201310281300.jpg

by Paul O’Brien

While DC’s Villains Month was the main talking point of the direct market in September, Marvel moved into their own event season. September saw the second month of INFINITY, with more tie-in books popping up across the line, while the X-Men titles began their own separate crossover, BATTLE OF THE ATOM. We also have the debut issue of MIGHTY AVENGERS, which launches as part of the big event.

Such is the impact of Villains Month that, for once, DC not only had the largest share of the North American direct market, they absolutely thrashed Marvel, leading by 45% to 30% in units and 40% to 28% in dollars. On the other hand, Marvel at least have the moral victory of knowing that they solicited comics they could actually supply.

Thanks as always to ICV2.com for permission to use these figures.

2,3. INFINITY
08/13  Infinity #1 of 6 - 205,819
09/13  Infinity #2 of 6 - 125,985  (-38.8%)
09/13  Infinity #3 of 6 - 123,285  ( -2.1%)

Marvel ought to be pretty happy with this. Given the volume of extra variant covers on the first issue, the near-40% drop on issue #2 is perfectly fine, and the series was only outsold by the debut issue of DC’s own event book, FOREVER EVIL.

4.  X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM
09/13  Battle of the Atom #1 of 2 - 113,928

The bookend for the crossover running through ALL-NEW X-MEN, X-MEN, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN and UNCANNY X-MEN (but not ASTONISHING X-MEN, which doesn’t get invited to parties any more). Considering that the higher selling X-Men books have been in the 70Ks of late, this is a very strong start.

7.  MIGHTY AVENGERS
09/13  Mighty Avengers v2 #1 - 101,921

Yet another Avengers title, as Marvel seem bound and determined to find out exactly how thinly they can stretch that branding before the fabric of space time collapses. (I just tried searching for “Avengers” on the September 2013 solicitations page at Newsarama, and it came up with 58 matches.)

Since this is an INFINITY tie-in, it’s tough to figure out at this stage how far these sales are attributable to the crossover and how far they can be credited to the creative team or the characters – and the long term track record of series that launch as part of major crossovers is mixed. For comparison, this is marginally above the launch figure of AVENGERS ASSEMBLE in March 2012, and slightly below SAVAGE WOLVERINE from January. It’s certainly a healthy start that gives the book exposure to a good sized audience.

9,17. AVENGERS
09/03  ---
09/10  Avengers v4 #5  -  82,411
09/11  Avengers v4 #17 -  61,492
=====
09/12  Avengers v4 #30 -  58,609  (  -4.9%)
10/12  Avengers v4 #31 -  62,495  (  +6.6%)
10/12  Avengers v4 #32 -  56,204  ( -10.1%)
11/12  Avengers v4 #33 -  53,336  (  -5.1%)
11/12  Avengers v4 #34 -  57,315  (  +7.5%)
12/12  Avengers v5 #1  - 192,952  (+236.7%)
12/12  Avengers v5 #2  -  99,028  ( -48.7%)
01/13  Avengers v5 #3  -  92,165  (  -6.9%)
01/13  Avengers v5 #4  -  83,088  (  -9.8%)
02/13  Avengers v5 #5  -  82,452  (  -0.8%)
02/13  Avengers v5 #6  -  84,868  (  +2.9%)
03/13  Avengers v5 #7  -  78,278  (  -7.8%)
03/13  Avengers v5 #8  -  82,691  (  +5.6%)
04/13  Avengers v5 #9  -  77,780  (  -5.9%)
04/13  Avengers v5 #10 -  78,905  (  +1.4%)
05/13  Avengers v5 #11 -  70,687  ( -10.4%)
05/13  Avengers v5 #12 -  74,978  (  +6.1%)
06/13  Avengers v5 #13 -  68,624  (  -8.5%)
06/13  Avengers v5 #14 -  74,846  (  +9.1%)
07/13  Avengers v5 #15 -  68,472  (  -8.5%)
07/13  Avengers v5 #16 -  72,842  (  +6.4%)
08/13  Avengers v5 #17 -  68,962  (  -5.3%)
08/13  Avengers v5 #18 -  74,697  (  +8.3%)
09/13  Avengers v5 #19 -  92,489  ( +23.8%)
09/13  Avengers v5 #20 -  74,388  ( -19.6%)
                          6 mnth  (  -5.0%)
                          1 year  ( +26.9%)
                          2 year  ( +21.0%)
                          3 year  (  -9.7%)
                         10 year  (   --- )

The INFINITY tie-ins started with issue #18 last month. The surge on issue #19 is actually because it was available with five “decades” variant covers, all by John Cassaday.

11,13. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN
09/03  Amaz. v2 #58 -  92,294
09/08  Amazing #572 -  75,574
09/09  Amazing #604 -  63,435
09/10  Amazing #641 -  68,345
09/11  Amazing #670 -  57,959
=====
09/12  Amazing #693 -  59,772  ( -34.4%)
09/12  Amazing #694 -  58,461  (  -2.2%)
10/12  Amazing #695 -  58,185  (  -0.5%)
10/12  Amazing #696 -  57,950  (  -0.4%)
11/12  Amazing #697 -  59,872  (  +3.3%)
11/12  Amazing #698 -  87,537  ( +46.2%)
12/12  Amazing #699 -  80,048  (  -8.6%)
12/12  Amazing #.1  -  71,344  ( -10.9%)
12/12  Amazing #700 - 273,305  (+283.1%)
01/13  Superior #1  - 209,944  ( -23.2%)
01/13  Superior #2  - 118,104  ( -43.7%)
02/13  Superior #3  - 101,811  ( -13.8%)
02/13  Superior #4  -  95,892  (  -5.8%)
03/13  Superior #5  -  94,224  (  -1.7%)
03/13  Superior #6  -  86,614  (  -8.1%)
03/13  S. S-M #6AU  -  85,807  (  -0.9%)
04/13  Superior #7  -  87,945  (  +2.5%)
04/13  Superior #8  -  85,671  (  -2.6%)
05/13  Superior #9  -  93,656  (  +9.3%)
05/13  Superior #10 -  85,346  (  -8.9%)
06/13  Superior #11 -  84,219  (  -1.3%)
06/13  Superior #12 -  82,338  (  -2.2%)
07/13  Superior #13 -  81,678  (  -0.8%)
07/13  Superior #14 -  80,839  (  -1.0%)
08/13  Superior #15 -  78,636  (  -2.7%)
08/13  Superior #16 -  78,087  (  -0.7%)
09/13  Superior #17 -  89,118  ( +14.1%)
09/13  Superior #18 -  80,178  ( -10.0%)
                       6 mnth  (  -7.4%)
                       1 year  ( +34.1%)
                       2 year  ( +38.3%)
                       3 year  ( +17.3%)
                       4 year  ( +26.4%)
                       5 year  (  +6.1%)
                      10 year  ( -13.1%)

Issue #17 contains the return of Spider-Man 2099, which was also promoted with variant covers. The fact that there’s some noticeable increase on issue #18 too suggests that there was some genuine interest in this.

12. ALL-NEW X-MEN
11/12  All-New X-Men #1  - 181,693
11/12  All-New X-Men #2  - 100,983  (-44.4%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #3  -  90,161  (-10.7%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #4  -  90,946  ( +0.9%)
01/13  All-New X-Men #5  -  86,301  ( -5.1%)
01/13  All-New X-Men #6  -  85,403  ( -1.0%)
02/13  All-New X-Men #7  -  85,234  ( -0.2%)
03/13  All-New X-Men #8  -  90,990  ( +6.8%)
03/13  All-New X-Men #9  -  81,692  (-10.2%)
04/13  All-New X-Men #10 -  84,760  ( +3.8%)
05/13  All-New X-Men #11 -  80,582  ( -4.9%)
06/13  All-New X-Men #12 -  82,178  ( +2.0%)
06/13  All-New X-Men #13 -  77,656  ( -5.5%)
07/13  All-New X-Men #14 -  74,848  ( -3.6%)
08/13  All-New X-Men #15 -  73,035  ( -2.4%)
09/13  All-New X-Men #16 -  84,218  (+15.3%)
                            6 mnth  ( +3.1%)

16. UNCANNY X-MEN
09/03  Uncanny X-Men #430   -  94,165
09/08  Uncanny X-Men #490   -  87,592
09/09  Uncanny X-Men #502   -  82,883
09/10  Uncanny X-Men #515   -  73,585
09/11  Uncanny X-Men #543   -  58,326
=====
09/12  Uncanny X-Men v2 #18 -  59,794  (  -2.1%)
10/12  Uncanny X-Men v2 #19 -  59,283  (  -0.9%)
10/12  Uncanny X-Men v2 #20 -  65,981  ( +11.3%)
11/12  ---
12/12  ---
01/13  ---
02/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #1  - 177,463  (+169.0%)
02/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #2  -  94,615  ( -46.7%)
03/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #3  -  85,775  (  -9.3%)
04/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #4  -  80,047  (  -6.7%)
04/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #5  -  78,919  (  -1.4%)
05/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #6  -  73,621  (  -6.7%)
06/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #7  -  73,719  (  +0.1%)
07/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #8  -  70,274  (  -4.7%)
07/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #9  -  67,338  (  -4.2%)
08/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #10 -  70,903  (  +5.3%)
08/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #11 -  65,700  (  -7.3%)
09/13  Uncanny X-Men v3 #12 -  76,790  ( +16.9%)
                               6 mnth  ( -10.5%)
                               1 year  ( +28.4%)
                               2 year  ( +31.7%)
                               3 year  (  +4.4%)
                               4 year  (  -7.4%)
                               5 year  ( -12.3%)
                              10 year  ( -18.5%)

18. X-MEN
09/10  X-Men v3 #3  -  66,549
09/11  X-Men v3 #17 -  43,200
=====
09/12  X-Men v3 #35 -  32,049  (  -3.9%)
09/12  X-Men v3 #36 -  31,996  (  -0.2%)
10/12  X-Men v3 #37 -  31,611  (  -1.2%)
11/12  X-Men v3 #38 -  30,289  (  -4.2%)
12/12  X-Men v3 #39 -  29,326  (  -3.2%)
01/13  X-Men v3 #40 -  28,515  (  -2.8%)
02/13  X-Men v3 #41 -  32,488  ( +13.9%)
03/13  ---
04/13  ---
05/13  X-Men v4 #1  - 183,297  (+464.2%)
06/13  X-Men v4 #2  -  73,542  ( -59.9%)
07/13  X-Men v4 #3  -  65,270  ( -11.2%)
08/13  X-Men v4 #4  -  64,010  (  -1.9%)
09/13  X-Men v4 #5  -  73,357  ( +14.6%)
                       6 mnth  (   --- )
                       1 year  (+128.9%)
                       2 year  ( +69.8%)
                       3 year  ( +10.2%)

All part of the BATTLE OF THE ATOM crossover, and all seeing significant gains. The fourth participating title, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN, is also the lowest selling – it gains too, but continues to lag some way behind its compatriots.

