by Marc-Oliver Frisch

More “Blackest Night” and more Batman make September another good month for DC Comics’ periodical business. This year’s retelling of Superman’s origin doesn’t set the charts on fire, on the other hand, despite the big-ticket creative team of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank — maybe it’s time to retire the character. In other news, J. Michael Straczynski, who’s had some success recently writing the Hollywood film Changeling and Marvel’s Thor, was also meant to do something for DC in September, but I can’t seem to find it, so maybe … ah, hold it, there it is. My bad, I wasn’t scrolling fast enough.

Average DC sales remained relatively steady on balance, which for the publisher’s Vertigo and WildStorm imprints means that they sold around 10,000 units each of the comic books, give or take a few. (Vertigo: give a few; WildStorm: take a few.) Vertigo’s big periodical launch was Jeff Lemire’s post-ap-oddball-yptic Sweet Tooth, the latest new-series launch to retail for $ 1.00. At WildStorm’s comic-book department, the most noteworthy development is that they had four books below the 5K mark, two of which missed the Top 300 chart altogether. Reportedly, WildStorm’s made some lucrative wholesale deals with the video-game industry recently, to be fair, which would explain the continued existence of at least some of its titles.

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 - BLACKEST NIGHT
07/2009: Blackest Night #1 of 8  -- 177,105          [196,066]
08/2009: Blackest Night #2 of 8  -- 146,092 (-17.5%) [155,512]
09/2009: Blackest Night #3 of 8  -- 140,786 (- 3.6%)

Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis’ Blackest Night remains the best-selling comic in the North American direct market by about 30,000 units; the number-two book, Marvel’s Reborn #3, sold an estimated 108,331 units.

Blackest Night is levelling off very quickly for a high-profile miniseries, while reorders for previous issues also remain strong: Blackest Night #1 sold another 10,996 units in September, issue #2 another 9,420 and July’s Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 also made the chart again, with an additional 4,098 copies — and there were more, see below.

As usual, I should point out that the book’s numbers — and especially the smooth drop-off — probably have a lot to do with the available variant-cover editions. For Blackest Night #1, there was a 1-for-250 edition, which means retailers needed to order 250 copies of the regular edition for every copy of the variant edition; for issue #2, there was a 1-for-200 edition; starting with #3, there are 1-for-100 editions for all remaining issues — also, all issues of Blackest Night are promoted with additional 1-for-25 variant-cover editions.

Still, even taking into account that there’s likely some distortion going on at the retail level thanks to the gimmick incentives, Blackest Night keeps performing very, very well.

—–

3 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
06/2009: Batman and Robin #1  -- 168,604          [184,826]
07/2009: Batman and Robin #2  -- 117,986 (-30.2%) [129,086]
08/2009: Batman and Robin #3  -- 110,594 (- 6.3%)
09/2009: Batman and Robin #4  -- 106,925 (- 3.3%)

Like Blackest Night, Batman and Robin is supported through 1-for-25 variant editions every month. Unlike Blackest Night, only issue #1 came with a second, rarer variant edition.

As a result of that, the second-issue drop-off was a bit steeper here. Starting with issue #3, Batman and Robin is also levelling out very quickly, however, and even the fact that superstar Frank Quitely left after the third issue doesn’t seem to have any negative impact on the numbers. The Batman franchise remains healthier than it’s been in a while.

—–

4 - GREEN LANTERN
09/2004: Green Lantern #181 --  41,531 [46,196] 
09/2005: --
09/2006: Green Lantern #13  --  78,101
09/2007: Green Lantern #23  --  79,084 [82,168]
--------------------------------------
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]
03/2009: --
04/2009: Green Lantern #39  --  79,792 (+15.8%) [ 84,784]
04/2009: Green Lantern #40  --  76,665 (- 3.9%) [ 84,705]
05/2009: Green Lantern #41  --  81,491 (+ 6.3%)
06/2009: Green Lantern #42  --  84,131 (+ 3.2%)
07/2009: Green Lantern #43  -- 109,426 (+30.1%) [117,314]
07/2009: Green Lantern #44  -- 105,063 (- 4.0%) [109,599]
08/2009: Green Lantern #45  -- 102,431 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: Green Lantern #46  -- 103,666 (+ 1.2%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 62.4%
2 years : + 31.1%
5 years : +149.6%
6 - BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN
08/2009: Blackest Night: Batman #1 of 3 -- 86,261         [96,243]
09/2009: Blackest Night: Batman #2 of 3 -- 87,638 (+1.6%)
8 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
09/2006: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 46,619
09/2007: --
------------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Green Lantern Corps #38 -- 82,415 (+29.6%)
08/2009: Green Lantern Corps #39 -- 84,241 (+ 2.2%)
09/2009: Green Lantern Corps #40 -- 83,112 (- 1.3%)
----------------
6 months: +53.5%
1 year  : +84.9%
2 years :  n.a.
10 - BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN
08/2009: Blackest Night: Superman #1 of 3 -- 76,899         [87,016]
09/2009: Blackest Night: Superman #2 of 3 -- 78,766 (+2.4%)

In case you hadn’t guessed it, these books are all part of “Blackest Night.” Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern is leading the pack with its 100K+ figure, while Blackest Night: Batman and Blackest Night: Superman see upward corrections. Both spin-off series went up in sales and also moved about 10,000 more units of their debut issues in September.

All four books were supported through 1-for-25 variants to boost the numbers, as usual.

—–

11 - BATMAN
09/2004: Batman #632 --  71,236 [ 72,859]
09/2005: Batman #645 --  65,984 [ 67,712]
09/2006: Batman #657 --  91,357 [ 96,127]
09/2007: Batman #669 --  73,471
-------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Batman #688 --  83,040 (-14.3%)
08/2009: Batman #689 --  78,392 (- 5.6%)
09/2009: Batman #690 --  77,001 (- 1.8%)
----------------
6 months: -16.0%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : + 4.8%
5 years : + 8.1%

The revamped Batman is also finding its level. There haven’t been any variant editions since issue #687, so these figures look great.

—–

17 - BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS
08/2009: Blackest Night: Titans #1 of 3 -- 64,767         [71,321]
09/2009: Blackest Night: Titans #2 of 3 -- 64,086 (-1.1%)

Blackest Night: Titans isn’t up there with the other Blackest Night spin-offs, but it still sells more than twice as many units as the regular Titans and Teen Titans books.

Issue #1 sold another 6,554 units in September, which, combined with the minuscule second-issue drop, suggests that retailers aimed too low here as well, with their initial orders.

As usual, sales were boosted with a 1-for-25 variant-cover edition.

—–

25 - DETECTIVE COMICS
09/2004: Detective Comics #798 --  48,782
09/2005: Detective Comics #811 --  38,772
09/2006: Detective Comics #823 --  64,215
09/2007: Detective Comics #836 --  49,475
-----------------------------------------
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%) [79,573]
07/2009: Detective Comics #855 --  61,205 (-15.9%)
08/2009: Detective Comics #856 --  58,859 (- 3.8%)
09/2009: Detective Comics #857 --  57,063 (- 3.1%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : - 16.5%
2 years : + 15.3%
5 years : + 17.0%

Detective Comics also seems to be bottoming out, with sales that are still more than comfortable historically. Again, there haven’t been any variants here since June.

—–

26 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
09/2004: JLA #105           --  60,836
09/2004: JLA #106           --  59,838 [ 60,943]
09/2005: JLA #118           --  89,428
09/2005: JLA #119           --  94,073 [106,305]
09/2006: Justice League #2  -- 143,412 [158,480]
09/2007: Justice League #13 -- 119,471 [124,006]
--------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Justice League #35 --  58,915 (- 3.6%)
08/2009: Justice League #36 --  57,549 (- 2.3%)
09/2009: Justice League #37 --  55,478 (- 3.6%)
----------------
6 months: -19.3%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : -53.6%
5 years : - 8.1%

Sales data prior to 2003 isn’t 100 percent compatible with the recent ICv2.com numbers, but it looks like Justice League sales have now dropped to their lowest point since Grant Morrison relaunched the book as JLA back in 1996. Ever since Brad Meltzer left, the series has been sliding down the charts.

—–

27 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE
07/2009: Cry for Justice #1 of 6  -- 68,317          [72,719]
08/2009: Cry for Justice #2 of 6  -- 54,553 (-20.2%) [58,829]
09/2009: Cry for Justice #3 of 6  -- 54,726 (+ 0.3%)

On the other hand, the new regular Justice League of America writer starting with issue #39 is James Robinson, whose Cry for Justice miniseries is defying mixed reviews in September.

