by Marc-Oliver Frisch

DC Comics’ performance in July was an improvement on the previous month, not unexpectedly. The publisher’s numbers were bolstered by issues of three high-selling titles, Batman, All Star Superman and Action Comics, which were late from June. Then there was the release of All Flash #1, the continuation of DC’s latest Flash revamp, whose numbers were enhanced through gimmicks and retailer incentives. Finally, the “Sinestro Corps War” crossover running through issues of Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps continued to be a genuine hit and brought sizeable sales increases to both titles. In other news, July saw the launch of the limited series Green Arrow: Year One and Black Canary.

While DC’s overall position in terms of direct market periodicals improved somewhat in July, the publisher’s Vertigo and WildStorm sublabels had no part in the upturn. Despite the launch of Vertigo’s Faker and WildStorm’s The Programme, limited series by established creators, average sales for both imprints dipped again in July, reaching a new historical low in WildStorm’s case. At Vertigo, there’s a reasonably attractive mix of new and revamped properties in the pipeline. WildStorm, however, are essentially planning to offer more of the same, by less popular creators, and that doesn’t really inspire a great deal of trust.

Credit where credit is due, though: DC are continuing to cut down on late-shipping books. Although several titles remained an issue or two behind their schedules in July, the only series failing to be released altogether were Vertigo’s Deadman and Jack of Fables. See below for the details.

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.

—–

7 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
07/2001: JLA #56            --  69,676*
07/2002: JLA #68            --  59,978* 
07/2003: JLA #83            --  58,242 [59,154]
07/2004: JLA #101           --  64,615
07/2004: JLA #102           --  63,249
07/2005: JLA #116           --  87,644 [91,030]
--------------------------------------
07/2006: Justice League #0  -- 162,378 (+118.4%) [169,199]
08/2006: Justice League #1  -- 212,581 (+ 30.9%) [251,266]
09/2006: Justice League #2  -- 143,412 (- 32.5%) [158,480]
10/2006: --
11/2006: Justice League #3  -- 140,939 (-  1.7%) [143,310]
12/2006: Justice League #4  -- 136,709 (-  3.0%) [139,123]
12/2006: Justice League #5  -- 132,460 (-  3.1%) [133,924]
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2007: Justice League #6  -- 130,099 (-  1.8%) [131,754]
04/2007: Justice League #7  -- 154,984 (+ 19.1%)
04/2007: Justice League #8  -- 130,365 (- 15.9%)
05/2007: Justice League #9  -- 129,285 (-  0.8%)
06/2007: Justice League #10 -- 129,265 (-  0.0%)
07/2007: Justice League #11 -- 122,823 (-  5.0%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : - 24.4%
2 years : + 40.1%

Leaving the “Lightning Saga” crossover behind, the book’s sales drop well below 130,000 for the first time since the relaunch. It’s still a great performer, obviously. As always, there was a 1-in-10 variant cover edition to boost the numbers.

—–

9 - ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER

07/2005: All Star Batman #1 -- 261,046 [306,976]

09/2005: All Star Batman #2 -- 178,592 [184,962]

12/2005: All Star Batman #3 -- 162,993 [166,218]

05/2006: All Star Batman #4 -- 160,401

--------------------------------------

07/2006: --

08/2006: --

09/2006: --

10/2006: --

11/2006: --

12/2006: --

01/2007: --

02/2007: --

03/2007: --

04/2007: --

05/2007: All Star Batman #5 -- 114,302 (-28.7%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: All Star Batman #6 -- 105,991 (- 7.3%)

-----------------

6 months:   n.a.

1 year  :   n.a.

2 years : - 59.4%

Given that All Star Batman has now sticked to two release dates in a row and subsequent issues are scheduled for September and November, one can perhaps be cautiously optimistic that the book is back on a bimonthly schedule.

While that’s certainly laudable, though, it doesn’t seem to be stopping its ongoing sales erosion just yet. Not that 106K is a bad number, taken on its own merits. But, Jesus, look at the book’s launch numbers two years back. Something’s gone awfully wrong with this title, and you certainly can’t say that people didn’t give it a chance.

As usual, there was a 1-in-10 variant cover edition.

—–

15 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

07/2001: JSA #26             --  40,930*

07/2002: JSA #38             --  42,724*

07/2003: JSA #50             --  47,924

07/2004: JSA #63             --  41,595

07/2005: JSA #75             --  55,410

---------------------------------------

07/2006: JSA #87             --  49,583 (-  1.5%)

08/2006: --

09/2006: --

10/2006: --

11/2006: --

12/2006: Justice Society #1  -- 102,990 (+107.7%) [108,140]

01/2007: Justice Society #2  --  86,180 (- 16.3%) [ 92,459]

02/2007: Justice Society #3  --  84,356 (-  2.1%) [ 86,014]

03/2007: Justice Society #4  --  84,449 (+  0.1%) [ 86,475]

04/2007: Justice Society #5  --  98,069 (+ 16.1%) [102,275]

05/2007: Justice Society #6  --  96,900 (-  1.2%) [ 99,784]

06/2007: --

07/2007: Justice Society #7  --  88,883 (-  8.3%)

-----------------

6 months: +  3.1% 

1 year  : + 79.3%

2 years : + 60.4%

The book loses much of the sales boost provided by the “Lightning Saga,” but unlike Justice League, it remains a few thousand units ahead of the numbers it did prior to the crossover. Possibly, that’s because the solicitation copy suggested a connection with the popular 52 series.

And you know the drill: There was a 1-in-10 variant cover edition.

—–

18 - BATMAN

07/2001: Batman #593 --  43,654*

07/2002: Batman #605 --  52,635*

07/2003: Batman #617 -- 146,601 [158,844]

07/2004: Batman #630 --  69,026 [ 70,414]

07/2005: Batman #642 --  65,435

-------------------------------

07/2006: Batman #655 -- 113,567 (+48.4%) [123,903]

08/2006: Batman #656 --  95,982 (-15.5%) [ 99,024]

09/2006: Batman #657 --  91,357 (- 4.8%) [ 96,127]

10/2006: --

11/2006: Batman #658 --  94,349 (+ 3.3%)

11/2006: Batman #659 --  90,651 (- 3.9%)

12/2006: Batman #660 --  76,967 (-15.1%)

12/2006: Batman #661 --  75,512 (- 1.9%)

01/2007: Batman #662 --  72,499 (- 4.0%)

02/2007: Batman #663 --  83,167 (+14.7%)

03/2007: Batman #664 --  80,497 (- 3.2%) [ 82,107]

04/2007: --

05/2007: Batman #665 --  80,122 (- 0.5%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Batman #666 --  83,781 (+ 4.6%)

----------------

6 months: +15.6%

1 year  : -26.2%

2 years : +28.0%

Apparently, the fact that it’s issue #666 was enough to bring about a nice little sales increase. In the next several months, Batman will be going through a couple of artist changes and a crossover, so it’s going to be interesting to see what that does to the book’s numbers.

Issue #666 was originally meant to be out in May, by the way, but to be fair, DC shipped two issues of Batman in August, so it finally seems to be back on schedule.

—–

19 - ALL STAR SUPERMAN

07/2006: --

08/2006: All Star Superman #5  -- 109,746 (- 1.5%)

09/2006: --

10/2006: --

11/2006: --

12/2006: --

01/2007: All Star Superman #6  --  98,802 (-10.0%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: --

04/2007: All Star Superman #7  --  92,295 (- 6.7%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: --

07/2007: All Star Superman #8  --  83,329 (- 9.7%)

----------------

6 months: -15.7%

1 year  :  n.a.

For all intents and purposes, this book seems to have settled into a quarterly schedule. Which is fine, of course – for all the gaps between issues, All Star Superman still has a much better track record than its sister title. Unfortunately, retailers are still dropping it by the truckload for some reason, despite the critical acclaim it’s been garnering.

—–

20 - GREEN LANTERN

07/2001: Green Lantern #140 --  34,229*

07/2002: Green Lantern #152 --  37,513*

07/2003: --

07/2004: Green Lantern #179 --  35,562 [37,456]

07/2005: --

--------------------------------------

07/2006: Green Lantern #12  --  80,292 (+ 1.7%)

08/2006: --

09/2006: Green Lantern #13  --  78,101 (- 2.7%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Green Lantern #14  --  72,894 (- 6.7%)

11/2006: Green Lantern #15  --  70,148 (- 3.8%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: Green Lantern #16  --  66,105 (- 5.8%)

02/2007: Green Lantern #17  --  62,018 (- 6.2%)

03/2007: Green Lantern #18  --  61,661 (- 0.6%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Green Lantern #19  --  62,439 (+ 1.3%)

05/2007: Green Lantern #20  --  60,556 (- 3.0%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Green Lantern #21  --  81,929 (+35.3%)

----------------

6 months: +23.9%

1 year  : + 2.0%

2 years :   n.a.

There was a 1-in-10 variant cover edition of the issue, but it’s safe to say that most of the increase is due to the “Sinestro Corps War” crossover that continues here from June’s Sinestro Corps Special. A second printing of which, by the way, sold another 18,742 units in July, bringing the total count to 75,562. So, all told, the storyline is a solid hit for DC. They can use it.

—–

22 - ALL FLASH

07/2001: Flash #176     --  26,756*

07/2002: Flash #188     --  29,691*

07/2003: Flash #200     --  41,078 [44,977]

07/2004: Flash #212     --  40,056

07/2005: Flash #224     --  48,062

----------------------------------

07/2006: Flash: FMA #2  --  77,487 (- 35.6%) [ 82,501]

08/2006: Flash: FMA #3  --  70,633 (-  8.9%) [ 72,067]

09/2006: Flash: FMA #4  --  66,663 (-  5.6%)

10/2006: Flash: FMA #5  --  61,576 (-  7.6%)

11/2006: Flash: FMA #6  --  56,789 (-  7.8%)

12/2006: Flash: FMA #7  --  53,600 (-  5.6%)

01/2007: Flash: FMA #8  --  50,967 (-  4.9%)

02/2007: Flash: FMA #9  --  47,214 (-  7.4%)

03/2007: Flash: FMA #10 --  46,133 (-  2.3%)

04/2007: Flash: FMA #11 --  46,963 (+  1.8%)

05/2007: Flash: FMA #12 --  47,809 (+  1.8%)

06/2007: Flash: FMA #13 --  76,860 (+ 60.8%) [ 82,767]

07/2007: All Flash #1   --  78,955 (+  2.7%)

----------------

6 months: +54.9%

1 year  : + 1.9%

2 years : +64.3%

Let’s recapitulate: All Flash #1 (the same as August’s Flash #231) was first solicited as Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #14, with a different creative team attached. Then, months later, and just before issue #13 went on sale, DC announced that the solicitation was a fake, and that all orders for Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #14 would be rerouted towards All Flash #1, by popular veteran Flash writer Mark Waid. Additionally, they had a sales incentive in place, offering any retailer whose orders for Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13-15 each were 200% or more of their orders for issue #10 full returnability on all ordered copies. There also is a 50/50 variant cover edition of the issue.

Bearing all this in mind, it’s impossible to say so far how much the book’s increased sales reflect customer demand, and how much of the boost is down to gimmicks and publishing tricks. Reactions to All Flash #1 seem to have been mostly positive, at any rate. Then again, a 2.7% increase over Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13 isn’t stellar; but perhaps the audience viewed Flash #231 as the real start of the book’s revamp. Either way, Flash sales should be interesting to watch in the next few months.

—–

25/26/28/29 - COUNTDOWN

05/2007: Countdown #51 -- 91,083

05/2007: Countdown #50 -- 83,752 (-8.1%) [85,564]

05/2007: Countdown #49 -- 81,484 (-2.7%) [83,188]

05/2007: Countdown #48 -- 79,810 (-2.1%) [81,828]

06/2007: Countdown #47 -- 77,504 (-2.9%)

06/2007: Countdown #46 -- 76,362 (-1.5%)

06/2007: Countdown #45 -- 74,918 (-1.9%)

06/2007: Countdown #44 -- 73,971 (-1.3%)

07/2007: Countdown #43 -- 73,912 (-0.1%)

07/2007: Countdown #42 -- 73,116 (-1.1%)

07/2007: Countdown #41 -- 72,621 (-0.7%)

07/2007: Countdown #40 -- 72,102 (-0.7%)

DC’s big tent pole title of the year barely scrapes into the Top 25, but it’s actually finding its level rather quickly. Taken on its own terms, these wouldn’t be bad numbers by any stretch. Unfortunately, DC turned up the hype to eleven before the book’s debut and went out of their way telling everyone that it shouldn’t be taken on its own terms. And for the blockbuster project this was meant to be, sales are plainly embarrassing.

Faced with mixed reactions and underwhelming numbers, the company has been busy exercising damage control lately, assuring their audience that everything’s peachy, people love the book, it just needs some time to unfold and sales are great. But come on. There are benchmarks for this type of book, and at present, they’re called 52 and World War Hulk. Countdown has been falling short of those books by at least 30,000 units. It’s outsold even by satellite titles World War Hulk: Frontline and World War Hulk: X-Men, which aren’t remotely essential to the plot of the competition’s big crossover. Not to mention that the brand has utterly failed to generate any noticeable sales increases with its tie-in titles to date – see comments on Superman and Action Comics below. This really isn’t a success so far.

On a sidenote, DC had a retailer incentive in place, stating that the first eight issues (possibly more, but I couldn’t find any public announcements on it) of Countdown were going to be returnable under certain conditions. These conditions being (a) that retailers ordered as many copies as they had ordered of specific issues of the book’s predecessor 52 and (b) that they pay a fee of 29 cents per returned copy. Given that sales of Countdown never came remotely close to those of 52, I’m going to presume that the deal didn’t fly with a lot of stores.

—–

30 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN

07/2004: Superman/Batman #11 -- 143,712 [149,902]

07/2005: Superman/Batman #21 -- 108,341

---------------------------------------

07/2006: Superman/Batman #28 --  92,603 (- 3.2%)

08/2006: Superman/Batman #29 --  90,665 (- 2.1%)

09/2006: --

10/2006: --

11/2006: Superman/Batman #30 --  84,008 (- 7.3%)

12/2006: Superman/Batman #31 --  81,716 (- 2.7%)

01/2007: --

02/2007: --

03/2007: Superman/Batman #32 --  77,905 (- 4.7%)

04/2007: Superman/Batman #33 --  74,807 (- 4.0%)

04/2007: Superman/Batman #34 --  71,278 (- 4.7%)

05/2007: Superman/Batman #35 --  68,160 (- 4.4%)

06/2007: Superman/Batman #36 --  65,866 (- 3.4%)

06/2007: Superman/Batman #37 --  72,635 (+10.3%)

07/2007: Superman/Batman #38 --  67,695 (- 6.8%)

----------------

6 months:   n.a.

1 year  : -26.9%

2 years : -37.5%

There was a variant cover edition of issue #38, but from what I’ve been able to discern, it wasn’t a limited 1-in-10 one, like the one for the previous issue. Maybe that’s the reason why sales promptly crashed back to previous levels with the second chapter of the current arc.

