With Marvel’s Civil War #4 delayed by a month, DC Comics was August’s biggest publisher in the North American direct market. DC claimed the top spot with crime novelist Brad Meltzer’s Justice League of America #1. Next in line was the weekly event title 52, which made a surprising comeback and placed each of its five August issues in the Top 10. Other notable DC Comics debuts in August included the limited series Trials of Shazam, Martian Manhunter and The Creeper, a revamped Deadman at Vertigo and Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys at WildStorm. Oh, and Snakes on a Plane.
Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com’s estimates can be found here.
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Disclaimers
The numbers below are estimates for comic book sales to retailers 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 traditionally known to be somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show should be accurate.
If additional copies of an issue appeared on the chart after the issue’s initial 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 will be used.
The 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.
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1 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 08/2003: JLA #84 -- 59,130 08/2003: JLA #85 -- 58,380 08/2004: JLA #103 -- 61,719 08/2004: JLA #104 -- 60,750 -------------------------------------- 08/2005: JLA #117 -- 87,995 (+ 0.4%) -- [ 89,163] 09/2005: JLA #118 -- 89,428 (+ 1.6%) 09/2005: JLA #119 -- 94,073 (+ 5.2%) -- [106,305] 10/2005: JLA #120 -- 82,892 (- 11.9%) 10/2005: JLA #121 -- 78,869 (- 4.9%) -- [ 81,316] 11/2005: JLA #122 -- 80,866 (+ 2.5%) 12/2005: JLA #123 -- 76,899 (- 4.9%) 01/2006: JLA #124 -- 74,069 (- 3.7%) 02/2006: JLA #125 -- 74,341 (+ 0.4%) 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: -- 07/2006: Justice League #0 -- 162,378 (+118.4%) -- [167,235] 08/2006: Justice League #1 -- 212,581 (+ 30.9%) ----------------- 6 months: +186.0% 1 year : +141.6% 2 years : +247.2%
For the real debut of Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes’ Justice League of America, retailers added another healthy 50,000 units on top of their already extremely healthy orders for July’s issue #0. Justice League of America #1 shipped with three covers: two regular ones by Ed Benes and a limited edition one by Michael Turner, for which retailers no doubt had to jump through some sales-enhancing hoops. These are still impressive numbers, though.
5/6/7/8/9 - 52 05/2006: 52 Week 1 -- 140,971 -- [143,611] 05/2006: 52 Week 2 -- 128,393 (- 8.9%) -- [130,704] 05/2006: 52 Week 3 -- 123,982 (- 3.4%) -- [126,913] 05/2006: 52 Week 4 -- 121,440 (- 2.1%) -- [125,297] 06/2006: 52 Week 5 -- 111,895 (- 7.9%) 06/2006: 52 Week 6 -- 110,028 (- 1.7%) -- [111,732] 06/2006: 52 Week 7 -- 110,188 (+ 0.2%) -- [112,618] 06/2006: 52 Week 8 -- 105,107 (- 4.6%) -- [108,775] 07/2006: 52 Week 9 -- 102,142 (- 2.8%) 07/2006: 52 Week 10 -- 100,779 (- 1.3%) 07/2006: 52 Week 11 -- 122,016 (+21.1%) 07/2006: 52 Week 12 -- 98,667 (-19.1%) -- [102,362] 08/2006: 52 Week 13 -- 119,507 (+21.1%) 08/2006: 52 Week 14 -- 118,259 (- 1.4%) 08/2006: 52 Week 15 -- 119,411 (+ 1.0%) 08/2006: 52 Week 16 -- 117,472 (- 1.6%) 08/2006: 52 Week 17 -- 116,637 (- 0.7%)
Perhaps surprisingly, 52 sales didn’t go down in August, but up.
We recall: Contrary to the direct market’s usual procedure, DC Comics made the first twelve issues of their weekly event series 52 returnable, provided retailers ordered a specific quantity and paid a fee of 25 cent per returned issue. August, consequently, was the first month in which retailers had to keep whatever they ordered of 52.
Instead of slashing their orders, though, stores have increased them quite handsomely as a result, which suggests that the book’s reception among their customers is overwhelmingly positive; after all, August was also the first month in which audience feedback was a major factor, due to Diamond’s advance order system.
It seems somewhat odd that the increase doesn’t come hand in hand with an increased re-order activity for the older issues, given that those readers who ordered Weeks 13 through 17 presumably would also want copies of Weeks 8 through 12. But it seems DC have kept print runs on the series close to the vest, and the No. 300 comic in August sold 1,920 units, so whichever additional quantities of those issues were available and sold in August probably weren’t enough to make the chart.
Be that as it may, 52 is an enormous success, obviously, performing in excess of any reasonable expectation at this stage. If you’re keeping count, the book shifted an estimated total of 591,286 units in August.
11 - ALL-STAR SUPERMAN 11/2005: All-Star Superman #1 -- 170,802 -- [176,658] 12/2005: -- 01/2006: All-Star Superman #2 -- 124,328 (-27.2%) -- [129,616] 02/2006: -- 03/2006: All-Star Superman #3 -- 110,585 (-11.1%) -- [116,599] 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: All-Star Superman #4 -- 111,420 (+ 0.8%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: All-Star Superman #5 -- 109,746 (- 1.5%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s high-density take on Superman clings on to its level around 110K. These numbers are rock-solid, if not spectacular.
13 - JUSTICE 08/2005: Justice #1 of 12 -- 190,424 -- [223,878] 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Justice #2 of 12 -- 125,115 (-34.3%) -- [143,781] 11/2005: -- 12/2005: Justice #3 of 12 -- 113,369 (- 9.4%) -- [120,943] 01/2006: -- 02/2006: Justice #4 of 12 -- 110,488 (- 2.5%) -- [125,006] 03/2006: -- 04/2006: Justice #5 of 12 -- 110,157 (- 0.3%) -- [126,706] 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Justice #6 of 12 -- 110,188 (+ 0.0%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Justice #7 of 12 -- 106,866 (- 3.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 3.3% 1 year : -43.9%
Sales are holding up very well.
15 - BATMAN 08/2003: Batman #618 -- 147,126 08/2004: Batman #631 -- 72,287 ------------------------------- 08/2005: Batman #643 -- 66,396 (+ 1.5%) 08/2005: Batman #644 -- 65,128 (- 1.9%) 09/2005: Batman #645 -- 65,984 (+ 1.3%) -- [ 67,712] 10/2005: Batman #646 -- 69,975 (+ 6.1%) 11/2005: Batman #647 -- 69,718 (- 0.4%) 12/2005: Batman #648 -- 63,151 (- 9.4%) -- [ 64,760] 01/2005: Batman #649 -- 62,379 (- 1.2%) -- [ 64,645] 02/2005: Batman #650 -- 66,447 (+ 6.5%) -- [ 74,355] 03/2005: Batman #651 -- 69,805 (+ 5.1%) -- [ 79,616] 04/2006: Batman #652 -- 72,889 (+ 4.4%) -- [ 82,438] 05/2006: Batman #653 -- 77,257 (+ 6.0%) -- [ 78,435] 06/2006: Batman #654 -- 76,525 (- 1.0%) -- [ 78,671] 07/2006: Batman #655 -- 113,567 (+48.4%) -- [122,359] 08/2006: Batman #656 -- 95,982 (-15.5%) ---------------- 6 months: +44.5% 1 year : +44.6% 2 years : +32.8%
That’s a decent drop-off for the second issue by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert, given that sales of the July issue were boosted with a variant cover edition. Batman #655 sold another 8,792 copies in August, meanwhile.
16 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN 08/2003: Superman/Batman #1 -- 134,135 08/2004: -- --------------------------------------- 08/2005: -- 09/2005: Superman/Batman #22 -- 103,245 (- 4.7%) 10/2005: -- 11/2005: -- 12/2005: Superman/Batman #23 -- 102,248 (- 1.0%) -- [103,726] 01/2006: -- 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Superman/Batman #24 -- 101,315 (- 0.9%) -- [103,757] 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Superman/Batman #25 -- 103,702 (+ 2.4%) -- [110,845] 05/2006: Superman/Batman #26 -- 118,821 (+14.6%) -- [130,077] 06/2006: Superman/Batman #27 -- 95,717 (-19.4%) 07/2006: Superman/Batman #28 -- 92,603 (- 3.2%) 08/2006: Superman/Batman #29 -- 90,665 (- 2.1%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : n.a. 2 years : n.a.
With the new creative team of Mark Verheiden and Ethan van Sciver, Superman/Batman numbers settle down about 10,000 units below the initial sales Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness used to shift with their last few issues.
It’s still a very good number, mind you, compared with the other Superman and Batman titles.
19 - WONDER WOMAN 08/2003: Wonder Woman #195 -- 29,558 08/2004: Wonder Woman #207 -- 27,187 ------------------------------------- 08/2005: Wonder Woman #220 -- 38,370 (- 28.2%) -- [51,212] 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Wonder Woman #221 -- 52,894 (+ 37.9%) 10/2005: Wonder Woman #222 -- 47,065 (- 11.0%) -- [49,101] 11/2005: Wonder Woman #223 -- 49,332 (+ 4.8%) 12/2005: Wonder Woman #224 -- 47,224 (- 4.3%) 01/2006: Wonder Woman #225 -- 42,661 (- 9.7%) 02/2006: Wonder Woman #226 -- 45,682 (+ 7.1%) 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Wonder Woman #1 -- 132,580 (+190.2%) -- [137,552] 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Wonder Woman #2 -- 84,618 (- 36.2%) ----------------- 6 months: + 85.2% 1 year : +120.5% 2 years : +211.2%
Similar to Flash: The Fastest Man Alive in July, the second issue of Allan Heinberg and Terry Dodson’s Wonder Woman relaunch takes a nose-dive, ending up more than a third below the debut issue’s sales. It’s a very harsh drop, even accounting for the variant cover edition of issue #1.
Of course, sales are still ahead of the previous volume’s by a comfortable 40K.
27 - SUPERGIRL 08/2005: Supergirl #1 -- 123,370 -- [165,579] 09/2005: Supergirl #2 -- 101,681 (-17.6%) -- [114,058] 10/2005: -- 11/2005: Supergirl #3 -- 99,990 (- 1.7%) -- [101,910] 12/2005: -- 01/2006: -- 02/2006: Supergirl #4 -- 104,734 (+ 4.8%) 02/2006: Supergirl #5 -- 103,108 (- 1.0%) -- [104,930] 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Supergirl #6 -- 102,860 (- 0.2%) 06/2006: -- 07/2006: Supergirl #7 -- 85,175 (-17.2%) 07/2006: Supergirl #8 -- 76,942 (- 9.7%) 08/2006: Supergirl #9 -- 74,252 (- 3.5%) ---------------- 6 months: -28.6% 1 year : -39.8%
The book’s original artist Ian Churchill joined new writer Joe Kelly in August, but Supergirl sales remain considerably below those of writer Jeph Loeb’s run. Between this title and Superman/Batman, Loeb’s absence from the credits cost DC 35,000 units in August.
