Marvel Month-to-Month Sales: January 2013

by Paul O’Brien

The rolling program of Marvel Now! relaunches continued in January, with SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, NEW AVENGERS, SAVAGE WOLVERINE, UNCANNY X-FORCE, YOUNG AVENGERS and MORBIUS. Plus, there’s the miniseries DEADPOOL: KILLUSTRATED – and, just as interesting as the January launches, the continuing question of how the earlier Marvel Now titles are settling down.

Once again, Marvel had the largest share of the North American direct market, leading DC by 40% to 35% in units, and 35% to 32% in dollars.

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

1,5.  SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN
01/08  Amazing #548 -  97,959
01/09  Amazing #584 -  59,932
01/10  Amazing #619 -  56,837
01/11  Amazing #651 -  56,749
=====
01/12  Amazing #677 -  57,186  (  +5.9%)
01/12  Amazing #678 -  54,252  (  -5.1%)
02/12  Amazing #679 -  52,564  (  -3.1%)
02/12  Amazing #.1  -  50,624  (  -3.7%)
02/12  Amazing #680 -  51,872  (  +2.5%)
03/12  Amazing #681 -  52,143  (  +0.5%)
03/12  Amazing #682 -  57,143  (  +9.6%)
04/12  Amazing #683 -  59,153  (  +3.5%)
04/12  Amazing #684 -  57,454  (  -2.9%)
05/12  Amazing #685 -  58,121  (  +1.2%)
05/12  Amazing #686 -  58,337  (  +0.4%)
06/12  Amazing #687 -  62,680  (  +7.4%)
06/12  Amazing #688 -  60,409  (  -3.6%)
07/12  Amazing #689 -  59,859  (  -0.9%)
07/12  Amazing #690 -  58,976  (  -1.5%)
08/12  Amazing #691 -  60,767  (  +3.0%)
08/12  Amazing #692 -  91,071  ( +49.9%)
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 - 210,954  (+195.7%)
01/13  Superior #1  - 188,182  ( -10.8%)
01/13  Superior #2  - 112,546  ( -40.2%)
                       6 mnth  ( +90.8%)
                       1 year  ( +96.8%)
                       2 year  ( +98.3%)
                       3 year  ( +98.0%)
                       4 year  ( +87.8%)
                       5 year  ( +14.9%)

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN is this month’s flagship launch, and while it doesn’t quite match the sales of December’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700 – which, after all, was the really key issue – the first two issues still put in an impressive showing. Although sales are likely to settle down to a lower figure, the storyline is clearly one that’s grabbed a lot of attention. After all, while you can view it as an attention grabbing stunt, you can also view it as a good old fashioned Silver Age superhero hook. Much worse things happened to Clark Kent back in the day.

There’s also a lot of reorder activity on this title. In fact, the same goes for several of the Marvel Now launches, which has to be a good sign for the whole line. In the case of this title, issue #700 adds a further 9,988 copies; issue #699 adds a further 5,144; issue #698 is up by 6,195; and even the Point One issue, which was actually Morbius’ origin story, piles on a further 5,099. As usual, I’ve added those extra sales into the figures above.

4,14. NEW AVENGERS
01/08  ---
01/09  New Avengers #49    -  90,040
01/10  New Avengers #61    -  78,202
01/11  New Avengers v2 #8  -  61,169
=====
01/12  New Avengers v2 #20 -  52,910  (  -0.0%)
02/12  New Avengers v2 #21 -  54,105  (  +2.3%)
02/12  New Avengers v2 #22 -  51,235  (  -5.3%)
03/12  New Avengers v2 #23 -  51,697  (  +0.9%)
04/12  New Avengers v2 #24 -  64,533  ( +24.8%)
04/12  New Avengers v2 #25 -  61,950  (  -4.0%)
05/12  New Avengers v2 #26 -  64,326  (  +3.8%)
06/12  New Avengers v2 #27 -  64,927  (  +0.9%)
07/12  New Avengers v2 #28 -  62,739  (  -3.4%)
08/12  New Avengers v2 #29 -  59,441  (  -5.3%)
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%)
                              6 mnth  ( +26.6%)
                              1 year  ( +50.1%)
                              2 year  ( +29.9%)
                              3 year  (  +1.6%)
                              4 year  ( -11.8%)
                              5 year  (   --- )

Following December’s relaunch of AVENGERS, here’s the B-title, also written by Jonathan Hickman. In fact, this is more of an Illuminati title; as we’ll see, Marvel’s latest marketing brainstorm seems to be to simply attach the same name to several unrelated teams. AVENGERS #1 came in at 187K, so this is quite some distance behind – but then, it is firmly the B-title.

6. SAVAGE WOLVERINE
01/13  Savage Wolverine #1 - 102,530

An ongoing title with Frank Cho writing and drawing the opening arc. You could, of course, view this as a continuation of WOLVERINE, but since there’s another book called WOLVERINE launching shortly, I’m treating this has the extra title. For comparison, though, the previous WOLVERINE title was generally selling in the mid-30K range, so this is a huge increase. This would also have posted a big gain over any year-to-year comparison since 2008.

7. 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%)

When a book launches as stratospherically as UNCANNY AVENGERS did, it’s inevitable that there will be steep drops over the next couple of issues while retailers figure out the book’s regular sales level. Estimated orders of 92K for issue #3 is still an excellent number to be delivering.

9,11. AVENGERS
01/11  Avengers v4 #9  -  64,867
=====
01/12  Avengers v4 #21 -  54,803  (  -4.1%)
02/12  Avengers v4 #22 -  52,683  (  -3.9%)
02/12  Avengers v4 #23 -  52,222  (  -0.9%)
03/12  Avengers v4 #24 -  52,242  (  +0.0%)
03/12  Avengers v4 #.1 -  52,164  (  -0.1%)
04/12  Avengers v4 #25 -  65,664  ( +25.9%)
05/12  Avengers v4 #26 -  67,744  (  +3.2%)
06/12  Avengers v4 #27 -  68,885  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Avengers v4 #28 -  63,169  (  -8.3%)
08/12  Avengers v4 #29 -  61,653  (  -2.4%)
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  - 186,989  (+226.2%)
12/12  Avengers v5 #2  -  99,028  ( -47.0%)
01/13  Avengers v5 #3  -  92,165  (  -6.9%)
01/13  Avengers v5 #4  -  83,088  (  -9.8%)
                          6 mnth  ( +31.5%)
                          1 year  ( +51.6%)
                          2 year  ( +28.1%)

Again, still finding its level. Issue #3 had rather more variant covers than #4, so the overall trend is smoother than it first appears. Also, issue #2 picks up reorders of 5,134, added into the figures above.