—–

37 - TEEN TITANS

07/2003: Teen Titans #1  -- 63,259 [98,319]

07/2004: Teen Titans #13 -- 65,658

07/2005: Teen Titans #26 -- 68,353

----------------------------------

07/2006: Teen Titans #37 -- 71,263 (- 0.3%)

08/2006: Teen Titans #38 -- 69,232 (- 2.9%)

09/2006: Teen Titans #39 -- 65,969 (- 4.7%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Teen Titans #40 -- 64,176 (- 2.7%)

11/2006: Teen Titans #41 -- 61,714 (- 3.8%)

12/2006: Teen Titans #42 -- 60,165 (- 2.5%)

01/2007: Teen Titans #43 -- 60,290 (+ 0.2%) [62,560]

02/2007: --

03/2007: Teen Titans #44 -- 61,572 (+ 2.1%)

04/2007: Teen Titans #45 -- 61,051 (- 0.9%)

05/2007: Teen Titans #46 -- 61,478 (+ 0.7%)

05/2007: Teen Titans #47 -- 63,673 (+ 3.6%)

06/2007: Teen Titans #48 -- 60,786 (- 4.5%)

07/2007: Teen Titans #49 -- 59,258 (- 2.5%)

----------------

6 months: - 1.7%

1 year  : -16.9%

2 years : -13.3%

I’m not sure you’ve heard of it, but there’s a crossover called “Amazons Attack” going on in the DC Universe. It’s a crossover which seems to be making sales go down. The June and July issues of Teen Titans are part of it. They’re the lowest-selling issues of the title so far since its launch in July 2003.

—–

43 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD

02/2007: The Brave and the Bold #1  -- 92,091          [98,266]

03/2007: The Brave and the Bold #2  -- 64,357 (-30.1%) [67,143]

04/2007: The Brave and the Bold #3  -- 59,211 (- 8.0%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: The Brave and the Bold #4  -- 55,597 (- 6.1%)

07/2007: The Brave and the Bold #5  -- 54,047 (- 2.8%)

Sales appear to be bottoming out upwards of 50K. That’s perfectly okay, but after the fantastic sales of the debut issue, they were probably hoping for something better.

—–

44 - DETECTIVE COMICS

07/2001: Detective Comics #760 -- 38,542*

07/2002: Detective Comics #772 -- 48,661*

07/2003: Detective Comics #784 -- 38,571

07/2004: Detective Comics #796 -- 36,806

07/2005: Detective Comics #808 -- 37,952

----------------------------------------

07/2006: Detective Comics #821 -- 67,345 (+ 2.1%)

08/2006: Detective Comics #822 -- 66,372 (- 1.5%)

09/2006: Detective Comics #823 -- 64,215 (- 3.3%)

10/2006: Detective Comics #824 -- 62,431 (- 2.8%)

11/2006: Detective Comics #825 -- 58,940 (- 5.6%)

12/2006: Detective Comics #826 -- 59,657 (+ 1.2%)

12/2006: Detective Comics #827 -- 55,031 (- 7.8%)

01/2007: --

02/2007: Detective Comics #828 -- 55,206 (+ 0.3%)

03/2007: Detective Comics #829 -- 52,943 (- 4.1%)

03/2007: Detective Comics #830 -- 52,395 (- 1.0%)

04/2007: Detective Comics #831 -- 56,284 (+ 7.4%)

05/2007: Detective Comics #832 -- 51,727 (- 8.1%)

06/2007: Detective Comics #833 -- 54,104 (+ 4.6%)

07/2007: Detective Comics #834 -- 53,461 (- 1.2%)

----------------

6 months:  n.a.

1 year  : -20.6%

2 years : +40.9%

Whenever regular writer Paul Dini’s name is on the book, sales remain solid. Next up is another fill-in two-parter.

—–

45 - WONDER WOMAN

07/2001: Wonder Woman #172 --  32,535*

07/2002: Wonder Woman #183 --  24,828*

07/2003: Wonder Woman #194 --  25,347

07/2004: Wonder Woman #206 --  28,038

07/2005: Wonder Woman #218 --  34,366

07/2005: Wonder Woman #219 --  53,460 [92,164]

-------------------------------------

07/2006: --

08/2006: Wonder Woman #2   --  84,618 (- 36.2%) [ 87,276]

09/2006: --

10/2006: --

11/2006: Wonder Woman #3   --  76,998 (-  9.0%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: --

02/2007: Wonder Woman #4   --  69,860 (-  9.3%)

03/2007: Wonder Woman #5   --  64,414 (-  7.8%)

03/2007: Wonder Woman #6   --  62,458 (-  3.0%)

04/2007: Wonder Woman #7   --  60,168 (-  3.7%)

04/2007: Wonder Woman #8   --  58,772 (-  2.3%)

05/2007: Wonder Woman #9   --  58,561 (-  0.4%)

06/2007: Wonder Woman #10  --  54,472 (-  7.0%)

07/2007: Wonder Woman #11  --  52,983 (-  2.7%)

-----------------

6 months:  n.a.

1 year  :  n.a.

2 years : -  0.9%

Like the June issue, another Amazons Attack tie-in. In fairness, the first shock seems to have worn off. Instead of actively dragging the numbers down, the crossover has now settled on not making any difference. Every little bit helps.

—–

46/48 - SUPERMAN

07/2001: Superman #172 --  46,670*

07/2002: Superman #184 --  38,129*

07/2003: Superman #195 --  35,302

07/2004: Superman #207 -- 138,984 [140,177]

07/2005: Superman #219 --  71,036 [ 84,145]

---------------------------------

07/2006: Superman #654 --  69,526 (+ 0.7%)

08/2006: Superman #655 --  66,976 (- 3.7%)

09/2006: Superman #656 --  64,288 (- 4.0%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Superman #657 --  62,327 (- 3.1%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: Superman #658 --  60,682 (- 2.6%)

02/2007: Superman #659 --  58,258 (- 4.0%)

03/2007: Superman #660 --  57,169 (- 1.9%)

04/2007: Superman #661 --  55,738 (- 2.5%)

05/2007: Superman #662 --  55,236 (- 0.9%)

06/2007: Superman #663 --  53,384 (- 3.4%)

07/2007: Superman #664 --  52,313 (- 2.0%)

07/2007: Superman #665 --  51,936 (- 0.7%)

----------------

6 months: -14.1% 

1 year  : -25.0%

2 years : -26.9%

Issue #664 was another part of the regular creative team’s storyline. Issue #665 was a Countdown tie-in. Neither seems to be having any effect on sales. Given the number of Countdown spin-off titles and tie-in issues yet to come in the next several months, I’d be concerned about that if I were DC.

—–

50/54/85 - ACTION COMICS

07/2001: Action Comics #781 -- 42,445* 

07/2002: Action Comics #793 -- 34,676*

07/2003: Action Comics #805 -- 31,959

07/2004: Action Comics #817 -- 45,178

07/2005: Action Comics #829 -- 62,994 [76,896]

-------------------------------------

07/2006: Action Comics #841 -- 58,657 (- 5.1%)

08/2006: Action Comics #842 -- 57,964 (- 1.2%)

09/2006: Action Comics #843 -- 56,084 (- 3.2%)

10/2006: Action Comics #844 -- 78,869 (+40.6%) [88,290]

11/2006: Action Comics #845 -- 66,742 (-15.4%) [71,135]

12/2006: --

01/2007: --

02/2007: Action Comics #846 -- 64,554 (- 3.3%) [66,349]

03/2007: Action Comics #847 -- 64,679 (+ 0.2%)

04/2007: Action Comics #848 -- 62,216 (- 3.8%)

05/2007: Action Comics #849 -- 53,610 (-13.8%)

05/2007: Action Comics #850 -- 56,166 (+ 4.8%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Action Comics #851 -- 76,500 (+36.2%)

07/2007: Action Comics #852 -- 50,294 (-34.3%)

----------------

6 months:  n.a.

1 year  : + 8.1%

2 years : + 0.6%

Action Comics #851, which featured a rare appearance by the regular creative team, actually appeared twice on the chart: A regular edition with a cover price of $ 2.99 sold 46,875 units, while a special 3-D edition going for $ 3.99 shifted another 29,625 copies. I’ve combined the two here; if Diamond had done the same, in case you were wondering, it would have made No. 23 on the chart, between All Flash #1 and World War Hulk: Frontline #2.

The second issue released in July was another Countdown tie-in. Not surprisingly at this stage, sales took another hit.

—–

53 - SUPERGIRL

07/2001: Supergirl #60 --  24,774*

07/2002: Supergirl #72 --  19,122*

---------------------------------

07/2006: Supergirl #7  --  85,175 (-17.2%)

07/2006: Supergirl #8  --  76,942 (- 9.7%)

08/2006: Supergirl #9  --  74,252 (- 3.5%)

09/2006: Supergirl #10 --  67,358 (- 9.3%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Supergirl #11 --  62,544 (- 7.2%)

12/2006: Supergirl #12 --  59,819 (- 4.4%)

12/2006: Supergirl #13 --  56,648 (- 5.3%)

01/2007: --

02/2007: Supergirl #14 --  52,977 (- 6.5%)

03/2007: Supergirl #15 --  51,083 (- 3.6%)

04/2007: Supergirl #16 --  51,641 (+ 1.1%)

05/2007: Supergirl #17 --  50,429 (- 2.4%)

06/2007: Supergirl #18 --  50,279 (- 0.3%)

07/2007: Supergirl #19 --  48,576 (- 3.4%)

----------------

6 months:   n.a.

1 year  : -43.0%

Declining.

—–

60 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS

07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 56,886 (-25.8%)

08/2006: Green Lantern Corps #3  -- 51,485 (- 9.5%)

09/2006: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 46,619 (- 9.5%)

10/2006: Green Lantern Corps #5  -- 43,546 (- 6.6%)

11/2006: Green Lantern Corps #6  -- 41,089 (- 5.6%)

12/2006: Green Lantern Corps #7  -- 38,737 (- 5.7%)

01/2007: Green Lantern Corps #8  -- 36,924 (- 4.7%)

02/2007: Green Lantern Corps #9  -- 34,897 (- 5.5%)

03/2007: Green Lantern Corps #10 -- 34,227 (- 1.9%)

04/2007: Green Lantern Corps #11 -- 33,506 (- 2.1%)

05/2007: Green Lantern Corps #12 -- 33,267 (- 0.7%)

06/2007: Green Lantern Corps #13 -- 32,792 (- 1.4%)

07/2007: Green Lantern Corps #14 -- 45,393 (+38.4%)

----------------

6 months: +22.9%

1 year  : -20.2%

The “Sinestro Corps War” crossover brings a solid increase. Which, you know, is precisely what crossovers are usually meant to do.

—–

61 - AMAZONS ATTACK

04/2007: Amazons Attack #1 of 6 -- 55,445          [58,273]

05/2007: Amazons Attack #2 of 6 -- 47,552 (-14.2%) [49,224]

06/2007: Amazons Attack #3 of 6 -- 43,429 (- 8.7%)

07/2007: Amazons Attack #4 of 6 -- 41,991 (- 3.3%)

That other big event title.

—–

68/80 - GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE

07/2001: Green Arrow #6   -- 80,354*

07/2002: Green Arrow #15  -- 65,915*

07/2003: Green Arrow #28  -- 45,270

07/2004: Green Arrow #40  -- 32,635

07/2005: Green Arrow #52  -- 35,656

-----------------------------------

07/2006: Green Arrow #64  -- 36,148 (- 4.4%)

08/2006: Green Arrow #65  -- 35,705 (- 1.2%)

09/2006: Green Arrow #66  -- 33,793 (- 5.4%)

10/2006: Green Arrow #67  -- 32,583 (- 3.6%)

11/2006: Green Arrow #68  -- 32,135 (- 1.4%)

12/2006: Green Arrow #69  -- 32,234 (+ 0.3%)

01/2007: Green Arrow #70  -- 31,798 (- 1.4%)

02/2007: Green Arrow #71  -- 31,470 (- 1.0%)

03/2007: Green Arrow #72  -- 31,144 (- 1.0%)

04/2007: Green Arrow #73  -- 30,652 (- 1.6%)

05/2007: Green Arrow #74  -- 30,751 (+ 0.3%)

06/2007: Green Arrow #75  -- 35,022 (+13.9%)

07/2007: Year One #1 of 6 -- 37,090 (+ 5.9%)

07/2007: Year One #2 of 6 -- 32,222 (-13.1%)

----------------

6 months: + 9.0%

1 year  : - 4.1%

2 years : - 2.8%

The limited series bridging the gap between Green Arrow #75 and October’s Green Arrow/Black Canary #1 ends up pretty much where you’d have expected it to. Perfectly decent numbers.

—–

72 - SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL

11/2006: Superman Confidential #1  -- 60,157

12/2006: Superman Confidential #2  -- 46,765 (-22.3%)

01/2007: Superman Confidential #3  -- 41,346 (-11.6%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: Superman Confidential #4  -- 36,779 (-11.1%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: --

06/2007: --

07/2007: Superman Confidential #5  -- 35,180 (- 4.4%)

----------------

6 months: -14.9%

Sales are bottoming out. These numbers aren’t impressive by any stretch, though. Once the relatively high-profile creative team of writer Darwyn Cooke and artist Tim Sale move on after issue #6, it’s probably going to be downhill from there.

—–

76 - OUTSIDERS

07/2003: Outsiders #2  -- 42,954 [46,956]

07/2004: Outsiders #14 -- 41,954

07/2005: Outsiders #26 -- 43,226

--------------------------------

07/2006: Outsiders #38 -- 41,974 (- 4.8%)

08/2006: Outsiders #39 -- 40,524 (- 3.5%)

09/2006: Outsiders #40 -- 38,626 (- 4.7%)

10/2006: Outsiders #41 -- 36,672 (- 5.1%)

11/2006: Outsiders #42 -- 35,598 (- 2.9%)

12/2006: Outsiders #43 -- 34,243 (- 3.8%)

01/2007: Outsiders #44 -- 34,437 (+ 0.6%)

02/2007: Outsiders #45 -- 32,976 (- 4.2%)

03/2007: Outsiders #46 -- 32,577 (- 1.2%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Outsiders #47 -- 33,267 (+ 2.1%)

06/2007: Outsiders #48 -- 32,966 (- 0.9%)

07/2007: Outsiders #49 -- 33,110 (+ 0.4%)

----------------

6 months: - 3.9%

1 year  : -21.1%

2 years : -23.4%

I spoke too soon, it appears. What we have here, clearly, is an Amazons Attack crossover book with a sales increase.

—–

77/88 - BLACK CANARY

07/2007: Black Canary #1 of 4 -- 32,842

07/2007: Black Canary #2 of 4 -- 28,527 (-13.1%)

Alright for a C-list character.

—–

79 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL

12/2006: Batman Confidential #1  -- 61,119

01/2007: Batman Confidential #2  -- 47,451 (-22.4%)

02/2007: Batman Confidential #3  -- 41,109 (-13.4%)

03/2007: Batman Confidential #4  -- 38,735 (- 5.8%)

04/2007: Batman Confidential #5  -- 36,219 (- 6.5%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: Batman Confidential #6  -- 33,480 (- 7.6%)

07/2007: Batman Confidential #7  -- 32,272 (- 3.6%)

----------------

6 months: -32.0%

That’s not as much of a drop as I’d have expected. Still, the book has shed almost half the numbers of the debut issue at this point. That’s not encouraging.

