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By Paul Mellerick

Walking Dead shoots up in sales with two issues this month, while X_O Manowar marks the return of Valiant with the second best-selling indie book this month. Saga, Buffy and Fatale follow shortly behind, with a nice handful of strong new launches from all of the major players as the indie books continue to make their mark in the upper part of the chart.

128 indie books charted this month, well down on last month’s 143. The bottom book sold 4,817, up on last month’s 3,477. Despite less books, they sold approximately 1,392,594, a bit more than last month’s 1,338,413. Average sales are 10,880 per book, up on last month’s 9,360. As usual, UK and European sales from Diamond UK are not reported in this chart.

Out of the 128 books, 42 went up in sales, which is a far higher percentage than last month, almost a third of titles, and 63 went down, with the rest made up of one-shots and debuts.

Image are number one again this month of the indie publishers, with a 7.19% dollar share and a 6.70 market share, IDW follow a way behind with 4.80% dollar share and 4.04% market share, Dark Horse with a 4.75% dollar share and a 3.48% market share, Dynamite with a 2.55% dollar share and a 2.63% market share and Boom with 1.60% dollar share and 1.60% market share. All but Dark Horse are down

Thanks to icv2.com and Milton Griepp for permission to use these numbers, which are estimates, and can be found here.

28, 31. The Walking Dead (Image)

05/2008: The Walking Dead #49 - 23,102
05/2009: The Walking Dead #61 - 23,902
05/2010: The Walking Dead #72 - 25,182
05/2011: The Walking Dead #85 - 37,552

====

06/2011: The Walking Dead #86 - 32,187 (-14.3%)
07/2011: The Walking Dead #87 - 32,126 (-0.2%)
08/2011: The Walking Dead #88 - 31,839 (-0.9%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: The Walking Dead #89 - 31,351 (-1.5%)
10/2011: The Walking Dead #90 - 31,778 (+1.4%)
11/2011: The Walking Dead #91 - 31,813 (+0.1%)
12/2011: The Walking Dead #92 - 31,496 (-0.1%)
01/2012: The Walking Dead #93 - 31,596 (+0.1%)
02/2012: The Walking Dead #94 - 32,361 (+2.4%)
03/2012: The Walking Dead #95 - 33,916 (+4.8%)
04/2012: The Walking Dead #96 - 36,931 (+8.9%)
05/2012: The Walking Dead #97 - 53,733 (+45.5%)
05/2012: The Walking Dead #98 - 49,974 (-7.0%)

Things start going nuts with Walking Dead’s sales figures this month as sales leap up and then slightly down with the start of a new arc. A couple of months ago I mused that issue 100 was likely to sell more than a hundred thousand copies – current estimates place it at three times that, which is gobsmacking. As usual almost all of the collections chart, only one hardcover missing this month. “Only” three of them are in the top ten though.

43. X-O Manowar (Valiant)

05/2012: X-O Manowar #1 - 42,708

The new Valiant get off to a very strong start, helped by a good-sized overprint. I’m hearing that it’s been selling out for many retailers, but copies were available for re-order, and a second print is coming.

57, 264. Saga (Image)

03/2012: Saga #1 - 37,641 (47,282)
04/2012: Saga #2 - 36,885 (43,137)(-2.0%)
05/2012: Saga #3 - 38,895 (+5.4%)

The third issue sells more than the first, with the second issue selling a further 6,252. Image have stated that the first issue has now sold more than 71,000 copies over five printings.

94. Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse)

05/2007: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #3 - 106,634
05/2008: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #14 - 82,069
05/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #25 - 58,740
05/2010: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #35 - 45,446

====

09/2011: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #1 - 42,945 (+8.0%)
10/2011: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #2 - 36,448 (-15.1%)
11/2011: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #3 - 33,485 (-8.1%)
12/2011: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #4 - 31,157 (-7.0%)
01/2012: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5 - 30,146 (-3.2%)
02/2012: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #6 - 29,878 (-0.9%)
03/2012: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #7 - 29,908 (+0.1%)
04/2012: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #8 - 28,830 (-3.6%)
05/2012: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #9 - 28,229 (-2.1%)

Slowly dropping off, but at a fairly stable pace.

114. Fatale (Image)

01/2012: Fatale #1 - 41,000
02/2012: Fatale #2 - 20,315 (-1.0%)
03/2012: Fatale #3 - 20,222 (-0.5%)
04/2012: Fatale #4 - 22,804 (+12.8%)
05/2012: Fatale #5 - 22,484 (-1.4%)

Now that the initial hype has worn off a little this seems to be finding its natural sales level, and it’s pretty decent.

118. Star Wars Darth Vader Ghost Prison (Dark Horse)

05/2012: Star Wars Darth Vader Ghost Prison #1 - 22,026

Dark Horse’s second highest launch figure for a Star Wars title in the last couple of years, as the slightly faltering sales of last year are forgotten. Putting Darth Vader into a horror story seems like a good way to go…

119. The Shadow (Dynamite)

04/2012: The Shadow #1 - 45,548
05/2012: The Shadow #2 - 21,982 (-51.7%)

A big second issue drop, but that was to be expected after last month’s huge debut. It’s still Dynamite’s best selling book this month.

121. Star Trek TNG/ Doctor Who Assimilation (IDW)

05/2012: Star Trek TNG/ Doctor Who Assimilation #1 - 20,940

An excellent start for this book, well above either title’s regular sales. Bloody awful art though, they’ve obviously got someone who has a good eye for likenesses, sadly he isn’t so good at the sequential storytelling part. There’s a scene with the Doctor in a chariot that changes shape in every panel…

125. Adventure Time (Boom)

02/2012: Adventure Time #1 - 12,392 (20,915)
03/2012: Adventure Time #2 - 11,329 (20,193) (-8.6%)
04/2012: Adventure Time #3 - 17,131 (+51.2%)
05/2012: Adventure Time #4 - 20,289 (+18.4%)

Going from strength to strength, Boom appear to have got onboard this license at exactly the right time, as it permeates the consciousness of the world. Great comic too.

127. Mind The Gap (Image)

05/2012: Mind The Gap #1 - 20,038

A great start for this mystery title, probably helped by Morning Glories cover artist Rodin Esquejo on full artwork.

128. Star Wars Dawn of The Jedi (Dark Horse)

02/2012: Dawn O/T Jedi Force Storm #0 - 17,260 (21,529)
02/2012: Dawn O/T Jedi Force Storm #1 - 18,797 (22,197)(+8.9%)
03/2012: Dawn O/T Jedi Force Storm #2 - 18,118 (-3.6%)
04/2012: Dawn O/T Jedi Force Storm #3 - 19,166 (+5.8%)
05/2012: Dawn O/T Jedi Force Storm #4 - 19,756 (+3.1%)

An unqualified success for Dark Horse, finishing up on higher numbers than it started with. A second series will no doubt be following swiftly.

129, 197. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing (IDW)

08/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #1 - 34,803 (39,180)
09/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #2 - 19,333 (-44.4%)
10/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #3 - 22,855 (+18.2%)
11/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #4 - 22,898 (+0.2%)
12/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #5 - 19,689 (-14.0%)
12/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series #1 Raphael - 18,687
12/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series #2 Michelangelo - 15,930
01/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #6 - 18,773 (-4.7%)
02/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #7 - 18,769 (0%)
02/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series #3 Donatello - 15,617
03/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #8 - 18,775 (0%)
04/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #9 - 19,116 (28,554)(+1.8%)
04/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series #4 Leonardo - 16,253
04/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Archie 100 Pg Spectacular - 4,163
05/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10 - 19,254 (+0.7%)

The new issue increases in sales a little, but weirdly the last issue has charted again with a further 9,438 sold. I have absolutely no idea why.

132. Magic The Gathering (IDW)

02/2012: Magic The Gathering #1 - 28,858
02/2012: Magic The Gathering #2 - 23,849 (-17.4%)
03/2012: Magic The Gathering #3 - 20,078 (-15.8%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Magic The Gathering #4 - 18,779 (-6.5%)

The first series ends on a fairly decent number, but it has dropped down a lot from the first issue. It’ll be interesting to see how the series does.

133. Higher Earth (Boom!)

05/2012: Higher Earth #1 - 18,775

Written by Our Love is Real’s Sam Humphries, this is one of Boom’s new sci-fi books, and starts with very good figures. It is only a dollar though, so I expect to see a big drop on the next issue.

134. Star Wars Blood Ties Boba Fett Is Dead (Dark Horse)

04/2012: Blood Ties Boba Fett Is Dead #1 - 25,344
05/2012: Blood Ties Boba Fett Is Dead #2 - 18,544 (-26.8%)

The third of Dark Horse’s more successful Star Wars books drops off a bit on the second issue, but is still doing good numbers.

136. The Manhattan Projects (Image)

03/2012: The Manhattan Projects #1 - 17,955 (23,168)
04/2012: The Manhattan Projects #2 - 15,697 (-12.6%)
05/2012: The Manhattan Projects #3 - 18,001 (+14.7%)

Coming in at a higher number than the first issue, this is Jonathan Hickman’s most successful indie book by a mile, with every issue going to second print so far.

137. Thief of Thieves (Image)

02/2012: Thief of Thieves #1 - 17,877
03/2012: Thief of Thieves #2 - 14,286 (-20.1%)
04/2012: Thief of Thieves #3 - 13,644 (-4.5%)
05/2012: Thief of Thieves #4 - 17,774 (+30.3%)

Almost selling as much as the first issue, Kirkman and Spencer’s caper book gets a big jump up as it heads towards the end of the first arc.

