (- 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.8%
1 year  : -22.5%

Slowly drifting down and two months late, but remaining the strongest Batman title.

—–

8 - BATMAN
09/2005: Batman #645 --  65,984 [ 67,712]
09/2006: Batman #657 --  91,357 [ 96,127]
09/2007: Batman #669 --  73,471
09/2008: --
-------------------------------
09/2009: Batman #690 --  77,001 (- 1.8%)
10/2009: Batman #691 --  71,431 (- 7.2%)
10/2009: Batman #692 --  70,322 (- 1.6%)
11/2009: Batman #693 --  68,983 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman #694 --  65,908 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Batman #695 --  63,467 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Batman #696 --  61,290 (- 3.4%)
03/2010: Batman #697 --  61,157 (- 0.2%)
04/2010: Batman #698 --  60,934 (- 0.4%)
05/2010: Batman #699 --  62,377 (+ 2.4%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: +26.0%
1 year  : + 0.0%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +16.8%

Another “Return of Bruce Wayne” tie-in, no longer written by Grant Morrison, but with a 1:10 variant edition instead. Also, the creative team changed between solicitation and publication, so the numbers may not accurately reflect demand.

—–

12 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
09/2005: GLC: Recharcge #1 of 6  -- 80,718 [84,497]
09/2006: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 46,619
09/2007: --
09/2008: Green Lantern Corps #28 -- 44,939
------------------------------------------
09/2009: Green Lantern Corps #40 -- 83,112 (- 1.3%)
10/2009: Green Lantern Corps #41 -- 81,377 (- 2.1%)
11/2009: Green Lantern Corps #42 -- 80,391 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Green Lantern Corps #43 -- 77,774 (- 3.3%)
01/2010: Green Lantern Corps #44 -- 76,458 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Green Lantern Corps #45 -- 75,404 (- 1.4%)
03/2010: Green Lantern Corps #46 -- 76,720 (+ 1.8%)
04/2010: Green Lantern Corps #47 -- 72,163 (- 5.9%)
05/2010: Green Lantern Corps #48 -- 68,826 (- 4.6%)
06/2010: Green Lantern Corps #49 -- 66,652 (- 3.2%)
07/2010: Green Lantern Corps #50 -- 67,035 (+ 0.6%)
08/2010: Green Lantern Corps #51 -- 67,124 (+ 0.1%)
09/2010: Green Lantern Corps #52 -- 63,577 (- 5.3%)
----------------
6 months: -17.1%
1 year  : -23.5%
2 years : +41.5%
5 years : -21.2%

Back in a downward trend after the two-month reprieve.

—–

14 - THE FLASH
09/2005: Flash #226      --  45,252
09/2006: Flash: FMA #4   --  66,663
09/2007: Flash #232      --  56,969
09/2008: Flash #244      --  29,180
-----------------------------------
09/2009: --
10/2009: --
11/2009: Rebirth #5 of 6 --  73,875 (-  5.4%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: --
02/2010: Rebirth #6 of 6 --  70,824 (-  4.1%)
03/2010: --
04/2010: Flash #1        -- 100,903 (+ 42.5%)
05/2010: Flash #2        --  76,560 (- 24.1%)
06/2010: Flash #3        --  68,804 (- 10.1%)
07/2010: Flash #4        --  64,832 (-  5.8%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Flash #5        --  62,063 (-  4.3%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : +112.7%
5 years : + 37.2%

Bottoming out, slowly but surely.

—–

18 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
09/2005: JLA #118           --  89,428
09/2005: JLA #119           --  94,073 [106,305]
09/2006: Justice League #2  -- 143,412 [158,480]
09/2007: Justice League #13 -- 119,471 [124,006]
09/2008: --
--------------------------------------
09/2009: Justice League #37 --  55,478 (- 3.6%)
10/2009: Justice League #38 --  61,012 (+10.0%)
11/2009: Justice League #39 --  89,376 (+46.5%)
12/2009: Justice League #40 --  68,672 (-23.2%)
01/2010: Justice League #41 --  62,262 (- 9.3%)
02/2010: Justice League #42 --  57,522 (- 7.6%)
03/2010: Justice League #43 --  56,461 (- 1.9%)
04/2010: Justice League #44 --  62,342 (+10.4%)
05/2010: Justice League #45 --  62,465 (+ 0.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.1%
1 year  : + 3.9%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -36.9%

Slipping noticeably again.

—–

19 - GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS
08/2010: Emerald Warriors #1  -- 68,332
09/2010: Emerald Warriors #2  -- 56,289 (-17.6%)

An average second-issue drop.

—–

33 - GREEN ARROW
09/2005: Green Arrow #54  -- 34,331
09/2006: Green Arrow #66  -- 33,793
09/2007: Year One #5 of 6 -- 31,504
09/2008: Arrow/Canary #12 -- 27,896
-----------------------------------
09/2009: Arrow&Canary #24 -- 18,780 (-  3.5%)
10/2009: Arrow&Canary #25 -- 18,013 (-  4.1%)
11/2009: Arrow&Canary #26 -- 17,384 (-  3.5%)
12/2009: Arrow&Canary #27 -- 16,904 (-  2.8%)
01/2010: Arrow&Canary #28 -- 16,482 (-  2.5%)
02/2010: Arrow&Canary #29 -- 16,600 (+  0.7%)
02/2010: Black Arrow #30  -- 42,014 (+153.1%)
03/2010: Green Arrow #31  -- 28,486 (- 32.2%)
04/2010: Green Arrow #32  -- 29,137 (+  2.3%)
05/2010: --
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 55.2%
1 year  : +135.5%
2 years : + 58.5%
5 years : + 28.8%

Rock-solid numbers overall.

—–

37 - BIRDS OF PREY
09/2005: Birds of Prey #86  -- 31,270
09/2006: Birds of Prey #98  -- 32,715
09/2007: Birds of Prey #110 -- 27,148
09/2008: Birds of Prey #122 -- 21,318
-------------------------------------
05/2010: Birds of Prey #1   -- 50,428 (+135.4%) [54,965]
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%)
-----------------
2 years : + 88.3%
5 years : + 28.4%

There was no variant edition in September, which likely accounts for a chunk of that drop. It’s still a bit worrying.

—–

39 - BATMAN: ODYSSEY
07/2010: Batman: Odyssey #1  of  6 -- 61,827
08/2010: Batman: Odyssey #2  of  6 -- 47,675 (-22.9%)
09/2010: Batman: Odyssey #3  of  6 -- 40,046 (-16.0%)

Very stiff drop for a limited series. It looks like retailers overshot the mark with their orders for the first few issues.

—–

41 - WONDER WOMAN
09/2005: --
09/2006: --
09/2007: --
09/2008: Wonder Woman #24  --  34,583
-------------------------------------
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36  --  28,806 (-  2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37  --  26,972 (-  6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38  --  26,265 (-  2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39  --  26,152 (-  0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40  --  25,156 (-  3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41  --  25,354 (+  0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42  --  25,240 (-  0.5%)
04/2010: Wonder Woman #43  --  25,369 (+  0.5%)
05/2010: Wonder Woman #44  --  25,443 (+  0.3%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 53.9%
1 year  : + 34.9%
2 years : + 12.3%
5 years :  n.a.

Encouraging, but moot. Superstar writer J. Michael Straczynski is already leaving for greener pastures, because that series of Superman graphic novels he’s writing surprisingly turned out to consist of more than one. Curveball!

—–

42 - DETECTIVE COMICS
09/2005: Detective Comics #811 --  38,772
09/2006: Detective Comics #823 --  64,215
09/2007: Detective Comics #836 --  49,475
09/2008: Detective Comics #848 --  68,306
-----------------------------------------
09/2009: Detective Comics #857 --  57,063 (- 3.1%)
10/2009: Detective Comics #858 --  58,599 (+ 2.7%)
11/2009: Detective Comics #859 --  54,392 (- 7.2%)
12/2009: Detective Comics #860 --  52,295 (- 3.9%)
01/2010: Detective Comics #861 --  45,937 (-12.2%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Detective Comics #862 --  44,687 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Detective Comics #863 --  43,119 (- 3.5%)
04/2010: Detective Comics #864 --  42,436 (- 1.6%)
05/2010: Detective Comics #865 --  41,501 (- 2.2%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.8%
1 year  : - 34.5%
2 years : - 45.3%
5 years : -  3.6%

Slipping down with its fill-in run. The new creative team will show up with issue #871.

