Fear Itself 5.jpg
by Paul O’Brien

Welcome to the calm before the storm. Or, in Marvel’s case, the calm before more calm. September will all be about the DC Universe relaunch, and it’s going to be a little while before the news cycle comes back round to anything Marvel have to announce.

In the meantime, this month we have more “Fear Itself”, more “Spider-Island”, and the relaunch of the Ultimate imprint with ULTIMATE COMICS HAWKEYE and (ahem) ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES.

Once again, Marvel had the largest share of the North American direct market, leading DC by 42% to 35% in unit share and 37% to 31% in DC. Needless to say, it’ll be a huge surprise if that holds up next month.

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

3.  FEAR ITSELF
04/11  #1 of 7 - 135,746
05/11  #2 of 7 - 105,359  (-22.4%)
06/11  #3 of 7 -  99,501  ( -5.6%)
07/11  #4 of 7 -  93,435  ( -6.1%)
08/11  #5 of 7 -  90,914  ( -2.7%)

Levelling out quite comfortably as the series goes on. I’ll come to the performance of the tie-in issues later.

5,31,40. ULTIMATE FALLOUT
08/06  #99     -  76,075
08/07  #112    -  76,523
08/08  #125    -  54,746
08/09  #1      -  86,008
=====
08/10  #13     -  36,946  (  -2.5%)
09/10  #14     -  35,776  (  -3.7%)
10/10  #15     -  34,657  (  -3.1%)
11/10  #150    -  40,553  ( +17.0%)
12/10  #151    -  33,707  ( -16.9%)
01/11  #152    -  33,481  (  -1.0%)
02/11  #153    -  43,986  ( +31.4%)
02/11  #154    -  43,209  (  -1.8%)
03/11  #155    -  44,067  (  +2.0%)
03/11  #156    -  44,920  (  +1.9%)
04/11  #157    -  50,896  ( +13.3%)
05/11  #158    -  47,941  (  -5.8%)
06/11  #159    -  51,766  (  +8.0%)
06/11  #160    - 166,944  (+222.5%)
07/11  #1 of 6 -  49,084  ( -70.6%)
07/11  #2 of 6 -  45,371  (  -7.6%)
07/11  #3 of 6 -  44,492  (  -1.9%)
08/11  #4 of 6 -  73,764  ( +65.8%)
08/11  #5 of 6 -  41,336  ( -44.0%)
08/11  #6 of 6 -  39,190  (  -5.2%)
                  6 mnth  (  -9.3%)
                  1 year  (  +6.1%)
                  2 year  ( -54.4%)
                  3 year  ( -28.4%)
                  4 year  ( -48.8%)
                  5 year  ( -48.5%)

Issue #4 is the debut of Miles Morales, the new (Ultimate) Spider-Man, and on the strength of media interest, there’s a nice healthy spike. But on the other hand, the benefit doesn’t spill over to August’s other two issues.

The relaunch of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN in September is bound to do well, but we’ll have to wait another couple of months to see how this all settles down.

6,9. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
08/06  ---
08/07  #543 - 106,485
08/08  #569 -  77,950
08/09  #603 -  71,051
=====
08/10  #639 -  67,086  (  -1.7%)
08/10  #640 -  73,656  (  +9.8%)
09/10  #641 -  68,345  (  -7.2%)
09/10  #642 -  60,115  ( -12.0%)
09/10  #643 -  61,855  (  +2.9%)
09/10  #644 -  58,310  (  -5.7%)
10/10  #645 -  56,709  (  -2.7%)
10/10  #646 -  58,125  (  +2.5%)
11/10  #647 -  55,819  (  -4.0%)
11/10  #648 -  79,714  ( +42.8%)
11/10  #649 -  55,515  ( -30.4%)
12/10  #650 -  58,909  (  +6.1%)
01/11  #651 -  56,749  (  -3.7%)
01/11  #652 -  52,050  (  -8.3%)
02/11  #653 -  53,103  (  +2.0%)
02/11  #654 -  53,882  (  +1.5%)
02/11  #.1  -  55,283  (  +2.6%)
02/11  #655 -  53,366  (  -3.5%)
03/11  #656 -  59,626  ( +11.7%)
03/11  #657 -  58,704  (  -1.5%)
04/11  #658 -  61,687  (  +5.1%)
04/11  #659 -  58,258  (  -5.6%)
05/11  #660 -  58,249  (  -0.0%)
05/11  #661 -  59,087  (  +1.4%)
05/11  #662 -  55,883  (  -5.4%)
06/11  #663 -  57,040  (  +2.1%)
06/11  #664 -  54,808  (  -3.9%)
07/11  #665 -  56,948  (  +3.9%)
07/11  #666 - 135,568  (+138.1%)
08/11  #667 -  71,235  ( -47.5%)
08/11  #668 -  57,533  ( -19.2%)
               6 mnth  (  +7.8%)
               1 year  ( -14.2%)
               2 year  ( -19.0%)
               3 year  ( -26.2%)
               4 year  ( -46.0%)
               5 year  (   --- )

This is the second month of the Spider-Island crossover, which is essentially an AMAZING SPIDER-MAN storyline that doubles as a backdrop for various tie-ins.

Issues #666 and #667 had variant covers, and the book now seems to be back at the upper end of its normal range. With both issues placing in the top ten, this storyline seems to be doing well by current standards.

7.  AVENGERS
08/10  #4  - 87,333  ( -0.1%)
09/10  #5  - 82,411  ( -5.6%)
10/10  #6  - 73,258  (-11.1%)
11/10  #7  - 89,758  (+22.5%)
12/10  #8  - 67,056  (-25.3%)
01/11  #9  - 64,867  ( -3.3%)
02/11  #10 - 63,924  ( -1.5%)
03/11  #11 - 66,618  ( +4.2%)
04/11  #12 - 63,441  ( -4.8%)
04/11  #.1 - 60,455  ( -4.7%)
05/11  #13 - 68,086  (+12.6%)
06/11  #14 - 64,057  ( -5.9%)
07/11  #15 - 62,580  (-17.9%)
08/11  #16 - 60,295  ( -3.7%)
             6 mnth  ( -5.7%)
             1 year  (-31.0%)

10. NEW AVENGERS
08/06  #23 - 154,262
08/07  #33 - 117,906
08/08  #44 - 106,385
08/09  #56 -  89,996
=====
08/10  #3  -  81,354  ( -2.4%)
09/10  #4  -  77,479  ( -4.7%)
10/10  #5  -  73,409  ( -5.3%)
11/10  #6  -  66,724  ( -9.1%)
12/10  #7  -  67,840  ( +1.7%)
01/11  #8  -  61,169  ( -9.8%)
02/11  #9  -  60,914  ( -0.4%)
03/11  #10 -  59,929  ( -1.6%)
04/11  #11 -  61,778  ( +3.1%)
05/11  #12 -  60,328  ( -2.3%)
06/11  #13 -  57,682  ( -4.4%)
07/11  #14 -  58,306  ( +1.1%)
08/11  #15 -  56,035  ( -3.9%)
              6 mnth  ( -8.0%)
              1 year  (-31.1%)
              2 year  (-37.7%)
              3 year  (-47.3%)
              4 year  (-52.5%)
              5 year  (-63.7%)

The Avengers titles are both in the middle of FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc, which started in AVENGERS #13 and NEW AVENGERS #14 respectively.

The impact of the crossover isn’t exactly prominent here. That’s often been the case with Marvel’s top-selling titles, presumably because the crossover audience was reading them already. But how about further down the chart?

Consider the six-month comparisons. There are plenty of FEAR ITSELF tie-in books in August. But only two were up in comparison with February – AVENGERS ACADEMY and UNCANNY X-MEN. In most cases there’s a gain for the start of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc, but it’s a small one. The tie-ins don’t seem to be doing any great harm, but nor is it obvious that they’re doing a great deal of good either.

Interestingly, the smaller events like Spider-Island and Schism seem to be having better luck in shifting copies of the tie-in issues. Perhaps when fewer books are involved, readers are more likely to believe that they all matter – or are simply more likely to commit to buying them all.

11. UNCANNY X-MEN
08/06  #477 -  89,225
08/07  #489 -  88,068
08/08  #501 -  85,398
08/09  #514 -  90,316
=====
08/10  #527 -  69,052  ( +3.5%)
09/10  #528 -  62,415  ( -9.6%)
10/10  #529 -  62,256  ( -0.3%)
11/10  #530 -  58,006  ( -6.8%)
12/10  #531 -  55,770  ( -3.9%)
01/11  #532 -  54,071  ( -3.0%)
02/11  #533 -  53,834  ( -0.4%)
03/11  #534 -  55,731  ( +3.5%)
04/11  #.1  -  53,473  ( -4.1%)
04/11  #535 -  56,795  ( +6.2%)
04/11  #536 -  53,502  ( -5.8%)
05/11  #537 -  53,716  ( +0.4%)
06/11  #538 -  53,319  ( -0.7%)
06/11  #539 -  54,284  ( +1.8%)
07/11  #540 -  57,206  ( +5.4%)
07/11  #541 -  55,856  ( -2.4%)
08/11  #542 -  54,840  ( -1.8%)
               6 mnth  ( +1.9%)
               1 year  (-20.6%)
               2 year  (-39.3%)
               3 year  (-35.8%)
               4 year  (-37.7%)
               5 year  (-38.5%)

Part three of a “Fear Itself” tie-in arc, up marginally from six months ago – though sales on this title seem to be pretty solid overall. A relaunch is just around the corner, though that hasn’t stopped Marvel continuing to hype issue #544 as “the final issue”, a tagline that suggests a questionable grasp of the concept of finality.

