By Matthew Murray
Buffy is, again, the top selling indie book this month. Marvel and DC appear to have had quite a small month, as a total of thirty books (21 of them “indie”) made the chart this month with sales that would have seen them below #300 last month.
As with last month, I’ve listed every “indie” title in the top 200, and a selection of those appearing lower on the charts.
Thanks to icv2.com and Milton Griepp for permission to use these numbers, which can be found here.
25. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse) 01/2008: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10 - 88,474 01/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #21 - 69,980 ===== 02/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #22 - 67,575 (-3.4%) 03/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #23 - 64,108 (-5.1%) 04/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #24 - 60,916 (-5.0%) 05/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #25 - 58,740 (-3.6%) 06/2009: BTVS Tales of the Vampires one shot- 45,568 (-22.4) 07/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #26 - 55,393 (+21.6%) 08/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27 - 53,403 (-3.6%) 09/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #28 - 52,303 (-2.1%) 10/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #29 - 50,236 (-4.0%) 11/2009: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #30 - 49,155 (-2.2%) 12/2009: BTVS Willow One Shot - 45,136 (-8.2%) 01/2010: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31 - 47,013 (+4.2%) 6 month (-15.1%) 1 year (-32.8%) 2 year (-46.9%)
Up on last month, but still the lowest selling issue of the regular series so far. This issue was written by Joss Whedon, and leads into Brad Meltzer’s storyline beginning next issue.
75. Haunt (Image) 10/2009: Haunt #1 - 50,078 11/2009: Haunt #2 - 28,254 (-43.6%) 12/2009: Haunt #3 - 28,390 (+0.5%) 01/2010: Haunt #4 - 26,420 (-6.9%)
Still finding its feet.
80. Archie (Archie) 01/2005: Archie #554 - 2,591 01/2006: Archie #563 - 2,520 01/2007: Archie #572 - 2,501 01/2008: - 01/2009: Archie #593 – 2,318 ===== 02/2009: - 03/2009: Archie #595 - 2,484 04/2009: - 05/2009: Archie #597 - 2,563 06/2009: - 07/2009: - 08/2009: Archie #600 - 54,170 [58,408] 09/2009: Archie #601 - 37,871 (-35.2%) 10/2009: Archie #602 - 28,211 (-25.5%) 11/2009: Archie #603 - 25,799 (-8.5%) 12/2009: Archie #604 - 25,058 (-2.9%) 01/2010: Archie #605 - 24,803 (-1.0%) 6 month (n.a.) 1 year (+970.1%) 2 year (n.a.) 3 year (+891.7%) 4 year (+884.2%) 5 year (+857.3%)
Final issue of the Archie marries Betty storyline. Next issue is an epilogue to the whole story.
84. The Walking Dead (Image) 01/2006: The Walking Dead #25 - 19,337 01/2007: The Walking Dead #34 - 21,184 01/2008: - 01/2009: The Walking Dead #57 - 23,402 ===== 02/2009: The Walking Dead #58 - 22,720 (-2.9%) 03/2009: The Walking Dead #59 - 23,257 (+2.4%) 04/2009: The Walking Dead #60 - 23,585 (+1.4%) 05/2009: The Walking Dead #61 - 23,902 (+1.3%) 06/2009: The Walking Dead #62 - 23,910 (0%) 07/2009: The Walking Dead #63 - 24,001 (+0.3%) 08/2009: The Walking Dead #64 - 24,393 (+1.6%) 09/2009: The Walking Dead #65 - 24,892 (+2.0%) 10/2009: The Walking Dead #66 - 24,944 (+0.2%) 11/2009: The Walking Dead #67 - 24,666 (-1.1%) 12/2009: The Walking Dead #68 - 24,230 (-1.8%) 01/2010: The Walking Dead #69 - 23,695 (-2.2) 6 month (-1.3%) 1 year (+1.3%) 2 year (n.a.) 3 year (+11.9%) 4 year (+22.5%)
In decline, but there’s nothing to worry about here. The newest collection (volume 11) is the number one selling graphic novel this month, with sales of 16,914, almost triple the number two book. That is incredible. Every other volume also makes the top 300 graphic novel sales this month.
89. The Boys (Dynamite) 01/2008: The Boys #14 - 28,559 01/2009: The Boys #26 - 26,802 ===== 02/2009: The Boys #27 - 25,982 (-3.1%) 03/2009: The Boys #28 - 26,328 (-1.3%) 04/2009: The Boys #29 - 26,033 (-1.1%) 05/2009: The Boys #30 - 28,365 (+9.0%) 06/2009: The Boys #31 - 25,460 (-10.0%) 07/2009: The Boys #32 - 25,231 (-0.8%) 08/2009: The Boys #33 - 24,684 (-2.1%) 09/2009: The Boys #34 - 24,502 (-0.7%) 10/2009: The Boys #35 - 24,841 (+1.4%) 11/2009: The Boys #36 - 23,471 (-5.5%) 12/2009: The Boys #37 - 24,025 (+2.4%) 01/2010: The Boys #38 - 22,203 (-7.6%) 6 month (-12.0%) 1 year (-17.2%) 2 year (-22.3%)
Last month seemed to be a fluke, as we’re about where we’d be if it had followed the usual drop.