—–

44/45 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST
05/2010: Generation Lost #1  -- 50,784
05/2010: Generation Lost #2  -- 44,711 (-12.0%)
06/2010: Generation Lost #3  -- 43,278 (- 3.2%)
06/2010: Generation Lost #4  -- 41,702 (- 3.6%)
07/2010: Generation Lost #5  -- 40,370 (- 3.2%)
07/2010: Generation Lost #6  -- 39,190 (- 2.9%)
08/2010: Generation Lost #7  -- 39,971 (+ 2.0%)
08/2010: Generation Lost #8  -- 38,745 (- 3.1%)
09/2010: Generation Lost #9  -- 37,151 (- 4.1%)
09/2010: Generation Lost #10 -- 36,624 (- 1.4%)

The twice-monthly companion series to Brightest Day keeps drifting down the charts.

—–

46 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
09/2005: JSA #77             --  53,216
09/2007: Justice Society #9  --  84,117
09/2008: --
---------------------------------------
09/2009: Justice Society #31 --  47,436 (-  4.0%)
10/2009: Justice Society #32 --  44,885 (-  5.4%)
11/2009: Justice Society #33 --  43,218 (-  3.7%)
12/2009: Justice Society #34 --  41,734 (-  3.4%)
01/2010: Justice Society #35 --  39,934 (-  4.3%)
02/2010: Justice Society #36 --  39,060 (-  2.2%)
03/2010: Justice Society #37 --  37,381 (-  4.3%)
04/2010: Justice Society #38 --  36,648 (-  2.0%)
05/2010: --
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.2%
1 year  : -22.9%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : -31.3%

With the Justice League crossover out of the way, sales crash right back to their previous level. A new creative team takes over with issue #44.

—–

51 - ACTION COMICS
09/2005: Action Comics #831 -- 55,288
09/2006: Action Comics #843 -- 56,084
09/2007: --
09/2008: Action Comics #869 -- 49,597
-------------------------------------
09/2009: Action Comics #881 -- 36,183 (- 3.7%)
10/2009: Action Comics #882 -- 34,754 (- 4.0%)
11/2009: Action Comics #883 -- 33,386 (- 3.9%)
12/2009: Action Comics #884 -- 31,873 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Action Comics #885 -- 30,678 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Action Comics #886 -- 29,845 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Action Comics #887 -- 29,460 (- 1.3%)
04/2010: Action Comics #888 -- 29,536 (+ 0.3%)
04/2010: Action Comics #889 -- 29,106 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: --
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%)
----------------
6 months: +15.2%
1 year  : - 6.2%
2 years : -31.6%
5 years : -38.6%

This is the first issue of the Paul Cornell/Pete Woods run that doesn’t have a variant edition, so that’s where most of the drop probably comes from.

——

52 - RED ROBIN
09/2005: Robin #142    -- 28,822
09/2006: Robin #154    -- 34,387
09/2007: Robin #166    -- 24,877
09/2008: Robin #178    -- 32,234
--------------------------------
09/2009: Red Robin #4  -- 47,945 (-  4.7%)
10/2009: Red Robin #5  -- 44,776 (-  6.6%)
11/2009: Red Robin #6  -- 42,409 (-  5.3%)
12/2009: Red Robin #7  -- 39,528 (-  6.8%)
01/2010: Red Robin #8  -- 37,869 (-  4.2%)
02/2010: Red Robin #9  -- 36,466 (-  3.7%)
03/2010: Red Robin #10 -- 36,708 (+  0.7%)
04/2010: Red Robin #11 -- 36,205 (-  1.4%)
05/2010: Red Robin #12 -- 36,273 (+  0.2%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: -  8.1%
1 year  : - 29.6%
2 years : +  4.7%
5 years : + 17.1%

Sliding down.

—–

55 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
09/2005: Legion of SH #10     -- 34,833
09/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #22 -- 36,735
09/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #34 -- 28,294
09/2008: LoSH #46             -- 24,959
---------------------------------------
05/2010: LoSH #1              -- 44,415 (+98.9%) [50,106]
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%)
-----------------
2 years : + 29.9%
5 years : -  6.9%

This one’s not quite found its level yet.

—–

58 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
09/2005: Superman/Batman #22 -- 103,245
09/2006: --
09/2007: Superman/Batman #40 --  57,410
09/2008: Superman/Batman #52 --  50,000
---------------------------------------
09/2009: Superman/Batman #64 --  36,332 (- 3.0%)
10/2009: Superman/Batman #65 --  34,585 (- 4.8%)
11/2009: Superman/Batman #66 --  52,143 (+50.8%)
12/2009: Superman/Batman #67 --  49,650 (- 4.8%)
01/2010: Superman/Batman #68 --  33,869 (-31.8%)
02/2010: Superman/Batman #69 --  33,224 (- 1.9%)
03/2010: Superman/Batman #70 --  32,196 (- 3.1%)
04/2010: Superman/Batman #71 --  31,714 (- 1.5%)
05/2010: Superman/Batman #72 --  32,047 (+ 1.1%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.6%
1 year  : -11.9%
2 years : -36.0%
5 years : -69.0%

The preview copy name-ckecks “Return of Bruce Wayne,” maybe that’s why sales are still slightly above July.

—–

60 - 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%)

Remarkably solid numbers, once again.

—–

66 - TITANS
09/2008: Titans #4      -- 51,755
---------------------------------
09/2009: Titans #17     -- 30,154 (- 4.0%)
10/2009: Titans #18     -- 28,215 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Titans #19     -- 27,099 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Titans #20     -- 25,887 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Titans #21     -- 24,924 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Titans #22     -- 24,489 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: Titans #23     -- 24,260 (- 0.9%)
04/2010: --
05/2010: VfH Special #1 -- 31,718 (+30.7%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: +17.2%
1 year  : - 5.7%
2 years : -44.9%

No variant edition, so the numbers take a step down.

—–

67 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA SPECIAL
09/2010: JSA Special #1 -- 28,088

Perfectly solid numbers for a $ 4.99 special starring the Justice Society.

—–

71 - ADVENTURE COMICS
09/2009: Adventure Comics #2   -- 47,296 (-15.9%)
10/2009: Adventure Comics #3   -- 44,431 (- 6.1%)
11/2009: Adventure Comics #4   -- 85,145 (+91.6%)
12/2009: Adventure Comics #5   -- 59,876 (-29.7%)
01/2010: Adventure Comics #6   -- 42,514 (-29.0%)
02/2010: Adventure Comics #7   -- 53,721 (+26.4%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #8   -- 39,351 (-26.8%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #9   -- 37,515 (- 4.7%)
04/2010: Adventure Comics #10  -- 37,573 (+ 0.2%)
05/2010: Adventure Comics #11  -- 34,794 (- 7.4%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 29.7%
1 year  : - 42.9%

That’s more than 10,000 units disappeearing over the last six months. Something isn’t quite clicking with the audience here.

—–

72 - BATGIRL
09/2005: Batgirl #68     -- 27,199
09/2008: Batgirl #3 of 6 -- 24,932
----------------------------------
09/2009: Batgirl #2      -- 40,626 (- 21.5%)
10/2009: Batgirl #3      -- 37,011 (-  8.9%)
11/2009: Batgirl #4      -- 34,697 (-  6.3%)
12/2009: Batgirl #5      -- 32,482 (-  6.4%)
01/2010: Batgirl #6      -- 30,403 (-  6.4%)
02/2010: Batgirl #7      -- 29,524 (-  2.9%)
03/2010: Batgirl #8      -- 30,886 (+  4.6%)
04/2010: Batgirl #9      -- 29,445 (-  4.7%)
05/2010: Batgirl #10     -- 28,641 (-  2.7%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.0%
1 year  : -33.9%
2 years : + 7.7%
5 years : - 1.2%

Standard attrition.

—–

74 - DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES
05/2010: DCU Legacies #1  of 10 -- 34,429
06/2010: DCU Legacies #2  of 10 -- 29,286 (-14.9%)
07/2010: DCU Legacies #3  of 10 -- 26,708 (- 8.8%)
08/2010: DCU Legacies #4  of 10 -- 25,691 (- 3.8%)
09/2010: DCU Legacies #5  of 10 -- 25,851 (+ 0.6%)

The September issue had art by George Pérez. Quite possibly, that’s what’s responsible for the non-drop.

—–

76 - ZATANNA
05/2010: Zatanna #1  -- 33,691
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%)

That sort of drop isn’t encouraging four months in. There was a variant edition, just like in previous months.

