DC COMICS MONTH-TO-MONTH SALES: JULY 2006

by Marc-Oliver Frisch

July was a very busy month for DC Comics, in terms of new projects. The publisher’s line of mainstream superhero titles was headed by the first issue of crime novelist Brad Meltzer’s Justice League of America and the highly propagated first appearance of the new Batwoman character in the weekly 52. Other focal points of attention were the arrival of new high-profile creative teams on Batman, Superman and Detective Comics, the debut of three more titles spinning out of the “Infinite Crisis” event and, at the company’s Vertigo imprint, an exercise in franchise-building with the launch of Jack of Fables.

Also on sale in July from DC Comics: the much-delayed reappearance of Supergirl with a new regular writer; the return of Astro City for a one-shot special; two new Garth Ennis miniseries; a comics adaptation of Superman Returns; the debut of yet another fantasy title; a superhero limited series written by a fantasy novelist; and, finally and somewhat unusually, the first issue of Rush City, a six-part advertisement in comics form, as commissioned by an automobile manufacturer. Busy month, you see.

Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com’s estimates can be found here.

—–

Disclaimers

The numbers below are estimates for comic book sales to retailers in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors. ICv2.com’s estimates are traditionally known to be somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show should be accurate.

If additional copies of an issue appeared on the chart after the issue’s initial month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in parenthesis behind those issues (e.g. “[36,599]”). Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average will be used.

The titles released under the Johnny DC imprint and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct market sales don’t tell us much about their performance.

—–

(2) JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
07/2003: JLA #83            --  59,154
07/2004: JLA #101           --  64,615
07/2004: JLA #102           --  63,249
--------------------------------------
07/2005: JLA #116           --  87,644 (-  8.1%) -- [ 91,030]
08/2005: JLA #117           --  87,995 (+  0.4%) -- [ 89,163]
09/2005: JLA #118           --  89,428 (+  1.6%)
09/2005: JLA #119           --  94,073 (+  5.2%) -- [106,305]
10/2005: JLA #120           --  82,892 (- 11.9%)
10/2005: JLA #121           --  78,869 (-  4.9%) -- [ 81,316]
11/2005: JLA #122           --  80,866 (+  2.5%)
12/2005: JLA #123           --  76,899 (-  4.9%)
01/2006: JLA #124           --  74,069 (-  3.7%)
02/2006: JLA #125           --  74,341 (+  0.4%)
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: Justice League #0  -- 162,378 (+118.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +119.2%
1 year  : + 85.3%
2 years : +154.0%

After a four-month hiatus, writer Brad Meltzer and a legion of artists including George Pérez, Jim Lee and new regular penciler Ed Benes relaunch JLA.

Like Wonder Woman and Flash: The Fastest Man Alive in June, Justice League of America is a respectable success, as far as relaunches go, more than doubling the book’s previous sales level with its debut issue. The obligatory variant cover edition, in this case, was provided by J. Scott Campbell.

Speaking of debut issues, it’s a bit nebulous why exactly they opted to go with an issue #0 instead of a good, old-fashioned #1. It should be interesting to watch how retailers reacted to the gimmick, if nothing else.

(4/13/14/16) 52
05/2006: 52 Week 1  -- 140,971          -- [143,611]
05/2006: 52 Week 2  -- 128,393 (- 8.9%) -- [130,704]
05/2006: 52 Week 3  -- 123,982 (- 3.4%) -- [126,913]
05/2006: 52 Week 4  -- 121,440 (- 2.1%) -- [125,297]
06/2006: 52 Week 5  -- 111,895 (- 7.9%) 
06/2006: 52 Week 6  -- 110,028 (- 1.7%) -- [111,732]
06/2006: 52 Week 7  -- 110,188 (+ 0.2%) -- [112,618]
06/2006: 52 Week 8  -- 105,107 (- 4.6%) -- [108,775]
07/2006: 52 Week 9  -- 102,142 (- 2.8%)
07/2006: 52 Week 10 -- 100,779 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: 52 Week 11 -- 122,016 (+21.1%)
07/2006: 52 Week 12 --  98,667 (-19.1%)

That’s a very gentle decline.

It’s again worth remembering that DC made the first twelve issues of 52 returnable — if retailers ordered a specific quantity of each issue, that is, and then only for a fee of 25 cents per unit.

Issue #11 was the first appearance of the new Batwoman, a fact which was picked up by a number of mainstream media outlets on the basis that the character is gay. Retailers took the hype as a signal to increase their orders significantly, obviously. There seems to have been an enormous level of faith in the issue’s sales potential, and the fact that it’s returnable is likely to have helped in assuaging possible doubts.

June’s issues #6-8 sold between 1,704 and 3,668 additional copies in July, meanwhile. Notably, issue #5 didn’t make the chart again in July, but that just means it sold less than 1,681 units, which was the entry swell for the Top 300 that month.

It’s another highly successful month for 52, but you know the mantra by now: These are not the final numbers. The sales for August and September, when retailers have to keep what they ordered and are able to react to audience feedback for the first time, are going to be the real acid test.

(5) BATMAN
07/2003: Batman #617 -- 146,601
07/2004: Batman #630 --  69,026
-------------------------------
07/2005: Batman #642 --  65,435 (- 2.6%)
08/2005: Batman #643 --  66,396 (+ 1.5%)
08/2005: Batman #644 --  65,128 (- 1.9%)
09/2005: Batman #645 --  65,984 (+ 1.3%) -- [ 67,712]
10/2005: Batman #646 --  69,975 (+ 6.1%)
11/2005: Batman #647 --  69,718 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Batman #648 --  63,151 (- 9.4%) -- [ 64,760]
01/2005: Batman #649 --  62,379 (- 1.2%) -- [ 64,645]
02/2005: Batman #650 --  66,447 (+ 6.5%) -- [ 74,355]
03/2005: Batman #651 --  69,805 (+ 5.1%) -- [ 79,616]
04/2006: Batman #652 --  72,889 (+ 4.4%) -- [ 82,438]
05/2006: Batman #653 --  77,257 (+ 6.0%) -- [ 78,435]
06/2006: Batman #654 --  76,525 (- 1.0%) -- [ 78,671]
07/2006: Batman #655 -- 113,567 (+48.4%)
----------------
6 months: +82.1%
1 year  : +73.6%
2 years : +64.5%

I suppose you could do better with a Batman book by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert these days, if you were really trying.

Then again, this is a simple, good old creative team change, of course, without any grand ambitions to redefine the wheel. Compared to the big relaunches and universe-spanning event plots which are currently in style, this has come to be the exception rather than the rule, at least when superstar creators are involved. Next to the attention titles like Justice League of America, Wonder Woman or 52 have received, July’s creative makeover on the core Batman and Superman books certainly seems relatively low-key.

Bearing this in mind, it’s a fairly good number, actually, even if the times when sales in excess of 100K on anything but the X-Men titles meant a spectacular success are behind us.

A variant cover edition of the issue, for the record, was provided by Adam Kubert.

June’s Batman #654 picked up 2,146 units in re-orders, meanwhile.

(18 ) SUPERMAN/BATMAN
07/2003: --
07/2004: Superman/Batman #11 -- 143,712
---------------------------------------
07/2005: Superman/Batman #21 -- 108,341 (- 5.1%)
08/2005: --
09/2005: Superman/Batman #22 -- 103,245 (- 4.7%)
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Superman/Batman #23 -- 102,248 (- 1.0%) -- [103,726]
01/2006: --
02/2006: --
03/2006: Superman/Batman #24 -- 101,315 (- 0.9%) -- [103,757]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Superman/Batman #25 -- 103,702 (+ 2.4%) -- [110,845]
05/2006: Superman/Batman #26 -- 118,821 (+14.6%) -- [130,077]
06/2006: Superman/Batman #27 --  95,717 (-19.4%)
07/2006: Superman/Batman #28 --  92,603 (- 3.2%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -14.5%
2 years : -35.6%

As new regular artist Ethan van Sciver joins Superman/Batman‘s creative team, sales take another slight dip. The lack of re-orders for issue #27 suggests that the decided step down from writer Jeph Loeb’s tenure was not due to retailers underestimating demand, either. But the drops aren’t entirely unexpected, of course, and the book’s numbers are still more than decent compared with the other titles starring the two protagonists.

Apropos the Jeph Loeb run, a second printing of its conclusion, Superman/Batman #25, sold another estimated 7,143 units in July.

(21/26) SUPERGIRL
08/2005: Supergirl #1  -- 123,370          -- [165,579]
09/2005: Supergirl #2  -- 101,681 (-17.6%) -- [114,058]
10/2005: --
11/2005: Supergirl #3  --  99,990 (- 1.7%) -- [101,910]
12/2005: --
01/2006: --
02/2006: Supergirl #4  -- 104,734 (+ 4.8%)
02/2006: Supergirl #5  -- 103,108 (- 1.0%) -- [104,930]
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: Supergirl #6  -- 102,860 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Supergirl #7  --  85,175 (-17.2%)
07/2006: Supergirl #8  --  76,942 (- 9.7%)
---------------
6 months: n.a.

After months of scheduling hiccups, repeatedly revised creative changes and resolicitations (see the May column for a rundown), Joe Kelly starts his run as the new writer of Supergirl.

As we recall, it’s likely that the numbers for issue #6 reflected demand for the conclusion to the Jeph Loeb/Ian Churchill run as which it was solicited rather than the story by Greg Rucka and Ed Benes which ultimately saw print. With issues #7 and #8, on the other hand, retailers knew what was coming, and it seems they adjusted their orders rather drastically.

While these numbers are still far from terrible, Supergirl‘s days as a sales juggernaut would seem to be over.

(24) GREEN LANTERN
07/2003: Green Lantern #167 --  36,254
07/2004: Green Lantern #179 --  35,562
--------------------------------------
07/2005: --
08/2005: Green Lantern #3   -- 108,511 (-  7.9%)
08/2005: Green Lantern #4   --  96,932 (- 10.7%) -- [ 99,525]
09/2005: --
10/2005: --
11/2005: Green Lantern #5   --  92,348 (-  4.7%)
12/2005: Green Lantern #6   --  88,437 (-  4.2%)
01/2006: Green Lantern #7   --  84,723 (-  4.2%)
02/2006: Green Lantern #8   --  89,252 (+  5.4%)
02/2006: Green Lantern #9   --  86,554 (-  3.0%) -- [ 89,974]
03/2006: Green Lantern #10  --  79,745 (-  7.9%) -- [ 87,143]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Green Lantern #11  --  78,926 (-  1.0%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Green Lantern #12  --  80,292 (+  1.7%)
-----------------
6 months: -  5.2%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : +125.8%

Settling down in the 80K area, it appears.