It rarely happens that sales stop declining with issue #3, and the fact that both previous issues sold another 4,000+ units more in September suggests that it’s not just a blip.

Maybe Robinson can build on this momentum with the monthly series.

—–

28 - SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN
09/2009: Superman: Secret Origin #1 of 6 -- 54,630

Are people tired of Superman? Or are they just tired of Superman origin stories? Either way, the debut sales for Superman: Secret Origin aren’t stellar, given the high-profile creative team of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank and the support of a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition. The numbers are in the same ballpark as those of Johns and Frank’s recent run on Action Comics; which isn’t terrible, but if this was meant to kick-start interest in the character, it doesn’t really seem to be working.

——

39 - RED ROBIN
09/2004: Robin #130    -- 45,406 [47,113]
09/2005: Robin #142    -- 28,822
09/2006: Robin #154    -- 34,387
09/2007: Robin #166    -- 24,877
--------------------------------
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%) [71,925]
07/2009: Red Robin #2  -- 51,593 (- 19.7%) [54,544]
08/2009: Red Robin #3  -- 50,329 (-  2.5%)
09/2009: Red Robin #4  -- 47,945 (-  4.7%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 48.7%
2 years : + 92.7%
5 years : +  5.6%

Red Robin hasn’t found its level quite yet, but remains miles ahead of Robin. So far, the makeover of the Batman line looks like a winner.

—–

43 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
09/2004: JSA #65             --  41,459
09/2005: JSA #77             --  53,216
09/2007: Justice Society #9  --  84,117
---------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Justice Society #29 --  51,375 (-  2.5%)
08/2009: Justice Society #30 --  49,416 (-  3.8%)
09/2009: Justice Society #31 --  47,436 (-  4.0%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -43.6%
5 years : +14.4%

The same cannot be said of Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges’ Justice Society. Sales keep plummeting down the chart.

—–

44 - ADVENTURE COMICS
09/2004: --
09/2005: Legion of SH #10     -- 34,833
09/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #22 -- 36,735
09/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #34 -- 28,294
---------------------------------------
09/2008: LoSH #46             -- 24,959 (- 3.2%)
10/2008: LoSH #47             -- 23,751 (- 4.8%)
11/2008: LoSH #48             -- 22,917 (- 3.5%)
12/2008: LoSH #49             -- 22,180 (- 3.2%)
01/2009: LoSH #50             -- 22,327 (+ 0.7%)
02/2009: Adventure Comics #0  -- 32,851 (+47.1%)
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: --
06/2009: --
07/2009: --
08/2009: Adventure Comics #1  -- 56,706 (+72.6%)
09/2009: Adventure Comics #2  -- 47,296 (-15.9%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 89.5%
2 years : + 67.2%
5 years :  n.a.

The second-issue drop for the latest Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes series could have been a lot worse.

As usual, there was a 1-for-10 thingamabuymore.

—–

48 - BATMAN: THE WIDENING GYRE
11/2008: Cacophony #1 of 3     -- 69,522
12/2008: Cacophony #2 of 3     -- 55,698 (-19.9%) [58,016]
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: Cacophony #3 of 3     -- 52,814 (- 5.2%)
04/2009: --
05/2009: --
06/2009: --
07/2009: --
08/2009: Widening Gyre #1 of 6 -- 52,191 (- 1.2%)
09/2009: Widening Gyre #2 of 6 -- 46,287 (-11.3%)
----------------
6 months: -12.4%

As far as second-issue drops are concerned, you could say that Kevin Smith’s second Batman miniseries gets off easy, as well.

On the other hand, the fact that there even was another second-issue drop suggests that Smith’s popularity in the comics market has seen better days. Earlier in the decade, he moved twice as many units with a character who isn’t half as recognizable as Batman, and did so without the help of variant-cover editions. This time around, there’s another 1-for-25 one, as usual.

—–

53 - BATGIRL
09/2004: Batgirl #56     -- 39,493 [42,088]
09/2005: Batgirl #68     -- 27,199
----------------------------------
09/2008: Batgirl #3 of 6 -- 24,932 (- 10.0%)
10/2008: Batgirl #4 of 6 -- 23,501 (-  5.7%)
11/2008: Batgirl #5 of 6 -- 21,595 (-  8.1%)
12/2008: Batgirl #6 of 6 -- 20,750 (-  3.9%)
01/2009: --
02/2009: --
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: --
06/2009: --
07/2009: -- 
08/2009: Batgirl #1      -- 51,724 (+149.3%)
09/2009: Batgirl #2      -- 40,626 (- 21.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +63.0%
5 years : + 2.9%

The second-issue drop is not as big as it looks, because there was no variant-cover edition of issue #2.

—–

55 - BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM
06/2009: Batman: SoG #1  -- 57,650
07/2009: Batman: SoG #2  -- 44,240 (-23.3%)
08/2009: Batman: SoG #3  -- 40,353 (- 8.8%)
09/2009: Batman: SoG #4  -- 37,888 (- 6.1%)

These figures don’t look too encouraging, on the other hand. The two Paul Dini books keep declining faster than the other revamped Batman series.

—–

57 - 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%)
07/2009: WoNK #5 of 12 -- 39,939 (- 4.0%)
08/2009: WoNK #6 of 12 -- 39,218 (- 1.8%)
09/2009: WoNK #7 of 12 -- 37,697 (- 3.9%)
----------------
6 months: -24.7%
58 - SUPERMAN
09/2004: Superman #209 -- 116,827 [118,289]
09/2005: Superman #221 --  69,065
09/2006: Superman #656 --  64,288
09/2007: Superman #667 --  48,608
---------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Superman #690 --  39,472 (- 2.2%)
08/2009: Superman #691 --  39,106 (- 0.9%)
09/2009: Superman #692 --  37,695 (- 3.6%)
----------------
6 months: -16.2%
1 year  : -19.1%
2 years : -22.5%
5 years : -67.7%
59 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
09/2004: Superman/Batman #12 -- 139,516 [173,643]
09/2005: Superman/Batman #22 -- 103,245
09/2006: --
09/2007: Superman/Batman #40 --  57,410
---------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Superman/Batman #62 --  38,412 (+ 0.5%)
08/2009: Superman/Batman #63 --  37,467 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: Superman/Batman #64 --  36,332 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -14.4%
1 year  : -27.3%
2 years : -36.7%
5 years : -74.0%
60 - ACTION COMICS
09/2004: Action Comics #819 -- 42,385
09/2005: Action Comics #831 -- 55,288
09/2006: Action Comics #843 -- 56,084
09/2007: --
-------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Action Comics #879 -- 38,324 (- 4.2%)
08/2009: Action Comics #880 -- 37,588 (- 1.9%)
09/2009: Action Comics #881 -- 36,183 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -23.1%
1 year  : -27.1%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -14.6%

I know Superman/Batman isn’t part of the Superman line, but it certainly doesn’t seem to matter to retailers. Despite sporting some otherwise acclaimed creators, all four books have been shedding readers at a very unhealthy rate for months.

Superman: World of New Krypton was promoted with a 1-for-25 variant edition.

—–

61/63/66/69 - WEDNESDAY COMICS
07/2009: Wednesday Comics #1  of 12  -- 47,980          [51,814]
07/2009: Wednesday Comics #2  of 12  -- 42,382 (-11.7%)
07/2009: Wednesday Comics #3  of 12  -- 39,050 (- 7.9%) [42,423]
07/2009: Wednesday Comics #4  of 12  -- 36,143 (- 7.4%) [40,786]
08/2009: Wednesday Comics #5  of 12  -- 38,657 (+ 7.0%)
08/2009: Wednesday Comics #6  of 12  -- 37,803 (- 2.2%)
08/2009: Wednesday Comics #7  of 12  -- 36,783 (- 2.7%)
08/2009: Wednesday Comics #8  of 12  -- 35,970 (- 2.2%)
09/2009: Wednesday Comics #9  of 12  -- 35,961 (- 0.0%)
09/2009: Wednesday Comics #10 of 12  -- 34,954 (- 2.8%)
09/2009: Wednesday Comics #11 of 12  -- 34,266 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: Wednesday Comics #12 of 12  -- 33,922 (- 1.0%)

Well, this doesn’t look very impressive, given the amount of promotion and the creative roster of Wednesday Comics. And, one more time: Economics are probably very different for a $ 3.99, 15-page tabloid.

It seems DC expects the book to play well in the book market, if the unusually quick announcement of a relatively cheap oversized hardcover collection is any indication. If those expectations are justified — and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be — that’s going to make a follow-up series a lot likelier.

