Image Comics Month-to-Month Sales: January 2016 – Point of Know Return

by David Carter

Greetings, sales charts fans! It’s time once again to look at Image Comics’s sales figures.

Just a reminder that I’m not doing this as a permanent gig; just filling in until Heidi finds someone to take on the indy month-to-month chart. Although that keeps looking less and less likely with each passing month, so y’all might be stuck with me for a while…

Please refer to July’s column for a preamble and explanation as to why sales standards for Image books are likely to be different than those for DC or Marvel.

Image shipped 56 comics in January, compared to 67 comics in December, 62 in November, 55 in October and 73 in September. Of those 56 comics, 10 did not place in Diamond’s Top 300, and another 26 placed below the 10K mark.

As I did with the DC Sales chart, I took the time to go through the Diamond Top 1000 sales charts for 2014 & 2015. What I found was a number of hidden sales that didn’t show up in the first-month sales numbers that we get in the monthly Diamond Top 300. These represent additional sales through either reorders or second printings; or in the case where the numbers dropped from the first-month figures they presumably represent returns. You’ll see the adjusted numbers in square brackets in the charts below.

There was some talk in the comments of the December column as to whether or not Image’s returnable comics should be adjusted up like the DC & Marvel returnables, since Image has a different (more stringent) set of criteria. But when looking at the year-end Top 1000 data, the +10% adjustment held up okay when compared to eventual reality. At least for those books that sold well enough to make the top 1000 (which was those with sales higher that 28K).
Here are some examples:

• Autumnlands #2: Reported sales: 33,599; +10%: 36,599; final sales: 35,671
• Bitch Planet #1: Reported sales: 39,011; +10%: 42,912; final sales: 42,817
• The Fade Out #2: Reported sales: 27,797; +10%: 30,577; final sales: 30,533
• Low #1: Reported sales: 43,340; +10%: 47,674; final sales: 49,071
• Low #2: Reported sales: 28,426; +10%: 31,269; final sales: 31,703
• Monstress #1: Reported sales: 30,041; +10%: 33,045; final sales: 36,876
• Mythic #1: Reported sales: 29,361; +10%: 32,297; final sales: 28,565
• ODY-C #1: Reported sales: 47,414; +10%: 52,155; final sales: 51,684
• Sex Criminals #11: Reported sales: 21,385; +10%: 35,234; final sales: 40,283
• Trees #1: Reported sales: 31,926; +10%: 35,119; final sales: 42,133
• Trees #2: Reported sales: 25,515; +10%: 28,067; final sales: 29,266
• Wytches #1: Reported sales: 67,996; +10%: 74,796; final sales: 82,005
• Wytches #2: Reported sales: 58,345; +10%: 64,180; final sales: 65,653
• Wytches #3: Reported sales: 43,240; +10%: 47,564; final sales: 47,678

That’s every issue I could identify that was returnable in 2014 or 2015 for which there was year-end sales data available. In all cases but one, the adjusted-up-by-ten-percent number was closer to the year-end number than the initial first month reported number—sometimes very close. (That one exception was Mythic #1, which apparently saw a lot of returns and sales of subsequent issues dropped precipitously.)

I suspect it may not be true for Image books that sell fewer copies than that, but I’m not sure how to get data points to corroborate or refute the practice. Then again, it may be that Diamond reduces the reported sales by 10% on all returnable comics from any publisher, irregardless of what the terms of the returnability is or how many retailers qualify for the returns. Strange and mysterious are the ways of Diamond sales reporting. So for the time being I’m going to continue the practice of adjusting up the numbers for returnable books by 10%.

On another note, several people have asked in the past about Image’s collection sales. I’m sorting through the data on that and should have something written up soon for a separate column. So stay tuned…

Warning: The commentary below may contain reasoned analysis, speculation (unfounded and otherwise), opinion, and/or snark. Those looking for a more straightforward analysis are directed to John Jackson Miller’s excellent Comichron analysis, posted earlier this month over at Comichron!

Please consider the fine print at the end of the column. Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com’s estimates can be found here.

(Note that the percentage comparisons are done with total orders including reorder activity, as opposed to initial orders.)