98. Star Wars Legacy (Dark Horse) 01/2007: Star Wars Legacy #7 - 34,249 01/2008: Star Wars Legacy #18 - 31,038 01/2009: Star Wars Legacy #32 - 25,814 ===== 02/2009: Star Wars Legacy #33 - 25,389 (-1.6%) 03/2009: Star Wars Legacy #34 - 25,304 (-0.3%) 04/2009: Star Wars Legacy #35 - 24,552 (-3.0%) 05/2009: Star Wars Legacy #36 - 24,166 (-1.6%) 06/2009: Star Wars Legacy #37 - 23,704 (-1.9%) 07/2009: Star Wars Legacy #38 - 23,162 (-2.3%) 08/2009: Star Wars Legacy #39 - 22,888 (-1.2%) 09/2009: Star Wars Legacy #40 - 22,555 (-1.5%) 10/2009: Star Wars Legacy #41 - 22,109 (-2.0%) 11/2009: Star Wars Legacy #42 - 21,659 (-2.0%) 12/2009: Star Wars Legacy #43 - 20,983 (-3.1%) 01/2010: Star Wars Legacy #44 - 20,341 (-3.1%) 6 month (-12.2%) 1 year (-21.2%) 2 year (-34.5% 3 year (-40.1%)
Soon to be the only Star Wars title.
99. Angel (IDW) 01/2006: Old Friends #2 (of 5) - 14,753 01/2007: Auld Lang Syne #3 - 6,699 01/2008: After the Fall #2 - 46,013 01/2009: After the Fall #16 - 34,801 ===== 02/2009: After the Fall #17 - 32,842 (-5.6%) 02/2009: Angel #18 - 32,061 (-2.4%) 03/2009: Angel #19 - 31,767 (-0.9%) 04/2009: Angel #20 - 30,308 (-4.6%) 05/2009: Angel #21 - 28,633 (-5.5%) 06/2009: Angel #22 - 27,496 (-4.0%) 07/2009: Angel: After the Fall – Epilogue #23 - 24,003 (-12.7%) 08/2009: Angel #24 - 22,795 (-5.0%) 09/2009: Angel #25 - 23,815 (+4.5%) 10/2009: Angel #26 - 22,886 (-3.9%) 11/2009: Angel #27 - 20,731 (-9.4%) 12/2009: Angel #28 - 21,301 (+2.7%) 12/2009: Angel Annual #1 - 16,616 (-22.0%) 01/2010: Angel #29 - 20,280 (+22.5%) 6 month (-15.5%) 1 year (-41.7%) 2 year (-55.9%) 3 year (+202.7%) 4 year (+37.5%)
Willingham doesn’t seem to have been able to stop the decline.
108/112. Conan the Cimmerian (Dark Horse) 01/2005: Conan #12 - 39,311 01/2006: Conan #24 - 31,907 01/2007: Conan #36 - 26,332 01/2008: Conan #48 - 21,850 01/2009: The Cimmerian #7 - 21,782 ===== 02/2009: The Cimmerian #8 - 20,983 (-3.7%) 03/2009: The Cimmerian #9 - 20,555 (-2.0%) 04/2009: The Cimmerian #10 - 20,419 (-0.7%) 05/2009: - 06/2009: The Cimmerian #11 - 20,041 (-1.9%) 07/2009: The Cimmerian #12 - 19,268 (-3.9%) 08/2009: The Cimmerian #13 - 18,881 (-2.0%) 09/2009: The Cimmerian #14 - 18,643 (-1.3%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: The Cimmerian #15 - 18,293 (-1.9%) 11/2009: The Cimmerian #16 - 17,778 (-2.8%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Weight of Crown One Shot - 17,571 (-1.2%) 01/2010: The Cimmerian #17 - 17,356 (-1.2%) 6 month (-9.9%) 1 year (-20.3%) 2 year (-20.6%) 3 year (-34.1%) 4 year (-45.6%) 5 year (-55.9%)
Both of these were supposed to ship in December, but neither managed to do so. Weight of the Crown was a $3.50 one-shot by Darick Robertson.
121. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (Dark Horse) 01/2006: Knights of the Old Republic #1 - 23,486 01/2007: Knights of the Old Republic #12 - 24,940 01/2008: Knights of the Old Republic #25 - 25,035 01/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #37 - 18,767 ===== 02/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #38 - 18,540 (-1.2%) 03/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #39 - 18,169 (-2.0%) 04/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #40 - 17,889 (-1.5%) 05/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #41 - 17,650 (-1.3%) 06/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #42 - 17,590 (-0.3%) 07/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #43 - 17,368 (-1.3%) 08/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #44 - 17,033 (-1.9%) 09/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #45 - 16,562 (-2.8%) 10/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #46 - 16,502 (-0.4%) 11/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #47 - 16,149 (-2.1%) 12/2009: Knights of the Old Republic #48 - 15,445 (-4.4%) 01/2010: Knights of the Old Republic #49 - 15,417 (-0.2%) 6 month (-11.2%) 1 year (-17.9%) 2 year (-38.4%) 3 year (-38.2%) 4 year (-34.3%)
Second last issue.
127. BPRD (Dark Horse) 01/2005: The Dead #3 (of 5) - 15,367 01/2006: Black Flame #6 (of 6) - 14,740 01/2007: - 01/2008: 1946 #1 - 17,239 01/2009: Black Goddess #1 (of 5) - 15,984 ===== 02/2009: Black Goddess #2 (of 5) - 15,120 (-5.4%) 03/2009: Black Goddess #3 (of 5) - 15,045 (-0.5%) 04/2009: Black Goddess #4 (of 5) - 14,543 (-3.3%) 05/2009: Black Goddess #5 (of 5) - 14,357 (-1.3%) 06/2009: War on Frogs #3 (of 4) - 13,828 (-3.7%) 07/2009: 1947 #1 (of 5) - 15,845 (+14.6%) 08/2009: 1947 #2 (of 5) - 14,893 (-6.0%) 09/2009: 1947 #3 (of 5) - 14,810 (-0.6%) 10/2009: 1947 #4 (of 5) - 14,505 (-2.0%) 11/2009: 1947 #5 (of 5) - 13,977 (-3.6%) 12/2009: War on Frogs #4 (of 4) - 12,904 (-7.7%) 01/2010: King of Fear #1 - 14,081 (+9.1%) 6 month (-11.1%) 1 year (-11.9%) 2 year (-18.3%) 3 year (n.a.) 4 year (-4.5%) 5 year (-8.4%)
We’re definitely in decline here, and I’m not sure why considering how close together the numbers for the last two #1s were.