—–

83 - NIGHTWING

07/2001: Nightwing #59  -- 35,534*

07/2002: Nightwing #71  -- 34,739*

07/2003: Nightwing #83  -- 29,745

07/2004: Nightwing #95  -- 30,392

07/2005: Nightwing #110 -- 38,175

---------------------------------

07/2006: Nightwing #122 -- 42,542 (- 5.4%)

08/2006: Nightwing #123 -- 40,111 (- 5.7%)

09/2006: Nightwing #124 -- 38,251 (- 4.6%)

10/2006: Nightwing #125 -- 38,470 (+ 0.6%)

11/2006: Nightwing #126 -- 36,145 (- 6.0%)

12/2006: Nightwing #127 -- 34,889 (- 3.5%)

01/2007: Nightwing #128 -- 33,930 (- 2.8%)

02/2007: Nightwing #129 -- 32,651 (- 3.8%)

03/2007: Nightwing #130 -- 31,788 (- 2.6%)

04/2007: Nightwing #131 -- 31,530 (- 0.8%)

05/2007: Nightwing #132 -- 30,807 (- 2.3%)

06/2007: Nightwing #133 -- 30,623 (- 0.6%)

07/2007: Nightwing #134 -- 30,228 (- 1.3%)

----------------

6 months: -10.9%

1 year  : -29.0%

2 years : -20.8%
84 - SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES

07/2001: Legion Worlds #4     -- 20,832*

07/2002: Legion #10           -- 24,775*

07/2003: Legion #22           -- 22,987

07/2004: Legion #35           -- 24,207

07/2004: Legion #36           -- 23,717

07/2005: Legion of SH #8      -- 37,272

---------------------------------------

07/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #20 -- 41,679 (- 5.1%)

08/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #21 -- 39,852 (- 4.4%)

09/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #22 -- 36,735 (- 7.8%)

10/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #23 -- 41,554 (+13.1%)

11/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #24 -- 33,985 (-18.2%)

12/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #25 -- 33,288 (- 2.1%)

01/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #26 -- 32,342 (- 2.8%)

02/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #27 -- 31,387 (- 3.0%)

03/2007: --

04/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #28 -- 31,525 (+ 0.4%)

04/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #29 -- 30,906 (- 2.0%)

05/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #30 -- 30,767 (- 0.5%)  

06/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #31 -- 30,385 (- 1.2%)

07/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #32 -- 29,826 (- 1.8%)

----------------

6 months: - 7.8%

1 year  : -28.4%

2 years : -20.0%

These two have settled into fairly standard declines.

—–

87 - SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL

02/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #1 of 4 -- 35,970

03/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #2 of 4 -- 31,957 (-11.2%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #3 of 4 -- 30,671 (- 4.0%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #4 of 4 -- 28,712 (- 6.4%)

Perfectly good sales for this type of thing, especially considering the $ 5.99 cover price.

—–

89 - BIRDS OF PREY

07/2001: Birds of Prey #33  -- 23,473*

07/2002: Birds of Prey #45  -- 26,849*

07/2003: Birds of Prey #57  -- 27,898 [29,178]

07/2004: Birds of Prey #69  -- 31,904

07/2004: Birds of Prey #70  -- 31,683

07/2005: Birds of Prey #84  -- 29,982

-------------------------------------

07/2006: Birds of Prey #96  -- 32,219 (- 5.1%)

08/2006: Birds of Prey #97  -- 31,578 (- 2.0%)

09/2006: Birds of Prey #98  -- 32,715 (+ 3.6%)

10/2006: Birds of Prey #99  -- 30,385 (- 7.1%)

11/2006: Birds of Prey #100 -- 34,607 (+13.9%)

12/2006: Birds of Prey #101 -- 29,825 (-13.8%)

01/2007: Birds of Prey #102 -- 29,043 (- 2.6%)

02/2007: Birds of Prey #103 -- 28,327 (- 2.5%)

03/2007: Birds of Prey #104 -- 28,464 (+ 0.5%)

04/2007: Birds of Prey #105 -- 28,328 (- 0.5%)

05/2007: Birds of Prey #106 -- 28,363 (+ 0.1%)

06/2007: Birds of Prey #107 -- 28,632 (+ 1.0%)

07/2007: Birds of Prey #108 -- 28,025 (- 2.1%)

----------------

6 months: - 3.5%

1 year  : -13.0%

2 years : - 6.5%

The conclusion of writer Gail Simone’s run leaves sales at a level marginally higher than the one she inherited – and only her first two issues had lower initial sales. It’s been a remarkably consistent four years, all told.

—–

93 - ROBIN

07/2001: Robin #92  -- 26,734*

07/2002: Robin #104 -- 26,986*

07/2003: Robin #116 -- 22,210

07/2004: Robin #128 -- 37,253 [38,511]

07/2005: Robin #140 -- 28,909

-----------------------------

07/2006: Robin #152 -- 37,466 (- 3.7%)

08/2006: Robin #153 -- 36,608 (- 2.3%)

09/2006: Robin #154 -- 34,387 (- 6.1%)

10/2006: Robin #155 -- 32,951 (- 4.2%)

11/2006: Robin #156 -- 31,682 (- 3.9%)

12/2006: Robin #157 -- 30,556 (- 3.6%)

01/2007: Robin #158 -- 29,464 (- 3.6%)

02/2007: Robin #159 -- 28,210 (- 4.3%)

03/2007: Robin #160 -- 27,659 (- 2.0%)

04/2007: Robin #161 -- 27,180 (- 1.7%)

05/2007: Robin #162 -- 26,801 (- 1.4%)

06/2007: Robin #163 -- 26,284 (- 1.9%)

07/2007: Robin #164 -- 25,955 (- 1.3%)

----------------

6 months: -11.9%

1 year  : -30.7%

2 years : -10.2%

A standard decline.

—–

94 - FABLES (Vertigo)

07/2002: Fables #3  -- 18,180*

07/2003: Fables #15 -- 25,567

07/2004: Fables #27 -- 25,146

07/2005: Fables #39 -- 24,617

-----------------------------

07/2006: Fables #51 -- 25,087 (-4.3%)

08/2006: Fables #52 -- 25,378 (+1.2%)

09/2006: Fables #53 -- 25,388 (+0.0%)

10/2006: Fables #54 -- 25,534 (+0.6%)

11/2006: Fables #55 -- 25,635 (+0.4%)

12/2006: Fables #56 -- 25,892 (+1.0%)

01/2007: Fables #57 -- 25,744 (-0.6%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: Fables #58 -- 26,065 (+1.3%)

03/2007: Fables #59 -- 25,815 (-1.0%)

04/2007: Fables #60 -- 26,048 (+0.9%)

05/2007: Fables #61 -- 26,056 (+0.0%)

06/2007: Fables #62 -- 25,726 (-1.3%)

07/2007: Fables #63 -- 25,603 (-0.5%)

---------------

6 months: -0.6%

1 year  : +2.1%

2 years : +4.0%

Rock-solid numbers.

—–

95 - Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo)

07/2002: Y: The Last Man #1  -- 14,275*

07/2003: Y: The Last Man #13 -- 26,755

07/2004: Y: The Last Man #24 -- 26,630

07/2005: Y: The Last Man #35 -- 26,449

--------------------------------------

07/2006: Y: The Last Man #47 -- 25,791 (-0.4%)

08/2006: Y: The Last Man #48 -- 25,829 (+0.2%)

09/2006: Y: The Last Man #49 -- 25,690 (-0.5%)

10/2006: Y: The Last Man #50 -- 26,802 (+4.3%)

11/2006: Y: The Last Man #51 -- 25,606 (-4.5%)

12/2006: Y: The Last Man #52 -- 25,422 (-0.7%)

01/2007: Y: The Last Man #53 -- 25,375 (-0.2%)

02/2007: Y: The Last Man #54 -- 25,374 (-0.0%)

03/2007: Y: The Last Man #55 -- 25,300 (-0.3%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Y: The Last Man #56 -- 25,759 (+1.8%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Y: The Last Man #57 -- 25,436 (-1.3%)

---------------

6 months: +0.2%

1 year  : -1.4%

2 years : -3.8% 

The other consistent periodical in Vertigo’s stable. There are three issues to go, and so far no replacement has been found.

—–

106 - THE SPIRIT

11/2006: Batman/The Spirit -- 35,541          [39,666]

12/2006: The Spirit #1     -- 34,558 (- 2.8%) [36,900]

01/2007: The Spirit #2     -- 27,245 (-21.2%)

02/2007: The Spirit #3     -- 25,516 (- 6.4%)

03/2007: The Spirit #4     -- 24,383 (- 4.4%)

04/2007: The Spirit #5     -- 23,887 (- 2.0%)

05/2007: The Spirit #6     -- 23,708 (- 0.8%)

06/2007: The Spirit #7     -- 22,621 (- 4.6%)

07/2007: The Spirit #8     -- 21,984 (- 2.8%)

----------------

6 months: -19.3%

Declining.

—–

107 - JLA: CLASSIFIED

07/2005: JLA: Classified #10 -- 45,039 [47,814]

--------------------------------------

07/2006: JLA: Classified #24 -- 31,697 (- 5.6%)

07/2006: JLA: Classified #25 -- 30,709 (- 3.1%)

08/2006: JLA: Classified #26 -- 27,816 (- 9.4%)

09/2006: JLA: Classified #27 -- 27,754 (- 0.2%)

10/2006: JLA: Classified #28 -- 26,003 (- 6.3%)

11/2006: JLA: Classified #29 -- 24,785 (- 4.7%)

12/2006: JLA: Classified #30 -- 23,644 (- 4.6%)

01/2007: JLA: Classified #31 -- 22,939 (- 3.0%)

01/2007: JLA: Classified #32 -- 23,091 (+ 0.7%)

01/2007: JLA: Classified #33 -- 22,504 (- 2.5%)

02/2007: JLA: Classified #34 -- 22,347 (- 0.7%)

02/2007: JLA: Classified #35 -- 21,998 (- 1.6%)

03/2007: JLA: Classified #36 -- 21,799 (- 0.9%)

04/2007: JLA: Classified #37 -- 22,350 (+ 2.5%)

05/2007: JLA: Classified #38 -- 21,961 (- 1.7%)

06/2007: JLA: Classified #39 -- 21,728 (- 1.1%)

07/2007: JLA: Classified #40 -- 21,473 (- 1.2%)

----------------

6 months: - 6.0%

1 year  : -31.2%

2 years : -52.3%
112 - JSA: CLASSIFIED

07/2005: JSA: Classified #1  -- 58,296 [86,498]

--------------------------------------

07/2006: JSA: Classified #14 -- 33,832 (- 6.2%)

08/2006: JSA: Classified #15 -- 32,308 (- 4.5%)

08/2006: JSA: Classified #16 -- 32,173 (- 0.4%)

09/2006: JSA: Classified #17 -- 30,340 (- 5.7%)

10/2006: JSA: Classified #18 -- 26,783 (-11.7%)

11/2006: JSA: Classified #19 -- 25,663 (- 4.2%)

12/2006: JSA: Classified #20 -- 24,722 (- 3.7%)

01/2007: JSA: Classified #21 -- 24,476 (- 1.0%)

01/2007: JSA: Classified #22 -- 23,830 (- 2.6%)

02/2007: JSA: Classified #23 -- 22,730 (- 4.6%)

03/2007: JSA: Classified #24 -- 22,113 (- 2.7%)

04/2007: JSA: Classified #25 -- 22,052 (- 0.3%)

05/2007: JSA: Classified #26 -- 21,569 (- 2.2%)

06/2007: JSA: Classified #27 -- 21,295 (- 1.3%)

07/2007: JSA: Classified #28 -- 20,736 (- 2.6%)

----------------

6 months: -14.2%

1 year  : -38.7%

2 years : -64.4%

Both Classified books keep declining, slowly but surely.

—–

114 - CHECKMATE

07/2006: Checkmate #4  -- 34,661 (- 7.7%)

08/2006: Checkmate #5  -- 31,252 (- 9.8%)

09/2006: Checkmate #6  -- 28,887 (- 7.6%)

10/2006: Checkmate #7  -- 26,302 (- 9.0%)

11/2006: Checkmate #8  -- 24,899 (- 5.3%)

12/2006: Checkmate #9  -- 23,436 (- 5.9%)

01/2007: Checkmate #10 -- 22,032 (- 6.0%)

02/2007: Checkmate #11 -- 20,659 (- 6.2%)

03/2007: Checkmate #12 -- 20,116 (- 2.6%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Checkmate #13 -- 22,554 (+12.1%)

05/2007: Checkmate #14 -- 22,074 (- 2.1%)

06/2007: Checkmate #15 -- 22,015 (- 0.3%)

07/2007: Checkmate #16 -- 20,225 (- 8.1%)

----------------

6 months: - 8.2%

1 year  : -41.7%

After the crossover with Outsiders, the numbers revert to their usual level.

—–

115 - SHADOWPACT

07/2006: Shadowpact #3  -- 36,341 (- 9.1%)

08/2006: Shadowpact #4  -- 33,383 (- 8.1%)

09/2006: Shadowpact #5  -- 29,983 (-10.2%)

09/2006: Shadowpact #6  -- 27,276 (- 9.0%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Shadowpact #7  -- 25,701 (- 5.8%)

12/2006: Shadowpact #8  -- 23,898 (- 7.0%)

01/2007: Shadowpact #9  -- 22,866 (- 4.3%)

02/2007: Shadowpact #10 -- 21,823 (- 4.6%)

03/2007: Shadowpact #11 -- 21,114 (- 3.3%)

04/2007: Shadowpact #12 -- 20,746 (- 1.7%)

05/2007: Shadowpact #13 -- 20,335 (- 2.0%)

06/2007: Shadowpact #14 -- 19,899 (- 2.1%)

07/2007: Shadowpact #15 -- 19,689 (- 1.2%)

----------------

6 months: -27.0%

1 year  : -45.8%

Declining.

—–

117 - CATWOMAN

07/2002: Catwoman #9  -- 28,912*

07/2003: Catwoman #21 -- 23,090

07/2004: Catwoman #33 -- 24,007

07/2005: Catwoman #45 -- 20,848

-------------------------------

07/2006: Catwoman #57 -- 27,302 (- 5.7%)

08/2006: Catwoman #58 -- 26,568 (- 1.0%)

09/2006: Catwoman #59 -- 25,324 (- 4.7%)

10/2006: Catwoman #60 -- 24,117 (- 4.8%)

11/2006: Catwoman #61 -- 23,182 (- 3.9%)

12/2006: Catwoman #62 -- 22,305 (- 3.8%)

01/2007: Catwoman #63 -- 21,597 (- 3.2%)

02/2007: Catwoman #64 -- 20,767 (- 3.8%)

03/2007: Catwoman #65 -- 20,237 (- 2.6%)

04/2007: Catwoman #66 -- 19,896 (- 1.7%)

05/2007: Catwoman #67 -- 19,926 (+ 0.2%)

06/2007: Catwoman #68 -- 20,132 (+ 1.0%)

07/2007: Catwoman #69 -- 19,387 (- 3.7%)

----------------

6 months: -10.2%

1 year  : -29.0%

2 years : - 7.0%

Declining.

—–

125 - GEN13 (WildStorm)

07/2001: Gen13 #67 -- 19,343*

07/2003: Gen13 #11 -- 15,408

----------------------------

10/2006: Gen13 #1  -- 47,535

11/2006: Gen13 #2  -- 33,494 (-29.5%)

12/2006: Gen13 #3  -- 30,233 (- 9.7%)

01/2007: Gen13 #4  -- 27,615 (- 8.7%)

02/2007: Gen13 #5  -- 22,422 (-18.8%)

03/2007: Gen13 #6  -- 21,356 (- 4.8%)

04/2007: Gen13 #7  -- 20,555 (- 3.8%)

05/2007: Gen13 #8  -- 19,638 (- 4.5%)

06/2007: Gen13 #9  -- 18,644 (- 5.1%)

07/2007: Gen13 #10 -- 17,720 (- 5.0%)

----------------

6 months: -35.8%

The best-selling WildStorm Universe title keeps shedding units at an unhealthy rate.