---

 

1 - THE WALKING DEAD ($2.99)
01/2006: The Walking Dead #25  --  19,385
01/2011: The Walking Dead #80  --  29,526 
01/2012: The Walking Dead #93  --  31,596
01/2013: The Walking Dead #106 --  70,526 
01/2014: The Walking Dead #119 --  65,151  [64,992]
01/2014: The Walking Dead #120 --  65,286  [65,750]
-----------------------------------------
01/2015: The Walking Dead #136 --  66,097 (-  0.8%) [66,799]
02/2015: The Walking Dead #137 --  65,620 (-  1.7%) [65,681]
03/2015: The Walking Dead #138 --  66,778 (+  2.0%) [67,008]
03/2015: The Walking Dead #139 --  67,349 (+  3.9%) [69,652]
04/2015: The Walking Dead #140 --  66,553 (-  3.9%) [66,944]
05/2015: The Walking Dead #141 --  68,931 (+  4.5%) [69,970]
06/2015: The Walking Dead #142 --  68,221 (-  1.3%) [69,079]
06/2015: The Walking Dead #143 --  67,989 (+  0.4%) [69,325]
07/2015: The Walking Dead #144 --  79,496 (+ 15.2%) [79,882]
08/2015: The Walking Dead #145 --  82,792 (+  4.7%) [83,671]
09/2015: The Walking Dead #146 --  69,006 (- 16.6%) [69,799]
10/2015: The Walking Dead #147 --  67,056 (-  2.6%) [68,007]
11/2015: The Walking Dead #148 --  65,526 (-  2.3%) [66,446]
12/2015: The Walking Dead #149 --  65,406 (-  1.6%) 
01/2016: The Walking Dead #150 -- 156,166 (+138.8%) 
-----------------
6 months: + 95.5%
1 year  : +133.8%
2 years : +137.6%
5 years : +428.9%
10 years: +705.6%

The Walking Dead celebrates its 150th issue with an extra-sized issue and a plethora of variant covers. It’s enough to vault it into first place for January.

—

26 - SAGA ($2.99)
01/2013: Saga #9  -- 45,629 
01/2014: Saga #18 -- 53,139  [54,388]
---------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: Saga #25 -- 55,972 (+  2.7%) [56,852]
03/2015: Saga #26 -- 54,892 (-  3.5%) [54,876]
04/2015: Saga #27 -- 54,897 (-  0.0%) [54,868]
05/2015: Saga #28 -- 55,239 (+  2.6%) [56,275]
06/2015: Saga #29 -- 55,131 (-  0.9%) [55,752]
07/2015: Saga #30 -- 60,937 (+  3.1%) [57,501]
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Saga #31 -- 53,980 (-  5.0%) [54,650]
12/2015: Saga #32 -- 51,850 (-  5.1%) 
01/2016: Saga #33 -- 50,415 (-  2.8%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 12.3%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : -  7.3%

—

45 - PAPER GIRLS ($2.99)
10/2015: Paper Girls #1  -- 75,585           [80,620]
11/2015: Paper Girls #2  -- 46,274 (- 40.0%) [48,346]
12/2015: Paper Girls #3  -- 43,737 (-  9.5%) 
01/2016: Paper Girls #4  -- 38,290 (- 12.5%)

Still looking for its level, but it’s high enough that wherever that level ends up it’ll likely be a success. If I were a betting man I’d place money on the trade collections being big sellers, both in the direct market and the general book market as well.

—

83 - I HATE FAIRYLAND ($3.50)
10/2015: I Hate Fairyland #1 -- 50,318           [53,492]
11/2015: I Hate Fairyland #2 -- 31,626 (- 38.2%) [33,054]
12/2015: I Hate Fairyland #3 -- 27,843 (- 15.8%) 
01/2016: I Hate Fairyland #3 -- 25,708 (-  7.7%)

Also still looking for its level, which would appear to be around the 20K range once it settles down. That’s very good for an Image book.

—

107 - MONSTRESS ($3.99)
11/2015: Monstress #1 -- 33,045           [36,876]
12/2015: Monstress #2 -- 23,367 (- 36.6%) 
01/2016: Monstress #3 -- 22,945 (-  1.8%)

Returnable, so the figures have been adjusted up 10% from what was reported by Diamond/ICv2. (For an explanation why this is done for returnable items, please see the fine print at the end of this post.)