12. CAPTAIN AMERICA
08/06  ---
08/07  #29  -  83,781
08/08  #41  -  85,035
08/09  #2   - 125,366
=====
08/10  #608 -  51,362  (  -3.1%)
08/10  #609 -  52,834  (  +2.9%)
09/10  #610 -  47,986  (  -9.2%)
10/10  #611 -  48,788  (  +1.7%)
11/10  #612 -  47,343  (  -3.0%)
12/10  #613 -  42,871  (  -9.4%)
01/11  #614 -  42,119  (  -1.8%)
02/11  #615 -  41,935  (  -0.4%)
03/11  #.1  -  43,117  (  +2.8%)
03/11  #616 -  44,394  (  +3.0%)
04/11  #617 -  45,400  (  +2.3%)
05/11  #618 -  44,748  (  -1.4%)
06/11  #619 -  44,796  (  +0.1%)
07/11  #1   -  96,926  (+116.4%)
08/11  #2   -  54,384  ( -43.9%)
               6 mnth  ( +29.7%)
               1 year  (  +5.9%)
               2 year  ( -56.6%)
               3 year  ( -36.0%)
               4 year  ( -35.1%)
               5 year  (   --- )

There’s no variant cover to boost the sales here, so the renumbering stunt does seem to having at least a short term benefit.

13. KICK-ASS 2 [Icon]
10/10  #1 of 6 - 76,931
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  ---
03/11  #2 of 6 - 62,235  (-19.1%)
04/11  ---
05/11  ---
06/11  ---
07/11  ---
08/11  #3 of 6 - 54,270  (-12.8%)

Good to see the book sticking to its pentamonthly schedule.

14,21. UNCANNY X-FORCE
08/08  #6      - 69,010
08/09  #18     - 56,421
=====
07/10  #1 of 3 - 41,426  ( -32.8%)
08/10  #2 of 3 - 38,480  (  -7.1%)
09/10  #3 of 3 - 37,283  (  -3.1%)
10/10  #1      - 99,194  (+166.1%)
11/10  #2      - 56,518  ( -43.0%)
12/10  #3      - 55,520  (  -1.8%)
01/11  #4      - 51,381  (  -7.5%)
02/11  #5      - 51,470  (  +0.2%)
03/11  #5.1    - 50,732  (  -1.4%)
03/11  #6      - 51,248  (  -1.0%)
04/11  #7      - 54,292  (  +5.9%)
04/11  #8      - 50,908  (  -6.2%)
05/11  #9      - 51,726  (  +1.6%)
05/11  #10     - 50,676  (  -2.0%)
06/11  #11     - 53,199  (  +5.0%)
07/11  #12     - 55,413  (  +4.2%)
08/11  #13     - 53,904  (  -2.7%)
08/11  #14     - 50,770  (  -5.8%)
                 6 mnth  (  -1.4%)
                 1 year  ( +22.6%)
                 2 year  ( -10.0%)
                 3 year  ( -26.4%)

Drifting down, but it’s been here twice before and bounced back. X-FORCE is actually a very steady seller, which has been locked solid in the low 50K range since issue #4.

19. FF
08/06  #539 -  89,676
08/07  #549 -  61,770
08/08  #559 -  59,791
08/09  #570 -  62,401
=====
08/10  #582 -  34,617  (  -2.5%)
09/10  #583 -  46,267  ( +33.7%)
10/10  #584 -  45,066  (  -2.6%)
11/10  #585 -  41,568  (  -7.8%)
12/10  #586 -  42,829  (  +3.0%)
01/11  #587 - 144,173  (+236.6%)
02/11  #588 -  68,153  ( -52.7%)
03/11  #1   - 121,172  ( +77.8%)
04/11  #2   -  72,897  ( -39.8%)
05/11  #3   -  66,885  (  -8.2%)
05/11  #4   -  60,571  (  -9.4%)
06/11  #5   -  58,925  (  -2.7%)
07/11  #6   -  55,601  (  -5.6%)
07/11  #7   -  54,022  (  -2.8%)
08/11  #8   -  51,917  (  -0.2%)
               6 mnth  ( -23.8%)
               1 year  ( +50.0%)
               2 year  ( -16.8%)
               3 year  ( -13.2%)
               4 year  ( -16.0%)
               5 year  ( -42.1%)

Drifting gently down, but still clearly enjoying the benefits from the relaunch in March. Needless to say, another relaunch is imminent.

22. X-MEN: SCHISM
07/11  #1 of 5 - 66,118
07/11  #2 of 5 - 52,498  (-20.6%)
08/11  #3 of 5 - 50,147  ( -4.5%)

This book is picking up some reorders as retailers revise their assessments upwards. Issue #1 adds another 7,792, and issue #2 adds 7,346. Those are included in the numbers above; without them, issue #3 would actually have gone up in sales. The X-Men’s upcoming relaunch may be building steam.

23. ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES
08/05  ---
08/06  ---
08/07  ---
08/08  ---
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  ---
09/10  ---
10/10  #4 of 5 - 42,876  (-10.4%)
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  #5 of 5 - 38,663  ( -9.8%)
02/11  #1 of 6 - 49,360  (+47.5%)
03/11  #2 of 6 - 44,116  (-10.6%)
04/11  #3 of 6 - 43,822  ( -0.7%)
05/11  #4 of 6 - 43,707  ( -0.3%)
06/11  #5 of 6 - 42,803  ( -2.1%)
07/11  #6 of 6 - 42,760  ( -0.1%)
08/11  #1      - 47,630  (+11.4%)
                 6 mnth  ( -3.5%)
                 1 year  (  --- )
                 2 year  (  --- )
                 3 year  (  --- )
                 4 year  (  --- )
                 5 year  (  --- )

Another revamp of the Ultimate imprint. There’s an increase for this first issue, but hardly a spectacular one. It’s down slightly from the previous miniseries, though that benefitted from its connection with “Death of Spider-Man”. Before that, the last ULTIMATE COMICS NEW ULTIMATES #1, in March 2010, had opening sales of 71,279 – and plainly we’re not in that territory. In fact, these numbers are roughly similar to the first issue of Bendis and Maleev’s MOON KNIGHT.

24. SECRET AVENGERS
08/10  #4  -  74,655  ( +3.3%)
09/10  #5  -  69,546  ( -6.8%)
10/10  #6  -  68,617  ( -1.3%)
11/10  #7  -  59,999  (-12.6%)
12/10  #8  -  54,048  ( -9.9%)
01/11  #9  -  50,748  ( -6.1%)
02/11  #10 -  49,717  ( -2.0%)
03/11  #11 -  51,353  ( +3.3%)
04/11  #12 -  50,641  (-13.9%)
04/11  #.1 -  46,161  ( -8.8%)
05/11  #13 -  51,936  (+12.5%)
06/11  #14 -  49,898  ( -3.9%)
07/11  #15 -  46,712  ( -6.4%)
08/11  #16 -  46,317  ( -0.8%)
              6 mnth  ( -6.8%)
              1 year  (-38.0%)

There’s a variant cover on this issue, so presumably it’s cancelling out an underlying decline.

25,30. PUNISHER
08/07  #10     - 51,303
08/08  #22     - 25,555
08/09  #8      - 33,057
=====
08/10  #20     - 24,304  (  -2.6%)
09/10  #21     - 20,036  ( -17.6%)
10/10  ---
11/10  #1 of 5 - 20,028  (  -0.0%)
12/10  #2 of 5 - 16,608  ( -17.1%)
01/11  #3 of 5 - 15,298  (  -7.9%)
02/11  #4 of 5 - 14,861  (  -2.9%)
03/11  #5 of 5 - 14,468  (  -2.6%)
04/11  ---
05/11  ---
06/11  ---
07/11  ---
08/11  #1      - 44,725  (+209.1%)
08/11  #2      - 42,459  (  -5.1%)
                 6 mnth  (+185.7%)
                 1 year  ( +74.7%)
                 2 year  ( +28.4%)
                 3 year  ( +66.1%)
                 4 year  ( -17.2%)

The PUNISHER relaunch ships two issues in its first month, and first signs are fairly promising. That said, these numbers are at roughly the same level as the last PUNISHER relaunch in January 2009.

26. MIGHTY THOR
08/06  ---
08/07  #2   - 108,609
08/08  ---
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  #613 -  51,076  ( -4.3%)
09/10  #614 -  53,505  ( +4.8%)
09/10  #615 -  52,896  ( -1.2%)
10/10  #616 -  51,051  ( -3.5%)
11/10  #617 -  49,165  ( -3.7%)
12/10  #618 -  45,142  ( -8.2%)
01/11  #619 -  42,899  ( -5.0%)
02/11  #620 -  42,106  ( -1.8%)
03/11  #.1  -  41,605  ( -1.2%)
03/11  #621 -  42,104  ( +1.2%)
04/11  #1   -  82,071  (+94.9%)
05/11  #2   -  50,473  (-38.5%)
06/11  #3   -  48,114  ( -4.7%)
07/11  #4   -  44,586  ( -7.3%)
08/11  #5   -  44,594  ( +0.0%)
               6 mnth  ( +5.9%)
               1 year  (-12.7%)
               2 year  (  --- )
               3 year  (  --- )
               4 year  (-58.9%)
               5 year  (  --- )

There’s a variant cover on this issue, so chances are there’s a slight underlying decline. But variants don’t make that much difference these days, so the book seems to be levelling out quite well.