(25) FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE
07/2003: Flash #200     --  41,078
07/2004: Flash #212     --  40,056
----------------------------------
07/2005: Flash #224     --  48,062 (+  0.1%)
08/2005: Flash #225     --  50,242 (+  4.5%) -- [52,386]
09/2005: Flash #226     --  45,252 (-  9.9%)
10/2005: Flash #227     --  46,666 (+  3.1%)
11/2005: Flash #228     --  45,861 (-  1.7%)
12/2005: Flash #229     --  41,459 (-  9.6%)
01/2006: Flash #230     --  40,571 (-  2.1%) -- [42,392]
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Flash: FMA #1  -- 120,404 (+196.8%) -- [124,754]
07/2006: Flash: FMA #2  --  77,487 (- 35.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 91.0%
1 year  : + 61.2%
2 years : + 93.5%

This is a very harsh drop-off, even considering that there was a variant cover edition for issue #1. On the other hand, The Fastest Man Alive sales are still miles ahead of the previous series, of course.

Issue #1 picked up another 4,350 units in July.

(29) TEEN TITANS
07/2003: Teen Titans #1  -- 75,206
07/2004: Teen Titans #13 -- 65,658
----------------------------------
07/2005: Teen Titans #26 -- 68,353 ( -3.1%)
08/2005: Teen Titans #27 -- 74,782 ( +9.4%) -- [75,996]
09/2005: --
10/2005: Teen Titans #28 -- 66,581 (-11.0%)
11/2005: Teen Titans #29 -- 69,558 (+ 4.5%)
12/2005: Teen Titans #30 -- 67,155 (- 3.5%)
01/2006: Teen Titans #31 -- 65,223 (- 2.9%)
02/2006: Teen Titans #32 -- 69,131 (+ 6.0%)
03/2006: Teen Titans #33 -- 67,208 (- 2.8%)
04/2006: Teen Titans #34 -- 82,503 (+22.8%) -- [90,051]
05/2006: Teen Titans #35 -- 72,954 (-11.6%)
05/2006: Teen Titans #36 -- 71,486 (- 2.0%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Teen Titans #37 -- 71,263 (- 0.3%)
----------------
6 months: + 9.3%
1 year  : + 4.3%
2 years : + 8.5%

These numbers continue to be rock-solid by any standard.

(32) SUPERMAN
07/2003: Superman #195 --  35,302
07/2004: Superman #207 -- 138,984
---------------------------------
07/2005: Superman #219 --  71,036 (+ 15.5%) -- [ 84,145]
08/2005: Superman #220 --  61,264 (- 13.8%)
09/2005: Superman #221 --  69,065 (+ 12.7%)
10/2005: Superman #222 --  67,638 (-  2.1%)
11/2005: Superman #223 --  69,739 (+  3.1%)
12/2005: Superman #224 --  63,719 (-  8.6%) -- [ 65,300]
01/2006: Superman #225 --  61,768 (-  3.1%)
02/2006: Superman #226 --  63,982 (+  3.6%)
03/2006: Superman #650 --  65,603 (+  2.5%) -- [ 77,783]
04/2006: Superman #651 --  73,355 (+ 11.8%)
05/2006: Superman #652 --  70,458 (-  4.0%)
06/2006: Superman #653 --  69,079 (-  2.0%)
07/2006: Superman #654 --  69,526 (+  0.7%)
----------------
6 months: +12.6%
1 year  : - 2.1%
2 years : -50.0%

Writer Kurt Busiek and artist Carlos Pacheco take over as the new creative team of Superman, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the numbers.

Granted, there are a number of factors which may have worked against a substantial sales increase. For starters, the previous four issues were part of a crossover co-written by Busiek and sales magnet Geoff Johns, which was labeled as a part of the publisher’s “One Year Later” event and already enjoyed a relatively high sales level. Second, as pointed out before, July’s creative team changes on the Batman and Superman titles have seemed somewhat secondary in terms of scope compared with event titles like 52. And finally, July’s Superman, Detective Comics and Action Comics, unlike Batman, were not promoted with variant cover editions. So, in fairness, the circumstances could have been better.

Still, given the revitalizing effect Busiek’s name recently had on Aquaman sales (see below) and Pacheco’s recent, best-selling stints on Superman/Batman and Green Lantern, not to mention the release of a major Hollywood film starring the title character, the effective lack of any sales increase whatsoever has to come as a disappointment.

Between Superman: Birthright, All-Star Superman and, for that matter, Superman Returns, there is a history of underperforming Superman projects by top-flight creative personnel, of course. Perhaps it’s not the creators that fail to inspire, after all, but the property itself.

(34) DETECTIVE COMICS
07/2003: Detective Comics #784 -- 38,571
07/2004: Detective Comics #796 -- 36,805
----------------------------------------
07/2005: Detective Comics #808 -- 37,952 (- 1.4%)
08/2005: Detective Comics #809 -- 49,087 (+29.3%)
08/2005: Detective Comics #810 -- 48,270 (- 1.7%)
09/2005: Detective Comics #811 -- 38,772 (-19.7%)
10/2005: Detective Comics #812 -- 39,270 (+ 1.3%)
11/2005: Detective Comics #813 -- 38,338 (- 2.4%)
12/2005: Detective Comics #814 -- 37,145 (- 3.1%)
01/2006: Detective Comics #815 -- 35,569 (- 4.2%)
02/2006: Detective Comics #816 -- 35,410 (- 0.5%)
03/2006: Detective Comics #817 -- 62,245 (+75.8%) -- [70,241]
04/2006: Detective Comics #818 -- 60,440 (- 2.9%) -- [68,189]
05/2006: Detective Comics #819 -- 65,800 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Detective Comics #820 -- 65,988 (+ 0.3%)
07/2006: Detective Comics #821 -- 67,345 (+ 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: +89.3%
1 year  : +77.5%
2 years : +83.0%

The debut issue by the new creative team of writer Paul Dini and artist J.H. Williams III yields another slight sales increase. It’s a more than decent performance, all told, considering that March’s “One Year Later” push and the subsequent crossover issues had already almost doubled the book’s usual numbers.

Contrary to what the solicitation copy implies, by the way, Williams is not the book’s new regular artist, for the time being. Presumably, he’s still busy completing the delayed Seven Soldiers #1.

(35) ACTION COMICS
07/2003: Action Comics #805 -- 31,959
07/2004: Action Comics #817 -- 45,178
-------------------------------------
07/2005: Action Comics #829 -- 62,994 (+46.5%) -- [76,896]
08/2005: Action Comics #830 -- 48,469 (-23,1%)
09/2005: Action Comics #831 -- 55,288 (+14.1%)
10/2005: Action Comics #832 -- 47,968 (-13.2%)
11/2005: Action Comics #833 -- 44,613 (- 7.0%)
12/2005: Action Comics #834 -- 42,425 (- 4.9%)
01/2006: Action Comics #835 -- 41,114 (- 3.1%)
02/2006: Action Comics #836 -- 51,722 (+25.8%) -- [55,331]
03/2006: Action Comics #837 -- 55,816 (+ 7.9%) -- [69,652]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Action Comics #838 -- 62,702 (+12.3%)
05/2006: Action Comics #839 -- 61,898 (- 1.3%) -- [64,278]
06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 (- 0.2%) -- [63,676]
07/2006: Action Comics #841 -- 58,657 (- 5.1%)
----------------
6 months: +42.7%
1 year  : - 6.9%
2 years : +29.8%

The new high-profile creative team of co-writers Geoff Johns and Richard Donner and artist Adam Kubert won’t take over until October, so co-writers Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza and artist Pete Woods step in for a three-issue interim arc. The numbers drop a bit compared to previous issues, but remain very comfortably ahead of the book’s usual level, all in all.

June’s Action Comics #840 sold another 1,908 units in July, meanwhile.

(37) GREEN LANTERN CORPS
09/2005: GLC: Recharge #1 (of 5) -- 80,718          -- [84,497]
10/2005: GLC: Recharge #2 (of 5) -- 68,925 (-14.6%) -- [71,414]
11/2005: --
12/2005: GLC: Recharge #3 (of 5) -- 64,490 (- 6.4%) -- [65,669]
01/2006: GLC: Recharge #4 (of 5) -- 59,952 (- 7.0%) -- [61,540]
02/2006: --
03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 (of 5) -- 60,123 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Green Lantern Corps #1  -- 76,686 (+27.6%)
07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 56,886 (-25.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.1%

Green Lantern Corps loses more than a quarter of its first-issue sales and drops below the numbers of the Recharge limited series.

Normally, this would suggest that there’s not a lot of enthusiasm for the book, but bearing in mind that promotional Green Lantern plastic rings were made available to retailers who ordered at least 50 copies of issue #1, things may not be as dire as they seem.

For a spin-off of a spin-off, Green Lantern Corps sales are still very respectable, and it’s going to take another few months to see where things are really standing.

(40) OMAC
07/2006: OMAC #1 (of 8 ) -- 54,092

Writer Bruce Jones and artist Renato Guedes launch yet another “Infinite Crisis” spin-off. OMAC is one of the six new titles promoted in June’s low-priced DCU: Brave New World primer, which, including July’s re-orders, has now sold an estimated total of 147,397 copies. If the sales of the debut issue are anything to go by, OMAC seems to have profited from the exposure.

On the other hand, there’s ample cause for being skeptical. First up, despite strong debuts across the board, most of the titles spun out of “Infinite Crisis” proceeded to drop rather drastically with subsequent issues (see Shadowpact, Blue Beetle, Checkmate or the two Crisis Aftermath miniseries). Second, Bruce Jones’ recent track record also involves books which started out with impressive numbers but then dropped like a stone (see Man-Bat and Warlord).

Still, for now, OMAC sales are perfectly alright.

(41) ION
04/2006: Ion #1  (of 12) -- 66,453          -- [74,727]
05/2006: Ion #2  (of 12) -- 55,532 (-16.4%) -- [57,415]
06/2006: Ion #3  (of 12) -- 51,739 (- 6.8%)
07/2006: Ion #4  (of 12) -- 49,981 (- 3.4%)

Sales keep leveling out nicely. Ion is one of the more successful titles to be launched in the wake of “Infinite Crisis” so far.

(42) THE ALL-NEW ATOM
07/2006: The All-New Atom #1  -- 49,969

Based on a concept by Grant Morrison, writer Gail Simone and artist John Byrne launch an ongoing series starring a revamped C-stringer character. The All-New Atom is another title promoted in DCU: Brave New World and, like OMAC, sales of the debut issue are very promising. Additionally, response to the book seems to be largely positive.

Then again, the same was the case with Blue Beetle, and look what happened.