—–

65 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
09/2004: Birds of Prey #73  -- 32,070
09/2004: Birds of Prey #74  -- 31,835
09/2005: Birds of Prey #86  -- 31,270
09/2006: Birds of Prey #98  -- 32,715
09/2007: Birds of Prey #110 -- 27,148
-------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: GC Sirens #2       -- 39,518 (-24.6%)
08/2009: GC Sirens #3       -- 36,772 (- 7.0%)
09/2009: GC Sirens #4       -- 34,405 (- 6.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +  1.0%
1 year  : + 61.4%
2 years : + 26.7%
5 years : +  7.3%

The other Paul Dini book. Like Streets of Gotham, Gotham City Sirens doesn’t seem to benefit as much from the momentum of the Batman revamp as the rest of the line.

—–

72 - TEEN TITANS
09/2004: Teen Titans #15 -- 63,136
09/2004: Teen Titans #16 -- 64,177 [66,695]
09/2005: --
09/2006: Teen Titans #39 -- 65,969
09/2007: Teen Titans #51 -- 57,851
----------------------------------
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 -- 34,110 (- 3.7%)
06/2009: Teen Titans #72 -- 32,512 (- 4.7%)
07/2009: Teen Titans #73 -- 30,990 (- 4.7%)
08/2009: Teen Titans #74 -- 30,380 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: Teen Titans #75 -- 32,808 (+ 8.0%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -21.5%
2 years : -43.3%
5 years : -48.5%

The “anniversary issue” and a 1-for-25 variant-cover edition bring a slight sales boost, but not nearly enough of one to mask the book’s decline over the last three years.

—–

74 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 80-PAGE GIANT
09/2009: JLA 80-Page Giant #1 -- 32,243

Good sales for a $ 5.99 fringe book.

—–

75 - SUPERGIRL
09/2005: Supergirl #2  -- 101,681
09/2006: Supergirl #10 --  67,358
09/2007: Supergirl #21 --  44,656
---------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Supergirl #43 --  32,849 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Supergirl #44 --  33,819 (+ 3.0%)
09/2009: Supergirl #45 --  32,240 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.4%
1 year  : +16.8%
2 years : -27.8%

Supergirl loses the additional sales from the “Codename: Patriot” storyline and is back in a slow decline. Retailers simply ignore the fact that it’s part of another two-month crossover with Action Comics in September and October.

—–

83 - TITANS
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%)
07/2009: Titans #15     -- 46,189 (+42.9%)
08/2009: Titans #16     -- 31,408 (-32.0%)
09/2009: Titans #17     -- 30,154 (- 4.0%)
----------------
6 months: -14.4%
1 year  : -41.7%

There’s no end in sight to the book’s downslide.

—–

85 - POWER GIRL
05/2009: Power Girl #1  -- 47,322
06/2009: Power Girl #2  -- 36,756 (-22.3%)
07/2009: Power Girl #3  -- 35,163 (- 4.3%)
08/2009: Power Girl #4  -- 32,140 (- 8.6%)
09/2009: Power Girl #5  -- 29,497 (- 8.2)

Despite another 1-for-10 variant, Power Girl numbers keep slipping.

—–

87 - WONDER WOMAN
09/2004: Wonder Woman #208 --  26,628
09/2005: --
09/2006: --
09/2007: --
-------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Wonder Woman #34  --  30,131 (- 8.0%)
08/2009: Wonder Woman #35  --  29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36  --  28,806 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -13.7%
1 year  : -16.7%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : + 8.2%

Declining, and not slowly.

—–

90 - SUPERGIRL ANNUAL
09/2009: Supergirl Annual #1 -- 28,262

A $ 3.99 special by the regular writer that sells about 4,000 units below its mother title – not bad, on balance.

—–

93 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
09/2007: --
---------------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: The Brave and the Bold #25 -- 21,234 (- 0.2%)
08/2009: The Brave and the Bold #26 -- 20,154 (- 5.1%)
09/2009: The Brave and the Bold #27 -- 26,904 (+33.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : - 9.9%
2 years :  n.a.

This is J. Michael Straczynski’s debut on The Brave and the Bold, and, to the surprise of absolutely no one, it tanks horribly. Not that it wasn’t blindingly obvious when they announced it eighteen months back.

—–

94 - MAGOG
09/2009: Magog #1  -- 26,352

A new Keith Giffen series starring, well, Magog.

There’s a 1-for-10 variant edition, but this is still selling much better than it has any right to.

—–

96 - 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%)
07/2009: Solomon Grundy #5 of 7   -- 14,043 (- 7.4%)
08/2009: Solomon Grundy #6 of 7   -- 13,505 (- 3.8%)
09/2009: Solomon Grundy #7 of 7   -- 25,927 (+92.0%)
----------------
6 months: +11.9%

A “Blackest Night” tie-in gets Solomon Grundy the highest sales of its run.

—–

105 - SECRET SIX
09/2006: Secret Six #4 of 6 -- 40,782
-------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Secret Six #11     -- 24,357 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Secret Six #12     -- 24,161 (- 0.8%)
09/2009: Secret Six #13     -- 23,919 (- 1.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.8%
1 year  : -24.5%

Holding out, sticking to 24K. That’s a very smooth first-year drop-off.

—–

111 - THE OUTSIDERS
09/2004: Outsiders #15 -- 42,186
09/2004: Outsiders #16 -- 41,374
09/2005: Outsiders #28 -- 44,222
09/2006: Outsiders #40 -- 38,626
09/2007: Outsiders #50 -- 38,212
--------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Outsiders #20 -- 24,323 (-11.5%)
08/2009: Outsiders #21 -- 23,856 (- 1.9%)
09/2009: Outsiders #22 -- 22,775 (- 4.5%)
----------------
6 months: -24.0%
1 year  : -54.4%
2 years : -40.4%
5 years : -45.5%

The Outsiders keeps losing readers by the truckload. For what seems like the seventh time in the last two years, a new creative team is already waiting around the corner. It’s only the fifth time, though.

—–

115 - DOOM PATROL
09/2004: Doom Patrol #4  -- 26,101
09/2005: Doom Patrol #16 -- 14,325
----------------------------------
08/2009: Doom Patrol #1  -- 28,267
09/2009: Doom Patrol #2  -- 22,001 (-22.2%)
----------------
5 years : -15.7%

So far, so good: Sales are still above 20K after the second-issue drop. They’ll still have to stabilize soon if Doom Patrol wants to survive 2010, though.

As usual, there was a 1-for-10 variant.

—–

116 - BOOSTER GOLD
09/2007: Booster Gold #2  -- 47,102
-----------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Booster Gold #22 -- 22,414 (- 3.5%)
08/2009: Booster Gold #23 -- 22,108 (- 1.4%)
09/2009: Booster Gold #24 -- 21,731 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.5%
1 year  : -32.2%
2 years : -53.9%

Slowly declining. It doesn’t look like the backup strip and $ 3.99 price point are making any difference to sales.

—–

118 - FABLES (Vertigo)
09/2004: Fables #29 -- 25,025
09/2005: Fables #41 -- 25,001
09/2006: Fables #53 -- 25,388
09/2007: Fables #65 -- 25,311
-----------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Fables #86 -- 22,447 (-4.2%)
08/2009: Fables #87 -- 21,876 (-2.5%)
09/2009: Fables #88 -- 21,508 (-1.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.2%
1 year  : -12.5%
2 years : -15.0%
5 years : -14.1%

Vertigo’s best-selling periodical continues a slow decline.

—–

119 - JSA VS. KOBRA
06/2009: JSA Vs. Kobra #1 of 6 -- 32,237
07/2009: JSA Vs. Kobra #2 of 6 -- 25,591 (-20.6%)
08/2009: JSA Vs. Kobra #3 of 6 -- 22,806 (-10.9%)
09/2009: JSA Vs. Kobra #4 of 6 -- 21,107 (- 7.5%)

This one’s dropping off the map quickly, not surprisingly. It doesn’t stop DC from launching an ongoing Justice Society spin-off, though.

—–

120 - RED TORNADO
09/2009: Red Tornado #1 of 6 -- 20,551

The Red Tornado used to be somewhat popular while Brad Meltzer was writing Justice League, as I recall, so this is another one of those projects that make you wonder whose chair’s been choking the pipeline at DC. A lot of their publishing decisions look like they could have made sense two or three years earlier.