30 - FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE 08/2003: Flash #201 -- 35,207 08/2004: Flash #213 -- 41,363 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: Flash #225 -- 50,242 (+ 4.5%) -- [52,386] 09/2005: Flash #226 -- 45,252 (- 9.9%) 10/2005: Flash #227 -- 46,666 (+ 3.1%) 11/2005: Flash #228 -- 45,861 (- 1.7%) 12/2005: Flash #229 -- 41,459 (- 9.6%) 01/2006: Flash #230 -- 40,571 (- 2.1%) -- [42,392] 02/2006: -- 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Flash: FMA #1 -- 120,404 (+196.8%) -- [126,741] 07/2006: Flash: FMA #2 -- 77,487 (- 35.6%) -- [ 81,067] 08/2006: Flash: FMA #3 -- 70,633 (- 8.9%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : +40.6% 2 years : +70.8%
Sales are leveling out, remaining 30,000 units ahead of the previous Flash series.
32 - TEEN TITANS 08/2003: Teen Titans #2 -- 61,528 08/2004: Teen Titans #14 -- 63,894 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: Teen Titans #27 -- 74,782 ( +9.4%) -- [75,996] 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Teen Titans #28 -- 66,581 (-11.0%) 11/2005: Teen Titans #29 -- 69,558 (+ 4.5%) 12/2005: Teen Titans #30 -- 67,155 (- 3.5%) 01/2006: Teen Titans #31 -- 65,223 (- 2.9%) 02/2006: Teen Titans #32 -- 69,131 (+ 6.0%) 03/2006: Teen Titans #33 -- 67,208 (- 2.8%) 04/2006: Teen Titans #34 -- 82,503 (+22.8%) -- [90,051] 05/2006: Teen Titans #35 -- 72,954 (-11.6%) 05/2006: Teen Titans #36 -- 71,486 (- 2.0%) 06/2006: -- 07/2006: Teen Titans #37 -- 71,263 (- 0.3%) 08/2006: Teen Titans #38 -- 69,232 (- 2.9%) ---------------- 6 months: + 0.2% 1 year : - 7.4% 2 years : + 8.4%
Drifting downward, but the numbers remain well within the book’s usual range.
35 - SUPERMAN 08/2003: Superman #196 -- 33,648 08/2004: Superman #208 -- 129,256 --------------------------------- 08/2005: Superman #220 -- 61,264 (- 13.8%) 09/2005: Superman #221 -- 69,065 (+ 12.7%) 10/2005: Superman #222 -- 67,638 (- 2.1%) 11/2005: Superman #223 -- 69,739 (+ 3.1%) 12/2005: Superman #224 -- 63,719 (- 8.6%) -- [ 65,300] 01/2006: Superman #225 -- 61,768 (- 3.1%) 02/2006: Superman #226 -- 63,982 (+ 3.6%) 03/2006: Superman #650 -- 65,603 (+ 2.5%) -- [ 77,783] 04/2006: Superman #651 -- 73,355 (+ 11.8%) 05/2006: Superman #652 -- 70,458 (- 4.0%) 06/2006: Superman #653 -- 69,079 (- 2.0%) 07/2006: Superman #654 -- 69,526 (+ 0.7%) 08/2006: Superman #655 -- 66,976 (- 3.7%) ---------------- 6 months: + 4.7% 1 year : + 9.3% 2 years : -48.2%
On the one hand, that’s a relatively smooth drop-off for the second issue of Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco’s run. Then again, the numbers remain rather underwhelming, given the creators’ track records, and the lack of any visible re-order activity for issue #654 suggests that it’s not due to a miscalculation on the retailers’ part, either.
36 - DETECTIVE COMICS 08/2003: Detective Comics #785 -- 37,988 08/2004: Detective Comics #797 -- 50,695 ---------------------------------------- 08/2005: Detective Comics #809 -- 49,087 (+29.3%) 08/2005: Detective Comics #810 -- 48,270 (- 1.7%) 09/2005: Detective Comics #811 -- 38,772 (-19.7%) 10/2005: Detective Comics #812 -- 39,270 (+ 1.3%) 11/2005: Detective Comics #813 -- 38,338 (- 2.4%) 12/2005: Detective Comics #814 -- 37,145 (- 3.1%) 01/2006: Detective Comics #815 -- 35,569 (- 4.2%) 02/2006: Detective Comics #816 -- 35,410 (- 0.5%) 03/2006: Detective Comics #817 -- 62,245 (+75.8%) -- [70,241] 04/2006: Detective Comics #818 -- 60,440 (- 2.9%) -- [68,189] 05/2006: Detective Comics #819 -- 65,800 (+ 8.9%) 06/2006: Detective Comics #820 -- 65,988 (+ 0.3%) 07/2006: Detective Comics #821 -- 67,345 (+ 2.1%) 08/2006: Detective Comics #822 -- 66,372 (- 1.5%) ---------------- 6 months: +87.4% 1 year : +36.4% 2 years : +30.9%
Detective Comics sales are more than healthy, meanwhile, bearing in mind that they’re a solid 30K ahead of the numbers the book shifted prior to March’s “One Year Later” stunt.
43 - ACTION COMICS 08/2003: Action Comics #806 -- 30,852 08/2004: Action Comics #818 -- 43,257 ------------------------------------- 08/2005: Action Comics #830 -- 48,469 (-23,1%) 09/2005: Action Comics #831 -- 55,288 (+14.1%) 10/2005: Action Comics #832 -- 47,968 (-13.2%) 11/2005: Action Comics #833 -- 44,613 (- 7.0%) 12/2005: Action Comics #834 -- 42,425 (- 4.9%) 01/2006: Action Comics #835 -- 41,114 (- 3.1%) 02/2006: Action Comics #836 -- 51,722 (+25.8%) -- [55,331] 03/2006: Action Comics #837 -- 55,816 (+ 7.9%) -- [69,652] 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Action Comics #838 -- 62,702 (+12.3%) 05/2006: Action Comics #839 -- 61,898 (- 1.3%) -- [64,278] 06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 (- 0.2%) -- [63,676] 07/2006: Action Comics #841 -- 58,657 (- 5.1%) 08/2006: Action Comics #842 -- 57,964 (- 1.2%) ---------------- 6 months: +12.1% 1 year : +19.6% 2 years : +34.0%
Standard attrition. The book is in the middle of an interim storyline bridging the gap until a new high-profile creative team takes over with issue #844.
46 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS 09/2005: GLC: Recharge #1 of 5 -- 80,718 -- [84,497] 10/2005: GLC: Recharge #2 of 5 -- 68,925 (-14.6%) -- [71,414] 11/2005: -- 12/2005: GLC: Recharge #3 of 5 -- 64,490 (- 6.4%) -- [65,669] 01/2006: GLC: Recharge #4 of 5 -- 59,952 (- 7.0%) -- [61,540] 02/2006: -- 03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 of 5 -- 60,123 (+ 0.3%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Green Lantern Corps #1 -- 76,686 (+27.6%) 07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2 -- 56,886 (-25.8%) 08/2006: Green Lantern Corps #3 -- 51,485 (- 9.5%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a.
Leveling out, albeit rather slowly. These are still decent numbers for a Green Lantern spin-off.
48 - TRIALS OF SHAZAM 08/2006: Trials of Shazam #1 of 12 -- 50,621
Judd Winick and Howard Porter revamp DC’s version of Captain Marvel. Trials of Shazam was one of the six titles promoted with June’s low-priced DCU: Brave New World one-shot. The numbers are more than respectable for a B-list character.
51 - ION 04/2006: Ion #1 of 12 -- 66,453 -- [74,727] 05/2006: Ion #2 of 12 -- 55,532 (-16.4%) -- [57,415] 06/2006: Ion #3 of 12 -- 51,739 (- 6.8%) 07/2006: Ion #4 of 12 -- 49,981 (- 3.4%) 08/2006: Ion #5 of 12 -- 45,764 (- 8.4%)
Sales are still at a decent level, but the book shouldn’t be losing 4,000 units at this point.
54 - SECRET SIX 05/2006: Secret Six #1 of 6 -- 54,961 -- [57,425] 06/2006: -- 07/2006: Secret Six #2 of 6 -- 47,346 (-13.9%) 08/2006: Secret Six #3 of 6 -- 44,507 (- 6.0%)
An average drop-off.
55 - OMAC 07/2006: OMAC #1 of 8 -- 54,092 08/2006: OMAC #2 of 8 -- 42,011 (-22.3%)
That’s a hefty second-issue drop for a limited series, but we’re used to them from most of the spin-offs of the “Infinite Crisis” event — also see The All-New Atom, Blue Beetle, Shadowpact, Uncle Sam & The Freedom Fighters and Checkmate.
Perhaps it’s time for DC to consider that less may be more, in terms of what you throw on into the market, even on the back of a highly successful series of line-wide “event” storylines.
56 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER 08/2006: Martian Manhunter #1 of 8 -- 41,263
A.J. Lieberman and Al Barrionuevo’s revamp of the ubiquitous B-lister draws perfectly acceptable numbers with its first issue. Martian Manhunter (not to be confused with just plain Manhunter, see below) is another title introduced in DCU: Brave New World.
57 - OUTSIDERS 08/2003: Outsiders #3 -- 45,079 08/2004: -- -------------------------------- 08/2005: Outsiders #27 -- 44,021 (+ 1.8%) 09/2005: Outsiders #28 -- 44,222 (+ 0.5%) 10/2005: Outsiders #29 -- 47,611 (+ 7.7%) 11/2005: Outsiders #30 -- 44,682 (- 6.2%) 12/2005: Outsiders #31 -- 46,555 (+ 4.2%) 01/2006: Outsiders #32 -- 44,027 (- 5.4%) 02/2006: Outsiders #33 -- 43,270 (- 1.7%) 03/2006: Outsiders #34 -- 47,286 (+ 9.3%) -- [51,527] 04/2006: Outsiders #35 -- 45,774 (- 3.2%) 05/2006: Outsiders #36 -- 45,705 (- 0.2%) 06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109 (- 3.5%) 07/2006: Outsiders #38 -- 41,974 (- 4.8%) 08/2006: Outsiders #39 -- 40,524 (- 3.5%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.4% 1 year : - 7.9% 2 years : n.a.
The numbers keep declining. Given that Outsiders has been one of DC’s most solid performers since its launch, they’ve got to be worried by the fact that it’s shredded 5,000 units in the last three months.
59 - NIGHTWING 08/2003: Nightwing #84 -- 29,410 08/2004: Nightwing #96 -- 44,558 --------------------------------- 08/2005: Nightwing #111 -- 36,146 (- 5.3%) 09/2005: Nightwing #112 -- 36,238 (+ 0.3%) 10/2005: Nightwing #113 -- 39,837 (+ 9.9%) 11/2005: Nightwing #114 -- 36,421 (- 8.6%) 12/2005: Nightwing #115 -- 35,674 (- 2.1%) 01/2006: Nightwing #116 -- 35,113 (- 1.6%) -- [37,851] 02/2006: Nightwing #117 -- 35,489 (+ 1.1%) 03/2006: Nightwing #118 -- 42,525 (+19.8%) -- [51,775] 04/2006: Nightwing #119 -- 46,336 (+ 9.0%) 05/2006: Nightwing #120 -- 46,076 (- 0.6%) 06/2006: Nightwing #121 -- 44,974 (- 2.4%) 07/2006: Nightwing #122 -- 42,542 (- 5.4%) 08/2006: Nightwing #123 -- 40,111 (- 5.7%) ---------------- 6 months: +13.0% 1 year : +11.0% 2 years : -10.0%
The decline is accelerating. Of course, Nightwing sales are still about 5K ahead of the book’s pre-“One Year Later” numbers and a new creative team is set to take over with issue #125, so there’s no immediate reason to be worried here.