28. X-MEN
08/10  #2  -  71,464  (-50.1%)
09/10  #3  -  66,549  ( -6.9%)
10/10  #4  -  63,772  ( -4.2%)
11/10  #5  -  56,651  (-11.2%)
12/10  #6  -  53,005  ( -6.4%)
01/11  #7  -  64,615  (+21.9%)
02/11  #8  -  49,522  (-23.4%)
03/11  #9  -  51,179  ( +3.3%)
04/11  #10 -  50,553  ( -1.2%)
05/11  #11 -  46,519  ( -8.0%)
06/11  #12 -  45,786  ( -1.6%)
06/11  #13 -  44,665  ( -2.4%)
07/11  #14 -  45,150  ( +1.1%)
07/11  #15 -  43,038  ( -4.7%)
08/11  #.1 -  38,078  (-11.5%)
08/11  #16 -  43,161  (+13.3%)
              6 mnth  (-15.7%)
              1 year  (-39.6%)

The Point One issue tails in behind the regular ones, but that’s par for the course. Otherwise, holding steady.

32.  DAREDEVIL
08/06  #88     - 50,554
08/07  #99     - 47,386
08/08  #110    - 43,362
08/09  #500    - 73,486
=====
08/10  #509    - 41,577  ( -0.9%)
09/10  #510    - 44,728  ( +7.6%)
10/10  #511    - 43,167  ( -3.5%)
11/10  ---
12/10  #512    - 40,317  ( -7.1%)
01/11  #1 of 4 - 34,310  (-14.9%)
02/11  #2 of 4 - 29,108  (-15.2%)
03/11  #3 of 4 - 27,231  ( -6.4%)
04/11  ---
05/11  #4 of 4 - 26,179  (  -3.9%)
06/11  ---
07/11  #1      - 64,866  (+147.8%)
08/11  #2      - 40,990  ( -36.8%)
                 6 mnth  ( +40.8%)
                 1 year  (  -1.4%)
                 2 year  ( -44.2%)
                 3 year  (  -5.5%)
                 4 year  ( -13.5%)
                 5 year  ( -18.9%)

Second issue and we’re back at the levels where the previous volume ended – though that final arc was a SHADOWLAND tie-in.

33,36. X-MEN LEGACY
08/06  #190 -  82,084
08/07  #202 -  86,521
08/08  #215 -  68,047
08/09  #227 -  63,316
=====
08/10  #239 -  53,236  ( -0.1%)
09/10  #240 -  50,984  ( -4.2%)
10/10  #241 -  48,133  ( -5.6%)
11/10  #242 -  43,750  ( -9.1%)
12/10  #243 -  41,797  ( -4.5%)
01/11  #244 -  40,193  ( -3.8%)
02/11  #245 -  57,203  (+42.3%)
03/11  #246 -  47,893  (-16.3%)
04/11  #247 -  51,970  ( +8.5%)
05/11  #248 -  46,083  (-11.3%)
05/11  #249 -  45,063  ( -2.2%)
06/11  #250 -  45,070  ( +0.0%)
06/11  #251 -  43,479  ( -3.5%)
07/11  #252 -  41,365  ( -4.9%)
08/11  #253 -  40,466  ( -2.2%)
08/11  #254 -  39,896  ( -1.4%)
               6 mnth  (-30.3%)
               1 year  (-25.1%)
               2 year  (-37.0%)
               3 year  (-41.4%)
               4 year  (-53.9%)
               5 year  (-51.4%)

Drifting gently down, but some form of revamp must be imminent given the change of creative team and the shake-up of the X-Men titles generally.

35. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN
08/06  #11  - 37,279
08/07  #21  - 49,548
08/08  #4   - 58,154
08/09  #16  - 53,782
=====
08/10  #29  - 49,012  ( +0.7%)
09/10  #30  - 47,238  ( -3.6%)
10/10  #31  - 45,507  ( -3.7%)
11/10  #32  - 40,978  (-10.0%)
12/10  #33  - 41,890  ( +2.2%)
01/11  #500 - 54,186  (+29.4%)
02/11  #.1  - 42,191  (-22.1%)
02/11  #501 - 41,517  ( -1.6%)
03/11  #502 - 43,899  ( +5.7%)
04/11  #503 - 45,314  ( +3.2%)
05/11  #504 - 44,791  ( -1.2%)
06/11  #505 - 42,327  ( -5.5%)
07/11  #506 - 41,052  ( -3.0%)
08/11  #507 - 40,082  ( -2.4%)
              6 mnth  ( -3.5%)
              1 year  (-18.2%)
              2 year  (-25.5%)
              3 year  (-37.5%)
              4 year  (-19.1%)
              5 year  ( +7.5%)

This is part of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc, not that you’d know from the sales. On the whole, though, the book seems to be holding steady.

39,41. WOLVERINE
08/06  #45  - 108,680
08/07  #56  -  73,368
08/08  #68  -  97,326
08/09  #4   -  49,284
=====
08/10  #16  -  29,424  (  -0.4%)
09/10  #1   - 104,414  (+254.9%)
10/10  #2   -  63,210  ( -39.5%)
11/10  #3   -  51,600  ( -18.4%)
12/10  #4   -  52,812  (  +2.3%)
01/11  #5   -  46,920  ( -11.2%)
02/11  #.1  -  44,332  (  -5.5%)
02/11  #6   -  45,932  (  +3.6%)
03/11  #7   -  47,337  (  +3.1%)
04/11  #8   -  47,010  (  -0.7%)
05/11  #9   -  44,635  (  -5.1%)
06/11  #10  -  42,677  (  -4.4%)
06/11  #11  -  41,813  (  -2.0%)
07/11  #12  -  42,110  (  +0.7%)
08/11  #13  -  39,296  (  -0.7%)
08/11  #14  -  38,869  (  -0.1%)
               6 mnth  ( -15.4%)
               1 year  ( +32.1%)
               2 year  ( -21.1%)
               3 year  ( -60.1%)
               4 year  ( -47.0%)
               5 year  ( -64.2%)

Coming off a variant cover in July, the drop on issue #13 is actually slightly exaggerated. The downward drift is really quite slow.

42,70. INCREDIBLE HULKS
08/06  #97  -  48,893
08/07  #109 - 104,322
08/08  #5   - 102,105
08/09  #601 -  64,120
=====
08/10  #611 -  44,982  ( -3.2%)
09/10  #612 -  42,956  ( -4.5%)
09/10  #613 -  40,063  ( -6.7%)
10/10  #614 -  39,572  ( -1.2%)
10/10  #615 -  36,750  ( -7.1%)
11/10  #616 -  35,296  ( -4.0%)
11/10  #617 -  34,340  ( -2.7%)
12/10  #618 -  34,868  ( -1.5%)
12/10  #619 -  32,657  ( -6.3%)
01/11  #620 -  30,992  ( -5.1%)
01/11  #621 -  30,957  ( -0.1%)
02/11  #622 -  30,404  ( -1.8%)
02/11  #623 -  30,140  ( -0.9%)
03/11  #624 -  32,066  ( +6.4%)
03/11  #625 -  29,792  ( -7.1%)
04/11  #626 -  29,782  ( -0.0%)
04/11  #627 -  30,788  ( +3.3%)
05/11  #628 -  28,822  ( -6.4%)
05/11  #629 -  28,103  ( -2.5%)
06/11  #630 -  28,028  ( -0.3%)
06/11  #631 -  27,456  ( -2.0%)
07/11  #632 -  28,518  ( +3.9%)
07/11  #633 -  27,216  ( -4.6%)
08/11  #634 -  27,310  ( +0.3%)
08/11  #635 -  38,223  (+40.0%)
               6 mnth  (+26.8%)
               1 year  (-15.0%)
               2 year  (-40.4%)
               3 year  (-62.6%)
               4 year  (-63.4%)
               5 year  (-21.8%)

“Final issue”, which is Marvelese for “it’s being relaunched in two months time”.

45. CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY
07/11  #620 - 51,187
08/11  #621 - 36,069  (-29.5%)

A superficially steep drop, but this is really just taking the book to the level you might expect for a second Captain America title, set in the past. If anything, the sales for issue #1 were more surprising.

47. VENOM
03/11  #1 - 58,936
04/11  #2 - 41,006  (-30.4%)
05/11  #3 - 40,634  ( -0.9%)
06/11  #4 - 38,946  ( -4.2%)
07/11  #5 - 35,102  ( -9.9%)
08/11  #6 - 35,033  ( -0.2%)

First part of a Spider-Island tie-in. Presumably the effects are cancelling out an underlying drop.

49. FEAR ITSELF: UNCANNY X-FORCE
07/11  #1 of 3 - 39,605
08/11  #2 of 3 - 34,640  (-12.5%)

That’s a fairly modest second issue drop.

50. ASTONISHING X-MEN
08/06  #16 - 120,371
08/07  #22 - 117,321
08/08  #26 -  94,244
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  #35 -  50,441  (-12.1%)
09/10  ---
10/10  ---
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  #36 -  44,326  (-12.2%)
03/11  ---
04/11  ---
05/11  #37 -  38,513  (-13.1%)
05/11  #38 -  37,580  ( -2.4%)
06/11  #39 -  37,127  ( -1.2%)
07/11  #40 -  35,593  ( -4.1%)
08/11  #41 -  33,470  ( -6.0%)
              6 mnth  (-24.5%)
              1 year  (-33.6%)
              2 year  (  --- )
              3 year  (-64.5%)
              4 year  (-71.5%)
              5 year  (-72.2%)

Drifting down, but again, the upcoming X-Men reshuffle should presumably do something to help it.