(43) JSA
07/2003: JSA #50 -- 47,924
07/2004: JSA #63 -- 41,595
--------------------------
07/2005: JSA #75 -- 55,410 (+ 7.4%)
08/2005: JSA #76 -- 51,928 (- 6.3%)
09/2005: JSA #77 -- 53,216 (+ 2.5%)
10/2005: JSA #78 -- 54,070 (+ 1.6%)
11/2005: JSA #79 -- 52,783 (- 2.4%)
12/2005: JSA #80 -- 50,862 (- 3.6%)
01/2006: JSA #81 -- 50,078 (- 1.5%)
02/2006: JSA #82 -- 54,234 (+ 8.3%)
03/2006: JSA #83 -- 51,991 (- 4.1%) -- [58,624]
04/2006: JSA #84 -- 53,245 (+ 2.4%)
05/2006: JSA #85 -- 52,620 (- 1.2%)
06/2006: JSA #86 -- 50,338 (- 4.3%)
07/2006: JSA #87 -- 49,583 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.0%
1 year  : -10.5%
2 years : +19.2%

This was the final issue. The book will be relaunched as Justice Society of America at a later date.

(48 ) SECRET SIX
05/2006: Secret Six #1 (of 6) -- 54,961          -- [57,425]
06/2006: --
07/2006: Secret Six #2 (of 6) -- 47,346 (-13.9%)

An average drop. Secret Six is still doing fine, which makes it something of an exception among the various “Infinite Crisis” follow-ups.

(51) NIGHTWING
07/2003: Nightwing #83  -- 29,745
07/2004: Nightwing #95  -- 30,392
---------------------------------
07/2005: Nightwing #110 -- 38,175 (+ 4.3%)
08/2005: Nightwing #111 -- 36,146 (- 5.3%)
09/2005: Nightwing #112 -- 36,238 (+ 0.3%)
10/2005: Nightwing #113 -- 39,837 (+ 9.9%)
11/2005: Nightwing #114 -- 36,421 (- 8.6%)
12/2005: Nightwing #115 -- 35,674 (- 2.1%)
01/2006: Nightwing #116 -- 35,113 (- 1.6%) -- [37,851]
02/2006: Nightwing #117 -- 35,489 (+ 1.1%)
03/2006: Nightwing #118 -- 42,525 (+19.8%) -- [51,775]
04/2006: Nightwing #119 -- 46,336 (+ 9.0%)
05/2006: Nightwing #120 -- 46,076 (- 0.6%)
06/2006: Nightwing #121 -- 44,974 (- 2.4%)
07/2006: Nightwing #122 -- 42,542 (- 5.4%)
----------------
6 months: +21.2%
1 year  : +11.4%
2 years : +40.0%

Sales are dropping back towards pre-“One Year Later” levels.

(52) OUTSIDERS
07/2003: Outsiders #2  -- 42,954
07/2004: Outsiders #14 -- 41,954
--------------------------------
07/2005: Outsiders #26 -- 43,226 (-17.2%)
08/2005: Outsiders #27 -- 44,021 (+ 1.8%)
09/2005: Outsiders #28 -- 44,222 (+ 0.5%)
10/2005: Outsiders #29 -- 47,611 (+ 7.7%)
11/2005: Outsiders #30 -- 44,682 (- 6.2%)
12/2005: Outsiders #31 -- 46,555 (+ 4.2%)
01/2006: Outsiders #32 -- 44,027 (- 5.4%)
02/2006: Outsiders #33 -- 43,270 (- 1.7%)
03/2006: Outsiders #34 -- 47,286 (+ 9.3%) -- [51,527]
04/2006: Outsiders #35 -- 45,774 (- 3.2%)
05/2006: Outsiders #36 -- 45,705 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Outsiders #38 -- 41,974 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.7%
1 year  : - 2.9%
2 years : - 0.1%

The decline is accelerating, and the numbers are now at the lower end of the book’s usual spectrum.

(53) SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
07/2003: Legion #22           -- 22,987
07/2004: Legion #35           -- 24,207
07/2004: Legion #36           -- 23,717
---------------------------------------
07/2005: Legion of SH #8      -- 37,272 (-  4.8%)
08/2005: Legion of SH #9      -- 35,834 (-  3.9%)
09/2005: Legion of SH #10     -- 34,833 (-  2.8%)
10/2005: Legion of SH #11     -- 34,113 (-  2.1%)
11/2005: Legion of SH #12     -- 33,541 (-  1.7%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Legion of SH #13     -- 32,730 (-  2.4%)
02/2006: Legion of SH #14     -- 32,513 (-  0.7%)
02/2006: Legion of SH #15     -- 31,649 (-  2.7%)
03/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #16 -- 47,426 (+ 49.9%) -- [54,788]
04/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #17 -- 44,827 (-  5.5%) -- [47,724]
05/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #18 -- 45,520 (+  1.6%)
06/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #19 -- 43,918 (-  3.5%)
07/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #20 -- 41,679 (-  5.1%)
----------------
6 months: +27.3%
1 year  : +11.8%
2 years : +73.9%

Another title with swiftly declining numbers.

But sales are still 10,000 units ahead of the numbers Legion of Super-Heroes used to shift prior to March 2006, of course, so there’s no reason to panic.

(54) UNCLE SAM & THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
07/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #1 (of 8 ) -- 40,736

Also promoted in DCU: Brave New World, and also based on a Grant Morrison concept, Uncle Sam & The Freedom Fighters debuts with solid numbers.

(58 ) CRISIS AFTERMATH: SPECTRE
05/2006: CA: Spectre #1 (of 3) -- 55,772
06/2006: CA: Spectre #2 (of 3) -- 43,436 (-22.1%)
07/2006: CA: Spectre #3 (of 3) -- 38,772 (-10.7%)

Another steep drop, especially for a limited series. These are still fine numbers for a Spectre limited series, mind you, but retailers obviously overestimated demand here.

(60) ROBIN
07/2003: Robin #116 -- 22,210
07/2004: Robin #127 -- 37,253
-----------------------------
07/2005: Robin #140 -- 28,909 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: Robin #141 -- 28,564 (- 1.2%)
09/2005: Robin #142 -- 28,822 (+ 0.9%)
10/2005: Robin #143 -- 34,141 (+18.5%)
11/2005: Robin #144 -- 32,314 (- 5.4%)
12/2005: Robin #145 -- 28,532 (-11.7%)
01/2006: Robin #146 -- 29,499 (+ 3.4%) -- [31,851]
02/2006: Robin #147 -- 32,120 (+ 8.9%)
03/2006: Robin #148 -- 36,717 (+14.3%) -- [42,442]
04/2006: Robin #149 -- 37,173 (+ 1.2%)
05/2006: Robin #150 -- 41,417 (+11.4%)
06/2006: Robin #151 -- 38,921 (- 6.0%)
07/2006: Robin #152 -- 37,466 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: +27.0%
1 year  : +25.6%
2 years : + 0.6%

Continuing to drop, but still doing relatively well.

(61) CRISIS AFTERMATH: THE BATTLE FOR BLÜDHAVEN
04/2006: CA: Battle for BH #1 (of 6) -- 56,518         -- [61,864]
04/2006: CA: Battle for BH #2 (of 6) -- 52,035 (- 7.9%)
05/2006: CA: Battle for BH #3 (of 6) -- 49,692 (- 4.5%)
05/2006: CA: Battle for BH #4 (of 6) -- 48,834 (- 1.7%)
06/2006: CA: Battle for BH #5 (of 6) -- 42,219 (-13.6%)
07/2006: CA: Battle for BH #6 (of 6) -- 37,057 (-12.2%)

(63) SHADOWPACT
05/2006: Shadowpact #1 -- 50,279
06/2006: Shadowpact #2 -- 39,969 (-20.5%)
07/2006: Shadowpact #3 -- 36,341 (- 9.1%)

Two more “Infinite Crisis” spin-off titles with less than enthusiastic numbers. Shadowpact is leveling out, at least, but it’s taking its time.

(64) GREEN ARROW
07/2003: Green Arrow #28 -- 45,270
07/2004: Green Arrow #40 -- 32,635
----------------------------------
07/2005: Green Arrow #52 -- 35,656 (+13.8%)
08/2005: Green Arrow #53 -- 32,474 (- 8.9%)
09/2005: Green Arrow #54 -- 34,331 (+ 5.7%)
10/2005: Green Arrow #55 -- 32,804 (- 4.5%)
11/2005: Green Arrow #56 -- 32,670 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Green Arrow #57 -- 31,778 (- 2.7%)
01/2006: Green Arrow #58 -- 30,990 (- 2.5%)
02/2006: Green Arrow #59 -- 31,250 (+ 0.8%)
03/2006: Green Arrow #60 -- 37,946 (+21.4%) -- [43,045]
04/2006: Green Arrow #61 -- 35,993 (- 5.2%) -- [40,621]
05/2006: Green Arrow #62 -- 39,185 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Green Arrow #63 -- 37,803 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Green Arrow #64 -- 36,148 (- 4.4%)
----------------
6 months: +16.6%
1 year  : + 1.4%
2 years : +10.8%

Declining, but sales remain about 5,000 units ahead of pre-“One Year Later” numbers.

(66) BLUE BEETLE
03/2006: Blue Beetle #1 -- 50,678          -- [69,752]
04/2006: Blue Beetle #2 -- 43,770 (-13.6%) -- [50,190]
05/2006: Blue Beetle #3 -- 41,711 (- 4.7%)
06/2006: Blue Beetle #4 -- 38,622 (- 7.4%)
07/2006: Blue Beetle #5 -- 35,490 (- 8.1%)

(68 ) CHECKMATE
04/2006: Checkmate #1 -- 49,156          -- [55,375]
05/2006: Checkmate #2 -- 41,773 (-15.5%)
06/2006: Checkmate #3 -- 37,551 (-10.1%)
07/2006: Checkmate #4 -- 34,661 (- 7.7%)

These two ongoing “Infinite Crisis” spin-off books keep shedding readers by the truckload.

(71) JSA: CLASSIFIED
07/2005: JSA: Classified #1  -- 58,296          -- [86,498]
08/2005: JSA: Classified #2  -- 46,039 (-21.0%) -- [67,358]
09/2005: JSA: Classified #3  -- 54,932 (+19.3%) -- [63,922]
10/2005: JSA: Classified #4  -- 55,903 (+ 1.8%) -- [63,579]
11/2005: JSA: Classified #5  -- 47,380 (-15.3%)
12/2005: JSA: Classified #6  -- 45,317 (- 4.4%)
01/2006: JSA: Classified #7  -- 42,857 (- 5.4%)
02/2006: JSA: Classified #8  -- 39,656 (- 7.5%)
02/2006: JSA: Classified #9  -- 39,104 (- 1.4%)
03/2006: JSA: Classified #10 -- 41,332 (+ 5.7%)
04/2006: JSA: Classified #11 -- 37,815 (- 8.5%)
05/2006: JSA: Classified #12 -- 37,446 (- 1.0%)
06/2006: JSA: Classified #13 -- 36,066 (- 3.7%)
07/2006: JSA: Classified #14 -- 33,832 (- 6.2%)
----------------
6 months: -21.1%
1 year  : -42.0%

The beginning of a new arc, picking up threads from the JLA: Classified storyline by the same creative team — which it outsells, despite another uncomfortable drop.