143. Angel & Faith (Dark Horse)

05/2008: After the Fall #8 - 45,430
05/2009: Angel #21 - 28,633
05/2010: Angel #33 - 17,521
05/2011: Angel Yearbook - 8,111

====

08/2011: Angel & Faith #1 - 22,813 (+76.9%)
09/2011: Angel & Faith #2 - 20,473 (-10.3%)
10/2011: Angel & Faith #3 - 19,437 (-5.1%)
11/2011: Angel & Faith #4 - 18,855 (-2.9%)
12/2011: Angel & Faith #5 - 18,356 (-2.6%)
01/2012: Angel & Faith #6 - 17,800 (-3.0%)
02/2012: Angel & Faith #7 - 17,852 (+0.3%)
03/2012: Angel & Faith #8 - 17,690 (-0.9%)
04/2012: Angel & Faith #9 - 17,590 (-0.6%)
05/2012: Angel & Faith #10 - 17,206 (-2.2%)

This seems to have pretty much found its level.

146. The Boys (Dynamite)

05/2007: The Boys #7 - 31,616
05/2008: The Boys #18 - 27,951
05/2009: The Boys #30 - 28,365
05/2010: The Boys #42 - 21,479
05/2011: The Boys #54 - 18,671
====

06/2011: The Boys #55 - 18,330 (-1.8%)
07/2011: The Boys #56 - 18,108 (-1.2%)
08/2011: The Boys #57 - 17,884 (-1.2%)
09/2011: The Boys #58 - 17,660 (-1.3%)
10/2011: The Boys #59 - 17,533 (-0.7%)
11/2011: The Boys #60 - 17,323 (-1.2%)
12/2011: The Boys #61 - 17,024 (-1.7%)
01/2012: The Boys #62 - 16,700 (-1.9%)
02/2012: The Boys #63 - 16,629 (-0.4%)
03/2012: The Boys #64 - 16,479 (-0.9%)
04/2012: The Boys #65 - 16,371 (-0.7%)
05/2012: The Boys #66 - 16,514 (+0.9%)

Stable into the home run, and in fact gets a small increase.

149. Americas Got Powers (Image)

04/2012: Americas Got Powers #1 - 19,439
05/2012: Americas Got Powers #2 - 16,273 (-16.3%)

An average second issue drop, but second printings on both issues so far show that this has been under-ordered.

152. Conan (Dark Horse)

05/2007: Conan #40 - 24,982
05/2008: Conan #50 - 22,542
05/2009: -
05/2010: -
05/2011: The Road of Kings #5 - 12,672

====

06/2011: The Road of Kings #6 - 12,523 (-1.2%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: The Road of Kings #7 - 11,955 (-4.5%)
09/2011: The Road of Kings #8 - 11,621 (-2.8%)
10/2011: The Road of Kings #9 - 11,546 (-0.6%)
11/2011: The Road of Kings #10 - 11,331 (-1.9%)
12/2011: The Road of Kings #11 - 10,958 (-3.2%)
01/2012: The Road of Kings #12 - 10,727 (-2.1%)
02/2012: Conan the Barbarian #1 - 20,569 (+91.8%)
03/2012: Conan the Barbarian #2 - 17,288 (-15.9%)
04/2012: Conan the Barbarian #3 - 17,261 (-0.1%)
05/2012: Conan the Barbarian #4 - 15,689 (-9.1%)

A biggish drop, probably due to BPRD artist Tyler Crook replacing Becky Cloonan on art for an arc. A shame, as he’s equally good, if a little different.

157. Frankenstein Alive Alive! (IDW)

05/2012: Frankenstein Alive, Alive! #1 - 14,692

A surprisingly good debut, but then Berni Wrightson is well known and acclaimed for his past Frankenstein work. It’s been a sell-out as well, as far as I can tell.

159. Invincible (Image)

05/2007: Invincible #41 - 13,428
05/2008: -
05/2009: Invincible #62 - 15,113
05/2010: -
05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Invincible #80 - 15,563 (+0.0%)
07/2011: Invincible #81 - 15,207 (-2.3%)
08/2011: Invincible #82 - 15,105 (-0.7%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: Invincible #83 - 15,249 (+0.9%)
11/2011: Invincible #84 - 15,067 (-1.2%)
11/2011: Invincible #85 - 14,678 (-2.6%)
12/2011: Invincible #86 - 14,457 (-1.5%)
01/2012: Invincible #87 - 14,299 (-1.1%)
02/2012: Invincible #88 - 14,405 (+0.7%)
02/2012: Invincible #89 - 14,048 (-2.5%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Invincible #90 - 14,393 (+2.5%)
05/2012: Invincible #91 - 14,556 (+1.1%)

Up again for a second month in a row. Probably a little bit new face in the Invincible costume, little bit Walking Dead, little bit getting closer to issue one hundred.

163. Epic Kill (Image)

05/2012: Epic Kill #1 - 13,784

Probably helped a bit by the current hype around Image’s new titles, this is a lovely looking kill-fest, as a teenage assassin runs from the forces that killed her parents on the orders of the President.

167. Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic (Dark Horse)

01/2012: Knights Of The Old Republic War #1 - 16,179
02/2012: Knights Of The Old Republic War #2 - 13,318 (-17.7%)
03/2012: Knights Of The Old Republic War #3 - 13,045 (-2.1%)
04/2012: Knights Of The Old Republic War #4 - 13,171 (-1.0%)
05/2012: Knights Of The Old Republic War #5 - 13,260 (+0.7%)

A slight uptick for the last issue, although this is selling far less than the other SW books at the moment.

168. Spawn (Image)

05/2007: Spawn #167 - 24,277
05/2008: Spawn #178 - 20,046
05/2009: -
05/2010: Spawn #197 - 18,361
05/2011: Spawn #207 - 14,796

====

06/2011: Spawn #208 - 14,468 (-2.2%)
07/2011: Spawn #209 - 13,964 (-3.5%)
08/2011: Spawn #210 - 14,100 (+0.1%)
09/2011: Spawn #211 - 13,526 (-4.1%)
10/2011: Spawn #212 - 13,483 (-0.3%)
11/2011: Spawn #213 - 13,369 (-0.8%)
12/2011: Spawn #214 - 13,017 (-2.6%)
01/2012: Spawn #215 - 12,794 (-1.7%)
02/2012: Spawn #216 - 12,671 (-1.0%)
03/2012: Spawn #217 - 12,686 (+0.1%)
04/2012: Spawn #218 - 12,680 (0%)
05/2012: Spawn #219 - 12,804 (-1.0%)
169. The Spider (Dynamite)

05/2012: The Spider #1 - 12,547

Launched in the wake of pulp big-brother The Shadow, this predictably sells far less, and I suspect just may not be different enough to do that well in the long run.

173, 179. BPRD (Dark Horse)

05/2007: Garden of Souls #3 (of 5) - 15,968
05/2008: 1946 #5 (of 5) - 15,941
05/2009: Black Goddess #5 (of 5) - 14,357
05/2010: King of Fear #5 - 12,519
05/2011: Dead Remembered #2 - 11,714

====

05/2011: Dead Remembered #2 - 11,714 (-8.7%)
06/2011: Dead Remembered #3 - 11,418 (-2.5%)
07/2011: Hell on Earth: Monsters #1 - 12,623 (+10.6%)
08/2011: Hell on Earth: Monsters #2 - 11,221 (-11.2%)
09/2011: Hell on Earth: Russia #1 - 11,634 (+3.7%)
10/2011: Hell on Earth: Russia #2 - 11,093 (-4.6%)
11/2011: Hell on Earth: Russia #3 - 10,800 (-2.6%)
12/2011: Hell on Earth: Russia #4 - 10,517 (-2.6%)
01/2012: Hell on Earth: Russia #5 - 10,244 (-2.6%)
02/2012: Hell on Earth: Long Death #1 - 12,258 (+19.7%)
03/2012: Hell on Earth: Long Death #2 - 10,581 (-13.7%)
04/2012: Hell on Earth: Long Death #3 - 10,690 (+1.0%)
03/2012: Hell on Earth: Pickens County Horror #1 - 12,420 (+17.4%)
04/2012: Hell on Earth: Pickens County Horror #2 - 10,477 (-15.6%)
05/2012: Hell on Earth: Transformation of JH O'Donnell - 12,261 (+17.0%)
05/2012: Hell on Earth Devil's Engine #1 - 11,395 (-7.1%)

The third month of doubling-up sees a one-shot doing well, but the new mini-series is a thousand or so below the last couple. I don’t know why the figures are so divergent, I can’t see that anyone is going to buy one and not the other.

174. Chew (Image)

05/2011: Chew #27 - 12,561

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Chew #19 - 12,510 (-0.4%)
08/2011: Chew #20 - 12,202 (-2.4%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: Chew #21 - 12,310 (+0.9%)
11/2011: -
12/2011: Chew #22 - 12,296 (-0.01%)
01/2012: Chew #23 - 12,012 (-2.3%)
02/2012: Chew #24 - 11,861 (-1.3%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Chew #25 - 11,753 (-0.9%)
05/2012: Chew #26 - 12,187 (+3.7%)

It shows what an unusual series this is, in that it started the year with issue 27 and ended it on issue 26. It also gets a nice increase for no apparent reason.

175. Godzilla (IDW)

05/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #3 - 14,588

====

06/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #4 - 7,570 [14,890] (+2.1%)
07/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #5 - 13,750 (-7.7%)
08/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #6 - 12,524 (-8.9%)
09/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #7 - 11,141 (-12.4%)
10/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #8 - 10,637 (-4.5%)
11/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #9 - 9,879 (-7.1%)
12/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #10 - 9,294 (-5.9%)
01/2012: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #11 - 8,676 (-6.6%)
02/2012: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #12 - 8,509 (-1.9%)
03-04/2012: -
05/2012: Godzilla #1 - 11,994 (+41.0%)

This apparently sold out a 12,800 print run, and will have a 1,500 second print. Simon Gane does a lovely job on the art, too.