This is interesting, since BOTA is an old-school crossover which runs through all four participating titles on a weekly basis. You need to buy them all in order to get the story. You’d figure people would either be completist enough to buy the whole thing, or skip it entirely, but for some reason that’s just not how it works.

20. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
09/08  Guardians v2 #5  -  42,104
09/09  Guardians v2 #18 -  24,896
=====
02/13  Guardians #0.1   -  80,344
03/13  Guardians v3 #1  - 217,993  (+171.3%)
04/13  Guardians v3 #2  -  88,184  ( -59.5%)
05/13  ---
06/13  Guardians v3 #3  -  75,633  ( -14.2%)
06/13  Guardians v3 #4  -  71,575  (  -5.4%)
07/13  Guardians v3 #5  - 110,372  ( +54.2%)
08/13  ---
09/13  Guardians v3 #6  -  69,030  ( -37.5%)
                           6 mnth  ( -68.3%)
                           4 year  (+177.3%)
                           5 year  ( +64.0%)

Back to regular sales after the debut of Angela in July (and a month’s hiatus).

22. UNCANNY AVENGERS
10/12  Uncanny Avengers #1  - 303,722
11/12  Uncanny Avengers #2  - 114,257  (-62.4%)
12/12  ---
01/13  Uncanny Avengers #3  -  92,165  (-19.3%)
02/13  Uncanny Avengers #4  -  87,539  ( -5.0%)
03/13  Uncanny Avengers #5  -  84,382  ( -3.6%)
04/13  Uncanny Avengers #6  -  80,863  ( -4.2%)
04/13  Uncanny Avengers #7  -  77,027  ( -4.7%)
05/13  Uncanny Avengers #8  -  75,655  ( -1.8%)
05/13  Uncanny Av. #8AU     -  72,514  ( -4.2%)
06/13  Uncanny Avengers #9  -  71,842  ( -0.9%)
07/13  Uncanny Avengers #10 -  68,768  ( -4.3%)
08/13  Uncanny Avengers #11 -  65,447  ( -4.8%)
09/13  Uncanny Avengers #12 -  73,357  (+12.1%)
                               6 mnth  (-13.1%)

Variant covers – specifically, two Lego variants. There’s no other obvious reason for the sales boost on this issue, which is the middle of a storyline.

24. NEW AVENGERS
09/08  New Avengers #45    - 103,326
09/09  New Avengers #57    -  85,598
09/10  New Avengers v2 #4  -  77,479
09/11  New Avengers v2 #16 -  57,959
=====
09/12  New Avengers v2 #30 -  56,742  (  -4.5%)
10/12  New Avengers v2 #31 -  53,456  (  -5.8%)
11/12  New Avengers v2 #32 -  52,784  (  -1.3%)
11/12  New Avengers v2 #33 -  50,045  (  -5.2%)
11/12  New Avengers v2 #34 -  53,862  (  +7.6%)
12/12  ---
01/13  New Avengers v3 #1  - 116,280  (+115.9%)
01/13  New Avengers v3 #2  -  79,433  ( -31.7%)
02/13  New Avengers v3 #3  -  72,110  (  -9.2%)
03/13  New Avengers v3 #4  -  65,150  (  -9.7%)
04/13  New Avengers v3 #5  -  63,423  (  -2.7%)
05/13  New Avengers v3 #6  -  59,362  (  -6.4%)
06/13  New Avengers v3 #7  -  60,138  (  +1.3%)
07/13  New Avengers v3 #8  -  58,044  (  -3.5%)
08/13  New Avengers v3 #9  -  60,534  (  +4.3%)
09/13  New Avengers v3 #10 -  60,682  (  +0.2%)
                              6 mnth  (  -6.9%)
                              1 year  (  +6.9%)
                              2 year  (  +4.7%)
                              3 year  ( -21.7%)
                              4 year  ( -29.1%)
                              5 year  ( -41.3%)

Second issue of an INFINITY tie-in arc, which hasn’t had much impact on sales, really. It lags some way behind AVENGERS, even though both are supposed to be core titles here.

25. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN
09/12  Wolverine/X-Men #16 - 55,857  ( -4.4%)
09/12  Wolverine/X-Men #17 - 54,768  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Wolverine/X-Men #18 - 52,331  ( -4.4%)
10/12  Wolverine/X-Men #19 - 50,008  ( -4.4%)
11/12  Wolverine/X-Men #20 - 48,432  ( -3.2%)
11/12  Wolverine/X-Men #21 - 48,244  ( -0.4%)
12/12  Wolverine/X-Men #22 - 45,658  ( -5.4%)
01/13  Wolverine/X-Men #23 - 43,963  ( -3.7%)
01/13  Wolverine/X-Men #24 - 44,716  ( +1.7%)
02/13  Wolverine/X-Men #25 - 45,057  ( +0.8%)
03/13  Wolverine/X-Men #26 - 42,019  ( -6.7%)
03/13  Wolverine/X-Men #27 - 41,960  ( -0.1%)
04/13  Wolv & X-Men #27AU  - 47,055  (+12.1%)
04/13  Wolverine/X-Men #28 - 42,718  ( -9.2%)
05/13  Wolverine/X-Men #29 - 40,451  ( -5.3%)
05/13  Wolverine/X-Men #30 - 40,019  ( -1.1%)
06/13  Wolverine/X-Men #31 - 41,661  ( +4.1%)
06/13  Wolverine/X-Men #32 - 39,790  ( -4.5%)
07/13  Wolverine/X-Men #33 - 42,269  ( +6.2%)
08/13  Wolverine/X-Men #34 - 38,473  ( -9.0%)
08/13  Wolverine/X-Men #35 - 38,046  ( -1.1%)
09/13  Wolverine/X-Men #36 - 59,684  (+56.9%)
                             6 mnth  (+42.2%)
                             1 year  ( +6.9%)

BATTLE OF THE ATOM tie-in – some 13K below the rest of the crossover. It’s still a big gain for this title, even so.

39. THOR: GOD OF THUNDER
09/03  Thor v2 #68 -  32,354
09/08  ---
09/09  Thor #603   -  65,265
09/10  Thor #614   -  53,505
09/11  Thor v4 #6  -  45,231
=====
09/12  Thor v4 #19 -  30,289  ( -14.4%)
09/12  Thor v4 #20 -  30,172  (  -0.4%)
10/12  Thor v4 #21 -  34,550  ( +14.5%)
10/12  Thor v4 #22 -  35,328  (  +2.3%)
11/12  Thor v5 #1  - 110,443  (+212.6%)
11/12  Thor v5 #2  -  65,533  ( -40.7%)
12/12  Thor v5 #3  -  55,547  ( -15.2%)
01/13  Thor v5 #4  -  50,478  (  -9.1%)
02/13  Thor v5 #5  -  51,861  (  +2.7%)
03/13  Thor v5 #6  -  50,481  (  -2.7%)
04/13  Thor v5 #7  -  51,526  (  +2.1%)
05/13  Thor v5 #8  -  48,622  (  -5.6%)
06/13  Thor v5 #9  -  49,125  (  +1.0%)
07/13  Thor v5 #10 -  46,204  (  -5.9%)
08/13  Thor v5 #11 -  45,397  (  -1.7%)
08/13  Thor v5 #12 -  44,865  (  -1.2%)
09/13  Thor v5 #13 -  48,007  (  +7.0%)
                      6 mnth  (  -4.9%)
                      1 year  ( +58.5%)
                      2 year  (  +6.1%)
                      3 year  ( -10.3%)
                      4 year  ( -26.4%)
                      5 year  (   --- )
                     10 year  ( +48.4%)

Another two variant covers, this time with Walter Simonson and something for the movie.