(77) BIRDS OF PREY
07/2003: Birds of Prey #57 -- 27,898
07/2004: Birds of Prey #69 -- 31,904
07/2004: Birds of Prey #70 -- 31,683
------------------------------------
07/2005: Birds of Prey #84 -- 29,982 (-21.2%)
08/2005: Birds of Prey #85 -- 32,076 (+ 7.0%)
09/2005: Birds of Prey #86 -- 31,270 (- 2.5%)
10/2005: Birds of Prey #87 -- 32,084 (+ 2.6%)
11/2005: Birds of Prey #88 -- 32,823 (+ 2.3%)
12/2005: Birds of Prey #89 -- 30,653 (- 6.6%)
01/2006: Birds of Prey #90 -- 30,460 (- 0.6%)
02/2006: Birds of Prey #91 -- 29,835 (- 2.1%)
03/2006: Birds of Prey #92 -- 36,808 (+23.4%)
04/2006: Birds of Prey #93 -- 34,404 (- 6.5%)
05/2006: Birds of Prey #94 -- 34,905 (+ 1.5%)
06/2006: Birds of Prey #95 -- 33,954 (- 2.7%)
07/2006: Birds of Prey #96 -- 32,219 (- 5.1%)
----------------
6 months:  +5.8%
1 year  :  +7.5%
2 years :  +1.3%

Dropping, but still doing relatively well, as the long-term comparisons show.

(79) JLA: CLASSIFIED
07/2005: JLA: Classified #10 -- 45,039 (+ 5.2%) -- [47,814]
08/2005: JLA: Classified #11 -- 43,582 (- 3.2%) -- [46,056]
09/2005: JLA: Classified #12 -- 43,714 (+ 0.3%)
10/2005: JLA: Classified #13 -- 43,832 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: JLA: Classified #14 -- 43,469 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: JLA: Classified #15 -- 41,951 (- 3.5%)
01/2006: JLA: Classified #16 -- 39,336 (- 6.2%)
02/2006: JLA: Classified #17 -- 38,014 (- 3.4%)
03/2006: JLA: Classified #18 -- 35,873 (- 5.6%)
03/2006: JLA: Classified #19 -- 35,300 (- 1.6%)
04/2006: JLA: Classified #20 -- 34,039 (- 3.6%)
05/2006: JLA: Classified #21 -- 33,800 (- 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #22 -- 34,023 (+ 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #23 -- 33,564 (- 1.4%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #24 -- 31,697 (- 5.6%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #25 -- 30,709 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: -20.7%
1 year  : -30.7%

Continuing to decline.

(82) AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS
07/2003: Aquaman #8       -- 29,628
07/2004: Aquaman #20      -- 24,408
-----------------------------------
07/2005: Aquaman #32      -- 17,916 (-  2.6%)
08/2005: Aquaman #33      -- 17,621 (-  1.7%)
09/2005: Aquaman #34      -- 17,605 (-  0.1%)
10/2005: Aquaman #35      -- 22,644 (+ 28.6%)
11/2005: Aquaman #36      -- 18,022 (- 20.4%)
12/2005: Aquaman #37      -- 19,640 (+  9.0%)
01/2006: Aquaman #38      -- 18,321 (-  6.7%)
02/2006: Aquaman #39      -- 18,326 (+  0.0%)
03/2006: Aquaman: SoA #40 -- 37,611 (+105.2%) -- [46,401]
04/2006: Aquaman: SoA #41 -- 37,567 (-  0.1%)
05/2006: Aquaman: SoA #42 -- 32,610 (- 13.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Aquaman: SoA #43 -- 30,584 (-  6.2%)
----------------
6 months: +66.9%
1 year  : +70.7%
2 years : +25.3%

The numbers keep sliding downward, but are still more than 10K ahead of the numbers the book used to sell prior to March’s makeover.

(84) BATMAN: SECRETS
03/2006: Batman: Secrets #1 (of 5) -- 38,316
04/2006: Batman: Secrets #2 (of 5) -- 31,867 (-16.8%)
05/2006: Batman: Secrets #3 (of 5) -- 30,856 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: Batman: Secrets #4 (of 5) -- 28,881 (- 6.4%)
07/2006: Batman: Secrets #5 (of 5) -- 27,949 (- 3.2%)

Average limited series drops. Overall, Batman: Secrets has sold at a respectable level.

(85) CATWOMAN
07/2003: Catwoman #21 -- 23,090
07/2004: Catwoman #33 -- 24,007
-------------------------------
07/2005: Catwoman #45 -- 20,848 (- 3.4%)
08/2005: Catwoman #46 -- 20,702 (- 0.7%) -- [21,718]
09/2005: Catwoman #47 -- 20,699 (- 0.0%)
10/2005: Catwoman #48 -- 21,104 (+ 2.0%)
11/2005: Catwoman #49 -- 21,257 (+ 0.7%)
12/2005: Catwoman #50 -- 24,136 (+13.5%) -- [26,170]
01/2006: Catwoman #51 -- 22,681 (- 6.0%)
02/2006: Catwoman #52 -- 21,954 (- 3.2%)
03/2006: Catwoman #53 -- 28,473 (+29.7%) -- [34,428]
04/2006: Catwoman #54 -- 28,922 (+ 1.6%)
05/2006: Catwoman #55 -- 30,184 (+ 4.4%)
06/2006: Catwoman #56 -- 28,942 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Catwoman #57 -- 27,302 (- 5.7%)
----------------
6 months: +20.4%
1 year  : +31.0%
2 years : +13.7%

You know the drill: declining, but still doing better than it used to.

(86) JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
07/2006: Jack of Fables #1  -- 27,097

Co-written by Fables creator Bill Willingham, the ongoing Jack of Fables is Vertigo’s attempt at building a new backbone franchise, following the Sandman universe’s disappearance from the monthly grind with June’s final issue of Lucifer.

It’s a logical choice, certainly. Fables (see below) has been a thoroughly solid performer both in terms of sales and critical response for years, and Y: The Last Man, the only Vertigo title to outsell it, is coming to an end with next year’s issue #60. Given that anything else Vertigo are currently publishing in terms of ongoing titles doesn’t even manage to crack 15K, you’d be hard-pressed to find a suitable alternative, for that matter.

The numbers of Jack of Fables are promising. It’s the highest-selling Vertigo issue since Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere #1 back in June 2005 (30,815 units) and, before that, We3 #1 from August 2004 (29,786 units), and it sells purely on the strength of the mother title, without the benefit of high-profile creators or sales-boosting gimmicks.

(87) Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo)
07/2003: Y: The Last Man #13 -- 26,755
07/2004: Y: The Last Man #24 -- 26,630
--------------------------------------
07/2005: Y: The Last Man #35 -- 26,449 (-1.2%)
08/2005: Y: The Last Man #36 -- 26,558 (+0.4%)
09/2005: Y: The Last Man #37 -- 26,638 (+0.3%)
10/2005: Y: The Last Man #38 -- 26,535 (-0.4%)
11/2005: Y: The Last Man #39 -- 26,395 (-0.5%)
12/2005: Y: The Last Man #40 -- 26,006 (-1.5%)
01/2006: Y: The Last Man #41 -- 25,931 (-0.3%)
02/2006: Y: The Last Man #42 -- 25,775 (-0.6%)
03/2006: Y: The Last Man #43 -- 25,877 (+0.4%)
04/2006: Y: The Last Man #44 -- 25,985 (+0.4%)
05/2006: Y: The Last Man #45 -- 25,866 (-0.5%)
06/2006: Y: The Last Man #46 -- 25,881 (+0.1%)
07/2006: Y: The Last Man #47 -- 25,791 (-0.4%)
---------------
6 months: -0.5%
1 year  : -2.5%
2 years : -3.2%

A rock-solid performer, as usual.

(89) HAWKGIRL
07/2003: Hawkman #17  -- 29,276
07/2004: Hawkman #30  -- 25,402
-------------------------------
07/2005: Hawkman #42  -- 21,365 (+ 0.6%)
08/2005: Hawkman #43  -- 22,010 (+ 3.0%)
09/2005: Hawkman #44  -- 22,560 (+ 2.5%)
10/2005: Hawkman #45  -- 23,379 (+ 3.6%)
11/2005: Hawkman #46  -- 25,329 (+ 8.3%)
12/2005: Hawkman #47  -- 24,736 (- 2.3%)
01/2006: Hawkman #48  -- 24,259 (- 1.9%)
02/2006: Hawkman #49  -- 25,031 (+ 3.2%)
03/2006: Hawkgirl #50 -- 34,728 (+38.7%) -- [38,135]
04/2006: Hawkgirl #51 -- 30,657 (-11.7%)
05/2006: Hawkgirl #52 -- 29,898 (- 2.5%)
06/2006: Hawkgirl #53 -- 27,786 (- 7.1%)
07/2006: Hawkgirl #54 -- 25,201 (- 9.3%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.9%
1 year  : +18.0%
2 years : - 0.8%

Sales are now back where they were prior to the revamp. The book isn’t doing all that well, obviously.

(91) FABLES (Vertigo)
07/2003: Fables #15 -- 25,567
07/2004: Fables #27 -- 25,146
-----------------------------
07/2005: Fables #39 -- 24,617 (-0.8%)
08/2005: Fables #40 -- 24,952 (+1.4%)
09/2005: Fables #41 -- 25,001 (+0.2%)
10/2005: Fables #42 -- 24,953 (-0.2%)
11/2005: Fables #43 -- 24,659 (-1.2%)
12/2005: Fables #44 -- 24,515 (-0.6%)
01/2006: Fables #45 -- 24,297 (-0.9%)
02/2006: Fables #46 -- 24,134 (-0.7%)
03/2006: Fables #47 -- 24,278 (+0.6%)
04/2006: Fables #48 -- 24,476 (+0.8%)
05/2006: Fables #49 -- 24,444 (-0.1%)
06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210 (+7.2%)
07/2006: Fables #51 -- 25,087 (-4.3%)
---------------
6 months: +3.3%
1 year  : +1.9%
2 years : -0.2%

Most of the additional sales for the “anniversary” issue are gone again, as expected, but the numbers remain slightly ahead of their previous level.

As I said, these sales aren’t the worst basis, if you’re Vertigo and looking for a new franchise to build.

(94) ASTRO CITY: SAMARITAN (WildStorm)
07/2006: Astro City: Samaritan -- 24,394

Kurt Busiek’s Astro City returns for a $ 3.99 one-shot special, before the second act of The Dark Age opens in October.

Astro City: The Dark Age #4 sold an estimated 27,367 units back in October 2005, so this would seem to be a step down, in terms of sales; but the cover price on that was the usual $ 2.95, of course. On the other hand, August 2004’s Astro City Special, priced at $ 3.95, shifted 27,982 copies, so we’ll just have to wait where the regular book picks up when it returns in a couple of months.