53,66. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY
04/11  #622 - 43,925
05/11  #623 - 39,003  (-11.2%)
06/11  #624 - 35,834  ( -8.1%)
07/11  #625 - 33,781  ( -5.7%)
08/11  #626 - 31,549  ( -6.6%)
08/11  #.1  - 27,877  (-11.6%)

The regular issues are still in a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc; the Point One issue, which isn’t even by the regular creative team, naturally comes in behind.

55. ULTIMATE COMICS HAWKEYE
08/11  #1 of 4 - 30,469

Two variant covers on this. Much depends on what your expectations were for the Ultimate relaunch; it’s not a bad number, but nor does it suggest a huge resurgence of interest in the imprint.

56. MOON KNIGHT
08/06  #4      - 67,802
08/07  ---
08/08  #21     - 30,900
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  #1 of 3 - 28,196  ( +47.3%)
09/10  #2 of 3 - 20,307  ( -28.0%)
10/10  #3 of 3 - 18,318  (  -9.8%)
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  ---
03/11  ---
04/11  ---
05/11  #1      - 49,018  (+167.6%)
06/11  #2      - 35,333  ( -27.9%)
07/11  #3      - 33,781  (  -4.4%)
08/11  #4      - 30,237  ( -10.5%)
                 6 mnth  (   --- )
                 1 year  (  +7.2%)
                 2 year  (   --- )
                 3 year  (  -2.1%)
                 4 year  (   --- )
                 5 year  ( -55.4%)

Still finding its level. A variant cover on issue #3 makes the decline look bumpier than it is.

59. GENERATION HOPE
11/10  #1  - 37,398
12/10  #2  - 38,984  ( +4.2%)
01/11  #3  - 24,094  (-38.2%)
02/11  #4  - 22,170  ( -8.0%)
03/11  #5  - 21,290  ( -4.0%)
04/11  #6  - 20,376  ( -4.3%)
05/11  #7  - 20,375  ( -0.0%)
06/11  #8  - 18,883  ( -7.3%)
07/11  #9  - 18,135  ( -4.0%)
08/11  #10 - 29,245  (+61.3%)
             6 mnth  (+31.9%)

This is the first of two “Schism” tie-in issues. GENERATION HOPE is the only ongoing series to tie in directly with the SCHISM miniseries, and it’s really seen a huge sales boost as a result. Perhaps the more focussed crossover is the way to go?

61,73. HULK
08/08  #5  - 102,105
08/09  #13 -  71,639
=====
08/10  #24 -  48,903  ( -3.6%)
09/10  #25 -  46,784  ( -4.3%)
10/10  #26 -  42,934  ( -8.2%)
11/10  #27 -  38,691  ( -9.9%)
12/10  #28 -  34,755  (-10.2%)
01/11  ---
02/11  #29 -  33,375  ( -4.0%)
02/11  #30 -  32,907  ( -1.4%)
03/11  #.1 -  32,163  ( -2.3%)
03/11  #31 -  31,368  ( -2.5%)
04/11  #32 -  30,652  ( -2.3%)
05/11  #33 -  32,273  ( +5.3%)
06/11  #34 -  29,391  ( -8.9%)
06/11  #35 -  28,539  ( -2.9%)
07/11  #36 -  28,651  ( +0.4%)
07/11  #37 -  30,318  ( +5.8%)
08/11  #38 -  29,059  ( -4.2%)
08/11  #39 -  26,895  ( -7.4%)
              6 mnth  (-18.3%)
              1 year  (-45.0%)
              2 year  (-62.5%)
              3 year  (-73.7%)

Issue #38 is the second of two Fear Itself tie-in issues. Overall, the series is on a slow decline.

71,76. NEW MUTANTS
08/09  #4  - 38,558
=====
08/10  #16 - 31,989  ( -9.7%)
09/10  #17 - 31,684  ( -1.0%)
10/10  #18 - 27,027  (-14.7%)
11/10  #19 - 25,440  ( -5.9%)
12/10  #20 - 24,416  ( -4.0%)
01/11  #21 - 23,773  ( -2.6%)
02/11  #22 - 41,236  (+73.5%)
03/11  #23 - 37,659  ( -8.7%)
04/11  #24 - 38,701  ( +2.8%)
05/11  #25 - 34,724  (-10.3%)
06/11  #26 - 27,848  (-19.7%)
07/11  #27 - 27,963  ( +0.4%)
07/11  #28 - 26,130  ( -6.6%)
08/11  #29 - 27,205  ( +4.1%)
08/11  #30 - 26,678  ( -1.9%)
             6 mnth  (-35.3%)
             1 year  (-16.6%)
             2 year  (-30.8%)

These are the first two issues of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc. The impact on sales is unspectacular.

74,75. DEADPOOL
08/09  #14 - 50,263
=====
08/10  #26 - 35,595  ( -3.3%)
09/10  #27 - 36,404  ( +2.3%)
10/10  #28 - 34,828  ( -4.3%)
11/10  #29 - 31,350  (-10.0%)
12/10  #30 - 30,488  ( -2.7%)
01/11  #31 - 29,167  ( -4.3%)
01/11  #32 - 29,144  ( -0.1%)
02/11  #33 - 28,649  ( -1.7%)
03/11  #.1 - 28,979  ( +1.2%)
03/11  #34 - 30,299  ( +4.6%)
04/11  #35 - 28,517  ( -5.9%)
04/11  #36 - 28,173  ( -1.2%)
05/11  #37 - 28,002  ( -0.6%)
06/11  #38 - 27,809  ( -0.7%)
06/11  #39 - 28,400  ( +2.1%)
07/11  #40 - 27,303  ( -3.9%)
08/11  #41 - 26,766  ( -2.0%)
08/11  #42 - 26,794  ( +0.1%)
             6 mnth  ( -6.5%)
             1 year  (-24.7%)
             2 year  (-46.7%)

Very gently drifting down.

78,82. THUNDERBOLTS
08/06  #105 - 61,467
08/07  #116 - 52,503
08/08  #123 - 45,403
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  #147 - 31,252  ( -0.8%)
09/10  #148 - 32,190  ( +3.0%)
10/10  #149 - 30,580  ( -5.0%)
11/10  #150 - 31,704  ( +3.7%)
12/10  #151 - 27,943  (-11.9%)
01/11  #152 - 26,515  ( -5.1%)
02/11  #153 - 26,098  ( -1.6%)
03/11  #154 - 25,455  ( -2.5%)
03/11  #155 - 26,710  ( +4.9%)
04/11  #156 - 25,117  ( -6.0%)
05/11  #157 - 25,063  ( -0.2%)
06/11  #158 - 28,422  (+13.4%)
06/11  #159 - 27,463  ( -3.4%)
07/11  #160 - 27,810  ( +1.3%)
08/11  #161 - 26,439  ( -4.9%)
08/11  #162 - 25,990  ( -1.7%)
              6 mnth  ( -0.4%)
              1 year  (-16.8%)
              2 year  (  --- )
              3 year  (-42.8%)
              4 year  (-50.5%)
              5 year  (-57.7%)

The final part of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc which started in issue #158.

87. FEAR ITSELF: WOLVERINE
07/11  #1 of 3 - 30,584
08/11  #2 of 3 - 25,268  (-17.4%)

About 13K behind the parent title, but that’s only to be expected.

89,92. AVENGERS ACADEMY
08/10  #3  - 35,629  ( -6.4%)
09/10  #4  - 31,212  (-12.4%)
10/10  #5  - 31,272  ( +0.2%)
11/10  #6  - 25,977  (-16.9%)
12/10  #7  - 27,774  ( +6.9%)
01/11  #8  - 24,014  (-13.5%)
02/11  #9  - 23,709  ( -1.3%)
03/11  #10 - 23,708  ( -0.0%)
03/11  #11 - 23,636  ( -0.3%)
04/11  #12 - 23,578  ( -0.2%)
05/11  #13 - 24,840  ( +5.4%)
05/11  #14 - 23,537  ( -5.2%)
06/11  #.1 - 23,499  ( -0.2%)
06/11  #15 - 26,378  (+12.3%)
07/11  #16 - 25,379  ( -3.8%)
08/11  #17 - 24,898  ( -1.9%)
08/11  #18 - 24,538  ( -1.4%)
             6 mnth  ( +3.5%)
             1 year  (-31.1%)

Part four of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in arc. It’s up from six months ago, but not by very much.

90. ALPHA FLIGHT
05/11  #.1     - 25,775
06/11  #1 of 8 - 46,851  (+81.8%)
07/11  #2 of 8 - 26,862  (-42.7%)
08/11  #3 of 8 - 24,872  ( -7.4%)

Well, it was an eight-issue mini at the time – it’s now been upgraded to an ongoing title, so evidently Marvel are happy enough with these numbers.

93. GHOST RIDER
06/11  #.1 - 24,830
07/11  #1  - 41,308  (+66.4%)
08/11  #2  - 24,440  (-40.8%)

That’s a huge second-issue drop, even allowing for the three variants on issue #1. Still, Marvel were happy enough with similar numbers on ALPHA FLIGHT.

