by Marc-Oliver Frisch

Thanks to strong debut numbers of the revamped Batman line and the perpetually solid Green Lantern franchise, June brought the expected recovery for DC Comics’ periodical sales. Led by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s Batman and Robin, which claimed the top spot in the Top 300 chart, the publisher managed to place four titles in the top ten, while average periodical sales remained well within the usual spectrum of the last few years. June also saw the debut of back-up strips and a higher cover price for several DC Universe series, but without any significant impact on sales.

Over at Vertigo and WildStorm, June was business as usual. Despite “The Great Fables Crossover,” average Vertigo sales remained just above 11K. At WildStorm, the six-part horror-property crossover Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash: Nightmare Warriors debuted with surprisingly good numbers, but the imprint’s average figures were still stuck below the 9,000 mark.

See below for the analysis, and please consider the small print at the end of the column. 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.

—–

1 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
06/2009: Batman and Robin #1  -- 168,604

As expected, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s new Batman flagship is the best-selling DC series in June, also outselling everything else on the chart by a wide margin. Marvel’s highly promoted Captain America #600, which came in second, sold an estimated 112,287 units, for instance.

On the surface, 170K looks like a great number, certainly. There have been comics that shifted more units in recent years, but those were all Marvel books and part of special events (such as the “Obama issue” of The Amazing Spider-Man, or Civil War). Looking for either a new ongoing-series launch or a DC book that sold in equal or better numbers, one has to go back almost three years, to the release of Justice League of America #1, which moved an estimated 212,581 copies in August 2006.

In this context, Batman and Robin #1 looks like one of the greatest successes in the periodical comics market in quite some time.

On the other hand, there’s a wildcard involved in its numbers, because the book was promoted with two variant-cover schemes. The first involves a 1-for-25 edition, which, though it’s probably boosted sales quite a bit, has been relatively common for a while. The second, though, is a 1-for-250 edition; this means, in other words, that retailers who wanted to get one of those editions had to buy 250 non-returnable copies of Batman and Robin #1. The prospect was received controversially among retailers, not surprisingly.

Right now, we don’t know how many retailers swallowed the pill and upped their orders to get those particular variant editions. But considering that the scheme only applies to issue #1, I suspect we might get a reasonably good idea of that next month, when the figures for issue #2 are released. If sales are insanely inflated due to the variant, it will show on the chart.

So, for now: a great-looking number, but take it with a pinch of salt.

—–

4 - BATMAN
06/2004: Batman #629 --  72,020 [74,284]
06/2005: Batman #641 --  67,208 [70,748]
06/2006: Batman #654 --  76,525 [78,671]
06/2007: --
-------------------------------
06/2008: --
07/2008: Batman #678 -- 103,213 (+ 7.4%)
08/2008: Batman #679 -- 103,588 (+ 0.4%)
09/2008: --
10/2008: Batman #680 -- 103,941 (+ 0.3%)
11/2008: Batman #681 -- 103,151 (- 0.8%) [114,657]
12/2008: Batman #682 --  93,469 (- 9.4%)
12/2008: Batman #683 --  90,272 (- 3.4%) [ 91,885]
12/2008: Batman #684 --  79,953 (-11.4%) [ 82,903]
01/2009: Batman #685 --  72,654 (- 9.1%)
02/2009: Batman #686 -- 111,353 (+53.3%) [128,780]
03/2009: BfC #1 of 3 --  91,619 (-17.7%) [103,913]
04/2009: BfC #2 of 3 --  89,120 (- 2.7%)
05/2009: BfC #3 of 3 --  89,170 (+ 0.1%)
06/2009: Batman #687 --  96,913 (+ 8.7%)
----------------
6 months: +10.3%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +34.6%

Batman: Battle for the Cowl was already doing very well, but writer Judd Winick and artist Ed Benes manage to add another solid increase. Considering that Batman is playing second fiddle to Batman and Robin now, that’s great news for DC — I didn’t expect the numbers to go up, to be honest.

There was a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition for Batman #687, the same as for the Battle for the Cowl issues. Meanwhile, Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert’s issue #686 sold another 4,238 units in June.

—–

9 - GREEN LANTERN
06/2004: Green Lantern #178 --  33,662 [ 35,933]
06/2005: Green Lantern #2   -- 117,816 [120,636]
06/2006: --
06/2007: --
--------------------------------------
06/2008: Green Lantern #32  --  64,839 (- 1.6%)
07/2008: Green Lantern #33  --  63,814 (- 1.6%)
08/2008: --
09/2008: Green Lantern #34  --  63,825 (+ 0.0%)
10/2008: Green Lantern #35  --  63,383 (- 0.7%)
11/2008: --
12/2008: Green Lantern #36  --  64,755 (+ 2.2%) [74,005]
01/2009: Green Lantern #37  --  65,556 (+ 1.2%) [71,331]
02/2009: Green Lantern #38  --  68,908 (+ 5.1%) [77,372]
03/2008: --
04/2008: Green Lantern #39  --  79,792 (+15.8%) [84,784]
04/2008: Green Lantern #40  --  76,665 (- 3.9%) [84,705]
05/2008: Green Lantern #41  --  81,491 (+ 6.3%)
06/2008: Green Lantern #42  --  84,131 (+ 3.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 29.9%
1 year  : + 29.8%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : +149.9%

Green Lantern sales keep climbing in anticipation of the “Blackest Night” crossover, for the sixth consecutive month. Suffice it to say, this bodes extremely well for the numbers of Blackest Night proper, the first issue of which came out in July, and its crossover stories and spin-off titles.

For the last few issues, there have been 1-for-25 variant-cover editions.

Last month, I forgot to include 8,040 additional units sold of issue #40 in May and included a wrong total number for issue #38. Thanks to the people who pointed it out in the Comments section — I’ve corrected the entries above.

—–

10 - THE FLASH: REBIRTH
06/2004: Flash #211      --  45,740 [ 46,927]
06/2005: Flash #223      --  48,013 [ 49,583]
06/2006: Flash: FMA #1   -- 120,404 [126,741]
06/2007: Flash: FMA #13  --  96,075 [101,982]
-----------------------------------
06/2008: Flash #241      --  30,810 (-  3.6%)
07/2008: Flash #242      --  30,325 (-  1.6%)
08/2008: Flash #243      --  29,647 (-  2.2%)
09/2008: Flash #244      --  29,180 (-  1.6%)
10/2008: Flash #245      --  28,085 (-  3.8%)
11/2008: Flash #246      --  27,746 (-  1.2%)
12/2008: Flash #247      --  26,498 (-  4.5%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: Rebirth #1 of 5 -- 102,429 (+286.6%) [111,515]
05/2009: Rebirth #2 of 5 --  86,183 (- 15.9%)
06/2009: Rebirth #3 of 5 --  83,086 (-  3.6%)
-----------------
6 months: +213.6%
1 year  : +169.7%
2 years : - 13.5%
5 years : + 81.7%

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver’s Flash revamp keeps bottoming out very quickly, which is good news for the franchise. April’s issue #1 sold another 6,405 units, meanwhile, further suggesting that there’s a solid degree of demand for the book — not spectacular, mind you, but solid, at least.

The plan, evidently, is for Johns to stay with the property after Rebirth; first through a Blackest Night spin-off miniseries and then to launch a new ongoing title. Considering that the last two Flash relaunches performed abysmally, not changing horses at this point sounds like a sensible decision.

—–

13 - DETECTIVE COMICS
06/2004: Detective Comics #795 --  34,649
06/2005: Detective Comics #807 --  38,497
06/2006: Detective Comics #820 --  65,988
06/2007: Detective Comics #833 --  54,104
-----------------------------------------
06/2008: Detective Comics #845 --  48,920 (+ 1.2%)
07/2008: Detective Comics #846 --  72,417 (+48.0%)
08/2008: Detective Comics #847 --  71,134 (- 1.8%)
09/2008: Detective Comics #848 --  68,306 (- 4.0%)
10/2008: Detective Comics #849 --  65,878 (- 3.6%)
11/2008: Detective Comics #850 --  64,196 (- 2.6%)
12/2008: Detective Comics #851 --  64,961 (+ 1.2%)
01/2009: Detective Comics #852 --  56,656 (-12.8%)
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: Detective Comics #853 -- 104,107 (+83.8%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Detective Comics #854 --  72,808 (-30.1%)
-----------------
6 months: + 12.1%
1 year  : + 48.8%
2 years : + 34.6%
5 years : +110.1%

Not unexpectedly, Detective Comics returns to a much lower sales level after the Neil Gaiman/Andy Kubert issue. Overall, though, the book’s new direction, starring the Batwoman character introduced back in 52, is off to a good start: The numbers are in the same area as last year’s successful “Batman R.I.P.” tie-in storyline. (Although, granted, there was a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition this time, so realistically, the numbers may be somewhat lower.)

In addition to the main story by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III, Detective Comics also includes a back-up strip starring “The Question,” written by Rucka and drawn by Cully Hamner, and carries a price tag of $ 3.99.

All things considered, this is a good start.

——

19 - RED ROBIN
06/2004: Robin #127    -- 40,749 [43,393]
06/2005: Robin #139    -- 29,645
06/2006: Robin #151    -- 38,921
06/2007: Robin #163    -- 26,284
--------------------------------
06/2008: --
07/2008: Robin #175    -- 53,880 (+105.6%)
08/2008: Robin #176    -- 54,912 (+  1.9%)
08/2008: Robin #177    -- 31,346 (- 42.9%)
09/2008: Robin #178    -- 32,234 (+  2.8%)
10/2008: Robin #179    -- 30,081 (-  6.7%)
11/2008: Robin #180    -- 28,399 (-  5.6%)
12/2008: Robin #181    -- 27,891 (-  1.8%)
01/2009: Robin #182    -- 28,684 (+  2.8%)
02/2009: Robin #183    -- 31,682 (+ 10.5%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: --
06/2009: Red Robin #1  -- 64,261 (+102.8%)
-----------------
6 months: +130.4%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : +144.5%
5 years : + 57.7%

Creators Christopher Yost and Ramon Bachs manage to double Robin sales with their relaunch, albeit with the help of another 1-for-25 variant-cover edition. Right now, Red Robin looks like another successful relaunch; there’s plenty of room for the numbers to find their level.

—–

20 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
06/2006: Green Lantern Corps #1  -- 76,686
06/2007: Green Lantern Corps #13 -- 32,792
------------------------------------------
06/2008: Green Lantern Corps #25 -- 47,399 (+ 1.0%)
07/2008: Green Lantern Corps #26 -- 46,098 (- 2.8%)
08/2008: Green Lantern Corps #27 -- 46,045 (- 0.1%)
09/2008: Green Lantern Corps #28 -- 44,939 (- 2.4%)
10/2008: Green Lantern Corps #29 -- 46,316 (+ 3.1%)
11/2008: Green Lantern Corps #30 -- 43,600 (- 5.9%)
12/2008: Green Lantern Corps #31 -- 44,033 (+ 0.9%)
01/2009: Green Lantern Corps #32 -- 44,312 (+ 0.6%)
02/2009: Green Lantern Corps #33 -- 44,607 (+ 0.7%) [50,171]
03/2009: Green Lantern Corps #34 -- 54,162 (+21.4%)
04/2009: Green Lantern Corps #35 -- 58,769 (+ 8.5%)
05/2009: Green Lantern Corps #36 -- 61,591 (+ 4.8%)
06/2009: Green Lantern Corps #37 -- 63,574 (+ 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: +44.4%
1 year  : +34.1%
2 years : +93.9%

Like Green Lantern proper, the secondary series has been in a slow climb over the last six months, leading up to “Blackest Night.”

For the last few issues, there have been 1-for-25 variant-cover editions.