—–

78 - SUPERGIRL
09/2005: Supergirl #2  -- 101,681
09/2006: Supergirl #10 --  67,358
09/2007: Supergirl #21 --  44,656
09/2008: Supergirl #33 --  27,609
---------------------------------
09/2009: Supergirl #45 --  32,240 (- 4.7%)
10/2009: Supergirl #46 --  30,377 (- 5.8%)
11/2009: Supergirl #47 --  29,159 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Supergirl #48 --  28,176 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Supergirl #49 --  27,728 (- 1.6%)
02/2010: Supergirl #50 --  33,338 (+20.2%)
03/2010: Supergirl #51 --  29,845 (-10.5%)
04/2010: Supergirl #52 --  29,490 (- 1.2%)
05/2010: --
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%)
----------------
6 months: -16.1%
1 year  : -22.4%
2 years : - 9.3%
5 years : -75.4%

Drifting down. Another creative team is waiting in the wings.

—–

82 - TIME MASTERS: VANISHING POINT
07/2010: Vanishing Point #1 of 6 -- 34,509
08/2010: Vanishing Point #2 of 6 -- 26,918 (-22.0%)
09/2010: Vanishing Point #3 of 6 -- 24,177 (-10.2%)

Quite a steep third-issue drop for a miniseries.

—–

83 - RED HOOD: LOST DAYS
06/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #1 of 6 -- 34,197
07/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #2 of 6 -- 26,560 (-22.3%)
08/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #3 of 6 -- 24,701 (- 7.0%)
09/2010: Red Hood: Lost Days #4 of 6 -- 24,104 (- 2.4%)

This one’s finding its level, on the other hand.

—–

85 - BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM
09/2009: Batman: SoG #4  -- 37,888 (- 6.1%)
10/2009: Batman: SoG #5  -- 34,533 (- 8.9%)
11/2009: Batman: SoG #6  -- 32,303 (- 6.5%)
12/2009: Batman: SoG #7  -- 30,290 (- 6.2%)
01/2010: Batman: SoG #8  -- 28,313 (- 6.5%)
02/2010: Batman: SoG #9  -- 27,023 (- 4.6%)
03/2010: Batman: SoG #10 -- 26,396 (- 2.3%)
04/2010: Batman: SoG #11 -- 25,925 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Batman: SoG #12 -- 25,446 (- 1.9%)
06/2010: Batman: SoG #13 -- 25,205 (- 1.0%)
07/2010: Batman: SoG #14 -- 24,767 (- 1.7%)
08/2010: Batman: SoG #15 -- 24,171 (- 2.4%)
09/2010: Batman: SoG #16 -- 23,830 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year  : -37.1%

Standard attrition.

—–

86 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
09/2009: GC Sirens #4  -- 34,405 (- 6.4%)
10/2009: GC Sirens #5  -- 33,015 (- 4.0%)
11/2009: GC Sirens #6  -- 30,990 (- 6.1%)
12/2009: GC Sirens #7  -- 29,709 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: GC Sirens #8  -- 28,254 (- 4.9%)
02/2010: GC Sirens #9  -- 27,172 (- 3.8%)
03/2010: GC Sirens #10 -- 26,550 (- 2.3%)
04/2010: GC Sirens #11 -- 26,359 (- 0.7%)
05/2010: GC Sirens #12 -- 26,029 (- 1.3%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 10.3%
1 year  : - 30.8%

This was the first issue that wasn’t promoted as being written by Paul Dini, although the new writer has been on board for months. The decline seems to be accelerating over the last couple months.

—–

87 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo)
03/2010: American Vampire #1  -- 33,762          [36,831]
04/2010: American Vampire #2  -- 26,770 (-20.7%)
05/2010: American Vampire #3  -- 26,510 (- 1.0%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 30.8%

A drop was to be expected for the first issue that didn’t include material written by Stephen King, but this looks like a pleasant surprise. If the book can stick to this level, they’ll be quite happy about it. There was a 1:25 variant, as usual.

—–

88 - TEEN TITANS
09/2005: --
09/2006: Teen Titans #39 -- 65,969
09/2007: Teen Titans #51 -- 57,851
09/2008: Teen Titans #63 -- 41,790
----------------------------------
09/2009: Teen Titans #75 -- 32,808 (+ 8.0%)
10/2009: Teen Titans #76 -- 29,166 (-11.1%)
11/2009: Teen Titans #77 -- 46,239 (+58.5%)
12/2009: Teen Titans #78 -- 43,400 (- 6.1%)
01/2010: Teen Titans #79 -- 27,790 (-36.0%)
02/2010: Teen Titans #80 -- 26,537 (- 4.5%)
03/2010: Teen Titans #81 -- 25,758 (- 2.9%)
04/2010: Teen Titans #82 -- 25,303 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Teen Titans #83 -- 24,960 (- 1.4%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year  : -29.1%
2 years : -44.3%
5 years :  n.a.

Without the boost of a variant edition, sales take a step down.

—–

89 - SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON
08/2010: Last Family #1 of 4  -- 25,046
09/2010: Last Family #2 of 4  -- 23,059 (-7.9%)

That’s a comparatively small second-issue drop.

—–

93 - JSA ALL-STARS
12/2009: JSA All-Stars #1  -- 42,493
01/2010: JSA All-Stars #2  -- 32,601 (-23.3%)
02/2010: JSA All-Stars #3  -- 29,666 (- 9.0%)
03/2010: JSA All-Stars #4  -- 28,526 (- 3.8%)
04/2010: JSA All-Stars #5  -- 26,581 (- 6.8%)
05/2010: JSA All-Stars #6  -- 25,306 (- 4.8%)
06/2010: JSA All-Stars #7  -- 24,436 (- 3.4%)
07/2010: JSA All-Stars #8  -- 23,478 (- 3.9%)
08/2010: JSA All-Stars #9  -- 22,347 (- 4.8%)
09/2010: JSA All-Stars #10 -- 21,646 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.1%

Sliding down.

—–

101 - SECRET SIX
09/2006: Secret Six #4 of 6 -- 40,782
09/2008: Secret Six #1      -- 31,673
-------------------------------------
09/2009: Secret Six #13     -- 23,919 (- 1.0%)
10/2009: Secret Six #14     -- 23,345 (- 2.4%)
11/2009: Secret Six #15     -- 23,190 (- 0.7%)
12/2009: Secret Six #16     -- 22,638 (- 2.4%)
01/2010: Secret Six #17     -- 38,515 (+70.1%)
02/2010: Secret Six #18     -- 37,876 (- 1.7%)
03/2010: Secret Six #19     -- 23,181 (-38.8%)
04/2010: Secret Six #20     -- 22,695 (- 2.1%)
05/2010: Secret Six #21     -- 22,334 (- 1.6%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -10.4%
1 year  : -13.1%
2 years : -34.4% 

Standard attrition.

—–

102 - FIRST WAVE
11/2009: B/DS Special #1    -- 32,636
-------------------------------------
03/2010: First Wave #1 of 6 -- 38,365
04/2010: --
05/2010: First Wave #2 of 6 -- 30,705 (-20.0%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: First Wave #3 of 6 -- 25,920 (-15.6%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: First Wave #4 of 6 -- 20,497 (-20.9%)
----------------
6 months: -46.6%

It looks like retailers vastly overestimated demand for this miniseries.

—–

107 - FABLES (Vertigo)
09/2005: Fables #41 -- 25,001
09/2006: Fables #53 -- 25,388
09/2007: Fables #65 -- 25,311
09/2008: Fables #75 -- 25,266
09/2008: Fables #76 -- 23,914
-----------------------------
09/2009: Fables #88 -- 21,508 (-1.7%)
10/2009: Fables #89 -- 21,118 (-1.8%)
11/2009: Fables #90 -- 20,882 (-1.1%)
12/2009: Fables #91 -- 20,450 (-2.1%)
01/2010: Fables #92 -- 20,180 (-1.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Fables #93 -- 20,003 (-0.9%)
04/2010: Fables #94 -- 19,965 (-0.2%)
05/2010: Fables #95 -- 19,932 (-0.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.1%
1 year  : - 8.9%
2 years : -20.3%
5 years : -21.6%

Vertigo’s flagship title continues a very slow decline.

—–

108 - FREEDOM FIGHTERS
09/2006: US & FF #3 of 8      -- 28,430
09/2007: US & FF #1 of 8      -- 23,731
---------------------------------------
09/2010: Freedom Fighters #1  -- 19,378

Pretty much as expected. Like the two miniseries from 2006 and 2007, Freedom Fighters is written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. The best DC could hope for here is for the book to find its level slightly above 10K, similar to Jonah Hex and R.E.B.E.L.S..

