Image Comics Month-to-Month Sales July 2016: It Was a Pretty Good Year

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 indie month-to-month chart. Of course, this is now my first anniversary doing the Image chart rundown, so maybe this is now a permanent gig?

Please refer to July 2015’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 58 comics in July, compared to 55 comics in June, 41 comics in May, 51 comics in April, 52 comics in March, 50 comics in February, 56 comics in January, 67 comics in December, 62 in November, 55 in October and 73 in September. Of those 58 comics, 20 did not place in Diamond’s Top 300, and another 19 placed below the 10K mark.

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.)

---

32 - THE WALKING DEAD ($2.99)
07/2006: The Walking Dead #29  --  20,385
07/2011: The Walking Dead #87  --  32,126
07/2012: The Walking Dead #100 -- 366,051 [388,038] 
07/2013: The Walking Dead #112 --  72,975
07/2014: The Walking Dead #129 --  72,908  [73,007] 
-----------------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: The Walking Dead #151 --  67,381 (- 59.6%) 
03/2016: The Walking Dead #152 --  67,258 (-  0.2%) 
04/2016: The Walking Dead #153 --  67,358 (+  0.1%) 
05/2016: The Walking Dead #154 --  68,922 (+  2.3%) 
06/2016: The Walking Dead #155 --  71,755 (+  4.1%) 
07/2016: The Walking Dead #156 --  76,355 (+  6.4%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 51.1%
1 year  : -  4.4%
2 years : +  4.6%
5 years : +137.7%
10 years: +274.6%

The Walking Dead has been on an upward swing for most of the current storyline, which would be a good sign, I should think. It’s one of the few Image titles to see an increase in sales this month.

—

69 - 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%) 
02/2016: Paper Girls #5  -- 37,206 (-  2.8%) 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Paper Girls #6  -- 36,385 (-  2.2%) 
07/2016: Paper Girls #7  -- 35,392 (-  2.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  7.6%

It might not be doing Saga-type numbers, but mid-30K is really good for an Image book.

—

98 - 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 #4 -- 25,708 (-  7.7%) 
02/2016: I Hate Fairyland #5 -- 24,793 (-  3.6%) 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: I Hate Fairyland #6 -- 26,095 (+  5.3%) 
07/2016: I Hate Fairyland #7 -- 23,742 (-  9.0%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  7.6%

Seems to me mirroring Paper Girls, just at around 12-13K lower. Even the six month percentage change is the same!

—

104 - OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA ($2.99)
07/2014: Outcast #2  -- 55,126  [62,552] 
------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: Outcast #16 -- 21,801 (-  1.8%) 
03/2016: Outcast #17 -- 21,426 (-  1.7%) 
04/2016: Outcast #18 -- 21,261 (-  0.8%) 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: -- 
07/2016: Outcast #19 -- 22,167 (+  4.3%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  0.1%
1 year  : - 20.9%
2 years : - 64.6%

The television series debuted in June, but so far it’s only resulted in a small increase in single issue interest. Though by spawning a television series, Outcast has pretty much done its job already.

—

106 - 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%) 
01/2016: Tokyo Ghost #5 -- 22,724 (-  5.8%) 
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: Tokyo Ghost #6 -- 22,231 (-  2.2%) 
05/2016: Tokyo Ghost #7 -- 21,487 (-  3.3%) 
06/2016: -- 
07/2016: Tokyo Ghost #8 -- 21,688 (+  0.9%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  4.6%

A slight increase this month, possibly a hangover from having skipped last month when most Image titles saw slight increases.

—

129 - DESCENDER ($2.99)
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%) 
01/2016: Descender #9  -- 20,017 (-  4.7%) 
02/2016: Descender #10 -- 19,642 (-  3.4%) 
03/2016: Descender #11 -- 18,842 (-  2.6%) 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Descender #12 -- 19,782 (+  5.0%) 
07/2016: Descender #13 -- 17,783 (- 10.1%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 11.2%
1 year  : - 31.7%

—

132 - SPAWN ($2.99)
07/2006: Spawn #158      -- 17,726  [26,856]
07/2011: Spawn #209      -- 13,964 
07/2012: Spawn #221      -- 15,801  
07/2013: Spawn #233      -- 15,701 
07/2014: Spawn #245      -- 12,090  
----------------------------------
07/2015: Spawn #254      -- 15,421 (-  3.6%) 
08/2015: Spawn #255      -- 15,717 (+  1.9%) 
09/2015: Spawn #256      -- 15,087 (-  4.0%) 
10/2015: Spawn #257      -- 15,266 (+  1.2%) 
11/2015: Spawn #258      -- 15,163 (-  0.7%) 
12/2015: Spawn #259      -- 16,906 (+ 11.5%) 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: Spawn #260      -- 17,877 (+  5.7%) 
02/2016: Spawn #261      -- 16,949 (-  5.2%) 
03/2016: --
04/2016: Spawn #262      -- 18,775 (+ 10.8%) 
05/2016: Spawn #263      -- 16,109 (- 14.2%) 
06/2016: -- 
07/2016: Spawn #264      -- 17,157 (+  6.5%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : + 11.3%
2 years : + 41.9%
5 years : + 22.9%
10 years: - 36.1%

Like Tokyo Ghost, Spawn goes up this month after missing last month.