—–

25 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
06/2004: JLA #100           --  75,434 [78,140]
06/2005: JLA #115           --  95,375
06/2007: Justice League #10 -- 129,265
--------------------------------------
06/2008: Justice League #22 --  85,013 (- 5.6%)
07/2008: Justice League #23 --  82,953 (- 2.4%)
08/2008: Justice League #24 --  81,451 (- 1.8%)
09/2008: --
10/2008: Justice League #25 --  80,731 (- 0.9%)
10/2008: Justice League #26 --  77,353 (- 4.2%)
11/2008: --
12/2008: Justice League #27 --  75,803 (- 2.0%)
12/2008: Justice League #28 --  72,728 (- 4.1%)
01/2009: Justice League #29 --  72,116 (- 0.8%)
02/2009: Justice League #30 --  69,710 (- 3.3%)
03/2009: Justice League #31 --  68,759 (- 1.4%)
04/2009: Justice League #32 --  66,021 (- 4.0%)
05/2009: Justice League #33 --  63,867 (- 3.3%)
06/2009: Justice League #34 --  61,115 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: -17.7%
1 year  : -28.1%
2 years : -52.7%
5 years : -19.0%

Issue #34 is the first of four interim issues bridging the gap until a new creative team takes over in October. Sales-wise, it’s business as usual for the book: It continues to slide down the chart.

—–

28 - BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM
06/2009: Batman: SoG #1  -- 57,650

Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen launch another new Batman series, following their previous collaboration in Detective Comics. Streets of Gotham #1 sold in the same area as the creators’ last issue of Detective. Given that there are a 1-for-25 variant-cover edition, a “Manhunter” back-up strip and a $ 3.99 price tag this time, all things aren’t equal, of course.

—–

31 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
06/2004: JSA #62              -- 42,665
06/2005: JSA #74              -- 51,609
06/2006: JSA #86              -- 50,338
06/2007: --
---------------------------------------
06/2008: Justice Society #16 --  77,328 (-  1.3%)
07/2008: Justice Society #17 --  75,532 (-  2.3%)
08/2008: Justice Society #18 --  73,485 (-  2.7%)
09/2008: --
10/2008: Justice Society #19 --  72,073 (-  1.9%)
11/2008: Justice Society #20 --  71,355 (-  1.0%)
12/2008: Justice Society #21 --  69,662 (-  2.4%)
12/2008: Justice Society #22 --  67,615 (-  2.9%)
01/2009: Justice Society #23 --  61,385 (-  9.2%)
02/2009: Justice Society #24 --  65,207 (+  6.2%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: Justice Society #25 --  65,713 (+  0.8%)
04/2009: Justice Society #26 --  81,200 (+ 23.6%)
05/2009: Justice Society #27 --  56,102 (- 30.9%)
06/2009: Justice Society #28 --  52,673 (-  6.1%)
----------------
6 months: -23.3%
1 year  : -31.9%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +23.5%

The book continues to drop with the second issue of its fill-in storyline. It’s up to the new creative team arriving in July to stabilize the numbers.

—–

32 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
06/2004: Birds of Prey #68  -- 32,034
06/2005: Birds of Prey #83  -- 38,067
06/2006: Birds of Prey #95  -- 33,954
06/2007: Birds of Prey #107 -- 28,632
-------------------------------------
06/2008: Birds of Prey #119 -- 21,593 (- 1.6%)
07/2008: Birds of Prey #120 -- 21,572 (- 0.1%)
08/2008: Birds of Prey #121 -- 22,406 (+ 3.9%)
09/2008: Birds of Prey #122 -- 21,318 (- 4.9%)
10/2008: Birds of Prey #123 -- 21,110 (- 1.0%)
11/2008: Birds of Prey #124 -- 20,959 (- 0.7%)
12/2008: Birds of Prey #125 -- 20,161 (- 3.8%)
01/2009: Birds of Prey #126 -- 20,772 (+ 3.0%)
02/2009: Birds of Prey #127 -- 21,424 (+ 3.1%)
03/2009: Oracle #1 of 3     -- 34,081 (+59.1%)
04/2009: Oracle #2 of 3     -- 33,731 (- 1.0%)
05/2009: Oracle #3 of 3     -- 35,328 (+ 4.7%)
06/2009: GC Sirens #1       -- 52,439 (+48.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +160.1%
1 year  : +142.9%
2 years : + 83.2%
5 years : + 63.7%

Another new Batman book by Paul Dini. This one’s basically a new incarnation of Birds of Prey, only now with villains Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn in the leading roles.

So far, Gotham City Sirens looks like another solid debut. The first issue was supported through a 1-for-25 variant-cover scheme.

—–

43 - SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON
03/2009: WoNK #1 of 12 -- 50,050
04/2009: WoNK #2 of 12 -- 44,880 (-10.3%)
05/2009: WoNK #3 of 12 -- 42,153 (- 6.1%)
06/2009: WoNK #4 of 12 -- 41,620 (- 1.3%)
47 - SUPERMAN
06/2004: Superman #206 -- 162,095
06/2005: Superman #218 --  61,515
06/2006: Superman #653 --  69,079
06/2007: Superman #663 --  53,384
---------------------------------
06/2008: Superman #677 --  54,634 (+19.7%)
07/2008: Superman #678 --  47,670 (-12.8%)
08/2008: Superman #679 --  46,615 (- 2.2%)
09/2008: Superman #680 --  46,585 (- 0.1%)
10/2008: Superman #681 --  54,611 (+17.2%) [57,212]
11/2008: Superman #682 --  55,435 (+ 1.5%)
12/2008: Superman #683 --  55,287 (- 0.3%)
01/2009: Superman #684 --  48,489 (-12.3%)
02/2009: Superman #685 --  48,027 (- 1.0%)
03/2009: Superman #686 --  44,976 (- 6.4%)
04/2009: Superman #687 --  43,041 (- 4.3%)
05/2009: Superman #688 --  41,642 (- 3.3%)
06/2009: Superman #689 --  40,366 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: -27.0%
1 year  : -26.1%
2 years : -24.4%
5 years : -75.1%
49 - ACTION COMICS
06/2004: Action Comics #816 -- 47,065
06/2005: Action Comics #828 -- 43,000
06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 [63,676]
06/2007: --
-------------------------------------
06/2008: Action Comics #866 -- 50,158 (+ 7.3%) [53,198]
07/2008: Action Comics #867 -- 49,363 (- 1.6%)
08/2008: Action Comics #868 -- 49,556 (+ 0.4%)
09/2008: Action Comics #869 -- 49,597 (+ 0.1%)
10/2008: Action Comics #870 -- 57,407 (+15.8%)
11/2008: Action Comics #871 -- 58,547 (+ 2.0%)
12/2008: Action Comics #872 -- 57,175 (- 2.3%)
01/2009: Action Comics #873 -- 51,940 (- 9.2%)
02/2009: Action Comics #874 -- 48,360 (- 6.9%)
03/2009: Action Comics #875 -- 47,079 (- 2.7%)
04/2009: Action Comics #876 -- 43,368 (- 7.9%)
05/2009: Action Comics #877 -- 41,772 (- 3.7%)
06/2009: Action Comics #878 -- 40,011 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -30.0%
1 year  : -20.2%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -15.0%

Well, no news for the Superman line. Unless there’s an impending trend reversal, it’s about to collectively drop below the 40K mark.

The silver lining are the Superman: World of New Krypton numbers, which seem to be finding their level very quickly.

—–

52 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
06/2004: --
06/2005: Superman/Batman #20 -- 114,099
06/2006: Superman/Batman #27 --  95,717
06/2007: Superman/Batman #36 --  65,866
06/2007: Superman/Batman #37 --  72,635
---------------------------------------
06/2008: Superman/Batman #49 --  52,579 (- 0.5%)
07/2008: Superman/Batman #50 --  61,321 (+16.6%)
08/2008: Superman/Batman #51 --  51,701 (-15.7%)
09/2008: Superman/Batman #52 --  50,000 (- 3.3%)
10/2008: Superman/Batman #53 --  48,187 (- 3.6%)
11/2008: --
12/2008: Superman/Batman #54 --  45,968 (- 4.6%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: Superman/Batman #55 --  43,962 (- 4.4%)
03/2009: Superman/Batman #56 --  42,464 (- 3.4%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #57 --  41,743 (- 1.7%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #58 --  41,000 (- 1.8%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #59 --  40,182 (- 2.0%)
05/2009: Superman/Batman #60 --  39,531 (- 1.6%)
06/2009: Superman/Batman #61 --  38,228 (- 3.3%)
----------------
6 months: -16.8%
1 year  : -27.3%
2 years : -44.8%
5 years :  n.a.

Sales keep slowly declining. Evidently, the book is going through some creative hiccups right now. According to DC’s Web site, August’s issue #63 is meant to start an “all-new arc” by the regular creative team, but the credits of the two subsequent issues list different writers.

—–

53 - POWER GIRL
05/2009: Power Girl #1  -- 47,322
06/2009: Power Girl #2  -- 36,756 (-22.3%)

Power Girl remains … abreast of expectations, I suppose.

Like with issue #1, there were two different cover editions, distributed in equal parts.

—–

58 - ACTION COMICS ANNUAL
06/2009: Action Comics Annual #12 -- 35,265

The Annual’s story ties in with Action Comics and is by the regular writer. DC probably could have moved more units by running the material in the regular series.

—–

61 - WONDER WOMAN
06/2004: Wonder Woman #205 --  29,233
06/2005: Wonder Woman #217 --  30,022 [ 31,687]
06/2006: Wonder Woman #1   -- 132,580 [139,562]
06/2007: Wonder Woman #10  --  54,472
-------------------------------------
06/2008: Wonder Woman #21  --  37,086 (- 2.7%)
07/2008: Wonder Woman #22  --  36,514 (- 1.5%)
08/2008: Wonder Woman #23  --  35,562 (- 2.6%)
09/2008: Wonder Woman #24  --  34,583 (- 2.8%)
10/2008: Wonder Woman #25  --  33,583 (- 2.9%)
11/2008: Wonder Woman #26  --  33,277 (- 0.9%)
12/2008: Wonder Woman #27  --  32,322 (- 2.9%)
01/2009: Wonder Woman #28  --  32,622 (+ 0.9%)
02/2009: Wonder Woman #29  --  33,237 (+ 1.9%)
03/2009: Wonder Woman #30  --  33,365 (+ 0.4%)
04/2009: Wonder Woman #31  --  31,857 (- 4.5%)
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32  --  33,065 (+ 3.8%)
06/2009: Wonder Woman #33  --  32,755 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.3%
1 year  : -11.7%
2 years : -39.9%
5 years : +12.1%

The ups and downs over the last six months are likely a result of DC’s spotty practice of mentioning the 1-for-10 variant-cover editions that have been a fixture since issue #26 in their solicitations; when they do, that leads to slightly higher sales than when they don’t. For the last two issues, the variants were announced, which means that Wonder Woman is probably experiencing a slow decline, overall.

—–

62 - SUPERGIRL
06/2006: --
06/2007: Supergirl #18 --  50,279
---------------------------------
06/2008: Supergirl #30 --  29,553 (- 2.1%)
07/2008: Supergirl #31 --  28,813 (- 2.5%)
08/2008: Supergirl #32 --  28,114 (- 2.4%)
09/2008: Supergirl #33 --  27,609 (- 1.8%)
10/2008: Supergirl #34 --  33,958 (+23.0%)
11/2008: Supergirl #35 --  45,518 (+34.0%)
12/2008: Supergirl #36 --  45,491 (- 0.1%)
01/2009: Supergirl #37 --  34,060 (-25.1%)
02/2009: Supergirl #38 --  34,225 (+ 0.5%)
03/2009: Supergirl #39 --  33,713 (- 1.5%)
04/2009: Supergirl #40 --  34,080 (+ 1.1%)
05/2009: Supergirl #41 --  33,441 (- 1.9%)
06/2009: Supergirl #42 --  32,705 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: -28.1%
1 year  : +10.7%
2 years : -35.0%

Sales are back in an average decline, but Supergirl remains in much better shape than it was last year.