61 - SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 08/2003: Legion #23 -- 22,466 08/2004: Legion #37 -- 23,479 08/2004: Legion #38 -- 23,327 --------------------------------------- 08/2005: Legion of SH #9 -- 35,834 (- 3.9%) 09/2005: Legion of SH #10 -- 34,833 (- 2.8%) 10/2005: Legion of SH #11 -- 34,113 (- 2.1%) 11/2005: Legion of SH #12 -- 33,541 (- 1.7%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: Legion of SH #13 -- 32,730 (- 2.4%) 02/2006: Legion of SH #14 -- 32,513 (- 0.7%) 02/2006: Legion of SH #15 -- 31,649 (- 2.7%) 03/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #16 -- 47,426 (+ 49.9%) -- [54,788] 04/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #17 -- 44,827 (- 5.5%) -- [47,724] 05/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #18 -- 45,520 (+ 1.6%) 06/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #19 -- 43,918 (- 3.5%) 07/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #20 -- 41,679 (- 5.1%) 08/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #21 -- 39,852 (- 4.4%) ---------------- 6 months: +22.6% 1 year : +11.2% 2 years : +70.3%
The sales from March’s “One Year Later” boost keep melting away.
62 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM 08/2006: The All-New Atom #1 -- 49,969 08/2006: The All-New Atom #2 -- 38,239 (-23.5%)
This isn’t a disastrous second-issue drop for an ongoing title, but it’s not particularly encouraging, either. Artist John Byrne’s departure after #3 probably won’t help matters much.
65 - ROBIN 08/2003: Robin #117 -- 21,554 08/2004: Robin #129 -- 45,642 ----------------------------- 08/2005: Robin #141 -- 28,564 (- 1.2%) 09/2005: Robin #142 -- 28,822 (+ 0.9%) 10/2005: Robin #143 -- 34,141 (+18.5%) 11/2005: Robin #144 -- 32,314 (- 5.4%) 12/2005: Robin #145 -- 28,532 (-11.7%) 01/2006: Robin #146 -- 29,499 (+ 3.4%) -- [31,851] 02/2006: Robin #147 -- 32,120 (+ 8.9%) 03/2006: Robin #148 -- 36,717 (+14.3%) -- [42,442] 04/2006: Robin #149 -- 37,173 (+ 1.2%) 05/2006: Robin #150 -- 41,417 (+11.4%) 06/2006: Robin #151 -- 38,921 (- 6.0%) 07/2006: Robin #152 -- 37,466 (- 3.7%) 08/2006: Robin #153 -- 36,608 (- 2.3%) ---------------- 6 months: +14.0% 1 year : +28.2% 2 years : -19.8%
The numbers are leveling out again, remaining at a perfectly acceptable level in the wake of the “One Year Later” gimmick.
67 - GREEN ARROW 08/2003: Green Arrow #29 -- 41,534 08/2004: Green Arrow #41 -- 32,269 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: Green Arrow #53 -- 32,474 (- 8.9%) 09/2005: Green Arrow #54 -- 34,331 (+ 5.7%) 10/2005: Green Arrow #55 -- 32,804 (- 4.5%) 11/2005: Green Arrow #56 -- 32,670 (- 0.4%) 12/2005: Green Arrow #57 -- 31,778 (- 2.7%) 01/2006: Green Arrow #58 -- 30,990 (- 2.5%) 02/2006: Green Arrow #59 -- 31,250 (+ 0.8%) 03/2006: Green Arrow #60 -- 37,946 (+21.4%) -- [43,045] 04/2006: Green Arrow #61 -- 35,993 (- 5.2%) -- [40,621] 05/2006: Green Arrow #62 -- 39,185 (+ 8.9%) 06/2006: Green Arrow #63 -- 37,803 (- 3.5%) 07/2006: Green Arrow #64 -- 36,148 (- 4.4%) 08/2006: Green Arrow #65 -- 35,705 (- 1.2%) ---------------- 6 months: +14.3% 1 year : +10.0% 2 years : +10.7%
Standard attrition. Green Arrow has managed to cling on to most of the additional sales from “One Year Later,” on balance.
71 - SHADOWPACT 05/2006: Shadowpact #1 -- 50,279 06/2006: Shadowpact #2 -- 39,969 (-20.5%) 07/2006: Shadowpact #3 -- 36,341 (- 9.1%) 08/2006: Shadowpact #4 -- 33,383 (- 8.1%)
72 - BLUE BEETLE 03/2006: Blue Beetle #1 -- 50,678 -- [69,752] 04/2006: Blue Beetle #2 -- 43,770 (-13.6%) -- [50,190] 05/2006: Blue Beetle #3 -- 41,711 (- 4.7%) 06/2006: Blue Beetle #4 -- 38,622 (- 7.4%) 07/2006: Blue Beetle #5 -- 35,490 (- 8.1%) 08/2006: Blue Beetle #6 -- 33,181 (- 6.5%)
Two more ongoing “Infinite Crisis” spin-offs which are bleeding readers at a worrying rate.
73 - JSA: CLASSIFIED 08/2005: JSA: Classified #2 -- 46,039 (-21.0%) -- [67,358] 09/2005: JSA: Classified #3 -- 54,932 (+19.3%) -- [63,922] 10/2005: JSA: Classified #4 -- 55,903 (+ 1.8%) -- [63,579] 11/2005: JSA: Classified #5 -- 47,380 (-15.3%) 12/2005: JSA: Classified #6 -- 45,317 (- 4.4%) 01/2006: JSA: Classified #7 -- 42,857 (- 5.4%) 02/2006: JSA: Classified #8 -- 39,656 (- 7.5%) 02/2006: JSA: Classified #9 -- 39,104 (- 1.4%) 03/2006: JSA: Classified #10 -- 41,332 (+ 5.7%) 04/2006: JSA: Classified #11 -- 37,815 (- 8.5%) 05/2006: JSA: Classified #12 -- 37,446 (- 1.0%) 06/2006: JSA: Classified #13 -- 36,066 (- 3.7%) 07/2006: JSA: Classified #14 -- 33,832 (- 6.2%) 08/2006: JSA: Classified #15 -- 32,308 (- 4.5%) 08/2006: JSA: Classified #16 -- 32,173 (- 0.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -18.1% 1 year : -30.0%
Declining.
75/90 - THE BOYS (WildStorm) 08/2006: The Boys #1 -- 31,636 08/2006: The Boys #2 -- 26,165 (-17.3%)
WildStorm’s best-selling title in August comes from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, who give us their take on a crack team of bastards policing the world’s superhuman population. The territory is disappointingly well-trodden for a long-form project by Ennis, but then this is the direct market, so the superhero angle is probably only helping sales.
These numbers are very good for a new, creator-owned title, at any rate. Given that the second issue shipped in the same month as the first, the drop-off is comparatively hefty, but it’ll take a couple of months to find out whether that means anything.
76 - UNCLE SAM & THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS 07/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #1 of 8 -- 40,736 08/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #2 of 8 -- 31,616 (-22.4%)
Another title spinning out of “Infinite Crisis” and promoted in DCU: Brave New World which displays a less than enthusiastic second-issue drop.
77 - BIRDS OF PREY 08/2003: Birds of Prey #58 -- 27,851 08/2004: Birds of Prey #71 -- 32,298 08/2004: Birds of Prey #72 -- 31,835 ------------------------------------ 08/2005: Birds of Prey #85 -- 32,076 (+ 7.0%) 09/2005: Birds of Prey #86 -- 31,270 (- 2.5%) 10/2005: Birds of Prey #87 -- 32,084 (+ 2.6%) 11/2005: Birds of Prey #88 -- 32,823 (+ 2.3%) 12/2005: Birds of Prey #89 -- 30,653 (- 6.6%) 01/2006: Birds of Prey #90 -- 30,460 (- 0.6%) 02/2006: Birds of Prey #91 -- 29,835 (- 2.1%) 03/2006: Birds of Prey #92 -- 36,808 (+23.4%) 04/2006: Birds of Prey #93 -- 34,404 (- 6.5%) 05/2006: Birds of Prey #94 -- 34,905 (+ 1.5%) 06/2006: Birds of Prey #95 -- 33,954 (- 2.7%) 07/2006: Birds of Prey #96 -- 32,219 (- 5.1%) 08/2006: Birds of Prey #97 -- 31,578 (- 2.0%) ---------------- 6 months: +5.8% 1 year : -0.3% 2 years : -1.5%
Drifting downward, but still well within the book’s usual range.
78 - THE CREEPER 08/2003: Beware the Creeper #5 of 5 -- 11,270 --------------------------------------------- 08/2006: The Creeper #1 of 6 -- 31,530 ----------------- 2 years : +179.8%
Writer Steve Niles and artist Justiniano do The Creeper, another book promoted in DCU: Brave New World. The debut issue sold well enough for this sort of thing. As the two-year comparison shows, it’s also quite an improvement over the character’s last series.
79 - CHECKMATE 04/2006: Checkmate #1 -- 49,156 -- [55,375] 05/2006: Checkmate #2 -- 41,773 (-15.5%) 06/2006: Checkmate #3 -- 37,551 (-10.1%) 07/2006: Checkmate #4 -- 34,661 (- 7.7%) 08/2006: Checkmate #5 -- 31,252 (- 9.8%)
Yet another post-“Infinite Crisis” title rapidly disappearing off the radar without any sign of sales bottoming out.
81 - BATMAN: THE MAD MONK 11/2005: Batman and the Monster Men #1 of 6 -- 36,177 12/2005: Batman and the Monster Men #2 of 6 -- 29,138 (-19.5%) 01/2006: Batman and the Monster Men #3 of 6 -- 27,135 (- 6.9%) 02/2006: Batman and the Monster Men #4 of 6 -- 26,320 (- 3.0%) 03/2006: Batman and the Monster Men #5 of 6 -- 25,960 (- 1.4%) 04/2006: Batman and the Monster Men #6 of 6 -- 25,650 (- 1.2%) 05/2006: -- 06/2006: -- 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Batman: The Mad Monk #1 of 6 -- 29,169 (+13.7%) ---------------- 6 months: +10.8%
The second half of writer/artist Matt Wagner’s follow-up to “Batman: Year One” starts out with perfectly fine numbers.
86 - JLA: CLASSIFIED 08/2005: JLA: Classified #11 -- 43,582 (- 3.2%) -- [46,056] 09/2005: JLA: Classified #12 -- 43,714 (+ 0.3%) 10/2005: JLA: Classified #13 -- 43,832 (+ 0.3%) 11/2005: JLA: Classified #14 -- 43,469 (- 0.8%) 12/2005: JLA: Classified #15 -- 41,951 (- 3.5%) 01/2006: JLA: Classified #16 -- 39,336 (- 6.2%) 02/2006: JLA: Classified #17 -- 38,014 (- 3.4%) 03/2006: JLA: Classified #18 -- 35,873 (- 5.6%) 03/2006: JLA: Classified #19 -- 35,300 (- 1.6%) 04/2006: JLA: Classified #20 -- 34,039 (- 3.6%) 05/2006: JLA: Classified #21 -- 33,800 (- 0.7%) 06/2006: JLA: Classified #22 -- 34,023 (+ 0.7%) 06/2006: JLA: Classified #23 -- 33,564 (- 1.4%) 07/2006: JLA: Classified #24 -- 31,697 (- 5.6%) 07/2006: JLA: Classified #25 -- 30,709 (- 3.1%) 08/2006: JLA: Classified #26 -- 27,816 (- 9.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -26.8% 1 year : -36.2%
The new arc by writer Howard Chaykin and artist Killian Plunkett gets the cold shoulder from retailers.