41,42. DEADPOOL
09/08  Deadpool v3 #2  -  59,850
09/09  Deadpool v3 #15 -  50,479
09/10  Deadpool v3 #27 -  36,404
09/11  Deadpool v3 #43 -  26,643
=====
09/12  Deadpool v3 #60 -  28,548  (  +0.1%)
09/12  Deadpool v3 #61 -  28,351  (  -0.7%)
10/12  Deadpool v3 #62 -  28,897  (  +1.9%)
10/12  Deadpool v3 #63 -  29,049  (  +0.5%)
11/12  Deadpool v4 #1  - 127,977  (+340.6%)
11/12  Deadpool v4 #2  -  76,445  ( -40.3%)
12/12  Deadpool v4 #3  -  64,591  ( -15.5%)
01/13  Deadpool v4 #4  -  57,061  ( -11.7%)
02/13  Deadpool v4 #5  -  57,312  (  +0.4%)
03/13  Deadpool v4 #6  -  57,095  (  -0.4%)
04/13  Deadpool v4 #7  -  57,016  (  -0.1%)
04/13  Deadpool v4 #8  -  52,851  (  -7.3%)
05/13  Deadpool v4 #9  -  51,296  (  -2.9%)
05/13  Deadpool v4 #10 -  50,461  (  -1.6%)
06/13  Deadpool v4 #11 -  54,110  (  +7.2%)
06/13  Deadpool v4 #12 -  48,315  ( -10.7%)
07/13  Deadpool v4 #13 -  47,006  (  -2.7%)
08/13  Deadpool v4 #14 -  45,870  (  -2.4%)
08/13  Deadpool v4 #15 -  46,169  (  +0.7%)
09/13  Deadpool v4 #16 -  45,675  (  -1.1%)
09/13  Deadpool v4 #17 -  45,348  (  -0.7%)
                          6 mnth  ( -20.6%)
                          1 year  ( +58.8%)
                          2 year  ( +70.2%)
                          3 year  ( +24.6%)
                          4 year  ( -10.2%)
                          5 year  ( -24.2%)

DEADPOOL seems to be hovering around the 45K mark, judging from the last couple of months.

43. KICK-ASS 3  [Icon]
06/13  Kick-Ass 3 #1 of 8 - 78,035
07/13  ---
08/13  Kick-Ass 3 #2 of 8 - 50,102  (-35.8%)
09/13  Kick-Ass 3 #3 of 8 - 44,540  (-11.1%)

Bit steep for a third issue drop, but still very good numbers for a creator-owned title.

47. INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK
09/03  Incredible v3 #60     -  58,584
09/08  Hulk #5               - 102,105
09/09  Incredible Hulk #602  -  51,582
09/10  Incredible Hulks #613 -  40,063
09/11  ---
=====
09/12  Incredible v4 #13     -  33,858  (  -8.1%)
09/12  Incredible v4 #14     -  33,887  (  +0.1%)
10/12  Incredible v4 #15     -  36,091  (  +6.5%)
11/12  Indestructible #1     - 118,200  (+227.5%)
12/12  Indestructible #2     -  63,653  ( -46.1%)
01/13  Indestructible #3     -  59,431  (  -6.6%)
02/13  Indestructible #4     -  56,214  (  -5.4%)
03/13  Indestructible #5     -  54,967  (  -2.2%)
04/13  Indestructible #6     -  55,470  (  +0.9%)
05/13  Indestructible #7     -  49,956  (  -9.9%)
05/13  Indestructible #8     -  48,866  (  -2.2%)
06/13  Indestructible #9     -  49,427  (  +1.1%)
07/13  Indestructible #10    -  45,531  (  -7.9%)
07/13  Indestructible #11    -  45,241  (  -0.6%)
08/13  Indestructible #12    -  43,673  (  -3.5%)
09/13  Indestructible #13    -  41,805  (  -4.3%)
                                6 mnth  ( -23.9%)
                                1 year  ( +23.5%)
                                2 year  (   --- )
                                3 year  (  +4.3%)
                                4 year  ( -19.0%)
                                5 year  ( -59.1%)
                               10 year  ( -28.6%)

And at long last we hit a book for which the “standard attrition” tag is apposite.

48. DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL
07/13  Deadpool Kills #1 of 4 - 53,066  
08/13  Deadpool Kills #2 of 4 - 41,960  (-25.8%)
09/13  Deadpool Kills #3 of 4 - 41,023  ( -2.2%)

Great numbers for a mini – very close to the parent title, and holding up well. No wonder Marvel are upping the Deadpool output again.

52. CAPTAIN AMERICA
09/03  Captain America v3 #17 -  43,295
09/08  Captain America v6 #42 -  75,574
09/09  Reborn #3              - 108,331
09/10  Captain America #610   -  47,986
09/11  Captain America v7 #3  -  54,413
=====
09/12  Captain America v7 #17 -  34,279  (  -2.5%)
10/12  Captain America v7 #18 -  38,318  ( +11.8%)
10/12  Captain America v7 #19 -  40,205  (  +4.9%)
11/12  Captain America v8 #1  - 123,667  (+207.6%)
12/12  Captain America v8 #2  -  64,377  ( -47.9%)
01/13  Captain America v8 #3  -  59,836  (  -7.1%)
02/13  Captain America v8 #4  -  53,112  ( -11.2%)
03/13  Captain America v8 #5  -  49,186  (  -7.4%)
04/13  Captain America v8 #6  -  47,802  (  -2.8%)
05/13  Captain America v8 #7  -  44,024  (  -7.9%)
06/13  Captain America v8 #8  -  43,791  (  -0.5%)
07/13  Captain America v8 #9  -  40,796  (  -6.8%)
08/13  Captain America v8 #10 -  39,356  (  -3.5%)
09/13  Captain America v8 #11 -  38,521  (  -2.1%)
                                 6 mnth  ( -21.7%)
                                 1 year  ( +12.4%)
                                 2 year  ( -29.2%)
                                 3 year  ( -19.7%)
                                 4 year  ( -64.4%)
                                 5 year  ( -49.0%)
                                10 year  ( -11.0%)

More business as usual.

53. SAVAGE WOLVERINE
01/13  Savage Wolverine #1 - 102,530
02/13  Savage Wolverine #2 -  58,254  (-43.2%)
03/13  Savage Wolverine #3 -  50,310  (-13.6%)
04/13  Savage Wolverine #4 -  45,933  ( -8.7%)
05/13  Savage Wolverine #5 -  42,328  ( -7.8%)
06/13  Savage Wolverine #6 -  59,410  (+40.4%)
07/13  Savage Wolverine #7 -  40,946  (-31.1%)
08/13  ---
09/13  Savage Wolverine #8 -  38,208  ( -6.7%)
                              6 mnth  (-24.1%)

That’s the issue originally solicited for August – the final chapter of a Zeb Wells/Joe Madureira three-parter. The issue solicited for September – the start of a storyline by Jock – slipped into October.

55. NOVA
09/08  Nova v4 #17 - 37,015
09/09  Nova v4 #29 - 23,924
=====
02/13  Nova v5 #1  - 80,857
03/13  Nova v5 #2  - 46,725  (-42.2%)
04/13  Nova v5 #3  - 40,548  (-13.2%)
05/13  Nova v5 #4  - 38,151  ( -5.9%)
06/13  Nova v5 #5  - 36,545  ( -4.2%)
07/13  Nova v5 #6  - 34,234  ( -6.3%)
08/13  Nova v5 #7  - 31,937  ( -6.7%)
09/13  Nova v5 #8  - 37,767  (+18.3%)
                     6 mnth  (-19.2%)
                     4 year  (+57.9%)
                     5 year  ( +2.0%)

Infinity tie-in. It has a rather bigger impact here than it does on the core Avengers titles (but then if you’re that interested in Jonathan Hickman’s grand vision, you were probably reading the core Avengers titles already).

57. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP
09/12  Avenging Spider-Man #12 - 35,462  (  +4.9%)
10/12  Avenging Spider-Man #13 - 32,908  (  -7.2%)
11/12  Avenging Spider-Man #14 - 30,102  (  -8.5%)
12/12  Avenging Spider-Man #15 - 28,240  (  -6.2%)
12/12  Avenging Spider-Man #.1 - 41,504  ( +47.0%)
01/13  Avenging Spider-Man #16 - 29,032  ( -30.1%)
02/13  Avenging Spider-Man #17 - 30,783  (  +6.0%)
03/13  Avenging Spider-Man #18 - 31,657  (  +2.8%)
04/13  Avenging Spider-Man #19 - 28,740  (  -9.2%)
05/13  Avenging Spider-Man #20 - 27,609  (  -3.9%)
05/13  Avenging Spider-Man #21 - 27,251  (  -1.3%)
06/13  Avenging Spider-Man #22 - 26,799  (  -1.7%)
07/13  Superior Team-Up #1     - 76,959  (+187.2%)
08/13  Superior Team-Up #2     - 41,155  ( -46.5%)
09/13  Superior Team-Up #3     - 37,363  (  -9.2%)
                                 6 mnth  ( +18.0%)
                                 1 year  (  +5.4%)

Infinity tie-in. We can probably assume that the drop would otherwise have been a lot bigger and that the title would have been on a swift path back to previous sales levels.

60. DAREDEVIL
09/03  Daredevil v2 #51  - 59,636
09/08  Daredevil v2 #111 - 46,305
09/09  ---
09/10  Daredevil #510    - 44,728
09/11  Daredevil v3 #3   - 39,477
=====
09/12  Daredevil v3 #18  - 37,185  ( -2.5%)
10/12  Daredevil v3 #19  - 37,228  ( +0.1%)
11/12  Daredevil v3 #20  - 36,515  ( -1.9%)
12/12  Daredevil v3 #21  - 35,848  ( -1.8%)
01/13  Daredevil v3 #22  - 36,102  ( +0.7%)
02/13  Daredevil v3 #23  - 37,170  ( +3.0%)
03/13  Daredevil v3 #24  - 37,231  ( +0.2%)
04/13  Daredevil v3 #25  - 39,678  ( +6.6%)
05/13  Daredevil v3 #26  - 39,788  ( +0.3%)
06/13  Daredevil v3 #27  - 35,834  ( -9.9%)
07/13  Daredevil v3 #28  - 35,364  ( -1.3%)
07/13  Daredevil v3 #29  - 34,915  ( -1.3%)
08/13  Daredevil v3 #30  - 35,240  ( +0.9%)
09/13  Daredevil v3 #31  - 36,666  ( +4.0%)
                           6 mnth  ( -1.5%)
                           1 year  ( -1.4%)
                           2 year  ( -7.1%)
                           3 year  (-18.0%)
                           4 year  (  --- )
                           5 year  (-20.8%)
                          10 year  (-38.5%)

Two Lego variants might explain the slight gain – but DAREDEVIL is a very steady book to start with which has been hovering around the mid 30K range for months.