If those are indeed accurate numbers for Monstress, then it is already settling in quite nicely with a very gentle third issue drop.

—

97 - TOKYO GHOST ($3.99)
09/2015: Tokyo Ghost #1 -- 39,682           [44,296]
10/2015: Tokyo Ghost #2 -- 27,688 (- 32.8%) [29,770]
11/2015: Tokyo Ghost #3 -- 25,198 (- 15.4%) 
12/2015: Tokyo Ghost #4 -- 24,133 (-  4.2%) 
01/2015: Tokyo Ghost #5 -- 22,724 (-  5.8%)

—

100 - OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA ($2.99)
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: Outcast #7  -- 38,077 (+  6.1%) [38,574]
04/2015: Outcast #8  -- 36,188 (- 14.4%) [33,012]
05/2015: Outcast #9  -- 28,961 (-  8.8%) [30,104]
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: Outcast #10 -- 28,012 (-  6.9%) 
08/2015: Outcast #11 -- 27,087 (-  3.3%) 
09/2015: Outcast #12 -- 26,115 (-  3.6%) 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Outcast #13 -- 24,051 (-  7.9%) 
12/2015: Outcast #14 -- 23,319 (-  3.0%) 
01/2016: Outcast #15 -- 22,195 (-  4.8%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 20.8%

It’ll be interesting to see what effect the television series has on sales when it debuts later this year.

—

106 - HUCK ($3.50)
11/2015: Huck #1 -- 35,299           [37,775]
12/2015: Huck #2 -- 22,937 (- 39.3%)
01/2016: Huck #3 -- 20,986 (-  8.5%)

A typical third issue drop. This should settle in to the mid- to upper-teens.

—

109 - CRY HAVOC ($3.99)
01/2016: Cry Havoc #1 -- 20,677

Image’s top debut of January is from Simon Spurrier & Ryan Kelly. Too early to guess where this will end up.

—

114 - DESCENDER ($2.99)
03/2015: Descender #1  -- 61,910           [71,989]
04/2015: Descender #2  -- 43,946 (- 41.9%) [41,853]
05/2015: Descender #3  -- 29,717 (- 22.7%) [32,343]
06/2015: Descender #4  -- 27,163 (- 10.2%) [29,046]
07/2015: Descender #5  -- 26,039 (- 10.4%) 
08/2015: Descender #6  -- 24,615 (-  5.5%) 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Descender #7  -- 23,684 (-  3.8%) 
12/2015: Descender #8  -- 20,999 (- 11.3%) 
01/2015: Descender #9  -- 20,017 (-  4.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 23.1%

Still holding above the 20K line.

—

122 - BITCH PLANET ($3.99)
01/2015: Bitch Planet #2  -- 26,508 (- 20.9%) [33,867]
02/2015: Bitch Planet #3  -- 24,999 (- 26.2%) 
03/2015: -- 
04/2015: Bitch Planet #4  -- 21,569 (- 13.7%) 
05/2015: -- 
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: Bitch Planet #5  -- 22,041 (+  2.2%)
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Bitch Planet #6  -- 18,834 (- 14.6%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 44.4%

Hard to say if BP’s irregular schedule will have much of an impact on it’s individual issue sales. The first TPB moved 13K units in the direct market from Oct – Dec 2015, and another 1400 in January. So regardless of how the single issue sales go this ought to be around for a while.

—

124 - EAST OF WEST ($3.50)
01/2014: East of West #9  -- 29,885  [30,032]
-----------------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: East of West #17 -- 23,482 (- 34.6%) 
03/2015: East of West #18 -- 23,080 (-  1.7%)
04/2015: --
05/2015: East of West #19 -- 22,482 (-  2.6%)
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: East of West #20 -- 21,778 (-  3.1%) 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: East of West #21 -- 21,075 (-  3.2%) 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: East of West #22 -- 19,867 (-  5.7%) 
12/2015: East of West #23 -- 19,184 (-  3.4%) 
01/2015: East of West #24 -- 18,460 (-  3.8%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 38.5%

Getting back on a schedule?