(95) BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
07/2003: Batman: LotDK #169 -- 26,286
07/2004: Batman: LotDK #181 -- 24,960
-------------------------------------
07/2005: Batman: LotDK #193 -- 25,755 (- 1.7%)
08/2005: Batman: LotDK #194 -- 25,290 (- 1.8%)
09/2005: Batman: LotDK #195 -- 25,206 (- 0.3%)
10/2005: Batman: LotDK #196 -- 24,932 (- 1.1%)
11/2005: Batman: LotDK #197 -- 24,478 (- 1.8%)
12/2005: Batman: LotDK #198 -- 24,010 (- 1.9%)
01/2006: Batman: LotDK #199 -- 23,461 (- 2.3%)
02/2006: Batman: LotDK #200 -- 28,984 (+23.5%)
03/2006: Batman: LotDK #201 -- 24,516 (-15.4%)
03/2006: Batman: LotDK #202 -- 23,810 (- 2.9%)
04/2006: Batman: LotDK #203 -- 24,775 (+ 4.1%)
04/2006: Batman: LotDK #204 -- 24,155 (- 2.5%)
05/2006: Batman: LotDK #205 -- 24,421 (+ 1.1%)
05/2006: Batman: LotDK #206 -- 24,228 (- 0.8%)
06/2006: Batman: LotDK #207 -- 24,457 (+ 1.0%)
07/2006: Batman: LotDK #208 -- 23,974 (- 2.0%)
---------------
6 months: +2.2%
1 year  : -6.9%
2 years : -4.0%

Business as usual.

(100) THE NEXT
07/2006: The Next #1 (of 6) -- 22,713

The Next is a superhero book written by a fantasy novelist named Tad Williams. These aren’t bad numbers, certainly, given the lack of any high-profile creators or gimmicks.

(106) JONAH HEX
11/2005: Jonah Hex #1  -- 33,771
12/2005: Jonah Hex #2  -- 26,227 (-22.3%)
01/2006: Jonah Hex #3  -- 24,671 (- 5.9%)
02/2006: Jonah Hex #4  -- 23,569 (- 4.5%)
03/2006: Jonah Hex #5  -- 23,496 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Jonah Hex #6  -- 22,763 (- 3.1%)
05/2006: Jonah Hex #7  -- 21,910 (- 3.8%)
06/2006: Jonah Hex #8  -- 21,006 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Jonah Hex #9  -- 20,385 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -17.4%

Declining.

(111) FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN
07/2004: Firestorm #3      -- 31,000
------------------------------------
07/2005: Firestorm #15     -- 17,687 (- 3.7%)
08/2005: Firestorm #16     -- 17,688 (+ 0.0%)
09/2005: Firestorm #17     -- 22,553 (+27.5%)
10/2005: Firestorm #18     -- 23,246 (+ 3.1%)
11/2005: Firestorm #19     -- 22,979 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Firestorm #20     -- 23,473 (+ 2.2%)
01/2006: Firestorm #21     -- 22,500 (- 4.2%)
02/2006: Firestorm #22     -- 21,104 (- 6.2%)
03/2006: Firestorm: NM #23 -- 25,109 (+19.0%)
04/2006: Firestorm: NM #24 -- 23,704 (- 5.6%)
05/2006: Firestorm: NM #25 -- 23,301 (- 1.7%)
06/2006: Firestorm: NM #26 -- 21,833 (- 6.3%)
07/2006: Firestorm: NM #27 -- 19,772 (- 9.4%)
----------------
6 months: -12.1%
1 year  : +11.8%
2 years : -36.2%

The drops are getting heftier. Not a good sign.

(118 ) SUPERMAN RETURNS
07/2006: Superman Returns Movie Adaptation -- 16,831

That’s not a desperately good number, but then again, it’s a $ 6.99 special, and not primarily aimed at the direct market.

(120) NEIL GAIMAN'S NEVERWHERE (Vertigo)
07/2005: Neverwhere #2 (of 9) -- 25,166 (-18.3%)
08/2005: Neverwhere #3 (of 9) -- 22,727 (- 9.7%)
09/2005: Neverwhere #4 (of 9) -- 21,636 (- 4.8%)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Neverwhere #5 (of 9) -- 19,514 (- 9.8%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: --
02/2006: Neverwhere #6 (of 9) -- 18,406 (- 5.7%)
03/2005: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: Neverwhere #7 (of 9) -- 17,568 (- 4.6%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Neverwhere #8 (of 9) -- 16,952 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -32.6%

The book has settled into standard limited series drops.

(126) A MAN CALLED KEV (WildStorm)
07/2005: --
08/2005: --
09/2005: Authority: Kevin #1 (of 5) -- 18,443
09/2005: Authority: Kevin #2 (of 5) -- 17,453 (-5.4%)
10/2005: Authority: Kevin #3 (of 5) -- 16,192 (-7.2%)
11/2005: Authority: Kevin #4 (of 5) -- 15,178 (-6.3%)
12/2005: Authority: Kevin #5 (of 5) -- 14,664 (-3.4%)
01/2006: --
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: A Man Called Kev #1 (of 5) -- 15,547 (+6.8%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.

Garth Ennis does Kev, Round Four. This time, remarkably, it’s without The Authority. And, perhaps even more remarkably, that fact doesn’t seem to be having much of an effect on sales. Which, I suspect, says more about The Authority’s current market value than it does about Kev’s.

These are average numbers for this sort of thing, at any rate. Nothing unexpected.

(127) MAN-BAT
04/2006: Man-Bat #1 (of 5) -- 27,137
05/2006: Man-Bat #2 (of 5) -- 22,273 (-17.9%)
06/2006: Man-Bat #3 (of 5) -- 18,282 (-17.9%)
07/2006: Man-Bat #4 (of 5) -- 15,502 (-15.2%)

The Bruce Jones miniseries continues to sink like a stone.

(131) BATTLER BRITTON (WildStorm)
07/2006: Battler Britton #1 (of 5) -- 14,843

It’s doing slightly better than Dave Gibbons’ Thunderbolt Jaxon, but even the prospect of a rollicking Garth Ennis war story wasn’t able to inspire much interest in this ancient British property, obviously.

(132) WARLORD
02/2006: Warlord #1 -- 27,443
03/2006: Warlord #2 -- 21,570 (-21.4%)
04/2006: Warlord #3 -- 19,993 (- 7.3%)
05/2006: Warlord #4 -- 18,480 (- 7.6%)
06/2006: Warlord #5 -- 16,070 (-13.0%)
07/2006: Warlord #6 -- 14,786 (- 8.0%)

Another Bruce Jones title taking a nose-dive. Unfortunately, this one is meant to be ongoing.

(133) DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1  -- 18,705
12/2005: DMZ #2  -- 14,840 (-20.7%)
01/2006: DMZ #3  -- 14,503 (- 2.3%)
02/2006: DMZ #4  -- 14,778 (+ 1.9%)
03/2006: DMZ #5  -- 14,952 (+ 1.2%)
04/2006: DMZ #6  -- 15,212 (+ 1.7%)
05/2006: DMZ #7  -- 15,026 (- 1.2%)
06/2006: DMZ #8  -- 14,999 (- 0.2%)
07/2006: DMZ #9  -- 14,786 (- 1.4%)
---------------
6 months: +2.0%

Slowly drifting downward. Despite the bleak level it’s settled at DMZ remains one of the best horses currently in Vertigo’s stable, where monthly issues are concerned.

(134) MANHUNTER
07/2005: Manhunter #12 -- 13,591 (- 3.2%)
08/2005: Manhunter #13 -- 22,110 (+62.7%)
09/2005: Manhunter #14 -- 17,162 (-22.4%)
10/2005: Manhunter #15 -- 14,345 (-16.4%)
11/2005: Manhunter #16 -- 14,257 (- 0.6%)
12/2005: Manhunter #17 -- 13,615 (- 4.5%)
01/2006: Manhunter #18 -- 13,212 (- 3.0%)
02/2006: Manhunter #19 -- 12,970 (- 1.8%)
03/2006: Manhunter #20 -- 16,090 (+24.1%)
04/2006: Manhunter #21 -- 14,950 (- 7.1%)
05/2006: Manhunter #22 -- 15,668 (+ 4.8%)
06/2006: Manhunter #23 -- 15,542 (- 0.8%)
07/2006: Manhunter #24 -- 14,650 (- 5.7%)
----------------
6 months: +10.9%
1 year  : + 7.8%

Whatever may have motivated DC to not cancel Manhunter after all, it wasn’t a sudden sales spike.

(135) LOVELESS (Vertigo)
10/2005: Loveless #1  -- 22,483
11/2005: Loveless #2  -- 17,667 (-21.4%)
12/2005: Loveless #3  -- 16,280 (- 7.9%) -- [17,584]
01/2006: --
02/2006: Loveless #4  -- 16,765 (+ 3.0%)
03/2006: Loveless #5  -- 16,704 (- 0.4%)
04/2006: Loveless #6  -- 16,823 (+ 0.7%)
05/2006: Loveless #7  -- 15,961 (- 5.1%)
06/2006: Loveless #8  -- 14,915 (- 6.6%)
07/2006: Loveless #9  -- 14,434 (- 3.2%)
---------------
6 months:  n.a.

Still declining too fast for comfort.

(137) BITE CLUB: VAMPIRE CRIME UNIT (Vertigo)
07/2004: Bite Club #4 (of 6)      -- 19,307
-------------------------------------------
04/2006: Bite Club: VCU #1 (of 6) -- 17,195
05/2006: Bite Club: VCU #2 (of 6) -- 15,652 (-9.0%)
06/2006: Bite Club: VCU #3 (of 6) -- 14,777 (-5.6%)
07/2006: Bite Club: VCU #4 (of 6) -- 14,162 (-4.2%)
----------------
2 years : -26.7%

Standard limited series drops.

(138 ) HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
07/2003: Hellblazer #186 -- 16,405
07/2004: Hellblazer #198 -- 14,772
----------------------------------
07/2005: Hellblazer #210 -- 14,801 (- 2.3%)
08/2005: Hellblazer #211 -- 14,727 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: Hellblazer #212 -- 14,714 (- 0.1%)
10/2005: Hellblazer #213 -- 14,688 (- 0.2%)
11/2005: Hellblazer #214 -- 14,766 (+ 0.5%)
12/2005: Hellblazer #215 -- 14,405 (- 2.5%)
01/2006: Hellblazer #216 -- 14,590 (+ 1.3%)
02/2006: Hellblazer #217 -- 14,306 (- 2.0%)
03/2006: Hellblazer #218 -- 14,129 (- 1.2%)
04/2006: Hellblazer #219 -- 14,206 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: Hellblazer #220 -- 14,161 (- 0.3%)
06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: Hellblazer #222 -- 13,912 (- 0.4%)
---------------
6 months: -4.7%
1 year  : -6.0%
2 years : -5.8%

Business a usual: solid numbers.