—–

126 - GREEN ARROW & BLACK CANARY
09/2004: Green Arrow #42  -- 31,714
09/2005: Green Arrow #54  -- 34,331
09/2006: Green Arrow #66  -- 33,793
09/2007: Year One #5 of 6 -- 31,504
-----------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Arrow&Canary #22 -- 20,571 (- 1.1%)
08/2009: Arrow&Canary #23 -- 19,452 (- 5.4%)
09/2009: Arrow&Canary #24 -- 18,780 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months: -17.3%
1 year  : -32.7%
2 years : -40.4%
5 years : -40.8%

Another book that’s going to be in trouble next year if nobody manages to turn the numbers around.

—–

128 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo)
09/2009: Sweet Tooth #1  -- 18,657

Jeff Lemire’s idiosyncratic stab at the apocalypse and what happens after is Vertigo’s latest $ 1.00 loss-leader. Compared to The Unwritten and Greek Street, we could talk about diminishing returns. Then again, Sweet Tooth is rather off the beaten path for Vertigo, so from that perspective, it’s fending for itself rather well.

Vertigo keep the $ 1.00 books coming, for the time being, and the first paperback collection of the book’s they’ve supported has yet to ship, so we’ll find out if the stunt works over the course of next year.

—–

131 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
09/2007: Batman Confidential #9  -- 28,845
------------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Batman Confidential #31 -- 19,225 (+ 4.2%)
08/2009: Batman Confidential #32 -- 18,545 (- 3.5%)
09/2009: Batman Confidential #33 -- 18,140 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.0%
1 year  : -26.0%
2 years : -37.1%

Business as usual, as more Batman completists stop being Batman completists.

—–

140 - THE SHIELD
08/2009: RC: Shield #1  -- 19,088
09/2009: The Shield #1  -- 16,997 (-11.0%)
149 - THE WEB
08/2009: RC: Web #1  -- 19,535
09/2009: The Web #1  -- 15,507 (-20.6%)

Well, it’s not like J. Michael Straczynski’s one-shots provided these series with a great launch pad to begin with. Color me surprised if these books make it past issue #12.

There were 1-for-10 variants for both The Shield and The Web.

—–

145 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
05/2009: The Unwritten #1  -- 26,915          [31,081]
06/2009: The Unwritten #2  -- 16,290 (-39.5%)
07/2009: The Unwritten #3  -- 17,028 (+ 4.5%)
08/2009: The Unwritten #4  -- 16,336 (- 4.1%)
09/2009: The Unwritten #5  -- 16,011 (- 2.0%)

The inaugural Vertigo series to make use of a $ 1.00 debut issue keeps dropping subtle hints that the gamble may have paid off — in this case, at least.

—–

155 - ASTRO CITY: ASTRA SPECIAL (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%)
07/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #3 of 4 -- 15,291 (- 6.8%)
08/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #4 of 4 -- 14,684 (- 4.0%)
09/2009: Astra Special #1 of 2       -- 14,627 (- 0.4%)
----------------
2 years : -26.0%

Virtually no change from the previous issue. If history is anything to go by, though, there’ll still be a second-issue drop in October.

—–

162 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
09/2006: Jack of Fables #3  -- 22,373
09/2007: Jack of Fables #14 -- 18,728
-------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Jack of Fables #36 -- 15,256 (-22.1%)
08/2009: Jack of Fables #37 -- 14,508 (- 4.9%)
09/2009: Jack of Fables #38 -- 13,790 (- 5.0%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.4%
1 year  : -10.9%
2 years : -26.4%

Another stiff drop, but sales are still slightly above those prior “The Big Fables Crossover.”

—–

164 - EX MACHINA (WildStorm)
09/2004: Ex Machina #4  -- 22,845 [24,279]
09/2005: --
09/2006: Ex Machina #23 -- 20,135
09/2007: Ex Machina #30 -- 17,163
---------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: --
08/2009: Ex Machina #44 -- 12,796 (- 3.1%)
09/2009: Ex Machina #45 -- 12,832 (+ 0.3%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -14.3%
2 years : -25.2%
5 years : -43.8%

Right in time for the final arc, Ex Machina is holding level in September — then again, the same happened last year, and it turned out to be a fluke.

—–

168 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN
05/2009: Run #1 of 6 -- 29,065
06/2009: Run #2 of 6 -- 21,429 (-26.3%)
07/2009: Run #3 of 6 -- 16,212 (-24.4%)
08/2009: Run #4 of 6 -- 13,738 (-15.3%)
09/2009: Run #5 of 6 -- 12,406 (- 9.7%)

Well, at least we’re in the single digits.

Um. The drops, I mean.

—–

171 - JONAH HEX
09/2006: Jonah Hex #11 -- 18,957
09/2007: Jonah Hex #23 -- 15,157
--------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Jonah Hex #45 -- 12,588 (+ 8.6%)
08/2009: Jonah Hex #46 -- 12,466 (- 1.0%)
09/2009: Jonah Hex #47 -- 12,231 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: + 5.8%
1 year  : - 7.6%
2 years : -19.3%

Back in a slow decline after July’s odd increase.

—–

172/185 - 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
07/2009: Nightmare Warriors #2 of 6 -- 13,938 (-34.9%)
08/2009: --
09/2009: Nightmare Warriors #3 of 6 -- 12,179 (-12.6%)
09/2009: Nightmare Warriors #4 of 6 -- 11,388 (- 6.5%)
176 - WORLD OF WARCRAFT (WildStorm)
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%)
07/2009: World of WarCraft #21 -- 12,656 (+ 3.1%)
08/2009: World of WarCraft #22 -- 12,131 (- 4.2%)
09/2009: World of WarCraft #23 -- 11,959 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: -12.2%
1 year  : -38.1%

Neither of WildStorm’s two highest-selling periodicals is looking very good. The imprint’s publishing strategy for the immediate future is “more of the same,” though, so who knows how they capitalize on all those books that keep tanking horribly in the direct market.

—–

180 - THE LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN
05/2009: TLDoAM #1 of 6 -- 18,976
06/2009: TLDoAM #2 of 6 -- 14,469 (-23.8%)
07/2009: TLDoAM #3 of 6 -- 12,998 (-10.2%)
08/2009: TLDoAM #4 of 6 -- 12,510 (- 3.8%)
09/2009: TLDoAM #5 of 6 -- 11,791 (- 5.8%)
184 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: ESCAPE
05/2009: Escape #1 of 6 -- 28,668
06/2009: Escape #2 of 6 -- 20,576
07/2009: Escape #3 of 6 -- 15,294 (-25.7%)
08/2009: Escape #4 of 6 -- 12,950 (-15.3%)
09/2009: Escape #5 of 6 -- 11,613 (-10.3%)
186 - 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%)
07/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #6  -- 12,349 (- 4.3%)
08/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #7  -- 11,682 (- 5.4%)
09/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #8  -- 11,347 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -29.6%

The Last Days of Animal Man and Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape are miniseries. R.E.B.E.L.S. has no such excuse. Its numbers are dangerously low for a DC Universe book.

—–

190 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
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%)
07/2009: House of Mystery #15 -- 11,809 (- 1.9%)
08/2009: House of Mystery #16 -- 11,572 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: House of Mystery #17 -- 11,142 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -12.9%
1 year  : -33.4%

Declining, but still above 10K one and a half years in. That counts for something.

—–

192 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: DANCE
05/2009: Dance #1 of 6 -- 27,491
06/2009: Dance #2 of 6 -- 19,420 (-29.4%)
07/2009: Dance #3 of 6 -- 14,505 (-25.3%)
08/2009: Dance #4 of 6 -- 12,294 (-15.2%)
09/2009: Dance #5 of 6 -- 10,909 (-11.3%)

Not quite in the single digits yet.

—–

193 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
09/2004: Hellblazer #200 -- 16,342 [17,636]
09/2005: Hellblazer #212 -- 14,714
09/2006: Hellblazer #224 -- 13,704
09/2007: Hellblazer #236 -- 12,938
----------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Hellblazer #257 -- 10,762 (-1.3%)
08/2009: Hellblazer #258 -- 10,665 (-0.9%)
09/2009: Hellblazer #259 -- 10,813 (+1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.9%
1 year  : - 8.8% 
2 years : -16.4%
5 years : -33.8%
194 - GREEK STREET (Vertigo)
07/2009: Greek Street #1  -- 20,422
08/2009: Greek Street #2  -- 11,996 (-41.3%)
09/2009: Greek Street #3  -- 10,628 (-11.4%)

Two Peter Milligan books with mixed signals: Hellblazer figures are stabilizing, while Greek Street keeps bleeding readers.