10. UNCANNY X-FORCE
01/09  X-Force v3 #11 - 51,817
01/10  X-Force v3 #23 - 50,848
01/11  X-Force v4 #4  - 51,381
=====
01/12  X-Force v4 #.1 - 50,399  ( -8.9%)
01/12  X-Force v4 #20 - 51,054  ( +1.3%)
02/12  X-Force v4 #21 - 50,654  ( -0.8%)
02/12  X-Force v4 #22 - 49,665  ( -2.0%)
03/12  X-Force v4 #23 - 48,867  ( -1.6%)
04/12  X-Force v4 #24 - 50,667  ( +3.7%)
05/12  X-Force v4 #25 - 50,851  ( +0.4%)
06/12  X-Force v4 #26 - 47,522  ( -6.0%)
07/12  X-Force v4 #27 - 46,325  ( -2.5%)
07/12  X-Force v4 #28 - 46,367  ( +0.1%)
08/12  X-Force v4 #29 - 45,159  ( -2.6%)
08/12  X-Force v4 #30 - 44,918  ( -0.5%)
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%)
                        6 mnth  (+85.9%)
                        1 year  (+71.0%)
                        2 year  (+67.7%)
                        3 year  (+69.5%)
                        4 year  (+66.3%)

There’s no connection between this book and December’s launch CABLE & X-FORCE besides the name. Of the two titles, this is the one that inherits characters and storylines from Rick Remender’s run, and in an earlier time would simply have been a new creative team coming aboard a continuing series. But you’ve got to admit that they wouldn’t have got this sort of sales boost by taking that route.

13,15. ALL-NEW X-MEN
11/12  All-New X-Men #1 - 181,693
11/12  All-New X-Men #2 -  96,436  (-46.9%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #3 -  90,161  ( -6.5%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #4 -  86,677  ( -3.9%)
01/13  All-New X-Men #5 -  76,007  (-12.3%)
01/13  All-New X-Men #6 -  80,195  ( +5.5%)

Yes, sales went up for issue #6. It doesn’t seem to be due to variants, and I’d be surprised if incoming artist David Marquez had that sort of impact, which seems to leave the explanation that people just like the book. There are re-orders too, with issue #3 adding another 6,363 and issue #4 adding 6,012.

18. YOUNG AVENGERS
01/08  YA Presents #1 of 6  - 43,714
=====
01/13  Young Avengers v2 #1 - 71,254
                              5 year  (+63.0%)

Yes, it’s been that long since YOUNG AVENGERS shipped in a January. The book still has a fan base, though, and so do creators Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, who worked together on PHONOGRAM. A strong debut for a property that’s been allowed to drift for a surprisingly long time.

23. CAPTAIN AMERICA
01/08  Captain America v6 #34 - 127,626
01/09  Captain America v6 #46 -  73,184
01/10  Reborn #6              -  84,844
01/11  Captain America #614   -  42,119
=====
01/12  Captain America v7 #7  -  46,954  (  -1.7%)
02/12  Captain America v7 #8  -  43,487  (  -7.4%)
03/12  Captain America v7 #9  -  41,631  (  -4.3%)
04/12  Captain America v7 #10 -  41,474  (  -0.4%)
05/12  Captain America v7 #11 -  39,012  (  -5.9%)
05/12  Captain America v7 #12 -  38,800  (  -0.5%)
06/12  Captain America v7 #13 -  39,456  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Captain America v7 #14 -  36,812  (  -6.7%)
07/12  Captain America v7 #15 -  36,433  (  -1.0%)
08/12  Captain America v7 #16 -  35,155  (  -3.5%)
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%)
                                 6 mnth  ( +64.2%)
                                 1 year  ( +27.4%)
                                 2 year  ( +42.1%)
                                 3 year  ( -29.5%)
                                 4 year  ( -18.2%)
                                 5 year  ( -53.1%)

25. INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK
01/08  Incredible Hulk #102  -  46,965
01/09  Hulk #1               - 134,002
01/10  Incredible Hulk #606  -  44,855
01/11  Incredible Hulks #620 -  30,992
=====
01/12  Incredible v4 #4      -  45,876  (  -1.2%)
02/12  Incredible v4 #5      -  42,760  (  -6.8%)
03/12  Incredible v4 #6      -  40,522  (  -5.2%)
04/12  Incredible v4 #7      -  42,135  (  +4.0%)
05/12  Incredible v4 #.1     -  38,472  (  -8.7%)
05/12  Incredible v4 #8      -  42,076  (  +9.4%)
06/12  Incredible v4 #9      -  40,467  (  -3.8%)
06/12  Incredible v4 #10     -  38,122  (  -5.8%)
07/12  Incredible v4 #11     -  36,743  (  -3.6%)
08/12  Incredible v4 #12     -  36,860  (  +0.3%)
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%)
                                6 mnth  ( +61.7%)
                                1 year  ( +29.5%)
                                2 year  ( +91.8%)
                                3 year  ( +32.5%)
                                4 year  ( -55.6%)
                                5 year  ( +26.5%)

A similar deal with both these titles. Now into their third months, they’re levelling out at a number that Marvel ought to be very happy with, considering sales over the last couple of years. Both have been higher in the past, but that was when it were the main focus of Marvel’s promotion, while here they’re simply benefiting from the promotion of the line as a whole.

28. DEADPOOL
01/09  Deadpool v3 #6  -  46,549
01/10  ---
01/11  Deadpool v3 #31 -  29,167
=====
01/12  Deadpool v3 #49 -  24,783* (  -2.7%)
01/12  Deadpool v3 #.1 -  24,783* (   --- )
02/12  Deadpool v3 #50 -  40,695  ( +64.2%)
02/12  Deadpool v3 #51 -  27,458  ( -32.5%)
03/12  Deadpool v3 #52 -  27,990  (  +1.9%)
04/12  Deadpool v3 #53 -  29,334  (  +4.8%)
05/12  Deadpool v3 #54 -  29,644  (  +1.1%)
05/12  Deadpool v3 #55 -  29,022  (  -2.1%)
06/12  Deadpool v3 #56 -  29,513  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Deadpool v3 #57 -  29,155  (  -1.2%)
07/12  Deadpool v3 #58 -  28,706  (  -1.5%)
08/12  Deadpool v3 #59 -  28,507  (  -0.7%)
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  - 123,306  (+324.5%)
11/12  Deadpool v4 #2  -  72,057  ( -41.6%)
12/12  Deadpool v4 #3  -  60,215  ( -16.4%)
01/13  Deadpool v4 #4  -  57,061  (  -5.2%)
                          6 mnth  ( +95.7%)
                          1 year  (+130.2%)
                          2 year  ( +95.6%)
                          3 year  (   --- )
                          4 year  ( +22.6%)

Another book that’s swiftly levelling out, at numbers far above what it was delivering before. And there are reorders – issue #1 adds 4,330, and #2 gets 4,636.

30. 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%)

Considering the first issue sales were probably a bit exaggerated, this is settling down reasonably well. If you want to draw comparisons with the previous, unrelated X-FORCE book, then it’s going to come off worse – but as the secondary X-Force title, that’s probably not going to cause too much concern.

31. IRON MAN
01/08  Iron Man v4 #25 -  38,072
01/09  Iron Man v5 #9  -  49,223
01/10  Iron Man v5 #22 -  49,130
01/11  Iron Man #500   -  54,186
=====
01/12  Iron Man #512   -  35,159  (  -0.7%)
02/12  Iron Man #513   -  32,748  (  -6.9%)
03/12  Iron Man #514   -  31,424  (  -4.0%)
04/12  Iron Man #515   -  32,409  (  +3.1%)
05/12  Iron Man #516   -  31,374  (  -3.2%)
05/12  Iron Man #517   -  31,536  (  +0.5%)
06/12  Iron Man #518   -  32,553  (  -3.2%)
06/12  Iron Man #519   -  32,518  (  -0.1%)
07/12  Iron Man #520   -  32,765  (  +0.8%)
07/12  Iron Man #521   -  32,172  (  -1.8%)
08/12  Iron Man #522   -  31,464  (  -2.2%)
08/12  Iron Man #523   -  31,568  (  +0.3%)
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%)
                          6 mnth  ( +58.2%)
                          1 year  ( +44.8%)
                          2 year  (  -6.1%)
                          3 year  (  +3.6%)
                          4 year  (  +3.4%)
                          5 year  ( +33.7%)

There’s no obvious reason for the drop to have increased again with issue #5. Most likely, this is an example of a common phenomenon with titles that ship two issues a month, where the bigger drops take place between months.