(142) AMERICAN VIRGIN (Vertigo)
03/2006: American Virgin #1 -- 19,455
04/2006: American Virgin #2 -- 15,780 (-18.9%)
05/2006: American Virgin #3 -- 14,764 (- 6.4%)
06/2006: American Virgin #4 -- 14,081 (- 4.6%)
07/2006: American Virgin #5 -- 13,265 (- 5.8%)

It’s taking its time leveling out. These numbers don’t look encouraging.

(143) 100 BULLETS (Vertigo)
07/2003: 100 Bullets #46 -- 17,108
07/2004: 100 Bullets #51 -- 16,960
----------------------------------
07/2005: 100 Bullets #62 -- 14,867 (- 0.4%)
08/2005: 100 Bullets #63 -- 14,793 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: 100 Bullets #64 -- 14,708 (- 0.6%)
10/2005: 100 Bullets #65 -- 14,744 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: 100 Bullets #66 -- 14,425 (- 2.2%)
12/2005: 100 Bullets #67 -- 14,165 (- 1.8%)
01/2006: 100 Bullets #68 -- 13,879 (- 2.0%)
02/2006: 100 Bullets #69 -- 13,708 (- 1.2%)
03/2006: 100 Bullets #70 -- 13,591 (- 0.9%)
04/2006: 100 Bullets #71 -- 13,514 (- 0.6%)
05/2006: 100 Bullets #72 -- 13,489 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: 100 Bullets #73 -- 13,407 (- 0.6%)
07/2006: 100 Bullets #74 -- 13,265 (- 1.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.4%
1 year  : -10.8%
2 years : -21.8%

A standard decline.

(144) RUSH CITY
07/2006: Rush City #1 (of 6) -- 13,083

Writer Chuck Dixon and artist Timothy Green II do a generic action book starring a… ah, hold on. It’s that one.

The star of Rush City is a car, because the series is actually an advertisement commissioned by General Motors — a fact which, incidentally, DC haven’t mentioned anywhere in their solicitations, their other promotional efforts, or on their website.

Sales are predictably dire, at any rate.

(149) BLOOD OF THE DEMON
07/2005: Blood of the Demon #5  -- 16,581 (+ 1.7%)
08/2005: Blood of the Demon #6  -- 17,416 (+ 5.0%)
09/2005: Blood of the Demon #7  -- 19,248 (+10.5%)
10/2005: Blood of the Demon #8  -- 14,457 (-24.9%)
11/2005: Blood of the Demon #9  -- 13,971 (- 3.4%)
12/2005: Blood of the Demon #10 -- 12,813 (- 8.3%)
01/2006: Blood of the Demon #11 -- 11,883 (- 7.3%)
02/2006: Blood of the Demon #12 -- 11,362 (- 4.4%)
03/2006: Blood of the Demon #13 -- 14,087 (+24.0%)
04/2006: Blood of the Demon #14 -- 13,091 (- 7.1%)
05/2006: Blood of the Demon #15 -- 13,327 (+ 1.8%)
06/2006: Blood of the Demon #16 -- 12,665 (- 5.0%)
07/2006: Blood of the Demon #17 -- 11,936 (- 5.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.5%
1 year  : -28.0%

Cancelled.

(152) CLAW THE UNCONQUERED (WildStorm)
06/2006: Claw the Unconquered #1 -- 14,785
07/2006: Claw the Unconquered #2 -- 11,470 (-22.4%)

Awful sales all around.

(157) TESTAMENT (Vertigo)
12/2005: Testament #1 -- 16,893          -- [18,166]
01/2006: Testament #2 -- 13,518 (-20.0%)
02/2006: Testament #3 -- 12,831 (- 5.1%)
03/2006: Testament #4 -- 13,074 (+ 1.9%)
04/2006: Testament #5 -- 12,770 (- 2.3%)
05/2006: Testament #6 -- 12,361 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: Testament #7 -- 11,770 (- 4.8%)
07/2006: Testament #8 -- 11,073 (- 5.9%)
----------------
6 months: -18.1%

Another title whose chances at sticking around are growing dimmer by the minute.

(158 ) ROKKIN (WildStorm)
07/2006: Rokkin #1 -- 10,846

More generic fantasy stuff, and again sales are about what you’d expect.

(160) THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
01/2006: The Exterminators #1 -- 16,187
02/2006: The Exterminators #2 -- 12,459 (-23.0%)
03/2006: The Exterminators #3 -- 11,678 (- 6.3%)
04/2006: The Exterminators #4 -- 11,342 (- 2.9%)
05/2006: The Exterminators #5 -- 10,978 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: The Exterminators #6 -- 11,004 (+ 0.2%)
07/2006: The Exterminators #7 -- 10,743 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: -33.6%

Slowly dropping.

(162) TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC)
07/2004: Teen Titans Go #9  -- 14,067
-------------------------------------
07/2005: Teen Titans Go #21 -- 13,440 (- 4.8%)
08/2005: Teen Titans Go #22 -- 13,166 (- 2.0%)
09/2005: Teen Titans Go #23 -- 12,933 (- 1.8%)
10/2005: Teen Titans Go #24 -- 12,994 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Teen Titans Go #25 -- 12,598 (- 3.1%)
12/2005: Teen Titans Go #26 -- 11,790 (- 6.4%)
01/2006: Teen Titans Go #27 -- 11,609 (- 1.5%)
02/2006: Teen Titans Go #28 -- 11,568 (- 0.4%)
03/2006: Teen Titans Go #29 -- 11,260 (- 2.7%)
04/2006: Teen Titans Go #30 -- 11,225 (- 0.3%)
05/2006: Teen Titans Go #31 -- 11,140 (- 0.8%)
06/2006: Teen Titans Go #32 -- 10,736 (- 3.6%)
07/2006: Teen Titans Go #33 -- 10,516 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.4%
1 year  : -21.8%

(164) JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC)
07/2003: JL Adventures #21 -- 13,898
07/2004: JL Adventures #33 -- 11,866
------------------------------------
07/2005: JL Unlimited  #11 -- 11,340 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: JL Unlimited  #12 -- 11,181 (- 1.4%)
09/2005: JL Unlimited  #13 -- 10,914 (- 2.4%)
10/2005: JL Unlimited  #14 -- 10,706 (- 1.9%)
11/2005: JL Unlimited  #15 -- 10,625 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: JL Unlimited  #16 -- 10,774 (+ 1.4%)
01/2006: JL Unlimited  #17 -- 10,199 (- 5.3%)
02/2006: JL Unlimited  #18 -- 10,206 (+ 0.1%)
03/2006: JL Unlimited  #19 -- 10,534 (+ 3.2%)
04/2006: JL Unlimited  #20 -- 10,620 (+ 0.8%)
05/2006: JL Unlimited  #21 -- 10,430 (- 1.8%)
06/2006: JL Unlimited  #22 -- 10,430 (  n.a.)
07/2006: JL Unlimited  #23 -- 10,255 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.6%
1 year  : - 9.6%
2 years : -13.6%

These two are part of the Johnny DC imprint. See disclaimers.

(171) ELFQUEST: DISCOVERY
01/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #1 (of 4) -- 10,817
02/2006: --
03/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #2 (of 4) --  9,382 (-13.3%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #3 (of 4) --  9,109 (- 2.9%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Elfquest: Discovery #4 (of 4) --  8,836 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -18.3%

Standard limited series numbers. It’s a rather miserable level to be selling at, but Elfquest is the sort of thing which can be expected to do better at bookstores.

(174) THE AMERICAN WAY (WildStorm)
02/2006: American Way #1 (of 8 ) -- 15,216
03/2006: American Way #2 (of 8 ) -- 11,937 (-21.6%)
04/2006: American Way #3 (of 8 ) -- 10,503 (-12.0%)
05/2006: American Way #4 (of 8 ) --  9,580 (- 8.8%)
06/2006: American Way #5 (of 8 ) --  8,831 (- 7.8%)
07/2006: American Way #6 (of 8 ) --  8,540 (- 3.3%)

Leveling out at last.

(175) MANIFEST ETERNITY (WildStorm)
06/2006: Manifest Eternity #1 -- 11,387
07/2006: Manifest Eternity #2 --  8,415 (-26.1%)

(179) SKYE RUNNER (WildStorm)
04/2006: Skye Runner #1 (of 6) -- 14,600
05/2006: Skye Runner #2 (of 6) --  9,464 (-35.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Skye Runner #3 (of 6) --  8,165 (-13.7%)

Abysmal sales for both titles.

(181) BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC)
07/2003: Batman Adventures #4  -- 15,056
07/2004: Batman Adventures #16 -- 12,328
----------------------------------------
07/2005: Batman Strikes!   #11 --  9,796 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: Batman Strikes!   #12 --  9,528 (- 2.7%)
09/2005: Batman Strikes!   #13 --  9,284 (- 2.6%)
10/2005: Batman Strikes!   #14 --  8,950 (- 3.6%)
11/2005: Batman Strikes!   #15 --  8,840 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Batman Strikes!   #16 --  8,462 (- 4.3%)
01/2006: Batman Strikes!   #17 --  8,172 (- 3.4%)
02/2006: Batman Strikes!   #18 --  8,626 (+ 5.6%)
03/2006: Batman Strikes!   #19 --  8,244 (- 4.4%)
04/2006: Batman Strikes!   #20 --  8,331 (+ 1.1%)
05/2006: Batman Strikes!   #21 --  8,467 (+ 1.6%)
06/2006: Batman Strikes!   #22 --  8,104 (- 4.3%)
07/2006: Batman Strikes!   #23 --  8,154 (+ 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.2%
1 year  : -16.8%
2 years : -33.9%

(218 ) SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
07/2003: Scooby Doo #74  -- 5,967
07/2004: Scooby Doo #86  -- 5,336
---------------------------------
07/2005: Scooby Doo #98  -- 4,666 (- 3.2%)
08/2005: Scooby Doo #99  -- 4,654 (- 0.3%)
09/2005: Scooby Doo #100 -- 5,239 (+12.6%)
10/2005: Scooby Doo #101 -- 4,604 (-12.1%)
11/2005: Scooby Doo #102 -- 4,587 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Scooby Doo #103 -- 4,490 (- 2.1%)
01/2006: Scooby Doo #104 -- 4,454 (- 0.8%)
02/2006: Scooby Doo #105 -- 4,326 (- 2.9%)
03/2006: Scooby Doo #106 -- 4,419 (+ 2.2%)
04/2006: Scooby Doo #107 -- 4,359 (- 1.4%)
05/2006: Scooby Doo #108 -- 4,496 (+ 3.1%)
06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423 (- 1.6%)
07/2006: Scooby Doo #110 -- 4,781 (+ 8.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.3%
1 year  : + 2.5%
2 years : -10.4%