—–

127 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM

07/2006: The All-New Atom #1  -- 49,969

08/2006: The All-New Atom #2  -- 38,239 (-23.5%)

09/2006: The All-New Atom #3  -- 33,254 (-13.0%)

10/2006: The All-New Atom #4  -- 28,450 (-14.5%)

11/2006: The All-New Atom #5  -- 25,569 (-10.1%)

12/2006: The All-New Atom #6  -- 22,852 (-10.6%)

01/2007: The All-New Atom #7  -- 20,996 (- 8.1%)

02/2007: The All-New Atom #8  -- 19,004 (- 9.5%)

03/2007: The All-New Atom #9  -- 17,572 (- 7.5%)

04/2007: The All-New Atom #10 -- 16,739 (- 4.4%)

05/2007: The All-New Atom #11 -- 16,193 (- 3.3%)

06/2007: The All-New Atom #12 -- 16,848 (+ 4.1%)

07/2007: The All-New Atom #13 -- 16,982 (+ 0.8%)

----------------

6 months: -19.1%

1 year  : -66.0%

The “Search for Ray Palmer” storyline keeps generating a modest climb. That year-on-year drop is still hideous, mind you.

—–

128 - THE MIDNIGHTER (WildStorm)

11/2006: The Midnighter #1  -- 39,796

12/2006: The Midnighter #2  -- 30,464 (-23.5%)

01/2007: The Midnighter #3  -- 27,564 (- 9.5%)

02/2007: The Midnighter #4  -- 24,792 (-10.1%)

03/2007: The Midnighter #5  -- 21,452 (-13.5%)

04/2007: The Midnighter #6  -- 20,561 (- 4.2%)

05/2007: The Midnighter #7  -- 19,910 (- 3.2%)

06/2007: The Midnighter #8  -- 18,076 (- 9.2%)

07/2007: The Midnighter #9  -- 16,656 (- 7.9%)

----------------

6 months: -39.6%

Another fill-in issue sees another huge drop in sales.

—–

129 - BLUE BEETLE

07/2006: Blue Beetle #5  -- 35,490 (- 8.1%)

08/2006: Blue Beetle #6  -- 33,181 (- 6.5%)

09/2006: Blue Beetle #7  -- 29,079 (-12.4%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Blue Beetle #8  -- 25,861 (-11.1%)

11/2006: Blue Beetle #9  -- 23,785 (- 8.0%)

12/2006: Blue Beetle #10 -- 21,358 (-10.2%)

01/2007: Blue Beetle #11 -- 19,865 (- 7.0%)

02/2007: Blue Beetle #12 -- 18,555 (- 6.6%)

03/2007: Blue Beetle #13 -- 17,653 (- 4.9%)

04/2007: Blue Beetle #14 -- 17,167 (- 2.8%)

05/2007: Blue Beetle #15 -- 16,906 (- 1.5%)

06/2007: Blue Beetle #16 -- 17,016 (+ 0.7%)

07/2007: Blue Beetle #17 -- 16,128 (- 5.2%)

----------------

6 months: -18.8%

1 year  : -54.6%

Back in decline.

—–

132 - JONAH HEX

07/2006: Jonah Hex #9  -- 20,385 (- 3.0%)

08/2006: Jonah Hex #10 -- 19,772 (- 3.0%)

09/2006: Jonah Hex #11 -- 18,957 (- 4.1%)

10/2006: Jonah Hex #12 -- 18,299 (- 3.5%)

11/2006: Jonah Hex #13 -- 18,747 (+ 2.5%)

12/2006: Jonah Hex #14 -- 18,295 (- 2.4%)

01/2007: Jonah Hex #15 -- 17,987 (- 1.7%)

02/2007: Jonah Hex #16 -- 17,490 (- 2.8%)

03/2007: Jonah Hex #17 -- 17,081 (- 2.3%)

04/2007: Jonah Hex #18 -- 16,880 (- 1.2%)

05/2007: Jonah Hex #19 -- 16,473 (- 2.4%)

06/2007: Jonah Hex #20 -- 16,150 (- 2.0%)

07/2007: Jonah Hex #21 -- 15,734 (- 2.6%)

----------------

6 months: -12.5%

1 year  : -22.8%

Declining. Jonah Hex is now the lowest-selling ongoing DC Universe title.

—–

138 - HAWKGIRL

07/2002: Hawkman #5   -- 39,218*

07/2003: Hawkman #17  -- 29,276

07/2004: Hawkman #30  -- 25,402

07/2005: Hawkman #42  -- 21,365

-------------------------------

07/2006: Hawkgirl #54 -- 25,201 (- 9.3%)

08/2006: Hawkgirl #55 -- 23,880 (- 5.2%)

09/2006: Hawkgirl #56 -- 21,560 (- 9.7%)

10/2006: Hawkgirl #57 -- 19,909 (- 7.7%)

11/2006: Hawkgirl #58 -- 18,634 (- 6.4%)

12/2006: Hawkgirl #59 -- 18,141 (- 2.7%)

01/2007: Hawkgirl #60 -- 17,893 (- 1.4%)

02/2007: Hawkgirl #61 -- 16,575 (- 7.4%)

03/2007: Hawkgirl #62 -- 16,164 (- 2.5%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Hawkgirl #63 -- 16,497 (+ 2.1%)

05/2007: Hawkgirl #64 -- 15,816 (- 4.1%)

06/2007: Hawkgirl #65 -- 15,479 (- 2.1%)

07/2007: Hawkgirl #66 -- 14,980 (- 3.2%)

----------------

6 months: -16.3%

1 year  : -40.6%

2 years : -29.9%

Canceled.

—–

139 - AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS

07/2003: Aquaman #8       -- 29,628

07/2004: Aquaman #20      -- 24,408

07/2005: Aquaman #32      -- 17,916

-----------------------------------

07/2006: Aquaman: SoA #43 -- 30,584 (-  6.2%)

08/2006: --

09/2006: Aquaman: SoA #44 -- 28,001 (-  8.5%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Aquaman: SoA #45 -- 23,540 (- 15.9%)

11/2006: Aquaman: SoA #46 -- 21,974 (-  6.7%)

12/2006: Aquaman: SoA #47 -- 21,197 (-  3.5%)

01/2007: Aquaman: SoA #48 -- 19,459 (-  8.2%)

02/2007: Aquaman: SoA #49 -- 17,939 (-  7.8%)

03/2007: Aquaman: SoA #50 -- 18,997 (+  5.9%)

04/2007: Aquaman: SoA #51 -- 17,499 (-  7.9%)

05/2007: Aquaman: SoA #52 -- 16,778 (-  4.1%)

06/2007: Aquaman: SoA #53 -- 15,913 (-  5.2%)

07/2007: Aquaman: SoA #54 -- 14,963 (-  6.0%)

----------------

6 months: -23.1%

1 year  : -51.1%

2 years : -16.5%

As it turns out, another 2,463 units of issue #53 showed up on the July chart. Given that the issue’s sales seemed awfully low in June, I’m assuming that those aren’t reorders but copies which didn’t reach stores in time. And if you add them up, the resulting numbers actually make sense.

The book is canceled with issue #57, at any rate. It’s not hard to see why.

—–

140 - SUPERNATURAL: ORIGINS (WildStorm)

05/2007: Supernatural: Origins #1 -- 21,128

06/2007: Supernatural: Origins #2 -- 15,955 (-24.5%)

07/2007: Supernatural: Origins #3 -- 14,812 (- 7.2%)

Bottoming out. So far, no issues past #6 have been solicited, so it appears this is a limited series.

—–

143 - THE PROGRAMME (WildStorm)

07/2007: The Programme #1  of 12 -- 14,293

That’s not a terribly impressive start for the new maxiseries by writer Peter Milligan and artist C.P. Smith. Unfortunately, it’s also as good as pretty much any new concept by Vertigo or WildStorm can manage lately.

—–

149 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)

07/2001: Hellblazer #164 -- 18,226*

07/2002: Hellblazer #176 -- 19,001*

07/ 003: Hellblazer #186 -- 16,405

07/2004: Hellblazer #198 -- 14,772

07/2005: Hellblazer #210 -- 14,801

----------------------------------

07/2006: Hellblazer #222 -- 13,912 (- 0.4%)

08/2006: Hellblazer #223 -- 13,956 (+ 0.3%)

09/2006: Hellblazer #224 -- 13,704 (- 1.8%)

10/2006: Hellblazer #225 -- 13,629 (- 0.6%)

11/2006: Hellblazer #226 -- 13,388 (- 1.8%)

12/2006: Hellblazer #227 -- 13,231 (- 1.2%)

01/2007: Hellblazer #228 -- 12,956 (- 2.1%)

02/2007: Hellblazer #229 -- 13,032 (+ 0.6%)

03/2007: Hellblazer #230 -- 13,210 (+ 1.4%)

04/2007: Hellblazer #231 -- 13,142 (- 0.5%)

05/2007: Hellblazer #232 -- 13,164 (+ 0.2%)

06/2007: Hellblazer #233 -- 13,201 (+ 0.3%)

07/2007: Hellblazer #234 -- 13,112 (- 0.7%)

----------------

6 months: + 1.2%

1 year  : - 5.8%

2 years : -11.4%

Holding steady.

—–

151 - GRIFTER & MIDNIGHTER (WildStorm)

03/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #1 of 6 -- 20,156

04/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #2 of 6 -- 16,531 (-18.0%)

05/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #3 of 6 -- 14,847 (-10.2%)

06/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #4 of 6 -- 13,504 (- 9.1%)

07/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #5 of 6 -- 12,517 (- 7.3%)

These aren’t great sales, but again, that’s nothing unexpected.

—–

152 - DMZ (Vertigo)

07/2006: DMZ #9  -- 14,786 (- 1.4%)

08/2006: DMZ #10 -- 14,704 (- 0.6%)

09/2006: DMZ #11 -- 14,562 (- 1.0%)

10/2006: DMZ #12 -- 14,640 (+ 0.5%)

11/2006: DMZ #13 -- 14,228 (- 2.8%)

12/2006: DMZ #14 -- 13,731 (- 3.5%)

01/2007: DMZ #15 -- 13,340 (- 2.9%)

02/2007: DMZ #16 -- 13,199 (- 1.1%)

03/2007: DMZ #17 -- 13,081 (- 0.9%)

04/2007: DMZ #18 -- 13,120 (+ 0.3%)

05/2007: DMZ #19 -- 13,116 (- 0.0%)

06/2007: DMZ #20 -- 12,704 (- 3.1%)

07/2007: DMZ #21 -- 12,433 (- 2.1%)

----------------

6 months: - 6.8%

1 year  : -15.9%
154 - 100 BULLETS (Vertigo)

07/2001: 100 Bullets #26 -- 17,200*

07/2002: 100 Bullets #38 -- 17,480*

07/2003: 100 Bullets #46 -- 17,108

07/2004: 100 Bullets #51 -- 16,960

07/2005: 100 Bullets #62 -- 14,867

----------------------------------

07/2006: 100 Bullets #74 -- 13,265 (- 1.1%)

08/2006: 100 Bullets #75 -- 13,322 (+ 0.4%)

09/2006: 100 Bullets #76 -- 13,082 (- 1.8%)

10/2006: 100 Bullets #77 -- 13,054 (- 0.2%)

11/2006: 100 Bullets #78 -- 12,954 (- 0.8%)

12/2006: 100 Bullets #79 -- 12,907 (- 0.4%)

01/2007: 100 Bullets #80 -- 12,651 (- 2.0%)

02/2007: 100 Bullets #81 -- 12,458 (- 1.5%)

03/2007: 100 Bullets #82 -- 12,260 (- 1.6%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: 100 Bullets #83 -- 12,475 (+ 1.8%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: 100 Bullets #84 -- 12,148 (- 2.6%)

----------------

6 months: - 4.0%

1 year  : - 8.4%

2 years : -18.3%

Two Vertigo titles continuing a slow decline.

—–

157 - DANGER GIRL: BODY SHOTS (WildStorm)

04/2007: Danger Girl: Body Shots #1 of 4 -- 17,122

05/2007: Danger Girl: Body Shots #2 of 4 -- 14,358 (-16.1%)

06/2007: Danger Girl: Body Shots #3 of 4 -- 12,752 (-11.2%)

07/2007: Danger Girl: Body Shots #4 of 4 -- 11,914 (- 6.6%)

Predictably mediocre numbers.

—–

160 - FAKER (Vertigo)

07/2007: Faker #1 of 6 -- 11,461

This is a mystery book by writer Mike Carey and artist Jock, both well-established creators in the North American market. Vertigo really should be doing better with something like this. The fact that they’re not – and haven’t been in quite a while at this point – should have long since rung some alarm bells. So far, though, it doesn’t seem like improving the situation is a pressing concern to the people in charge.

—–

161 - STORMWATCH: PHD (WildStorm)

07/2003: Stormwatch: TA #13    -- 13,018

----------------------------------------

11/2006: StormWatch: PHD #1    -- 29,975

12/2006: StormWatch: PHD #2    -- 21,605 (-27.9%)

01/2007: StormWatch: PHD #3    -- 18,371 (-15.0%)

02/2007: StormWatch: PHD #4    -- 15,893 (-13.5%)

03/2007: StormWatch: PHD #5    -- 13,475 (-15.2%)

04/2007: StormWatch: PHD #6    -- 13,109 (- 2.7%)

05/2007: StormWatch: PHD #7    -- 12,812 (- 2.3%)

06/2007: StormWatch: PHD #8    -- 12,157 (- 5.1%)

07/2007: StormWatch: PHD #9    -- 11,419 (- 6.1%)

----------------

6 months: -37.8%
163 - WETWORKS (WildStorm)

09/2006: Wetworks #1  -- 43,824

10/2006: Wetworks #2  -- 28,181 (-35.7%)

11/2006: Wetworks #3  -- 24,493 (-13.1%)

12/2006: Wetworks #4  -- 23,267 (- 5.0%)

01/2007: Wetworks #5  -- 18,313 (-21.3%)

02/2007: Wetworks #6  -- 16,359 (-10.7%)

03/2007: Wetworks #7  -- 14,852 (- 9.2%)

04/2007: Wetworks #8  -- 14,189 (- 4.5%)

05/2007: Wetworks #9  -- 13,340 (- 6.0%)

06/2007: Wetworks #10 -- 12,098 (- 9.3%)

07/2007: Wetworks #11 -- 11,218 (- 7.3%)

----------------

6 months: -38.7%
167 - DEATHBLOW (WildStorm)

10/2006: Deathblow #1  -- 34,056

11/2006: Deathblow #2  -- 22,880 (-32.8%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: Deathblow #3  -- 18,813 (-17.8%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: Deathblow #4  -- 15,842 (-15.8%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Deathblow #5  -- 12,547 (-20.8%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Deathblow #6  -- 10,582 (-15.7%)

----------------

6 months: -43.8%
174 - WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY (WildStorm)

12/2006: Welcome to Tranquility #1  -- 24,352

01/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #2  -- 15,087 (-38.1%)

02/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #3  -- 12,334 (-18.3%)

03/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #4  -- 11,423 (- 7.4%)

04/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #5  -- 10,407 (- 8.9%)

05/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #6  -- 10,280 (- 1.2%)

06/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #7  --  9,858 (- 4.1%)

07/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #8  --  9,509 (- 3.5%)

----------------

6 months: -37.0%

The remainder of the recently revamped WildStorm Universe line keeps spiralling into oblivion. The publisher’s solution, apparently: Another revamp, only with less popular creators. I’m sure that’s going to work.