88 - CATWOMAN 08/2003: -- 08/2004: Catwoman #34 -- 37,033 ------------------------------- 08/2005: Catwoman #46 -- 20,702 (- 0.7%) -- [21,718] 09/2005: Catwoman #47 -- 20,699 (- 0.0%) 10/2005: Catwoman #48 -- 21,104 (+ 2.0%) 11/2005: Catwoman #49 -- 21,257 (+ 0.7%) 12/2005: Catwoman #50 -- 24,136 (+13.5%) -- [26,170] 01/2006: Catwoman #51 -- 22,681 (- 6.0%) 02/2006: Catwoman #52 -- 21,954 (- 3.2%) 03/2006: Catwoman #53 -- 28,473 (+29.7%) -- [34,428] 04/2006: Catwoman #54 -- 28,922 (+ 1.6%) 05/2006: Catwoman #55 -- 30,184 (+ 4.4%) 06/2006: Catwoman #56 -- 28,942 (- 4.1%) 07/2006: Catwoman #57 -- 27,302 (- 5.7%) 08/2006: Catwoman #58 -- 26,568 (- 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.7% 1 year : +21.0% 2 years : -28.3%
Standard attrition. The decline appears to be over, and sales are still about 5,000 units ahead of pre-“One Year Later” numbers.
91 - Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo) 08/2003: Y: The Last Man #14 -- 26,218 08/2004: Y: The Last Man #25 -- 26,616 -------------------------------------- 08/2005: Y: The Last Man #36 -- 26,558 (+0.4%) 09/2005: Y: The Last Man #37 -- 26,638 (+0.3%) 10/2005: Y: The Last Man #38 -- 26,535 (-0.4%) 11/2005: Y: The Last Man #39 -- 26,395 (-0.5%) 12/2005: Y: The Last Man #40 -- 26,006 (-1.5%) 01/2006: Y: The Last Man #41 -- 25,931 (-0.3%) 02/2006: Y: The Last Man #42 -- 25,775 (-0.6%) 03/2006: Y: The Last Man #43 -- 25,877 (+0.4%) 04/2006: Y: The Last Man #44 -- 25,985 (+0.4%) 05/2006: Y: The Last Man #45 -- 25,866 (-0.5%) 06/2006: Y: The Last Man #46 -- 25,881 (+0.1%) 07/2006: Y: The Last Man #47 -- 25,791 (-0.4%) 08/2006: Y: The Last Man #48 -- 25,829 (+0.2%) --------------- 6 months: +0.2% 1 year : -2.8% 2 years : -3.0%
Completing its penultimate year worth of issues, the book remains rock-solid in the 26K area.
92 - FABLES (Vertigo) 08/2003: Fables #16 -- 25,365 08/2004: Fables #28 -- 25,076 ----------------------------- 08/2005: Fables #40 -- 24,952 (+1.4%) 09/2005: Fables #41 -- 25,001 (+0.2%) 10/2005: Fables #42 -- 24,953 (-0.2%) 11/2005: Fables #43 -- 24,659 (-1.2%) 12/2005: Fables #44 -- 24,515 (-0.6%) 01/2006: Fables #45 -- 24,297 (-0.9%) 02/2006: Fables #46 -- 24,134 (-0.7%) 03/2006: Fables #47 -- 24,278 (+0.6%) 04/2006: Fables #48 -- 24,476 (+0.8%) 05/2006: Fables #49 -- 24,444 (-0.1%) 06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210 (+7.2%) 07/2006: Fables #51 -- 25,087 (-4.3%) 08/2006: Fables #52 -- 25,378 (+1.2%) --------------- 6 months: +5.2% 1 year : +1.7% 2 years : +1.2%
Going up, if only slightly. The attention Fables is currently receiving from the publisher seems to be paying off.
96 - BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT 08/2003: Batman: LotDK #170 -- 25,335 08/2004: Batman: LotDK #182 -- 42,223 ------------------------------------- 08/2005: Batman: LotDK #194 -- 25,290 (- 1.8%) 09/2005: Batman: LotDK #195 -- 25,206 (- 0.3%) 10/2005: Batman: LotDK #196 -- 24,932 (- 1.1%) 11/2005: Batman: LotDK #197 -- 24,478 (- 1.8%) 12/2005: Batman: LotDK #198 -- 24,010 (- 1.9%) 01/2006: Batman: LotDK #199 -- 23,461 (- 2.3%) 02/2006: Batman: LotDK #200 -- 28,984 (+23.5%) 03/2006: Batman: LotDK #201 -- 24,516 (-15.4%) 03/2006: Batman: LotDK #202 -- 23,810 (- 2.9%) 04/2006: Batman: LotDK #203 -- 24,775 (+ 4.1%) 04/2006: Batman: LotDK #204 -- 24,155 (- 2.5%) 05/2006: Batman: LotDK #205 -- 24,421 (+ 1.1%) 05/2006: Batman: LotDK #206 -- 24,228 (- 0.8%) 06/2006: Batman: LotDK #207 -- 24,457 (+ 1.0%) 07/2006: Batman: LotDK #208 -- 23,974 (- 2.0%) 08/2006: Batman: LotDK #209 -- 24,101 (+ 0.5%) ---------------- 6 months: -16.9% 1 year : - 4.7% 2 years : -42.9%
Sticking to its usual level.
97 - HAWKGIRL 08/2003: Hawkman #18 -- 28,557 08/2004: Hawkman #31 -- 24,035 ------------------------------- 08/2005: Hawkman #43 -- 22,010 (+ 3.0%) 09/2005: Hawkman #44 -- 22,560 (+ 2.5%) 10/2005: Hawkman #45 -- 23,379 (+ 3.6%) 11/2005: Hawkman #46 -- 25,329 (+ 8.3%) 12/2005: Hawkman #47 -- 24,736 (- 2.3%) 01/2006: Hawkman #48 -- 24,259 (- 1.9%) 02/2006: Hawkman #49 -- 25,031 (+ 3.2%) 03/2006: Hawkgirl #50 -- 34,728 (+38.7%) -- [38,135] 04/2006: Hawkgirl #51 -- 30,657 (-11.7%) 05/2006: Hawkgirl #52 -- 29,898 (- 2.5%) 06/2006: Hawkgirl #53 -- 27,786 (- 7.1%) 07/2006: Hawkgirl #54 -- 25,201 (- 9.3%) 08/2006: Hawkgirl #55 -- 23,880 (- 5.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 4.6% 1 year : + 8.5% 2 years : - 0.7%
Sales are now below pre-“One Year Later” levels. Evidently, the book’s revamp isn’t going over well with the audience.
98 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo) 07/2006: Jack of Fables #1 -- 27,097 08/2006: Jack of Fables #2 -- 23,554 (-13.1%)
That’s a perfectly healthy second-issue drop for an ongoing series.
100 - DEADMAN (Vertigo) 08/2006: Deadman #1 -- 21,980
Nominally, this is the revamp of yet another old C-list character, but writer Bruce Jones and artist John Watkiss really just grabbed the name and ran with it. These are decent numbers for a Vertigo book.
106 - EX MACHINA (WildStorm) 08/2004: Ex Machina #3 -- 21,621 --------------------------------- 08/2005: Ex Machina #14 -- 21,134 (- 2.5%) 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Ex Machina #15 -- 21,748 (+ 2.9%) 11/2005: Ex Machina #16 -- 21,250 (- 2.3%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: Ex Machina #17 -- 21,196 (- 0.3%) 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Ex Machina #18 -- 21,081 (- 0.5%) 04/2006: Ex Machina #19 -- 20,358 (- 3.4%) 05/2006: Ex Machina #20 -- 20,589 (+ 1.1%) 06/2006: Ex Machina #21 -- 20,195 (- 1.9%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Ex Machina #22 -- 20,079 (- 0.6%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : -5.0% 2 years : -7.1%
Standard attrition.
108 - JONAH HEX 11/2005: Jonah Hex #1 -- 33,771 12/2005: Jonah Hex #2 -- 26,227 (-22.3%) 01/2006: Jonah Hex #3 -- 24,671 (- 5.9%) 02/2006: Jonah Hex #4 -- 23,569 (- 4.5%) 03/2006: Jonah Hex #5 -- 23,496 (- 0.3%) 04/2006: Jonah Hex #6 -- 22,763 (- 3.1%) 05/2006: Jonah Hex #7 -- 21,910 (- 3.8%) 06/2006: Jonah Hex #8 -- 21,006 (- 4.1%) 07/2006: Jonah Hex #9 -- 20,385 (- 3.0%) 08/2006: Jonah Hex #10 -- 19,772 (- 3.0%) ---------------- 6 months: -16.1%
Sales keep declining.
111 - BATMAN: JOURNEY INTO KNIGHT 08/2005: Batman: JiK #1 of 12 -- 39,565 09/2005: Batman: JiK #2 of 12 -- 30,900 (-21.9%) 10/2005: Batman: JiK #3 of 12 -- 28,214 (- 8.7%) 11/2005: Batman: JiK #4 of 12 -- 26,876 (- 4.7%) 12/2005: Batman: JiK #5 of 12 -- 23,227 (-13.6%) 01/2006: Batman: JiK #6 of 12 -- 21,670 (- 6.7%) 02/2006: Batman: JiK #7 of 12 -- 20,698 (- 4.5%) 03/2006: Batman: JiK #8 of 12 -- 19,978 (- 3.5%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Batman: JiK #9 of 12 -- 19,608 (- 1.9%) 06/2006: Batman: JiK #10 of 12 -- 19,537 (- 0.4%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Batman: JiK #11 of 12 -- 19,062 (- 2.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.9% 1 year : -51.8%
The year-on-year decline is disastrous, of course, but the book has leveled out nicely with the last three issues.
113 - FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN 08/2004: Firestorm #4 -- 28,402 ------------------------------------ 08/2005: Firestorm #16 -- 17,688 (+ 0.0%) 09/2005: Firestorm #17 -- 22,553 (+27.5%) 10/2005: Firestorm #18 -- 23,246 (+ 3.1%) 11/2005: Firestorm #19 -- 22,979 (- 1.2%) 12/2005: Firestorm #20 -- 23,473 (+ 2.2%) 01/2006: Firestorm #21 -- 22,500 (- 4.2%) 02/2006: Firestorm #22 -- 21,104 (- 6.2%) 03/2006: Firestorm: NM #23 -- 25,109 (+19.0%) 04/2006: Firestorm: NM #24 -- 23,704 (- 5.6%) 05/2006: Firestorm: NM #25 -- 23,301 (- 1.7%) 06/2006: Firestorm: NM #26 -- 21,833 (- 6.3%) 07/2006: Firestorm: NM #27 -- 19,772 (- 9.4%) 08/2006: Firestorm: NM #28 -- 18,716 (- 5.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -11.3% 1 year : + 5.8% 2 years : -34.1%
Briskly declining. A new creative team is set to take over next year. Apart from Manhunter, which is still around because it’s been granted a reprieve, this is now the lowest-selling DC Universe title which hasn’t been canceled yet.