(263) LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC)
07/2003: Looney Tunes #104 -- 3,533
07/2004: Looney Tunes #116 -- 3,203
-----------------------------------
07/2005: Looney Tunes #128 -- 2,722 (- 9.0%)
08/2005: Looney Tunes #129 -- 2,736 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: Looney Tunes #130 -- 2,659 (- 2.8%)
10/2005: Looney Tunes #131 -- 2,673 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Looney Tunes #132 -- 2,747 (+ 2.8%)
12/2005: Looney Tunes #133 -- 2,633 (- 4.2%)
01/2006: Looney Tunes #134 -- 2,601 (- 1.2%)
02/2006: Looney Tunes #135 -- 2,631 (+ 1.2%)
03/2006: Looney Tunes #136 -- 2,792 (+ 6.1%)
04/2006: Looney Tunes #137 -- 2,558 (- 8.4%)
05/2006: Looney Tunes #138 -- 2,774 (+ 8.4%)
06/2006: Looney Tunes #139 -- 2,694 (- 2.9%)
07/2006: Looney Tunes #140 -- 2,680 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.0%
1 year  : - 1.5%
2 years : -16.3%

(283) CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY (Johnny DC)
07/2003: Cartoon Cartoons #20 -- 2,580
07/2004: Cartoon Cartoons #32 -- 2,347
--------------------------------------
07/2005: CN Block Party #11   -- 1,871
08/2005: CN Block Party #12   -- ?????
09/2005: CN Block Party #13   -- 1,887
10/2005: CN Block Party #14   -- 1,805 (- 4.4%)
11/2005: CN Block Party #15   -- 1,757 (- 2.7%)
12/2005: CN Block Party #16   -- 1,781 (+ 1.4%)
01/2006: CN Block Party #17   -- 1,797 (+ 0.9%)
02/2006: CN Block Party #18   -- 1,728 (- 3.8%)
03/2006: CN Block Party #19   -- ?????
04/2006: CN Block Party #20   -- 2,055
05/2006: CN Block Party #21   -- ?????
06/2006: CN Block Party #22   -- 1,913
07/2006: CN Block Party #23   -- 1,976 (+ 3.3%)
----------------
6 months: +10.0%
1 year  : + 5.6%
2 years : -15.8%

(287) CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK (Johnny DC)
05/2006: CN Action Pack #1 -- ?????
06/2006: CN Action Pack #2 -- 1,844
07/2006: CN Action Pack #3 -- 1,908 (+3.5%)

And another bunch of Johnny DC titles. See disclaimers.

RE-ORDERS:
(190)  7,143 -- Superman/Batman #25 (2nd) 
(193)  6,553 -- DCU: Brave New World #1
(197)  6,337 -- Justice #5
(228 )  4,350 -- Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1
(244)  3,668 -- 52 Week 8
(251)  3,225 -- Wonder Woman #1
(269)  2,430 -- 52 Week 7
(277)  2,146 -- Batman #654
(286)  1,908 -- Action Comics #840
(295)  1,704 -- 52 Week 6

No surprises here, except for Justice #5, which originally came out in April, but still picks up impressive quantities of re-orders.

Average Sales per Title
(not counting reprints, re-orders, Johnny DC titles and magazines)

DC COMICS
07/2003: 25,980
07/2004: 30,542
---------------
07/2005: 36,375 (+13.7%)
08/2005: 35,930 (- 1.2%)
09/2005: 34,972 (- 2.7%)
10/2005: 36,627 (+ 4.7%)
11/2005: 32,971 (-10.0%)
12/2005: 36,147 (+ 9.6%)
01/2006: 33,019 (- 8.7%)
02/2006: 32,292 (- 2.2%)
03/2006: 36,077 (+11.7%)
04/2006: 33,566 (- 7.0%)
05/2006: 42,860 (+27.7%)
06/2006: 40,778 (- 4.9%)
07/2006: 39,915 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: +20.9%
1 year  : + 9.7%
2 years : +30.7%
3 years : +53.6%

DC UNIVERSE
07/2003: 31,686
07/2004: 34,975
---------------
07/2005: 45,385 (+13.8%)
08/2005: 46,527 (+ 2.5%)
09/2005: 44,823 (- 3.7%)
10/2005: 47,021 (+ 4.9%)
11/2005: 42,342 (-10.0%)
12/2005: 44,993 (+ 6.3%)
01/2006: 40,118 (-10.3%)
02/2006: 40,823 (+ 1.8%)
03/2006: 44,854 (+ 9.9%)
04/2006: 45,129 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: 56,982 (+26.3%)
06/2006: 51,088 (-10.3%)
07/2006: 49,638 (- 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: +23.7%
1 year  : + 9.4%
2 years : +41.9%
3 years : +56.7%

Average sales of the DC Universe line and DC titles in general continued to decline in July, but still remained high. This is due to five issues breaking the 100K mark, led by Justice League of America #0, 52 Week 11 and Batman #655, as well as the continued strong sales of 52 and of most titles boosted by March’s “One Year Later” event.

VERTIGO
07/2003: 15,720
07/2004: 18,107
---------------
07/2005: 16,641 (+17.5%)
08/2005: 13,652 (-18.0%)
09/2005: 14,287 (+ 4.7%)
10/2005: 16,009 (+12.1%)
11/2005: 15,730 (- 1.7%)
12/2005: 16,320 (+ 3.8%)
01/2006: 15,036 (- 7.9%)
02/2006: 15,026 (- 0.1%)
03/2006: 15,812 (+ 5.2%)
04/2006: 15,473 (- 2.1%)
05/2006: 15,266 (- 1.3%)
06/2006: 14,965 (- 2.0%)
07/2006: 16,684 (+11.5%)
----------------
6 months: +11.0%
1 year  : + 0.3%
2 years : - 7.9%
3 years : + 6.1%

The debut of Jack of Fables and an issue of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere provide a nice little bump to Vertigo’s average sales.

WILDSTORM
07/2003: 16,911
07/2004: 17,670
---------------
07/2005: 15,134 (-20.6%)
08/2005: 15,998 (+ 5.7%)
09/2005: 13,707 (-14.3%)
10/2005: 17,215 (+25.6%)
11/2005: 16,255 (- 5.6%)
12/2005: 15,068 (- 7.3%)
01/2006: 17,505 (+16.2%)
02/2006: 13,610 (-22.3%)
03/2006: 14,210 (+ 4.4%)
04/2006: 16,036 (+12.9%)
05/2006: 12,737 (-20.6%)
06/2006: 15,056 (+18.2%)
07/2006: 12,778 (-15.1%)
----------------
6 months: -27.0%
1 year  : -15.6%
2 years : -27.7%
3 years : -24.4%

Astro City: Samaritan performed decently, but Garth Ennis’ A Man Called Kev and Battler Britton yielded predictably unimpressive numbers, while the label’s foray into science fiction and fantasy, with books like Manifest Eternity, Skye Runner, Claw the Unconquered and Rokkin, continues to be an utter disaster.

WildStorm is ready for Grant Morrison and Jim Lee.

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+119.2%: Justice League
+ 91.0%: Flash
+ 89.3%: Detective Comics
+ 82.1%: Batman
+ 66.9%: Aquaman
+ 42.7%: Action Comics
+ 27.3%: Supergirl and the Legion
+ 27.0%: Robin
+ 21.2%: Nightwing
+ 20.4%: Catwoman
+ 16.6%: Green Arrow
+ 12.6%: Superman
+ 10.9%: Manhunter
+ 10.0%: Cartoon Network
+  9.3%: Teen Titans
+  7.3%: Scooby Doo
+  5.8%: Birds of Prey
+  3.9%: Hawkgirl
+  3.3%: Fables
+  3.0%: Looney Tunes
+  2.2%: Batman: Legends
+  2.0%: DMZ
+  0.6%: Justice League Unlimited
+  0.5%: Blood of the Demon
-  0.2%: Batman Strikes
-  0.5%: Y: The Last Man
-  1.0%: JSA
-  4.4%: 100 Bullets
-  4.7%: Hellblazer
-  4.7%: Outsiders
-  5.1%: Green Lantern Corps
-  5.2%: Green Lantern
-  9.4%: Teen Titans Go
- 12.1%: Firestorm
- 17.4%: Jonah Hex
- 18.1%: Testament
- 18.3%: Elfquest: Discovery
- 20.7%: JLA: Classified
- 21.1%: JSA: Classified
- 33.6%: The Exterminators

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 85.3%: Justice League
+ 77.5%: Detective Comics
+ 73.6%: Batman
+ 70.7%: Aquaman
+ 61.2%: Flash
+ 31.0%: Catwoman
+ 25.6%: Robin
+ 18.0%: Hawkgirl
+ 11.8%: Firestorm
+ 11.8%: Supergirl and the Legion
+ 11.4%: Nightwing
+ 10.5%: JSA
+  7.8%: Manhunter
+  7.5%: Birds of Prey
+  5.6%: Cartoon Network
+  4.3%: Teen Titans
+  2.5%: Scooby Doo
+  1.9%: Fables
+  1.4%: Green Arrow
-  1.5%: Looney Tunes
-  2.1%: Superman
-  2.5%: Y: The Last Man
-  2.9%: Outsiders
-  6.0%: Hellblazer
-  6.9%: Action Comics
-  6.9%: Batman: Legends
-  9.6%: Justice League Unlimited
- 10.8%: 100 Bullets
- 14.5%: Superman/Batman
- 16.8%: Batman Strikes
- 21.8%: Teen Titans Go
- 28.0%: Blood of the Demon
- 30.7%: JLA: Classified
- 32.6%: Neverwhere
- 42.0%: JSA: Classified

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+154.0%: Justice League
+125.8%: Green Lantern
+ 93.5%: Flash
+ 83.0%: Detective Comics
+ 73.9%: Supergirl and the Legion
+ 64.5%: Batman
+ 40.0%: Nightwing
+ 29.8%: Action Comics
+ 25.3%: Aquaman
+ 19.2%: JSA
+ 13.7%: Catwoman
+ 10.8%: Green Arrow
+  8.5%: Teen Titans
+  1.3%: Birds of Prey
+  0.6%: Robin
-  0.1%: Outsiders
-  0.2%: Fables
-  0.8%: Hawkgirl
-  3.2%: Y: The Last Man
-  4.0%: Batman: Legends
-  5.8%: Hellblazer
- 10.4%: Scooby Doo
- 13.6%: Justice League Unlimited
- 15.8%: Cartoon Network
- 16.3%: Looney Tunes
- 21.8%: 100 Bullets
- 33.9%: Batman Strikes
- 35.6%: Superman/Batman
- 36.2%: Firestorm
- 50.0%: Superman

OTHER PUBLISHERS

(70) WITCHBLADE (Image/Top Cow)
07/2003: --
07/2004: Witchblade #77  -- 16,753
----------------------------------
07/2005: Witchblade #87  -- 16,614
08/2005: Witchblade #88  -- 16,055 (-  3.4%)
09/2005: Witchblade #89  -- 15,519 (-  3.3%)
10/2005: Witchblade #90  -- 15,206 (-  2.0%)
10/2005: Witchblade #91  -- 15,052 (-  1.0%)
11/2005: Witchblade #92  -- 16,342 (+  8.6%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Witchblade #93  -- 14,696 (- 10.1%)
01/2006: Witchblade #94  -- 14,322 (-  2.6%)
02/2006: Witchblade #95  -- 14,578 (+  1.8%)
03/2006: Witchblade #96  -- 14,505 (-  0.5%)
04/2006: Witchblade #97  -- 15,970 (+ 10.1%)
05/2006: Witchblade #98  -- 14,192 (- 11.1%)
06/2006: Witchblade #99  -- 14,524 (+  2.3%)
07/2006: Witchblade #100 -- 33,832 (+132.9%)
-----------------
6 months: +133.2% 
1 year  : +103.6%
2 years : +102.0%

That’s not bad, as far as “anniversary” increases go, especially at a cover price of $ 4.99. Cover count: four.