—–

63 - TEEN TITANS
06/2004: Teen Titans #12 -- 66,424
06/2005: Teen Titans #25 -- 70,542 [72,721]
06/2006: --
06/2007: Teen Titans #48 -- 60,786
----------------------------------
06/2008: Teen Titans #60 -- 45,036 (- 2.7%)
07/2008: Teen Titans #61 -- 44,666 (- 0.8%)
08/2008: Teen Titans #62 -- 43,258 (- 3.2%)
09/2008: Teen Titans #63 -- 41,790 (- 3.4%)
10/2008: Teen Titans #64 -- 39,695 (- 5.0%)
11/2008: Teen Titans #65 -- 37,880 (- 4.6%)
12/2008: Teen Titans #66 -- 36,808 (- 2.8%)
01/2009: Teen Titans #67 -- 35,877 (- 2.5%)
02/2009: Teen Titans #68 -- 35,096 (- 2.2%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: Teen Titans #69 -- 35,375 (+ 0.8%)
04/2009: Teen Titans #70 -- 35,412 (+ 0.1%)
05/2009: Teen Titans #71 -- 30,376 (-14.2%) [34,110]
06/2009: Teen Titans #72 -- 32,512 (+ 7.0%)
----------------
6 months: -11.7%
1 year  : -21.2%
2 years : -41.6%
5 years : -46.5%

There’s a second printing of issue #71 on the June chart, which sold 3,734.

Now, it would be very odd for Teen Titans to drop 14 percent in the middle of a crossover, only to bounce up again a month later. Consequently, I’m assuming that there was something wrong with part of the print run of the May issue that necessitated a reprint in June to fill all orders.

Further, issue #72 was the debut of the $ 3.99 price tag and a new “Ravager” back-up strip, which may or may not be affecting sales. Be that as it may, the figures of #72 are pretty much where you’d expect them to be, in the context of the last twelve months.

—–

64 - TITANS
06/2008: Titans #3      -- 54,512 (- 5.0%)
07/2008: --
08/2008: --
09/2008: Titans #4      -- 51,755 (- 5.1%)
09/2008: Titans #5      -- 49,959 (- 3.5%)
10/2008: Titans #6      -- 45,453 (- 9.0%)
11/2008: Titans #7      -- 41,507 (- 8.7%)
12/2008: Titans #8      -- 39,154 (- 5.7%)
01/2009: Titans #9      -- 37,693 (- 3.7%)
02/2009: Titans #10     -- 36,361 (- 3.5%)
03/2009: Titans #11     -- 35,240 (- 3.1%)
04/2009: Titans #12     -- 36,014 (+ 2.2%)
05/2009: Titans #13     -- 34,343 (- 4.6%)
06/2009: Titans #14     -- 32,321 (- 5.9%)
----------------
6 months: -17.5%
1 year  : -40.7%

Titans #14 was by a different creative team than the one listed in the solicitations, but I doubt it would have made much of a difference. The book’s stiff decline continues, and if DC’s Web site is correct, the book is going through six different creative teams in as many issues between #13 and #18.

—–

65 - JSA VS. KOBRA
06/2009: JSA Vs. Kobra #1 of 3 -- 32,237

Well, it sold much better than it would have as part of JSA: Classified, certainly.

—–

79 - THE OUTSIDERS
06/2004: Outsiders #13 -- 43,313
06/2005: Outsiders #25 -- 52,187 [55,884]
06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109
06/2007: Outsiders #48 -- 32,966
--------------------------------
06/2008: Batsiders #8  -- 34,640 (- 1.2%)
07/2008: Batsiders #9  -- 34,401 (- 0.7%)
08/2008: Batsiders #10 -- 33,645 (- 2.2%)
09/2008: Batsiders #11 -- 49,945 (+48.5%)
10/2008: Batsiders #12 -- 46,649 (- 6.6%)
11/2008: Batsiders #13 -- 42,939 (- 8.0%)
12/2008: Batsiders #14 -- 32,163 (-25.1%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: Special #1    -- 35,727 (+11.1%)
02/2009: Outsiders #15 -- 30,024 (-16.0%)
03/2009: Outsiders #16 -- 27,977 (- 6.8%)
04/2009: Outsiders #17 -- 27,171 (- 2.9%)
05/2009: Outsiders #18 -- 25,995 (- 4.3%)
06/2009: Outsiders #19 -- 27,485 (+ 5.7%)
----------------
6 months: -14.6%
1 year  : -20.7%
2 years : -16.6%
5 years : -36.5%

The June issue was promoted with a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition and billed as part of the Batman relaunch on the cover (but, strangely, not in the solicitations), hence the slight sales increase.

—–

88 - SECRET SIX
06/2006: --
-------------------------------------
09/2008: Secret Six #1      -- 31,673 (-10.8%)
10/2008: Secret Six #2      -- 27,846 (-12.1%)
11/2008: Secret Six #3      -- 26,053 (- 6.4%)
12/2008: Secret Six #4      -- 24,657 (- 5.4%)
01/2009: Secret Six #5      -- 24,899 (+ 1.0%)
02/2009: Secret Six #6      -- 24,758 (- 0.6%)
03/2009: Secret Six #7      -- 24,365 (- 1.6%)
04/2009: Secret Six #8      -- 24,338 (- 0.1%)
05/2009: Secret Six #9      -- 27,116 (+11.4%)
06/2009: Secret Six #10     -- 24,272 (-10.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.6%

After May’s mild Battle for the Cowl tie-in, the numbers return to their usual level. Overall, Secret Six numbers have been remarkably stable over the last six months.

—–

96 - FABLES (Vertigo)
06/2004: Fables #26 -- 25,553
06/2005: Fables #38 -- 24,813
06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210
06/2007: Fables #62 -- 25,726
-----------------------------
06/2008: --
07/2008: Fables #74 -- 24,166 (+1.6%)
08/2008: --
09/2008: Fables #75 -- 25,266 (+4.6%)
09/2008: Fables #76 -- 23,914 (-5.4%)
10/2008: Fables #77 -- 23,761 (-0.6%)
11/2008: Fables #78 -- 23,345 (-1.8%)
12/2008: Fables #79 -- 22,769 (-2.5%)
01/2009: Fables #80 -- 22,617 (-0.7%)
02/2009: Fables #81 -- 22,517 (-0.4%)
03/2009: Fables #82 -- 22,445 (-0.3%)
04/2009: Fables #83 -- 23,630 (+5.3%)
05/2009: Fables #84 -- 23,634 (+0.0%)
06/2009: Fables #85 -- 23,439 (-0.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.9%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : - 8.9%
5 years : - 8.3%

Sales are holding level in the final month of “The Great Fables Crossover.”

—–

98 - BOOSTER GOLD
06/2008: Booster Gold #10 -- 34,435 (- 1.7%)
07/2008: BGold #1,000,000 -- 34,431 (- 0.0%)
08/2008: Booster Gold #11 -- 32,900 (- 4.5%)
09/2008: Booster Gold #12 -- 32,049 (- 2.6%)
10/2008: Booster Gold #13 -- 29,914 (- 6.7%)
11/2008: Booster Gold #14 -- 28,260 (- 5.5%)
12/2008: Booster Gold #15 -- 26,835 (- 5.0%)
01/2009: Booster Gold #16 -- 25,472 (- 5.1%)
02/2009: Booster Gold #17 -- 24,732 (- 2.9%)
03/2009: Booster Gold #18 -- 23,737 (- 4.0%)
04/2009: Booster Gold #19 -- 23,203 (- 2.3%)
05/2009: Booster Gold #20 -- 22,549 (- 2.8%)
06/2009: Booster Gold #21 -- 23,222 (+ 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -13.5%
1 year  : -32.6%

The debut of the “Blue Beetle” back-up strip results in a very slight sales increase. All told, it doesn’t look like it will be bringing in a lot of readers to Booster Gold who weren’t already following the series.

Then again, if you look at these strips as a way to prevent sales from taking a dive after the price was upped to $ 3.99, who knows, maybe they’re successful at that.

—–

104 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN
05/2009: Run #1 of 6 -- 29,065
06/2009: Run #2 of 6 -- 21,429 (-26.3%)

That’s a stiff second-issue drop-off, and it’s worse for the other three Final Crisis Aftermath miniseries — see below.

Retailers didn’t really know how to treat these books, evidently.

—–

106 - FREDDY VS. JASON VS. ASH: NIGHTMARE WARRIORS (WildStorm)
11/2007: Freddy/Jason/Ash #1 of 6   -- 23,306 [27,515]
11/2007: Freddy/Jason/Ash #2 of 6   -- 15,291
12/2007: Freddy/Jason/Ash #3 of 6   -- 15,348
01/2008: Freddy/Jason/Ash #4 of 6   -- 17,170
02/2008: Freddy/Jason/Ash #5 of 6   -- 17,120
03/2008: Freddy/Jason/Ash #6 of 6   -- 17,096
---------------------------------------------
06/2009: Nightmare Warriors #1 of 6 -- 21,395

Like the previous crossover miniseries combining the three horror franchises, Nightmare Warriors seems blissfully unaffected by the WildStorm malaise. By the imprint’s current standards, this is a downright spectacular debut.

The book came with three different covers, but they could all be ordered separately in this case, so it’s unlikely to have provided much of a boost.

—–

109 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
06/2007: The Brave and the Bold #4  -- 55,597
---------------------------------------------
06/2008: The Brave and the Bold #14 -- 34,361 (- 4.1%)
07/2008: The Brave and the Bold #15 -- 32,688 (- 4.9%)
08/2008: The Brave and the Bold #16 -- 31,522 (- 3.6%)
09/2008: The Brave and the Bold #17 -- 29,857 (- 5.3%)
10/2008: The Brave and the Bold #18 -- 28,199 (- 5.5%)
11/2008: The Brave and the Bold #19 -- 26,407 (- 6.4%)
12/2008: The Brave and the Bold #20 -- 25,050 (- 5.1%)
01/2009: The Brave and the Bold #21 -- 24,375 (- 2.7%)
02/2009: The Brave and the Bold #22 -- 23,507 (- 3.6%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: The Brave and the Bold #23 -- 22,312 (- 5.1%)
06/2009: The Brave and the Bold #24 -- 21,272 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: -15.1%
1 year  : -38.1%
2 years : -61.7%

Business as usual. I remain curious what J. Michael Straczynski’s name will do for the numbers once he takes over with issue #27.

—–

111 - GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY
06/2004: Green Arrow #39  -- 33,324
06/2005: Green Arrow #51  -- 31,346
06/2006: Green Arrow #63  -- 37,803
06/2007: Green Arrow #75  -- 35,022
-----------------------------------
06/2008: Arrow/Canary #9  -- 30,330 (- 1.7%)
07/2008: Arrow/Canary #10 -- 29,604 (- 2.4%)
08/2008: Arrow/Canary #11 -- 28,694 (- 3.1%)
09/2008: Arrow/Canary #12 -- 27,896 (- 2.8%)
10/2008: Arrow/Canary #13 -- 26,890 (- 3.6%)
11/2008: Arrow/Canary #14 -- 25,599 (- 4.8%)
12/2008: Arrow/Canary #15 -- 24,526 (- 4.2%)
01/2009: Arrow/Canary #16 -- 24,419 (- 0.4%)
02/2009: Arrow/Canary #17 -- 23,392 (- 4.2%)
03/2009: Arrow/Canary #18 -- 22,699 (- 3.0%)
04/2009: Arrow/Canary #19 -- 21,933 (- 3.4%)
05/2009: Arrow/Canary #20 -- 21,445 (- 2.2%)
06/2009: Arrow/Canary #21 -- 20,807 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -15.2%
1 year  : -31.4%
2 years : -40.6%
5 years : -37.6%

Sliding down the charts, slowly but surely. In July, a price increase and a back-up strip await.