123 - THE NEXT 07/2006: The Next #1 of 6 -- 22,713 08/2006: The Next #2 of 6 -- 15,875 (-30.1%)
That’s a horrible second-issue drop, particularly for a limited series. To be fair, The Next launched with surprisingly high sales to begin with, so this is probably just another case of retailers coming to their senses.
128 - MANHUNTER 08/2004: Manhunter #1 -- 25,517 -------------------------------- 08/2005: Manhunter #13 -- 22,110 (+62.7%) 09/2005: Manhunter #14 -- 17,162 (-22.4%) 10/2005: Manhunter #15 -- 14,345 (-16.4%) 11/2005: Manhunter #16 -- 14,257 (- 0.6%) 12/2005: Manhunter #17 -- 13,615 (- 4.5%) 01/2006: Manhunter #18 -- 13,212 (- 3.0%) 02/2006: Manhunter #19 -- 12,970 (- 1.8%) 03/2006: Manhunter #20 -- 16,090 (+24.1%) 04/2006: Manhunter #21 -- 14,950 (- 7.1%) 05/2006: Manhunter #22 -- 15,668 (+ 4.8%) 06/2006: Manhunter #23 -- 15,542 (- 0.8%) 07/2006: Manhunter #24 -- 14,650 (- 5.7%) 08/2006: Manhunter #25 -- 15,175 (+ 3.6%) ---------------- 6 months: +17.0% 1 year : -31.4% 2 years : -40.5%
Contrary to what DC’s website would have you believe, Manhunter is not canceled with issue #25, but sticks around for another five-part arc.
130 - DMZ (Vertigo) 11/2005: DMZ #1 -- 18,705 12/2005: DMZ #2 -- 14,840 (-20.7%) 01/2006: DMZ #3 -- 14,503 (- 2.3%) 02/2006: DMZ #4 -- 14,778 (+ 1.9%) 03/2006: DMZ #5 -- 14,952 (+ 1.2%) 04/2006: DMZ #6 -- 15,212 (+ 1.7%) 05/2006: DMZ #7 -- 15,026 (- 1.2%) 06/2006: DMZ #8 -- 14,999 (- 0.2%) 07/2006: DMZ #9 -- 14,786 (- 1.4%) 08/2006: DMZ #10 -- 14,704 (- 0.6%) --------------- 6 months: -0.5%
Sticking to the 15K area.
131 - MAN-BAT 04/2006: Man-Bat #1 of 5 -- 27,137 05/2006: Man-Bat #2 of 5 -- 22,273 (-17.9%) 06/2006: Man-Bat #3 of 5 -- 18,282 (-17.9%) 07/2006: Man-Bat #4 of 5 -- 15,502 (-15.2%) 08/2006: Man-Bat #5 of 5 -- 14,196 (- 8.4%)
Awful numbers.
133 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo) 08/2003: Hellblazer #187 -- 16,037 08/2004: Hellblazer #199 -- 14,768 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: Hellblazer #211 -- 14,727 (- 0.5%) 09/2005: Hellblazer #212 -- 14,714 (- 0.1%) 10/2005: Hellblazer #213 -- 14,688 (- 0.2%) 11/2005: Hellblazer #214 -- 14,766 (+ 0.5%) 12/2005: Hellblazer #215 -- 14,405 (- 2.5%) 01/2006: Hellblazer #216 -- 14,590 (+ 1.3%) 02/2006: Hellblazer #217 -- 14,306 (- 2.0%) 03/2006: Hellblazer #218 -- 14,129 (- 1.2%) 04/2006: Hellblazer #219 -- 14,206 (+ 0.6%) 05/2006: Hellblazer #220 -- 14,161 (- 0.3%) 06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973 (- 1.3%) 07/2006: Hellblazer #222 -- 13,912 (- 0.4%) 08/2006: Hellblazer #223 -- 13,956 (+ 0.3%) --------------- 6 months: -2.5% 1 year : -5.2% 2 years : -5.5%
Holding level.
134 - LOVELESS (Vertigo) 10/2005: Loveless #1 -- 22,483 11/2005: Loveless #2 -- 17,667 (-21.4%) 12/2005: Loveless #3 -- 16,280 (- 7.9%) -- [17,584] 01/2006: -- 02/2006: Loveless #4 -- 16,765 (+ 3.0%) 03/2006: Loveless #5 -- 16,704 (- 0.4%) 04/2006: Loveless #6 -- 16,823 (+ 0.7%) 05/2006: Loveless #7 -- 15,961 (- 5.1%) 06/2006: Loveless #8 -- 14,915 (- 6.6%) 07/2006: Loveless #9 -- 14,434 (- 3.2%) 08/2006: Loveless #10 -- 13,860 (- 4.0%) ---------------- 6 months: -17.3%
This one keeps slipping.
136 - WARLORD 02/2006: Warlord #1 -- 27,443 03/2006: Warlord #2 -- 21,570 (-21.4%) 04/2006: Warlord #3 -- 19,993 (- 7.3%) 05/2006: Warlord #4 -- 18,480 (- 7.6%) 06/2006: Warlord #5 -- 16,070 (-13.0%) 07/2006: Warlord #6 -- 14,786 (- 8.0%) 08/2006: Warlord #7 -- 13,553 (- 8.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -50.6%
Canceled with issue #10.
138 - A MAN CALLED KEV (WildStorm) 08/2005: -- 09/2005: Authority: Kevin #1 of 5 -- 18,443 09/2005: Authority: Kevin #2 of 5 -- 17,453 (- 5.4%) 10/2005: Authority: Kevin #3 of 5 -- 16,192 (- 7.2%) 11/2005: Authority: Kevin #4 of 5 -- 15,178 (- 6.3%) 12/2005: Authority: Kevin #5 of 5 -- 14,664 (- 3.4%) 01/2006: -- 02/2006: -- 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: -- 07/2006: A Man Called Kev #1 of 5 -- 15,547 (+ 6.8%) 08/2006: A Man Called Kev #2 of 5 -- 13,370 (-14.0% ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : n.a.
An average drop for a limited series.
139 - 100 BULLETS (Vertigo) 08/2003: -- 08/2004: 100 Bullets #52 -- 16,669 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: 100 Bullets #63 -- 14,793 (- 0.5%) 09/2005: 100 Bullets #64 -- 14,708 (- 0.6%) 10/2005: 100 Bullets #65 -- 14,744 (+ 0.3%) 11/2005: 100 Bullets #66 -- 14,425 (- 2.2%) 12/2005: 100 Bullets #67 -- 14,165 (- 1.8%) 01/2006: 100 Bullets #68 -- 13,879 (- 2.0%) 02/2006: 100 Bullets #69 -- 13,708 (- 1.2%) 03/2006: 100 Bullets #70 -- 13,591 (- 0.9%) 04/2006: 100 Bullets #71 -- 13,514 (- 0.6%) 05/2006: 100 Bullets #72 -- 13,489 (- 0.2%) 06/2006: 100 Bullets #73 -- 13,407 (- 0.6%) 07/2006: 100 Bullets #74 -- 13,265 (- 1.1%) 08/2006: 100 Bullets #75 -- 13,322 (+ 0.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.8% 1 year : - 9.9% 2 years : -20.1%
Holding level.
143 - BATTLER BRITTON (WildStorm) 07/2006: Battler Britton #1 of 5 -- 14,843 08/2006: Battler Britton #2 of 5 -- 12,631 (-14.9%)
An average drop.
144 - AMERICAN VIRGIN (Vertigo) 03/2006: American Virgin #1 -- 19,455 04/2006: American Virgin #2 -- 15,780 (-18.9%) 05/2006: American Virgin #3 -- 14,764 (- 6.4%) 06/2006: American Virgin #4 -- 14,081 (- 4.6%) 07/2006: American Virgin #5 -- 13,265 (- 5.8%) 08/2006: American Virgin #6 -- 12,487 (- 5.9%)
Sliding downward.
148 - SNAKES ON A PLANE (WildStorm) 07/2006: Snakes on a Plane #1 of 2 -- 11,009
Writer Chuck Dixon and artist Gordon Purcell launch the first of a new wave of licensed titles at WildStorm. Sales are awful, despite a variant cover edition by J.G. Jones.
Normally, you’d expect the something like this to do better in channels other than the direct market. But the film tanked rather badly as well and a two-issue serial doesn’t especially lend itself to being re-packaged and sold in another format. So what you see is probably what you get, in this case.
154 - TESTAMENT (Vertigo) 12/2005: Testament #1 -- 16,893 -- [18,166] 01/2006: Testament #2 -- 13,518 (-20.0%) 02/2006: Testament #3 -- 12,831 (- 5.1%) 03/2006: Testament #4 -- 13,074 (+ 1.9%) 04/2006: Testament #5 -- 12,770 (- 2.3%) 05/2006: Testament #6 -- 12,361 (- 3.2%) 06/2006: Testament #7 -- 11,770 (- 4.8%) 07/2006: Testament #8 -- 11,073 (- 5.9%) 08/2006: Testament #9 -- 10,462 (- 5.5%) ---------------- 6 months: -18.5%
Declining.
162 - TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC) 08/2004: Teen Titans Go #10 -- 14,609 ------------------------------------- 08/2005: Teen Titans Go #22 -- 13,166 (- 2.0%) 09/2005: Teen Titans Go #23 -- 12,933 (- 1.8%) 10/2005: Teen Titans Go #24 -- 12,994 (+ 0.5%) 11/2005: Teen Titans Go #25 -- 12,598 (- 3.1%) 12/2005: Teen Titans Go #26 -- 11,790 (- 6.4%) 01/2006: Teen Titans Go #27 -- 11,609 (- 1.5%) 02/2006: Teen Titans Go #28 -- 11,568 (- 0.4%) 03/2006: Teen Titans Go #29 -- 11,260 (- 2.7%) 04/2006: Teen Titans Go #30 -- 11,225 (- 0.3%) 05/2006: Teen Titans Go #31 -- 11,140 (- 0.8%) 06/2006: Teen Titans Go #32 -- 10,736 (- 3.6%) 07/2006: Teen Titans Go #33 -- 10,516 (- 2.1%) 08/2006: Teen Titans Go #34 -- 10,328 (- 1.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -10.7% 1 year : -21.6%
A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.
157 - SOLO 08/2005: Solo #6 -- 11,752 (-17.6%) 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Solo #7 -- 14,961 (+27.3%) -- [17,108] 11/2005: -- 12/2005: Solo #8 -- 15,264 (+ 2.0%) 01/2006: -- 02/2006: Solo #9 -- 12,020 (-21.3%) 03/2006: -- 04/2006: Solo #10 -- 11,414 (- 5.0%) 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Solo #11 -- 14,119 (+23.7%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Solo #12 -- 10,308 (-27.0%) ---------------- 6 months: -14.2% 1 year : -12.3%
Canceled.