135. Irredeemable (Boom) 04/2009: Irredeemable #1 - 13,218 05/2009: Irredeemable #2 - 9,962 (-24.6%) 06/2009: Irredeemable #3 - 12,838 (+28.9%) 07/2009: Irredeemable #4 - 13,623 (+6.1%) 08/2009: Irredeemable #5 - ??? (???) 09/2009: Irredeemable #6 - 14,128 (+3.7%) 10/2009: Irredeemable #7 - 14,282 (+1.1%) 11/2009: Irredeemable #8 - 13,688 (-4.2%) 12/2009: Irredeemable #9 - 13,515 (-1.3%) 01/2010: Irredeemable #10 - 13,106 (-3.0%) 6 month (-3.8%)
Standard drop.
137. Chew (Image) 06/2009: Chew #1 - 5,248 [13,517] 07/2009: Chew #2 - 6,735 (-24.6%) 08/2009: Chew #3 - 13,762 (+104.3%) 09/2009: Chew #4 - 12,294 (-10.7%) 10/2009: Chew #5 - 13,498 (+9.8%) 11/2009: Chew #6 - 13,139 (-2.7%) 12/2009: Chew #7 - 12,902 (-1.8%) 01/2010: Chew #8 - 12,727 (-1.4%) 6 month (+89.0%)
Still doing very well. Volume one picked up another 1,607 in sales this month, bringing its three month total to 9,415.
138. Star Wars Clone Wars (Dark Horse) 02/2009: Clone Wars #4 (of 6) - 16,244 03/2009: - 04/2009: Clone Wars #5 (of 6) - 15,871 (-2.3%) 05/2009: Clone Wars #6 (of 6) - 15,597 (-1.7%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: Clone Wars #7 - 15,275 (-2.1%) 08/2009: Clone Wars #8 - 14,798 (-3.1%) 09/2009: Clone Wars #9 - 14,294 (-3.4%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Clone Wars #10 - 13,460 (-5.8%) 12/2009: Clone Wars #11 - 13,098 (-2.7%) 01/2010: Clone Wars #12 - 12,637 (-3.5%) 6 month (-1.7%) 1 year (n.a.)
Final issue.
139. Incorruptible (Boom) 12/2009: Incorruptible #1 - 15,710 01/2010: Incorruptible #2 - 12,635 (-19.6%)
Very close to its parent title.
140. Transformers Ongoing (IDW) 02/2009: All Hail Megatron #7 - 11,832 03/2009: All Hail Megatron #8 - 11,731 (-0.8%) 03/2009: All Hail Megatron #9 - 11,479 (-2.1%) 04/2009: All Hail Megatron #10 - 12,183 (+6.1%) 05/2009: All Hail Megatron #11 - 12,292 (+0.9%) 06/2009: All Hail Megatron #12 - 12,124 (-1.4%) 07/2009: All Hail Megatron #13 - 11,892 (-1.9%) 08/2009: All Hail Megatron #14 - 11,736 (-1.3%) 09/2009: All Hail Megatron #15 - 11,634 (-0.9%) 10/2009: All Hail Megatron #16 - 11,281 (-3.0%) 11/2009: Transformers Ongoing #1 - 15,220 (+34.9%) 12/2009: Transformers Ongoing #2 - 12,516 (-17.8%) 01/2010: Transformers Ongoing #3 - 12,609 (+0.7%) 6 month (+6.1%)
Looks like this one might settle higher than the last series.
142. Witchblade (Image) 01/2005 Witchblade # 82 - 16,551 01/2006: Witchblade #93 - 14,696 01/2007: Witchblade #103 - 22,888 01/2008: Witchblade #113 - 15,799 01/2009: Witchblade #123 - 12,635 ===== 02/2009: Witchblade #124 - 12,576 (-0.5%) 03/2009: Witchblade #125 - 17,206 (+36.8%) 04/2009: Witchblade #126 - 14,039 (-18.4%) 05/2009: Witchblade #127 - 15,065 (+7.3%) 05/2009: Annual 2009 - 12,154 (-19.3%) 06/2009: Witchblade Darkness Angelus Blood on the Sands - 10,106 (-16.9%) 07/2009: Witchblade #128 - 13,427 (+32.9%) 08/2009: Witchblade #129 - 13,324 (-0.8%) 09/2009: Witchblade #130 - 15,387 (+15.5%) 10/2009: Witchblade #131 - 20,999 (+36.5%) 11/2009: Witchblade #132 - 13,207 (-37.1%) 12/2009: Witchblade #133 - 12,811 (-3.0%) 01/2010: Witchblade #134 - 12,416 (-3.1%) 6 month (-7.5%) 1 year (-1.7%) 2 year (-21.4%) 3 year (-45.8%) 4 year (-15.5%) 5 year (-25.0%)
Standard drop.
143. GI Joe Cobra II (IDW) 03/2009: GI Joe Cobra #1 - 19,433 04/2009: GI Joe Cobra #2 - 18,685 (-3.9%) 05/2009: GI Joe Cobra #3 - 17,881 (-4.3) 06/2009: GI Joe Cobra #4 - 16,739 (-6.4%) 07/2009: - 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: - 01/2010: GI Joe Cobra II #1 - 12,062 (-27.9%)
I’m guessing the first one sold much better because it came out before the movie.