176. Transformers More Than Meets The Eye (IDW)

01/2012: Transformers More Than Meets Eye Ongoing #1 - 15,340
02/2012: Transformers More Than Meets Eye Ongoing #2 - 11,671 (-24.0%)
03/2012: Transformers More Than Meets Eye Ongoing #3 - 12,064 (+3.4%)
04/2012: Transformers More Than Meets Eye Ongoing #4 - 12,053 (0%)
05/2012: Transformers More Than Meets Eye Ongoing #5 - 11,602 (-3.7%)
178. Transformers Robots In Disguise (IDW)

01/2012: Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #1 - 12,234
02/2012: Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #2 - 11,655 (-4.7%)
03/2012: Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #3 - 11,939 (+2.4%)
04/2012: Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #4 - 11,896 (-0.4%)
05/2012: Transformers Robots In Disguise Ongoing #5 - 11,506 (-3.3%)

Both books take a bit of a dip, selling within a hundred copies of each other.

177, 181. Star Trek Ongoing (IDW)

09/2011: Star Trek Ongoing #1 - 15,943
10/2011: Star Trek Ongoing #2 - 13,198 (-17.2%)
11/2011: Star Trek Ongoing #3 - 13,296 (+0.7%)
12/2011: Star Trek Ongoing #4 - 12,746 (-4.1%)
01/2012: Star Trek Ongoing #5 - 12,178 (-4.5%)
02/2012: Star Trek Ongoing #6 - 11,616 (-4.6%)
03/2012: Star Trek Ongoing #7 - 11,382 (-2.0%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Star Trek Ongoing #8 - 11,590 (+1.8%)
05/2012: Star Trek Ongoing #9 - 11,171 (-3.6%)

A little up and a bit further down with two issues this month.

182. Hardcore (Image)

05/2012: Hardcore #1 - 11,112

This is actually a year-late straggler from the Pilot Program, written by Robert Kirkman, but it’s done well enough to get a second print.

183. Rocketeer Adventures (IDW)

05/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #1 - 19,927
06/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #2 - 14,912 (-25.2%)
07/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #3 - 15,062 (+1.0%)
08/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #4 - 14,749 (-2.1%)
03/2012: Rocketeer Adventures 2 #1 - 14,658 (-0.6%)
04/2012: Rocketeer Adventures 2 #2 - 11,734 (-19.9%)
05/2012: Rocketeer Adventures 2 #3 - 10,942 (-6.7%)

I used the term diminishing returns last month, but I can’t really think of anything more appropriate.

184. Game of Thrones (Dynamite)

09/2011: Game of Thrones #1 - 20,888
10/2011: Game of Thrones #2 - 16,094 (-22.9%)
11/2011: Game of Thrones #3 - 15,983 (-0.7%)
12/2011: Game of Thrones #4 - 14,514 (-9.2%)
01/2012: Game of Thrones #5 - 13,096 (-9.8%)
02/2012: Game of Thrones #6 - 12,448 (-5.0%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Game of Thrones #7 - 11,511 (-7.5%)
05/2012: Game of Thrones #8 - 10,797 (-6.2%)

Still not looking like it’s going to stabilize anytime soon.

185. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics(IDW)

05/2012: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics #1 - 10,732

That’s not a bad debut, considering how many times this material has been reprinted.

187. True Blood (IDW)

05/2011: True Blood: Tainted Love #4 - 13,617

====

06/2011: True Blood: Tainted Love #5 - 5,607 [15,437]  (+13.4%)
07/2011: True Blood: Tainted Love #6 - 11,709 (-24.1%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: True Blood French Quarter #1 - 12,277 (+4.9%)
09/2011: True Blood French Quarter #2 - 10,605 (-13.6%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: True Blood French Quarter #3 - 10,118 (-4.6%)
12/2011: True Blood French Quarter #4 - 9,637 (-4.8%)
01/2012: True Blood French Quarter #5 - 9,260 (-3.9%)
02/2012: -
03/2012: True Blood French Quarter #6 - 8,909 (-3.8%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: True Blood Ongoing #1 - 10,615 (+19.1%)

The new ongoing series gets a bit of a bump, but not that big, and I suspect that may be wiped out next month.

188. Garfield (Boom!)

05/2012: Garfield #1 - 10,057

Following on from Peanuts, Boom are producing new strips for this book. I’m not quite as outraged about that as I was with Peanuts, but then Jim Davis has crowd-sourced Garfield for years…

190, 203. Crossed Badlands (Avatar)

05/2011: Crossed Psychopath #2 - 9,692

====

06/2011: Crossed Psychopath #3 - 9,655 (-0.4%)
07/2011: Crossed Psychopath #4 - 9,897 (+2.5%
08-10/2011: -
11/2011: Crossed Psychopath #5 - 9,524 (-3.8%)
12/2011: Crossed Psychopath #6 - 8,331 (-12.5%)
12/2011: Crossed Badlands Opening Salvo - 3,287
01/2012: Crossed Psychopath #7 - 7,606 (-8.7%)
02/2012: -
03/2012: Crossed Badlands #1 - 12,068 (+58.7%)
03/2012: Crossed Badlands #2 - 10,739 (-11.0%)
04/2012: Crossed Badlands #3 - 9,824 (-8.5%)
04/2012: Crossed Badlands #4 - 9,049 (-7.9%)
05/2012: Crossed Badlands #5 - 9,746 (+7.7%)
05/2012: Crossed Badlands #6 - 9,285 (-5.0%)

Surprising that these two issues are almost 500 copies apart, considering it’s a continuing story by the same team, and offered in the same month. Surely that many retailers can’t have missed the second issue in the catalogue (which does happen more than you’d think; with all of the variants listed it can sometimes be difficult to spot a second issue)?

192. Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris (Dynamite)

05/2011: Dejah Thoris #3 - 14,215

====

06/2011: Dejah Thoris #4 - 13,584 (-4.4%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Dejah Thoris #5 - 13,331 (-1.9%)
09/2011: Dejah Thoris #6 - 12,903 (-3.2%)
10/2011: Dejah Thoris #7 - 12,296 (-4.7%)
11/2011: Dejah Thoris #8 - 11,419 (-7.1%)
12/2011: -
01/2012: Dejah Thoris #9 - 10,989 (-3.8%)
02/2012: Dejah Thoris #10 - 10,809 (-1.6%)
03/2012: Dejah Thoris #11 - 10,338 (-4.4%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Dejah Thoris #12 - 9,620 (-6.9%)

The drops are accelerating.

196. Lobster Johnson The Burning Hand (Dark Horse)

01/2012: The Burning Hand #1 - 12,004
02/2012: The Burning Hand #2 - 9,837 (-18.1%)
03/2012: The Burning Hand #3 - 9,576 (-2.7%)
04/2012: The Burning Hand #4 - 10,531 (+10.0%)
05/2012: The Burning Hand #5 - 9,506 (-9.7%)

The last issue loses the gains it achieved last month, but still perfectly respectable.

 199. GI Joe (IDW)

05/2007: America’s Elite #23 (Devil’s Due) - 15,039
05/2008: America’s Elite #35 (Devil’s Due) - 16,298
05/2009: GI Joe #5 - 21,968
05/2010: GI Joe #18 - 12,776
05/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #1 - 13,703

====

06/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #2 - 11,640 (-15.1%)
07/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #3 - 11,377 (-2.3%)
08/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #4 - 10,824 (-4.9%)
09/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #5 - 10,371 (-4.2%)
10/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #6 - 10,241 (-1.5%)
11/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #7 - 9,686 (-5.4%)
12/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #8 - 10,059 (+3.9%)
01/2012: GI Joe Vol 2 #9 - 9,701 (-3.6%)
02/2012: GI Joe Vol 2 #10 - 9,458 (-2.5%)
03/2012: GI Joe Vol 2 #11 - 9,322 (-1.4%)
04/2012: GI Joe Vol 2 #12 - 9,270 (-0.6%)
05/2012: GI Joe Vol 2 #13 - 9,391 (+1.3%)

Getting a bit of a bump this month. A very small bump.

201. Trio (IDW)

05/2012: Trio #1 - 9,353

That’s a much improved debut, compared to John Byrne’s last series Cold War, by about 1,500 copies. Still 4,000 or so down on the new Next Men series a year and a half ago, though.

202. Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage (IDW)

02/2012: Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage #1 - 16,066
03/2012: Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage #2 - 13,336 (-17.0%)
04/2012: Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage #3 - 10,498 (-21.3%)
05/2012: Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage #4 - 9,335 (-11.1%)

Still dropping fast for this last issue, but it’ll no doubt sell well in book form.

204. Ghostbusters Ongoing (IDW)

09/2011: Ghostbuster Ongoing #1 - 16,716
10/2011: Ghostbuster Ongoing #2 - 9,514 (-43.1%)
11/2011: Ghostbuster Ongoing #3 - 9,268 (-2.6%)
12/2011: Ghostbuster Ongoing #4 - 9,558 (+3.1%)
01/2012: Ghostbuster Ongoing #5 - 8,878 (-7.1%)
02/2012: Ghostbuster Ongoing #6 - 8,513 (-4.1%)
03/2012: Ghostbuster Ongoing #7 - 8,248 (-3.1%)
04/2012: Ghostbuster Ongoing #8 - 8,297 (+0.6%)
05/2012: Ghostbuster Ongoing #9 - 9,133 (+10.1%)

The only reason I can see for this quite large increase is that this is the start of a new storyline.