—

133 - JUPITER'S LEGACY ($3.99)
07/2013: --
07/2014: -- 
--------------------------------------
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%)
01/2016: Jupiter's Crc v2 #3 -- 14,631 (-  6.9%)
02/2016: -- 
03/2016: Jupiter's Crc v2 #4 -- 13,726 (-  6.2%)
04/2016: Jupiter's Crc v2 #5 -- 13,418 (-  2.2%)
05/2016: Jupiter's Crc v2 #6 -- 11,177 (- 16.7%)
06/2016: Jupiter's Leg v2 #1 -- 28,409 (+154.2%)
07/2016: Jupiter's Leg v2 #2 -- 17,031 (- 40.1%)
-----------------
6 months: + 16.4%
1 year  : - 12.8%
2 years :    n.a.

That’s a surprisingly large drop for the second issue of volume 2.

—

134 - EAST OF WEST ($3.99)
07/2013: East of West #4  -- 43,228
07/2014: East of West #13 -- 26,531
-----------------------------------
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%) 
01/2016: East of West #24 -- 18,460 (-  3.8%) 
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: East of West #25 -- 19,297 (+  4.5%) 
05/2016: East of West #26 -- 17,645 (-  8.6%) 
06/2016: East of West #27 -- 18,146 (+  2.8%) 
07/2016: East of West #28 -- 17,019 (-  6.2%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  7.8%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 35.9%

Nearly all of the titles that saw that slight uptick last month (which was mostly chalked up to a Rebirth halo effect) saw that gain evaporate this month.

—

139 - THE WICKED + THE DIVINE ($3.50)
07/2014: Wicked + Divine #2  -- 27,962  [33,082] 
--------------------------------------
07/2015: Wicked + Divine #12 -- 20,335 (-  1.2%) 
08/2015: Wicked + Divine #13 -- 20,161 (-  1.2%) 
09/2015: Wicked + Divine #14 -- 20,706 (+  2.7%) 
10/2015: Wicked + Divine #15 -- 20,154 (-  2.7%) 
11/2015: Wicked + Divine #16 -- 19,360 (-  3.9%) 
12/2015: Wicked + Divine #17 -- 18,479 (-  4.6%) 
01/2016: --
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: Wicked + Divine #18 -- 17,722 (-  4.1%) 
05/2016: Wicked + Divine #19 -- 16,929 (-  4.4%) 
06/2016: Wicked + Divine #20 -- 17,831 (+  5.3%) 
07/2016: Wicked + Divine #21 -- 16,283 (-  8.7%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 19.9%
2 years : - 50.8%

—

153 - HORIZON ($2.99)
07/2016: Horizon #1 -- 15,175

Debuts with numbers right around those of The Fix. If it follow’s that title’s trajectory, it’ll be okay.

—

156 - MILLARWORLD ANNUAL ($2.99)
07/2016: Millarworld Ann #1 -- 14,596

Short stories by talent contest winners.

—

172 - BLACK SCIENCE ($3.99)
07/2014: Black Science #7  -- 28,147  
------------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: Black Science #20 -- 13,251 (-  5.1%) 
03/2016: Black Science #21 -- 13,092 (-  1.2%) 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: -- 
07/2016: Black Science #22 -- 12,829 (-  2.0%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  8.1%
1 year  : - 29.9%
2 years : - 54.4%

Picks up from its three-month hiatus right where it left off.

—

174 - LAZARUS ($3.99)
07/2013: Lazarus #2  -- 27,143
07/2014: Lazarus #9  -- 19,066  
------------------------------
07/2015: Lazarus #18 -- 14,563 (-  2.8%) 
08/2015: --
09/2015: Lazarus #19 -- 14,506 (-  0.4%) 
10/2015: --
11/2015: Lazarus #20 -- 14,218 (-  2.0%) 
12/2015: Lazarus #21 -- 13,390 (-  5.8%) 
01/2016: --
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2006: Lazarus #22 -- 14,177 (+  5.9%)
07/2006: Lazarus #23 -- 12,300 (- 13.2%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  : - 15.5%
2 years : - 35.5%

—

176 - THE HUNT ($3.99)
07/2016: The Hunt #1 -- 12,166

177 - THROWAWAYS ($2.99)
07/2016: Throwaways #1 -- 12,111

A couple more debuts.