145. Project Superpowers (Dynamite) 01/2008: Project Superpowers #0 - 113,191 01/2009: - ===== 06/2009: Chapter Two #0 - 31,828 07/2009: Chapter Two #1 - 22,282 (-30.0%) 08/2009: Chapter Two #2 - 17,377 (-22.0%) 09/2009: Chapter Two #3 - 15,717 (-9.6%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Chapter Two #4 - 14,980 (-3.2%) 12/2009: Chapter Two #5 - 12,794 (-14.6%) 01/2010: Chapter Two #6 - 11,923 (-6.8%) 6 month (-46.5%) 1 year (n.a.) 2 year (-89.5%)
While issue #0 was only a buck, that is a pretty horrifying two year drop. The drop is smaller this month, but only time will tell if the title is bottoming out.
146. GI Joe Origins (IDW) 02/2009: GI Joe Origins #1 - 21,975 03/2009: GI Joe Origins #2 - 18,361 (-16.4%) 04/2009: GI Joe Origins #3 - 18,530 (+0.9%) 05/2009: - 06/2009: GI Joe Origins #4 - 18,378 (-0.8%) 07/2009: GI Joe Origins #5 - 17,822 (-3.0%) 08/2009: GI Joe Origins #6 - 15,898 (-10.8%) 09/2009: GI Joe Origins #7 - 14,753 (-7.2%) 10/2009: GI Joe Origins #8 - 14,961 (+1.4%) 11/2009: GI Joe Origins #9 - 12,955 (-13.4%) 12/2009: GI Joe Origins #10 - 12,295 (-5.1%) 01/2010: Gi Joe Origins #11 - 11,726 (-4.6%) 6 month (-34.2%)
Fairly standard drop for this title.
149. Queen Sonja (Dynamite) 01/2006: Red Sonja #4 - 41,856 01/2007: Red Sonja #18 - 23,040 01/2009: Red Sonja #29 - 17,689 01/2009: - ===== 02/2009: Red Sonja #41 - 13,232 02/2009: Red Sonja She Devil with a Sword Annual #2 - 9,658 (-27.0%) 03/2009: Red Sonja #42 - 12,508 (+29.5%) 04/2009: Red Sonja #43 - 12,318 (-1.5%) 05/2009: Red Sonja #44 - 12,099 (-1.8%) 06/2009: Red Sonja #45 - 12,030 (-0.6%) 07/2009: Red Sonja #46 - 11,993 (-0.3%) 08/2009: Red Sonja #47 - 11,709 (-2.4%) 09/2009: Red Sonja #48 - 11,815 (+0.9%) 10/2009: Red Sonja #49 - 11,487 (-2.8%) 10/2009: Queen Sonja #1 - 13,849 (+20.6%) 11/2009: Queen Sonja #2 - 12,024 (-13.2%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Queen Sonja #3 - 10,768 (-10.4%) 6 month (-10.2%) 1 year (n.a.) 2 year (-39.1%) 3 year (-53.3%) 4 year (-74.3%)
Ouch, not looking good here.
151. Predator (Dark Horse) 06/2009: Predator #1 (of 4) - 17,065 07/2009:- 08/2009: Predator #2 (of 4) - 12,818 (-24.9%) 09/2009: - 10/2009: Predator #3 (of 4) - 11,293 (-11.9%) 11/2009: - 12/2009: - 01/2010: Predator #4 (of 4) - 10,180 (-9.9%)
Shipped late due to Aliens final issue shipping late. Not a very good drop for the last issue of a mini series.
153/233. Terry Moore’s Echo (Abstract) 01/2009: Echo #9 - 6,132 [12,056] ===== 02/2009: Echo #10 - 3,325 [11,253] (-6.7%) 03/2009: - 04/2009: Echo #11 - 11,293 (+0.4%) 05/2009: Echo #12 - 11,093 (-1.8%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: Echo #13 - 10,783 (-2.8%) 08/2009: Echo #14 - 10,663 (-1.1%) 09/2009: Echo #15 - 10,529 (-1.3%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Echo #16 - 10,234 (-2.8) 12/2009: Echo #17 - 10,282 (+0.5%) 01/2010: Echo #18 - 10,137 (-1.4%) 01/2010: Echo #19 - 4,978 (-50.1%) 6 month (-10.2%) 1 year (-15.9%)
The title is sticking to that 10,000 mark. However what’s happening with issue 19? This seems to happen every year around this time as sales of an issue are split over two months. Presumably this is because stores on one coast get them the last week of a month, and stores on the other get them on the first week of the following month.
However, this does bring to light a problem with these charts. A single issue could, theoretically, sell just below #300 on the charts every month with reorders and rack up impressive sales that we don’t know about.
154. Cyberforce Hunter Killer (Image) 01/2007: Hunter Killer #11 - 20,590 01/2008: - 01/2009: - ===== 07/2009: Cyberforce Hunter Killer #1 (of 5) - 19,694 08/2009: - 09/2009: Cyberforce Hunter Killer #2 (of 5) -11,254 (-42.9%) 08/2009: - 11/2009: Cyberforce Hunter Killer #3 - 10,533 (-6.4%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Cyberforce Hunter Killer #4 - 10,082 (-4.3%) 6 month (-48.8%) 1 year (n.a.) 2 year (n.a.) 3 year (-51.0%)
161. GFT Presents Neverland (Zenescope) 01/2010: GFT Presents Neverland #0 - 9,405
GFT stands for Grimm Fairy Tales. This issue cost $1.99.
167. Angel Hole in the World (IDW) 12/2009: Hole in the World #1 - 9,748 01/2010: Hole in the World #2 - 9,133 (-6.3%)
This is an adaptation of an episode of the TV show. Who buys these?