(73) STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse)
06/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #1 -- 34,758
07/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #2 -- 33,298 (-4.2%)

(96) STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Dark Horse)
01/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #1 -- 23,486
02/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #2 -- 21,203 (-9.7%)
03/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #3 -- 21,346 (+0.7%)
04/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #4 -- 22,581 (+5.8%)
05/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #5 -- 23,223 (+2.8%)
06/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #6 -- 23,424 (+0.9%)
07/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #7 -- 23,531 (+0.5%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.2%

(98 ) STAR WARS: REBELLION (Dark Horse)
04/2006: Star Wars: Rebellion #1 -- 26,954
05/2006: Star Wars: Rebellion #2 -- 23,764 (-11.8%)
06/2006: Star Wars: Rebellion #3 -- 23,256 (- 2.1%)
07/2006: Star Wars: Rebellion #4 -- 23,156 (- 0.4%)

Perfectly good and solid numbers, the lot of them. Cover count: one each.

(74) RED SONJA (Dynamic Forces)
07/2005: Red Sonja #1  -- 80,603
08/2005: --
09/2005: Red Sonja #2  -- 55,149 (-31.6%)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Red Sonja #3  -- 41,866 (-24.1%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Red Sonja #4  -- 41,856 (- 0.0%)
02/2006: Red Sonja #5  -- 38,798 (- 7.3%)
02/2006: Red Sonja #6  -- 35,031 (- 9.7%)
03/2006: Red Sonja #7  -- 34,560 (- 1.5%)
03/2006: Red Sonja #8  -- 34,700 (+ 0.4%)
04/2006: Red Sonja #9  -- 32,334 (- 6.8%)
05/2006: Red Sonja #10 -- 32,479 (+ 0.5%)
06/2006: Red Sonja #11 -- 31,176 (- 4.0%)
07/2006: Red Sonja #12 -- 33,252 (+ 6.7%)
----------------
6 months: -20.6%
1 year  : -58.8%

A new arc featuring Marvel Comics villain Kulan Gath and a cover drawing by Jim Lee result in a sales bump. The year-on-year comparison still looks pretty dire.

Cover count: seven.

(80) CONAN (Dark Horse)
07/2004: Conan #6  -- 48,339
----------------------------
07/2005: Conan #18 -- 36,323 (- 1.9%)
08/2005: Conan #19 -- 35,455 (- 2.4%)
09/2005: Conan #20 -- 34,899 (- 1.6%)
10/2005: Conan #21 -- 34,232 (- 1.9%)
11/2005: Conan #22 -- 33,653 (- 1.7%)
12/2005: Conan #23 -- 32,592 (- 3.2%)
01/2006: Conan #24 -- 31,907 (- 2.1%)
02/2006: Conan #25 -- 31,675 (- 0.7%)
03/2006: Conan #26 -- 31,573 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Conan #27 -- 31,710 (+ 0.4%)
05/2006: Conan #28 -- 31,675 (- 0.1%)
06/2006: Conan #29 -- 32,049 (+ 1.2%)
07/2006: Conan #30 -- 31,095 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.6%
1 year  : -14.4%
2 years : -35.7%

(95) CONAN AND THE SONGS OF THE DEAD (Dark Horse)
07/2006: Conan and the Songs of the Dead #1 (of 5) -- 25,144

Sales of the mother title are back in decline, while the latest spin-off is doing perfectly good numbers.

Cover count: two for the regular book, one for the miniseries.

(88 ) TRANSFORMERS: INFILTRATION (IDW)
01/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #1 -- 45,468
02/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #2 -- 35,828 (-21.2%)
03/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #3 -- 30,344 (-15.3%)
04/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #4 -- 28,835 (- 5.0%)
05/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #5 -- 27,264 (- 5.5%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Transformers: Infiltration #6 -- 25,303 (- 7.2%)
----------------
6 months: -44.4%

(93) TRANSFORMERS: STORMBRINGER (IDW)
07/2006: Transformers: Stormbringer #1 (of 4) -- 24,542

The numbers keep dropping. Cover count: five for Infiltration, four for Stormbringer.

(102) THE ESCAPISTS (Dark Horse)
07/2006: The Escapists #1 (of 6) -- 21,748

This is a one-dollar special promoting the new limited series written by Brian K. Vaughan, which is, of course, based on Michael Chabon’s novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

Curiously, Dark Horse Comics failed to mention that The Escapists #1 consists of the reprint of a story first published in issue #8 of the canceled anthology book Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist anywhere but in the back of the comic itself. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to present the story to a larger audience, especially in the shape of a low-priced promotional issue. But as long as you expect that audience to pay something, surely it’s not asking too much to let them know if a book contains material which is already available in a recent publication.

The fact that they withheld that bit of information makes for a rather questionable business practice.

(105) THE WALKING DEAD (Image)
07/2004: Walking Dead #9  -- 11,286
-----------------------------------
07/2005: Walking Dead #20 -- 16,915 (- 1.8%)
08/2005: Walking Dead #21 -- 17,668 (+ 4.5%)
09/2005: --
10/2005: Walking Dead #22 -- 17,634 (- 0.2%)
11/2005: Walking Dead #23 -- 18,482 (+ 4.8%)
11/2005: Walking Dead #24 -- 18,545 (+ 0.3%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Walking Dead #25 -- 19,337 (+ 4.3%)
02/2006: --
03/2006: Walking Dead #26 -- 19,385 (+ 0.3%)
03/2006: Walking Dead #27 -- 18,868 (- 2.7%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Walking Dead #28 -- 19,537 (+ 2.2%)
07/2006: Walking Dead #29 -- 20,385 (+ 4.3%)
-----------------
6 months: +  5.4%
1 year  : + 20.5%
2 years : + 80.6%

Sales break the 20K barrier for the first time. The Walking Dead doesn’t quite seem to have reached the ceiling yet.

Since March 2006, the book has been outselling writer Robert Kirkman’s Marvel Team-Up series, incidentally. For a black & white, non-superhero title, that’s remarkable.

(116) SPAWN (Image/TMP)
07/2003: Spawn #126 -- 40,227
07/2004: Spawn #136 -- 34,617
-----------------------------
07/2005: --
08/2005: Spawn #148 -- 27,548 (+ 0.2%)
09/2005: Spawn #149 -- 26,790 (- 2.8%)
10/2005: Spawn #150 -- 40,152 (+49.9%) -- [42,529]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Spawn #151 -- 28,860 (-28.1%)
01/2006: Spawn #152 -- 27,247 (- 5.6%)
02/2006: Spawn #153 -- 26,884 (- 1.3%)
03/2006: Spawn #154 -- 26,966 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: Spawn #155 -- 26,728 (- 0.9%)
05/2006: Spawn #156 -- 27,017 (+ 1.1%)
06/2006: Spawn #157 -- 26,325 (- 2.6%)
07/2006: Spawn #158 -- 17,728 (-32.7%)
----------------
6 months: -34.9%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -48.8%

Presumably, this is another case of a substantial amount of copies not reaching stores in time to make the chart. The missing 10,000 units of Spawn #158 will likely appear on the August chart.

(195) SNAKEWOMAN (Virgin)
07/2006: Snakewoman #1 -- 6,360

(204) DEVI (Virgin)
07/2006: Devi #1 -- 5,917

(236) SADHU (Virgin)
07/2006: Sadhu #1 -- 3,929

Virgin Comics, the latest addition to Richard Branson’s Virgin empire, makes its debut, and the numbers are about as expected. For all its promotional clout, the publisher’s concepts or creative line-up aren’t really all that inspiring so far. It’s probably not a coincidence that Snakewoman, which is the only Virgin title to feature creators with track records in American comics, ends up being the highest-selling of the bunch, for example.

In theory, the notion of exposing the market to culturally distinctive and self-confidently Indian concepts and creators for a change, as opposed to more Anglo-American or Japanese ones, certainly holds some appeal. In practice, unfortunately, the publisher’s promotion gives the impression that their output consists of generic fantasy fare window-dressed with some token pseudo-mythological elements. It’s doubtful whether anyone’s particularly looking for that.

(196) CASANOVA (Image)
06/2006: Casanova #1 -- 9,749
07/2006: Casanova #2 -- 6,337 (-35.0%)

That’s a very harsh second-issue drop-off, but the book is still selling at a decent level, given that it’s not in full color and doesn’t feature superheroes.

(213) WASTELAND (Oni)
07/2006: Wasteland #1 -- 4,952

It’s been a while since Oni launched an ongoing series. Wasteland is a post-apocalyptic adventure book in black & white, and the first issue was double-sized. It’s not a bad number, all told.

(223) GODLAND (Image)
07/2005: Godland #1  -- 5,601
08/2005: Godland #2  -- 4,375 (-21.9%)
09/2005: Godland #3  -- 3,952 (- 9.7%)
10/2005: Godland #4  -- 4,129 (+ 4.5%)
11/2005: Godland #5  -- 4,323 (+ 4.7%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Godland #6  -- 4,522 (+ 4.6%)
01/2006: Godland #7  -- 4,435 (- 1.9%)
02/2006: Godland #8  -- 4,732 (+ 6.7%)
02/2006: Godland #9  -- 4,356 (- 8.0%)
03/2006: -- 
04/2006: Godland #10 -- 4,147 (- 4.8%)
05/2006: Godland #11 -- 4,473 (+ 7.9%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Godland #12 -- 4,611 (+ 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.0%
1 year  : -17.7%

The book is on hiatus until October. Godland sales aren’t stellar, obviously, but it seems to have found a niche between 4,000 and 5,000 units. Apparently, that’s enough to keep it afloat, for now.

Germany-based Marc-Oliver Frisch has a weblog and regularly contributes to German online magazine Comicgate.