—

136 - THE FADE OUT ($3.50)
01/2015: Fade Out #4  -- 23,902 (- 11.6%) 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Fade Out #5  -- 22,303 (-  6.7%)
05/2015: Fade Out #6  -- 20,678 (-  7.3%)
06/2015: Fade Out #7  -- 20,191 (-  2.4%) 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Fade Out #8  -- 19,416 (-  3.9%) 
09/2015: Fade Out #9  -- 18,201 (-  6.2%) 
10/2015: Fade Out #10 -- 17,582 (-  3.4%) 
11/2015: Fade Out #11 -- 16,785 (-  3.4%) 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Fade Out #12 -- 16,515 (-  1.6%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 30.9%

Final issue. The Brubaker/Phillips books also seem to do very well in the collected editions.

—

145 - SOUTHERN BASTARDS ($3.50)
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: Southern Bastards #7  -- 17,523 (-  6.0%) 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Southern Bastards #8  -- 17,473 (-  0.3%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Southern Bastards #9  -- 18,327 (+  4.9%) 
07/2015: Southern Bastards #10 -- 25,741 (+ 40.5%) 
08/2015: --
09/2015: --
10/2015: Southern Bastards #11 -- 17,306 (- 32.8%) 
11/2015: Southern Bastards #12 -- 16,681 (-  3.6%) 
12/2015: --
01/2015: Southern Bastards #13 -- 15,627 (-  6.3%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 39.3%
1 year  :    n.a.

—

148 - BLACK MAGICK ($3.99)
10/2015: Black Magick #1 -- 28,429 
11/2015: Black Magick #2 -- 17,686 (- 37.8%) 
12/2015: Black Magick #3 -- 15,070 (- 14.8%) 
01/2015: Black Magick #4 -- 14,736 (-  2.2%)

Settling in quickly. If these hold up, they are decent enough numbers for an Image book.

—

159 - JUPITER'S CIRCLE ($3.50)
01/2014: --
--------------------------------------
01/2015: Jupiter's Legacy #5 -- 29,055 (- 21.3%) 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Jupiter's Circle #1 -- 32,542 (+ 12.0%)
05/2015: Jupiter's Circle #2 -- 24,499 (- 24.7%)
06/2015: Jupiter's Circle #3 -- 21,287 (- 13.1%) 
07/2015: Jupiter's Circle #4 -- 19,522 (-  8.3%) 
08/2015: Jupiter's Circle #5 -- 18,889 (-  3.2%) 
09/2015: Jupiter's Circle #6 -- 18,732 (-  0.8%) 
10/2015: --
11/2015: Jupiter's Crc v2 #1 -- 18,175 (-  3.0%)
12/2015: Jupiter's Crc v2 #2 -- 15,719 (- 13.5%)
01/2015: Jupiter's Crc v2 #3 -- 14,631 (-  6.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 25.1%
1 year  : - 49.6%
2 years :    n.a.

—

169 - BLACK SCIENCE ($3.99)
01/2014: Black Science #3  -- 23,965 
------------------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: Black Science #12 -- 26,112 (+ 32.6%)
04/2015: Black Science #13 -- 17,876 (- 31.5%) 
05/2015: Black Science #14 -- 17,090 (-  4.4%)
06/2015: Black Science #15 -- 17,932 (+  4.9%) 
07/2015: Black Science #16 -- 18,298 (+  2.0%) 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Black Science #17 -- 15,094 (- 17.5%) 
12/2015: Black Science #18 -- 14,465 (-  4.2%) 
01/2016: Black Science #19 -- 13,966 (-  3.4%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 19.3%
1 year  : - 26.5%
2 years : - 28.2%

—

159 - INJECTION ($2.99)
05/2015: Injection #1  -- 41,648           [43,733]
06/2015: Injection #2  -- 23,484 (- 43.6%) 
07/2015: Injection #3  -- 19,754 (- 15.9%) 
08/2015: Injection #4  -- 17,113 (- 13.4%) 
09/2015: Injection #5  -- 16,020 (-  6.4%) 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Injection #6  -- 13,153 (- 17.9%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 33.4%

Not a happy return after the three-month layover.