Sales are now back to roughly the level that the previous run was achieving in 2009-10, but those were decent numbers.

34. FANTASTIC FOUR
01/08  Fantastic Four #553  -  48,332
01/09  Fantastic Four #563  -  52,747
01/10  Fantastic Four #575  -  41,284
01/11  Fantastic Four #587  - 144,173
=====
01/12  Fantastic Four #602  -  45,131  ( -11.6%)
02/12  Fantastic Four #603  -  42,419  (  -6.0%)
03/12  Fantastic Four #604  -  42,126  (  -0.7%)
04/12  Fantastic Four #605  -  42,372  (  +0.6%)
05/12  Fantastic Four #.1   -  39,475  (  -6.8%)
05/12  Fantastic Four #606  -  39,914  (  +1.1%)
06/12  Fantastic Four #607  -  40,453  (  +1.4%)
07/12  Fantastic Four #608  -  37,776  (  -6.6%)
08/12  Fantastic Four #609  -  36,496  (  -3.4%)
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%)
                               6 mnth  ( +33.8%)
                               1 year  ( +12.0%)
                               2 year  ( -64.9%)
                               3 year  ( +22.5%)
                               4 year  (  -4.2%)
                               5 year  (  +4.6%)

Levelling out. This title too is showing a significant improvement over the last year or so, and for now it’s back in the range it was achieving four or five years ago.

35. THOR: GOD OF THUNDER
01/08  ---
01/09  ---
01/10  Thor #606   -  55,353
01/11  Thor #619   -  42,899
=====
01/12  Thor v4 #10 -  37,577  (  -1.1%)
02/12  Thor v4 #11 -  35,066  (  -6.7%)
03/12  Thor v4 #12 -  33,967  (  -3.1%)
04/12  Thor v4 #.1 -  33,533  (  -1.3%)
04/12  Thor v4 #13 -  34,500  (  +2.9%)
05/12  Thor v4 #14 -  32,550  (  -5.7%)
06/12  Thor v4 #15 -  33,674  (  +3.5%)
06/12  Thor v4 #16 -  31,798  (  -5.6%)
07/12  Thor v4 #17 -  30,879  (  -2.9%)
08/12  Thor v4 #18 -  35,392  ( +14.6%)
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%)
                      6 mnth  ( +63.5%)
                      1 year  ( +34.3%)
                      2 year  ( +17.7%)
                      3 year  (  -8.8%)
                      4 year  (   --- )
                      5 year  (   --- )

And another book finding its level after its recent relaunch. THOR is still getting very good sales by the standards of the last couple of years.

37. A PLUS X
04/12  Versus #1 of 6 - 111,913
05/12  Versus #2 of 6 -  98,819  (-11.7%)
06/12  Versus #3 of 6 -  94,528  ( -4.3%)
07/12  Versus #4 of 6 -  86,526  ( -8.5%)
08/12  Versus #5 of 6 -  78,380  ( -9.4%)
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%)
                         6 mnth  (-44.4%)

This one, on the other hand, does not yet seem to be levelling out – but I attribute that mainly to its having inherited from AVENGERS VS X-MEN an unrealistically high level of sales for an anthology title, given the market’s general lack of interest in such books.

40,44. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN
01/12  Wolverine/X-Men #4  - 59,530  ( +1.9%)
02/12  Wolverine/X-Men #5  - 55,788  ( -6.3%)
02/12  Wolverine/X-Men #6  - 55,341  ( -0.8%)
03/12  Wolverine/X-Men #7  - 54,559  ( -1.4%)
04/12  Wolverine/X-Men #8  - 53,757  ( -1.5%)
04/12  Wolverine/X-Men #9  - 64,984  (+20.9%)
05/12  Wolverine/X-Men #10 - 63,650  ( -2.1%)
05/12  Wolverine/X-Men #11 - 64,936  ( +2.0%)
06/12  Wolverine/X-Men #12 - 64,838  ( -0.2%)
07/12  Wolverine/X-Men #13 - 62,689  ( -3.3%)
07/12  Wolverine/X-Men #14 - 61,029  ( -2.6%)
08/12  Wolverine/X-Men #15 - 58,441  ( -4.2%)
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%)
                             6 mnth  (-26.7%)
                             1 year  (-24.9%)

Hovering in the mid-40K range. I’m not altogether sure why sales went back up with issue #24; there’s no obvious reason for it.

41. THUNDERBOLTS
01/08  Thunderbolts #118  - 43,645
01/09  Thunderbolts #128  - 39,219
01/10  Thunderbolts #140  - 28,644
01/11  Thunderbolts #152  - 26,515
=====
01/12  Thunderbolts #168  - 20,585  (  -2.7%)
01/12  Thunderbolts #169  - 20,316  (  -1.3%)
02/12  Thunderbolts #170  - 19,505  (  -4.0%)
03/12  Thunderbolts #171  - 19,073  (  -2.2%)
04/12  Thunderbolts #172  - 19,203  (  +0.7%)
04/12  Thunderbolts #173  - 19,017  (  -1.0%)
05/12  Thunderbolts #174  - 18,792  (  -1.2%)
06/12  ---
07/12  ---
08/12  ---
09/12  ---
10/12  ---
11/12  ---
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%)
                            6 mnth  (   --- )
                            1 year  (+115.1%)
                            2 year  ( +67.0%)
                            3 year  ( +54.6%)
                            4 year  ( +12.9%)
                            5 year  (  +1.4%)

And back to the books finding their level after the relaunch. So far, at least, this is the best selling version of the book in years.

45. MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE
01/13  Morbius v2 #1 - 43,883

One of the more eccentric relaunches from Marvel Now. 44K puts the book in the territory of PUNISHER and HAWKEYE, which is to say that it’s got an opportunity to find a cult audience.

50. FF
01/12  FF #14   - 42,609  (  -5.3%)
02/12  FF #15   - 40,583  (  -4.8%)
03/12  FF #16   - 37,152  (  -8.5%)
04/12  FF #17   - 37,325  (  +0.5%)
05/12  FF #18   - 34,555  (  -7.4%)
06/12  FF #19   - 34,260  (  -0.9%)
07/12  FF #20   - 31,652  (  -7.6%)
08/12  FF #21   - 30,220  (  -4.5%)
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%)
                  6 mnth  ( +29.9%)
                  1 year  (  -3.5%)

The pattern of percentage drops is pretty familiar by now, but it’s worth noting that this book is already back to the sales it was delivering a year ago. Mind you, the style of the book always made it more of a niche proposition than the straight sister title of the previous volume.

54. 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%)

Same pattern for the opening issues of this title, really. This is just what Marvel Now books do.