169. Transformers Bumblebee (IDW) 12/2009: Transformers Bumblebee #1 – 10,205 01/2010: Transformers Bumblebee #2 - 9,021 (-11.6%)
170. GI Joe Movie Snake Eyes (IDW) 10/2009: GI Joe Movie Snake Eyes #1 - 12,236 11/2009: GI Joe Movie Snake Eyes #2 - 10,759 (-12.1%) 12/2009: GI Joe Movie Snake Eyes #3 - 9,908 (-7.9%) 01/2010: GI Joe Movie Snake Eyes #4 - 8,955 (-9.6%)
171/198. Buck Rogers (Dynamite) 06/2009: Buck Rogers #1 - 17,464 07/2009: Buck Rogers #2 - 12,234 (-29.9%) 08/2009: Buck Rogers #3 - 11,224 (-8.3%) 09/2009: Buck Rogers #4 - 9,859 (-12.2%) 10/2009: Buck Rogers #5 - 8,864 (-10.1%) 11/2009: Buck Rogers #6 - 8,144 (-8.1%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Buck Rogers #7 - 8,920 (+9.5%) 01/2010: Buck Rogers #8 - 6,980 (-21.7%) 6 month (-42.9%)
I have no idea what’s going on with the numbers here.
172. Transformers Last Stand of the Wreckers (IDW) 01/2010: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 - 8,862
173/199. Darkness (Image) 01/2005: Darkness Superman #1 (of 2) - 31,643 01/2006: - 01/2007: Darkness Level 1 #1 - 15,950 01/2008: - 01/2009: Darkness #74 - 11,000 ===== 02/2009: Darkness #75 - 14,513 (+31.9%) 03/2009: Darkness #76 - 11,257 (-22.4%) 04/2009: - 05/2009: Darkness #77 - 10,114 (-10.2%) 06/2009: Witchblade Darkness Angelus Blood on the Sands - 10,106 (0%) 07/2009: Darkness #78 - 10,417 (+3.1%) 08/2009: Darkness #79 - 13,260 (+27.3%) 09/2009: Darkness #80 - 14,045 (+5.9%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Darkness #81 - 9,419 (-32.9%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Darkness #82 - 8,848 (-6.0%) 01/2010: Shadows and Flame One Shot - 6,924 (-21.7%) 6 month (-33.5%) 1 year (-37.1%) 2 year (n.a.) 3 year (-56.5%) 4 year (n.a.) 5 year (-78.1%)
Of note, the Darkness Level 1 series from three years ago was an adaptation of, you guessed it, the first level of a video game. The combined sales of the two Darkness comics this month don’t reach the adaptation’s level.
174. Rasl (Cartoon Books) 02/2009: - 03/2009: - 04/2009: Rasl #4 - 10,002 05/2009: - 06/2009: - 07/2009: Rasl #5 - 9,866 (-1.7%) 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: - 01/2010: Rasl #6 - 8,844 (-10.4%)
The seeming randomness of the release schedule isn’t doing this series any favours.
176. The Black Terror (Dynamite) 02/2009: - 03/2009: The Black Terror #3 - 17,928 04/2009: - 05/2009: The Black Terror #4 - 16,058 (-10.4%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: - 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: - 11/2009: The Black Terror #5 - 12,048 (-25.0) 12/2009: The Black Terror #6 - 9,545 (-20.8%) 01/2010: The Black Terror #7 - 8,705 (-8.8%) 6 month (n.a.) 1 year (n.a.)
A better drop than last month, but still not very good. Solicited up to issue 11.
177. Robocop (Dynamite) 01/2006: Frank Miller’s Robocop #9 (Avatar) - 2,639 [8,307] 01/2007: - 01/2008: - 01/2009: - ===== 01/2010: Robocop #1 - 8,520
179. Pilot Season (Image) 10/2009: Declassified - 7,672 11/2009: - 12/2009: Murderer #1 - 8,454 (+10.2%) 01/2010: Demonic #1 - 8,353 (-1.2%)
Most of the last Pilot Season titles were selling in the mid 5000s, so while this is a step up, I would have expected Robert Kirkman’s name to sell a few more copies.
180. Mass Effect Redemption (Dark Horse) 01/2010: Mass Effect Redemption #1 - 8,337
Video game tie in.
181. Solomon Kane (Dark Horse) 01/2009: Solomon Kane #4 (of 5) - 10,687 ===== 02/2009: Solomon Kane #5 (of 5) - 9,845 (-7.0%) 03/2009: - 04/2009: - 05/2009: - 06/2009: - 07/2009: - 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: - 01/2010: Deaths Black Riders #1 - 8,266 (-16.0%) 6 month (n.a.) 1 year (-22.7%)
Movie? What movie?
182. Tarot Witch of the Black Rose (Broadsword) 01/2005: Tarot #30 - 10,290 01/2006: Tarot #36 - 9,856 01/2007: Tarot #42 - 9,229 01/2008: Tarot #48 - 9,513 01/2009: Tarot #54 - 4,693 [8,754] ===== 02/2009: - 03/2009: Tarot #55 - 8,568 (+82.6%) 04/2009: - 05/2009: Tarot #56 - 8,693 (+1.5%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: Tarot #57 - 8,705 (+0.1%) 08/2009: - 09/2009: Tarot #58 - 8,502 (-2.3%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Tarot #59 - 8,356 (-1.7%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Tarot #60 - 8,241 (-1.4%) 6 month (-5.3%) 1 year (-5.9%) 2 year (-13.4%) 3 year (-10.7%) 4 year (-16.4%) 5 year (-19.9%)
183. Talisman Road of Trials (Random House/Del Rey) 10/2009: Talisman Road of Trials #0 - 13,410 11/2009: Talisman Road of Trials #1 - 10,752 (-19.8%) 12/2009: Talisman Road of Trials #2 - 8,755 (-18.6%) 01/2010: Talisman Road of Trials #3 - 8,221 (-6.1%)
Stephen King adaptation, will presumably sell well in collected form.
184. Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie) 01/2005: Sonic #145 - 7,968 01/2006: Sonic # 158 - 7,504 01/2007: Sonic #171 - 6,829 01/2008: Sonic #184 - 6,778 01/2009: Sonic #196 - 6,641 ===== 02/2009: Sonic #197 - 6,926 (+4.3%) 03/2009: Sonic #198 - 7,237 (+4.5%) 04/2009: Sonic #199 - 7,533 (+4.1%) 05/2009: Sonic #200 - 8,953 (+18.9%) 06/2009: Sonic #201 - 8,001 (-10.6%) 07/2009: Sonic #202 - 8,193 (+2.4%) 08/2009: Sonic #203 - 8,166 (-0.3%) 09/2009: Sonic #204 - 8,171 (0%) 10/2009: Sonic #205 - 8,263 (+1.1%) 11/2009: Sonic #206 - 8,353 (+1.1%) 12/2009: Sonic #207 - 8,198 (-1.9%) 01/2010: Sonic #208 - 8,006 (-2.3%) 6 month (-2.3%) 1 year (+20.6%) 2 year (+18.1%) 3 year (+17.2%) 4 year (+6.7%) 5 year (+4.8%)
Still enjoying its highest sales in years.
188. Complete Alice in Wonderland (Dynamite) 12/2009: Complete Alice #1 - 9,388 01/2010: Complete Alice #2 - 7,739 (-17.6%)
190. The Sword (Image) 01/2008: The Sword #4 - 8,897 01/2009: The Sword #14 - 8,479 ===== 02/2009: The Sword #15 - 8,051 (-5.0) 03/2009: - 04/2009: The Sword #16 - 8,231 (+2.2%) 05/2009: The Sword #17 - 8,081 (-1.8%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: The Sword #18 - 8,165 (+1.0%) 08/2009: - 09/2009: The Sword #19 - 8,116 (-0.6%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: The Sword #20 - 7,887 (-2.8%) 01/2010: The Sword #21 - 7,522 (-4.6%) 6 month (-7.9%) 1 year (-11.3%) 2 year (-15.5%)
The drops the last two months have been a bit surprising considering we’re almost at the end of the series.
193. Doctor Who Ongoing (IDW) 07/2009: Doctor Who #1 - 10,949 08/2009: Doctor Who #2 - 8,908 (-18.6%) 09/2009: Doctor Who #3 - 8,711 (-2.2%) 10/2009: Doctor Who #4 - 8,354 (-4.1%) 11/2009: Doctor Who #5 - 7,958 (-4.7%) 12/2009: Doctor Who #6 - 7,448 (-6.4%) 01/2010: Doctor Who #7 - 7,239 (-2.8%)
194. Simpsons Comics (Bongo) 01/2005: Simpsons Comics #102 - 12,101 01/2006: Simpsons Comics #114 - 10,891 01/2007: Simpsons Comics #126 - 9,236 01/2008: Simpsons Comics #138 - 9,007 01/2009: Simpsons Comics #150 - 7,912 ===== 02/2009: Simpsons Comics #151 - 7,543 03/2009: Simpsons Comics #152 - 7,669 (-1.7%) 04/2009: Simpsons Comics #153 - 7,611 (-0.8%) 05/2009: Simpsons Comics #154 - 7,546 (-0.9%) 06/2009: Simpsons Comics #155 - 8,011 (+6.2%) 07/2009: Simpsons Comics #156 - 7,774 (-3.0%) 08/2009: Simpsons Comics #157 - 7,565 (-2.7%) 09/2009: Simpsons Comics #158 - 7,782 (+2.9%) 10/2009: Simpsons Comics #159 - 7,645 (-1.8%) 11/2009: Simpsons Comics #160 - 7,618 (-0.4%) 12/2009: Simpsons Comics #161 - 7,414 (-2.7%) 01/2010: Simpsons Comics #162 - 7,227 (-2.5%) 6 month (-7.0%) 1 year (-8.7%) 2 year (-19.8%) 3 year (-21.8%) 4 year (-33.6%) 5 year (-40.3%)
Apparently sells very well in foreign markets. Issue 155 was a crossover with other Bongo titles.
195. Anna Mercury (Avatar) 01/2009 : Anna Mercury #5 (of 5) - 9,423 ===== 06/2009: Anna Mercury 2 #1 (of 5) - 9,562 (+1.5%) 07/2009: - 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: Anna Mercury 2 #2 - 8,138 (-14.9%) 11/2009: - 12/2009: - 01/2010: Anna Mercury 2 #3 - 7,157 (-12.1%)
The inconsistent release schedule is hurting this title.
197. Alan Moore Neonomicon Hornbook (Avatar) 01/2010: Neonomicon Hornbook - 7,117
This is a preview of the upcoming series that seems to actually be written by Alan Moore.
210. Muppet Show (Boom) 03/2009: Muppet Show #1 (of 4) - 7,272 04/2009: Muppet Show #2 (of 4) - 6,563 (-10.0%) 05/2009: - 06/2009: Muppet Show #3 (of 4) - 7,210 (+9.9%) 07/2009: Muppet Show #4 (of 4) - 6,273 (-13.0%) 07/2009: Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson #1 (of 4) - 7,027 (+12.0%) 08/2009: Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson #2 (of 4) - 5,952 (-15.3%) 09/2009: Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson #3 (of 4) - 5,444 (-8.5%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson #4 (of 4) - 4,822 (-11.4) 12/2009: Muppet Show #0 - 6,120 (+26.9%) 01/2010: Muppet Show #1 - 6,155 (+0.6%)
These are the Roger Landridge Muppet titles. While some of the initial buzz on this title has disappeared, the current series is an ongoing.