—–

112 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: ESCAPE
05/2009: Escape #1 of 6 -- 29,065
06/2009: Escape #2 of 6 -- 20,576 (-29.2%)

Another Final Crisis Aftermath mini, dropping off the radar.

—–

116 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
06/2007: Jack of Fables #11 -- 19,797
06/2007: Jack of Fables #12 -- 19,337
-------------------------------------
06/2008: Jack of Fables #23 -- 16,144 (- 1.0%)
07/2008: --
08/2008: Jack of Fables #24 -- 15,953 (- 1.2%)
08/2008: Jack of Fables #25 -- 15,642 (- 2.0%)
09/2008: Jack of Fables #26 -- 15,471 (- 1.1%)
10/2008: Jack of Fables #27 -- 15,092 (- 2.5%)
11/2008: Jack of Fables #28 -- 14,528 (- 3.7%)
12/2008: Jack of Fables #29 -- 14,151 (- 2.6%)
01/2009: Jack of Fables #30 -- 13,746 (- 2.9%)
02/2009: Jack of Fables #31 -- 13,586 (- 1.2%)
03/2009: Jack of Fables #32 -- 13,595 (+ 0.1%)
04/2009: Jack of Fables #33 -- 19,242 (+41.5%)
05/2009: Jack of Fables #34 -- 19,420 (+ 0.9%)
06/2009: Jack of Fables #35 -- 19,571 (+ 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: +38.3%
1 year  : +21.2%
2 years : - 0.1%

In its final month, “The Great Fables Crossover” keeps nudging Jack of Fables sales upwards.

—–

118 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: DANCE
05/2009: Dance #1 of 6 -- 27,491
06/2009: Dance #2 of 6 -- 19,420 (-29.4%)

The third Aftermath title.

—–

119 - THE LITERALS (Vertigo)
04/2009: The Literals #1 of 3   -- 20,287
05/2009: The Literals #2 of 3   -- 19,381 (-4.5%)
06/2009: The Literals #3 of 3   -- 19,100 (-1.5%)

Fantastic numbers for a spin-off miniseries, thanks to “The Great Fables Crossover.”

—–

121 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
06/2007: Batman Confidential #6  -- 33,480
------------------------------------------
06/2008: Batman Confidential #18 -- 24,881 (- 0.5%)
07/2008: Batman Confidential #19 -- 25,037 (+ 0.6%)
08/2008: Batman Confidential #20 -- 24,654 (- 1.5%)
09/2008: Batman Confidential #21 -- 24,515 (- 0.6%)
10/2008: Batman Confidential #22 -- 24,281 (- 1.0%)
11/2008: Batman Confidential #23 -- 22,909 (- 5.7%)
12/2008: Batman Confidential #24 -- 21,470 (- 6.3%)
01/2009: Batman Confidential #25 -- 20,517 (- 4.4%)
02/2009: Batman Confidential #26 -- 20,134 (- 1.9%)
03/2009: Batman Confidential #27 -- 19,934 (- 1.0%)
04/2009: Batman Confidential #28 -- 19,540 (- 2.0%)
05/2009: Batman Confidential #29 -- 18,867 (- 3.4%)
06/2009: Batman Confidential #30 -- 18,443 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -14.1%
1 year  : -25.9%
2 years : -44.9%

The fringe Batman title for completists maintains its slow decline.

—–

123 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: INK
05/2009: Ink #1 of 6 -- 25,479
06/2009: Ink #2 of 6 -- 17,964 (-29.5%)

Another Final Crisis Aftermath book with a nigh-30-percent second-issue drop.

—–

133 - ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE (WildStorm)
06/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #1 of 4 -- 32,690 
07/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #2 of 4 -- 29,721 
08/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #3 of 4 -- 28,152 
10/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #4 of 4 -- 27,367
----------------------------------------------
11/2006: The Dark Age/Book 2 #1 of 4 -- 26,993 
02/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #2 of 4 -- 23,412 
04/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #3 of 4 -- 22,727 
09/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #4 of 4 -- 19,764
----------------------------------------------
05/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #1 of 4 -- 18,281 (- 7.5%)
06/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #2 of 4 -- 16,405 (-10.3%)
----------------
2 years :  n.a.
5 years :  n.a.

And again, Astro City: The Dark Age sees a second-issue drop for latest volume, despite the fact that issue #1 already represented a considerable step down compared to Book 2.

On the other hand, the cover price is now $ 3.99, so the economics may be slightly more in its favor than the direct comparison suggests.

—–

134 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
05/2009: The Unwritten #1  -- 26,915
06/2009: The Unwritten #2  -- 16,290 (-39.5%)

That’s a terribly steep drop for a second issue, but, of course, that’s because the first issue had a cover price of $ 1.00. So I doubt the crash comes as a surprise to anyone.

It’s too early to say whether the promotion really worked to boost interest in the series. For now, what’s safe to say is that retailers bought a whole lot more copies of issue #2 than they’d have done otherwise. In fact, the odds are that The Unwritten #2 moved more units than #1 would have, if not for its low introductory price.

Ultimately, the real litmus test will be (a) where the sales of the series are six months from now and (b) the numbers of the first collection.

—–

140 - SOLOMON GRUNDY
01/2009: Faces of Evil: Grundy #1 -- 27,093
02/2009: --
03/2009: Solomon Grundy #1 of 7   -- 23,175 (-14.5%)
04/2009: Solomon Grundy #2 of 7   -- 18,516 (-20.1%)
05/2009: Solomon Grundy #3 of 7   -- 16,482 (-11.0%)
06/2009: Solomon Grundy #4 of 7   -- 15,167 (- 8.0%)

This series is sinking like a stone.

—–

144 - THE LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN
05/2009: TLDoAM #1 of 6 -- 18,976
06/2009: TLDoAM #2 of 6 -- 14,469 (-23.8%)

That drop is on the steep side for a miniseries.

—–

149 - SGT. ROCK: LOST BATTALION
11/2008: Lost Battalion #1 of 6 -- 22,641
12/2008: Lost Battalion #2 of 6 -- 17,525 (-22.6%)
01/2009: Lost Battalion #3 of 6 -- 15,330 (-12.5%)
02/2009: Lost Battalion #4 of 6 -- 14,258 (- 7.0%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: Lost Battalion #5 of 6 -- 13,879 (- 2.7%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Lost Battalion #6 of 6 -- 13,646 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: -22.1%

This one’s been doing all right for a Sgt. Rock book, actually.

—–

151 - EX MACHINA (WildStorm)
06/2004: Ex Machina #1  -- 28,549 [33,224]
06/2005: Ex Machina #12 -- 22,004
06/2006: Ex Machina #21 -- 20,195
06/2007: Ex Machina #29 -- 17,719
---------------------------------
06/2008: Ex Machina #37 -- 14,921 (- 1.8%)
07/2008: --
08/2008: --
09/2008: Ex Machina #38 -- 14,973 (+ 0.4%)
10/2008: --
11/2008: Ex Machina #39 -- 14,194 (- 5.2%)
12/2008: Ex Machina #40 -- 14,067 (- 0.9%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: Ex Machina #41 -- 13,526 (- 3.9%)
05/2009: Ex Machina #42 -- 13,403 (- 0.9%)
06/2009: Ex Machina #43 -- 13,204 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.1%
1 year  : -11.5%
2 years : -25.5%
5 years : -53.8%

Slowly declining.

Obviously, the drops are adding up as time goes on. Ex Machina is slated to reach its natural expiration date with issue #50, however, so I doubt anyone is having sleepless nights over its performance, at this point — particularly since this seems to be the kind of series that’ll still be doing quite well in the book market for years to come.

On the other hand, WildStorm doesn’t have that many books left above the 10K mark, of course.

—–

152 - R.E.B.E.L.S.
02/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #1  -- 23,739
03/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #2  -- 16,122 (-32.1%)
04/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #3  -- 14,442 (-10.4%)
05/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #4  -- 13,468 (- 6.7%)
06/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #5  -- 12,909 (- 4.2%)

The numbers keep bottoming out very slowly.

—–

159 - WARLORD
06/2006: Warlord #5  -- 16,070
------------------------------
04/2009: Warlord #1  -- 17,540
05/2009: Warlord #2  -- 13,390 (-23.7%)
06/2009: Warlord #3  -- 12,283 (- 8.3%)

I’m not sure how much of a chance there is for Warlord to survive its first year, at this stage. I imagine it wouldn’t hurt if it was levelling out very quickly from here on.

—–

160 - WORLD OF WARCRAFT (WildStorm)
06/2008: World of WarCraft #8  -- 23,310 (- 5.2%)
07/2008: World of WarCraft #9  -- 22,203 (- 4.8%)
08/2008: World of WarCraft #10 -- 20,883 (- 6.0%)
09/2008: World of WarCraft #11 -- 19,331 (- 7.4%)
10/2008: World of WarCraft #12 -- 18,200 (- 5.9%)
11/2008: World of WarCraft #13 -- 17,017 (- 6.5%)
12/2008: World of WarCraft #14 -- 16,058 (- 5.6%)
01/2009: World of WarCraft #15 -- 14,996 (- 6.6%)
02/2009: World of WarCraft #16 -- 14,177 (- 5.5%)
03/2009: World of WarCraft #17 -- 13,614 (- 4.0%)
04/2009: World of WarCraft #18 -- 13,110 (- 3.7%)
05/2009: World of WarCraft #19 -- 12,536 (- 4.4%)
06/2009: World of WarCraft #20 -- 12,274 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: -23.6%
1 year  : -47.4%

The decline seems to be slowing down. World of WarCraft is one of those books you’d expect to be doing reasonably well in bookstores, but without any real data to confirm or rule out whether that’s actually the case.

—–

162 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
06/2008: House of Mystery #2  -- 19,485 (-29.1%)
07/2008: House of Mystery #3  -- 18,407 (- 5.5%)
08/2008: House of Mystery #4  -- 17,569 (- 4.6%)
09/2008: House of Mystery #5  -- 16,721 (- 4.8%)
10/2008: House of Mystery #6  -- 15,934 (- 4.7%)
11/2008: House of Mystery #7  -- 15,120 (- 5.1%)
12/2008: House of Mystery #8  -- 14,273 (- 5.6%)
01/2009: House of Mystery #9  -- 13,739 (- 3.7%)
02/2009: House of Mystery #10 -- 13,098 (- 4.7%)
03/2009: House of Mystery #11 -- 12,785 (- 2.4%)
04/2009: House of Mystery #12 -- 12,636 (- 1.2%)
05/2009: House of Mystery #13 -- 14,358 (+13.6%)
06/2009: House of Mystery #14 -- 12,039 (-16.2%)
----------------
6 months: -15.7%
1 year  : -38.2%

The sales spike for the May issue was due to a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition. Overall, House of Mystery appears to have found its niche at 12K.

—–

166 - JONAH HEX
06/2006: Jonah Hex #8  -- 21,006
06/2007: Jonah Hex #20 -- 16,150
--------------------------------
06/2008: Jonah Hex #32 -- 12,969 (- 1.3%)
07/2008: Jonah Hex #33 -- 14,281 (+10.1%)
08/2008: Jonah Hex #34 -- 12,969 (- 9.2%)
09/2008: Jonah Hex #35 -- 13,231 (+ 2.0%)
10/2008: Jonah Hex #36 -- 12,629 (- 4.6%)
11/2008: Jonah Hex #37 -- 12,537 (- 0.7%)
12/2008: Jonah Hex #38 -- 12,132 (- 3.2%)
01/2009: Jonah Hex #39 -- 11,705 (- 3.5%)
02/2009: Jonah Hex #40 -- 11,631 (- 0.6%)
03/2009: Jonah Hex #41 -- 11,564 (- 0.6%)
04/2009: Jonah Hex #42 -- 11,551 (- 0.1%)
05/2009: Jonah Hex #43 -- 11,606 (+ 0.5%)
06/2009: Jonah Hex #44 -- 11,592 (- 0.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.5%
1 year  : -10.6%
2 years : -28.2%

Jonah Hex sales have been very solid over the last five months.