—–

195 - FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: INK
05/2009: Ink #1 of 6 -- 25,479
06/2009: Ink #2 of 6 -- 17,964 (-29.5%)
07/2009: Ink #3 of 6 -- 13,643 (-24.1%)
08/2009: Ink #4 of 6 -- 11,837 (-13.2%)
09/2009: Ink #5 of 6 -- 10,572 (-10.7%)
197 - WARLORD
09/2069: Warlord #8  -- 12,361
------------------------------
04/2009: Warlord #1  -- 17,540
05/2009: Warlord #2  -- 13,390 (-23.7%)
06/2009: Warlord #3  -- 12,283 (- 8.3%)
07/2009: Warlord #4  -- 11,445 (- 6.8%)
08/2009: Warlord #5  -- 10,790 (- 5.7%)
09/2009: Warlord #6  -- 10,331 (- 4.3%)
200 - 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%)
07/2009: Strange Adventures #5 of 8  --  10,758 (- 6.0%)
08/2009: Strange Adventures #6 of 8  --  10,316 (- 4.1%)
09/2009: Strange Adventures #7 of 8  --  10,068 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: -55.9%

The final DC Universe books to make the Top 200 in September — or break the 10,000-unit barrier. It doesn’t look good for Warlord.

—–

207 - MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
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%)
07/2009: Madame Xanadu #13 -- 10,009 (+ 0.6%)
08/2009: Madame Xanadu #14 --  9,873 (- 1.4%)
09/2009: Madame Xanadu #15 --  9,733 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.7%
1 year  : -21.1%
215 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
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%)
02/2009: --
03/2009: Northlanders #15 --  9,443 (- 0.2%)
04/2009: Northlanders #16 --  9,323 (- 1.3%)
05/2009: Northlanders #17 --  9,239 (- 0.9%)
06/2009: Northlanders #18 --  8,877 (- 3.9%)
07/2009: Northlanders #19 --  8,722 (- 1.8%)
08/2009: --
09/2009: Northlanders #20 --  8,786 (+ 0.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.0%
1 year  : -18.2%

Madame Xanadu and Northlanders both seem to be bottoming out.

—–

223 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
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%)
07/2009: Tiny Titans #18 --  8,576 (- 0.7%)
08/2009: Tiny Titans #19 --  8,432 (- 1.7%)
09/2009: Tiny Titans #20 --  8,435 (+ 0.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.5%
1 year  : -13.9%

A Johnny DC book, see small print.

—–

224 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
09/2005: --
09/2007: --
---------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: The Authority v4 #12 --  8,918 (- 3.1%)
08/2009: The Authority v4 #13 --  8,648 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: The Authority v4 #14 --  8,394 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -16.0%
1 year  : -41.4%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years :  n.a.

Coming up? More of the same. How do they keep publishing WildStorm Universe comics at these numbers? No idea.

—–

232 - 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%)
07/2009: Vigilante #8      --  9,942 (-13.4%)
08/2009: Vigilante #9      --  8,387 (-15.6%)
09/2009: Vigilante #10     --  7,856 (- 6.3%)
----------------
6 months: -29.4%

Cancelled with issue #12.

—–

237 - DMZ (Vertigo)
09/2006: DMZ #11 -- 14,562
09/2007: DMZ #23 -- 11,858
--------------------------
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%)
07/2009: DMZ #43 --  7,806 (-1.5%)
08/2009: DMZ #44 --  7,654 (-2.0%)
09/2009: DMZ #45 --  7,589 (-0.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.1%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -36.0%

Maintaining a slow decline.

—–

241 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
09/2005: Nemesis #1 of 9 -- 19,663
----------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: World's End #13 --  7,609 (- 3.2%)
08/2009: World's End #14 --  7,417 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: World's End #15 --  7,178 (- 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: -18.0%
1 year  : -47.1%

See The Authority, basically. If the optimnism with which DC regards this line were made of cheese, we wouldn’t need houses anymore.

—–

242 - BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
09/2004: Batman Strikes! #1    -- 22,397 [23,348]
09/2005: Batman Strikes! #13   --  9,284
09/2006: Batman Strikes! #25   --  7,765
09/2007: Batman Strikes! #37   --  6,833
----------------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Brave & Bold #7       --  7,441 (-  2.3%)
08/2009: Brave & Bold #8       --  7,153 (-  3.9%)
09/2009: Brave & Bold #9       --  7,064 (-  1.2%)
----------------
6 months: -13.7%
1 year  : +10.6%
2 years : + 3.4%
5 years : -68.5%

A Johnny DC title. See small print.

—–

245 - 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%)
07/2009: Unknown Soldier #10 --  7,256 (- 4.4%)
08/2009: Unknown Soldier #11 --  7,070 (- 2.6%)
09/2009: Unknown Soldier #12 --  6,865 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -16.1%
252 - AIR (Vertigo)
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%)
07/2009: Air #11 --  6,793 (- 2.3%)
08/2009: Air #12 --  6,589 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: Air #13 --  6,476 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: -37.1%
1 year  : -41.0%

It’s hard not to be worried about these books.

—–

221 - NORTH 40 (WildStorm)
07/2009: North 40 #1 of 6 -- 8,163
08/2009: North 40 #2 of 6 -- 6,523 (-20.1%)
09/2009: North 40 #3 of 6 -- 6,284 (- 3.7%)

This is what creator-owned new titles from WildStorm are expected to sell, at this stage, so let’s not call the numbers terrible this month. To be fair, North 40 is bottoming out quickly and has seen some favorable reviews. Maybe it’ll redeem itself commercially as a collection.

—–

259 - 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%)
07/2009: The Mighty #6  --   6,660 (- 6.3%)
08/2009: The Mighty #7  --   6,292 (- 5.5%)
09/2009: The Mighty #8  --   6,104 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -42.6%

Cancelled with issue #12.

—–

265 - BILLY BATSON & THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM (Johnny DC)
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%)
07/2009: Billy Batson #6  --  6,771 (-14.0%)
08/2009: Billy Batson #7  --  6,382 (- 5.8%)
09/2009: Billy Batson #8  --  5,858 (- 8.2%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -52.6%

Another Johnny DC book.

—–

271 - YOUNG LIARS (Vertigo)
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%)
07/2009: Young Liars #17 --  5,326 (- 0.9%)
08/2009: --
09/2009: Young Liars #18 --  5,576 (+ 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.8%
1 year  : -25.9%

Cancelled.

—–

274 - STARCRAFT (WildStorm)
05/2009: StarCraft #1  -- 11,744
06/2009: StarCraft #2  --  7,933 (-32.5%)
07/2009: --
08/2009: StarCraft #3  --  6,410 (-19.2%)
09/2009: StarCraft #4  --  5,428 (-15.3%)

Another video-game adaptation with abysmal direct-market sales.

Is this selling anywhere? To actual people, I mean, rather than wholesale, to companies that view it as a promotional giveaway?

—–

280 - SUPER FRIENDS (Johnny DC)
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%)
07/2009: Super Friends #17 --  5,368 (- 3.2%) 
08/2009: Super Friends #18 --  5,291 (- 1.4%)
09/2009: Super Friends #19 --  5,045 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.4%
1 year  : -21.5%

A Johnny DC book.

—–

281 - STORMWATCH: PHD (WildStorm)
09/2007: StormWatch: PHD #11 -- 10,440
--------------------------------------
09/2008: StormWatch: PHD #14 --  7,883 (- 8.9%)
10/2008: StormWatch: PHD #15 --  7,411 (- 6.0%)
11/2008: StormWatch: PHD #16 --  6,824 (- 7.9%)
12/2008: StormWatch: PHD #17 --  6,468 (- 5.2%)
01/2009: StormWatch: PHD #18 --  6,030 (- 6.8%)
02/2009: StormWatch: PHD #19 --  5,708 (- 5.3%)
03/2009: StormWatch: PHD #20 --  5,555 (- 2.7%)
04/2009: --
05/2009: StormWatch: PHD #21 --  5,370 (- 3.3%)
06/2009: --
07/2009: StormWatch: PHD #22 --  5,090 (- 5.2%)
08/2009: --
09/2009: StormWatch: PHD #23 --  4,840 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: -12.9%
1 year  : -38.6%
2 years : -53.6%

Cancelled with issue #24, evidently.

—–

291 - RED HERRING (WildStorm)
08/2009: Red Herring #1 of 6 -- 5,982
09/2009: Red Herring #2 of 6 -- 4,337 (-27.5%)

Another creator-owned WildStorm book, with art by Philip Bond, no less.