63. IRON MAN
09/03  Iron Man v3 #72 -  30,438
09/08  Iron Man v5 #5  -  60,444
09/09  Iron Man v5 #17 -  47,182
09/10  Iron Man v5 #30 -  47,238
09/11  Iron Man #508   -  41,295
=====
09/12  Iron Man #524   -  30,976  (  -1.9%)
09/12  Iron Man #525   -  30,885  (  -0.3%)
10/12  Iron Man #526   -  35,934  ( +16.3%)
10/12  Iron Man #527   -  36,981  (  +2.9%)
11/12  Iron Man v6 #1  - 116,529  (+215.1%)
11/12  Iron Man v6 #2  -  72,902  ( -37.4%)
12/12  Iron Man v6 #3  -  59,041  ( -19.0%)
12/12  Iron Man v6 #4  -  56,708  (  -4.0%)
01/13  Iron Man v6 #5  -  50,899  ( -10.2%)
02/13  Iron Man v6 #6  -  46,206  (  -9.2%)
03/13  Iron Man v6 #7  -  44,040  (  -4.7%)
04/13  Iron Man v6 #8  -  43,974  (  -0.1%)
05/13  Iron Man v6 #9  -  78,006  ( +77.4%)
05/13  Iron Man v6 #10 -  45,424  ( -41.8%)
06/13  Iron Man v6 #11 -  44,409  (  -2.2%)
07/13  Iron Man v6 #12 -  40,405  (  -9.0%)
07/13  Iron Man v6 #13 -  39,534  (  -2.2%)
08/13  Iron Man v6 #14 -  38,137  (  -3.5%)
09/13  Iron Man v6 #15 -  36,346  (  -4.7%)
                          6 mnth  ( -17.5%)
                          1 year  ( +17.3%)
                          2 year  ( -12.0%)
                          3 year  ( -23.1%)
                          4 year  ( -23.0%)
                          5 year  ( -39.9%)
                         10 year  ( +19.4%)

The standard downward drift.

67. UNCANNY X-FORCE
09/08  X-Force v3 #7  - 64,911
09/09  X-Force v3 #19 - 49,817
09/10  Sex & V #3     - 37,283
09/11  X-Force v4 #15 - 53,771
=====
09/12  X-Force v4 #31 - 44,061  ( -1.9%)
10/12  X-Force v4 #32 - 44,055  ( -0.0%)
11/12  X-Force v4 #33 - 43,589  ( -1.1%)
11/12  X-Force v4 #34 - 43,710  ( +0.3%)
12/12  X-Force v4 #35 - 47,736  ( +9.2%)
01/13  X-Force v5 #1  - 86,187  (+80.5%)
02/13  X-Force v5 #2  - 56,713  (-34.2%)
03/13  X-Force v5 #3  - 51,721  ( -8.8%)
04/13  ---
05/13  X-Force v5 #4  - 47,727  ( -7.7%)
05/13  X-Force v5 #5  - 45,674  ( -4.3%)
06/13  X-Force v5 #6  - 42,496  ( -7.0%)
06/13  X-Force v5 #7  - 40,380  ( -5.0%)
07/13  X-Force v5 #8  - 37,781  ( -6.4%)
07/13  X-Force v5 #9  - 36,978  ( -2.1%)
08/13  X-Force v5 #10 - 35,329  ( -4.5%)
09/13  X-Force v5 #11 - 36,186  ( +2.4%)
                        6 mnth  (-30.0%)
                        1 year  (-17.9%)
                        2 year  (-32.7%)
                        3 year  ( -2.9%)
                        4 year  (-27.4%)
                        5 year  (-44.3%)

This had an X-Men 50th anniversary variant cover, hence the upwards tick.

69. SUPERIOR CARNAGE
07/13  Superior Carnage #1 of 5 - 48,053
08/13  Superior Carnage #2 of 5 - 40,864  (-15.0%)
09/13  Superior Carnage #3 of 5 - 36,022  (-11.8%)

On the high side for a third issue drop, but still good numbers for a Spider-Man spin-off mini.

70. WOLVERINE
09/03  Wolverine #5     -  81,728
09/08  ---
09/09  W: Weapon X #5   -  40,975
09/10  Wolverine v4 #1  - 104,414
09/11  Wolverine v4 #15 -  37,951
=====
09/12  Wolverine #313   -  39,262  (  -4.3%)
10/12  Wolverine #314   -  34,504  ( -12.1%)
10/12  Wolverine #315   -  38,557  ( +11.7%)
11/12  Wolverine #316   -  32,208  ( -16.5%)
12/12  Wolverine #317   -  34,367  (  +6.7%)
01/13  ---
02/13  ---
03/13  Wolverine v5 #1  - 117,669  (+242.4%)
04/13  Wolverine v5 #2  -  57,165  ( -51.4%)
05/13  Wolverine v5 #3  -  49,629  ( -13.2%)
06/13  Wolverine v5 #4  -  46,784  (  -5.7%)
06/13  Wolverine v5 #5  -  43,694  (  -6.6%)
07/13  Wolverine v5 #6  -  40,593  (  -7.1%)
07/13  Wolverine v5 #7  -  38,605  (  -4.9%)
08/13  Wolverine v5 #8  -  39,830  (  -3.2%)
09/13  Wolverine v5 #9  -  35,920  (  -9.8%)
                           6 mnth  ( -69.5%)
                           1 year  (  -8.5%)
                           2 year  (  -5.4%)
                           3 year  ( -65.6%)
                           4 year  ( -12.3%)
                           5 year  (   --- )
                          10 year  ( -56.0%)

The August issue had two variant covers, so the drop isn’t as bad as it looks. Even so, this doesn’t seem to be holding on to its audience brilliantly.

73. INFINITY: THE HUNT
09/13  Hunt #1 of 4 - 35,562 

80. INFINITY HEIST
09/13  Heist #1 of 4 - 32,453

Two Infinity tie-in books, selling in such similar numbers as to suggest that retailers are basically figuring that these will be selling mostly to event completists.

81. ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN
09/03  Spider-Man #46    - 105,409
09/08  Spider-Man #126   -  54,604
09/09  Spider-Man v2 #2  -  57,477
09/10  Spider-Man v2 #14 -  35,776
09/11  Spider-Man v3 #2  -  58,672
=====
09/12  Spider-Man v3 #14 -  40,960  ( -3.9%)
09/12  Spider-Man v3 #15 -  40,435  ( -1.3%)
10/12  Spider-Man v3 #16 -  39,679  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Spider-Man v3 #.1 -  38,321  ( -3.4%)
11/12  Spider-Man v3 #17 -  38,481  ( +0.4%)
12/12  Spider-Man v3 #18 -  36,944  ( -4.0%)
01/13  Spider-Man v3 #19 -  36,017  ( -2.5%)
02/13  Spider-Man v3 #20 -  35,461  ( -1.5%)
03/13  Spider-Man v3 #21 -  35,284  ( -0.5%)
04/13  Spider-Man v3 #22 -  34,918  ( -1.0%)
05/13  Spider-Man v3 #23 -  35,581  ( +1.9%)
06/13  Spider-Man v3 #24 -  34,011  ( -4.4%)
07/13  Spider-Man v3 #25 -  33,271  ( -2.2%)
08/13  Spider-Man v3 #26 -  32,932  ( -1.0%)
09/13  Spider-Man v3 #27 -  32,200  ( -2.2%)
                            6 mnth  ( -8.7%)
                            1 year  (-21.4%)
                            2 year  (-45.1%)
                            3 year  (-10.0%)
                            4 year  (-44.0%)
                            5 year  (-41.0%)
                           10 year  (-69.5%)

The “Cataclysm” storyline hits in November. In the meantime, very gentle erosion.

94. FANTASTIC FOUR
09/03  Fantastic Four #504   -  53,885
09/08  Fantastic Four #560   -  58,258
09/09  Fantastic Four #571   -  47,468
09/10  Fantastic Four #583   -  46,267
09/11  FF #9                 -  53,091
=====
09/12  Fantastic Four #610   -  35,388  (  -3.0%)
10/12  Fantastic Four #611   -  45,322  ( +28.1%)
11/12  Fantastic Four v5 #1  - 114,532  (+152.7%)
12/12  Fantastic Four v5 #2  -  58,421  ( -49.0%)
01/13  Fantastic Four v5 #3  -  50,555  ( -13.5%)
02/13  Fantastic Four v5 #4  -  44,999  ( -11.0%)
03/13  Fantastic Four v5 #5  -  42,590  (  -5.4%)
03/13  Fantastic Four #5AU   -  45,756  (  +7.4%)
04/13  Fantastic Four v5 #6  -  41,291  (  -4.8%)
04/13  Fantastic Four v5 #7  -  39,314  (  -4.8%)
05/13  Fantastic Four v5 #8  -  37,309  (  -5.1%)
06/13  Fantastic Four v5 #9  -  37,071  (  -0.6%)
07/13  Fantastic Four v5 #10 -  34,018  (  -8.2%)
08/13  Fantastic Four v5 #11 -  32,665  (  -4.0%)
09/13  Fantastic Four v5 #12 -  31,426  (  -3.8%)
                                6 mnth  ( -26.2%)
                                1 year  ( -11.2%)
                                2 year  ( -40.8%)
                                3 year  ( -32.1%)
                                4 year  ( -33.8%)
                                5 year  ( -46.1%)
                               10 year  ( -41.7%)

Relaunching in the new year. This run hasn’t really clicked commercially – but the Fantastic Four can be a tough sell sometimes.