—

178 - VELVET ($3.99)
07/2014: Velvet #6  -- 18,775
-----------------------------
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Velvet #11 -- 14,802 (-  5.8%) 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Velvet #12 -- 14,206 (-  4.0%) 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: Velvet #13 -- 13,585 (-  4.4%) 
03/2016: --
04/2016: Velvet #14 -- 12,980 (-  4.5%) 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: --
07/2016: Velvet #15 -- 11,964 (-  7.8%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 36.3%

—

185 - THE FIX ($3.99)
04/2016: The Fix #1  -- 14,959 
05/2016: The Fix #2  -- 10,433 (- 30.3%) 
06/2016: The Fix #3  -- 11,128 (+  6.7%) 
07/2016: The Fix #4  -- 11,115 (-  0.1%)

Issue #4 already had a second printing come out in August. Like the others, we’re not likely see it ever show up on the chart. But this is one title that’s refusing to follow the typical sales trajectory.

—

198 - MECHANISM ($3.99)
07/2016: Mechanism #1 -- 9,257

New book from Top Cow & Raffaele Ienco.

—

204 - RENATO JONES: THE ONE % ($3.99)
05/2016: One Percent #1  -- 14,857 
06/2016: One Percent #2  -- 10,565 (- 28.9%) 
07/2016: One Percent #3  --  9,027 (- 14.6%)

Like The Fix, Renato Jones issues are going through multiple printings. Unlike The Fix, RJ’s first month sales are following traditional patterns.

—

205 - AUTUMNLANDS ($2.99)
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: -- 
09/2015: -- 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: Autumnlands #7  -- 12,227 (- 20.2%) 
12/2015: Autumnlands #8  -- 11,104 (-  9.2%) 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: Autumnlands #9  -- 10,249 (-  7.7%) 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: Autumnlands #10 --  9,751 (-  4.9%) 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Autumnlands #11 -- 10,140 (+  4.0%) 
07/2016: Autumnlands #12 --  8,972 (- 11.5%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.

—

208 - MANIFEST DESTINY ($2.99)
07/2014: Manifest Destiny #8  -- 15,060
---------------------------------------
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Manifest Destiny #16 -- 10,986 (-  3.5%) 
09/2015: Manifest Destiny #17 -- 10,748 (-  2.2%) 
10/2015: Manifest Destiny #18 -- 10,503 (-  2.3%) 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: -- 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: Manifest Destiny #19 --  9,900 (-  5.7%) 
06/2016: Manifest Destiny #20 --  9,399 (-  5.1%) 
07/2016: Manifest Destiny #21 --  8,763 (-  6.8%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 41.8%

—

215 - CHEW ($3.99)
07/2011: Chew #19      -- 12,510
07/2012: Sec Agnt Poyo -- 15,982 
07/2013: Chew #35      -- 12,818
07/2014: War Chkn Poyo -- 12,075 
--------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: Chew #55      --  8,430 (-  1.5%) 
03/2016: --
04/2016: Demon Chicken -- 10,447 (+ 23.9%)
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: --
07/2016: Chew #56      --  8,469 (- 18.9%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  1.0%
1 year  : - 20.7%
2 years : - 29.9%
5 years : - 32.3%

Ending with issue #60.

—

218 - THE BEAUTY ($3.99)
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%)
02/2016: -- 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: The Beauty #7  --  9,178 (- 13.4%)
06/2016: The Beauty #8  --  9,577 (+  4.3%)
07/2016: The Beauty #9  --  8,340 (- 12.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.3%

—

221 - BIRTHRIGHT ($2.99)
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%) 
02/2016: Birthright #14 --  9,519 (-  4.1%) 
03/2016: Birthright #15 --  9,344 (-  1.8%) 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Birthright #16 --  9,015 (-  3.5%) 
07/2016: Birthright #17 --  8,264 (-  8.3%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 16.8%
1 year  : - 28.1%

—

203 - NAILBITER ($2.99)
07/2014: Nailbiter #3  -- 16,581
--------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: Nailbiter #20 --  8,368 (-  1.1%) 
03/2016: -- 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: Nailbiter #21 --  8,196 (-  2.1%) 
06/2016: Nailbiter #22 --  8,477 (+  3.4%) 
07/2016: Nailbiter #23 --  7,938 (-  6.4%) 
-----------------
6 months: -  6.2%
1 year  : - 21.6%
2 years : - 52.1%

—

239 - BLACK ROAD ($3.99)
04/2016: Black Road #1  -- 16,572 
05/2016: Black Road #2  -- 10,131 (- 38.9%) 
06/2016: Black Road #3  -- 10,484 (+  3.5%) 
07/2016: Black Road #3  --  7,292 (- 30.4%)