—–

167 - VIGILANTE
12/2008: Vigilante #1      -- 18,236
01/2009: Vigilante #2      -- 13,855 (-24.0%)
02/2009: Vigilante #3      -- 11,264 (-18.7%)
03/2009: Vigilante #4      -- 11,125 (- 1.2%)
04/2009: Vigilante #5      -- 21,290 (+91.4%)
05/2009: Vigilante #6      -- 18,677 (-12.3%)
06/2009: Vigilante #7      -- 11,483 (-38.5%)
----------------
6 months: -37.0%

Crossovers give, and then they take away. Vigilante still sells slightly better than it did three months ago, to be fair. That said, things aren’t looking great.

—–

168 - STRANGE ADVENTURES
03/2009: Strange Adventures #1 of 8  --  22,820
04/2009: Strange Adventures #2 of 8  --  14,499 (-36.5%)
05/2009: Strange Adventures #3 of 8  --  12,515 (-13.7%)
06/2009: Strange Adventures #4 of 8  --  11,441 (- 8.6%)

There doesn’t seem to be enough demand to carry this “superheroes in outer space” kind of material anymore.

—–

170 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
06/2004: Hellblazer #197 -- 15,045
06/2005: Hellblazer #209 -- 15,149
06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973
06/2007: Hellblazer #233 -- 13,201
----------------------------------
06/2008: Hellblazer #245 -- 11,897 (+0.6%)
07/2008: Hellblazer #246 -- 12,088 (+1.6%)
08/2008: --
09/2008: Hellblazer #247 -- 11,851 (-2.0%)
10/2008: Hellblazer #248 -- 11,600 (-2.1%)
11/2008: Hellblazer #249 -- 11,445 (-1.3%)
12/2008: Hellblazer #250 -- 12,478 (+9.0%)
01/2009: Hellblazer #251 -- 11,290 (-9.5%)
02/2009: Hellblazer #252 -- 11,174 (-1.0%)
03/2009: Hellblazer #253 -- 11,132 (-0.4%)
04/2009: Hellblazer #254 -- 11,053 (-0.7%)
05/2009: Hellblazer #255 -- 10,937 (-1.1%)
06/2009: Hellblazer #256 -- 10,898 (-0.4%)
----------------
6 months: -12.7%
1 year  : - 8.4%
2 years : -17.5%
5 years : -27.6%

Time keeps nibbling away at Hellblazer sales.

—–

177 - MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
06/2008: Madame Xanadu #1  -- 22,073
07/2008: Madame Xanadu #2  -- 16,655 (-24.6%)
08/2008: Madame Xanadu #3  -- 13,052 (- 3.3%)
09/2008: Madame Xanadu #4  -- 12,329 (- 5.5%)
10/2008: Madame Xanadu #5  -- 11,392 (- 7.6%)
11/2008: Madame Xanadu #6  -- 12,340 (+ 8.3%)
12/2008: Madame Xanadu #7  -- 10,272 (-16.8%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: Madame Xanadu #8  --  9,932 (- 3.3%)
03/2009: Madame Xanadu #9  --  9,798 (- 1.4%)
04/2009: Madame Xanadu #10 --  9,664 (- 1.4%)
05/2009: Madame Xanadu #11 -- 10,179 (+ 5.3%)
06/2009: Madame Xanadu #12 --  9,949 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.2%
1 year  : -54.9%

The guest stint by artist Michael Wm. Kaluta keeps sales slightly up on previous months.

—–

181 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
06/2004: The Authority v2 #13 -- 20,979
06/2005: Revolution #9  of 12 -- 19,329
06/2007: --
---------------------------------------
08/2008: The Authority v4 #1  -- 15,735 (+17.7%)
09/2008: The Authority v4 #2  -- 14,324 (- 9.0%)
10/2008: The Authority v4 #3  -- 13,408 (- 6.4%)
11/2008: The Authority v4 #4  -- 12,450 (- 7.2%)
12/2008: The Authority v4 #5  -- 11,534 (- 7.4%)
01/2009: The Authority v4 #6  -- 10,673 (- 7.5%)
02/2009: The Authority v4 #7  -- 10,553 (- 1.1%)
03/2009: The Authority v4 #8  --  9,990 (- 5.3%)
04/2009: The Authority v4 #9  --  9,748 (- 2.4%)
05/2009: The Authority v4 #10 --  9,531 (- 2.2%)
06/2009: The Authority v4 #11 --  9,204 (- 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: -20.2%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -56.1%

The WildStorm Universe flagship title, stumbling along at 9,000 units.

—–

182 - SEAGUY: SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE (Vertigo)
05/2004: Seaguy #1 of 3 -- 21,512 [23,096]
06/2004: Seaguy #2 of 3 -- 18,581
07/2004: Seaguy #3 of 3 -- 16,601
---------------------------------
04/2009: SoME #1 of 3   -- 12,739
05/2009: SoME #2 of 3   -- 10,082 (-20.9%)
06/2009: SoME #3 of 3   --  9,191 (- 8.8%)

No doubt, Slaves of Mickey Eye will live a long life once it’s been collected. Still, any brand that can’t get a comic book by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart to sell 10,000 units has some very fundamental issues.

It’s worth mentioning that Seaguy sales also went up to $ 3.99 since the first series, but I’m not sure how much of a consolation that is.

—–

185 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Northlanders #7  -- 11,918 (- 0.8%)
07/2008: Northlanders #8  -- 11,477 (- 3.7%)
08/2008: Northlanders #9  -- 11,063 (- 3.6%)
09/2008: Northlanders #10 -- 10,738 (- 2.9%)
10/2008: Northlanders #11 -- 10,353 (- 3.6%)
11/2008: Northlanders #12 -- 10,048 (- 3.0%)
12/2008: Northlanders #13 --  9,777 (- 2.7%)
01/2009: Northlanders #14 --  9,467 (- 3.2%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: Northlanders #15 --  9,443 (- 0.2%)
04/2008: Northlanders #16 --  9,323 (- 1.3%)
05/2008: Northlanders #17 --  9,239 (- 0.9%)
06/2008: Northlanders #18 --  8,877 (- 3.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.2%
1 year  :  n.a.

Slowly declining.

—–

188 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
06/2008: Tiny Titans #5  -- 10,909 (+ 5.2%)
07/2008: Tiny Titans #6  -- 10,636 (- 2.5%)
08/2008: Tiny Titans #7  -- 10,234 (- 3.8%)
09/2008: Tiny Titans #8  --  9,795 (- 4.3%)
10/2008: Tiny Titans #9  --  9,521 (- 2.8%)
11/2008: Tiny Titans #10 --  9,239 (- 3.0%)
12/2008: Tiny Titans #11 --  9,085 (- 1.7%)
01/2009: Tiny Titans #12 --  8,733 (- 3.9%)
02/2009: Tiny Titans #13 --  8,710 (- 0.3%)
03/2009: Tiny Titans #14 --  8,736 (+ 0.3%)
04/2009: Tiny Titans #15 --  9,207 (+ 5.4%)
05/2009: Tiny Titans #16 --  8,844 (- 3.9%)
06/2009: Tiny Titans #17 --  8,640 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.9%
1 year  : -20.8%

A Johnny DC title. See fine print.

—–

192/196 - THE SPIRIT
06/2007: The Spirit #7     -- 22,621
------------------------------------
06/2008: The Spirit #18    -- 13,257 (- 5.7%)
07/2008: The Spirit #19    -- 12,709 (- 4.1%)
08/2008: The Spirit #20    -- 12,358 (- 2.8%)
09/2008: The Spirit #21    -- 11,551 (- 6.5%)
10/2008: The Spirit #22    -- 10,997 (- 4.8%)
11/2008: The Spirit #23    -- 10,372 (- 5.7%)
12/2008: The Spirit #24    -- 10,048 (- 3.1%)
01/2009: The Spirit #25    --  9,576 (- 4.7%)
02/2009: The Spirit #26    --  9,405 (- 1.8%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: The Spirit #27    --  8,785 (- 6.6%)
05/2009: The Spirit #28    --  8,329 (- 5.2%)
06/2009: The Spirit #29    --  8,273 (- 0.7%)
06/2009: The Spirit #30    --  8,103 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: -18.5%
1 year  : -38.2%
2 years : -64.2%

Cancelled with issue #32.

—–

200 - STARCRAFT (WildStorm)
05/2009: StarCraft #1  -- 11,744
06/2009: StarCraft #2  --  7,933 (-32.5%)

A harsh, but not unusual second-issue drop. There was a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition.

—–

201 - DMZ (Vertigo)
06/2006: DMZ #8  -- 14,999
06/2007: DMZ #20 -- 12,704
--------------------------
06/2008: DMZ #32 --  9,760 (-1.5%)
07/2008: DMZ #33 --  9,684 (-0.8%)
08/2008: DMZ #34 --  9,561 (-1.3%)
09/2008: --  
10/2008: DMZ #35 --  9,240 (-3.4%)
11/2008: DMZ #36 --  8,851 (-4.2%)
12/2008: DMZ #37 --  8,823 (-0.3%)
01/2009: DMZ #38 --  8,457 (-4.2%)
02/2009: DMZ #39 --  8,353 (-1.2%)
03/2009: DMZ #40 --  8,167 (-2.2%)
04/2009: DMZ #41 --  8,061 (-1.3%)
05/2009: --  
06/2009: DMZ #42 --  7,927 (-1.7%)
----------------
6 months: -10.2%
1 year  : -18.8%
2 years : -37.6%

Standard attrition.

—–

202 - BILLY BATSON & THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM (Johnny DC)
07/2008: Billy Batson #1  -- 20,340
08/2008: --
09/2008: Billy Batson #2  -- 12,363 (-39.2%)
10/2008: --
11/2008: --
12/2008: Billy Batson #3  --  9,852 (-20.3%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: Billy Batson #4  --  8,470 (-14.0%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Billy Batson #5  --  7,869 (- 7.1%)
----------------
6 months: -20.1%

A Johnny DC book.

—–

203 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
06/2004: Version 3.0 #22 -- 13,662
06/2007: --
----------------------------------
07/2008: World's End #1  -- 16,895 (-79.5%)
08/2008: World's End #2  -- 13,311 (-21.2%)
09/2008: World's End #3  -- 13,559 (+ 1.9%)
10/2008: World's End #4  -- 12,431 (- 8.3%)
11/2008: World's End #5  -- 11,280 (- 9.3%)
12/2008: World's End #6  -- 10,450 (- 7.4%)
01/2009: World's End #7  --  9,539 (- 8.7%)
02/2009: World's End #8  --  9,040 (- 5.2%)
03/2009: World's End #9  --  8,758 (- 3.1%)
04/2009: World's End #10 --  8,460 (- 3.4%)
05/2009: World's End #11 --  8,165 (- 3.5%)
06/2009: World's End #12 --  7,863 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -24.8%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -42.5%

The former WildStorm Universe flagship series keeps plummeting down the charts.