—–

179 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC)

07/2002: JL Adventures #9  -- 16,822*

07/2003: JL Adventures #21 -- 13,898

07/2004: JL Adventures #33 -- 11,866

07/2005: JL Unlimited #11  -- 11,340

------------------------------------

07/2006: JL Unlimited #23  -- 10,255 (- 1.7%)

08/2006: JL Unlimited #24  -- 10,117 (- 1.4%)

09/2006: JL Unlimited #25  --  9,985 (- 1.3%)

10/2006: JL Unlimited #26  --  9,696 (- 2.9%)

11/2006: JL Unlimited #27  --  9,690 (- 0.1%)

12/2006: JL Unlimited #28  --  9,713 (+ 0.2%)

01/2007: JL Unlimited #29  --  9,273 (- 4.5%)

02/2007: JL Unlimited #30  --  9,123 (- 1.6%)

03/2007: JL Unlimited #31  --  9,072 (- 0.6%)

04/2007: JL Unlimited #32  --  9,326 (+ 2.8%)

05/2007: JL Unlimited #33  --  9,230 (- 1.0%)

06/2007: JL Unlimited #35  --  9,328 (+ 1.1%)

07/2007: JL Unlimited #36  --  8,998 (- 3.5%)

----------------

6 months: - 3.0%

1 year  : -12.3%

2 years : -20.7%
170 - TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC)

07/2004: Teen Titans Go #9  -- 14,067

07/2005: Teen Titans Go #21 -- 13,440

-------------------------------------

07/2006: Teen Titans Go #33 -- 10,516 (- 2.1%)

08/2006: Teen Titans Go #34 -- 10,328 (- 1.8%)

09/2006: Teen Titans Go #35 --  9,940 (- 3.8%)

10/2006: Teen Titans Go #36 -- 10,214 (+ 2.8%)

11/2006: Teen Titans Go #37 --  9,642 (- 5.6%)

12/2006: Teen Titans Go #38 --  9,529 (- 1.2%)

01/2007: Teen Titans Go #39 --  9,425 (- 1.1%)

02/2007: Teen Titans Go #40 --  9,132 (- 3.1%)

03/2007: Teen Titans Go #41 --  8,895 (- 2.6%)

04/2007: Teen Titans Go #42 --  9,050 (+ 1.7%)

05/2007: Teen Titans Go #43 --  8,918 (- 1.5%)

06/2007: Teen Titans Go #44 --  8,738 (- 2.0%)

07/2007: Teen Titans Go #45 --  8,554 (- 2.1%)

----------------

6 months: - 9.2%

1 year  : -18.7%

2 years : -36.4%

Two Johnny DC titles. See disclaimers.

—–

187 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)

07/2006: The Exterminators #7  -- 10,743 (- 2.4%)

08/2006: The Exterminators #8  -- 10,299 (- 4.1%)

09/2006: The Exterminators #9  -- 10,177 (- 1.2%)

10/2006: The Exterminators #10 --  9,970 (- 2.0%)

11/2006: The Exterminators #11 --  9,973 (+ 0.0%)

12/2006: The Exterminators #12 --  9,636 (- 3.4%)

01/2007: The Exterminators #13 --  9,447 (- 2.0%)

02/2007: The Exterminators #14 --  8,965 (- 5.1%)

03/2007: The Exterminators #15 --  8,839 (- 1.4%)

04/2007: The Exterminators #16 --  8,758 (- 1.0%)

05/2007: The Exterminators #17 --  8,813 (+ 0.6%)

06/2007: The Exterminators #18 --  8,651 (- 1.8%)

07/2007: The Exterminators #19 --  8,454 (- 2.3%)

----------------

6 months: -10.5%

1 year  : -21.3%

Slowly declining.

—–

188 - FRIDAY THE 13TH: PAMELA'S TALE (WildStorm)

12/2006: Friday the 13th #1    -- 15,801

01/2007: Friday the 13th #2    --  9,555 (-39.5%)

02/2007: Friday the 13th #3    --  8,965 (- 6.2%)

03/2007: Friday the 13th #4    --  8,637 (- 3.7%)

04/2007: Friday the 13th #5    --  8,724 (+ 1.0%)

05/2007: Friday the 13th #6    --  8,605 (- 1.4%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Pamela's Tale #1 of 2 --  8,420 (- 2.2%)

----------------

6 months: -11.9%

The retooled format makes no difference to sales.

—–

189 - AMERICAN VIRGIN (Vertigo)

07/2006: American Virgin #5  -- 13,265 (- 5.8%)

08/2006: American Virgin #6  -- 12,487 (- 5.9%)

09/2006: American Virgin #7  -- 11,767 (- 5.8%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: American Virgin #8  -- 11,275 (- 4.2%)

11/2006: American Virgin #9  -- 10,567 (- 6.3%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: American Virgin #10 -- 10,331 (- 2.2%)

01/2007: American Virgin #11 --  9,628 (- 6.8%)

02/2007: American Virgin #12 --  9,215 (- 4.3%)

03/2007: --

04/2007: American Virgin #13 --  8,960 (- 2.8%)

05/2007: American Virgin #14 --  8,805 (- 1.7%)

05/2007: American Virgin #15 --  8,613 (- 2.2%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: American Virgin #16 --  8,403 (- 2.4%)

----------------

6 months: -15.8%

1 year  : -36.7%
190 - ARMY@LOVE (Vertigo)

03/2007: Army@Love #1  -- 14,578

04/2007: Army@Love #2  -- 11,195 (-23.2%)

05/2007: Army@Love #3  -- 10,312 (- 7.9%)

06/2007: Army@Love #4  --  9,089 (-11.9%)

07/2007: Army@Love #5  --  8,386 (- 7.7%)
191 - SCALPED (Vertigo)

01/2007: Scalped #1  -- 13,644

02/2007: Scalped #2  -- 10,005 (-26.7%)

03/2007: Scalped #3  --  9,531 (- 4.7%)

04/2007: Scalped #4  --  9,163 (- 3.9%)

05/2007: Scalped #5  --  9,022 (- 1.5%)

06/2007: Scalped #6  --  8,689 (- 3.7%)

07/2007: Scalped #7  --  8,303 (- 4.4%)

----------------

6 months: -39.2%

Another bunch of Vertigo books fading away in the nether regions of the chart.

—–

193 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY (Johnny DC)

04/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #1  -- 13,519

05/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #2  -- 11,121 (-17.7%)

05/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #3  --  9,252 (-16.8%)

06/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #4  --  8,236 (-11.0%)
201 - BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC)

07/2001: Gotham Adventures #40 -- 12,398*

07/2002: Gotham Adventures #52 -- 12,296*

07/2003: Batman Adventures #4  -- 15,056

07/2004: Batman Adventures #16 -- 12,328

07/2005: Batman Strikes! #11   --  9,796

----------------------------------------

07/2006: Batman Strikes! #23   --  8,154 (+ 0.6%)

08/2006: Batman Strikes! #24   --  8,139 (- 0.2%)

09/2006: Batman Strikes! #25   --  7,765 (- 4.6%)

10/2006: Batman Strikes! #26   --  7,560 (- 2.6%)

11/2006: Batman Strikes! #27   --  7,567 (+ 0.1%)

12/2006: Batman Strikes! #28   --  7,427 (- 1.9%)

01/2007: Batman Strikes! #29   --  7,330 (- 1.3%)

02/2007: Batman Strikes! #30   --  7,335 (+ 0.1%)

03/2007: Batman Strikes! #31   --  7,100 (- 3.2%)

04/2007: Batman Strikes! #32   --  7,294 (+ 2.7%)

05/2007: Batman Strikes! #33   --  7,235 (- 0.8%)

06/2007: Batman Strikes! #34   --  7,115 (- 1.7%)

07/2007: Batman Strikes! #35   --  7,222 (+ 1.5%)

----------------

6 months: - 1.5%

1 year  : -11.4%

2 years : -26.3%

Two more Johnny DC books.

—–

202 - TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: ABOUT A BOY (WildStorm)

11/2006: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #1    -- 15,605

12/2006: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #2    --  9,706 (-37.8%)

01/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #3    --  8,229 (-15.2%)

02/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #4    --  7,651 (- 7.0%)

03/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #5    --  7,301 (- 4.6%)

04/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #6    --  7,171 (- 1.8%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Cut! --  6,920 (- 3.5%)

06/2007: TCM: About a Boy              --  7,205 (+ 4.1%)

----------------

6 months: -12.4%

In contrast to Friday the 13th, this one actually does see a marginal increase.

—–

219 - CROSSING MIDNIGHT (Vertigo)

11/2006: Crossing Midnight #1  -- 12,756

12/2006: Crossing Midnight #2  --  8,982 (-29.6%)

01/2007: Crossing Midnight #3  --  8,236 (- 8.3%)

02/2007: Crossing Midnight #4  --  7,568 (- 8.1%)

03/2007: Crossing Midnight #5  --  7,196 (- 4.9%)

04/2007: Crossing Midnight #6  --  7,036 (- 2.2%)

05/2007: Crossing Midnight #7  --  6,866 (- 2.4%)

06/2007: Crossing Midnight #8  --  6,612 (- 3.7%)

07/2007: Crossing Midnight #9  --  6,351 (- 4.0%)

----------------

6 months: -22.9%
224 - TESTAMENT (Vertigo)

07/2006: Testament #8  -- 11,073 (- 5.9%)

08/2006: Testament #9  -- 10,462 (- 5.5%)

09/2006: Testament #10 --  9,629 (- 8.0%)

10/2006: Testament #11 --  9,059 (- 5.9%)

11/2006: Testament #12 --  8,690 (- 4.1%)

12/2006: Testament #13 --  8,320 (- 4.3%)

01/2007: Testament #14 --  7,960 (- 4.3%)

02/2007: Testament #15 --  7,618 (- 4.3%)

03/2007: Testament #16 --  7,422 (- 2.6%)

04/2007: Testament #17 --  7,193 (- 3.1%)

05/2007: Testament #18 --  6,963 (- 3.2%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Testament #19 --  6,225 (-10.6%)

----------------

6 months: -21.8%

1 year  : -43.8%

Another couple of Vertigo books. Testament is canceled with issue #22.

—–

227 - THE HIGHWAYMEN (WildStorm)

06/2007: The Highwaymen #1 of 5 -- 9,360

07/2007: The Highwaymen #2 of 5 -- 6,108 (-34.7%)
244 - NINJA SCROLL (WildStorm)

09/2006: Ninja Scroll #1  -- 16,819

10/2006: --

11/2006: Ninja Scroll #2  -- 12,143 (-27.8%)

12/2006: Ninja Scroll #3  -- 10,468 (-13.8%)

12/2006: Ninja Scroll #4  --  7,781 (-25.7%)

01/2007: Ninja Scroll #5  --  6,895 (-11.4%)

02/2007: Ninja Scroll #6  --  6,371 (- 7.6%)

03/2007: Ninja Scroll #7  --  5,949 (- 6.6%)

04/2007: Ninja Scroll #8  --  5,628 (- 5.4%)

05/2007: Ninja Scroll #9  --  5,488 (- 2.5%)

06/2007: Ninja Scroll #10 --  5,162 (- 5.9%)

07/2007: Ninja Scroll #11 --  4,901 (- 5.1%)

----------------

6 months: -28.9%

Two more WildStorm titles with abysmal sales. Ninja Scroll is axed with issue #12.

—–

248 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)

07/2001: Scooby Doo #50  -- 6,098*

07/2002: Scooby Doo #62  -- 6,743*

07/2003: Scooby Doo #74  -- 5,967

07/2004: Scooby Doo #86  -- 5,536

07/2005: Scooby Doo #98  -- 4,666

---------------------------------

07/2006: Scooby Doo #110 -- 4,781 (+ 8.1%)

08/2006: Scooby Doo #111 -- 4,492 (- 6.1%)

09/2006: Scooby Doo #112 -- 4,385 (- 2.4%)

10/2006: Scooby Doo #113 -- 4,339 (- 1.1%)

11/2006: Scooby Doo #114 -- 4,387 (+ 1.1%)

12/2006: Scooby Doo #115 -- 4,364 (- 0.5%)

01/2007: Scooby Doo #116 -- 4,285 (- 1.8%)

02/2007: Scooby Doo #117 -- 4,275 (- 0.2%)

03/2007: Scooby Doo #118 -- 4,395 (+ 2.8%)

04/2007: Scooby Doo #119 -- 4,373 (- 0.5%)

05/2007: Scooby Doo #120 -- 4,343 (- 0.7%)

06/2007: Scooby Doo #121 -- 4,415 (+ 1.7%)

07/2007: Scooby Doo #122 -- 4,424 (+ 0.2%)

----------------

6 months: + 3.2%

1 year  : - 7.5%

2 years : - 5.2%
279 - LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC)

07/2001: Looney Tunes #80  -- 3,060*

07/2002: Looney Tunes #92  -- 3,584*

07/2003: Looney Tunes #104 -- 3,533

07/2004: Looney Tunes #116 -- 3,203

07/2005: Looney Tunes #128 -- 2,722

-----------------------------------

07/2006: Looney Tunes #140 -- 2,680 (- 0.5%)

08/2006: Looney Tunes #141 -- 2,783 (+ 3.8%)

09/2006: Looney Tunes #142 -- 2,695 (- 3.2%)

10/2006: Looney Tunes #143 -- 2,741 (+ 1.7%)

11/2006: Looney Tunes #144 -- ?????

12/2006: Looney Tunes #145 -- 2,732

01/2007: Looney Tunes #146 -- 2,588 (- 5.3%)

02/2007: Looney Tunes #147 -- 2,553 (- 1.4%)

03/2007: Looney Tunes #148 -- 2,705 (+ 6.0%)

04/2007: Looney Tunes #149 -- 2,640 (- 2.4%)

05/2007: Looney Tunes #150 -- 3,093 (+17.2%)

06/2007: Looney Tunes #151 -- 2,711 (-12.4%)

07/2007: Looney Tunes #152 -- 2,865 (+ 5.7%)

----------------

6 months: +10.7%

1 year  : + 6.9%

2 years : + 5.3%

And two more Johnny DC titles.