There was a 1:10 variant.

—–

112 - BOOSTER GOLD
09/2007: Booster Gold #2  -- 47,102
09/2008: Booster Gold #12 -- 32,049
-----------------------------------
09/2009: Booster Gold #24 -- 21,731 (-  1.7%)
10/2009: Booster Gold #25 -- 21,597 (-  0.6%)
11/2009: Booster Gold #26 -- 57,122 (+164.5%)
12/2009: Booster Gold #27 -- 40,256 (- 29.5%)
01/2010: Booster Gold #28 -- 21,967 (- 45.4%)
02/2010: Booster Gold #29 -- 21,020 (-  4.3%)
03/2010: Booster Gold #30 -- 20,187 (-  4.0%)
04/2010: Booster Gold #31 -- 19,818 (-  1.8%)
05/2010: Booster Gold #32 -- 20,343 (+  2.7%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.3%
1 year  : -14.9%
2 years : -42.3%

Standard attrition.

—–

114 - POWER GIRL
09/2009: Power Girl #5  -- 29,497 (- 8.2%)
10/2009: Power Girl #6  -- 27,060 (- 8.3%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Power Girl #7  -- 22,533 (-16.7%)
01/2010: Power Girl #8  -- 21,760 (- 3.4%)
02/2010: Power Girl #9  -- 20,900 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: Power Girl #10 -- 20,801 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Power Girl #11 -- 20,675 (- 0.6%)
05/2010: Power Girl #12 -- 20,681 (+ 0.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -11.5%
1 year  : -37.6%

The drops for the last three issues suggest that the creative-team change hasn’t gone over well.

—–

132 - JOE THE BARBARIAN (Vertigo)
01/2010: Joe the Barbarian #1 of 8 -- 25,543          [29,712]
02/2010: Joe the Barbarian #2 of 8 -- 17,512 (-31.4%)
03/2010: Joe the Barbarian #3 of 8 -- 17,672 (+ 0.9%)
04/2010: Joe the Barbarian #4 of 8 -- 17,102 (- 3.2%)
05/2010: Joe the Barbarian #5 of 8 -- 16,725 (- 2.2%)
06/2010: Joe the Barbarian #6 of 8 -- 16,219 (- 3.0%)
07/2010: --
08/2010: --
09/2010: Joe the Barbarian #7 of 8 -- 15,363 (- 5.3%)
----------------
6 months: -13.1%

A standard miniseries performance. This one’s a candidate for good collection sales, surely.

—–

136/153/162/164/178 - WAR ONE-SHOTS
09/2010: Our Army at War #1           -- 12,796
09/2010: Weird War Tales #1           -- 15,085
09/2010: Our Fighting Forces 1        -- 11,927
09/2010: G.I. Combat #1               -- 11,839
09/2010: Star Spangled War Stories #1 -- 10,815

A bunch of war one-shots, arranged in the order in which they were released. Weird War Tales is the one with the Darwyn Cooke story, in case you were wondering.

—–

139 - I, ZOMBIE
05/2010: I, Zombie #1  -- 33,025
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%)

Very slowly finding its level. Thanks to the low-priced debut issue, though, that’s not a problem yet.

—–

141 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
09/2007: Batman Confidential #9  -- 28,845
09/2008: Batman Confidential #21 -- 24,515
------------------------------------------
09/2009: Batman Confidential #33 -- 18,140 (- 2.2%)
10/2009: Batman Confidential #34 -- 17,097 (- 5.8%)
10/2009: Batman Confidential #35 -- 16,724 (- 2.2%)
11/2009: Batman Confidential #36 -- 16,664 (- 0.4%)
11/2009: Batman Confidential #37 -- 16,355 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #38 -- 16,132 (- 1.4%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #39 -- 15,906 (- 1.4%)
01/2010: Batman Confidential #40 -- 17,241 (+ 8.4%)
02/2010: Batman Confidential #41 -- 16,856 (- 2.2%)
03/2010: Batman Confidential #42 -- 16,652 (- 1.2%)
04/2010: Batman Confidential #43 -- 16,449 (- 1.2%)
05/2010: Batman Confidential #44 -- 15,279 (- 7.1%)
06/2010: Batman Confidential #45 -- 15,070 (- 1.4%)
07/2010: Batman Confidential #46 -- 14,621 (- 3.0%)
08/2010: Batman Confidential #47 -- 14,341 (- 1.9%)
09/2010: Batman Confidential #48 -- 14,329 (- 0.1%)
----------------
6 months: -14.0%
1 year  : -21.0%
2 years : -41.6%

Holding level. Evidently, people like the story about Batman, Superman, werewolves, vampires and zombies.

—–

154 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
09/2009: The Unwritten #5  -- 16,011 (- 2.0%)
10/2009: The Unwritten #6  -- 15,314 (- 4.4%)
11/2009: The Unwritten #7  -- 14,763 (- 3.6%)
12/2009: The Unwritten #8  -- 14,257 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: The Unwritten #9  -- 13,792 (- 3.3%)
02/2010: The Unwritten #10 -- 13,644 (- 1.1%)
03/2010: The Unwritten #11 -- 13,630 (- 0.1%)
04/2010: The Unwritten #12 -- 13,507 (- 0.9%)
05/2010: The Unwritten #13 -- 13,467 (- 0.3%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.1%
1 year  : -20.1%

The special “Choose Your Own Story” issue sees a marginal increase. If you do gimmicks, you might as well be inventive.

—–

158 - ASTRO CITY: SILVER AGENT (WildStorm)
09/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #4 of 4 -- 19,764
----------------------------------------------
09/2009: Astra Special #1 of 2       -- 14,627 (- 0.4%)
10/2009: Astra Special #2 of 2       -- 13,847 (- 5.3%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: --
01/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #1 of 4 -- 13,664 (- 1.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #2 of 4 -- 13,118 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #3 of 4 -- 12,630 (- 3.7%)
04/2010: --
05/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #4 of 4 -- 12,900 (+ 2.1%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: Silver Agent #1 of 2        -- 13,182 (+ 2.2%)
07/2010: --
08/2010: Silver Agent #2 of 2        -- 12,486 (- 5.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.0%
1 year  : -14.6%
5 years :  n.a.

Thus ends the DC/WildStorm period of Astro City. Supposedly, the book will be back eventually with a mainstream DC logo on the cover and a monthly release schedule. It’ll be interesting to watch how the numbers respond, if they can pull it off.

—–

165 - DOC SAVAGE
04/2010: Doc Savage #1   -- 24,539
05/2010: Doc Savage #2   -- 19,073 (-22.3%)
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%)

Disastrous sales, but retailers probably aimed far too high to begin with.

—–

168 - R.E.B.E.L.S.
09/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #8  -- 11,347 (-  2.9%)
10/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #9  -- 11,284 (-  0.6%)
11/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #10 -- 51,100 (+352.9%)
12/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 -- 31,489 (- 38.4%)
01/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #12 -- 12,428 (- 60.5%)
02/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #13 -- 11,836 (-  4.8%)
03/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #14 -- 11,362 (-  4.0%)
04/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #15 -- 11,271 (-  0.8%)
05/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #16 -- 11,120 (-  1.3%)
06/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #17 -- 11,048 (-  0.7%)
07/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #18 -- 11,007 (-  0.4%)
08/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #19 -- 10,851 (-  1.4%)
09/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #20 -- 11,745 (+  8.2%)
-----------------
6 months: +  3.4%
1 year  : +  3.5%

An appearance by Lobo and a David Finch cover result in almost a thousand extra units.

—–

170 - JONAH HEX
09/2006: Jonah Hex #11 -- 18,957
09/2007: Jonah Hex #23 -- 15,157
09/2008: Jonah Hex #35 -- 13,231
--------------------------------
09/2009: Jonah Hex #47 -- 12,231 (- 1.9%)
10/2009: Jonah Hex #48 -- 11,281 (- 7.8%)
11/2009: Jonah Hex #49 -- 11,146 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Jonah Hex #50 -- 15,131 (+35.8%)
01/2010: Jonah Hex #51 -- 11,184 (-26.1%)
02/2010: Jonah Hex #52 -- 11,213 (+ 0.3%)
03/2010: Jonah Hex #53 -- 11,565 (+ 3.1%)
04/2010: Jonah Hex #54 -- 11,306 (- 2.2%)
05/2010: Jonah Hex #55 -- 11,327 (+ 0.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.1%
1 year  : - 6.4%
2 years : -13.5%

Returning to previous levels after the recent increases, which were presumably related to the movie. Still rock-solid overall.