56,62. X-MEN LEGACY
01/08  X-Men v2 #207      - 104,793
01/09  X-Men Legacy #220  -  59,286
01/10  X-Men Legacy #232  -  49,200
01/11  X-Men Legacy #244  -  40,193
=====
01/12  X-Men Legacy #.1   -  37,160  (  -2.1%)
01/12  X-Men Legacy #261  -  37,577  (  +1.1%)
02/12  X-Men Legacy #262  -  36,461  (  -3.0%)
03/12  X-Men Legacy #263  -  35,999  (  -1.3%)
03/12  X-Men Legacy #264  -  35,953  (  -0.1%)
04/12  X-Men Legacy #265  -  35,712  (  -0.7%)
05/12  X-Men Legacy #266  -  43,199  ( +21.0%)
05/12  X-Men Legacy #267  -  46,279  (  +7.1%)
06/12  X-Men Legacy #268  -  49,163  (  +6.2%)
06/12  X-Men Legacy #269  -  46,923  (  -4.6%)
07/12  X-Men Legacy #270  -  44,914  (  -4.3%)
08/12  X-Men Legacy #271  -  37,206  ( -17.2%)
08/12  X-Men Legacy #272  -  37,120  (  -0.2%)
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%)
                             6 mnth  ( -22.5%)
                             1 year  (  -6.3%)
                             2 year  ( -13.4%)
                             3 year  ( -29.2%)
                             4 year  ( -41.3%)
                             5 year  ( -66.8%)

A rare Marvel Now! title that’s already dropped below its inherited sales – but bear in mind that this really has nothing to do with the previous volume of X-MEN LEGACY besides the name. The actual content is a solo title featuring the hitherto relatively minor character Legion – not the most commercial premise.

57. HAWKEYE
08/12  Hawkeye v4 #1 - 48,346
09/12  Hawkeye v4 #2 - 33,563  (-30.6%)
10/12  Hawkeye v4 #3 - 35,403  ( +5.5%)
11/12  Hawkeye v4 #4 - 34,208  ( -3.4%)
12/12  Hawkeye v4 #5 - 34,385  ( +0.5%)
12/12  Hawkeye v4 #6 - 33,440  ( -2.7%)
01/13  Hawkeye v4 #7 - 37,000  (+10.6%)

This is the issue which was changed to feature Hurricane Sandy stories, presumably accounting for the sales bump.

58. DEADPOOL: KILLUSTRATED
01/13  Killustrated #1 of 4 - 36,771

Even this is comfortably ahead of the sales on the previous ongoing DEADPOOL title. Marvel are doing far fewer miniseries these days, evidently preferring to up the frequency of ongoing titles instead – and one side effect is that the minis that do get published are less likely to get lost in the shuffle.

60. DAREDEVIL
01/08  Daredevil v2 #104 - 42,773
01/09  Daredevil v2 #115 - 40,214
01/10  Daredevil #504    - 37,135
01/11  Reborn #1 of 4    - 34,310
=====
01/12  Daredevil v3 #8   - 43,494  (+12.0%)
02/12  Daredevil v3 #9   - 37,891  (-12.9%)
03/12  Daredevil v3 #10  - 38,137  ( +0.6%)
04/12  Daredevil v3 #.1  - 38,463  ( +0.9%)
04/12  Daredevil v3 #11  - 46,111  (+19.9%)
05/12  Daredevil v3 #12  - 39,231  (-14.9%)
05/12  Daredevil v3 #13  - 39,056  ( -0.4%)
06/12  Daredevil v3 #14  - 43,865  (+12.3%)
07/12  Daredevil v3 #15  - 38,469  (-12.3%)
08/12  Daredevil v3 #16  - 37,804  ( -1.7%)
08/12  Daredevil v3 #17  - 38,149  ( +0.9%)
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%)
                           6 mnth  ( -6.2%)
                           1 year  (-17.0%)
                           2 year  ( +5.2%)
                           3 year  ( -2.8%)
                           4 year  (-10.2%)
                           5 year  (-15.6%)

Sales have been very steady over the last few months. Somewhat randomly, issue #21 picks up reorders of 5,112.

61. ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN
01/08  Spider-Man #118   - 58,800
01/09  Spider-Man #130   - 49,637
01/10  Spider-Man v2 #6  - 43,622
01/11  Spider-Man #152   - 33,481
=====
01/12  Spider-Man v3 #6  - 49,840  ( +3.2%)
02/12  Spider-Man v3 #7  - 45,266  ( -9.2%)
03/12  Spider-Man v3 #8  - 46,290  ( +2.3%)
04/12  Spider-Man v3 #9  - 43,724  ( -5.5%)
05/12  Spider-Man v3 #10 - 42,356  ( -3.1%)
06/12  Spider-Man v3 #11 - 42,549  ( +0.5%)
07/12  Spider-Man v3 #12 - 42,050  ( -1.2%)
08/12  Spider-Man v3 #13 - 42,642  ( +1.4%)
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%)
                           6 mnth  (-14.3%)
                           1 year  (-27.7%)
                           2 year  ( +7.6%)
                           3 year  (-17.4%)
                           4 year  (-27.4%)
                           5 year  (-38.7%)

Gentle month-to-month decline. Took as a while to reach one of those, didn’t it?

66. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
03/12  Avengers Assemble #1  - 100,883
04/12  Avengers Assemble #2  -  53,024  (-47.4%)
05/12  Avengers Assemble #3  -  43,886  (-17.2%)
06/12  Avengers Assemble #4  -  43,022  ( -2.0%)
07/12  Avengers Assemble #5  -  38,951  ( -9.5%)
08/12  Avengers Assemble #6  -  36,131  ( -7.2%)
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%)
                                6 mnth  (-20.3%)

A similar deal here, once you filter out the spike for the Marvel Now creative team coming on.

71. SECRET AVENGERS
01/11  Secret Avengers #9  - 50,748
=====
01/12  Secret Avengers #21 - 38,082  ( -0.3%)
01/12  Secret Avengers #.1 - 35,320  ( -7.3%)
02/12  Secret Avengers #22 - 39,337  (+11.4%)
02/12  Secret Avengers #23 - 37,140  ( -5.6%)
03/12  Secret Avengers #24 - 38,359  ( +3.3%)
04/12  Secret Avengers #25 - 38,466  ( +0.3%)
04/12  Secret Avengers #26 - 54,854  (+42.6%)
05/12  Secret Avengers #27 - 49,851  ( -9.1%)
06/12  Secret Avengers #28 - 51,572  ( +3.5%)
07/12  Secret Avengers #29 - 41,653  (-19.2%)
08/12  Secret Avengers #30 - 38,243  ( -8.2%)
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%)
                             6 mnth  (-29.6%)
                             1 year  (-23.0%)
                             2 year  (-42.2%)

This volume was meant to end in January, but issue #37 ended up slipping. It relaunched in February.

73. AVENGING SPIDER-MAN
01/12  Avenging Spider-Man #3  - 52,371  (-13.7%)
02/12  Avenging Spider-Man #4  - 45,622  (-12.9%)
03/12  Avenging Spider-Man #5  - 40,877  (-10.4%)
04/12  Avenging Spider-Man #6  - 47,430  (+16.0%)
05/12  Avenging Spider-Man #7  - 38,012  (-19.9%)
06/12  Avenging Spider-Man #8  - 39,861  ( +4.9%)
07/12  Avenging Spider-Man #9  - 37,134  ( -6.8%)
08/12  Avenging Spider-Man #10 - 34,537  ( -7.0%)
08/12  Avenging Spider-Man #11 - 33,808  ( -2.1%)
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%)
                                 6 mnth  (-21.8%)
                                 1 year  (-44.6%)

Surprisingly little spillover from the success of SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, perhaps indicating that the interest is in the storyline more than the character, and readers don’t expect this book to advance the storyline. Issue #15.1 – which WAS a significant part of the storyline – picks up a whopping 10,602 reorders.