95. X-23
09/10  #1  - 48,481
10/10  #2  - 35,280  (-27.2%)
11/10  #3  - 31,224  (-11.5%)
12/10  #4  - 29,703  ( -4.9%)
01/11  #5  - 27,855  ( -6.2%)
02/11  #6  - 27,156  ( -2.5%)
03/11  #7  - 27,510  ( +1.3%)
03/11  #8  - 27,745  ( +0.9%)
04/11  #9  - 28,562  ( +2.9%)
05/11  #10 - 26,157  ( -8.4%)
06/11  #11 - 25,985  ( -0.7%)
07/11  #12 - 24,605  ( -5.3%)
08/11  #13 - 23,976  ( -2.6%)
             6 mnth  (-11.7%)

97,100. X-FACTOR
08/06  #10  - 44,603
08/07  #22  - 52,627
08/08  #34  - 50,416
08/09  #47  - 33,052
=====
08/10  #208 - 30,095  ( -6.2%)
09/10  #209 - 29,626  ( -1.6%)
10/10  #210 - 27,548  ( -7.0%)
11/10  #211 - 26,632  ( -3.3%)
12/10  #212 - 26,443  ( -0.7%)
01/11  #213 - 25,403  ( -3.9%)
01/11  #214 - 25,117  ( -1.1%)
02/11  #215 - 25,298  ( +0.7%)
03/11  #216 - 25,256  ( -0.2%)
03/11  #217 - 25,125  ( -0.5%)
04/11  #218 - 24,826  ( -1.2%)
05/11  #219 - 24,766  ( -0.2%)
06/11  #220 - 24,926  ( +0.6%)
06/11  #221 - 24,502  ( -1.7%)
07/11  #222 - 24,794  ( +1.2%)
08/11  #223 - 23,854  ( -3.8%)
08/11  #224 - 23,681  ( -0.7%)
              6 mnth  ( -6.4%)
              1 year  (-21.3%)
              2 year  (-28.4%)
              3 year  (-53.0%)
              4 year  (-55.1%)
              5 year  (-46.9%)

Two more X-books on a very slow decline.

103.  S.H.I.E.L.D.
08/10  #3 - 33,335  (-11.3%)
09/10  ---
10/10  #4 - 32,495  ( -2.5%)
11/10  ---
12/10  #5 - 27,133  (-16.5%)
01/11  ---
02/11  #6 - 26,190  ( -3.5%)
03/11  ---
04/11  #∞ - 22,260  (-15.0%)
05/11  ---
06/11  #1 - 28,718  (+29.0%)
07/11  ---
08/11  #2 - 22,877  (-20.3%)
            6 mnth  (-12.6%)
            1 year  (-31.4%)

Renumbering the book for the second arc evidently hasn’t had a big impact.

105. FEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL
06/11  #1 of 3 - 28,227
07/11  #2 of 3 - 24,543  (-13.1%)
08/11  #3 of 3 - 22,725  ( -7.4%)

Only about 4K behind the monthly title, which isn’t bad at all.

109,112. DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE
08/09  #77 - 68,593
=====
08/10  #89 - 41,409  ( -2.6%)
08/10  #90 - 39,815  ( -3.8%)
09/10  #1  - 48,819  (+22.6%)
10/10  #2  - 38,660  (-22.9%)
11/10  #3  - 32,679  (-15.5%)
12/10  #4  - 30,726  ( -6.0%)
01/11  ---
02/11  #5  - 28,833  ( -6.2%)
03/11  #6  - 27,486  ( -4.7%)
03/11  #7  - 27,224  ( -1.0%)
04/11  #8  - 26,925  ( -1.1%)
05/11  #9  - 26,294  ( -2.3%)
05/11  #.1 - 24,599  ( -6.4%)
06/11  #10 - 24,724  ( +0.5%)
07/11  #11 - 23,207  ( -6.1%)
08/11  #12 - 21,734  ( -6.3%)
08/11  #13 - 21,302  ( -2.0%)
             6 mnth  (-26.1%)
             1 year  (-48.6%)
             2 year  (-68.9%)

More gentle decline.

114. SPIDER-ISLAND: CLOAK & DAGGER
08/11  #1 of 3 - 20,348

One of several Spider-Island tie-in minis, which look like they’re going to sell modestly. There are Spider-Girl and Shang-Chi minis further down the chart.

115. BLACK PANTHER: THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR
08/06  #19     - 28,372
08/07  #30     - 48,478
08/08  #40     - 33,583
08/09  #7      - 27,619
=====
08/10  #6 of 6 - 24,797  (  -4.8%)
09/10  ---
10/10  #1 of 4 - 16,973  ( -31.6%)
10/10  #2 of 4 - 12,960  ( -23.6%)
11/10  #3 of 4 - 10,356  ( -20.1%)
12/10  #4 of 4 -  9,145  ( -11.7%)
12/10  #513    - 33,124  (+262.2%)
01/11  #514    - 27,474  ( -17.1%)
02/11  #515    - 24,556  ( -10.6%)
03/11  #516    - 23,987  (  -2.3%)
04/11  #517    - 23,120  (  -3.6%)
05/11  #518    - 20,906  (  -9.6%)
06/11  #519    - 19,883  (  -4.9%)
06/11  #520    - 19,400  (  -2.4%)
07/11  #521    - 22,163  ( +14.2%)
08/11  #522    - 20,342  (  -8.2%)
                 6 mnth  ( -17.2%)
                 1 year  ( -18.0%)
                 2 year  ( -26.3%)
                 3 year  ( -39.4%)
                 4 year  ( -58.0%)
                 5 year  ( -28.3%)

Part two of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in.

118. FEAR ITSELF: THE HOME FRONT
04/11  #1 of 7 - 32,601
05/11  #2 of 7 - 28,605  (-12.3%)
06/11  #3 of 7 - 25,738  (-10.0%)
07/11  #4 of 7 - 22,058  (-14.3%)
08/11  #5 of 7 - 19,956  ( -9.5%)

This has been shedding readers throughout its run at quite the rate.

119. SPIDER-ISLAND: DEADLY FOES
08/11  One-shot - 19,956

122. WOLVERINE: THE BEST THERE IS
12/10  #1 - 57,348
01/11  #2 - 33,469  (-41.6%)
02/11  #3 - 27,790  (-17.0%)
03/11  #4 - 25,226  ( -9.2%)
04/11  #5 - 24,771  ( -1.8%)
05/11  #6 - 22,695  ( -8.4%)
06/11  #7 - 22,001  ( -3.1%)
07/11  #8 - 20,393  ( -7.3%)
08/11  #9 - 19,476  ( -4.5%)
            6 mnth  (-22.8%)

Also losing readers rather more quickly than you’d like, at this point in its run.

126. MYSTIC  [CrossGen]
08/11  #1 of 4 - 18,783

The CrossGen titles haven’t done particularly well for Marvel in the direct market, but there’s always the possibility that the collected editions could do better. MYSTIC is a very good comic, and deserves to find an audience somewhere.

128. SPIDER-ISLAND: THE AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL
11/10  #1      - 23,926
12/10  #2      - 21,606  ( -9.7%)
01/11  ---
02/11  #3      - 15,302  (-29.2%)
02/11  #4      - 14,804  ( -3.3%)
03/11  #5      - 13,757  ( -7.1%)
04/11  #6      - 13,235  ( -3.8%)
05/11  #7      - 12,563  ( -5.1%)
06/11  ---
07/11  #8      - 11,996  ( -4.5%)
08/11  #1 of 3 - 18,394  (+53.3%)
                 6 mnth  (+24.3%)

Spider-Girl’s crossover miniseries does much better than her regular title, though it has to be said that the bar was not set very high.

130. HEROES FOR HIRE
12/10  #1  - 32,936
01/11  #2  - 23,013  (-30.1%)
02/11  #3  - 22,401  ( -2.7%)
03/11  #4  - 21,827  ( -2.6%)
04/11  #5  - 21,815  ( -0.0%)
05/11  #6  - 20,057  ( -8.1%)
05/11  #7  - 18,671  ( -6.9%)
06/11  #8  - 18,029  ( -3.4%)
07/11  #9  - 19,676  ( +9.1%)
08/11  #10 - 18,374  ( -6.6%)
             6 mnth  (-18.0%)

Second part of a FEAR ITSELF tie-in.

133. PUNISHERMAX  [Max]
08/06  #36 - 34,277
08/07  #50 - 36,457
08/08  #60 - 30,683
08/09  #73 - 20,375
=====
08/10  ---
09/10  ---
10/10  ---
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  #10 - 19,236  (-10.3%)
03/11  #11 - 19,243  ( +0.0%)
04/11  #12 - 18,740  ( -2.6%)
05/11  #13 - 18,448  ( -1.6%)
06/11  #14 - 17,965  ( -2.6%)
07/11  #15 - 17,706  ( -1.4%)
08/11  #16 - 17,625  ( -0.5%)
             6 mnth  ( -8.4%)
             1 year  (  --- )
             2 year  (-13.5%)
             3 year  (-42.6%)
             4 year  (-51.7%)
             5 year  (-48.6%)

It’s dropping, but very, very slowly.

136,143. IRON MAN 2.0
02/11  #1  - 31,380
02/11  #2  - 24,600  (-21.6%)
03/11  #3  - 20,905  (-15.0%)
04/11  #4  - 20,342  ( -2.7%)
05/11  #5  - 20,320  ( -0.1%)
06/11  #6  - 19,798  ( -2.6%)
07/11  #7  - 20,390  ( +3.0%)
08/11  #.1 - 16,984  (-16.7%)
08/11  #8  - 16,455  ( -3.1%)
             6 mnth  (-33.1%)

For once, a Point One issue that actually sells above a regular issue. The sales on this book are not very healthy, though.

137. FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP
06/11  #1 of 4 - 23,467
07/11  #2 of 4 - 18,433  (-21.5%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 16,918  ( -8.2%)

138. VENGEANCE
07/11  #1 of 6 - 25,873
08/11  #2 of 6 - 16,895  (-34.7%)

139,163. HERC
08/08  #120      - 51,100
08/09  #133      - 27,491
=====
08/10  Prince #4 - 17,137  (  +9.4%)
09/10  ---
10/10  Chaos #1  - 34,509  (+101.4%)
10/10  #2 of 5   - 29,375  ( -14.9%)
11/10  #3 of 5   - 28,630  (  -2.5%)
12/10  #4 of 5   - 26,313  (  -8.1%)
01/11  #5 of 5   - 24,694  (  -6.2%)
02/11  ---
03/11  ---
04/11  #1        - 38,774  ( +57.0%)
05/11  #2        - 17,385  ( -55.2%)
05/11  #3        - 18,755  (  +7.9%)
06/11  #4        - 18,106  (  -3.5%)
07/11  #5        - 17,113  (  -5.5%)
08/11  #6        - 16,730  (  -2.2%)
08/11  #.1       - 13,990  ( -16.4%)
                   6 mnth  (   --- )
                   1 year  ( -18.4%)
                   2 year  ( -49.1%)
                   3 year  ( -72.6%)

Cancelled with issue #10, which makes that Point One issue a bit redundant. Issue #6 is a Fear Itself tie-in.

142. FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT
05/11  #1 of 6 - 24,709
06/11  #2 of 6 - 20,376  (-17.5%)
07/11  #3 of 6 - 18,735  ( -8.1%)
08/11  #4 of 6 - 16,478  (-12.0%)

Dropped off the radar entirely, really.

From here on, we start hitting the novel adaptations and the low-end, overlooked Marvel Universe titles – I’ll chip in where there’s something to say.

144. DARK TOWER: BATTLE OF TULL
08/07  G'slngr Born #7   - 124,609
08/08  ---
08/09  F/Gilead #4       -  35,607
=====
08/10  Gunslinger #4     -  21,820  ( -4.1%)
09/10  #5 of 5           -  21,323  ( -2.3%)
10/10  ---
11/10  ---
12/10  Little Sisters #1 -  19,807  ( -7.1%)
01/11  #2 of 5           -  18,589  ( -6.1%)
02/11  #3 of 5           -  17,748  ( -4.5%)
03/11  #4 of 5           -  17,490  ( -1.5%)
04/11  #5 of 5           -  17,283  ( -1.2%)
05/11  ---
06/11  Tull #1 of 5      -  17,667  ( +2.2%)
07/11  #2 of 5           -  16,888  ( -4.4%)
08/11  #3 of 5           -  16,337  ( -3.3%)
                            6 mnth  ( -8.0%)
                            1 year  (-25.1%)
                            2 year  (-54.1%)
                            3 year  (  --- )
                            4 year  (-86.9%)

145. RED SKULL
07/11  #1 of 5 - 19,973
08/11  #2 of 5 - 16,166  (-19.1%)

146. FEAR ITSELF: FEARSOME FOUR
06/11  #1 of 4 - 22,418
07/11  #2 of 4 - 17,765  (-20.8%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 16,099  ( -9.4%)

148. SPIDER-ISLAND: DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU
08/11  #1 of 3 - 15,907

149. MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE
06/11  #1 of 4 - 21,155
07/11  #2 of 4 - 18,209  (-13.9%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 15,583  (-14.4%)

158. DEADPOOL MAX  [Max]
10/10  #1  - 29,176
11/10  #2  - 23,382  (-19.9%)
12/10  #3  - 20,990  (-10.2%)
01/11  #4  - 19,238  ( -8.3%)
02/11  #5  - 18,221  ( -5.3%)
03/11  #6  - 17,528  ( -3.8%)
04/11  #7  - 17,005  ( -3.0%)
05/11  #8  - 16,428  ( -3.4%)
06/11  #9  - 15,802  ( -3.8%)
07/11  #10 - 15,067  ( -4.7%)
08/11  #11 - 14,626  ( -2.9%)
             6 mnth  (-19.7%)

159. THE STAND: NIGHT HAS COME
08/09  Nightmares #5     - 31,506
=====
08/10  Hardcases #3      - 18,352  ( -4.4%)
09/10  ---
10/10  #4 of 5           - 17,186  ( -6.4%)
11/10  #5 of 5           - 16,751  ( -2.5%)
12/10  ---
01/11  ---
02/11  No Man's Land #1  - 16,094  ( -3.9%)
03/11  #2 of 5           - 15,332  ( -4.7%)
03/11  #3 of 5           - 14,768  ( -3.7%)
04/11  ---
05/11  #4 of 5           - 14,696  ( -0.5%)
06/11  #5 of 5           - 14,480  ( -1.5%)
07/11  ---
08/11  Night #1 of 6     - 14,510  ( +0.2%)
                           6 mnth  ( -5.4%)
                           1 year  (-20.9%)
                           2 year  (-53.9%)

A very slight boost for the start of the new arc.

166. CRIMINAL: LAST OF THE INNOCENT
06/11  #1 of 4 - 14,849
07/11  #2 of 4 - 13,453  (-9.4%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 13,265  (-1.4%)

167,177. IRON AGE
06/11  Alpha   - 21,671
06/11  #1 of 3 - 19,135  (-11.7%)
07/11  #2 of 3 - 14,426  (-24.6%)
08/11  #3 of 3 - 13,036  ( -9.6%)
08/11  Omega   - 12,144  ( -6.8%)

168,187. THOR: HEAVEN AND EARTH
07/11  #1 of 4 - 14,774
08/11  #2 of 4 - 12,696  (-14.1%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 10,948  (-13.8%)

170. WOLVERINE & BLACK CAT: CLAWS 2
07/11  #1 of 3 - 16,571
08/11  #2 of 3 - 12,668  (-23.6%)

181. CAPTAIN AMERICA CORPS
06/11  #1 of 5 - 22,050
07/11  #2 of 5 - 12,305  (-44.2%)
08/11  #3 of 5 - 11,394  ( -7.4%)

197. OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
08/06  A to Z #8 of 12       - 19,926
08/07  World War Hulk        - 41,583
08/08  ---
08/09  ---
=====
08/10  A to Z Update #3 of 5 -  4,962  ( -48.1%)
09/10  Heroic Age: Heroes    - 11,224  (+126.2%)
10/10  A to Z Update #4 of 5 -  4,990  ( -55.5%)
11/10  Heroic Age: Villains  -  9,294  ( +86.3%)
12/10  A to Z Update #5 of 5 -  4,808  ( -48.3%)
12/10  Heroic Age: X-Men     - 13,789  (+186.8%)
01/11  Blockbusters          -  5,354  ( -61.2%)
02/11  ---
03/11  ---
04/11  Thor                  -  9,251  ( +72.8%)
05/11  X-Men                 -  8,228  ( -11.1%)
06/11  Captain America       -  6,311  ( -23.3%)
07/11  ---
08/11  Fellowship of Fear    - 10,448  ( +65.6%)
                               6 mnth  (   --- )
                               1 year  (+110.6%)
                               2 year  (   --- )
                               3 year  (   --- )
                               4 year  ( -74.9%)
                               5 year  ( -47.6%)

This was marketed as a FEAR ITSELF tie-in, though much of the issue is actually about fear-themed characters generally.

203. SUPREME POWER
06/11  #1 of 4 - 15,251
07/11  #2 of 4 - 11,450  (-24.9%)
08/11  #3 of 4 - 10,040  (-12.3%)

213. MYSTERY MEN
06/11  #1 of 5 - 16,657
06/11  #2 of 5 - 12,993  (-22.0%)
07/11  #3 of 5 - 10,433  (-19.7%)
08/11  #4 of 5 -  9,300  (-10.9%)

220. ALL WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES
06/11  #1 of 8 - 11,836
07/11  #2 of 8 - 10,121  (-14.5%)
08/11  #3 of 8 -  8,766  (-13.4%)

224. MARVEL ZOMBIES CHRISTMAS CAROL
06/11  #1 of 5 - 13,231
06/11  #2 of 5 - 12,164  ( -8.1%)
07/11  #3 of 5 -  9,379  (-22.9%)
07/11  #4 of 5 -  8,513  ( -9.2%)

227. FROM THE MARVEL VAULT
02/11  Dr Strange   - 11,248
03/11  ---
04/11  Thunderbolts -  9,001
05/11  ---
06/11  Hulk/Torch   -  7,616
07/11  Defenders    -  8,154
08/11  Gambit       -  8,441

253. ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER
08/07  ---
08/08  ---
08/09  Necromancer #4  - 11,597
=====
08/10  ---
09/10  Circus #4       -  8,427  ( -1.5%)
10/10  #5 of 5         -  8,146  ( -3.3%)
11/10  ---
12/10  ---
01/11  Ingenue #1 of 5 -  7,763  ( -4.7%)
02/11  #2 of 5         -  7,352  ( -5.3%)
03/11  ---
04/11  #3 of 5         -  7,018  ( -4.5%)
04/11  ---
05/11  ---
06/11  #4 of 5         -  6,893  ( -1.8%)
07/11  ---
08/11  #5 of 5         -  6,712  ( -2.6%)
                         6 mnth  ( -8.7%)
                         1 year  (  --- )
                         2 year  (-42.1%)
                         3 year  (  --- )
                         4 year  (  --- )

254. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: INFESTED
08/11  One-shot - 6,692

This is a reprint of the back-up strips from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN which acted as a build-up to “Spider-Island”.