—–

176 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
09/2006: Jack of Fables #3  -- 22,373
09/2007: Jack of Fables #14 -- 18,728
09/2008: Jack of Fables #26 -- 15,471
-------------------------------------
09/2009: Jack of Fables #38 -- 13,790 (- 5.0%)
10/2009: Jack of Fables #39 -- 13,161 (- 4.6%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Jack of Fables #40 -- 12,970 (- 1.5%)
12/2009: Jack of Fables #41 -- 12,559 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: Jack of Fables #42 -- 11,966 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Jack of Fables #43 -- 11,878 (- 0.7%)
03/2010: Jack of Fables #44 -- 11,472 (- 3.4%)
04/2010: Jack of Fables #45 -- 11,324 (- 1.3%)
05/2010: Jack of Fables #46 -- 11,324 (- 1.3%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: Jack of Fables #47 -- 11,195 (- 1.1%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: Jack of Fables #48 -- 11,026 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: -52.8%
1 year  : -20.0%
2 years : -28.7%

Standard attrition.

—–

179 - THE X-FILES/30 DAYS OF NIGHT (WildStorm)
07/2008: Special #0      -- 23,805
11/2008: X-Files #1 of 6 -- 16,042 (-32.6%)
12/2008: X-Files #2 of 6 -- 11,562 (-27.9%)
01/2009: X-Files #3 of 6 --  9,808 (-15.2%)
02/2009: X-Files #4 of 6 --  9,268 (- 5.5%)
03/2009: X-Files #5 of 6 --  8,999 (- 2.9%)
04/2009: X-Files #6 of 6 --  8,789 (- 2.3%)
----------------------------------
07/2010: XF30DoN #1 of 6 -- 16,109 (+83.3%)
08/2010: XF30DoN #2 of 6 -- 11,163 (-30.7%)
09/2010: XF30DoN #3 of 6 -- 10,803 (- 3.2%)
----------------
2 years :  n.a.

Another latter-day-WildStorm best-seller.

——

180 - DOOM PATROL
09/2005: Doom Patrol #16 -- 14,325
----------------------------------
09/2009: Doom Patrol #2  -- 22,001 (- 22.2%)
10/2009: Doom Patrol #3  -- 20,036 (-  8.9%)
11/2009: Doom Patrol #4  -- 53,748 (+168.3%)
12/2009: Doom Patrol #5  -- 35,348 (- 34.2%)
01/2010: Doom Patrol #6  -- 17,117 (- 51.6%)
02/2010: Doom Patrol #7  -- 15,689 (-  8.3%)
03/2010: Doom Patrol #8  -- 14,197 (-  9.5%)
04/2010: Doom Patrol #9  -- 13,126 (-  7.5%)
05/2010: Doom Patrol #10 -- 12,334 (-  6.0%)
06/2010: Doom Patrol #11 -- 11,857 (-  3.9%)
07/2010: Doom Patrol #12 -- 11,267 (-  5.0%)
08/2010: Doom Patrol #13 -- 10,878 (-  3.5%)
09/2010: Doom Patrol #14 -- 10,780 (-  0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -24.1%
5 years : -24.8%

Finally bottoming out, it seems.

—–

188 - THE SPIRIT
09/2007: The Spirit #10 -- 19,962
09/2008: The Spirit #21 -- 11,551
---------------------------------
04/2010: The Spirit #1  -- 19,849 (+158.8%)
05/2010: The Spirit #2  -- 14,274 (- 28.1%)
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%)
-----------------
2 years : - 12.7%

Not bottoming out, but still a few thousand units ahead of the point where previous series was cancelled.

—–

193 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
09/2005: Hellblazer #212 -- 14,714
09/2006: Hellblazer #224 -- 13,704
09/2007: Hellblazer #236 -- 12,938
09/2008: Hellblazer #247 -- 11,851
----------------------------------
09/2009: Hellblazer #259 -- 10,813 (+1.4%)
10/2009: Hellblazer #260 -- 10,767 (-0.4%)
11/2009: Hellblazer #261 -- 10,553 (-2.0%)
12/2009: Hellblazer #262 -- 10,334 (-2.1%)
01/2010: Hellblazer #263 -- 10,179 (-1.5%)
02/2010: Hellblazer #264 -- 10,025 (-1.5%)
03/2010: Hellblazer #265 -- 10,295 (+2.7%)
04/2010: Hellblazer #266 -- 10,256 (-0.4%)
05/2010: Hellblazer #267 -- 10,155 (-1.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.3%
1 year  : - 8.9%
2 years : -16.9%
5 years : -33.1%
200 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo)
09/2009: Sweet Tooth #1  -- 18,657
10/2009: Sweet Tooth #2  -- 11,315 (-39.4%)
11/2009: Sweet Tooth #3  -- 10,363 (- 8.4%)
12/2009: Sweet Tooth #4  --  9,817 (- 5.3%)
01/2010: Sweet Tooth #5  --  9,787 (- 0.3%)
02/2010: Sweet Tooth #6  --  9,740 (- 0.5%)
03/2010: Sweet Tooth #7  --  9,718 (- 0.2%)
04/2010: Sweet Tooth #8  --  9,612 (- 1.1%)
05/2010: Sweet Tooth #9  --  9,654 (+ 0.4%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.4%
1 year  : -51.2%

Two relative stable Vertigo titles. The one-year drop for Sweet Tooth is vastly exaggerated, because the first issue was a $ 1.00 promotional item.

—–

210 - AZRAEL
10/2009: Azrael #1  -- 35,311 (- 1.7%)
11/2009: Azrael #2  -- 21,392 (-39.4%)
12/2009: Azrael #3  -- 17,757 (-17.0%)
01/2010: Azrael #4  -- 14,703 (-17.2%)
02/2010: Azrael #5  -- 12,856 (-12.6%)
03/2010: Azrael #6  -- 11,825 (- 8.0%)
04/2010: Azrael #7  -- 11,080 (- 6.3%)
05/2010: Azrael #8  -- 10,228 (- 7.7%)
06/2010: Azrael #9  --  9,802 (- 4.2%)
07/2010: Azrael #10 --  9,223 (- 5.9%)
08/2010: Azrael #11 --  8,930 (- 3.2%)
09/2010: Azrael #12 --  8,559 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -27.6%

Terrible sales, obviously.

—–

211 - DAYTRIPPER (Vertigo)
12/2009: Daytripper #1  of 10 -- 12,010
01/2009: Daytripper #2  of 10 --  9,846 (-18.0%)
02/2009: Daytripper #3  of 10 --  9,577 (- 2.7%)
03/2009: Daytripper #4  of 10 --  9,872 (+ 3.1%)
04/2009: Daytripper #5  of 10 --  9,703 (- 1.7%)
05/2009: Daytripper #6  of 10 --  9,574 (- 1.3%)
06/2009: Daytripper #7  of 10 --  9,333 (- 2.5%)
07/2009: Daytripper #8  of 10 --  8,842 (- 5.3%)
08/2009: Daytripper #9  of 10 --  8,617 (- 2.6%)
09/2010: Daytripper #10 of 10 --  8,543 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -13.5%

Another candidate for the bookshelf.

—–

222 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
09/2008: House of Mystery #5  -- 16,721
---------------------------------------
09/2009: House of Mystery #17 -- 11,142 (- 3.7%)
10/2009: House of Mystery #18 -- 10,922 (- 2.0%)
11/2009: House of Mystery #19 -- 10,478 (- 4.1%)
12/2009: House of Mystery #20 -- 10,175 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: House of Mystery #21 --  9,888 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: House of Mystery #22 --  9,401 (- 4.9%)
03/2010: House of Mystery #23 --  9,350 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: House of Mystery #24 --  9,168 (- 2.0%)
05/2010: House of Mystery #25 --  9,253 (+ 0.9%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.5%
1 year  : -27.4%
2 years : -51.6%

Drifting down.