205. The Guild (Dark Horse)

05/2011: -
06/2011: Bladezz #1 - 9,490 (-4.2%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: -
09/2011: - Clara #1 - 8,420 (-11.3%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: -
12/2011: Zaboo #1 - 7,762 (-7.8%)
01-04/2012: -
05/2012: Fawkes #1 - 9,067 (+16.8%)

A nice increase for the last of the one-shots (I think, who else could they do?), which I suspect has much to do with Wil Wheaton’s geek-popularity (as it is he who plays the titular Fawkes).

206. Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms(IDW)

05/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #7 - 9,427

====

06/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #8 - 9,226 (-2.1%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #9 - 8,987 (-2.6%)
08/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #10 - 8,545 (-4.9%)
09/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #11 - 8,441 (-1.2%)
10/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #12 - 8,274 (-2.0%)
11/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #13 - 7,902 (-4.5%)
12/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #14 - 7,585 (-4.0%)
01/2012: -
02/2012: Dungeons and Dragons #15 - 7,540 (-0.6%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Dungeons & Dragons Eberron Annual 2012 #1 - 5,452
05/2012: Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms #1 - 9,005 (+19.4%)

Not an amazing debut number, only 1,500 more than the end of the last series.

207. Morning Glories (Image) 

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Morning Glories #10 - 11,385 (+3.7%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Morning Glories #11 - 10,653 (-6.4%)
09/2011: Morning Glories #12 - 10,537 (-1.1%)
10/2011: Morning Glories #13 - 10,094 (-4.2%)
11/2011: Morning Glories #14 - 9,850 (-2.4%)
12/2011: -
01/2012: Morning Glories #15 - 9,565 (-2.9%)
02/2012: Morning Glories #16 - 9,260 (-3.2%)
03/2012: Morning Glories #17 - 8,978 (-3.0%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Morning Glories #18 - 8,953 (-0.3%)

Flattening out, as some of the book’s secrets begin to be revealed.

208. Fanboys vs Zombies (Boom!)

04/2012: Fanboys vs Zombies #1 - 25,935
05/2012: Fanboys vs Zombies #2 - 8,942 (-65.5%)

A massive drop-off, but to be expected with the first issue costing only a buck.

209. Vampirella (Dynamite)

05/2011: Vampirella #5 - 14,702

====

06/2011: Vampirella #6 - 13,649 (-7.2%)
06/2011: Vampirella #7 - 13,645 (-0.0%)
07/2011: Vampirella #8 - 13,019 (-4.6%)
08/2011: Vampirella #9 - 12,459 (-4.3%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: Vampirella #10 - 11,581 (-7.0%)
10/2011: Vampirella #11 - 10,644 (-8.1%)
11/2011: -
12/2011: Vampirella #12 - 10,726 (+1.0%)
12/2011: Vampirella Annual #1 - 6,835 (-36.3%)
01/2012: Vampirella #13 - 10,176 (-5.1%)
02/2012: Vampirella #14 - 9,851 (-3.2%)
03/2012: Vampirella #15 - 9,212 (-6.5%)
04/2012: Vampirella #16 - 9,012 (-2.2%)
05/2012: Vampirella #17 - 8,873 (-1.5%)

Fairly stable at the moment.

210, 216. Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie)

05/2011: Sonic #224 - 8,023

====

06/2011: Sonic #225 - 11,980 (+49.3%)
06/2011: Sonic #226 - 9,228 (-23.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Sonic #227 - 9,419 (+2.1%)
08/2011: Sonic #228 - 9,444 (+0.3%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: Sonic #229 - 9,768 (+3.3%)
11/2011: Sonic #230 - 10,372 (+6.2%)
11/2011: Sonic #231 - 8,646 (-16.6%)
12/2011: Sonic #232 - 8,447 (-2.3%)
01/2012: -
02/2011: Sonic #233 - 8,542 (-1.1%)
02/2011: Sonic #234 - 8,491 (-0.6%)
03/2012: -
04/2011: Sonic #235 - 8,816 (+3.8%)
05/2011: Sonic #236 - 8,864 (+0.5%)
05/2011: Sonic #237 - 8,586 (-3.1%)

Two issues this month, a bit up, and a bit more down, but overall very stable.

211. Witchblade (Image)

05/2011: Witchblade #144 - 10,662

====

06/2011: Witchblade #145 - 8,996 (-15.6%)
07/2011: Witchblade #146 - 8,765 (-2.6%)
08/2011: Witchblade #147 - 8,487 (-3.2%)
09/2011: Witchblade #148 - 8,461 (-0.3%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Witchblade #149 - 8,391 (-0.8%)
12/2011: Witchblade #150 - 14,266 (+70.0%)
01/2012: Witchblade #151 - 10,755 (-24.6%)
01/2012: Witchblade #152 - 8,979 (-16.5%)
02/2012: Witchblade #153 - 8,923 (-0.6%)
03/2012: Witchblade #154 - 8,820 (-1.2%)
04/2012: Witchblade #155 - 8,861 (+0.5%)
05/2012: Witchblade #156 - 8,835 (-0.3%)

Another very stable title at the moment.

212, 274. Lord of the Jungle (Dynamite)

01/2012: Lord of the Jungle #1 - 25,212
02/2012: Lord of the Jungle #2 - 10,525 (-58.3%)
03/2012: Lord of the Jungle #3 - 9,311 (-11.5%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Lord of the Jungle #4 - 8,829 (-5.2%)
05/2012: Lord of the Jungle Annual #1 - 5,874

The series is starting to level out, possibly, while the annual comes in quite a bit lower.

213. GI Joe Real American Hero (IDW)

05/2011: Real American Hero #166 - 10,117

====

06/2011: Real American Hero #167 - 10,118 (+0.0%)
07/2011: Real American Hero #168 - 9,943 (-1.7%)
08/2011: Real American Hero #169 - 9,670 (-2.7%)
09/2011: Real American Hero #170 - 9,542 (-1.3%)
10/2011: Real American Hero #171 - 9,686 (+1.5%)
11/2011: Real American Hero #172 - 9,316 (-3.8%)
12/2011: Real American Hero #173 - 8,632 (-7.3%)
01/2012: Real American Hero #174 - 8,926 (+3.4%)
02/2012: Real American Hero #175 - 8,777 (-1.7%)
02/2012: Real American Hero Annual #1 - 7,573 (-13.7%)
03/2012: Real American Hero #176 - 8,622 (-1.8%)
04/2012: Real American Hero #177 - 8,815 (+2.2%)
05/2012: Real American Hero #178 - 8,804 (-0.1%)

Pretty solid this month.

214. Dancer (Image)

05/2012: Dancer #1 - 8,727

An okay start for this book in which an assassin finds himself stalked by his own clone. It’s not as hokey as it might sound.

215. Dejah Thoris & The White Apes of Mars (Dynamite)

04/2012: Dejah Thoris & White Apes Of Mars #1 - 9,944
05/2012: Dejah Thoris & White Apes Of Mars #2 - 8,649 (-13.0%)

A very smooth second issue drop, not too far behind the main Dejah Thoris book.

217. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow (IDW)

05/2011: Snake Eyes #1 - 12,197

====

06/2011: Snake Eyes #2 - 10,246 (-16.0%)
07/2011: Snake Eyes #3 - 10,001 (-2.4%)
08/2011: Snake Eyes #4 - 9,288 (-7.1%)
08/2011: Snake Eyes #5 - 9,141 (-1.6%)
092011: -
10/2011: Snake Eyes #6 - 9,073 (-0.7%)
11/2011: Snake Eyes #7 - 8,692 (-4.2%)
12/2011: Snake Eyes #8 - 8,446 (-2.8%)
01/2012: Snake Eyes #9 - 8,328 (-1.4%)
02/2012: Snake Eyes #10 - 8,186 (-1.7%)
03/2012: Snake Eyes #11 - 8,120 (-0.8%)
04/2012: Snake Eyes #12 - 8,164 (+0.5%)
05/2012: Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow #13 - 8,567 (+4.7%)
223. Cobra Ongoing (IDW)

05/2011: Cobra #1 - 11,949

====

06/2011: Cobra #2 - 10,128 (-15.2%)
07/2011: Cobra #3 - 7,740 (-23.6%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Cobra #4 - 9,391 (+21.3%)
09/2011: Cobra #5 - 9,068 (-3.4%)
10/2011: Cobra #6 - 8,927 (-1.6%)
11/2011: Cobra #7 - 7,177 (-19.6%)
12/2011: Cobra #8 - 8,381 (+16.8%)
01/2012: Cobra #9 - 8,249 (-1.6%)
01/2012: Cobra Annual 2012 Origin Of Cobra Commander #1 - 7,235
02/2012: Cobra #10 - 8,134 (-1.4%)
03/2012: Cobra #11 - 7,966 (-2.1%)
04/2012: Cobra #12 - 8,090 (+1.6%)
05/2012: Cobra #13 - 8,115 (+0.3%)

Snake Eyes takes a bit of a jump with the addition of Storm Shadow to the line-up, while Cobra also takes a small increase for the second month in a row.

218. Kevin Smith's Bionic Man (Dynamite)

08/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #1 - 17,187
09/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #2 - 12,343 (-28.2%)
10/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #3 - 11,229 (-9.0%)
11/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #4 - 10,746 (-4.3%)
12/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #5 - 9,825 (-8.6%)
02/2012: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #6 - 9,640 (-1.9%)
02/2012: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #7 - 8,873 (-8.0%)
03:2012: -
04/2012: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #8 - 8,988 (+1.3%)
05/2012: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #9 - 8,540 (-5.0%)

Taking a bit of a plunge this month, but overall still punching above its weight.

219. GFT Alice In Wonderland (Zenescope)

01/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #1 - 11,317
02/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #2 - 7,659 (-32.3%)
03/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #3 - 7,283 (-4.9%)
04/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #4 - 7,916 (+8.7%)
04/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #5 - 7,971 (+0.7%)
05/2012: GFT Alice In Wonderland #6 - 8,492 (+6.5%)

A big-ish rise this month, showing a increased level of genuine interest I believe.