—

171 - THE BEAUTY ($3.50)
08/2015: The Beauty #1  -- 25,245
09/2015: The Beauty #2  -- 17,337 (- 31.3%)
10/2015: The Beauty #3  -- 14,935 (- 13.9%)
11/2015: The Beauty #4  -- 13,369 (- 10.5%)
12/2015: The Beauty #5  -- 11,514 (- 13.9%)
01/2016: The Beauty #6  -- 10,595 (-  8.0%)

—

173 - DEADLY CLASS ($3.99)
01/2015: Deadly Class #10 -- 13,552 (-  4.2%) 
02/2015: Deadly Class #11 -- 12,805 (-  5.5%) 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Deadly Class #12 -- 13,780 (+  7.6%)
05/2015: Deadly Class #13 -- 12,299 (- 10.7%)
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: Deadly Class #14 -- 11,798 (-  4.1%) 
08/2015: Deadly Class #15 -- 11,779 (-  0.2%) 
09/2015: Deadly Class #16 -- 11,394 (-  3.3%) 
10/2015: --
11/2015: --
12/2015: Deadly Class #17 -- 11,035 (-  3.2%) 
01/2016: Deadly Class #18 -- 10,485 (-  5.0%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 11.1%
1 year  : - 22.6%

—

177 - BIRTHRIGHT ($2.99)
01/2015: Birthright #4  -- 13,506 (-  5.2%) 
02/2015: Birthright #5  -- 13,218 (-  2.1%) 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Birthright #6  -- 14,081 (+  6.5%)
05/2015: Birthright #7  -- 12,561 (- 10.8%)
06/2015: Birthright #8  -- 12,058 (-  4.0%) 
07/2015: Birthright #9  -- 11,496 (-  4.7%) 
08/2015: Birthright #10 -- 11,072 (-  3.7%) 
09/2015: --
10/2015: --
11/2015: Birthright #11 -- 10,989 (-  0.7%) 
12/2015: Birthright #12 -- 10,633 (-  3.2%) 
01/2016: Birthright #13 --  9,931 (-  6.6%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 13.6%
1 year  : - 26.5%

—

185 - CHEW ($3.50)
01/2011: --
01/2012: Chew #23 -- 12,012
01/2013: Chew #31 -- 12,687 
01/2014: Chew #39 -- 11,487
------------------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: Chew #46 -- 15,073 (+ 44.8%) 
03/2015: Chew #47 --  9,785 (- 35.1%)
04/2015: Chew #48 --  9,707 (-  0.8%)
05/2015: Chew #49 --  9,583 (-  1.3%)
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: Chew #50 -- 10,679 (+ 11.4%) 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: Chew #51 --  9,652 (-  9.6%) 
11/2015: Chew #52 --  9,056 (-  6.2%) 
12/2015: Chew #53 --  8,829 (-  2.5%) 
01/2016: Chew #54 --  8,556 (-  3.1%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 19.9%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 25.5%
5 years :    n.a.

—

187 - NAILBITER ($2.99)
01/2015: Nailbiter #9  -- 11,222 (-  7.2%) 
02/2015: Nailbiter #10 -- 10,889 (-  3.0%) 
03/2015: --
04/2015: Nailbiter #11 -- 12,868 (+ 18.2%)
05/2015: Nailbiter #12 -- 10,688 (- 16.9%)
06/2015: Nailbiter #13 -- 10,456 (-  2.2%) 
07/2015: Nailbiter #14 -- 10,130 (-  3.1%) 
08/2015: Nailbiter #15 --  9,934 (-  1.9%) 
09/2015: --
10/2015: Nailbiter #16 --  9,719 (-  2.2%) 
11/2015: Nailbiter #17 --  9,333 (-  4.0%) 
12/2015: Nailbiter #18 --  8,853 (-  5.1%) 
01/2016: Nailbiter #19 --  8,464 (-  4.4%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 16.4%
1 year  : - 24.6%

Starting a new story arc with issue #21 in May.

—

207 - SYMMETRY ($3.99)
12/2015: Symmetry #1 -- 19,274 
01/2016: Symmetry #2 --  7,893 (- 59.1%)

Returnable, so the figures have been adjusted up 10% from what was reported by Diamond/ICv2. (For an explanation why this is done for returnable items, please see the fine print at the end of this post.)