—–

223 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
09/2008: Tiny Titans #8  --  9,795
----------------------------------
09/2009: Tiny Titans #20 --  8,435 (+ 0.0%)
10/2009: Tiny Titans #21 --  8,259 (- 2.1%)
11/2009: Tiny Titans #22 --  8,100 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Tiny Titans #23 --  8,017 (- 1.0%)
01/2010: Tiny Titans #24 --  7,844 (- 2.2%)
02/2010: Tiny Titans #25 --  8,566 (+ 9.2%)
03/2010: Tiny Titans #26 --  7,878 (- 8.0%)
04/2010: Tiny Titans #27 --  8,224 (+ 4.4%)
05/2010: Tiny Titans #28 --  7,959 (- 3.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.5%
1 year  : - 4.3%
2 years : -17.6%

A Johnnny DC title. See fine print.

—–

233 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
09/2008: Northlanders #10 -- 10,738
-----------------------------------
09/2009: Northlanders #20 --  8,786 (+ 0.7%)
10/2009: Northlanders #21 --  8,360 (- 4.9%)
11/2009: Northlanders #22 --  8,136 (- 2.7%)
12/2009: Northlanders #23 --  8,069 (- 0.8%)
01/2010: Northlanders #24 --  7,935 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Northlanders #25 --  7,807 (- 1.6%)
03/2010: Northlanders #26 --  7,824 (+ 0.2%)
04/2010: Northlanders #27 --  7,683 (- 1.8%)
05/2010: Northlanders #28 --  7,630 (- 0.7%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.4%
1 year  : -16.7%
2 years : -31.8%

Standard attrition.

—–

237 - GOD OF WAR (WildStorm)
03/2010: God of War #1 of 6 -- 9,842
04/2010: --
05/2010: God of War #2 of 6 -- 9,501 (- 3.5%)
06/2010: --
07/2010: God of War #3 of 6 -- 8,220 (-13.5%)
08/2010: --
09/2010: God of War #4 of 6 -- 7,194 (-12.5%)
----------------
6 months: -26.9%
244 - TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM (WildStorm)
06/2010: RoD #1 of 6    -- 10,552
07/2010: RoD #2 of 6    --  7,655 (-27.5%)
08/2010: RoD #3 of 6    --  6,989 (- 8.7%)
09/2010: RoD #4 of 6    --  6,661 (- 4.7%)

Two WildStorm miniseries with less than stellar sales.

—–

248 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
09/2005: --
09/2007: --
09/2008: The Authority v4 #2  -- 14,324
---------------------------------------
09/2009: The Authority v4 #14 --  8,394 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: The Authority v4 #15 --  8,174 (- 2.6%)
11/2009: The Authority v4 #16 --  8,066 (- 1.3%)
12/2009: The Authority v4 #17 --  7,829 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: The Authority v4 #18 --  7,952 (+ 1.6%)
02/2010: The Authority v4 #19 --  7,943 (- 0.1%)
03/2010: The Authority v4 #20 --  7,781 (- 2.0%)
04/2010: The Authority v4 #21 --  7,563 (- 2.8%)
05/2010: The Authority v4 #22 --  7,295 (- 3.5%)
06/2010: The Authority v4 #23 --  7,226 (- 1.0%)
07/2010: The Authority v4 #24 --  7,062 (- 2.3%)
08/2010: The Authority v4 #25 --  6,860 (- 2.9%)
09/2010: The Authority v4 #26 --  6,596 (- 3.9%)
----------------
6 months: -15.2%
1 year  : -21.4%
2 years : -54.0%
5 years :  n.a.

The entire WildStorm Universe line — which includes The Authority, Wildcats and Gen13 — is cancelled in January, evidently.

—–

252 - BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
09/2005: Batman Strikes! #13   --  9,284
09/2006: Batman Strikes! #25   --  7,765
09/2007: Batman Strikes! #37   --  6,833
09/2008: Batman Strikes! #49   --  6,387
----------------------------------------
09/2009: Brave & Bold #9       --  7,064 (-  1.2%)
10/2009: Brave & Bold #10      --  6,646 (-  5.9%)
11/2009: Brave & Bold #11      --  6,438 (-  3.1%)
12/2009: Brave & Bold #12      --  6,342 (-  1.5%)
01/2010: Brave & Bold #13      --  6,129 (-  3.4%)
02/2010: Brave & Bold #14      --  6,084 (-  0.7%)
03/2010: Brave & Bold #15      --  6,208 (+  2.0%)
04/2010: Brave & Bold #16      --  6,506 (+  4.8%)
05/2010: Brave & Bold #17      --  6,103 (-  6.2%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.2%
1 year  : -10.2%
2 years : - 0.7%
5 years : -31.7%

Another Johnny DC title.

—–

253 - DMZ (Vertigo)
09/2006: DMZ #11 -- 14,562
09/2007: DMZ #23 -- 11,858
09/2008: --
--------------------------
09/2009: DMZ #45 --  7,589 (-0.9%)
10/2009: DMZ #46 --  7,399 (-2.5%)
11/2009: DMZ #47 --  7,187 (-2.9%)
12/2009: DMZ #48 --  6,977 (-2.9%)
01/2010: DMZ #49 --  6,872 (-1.5%)
02/2010: DMZ #50 --  7,262 (+5.7%)
03/2010: DMZ #51 --  6,840 (-5.8%)
04/2010: DMZ #52 --  6,826 (-0.2%)
05/2010: DMZ #53 --  6,759 (-1.0%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.4%
1 year  : -16.6%
2 years :   n.a.

Standard attrition.

—–

258 - SCOOBY DOO: WHERE ARE YOU? (Johnny DC)
09/2005: Scooby Doo #100 -- 5,239
09/2006: Scooby Doo #112 -- 4,385
09/2007: Scooby Doo #124 -- 4,401
09/2008: Scooby Doo #136 -- 4,283
---------------------------------
09/2009: Scooby Doo #148 -- 4,103 (- 0.2%)
10/2009: Scooby Doo #149 -- 4,005 (- 2.4%)
11/2009: Scooby Doo #150 -- 4,044 (+ 1.0%)
12/2009: Scooby Doo #151 -- 3,906 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Scooby Doo #152 -- 3,724 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Scooby Doo #153 -- 3,780 (+ 1.5%)
03/2010: Scooby Doo #154 -- 3,846 (+ 1.8%)
04/2010: Scooby Doo #155 -- 3,836 (- 0.3%)
05/2010: Scooby Doo #156 -- 3,857 (+ 0.6%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: +60.8%
1 year  : +50.8%
2 years : +44.4%
5 years : +18.1%

A Johnny DC series.

—–

263 - THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS
05/2010: Special #1               -- 7,017
06/2010: --
07/2010: Mighty Crusaders #1 of 6 -- 9,361 (+33.4%)
08/2010: Mighty Crusaders #2 of 6 -- 6,751 (-27.9%)
09/2010: Mighty Crusaders #3 of 6 -- 6,035 (-10.6%)

The numbers speak for themselves.

—–

269 - RATCHET AND CLANK (WildStorm)
09/2010: Ratchet and Clank #1 of 6 -- 5,655
270 - FRINGE: TALES FROM THE FRINGE (WildStorm)
09/2008: Fringe #1 of 6 -- 15,929
01/2009: Fringe #2 of 6 --  8,239 (-48.3%)
03/2009: Fringe #3 of 6 --  7,426 (- 9.9%)
04/2009: Fringe #4 of 6 --  6,899 (- 7.1%)
05/2009: Fringe #5 of 6 --  6,744 (- 2.3%)
06/2009: Fringe #6 of 6 --  6,646 (- 1.5%)
---------------------------------
06/2010: Tales #1 of 6  --  8,099 (+21.9%)
07/2010: --
08/2010: Tales #2 of 6  --  6,506 (-19.7%)
08/2010: Tales #3 of 6  --  5,928 (- 8.9%)
09/2010: Tales #4 of 6  --  5,619 (- 5.2%)
----------------
2 years : -64.7%

Two adaptations from WildStorm.

—–

272 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
09/2005: Nemesis #1 of 9 -- 19,663
09/2008: World's End #3  -- 13,559
----------------------------------
09/2009: World's End #15 --  7,178 (- 3.2%)
10/2009: World's End #16 --  6,883 (- 4.1%)
11/2009: World's End #17 --  6,691 (- 2.8%)
12/2009: World's End #18 --  6,487 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: World's End #19 --  6,791 (+ 4.7%)
02/2010: World's End #20 --  6,669 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: World's End #21 --  6,491 (- 2.7%)
04/2010: World's End #22 --  6,367 (- 1.9%)
05/2010: World's End #23 --  6,185 (- 2.9%)
06/2010: World's End #24 --  6,051 (- 2.2%)
07/2010: World's End #25 --  5,823 (- 3.8%)
08/2010: World's End #26 --  5,607 (- 3.7%)
09/2010: World's End #27 --  5,514 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: -15.1%
1 year  : -23.2%
2 years : -59.3%
5 years : -72.0%
273 - DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS (WildStorm)
04/2010: Gods and Monsters #1 of 8 -- 10,203
05/2010: Gods and Monsters #2 of 8 --  6,671 (-34.6%)
06/2010: Gods and Monsters #3 of 8 --  6,295 (- 5.6%)
07/2010: Gods and Monsters #4 of 8 --  5,918 (- 6.0%)
08/2010: Gods and Monsters #5 of 8 --  5,598 (- 5.4%)
09/2010: Gods and Monsters #6 of 8 --  5,488 (- 2.0%)

Two more WildStorm Universe books.