74. X-MEN
01/11  X-Men v3 #7  - 64,615
=====
01/12  X-Men v3 #23 - 38,719  ( -1.0%)
02/12  X-Men v3 #24 - 36,906  ( -4.7%)
02/12  X-Men v3 #25 - 36,488  ( -1.1%)
03/12  X-Men v3 #26 - 35,833  ( -1.8%)
04/12  X-Men v3 #27 - 36,843  ( +2.8%)
05/12  X-Men v3 #28 - 35,838  ( -2.7%)
05/12  X-Men v3 #29 - 35,483  ( -1.0%)
06/12  X-Men v3 #30 - 37,690  ( +6.2%)
06/12  X-Men v3 #31 - 35,789  ( -5.0%)
07/12  X-Men v3 #32 - 35,091  ( -2.0%)
08/12  X-Men v3 #33 - 33,695  ( -4.0%)
08/12  X-Men v3 #34 - 33,354  ( -1.0%)
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%)
                      6 mnth  (-18.7%)
                      1 year  (-26.4%)
                      2 year  (-55.9%)

Relaunches after issue #41.

75. DAREDEVIL: END OF DAYS
10/12  End of Days #1 of 8 - 40,911
11/12  End of Days #2 of 8 - 32,072  (-21.6%)
12/12  End of Days #3 of 8 - 29,273  ( -8.7%)
01/13  End of Days #4 of 8 - 27,770  ( -5.1%)

Still doing very well for an out-of-continuity miniseries.

79. SCARLET SPIDER
01/12  Scarlet Spider #1  - 53,410
02/12  Scarlet Spider #2  - 33,794  (-36.7%)
03/12  Scarlet Spider #3  - 32,616  ( -3.5%)
04/12  Scarlet Spider #4  - 33,097  ( +1.5%)
05/12  Scarlet Spider #5  - 30,932  ( -6.5%)
06/12  Scarlet Spider #6  - 30,722  ( -0.7%)
07/12  Scarlet Spider #7  - 29,140  ( -5.1%)
08/12  Scarlet Spider #8  - 27,690  ( -5.0%)
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%)
                            6 mnth  (-11.1%)
                            1 year  (-51.5%)

The slight increase is probably more a reflection of the fact that the previous issue was a Point One, and those usually do slightly below par.

80. ULTIMATES
01/08  Ultimates v3 #2  - 105,070
01/09  ---
01/10  ---
01/11  ---
=====
01/12  Ultimates v5 #6  -  34,865  ( -4.2%)
02/12  Ultimates v5 #7  -  33,863  ( -2.9%)
03/12  Ultimates v5 #8  -  32,222  ( -4.8%)
04/12  Ultimates v5 #9  -  31,336  ( -2.7%)
05/12  Ultimates v5 #10 -  31,257  ( -0.3%)
05/12  Ultimates v5 #11 -  31,344  ( +0.3%)
06/12  Ultimates v5 #12 -  30,845  ( -1.6%)
07/12  Ultimates v5 #13 -  32,380  ( +5.0%)
08/12  Ultimates v5 #14 -  30,311  ( -6.4%)
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%)
                           6 mnth  (-20.9%)
                           1 year  (-26.5%)
                           2 year  (  --- )
                           3 year  (  --- )
                           4 year  (  --- )
                           5 year  (-75/6%)

More slow decline.

81. ASTONISHING X-MEN
01/08  Astonishing X-Men #24 - 107,631
01/09  Astonishing X-Men #28 -  72,610
01/10  ---
01/11  ---
=====
01/12  Astonishing X-Men #46 -  31,134  ( -0.8%)
02/12  Astonishing X-Men #47 -  30,490  ( -2.1%)
03/12  Astonishing X-Men #48 -  34,182  (+12.1%)
04/12  Astonishing X-Men #49 -  31,291  ( -8.5%)
05/12  Astonishing X-Men #50 -  61,866  (+97.7%)
06/12  Astonishing X-Men #51 -  82,654  (+33.6%)
07/12  Astonishing X-Men #52 -  35,766  (-56.7%)
08/12  Astonishing X-Men #53 -  32,268  ( -9.8%)
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%)
                                6 mnth  (-29.7%)
                                1 year  (-19.2%)
                                2 year  (  --- )
                                3 year  (  --- )
                                4 year  (-65.4%)
                                5 year  (-76.6%)

A similar story here, though the X-Termination crossover is around the corner. (Quite how much ASTONISHING can expect to gain from a crossover with two cancelled titles is another matter.)

82,83. VENOM
01/12  Venom v2 #12 - 28,728  ( +0.2%)
02/12  Venom v2 #13 - 33,174  (+15.5%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.1 - 27,520  (-17.0%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.2 - 27,155  ( -1.3%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.3 - 26,969  ( -0.7%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.4 - 27,135  ( +0.6%)
03/12  Venom v2 #14 - 28,926  ( +6.6%)
04/12  Venom v2 #15 - 28,858  ( -0.2%)
04/12  Venom v2 #16 - 28,440  ( -1.4%)
05/12  Venom v2 #17 - 30,157  ( +6.0%)
05/12  Venom v2 #18 - 28,309  ( -6.1%)
06/12  Venom v2 #19 - 28,702  ( +1.4%)
07/12  Venom v2 #20 - 26,941  ( -6.1%)
07/12  Venom v2 #21 - 26,534  ( -1.5%)
08/12  Venom v2 #22 - 26,734  ( +0.8%)
08/12  Venom v2 #23 - 26,854  ( +0.4%)
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%)
                      6 mnth  ( -7.5%)
                      1 year  (-14.5%)

Settling back into its very slow decline.

84. 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%)

Really not bad numbers for an out-of-continuity Max title that hasn’t received a huge amount of promotion.

85,90. PUNISHER WAR ZONE
01/08  Journal v2 #15      - 35,815
01/09  Punisher v7 #1      - 43,876
01/10  Punisher v7 #13     - 23,734
01/11  In the Blood #3     - 15,298
=====
01/12  Punisher v8 #7      - 22,908  ( -4.4%)
02/12  Punisher v8 #8      - 22,488  ( -1.8%)
03/12  Punisher v8 #9      - 22,318  ( -0.8%)
04/12  Punisher v8 #10     - 32,412  (+45.2%)
05/12  Punisher v8 #11     - 23,303  (-28.1%)
06/12  Punisher v8 #12     - 23,329  ( +0.1%)
07/12  Punisher v8 #13     - 23,075  ( -1.1%)
08/12  Punisher v8 #14     - 22,046  ( -4.5%)
09/12  Punisher v8 #15     - 21,829  ( -1.0%)
09/12  Punisher v8 #16     - 21,565  ( -1.2%)
10/12  War Zone v3 #1 of 5 - 27,010  (+25.2%)
11/12  ---
12/12  War Zone v3 #2 of 5 - 25,471  ( -5.7%)
01/13  War Zone v3 #3 of 5 - 23,863  ( -6.3%)
01/13  War Zone v3 #4 of 5 - 22,993  ( -3.6%)
                             6 mnth  ( -0.4%)
                             1 year  ( +0.4%)
                             2 year  (+50.3%)
                             3 year  ( -3.1%)
                             4 year  (-47.6%)
                             5 year  (-35.8%)

The book effectively wraps up when the mini finishes in February. As of yet, no new PUNISHER book has been announced, though the character has been moved over to THUNDERBOLTS.

87. ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN
01/08  X-Men #90    - 49,634
01/09  ---
01/10  ---
01/11  ---
=====
01/12  X-Men v2 #6  - 33,975  ( -3.4%)
02/12  X-Men v2 #7  - 32,353  ( -4.8%)
02/12  X-Men v2 #8  - 30,822  ( -4.7%)
03/12  X-Men v2 #9  - 30,080  ( -2.4%)
04/12  X-Men v2 #10 - 29,743  ( -1.1%)
05/12  X-Men v2 #11 - 28,711  ( -3.5%)
05/12  X-Men v2 #12 - 28,839  ( +0.4%)
06/12  X-Men v2 #13 - 29,159  ( +1.1%)
07/12  X-Men v2 #14 - 29,879  ( +2.5%)
08/12  X-Men v2 #15 - 27,847  ( -6.8%)
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%)
                      6 mnth  (-21.4%)
                      1 year  (-30.9%)
                      2 year  (  --- )
                      3 year  (  --- )
                      4 year  (  --- )
                      5 year  (-52.7%)

An unusually steep drop this month. The general trend on this book is fairly standard, but it might be starting to gather pace.

91. WINTER SOLDIER
02/12  Winter Soldier #1  - 50,932
02/12  Winter Soldier #2  - 41,164  (-19.2%)
03/12  Winter Soldier #3  - 34,923  (-15.2%)
04/12  Winter Soldier #4  - 33,519  ( -4.0%)
05/12  Winter Soldier #5  - 30,646  ( -8.6%)
06/12  Winter Soldier #6  - 30,386  ( -0.8%)
06/12  Winter Soldier #7  - 28,984  ( -4.6%)
07/12  Winter Soldier #8  - 27,317  ( -5.8%)
08/12  Winter Soldier #9  - 26,255  ( -3.9%)
09/12  Winter Soldier #10 - 25,811  ( -1.7%)
09/12  Winter Soldier #11 - 25,310  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Winter Soldier #12 - 24,807  ( -2.0%)
11/12  ---
12/12  Winter Soldier #13 - 23,951  ( -3.5%)
01/13  Winter Soldier #14 - 22,873  ( -4.5%)
                            6 mnth  (-16.3%)

The drops on this title have been increasing for four months now, which can’t be a good sign.

93. X-FACTOR
01/08  X-Factor v3 #27 - 81,350
01/09  X-Factor v3 #39 - 32,796
01/10  X-Factor #201   - 29,732
01/11  X-Factor #213   - 25,403
=====
01/12  X-Factor #230   - 25,707  ( +8.6%)
02/12  X-Factor #231   - 24,362  ( -5.2%)
02/12  X-Factor #232   - 24,173  ( -0.8%)
03/12  X-Factor #233   - 23,840  ( -1.4%)
04/12  X-Factor #234   - 23,821  ( -0.1%)
05/12  X-Factor #235   - 24,051  ( +1.0%)
05/12  X-Factor #236   - 24,031  ( -0.1%)
06/12  X-Factor #237   - 24,854  ( +3.4%)
06/12  X-Factor #238   - 23,607  ( -5.0%)
07/12  X-Factor #239   - 23,506  ( -0.4%)
07/12  X-Factor #240   - 23,223  ( -1.2%)
08/12  X-Factor #241   - 22,943  ( -1.2%)
08/12  X-Factor #242   - 22,782  ( -0.7%)
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%)
                         6 mnth  ( -3.0%)
                         1 year  (-12.4%)
                         2 year  (-11.3%)
                         3 year  (-24.3%)
                         4 year  (-31.3%)
                         5 year  (-72.3%)

Not much of a boost for the anniversary issue, but X-FACTOR has a very loyal audience nonetheless. It may not have big sales, but at least it has reliable ones.

94. GAMBIT
08/12  Gambit v5 #1 - 40,418 
08/12  Gambit v5 #2 - 32,336  (-20.0%)
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%)

Consistent drops like that can’t be good at this sales level.

95. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY
01/12  J/into Mystery #633 - 23,869  ( -1.2%)
02/12  J/into Mystery #634 - 22,323  ( -6.5%)
03/12  J/into Mystery #635 - 21,617  ( -3.2%)
04/12  J/into Mystery #636 - 21,148  ( -2.2%)
05/12  J/into Mystery #637 - 24,378  (+15.3%)
05/12  J/into Mystery #638 - 23,766  ( -2.5%)
06/12  J/into Mystery #639 - 21,914  ( -7.8%)
06/12  J/into Mystery #640 - 20,714  ( -5.5%)
07/12  J/into Mystery #641 - 19,850  ( -4.2%)
08/12  J/into Mystery #642 - 22,336  (+12.5%)
09/12  J/into Mystery #643 - 21,109  ( -5.5%)
09/12  J/into Mystery #644 - 20,588  ( -2.5%)
10/12  J/into Mystery #645 - 20,705  ( +0.6%)
11/12  J/into Mystery #646 - 22,898  (+10.6%)
12/12  J/into Mystery #647 - 22,514  ( -1.7%)
01/13  J/into Mystery #648 - 20,887  ( -7.2%)
                             6 mnth  ( -5.2%)
                             1 year  (-12.5%)

Third month for the Sif series, and it’s not looking too healthy – but thus far, Marvel are sticking with it. The decision not to launch this book with a fresh #1 must have cost it dear.

98. FIRST X-MEN
08/12  First X-Men #1 of 5 - 55,152
09/12  First X-Men #2 of 5 - 31,415  (-43.0%)
10/12  First X-Men #3 of 5 - 25,434  (-19.0%)
11/12  First X-Men #4 of 5 - 21,930  (-13.8%)
12/12  ---
01/13  First X-Men #5 of 5 - 20,111  ( -8.3%)

Not spectacular numbers, but probably better than a continuity-implant story would have done in the days when Marvel had more minis on the shelves.

101. SECRET SERVICE [Icon]
04/12  Secret Service #1 of 7 - 39,505
05/12  Secret Service #2 of 7 - 28,265  (-28.5%)
06/12  ---
07/12  Secret Service #3 of 7 - 22,993  (-18.7%)
08/12  ---
09/12  ---
10/12  Secret Service #4 of 7 - 21,751  ( -5.4%)
11/12  ---
12/12  ---
01/13  Secret Service #5 of 7 - 19,365  (-11.0%)

This one hasn’t held up as well as some of Mark Millar’s titles, and the inordinate delays can’t have helped. Still, the numbers are respectable by the standards of creator-owned titles.

102,104. DARK AVENGERS
06/12  Dark Avengers #175 - 39,532  (+110.4%)
06/12  Dark Avengers #176 - 34,614  ( -12.4%)
07/12  Dark Avengers #177 - 30,643  ( -11.5%)
07/12  Dark Avengers #178 - 28,572  (  -6.8%)
08/12  Dark Avengers #179 - 25,835  (  -9.6%)
09/12  Dark Avengers #180 - 23,761  (  -8.0%)
09/12  Dark Avengers #181 - 23,044  (  -3.0%)
10/12  Dark Avengers #182 - 21,936  (  -4.8%)
11/12  Dark Avengers #183 - 21,109  (  -3.8%)
12/12  Dark Avengers #184 - 20,584  (  -2.5%)
01/13  Dark Avengers #185 - 19,229  (  -6.6%)
01/13  Dark Avengers #186 - 18,937  (  -1.5%)
                            6 mnth  ( -38.2%)

Cancelled with issue #190.