222. Locke & Key (IDW)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Clockworks #1 - 10,764 (+59.0%)
08/2011: Clockworks #2 - 7,686 (-28.6%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: -
11/2011: Guide to Known Keys One-Shot - 8,529
12/2011: Clockworks #3 - 8,438 (+9.8%)
01/2012: -
02/2012: Clockworks #4 - 8,452 (+0.2%)
03/2012: Clockworks #5 - 8,333 (-1.4%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Clockworks #6 - 8,436 (+1.2%)

A slight uptick for the last issue of this arc. Just two series to go, sadly, although Hill has said there will be more in the future.

 224. Rachel Rising (Abstract)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Echo #30 - 8,340 (+4.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Rachel Rising #1 - 10,989 (+31.8%)
09/2011: Rachel Rising #2 - 8,189 (-25.5%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Rachel Rising #3 - 8,872 (+8.3%)
12/2011: Rachel Rising #4 - 4,331 (9068) (+2.2%)
01/2012: Rachel Rising #5 - 4,180 (8592) (-5.3%)
02/2012: -
03/2012: Rachel Rising #6 - 8,399 (-2.2%)
04/2012: Rachel Rising #7 - 8,210 (-2.3%)
05/2012: Rachel Rising #8 - 8,103 (-1.3%)

Very stable at the moment.

225. Jennifer Blood (Dynamite)

05/2011: Jennifer Blood #3 - 13,502

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: -
09/2011: Jennifer Blood #4 - 12,557 (-7.0%)
10/2011: Jennifer Blood #5 - 12,337 (-1.7%)
11/2011: Jennifer Blood #6 - 11,660 (-5.5%)
12/2011: Jennifer Blood #7 - 11,522 (-1.2%)
01/2012: Jennifer Blood #8 - 10,767 (-6.5%)
02/2012: Jennifer Blood #9 - 9,906 (-8.0%)
03/2012: Jennifer Blood #10 - 9,421 (-4.9%)
04/2012: Jennifer Blood #11 - 8,975 (-4.7%)
04/2012: Jennifer Blood #12 - 8,350 (-7.0%)
05/2012: Jennifer Blood #13 - 7,997 (-4.2%)

Slightly less of a drop than the last issue. Ewing’s actually doing something quite neat with this book, turning the title character into the bad-guy in her own book.

227, 287. Bart Simpson Comics (Bongo)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #60 - 5,589 (+1.8%)
07/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #61 - 5,502 (-1.6%)
08/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #62 - 5,462 (-0.7%)
09/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #63 - 5,475 (+0.2%)
10/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #64 - 5,451 (-0.4%)
11/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #65 - 5,402 (-0.9%)
12/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #66 - 5,303 (-1.8%)
01/2012: Bart Simpson Comics #67 - 5,192 (-2.1%)
02/2012: Bart Simpson Comics #68 - 5,322 (+2.5%)
03/2012: Bart Simpson Comics #69 - 5,214 (-2.0%)
04/2012: Bart Simpson Comics #70 - 5,281 (+1.3%)
05/2012: Bart Simpsons Pal Milhouse #1 - 7,862
05/2012: Bart Simpson Comics #71 - 5,418 (+2.6%)

Stable, but the Milhouse one-shot is the best selling Simpsons comic this month.

228. Call of Wonderland (Zenescope)

05/2012: Call of Wonderland #1 - 7,852

A new Wonderland ongoing gets off to a reasonable start.

229. Mass Effect Invasion (Dark Horse)

05-09/2011: -
10/2011: Mass Effect Invasion #1 - 8,607 (+10.1%)
11/2011: Mass Effect Invasion #2 - 7,876 (-8.5%)
12/2011: Mass Effect Invasion #3 - 6,941 (-11.9%)
01/2012: Mass Effect Invasion #4 - 6,772 (-2.4%)
02-03/2012: -
04/2012: Mass Effect Homeworlds #1 - 8,201 (+21.3%)
05/2012: Mass Effect Homeworlds #2 - 7,789 (-5.0%)

A small second issue drop, only a little over 400 copies.

230. Grim Leaper (Image)

05/2012: Grim Leaper #1 - 7,779

An exceptionally violent but very funny reincarnation romance, well worth a look.

232. Youngblood (Image)

05/2012: Youngblood #71 - 7,611

The latest Rob Liefeld relaunch, this time his flagship title. Like Bloodstrike, this is very much in the style of the original series, but is quite fun.

233. Irredeemable (Boom) 

05/2011: Irredeemable #25 - 10,082

====

06/2011: Irredeemable #26 - 9,784 (-3.0%)
07/2011: Irredeemable #27 - 9,577 (-2.1%)
08/2011: Irredeemable #28 - 8,820 (-7.9%)
09/2011: Irredeemable #29 - 8,582 (-2.7%)
10/2011: Irredeemable #30 - 8,419 (-1.9%)
11/2011: Irredeemable #31 - 8,229 (-2.3%)
12/2011: Irredeemable #32 - 8,612 (+4.7%)
01/2012: Irredeemable #33 - 7,923(-8.0%)
02/2012: Irredeemable #34 - 7,772(-1.9%)
03/2012: Irredeemable #35 - 7,936(+2.1%)
04/2012: Irredeemable #36 - 7,844(-1.2%)
05/2012: Irredeemable #37 - 7,609(-3.0%)

The last issue of Mark Waid’s superhero-gone-bad book ends with a measure of redemption for the Plutonian, but also its lowest sales.

234. Hero Comics (IDW)

08/2011: Hero Comics 2011 - 12,668 (+66.1%)
05/2012: Hero Comics 2012 - 7,601 (-40.0%)

A big drop for this year’s issue, but then Neil Gaiman was in last year’s. This one features new Red Star, a new Turtles story written & drawn by Kevin Eastman and a Dave Sim Elephantmen strip.

236. Mind MGMT (Dark Horse)

05/2012: Mind MGMT #1 - 7,537

Matt Kindt’s new series, involving weaponised psychics and the like. It’s rather fun.

237. Hell Yeah (Image)

03/2012: Hell Yeah #1 - 10,908
04/2012: Hell Yeah #2 - 8,161 (-25.2%)
05/2012: Hell Yeah #3 - 7,504 (-8.0%)

Still finding its sales level.

 240. Lady Death (Avatar)

05/2011: Lady Death #5 - 9,656

====

06/2011: Lady Death #6 - 9,563 (-1.0%)
07/2011: Lady Death #7 - 8,945 (-6.4%)
08/2011: Lady Death #8 - 8,681 (-3.0%)
09/2011: Lady Death #9 - 8,127 (-6.4%)
09/2011: Lady Death Origins Annual #1 - 6,331 (-22.1%)
10/2011: Lady Death #10 - 7,997 (+26.3%)
11/2011: Lady Death #11 - 7,596 (-5.0%)
12/2011: Lady Death #12 - 7,288 (-4.1%)
01/2012: Lady Death #13 - 7,132 (-2.1%)
02/2012: Lady Death #14 - 7,562 (+6.0%)
03/2012: Lady Death #15 - 7,700 (+1.8%)
04/2012: Lady Death #16 - 7,605 (-1.2%)
05/2012: Lady Death #17 - 7,453 (-2.0%)

Relatively stable at the moment.

242. Dark Horse Presents (Dark Horse)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Dark Horse Presents #2 - 11,315 (-25.1%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Dark Horse Presents #3 - 8,931 (-21.1%)
09/2011: Dark Horse Presents #4 - 8,366 (-6.3%)
10/2011: Dark Horse Presents #5 - 7,539 (-9.9%)
11/2011: Dark Horse Presents #6 - 7,017 (-6.9%)
12/2011: Dark Horse Presents #7 - 7,849 (+11.9%)
02/2012: Dark Horse Presents #8 - 7,936 (+1.1%)
02/2012: Dark Horse Presents #9 - 7,751 (-2.3%)
03/2012: Dark Horse Presents #10 - 6,881 (-11.2%)
04/2012: Dark Horse Presents #11 - 7,118 (+3.4%)
05/2012: Dark Horse Presents #12 - 7,281 (+2.3%)

Up again for the second month in a row, this seems to be holding steady a little over 7,000 copies.

243. Danger Club (Image)

04/2012: Danger Club #1 - 7,804
05/2012: Danger Club #2 - 7,210 (7.6%)

Unsurprisingly not a big drop, with both issues receiving second-prints, and the third issue has also sold out.

244. Sonic Universe (Archie) 

05/2011: Sonic Universe #28 - 6,722

====

06/2011: Sonic Universe #29 - 6,917 (+2.9%)
07/2011: Sonic Universe #30 - 6,892 (-0.4%)
08/2011: Sonic Universe #31 - 7,038 (+2.1%)
09/2011: Sonic Universe #32 - 7,027 (-0.1%)
10/2011: Sonic Universe #33 - 7,244 (+3.1%)
11/2011: Sonic Universe #34 - 7,117 (-1.8%)
12/2011: Sonic Universe #35 - 6,912 (-2.9%)
01/2012: Sonic Universe #36 - 6,725 (-2.7%)
02/2012: Sonic Universe #37 - 6,793 (+1.0%)
03/2012: Sonic Universe #38 - 6,877 (+1.2%)
04/2012: Sonic Universe #39 - 6,860 (-0.2%)
05/2012: Sonic Universe #40 - 7,077 (+3.2%)

A nice increase this month, remarkably steady over the year.

245. Bionic Woman (Dynamite)

04/2012: Bionic Woman #1 - 9,154
05/2012: Bionic Woman #2 - 7,053 (-23.0%)

A fairly standard second issue drop.