99. CABLE & X-FORCE
12/12  Cable & X-Force #1  - 90,334
12/12  Cable & X-Force #2  - 57,719  (-36.1%)
01/13  Cable & X-Force #3  - 51,761  (-10.3%)
02/13  Cable & X-Force #4  - 46,104  (-10.9%)
03/13  Cable & X-Force #5  - 44,680  ( -3.1%)
03/13  Cable & X-Force #6  - 42,896  ( -4.0%)
04/13  Cable & X-Force #7  - 41,500  ( -3.3%)
05/13  Cable & X-Force #8  - 39,041  ( -5.9%)
06/13  Cable & X-Force #9  - 38,414  ( -1.6%)
06/13  Cable & X-Force #10 - 36,104  ( -6.0%)
07/13  Cable & X-Force #11 - 34,240  ( -5.2%)
08/13  Cable & X-Force #12 - 33,127  ( -3.3%)
08/13  Cable & X-Force #13 - 32,104  ( -3.1%)
09/13  Cable & X-Force #14 - 31,053  ( -3.3%)
                             6 mnth  (-27.6%)

Steady erosion.

102. SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN
07/13  Superior Foes #1 - 61,413
08/13  Superior Foes #2 - 34,300  (-44.1%)
09/13  Superior Foes #3 - 30,081  (-12.3%)

Yet to find its level, let’s say. It’s a quirky book that Marvel were probably hoping would find a cult audience, so it was never likely to sustain the sales it achieved in its first month.

104. AVENGERS A.I.
07/13  Avengers A.I. #1 - 68,130
08/13  Avengers A.I. #2 - 37,079  (-45.6%)
09/13  Avengers A.I. #3 - 29,776  (-19.7%)

That’s a bit of a swan dive, to be honest. Not looking all that healthy.

105. THUNDERBOLTS
09/08  Thunderbolts #124   - 43,429
09/09  Thunderbolts #135   - 39,961
09/10  Thunderbolts #148   - 32,190
09/11  Thunderbolts #163   - 24,199
=====
12/12  Thunderbolts v2 #1  - 83,396
12/12  Thunderbolts v2 #2  - 50,897  (-39.0%)
01/13  Thunderbolts v2 #3  - 44,272  (-13.0%)
02/13  Thunderbolts v2 #4  - 43,287  ( -2.2%)
02/13  Thunderbolts v2 #5  - 41,663  ( -3.8%)
03/13  Thunderbolts v2 #6  - 39,293  ( -5.7%)
03/13  Thunderbolts v2 #7  - 38,553  ( -1.9%)
04/13  Thunderbolts v2 #8  - 36,979  ( -4.1%)
05/13  Thunderbolts v2 #9  - 32,855  (-11.2%)
06/13  Thunderbolts v2 #10 - 32,682  ( -0.5%)
06/13  Thunderbolts v2 #11 - 30,618  ( -6.3%)
07/13  Thunderbolts v2 #12 - 29,081  ( -5.0%)
07/13  Thunderbolts v2 #13 - 28,528  ( -1.9%)
08/13  Thunderbolts v2 #14 - 30,620  ( +7.3%)
09/13  Thunderbolts v2 #15 - 29,703  ( -3.0%)
                             6 mnth  (-23.0%)
                             1 year  (  --- )
                             2 year  (+22.7%)
                             3 year  ( -7.7%)
                             4 year  (-25.7%)
                             5 year  (-31.6%)

Second issue of an Infinity tie-in, which doesn’t seem to have made a huge amount of difference.

107. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
09/12  Avengers Assemble #7  -  36,259  ( +0.4%)
10/12  Avengers Assemble #8  -  36,453  ( +0.5%)
11/12  Avengers Assemble #9  -  42,088  (+15.5%)
12/12  Avengers Assemble #10 -  34,035  (-19.1%)
01/13  Avengers Assemble #11 -  31,027  ( -8.8%)
02/13  Avengers Assemble #12 -  29,475  ( -5.0%)
03/13  Avengers Assemble #13 -  28,432  ( -3.6%)
04/13  Av. Assemble #14AU    -  35,985  (+26.6%)
05/13  Av. Assemble #15AU    -  33,183  ( -7.8%)
06/13  Avengers Assemble #16 -  27,497  (-17.1%)
07/13  Avengers Assemble #17 -  26,640  ( -3.1%)
08/13  Avengers Assemble #18 -  30,597  (+14.9%)
09/13  Avengers Assemble #19 -  29,564  ( -3.4%)
                                6 mnth  ( +4.0%)
                                1 year  (-18.5%)

Second part of an Infinity tie-in, which again has had a fairly modest impact. Bear in mind, though, that this book has been in crossover ever since issue #14, so it’s not exactly coming from a normal baseline. Still, Age of Ultron had a noticeably bigger impact than Infinity.

121. YOUNG AVENGERS
01/13  Young Avengers v2 #1  - 76,144
02/13  Young Avengers v2 #2  - 43,559  (-42.8%)
03/13  Young Avengers v2 #3  - 38,469  (-11.7%)
04/13  Young Avengers v2 #4  - 34,378  (-10.6%)
05/13  Young Avengers v2 #5  - 32,159  ( -6.5%)
06/13  Young Avengers v2 #6  - 30,822  ( -4.2%)
07/13  Young Avengers v2 #7  - 28,596  ( -7.2%)
07/13  Young Avengers v2 #8  - 27,844  ( -2.6%)
08/13  Young Avengers v2 #9  - 26,720  ( -4.0%)
09/13  Young Avengers v2 #10 - 25,874  ( -3.2%)
                               6 mnth  (-32.7%)

Standard erosion.

124. FF
09/11  FF #9     - 53,091
=====
09/12  FF #22    - 29,847  (  -1.2%)
10/12  FF #23    - 30,844  (  +3.3%)
11/12  FF v2 #1  - 80,701  (+161.6%)
12/12  FF v2 #2  - 46,096  ( -42.9%)
01/13  FF v2 #3  - 41,108  ( -10.8%)
02/13  FF v2 #4  - 35,815  ( -12.9%)
03/13  FF v2 #5  - 34,601  (  -3.4%)
04/13  FF v2 #6  - 32,937  (  -4.8%)
05/13  FF v2 #7  - 30,960  (  -6.0%)
05/13  FF v2 #8  - 30,061  (  -2.9%)
06/13  ---
07/13  FF v2 #9  - 29,180  (  -2.9%)
07/13  FF v2 #10 - 27,304  (  -6.4%)
08/13  FF v2 #11 - 26,243  (  -3.9%)
09/13  FF v2 #12 - 25,443  (  -3.0%)
                   6 mnth  ( -26.5%)
                   1 year  ( -14.8%)
                   2 year  ( -52.1%)

Cancelled with issue #16.

126. SECRET AVENGERS
09/10  Secret Avengers #5    - 69,546
09/11  Secret Avengers #17   - 44,890
=====
09/12  Secret Avengers #31   - 35,987  (  -5.9%)
10/12  Secret Avengers #32   - 35,346  (  -1.8%)
10/12  Secret Avengers #33   - 34,260  (  -3.1%)
11/12  Secret Avengers #34   - 32,146  (  -6.2%)
12/12  Secret Avengers #35   - 30,755  (  -4.3%)
01/13  Secret Avengers #36   - 29,330  (  -4.6%)
01/13  Secret Avengers #37   - 32,139  (  +9.6%)
02/13  Secret Avengers v2 #1 - 85,267  (+196.4%)
03/13  Secret Avengers v2 #2 - 46,419  ( -45.6%)
04/13  Secret Avengers v2 #3 - 38,676  ( -16.7%)
05/13  Secret Avengers v2 #4 - 33,428  ( -13.6%)
06/13  Secret Avengers v2 #5 - 31,437  (  -6.0%)
07/13  Secret Avengers v2 #6 - 28,908  (  -8.0%)
08/13  Secret Avengers v2 #7 - 27,222  (  -5.8%)
08/13  Secret Avengers v2 #8 - 26,150  (  -3.9%)
09/13  Secret Avengers v2 #9 - 24,870  (  -4.9%)
                               6 mnth  ( -46.4%)
                               1 year  ( -30.9%)
                               2 year  ( -44.6%)
                               3 year  ( -64.2%)

More erosion. An Infinity crossover starts next month.

134. CAPTAIN MARVEL
09/08  Ms Marvel v2 #30      - 40,041
09/09  Ms Marvel v2 #45      - 30,528
=====
09/12  Captain Marvel v6 #4  - 24,799  (-10.3%)
10/12  Captain Marvel v6 #5  - 28,619  (+15.4%)
10/12  Captain Marvel v6 #6  - 23,103  (-19.3%)
11/12  Captain Marvel v6 #7  - 21,744  ( -5.9%)
12/12  Captain Marvel v6 #8  - 19,970  ( -8.2%)
01/13  Captain Marvel v6 #9  - 19,151  ( -4.1%)
02/13  Captain Marvel v6 #10 - 18,359  ( -4.1%)
03/13  Captain Marvel v6 #11 - 17,743  ( -3.4%)
04/13  Captain Marvel v6 #12 - 18,344  ( +3.4%)
05/13  Enemy Within          - 34,205  (+86.5%)
06/13  Captain Marvel v6 #13 - 19,673  (-42.5%)
07/13  Captain Marvel v6 #14 - 19,320  ( -1.8%)
08/13  Captain Marvel v6 #15 - 23,511  (+21.7%)
09/13  Captain Marvel v6 #16 - 22,845  ( -2.8%)
                               6 mnth  (+28.8%)
                               1 year  ( +7.9%)
                               4 year  (-25.2%)
                               5 year  (-42.9%)

This run ends in October, but the book relaunches in the new year.