—–

RE-ORDERS:

122 - 18,742: Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 (2nd)

233 -  5,907: Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13

—–

Average Sales per Title

(not counting reprints, re-orders shipping after the initial month of release, Johnny DC titles and magazines)

DC COMICS

07/2003: 25,980

07/2004: 30,542

07/2005: 36,375

---------------

07/2006: 39,915 (- 2.1%)

08/2006: 42,497 (+ 6.5%)

09/2006: 34,920 (-17.8%)

10/2006: 33,406 (- 4.3%)

11/2006: 34,906 (+ 4.5%)

12/2006: 34,418 (- 1.4%)

01/2007: 29,706 (-13.7%)

02/2007: 31,051 (+ 4.5%)

03/2007: 32,398 (+ 4.3%)

04/2007: 39,134 (+20.8%)

05/2007: 34,489 (-11.9%)

06/2007: 32,437 (- 6.0%)

07/2007: 34,330 (+ 5.8%)

----------------

6 months: +15.6%

1 year  : -14.0%

2 years : - 5.6%

3 years : +12.4%

4 years : +32.1%
DC UNIVERSE

07/2003: 31,686

07/2004: 34,975

07/2005: 45,385

---------------

07/2006: 49,638 (- 2.8%)

08/2006: 54,382 (+10.0%)

09/2006: 46,329 (-14.8%)

10/2006: 42,581 (- 8.1%)

11/2006: 45,399 (+ 6.6%)

12/2006: 44,641 (- 1.7%)

01/2007: 38,302 (-14.2%)

02/2007: 39,976 (+ 4.4%)

03/2007: 42,634 (+ 6.7%)

04/2007: 52,768 (+23.8%)

05/2007: 47,294 (-10.4%)

06/2007: 45,380 (- 4.1%)

07/2007: 47,134 (+ 3.9%)

----------------

6 months: +23.1%

1 year  : - 5.1%

2 years : + 3.9%

3 years : +34.8%

4 years : +48.8%
VERTIGO

07/2003: 15,720

07/2004: 18,107

07/2005: 16,641

---------------

07/2006: 16,684 (+11.5%)

08/2006: 16,107 (- 3.5%)

09/2006: 15,399 (- 4.4%)

10/2006: 15,189 (- 1.4%)

11/2006: 13,773 (- 9.3%)

12/2006: 13,834 (+ 0.4%)

01/2007: 13,572 (- 1.9%)

02/2007: 11,855 (-12.7%)

03/2007: 13,748 (+16.0%)

04/2007: 12,105 (-12.0%)

05/2007: 12,256 (+ 1.3%)

06/2007: 12,732 (+ 3.9%)

07/2007: 12,193 (- 4.2%)

----------------

6 months: -10.2%

1 year  : -26.9%

2 years : -26.7%

3 years : -32.7%

4 years : -22.4%
WILDSTORM

07/2003: 16,911

07/2004: 17,670

07/2005: 15,134

---------------

07/2006: 12,778 (-15.1%)

08/2006: 14,741 (+15.4%)

09/2006: 13,285 (- 9.9%)

10/2006: 25,747 (+93.8%)

11/2006: 18,987 (-26.3%)

12/2006: 17,288 (- 9.0%)

01/2007: 14,525 (-16.0%)

02/2007: 14,105 (- 2.9%)

03/2007: 15,224 (+ 7.9%)

04/2007: 13,609 (-10.6%)

05/2007: 14,260 (+ 4.8%)

06/2007: 12,272 (-13.9%)

07/2007: 11,234 (- 8.5%)

----------------

6 months: -22.7%

1 year  : -12.1%

2 years : -25.8%

3 years : -36.4%

4 years : -33.6%

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS

+ 54.9%: Flash

+ 23.9%: Green Lantern

+ 22.9%: Green Lantern Corps

+ 15.6%: Batman

+ 10.7%: Looney Tunes

+  9.0%: Green Arrow

+  3.2%: Scooby-Doo

+  3.1%: Justice Society of America

+  1.2%: Hellblazer

+  0.2%: Y: The Last Man

-  0.6%: Fables

-  1.5%: Batman Strikes

-  1.7%: Teen Titans

-  3.0%: Justice League Unlimited

-  3.5%: Birds of Prey

-  3.9%: Outsiders

-  4.0%: 100 Bullets

-  6.0%: JLA: Classified

-  6.8%: DMZ

-  7.8%: Supergirl and the Legion

-  8.2%: Checkmate

-  9.2%: Teen Titans Go

- 10.2%: Catwoman

- 10.5%: The Exterminators

- 10.9%: Nightwing

- 11.9%: Friday the 13th

- 11.9%: Robin

- 12.4%: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

- 12.5%: Jonah Hex

- 14.1%: Superman

- 14.2%: JSA: Classified

- 14.9%: Superman Confidential

- 15.7%: All Star Superman

- 15.8%: American Virgin

- 16.3%: Hawkgirl

- 18.8%: Blue Beetle

- 19.1%: All-New Atom

- 19.3%: The Spirit

- 21.8%: Testament

- 22.9%: Crossing Midnight

- 23.1%: Aquaman

- 27.0%: Shadowpact

- 28.9%: Ninja Scroll

- 32.0%: Batman Confidential

- 35.8%: Gen13

- 37.0%: Welcome to Tranquility

- 37.8%: StormWatch: PHD

- 38.7%: Wetworks

- 39.2%: Scalped

- 39.6%: The Midnighter

- 43.8%: Deathblow

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS

+ 79.3%: Justice Society of America

+  8.1%: Action Comics

+  6.9%: Looney Tunes

+  2.1%: Fables

+  2.0%: Green Lantern

+  1.9%: Flash

-  1.4%: Y: The Last Man

-  4.1%: Green Arrow

-  5.8%: Hellblazer

-  7.5%: Scooby-Doo

-  8.4%: 100 Bullets

- 11.4%: Batman Strikes

- 12.3%: Justice League Unlimited

- 13.0%: Birds of Prey

- 15.9%: DMZ

- 16.9%: Teen Titans

- 18.7%: Teen Titans Go

- 20.2%: Green Lantern Corps

- 20.6%: Detective Comics

- 21.1%: Outsiders

- 21.3%: The Exterminators

- 22.8%: Jonah Hex

- 24.4%: Justice League of America

- 25.0%: Superman

- 26.2%: Batman

- 26.9%: Superman/Batman

- 28.4%: Supergirl and the Legion

- 29.0%: Catwoman

- 29.0%: Nightwing

- 30.7%: Robin

- 31.2%: JLA: Classified

- 36.7%: American Virgin

- 38.7%: JSA: Classified

- 40.6%: Hawkgirl

- 41.7%: Checkmate

- 43.0%: Supergirl

- 45.8%: Shadowpact

- 51.1%: Aquaman

- 54.6%: Blue Beetle

- 66.0%: All-New Atom

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS

+ 64.3%: Flash

+ 60.4%: Justice Society of America

+ 40.1%: Justice League of America

+ 40.9%: Detective Comics

+ 28.0%: Batman

-  6.9%: Looney Tunes

+  4.0%: Fables

-  3.8%: Y: The Last Man

-  5.2%: Scooby-Doo

-  6.5%: Birds of Prey

-  7.0%: Catwoman

- 10.2%: Robin

- 11.4%: Hellblazer

- 13.3%: Teen Titans

- 16.5%: Aquaman

- 18.3%: 100 Bullets

- 20.0%: Supergirl and the Legion

- 20.75: Justice League Unlimited

- 20.8%: Nightwing

- 23.4%: Outsiders

- 26.3%: Batman Strikes

- 26.9%: Superman

- 29.9%: Hawkgirl

- 36.4%: Teen Titans Go

- 37.5%: Superman/Batman

- 52.3%: JLA: Classified

- 59.4%: All Star Batman

- 64.4%: JSA: Classified

—–

OTHER PUBLISHERS

12 - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Dark Horse Comics)

07/2001: --

-----------------------------

03/2007: Buffy #1  -- 109,919          [146,873]

04/2007: Buffy #2  --  96,409 (-12.3%) [121,534]

05/2007: Buffy #3  -- 106,634 (+10.6%) [111,612]

06/2007: Buffy #4  -- 102,430 (- 3.9%) [108,513]

07/2007: Buffy #5  -- 100,830 (- 2.0%)

The numbers remain fantastic, obviously. The high level of interest in the book also keeps generating reorders: Issue #1 shifted another 2,136 units in July, issue #4 sold another 6,083 copies.

—–

81 - STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse Comics)

07/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #2  -- 33,298 (-4.2%)

08/2006: --

09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #3  -- 34,268 (+2.9%)

09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #4  -- 34,362 (+0.3%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #5  -- 34,362 (   0%)

11/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #6  -- 33,003 (-4.0%)

12/2006: --

01/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #7  -- 34,249 (+3.8%)

02/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #8  -- 33,533 (-2.1%)

03/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #9  -- 33,084 (-1.3%)

03/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #10 -- 32,320 (-2.3%)

04/2007: -- 

05/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #11 -- 33,138 (+2.5%)

05/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #12 -- 32,161 (-3.0%)

06/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #13 -- 32,149 (-0.0%)

07/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #14 -- 31,652 (-1.6%)

----------------

6 months: - 7.6%

1 year  : - 4.9%

Another rock-solid performer.

—–

90 - STAR WARS: DARK TIMES (Dark Horse Comics)

11/2006: Star Wars: Dark Times #1 of 5 -- 34,513

12/2006: --

01/2007: Star Wars: Dark Times #2 of 5 -- 30,500 (-11.6%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: --

04/2007: --

05/2007: Star Wars: Dark Times #3 of 5 -- 29,501 (- 3.3%)

06/2007: --

07/2007: Star Wars: Dark Times #4 of 5 -- 27,514 (- 6.7%)

----------------

6 months: - 9.8%

This one’s slipping somewhat, but it’s still doing quite well, overall.

—–

96 - HELLBOY: DARKNESS CALLS (Dark Horse Comics)

07/2001: Hellboy: Conqueror Worm #3 of 4 -- 21,539*

--------------------------------------------------

05/2007: Hellboy: Darkness Calls #1 of 6 -- 32,321

05/2007: Hellboy: Darkness Calls #2 of 6 -- 26,008 (-19.5%)

06/2007: Hellboy: Darkness Calls #3 of 6 -- 25,553 (- 1.8%)

07/2007: Hellboy: Darkness Calls #4 of 6 -- 25,210 (- 1.3%)

Bottoming out quickly, and still outselling the last proper Hellboy series.

—–

97 - TOP COW/MARVEL: UNHOLY UNION (Image Comics/Top Cow)

07/2007: Unholy Union -- 24,380

This one-shot features Top Cow’s Witchblade and Darkness characters, as well as Marvel’s Ghost Rider, Hulk and Doctor Strange. Interestingly, it also doubles as a lead-in to an upcoming Top Cow event book called First Born. The numbers are alright for a $ 3.99 special, although the book’s double duty does make it look a little bit desperate.

—–

98 - CONAN (Dark Horse Comics)

07/2004: Conan #6  -- 48,339 [49,575]

07/2005: Conan #18 -- 36,323

----------------------------

07/2006: Conan #30 -- 31,095 (- 3.0%)

08/2006: Conan #31 -- 30,887 (- 0.7%)

09/2006: Conan #32 -- 29,070 (- 5.9%)

10/2006: Conan #33 -- 29,137 (+ 0.2%)

11/2006: Conan #34 -- 28,144 (- 3.4%)

12/2006: Conan #35 -- 27,115 (- 3.7%)

01/2007: Conan #36 -- 26,245 (- 3.2%)

02/2007: Conan #37 -- 25,532 (- 2.7%)

03/2007: Conan #38 -- 25,236 (- 1.2%)

04/2007: Conan #39 -- 25,103 (- 0.5%)

05/2007: Conan #40 -- 24,982 (- 0.5%)

06/2007: Conan #41 -- 24,720 (- 1.1%)

07/2007: Conan #42 -- 24,288 (- 1.8%)

----------------

6 months: - 7.5%

1 year  : -21.9%

2 years : -33.1%

Slowly declining. A relaunch is on the horizon.

—–

100 - SPAWN (Image Comics/TMP)

07/2001: Spawn #112 -- 50,665*

07/2002: Spawn #124 -- 40,987*

07/2003: Spawn #126 -- 40,227

07/2004: Spawn #136 -- 34,617

07/2005: --

-----------------------------

07/2006: Spawn #158 -- 26,875 (+ 2.1%)

08/2006: Spawn #159 -- 26,232 (- 2.4%)

09/2006: Spawn #160 -- 25,580 (- 2.5%)

10/2006: Spawn #161 -- 25,840 (+ 1.0%)

11/2006: Spawn #162 -- 25,069 (- 3.0%)

12/2006: Spawn #163 -- 24,922 (- 0.6%)

01/2007: Spawn #164 -- 24,534 (- 1.6%)

02/2007: --

03/2007: Spawn #165 -- 24,519 (- 0.1%)

03/2007: Spawn #166 -- 23,690 (- 3.4%)

04/2007: --

05/2007: Spawn #167 -- 24,277 (+ 2.5%)

06/2007: Spawn #168 -- 24,152 (- 0.5%)

07/2007: Spawn #169 -- 24,037 (- 0.5%)

----------------

6 months: - 2.0%

1 year  : -10.6%

2 years :   n.a.

Solidly sticking to the 24K area.

—–

103 - THE WALKING DEAD (Image Comics)

07/2004: Walking Dead #9  -- 11,286 [13,505]

07/2005: Walking Dead #20 -- 16,915

-----------------------------------

07/2006: Walking Dead #29 -- 20,385 (+ 4.3%)

08/2006: Walking Dead #30 -- 20,540 (+ 0.8%)

09/2006: Walking Dead #31 -- 21,368 (+ 4.0%)

10/2006: --

11/2006: Walking Dead #32 -- 21,191 (- 0.8%)

12/2006: Walking Dead #33 -- 21,235 (+ 0.2%)

01/2007: Walking Dead #34 -- 21,184 (- 0.2%)

02/2007: Walking Dead #35 -- 21,391 (+ 1.0%)

03/2007: Walking Dead #36 -- 21,291 (- 0.5%)

04/2007: Walking Dead #37 -- 21,737 (+ 2.1%)

05/2007: --

06/2007: Walking Dead #38 -- 22,193 (+ 2.1%)

07/2007: Walking Dead #39 -- 22,487 (+ 1.3%)

-----------------

6 months: +  6.2%

1 year  : + 10.3%

2 years : + 32.9%

The book dropped out of the Top 100 in July, but through no fault of its own, obviously.

—–

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. Re-orders 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 Vertigo and 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.

—–

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

57 COMMENTS

  1. I want to say a few things about those “as usual” 1-in-10 variants.

    Firstly, they are really 1 *for* 10 variants, meaning that a retailer may (not must) order one of the variant for every 10 of the regular cover they order. That makes them a 1 in 11 variant.

    Secondly, they rarely, almost never actually, result in my gaining more sales on a book. As a “responsible” retailer that was in the business once before, during the start of the variant cover gimmick the first time, my variants are distributed randomly (I use dice) to my subscribers. I only have 2 customers who are of the MUST GET ALL VARIANTS!!!! mentality, so I only get a sales bump when one of THEM gets the random variant, since they buy the variant AND the regular cover.

    I know that there are some retailers out there who will order comics in quantities just to get variants, and mark them up immediately (and often get the price they seek), and some who order extras to get the variant because it’s cool to have one in the store. I just wanted to let the world out there know that there are some of us to whom variant covers don’t really matter enough to order an extra bunch of comics just to get one.

    [/soapbox]

  2. With Fake, it seems to me that one of the strikes against it is that Vertigo seems to have green lit a whole slew of Mike Carey books in the last four to six months. I like Carey’s writing a lot, but after Lucifer wrapped it seems like a better move would have been to go with one new ongoing from him and really give it a solid push rather than the odd number of mini-series, graphic novels, new ongoings with his name attached we’ve seen of late (no, I don’t have Previews in front of me to verify how many Carey books there’ve been, but I do recall seeing his name attached to at least three separate projects all with middling levels of promotion this year).

  3. DC is starting to get predictable. Save the improvement due to more titles shipping, and an up or down here and there, I think I read the exact same thing last month.

  4. I really don’t think you can blame the decline in Teen Titans on Amazon’s Attack. The book did lose it’s popular regular writer at the end of the “Titan’s Hunt” storyline. A lot of readers probably jumped ship with him. Nor does “The Outsiders” increase have as much to do with Amazons Attack as it does the book wrapping up and Batman coming on board.

  5. Alas, sales on THE SPIRIT are declining. It figures. He’s a character that doesn’t interact with other DC characters, so you won’t be part of the next tedious “event.”

  6. We now have three markets: newsstand, direct market, and the book trade.
    My bookstore sells Fables, 100 Bullets, DMZ on a regular basis (not so much the superhero titles). Just as Johnny DC sells outside the direct market, so I think Vertigo sells to the book trade. As a bookstore customer, I read the trades but do not then buy the single issues like I used to for Sandman.
    Heidi, as a former editor, how many color copies must be sold to cover the costs of production? 10,000?