—–

206 - BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
06/2004: Batman Adventures #15 -- 12,042
06/2005: Batman Strikes! #10   -- 10,048
06/2006: Batman Strikes! #22   --  8,104
06/2007: Batman Strikes! #34   --  7,115
----------------------------------------
06/2008: Batman Strikes! #46   --  7,118 (+  7.7%)
07/2008: Batman Strikes! #47   --  7,711 (+  8.3%)
08/2008: Batman Strikes! #48   --  6,702 (- 13.1%)
09/2008: Batman Strikes! #49   --  6,387 (-  4.7%)
10/2008: Batman Strikes! #50   --  6,413 (+  0.4%)
11/2008: --
12/2008: --
01/2009: Brave & Bold #1       -- 13,935 (+117.3%)
02/2009: Brave & Bold #2       --  8,678 (- 37.7%)
03/2009: Brave & Bold #3       --  8,184 (-  5.7%)
04/2009: Brave & Bold #4       --  8,381 (+  2.4%)
05/2009: Brave & Bold #5       --  7,994 (-  4.6%)
06/2009: Brave & Bold #6       --  7,614 (-  4.8%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 7.0%
2 years : + 7.0%
5 years : -36.8%

Another Johnny DC book.

—–

207 - UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Vertigo)
10/2008: Unknown Soldier #1  -- 16,038
11/2008: Unknown Soldier #2  -- 10,553 (-34.2%)
12/2008: Unknown Soldier #3  --  9,926 (- 5.9%)
01/2009: Unknown Soldier #4  --  8,711 (-12.2%)
02/2009: Unknown Soldier #5  --  8,348 (- 4.2%)
03/2009: Unknown Soldier #6  --  8,177 (- 2.1%)
04/2009: Unknown Soldier #7  --  8,631 (+ 5.6%)
05/2009: Unknown Soldier #8  --  7,705 (-10.7%)
06/2009: Unknown Soldier #9  --  7,586 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: -23.6%

Unknown Soldier may have found its level.

—–

212 - THE MIGHTY
02/2009: The Mighty #1  --  17,956
03/2009: The Mighty #2  --  10,624 (-40.8%)
04/2009: The Mighty #3  --   8,777 (-17.4%)
05/2009: The Mighty #4  --   7,565 (-13.8%)
06/2009: The Mighty #5  --   7,104 (- 6.1%)

Not long for this world, surely.

—–

213 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
06/2007: Scalped #6  --  8,689
------------------------------
06/2008: Scalped #18 --  7,020 (+ 1.3%)
07/2008: Scalped #19 --  7,221 (+ 2.9%)
08/2008: Scalped #20 --  7,034 (- 2.6%)
09/2008: Scalped #21 --  7,029 (- 0.1%)
10/2008: Scalped #22 --  6,964 (- 0.9%)
11/2008: Scalped #23 --  6,910 (- 0.8%)
12/2008: Scalped #24 --  6,777 (- 1.9%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: Scalped #25 --  6,887 (+ 1.6%)
03/2009: Scalped #26 --  6,866 (- 0.3%)
04/2009: Scalped #27 --  6,950 (+ 1.2%)
04/2009: Scalped #28 --  6,860 (- 1.3%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Scalped #29 --  7,078 (+ 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: + 4.4%
1 year  : + 0.8%
2 years : -18.5%

The book keeps sticking to the 7,000-unit area.

—–

217 - AIR (Vertigo)
08/2008: Air #1  -- 13,868
09/2008: Air #2  -- 10,971 (-20.9%)
10/2008: Air #3  -- 10,061 (- 8.3%)
11/2008: Air #4  --  8,913 (-11.4%)
12/2008: Air #5  --  8,412 (- 5.6%)
01/2009: Air #6  --  7,607 (- 9.6%)
02/2009: --
03/2009: Air #7  -- 10,290 (+35.3%)
04/2009: Air #8  --  7,216 (-29.9%)
05/2009: Air #9  --  7,115 (- 1.4%)
06/2009: Air #10 --  6,954 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -17.3%

Standard attrition.

—–

218 - GEN13 (WildStorm)
06/2007: Gen13 #9  -- 18,644
----------------------------
06/2008: --
07/2008: --
08/2008: Gen13 #21 -- 11,074 (- 3.1%)
09/2008: Gen13 #22 -- 10,533 (- 4.9%)
10/2008: Gen13 #23 -- 10,061 (- 4.5%)
11/2008: Gen13 #24 --  9,460 (- 6.0%)
12/2008: Gen13 #25 --  8,954 (- 5.4%)
01/2009: Gen13 #26 --  8,341 (- 6.9%)
02/2009: Gen13 #27 --  7,929 (- 4.9%)
03/2009: Gen13 #28 --  7,593 (- 4.2%)
04/2009: Gen13 #29 --  7,313 (- 3.7%)
05/2008: --
06/2008: Gen13 #30 --  6,880 (- 5.9%)
----------------
6 months: -23.2%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -63.1%

Gen13 keeps declining rather too briskly for comfort. Despite the depressing sales level, WildStorm is holding on to the book — they just announced a new creative team set to take over with issue #33.

—–

222 - FRINGE (WildStorm)
09/2008: Fringe #1 of 6 -- 15,929
10/2008: --
11/2008: --
12/2008: --
01/2009: Fringe #2 of 6 --  8,239 (-48.3%)
02/2009: --
03/2009: Fringe #3 of 6 --  7,426 (- 9.9%)
04/2009: Fringe #4 of 6 --  6,899 (- 7.1%)
05/2009: Fringe #5 of 6 --  6,744 (- 2.3%)
06/2009: Fringe #6 of 6 --  6,646 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
237 - GEARS OF WAR SOURCEBOOK (WildStorm)
06/2009: GoW Sourcebook --  5,618

The usual for WildStorm’s licensed properties.

—–

239 - SUPER FRIENDS (Johnny DC)
06/2008: Super Friends #4  --  8,038 (+ 0.0%)
07/2008: Super Friends #5  --  7,141 (-11.2%)
08/2008: Super Friends #6  --  6,671 (- 6.6%)
09/2008: Super Friends #7  --  6,428 (- 3.6%)
10/2008: Super Friends #8  --  6,153 (- 4.3%)
11/2008: Super Friends #9  --  5,739 (- 6.7%)
12/2008: Super Friends #10 --  5,543 (- 3.4%)
01/2009: Super Friends #11 --  5,500 (- 0.8%)
02/2009: Super Friends #12 --  5,394 (- 1.9%)
03/2009: Super Friends #13 --  5,387 (- 0.1%)
04/2009: Super Friends #14 --  5,792 (+ 7.5%)
05/2009: Super Friends #15 --  5,513 (- 4.8%)
06/2009: Super Friends #16 --  5,548 (+ 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.1%
1 year  : -31.0%

Another Johnny DC title.

—–

241 - YOUNG LIARS (Vertigo)
06/2008: Young Liars #4  --  8,590 (- 4.1%)
07/2008: Young Liars #5  --  8,172 (- 4.9%)
08/2008: Young Liars #6  --  7,862 (- 3.8%)
09/2008: Young Liars #7  --  7,520 (- 4.4%)
10/2008: Young Liars #8  --  7,265 (- 3.4%)
11/2008: Young Liars #9  --  6,775 (- 6.8%)
12/2008: Young Liars #10 --  6,646 (- 1.9%)
01/2009: Young Liars #11 --  6,081 (- 8.5%)
02/2009: Young Liars #12 --  5,820 (- 4.3%)
03/2009: Young Liars #13 --  5,735 (- 1.5%)
04/2009: Young Liars #14 --  5,698 (- 0.7%)
05/2009: Young Liars #15 --  5,518 (- 3.2%)
06/2009: Young Liars #16 --  5,374 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -19.1%
1 year  : -37.4%

Cancelled with issue #18.

—–

249 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS: THROUGH THE AGES
06/2009: GLC: Through the Ages --  5,157

This one’s a reprint book originally included in some kind of toy package.

—–

251 - DEAD ROMEO
05/2009: Dead Romeo #1 of 6 --  9,439
06/2009: Dead Romeo #2 of 6 --  6,155 (-34.8%)
07/2009: Dead Romeo #3 of 6 --  5,068 (-17.7%)
265 - STORMING PARADISE (WildStorm)
07/2008: Storming Paradise #1 of 6 -- 9,965
08/2008: Storming Paradise #2 of 6 -- 7,282 (-26.9%)
09/2008: Storming Paradise #3 of 6 -- 6,113 (-16.1%)
10/2008: --
11/2008: Storming Paradise #4 of 6 -- 5,566 (- 9.0%)
12/2008: --
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: Storming Paradise #5 of 6 -- 4,595 (-17.5%)
06/2009: Storming Paradise #6 of 6 -- 4,359 (- 5.1%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
268 - KILLAPALOOZA (WildStorm)
05/2009: Killapalooza #1 of 6 --  7,031
06/2009: Killapalooza #2 of 6 --  4,316 (-38.6%)
270 - PROTOTYPE (WildStorm)
04/2009: Prototype #1 of 6 -- 8,871
05/2009: Prototype #2 of 6 -- 4,906 (-44.7%)
06/2009: Prototype #3 of 6 -- 4,259 (-13.2%)

Various books with catastrophic numbers.

—–

275 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
06/2004: Scooby Doo #85  -- 5,733
06/2005: Scooby Doo #97  -- 4,819
06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423
06/2007: Scooby Doo #121 -- 4,415
---------------------------------
06/2008: Scooby Doo #133 -- 4,501 (+ 4.5%)
07/2008: Scooby Doo #134 -- 4,286 (- 4.8%)
08/2008: Scooby Doo #135 -- 4,226 (- 1.4%)
09/2008: Scooby Doo #136 -- 4,283 (+ 1.4%)
10/2008: Scooby Doo #137 -- ?
11/2008: Scooby Doo #138 -- 4,068
12/2008: Scooby Doo #139 -- ?
01/2009: Scooby Doo #140 -- 3,800
02/2009: Scooby Doo #141 -- 3,861 (+ 1.6%)
03/2009: Scooby Doo #142 -- 3,863 (+ 0.1%)
04/2009: Scooby Doo #143 -- 4,610 (+19.3%)
05/2009: Scooby Doo #144 -- 4,062 (-11.9%)
06/2009: Scooby Doo #145 -- 4,093 (+ 0.8%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : - 9.1%
2 years : - 7.3%
5 years : -28.6%

Another Johnny DC series.

—–

290 - BANG! TANGO (Vertigo)
02/2009: Bang! Tango #1 of 6 --  6,743
03/2009: Bang! Tango #2 of 6 --  4,539 (-32.7%)
04/2009: Bang! Tango #3 of 6 --  3,847 (-15.3%)
05/2009: Bang! Tango #4 of 6 --  3,448 (-10.4%)
06/2009: Bang! Tango #5 of 6 --  3,220 (- 6.6%)

Vertigo’s Bang! Tango barely makes the Top 300, while WildStorm’s final issue of Mysterius, which also came out in June, misses it.

For the sake of the average-sales charts below, as usual, I’m assuming that Mysterius #6 sold the same amount of copies as the No. 300 comic did, which in this case would be 2,918. The real number is likely to be a little lower.