137. SCARLET SPIDER
09/12  Scarlet Spider #9  - 27,140  ( -2.0%)
10/12  Scarlet Spider #10 - 31,786  (+17.1%)
11/12  Scarlet Spider #11 - 32,287  ( +1.6%)
12/12  Scarlet Spider #12 - 26,652  (-17.5%)
12/12  Scarlet Spider #.1 - 25,771  ( -3.3%)
01/13  Scarlet Spider #13 - 25,919  ( +0.6%)
02/13  Scarlet Spider #14 - 24,388  ( -5.9%)
03/13  Scarlet Spider #15 - 23,682  ( -2.9%)
04/13  Scarlet Spider #16 - 24,207  ( +2.2%)
05/13  Scarlet Spider #17 - 24,288  ( +0.3%)
06/13  Scarlet Spider #18 - 22,766  ( -6.3%)
07/13  Scarlet Spider #19 - 22,499  ( -1.2%)
08/13  Scarlet Spider #20 - 25,133  (+11.7%)
08/13  Scarlet Spider #21 - 23,830  ( -5.2%)
09/13  Scarlet Spider #22 - 22,631  ( -5.0%)
                            6 mnth  ( -4.4%)
                            1 year  (-16.6%)

Cancelled with issue #25.

138. PUNISHER: TRIAL OF THE PUNISHER
09/13  Trial #1 of 2 - 22,626

Kind of slipping under the radar.

139. AVENGERS ARENA
12/12  Avengers Arena #1  - 64,626
12/12  Avengers Arena #2  - 43,014  (-33.4%)
01/13  Avengers Arena #3  - 38,461  (-10.6%)
02/13  Avengers Arena #4  - 33,611  (-12.6%)
02/13  Avengers Arena #5  - 32,548  ( -3.2%)
03/13  Avengers Arena #6  - 31,617  ( -2.9%)
04/13  Avengers Arena #7  - 29,784  ( -5.8%)
04/13  Avengers Arena #8  - 27,900  ( -6.3%)
05/13  Avengers Arena #9  - 26,873  ( -3.7%)
06/13  Avengers Arena #10 - 25,277  ( -5.9%)
06/13  Avengers Arena #11 - 24,487  ( -3.1%)
07/13  Avengers Arena #12 - 23,969  ( -2.1%)
08/13  Avengers Arean #13 - 22,955  ( -4.2%)
08/13  Avengers Arena #14 - 23,204  ( +1.1%)
09/13  Avengers Arena #15 - 22,180  ( -4.4%)
                            6 mnth  (-29.8%)

Ends with issue #18, to be relaunched as AVENGERS UNDERCOVER.

146. A+X
09/12  ---
10/12  Versus #6 of 6 -  75,298  ( -3.9%)
10/12  A+X #1         - 105,420  (+40.0%)
11/12  A+X #2         -  64,606  (-38.7%)
12/12  A+X #3         -  56,700  (-12.2%)
01/13  A+X #4         -  48,091  (-15.2%)
02/13  ---
03/13  A+X #5         -  37,250  (-22.5%)
03/13  A+X #6         -  34,434  ( -7.6%)
04/13  A+X #7         -  31,183  ( -9.4%)
05/13  A+X #8         -  26,967  (-13.5%)
06/13  A+X #9         -  25,803  ( -4.3%)
07/13  A+X #10        -  24,371  ( -5.5%)
08/13  A+X #11        -  23,222  ( -4.7%)
09/13  A+X #12        -  21,282  ( -8.4%)
                         6 mnth  (-38.2%)

More erosion.

148. ASTONISHING X-MEN
09/08  ---
09/09  ---
09/10  ---
09/11  Astonishing X-Men #42 -  32,700
=====
09/12  Astonishing X-Men #54 -  30,225  ( -6.3%)
10/12  Astonishing X-Men #55 -  29,060  ( -3.9%)
11/12  Astonishing X-Men #56 -  27,583  ( -5.1%)
12/12  Astonishing X-Men #57 -  26,263  ( -4.8%)
01/13  Astonishing X-Men #58 -  25,159  ( -4.2%)
02/13  Astonishing X-Men #59 -  24,195  ( -3.8%)
03/13  Astonishing X-Men #60 -  27,683  (+14.4%)
04/13  Astonishing X-Men #61 -  27,090  ( -2.1%)
05/13  Astonishing X-Men #62 -  24,121  (-11.0%)
06/13  Astonishing X-Men #63 -  23,326  ( -3.3%)
07/13  Astonishing X-Men #64 -  22,649  ( -2.9%)
08/13  Astonishing X-Men #65 -  22,010  ( -2.8%)
08/13  Astonishing X-Men #66 -  21,757  ( -1.1%)
09/13  Astonishing X-Men #67 -  21,044  ( -3.3%)
                                6 mnth  (-24.0%)
                                1 year  (-30.4%)
                                2 year  (-35.6%)
                                3 year  (  --- )
                                4 year  (  --- )
                                5 year  (  --- )

Ends with issue #68, to be replaced on the schedule by AMAZING X-MEN.

149,153. X-MEN LEGACY
09/03  New X-Men #146     - 105,573
09/08  X-Men Legacy #216  -  66,434
09/09  ---
09/10  X-Men Legacy #240  -  50,984
09/11  X-Men Legacy #255  -  39,284
=====
09/12  X-Men Legacy #273  -  36,020  (  -3.0%)
09/12  X-Men Legacy #274  -  35,168  (  -2.4%)
10/12  X-Men Legacy #275  -  38,726  ( +10.1%)
11/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #1 -  87,081  (+124.9%)
11/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #2 -  58,037  ( -33.4%)
12/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #3 -  45,407  ( -21.8%)
01/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #4 -  37,673  ( -17.0%)
01/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #5 -  34,823  (  -7.6%)
02/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #6 -  31,074  ( -10.8%)
03/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #7 -  29,231  (  -5.9%)
03/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #8 -  28,174  (  -3.6%)
04/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #9 -  28,405  (  +0.8%)
05/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #10 - 25,911  (  -8.8%)
05/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #11 - 25,048  (  -3.3%)
06/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #12 - 23,996  (  -4.2%)
07/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #13 - 23,146  (  -3.5%)
07/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #14 - 22,119  (  -4.4%)
08/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #15 - 21,599  (  -2.4%)
09/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #16 - 20,995  (  -2.8%)
09/13  X-Men Legacy v2 #17 - 20,382  (  -2.9%)
                             6 mnth  ( -27.7%)
                             1 year  ( -43.4%)
                             2 year  ( -48.1%)
                             3 year  ( -60.0%)
                             4 year  (   --- )
                             5 year  ( -69.3%)
                            10 year  ( -80.7%)

Standard erosion. There’s a limit to how long this can be sustained, but there’s some suggestion in the solicitations (and the stories) that the series is building to a conclusion in the medium term.

Every ongoing Marvel Universe title below this point is slated for either cancellation or a relaunch, so let’s run through them…

150,156. VENOM
09/11  Venom v2 #7  - 33,130
=====
09/12  Venom v2 #24 - 30,080  (+12.0%)
09/12  Venom v2 #25 - 25,242  (-16.1%)
10/12  Venom v2 #26 - 31,711  (+25.6%)
11/12  Venom v2 #27 - 31,118  ( -1.9%)
11/12  Venom v2 #.1 - 25,727  (-17.3%)
12/12  Venom v2 #28 - 25,573  ( -0.6%)
01/13  Venom v2 #29 - 24,644  ( -3.6%)
01/13  Venom v2 #30 - 24,551  ( -0.4%)
02/13  Venom v2 #31 - 23,441  ( -4.5%)
03/13  Venom v2 #32 - 22,521  ( -3.9%)
04/13  Venom v2 #33 - 22,327  ( -0.9%)
04/13  Venom v2 #34 - 22,120  ( -0.9%)
05/13  Venom v2 #35 - 21,591  ( -2.4%)
06/13  Venom v2 #36 - 21,288  ( -1.4%)
07/13  Venom v2 #37 - 20,872  ( -2.0%)
07/13  Venom v2 #38 - 20,325  ( -2.6%)
08/13  Venom v2 #39 - 20,212  ( -0.6%)
09/13  Venom v2 #40 - 20,781  ( +2.8%)
09/13  Venom v2 #41 - 20,189  ( -2.8%)
                      6 mnth  (-10.4%)
                      1 year  (-32.9%)
                      2 year  (-39.1%)

Cancelled with issue #42.

152. X-FACTOR
09/08  X-Factor v3 #35 - 44,481
09/09  X-Factor v3 #48 - 30,305
09/10  X-Factor #209   - 29,626
09/11  X-Factor #225   - 23,507
=====
09/12  X-Factor #243   - 22,118  ( -2.9%)
09/12  X-Factor #244   - 22,193  ( +0.3%)
10/12  X-Factor #245   - 22,364  ( +0.8%)
11/12  X-Factor #246   - 22,165  ( -0.9%)
11/12  X-Factor #247   - 22,005  ( -0.7%)
12/12  X-Factor #248   - 21,664  ( -1.5%)
12/12  X-Factor #249   - 21,211  ( -2.1%)
01/13  X-Factor #250   - 22,521  ( +6.2%)
02/13  X-Factor #251   - 21,096  ( -6.3%)
02/13  X-Factor #252   - 20,929  ( -0.8%)
03/13  X-Factor #253   - 20,835  ( -0.4%)
04/13  X-Factor #254   - 20,579  ( -1.2%)
05/13  X-Factor #255   - 20,442  ( -0.7%)
05/13  X-Factor #256   - 20,602  ( +0.8%)
06/13  X-Factor #257   - 20,264  ( -1.6%)
06/13  X-Factor #258   - 20,154  ( -0.5%)
07/13  X-Factor #259   - 20,065  ( -0.4%)
08/13  X-Factor #260   - 19,982  ( -0.4%)
08/13  X-Factor #261   - 19,781  ( -1.0%)
09/13  X-Factor #262   - 20,382  ( +3.0%)
                         6 mnth  ( -2.2%)
                         1 year  ( -7.8%)
                         2 year  (-13.2%)
                         3 year  (-31.2%)
                         4 year  (-32.7%)
                         5 year  (-54.2%)

Cancelled with issue #262. Another title of the same name launches in 2014, though with a different premise and only one returning character.