  7. These are my favorite things on the internet every month.

    I’m very surprised that titles that are very written and entertaining are not performing better.

    I highly recommend Welcome to Tranquility. It’s not connected to any ‘event fatigue’ so it should be accessible.

    And super hero wise, I’m very much enjoying Blue Beetle and The New Atom.

    Especially Blue Beetle as it’s currently doing easily accessible one-shots that do not require having purchased previous issues.

    If you have been on the fence, I strongly suggest giving these three books a chance.

    Also, why aren’t more people buying Brave and The Bold? It’s stand-alone and not connected to events. Seems like it’s just what people are asking for.

    -Michael

  8. Crossing Midnight is the Vertigo book more people would like if they gave it a chance. Issue #10 which came out last week is the start of a new three part storyline called Bedtime Stories and is about Japanese phone clubs (teenage prostitution basically) and is pretty disturbing. A person could read this issue, not having read the previous ones, and get an excellent sense of whether they’ll like this book (the Crossing Midnight trade is only 10 bucks also). This storyline features guest art by Eric Nguyen, really just flip thoough it at a store and you’ll be sold (at first I was worried because regular artist Jim fern is so excellent).

  9. “The current chairperson of the Justice League is on the C-list?”

    Er… yes, I’d say so. She’s not an icon, she’s not well known to the general public, she’s not a major sales draw, she’s never sustained a solo series for any significant length of time, and she’s best known these days as the co-star of BIRDS OF PREY, a long-running mid-table title. Basically, she’s a character who’s been around a while with respectable but unspectacular levels of success. That sounds pretty C-list to me.

  10. “The current chairperson of the Justice League is on the C-list?”

    I think the better question is ‘WHY is a c-list hero leading the Justice League?’

  11. [b]Ian Says:

    08/31/07 at 2:54 pm
    “The current chairperson of the Justice League is on the C-list?”

    I think the better question is ‘WHY is a c-list hero leading the Justice League?’ [/b]

    Maybe because she’s not C-list, as some might think? She’s arguably the fourth most-prominent superheroine in the DCU after Wonder Woman, Supergirl and the original Batgirl, she’s been a visible presence in the JLA since before the Satellite Era, she’s co-starred in BIRDS OF PREY which has lasted over 100 issues and inspired a brief television series, and she’s about to co-star in a new ongoing series with another B-lister, Green Arrow.

  12. I’d guess the thinking is:

    A-list – the megastars (Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, etc.)
    B-list – comic icons that can hold a book (Flash, Green Lantern, etc.)
    C-list – characters that may have history, but have never held their own series for any length of time (Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Dr. Fate, etc.)

    So yeah – Black Canary is a C-lister. That’s not a qualitative judgement of her worth as a character; many of the best characters DC has are D-listers.

  13. I would think Hawkman would be a B-lister cuz:

    — been around since Golden Age.
    — had his own book off and on since the silver age
    — longtime member of JSA/JLA
    — part of the Super Friends cartoon

  14. It’s interesting to look at the Johnny DC sales. JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED is the best seller, sells twice as well as the marvel versions, is holding sales well and sells more at the newstands. So why is JLU the title that supposed to be cancelled for the child oriented SuperFriends title? JLU is one of DC’s most consistantly enjoyable books these days, and DC should keep it going!

  15. By your posts it is clearly obvious you are biased in writing these things.

    Can we have a writer that has no bias doing these things or just reporting the facts without a comentary that is clearly one sided every month?

    It isn’t too much to ask

  16. Love the Bill Hicks quote. And I can’t believe the C-list comment has gotten so much attention.

    While it’s disappointing that Vertigo and Wildstorm seem to be limited to a 7,000-20,000 range, I don’t believe that DC should be scolded for actually figuring out how to make comics that actually read better as graphic novels and that fans have opted to wait for the trade in support of this notion. I am sad that low DM sales have probably killed the chances for Testament to keep being published even though it’s one of the most interesting and thought-provoking books Vertigo publishes, and I’m very afraid that the plug will soon be pulled on Army of Love which is also great. Both would likely do very well in bookstores if given a chance to find their audiences.

    It’s not that Vertigo’s sales are down, I think it’s just half the audience is willing to wait until the books come out in the form that best suits the material. Interesting to note that from what I recall many of the so-called successes for Vertigo weren’t necessarily instant best sellers but instead just slowly built an audience and a back list of perennial-selling books which is what I think is happening with 100 Bullets, Y and Fables and could happen with other series if DC chooses to ignore the chorus which only looks at sales through one distribution channel.

    It seems to me that DC, with its various imprints, is actually better prepared for the changing marketplace than Marvel (though the Dabel deal has greatly helped them) and that they get flack from people looking at only one facet of the sales picture- the ability to squeeze every cent out of the direct market. The fact that DC is expanding its kids line and trying this Zuda experiment is something that I think signals their understanding of the changing nature of the market for all their failing trying to sell spandex and capes crying about rape and terrorism.

  17. Who the heck wants to read unbiased commentary? Columns are for insight and opinion; if all you want is the facts, you should just look at Diamond’s raw data.

    (And man, I just love these people who ask for Marc-Oliver or Paul to be replaced, like it’s that easy. Do any of you have any idea how much research and work would be involved in putting together this column every month?)

  18. Well one could ask for the same unbiased opinion that the marvel column has.
    This was has a definitive anti DC slant no matter if the news is good or bad.

    Can we get a column that doesn’t have a bias? And actually has facts? No conjecture or his preconceived opinions?

    The Marvel column gets it, why can’t the Cc one get it as well?

    No shooting the messagers but is it too much to ask the messengers to just deliver the message. This is getting rather tiresome month after month.
    And it doesn’t matter if the news is good or bad.

  19. I personally like both Marc-Oliver and Paul’s respective analyses, though I agree that it seems like the DC charts offer very little new to assess.

  20. Scott Neely rant here…but after seeing Heidi’s blog and reading the article about DC’s sales I feel compelled to post a note. This is not any anger at the editors since most of them are cogs in the wheel and agree with me on this anyway. It’s the corporate mentality that the comics industry has.

    Sales on the kids stuff has been slipping as per Heidi’s review of DC sales on The Beat. At least in terms of the “direct market.” These are, of course, biased reviews based upon the sales figures that the bullshit monopoly of one called Diamond Distribution has created and these do not take into account the total print run and outside markets that comics normally go to. Everyone knows Vertigo books sell like garbage as a monthly pamblet, but the trades do very well over the longer term. These numbers are indicative of what the “babymen” shops order and base their sales on each week.

    As an aside, DC’s new line of kids books WILL fail. Guaranteed. While I champion the cause and support it because I love comics. The babymen shops WILL not order enough, or any at all, to keep it going. Evidence of that is clearly seen by how many stores actually ordered Mike Kunkel’s “HeroBear and the Kid” comics to begin with when they came out years ago. Hardly any were ordered, which is why Mike kept going back to work for Disney inbetween doing those 5 issues. Does DC actually think news of him doing Shazam will generate sales? Ha! I’m sure it will be a super fun book and I personally can’t wait to see it, but Mark Waid denouces guys who call his “Brave & The Bold” comics “fun” as nothing more than a death knell for the title. “Fun” being a bad word in comics. I personally give the new kids line two years, some agree with me, though others give it only a year. The babymen would rather see the adventures of a Mary Marvel who’s now all slutted up. C.C. Beck would be proud I’m sure.

    Why you ask that stores will not carry these titles? I’ve had the pleasurable accounting from people who have written me over the Internet this week, and people that I personally know, that have gone to the comic shops to look for some Scooby comics that I’ve done only to find that the shop they went into DOESN’T carry any kids comics (Which is why I buy my own stock and sell them at the cons. I tell people, “See ya in Baltimore” and I’ll have all the stuff you need). Not even an Archie could be found in some stores in Jersey. I personally ran into this dilemma THREE times when I was down south when I walked into three comic stores. At the last small con show that I was at in Pennsylvania and I talked with the dealers about the new kids line. NO ONE is carrying comics that are written for a 2-5 year old set. There were no kids at the show to begin with. Marc Nathan who runs the Baltimore Con and is a true comics fan will carry them but he’s an exception along with Joe Murray of Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, Delaware. Sad but true. I gave a mom down the street a little stack of comics for her daughter of 4 to read and the mom had never seen or knew that they were still being made. And I had Archies in the pile! Yikes!

    I can only hope DC markets these new books to viable outside markets and gets them into prominent spots in real book stores where moms and dads can actual SEE and purchase these titles. I wish Jann luck, but the sad part is 99% of comics are not written for kids and DC doesn’t care about them either.

    The real honest truth is that if ALL the babymen who are between 27-45 years of age STOP buying comics tomorrow. This industry is OVER and DONE with in 6 months! There will be only two people needed at DC and they will be sitting in an office cutting licensing deals for the characters. No new readers means no new money.

  21. I’m not a big DC reader, haven’t been in a long time, but I have always liked Black Canary, she is a consistent and consistently underrated heroine. Give me her over the various Wonder females or Supergirl clones or Power Girl any day.

  22. There’s no preconceived opinions or negative bias that I can see. It’s not the writer’s fault that most of DC’s current initiatives (the All-Star line, Amazons Attack, Countdown, the Wildstorm relaunch, etc) are quantifiably failing. And also note the positive comments regarding upcoming Vertigo titles, the Green Lantern crossover, reworked shipping schedules and so forth.

    For me, the commentary is the fun part of reading these columns. I’d have no interest if it was just raw data.

  23. I have to ask Paul Robinet, because I’m curious:

    In the comments to what particular book do you see a bias? Just curious, since I don’t see it myself.

  24. The Wildstorm numbers (and the fact that Wildcats has been missing in action for almost a year at this point) rubs salt in the old wound created by D.C. pulling the plug on Joe Casey’s and Dustin Nguyen’s Wildcats 3.0 a few years back. Oh, how it stings.

  25. The description of Green Arrow Year One sounds like the Diggle/Jock title is “bridging the gap” story-wise, when it reality that is the Black Canary mini, while GA Y1 is an origin story. Everyone probably already knows this, but it reads oddly to me in the description.

    Second, it is interesting to note that the BC mini undersold both the “feeder streams” of Green Arrow title and the Birds of Prey title, when the story was central to both of them. I can only imagine that this was the result of giving us Dinah’s answer in the solicits before Mr. Bedard’s book came out (which btw, was a fun read).

  26. “The real honest truth is that if ALL the babymen who are between 27-45 years of age STOP buying comics tomorrow. This industry is OVER and DONE with in 6 months! There will be only two people needed at DC and they will be sitting in an office cutting licensing deals for the characters. No new readers means no new money. ”

    The most recent BONE volume just broke the two-million mark in sales.

    And those sales are (shock awe) mostly to kids.

    The world of comics extends well beyond the few shops you checked out. Things are not so dire.

  27. Yes, DC does publish some good titles and people are wondering why more people aren’t buying books like Blue Beetle, Atom and Brave and The Bold (among others).

    The answer is two fold. First, Blue Beetle and Atom were part of Dan Didio’s colorful new revamps. In retooling many of the characters, part of Didio’s Brave New World, he replaced the lead characters in an attempt to bring more ethnicity to the line. A noble move but the road to hell was paved with good intentions. At the time, this move pissed off so many readers, it left a stink and instead of attracting readers, it repelled them. Additionally, he didn’t just replace the characters people knew and liked like Ted Kord, Ray Palmer and Ronnie Raymond. He destroyed those original characters, also turning more people off than on. This creates an aversion to people picking up the book. Even Julie Schwartz knew this when he replaced characters in the silver age, you don’t destroy the originals.

    Also, some people did try and sample the new books but they couldn’t retain their audience. Now, the people reading those books today may find those books great but obviously, others didn’t otherwise they wouldn’t have dropped the books resulting in the downward spiral in sales.

    Brave and The Bold? Yes it has a super team but team books never were top list sellers. Also, they have used characters that people aren’t feeling too great about like Supergirl (in 2 issues), Blue Beetle (see above), Lobo (whose time has long since passed) and the current messy Legion. A team-up title featuring characters people don’t like. Yes, the first issue was Batman and Green Lantern so it did do okay. After that, it’s all down hill so its a no brainer why this title isn’t performing better.

    Thing is, fans and consumers feel an immense amount of ill will towards the sweeping changes in ‘DC Nation’. Whether it be because of all the late shipping titles, the bloodbath slaughtering of many people’s favorite characters, the sweeping replacements of Brave New World and the mess called Countdown, the fact still remains. DC has created more ill will amongst fans than good will. The ill ill has left such a stink, creating such an intense aversion towards DC that now, its not just titles facing a loss but the entire DC brand.

    And yes, while DC’s shipping has got a bit better, the titles that have shipped have shipped books with stories out of order, some of the stories which have yet to reach their conclusion.

    So, while there may be many unconditional DC supporters out there who are willing to ride it through, this is not reflective of the majority consensus. Again, DC’s pissing and turning off of readers was so wide spread and intense during the past year or two, that once you turn your consumer away, it’s two times as difficult to get them or new readers back because all people remember is that DC as a brand has too much ill will. DC may feel their readers don’t matter (Dan Didio’s comment that he pays no mind to the online community) but obviously, they do otherwise they would be buying the books.

    And its going to take a whole lot more than what they’re doing now to regain reader respect and consumer confidence. After all, you can throw the garbage away but when the stink is that bad and intense, the foul air is going to linger for a long time after.

  28. Bone is great example of how poor sales are for it in actual comic shops. The ONLY reason Bone is selling past the two-million mark is because it’s put out globally by Scholastic (A real publisher) and not under Image or Jeff Smith’s imprint. Plus, it’s in real book stores and not comic shops where people actually go. Most Borders and B&N stores even have a display for Bone. The smartest move Smith ever did was going to Scholastic. Other than mantaining ownership of his characters.

    How many comic shops ordered Bone to begin with? about half maybe. And how many copies were ordered for each shop? 15-20 at the very most I’d say. And that’s on a high end. Otherwise copies sit on the wall. Most comic shops are piss poor at talking the good stuff up. They just push the popular stuff and that’s it. All-Star Batman is absolute garbage and a waste of paper. Kids don’t go into comic shops unless Dad is going there to pick up his books. And when they do go in, there’s nothng accessible to them to read. Marvel Adventures maybe if the stores actually carry the line of books. Try to pick up any issue of 52 and know what the fuck is actually going on. The old rule of “Every comic book is someone’s first comic book” no longer is applicable.

    DC little digests were mishandled as well. Most of those were not placed in the comics section in major book chains for some reason where other manga-sized books are sold, but they were to be found in the chapter books section next to Judy Blume and the Encyclopedia Brown books are. And people don’t see them. I only found them because I was looking for them specifically.

    With Diamond being the only distribution for new comics, most creators are stuck with a bad deal since Diamond rapes you for what they take for their cut. DC and Marvel flush tons of money down the toilet on ads in Previews and should market to everyone else outside of the normal comics market as well. But they spend so much on Previews that they don’t have any left for the general public who never walk into comic shops. The bogus death of Captain America is the kind of event that people hear in the news. Does the industry need faked deaths of their characters to drive in people to then buy an overpriced book?

  29. Hmm, tried posting this before and it hasn’t come up, so I’ll repeat it…

    “The most recent BONE volume just broke the two-million mark in sales.”

    You’re thinking of a blog post by Jeff Smith on 30 August, but you’re getting the figures horribly mixed up. What Smith actually said was that volume 6 had just gone to a third printing for a total of 260K; and that the total combined sales for the WHOLE SERIES were “nearly 2,000,000.”