 246. Tarot Witch of the Black Rose (Broadsword)

05/2011: Tarot #68 - 8,229

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Tarot #69 - 7,303 (-11.3%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Tarot #70 - 6,955 (-4.8%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Tarot #71 - 6,677 (-4.0%)
12/2011: -
01/2012: Tarot #72 - 6,859 (+2.7%)
02/2012: -
03/2012: Tarot #73 - 6,672 (-2.7%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Tarot #74 - 6,970 (+4.5%)

A bit of a jump up this month, bringing it back to where it was 6 months ago.

247. Red Sonja Witchblade (Dynamite)

02/2012: Red Sonja Witchblade #1 - 8,336
03/2012: -
04/2012: Red Sonja Witchblade #2 - 7,306 (-12.4%)
05/2012: Red Sonja Witchblade #3 - 6,896 (-5.6%)
254. Red Sonja (Dynamite) 

05/2011: Red Sonja #56 - 8,319

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: Red Sonja #57 - 7,888 (-5.2%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: -
11/2011: Red Sonja #58 - 7,876 (-0.2%)
11/2011: Red Sonja #59 - 7,759 (-1.5%)
12/2011: Red Sonja #60 - 8,052 (+3.8%)
12/2011: Red Sonja #61 - 7,464 (-7.3%)
01/2012: Red Sonja #62 - 7,160 (-4.1%)
01/2012: Red Sonja Raven - 4,942
02/2012: Red Sonja #63 - 7,095 (-0.9%)
02/2012: Red Sonja #64 - 6,977 (-1.7%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Red Sonja #65 - 6,732 (-3.5%)
05/2012: Red Sonja #66 - 6,650 (-1.2%)

The Witchblade cross-over drops down to very close to the parent title.

248. Artifacts (Image)

05/2011: Artifacts #7 - 10,667

====

06/2011: Artifacts #8 - 10,343 (-3.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Artifacts #9 - 10,942 (+5.7%)
09/2011: Artifacts #10 - 9,215 (-15.8%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Artifacts #11 - 9,445 (+2.5%)
12/2011: Artifacts #12 - 9,142 (-3.2%)
01/2012: Artifacts #13 - 10,780 (+17.9%)
01/2012: Artifacts Origins One Shot - 5,988 (-4.4%)
02/2012: Artifacts #14 - 7,630 (-29.2%)
03/2012: Artifacts #15 - 7,086 (-7.1%)
04/2012: Artifacts #16 - 6,862 (-3.2%)
05/2012: Artifacts #17 - 6,887 (+0.4%)

A tiny increase, all of 25 copies, but at least it’s not dropping any more.

250. Simpsons Comics (Bongo)

05/2011: Simpsons Comics #178 - 6,991

====

06/2011: Simpsons Comics #179 - 6,913 (-1.1%)
07/2011: Simpsons Comics #180 - 6,705 (-3.0%)
08/2011: Simpsons Comics #181 - 6,796 (+1.3%)
09/2011: Simpsons Comics #182 - 6,808 (+0.2%)
10/2011: Simpsons Comics #183 - 6,893 (+1.2%)
11/2011: Simpsons Comics #184 - 6,853 (-0.6%)
12/2011: Simpsons Comics #185 - 6,796 (-0.8%)
12/2011: Simpsons Super Spectacular #14 - 4,481
01/2012: Simpsons Comics #186 - 6,638 (-2.3%)
02/2012: Ralph Wiggum Comics #1 - 7,586
02/2012: Simpsons Comics #187 - 6,800 (+2.4%)
03/2012: Simpsons Comics #188 - 6,741 (-0.9%)
04/2012: Simpsons Comics #189 - 6,754 (+0.2%)
05/2012: Simpsons Comics #190 - 6,779 (+0.4%)

Stable.

 251, 285. Grimm Fairy Tales (Zenescope)

05/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #59 - 8,356

====

06/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #60 - 8,143 (-2.5%)
07/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #61 - 7,777 (-4.5%)
08/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #62 - 6,452 (-17%)
08/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #63 - 8,086 (+25.3%)
09/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #64 - 8,183 (+1.2%)
10/2011: GFT Halloween Special 2011 - 6,428 (-21.4%)
11/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #65 - 6,389 (-0.6%)
12/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #66 - 7,366 (+15.3%)
12/2011: Giant-Size Gft 2011 Holiday Ed - 5,592 (-24.1%)
12/2011: GFT Sinbad Special - 3,978
01/2012: -
02/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #67 - 6,998 (-5.0%)
03/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #68 - 7,029 (+0.4%)
03/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #69 - 6,695 (-4.8%)
03/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #70 - 6,724 (+0.4%)
04/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #71 - 6,820 (+1.4%)
04/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #72 - 6,590 (-3.4%)
04/2012: GFT April Fools Special 2012 - 4,920
05/2012: Grimm Fairy Tales #73 - 6,757 (+2.5%)
05/2012: GFT Oversized Cosplay Special - 5,516

The main book increases a little, with a Cosplay special, that doesn’t actually feature much cosplay coming in a thousand lower.

253. Hellraiser (Boom!) 

05/2011: Hellraiser #2 - 10,366

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Hellraiser #3 - 9,974 (-3.8%)
08/2011: Hellraiser #4 - 11,096 (+11.2%)
09/2011: Hellraiser #5 - 10,303 (-7.1%)
10/2011: Hellraiser #6 - 9,715 (-5.7%)
11/2011: Hellraiser #7 - 9,263 (-4.7%)
12/2011: Hellraiser #8 - 9,059 (-2.2%)
01/2012: Hellraiser #9 - 8,382 (-7.5%)
02/2012: Hellraiser #10 - 8,076 (-3.7%)
02/2012: Hellraiser #11 - 7,676 (-5.0%)
03/2012: Hellraiser #12 - 7,329 (-4.5%)
04/2012: Hellraiser #13 - 6,855 (-6.5%)
04/2012: Hellraiser Annual #1 - 6,283
05/2012: Hellraiser #14 - 6,707 (-2.2%)

Maybe finally starting to stabilize. Maybe.

255. Green Hornet (Dynamite)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Green Hornet #16 - 10,396 (-2.9%)
07/2011: Green Hornet #17 - 9,708 (-6.6%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Green Hornet #18 - 9,279 (-4.4%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Green Hornet #19 - 8,799 (-5.2%)
12/2011: Green Hornet #20 - 8,297 (-5.7%)
01/2012: Green Hornet #21 - 8,043 (-3.1%)
01/2012: Green Hornet Annual #2 - 5,226 (-35.0%)
02/2012: Green Hornet #22 - 7,789 (-3.2%)
03/2012: Green Hornet #23 - 7,087 (-9.0%)
04/2012: Green Hornet #24 - 6,751 (-4.7%)
05/2012: Green Hornet #25 - 6,641 (-1.6%)

That’s the smallest drop in quite some time.

256. Incorruptible (Boom)

05/2011: Incorruptible #18 - 8,044

====

06/2011: Incorruptible #19 - 7,804 (-3.0%)
07/2011: Incorruptible #20 - 7,584 (-2.8%)
08/2011: Incorruptible #21 - 7,015 (-7.5%)
09/2011: Incorruptible #22 - 6,669 (-4.9%)
10/2011: Incorruptible #23 - 6,466 (-3.0%)
11/2011: Incorruptible #24 - 6,406 (-0.9%)
12/2011: Incorruptible #25 - 7,099 (+10.8%)
01/2012: Incorruptible #26 - 6,464 (-8.9%)
02/2012: Incorruptible #27 - 6,197 (-4.1%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Incorruptible #28 - 5,562 (-10.2%)
05/2012: Incorruptible #29 - 6,400 (+15.1%)

I think some copies must not have charted last month, can’t see any other reason it would be such an increase this month for the penultimate issue.

257. Prophet (Image)

01/2012: Prophet #21 - 6,029
02/2012: Prophet #22 - 6,030 (0%)
03/2012: Prophet #23 - 6,289 (+4.3%)
04/2012: Prophet #24 - 6,639 (+5.6%)
05/2012: Prophet #25 - 6,390 (-3.7%)

The first drop for the title in five issues, it still should be selling more copies than this.

258. Supreme (Image)

04/2012: Supreme #63 - 14,062
05/2012: Supreme #64 - 6,353 (-54.8%)

Not a surprising drop, seeing as this issue is written by Eric Larsen rather than Alan Moore.

259. Voltron (Dynamite)

12/2011: Voltron #1 - 15,001
01/2012: Voltron #2 - 8,990 (-40.1%)
02/2012: Voltron #3 - 7,977 (-11.3%)
03/2012: Voltron #4 - 6,917 (-13.3%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Voltron #5 - 6,337 (-8.4%)

Less of a drop than last month, is about the nicest thing I can say.

260. Hack Slash (Image)

05/2011: Hack Slash #4 - 8,449

====

06/2011: Hack Slash #5 - 8,666 (+2.6%)
07/2011: Hack Slash #6 - 8,201 (-5.4%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Hack Slash #7 - 7,967 (-2.9%)
09/2011: Hack Slash #8 - 7,737 (-2.9%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Hack Slash #9 - 7,907 (+2.2%)
12/2011: Hack Slash #10 - 7,033 (-11.0%)
12/2011: Hack Slash #11 - 6,974 (-0.8%)
12/2011: Hack Slash Annual 2011 - 6,637 (-4.8%)
01/2012: Hack Slash #12 - 6,621 (-5.1%)
02/2012: Hack Slash #13 - 6,483 (-2.1%)
03/2012: Hack Slash #14 - 6,381 (-1.6%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Hack Slash #15 - 6,310 (-1.1%)

Very stable over the last few months.