261. KA-ZAR
06/11  #1 of 5 - 12,805
07/11  #2 of 5 -  7,873  (-38.5%)
08/11  #3 of 5 -  6,475  (-17.8%)

281. SPIDER-ISLAND: EMERGENCE OF EVIL - JACKAL AND HOBGOBLIN
08/11  One-shot - 5,666

This is a reprint of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #129 and #238-239, with a new framing sequence.

297. SPIDER-MAN  [Marvel Adventures]
08/06  #18 - 6,220
08/07  #30 - 6,573
08/08  #42 - 5,718
08/09  #54 - 5,684
=====
08/10  #5  - 6,202  (  -2.3%)
09/10  #6  - 5,779  (  -6.8%)
10/10  ---
11/10  #7  - 5,603  (  -3.0%)
11/10  #8  - 5,269  (  -6.0%)
12/10  #9  - 5,116  (  -2.9%)
01/11  #10 - 4,816  (  -5.9%)
02/11  #11 - 4,923  (  +2.2%)
03/11  #12 - 4,965  (  +0.9%)
04/11  #13 - 5,083  (  +2.4%)
05/11  #14 - 5,220  (  +2.7%)
06/11  #15 - 5,052  (  -3.2%)
07/11  #16 - 4,708  (  -6.8%)
08/11  #17 - 4,675  (  -0.7%)
            6 mnth  (  -5.0%)
            1 year  ( -24.6%)
            2 year  ( -17.8%)
            3 year  ( -18.2%)
            4 year  ( -28.9%)
            5 year  ( -24.8%)

And the following books missed the top 300: MARVEL SPOTLIGHT, 15 LOVE, SPIDER-MAN: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, SUPER HEROES, OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE (cancelled at the end of its current run), and an INCREDIBLES one-shot.

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

+185.7% - Punisher
+ 40.8% - Daredevil
+ 31.9% - Generation Hope
+ 29.7% - Captain America
+ 26.8% - Incredible Hulks
+ 24.3% - Spider-Girl
+  7.8% - Amazing Spider-Man
+  5.9% - Thor
+  3.5% - Avengers Academy
+  1.9% - Uncanny X-Men
-  0.4% - Thunderbolts
-  1.4% - X-Force
-  3.5% - Ultimates
-  3.5% - Iron Man
-  5.0% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
-  5.4% - Stand
-  5.7% - Avengers
-  6.4% - X-Factor
-  6.5% - Deadpool
-  6.8% - Secret Avengers
-  8.0% - New Avengers
-  8.0% - Dark Tower
-  8.4% - PunisherMax
-  8.7% - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
-  9.3% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
- 11.7% - X-23
- 12.6% - SHIELD
- 15.4% - Wolverine
- 15.7% - X-Men
- 17.2% - Black Panther
- 18.0% - Heroes for Hire
- 18.3% - Hulk
- 19.7% - DeadpoolMax
- 22.8% - Wolverine: The Best There Is
- 23.8% - FF
- 24.5% - Astonishing X-Men
- 26.1% - Daken
- 30.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 33.1% - Iron Man 2.0
- 35.3% - New Mutants


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

+110.6% - Official Handbook
+ 74.7% - Punisher
+ 50.0% - FF
+ 32.1% - Wolverine
+ 22.6% - X-Force
+  7.2% - Moon Knight
+  6.1% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
+  5.9% - Captain America
-  1.4% - Daredevil
- 12.7% - Thor
- 14.2% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 15.0% - Incredible Hulks
- 16.6% - New Mutants
- 16.8% - Thunderbolts
- 18.0% - Black Panther
- 18.2% - Iron Man
- 18.4% - Herc
- 20.6% - Uncanny X-Men
- 20.9% - Stand
- 21.3% - X-Factor
- 24.6% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
- 24.7% - Deadpool
- 25.1% - X-Men Legacy
- 25.1% - Dark Tower
- 31.0% - Avengers
- 31.1% - New Avengers
- 31.1% - Avengers Academy
- 31.4% - SHIELD
- 33.6% - Astonishing X-Men
- 38.0% - Secret Avengers
- 39.6% - X-Men
- 45.0% - Hulk
- 48.6% - Daken


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

+ 28.4% - Punisher
- 10.0% - X-Force
- 13.5% - PunisherMax
- 16.8% - FF
- 17.8% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
- 19.0% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 21.1% - Wolverine
- 25.5% - Iron Man
- 26.3% - Black Panther
- 28.4% - X-Factor
- 30.8% - New Mutants
- 37.0% - X-Men Legacy
- 37.7% - New Avengers
- 39.3% - Uncanny X-Men
- 40.4% - Incredible Hulks
- 42.1% - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
- 44.2% - Daredevil
- 46.7% - Deadpool
- 49.1% - Herc
- 53.9% - Stand
- 54.1% - Dark Tower
- 54.4% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
- 56.6% - Captain America
- 62.5% - Hulk
- 68.9% - Daken


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

+ 66.1% - Punisher
-  2.1% - Moon Knight
-  5.5% - Daredevil
- 13.2% - FF
- 18.2% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
- 26.2% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 26.4% - X-Force
- 28.4% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
- 35.8% - Uncanny X-Men
- 36.0% - Captain America
- 37.5% - Iron Man
- 39.4% - Black Panther
- 41.4% - X-Men Legacy
- 42.6% - PunisherMax
- 42.8% - Thunderbolts
- 47.3% - New Avengers
- 53.0% - X-Factor
- 60.1% - Wolverine
- 62.6% - Incredible Hulks
- 64.5% - Astonishing X-Men
- 72.6% - Herc
- 73.7% - Hulk


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

- 13.5% - Daredevil
- 16.0% - FF
- 17.2% - Punisher
- 19.1% - Iron Man
- 28.9% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
- 35.1% - Captain America
- 37.7% - Uncanny X-Men
- 46.0% - Amazing Spider-Man
- 47.0% - Wolverine
- 48.8% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
- 50.5% - Thunderbolts
- 51.7% - PunisherMax
- 52.5% - New Avengers
- 53.9% - X-Men Legacy
- 55.1% - X-Factor
- 58.0% - Black Panther
- 58.9% - Thor
- 63.4% - Incredible Hulks
- 71.5% - Astonishing X-Men
- 74.9% - Official Handbook
- 86.9% - Dark Tower


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

+  7.5% - Iron Man
- 18.9% - Daredevil
- 21.8% - Incredible Hulks
- 24.8% - Spider-Man [Marvel Adventures]
- 28.3% - Black Panther
- 38.5% - Uncanny X-Men
- 42.1% - FF
- 46.9% - X-Factor
- 47.6% - Official Handbook
- 48.5% - Ultimate Fallout/Spider-Man
- 48.6% - PunisherMax
- 51.4% - X-Men Legacy
- 55.4% - Moon Knight
- 57.7% - Thunderbolts
- 63.7% - New Avengers
- 64.2% - Wolverine
- 72.2% - Astonishing X-Men

1 COMMENT

  1. “Good to see the book sticking to its pentamonthly schedule.”

    Gold!

    And who says only MoF mixes dry humor with snark?

  2. Psst… the analysis text runs past the right margin after #136. Probably dropped a tag somewhere.

    Also, given the number of titles which didn’t chart… is that because Marvel published more titles this month, because other publishers had more titles on the charts, or because sales were too low?

    That might be an interesting statistic to follow… # of issues solicited, # of issues charting.

  3. Kick-Ass seems to be back on schedule now (Millar says it’s every six weeks until the end). Anecdotal, but I had been a Ultimate reader until the new relaunch. I’ll stick with Spider-Man for now, but I’m dropping the others. Just not grabbing me.

  4. I remember the days when 35k was a pretty reliable cancellation point for Marvel. Now they’ve got Astonishing X-Men selling below that point!

  5. 224. MARVEL ZOMBIES CHRISTMAS CAROL
    06/11 #1 of 5 – 13,231
    06/11 #2 of 5 – 12,164 ( -8.1%)
    07/11 #3 of 5 – 9,379 (-22.9%)
    07/11 #4 of 5 – 8,513 ( -9.2%)

    Published in hardcover: 09/28/2011

    Is that a record for comic-to-trade collection?

  6. Not exactly an exhaustive study, but I’ve had a couple of folks tell me that Alpha Flight is selling OK in Canada, so maybe that accounts in part for why Marvel upped it to an ongoing. Inflated first issue numbers aside, the drop doesn’t look horrible either (yeah, that might change once it loses the Fear Itself logo, but anyway…).

  7. Torsten: The Legends of the Guard Mouseguard hardcover came out before the final issue it collected had been released.

    Suzene: These numbers include numbers to Canada (they’re served by the same shipping warehouses).

  8. Zooomy, though a big part of that Astonishing # is across the board sales funk, it also went from a Whedon/Cassaday creative team to a whoever we can find/whoever we can find creative team pretty fast.

  9. “Good to see the book sticking to its pentamonthly schedule.”

    JRJR is such a reliable artist, I tend to think that it’s not his fault. Yes, I’m looking at you, Mark Millar!