—–

285/289/290/291 - RED ONE-SHOTS (WildStorm)
09/2010: Frank Special #1    -- 5,138
09/2010: Victoria Special #1 -- 5,057
09/2010: Joe Special #1      -- 5,036
09/2010: Marvin Special #1   -- 5,030

A bunch of one-shot comics tying in with the film.

—–

286 - WETWORKS: MUTATIONS (WildStorm)
09/2006: Wetworks #1      -- 43,824
09/2007: Wetworks #14     --  8,995
-----------------------------------
09/2010: WW: Mutations #1 --  5,083

A one-shot comic kicking a dead horse.

—–

296 - GREEK STREET (Vertigo)
09/2009: Greek Street #3  -- 10,628 (-11.4%)
10/2009: Greek Street #4  --  9,246 (-13.0%)
11/2009: Greek Street #5  --  8,610 (- 6.9%)
12/2009: Greek Street #6  --  7,802 (- 9.4%)
01/2010: Greek Street #7  --  7,335 (- 6.0%)
02/2010: Greek Street #8  --  6,872 (- 6.3%)
03/2010: Greek Street #9  --  6,603 (- 3.9%)
04/2010: Greek Street #10 --  6,324 (- 4.2%)
05/2010: Greek Street #11 --  6,128 (- 3.1%)
06/2010: Greek Street #12 --  5,905 (- 3.6%)
07/2010: Greek Street #13 --  5,523 (- 6.5%)
08/2010: Greek Street #14 --  5,153 (- 6.7%)
09/2010: Greek Street #15 --  4,888 (- 5.1%)
----------------
6 months: -26.0%
1 year  : -54.0%

Canceled with issue #16.

WildStorm comics that missed the Top 300 chart in September: Welcome to Tranquility: One Foot in the Grave #3, Ides of Blood #2, Garrison #6 and Telara Chronicles #1. As always, for the purpose of the average sales charts below, I’m presuming those books sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart — which, in September, is a very charitable 4,702 units.

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 60.8%: Scooby-Doo
+ 55.2%: Green Arrow
+ 53.9%: Wonder Woman
+ 26.0%: Batman
+ 17.2%: Titans
+ 15.2%: Action Comics
+  3.4%: REBELS
+  2.5%: Tiny Titans
+  2.2%: Batman: Brave & Bold
+  2.1%: JLA
-  0.6%: Superman/Batman
-  1.1%: Jonah Hex
-  2.1%: Fables
-  2.2%: JSA
-  2.8%: Batman and Robin
-  3.0%: Astro City
-  3.1%: JSA All-Stars
-  4.3%: Hellblazer
-  6.1%: Unwritten
-  6.4%: Northlanders
-  6.4%: Sweet Tooth
-  7.4%: DMZ
-  8.1%: Red Robin
-  8.3%: Booster Gold
-  9.7%: Batman: SoG
-  9.7%: Teen Titans
- 10.3%: GC Sirens
- 10.4%: Secret Six
- 11.5%: Power Girl
- 12.5%: Green Lantern
- 13.0%: Batgirl
- 13.1%: Joe the Barbarian
- 13.5%: Daytripper
- 13.5%: House of Mystery
- 14.0%: Batman Confidential
- 14.8%: Detective Comics
- 15.1%: Wildcats
- 15.2%: Authority
- 16.1%: Supergirl
- 17.1%: GL Corps
- 24.1%: Doom Patrol
- 26.0%: Greek Street
- 26.9%: God of War
- 27.6%: Azrael
- 29.7%: Adventure Comics
- 30.8%: American Vampire
- 46.6%: First Wave
- 52.8%: Jack of Fables

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+135.5%: Green Arrow
+ 50.8%: Scooby-Doo
+ 34.9%: Wonder Woman
+  3.9%: JLA
+  3.5%: REBELS
+  0.0%: Batman
-  4.3%: Tiny Titans
-  5.7%: Titans
-  6.2%: Action Comics
-  6.4%: Jonah Hex
-  8.9%: Fables
-  8.9%: Hellblazer
- 10.2%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 11.9%: Superman/Batman
- 13.1%: Secret Six
- 14.6%: Astro City
- 14.9%: Booster Gold
- 16.6%: DMZ
- 16.7%: Northlanders
- 17.8%: Green Lantern
- 20.0%: Jack of Fables
- 20.1%: Unwritten
- 21.0%: Batman Confidential
- 21.4%: Authority
- 22.4%: Supergirl
- 22.5%: Batman and Robin
- 22.9%: JSA
- 23.2%: Wildcats
- 23.5%: GL Corps
- 27.4%: House of Mystery
- 29.1%: Teen Titans
- 29.6%: Red Robin
- 30.8%: GC Sirens
- 33.9%: Batgirl
- 34.5%: Detective Comics
- 37.1%: Batman: SoG
- 37.6%: Power Girl
- 42.9%: Adventure Comics
- 51.2%: Sweet Tooth
- 54.0%: Greek Street

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+112.7%: Flash
+ 88.3%: Birds of Prey
+ 58.5%: Green Arrow
+ 44.4%: Scooby-Doo
+ 41.5%: GL Corps
+ 33.5%: Green Lantern
+ 29.9%: LoSH
+ 12.3%: Wonder Woman
+  7.7%: Batgirl
+  4.7%: Red Robin
-  0.7%: Batman: Brave & Bold
-  9.3%: Supergirl
- 12.7%: Spirit
- 13.5%: Jonah Hex
- 16.9%: Hellblazer
- 17.6%: Tiny Titans
- 20.3%: Fables
- 28.7%: Jack of Fables
- 31.6%: Action Comics
- 31.8%: Northlanders
- 34.4%: Secret Six
- 36.0%: Superman/Batman
- 41.6%: Batman Confidential
- 42.3%: Booster Gold
- 44.3%: Teen Titans
- 44.9%: Titans
- 45.3%: Detective Comics
- 51.6%: House of Mystery
- 54.0%: Authority
- 59.3%: Wildcats
- 64.7%: Fringe

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 37.2%: Flash
+ 28.8%: Green Arrow
+ 28.4%: Birds of Prey
+ 18.1%: Scooby-Doo
+ 17.1%: Red Robin
+ 16.8%: Batman
-  1.2%: Batgirl
-  3.6%: Detective Comics
-  6.9%: LoSH
- 21.2%: GL Corps
- 21.6%: Fables
- 24.8%: Doom Patrol
- 31.3%: JSA
- 31.7%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 33.1%: Hellblazer
- 36.9%: JLA
- 38.6%: Action Comics
- 69.0%: Superman/Batman
- 72.0%: Wildcats
- 75.4%: Supergirl