—–

268 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
09/2004: Scooby Doo #88  -- 5,571
09/2005: Scooby Doo #100 -- 5,239
09/2006: Scooby Doo #112 -- 4,385
09/2007: Scooby Doo #124 -- 4,401
---------------------------------
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%)
07/2009: Scooby Doo #146 -- 4,110 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Scooby Doo #147 -- 4,111 (+ 0.0%)
09/2009: Scooby Doo #148 -- 4,103 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: + 6.2%
1 year  : - 4.2%
2 years : - 6.8%
5 years : -26.4%

Another Johnny DC book.

Dead Romeo #6 (DC Universe), Prototype #6 and Killapalooza #5 (both WildStorm) also came out in September, but missed the chart. As usual, this means that I’m presuming their sales to be equal to the sales of the No. 300 book for the purpose of the average-sales statistics below. Their real sales are likely to be lower than that.

—–

REORDERS:
191: 10,996 -- Blackest Night #1
199: 10,117 -- Blackest Night: Superman #1
201:  9,982 -- Blackest Night: Batman #1
210:  9,420 -- Blackest Night #2
249:  6,554 -- Blackest Night: Titans #1
284:  4,721 -- Batman and Robin #2
290:  4,402 -- Justice League: Cry for Justice #1
292:  4,311 -- Green Lantern #43
293:  4,276 -- Justice League: Cry for Justice #2
300:  4,098 -- Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2
6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 53.5%: GL Corps
+ 11.9%: Solomon Grundy
+  6.2%: Scooby-Doo
+  5.8%: Jonah Hex
+  1.4%: Jack of Fables
+  1.0%: GC Sirens
-  0.7%: Madame Xanadu
-  1.8%: Secret Six
-  2.8%: Young Liars
-  2.9%: Hellblazer
-  3.5%: Tiny Titans
-  4.2%: Fables
-  4.4%: Supergirl
-  6.4%: Super Friends
-  7.0%: Northlanders
-  7.1%: DMZ
-  8.5%: Booster Gold
-  9.0%: Batman Confidential
- 12.2%: WoW
- 12.4%: Batman: Widening Gyre
- 12.9%: House of Mystery
- 12.9%: StormWatch
- 13.7%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 13.7%: Wonder Woman
- 14.4%: Superman/Batman
- 14.4%: Titans
- 16.0%: Authority
- 16.0%: Batman
- 16.1%: Unknown Soldier
- 16.2%: Superman
- 17.3%: Green Arrow
- 18.0%: Wildcats
- 19.3%: JLA
- 23.1%: Action Comics
- 24.0%: Outsiders
- 24.7%: Superman: WoNK
- 29.4%: Vigilante
- 29.6%: R.E.B.E.L.S.
- 37.1%: Air
- 42.6%: Mighty
- 55.9%: Strange Adventures

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 89.5%: Adventure Comics
+ 84.9%: GL Corps
+ 63.0%: Batgirl
+ 62.4%: Green Lantern
+ 61.4%: GC Sirens
+ 48.7%: Robin
+ 16.8%: Supergirl
+ 10.6%: Batman: Brave & Bold
-  4.2%: Scooby-Doo
-  7.6%: Jonah Hex
-  8.8%: Hellblazer
-  9.9%: Brave & Bold
- 10.9%: Jack of Fables
- 12.5%: Fables
- 13.9%: Tiny Titans
- 14.3%: Ex Machina
- 16.5%: Detective Comics
- 16.7%: Wonder Woman
- 18.2%: Northlanders
- 19.1%: Superman
- 21.1%: Madame Xanadu
- 21.5%: Super Friends
- 21.5%: Teen Titans
- 24.5%: Secret Six
- 25.9%: Young Liars
- 26.0%: Batman Confidential
- 27.1%: Action Comics
- 27.3%: Superman/Batman
- 32.7%: Green Arrow
- 33.4%: House of Mystery
- 38.1%: WoW
- 38.6%: StormWatch
- 41.0%: Air
- 41.4%: Authority
- 41.7%: Titans
- 47.1%: Wildcats
- 52.6%: Billy Batson
- 53.9%: Booster Gold
- 54.4%: Outsiders

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 92.7%: Robin
+ 67.2%: Adventure Comics
+ 31.1%: Green Lantern
+ 26.7%: GC Sirens
+ 15.3%: Detective Comics
+  4.8%: Batman
+  3.4%: Batman: Brave & Bold
-  6.8%: Scooby-Doo
- 15.0%: Fables
- 16.4%: Hellblazer
- 19.3%: Jonah Hex
- 22.5%: Superman
- 25.2%: Ex Machina
- 26.0%: Astro City
- 26.4%: Jack of Fables
- 27.8%: Supergirl
- 36.0%: DMZ
- 36.7%: Superman/Batman
- 37.1%: Batman Confidential
- 40.4%: Green Arrow
- 40.4%: Outsiders
- 43.3%: Teen Titans
- 43.6%: JSA
- 53.6%: StormWatch
- 53.9%: Booster Gold

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+149.6%: Green Lantern
+ 17.0%: Detective Comics
+ 14.4%: JSA
+  8.2%: Wonder Woman
+  8.1%: Batman
+  7.3%: GC Sirens
+  5.6%: Robin
+  2.9%: Batgirl
-  8.1%: JLA
- 14.1%: Fables
- 14.6%: Action Comics
- 25.7%: Doom Patrol
- 26.4%: Scooby-Doo
- 27.8%: Supergirl
- 33.8%: Hellblazer
- 40.8%: Green Arrow
- 43.8%: Ex Machina
- 45.5%: Outsiders
- 48.5%: Teen Titans
- 67.7%: Superman
- 68.5%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 74.0%: Superman/Batman

—–

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

DC COMICS
09/2004: 31,690
09/2005: 34,972
09/2006: 34,920
09/2007: 32,332
---------------
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%)**
07/2009: 30,905 (+19.4%)**
08/2009: 29,977 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: 28,493 (- 5.0%)**
----------------
6 months: +30.8%
1 year  : +11.5%
2 years : -11.9%
5 years : -10.1%
DC UNIVERSE
09/2004: 36,445
09/2005: 44,823
09/2006: 46,329
09/2007: 42,894
---------------
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%)
07/2009: 41,218 (+13.9%)
08/2009: 37,300 (- 9.5%)
09/2009: 36,725 (- 1.5%)**
----------------
6 months: +17.2%
1 year  : + 9.3%
2 years : -14.4%
5 years : + 0.8%
VERTIGO
09/2004: 17,046
09/2005: 14,287
09/2006: 15,399
09/2007: 11,806
---------------
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%)
07/2009: 11,055 (- 1.0%)**
08/2009: 11,369 (+ 2.8%)
09/2009: 11,345 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: +11.5%
1 year  : - 3.4%
2 years : - 3.9%
5 years : -33.5%
WILDSTORM
09/2004: 16,541
09/2005: 13,707
09/2006: 13,285
09/2007: 11,379
---------------
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%)**
07/2009:  8,519 (- 3.3%)**
08/2009:  7,977 (- 6.4%)
09/2009:  8,280 (+ 3.8%)**
----------------
6 months: - 7.5%
1 year  : -30.2%
2 years : -27.2%
5 years : -49.9%

—–
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. Merriam-Webster: an unbound printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover.

    Pamphlet is not a term that applies to comic books, no matter how many people use it to disguise the fact that they are embarrassed to say they read comic books.

  2. Heh, snarky : )
    I’m more or less convinced that DC has to keep publishing those Wildstorm titles as part of the deal they made when Jim Lee sold the company to them.

    And I can’t believe a Philip Bond comic sells so poorly. Oh comics.

  3. According to Jim Lee, Wildstorm’s Gears of War #1 was the best selling comic of 2008, obviously not in the direct market. Maybe they are being given away, but that’s still money in the bank for Wildstorm, and comics in the hands of people who don’t regularly shop at comic stores. Seems like a great thing to me.

  4. With Detective Comics selling 57K units, does that make it the highest selling title featuring a female lead? Those are pretty good numbers on that basis.
    And what does it say about Justice League of America that Detective Comics (with said female lead) is outselling it. Essentially that is because the make-up of the team is garbage. Until Didio and Co get that straightened out, the book is going to maintain those low levels.
    Surprising that Superman only outsells Superman/Batman by about a thousand copies. Doesn’t say much for the Superman family of books at the moment.
    I think that is highlighted even more by the fact that Supergirl is selling only 5K less than Superman currently is.