This is the level at which the +10% probably isn’t valid, but I’m keeping it in place anyway. Either way, that’s an awful second issue drop.

—

198 - NOWHERE MEN ($2.99)
01/2013: Nowhere Men #3  --  7,421 
01/2014: --
----------------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: --
04/2015: --
05/2015: --
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Nowhere Men #7  --  7,498 (- 41.0%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years :    n.a.

It’s been over two years since the last issue of Nowhere Men (issue #6 in October 2013 at 12,704). This would appear to be a problem of out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

—

205 - SPREAD ($3.50)
01/2015: Spread #5  -- 11,115 (- 16.4%) 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: Spread #6  -- 10,203 (-  8.2%)
04/2015: Spread #7  -- 10,955 (+  7.4%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Spread #8  --  8,388 (- 23.4%) 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Spread #9  --  7,866 (-  6.2%) 
09/2015: Spread #10 --  7,372 (-  6.3%) 
10/2015: Spread #11 --  6,965 (-  5.5%) 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Spread #12 --  7,190 (+  3.2%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 35.3%

It’s not a huge move up—a couple hundred copies—but it’s a move upward nonetheless.

—

208 - ODY-C ($3.99)
01/2015: ODY-C #2  -- 23,448 (- 55.0%) 
02/2015: ODY-C #3  -- 18,509 (- 21.1%) 
03/2015: --
04/2015: ODY-C #4  -- 14,086 (- 23.9%)
05/2015: ODY-C #5  -- 12,557 (- 10.9%)
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: ODY-C #6  --  9,679 (- 22.9%) 
09/2015: ODY-C #7  --  8,882 (-  8.2%) 
10/2015: ODY-C #8  --  7,959 (- 10.4%) 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: ODY-C #9  --  7,165 (- 10.0%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 69.4%

—

213 - WOLF ($3.50)
07/2015: Wolf #1  -- 18,864  
08/2015: Wolf #2  -- 12,898 (- 31.6%)  
09/2015: Wolf #3  -- 10,305 (- 20.1%)  
10/2015: Wolf #4  --  8,580 (- 16.7%)  
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Wolf #5  --  6,752 (- 21.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 62.4%

—

217 - WAYWARD ($3.50)
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: Wayward #6  -- 12,247 (+ 22.4%)
04/2015: Wayward #7  --  8,389 (- 31.5%)
05/2015: Wayward #8  --  8,073 (-  3.8%)
06/2015: Wayward #9  --  7,913 (-  2.0%) 
07/2015: Wayward #10 --  7,859 (-  0.7%) 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Wayward #11 --  8,024 (+  4.4%) 
12/2015: Wayward #12 --  7,015 (- 14.5%) 
01/2016: Wayward #13 --  6,589 (-  6.1%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 16.2%
1 year  :    n.a.

—

222 - THE VIOLENT ($2.99)
12/2015: The Violent #1 -- 11,751 
01/2016: The Violent #2 --  6,474 (- 44.9%)

—

227 - REVIVAL ($3.99)
01/2013: Revival #6  -- 17,396 
01/2014: Revival #17 -- 10,585 
------------------------------
01/2015: Revival #27 --  8,057 (-  7.3%) 
02/2015: -- 
03/2015: Revival #28 --  7,913 (-  1.8%)
04/2015: Revival #29 --  7,786 (-  1.6%)
05/2015: --
06/2015: Revival #30 --  7,545 (-  3.1%) 
07/2015: Revival #31 --  7,337 (-  2.8%) 
08/2015: Revival #32 --  7,019 (-  4.3%) 
09/2015: Revival #33 --  6,824 (-  2.8%) 
10/2015: Revival #34 --  6,921 (+  1.4%) 
11/2015: --
12/2015: Revival #35 --  6,510 (-  5.9%) 
01/2016: Revival #36 --  6,182 (-  5.0%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 15.7%
1 year  : - 23.3%
2 years : - 41.6%