—–

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

DC COMICS
09/2005: 34,972
09/2006: 34,920
09/2007: 32,332
09/2008: 25,562
---------------
09/2009: 28,493 (- 5.0%)**
10/2009: 27,525 (- 4.4%)**
11/2009: 28,913 (+ 5.1%)**
12/2009: 25,904 (-10.4%)**
01/2010: 25,657 (- 1.0%)**
02/2010: 26,199 (+ 2.1%)**
03/2010: 23,299 (-11.1%)**
04/2010: 23,740 (+ 1.9%)**
05/2010: 27,785 (+17.0%)**
06/2010: 25,788 (- 7.2%)**
07/2010: 25,841 (+ 0.2%)**
08/2010: 23,331 (- 9.7%)**
09/2010: 23,430 (+ 0.4%)**
----------------
6 months: + 0.6%
1 year  : -17.8%
2 years : - 8.3%
5 years : -33.0%
DC UNIVERSE
09/2005: 44,823
09/2006: 46,329
09/2007: 42,894
09/2008: 33,591
---------------
09/2009: 36,725 (- 1.5%)**
10/2009: 34,795 (- 5.3%)
11/2009: 38,488 (+10.6%)
12/2009: 35,473 (- 7.8%)**
01/2010: 33,698 (- 5.0%)
02/2010: 35,895 (+ 6.5%)
03/2010: 32,375 (- 9.8%)
04/2010: 32,859 (+ 1.5%)
05/2010: 37,463 (+14.0%)
06/2010: 34,612 (- 7.6%)**
07/2010: 35,372 (+ 2.2%)
08/2010: 33,411 (- 5.5%)
09/2010: 32,042 (- 4.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.0%
1 year  : -12.8%
2 years : - 4.6%
5 years : -28.5%
VERTIGO
09/2005: 14,287
09/2006: 15,399
09/2007: 11,806
09/2008: 11,748
---------------
09/2009: 11,345 (- 0.2%)
10/2009: 10,551 (- 7.0%)
11/2009: 11,036 (+ 4.6%)
12/2009: 10,583 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: 11,267 (+ 6.5%)
02/2010:  9,256 (-17.9%)
03/2010: 11,394 (+23.1%)
04/2010: 10,815 (- 5.1%)
05/2010: 11,756 (+ 8.7%)
06/2010: 10,995 (- 6.5%
07/2010:  9,515 (-13.5%)
08/2010:  9,094 (- 4.4%)
09/2010: 11,622 (+27.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.0%
1 year  : + 2.4%
2 years : - 1.1%
5 years : -18.7%
WILDSTORM
09/2005: 13,707
09/2006: 13,285
09/2007: 11,379
09/2008: 11,864
---------------
09/2009:  8,280 (+ 3.8%)**
10/2009:  9,769 (+18.0%)**
11/2009:  7,111 (-27.2%)**
12/2009:  7,260 (+ 2.1%)**
01/2010:  6,532 (-10.0%)**
02/2010:  5,692 (-12.9%)**
03/2010:  7,691 (+35.1%)**
04/2010:  5,923 (-23.0%)**
05/2010:  6,808 (+14.9%)**
06/2010:  6,140 (- 9.8%)**
07/2010:  7,054 (+14.9%)**
08/2010:  6,179 (-12.4%)**
09/2010:  6,120 (- 1.0%)**
----------------
6 months: -20.4%
1 year  : -26.1%
2 years : -48.4%
5 years : -55.4%

—–
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 and some WildStorm 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.

1 COMMENT

  1. In regards to Doc Savage, the first creative team was among the worst fits for a book I’ve ever seen. I mean, just a miserable product. You can’t necessarily say the demand was overestimated when the product turned out to be that bad.

    Much better after the creative team swap-out, though I don’t know it was terribly well publicized.

  2. Okay… I know what Mr. Wood thinks about these sales figures…

    Six thousand copies for DMZ?!

    I enjoy the monthly issues, but I wonder… at what point does DC decide to shift the monthly issues from paper to digital, and then print it on paper for the collected edition?

    I’d be interested in a comparison of the Brightest Day tie-ins, as well as a Return of Bruce Wayne analysis. How are those events selling? Is there reader fatigue?

  3. Since DMZ is in its final year, I don’t think anyone should be worrying about it. It’ll end at #72 as planned. But I do think that there is something valuable, something that has made the series such a huge success in collected form, in DMZ having a physical presence in catalogs and comic book stores, month after month, for the last five years.

    And not to sound like a broken record, but hey, its been awhile: I don’t have a problem with the sales figures or the charts – how can I? Numbers are just numbers. What I have a problem with is how they are sometimes presented and analyzed, is all.

    b

  4. There’s something about knowing that only about 5999 other people are reading Mighty Crusaders with me that gives me this warm feeling of being in some sort of exclusive club…

  5. Jeez, Brightest Day is the best selling DC Book? Why do I see images of Dan Didio in a toga, playing a violin?

  6. I love reading this data every month. One thing I see missing though is – what’s the total number of units (comics) sold by DC each month? As an example, I would think that some attrition happens in individual Batman titles because there are so many “splinter series” to follow, vs. just two (Batman and Detective) a couple of decades ago. What’s the aggregate number for the company, and how does that compare month/month and year/year? That has to be what Didio/Lee/Johns/etc. are evaluated on.

  7. I wish it was all evaluated on (units x price) rather than just units, but I understand that would be a ton more work.

  8. I’m a pretty rabid DC fanboy, and I have no idea what Adventures Comics is.

    I know it started as a Superboy book when it launched and now it has morphed into something else.

    I like Levitz’s Legion book- is Adventure a companion to it? Is it still a Superboy book? Is it an anthology book?

    I’m very confused.

  9. Adventure is “Young Legion”, while LoSH is “today’s Legion”. But only for now… it will jump forward to the “present” in December, replacing Superboy (Clark Kent) with a new Green Lantern (from the Legion!)

  10. “There’s something about knowing that only about 5999 other people are reading Mighty Crusaders with me that gives me this warm feeling of being in some sort of exclusive club…”

    Glenn,

    So to rain on your parade, but 6,000 copies were ordered. “Ordered” does not equal “Bought and Read”.

  11. Not to sound like a broken record, but I really wanted to buy the Mighty Crusaders—-except I won’t spend $4 a comic.

    As far as I’m concerned, they priced it wrongly….

  12. Not much happening on this months chart.

    Major props to whoever at DC suggested that the final issues of Magog be made into a JSA special. Look at those sales compared to it! I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned.

    67 – JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA SPECIAL
    09/2010: JSA Special #1 — 28,088
    Perfectly solid numbers for a $ 4.99 special starring the Justice Society.

  13. Not to sound like a broken record, but I really wanted to buy the Mighty Crusaders—-except I won’t spend $4 a comic.

    As far as I’m concerned, they priced it wrongly….

    Isn’t it 30 pages of story? Cost per page, that is the best value.

  14. Torsten- thank you for the clarification! But damn that seems confusing. How did you even figure that out?

    If there is a clear jumping on point, I’ll pick it up. Is Jimenez taking over in Feb? Is that a new clear cut story arc?

  15. “Glenn,

    So to rain on your parade, but 6,000 copies were ordered. “Ordered” does not equal “Bought and Read”.”

    …but that just makes his exclusive club even MORE exclusive than he previously thought. That’s more like causing the sun to break through the clouds onto his parade, bathing it in the glow of moral superiority.

    I wish I could bask in that same glow, but I’ve never heard of The Mighty Crusaders.

  16. Jon and Glenn:

    Total unit sales for new DC comic books have been orbiting the 2-million mark for the last couple years, with total dollar sales between 6 and 8 million.

    I collect the data (I gots me spreadsheetz), but I rarely bring it up — basically, these numbers aren’t very stable from month to month and require a lot of context to make sense of (number of titles, cover prices, general strength of the chart, etc.), so I’m not convinced there’s much of a benefit to putting them in the column.

  17. James:

    “Major props to whoever at DC suggested that the final issues of Magog be made into a JSA special. Look at those sales compared to it! I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned.”

    You’re right, that’s pretty interesting: a 353% increase vs. the last issue of MAGOG proper, with the same creative team.

    I missed that one.

  18. It’s pretty strange and sad to see great books like DMZ and Welcome to Tranquility selling less than some poetry chapbooks.

  19. Marc-Oliver:

    I agree that reporting annual unit sales on a month-to-month basis doesn’t yield much. It’s the year-over-year data for aggregate units of the entire line that can really tell the company story. For those of us on the sidelines, it can get especially interesting when looking at how the line as a whole is performing amid management changes, or as an explanation for what we consider “unexpected” changes.

    Jon

  20. AwesomeDude… I’ve been reading the monthlies, but even then I tend to forget what happens where and when.

    What I did here was go to DCComics.com and search both the Adventure Comics and LSH comics previews. They do a good job of linking past, present, and future issues, and I just read the blurbs to figure it out.

    I don’t remember where exactly (Halloween Special?), but there was a funny Clark Kent Superboy story where different Legions from different time periods all show up at the same time (literally) seeking Superboy’s help in Saving The Universe.

  21. That Legion story with the time bubbles was a back up in DCU Legacies — issue 6, I believe. Fun Giffen art, too!

  22. I don’t care for much of DC’s product, but I do admire how they stick with their series. Marvel would have cancelled Jonah Hex at issue 6 (to all of our detriment).

  23. ….how is AZRAEL still being published? Losing 4/5’s of its initial audience in almost a year?!? Good lord.

    (That said, I hear really good things about it. And since DC seems to be pretty good at keeping books like that alive, I guess it’s alive for a while longer.)