103. CAPTAIN MARVEL
01/08  Ms Marvel v2 #23     - 24,260
01/09  Ms Marvel v2 #35     - 26,824
01/10  Ms Marvel v2 #49     - 21,177
=====
07/12  Captain Marvel v6 #1 - 41,582
08/12  Captain Marvel v6 #2 - 28,434  (-31.6%)
08/12  Captain Marvel v6 #3 - 27,649  ( -2.8%)
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%)
                              6 mnth  (-53.9%)
                              1 year  (  --- )
                              2 year  (  --- )
                              3 year  ( -9.6%)
                              4 year  (-28.6%)
                              5 year  (-21.1%)

DARK AVENGERS shipped two issues in January, and only one of them outsold CAPTAIN MARVEL – so technically, this title is not yet in the uncomfortable position of being outsold by a cancelled book. Mind you, it’s close. But Marvel are sticking with the book at the moment; they’ve announced a crossover with AVENGERS ASSEMBLE for May to July.

105. RED SHE-HULK
01/08  Hulk #1          - 134,002
01/09  ---
01/10  Hulk #19         -  54,266
01/11  ---
=====
01/12  Hulk #47         -  22,720  ( -1.1%)
02/12  Hulk #48         -  21,751  ( -4.3%)
03/12  Hulk #49         -  21,510  ( -1.1%)
04/12  Hulk #50         -  34,437  (+60.1%)
05/12  Hulk #51         -  22,085  (-35.9%)
05/12  Hulk #52         -  21,882  ( -0.9%)
06/12  Hulk #53         -  22,386  ( +2.3%)
06/12  Hulk #54         -  22,070  ( -1.4%)
07/12  Hulk #55         -  22,141  ( +0.3%)
08/12  Hulk #56         -  21,558  ( -2.6%)
08/12  Hulk #57         -  21,553  ( -0.0%)
09/12  ---
10/12  Red She-Hulk #58 -  31,136  (+44.5%)
11/12  Red She-Hulk #59 -  20,668  (-33.6%)
12/12  Red She-Hulk #60 -  20,798  ( +0.6%)
01/13  Red She-Hulk #61 -  18,815  ( -9.5%)
                           6 mnth  (-15.0%)
                           1 year  (-17.2%)
                           2 year  (  --- )
                           3 year  (-65.3%)
                           4 year  (  --- )
                           5 year  (-86.0%)

This doesn’t look at all healthy.

106. MARVEL UNIVERSE VS AVENGERS
10/12  MU v Avengers #1 of 4 - 27,650
11/12  MU v Avengers #2 of 4 - 21,949  (-20.6%)
12/12  MU v Avengers #3 of 4 - 19,355  (-11.8%)
01/13  MU v Avengers #4 of 4 - 18,681  ( -3.5%)

Not bad for an out-of-continuity book.

107. AGE OF APOCALYPSE
03/12  Age of Apocalypse #1  - 56,426
04/12  Age of Apocalypse #2  - 39,263  (-30.4%)
05/12  Age of Apocalypse #3  - 32,085  (-18.3%)
06/12  Age of Apocalypse #4  - 30,469  ( -5.0%)
07/12  Age of Apocalypse #5  - 27,223  (-10.7%)
08/12  Age of Apocalypse #6  - 25,393  ( -6.7%)
09/12  Age of Apocalypse #7  - 23,618  ( -7.0%)
10/12  Age of Apocalypse #8  - 22,293  ( -5.6%)
11/12  Age of Apocalypse #9  - 20,630  ( -7.5%)
12/12  Age of Apocalypse #10 - 19,337  ( -6.3%)
01/13  Age of Apocalypse #11 - 18,555  ( -4.0%)
                               6 mnth  (-31.8%)

Axed with issue #14.

110,118,124,127,131. PUNISHER: NIGHTMARE
01/13  Nightmare #1 of 5 - 17,932
01/13  Nightmare #2 of 5 - 16,649  (-7.2%)
01/13  Nightmare #3 of 5 - 16,295  (-2.1%)
01/13  Nightmare #4 of 5 - 15,930  (-2.9%)
01/13  Nightmare #5 of 5 - 15,381  (-3.4%)

A weekly miniseries, not doing too badly considering that the parent title is only a little way above 20K.

116. ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN
10/12  Iron Man v3 #1 of 4 - 27,744
11/12  Iron Man v3 #2 of 4 - 20,969  (-24.4%)
12/12  Iron Man v3 #3 of 4 - 18,992  ( -9.4%)
01/13  Iron Man v3 #4 of 4 - 16,967  (-10.7%)

This really hasn’t held up at all well. The Ultimate imprint may not be strong enough to sustain minis at this point.

129. X-TREME X-MEN
07/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #1 - 36,802
08/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #2 - 25,689  (-30.2%)
09/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #3 - 24,490  ( -4.7%)
09/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #4 - 22,584  ( -7.8%)
10/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #5 - 19,841  (-12.1%)
11/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #6 - 17,947  ( -9.5%)
11/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #7 - 17,602  ( -1.9%)
12/12  X-Treme X-Men #7.1  - 16,682  ( -5.2%)
12/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #8 - 16,536  ( -0.9%)
01/13  X-Treme X-Men v2 #9 - 15,529  ( -6.1%)
                             6 mnth  (-57.8%)

Axed with issue #13.

140. FURY MAX
05/12  Fury Max #1 - 20,620
05/12  Fury Max #2 - 19,021  ( -7.8%)
06/12  Fury Max #3 - 17,152  ( -9.8%)
07/12  Fury Max #4 - 16,329  ( -4.8%)
08/12  Fury Max #5 - 15,646  ( -4.2%)
09/12  Fury Max #6 - 14,646  ( -6.4%)
10/12  ---
11/12  ---
12/12  Fury Max #7 - 14,345  ( -2.1%)
01/13  Fury Max #8 - 13,703  ( -4.5%)
                     6 mnth  (-16.1%)

Axed with issue #13.

149. DARK TOWER: SHEEMIE'S TALE
01/08  ---
01/09  Treachery #5       - 50,683
01/10  ---
01/11  Little Sisters #2  - 18,589
=====
01/12  Way Station #2     - 14,827  ( -3.5%)
02/12  #3 of 5            - 14,302  ( -3.5%)
03/12  #4 of 5            - 13,987  ( -2.2%)
04/12  #5 of 5            - 13,823  ( -1.2%)
05/12  ---
06/12  Man in Black #1    - 14,672  ( +6.1%)
07/12  #2 of 5            - 13,831  ( -5.7%)
08/12  #3 of 5            - 13,677  ( -1.1%)
09/12  #4 of 5            - 13,240  ( -3.2%)
10/12  #5 of 5            - 13,310  ( +0.5%)
11/12  ---
12/12  ---
01/13  Sheemie's #1 of 2  - 12,985  ( -2.4%)
                            6 mnth  ( -6.1%)
                            1 year  (-12.4%)
                            2 year  (-30.1%)
                            3 year  (  --- )
                            4 year  (-74.4%)
                            5 year  (  --- )

With the adaptation finished, the book moves on to new stories set in the Dark Tower universe. This one was originally announced to come out back in November 2010, but got bumped from the schedule for some reason.

190. ALPHA
01/13  Alpha #0.1 - 8,534

A reprint of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #692.