158 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo) 01/2006: The Exterminators #1 -- 16,187 02/2006: The Exterminators #2 -- 12,459 (-23.0%) 03/2006: The Exterminators #3 -- 11,678 (- 6.3%) 04/2006: The Exterminators #4 -- 11,342 (- 2.9%) 05/2006: The Exterminators #5 -- 10,978 (- 3.2%) 06/2006: The Exterminators #6 -- 11,004 (+ 0.2%) 07/2006: The Exterminators #7 -- 10,743 (- 2.4%) 08/2006: The Exterminators #8 -- 10,299 (- 4.1%) ---------------- 6 months: -17.3%
Declining.
161 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC) 08/2003: JL Adventures #22 -- 13,315 08/2004: JL Adventures #34 -- 11,154 ------------------------------------ 08/2005: JL Unlimited #12 -- 11,181 (- 1.4%) 09/2005: JL Unlimited #13 -- 10,914 (- 2.4%) 10/2005: JL Unlimited #14 -- 10,706 (- 1.9%) 11/2005: JL Unlimited #15 -- 10,625 (- 0.8%) 12/2005: JL Unlimited #16 -- 10,774 (+ 1.4%) 01/2006: JL Unlimited #17 -- 10,199 (- 5.3%) 02/2006: JL Unlimited #18 -- 10,206 (+ 0.1%) 03/2006: JL Unlimited #19 -- 10,534 (+ 3.2%) 04/2006: JL Unlimited #20 -- 10,620 (+ 0.8%) 05/2006: JL Unlimited #21 -- 10,430 (- 1.8%) 06/2006: JL Unlimited #22 -- 10,430 ( n.a.) 07/2006: JL Unlimited #23 -- 10,255 (- 1.7%) 08/2006: JL Unlimited #24 -- 10,117 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.9% 1 year : - 9.5% 2 years : - 9.3%
164 - CLAW THE UNCONQUERED (WildStorm) 06/2006: Claw the Unconquered #1 -- 14,785 07/2006: Claw the Unconquered #2 -- 11,470 (-22.4%) 08/2006: Claw the Unconquered #3 -- 9,320 (-18.8%)
Canceled with issue #6. Someone’s pulled the emergency brakes on all of WildStorm’s new fantasy and science fiction titles.
167 - BATMAN: SON OF THE DEMON 08/2006: Batman: Son of the Demon -- 9,205
This is the reprint of an old prestige-format special, tying in with the current Batman storyline. Perfectly good sales.
174 - ROKKIN (WildStorm) 07/2006: Rokkin #1 -- 10,846 08/2006: Rokkin #2 -- 8,389 (-22.7%)
Canceled with issue #6.
178 - BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC) 08/2003: Batman Adventures #5 -- 13,609 08/2004: Batman Adventures #17 -- 11,862 ---------------------------------------- 08/2005: Batman Strikes! #12 -- 9,528 (- 2.7%) 09/2005: Batman Strikes! #13 -- 9,284 (- 2.6%) 10/2005: Batman Strikes! #14 -- 8,950 (- 3.6%) 11/2005: Batman Strikes! #15 -- 8,840 (- 1.2%) 12/2005: Batman Strikes! #16 -- 8,462 (- 4.3%) 01/2006: Batman Strikes! #17 -- 8,172 (- 3.4%) 02/2006: Batman Strikes! #18 -- 8,626 (+ 5.6%) 03/2006: Batman Strikes! #19 -- 8,244 (- 4.4%) 04/2006: Batman Strikes! #20 -- 8,331 (+ 1.1%) 05/2006: Batman Strikes! #21 -- 8,467 (+ 1.6%) 06/2006: Batman Strikes! #22 -- 8,104 (- 4.3%) 07/2006: Batman Strikes! #23 -- 8,154 (+ 0.6%) 08/2006: Batman Strikes! #24 -- 8,139 (- 0.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 5.7% 1 year : -14.6% 2 years : -31.4%
179 - THE AMERICAN WAY (WildStorm) 02/2006: American Way #1 of 8 -- 15,216 03/2006: American Way #2 of 8 -- 11,937 (-21.6%) 04/2006: American Way #3 of 8 -- 10,503 (-12.0%) 05/2006: American Way #4 of 8 -- 9,580 (- 8.8%) 06/2006: American Way #5 of 8 -- 8,831 (- 7.8%) 07/2006: American Way #6 of 8 -- 8,540 (- 3.3%) 08/2006: American Way #7 of 8 -- 8,120 (- 4.9%) ---------------- 6 months: -46.6%
Declining.
184 - ELFQUEST: DISCOVERY 01/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #1 (of 4) -- 10,817 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #2 (of 4) -- 9,382 (-13.3%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #3 (of 4) -- 9,109 (- 2.9%) 06/2006: -- 07/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #4 (of 4) -- 8,836 (- 3.0%) -- [16,447] 08/2006: -- ---------------- 6 months: n.a.
Erm, yes. For some reason, Elfquest: Discovery #4 made the chart again in August, almost doubling its initial sales and now apparently outselling the debut issue. If anyone knows what’s going on here, I’m interested.
186 - SWAMP THING (Vertigo) 08/2004: Swamp Thing #6 -- 19,973 ---------------------------------- 08/2005: Swamp Thing #18 -- 10,112 (- 2.3%) 09/2005: Swamp Thing #19 -- 9,726 (- 3.8%) 10/2005: Swamp Thing #20 -- 10,209 (+ 5.0%) 11/2005: Swamp Thing #21 -- 9,203 (- 9.9%) 12/2005: Swamp Thing #22 -- 8,892 (- 3.7%) 01/2006: Swamp Thing #23 -- 8,527 (- 4.1%) 02/2006: Swamp Thing #24 -- 8,379 (- 1.7%) 03/2006: Swamp Thing #25 -- 8,076 (- 3.6%) 04/2006: Swamp Thing #26 -- 7,959 (- 1.5%) 05/2006: Swamp Thing #27 -- 7,795 (- 2.1%) 06/2006: Swamp Thing #28 -- 7,553 (- 3.1%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Swamp Thing #29 -- 7,448 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -11.1% 1 year : -26.4% 2 years : -62.7%
Canceled.
191 - MANIFEST ETERNITY (WildStorm) 06/2006: Manifest Eternity #1 -- 11,387 07/2006: Manifest Eternity #2 -- 8,415 (-26.1%) 08/2006: Manifest Eternity #3 -- 6,690 (-20.5%)
Canceled with issue #6.
222 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC) 08/2003: Scooby Doo #75 -- 6,135 08/2004: Scooby Doo #87 -- 5,436 --------------------------------- 08/2005: Scooby Doo #99 -- 4,654 (- 0.3%) 09/2005: Scooby Doo #100 -- 5,239 (+12.6%) 10/2005: Scooby Doo #101 -- 4,604 (-12.1%) 11/2005: Scooby Doo #102 -- 4,587 (- 0.4%) 12/2005: Scooby Doo #103 -- 4,490 (- 2.1%) 01/2006: Scooby Doo #104 -- 4,454 (- 0.8%) 02/2006: Scooby Doo #105 -- 4,326 (- 2.9%) 03/2006: Scooby Doo #106 -- 4,419 (+ 2.2%) 04/2006: Scooby Doo #107 -- 4,359 (- 1.4%) 05/2006: Scooby Doo #108 -- 4,496 (+ 3.1%) 06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423 (- 1.6%) 07/2006: Scooby Doo #110 -- 4,781 (+ 8.1%) 08/2006: Scooby Doo #111 -- 4,492 (- 6.1%) ---------------- 6 months: + 3.8% 1 year : - 3.5% 2 years : -17.4%
(263) LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC) 08/2003: Looney Tunes #105 -- 3,502 08/2004: Looney Tunes #117 -- 3,159 ----------------------------------- 08/2005: Looney Tunes #129 -- 2,736 (- 0.5%) 09/2005: Looney Tunes #130 -- 2,659 (- 2.8%) 10/2005: Looney Tunes #131 -- 2,673 (+ 0.5%) 11/2005: Looney Tunes #132 -- 2,747 (+ 2.8%) 12/2005: Looney Tunes #133 -- 2,633 (- 4.2%) 01/2006: Looney Tunes #134 -- 2,601 (- 1.2%) 02/2006: Looney Tunes #135 -- 2,631 (+ 1.2%) 03/2006: Looney Tunes #136 -- 2,792 (+ 6.1%) 04/2006: Looney Tunes #137 -- 2,558 (- 8.4%) 05/2006: Looney Tunes #138 -- 2,774 (+ 8.4%) 06/2006: Looney Tunes #139 -- 2,694 (- 2.9%) 07/2006: Looney Tunes #140 -- 2,680 (- 0.5%) 08/2006: Looney Tunes #141 -- 2,783 (+ 3.8%) ---------------- 6 months: + 5.8% 1 year : + 1.7% 2 years : -11.9%
300 - CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY (Johnny DC) 08/2003: Cartoon Cartoons #21 -- 2,545 08/2004: Cartoon Cartoons #33 -- 2,378 -------------------------------------- 08/2005: CN Block Party #12 -- ????? 09/2005: CN Block Party #13 -- 1,887 10/2005: CN Block Party #14 -- 1,805 (- 4.4%) 11/2005: CN Block Party #15 -- 1,757 (- 2.7%) 12/2005: CN Block Party #16 -- 1,781 (+ 1.4%) 01/2006: CN Block Party #17 -- 1,797 (+ 0.9%) 02/2006: CN Block Party #18 -- 1,728 (- 3.8%) 03/2006: CN Block Party #19 -- ????? 04/2006: CN Block Party #20 -- 2,055 05/2006: CN Block Party #21 -- ????? 06/2006: CN Block Party #22 -- 1,913 07/2006: CN Block Party #23 -- 1,976 (+ 3.3%) 08/2006: CN Block Party #24 -- 1,920 (- 2.8%) ---------------- 6 months: +11.1% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : -19.3%
RE-ORDERS: 169: 8,792 - Batman #655 184: 7,611 - Elric: Making of a Sorcerer #4 218: 4,857 - Justice League of America #0 234: 3,695 - 52 Week 12 237: 3,580 - Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2 293: 2,044 - Wonder Woman #1 296: 1,978 - Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1
Lots of Elric, not much 52. Right.
Average Sales per Title
(not counting reprints, re-orders, Johnny DC titles and magazines)
DC COMICS 08/2003: 28,270 08/2004: 29,318 --------------- 08/2005: 35,930 (- 1.2%) 09/2005: 34,972 (- 2.7%) 10/2005: 36,627 (+ 4.7%) 11/2005: 32,971 (-10.0%) 12/2005: 36,147 (+ 9.6%) 01/2006: 33,019 (- 8.7%) 02/2006: 32,292 (- 2.2%) 03/2006: 36,077 (+11.7%) 04/2006: 33,566 (- 7.0%) 05/2006: 42,860 (+27.7%) 06/2006: 40,778 (- 4.9%) 07/2006: 39,915 (- 2.1%) 08/2006: 42,497 (+ 6.5%) ---------------- 6 months: +31.6% 1 year : +18.3% 2 years : +45.0% 3 years : +50.3%
DC UNIVERSE 08/2003: 32,946 08/2004: 34,018 --------------- 08/2005: 46,527 (+ 2.5%) 09/2005: 44,823 (- 3.7%) 10/2005: 47,021 (+ 4.9%) 11/2005: 42,342 (-10.0%) 12/2005: 44,993 (+ 6.3%) 01/2006: 40,118 (-10.3%) 02/2006: 40,823 (+ 1.8%) 03/2006: 44,854 (+ 9.9%) 04/2006: 45,129 (+ 0.6%) 05/2006: 56,982 (+26.3%) 06/2006: 51,088 (-10.3%) 07/2006: 49,638 (- 2.8%) 08/2006: 54,382 (+10.0%) ---------------- 6 months: +33.2% 1 year : +16.9% 2 years : +60.0% 3 years : +65.1%
The impressive numbers of Justice League of America #1 and 52 Weeks 13 through 17, along with new issues of the perennial but non-monthly sales juggernauts All-Star Superman and Justice, gave DC’s average sales another shot in the arm in August, despite continuously harsh declines from most of the new “Infinite Crisis” spin-offs.