211. Savage Dragon (Image) 01/2006: Savage Dragon #122 - 7,180 01/2007: Savage Dragon #131 - 3,908 01/2008: - 01/2009: Savage Dragon #144 - 5,645 ===== 02/2009: Savage Dragon #145 - 22,147 [25,029] (+343.4%) 03/2009: - 04/2009: Savage Dragon #146 - 6,149 (-75.4%) 04/2009: Savage Dragon #147 - 6,058 (-1.5%) 05/2009: Savage Dragon #148 - 6,051 (-0.1%) 06/2009: Savage Dragon #149 - 6,060 (+0.2%) 07/2009: Savage Dragon #150 - 6,619 (+9.2%) 08/2009: Savage Dragon #151 - 6,034 (-8.8%) 09/2009: Savage Dragon #152 - 5,993 (-0.7%) 10/2009: Savage Dragon #153 - 6,571 (+9.6%) 11/2009: Savage Dragon #154 - 5,885 (-10.4%) 12/2009: Savage Dragon #155 - 5,736 (-2.5%) 01/2010: Savage Dragon #156 - 6,152 (+7.3%) 6 month (-7.1%) 1 year (+9.0%) 2 year (n.a.) 3 year (+57.4%) 4 year (-14.3%)
Savage Dragon vs. Savage Dragon!
213. Incredibles (Boom) 03/2009: Family Matters #1 (of 4) - 11,252 04/2009: - 05/2009: Family Matters #2 (of 4) - 8,041 (-28.5%) 06/2009: Family Matters #3 (of 4) - 8,169 (+1.6%) 07/2009: Family Matters #4 (of 4) - 8,199 (+0.4%) 08/2009: Incredibles #0 - 9,407 (+14.7%) 09/2009: - 10/2009: Incredibles #1 - 9,471 (+0.7%) 11/2009: Incredibles #2 - 7,383 (-22.0%) 12/2010: Incredibles #3 - 6,849 (-7.2%) 01/2010: Incredibles #4 - 6,149 (-10.2%) 6 month (-25.0%)
215. Cowboy Ninja Viking (Image) 10/2009: Cowboy Ninja Viking #1 - 8,380 11/2009: Cowboy Ninja Viking #2 - 6,394 (-23.7%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Cowboy Ninja Viking #3 - 6,062 (-5.2%)
At this part of the chart percent drops can make things look worse than they actually are. This is a drop of just over three hundred units, which isn’t that bad.
216. Battlefields (Dynamite) 01/2009: Dear Billy #1 - 8,551 (-3.3%) ===== 02/2009: Dear Billy #2 - 5,504 (-35.6%) 03/2009: Dear Billy #3 - 6,870 (+24.8%) 04/2009: Tankies #1 - 8,156 (+18.7%) 05/2009: Tankies #2 - 7,043 (-13.6%) 06/2009: - 07/2009: Tankies #3 - 6,834 (-3.0%) 08/2009: - 09/2009: - 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: Happy Valley #1 - 7,193 (+5.3%) 01/2010: Happy Valley #2 - 6,038 (-16.1%) 6 month (-11.6) 1 year (-29.4%)
However, this is a huge drop. Are people trade waiting on this one?
218. Stumptown (Oni) 11/2009: Stumptown #1 - 6,629 12/2009: - 01/2010: Stumptown #2 - 5,942 (-10.4%)
Bimonthly. Issue one just got reprinted.
224/261. Barack the Barbarian (Devil’s Due) 06/2009: Barack the Barbarian #1 - 21,692 07/2009: - 08/2009: - 09/2009: Barack the Barbarian #2 (of 4) - 7,550 (-65.2%) 10/2009: - 11/2009: - 12/2009: Barack the Barbarian #3 - 7,447 (-1.4%) 01/2010: Barack the Barbarian #4 - 5,726 (-23.1%) 01/2010: Fall of Red Sarah Oneshot - 3,824 (-33.2%)
This joke seems to be over. The Red Sarah one-shot is $5.99.
237. Cars (Boom) 04/2009: Rookie #1 (of 4) - 6,951 05/2009: Rookie #2 (of 4) - 5,007 (-28.0%) 06/2009: Rookie #3 (of 4) - 4,898 (-2.2%) 07/2009: Rookie #4 (of 4) - 4,876 (-0.4%) 08/2009: - 09/2009: Radiator Springs #1 - 5,696 (+16.8%) 10/2009: Radiator Springs #2 - 4,886 (-14.2%) 11/2009: Radiator Springs #3 - 4,447 (9.0%) 12/2009: Radiator Springs #4 - 4,020 (-9.6%) 01/2010: Cars #0 - 4,704 (+17.0%) 6 month (-3.5%)
240. Uncle Scrooge (Boom) 10/2009: Uncle Scrooge #384 - 5,835 11/2009: Uncle Scrooge #385 - 5,232 (-10.3%) 12/2009: Uncle Scrooge #386 - 4,946 (-5.5%) 01/2010: Uncle Scrooge #387 - 4,604 (-6.9%)
241. Wall-E (Boom) 11/2009: Wall-E #0 - 7,410 12/2009: Wall-E #1 - 5,946 (-20.0%) 01/2010: Wall-E #2 - 4,581 (-23.0%)
242. Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories (Boom) 10/2009: Comics and Stories #699 - 6,679 11/2009: Comics and Stories #700 - 5,634 (-15.6%) 12/2009: Comics and Stories #701 - 4,885 (-13.3%) 01/2010: Comics and Stories #702 - 4,567 (-6.5%)
245. Mickey Mouse and Friends (Boom) 09/2009: Mickey Mouse and Friends #296 - 6,340 10/2009: - 11/2009: Mickey Mouse and Friends #297 - 5,196 (-18.0%) 12/2009: Mickey Mouse and Friends #298 - 4,761 (-8.4%) 01/2010: Mickey Mouse and Friends #299 - 4,502 (-5.4%)
247/258. Donald Duck and Friends (Boom) 11/2009: Donald Duck and Friends #347 - 5,462 12/2009: Donald Duck and Friends #348 - 4,571 (-16.3%) 01/2010: Donald Duck and Friends #349 - 4,502 (-1.5%) 01/2010: Donald Duck and Friends #350 - 3,924 (-12.8%)
Issue 350 seems to have end up shipping in both the last week of January and the first week of February.