—–

REORDERS:
226:  6,405 -- The Flash: Rebirth #1
272:  4,238 -- Batman #686
284:  3,734 -- Teen Titans #71 (2nd)
6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+213.6%: Flash
+160.1%: GC Sirens
+130.4%: Red Robin
+ 44.4%: GL Corps
+ 38.3%: Jack of Fables
+ 29.9%: Green Lantern
+ 12.1%: Detective Comics
+ 10.3%: Batman
+  4.4%: Scalped
+  2.9%: Fables
+  1.3%: Wonder Woman
+  0.3%: Super Friends
-  1.6%: Secret Six
-  3.2%: Madame Xanadu
-  4.5%: Jonah Hex
-  4.9%: Tiny Titans
-  6.1%: Ex Machina
-  9.2%: Northlanders
- 10.2%: DMZ
- 11.7%: Teen Titans
- 12.7%: Hellblazer
- 13.5%: Booster Gold
- 14.1%: Batman Confidential
- 14.6%: Outsiders
- 15.1%: Brave & Bold
- 15.2%: Green Arrow
- 15.7%: House of Mystery
- 16.8%: Superman/Batman
- 17.3%: Air
- 17.5%: Titans
- 17.7%: JLA
- 18.5%: Spirit
- 19.1%: Young Liars
- 20.1%: Billy Batson
- 20.2%: Authority
- 22.1%: Sgt. Rock
- 23.2%: Gen13
- 23.3%: JSA
- 23.6%: Unknown Soldier
- 23.6%: WoW
- 24.8%: Wildcats
- 27.0%: Superman
- 28.1%: Supergirl
- 30.0%: Action Comics
- 37.0%: Vigilante

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+169.7%: Flash
+142.9%: GC Sirens
+ 48.8%: Detective Comics
+ 34.1%: GL Corps
+ 29.8%: Green Lantern
+ 21.2%: Jack of Fables
+ 10.7%: Supergirl
+  7.0%: Batman: Brave & Bold
+  0.8%: Scalped
-  8.4%: Hellblazer
-  9.1%: Scooby-Doo
- 10.6%: Jonah Hex
- 11.5%: Ex Machina
- 11.7%: Wonder Woman
- 18.8%: DMZ
- 20.2%: Action Comics
- 20.7%: Outsiders
- 20.8%: Tiny Titans
- 21.2%: Teen Titans
- 25.9%: Batman Confidential
- 26.1%: Superman
- 27.3%: Superman/Batman
- 28.1%: JLA
- 31.0%: Super Friends
- 31.4%: Green Arrow
- 31.9%: JSA
- 32.6%: Booster Gold
- 37.4%: Young Liars
- 38.1%: Brave & Bold
- 38.2%: House of Mystery
- 38.2%: Spirit
- 40.7%: Titans
- 47.7%: WoW
- 54.9%: Madame Xanadu

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+144.5%: Red Robin
+ 93.9%: GL Corps
+ 83.2%: GC Sirens
+ 34.6%: Detective Comics
+  7.0%: Batman: Brave & Bold
-  0.1%: Jack of Fables
-  7.3%: Scooby-Doo
-  8.9%: Fables
- 13.5%: Flash
- 16.6%: Outsiders
- 17.5%: Hellblazer
- 18.5%: Scalped
- 24.4%: Superman
- 25.5%: Ex Machina
- 28.2%: Jonah Hex
- 35.0%: Supergirl
- 37.6%: DMZ
- 39.9%: Wonder Woman
- 40.6%: Green Arrow
- 41.6%: Teen Titans
- 44.8%: Superman/Batman
- 44.9%: Batman Confidential
- 52.7%: JLA
- 61.7%: Brave & Bold
- 63.1%: Gen13
- 64.2%: Spirit

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+149.9%: Green Lantern
+110.1%: Detective Comics
+ 81.7%: Flash
+ 63.7%: GC Sirens
+ 57.7%: Red Robin
+ 34.6%: Batman
+ 23.2%: JSA
+ 12.1%: Wonder Woman
-  8.3%: Fables
- 15.0%: Action Comics
- 19.0%: JLA
- 27.6%: Hellblazer
- 28.6%: Scooby-Doo
- 36.5%: Outsiders
- 36.8%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 37.6%: Green Arrow
- 42.5%: Wildcats
- 46.5%: Teen Titans
- 53.8%: Ex Machina
- 56.1%: Authority
- 75.1%: Superman

—–

Average Periodical Sales
(not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, Johnny DC titles and magazines)

DC COMICS
06/2004: 30,242
06/2005: 32,001
06/2006: 42,339
06/2007: 34,017
---------------
06/2008: 27,367 (+ 1.1%)
07/2008: 27,436 (+ 0.3%)**
08/2008: 29,678 (+ 8.2%)
09/2008: 25,562 (-13.9%)
10/2008: 29,109 (+13.9%)**
11/2008: 25,340 (-13.0%)
12/2008: 26,793 (+ 5.7%)**
01/2009: 24,273 (- 9.4%)
02/2009: 23,080 (- 4.9%)
03/2009: 21,792 (- 5.6%)
04/2009: 27,373 (+25.6%)**
05/2009: 24,386 (-10.9%)
06/2009: 25,880 (+ 6.1%)**
----------------
6 months: - 3.4%
1 year  : - 5.4%
2 years : -23.9%
5 years : -14.4%
DC UNIVERSE
06/2004: 35,815
06/2005: 39,888
06/2006: 53,274
06/2007: 47,986
---------------
06/2008: 35,800 (+ 1.6%)
07/2008: 35,553 (- 0.7%)
08/2008: 38,502 (+ 8.3%)
09/2008: 33,591 (-13.0%)
10/2008: 37,273 (+11.0%)
11/2008: 33,096 (-11.2%)
12/2008: 35,050 (+ 5.9%)
01/2009: 32,705 (- 6.7%)
02/2009: 30,224 (- 7.6%)
03/2009: 31,336 (+ 3.7%)
04/2009: 38,150 (+21.8%)
05/2009: 33,163 (-13.1%)
06/2009: 36,329 (+ 9.6%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.7%
1 year  : + 1.5%
2 years : -24.3%
5 years : + 1.4%
VERTIGO
06/2004: 17,378
06/2005: 14,165
06/2006: 14,956
06/2007: 12,986
---------------
06/2008: 10,491 (+ 0.7%)
07/2008: 10,821 (+ 3.2%)**
08/2008: 10,979 (+ 1.5%)
09/2008: 11,748 (+ 7.0%)
10/2008: 11,284 (- 4.0%)
11/2008: 11,936 (+ 5.8%)
12/2008: 11,603 (- 2.8%)
01/2009: 10,980 (- 5.4%)
02/2009: 11,353 (+ 3.4%)
03/2009: 10,177 (-10.4%)
04/2009: 10,767 (+ 5.8%)
05/2009: 12,918 (+20.0%)
06/2009: 11,166 (-13.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.8%
1 year  : + 6.4%
2 years : -14.0%
5 years : -35.8%
WILDSTORM
06/2004: 18,189
06/2005: 19,059
06/2006: 15,056
06/2007: 12,272
---------------
06/2008:  9,806 (- 0.1%)
07/2008:  9,875 (+ 0.7%)**
08/2008: 10,064 (+ 1.9%)
09/2008: 11,864 (+17.9%)
10/2008: 10,736 (- 9.5%)**
11/2008: 10,220 (- 4.8%)
12/2008:  9,415 (- 7.9%)**
01/2009:  6,851 (-27.2%)
02/2009:  8,019 (+17.1%)
03/2009:  8,954 (+11.7%)
04/2009:  8,277 (- 7.6%)**
05/2009:  8,579 (+ 3.7%)
06/2009:  8,805 (+ 2.6%)**
----------------
6 months: - 6.5%
1 year  : -10.2%
2 years : -28.3%
5 years : -51.6%

—–
Disclaimers, et cetera

The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales 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 are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month. The estimates from March 2001 to February 2003 (marked with an asterisk) were for initial orders rather than actual sales, so they’re only roughly compatible with the subsequent figures.

Bear in mind that the figures measure sales to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include sales to bookstores, newsstands, other mass market retail chains or the United Kingdom. Reorders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book’s initial month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month.

If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after the book’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.

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. For most Vertigo and some WildStorm titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well. To learn (a little) more about Vertigo’s collection sales, go right here.

** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that month. In those cases, it’s assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales may be less than that.

—–
Germany-based Marc-Oliver Frisch has a weblog and regularly contributes to Comicgate.

1 COMMENT

  1. 134 – THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
    05/2009: The Unwritten #1 — 26,915
    06/2009: The Unwritten #2 — 16,290 (-39.5%)

    #1 (@ $1.00) = $26,915 gross
    #2 (@ $2.99) = $48,707.10 gross

    Best Vertigo title after Fables.

    Then there are the #1 readers who will probably remember either the first issue or the preview, and try the trade collection. (The story has lots of meat… almost needs annotations.)

    Did the regular-price reprinting of Unwritten #1 chart at all? (I bought a copy.)

    (And the coding needs tweaking… text is overflowing the margins…)

  2. For both this and the Marvel breakdown, I think it would be great if they would list the entire top 100 or so, even if they only comment on the books they usually comment on. The ones they don’t comment on would just be the ranking and title. Otherwise one has to jump back and forth between the two if you want to see how the two companies’ books are doing against each other.

  3. @Glenn, Why not just go to the original chart if you want to compare those numbers (or use tabbed browsing and have all three open)?

    It will be interesting to see the impact DC has in July, between the Blackest Night stuff, Wednesday Comics, and the Bat books continuing.

    It’s good to see Madame Xanadu holding somewhat steady, and Secret Six stabilising. Hopefully Greek Street gets a Strong July debut.

  4. Lots of good news this month. But I still found some things to complain about:

    “GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
    This one’s basically a new incarnation of Birds of Prey, only now with villains Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn in the leading roles.”

    So it’s the same, but totally different? Seriously, I have no idea what you are saying here. How are these books related at all, except for the lead characters’ sex? Combined with that Power Girl joke, you just might be inviting sexism accusations this month ;-)

    “SEAGUY: SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE
    Still, any brand that can’t get a comic book by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart to sell 10,000 units has some very fundamental issues.”

    This seems far too negative to me. Sure, one might have hoped for better sales on this book, but realistically, you might just as soon say that any brand that manages to sell more than 9,000 monthly units of a book this weird and uncommercial must be quite strong. Is there really any writer whose name guarantees success? I seem to remember even Gaiman’s Eternals numbers being rather modest, and that was set in the Marvel Universe and certainly not as quirky as Seaguy. Or how about Powers, that is rather similar to Bendis’s MU work and still sells far worse (as did Alias). If even Marvel’s most succesful and influental writer isn’t a sales guarantee on less mainstream projects, how could you expect GM to be, especially on a book as far removed from mainstream sensibilities as this?

  5. Glenn,

    That would add a whole lot of additional clutter, and I’m not sure there would be that much of a benefit to it. ICv2.com’s charts, which we always link to from the column, ar probably a better way to gauge that sort of thing.

  6. Re: Strange Adventures:
    There doesn’t seem to be enough demand to carry this “superheroes in outer space” kind of material anymore.

    Is that the right conclusion?

    Green Lantern Corps is moving 40K-60K per month, and over at Marvel, there’s a whole microbrand of “superheroes in space” that even has its own crossover events.

  7. Heinz,

    Have you ever LOOKED at a Power Girl comic…?

    Regarding GOTHAM CITY SIRENS and BIRDS OF PREY: As far as I’m aware, there aren’t any other Batman spin-offs with three female characters in the lead, so, given that one is following in the publishing slot of the other, it seemed like a natural connection to make.

    If that makes me a sexist by your definition, be my guest.

  8. Skipper,

    I wouldn’t necessarily compare it to GREEN LANTERN — there are a lot of other factors involved in that case.

    But you’ve got a fair point on the Marvel stuff: Clearly, some “superheroes in outer space” comics are working better than others.

  9. I like seeing Scalped posting a sales increase without some sort of event or other promotion. Obviously, sales aren’t spectacular by any means, but there’s got to be some kind of word of mouth thing going on there.

  10. I (also) think that you can’t really compare “Birds of Prey” with “Gotham City Sirens.” Despite the presence of Oracle and the Huntress, it’s arguable if “BOP” was ever a Batman-family book. Anyway, given that the entire cast of the book, as well as the title, is different, I’d say “Birds” is just plain gone. Any book that ends up showcasing Barbara Gordon is the rightful descendant to “BOP.” (Maybe she’ll be mentoring the new Batgirl?)

  11. I would think “Gotham City Sirens” is more a successor to “Catwoman”, given that it stars Catwoman, is set in Gotham (which BOP has not been in years), and follows up on Catwoman’s arc from “Detective Comics”.

  12. Maybe we could say that Starlin is simply outdated? In essence he is writing same stories he wrote back in the day at Marvel.