  30. “Also, why aren’t more people buying Brave and The Bold? It’s stand-alone and not connected to events. Seems like it’s just what people are asking for.

    -Michael”

    That’s what the complainers on the interweb are asking for (and I’m one of them). You don’t hear the Event Fans because they’re getting what they want. And, at the moment, there are a lot more of them.

    “Blue Beetle and Atom were part of Dan Didio’s colorful new revamps. In retooling many of the characters, part of Didio’s Brave New World, he replaced the lead characters in an attempt to bring more ethnicity to the line. A noble move but the road to hell was paved with good intentions. At the time, this move pissed off so many readers, it left a stink and instead of attracting readers, it repelled them.”

    I’ve heard this fanboy whinge so often, but I just don’t get it. Show me the big-selling Ted Kord title. Show me the chart-topping Ray Palmer book. The Aquaman relaunch failed, but people forget that DC were about to cancel the Arthur Curry version before Busiek came along with his revamp idea. Comics obsessives care about the face behind the mask, but most people don’t (at least where the C-listers and lower are concerned).

  31. To the guy who asks that Marc should be replaced cause of biased opinion piece: just what kind of bogus world do you think you are living in? These guys who produce one of the greatest joys of reading every month in the whole frikkn internet do it by putting in hours and hours of work compiling data and making calculations and such and they do it out of their joy. It is a labor of love. They are not a work of hire (as far as i know, at least) so could be replaced by a higher body.

    You do not agree with the views? You find them negative, disheartening? Shouting foul here is soo counter-productive! You are simply demoralizing the author and probably spoiling the potential joy we all might have from further installments. just compile your own list and do your own commentary. No one is holding you man, the data source is linked at the very top of the article. If you are too lazy to do any actual work to present your own opinion, maybe you can just provide some commentary at what you think differently from the comments. Tell us what project is doing good and what should be considered a success and why. Criticizing without providing any alternative is not cool at all.

    Peace out,
    Dreamer

  32. A few quick points.

    1. The falling sales on ALL STAR SUPERMAN pretty much proves what I have been saying all long. Nothing short of Jim Lee (or Michael Turner) drawing the book, will make a Superman SOLO book a consistant top 10 seller.

    2. BLUE BEETLE,THE ATOM,FIRESTORM,and AQUAMAN would all still sell like CRAP if the books were still featuring the original characters. And replacing 3rd string lesser known and/or less popular white characters who can’t sustain their own books with non-white minority characters has got to be one of the most half@$$ed and half hearted attempts at diversity that I have ever seen.

    3. Marc and Paul are NOT bias towards DC or Marvel. They offer up unbiased analytical data. I appreciate what they are doing and I hope they continue doing it.

    4. I said it before, and I’ll say it again. As long as DC (and Marvel continue to aim MOST of their mainstream superhero books at the existing,shrinking,and jaded older teen and adult readership, they will continue to loose readers/sales.

  33. Bone is great example of how poor sales are for it in actual comic shops. The ONLY reason Bone is selling past the two-million mark is because it’s put out globally by Scholastic (A real publisher) and not under Image or Jeff Smith’s imprint. Plus, it’s in real book stores and not comic shops where people actually go….. snip

    Okay, You’re talking out of your ass.

  34. Well one could ask for the same unbiased opinion that the marvel column has.
    This was has a definitive anti DC slant no matter if the news is good or bad.

    I’m just curious, is this a talking point amongst the DC fans these days? That anyone criticizing DC has an anti-DC bias? It seems to be making the rounds whenever anyone points out the fact, that, say, World War Hulk X-Men is outselling Countdown, which is supposed to be DC’s tentpole book.

    I’m afraid, sir, that reality may have an anti-DC bias. ;)

  35. “And replacing 3rd string lesser known and/or less popular white characters who can’t sustain their own books with non-white minority characters has got to be one of the most half@$$ed and half hearted attempts at diversity that I have ever seen.”

    I don’t follow – are you arguing for a black Superman or brand new characters? Because neither would work, IMO. Readers, I think, would care about the man behind the mask with the top rank of characters, and introducing brand new characters is very difficult indeed. The best way of decreasing the white male bias is to put non-white minority characters behind second- and third-string legacies that already have acceptance, albeit at a low level. That’s assuming you want to correct the white male bias, of course.

    “As long as DC (and Marvel continue to aim MOST of their mainstream superhero books at the existing,shrinking,and jaded older teen and adult readership, they will continue to loose readers/sales.”

    Except that they’re not losing readers or sales. From Marc-Oliver’s column, here are the stats for supposedly failing DC:

    6 months: +15.6%

    1 year : -14.0%

    2 years : – 5.6%

    3 years : +12.4%

    4 years : +32.1%

    And Marvel are doing a lot better than that.

    “I’m afraid, sir, that reality may have an anti-DC bias.”

    LOL. Exactly. Pointing out where DC is going wrong does not constitute being anti-DC. These columns are always a great read and both the guys do a fantastic job!

  36. Ovid:

    “Blue Beetle and Atom were part of Dan Didio’s colorful new revamps. In retooling many of the characters, part of Didio’s Brave New World, he replaced the lead characters in an attempt to bring more ethnicity to the line. A noble move but the road to hell was paved with good intentions. At the time, this move pissed off so many readers, it left a stink and instead of attracting readers, it repelled them.”

    I’ve heard this fanboy whinge so often, but I just don’t get it. Show me the big-selling Ted Kord title. Show me the chart-topping Ray Palmer book.

    You may not get it but that doesn’t change reality. DC pissed a whole lot of people off with those replacements. Yes, some people did try the books but the reality is, whether you or anyone else thinks those revamps were good, others did not otherwise there wouldn’t be a downward spiral in sales.

    You also ask for a big selling Ted Kord title or a chart topping Ray Palmer book? No, they never had one. Firestorm is another animal. When Gerry Conway was doing the book, it ‘was’ a great selling title. He lasted with the book until issue 50, when he left due to the fact that he ran out of stories. When the new team came on, they replaced Raymond to try something new and it was all downhill after that. The book never regained its audience.

    As for Brave and The Bold, I love the book. I love Mark Waid and George Perez. However, aside from Batman and GL, they’ve featured characters who aren’t resonating well with the buying public. When a book features characters few like or are problem oriented, characters most people have an aversion towards such as Supergirl and Legion, it’s not going to translate into big sales.

    As said before, the Brave New World revamps that didn’t take are only a small part of the actions DC has taken which did not resonate well with consumers. There’s many things, which have been stated many times by many people. And when a company creates that much ill will around so many things, it creates a view of the brand as a whole, not just a title or two here and there.

    Also, yes, DC is publishing some great books right now such as JSA, Sinestro War and a hand full of others. However, when the public consensus is so much rabid and against what DC has done, its going to take much more than a handful good books to turn around public perception to get rid of the lingering stink DC has created for themselves.

    And of course, telling your a portion of your audience that they don’t matter (Didio’s comment about the online community) certainly isn’t going to bring thumbs up to the already deteriorating points of view about DC as a brand.

  37. “I’ve heard this fanboy whinge so often, but I just don’t get it. Show me the big-selling Ted Kord title. Show me the chart-topping Ray Palmer book. The Aquaman relaunch failed, but people forget that DC were about to cancel the Arthur Curry version before Busiek came along with his revamp idea. Comics obsessives care about the face behind the mask, but most people don’t (at least where the C-listers and lower are concerned).”

    Well, look at the Aquaman sales for #20. They were 24k. Current sales are 14k. The Sub-Diego ‘direction’ wasn’t exactly broken — but that didn’t stop Didio from doing yet another ‘old mask, new face’ trick.

    WE have nothing to compare Ted Kord and Ray Palmer titles to. I’m sure the numbers from the 80s would have meant “blockbuster” sales in today’s market — but that’s all relative. But you can also point to the success of Hal Jordan’s current title and (it looks like) Booster Gold’s new title.

    I think the point Bret Tolino makes is a good one. Didio has been discarding some of the old characters in a bloody-carnage kinda way. What if, instead, he returned those bevolved characters to prominenece? Or, imagine if the New Firestorm book featured a powerless Ronnie in a supporting role? Things like that alone could attract old fans. Let’s face it, the current DC “event” comics are aimed squarely at long-time fans.

  38. Marc is doing a good job. It takes a lot of time to do these things an I think it’s rude asking his removal.

  39. Ovid

    There are 2 possible ways to introduce more non-white minority characters into the DCU.

    1. Introduce an all new original hero into the cast or supporting cast of an existing team book or solo book.

    2. Introduce a brand new character who has taken up the identity of a long dead and/or retired golden age character into the cast or supporting cast of an existing team or solo book. Mister Terrific and JJ Thunder are perfect examples of this.

    As for sales of the increasing sales of the Big 2’s, ask yourself these two questions.

    1. Do these sales represent actual readers or are readers buying multiple copies of comics?

    2. Are the rise in sales due to more books being put out?

  40. To Alex.

    I was typing fast on it when I wrote it and I think most people meant what I said but here it is as I meant it.

    “Bone is great example of how poor sales are for it in actual comic shops. The ONLY reason Bone is selling past the two-million mark is because it’s put out globally by Scholastic (A real publisher) and not under Image or Jeff Smith’s imprint. Plus, it’s in real book stores where people actually go and not comic shops.”

    As an add on, I was in Captain Blue Hen Comics this Saturday and they have a huge display that they got from Scholastic to help sell Bone. But then again CBH has a great kids section to it.

    While I was there, a mother and her 7 year old son came walking in and browsed around the shop. After 20 minutes they came up to the register with about 5 comics. Joe Murray, the owner, asked if these were for her son or someone else and when the lady said they were for her son, he talked her out of getting those specific comics. Her son picked them out for the dynamic covers since they were in bags. The problem with the comics is that they were either part 2 or 3 of a story arc or they were Spider-man comics from the Marvel Knights line which was more adult and graphic. He turned her towards a few Marvel Adventures Spidey books and she picked out a few more from the back issue bin from the late 80s or so. Some Sal Buscema fill ins on Spectuacualr Spidey I could see. Back when pretty much everything was all ages friendly.

    As much as I like the Daredevil stuff that Bendis and especially Brubaker did. You can’t let a young kid read it.

  41. As B.Walko said, DC’s ‘event’ books are aimed at long time fans. This is too true.

    Sadly, even the long time fans can’t make heads or tales of the storyline going on in Countdown… and believe me, I tried. Between that and the 52 new earths, you need a road map just to read the solicitations, much less the comics themselves. I don’t know how a new reader would feel…

    So not only is DC spreading ill will like an std, they’re being dopes about it too. Their top named creators don’t deliver. They ship stories out of order. Some of their books have so many chunks of art teams (some so amateurish, it actually compliments the fan fict they print) on one issue, reading the book is like staring at a pile of upchuck… each chunk contributes to the greater stink of the whole. The killing, maiming and outright charater raping and replacing. Should I go on? I could…

    DC is no stranger to public distaste.

    Before 1980, DC had created such a stench for themselves, everyone used to say ‘DC Comics Stink.’ That perception alone helped raise Marvel sales and perception, aside from the fact that Marvel was publishing some great books at the time. So, DC had three things against them: the public thought DC stunk, they actually published books that stunk (not held in the highest regards) ‘and’ feeding that perception helped their own competition’s sales.

    Ironically, it took Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s New Teen Titans to begin washing away the stench. Even then, DC had a difficult time with reader’s perception. They even began marketing new titles ‘Because YOU Demanded it.

    For DC to act today with such contempt for their customers they actually went out in public and stated ‘What the Online Community thinks does not matter’, it shows the level of intelligence their leader is operating on.

    You don’t have to be in business to know, you don’t gain customers by insulting them.

    The customers themselves knew what a disregard DC had to them when they consistently ignored their comments, requests and instead, went on killing spree of all their favorite characters. And don’t tell Dan Didio or any of his fans he’s done wrong. No, this guy who is so smart, he spilled the ending of 52 in a DC Nation column before the comic was anywhere near the ending.

    We know why he did it though, he had to show everyone how smart he is and that no one knows better, especially not the reader. Of course, this couldn’t be the same readers from the online community whose opinions one of his editors asked ‘How can we get our monthly books back on schedule’ in a DC Nation Column. That wasn’t the EIC because we know, the EIC thinks the online ‘readers’ don’t matter. So only people who don’t use a computer should respond to that question.

    You know, this is the same DC Nation that pictured his mug grinning like a cheshire cat with a mustache so badly in need of trim… he looked like he was eating it. Some people may say that’s not nice but you know what, if you don’t want people commenting on your picture, don’t put it in the back of every single comic you publish. If anyone’s going to be pictured, it should be the creative team working on the book. Rare did Stan Lee ever picture his face in the Bullpen Bulletins. Neither did many other EICs whose body of work was far more deserving than Didios (ego). I believe Dick Giordano did it once, when quite a few books were winning eagle awards for the groundbreaking comics they were publishing like New Teen Titans, Watchmen and Dark Knight.

    Yes, he was pictured because he was the EIC to get rid of the prior perception of ‘DC Stinks’. Some considered that an impossible task so if you ask me, Giordano’s influence was winning sales and awards so yeah, put his picture in there for the month.

    I guess that perception was so long ago, DC must have forgot so they’ve rebuilt that machine and many people are once again saying, ‘DC Stinks’.

    How long will this last?

    Is there a Marv Wolfman and George Perez New Teen Titans in the house?

    Wait, you mean there’s almost 80 pages of an unpublished graphic novel sitting in house? No one wants that, who needs something half complete? It wouldn’t be late so it doesn’t fit their current criteria. Besides, Dan Didio has something better in the pipe, it’s called Titans East. The east coast branch, you know, the one between New York and… New Jersey. I know some people think the all that ‘industry’ in New Jersey stinks but…

    Well, you know.

  42. “The real honest truth is that if ALL the babymen who are between 27-45 years of age STOP buying comics tomorrow.”

    Babymen? What the hell does that mean?

  43. ‘What the Online Community thinks does not matter’

    It doesn’t.

    Civil War got a TERRIBLE response from the “Online Community” yet it was still an unquestionable blockbuster. Annihilation and Planet Hulk were viewed as Marvel’s saving graces at the time, but neither sold a fraction of some of the Civil War *tie-ins.*

    The “Online Community” is a niche within a niche within a niche, to believe we are something more is an especially pathetic breed of arrogance.

  44. So why have you bothered posting? What you think doesn’t matter, from your own keyboard…

    ‘It doesn’t’.

    So you’re just typing because you like the ‘sound’ of your own voice, eh?

  45. I don’t need a delusion of importance to motivate me to contribute to discourse, if that’s what you’re asking. Do you?

  46. Captain Blue Hen is in Newark, Delaware which is right next to Wilmington…and is the best comics shop around in my book as to diversity. 1,500 people were there are Free Comic Book Day!

    As for the term ‘Babymen,’ it’s a term that artist Mike Manley came up with to describe the adult nerds who still live at home in the basement and rush into the comic shops each week to get their ‘Gem Mint 10’ copies of Infinite Civil Crisis War of the 52 issues of dogshit, while they stroke themselves to Jim Lee, and like to art direct a commission in artist alley of Wolverine and make sure that every hair on Wolverine’s nut sack is in place, while they argue over who’s stronger: Superman or the Hulk?

    Pretty much says it all to me. These guys are at every show and usually need a bath. Why is it that some comics fans don’t bath? Is that to keep the Skrulls away? I know it keeps the women away…Haha

    And to Brett Tolino, your last entry was well written. Good job. I agree with it.

    Scott

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