  10. Holy crap! The second issue of the new Daredevil relaunch sold JUST a touch more than the FINAL issue of the Shadowland finale. Marvel must be beating themselves in the crotch at such a failed relaunch attempt. The original gritty series was excellent (excluding Diggle’s run) they should have just left well enough alone. I just wish they’d learn from stuff like this…

  11. I can only hope Daredevil reflects the original orders, and the series is building on strong word-of-mouth.

  12. JrJr was also drawing Avengers (he just left the book) so perhaps he was a portion of the problem. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him draw two books at once.

    I hate to be one of those people, but MAN I hope Moon Knight continues to plunge in sales. That book is dreadful, the only thing worth buying it for is the art, and I still decided even that wasn’t worth $3.99. And everyone complains that Bendis’ Avengers books sucks, but look at those numbers. The Marvel zombies never seem to catch a clue.

  13. Why is nobody addressing the real issue here? Paul’s blatant anti-DC bias is obvious! He barely mentions DC and spends all his time talking about Marvel!

  14. “JrJr was also drawing Avengers (he just left the book) so perhaps he was a portion of the problem. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him draw two books at once.”

    Back in the late 90’s JRjr was drawing both Thor (aka Heroes Return/vol 2) and Peter Parker: Spiderman, for a good few years.

    One month he drew a team-up between the two characters (Thor #8 & PPSS #2) where the covers interlocked.

  15. It IS difficult to see how anyone could have thought John Romita Jr would be able to do both Avengers and Kick-Ass simultaneously on a monthly schedule. Of course, stockpiling the issues until the series was ready would have had two major problems: it’s bad for the creators’ cashflow, and it would have stopped Millar using the first issue story to launch Clint.

  16. I’d love to see a chart of Avengers/New Avengers performance month-to-month over the entire time from Disassembled until now, because man, just looking at these charts, the post-Siege relaunch has just hemorrhaged readers left and right. Just look at the numbers shown here: 80-90k or better up until this time last year, and the bottom just fell out. Even if it is still Marvel’s strongest franchise, it looks so weak in the knees at this point that you can’t help but wonder how Marvel’s bloated line of low-selling titles will hold up against DC’s lean, mean New 52 lineup.

    The iCV2 numbers for September are up. I hate to demand faster work on volunteers, but given the hightened interest, any chance we can see a faster turnaround than usual for the September numbers?

  17. I haven’t read MOON KNIGHT, but this review of MOON KNIGHT #6 and the references to talking heads, an absence of action, and (elsewhere) street-level settings suggest that Bendis wants to write Moon Knight as a variation on his Daredevil. There might not be a large audience for the material. To someone wanting superhero action, the review reads like a condemnation.

    SRS

  18. SIEGE read like a comic written by someone who writes four other books a month. So does FEAR ITSELF, now. I hope nobody at Marvel is surprised that their sales aren’t where they used to be.

  19. Okay, curiosity got the better of me and I made a chart of New Avengers performance. It’s not quite as damning as I thought it might be, but still, that performance since the new #1 doesn’t look good.

  20. EliteManatee, I was being serious. Sure, Avengers might be losing readers now, but the two titles are still around the 56-60K range. In today’s comics numbers, that’s freakin’ amazing! And sad, cause the books just aren’t that great.

    I LOVED Bendis’ Daredevil. If he was trying to write Moon Knight as Daredevil I’d be all for it. But A) Good writing Bendis left the building years ago (also, it could be because the man writes half of Marvel’s line at this point), and B) It’s a book about Marc Spectre pretending to be Captain America, Wolverine and Spiderman. That’s a horrible concept, and it shows in the final product. Plus it’s just lots of Bendis speak, and a zillion “Aghs!” and nothing happens. I bought it for four issues before I gave up. And this is someone that, again, LOVED his Daredevil run, and Alex Maleev can pretty much do no wrong in my book. it’s just a mediocre title.

    What happened to all the comic book writers? Why is no one complaining about the lack of CREATIVE diversity in comic books? (Not sexual (men/women) diversity, but creative.) I mean, Bendis, Fraction, Brubaker and Hickman write what, 75% of the Marvel line (ok, slight exaggeration. ;) Meanwhile, DC keeps putting Jurgens, Giffen and Lobdell on all of their new books. What happened to all the various writers in the comic book world?

    Just more ranting, sorry. :)

  21. From Tom Brevoort’s Twitter stream:

    A 45 minute conversation with @allanheinberg may have changed the fate of a character by the end of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade.

    Is deciding to change a character’s fate on the basis of a conversation, after putting out seven issues of a nine-issue midiseries, good or bad? I’d think it would be good only if the original fate was a mistake. But, given that the Life Force development in #7 was a retcon of a retcon of a retcon, maybe everything that happens is an illusion?

    SRS

  22. “I hate to be one of those people, but MAN I hope Moon Knight continues to plunge in sales” and “Just more ranting, sorry. :)”, and “Marvel must be beating themselves in the crotch at such a failed relaunch attempt” – hate to break it to you, Nathan, but it looks like you are one of those people. Saying you “hate to be that guy” or “sorry” or using emoticons doesn’t make you less that guy. Kind of like telling someone “No offense, but you’re an a-hole :)”.

    Why would anyone wish for a title’s cancellation? I get you don’t like the title, but does its existence offend you so much you wish for it to be unavailable to those who are enjoying it?

    And I don’t think Marvel is regretting the DD reboot. It has been almost universally regarded as an excellent title and is not selling worse than before. Hardly a smash hit, but it’s a great book and hopefully will do well in trade.

  23. Per Moon Knight – the point is, a title of this nature will always return. So if the current incarnation is cancelled, give it a year or so, and it’ll be back. But with a new perspective, and a new creative team. I’d just like to see a GOOD Moon Knight title out there. You’re right, I guess some people are enjoying it, it just boggles my mind. (I mean, the book is called Moon Knight, not Marc Spectre: Wolverine/Spiderman/Captain America Man (who gets his *ss kicked every issue.) I like Moon Knight. This is not a good Moon Knight title.

    Per Daredevil, sure it’s getting great reviews. And I like the book, I really do. But personally I was loving the gritty version they’d been putting out. It had a nice mature feel to it. It was just a great book. Then Marvel decided to get greedy (what’s new?) so they pushed their poorly done crossover event Shadowland (a failure in almost any Daredevil fan’s eyes), made a big relaunch push, critical acclaim all around, YET… the book is selling approximately 673 more copies than the FINAL issue of the dreadful Shadowland storyline.

    12/10 #512 – 40,317 ( -7.1%)
    08/11 #2 – 40,990 ( -36.8%)

    How is that a success? Surely Marvel was hoping for bigger numbers than that? I’m just saying they went to all this work (Shadowland, which brought Daredevil back into the Marvel universe, the equally dreck filled Reborn mini-series, and the reboot) and it got them 673 new readers. Hopefully issues #3 and #4 will show an increase in readers, and not further erosion.

    Marvel just LOVES to fix stuff that isn’t broken, and it grates on my nerves. (And the “Yay! Hot! Awesome! New!” is ALWAYS temporary.

  24. My hope is that Daredevil will be one of the few books (along with other high-quality stuff like Invincible and Walking Dead) that post gains, instead of losses, each month.

  25. People who are used to seeing a series character fail, for whatever reasons, tend to assume the worst. It’s been revealed that in WONDER WOMAN #3, Diana finds out her father is Zeus. That’s created a bit of an uproar, with fans foreseeing a lot of stories and angst involving Diana and her father. Yet WW #1 was generally thought to be one of the best New 52 issues.

    A good writer and a bad writer can do the same thing for entirely different reasons. If a writer has a good track record, and is handling a character type he’s handled well in the past, it’s safe to assume that he’ll handle the new assignment well too. A good writer can surprise people.

    SRS

  26. Nathan,

    I for one am glad to see this back to basics take on DD. I’ve been buying the book consistently since the Karl Kessel days and I thought after years and years of brooding depressing stories that the “gritty’ feel was getting stale. I really enjoy the new direction and hope they don’t fall back into old storylines too quickly.

  27. I’m also reading Daredevil again (and for the first time in a long time). Having 2 amazing artists working on it certainly doesn’t hurt. I hope the creative team doesn’t change.. though I’m sure it will.

    @Nathan Aaron: I agree about the lack of diversity. DC keeps many mediocre to bad writer on multiple books a month. And the books are all the same from one issue to the next. A few of those writers apparently had bit creative hits long before I came back to comics but everything I’ve read by them has been dull. For Marvel it seems like their stable of writers are each good at certain things but really very bland at others. It’s odd. And there hasn’t been a lot of excitement in the writing. I think a few titles carry it but not near enough. And enough with Bendis writing two Avengers titles. One, fine, but not two. I like the Avengers. But I don’t read them because every time I pick up a Bendis Avengers book nothing happens and everybody talks like they’re in the Gilmore Girls. I did like the first Secret Avengers issue by Ellis though.

  28. Am I the only person on the Internet who noticed the problem with the handling of kinetic energy in NEW AVENGERS #17?

    SRS

  29. Just your basic — in this case, very basic — scientific illiteracy. The robot the New Avengers were fighting absorbed kinetic energy. Yet Bendis let Wolverine slash away with his claws. That’s as much of a kinetic energy attack as a superpowered punch is. The claws aren’t magical; kinetic energy is needed for them to puncture things. Much of the issue was taken up with Wolverine vs. the robot, so the plot was ruined. The Bendisism at the end, “Concussive chain reaction has been remotely detonated,” was just a capper.

    SRS