  13. Shame about the Warlord series. Customer at my LCS refuses to even look at it because the previous series was so bad.
    __________________

    The Superman titles are getting their best reviews in ages, yet sales are way down. This doesn’t make logical sense, but perhaps it makes geek sense.

  14. @Alan Coil:

    Well, I was totally onboard for the Frank/Johns “Action” run and then they pulled the rug out from under us, removing not only the creative team, but the characters as well. I moved over to “Superman” because I’m a big Legion fan, but there’s only so much Robinson I can take and now I’ve dropped that as well. Looks like I’m no tthe only one.

    Hopefully “Superman: Secret Origin” is worth it, because DC is losing readers on this gamble right now.

  15. Barbara Gordon will have a role in the new Batgirl series. In fact, the end of the final issue of the Oracle mini directed readers to Batgirl No. 1, so that should settle that. Clearly, that’s the proper comparison down the line.

    And I agree that Sirens is better compared to Catwoman, if it requires any comparison at all. Really, I think it can stand on its own.

  16. Regarding Strange Adventures:

    I’m guessing that some people may just be burnt out on these characters and the decompressed story telling. Personally, I enjoyed them when they started, but have grown increasingly tired of how each series seems to exist mostly to set up the next one.

    Anecdotally, I have spoken with two people who have given one or both of these reasons as to why they have bought the previous “Starlin Space” series and those are the reasons that I would skip any future Starlin stories featuring these characters, even though I am still buying this one and have purchased the previous volumes.

  17. “The Superman titles are getting their best reviews in ages, yet sales are way down. This doesn’t make logical sense, but perhaps it makes geek sense.”

    Well, they’re Superman books without Superman. I can understand people who, despite the good reviews, don’t necessary want to read about Nightwing and Flamebird or Mon-El and the Guardian.

  18. birds of prey wasn’t even edited by the bat office. they always resisted being dragged into those crossovers. and gotham city sirens is certainly no successor.

  19. I would say that instead of comparing Gotham City Sirens to Birds of Prey, you should compare it to Catwoman (seeing as she is one of the principles in the new title).

  20. Well, I hear you. I don’t particularly agree, for various reasons, but bear in mind this is the sales chart, not any kind of elaborate value judgment of the content. Ultimately, I don’t think it matters that much where I physically (or digitally, as it were) attach the listing for a given series.

  21. 177 – MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
    —————-
    6 months: – 3.2%
    1 year : -54.9%

    This isn´t a surprise. Lovely artwork, immensly boring first arc with a blah ending. This was disappointing for a writer of Wagner´s calibre. No wonder it dropped that harshly. I was on the verge of dropping it, when the Kaluta issues arrived. Much more interesting than the miss-conceived “lets hunt The Phantom Stranger through the centuries and yell at him” nonsense which run for 10 issues.

    Warlord is also a big disappointment. Bland artwork, terribly written.

  22. I think it’s interesting to note these elements:

    – Batman & Robin #1 went into second and third prints, and #2 went into a second print
    – the series has received great reviews, a lot of buzz and positive word-of-mouth
    – interest in the bat-line was already high, with RIP, Whatever hapenned… and Batle for the cowl

    So while the 1:250 variant might have boosted sales in some way, there are also some indications that there is a true interest in the series also, and that the 169k might not be THAT boosted up by the variant. Still, as the analysis states, we’ll see…

  23. 06/2009: Justice League #34 — 61,115 (- 4.3%)
    —————-
    6 months: -17.7%
    1 year : -28.1%
    2 years : -52.7%
    5 years : -19.0%Issue #34 is the first of four interim issues bridging the gap until a new creative team takes over in October. Sales-wise, it’s business as usual for the book: It continues to slide down the chart.

    ——————————————————–

    Actually, if I’m not mistaking, issue #34 was the final issue of McDuffie and the concluding chapter of the Strabreaker storyline, so it was not an interim issue. Len Wein takes over as writer for 3 issues before the new creative team takes over in October.

  24. Royd, I think it’s almost beyond question that the sales for BATMAN & ROBIN #1 will have been VERY significantly boosted by the 1:250 variant cover. That’s the point, after all, and very few comics sell at this level without stunts and gimmicks behind them.

    If the 1:250 stunt hasn’t made a massive difference to the sales, then it will have been a failure. That’s not impossible – retailers may have been unwilling to risk ordering hundreds of copies they can’t sell, or unable to find enough marks willing to pay a staggering premium. But variant covers usually work to boost sales, and the bigger the incentive ratio, the bigger the impact on sales – so prima facie, we have to assume that this number is very, very substantially inflated.

  25. Just for the record, I was kidding with that ‘sexist’ comment (I thought the function of smileys was to make that clear). I’m not in the habit of throwing that term around the way some overly PC guys are. I guess that ‘Cry for Justice’ page everybody’s making fun of at the moment is the rare instance where I’d agree with such a charge.

    Nobody’s commenting on my other, less humorous point? Seriously, is there any writer whose name is an automatic sales draw, even on quirky side projects? Bendis and Millar are names that have become synonymous with massive sales on their Marvel event books, yet both have also seen modest sales on less mainstream books. Morrison already has a reputation for writing weird, sometimes difficult to understand stories, so when he writes something that seems to be the epitome of that, is it really surprising most people give it a pass? Plus, the people who are actually fans of his more esoteric work surely prefer reading such a story in collected form, no?

  26. Paul O’Brien Says:

    08/7/09 at 9:51 am

    Royd, I think it’s almost beyond question that the sales for BATMAN & ROBIN #1 will have been VERY significantly boosted by the 1:250 variant cover. That’s the point, after all, and very few comics sell at this level without stunts and gimmicks behind them.

    If the 1:250 stunt hasn’t made a massive difference to the sales, then it will have been a failure. That’s not impossible – retailers may have been unwilling to risk ordering hundreds of copies they can’t sell, or unable to find enough marks willing to pay a staggering premium. But variant covers usually work to boost sales, and the bigger the incentive ratio, the bigger the impact on sales – so prima facie, we have to assume that this number is very, very substantially inflated.

    ———————————————————-

    Hey, thanks for answering me!!

    Do we know if the incentive was also offered for the second and third printings? I was assuming no. If it is no, it means that retailers still needed more “regular” copies (meaning non variant copies) than the 169k they had already ordered, which means the 169k was not enough to supply the demand for the non variant. Is my reasonning wrong? If the incentive 1:250 was indeed offered on the second and third printings, than I absolutely agree with you.

  27. Royd,

    Regarding BATMAN AND ROBIN: I’m wary of bringing in good word of mouth and multiple printings as a reason for optimism, unless and until they materialize on the charts somehow.

    As far as the variant stunt is concerned, I tend to agree with Paul, but mainly I’m just curious how the market reacts to that, because I don’t think it’s been done before, at least on that scale.

    Regarding JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #34: According to both the solicitation copy and DC’s Web site, it’s the first Len Wein issue, but you’re right. Evidently, they changed the content before publication.

  28. Heinz,

    For Bendis or Brubaker, “modest” sales on POWERS or INCOGNITO at Icon means around 20,000 units. For Morrison, “modest” sales on SEAGUY at Vertigo means 10,000 units.

    It used to be different, and as the long-term comparisons of the average Vertigo numbers show, it’s not a problem that’s specific to Morrison. Vertigo (much like WildStorm, as well) has massively lost traction as a brand over the last several years, evidently.

  29. Marc-Oliver Frisch Says:

    08/7/09 at 2:10 pm
    Royd,

    Regarding BATMAN AND ROBIN: I’m wary of bringing in good word of mouth and multiple printings as a reason for optimism, unless and until they materialize on the charts somehow.

    As far as the variant stunt is concerned, I tend to agree with Paul, but mainly I’m just curious how the market reacts to that, because I don’t think it’s been done before, at least on that scale.

    ——————————————–

    I guess there are many reasons why second and third printings could have happened. I’m assuming that it’s because there is a guenuine demand for the book, but it’s probably not always the case. Since you’re the guy with experience on this, I’ll trust your feeling. Like you said, we will see next month, as this form of variant is pretty much unprecedented. I’m also curious the effect this will have on sales of Blackest Night, because if I remember correctly, there’s a 1:250 on #1 and a 1:200 on #2.

    In any case, thanks for answering me. I’m just a comics fan (I’m not in the comics industry though I AM a financial analyst) and I’ve been reading these columns for years now. Thanks a lot for making them.

  30. Thanks for the leg-work Marc.

    That was an interesting bump for Scalped. It was only a couple hundred units, but the new storyline started with #30, not #29. It was still an incredible issue. Dash is turning the corner. I’m very antsy for this book to come out month after month.

  31. “For Bendis or Brubaker, “modest” sales on POWERS or INCOGNITO at Icon means around 20,000 units. For Morrison, “modest” sales on SEAGUY at Vertigo means 10,000 units.”

    Well, sure, and the obvious reason for that is that SEAGUY is very much removed from mainstream sensibilities, while POWERS or INCOGNITO are actually quite similar to their respective writers’ more mainstream efforts.

    “It used to be different, and as the long-term comparisons of the average Vertigo numbers show, it’s not a problem that’s specific to Morrison. Vertigo (much like WildStorm, as well) has massively lost traction as a brand over the last several years, evidently.”

    No, Vertigo is more successful than ever, they’ve just seen a shift from monthly sales to collection sales, as has been confirmed by people with more insight into their numbers than you or me, and Karen Berger herself has said so. If you choose to cling to your opinions even after they’ve been proven wrong, that’s your decision, and I’m not going to waste time arguing anymore, I just wanted to state the facts so hopefully people don’t fall for your nonsense.

  32. Heinz,

    “… they’ve just seen a shift from monthly sales to collection sales …”

    The numbers don’t support that, and they haven’t in years, now. So I’ll have to stick to my nonsense for a little while longer, I’m afraid.

  33. Since no one else is talking about it, I’d like to say that Astro City: The Dark Age has pretty much killed my interest in that title. Astro City used to be a must read, but the issue count for The Dark Age has run way too long for its interest level. That doesn’t even take into account the glacial pace of the series, amounting to four years for ten issues of Dark Age. Since Astro City was sporadic even before then, I’ve no idea how long it has been since there was a non-Dark Age issue. Probably the only achievement that the arrival of Book 3 managed after a two year wait was to remind readers of its existence, right before they removed it from their pull lists.

  34. Billy Bissette,

    In case you didn’t know:

    1. Part of the reason Astro City has had so few issues was due to Kurt Busiek’s health. He’s feeling better these days.

    2. Astro City will be coming out regularly starting late this year.

  35. “The Superman titles are getting their best reviews in ages, yet sales are way down. This doesn’t make logical sense, but perhaps it makes geek sense.”

    Really? All the reviews I’ve been reading have been luke-warm at best. Hellblazer’s slide is surprising to me. I would’ve thought it’d be more stable since it usually has the same writer for a set period of time. Maybe it’s because the artist is always rotating?

  36. I wouldn’t say HELLBLAZER is sliding – it’s declining very slowly, in fact, compared to ther books.

    Unlike most titles that have been around for so long, though, HELLBLAZER never gets any significant jolts from things like crossovers, relaunches or high-ticket creative teams.

    I don’t think there’s any reason to be concerned yet, for that matter. It’s still way above the cancellation point, paperback sales in the U.S. seem at least consistent (if not spectacular), and the book’s sales in the U.K., which aren’t tracked by the Diamond chart, are probably more significant than for most other Vertigo books.

  37. Catwoman ends and she is now a major character in Gotham Sirens.

    Birds of Prey ends and the main character, Oracle, is now a main character in Batgirl.

    And you have Gotham Sirens as the continuation of Birds of Prey and Oracle? When this is pointed out you claim you disagree for many, yet unspecified, reasons.

    Have a problem with admitting mistakes often?