—

228 - PHONOGRAM: THE IMMATERIAL GIRL ($3.99)
08/2015: Immaterial Girl #1 of 6 -- 15,856 (+516.2%)
09/2015: Immaterial Girl #2 of 6 -- 10,615 (- 33.1%)
10/2015: Immaterial Girl #3 of 6 --  9,012 (- 15.1%)
11/2015: Immaterial Girl #4 of 6 --  7,660 (- 15.0%)
12/2015: Immaterial Girl #5 of 6 --  6,777 (- 11.5%)
01/2016: Immaterial Girl #6 of 6 --  6,193 (-  9.1%)

—

229 - FOUR EYES: HEARTS OF FIRE ($2.99)
01/2016: Four Eyes HoF #1 of 4 -- 6,122

The previous Four Eyes series ended in June 2010 with sales fewer than 4,528 (it didn’t make the chart that month, and 4,528 was the sales of the #300 book). That four issue series took over a year and a half to release its four issues. So yeah, you can see why retailers wouldn’t want to go in big for this new mini.

—

251 - CITIZEN JACK ($3.99)
11/2015: Citizen Jack #1 -- 16,605 
12/2015: Citizen Jack #2 --  9,242 (- 44.3%) 
01/2015: Citizen Jack #3 --  6,070 (- 34.3%)

Returnable, so the figures have been adjusted up 10% from what was reported by Diamond/ICv2. (For an explanation why this is done for returnable items, please see the fine print at the end of this post.)

This is the level at which the +10% probably isn’t valid, but I’m keeping it in place anyway for now.

—

233 - PROPHET: EARTH WAR ($2.99)
01/2012: Prophet #21               -- 6,029 
01/2013: Prophet #33               -- 4,978 
01/2014: Prophet #42               -- 4,978 
-------------------------------------------
01/2016: Prophet Earth War #1 of 6 -- 6,015 
-----------------
2 years : + 20.8%

The regular Prophet series ended in July 2014 selling fewer than 6,620 copies (it didn’t make the chart that month, and 6,620 was the sales of the #300 book).

—

240 - ISLAND ($7.99)
07/2015: Island #1  -- 16,677  
08/2015: Island #2  -- 11,092 (- 33.5%)  
09/2015: Island #3  -- 10,083 (-  9.1%)  
10/2015: Island #4  --  7,553 (- 25.1%)  
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: Island #5  --  6,422 (- 15.0%)  
01/2016: Island #6  --  5,764 (- 10.2%)  
-----------------
6 months: - 65.4%

—

248 - MYTHIC ($3.99)
05/2015: Mythic #1  -- 32,297 
06/2015: Mythic #2  -- 13,838 (- 57.2%) 
07/2015: Mythic #3  -- 10,197 (- 26.3%) 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: Mythic #4  --  7,417 (- 27.3%) 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Mythic #5  --  6,538 (- 11.9%) 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Mythic #6  --  5,590 (- 14.5%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 45.2%

—

253 - THE LEGACY OF LUTHER STRODE ($3.50)
04/2015: Legacy #1 -- 11,084
05/2015: --
06/2015: Legacy #2 --  7,601 (- 31.4%)
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: Legacy #3 --  6,919 (-  9.0%)
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: Legacy #4 --  5,467 (- 21.0%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.

—

257 - RINGSIDE ($3.99)
11/2015: Ringside #1 -- 14,205 
12/2015: Ringside #2 --  6,447 (- 54.6%) 
01/2016: Ringside #3 --  5,269 (- 18.3%)

—

260 - FASTER THAN LIGHT ($2.99)
09/2015: Faster Than Light #1 -- 16,711 
10/2015: Faster Than Light #2 -- 10,098 (- 39.6%) 
11/2015: Faster Than Light #3 --  7,992 (- 20.9%) 
12/2015: Faster Than Light #4 --  6,530 (- 18.3%) 
01/2016: Faster Than Light #5 --  5,127 (- 21.5%)

This is the first issue that was not returnable.

—

272 - PENCIL HEAD ($3.99)
01/2016: Pencil Head #1 of 5 -- 4,805

New series by Ted McKeever.