VERTIGO 08/2003: 17,396 08/2004: 18,298 --------------- 08/2005: 13,652 (-18.0%) 09/2005: 14,287 (+ 4.7%) 10/2005: 16,009 (+12.1%) 11/2005: 15,730 (- 1.7%) 12/2005: 16,320 (+ 3.8%) 01/2006: 15,036 (- 7.9%) 02/2006: 15,026 (- 0.1%) 03/2006: 15,812 (+ 5.2%) 04/2006: 15,473 (- 2.1%) 05/2006: 15,266 (- 1.3%) 06/2006: 14,965 (- 2.0%) 07/2006: 16,684 (+11.5%) 08/2006: 16,107 (- 3.5%) ---------------- 6 months: + 7.2% 1 year : +18.0% 2 years : -12.0% 3 years : - 7.4%
Jack of Fables keeps performing respectably and Deadman launch numbers are decent, but Loveless, American Virgin, Testament and The Exterminators are still declining and dragging the imprint’s average sales down.
WILDSTORM 08/2003: 20,185 08/2004: 15,701 --------------- 08/2005: 15,998 (+ 5.7%) 09/2005: 13,707 (-14.3%) 10/2005: 17,215 (+25.6%) 11/2005: 16,255 (- 5.6%) 12/2005: 15,068 (- 7.3%) 01/2006: 17,505 (+16.2%) 02/2006: 13,610 (-22.3%) 03/2006: 14,210 (+ 4.4%) 04/2006: 16,036 (+12.9%) 05/2006: 12,737 (-20.6%) 06/2006: 15,056 (+18.2%) 07/2006: 12,778 (-15.1%) 08/2006: 14,741 (+15.4%) ---------------- 6 months: + 8.3% 1 year : - 7.9% 2 years : - 6.1% 3 years : -27.0%
The Boys #1-2 and an issue of the irregularly shipping Ex Machina give WildStorm’s average sales a nice boost in August. But the imprint’s immediate future looks rather bleak: Grant Morrison and Jim Lee’s Wildcats, WildStorm’s guaranteed sales flagship and supposed engine of the widely publicized WildStorm Universe relaunch, missed its shipping date on September 6 and is still nowhere in sight; the recent wave of fantasy and science fiction titles, which turned out to be a total commercial failure and was aborted almost immediately, won’t have completely ebbed away until January 2007; and the new line of licensed properties is off to an even dodgier start with Snakes on a Plane.
6-MONTH COMPARISONS +186.0%: Justice League + 87.4%: Detective Comics + 85.2%: Wonder Woman + 44.5%: Batman + 22.6%: Supergirl & LoSH + 17.0%: Manhunter + 14.3%: Green Arrow + 14.0%: Robin + 13.0%: Nightwing + 12.1%: Action Comics + 11.1%: CN Block Party + 10.8%: Batman: The Mad Monk + 5.8%: Birds of Prey + 5.8%: Looney Tunes + 5.2%: Fables + 4.7%: Superman + 3.8%: Scooby-Doo + 0.2%: Teen Titans + 0.2%: Y: The Last Man - 0.5%: DMZ - 0.9%: JL Unlimited - 2.5%: Hellblazer - 2.7%: Catwoman - 2.8%: 100 Bullets - 3.3%: Justice - 4.6%: Hawkgirl - 5.7%: Batman Strikes - 6.4%: Outsiders - 7.9%: Batman: Journey into Knight - 10.7%: Teen Titans Go - 11.1%: Swamp Thing - 11.3%: Firestorm - 14.2%: Solo - 16.1%: Jonah Hex - 16.9%: Batman: LotDK - 17.3%: The Exterminators - 17.3%: Loveless - 18.1%: JSA: Classified - 18.5%: Testament - 26.8%: JLA: Classified - 28.6%: Supergirl - 46.6%: American Way - 50.6%: Warlord
1-YEAR COMPARISONS +141.6%: Justice League +120.5%: Wonder Woman + 44.6%: Batman + 40.6%: Flash + 36.4%: Detective Comics + 28.2%: Robin + 21.0%: Catwoman + 19.6%: Action Comics + 11.2%: Supergirl & LoSH + 11.0%: Nightwing + 10.0%: Green Arrow + 9.3%: Superman + 8.5%: Hawkgirl + 5.8%: Firestorm + 1.7%: Fables + 1.7%: Looney Tunes - 0.3%: Birds of Prey - 2.8%: Y: The Last Man - 3.5%: Scooby-Doo - 4.7%: Batman: LotDK - 5.0%: Ex Machina - 5.2%: Hellblazer - 7.4%: Teen Titans - 7.9%: Outsiders - 9.5%: JL Unlimited - 9.9%: 100 Bullets - 12.3%: Solo - 14.6%: Batman Strikes - 21.6%: Teen Titans Go - 26.4%: Swamp Thing - 26.8%: JLA: Classified - 30.0%: JSA: Classified - 31.4%: Manhunter - 39.8%: Supergirl - 43.9%: Justice - 51.8%: Batman: Journey Into Knight
2-YEAR COMPARISONS +247.2%: Justice League +211.2%: Wonder Woman +179.8%: The Creeper + 70.8%: Flash + 70.3%: Supergirl & LoSH + 34.0%: Action Comics + 32.8%: Batman + 30.9%: Detective Comics + 10.7%: Green Arrow + 8.4%: Teen Titans + 1.2%: Fables - 0.7%: Hawkgirl - 1.5%: Birds of Prey - 3.0%: Y: The Last Man - 5.5%: Hellblazer - 7.1%: Ex Machina - 9.3%: JL Unlimited - 10.0%: Nightwing - 11.9%: Looney Tunes - 17.4%: Scooby-Doo - 19.3%: CN Block Party - 19.8%: Robin - 20.1%: 100 Bullets - 28.3%: Catwoman - 31.3%: Batman Strikes - 34.1%: Firestorm - 40.5%: Manhunter - 42.9%: Batman: LotDK - 48.2%: Superman - 62.7%: Swamp Thing
OTHER PUBLISHERS
63 - BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Dynamite) 08/2006: Battlestar Galactica #1 -- 38,095
The book was promoted with a 25-cent issue #0 (cover count: four) which sold 175,000 copies, according to the publisher. Since Diamond don’t include those quasi-freebies in their charts, we have to take their word on that.
Publisher Dynamite Entertainment is a division of Dynamic Forces, whose bread and butter are limited edition variants catering to collectors and speculators. So it shouldn’t come as a great surprise that Battlestar Galactica, like Army of Darkness and Red Sonja before it, comes with a truckload of variant and “retailer incentive” cover editions, meaning that retailers “qualify” for the purchase of a specific variant if they increase their orders for the regular edition accordingly.
That said, 38,000 units certainly isn’t a bad number for this sort of thing. But, as usual when dealing with the publisher, sales are vastly distorted and inflated with gimmicks. While that’s good for lots of additional sales in the short term, it usually doesn’t translate to a stable mid-term performance (see Red Sonja below).
Cover count: six.
69 - THE DARKNESS/WOLVERINE (Image/Top Cow) 08/2006: The Darkness/Wolverine -- 34,054
It is August 2006. Inter-company crossovers have long since ceased to be an event. Generic Wolverine limited series and one-shots are a dime a dozen. And The Darkness itself hasn’t had an issue published since October 2005.
In this acridly hostile environment, The Darkness/Wolverine numbers are almost impressive, particularly since there aren’t even any variant cover editions of the book. This bodes well for Top Cow’s upcoming relaunch of The Darkness.
80 - CONAN (Dark Horse) 08/2004: Conan #7 -- 47,052 ---------------------------- 08/2005: Conan #19 -- 35,455 (- 2.4%) 09/2005: Conan #20 -- 34,899 (- 1.6%) 10/2005: Conan #21 -- 34,232 (- 1.9%) 11/2005: Conan #22 -- 33,653 (- 1.7%) 12/2005: Conan #23 -- 32,592 (- 3.2%) 01/2006: Conan #24 -- 31,907 (- 2.1%) 02/2006: Conan #25 -- 31,675 (- 0.7%) 03/2006: Conan #26 -- 31,573 (- 0.3%) 04/2006: Conan #27 -- 31,710 (+ 0.4%) 05/2006: Conan #28 -- 31,675 (- 0.1%) 06/2006: Conan #29 -- 32,049 (+ 1.2%) 07/2006: Conan #30 -- 31,095 (- 3.0%) 08/2006: Conan #31 -- 30,887 (- 0.7%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.5% 1 year : -12.9% 2 years : -34.4%
99 – CONAN AND THE SONGS OF THE DEAD (Dark Horse)
07/2006: Conan and the Songs of the Dead #1 of 5 — 25,144
08/2006: Conan and the Songs of the Dead #2 of 5 — 23,122 (-8.0%)
The main title’s interim arc written by Mike Mignola concludes with solid numbers. Conan and the Songs of the Dead displays a very decent second-issue drop-off, meanwhile.
Cover count: two for Conan, one for the limited series.
82 - RED SONJA (Dynamite) 08/2005: -- 09/2005: Red Sonja #2 -- 55,149 (-31.6%) 10/2005: -- 11/2005: Red Sonja #3 -- 41,866 (-24.1%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: Red Sonja #4 -- 41,856 (- 0.0%) 02/2006: Red Sonja #5 -- 38,798 (- 7.3%) 02/2006: Red Sonja #6 -- 35,031 (- 9.7%) 03/2006: Red Sonja #7 -- 34,560 (- 1.5%) 03/2006: Red Sonja #8 -- 34,700 (+ 0.4%) 04/2006: Red Sonja #9 -- 32,334 (- 6.8%) 05/2006: Red Sonja #10 -- 32,479 (+ 0.5%) 06/2006: Red Sonja #11 -- 31,176 (- 4.0%) 07/2006: Red Sonja #12 -- 33,252 (+ 6.7%) 08/2006: Red Sonja #13 -- 28,996 (-12.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -21.5% 1 year : n.a.
94 - SAVAGE RED SONJA: QUEEN OF THE FROZEN WASTES (Dynamite) 08/2006: Savage Red Sonja: QOFW #1 of 4 -- 24,533
Despite the unbroken deluge of gimmick editions, the Red Sonja franchise appears to be heading out of the Top 100.
Cover count: five for Red Sonja, six for the limited series.