  5. It’s a shame more aren’t buying BATMAN: THE BRAVE & THE BOLD. It’s the best Batman book on the market. I like Morrison’s BATMAN & ROBIN, but I’d so much rather read Batman turned into a giant monster by Hugo Strange fighting a giant-sized Atom (who will explode if he maintains his size for more than 30 minutes) in the streets of Gotham. Awesome stuff that’s everything a comic book should be.

  6. Hey guys looks like some kind of database glitch has erased a bunch of comments from this and other threads. I didn’t do it! We’re investigating, but my apologies. I do have some of them archived.

  7. Somebody once suggested that cover price be included in this analysis. With that in mind, I put this together:

    When you multiply the units times the cover price you get the following changes (hope the formatting comes out OK):

    Old rank Title Total New Rank
    1 BLACKEST NIGHT #3 (OF 8) $561,736.14 1
    3 BATMAN AND ROBIN #4 $319,705.75 5
    4 GREEN LANTERN #46 $309,961.34 7
    6 BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #2 $262,037.62 10
    8 GREEN LANTERN CORPS #40 $248,504.88 13
    10 BLACKEST N SUPERMAN #2 $235,510.34 15
    11 BATMAN #690 $230,232.99 17
    25 DETECTIVE COMICS #857 $227,681.37 19
    27 JUSTICE LEAGUE CFJ #3 $218,356.74 21
    28 SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN #1 $217,973.70 22
    74 JUSTICE LEAGUE 80 PAGE #1 $193,135.57 28
    17 BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #2 $191,617.14 29
    44 ADVENTURE COMICS #2 $188,711.04 33
    26 JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #37 $165,879.22 39
    55 BATMAN STREETS/GOTHAM #4 $151,173.12 43
    60 ACTION COMICS #881 $144,370.17 47
    61 WEDNESDAY COMICS #9 $143,484.39 49
    39 RED ROBIN #4 $143,355.55 50
    43 JUSTICE SIETY/AMERICA #31 $141,833.64 52
    63 WEDNESDAY COMICS #10 $139,466.46 55
    48 BATMAN WIDENING GYRE #2 $138,398.13 56
    66 WEDNESDAY COMICS #11 $136,721.34 58
    69 WEDNESDAY COMICS #12 $135,348.78 59
    72 TEEN TITANS #75 $130,903.92 61
    53 BATGIRL #2 $121,471.74 66
    90 SUPERGIRL ANNUAL #1 $112,765.38 72
    57 SUPERMAN WON KRYPTON #7 $112,714.03 73
    58 SUPERMAN #692 $112,708.05 74
    59 SUPERMAN BATMAN #64 $108,632.68 76
    65 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #4 $102,870.95 78
    75 SUPERGIRL #45 $96,397.60 86
    83 TITANS #17 $90,160.46 95
    85 POWER GIRL #5 $88,196.03 98
    115 DOOM PATROL #2 $87,783.99 99
    116 BOOSTER GOLD #24 $86,706.69 100
    87 WONDER WOMAN #36 $86,129.94 101
    93 BRAVE AND THE BOLD #27 $80,442.96 104
    94 MAGOG #1 $78,792.48 105
    96 SOLOMON GRUNDY #7 $77,521.73 107
    126 GREEN ARROW BLACK C #24 $74,932.20 111
    105 SECRET SIX #13 $71,517.81 119
    111 OUTSIDERS #22 $68,097.25 125
    140 SHIELD #1 $67,818.03 128
    118 FABLES #88 (MR) $64,308.92 133
    119 JSA VS KOBRA #4 (OF 6) $63,109.93 134
    149 WEB #1 $61,872.93 135
    120 RED TORNADO #1 (OF 6) $61,447.49 137
    155 ASTRO CITY ASTRA SPECIAL #1 $58,361.73 141
    131 BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #33 $54,238.60 147
    172 FREDDY JASON ASH NW #3 $48,594.21 153
    145 UNWRITTEN #5 (MR) $47,872.89 157
    185 FREDDY JASON ASH NW #4 $45,438.12 165
    191 BLACKEST NIGHT #1 (OF 8) $43,874.04 171
    162 JACK OF FABLES #38 (MR) $41,232.10 174
    200 STRANGE ADVENTURES #7 $40,171.32 176
    164 EX MACHINA #45 (MR) $38,367.68 180
    210 BLACKEST NIGHT #2 (OF 8) $37,585.80 183
    168 FINAL CRISIS AFTERM RUN #5 $37,093.94 185
    171 JONAH HEX #47 $36,570.69 188
    176 WORLD OF WARCRAFT #23 $35,757.41 192
    180 LAST DAYS OF ANIMAL MAN #5 $35,255.09 196
    184 FINAL CRISIS AFTER ESCAPE #5 $34,722.87 202
    186 REBELS #8 $33,927.53 206
    190 HOUSE OF MYSTERY #17 (MR) $33,314.58 210
    192 FINAL CRISIS AFTRM DANCE #5 $32,617.91 212
    193 HELLBLAZER #259 (MR) $32,330.87 213
    194 GREEK STREET #3 (MR) $31,777.72 215
    195 FINAL CRISIS AFTERM INK #5 $31,610.28 216
    197 WARLORD #6 $30,889.69 219
    199 BLACKEST NIGHT SUPERMAN #1 $30,249.83 222
    201 BLACKEST NIGHT BATMAN #1 $29,846.18 223
    207 MADAME XANADU #15 (MR) $29,101.67 226
    215 NORTHLANDERS #20 (MR) $26,270.14 230
    224 AUTHORITY #14 $25,098.06 235
    232 VIGILANTE #10 $23,489.44 240
    237 DMZ #45 (MR) $22,691.11 242
    241 WILDCATS #15 $21,462.22 244
    223 TINY TITANS #20 $21,087.50 245
    245 UNKNOWN SOLDIER #12 (MR) $20,526.35 250
    249 BLACKEST NIGHT TITANS #1 $19,596.46 256
    252 AIR #13 (MR) $19,363.24 258
    258 NORTH 40 #3 (OF 6) $18,789.16 266
    128 SWEET TOOTH #1 (MR) $18,567.00 267
    259 MIGHTY #8 $18,250.96 268
    242 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND B #9 $17,660.00 271
    290 JUSTICE LEAGUE CFJ #1 (OF 7) $17,563.98 273
    293 JUSTICE LEAGUE CFJ #2 (OF 7) $17,061.24 275
    271 YOUNG LIARS #18 (MR) $16,672.24 280
    300 BLACKEST NIGHT TALES OTC#2 $16,351.02 283
    274 STARCRAFT #4 $16,229.72 285
    265 BILLY BATSON AND TMOS #8 $14,645.00 288
    281 STORMWATCH PHD #23 $14,471.60 289
    284 BATMAN AND ROBIN #2 $14,115.79 292
    291 RED HERRING #2 (OF 6) $12,967.63 295
    292 GREEN LANTERN #43 $12,889.89 296
    280 SUPER FRIENDS #19 $12,612.50 298
    299 SCOOBY DOO #148 $10,257.50 300

  8. SUPERMAN–Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but apparently thousands agree with me: I started picking up Action/Superman when Johns/Robinson came on and really liked it, and even had trouble getting them at my LCS because sales had picked up. THEN… then… another brilliant idea from DD and co.: REMOVE SUPERMAN from the title, bring in a confusing (to the average reader) story that, in whole, been in the miniseries. KILL THE MOMENTUM that Action/Superman had started to pick up. Great work, guys!

  9. I think Superman is suffering from too many books. I know DC keeps promising big payoffs but when you have to read 4-5 titles plus one-shots and specials a month to get the scoop on Superman then I think the average reader is scared off or priced out.

    Should have collapsed Supergirl into Superman as a back-up with Mon-El as the lead. Action could have taken New Krypton as it’s back-up so Superman would still be in one of his own books. And Superman/Batman is should just end since it hasn’t had an audience outside of completest for both heroes I think in a couple of years.

    As for JLA…yeah the roster is bad but the Titans roster Robinson is going to place in isn’t instilling me with a lot of interest either. The Atom in the JLA again will be great but Congorilla, Cyborg and Starfire???

    Batman relaunch..I think Paul Dini’s titles suffer from not feeling like they are part of the Bat books but rather continuation of stories from his Detective Comics run which were slow moving story arcs.

    Also again too many Bat Books. I think DC could have easly been happy with Batman and Robin, Batman, Detective and Red Robin. Gotham Sirens and Manhunter-SOG backup, could have been the back up for B&R and Batman.