—

286 - POSTAL ($3.99)
02/2015: Postal #1  -- 13,967 
03/2015: Postal #2  --  8,464 (- 39.4%)
04/2015: Postal #3  --  7,031 (- 16.9%)
05/2015: Postal #4  --  6,296 (- 10.5%)
06/2015: -- 
07/2015: Postal #5  --  5,835 (-  7.3%) 
08/2015: Postal #6  --  5,380 (-  7.8%) 
09/2015: Postal #7  --  5,169 (-  3.9%) 
10/2015: --
11/2015: Postal #8  --  4,882 (-  5.6%) 
12/2015: --
01/2016: Postal #9  --  4,382 (- 10.2%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 24.9%

—

290 - STRAY BULLETS: SUNSHINE & ROSES ($3.50)
01/2006: --
01/2011: --
01/2012: --
01/2013: --
01/2014: --
--------------------------------------
01/2015: -- 
02/2015: Sunshine & Roses #1  -- 14,122 (-  3.5%) 
03/2015: Sunshine & Roses #2  --  5,688 (- 59.7%)
04/2015: Sunshine & Roses #3  --  ????? (< 6,352)
05/2015: Sunshine & Roses #4  --  5,274 
06/2015: Sunshine & Roses #5  --  5,207 (-  1.3%) 
07/2015: Sunshine & Roses #6  --  ????? (< 5,446) 
08/2015: Sunshine & Roses #7  --  4,827   
09/2015: Sunshine & Roses #8  --  ????? (< 5,049)
10/2015: --
11/2015: Sunshine & Roses #9  --  4,583   
12/2015: Sunshine & Roses #10 --  ????? (< 5,848)
01/2016: Sunshine & Roses #11 --  4,318   
-----------------
6 months:    ???%
1 year  :    n.a.
10 years:    n.a.

—

294 - LIMBO ($2.99)
11/2015: Limbo #1 -- 10,869 
12/2015: Limbo #2 --  ????? (< 5,848) 
01/2016: Limbo #3 --  4,160

—

298 - CODENAME BABOUSKA: CONCLAVE OF DEATH ($3.99)
10/2015: Conclave of Death #1 -- 12,290 
11/2015: Conclave of Death #2 --  6,538 (- 46.8%) 
12/2015: Conclave of Death #3 --  ????? (< 5,848) 
01/2016: Conclave of Death #4 --  4,056

—

299 - BLACK JACK KETCHUM ($3.99)
12/2015: Black Jack Ketchum #1 of 4 -- 8,022 
01/2016: Black Jack Ketchum #2 of 4 -- 4,028 (- 49.8%)

—

Image titles shipping but not making the Top 300 in January include: 68: Last Rights, Astronauts in Trouble, Dark Corridor, EGOs, Elephantmen, From Under Mountains, The Fuse, No Mercy, Saints, Savage Dragon.

Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean that any of them are in danger of being cancelled; there are many reasons that the creators of these books may desire to keep them going.

---

The Fine Print (Disclaimers, et cetera)

The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.

ICv2.com’s estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.

Bear in mind that the figures measure sales of physical comics to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to bookstores, newsstands, other mass-market retail chains or the United Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book’s initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month. Keep in mind that sales for some titles may include incentives to acquire variants and not every unit sold is necessarily even intended to be sold to a customer.

If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a book’s initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in brackets behind those issues (e.g. “[36,599]”). Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used.

Titles which are returnable have their numbers artificially adjusted down by Diamond. To make up for that this column increases the reported numbers for those titles by 10%. Which is likely also wrong, but it’s a different and likely less wrong kind of wrong, and experience has shown that this leads to sales figures which are more consistent.

Please keep in mind that raw sales numbers do not tell us about how profitable a book is for a publisher or for the creators.

Above all, do not allow sales numbers to dictate your purchasing and enjoyment of a particular comic. If you enjoy reading a comic series then go right on buying and reading that comic, no matter what the sales figures say.

Opinions expressed in this column are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer, Heidi MacDonald or anyone at The Comics Beat, the International Society of Heavy Metal Studies, or my former neighbor’s dog Miles.

The author of this column does weekly snapshots of Amazon comic sales charts at http://yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com/ and tweets about comics and related subjects on Twitter at @davereadscomics (PM me there is you need to contact me).

As always, we welcome your comments and corrections below. Please try to keep things civilized.