160. ULTIMATES
09/08  Ultimates v3 #5  -  86,851
09/09  ---
09/10  ---
09/11  ---
=====
09/12  Ultimates v5 #15 -  30,382  ( +0.2%)
09/12  Ultimates v5 #16 -  30,533  ( +0.5%)
10/12  Ultimates v5 #17 -  29,382  ( -3.8%)
11/12  Ultimates v5 #18 -  29,072  ( -1.1%)
12/12  Ultimates v5 #.1 -  27,659  ( -4.9%)
12/12  Ultimates v5 #19 -  26,971  ( -2.5%)
01/13  Ultimates v5 #20 -  25,613  ( -5.0%)
02/13  Ultimates v5 #21 -  23,811  ( -7.0%)
03/13  Ultimates v5 #22 -  23,442  ( -1.5%)
04/13  Ultimates v5 #23 -  22,778  ( -2.8%)
05/13  Ultimates v5 #24 -  21,429  ( -5.9%)
06/13  Ultimates v5 #25 -  21,636  ( +1.0%)
06/13  Ultimates v5 #26 -  20,785  ( -3.9%)
07/13  Ultimates v5 #27 -  20,024  ( -3.7%)
07/13  Ultimates v5 #28 -  19,859  ( -0.8%)
08/13  Ultimates v5 #29 -  19,657  ( -1.0%)
09/13  Ultimates v5 #30 -  19,420  ( -1.2%)
                           6 mnth  (-17.2%)
                           1 year  (-36.1%)
                           2 year  (  --- )
                           3 year  (  --- )
                           4 year  (  --- )
                           5 year  (-77.6%)

Final issue. A CATACLYSM tie-in mini starts in November.

162. DAREDEVIL: DARK NIGHTS
06/13  Dark Nights #1 of 8
07/13  Dark Nights #2 of 8 - 22,322  (-13.3%)
08/13  Dark Nights #3 of 8 - 20,659  ( -7.5%)
09/13  Dark Nights #4 of 8 - 19,364  ( -6.3%)

Not holding up nearly as well as the previous Daredevil mini.

168. ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN
09/03  X-Men #37    - 108,612
09/08  ---
09/09  ---
09/10  ---
09/11  X-Men v2 #1  -  67,625
=====
09/12  X-Men v2 #16 -  27,066  ( -2.8%)
10/12  X-Men v2 #17 -  26,503  ( -2.1%)
10/12  X-Men v2 #18 -  26,322  ( -0.7%)
11/12  X-Men v2 #.1 -  25,425  ( -3.4%)
11/12  X-Men v2 #19 -  25,419  ( -0.0%)
12/12  X-Men v2 #20 -  24,789  ( -2.5%)
01/13  X-Men v2 #21 -  23,479  ( -5.3%)
02/13  X-Men v2 #22 -  22,456  ( -4.4%)
02/13  X-Men v2 #23 -  22,197  ( -1.2%)
03/13  X-Men v2 #24 -  21,862  ( -1.5%)
04/13  X-Men v2 #25 -  21,139  ( -3.3%)
05/13  X-Men v2 #26 -  20,330  ( -3.8%)
06/13  X-Men v2 #27 -  19,298  ( -5.1%)
06/13  X-Men v2 #28 -  19,421  ( +0.6%)
07/13  X-Men v2 #29 -  19,381  ( -0.2%)
08/13  X-Men v2 #30 -  18,634  ( -3.9%)
09/13  X-Men v2 #31 -  18,220  ( -2.2%)
                       6 mnth  (-16.7%)
                       1 year  (-32.7%)
                       2 year  (-73.1%)
                       3 year  (  --- )
                       4 year  (  --- )
                       5 year  (  --- )
                      10 year  (-83.2%)

Ends with issue #33, to be followed by a CATACLYSM mini.

177. DEXTER
07/13  Dexter #1 of 5 - 20,540
08/13  Dexter #2 of 5 - 17,304  (-15.8%)
09/13  Dexter #3 of 5 - 17,586  ( +1.6%)

A slight uptick – perhaps because of the interest in the final episode of the TV show?

188. GAMBIT
09/12  Gambit v5 #3  - 28,530  (-11.8%)
10/12  Gambit v5 #4  - 27,828  ( -2.5%)
11/12  Gambit v5 #5  - 26,723  ( -4.0%)
11/12  Gambit v5 #6  - 25,522  ( -4.5%)
12/12  Gambit v5 #7  - 23,978  ( -6.0%)
01/13  Gambit v5 #8  - 22,396  ( -6.6%)
02/13  Gambit v5 #9  - 20,851  ( -6.9%)
03/13  Gambit v5 #10 - 20,187  ( -3.2%)
04/13  Gambit v5 #11 - 19,355  ( -4.1%)
05/13  Gambit v5 #12 - 19,106  ( -1.3%)
05/13  Gambit v5 #13 - 18,854  ( -1.3%)
06/13  Gambit v5 #14 - 18,027  ( -4.4%)
07/13  Gambit v5 #15 - 17,291  ( -4.1%)
08/13  Gambit v5 #16 - 16,753  ( -3.1%)
09/13  Gambit v5 #17 - 16,187  ( -3.4%)
                       6 mnth  (-19.8%)
                       1 year  (-43.3%)

Cancelled.

194. FEARLESS DEFENDERS
09/12  Defenders v4 #10 - 20,220  (  -6.0%)
10/12  Defenders v4 #11 - 19,361  (  -4.2%)
11/12  Defenders v4 #12 - 18,588  (  -4.0%)
12/12  ---
01/13  ---
02/13  Defenders v5 #1  - 53,688  (+188.8%)
03/13  Defenders v5 #2  - 28,244  ( -47.4%)
04/13  Defenders v5 #3  - 23,514  ( -16.7%)
05/13  Defenders v5 #4  - 20,657  ( -12.2%)
05/13  Defenders #4AU   - 24,984  ( +20.9%)
06/13  Defenders v5 #5  - 20,168  ( -19.3%)
07/13  Defenders v5 #6  - 17,752  ( -12.0%)
07/13  Defenders v5 #7  - 17,411  (  -1.9%)
08/13  Defenders v5 #8  - 16,653  (  -4.4%)
09/13  Defenders v5 #9  - 15,841  (  -4.9%)
                          6 mnth  ( -43.9%)
                          1 year  ( -21.7%)

Cancelled with issue #12.

195. WOLVERINE MAX
10/12  Wolverine: Max #1  - 37,509
11/12  Wolverine: Max #2  - 27,217  (-27.4%)
12/12  ---
01/13  Wolverine: Max #3  - 24,058  (-11.6%)
02/13  Wolverine: Max #4  - 22,072  ( -8.3%)
03/13  Wolverine: Max #5  - 20,479  ( -7.2%)
04/13  Wolverine: Max #6  - 19,316  ( -5.7%)
05/13  Wolverine: Max #7  - 18,239  ( -5.6%)
06/13  Wolverine: Max #8  - 17,247  ( -5.4%)
07/13  Wolverine: Max #9  - 16,931  ( -1.8%)
08/13  Wolverine: Max #10 - 16,057  ( -5.2%)
09/13  Wolverine: Max #11 - 15,707  ( -2.2%)
                            6 mnth  (-23.3%)

Standard erosion. Max books have long been allowed more leeway in terms of their sales levels.

228. MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE
01/13  Morbius v2 #1 - 43,883
02/13  Morbius v2 #2 - 25,735  (-41.4%)
03/13  Morbius v2 #3 - 20,262  (-21.3%)
04/13  Morbius v2 #4 - 17,544  (-13.4%)
05/13  Morbius v2 #5 - 15,042  (-14.3%)
06/13  Morbius v2 #6 - 14,584  ( -3.0%)
07/13  Morbius v2 #7 - 12,485  (-14.4%)
08/13  Morbius v2 #8 - 11,390  ( -8.8%)
09/13  Morbius v2 #9 - 10,675  ( -6.3%)
                       6 mnth  (-47.3%)

Cancelled.

229. POWERS: THE BUREAU  [Icon]
09/03  ---
09/08  ---
09/09  ---
09/10  Powers v2 #6  - 14,991
09/11  ---
=====
02/13  Bureau #1     - 14,698  (+23.1%)
03/13  Bureau #2     - 12,966  (-11.8%)
03/13  Bureau #3     - 11,705  ( -9.7%)
04/13  ---
05/13  Bureau #4     - 11,441  ( -2.3%)
06/13  Bureau #5     - 11,092  ( -3.1%)
07/13  Bureau #6     - 10,883  ( -1.9%)
08/13  ---
09/13  Bureau #7     - 10,306  ( -5.3%)
                       6 mnth  (-12.0%)
                       1 year  (  --- )
                       2 year  (  --- )
                       3 year  (-31.3%)
                       4 year  (  --- )
                       5 year  (  --- )
                      10 year  (  --- )

More standard erosion.