262. Mega Man (Archie)

05/2011: Mega Man #1 - 12,586

====

06/2011: Mega Man #2 - 7,713 (-38.7%)
07/2011: Mega Man #3 - 4,845 (-37.2%)
08/2011: Mega Man #4 - 8,900 (+83%)
09/2011: Mega Man #5 - 8,741 (-1.8%)
10/2011: Mega Man #6 - 7,474 (-14.5%)
11/2011: Mega Man #7 - 7,500 (+0.3%)
12/2011: Mega Man #8 - 7,092 (-5.4%)
01/2012: Mega Man #9 - 7,540 (+6.3%)
02/2012: Mega Man #10 - 6,163 (-18.3%)
03/2012: Mega Man #11 - 6,182 (+0.3%)
04/2012: Mega Man #12 - 6,006 (-2.8%)
05/2012: Mega Man #13 - 6,273 (+4.4%)

A nice little increase, for no apparent reason.

263. Futurama Comics (Bongo)

05/2011: Futurama Comics #55 - 6,177

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Futurama Comics #56 - 6,229 (+0.8%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Futurama Comics #57 - 6,252 (+0.4%)
10/2011: -
11/2011: Futurama Comics #58 - 6,138 (-1.8%)
12/2011-01/2012: -
02/2012: Futurama Comics #59 - 6,136 (0%)
03/2012: Futurama Comics #60 - 6,053 (-1.3%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Futurama Comics #61 - 6,271 (+3.6%)

And another little increase to give the highest sales for this title all year.

265. Rasl (Cartoon Books)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: -
07/2011: Rasl #11 - 6,666 (-3.0%)
08-10/2011: -
11/2011: Rasl #12 - 6,537 (-1.9%)
12/2011-01/2012: -
02/2012: Rasl #13 - 6,319 (-3.3%)
03-04/2012: -
05/2012: Rasl #14 - 6,208 (-1.8%)

Coming to a slightly premature end with this issue, it just hasn’t clicked with the public in anything like the same way that Bone did.

266. Ragemoor (Dark Horse)

03/2012: Ragemoor #1 - 7,971
04/2012: Ragemoor #2 - 6,415 (-19.5%)
05/2012: Ragemoor #3 - 6,167 (-3.9%)

Finding its level very quickly it would seem.

267. Darkness (Image)

05/2011: -

====

06/2011: Darkness #91 - 6,207 (-4.2%)
07/2011: Darkness #92 - 5,971 (-3.8%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: Darkness #93 - 5,856 (-1.9%)
10/2011: Darkness #94 - 5,632 (-3.8%)
11/2011: Darkness #95 - 5,500 (-2.3%)
12/2011: Darkness #96 - 5,939 (+8.0%)
01/2012: Darkness #97 - 5,328 (-10.3%)
01/2012: Darkness #98 - 5,316 (-0.2%)
02/2012: Darkness #99 - 5,893 (+10.9%)
02/2012: Darkness #100 - 11,363 (+92.8%)
03/2012: Darkness #101 - 7,214 (-36.5%)
04/2012: Darkness #102 - 5,963 (-17.3%)
05/2012: Darkness #103 - 6,140 (+3.0%)

An increase after the last two very big drops, which suggests that maybe last month wasn’t as bad as it appears, rather more copies not charting.

269. GFT Jungle Book (Zenescope)

03/2012: GFT Jungle Book #1 - 10,337
04/2012: GFT Jungle Book #2 - 6,157 (-40.4%)
05/2012: GFT Jungle Book #2 - 6,054 (-1.7%)

This seems to have found its sales level very quickly indeed.

270. The Lone Ranger (Dynamite)

05/2011: Lone Ranger #25 - 7,094

====

01/2012: The Lone Ranger #1 - 9,635
02/2012: The Lone Ranger #2 - 7,151 (-25.8%)
03/2012: The Lone Ranger #3 - 6,476 (-9.4%)
04/2012: The Lone Ranger #4 - 6,071 (-6.3%)
05/2012: The Lone Ranger #5 - 6,044 (-0.4%)

There seem to be a lot of books finding their sales levels this month; this is another.

271. Army of Darkness (Dynamite)

02/2012: Army of Darkness #1 - 9,164
03/2012: Army of Darkness #2 - 7,037 (-23.2%)
04/2012: Army of Darkness #3 - 6,382 (-9.3%)
05/2012: Army of Darkness #4 - 5,972 (-6.4%)

This one however, has not yet found its level.

272. Vampirella vs Dracula (Dynamite)

01/2012: Vampirella Vs Dracula #1 - 8,710
02/2012: -
03/2012: Vampirella Vs Dracula #2 - 6,747 (-22.5%)
04/2012: Vampirella Vs Dracula #3 - 6,124 (-9.2%)
05/2012: Vampirella Vs Dracula #4 - 5,962 (-2.6%)

Settling down with two issues to go.

273. Lady Death Origins Cursed (Avatar)

04/2012: Lady Death Origins Cursed #1 - 6,965
05/2012: Lady Death Origins Cursed #2 - 5,884 (-15.5%)

That’s an okay second issue drop-off, below average.

275. Queen Sonja (Dynamite) 

05/2011: Queen Sonja #16 - 7,287

====

06/2011: Queen Sonja #17 - 7,241 (-0.6%)
07/2011: Queen Sonja #18 - 6,869 (-5.1%)
08/2011: Queen Sonja #19 - 6,816 (-0.8%)
09/2011: Queen Sonja #20 - 6,883 (+1.0%)
10/2011: Queen Sonja #21 - 6,809 (-1.1%)
10/2011: Queen Sonja #22 - 6,501 (-4.5%)
11/2011: Queen Sonja #23 - 6,523 (+0.1%)
11/2011: Queen Sonja #24 - 6,362 (-2.5%)
12/2011: Queen Sonja #25 - 6,254 (-1.7%)
01/2012: Queen Sonja #26 - 6,016 (-3.8%)
02/2012: Queen Sonja #27 - 6,097 (+1.3%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Queen Sonja #28 - 6,026 (-1.2%)
05/2012: Queen Sonja #29 - 5,861 (-2.7%)

The classic standard attrition.

277, 283. Grimm Fairy Tales: Myths & Legends (Zenescope)

05/2011: Myths and Legends #4 - 9,224

====

06/2011: Myths and Legends #5 - 7,612 (-17.5%)
07/2011: Myths and Legends #6 - 6,215 (-18.4%)
07/2011: Myths and Legends #7 - 6,215 (0.0%)
08/2011: -
09/2011: -
10/2011: Myths and Legends #8 - 6,983 (+12.4%)
11/2011: Myths and Legends #9 - 6,757 (-3.2%)
12/2011: Myths and Legends #10 - 6,242 (-7.6%)
01/2012: Myths and Legends #11 - 6,190 (-0.8%)
02/2012: Myths and Legends #12 - 5,922 (-4.3%)
02/2012: Myths and Legends #13 - 5,734 (-3.2%)
03/2012: Myths and Legends #14 - 5,615 (-1.8%)
04/2012: Myths and Legends #15 - 5,359 (-4.6%)
05/2012: Myths and Legends #16 - 5,591 (+4.3%)
05/2012: Myths and Legends #17 - 5,761 (+3.0%)

Two issues this month, and both increase on the previous issue.

278. Dark Shadows (Dynamite)

11/2011: Dark Shadows #1 - 9,090
12/2011: Dark Shadows #2 - 7,407 (-18.5%)
01/2012: Dark Shadows #3 - 6,337 (-14.5%)
03/2012: Dark Shadows #4 - 6,050 (-4.5%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Dark Shadows #5 - 5,746 (-5.0%)

The film hasn’t done that well, and this comic, based on the original series, isn’t doing any better.

279. Resident Alien (Dark Horse)

04/2012: Resident Alien #0 - 4,788
05/2012: Resident Alien #1 - 5,705 (+19.2) 

An increase for the first issue proper, not a surprise as the last issue collected the strip from Dark Horse Presents.

280. Next Men Aftermath (IDW)

05/2011: Next Men #6 - 8,387

====

06/2011: Next Men #7 - 8,090 (-3.5%)
07/2011: Next Men #8 - 7,817 (-3.4%)
08/2011: Next Men #9 - 7,651 (-2.1%)
09/2011: -
10/2011: Cold War #1 - 7,934
11/2011: Cold War #2 - 5,881 (-25.9%)
12/2011: Cold War #3 - 4,708 (-20.0%)
01/2012: Cold War #4 - 4,262 (-9.5%)
02/2012: Next Men Aftermath #40 - 6,415 (-16.2%)
03/2012: Next Men Aftermath #41 - 6,016 (-6.2%)
04/2012: Next Men Aftermath #42 - 5,750 (-4.4%)
05/2012: Next Men Aftermath #43 - 5,655 (-1.7%)

Settling down, but only one issue to go.

281. Ferals (Avatar)

01/2012: Ferals #1 - 7,802
02/2012: Ferals #2 - 6,008 (-23.0%)
02/2012: Ferals #3 - 6,159 (+2.5%)
03/2012: -
04/2012: Ferals #4 - 6,043 (-1.9%)
05/2012: Ferals #5 - 5,624 (-6.9%)

Quite a big drop this month statistically, but only 400-odd copies.

286. Fathom Kiani (Aspen)

03/2012: Fathom Kiani Vol 2 #0 - 6,050
04/2012: Fathom Kiani Vol 2 #1 - 5,764 (-4.7%)
05/2012: Fathom Kiani Vol 2 #2 - 5,496 (-4.2%)

Not actually dropping that many copies, only a little over 250.

288. Dan the Unharmable (Avatar)

05/2012: Dan The Unharmable #1 - 5,333

A bit of a disappointing start for what is an enormously enjoyable book.