89/168 - SPAWN (Image/TMP) 08/2003: Spawn #127 -- 39,371 08/2004: Spawn #137 -- 34,734 ----------------------------- 08/2005: Spawn #148 -- 27,548 (+ 0.2%) 09/2005: Spawn #149 -- 26,790 (- 2.8%) 10/2005: Spawn #150 -- 40,152 (+49.9%) -- [42,529] 11/2005: -- 12/2005: Spawn #151 -- 28,860 (-28.1%) 01/2006: Spawn #152 -- 27,247 (- 5.6%) 02/2006: Spawn #153 -- 26,884 (- 1.3%) 03/2006: Spawn #154 -- 26,966 (+ 0.3%) 04/2006: Spawn #155 -- 26,728 (- 0.9%) 05/2006: Spawn #156 -- 27,017 (+ 1.1%) 06/2006: Spawn #157 -- 26,325 (- 2.6%) 07/2006: Spawn #158 -- 26,875 (+ 2.1%) 08/2006: Spawn #159 -- 26,232 (- 2.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.4% 1 year : - 4.8% 2 years : -24.5%
The one at position No. 168 of the chart is July’s Spawn #158, which sold another 9,147 units in August. Those aren’t re-orders, but late-shipping copies, so I’ve added them to the issue’s initial numbers. Other than that, it’s business as usual; the book continues to slowly drift downward.
103 - THE WALKING DEAD (Image) 08/2004: -- ----------------------------------- 08/2005: Walking Dead #21 -- 17,668 (+ 4.5%) 09/2005: -- 10/2005: Walking Dead #22 -- 17,634 (- 0.2%) 11/2005: Walking Dead #23 -- 18,482 (+ 4.8%) 11/2005: Walking Dead #24 -- 18,545 (+ 0.3%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: Walking Dead #25 -- 19,337 (+ 4.3%) 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Walking Dead #26 -- 19,385 (+ 0.3%) 03/2006: Walking Dead #27 -- 18,868 (- 2.7%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Walking Dead #28 -- 19,537 (+ 2.2%) 07/2006: Walking Dead #29 -- 20,385 (+ 4.3%) 08/2006: Walking Dead #30 -- 20,540 (+ 0.8%) ----------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : +16.3% 2 years : n.a.
The Walking Dead continues to climb slowly but surely and keeps chasing the Top 100.
109 - FELL (Image) 09/2005: Fell #1 -- 22,580 -- [25,359] 10/2005: Fell #2 -- 17,158 (-24.0%) -- [19,741] 11/2005: Fell #3 -- 16,216 (- 5.5%) -- [18,218] 12/2005: -- 01/2006: -- 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Fell #4 -- 18,917 (+16.7%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Fell #5 -- 19,353 (+ 2.3%) 06/2006: -- 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Fell #6 -- 19,542 (+ 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a.
Another slow climber.
135 - INVINCIBLE (Image) 08/2003: -- 08/2004: Invincible #14 -- 8,219 --------------------------------- 08/2005: Invincible #25 -- 12,031 (+ 1.8%) 09/2005: Invincible #26 -- 11,574 (- 3.8%) 10/2005: -- 11/2005: Invincible #27 -- 11,775 (+ 1.7%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: -- 02/2006: Invincible #28 -- 12,147 (+ 3.2%) 03/2006: Invincible #29 -- 12,698 (+ 4.5%) 03/2006: Invincible #30 -- 12,300 (- 3.1%) 04/2006: Invincible #31 -- 12,056 (- 2.0%) 05/2006: -- 06/2006: Invincible #32 -- 12,910 (+ 7.1%) 06/2006: Invincible #33 -- 12,940 (+ 0.2%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Invincible #34 -- 13,610 (+ 5.2%) ---------------- 6 months: +12.0% 1 year : +13.1% 2 years : +65.6%
And another one.
142 - THE ESCAPISTS (Dark Horse) 07/2006: The Escapists #1 of 6 -- 21,748 08/2006: The Escapists #2 of 6 -- 12,862 (-40.9%)
By usual standards, that’s a horrible drop-off. But The Escapists #1 was a lower-priced introduction issue with a cover price of $ 1.00, so the dramatic sales drop is not entirely unexpected. Still, overall sales for the book aren’t exactly great, given that it’s a superhero title by critically acclaimed creators.
(For the record, yes, I know issue #1 was actually a reprint. But Dark Horse Comics only disclosed that bit of information when the book was out, so it’s not relevant to the numbers.)
173/177 - FALLEN ANGEL (IDW) 08/2003: Fallen Angel #2 -- 18,023 08/2004: Fallen Angel #14 -- 10,200 ----------------------------------- 12/2005: Fallen Angel #1 -- 12,176 (+18.4%) 01/2006: Fallen Angel #2 -- 9,588 (-21.3%) 02/2006: -- 03/2006: Fallen Angel #3 -- 9,570 (- 0.2%) 03/2006: Fallen Angel #4 -- 9,110 (- 4.8%) 04/2006: -- 05/2006: Fallen Angel #5 -- 9,155 (+ 0.5%) 06/2006: Fallen Angel #6 -- 8,043 (-12.2%) 07/2006: -- 08/2006: Fallen Angel #7 -- 8,475 (+ 5.4%) 08/2006: Fallen Angel #8 -- 8,168 (- 3.6%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 2 years : -18.4%
Another slow climber. Remarkably, a second collection of the book’s previous incarnation is on schedule at DC Comics, so someone clearly has some faith in the book’s potential.
176 - CSI: DYING IN THE GUTTERS (IDW) 01/2003: CSI #1 of 5 -- 17,502* 08/2003: CSI: Bad Rap #1 of 5 -- 12,138 03/2004: CSI: Demon House #1 of 5 -- 8,387 08/2004: -- 09/2004: CSI: Dominos #1 of 5 -- 6,326 02/2005: CSI: Secret Identity #1 of 5 -- 5,066 07/2005: CSI: Bloody Murder #1 of 5 -- 4,285 ------------------------------------------------- 08/2005: CSI: Bloody Murder #2 of 5 -- 3,858 (- 10.0%) 09/2005: CSI: Bloody Murder #3 of 5 -- 3,715 (- 3.7%) 10/2005: CSI: Bloody Murder #4 of 5 -- 3,618 (- 2.6%) 11/2005: CSI: Bloody Murder #5 of 5 -- 3,423 (- 5.4%) 12/2005: -- 01/2006: -- 02/2006: -- 03/2006: -- 04/2006: -- 05/2006: -- 06/2006: -- 07/2006: -- 08/2006: CSI: Dying i/t Gutters #1 of 5 -- 8,178 (+138.9%) ----------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : +112.0% 2 years : n.a.
Rather uniquely, the latest comics adaptation of the TV show CSI features the death of an internet gossip columnist named Rich Johnston, counting a host of comics industry professionals who lent their faces to the publisher among the suspects.
The big question, now, was whether the stunt was going to affect the book’s sales in any significant way. As the comparisons with the debut issues of the previous CSI series show, the answer is yes, quite a bit: CSI: Lying in the Gutters debuts with better numbers than any CSI series released since March 2004. Look soon for more comics with Rich Johnston dying.
(*: Before March 2003, Diamond Comic Distributors based their chart index on initial orders rather than actual sales, so the number from January 2003 isn’t 100% compatible with the other figures.)
200 - CASANOVA (Image) 06/2006: Casanova #1 -- 9,749 07/2006: Casanova #2 -- 6,337 (-35.0%) 08/2006: Casanova #3 -- 5,874 (- 7.3%)
Sales are leveling out. These numbers are still perfectly acceptable for this type of thing.
203 - DEVI (Virgin) 07/2006: Devi #1 -- 5,917 -- [8,413] 08/2006: Devi #2 -- 5,529 (-6.6%)
230 - SADHU (Virgin) 07/2006: Sadhu #1 -- 3,929 08/2006: Sadhu #2 -- 3,753 (-4.5%)
Somewhat surprisingly, Virgin’s debut titles feature very encouraging second-issue drops, and even July’s Devi #1 sold another impressive 2,496 units in August.
229 - WASTELAND (Oni) 07/2006: Wasteland #1 -- 4,952 08/2006: Wasteland #2 -- 3,974 (-19.8%)
An average second-issue drop. The numbers look okay so far.
231 - PHONOGRAM (Image) 08/2006: Phonogram #1 -- 3,724
Phonogram, in a nutshell, is High Fidelity by way of The Matrix. It’s the sort of thing you’d usually expect from Oni Press, it’s in black & white, and it’s not exactly the type of subject matter to set the direct market charts alight. Bearing this in mind, these numbers look perfectly alright.
Germany-based Marc-Oliver Frisch has a weblog and regularly contributes to German online magazine Comicgate.
You sort of have to wonder what DC thinks about all of those Bruce Jones titles right now.
I am glad that people are sticking around for Will Pfiefer’s Catwoman. It’s a lot more fun than he gets credit for(considering who he had to follow up on and all).
Facinating stuff, as always.
For what it’s worth here’s what Ellis just posted on Engine concerning Fell. These numbers include all reprintings and are coming from Image directly. Rough estimates.
#1 – 38,500
#2 – 29,000
#3 – 29,000
#4 – 29,000
God please get someone who LIKES DC comics to start doing these charts.
God please get someone who isnt a retarded whiner to start posting replies here.
“For what it’s worth here’s what Ellis just posted on Engine concerning Fell.”
Well, that’ll be counting sales outside the North American direct market, which don’t show up on this chart. So it’s no surprise that it’s higher. Given that we have ICV2 and CBGXtra both calculating estimates, and both coming up with numbers that are less than 0.1% apart, I’m pretty confident that the estimates they’re coming up with are an accurate reflection of the sales that count towards Diamond’s chart – and certainly accurate enough to give a true reflection of the trends for each title.
For what it’s worth, I’m aware of other sources in the know suggesting that the numbers are are much more accurate than Ellis would evidently like us to believe. (Not that I blame him, mind you — given that he’s a creator, I’m not surprised he approaches a public discussion of his sales figures from a different perspective.)
I always enjoy reading these things, but do you think you (and Paul with the Marvel version) could use a larger font for the title names and sales numbers? Maybe it’s just my bleary-eyed self who is struggling, but it is really difficult to actually read that font – particularly when it’s so small.
And thanks for taking the time to do these, guys!
To be honest, it looks fine to me, although I admit it’s on the small side. Unfortunately, the pre-formatted text tag doesn’t support size-changing, as I understand it.
To be honest, we got more complaints with the previous font, because the figures were misaligned. And the idea of manually coding the whole thing in HTML tables doesn’t bear thinking about.
However, if you prefer the text slightlly larger, you can always change it under the View menu.
Text is OK, but the numbers are barely visible…:(
“For some reason, Elfquest: Discovery #4 made the chart again in August, almost doubling its initial sales and now apparently outselling the debut issue. If anyone knows what’s going on here, I’m interested.”
“184 – ELFQUEST: DISCOVERY
Elfquest: Discovery #4 (of 4) — 8,836 (- 3.0%) — [16,447]”
“184: 7,611 – Elric: Making of a Sorcerer #4”
I think you’ve mixed up two comics here. The re-order numbers you give for Elfquest you attribute later on to Elric in the “Re-Orders” section. Could this be the source of the confusion?
“Writer Steve Niles and artist Justiniano do The Creeper, another book promoted in DCU: Brave New World. The debut issue sold well enough for this sort of thing. As the two-year comparison shows, it’s also quite an improvement over the character’s last series.”
Actually, Marc, the Beware the Creeper series was another of those Vertigo projects that just takes the name; it concerned twin sisters in Paris involved in anarchy and avant-garde art in the 1920s. So, very little to do with Ditko’s character.