264. EMERALD CITY OF OZ
09/10  ---
09/11  #1 of 8 - 10,648
=====
09/12  #1 of 8 - 12,620  (+73.9%)
10/12  #2 of 6 -  7,930  (-37.2%)
11/12  #3 of 6 -  7,619  ( -3.9%)
12/12  ---
01/13  #4 of 6 -  7,314  ( -4.0%)
02/13  #5 of 6 -  6,944  ( -5.1%)
03/13  #6 of 6 -  7,006  ( +0.9%)
04/13  ---
05/13  ---
06/13  ---
07/13  #1 of 5 - 13,701  (+95.6%)
08/13  #2 of 5 -  8,487  (-38.1%)
09/13  #3 of 5 -  7,847  ( -7.5%)
                 6 mnth  (+12.0%)
                 1 year  (-37.8%)
                 2 year  (-26.3%)

Continuing to outperform the previous mini, a little surprisingly. Usually there are diminishing returns.

The two MARVEL UNIVERSE all-ages titles – ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and AVENGERS – both missed the top 300. That’s unsurprising, because the number 300 book had unusually high estimated sales of 6,448, and neither title gets anywhere close to that.

6 month comparisons
===================

+ 42.2% - Wolverine and the X-Men
+ 28.8% - Captain Marve
+ 18.0% - Superior Spider-Man Team-Up
+ 12.0% - Oz
+  4.0% - Avengers Assemble
+  3.1% - All-New X-Men
-  1.5% - Daredevil
-  2.2% - X-Factor
-  4.4% - Scarlet Spider
-  4.9% - Thor
-  5.0% - Avengers
-  6.9% - New Avengers
-  7.4% - Superior Spider-Man
-  8.7% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 10.4% - Venom
- 10.5% - Uncanny X-Men
- 12.0% - Powers
- 13.1% - Uncanny Avengers
- 16.7% - Ultimate Comics X-Men
- 17.2% - Ultimates
- 17.5% - Iron Man
- 19.2% - Nova
- 19.8% - Gambit
- 20.6% - Deadpool
- 21.7% - Captain America
- 23.0% - Thunderbolts
- 23.3% - Wolverine Max
- 23.9% - Hulk
- 24.0% - Astonishing X-Men
- 24.1% - Savage Wolverine
- 26.2% - Fantastic Four
- 26.5% - FF
- 27.6% - Cable & X-Force
- 27.7% - X-Men Legacy
- 29.8% - Avengers Arena
- 30.0% - Uncanny X-Force
- 32.7% - Young Avengers
- 38.2% - A+X
- 43.9% - Defenders
- 46.4% - Secret Avengers
- 47.3% - Morbius
- 68.3% - Guardians of the Galaxy
- 69.5% - Wolverine

1 year comparisons
==================

+128.9% - X-Men
+ 58.8% - Deadpool
+ 58.5% - Thor
+ 34.1% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 28.4% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 26.9% - Avengers
+ 23.5% - Hulk
+ 17.3% - Iron Man
+ 12.4% - Captain America
+  7.9% - Captain Marvel
+  6.9% - New Avengers
+  6.9% - Wolverine and the X-Men
+  5.4% - Superior Spider-Man Team-Up
-  1.4% - Daredevil
-  7.8% - X-Factor
-  8.5% - Wolverine
- 11.2% - Fantastic Four
- 14.8% - FF
- 16.6% - Scarlet Spider
- 17.9% - Uncanny X-Force
- 18.5% - Avengers Assemble
- 21.4% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 21.7% - Defenders
- 30.4% - Astonishing X-Men
- 30.9% - Secret Avengers
- 32.7% - Ultimate Comics X-Men
- 32.9% - Venom
- 36.1% - Ultimates
- 37.8% - Oz
- 43.3% - Gambit
- 43.4% - X-Men Legacy

2 year comparisons
==================

+ 70.2% - Deadpool
+ 69.8% - X-Men
+ 38.3% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 31.7% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 22.7% - Thunderbolts
+ 21.0% - Avengers
+  6.1% - Thor
+  4.7% - New Avengers
-  5.4% - Wolverine
-  7.1% - Daredevil
- 12.0% - Iron Man
- 13.2% - X-Factor
- 26.3% - Oz
- 29.2% - Captain America
- 32.7% - Uncanny X-Force
- 35.6% - Astonishing X-Men
- 39.1% - Venom
- 40.8% - Fantastic Four
- 44.6% - Secret Avengers
- 45.1% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 48.1% - X-Men Legacy
- 52.1% - FF
- 73.1% - Ultimate Comics X-Men

3 year comparisons
==================

+ 24.6% - Deadpool
+ 17.3% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 10.2% - X-Men
+  4.4% - Uncanny X-Men
+  4.3% - Hulk
-  2.9% - Uncanny X-Force
-  7.7% - Thunderbolts
-  9.7% - Avengers
- 10.0% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 10.3% - Thor
- 18.0% - Daredevil
- 19.7% - Captain America
- 21.7% - New Avengers
- 23.1% - Iron Man
- 31.2% - X-Factor
- 31.3% - Powers
- 32.1% - Fantastic Four
- 60.0% - X-Men Legacy
- 64.2% - Secret Avengers
- 65.6% - Wolverine

4 year comparisons
==================

+177.3% - Guardians of the Galaxy
+ 57.9% - Nova
+ 26.4% - Superior Spider-Man
-  7.4% - Uncanny X-Men
- 10.2% - Deadpool
- 12.3% - Wolverine
- 19.0% - Hulk
- 23.0% - Iron Man
- 25.2% - Captain Marvel
- 25.7% - Thunderbolts
- 26.4% - Thor
- 27.4% - Uncanny X-Force
- 29.1% - New Avengers
- 32.7% - X-Factor
- 33.8% - Fantastic Four
- 44.0% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 64.4% - Captain America

5 year comparisons
==================

+ 64.0% - Guardians of the Galaxy
+  6.1% - Superior Spider-Man
+  2.0% - Nova
- 12.3% - Uncanny X-Men
- 20.8% - Daredevil
- 24.2% - Deadpool
- 31.6% - Thunderbolts
- 39.9% - Iron Man
- 41.0% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 41.3% - New Avengers
- 42.9% - Captain Marvel
- 44.3% - Uncanny X-Force
- 46.1% - Fantastic Four
- 49.0% - Captain America
- 54.2% - X-Factor
- 59.1% - Hulk
- 69.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 77.6% - Ultimates

10 year comparisons
===================

+ 48.4% - Thor
+ 19.4% - Iron Man
- 11.0% - Captain America
- 13.1% - Superior Spider-Man
- 18.5% - Uncanny X-Men
- 28.6% - Hulk
- 38.5% - Daredevil
- 41.7% - Fantastic Four
- 56.0% - Wolverine
- 69.5% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 80.7% - X-Men Legacy
- 83.2% - Ultimate Comics X-Men

19 COMMENTS

  1. Matt Fraction confuses me. It seems impossible that he could write the great Iron Fist & Hawkeye and also be responsible for the utterly awful Thor & Fantastic Four.

    I think he is similar to Bendis in that his street lvl heroes are good but he doesn’t have the talent or the imagination to pull off more powerful characters. Another similarity to Bendis is that he changes characters to fit his limits and is extremely poor at plot. see fear itself or any of Bendis’ Avengers.

  2. Does anyone know if Venom is being relaunched? It seems a bit premature to outright cancel it as sales are still above 20k. It would probably benefit from a relaunch and a creator change.

    I know he left Marvel but how awesome would a Rucka Venom book be? Maybe with art from Hardman. Best. Book. Ever.

  3. @ Mesketet – I don’t think it’s a street vs more powerful character thing with Fraction. I liked big chunks of his X-Men run and his Iron Man stuff was very good, and those are both non-street characters/teams.

  4. “Another similarity to Bendis is that he changes characters to fit his limits”

    I’ve been trying to figure out why I don’t like Fraction writing Marvel characters (I know that people like his Iron Fist and Hawkeye) but that nails it. His Reed and Sue Richards are terrible and the fact that he refers to her as “Doctor Richards” feels like pandering than anything else. Granted they are fictional characters so the writer can choose to write them any way they want but when they have a history of a certain characterization the writer is better off creating their own characters.

  5. I love Fraction’s Fantastic Four and especially FF.

    I think if you listed the comics Matt has done what it shows is that he has the ability to write comics with different tones and styles. I thought his Iron Man was also terrific, but quite different than his X-Men, Sex Criminals, Satellite Sam, Casanova, Hawkeye etc.

    Not every tone or style will necessarily work for every reader (I disliked his Thor run, but I have customers who swear it’s their favorite) but you have to give him props for working hard to differentiate each one of the series he writes from each other.

  6. re: Mesektet – I’m sure we’ll see what becomes of Flash/Venom in an upcoming Superior Spider-Man storyline. Cullen Bunn has stated he’s not done with the symbiotes, making me think we’ll see a Mania book in the near future, but who knows when that will happen.

  7. “I did write this, Heidi’s just left off the credit by mistake”

    I thought you pulled an Alan Moore… ;-)

  8. Fraction’s Thor one-shots prior to his on-going run on the book were phenomenal. And his Immortal Iron Fist is one of may favorite runs of the last decade.

  9. Oz is being cancelled?
    Unlikely. It’s one of the few Marvel titles which hasn’t gone out of print.
    The fandom and general audience is huge for Oz.
    Schools and libraries love it.

    Granted, the later mini-series are not as long, but that might be because of the story being adapted. (The latest series is five issues long.)

  10. Agreed on Bendis being much stronger on some books than others. I don’t know if it’s street level, or just underdogs: Spider-man and the X-men have a lot of power, but they’re always misunderstood, and Bendis gets that. He’s just no good with Authority figures (heh) like the Avengers; he has to turn them into fascists when they get too large and in charge. Though, weirdly, his Captain America is usually fine.
    Fraction has a couple of modes; epic and mythological; funny and quirky; pulpy and mysterious. I don’t know if he’s got one for “amateur scientists,” which is sort of what the FF are.

  11. What? Have they stopped doing the sales charts? Not to be horrible but its kind of the only reason I visit this site.

Comments are closed.