292. Peter Panzerfaust (Image)

02/0212: Peter Panzerfaust #1 - 4,814
03/0212: Peter Panzerfaust #2 - 4,416 (-8.3%)
04/0212: Peter Panzerfaust #3 - 5,515 (+24.9%)
05/0212: Peter Panzerfaust #4 - 5,177 (-6.1%)

Still trying to find its sales level, it’s a bit all over the place at the moment.

293. Planet of the Apes (Boom!)

05/2011: Planet of the Apes #2 - 7,369

====

06/2011: Planet of the Apes #3 - 7,804 (+5.9%)
07/2011: Planet of the Apes #4 - 6,907 (-11.5%)
08/2011: Planet of the Apes #5 - 8,386 (+21.4%)
09/2011: Planet of the Apes #6 - 6,890 (-17.8%)
10/2011: Planet of the Apes #7 - 6,889 (0.0%)
11/2011: Planet of the Apes #8 - 6,607 (-4.1%)
12/2011: Planet of the Apes #9 - 6,110 (-7.5%)
01/2012: Planet of the Apes #10 - 5,710 (-6.5%)
02/2012: Planet of the Apes #11 - 5,580 (-2.3%)
03/2012: Planet of the Apes #12 - 5,237 (-6.1%)
04/2012: Planet of the Apes #13 - 5,343 (+2.0%)
05/2012: Planet of the Apes #14 - 5,058 (-5.3%)

After the small rise last month it’s back to the heavy drops. It’s a real shame, this is a very well-written book.

294. GFT Presents Neverland Hook

11/2011: GFT Presents Neverland Hook #1 - 6,140
11/2011: GFT Presents Neverland Hook #2 - 5,170 (-15.8%)
12/2011-01/2012: -
02/2012: GFT Presents Neverland Hook #3 - 5,060 (-2.1%)
03/2012: GFT Presents Neverland Hook #4 - 4,946 (-2.2%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: GFT Presents Neverland Hook #5 - 5,045 (+2.0%)

A small rise for the Neverland spin-off.

296. Night Of 1000 Wolves (IDW)

05/2012: Night Of 1000 Wolves #1 - 4,985

Another one of IDW’s random fantasy books, getting the sort of figures you’d expect.

297. Magdalena (Image)

05/2011: Magdalena #6 - 6,325 (-3.3%)
06/2011: Magdalena #7 - 6,968 (+10.2%)
07/2011: -
08/2010: -
09/2011: Magdalena #8 - 6,551 (-6.0%)
10/2011: Magdalena #9 - 5,664 (-13.5%)
11/2011: -
12/2011: Magdalena #10 - 5,226 (-7.7%)
01-02/2012: -
03/2012: Magdalena #11 - 5,176 (-1.0%)
04/2012: -
05/2012: Magdalena #12 - 4,978 (-3.8%)

The Artifacts event doesn’t really seem to have helped any of Top Cow’s books.

298. Ninjettes(Dynamite)

02/2012: Ninjettes #1 - 8,646
03/2012: Ninjettes #2 - 5,956 (-31.1%)
04/2012: Ninjettes #3 - 5,447 (-8.5%)
05/2012: Ninjettes #4 - 4,946 (-9.2%)

Still plummeting, and ending with issue six.

299. Voltron Year One(Dynamite)

04/2012: Voltron Year One #1 - 6,014
05/2012: Voltron Year One #2 - 4,828 (-19.7%)

Average second issue drop, I guess this is supposed to be a six-issue series but I suspect it won’t be in the chart all the way judging by these sales.

300. Alabaster Wolves (Dark Horse)

04/2012: Alabaster Wolves #1 - 6,344
05/2012: Alabaster Wolves #2 - 4,817 (-24.1%)

Anther random fantasy series, but quite a good one, so it’s a little sad it’s not doing better.

======

All figures on this chart are estimates for comics sold by Diamond to direct market retailers. They include reorders that shipped in the same month. Books shipping in the first week of a month will have more time for reorders to appear than ones shipping in the last week of the month, when reorders will slip to the following month.

1 COMMENT

  1. Whoops, of course it’s James Harren on Conan at the moment, not Tyler Crook, mixing my BPRD artists.

  2. Grim Leaper and Peter Panzerfaust both deserve to be doing better. Great series.

    And I’m shocked to see Prophert – one of the best comics of 2012 – not selling more. It should be at the same sales level as Saga, it’s THAT bloody good!

    (I expect the first Prophet trade to do gangbusters!)

    Overall it’s nice to see a sales chart where there’s some consistent increases in sales, month on month.

  3. Glad to see the sales increases in many of the titles listed here. So much good reading deserving of wider audiences.

  4. I’m *really* happy to see a strong market for creator owned books. Whether I think some of them are good or bad, I’d much rather see creators making these than spending their talents on corporate owned stuff.

  5. I’m one of those people who bought The Transformation of JH O’Donnell but not the other BPRD series. I usually read the series in collections (Dark Horse is killing me with the wait for them, this one shot won’t be collected until some time next year), but I heard good things about the artist for that one, and it was only a one shot, so I picked it up.

    I thought there was only one more series of Locke and Key after this one. Wasn’t it planed to be six volumes long?

    I think one reason Rasl didn’t do that well were the huge gaps between issues. It was only putting out about three issues a year, and those didn’t seem to come out on any sort of schedule.

    I also wish Prophet was selling better.

  6. I think something is wrong with your eyes if you think JK Woodwards art on Star Trek/Dr Who Assimilation2 is bad. That art is beautiful and he puts detail in every panel that tells the story very well

  7. Great to see so many titles on the increase, instead of constant drops.

    I agree that POTA is a great read, and should be selling more – and the minis are are some of the best POTA stories in comics history (right up there with the Adventure and MR series!!).

    Looking forward to the first Prophet trade – at only $10, everyone should be giving it a try!! :)

  8. Sorry to see the sales for The Spider. Personally (IMHO) I think it’s a more interesting book than The Shadow (which is kinda boring me, and I’m about to drop.)

  9. To Chris Hero:
    “I’d much rather see creators making these than spending their talents on corporate owned stuff.”

    I wonder how many of these books enjoyed additional sales due to the advertising that the Big two pay for.
    I wonder how many of these creators enjoy higher sales on their Indy titles due to name recognition garnered while working for the Big Two.
    I wonder how many customers stop into a store to buy something from the Big two and then buy something else.

    I wonder why fanboys feel this incessant need to pick one and then belittle the other. Why can’t we enjoy both?

  10. @jonboy

    Who am I belittling? I thought that was a pretty innocuous statement, but I’m sorry if you found it offensive. That wasn’t my intent.

    Fact of the matter is, the DM is absolutely dependent on the Big Two to survive. I think everyone accepts that. But isn’t it exciting that we’re entering an age where creators can do well with ideas they own? The early days of Image promised so much only to have the Image founders employ the same tactics used by the Big Two. But now, we have books like Saga, Walking Dead, and Fatale – wholly creator owned books doing well in the marketplace.

    It’s a win/win for everyone. The Big Two don’t have to fail for creator owned work to succeed and vice versa. I don’t understand the viewpoint that it has to be a battle between the two.

  11. @jonboy

    Sorry – I kinda missed your point there. I guess I have to ask you am I not entitled to my opinion I’d rather see people work on stuff they own then corporate owned properties? Just because I like that doesn’t mean everyone has to.

  12. “I wonder why fanboys feel this incessant need to pick one and then belittle the other. Why can’t we enjoy both?”

    My enjoyment of most corporate comics these days is tarnished by the very clear and present fact that many of the people who created these characters have been and are being fucked by Marvel and DC.

    Conversely, I find that I enjoy reading comics like CHEW or FATALE or SAGA more because I know that the people who create them are the people who prophit from them.

    I find the notion that we’re supposed to ignore this difference to be very, very odd.

  13. Rasl is good, very enjoyable, but it’s more a specific genre. It’s well written and drawn, but the average citizen or even kid is not gonna pick Rasl up like they did Bone.

    Bone is Smith’s masterpiece, I will always pick up his work, but I really doubt anything he does will match Bone.

  14. Note on Bloodstrike the series is running behind by about 6 weeks now. And theres no indication when the next 2 issues will come out but they went ahead and solicited Issue 33 as being released in today’s October 2012 Image solicitations.

    I love late foreign artists who do work for chump change. They’re cheap for the publisher to sign which is why you get inferior crappy art like its drawn by a 6 year old and its still late.

  15. JeffF – Yep, you’re right, I’m fairly sure I saw an interview in which he said it would end with #14, but he must have added an issue.

    Matt – There’s one more series in the overall story, then a series of one-shots concentrating on each of the characters.

    Darrell – Not my taste mate.

    dduval – I believe the new Bloodstrike is out this week. And if a certain artist is out there? Please don’t jump down his throat, just bask in the fact that a lot of people are liking Prophet! :)

  16. Those numbers of Fatale look to be much higher than Incognito, by more than 5k units. Looks like Brubaker and Phillips decision to move to Image has worked out for them. Very pleased for their success!

  17. It seems like the only way some people know how to raise Independent comics UP is by knocking the Big Two/Corporate comics DOWN.

    Reminds me of the idiots who prefer DC to Marvel or vice-versa, when both have their own merits and faults…

  18. @ Chris Hero: I found your apologies offensive. Why must fanboys always feel the need to apologize for imagined slights!?

    Paul Mellerick On BRPD: “I don’t know why the figures are so divergent, I can’t see that anyone is going to buy one and not the other.”

    I do. I’m not a huge fan of the series but sometimes there’s some great art in a certain mini that I can’t pass up like the The Long Death. That’s usually true of the Hellboy minis and one-shots thought the “great art” is usually courtesy of Mignola.