249. Orc Stain (Image) 01/2010: Orc Stain #1 - 4,476
James (Wonton Soup) Stokoe’s new series.
264. Tank Girl 11/2009: Skid Marks #1 (Titan) - 4,902 12/2009: Nuggets (Image) - 5,803 (+18.4%) 01/2010: Skid Marks #2 - 3,805 (-34.4%)
255. Muppet Show Fairy Tales (Boom) 05/2009: Robin Hood #1 (of 4) - 4,793 06/2009: - 07/2009: Robin Hood #2 (of 4) - 5,646 (-17.8%) 08/2009: Robin Hood #’3 (of 4) - 5,647 (+0%) 09/2009: Robin Hood #4 (of 4) - 5,612 (-0.6%) 09/2009: Peter Pan #1 - 6,356 (+13.3%) 10/2009: Peter Pan #2 - 5,199 (-18.2%) 11/2009: Peter Pan #3 - 4,762 (-8.4%) 12/2009: - 01/2010: Peter Pan #4 - 4,235 (-11.1%) 6 month (-24.9%)
268. Image United (Image) 11/2009: Image United # 1 - 42,866 12/2009: Image United #2 - 27,469 (-35.9%) [31,110] 01/2010: -
No issue this month, but the second issue did pick up reorders of 3,641.
284. Anchor (Boom) 10/2009: Anchor #1 - 5,655 11/2009: Anchor #2 - 3,725 (-34.1%) 12/2009: Anchor #3 - 3,403 (-8.6%) 01/2010: Anchor #4 - 2,971 (-12.7%)
Apparently guaranteed for twelve issues, but things aren’t looking good.
299. Bloodrayne (Digital Webbing) 01/2010: Bloodrayne Revenge of the Butcheress - 2,367
Lowest selling non Marvel/DC book to chart this month. Inspired by the video game or movie.
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Just a reminder, all numbers on this chart are estimates for comics sold by Diamond to the direct market. They include reorders that shipped in the same month. A book shipping in the first week of a month will have more time for reorders to appear than one shipping in the last week of the month, when reorders will slip to the following month. These numbers don’t include sales through Diamond UK.
Matthew Murray really likes (vegetarian) cooking and comic books. Now if only he could somehow combine them.
Aside from the wonky formatting, a great overview!
The erratic schedule for RASL just means that I am more inclined to wait for the deluxe hardcover edition.
The high sales of Sonic (200+ issues!) is partly the result of the Sonic Archives line of trades. Each trade reprints four issues at $7.95. The latest volume charted on the Top 300 GN list, so there’s probably cross-sales going on.
Thanks for the huge work (by the way, a few commentaries are missing).
7 months ago I sold 0 Sonic a month. I now sell at least 4-5 copies of each title each month, and a couple of archives.
I don’t know what’s happening to excite Sonic fans, but can we have it on more titles, please?
Is it possible that Sonic is appearing in a revived showing of the cartoon or more video game titles now, thus explaining interest?
Yeah, people are definitely trade-waiting on Ennis’ Battlefields. We know they’re coming out, Ennis always delivers, and they look good on the shelf.
I know people who are now playing Sonic on their laptops as some easyware program (it also comes with pac man).
So I guess he’s back.
Just saw a commercial for Sonic during tonight’s rerun of Grey’s Anatomy on Lifetime.
thanks for these! ive been a lurker for awhile but enjoy the info and commentary. it actually influences my buying trends because i really wanna help out my loved struggling titles. (poor Sonja)
@Mathieu Doublet
There were some titles I just didn’t have anything to say about. (“It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!”) Writing “standard drop” all the time is kind of depressing. I should have written something for the Disney titles, next month.
@everyone
Sonic games have been consistantly coming out for years, but it’s possible that we’re now hitting the nostalgia market (as GI Joe and Transformers had a few years ago). There does seem to be a bit more attention on Sonic now see about two minutes into this video : ) http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/escapist-news-network/1450-Black-Blue-Streak
@heroineaddict
Yeah, I’ve started buying some titles in issue form because of this list too!
The lead feature in the monthly newsletter from my LCS said, ‘We now have more of those Sonic titles in!’ So apparently demand spiked to the point that they had under-ordered. I don’t know why.
The “Archie Marries Betty” issues were so much better and much more enjoyable than the issues where he marries Veronica, it is a shame the sales didnt stay as high as the first issues of that arc.
The new Queen Sonja series is crap. No wonder it’s tanking. Great to have Mel Rubi back but story wise it’s just really pedestrian…
The decrease of BPRD is also no surprise. The last two series (The Warning, Black Goddess) just weren’t that good, esp. if compared to the fantastic earlier minis (Black Flame, Garden of Souls, etc.).
The consistently strong sales of Walking Dead reflect the consistency in terms of quality. This seris is just amazing and no sign of loosing steam.
The increase in Sonic might have a little to do with the forthcoming retro Sonic 4. It was announced in September 2009.
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