—

243 - THE DISCIPLINE ($2.99)
03/2016: Discipline #1  -- 20,221
04/2016: Discipline #2  -- 10,288 (- 49.1%)
05/2016: Discipline #3  --  9,161 (- 11.0%)
06/2016: Discipline #4  --  9,017 (-  1.6%)
07/2016: Discipline #5  --  6,969 (- 22.7%)

—

263 - RUMBLE ($3.50)
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Rumble #6  --  8,810 (-  6.9%) 
09/2015: Rumble #7  --  7,613 (- 13.6%) 
10/2015: Rumble #8  --  7,084 (-  6.9%) 
11/2015: Rumble #9  --  6,774 (-  4.4%) 
12/2015: Rumble #10 --  6,324 (-  6.6%) 
01/2016: --
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Rumble #11 --  8,139 (+ 28.7%) 
07/2016: Rumble #12 --  5,857 (- 28.0%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.

—

266 - SPREAD ($3.50)
07/2014: Spread #1  -- 21,150  [29,300]
-----------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: Spread #13 --  6,401 (- 11.0%) 
03/2016: --
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: --
07/2016: Spread #14 --  5,783 (-  9.7%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 19.6%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 80.3%

—

268 - SHE WOLF ($3.99)
06/2016: She Wolf #1  -- 9,124 
07/2016: She Wolf #2  -- 5,722 (- 37.3%)

—

254 - SWITCH ($3.99)
10/2015: Switch #1 -- 11,442 
11/2015: Switch #2 --  6,788 (- 40.7%) 
12/2015: -- 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: Switch #3 --  6,119 (-  9.9%)
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: --
07/2016: Switch #4 --  5,568 (-  9.0%)
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.

—

277 - MORNING GLORIES ($5.99)
07/2011: -- 
07/2012: Morning Glories #20 --  9,027
07/2013: Morning Glories #29 -- 10,588 
07/2014: Morning Glories #39 --  ?????
--------------------------------------
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Morning Glories #47 --  4,461 
09/2015: Morning Glories #48 --  ????? 
10/2015: -- 
11/2015: -- 
12/2015: Morning Glories #49 --  ????? 
01/2016: -- 
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: --
07/2016: Morning Glories #50 --  5,563 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years :   ????
5 years :    n.a.

—

279 - THIEF OF THIEVES ($2.99)
07/2012: Thief of Thieves #6  -- 19,733 
07/2013: Thief of Thieves #15 -- 14,013 
07/2014: Thief of Thieves #22 --  9,457
---------------------------------------
07/2015: -- 
08/2015: Thief of Thieves #30 --  6,642 (-  3.5%) 
09/2015: Thief of Thieves #31 --  6,499 (-  2.2%) 
10/2015: --
11/2015: --
12/2015: --
01/2016: --
02/2016: --
03/2016: --
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: -- 
06/2016: Thief of Thieves #32 --  6,934 (+  6.7%) 
07/2016: Thief of Thieves #33 --  5,543 (- 20.1%) 
-----------------
6 months:    n.a.
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : - 41.4%

—

281 - REVIVAL ($3.99)
07/2012: Revival #1  -- 18,398 
07/2013: Revival #12 -- 13,948 
07/2014: Revival #22 --  9,931 
------------------------------
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%) 
02/2016: --
03/2016: Revival #37 --  5,987 (-  3.2%) 
03/2016: Revival #38 --  5,826 (-  2.7%) 
04/2016: -- 
05/2016: Revival #39 --  5,826 (-  1.1%) 
06/2016: Revival #40 --  6,004 (+  4.2%) 
07/2016: Revival #41 --  5,527 (-  7.9%) 
-----------------
6 months: - 10.6%
1 year  : - 24.7%
2 years : - 44.3%

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286 - MIDNIGHT OF THE SOUL ($3.50)
06/2016: Midnight of the Soul #1 of 5 -- 8,478 
07/2016: Midnight of the Soul #2 of 5 -- 5,359 (- 36.8%)

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293 - 3 FLOYDS: ALPHA KINGS ($3.99)
05/2016: 3F Alpha Kings #1  -- 10,055 
06/2016: --
07/2016: 3F Alpha Kings #2  --  5,197 (- 48.3%)

—

Image titles shipping but not making the Top 300 in July include: Aloha Hawaiian Dick, Axcend, Casanova, Drifter, Empty Zone, Faster Than Light, The Fuse, Island, Mirror, Postal, Prophet: Earth War, Roche Limit, Savage Dragon, Sons of the Devil, Starve, Stray Bullets, Symmetry, Think Tank, The Violent, Wolf.

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.

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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 Association for Professional Basketball Research, 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.