  10. Just bouncing in for three quick points (in decreasing order):

    1. I’m not even getting too deep into the hot-cold Blackest Night tie-ins. Batman did best with it, because of the great unspoken motivation of the memories of dead family members throughout the title’s entire history. Superman was full of sigh; it’s far too easy for the Big Blue Boy Scout to shrug off pathos. Titans landed somewhere in between. With all the dead Titans, there was plenty of material. Too bad this series beats both the monthlies for material with potential for fan interest.

    2. For the love of Hawkman’s tailfeathers, get Willingham and Sturges off of JSA, now! Yes, I know they haven’t had long, but they have completely abandoned the familial feel of JSA for traditional team book shtick. This book is not “Uncanny Old-Men”. Ick.

    3. To this day, I still don’t understand the Super Team’s continuing fascination with Superman’s origin. If Matt Idelson is paying attention, I’ll type slowly: Stop… re… hashing… the… *(&^%… story…!

  11. So is there some wild girl on girl action going on in Detective Comics that I’m missing? Something must pushing her numbers up.

  12. “Coming up? More of the same. How do they keep publishing WildStorm Universe comics at these numbers? No idea.”

    The Authority and Wildcats actually have new writers incoming, so no, it isn’t more of the same. God knows why DC is bothering to replace Abnett & Lanning and Gage with even lower profile, less talented writers though.

  13. @ Joe Gualtieri: Just guessing really, but I imagine the current sales levels don’t justify the page rates of the current talent.

  14. Coat poses the question, “Periodical business? I thought the replacement word ” pamphlets ” was the new lingo being used?”

    I prefer calling them “singles”, and graphic novels/trade paperbacks “albums”, but that could just be me.

    Also, about Starcraft:

    “Is this selling anywhere? To actual people, I mean, rather than wholesale, to companies that view it as a promotional giveaway?”

    I have one guy that reserves this in my store, but other than that, no.

    And Warcraft has two reserve people (one of ’em is the aforementioned Starcraft guy).

  15. Joe,

    “The Authority and Wildcats actually have new writers incoming, so no, it isn’t more of the same.”

    I tend to disagree. As long as they keep publishing books that pretend WildStorm is still a strong publishing brand and the WildStorm Universe and its characters so inherently fascinating that more generic superhero stories will do, I don’t view the change of a creative team as a breath of fresh air.

    Hiring someone like Brian Wood and a promising new artist to relaunch one of their properties is a step in the right direction, certainly, but it doesn’t strike me as nearly radical enough. In order to convince people that there’s still life in the imprint, they’ll have to do a lot more, and it doesn’t seem to be happening. If anything, people might not notice Wood’s book because it’s stuck in a crowd of zombie properties (THE AUTHORITY: THE LOST YEAR…?!).

  16. @ Dave- entirely possible, but I’m not sure why they don’t just kill the books instead. The sales are embarrassing at this point.

    @ Marc… You do know that since their last relaunch the Wildstorm line has been anything but “generic superheroes” right? Love it or hate it, the post-apocalypse direction has been something different. Also, Adam Beechen (Wildcats) and Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman (Authority) and the next solicited writers, not Wood. I’d ask if I missed an annoucement, but I’m not a Brian Wood fan.

  17. Joe,

    “Love it or hate it, the post-apocalypse direction has been something different.”

    Surely you jest. From the New Universe through 2099 through the Ultraverse and so on right through the recent ULTIMATUM, I’ve got a hard time coming up with a struggling superhero line that DIDN’T go for the “apocalypse” gimmick in its death throes — or one where it worked, for that matter.

    Nobody cares about the WildStorm Universe. Consequently, why should anybody care if it blows up? All people ever cared about was to see creators like Ellis, Millar, Casey, Hitch, Quitely or Brubaker go nuts and do the things they couldn’t do at Marvel or DC. Right now, the WildStorm Universe line is at least ten years out of date, rather than the cutting edge of anything.

    “Also, Adam Beechen (Wildcats) and Marc Bernardin & Adam Freeman (Authority) and the next solicited writers, not Wood.”

    I was referring to Wood’s DV8 relaunch.

  18. looking at the icv2 estimates for October, it’s pretty clear to me that BN is holding up incredibly well month to month so the variant cover argument is holding very little water here. Halfway through not only has the main book done great but both GL/GLC along with the tie-ins have all had very consistent sales aswell. At some point Marc you have to start giving all of these books the props that they deserve, FC would have killed to had these sales numbers for the main book or tie-ins. Also BN for months now has given DC a big boost in sales that DC hasn’t had since Infinite Crisis this thing is a hit in everyway possible, I hope we see a little more in depth look at that in the October sales breakdown.

  19. EJ,

    “looking at the icv2 estimates for October, it’s pretty clear to me that BN is holding up incredibly well month to month so the variant cover argument is holding very little water here.”

    You’re right, it was unfair of me to suggest that “BLACKEST NIGHT keeps performing very, very well,” when it’s perfectly plain to anyone that, as a matter of fact, BLACKEST NIGHT is holding up incredibly well.

    I apologize profusely.

  20. Marc,

    The New Universe was before my time. Wasn’t that just Pittsburgh being blown up, followed by an alien invasion?

    All I recall of the Ultraverse’s death throes were Marvel characters crossing over.

    2099, yes, I vaguely recall that, but wasn’t that when the line was condensed down to one comic? That’s not quite the same as four titles examining different aspects of the setting.

    Ultimatum started well after Wildstorm went in its current direction, and the line is still going, so it must not have been much of an apocalypse.

    I agree that the creators have always been the main draw for Wildstorm, but the last batch, while not commerical, was good. DnA are culty, Edginton is underrated, and Gage is an up-and-comer. In a few years, this period of Wildstorm could be as fondly remembered as Ellis’ (which no one read at the time either).

  21. Joe,

    The problem is, “good” doesn’t cut it.

    People already get dozens of good, solidly crafted superhero books every month from Marvel and DC proper, and for years now, a lot of them have been more quirky and out there than the WildStorm Universe stuff. Simply put, there’s no place in the market for a third superhero line that’s not all that different from what readers get in the two existing ones.

    I think WildStorm’s only hope for its superhero line is to get pioneers and let them go crazy: creators with strong voices, who Do Stuff with superheroes that people aren’t getting anywhere else. And I’m not talking about plot here.

    Currently, what they’ve got are caretakers who act like the WildStorm Universe was the Marvel Universe. Those caretakers are all solid craftsmen, I’m sure — but there’s not much left to take care of, at this stage.

    As long as they don’t realize that, I don’t see any hope for the line. And even if they did realize it all of a sudden, that wouldn’t mean that people would pay attention, mind you — not to mention that other publishers like Image, Dark Horse, Avatar, IDW, Dynamite and Boom! are now all operating successfully on the turf that used to be WildStorm’s. So it’d be an uphill struggle under the best of circumstances.

  22. Hey Marc,

    Maybe I didn’t make my point clear, I wasn’t trying to nitpick. But it does appear to me anyways, that you’re leaning a little too much on the variant argument as somehow inflating sales on the project. When 4 months in the way it’s held up and the drop off between issues shows that people are digging the content of the book not gimmicks covers.

    But my bad if I got your comments twisted in anyway.

  23. EJ,

    “But it does appear to me anyways, that you’re leaning a little too much on the variant argument as somehow inflating sales on the project.”

    Well, it’s not so much an argument as a statement of fact: These variant editions exist, they come with unusually high thresholds for retailers, and they’re distorting the numbers somewhat.

    Look at BATMAN AND ROBIN, for example, a similarly high-selling book which only had one of the rarer variants for its first issue. The drop-off is noticeably larger as a result.

    As it says in the last paragraph of my comments, I agree that BLACKEST NIGHT is doing well. But that doesn’t mean the contributing effect of the variant edition should be ignored.

  24. I for one concur that part of the problem for the Superman line is too many books. Or more specifically, too many interconnected books so that you HAVE to read ALL of them or none. I don’t like to be forced to buy books, so when I have one book I like okay, and it tries to force me to buy a book I’m not interested in, I’ll rather just drop the book I liked okay.

    I was somewhat enjoying ACTION and SUPERMAN as their own separate entities for the first months, but when they started to tie in with SUPERGIRL and I wasn’t getting the complete story anymore because I wouldn’t buy it — well, I dropped the line.

    The line could take a cue from how the Batman line is doing things. BATMAN is self-contained. DETECTIVE COMICS is self-contained. I have no interest in RED ROBIN, and the two books I am reading aren’t trying to force me to read RR by crossovering with it. Hence, I keep reading them.