And from here, we’re firmly into the books that aren’t really aimed at the direct market.

196. MARVEL'S IRON MAN 3 PRELUDE
01/13  Prelude #1 of 2 - 7,951

214. ROAD TO OZ
01/09  #2 of 8 - 17,608
01/10  #3 of 8 - 14,216
01/11  #3 of 8 -  9,386
=====
01/12  ---
02/12  #5 of 8 -  7,503  ( -2.5%)
03/12  ---
04/12  ---
05/12  #6 of 8 -  7,475  ( -0.4%)
05/12  #7 of 8 -  7,391  ( -1.1%)
06/12  #8 of 8 -  7,258  ( -1.8%)
07/12  ---
08/12  ---
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%)
                 6 mnth  (  --- )
                 1 year  (  --- )
                 2 year  (-22.1%)
                 3 year  (-48.6%)
                 4 year  (-58.5%)

246. CASTLE: A CALM BEFORE THE STORM
12/12  Castle #1 of 5 - 7,174
01/13  Castle #2 of 5 - 5,911  (-17.6%)

270. MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
04/12  MUU Spider-Man #1  - 10,886
05/12  MUU Spider-Man #2  -  7,581  (-30.4%)
06/12  MUU Spider-Man #3  -  6,756  (-10.9%)
07/12  MUU Spider-Man #4  -  6,447  ( -4.6%)
08/12  MUU Spider-Man #5  -  6,310  ( -2.1%)
09/12  MUU Spider-Man #6  -  5,873  ( -6.9%)
10/12  MUU Spider-Man #7  -  5,768  ( -1.8%)
11/12  MUU Spider-Man #8  -  5,588  ( -3.1%)
12/12  MUU Spider-Man #9  -  5,235  ( -6.3%)
01/13  MUU Spider-Man #10 -  5,077  ( -3.0%)
                            6 mnth  (-21.3%)

271. THOR ADAPTATION
01/13  Thor #1 of 2 - 5,068

276. MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS
04/12  MU Avengers #1  - 12,874
05/12  MU Avengers #2  -  6,733  (-47.7%)
06/12  MU Avengers #3  -  6,345  ( -5.8%)
07/12  MU Avengers #4  -  6,421  ( +1.2%)
08/12  MU Avengers #5  -  6,134  ( -4.5%)
09/12  MU Avengers #6  -  5,906  ( -3.7%)
10/12  MU Avengers #7  -  5,630  ( -4.7%)
11/12  MU Avengers #8  -  5,389  ( -4.3%)
12/12  MU Avengers #9  -  5,207  ( -3.4%)
01/13  MU Avengers #10 -  4,951  ( -4.9%)
                         6 mnth  (-22.9%)

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

+ 95.7% - Deadpool
+ 90.8% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 85.9% - Uncanny X-Force
+ 64.2% - Captain America
+ 63.5% - Thor
+ 61.7% - Hulk
+ 58.2% - Iron Man
+ 33.8% - Fantastic Four
+ 31.5% - Avengers
+ 29.9% - FF
+ 26.6% - New Avengers
-  0.4% - Punisher
-  3.0% - X-Factor
-  5.2% - Journey into Mystery
-  6.1% - Dark Tower
-  6.2% - Daredevil
-  7.5% - Venom
- 11.1% - Scarlet Spider
- 14.3% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 15.0% - Red She-Hulk
- 16.1% - Fury Max
- 16.3% - Winter Soldier
- 18.7% - X-Men
- 20.3% - Avengers Assemble
- 20.9% - Ultimates
- 21.3% - Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man
- 21.4% - Ultimate Comics X-Men
- 21.8% - Avenging Spider-Man
- 22.5% - X-Men Legacy
- 22.9% - Marvel Universe Avengers
- 26.7% - Wolverine and the X-Men
- 29.3% - Secret Avengers
- 29.7% - Astonishing X-Men
- 31.8% - Age of Apocalypse
- 38.2% - Dark Avengers
- 44.4% - A + X
- 53.9% - Captain Marvel
- 57.8% - X-Treme X-Men

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

+130.2% - Deadpool
+115.1% - Thunderbolts
+ 96.8% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 71.0% - Uncanny X-Force
+ 51.6% - Avengers
+ 50.1% - New Avengers
+ 44.8% - Iron Man
+ 34.3% - Thor
+ 29.5% - Hulk
+ 27.4% - Captain America
+ 12.0% - Fantastic Four
+  0.4% - Punisher
-  3.5% - FF
-  6.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 12.4% - X-Factor
- 12.4% - Dark Tower
- 12.5% - Journey into Mystery
- 14.5% - Venom
- 17.0% - Daredevil
- 17.2% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk
- 19.2% - Astonishing X-Men
- 23.0% - Secret Avengers
- 24.9% - Wolverine and the X-Men
- 26.4% - X-Men
- 26.5% - Ultimates
- 27.7% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 30.9% - Ultimate Comics X-Men
- 44.6% - Avenging Spider-Man
- 51.5% - Scarlet Spider

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

+ 98.3% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 95.6% - Deadpool
+ 91.8% - Hulk
+ 67.7% - Uncanny X-Force
+ 67.0% - Thunderbolts
+ 50.3% - Punisher
+ 42.1% - Captain America
+ 29.9% - New Avengers
+ 28.1% - Avengers
+ 17.7% - Thor
+  7.6% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
+  5.2% - Daredevil
-  6.1% - Iron Man
- 11.3% - X-Factor
- 13.4% - X-Men Legacy
- 22.1% - Oz
- 30.1% - Dark Tower
- 42.2% - Secret Avengers
- 55.9% - X-Men
- 64.9% - Fantastic Four

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

+ 98.0% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 69.5% - Uncanny X-Force
+ 54.6% - Thunderbolts
+ 32.5% - Hulk
+ 22.5% - Fantastic Four
+  3.6% - Iron Man
+  1.6% - New Avengers
-  2.8% - Daredevil
-  3.1% - Punisher
-  8.8% - Thor
-  9.6% - Captain Marvel / Ms Marvel
- 17.4% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 24.3% - X-Factor
- 29.2% - X-Men Legacy
- 29.5% - Captain America
- 48.6% - Oz
- 65.3% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk

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

+ 87.8% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 66.3% - Uncanny X-Force
+ 22.6% - Deadpool
+ 12.9% - Thunderbolts
+  3.4% - Iron Man
-  4.2% - Fantastic Four
- 10.2% - Daredevil
- 11.8% - New Avengers
- 18.2% - Captain America
- 27.4% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 28.6% - Captain Marvel / Ms Marvel
- 31.3% - X-Factor
- 41.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 47.6% - Punisher
- 55.6% - Hulk
- 58.5% - Oz
- 65.4% - Astonishing X-Men
- 74.4% - Dark Tower

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

+ 63.0% - Young Avengers
+ 33.7% - Iron Man
+ 26.5% - Hulk
+ 14.9% - Superior Spider-Man
+  4.6% - Fantastic Four
+  1.4% - Thunderbolts
- 15.6% - Daredevil
- 21.1% - Captain Marvel / Ms Marvel
- 35.8% - Punisher
- 38.7% - Ultimate Comics Spider-Man
- 52.7% - Ultimate Comics X-Men
- 53.1% - Captain America
- 66.8% - X-Men Legacy
- 72.3% - X-Factor
- 75.6% - Ultimates
- 76.6% - Astonishing X-Men
- 86.0% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk