DC month-to-month sales: July 2008

by Marc-Oliver Frisch

For the DC Comics’ mainstream line of periodicals, July was the most eventful month in ages. Although the company’s big blockbuster Final Crisis missed its July shipping date, the series saw its first couple of spin-off books with Final Crisis: Requiem and Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge. The popular “Batman RIP” storyline returned with a vengeance, meanwhile, and began spawning crossover arcs in the secondary Batman books. There also were a Justice Society of America Annual, Ambush Bug and Reign in Hell, as well as – just in time for the new film – a whole bunch of Batman-related specials and miniseries. And quite what on earth was going on with Trinity in July, we can’t be certain, but I’m taking a brave stab at an educated guess, anyway.

As far as Vertigo and WildStorm’s periodical departments are concerned, the most notable thing that happened in July was probably the fact that three of their new releases failed to make the Top 300. In fairness, July was a month with five shipping dates for new material and an unusually high bottom line for the charts. But that’s happened before, and it’s never pushed any Vertigo or WildStorm periodicals off the chart until now. Vertigo’s average periodical sales continued to be stuck below 11,000 in July. At WildStorm, the latest Wildcats relaunch and an X-Files adaptation failed to get average periodical sales back above the 10K mark again.

The lateness of the column this time around is entirely my fault, by the way. After relocating several times in the last few weeks, my computer decided to call it quits and crashed, just when I’d finally settled down. My apologies to all for the delay, especially to Heidi and Paul, whose Marvel piece has been done for quite some time.

See below for the details, and please mind the disclaimers at the end of the column. Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com‘s estimates can be found here.

—–

5 - 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 [123,903]
-------------------------------
07/2007: Batman #666 --  83,781 (+ 4.6%)
08/2007: Batman #667 --  78,578 (- 6.2%) [ 82,418]
08/2007: Batman #668 --  76,962 (- 2.1%)
09/2007: Batman #669 --  73,471 (- 4.5%)
10/2007: Batman #670 --  76,890 (+ 4.7%) [ 86,049] 
11/2007: Batman #671 --  76,764 (- 0.2%) [ 80,440]
12/2007: Batman #672 --  71,189 (- 7.3%)
01/2008: Batman #673 --  69,234 (- 2.8%)
02/2008: Batman #674 --  68,208 (- 1.5%)
03/2008: --
04/2008: Batman #675 --  71,138 (+ 4.3%)
05/2008: Batman #676 -- 105,039 (+47.9%) [122,877]
05/2008: Batman #677 --  96,116 (- 8.5%) [111,065]
06/2008: --
07/2008: Batman #678 -- 103,213 (+ 7.4%)
----------------
6 months: +49.1%
1 year  : +23.2%
2 years : - 9.1%
5 years : -29.6%

Grant Morrison’s “Batman RIP” arc keeps Batman sales far above their previously established level. Between June and July, the first two chapters of the storyline also sold a combined 33,000 units in reorders. So, all told, it’s one of DC’s bigger hits of late, trumping even previous successes like the “Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul” and “Sinestro Corps War” crossovers.

What the three publishing events have in common is that they’re stories centered on specific characters, rather than celebrations of the DC Universe as an end in itself. There may be a lesson in that.

As with the two previous issues, there was a 1-for-25 variant-cover edition of Batman #678, which means that retailers had to order 25 units of the regular edition to qualify for ordering one variant-cover edition.

—–

9 - 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 [169,199]
--------------------------------------
07/2007: Justice League #11 -- 122,823 (- 5.0%)
08/2007: Justice League #12 -- 131,420 (+ 7.0%) [137,181]
09/2007: Justice League #13 -- 119,471 (- 9.1%) [124,006]
10/2007: Justice League #14 -- 101,763 (-14.8%)
11/2007: --
12/2007: Justice League #15 -- 100,234 (- 1.5%)
12/2007: Justice League #16 --  95,557 (- 4.7%)
01/2008: Justice League #17 --  94,712 (- 0.9%)
02/2008: Justice League #18 --  89,803 (- 5.2%)
03/2008: Justice League #19 --  87,482 (- 2.6%)
04/2008: Justice League #20 --  85,807 (- 1.9%)
05/2008: Justice League #21 --  90,035 (+ 4.9%)
06/2008: Justice League #22 --  85,013 (- 5.6%)
07/2008: Justice League #23 --  82,953 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: -12.4%
1 year  : -32.5%
2 years : -48.9%
5 years : +42.4%

Justice League loses another 2,000 units. In terms of percentages, these drops aren’t dramatic yet, but they keep adding up – since writer Dwayne McDuffie started his run with issue #13, the book has shed 40,000 copies.

—–

13 - 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
---------------------------------------
07/2007: Justice Society #7  --  88,883 (-  8.3%)
08/2007: Justice Society #8  --  87,606 (-  1.4%)
09/2007: Justice Society #9  --  84,117 (-  4.0%)
10/2007: Justice Society #10 --  99,424 (+ 18.2%)
11/2007: --
12/2007: Justice Society #11 --  89,613 (-  9.9%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Justice Society #12 --  84,162 (-  6.1%)
02/2008: Justice Society #13 --  82,702 (-  1.7%)
03/2008: --
04/2008: Justice Society #14 --  80,507 (-  2.7%)
05/2008: Justice Society #15 --  78,311 (-  2.7%)
06/2008: Justice Society #16 --  77,328 (-  1.3%)
07/2008: Justice Society #17 --  75,532 (-  2.3%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -15.0%
2 years : +52.3%
5 years : +57.6%

Another book with a relatively slow but consistent sales decline. As usual with Justice Society, there was a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition.

—–

16 - FINAL CRISIS: REQUIEM
07/2008: Final Crisis: Requiem #1 -- 74,310

While the main title missed its July shipping date, the first Final Crisis spin-off, which mourns the death of a second-string character in Final Crisis #1, yields predictably lackluster numbers. Despite the initial mystery of which character was going to die, it doesn’t seem like the book was able to generate much interest.

There was a 50/50 variant-cover edition.

—–

18 - 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
----------------------------------------
07/2007: Detective Comics #834 -- 53,461 (- 1.2%)
08/2007: Detective Comics #835 -- 50,479 (- 5.6%)
09/2007: Detective Comics #836 -- 49,475 (- 2.0%)
10/2007: Detective Comics #837 -- 51,363 (+ 3.8%)
11/2007: Detective Comics #838 -- 60,267 (+17.3%) [65,293]
12/2007: Detective Comics #839 -- 62,297 (+ 3.4%) [65,773]
01/2008: Detective Comics #840 -- 51,579 (-17.2%)
02/2008: Detective Comics #841 -- 50,535 (- 2.0%)
03/2008: Detective Comics #842 -- 49,425 (- 2.2%)
04/2008: Detective Comics #843 -- 48,431 (- 2.0%)
05/2008: Detective Comics #844 -- 48,394 (- 0.1%)
06/2008: Detective Comics #845 -- 48,920 (+ 1.2%)
07/2008: Detective Comics #846 -- 72,417 (+48.0%)
----------------
6 months: +48.0%
1 year  : +40.4%
2 years : + 7.5%
5 years : +87.8%

The July issue was the start of a five-part “Batman RIP” spin-off arc – further evidence that the story is a monster hit.

—–

23 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL
07/2008: JSA Annual #1 -- 63,814

The Annual sells about 12,000 units below the mother title, but then again, it’s not part of the book’s ongoing story arc, it has a higher cover price, and it wasn’t promoted with a variant-cover edition. So these numbers aren’t too bad at all, actually.

—–

23 - 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
--------------------------------------
07/2007: Green Lantern #21  --  81,929 (+35.3%) [93,052]
08/2007: Green Lantern #22  --  77,916 (- 4.9%) [82,980]
09/2007: Green Lantern #23  --  79,084 (+ 1.5%) [82,168]
10/2007: Green Lantern #24  --  78,650 (- 0.6%)
11/2007: --
12/2007: Green Lantern #25  --  90,545 (+15.1%)
12/2007: Green Lantern #26  --  69,986 (-22.7%)
01/2008: Green Lantern #27  --  67,600 (- 3.4%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: Green Lantern #28  --  68,073 (+ 0.7%)
03/2008: Green Lantern #29  --  66,536 (- 2.3%)
04/2008: Green Lantern #30  --  65,347 (- 1.9%)
05/2008: Green Lantern #31  --  65,874 (+ 0.8%)
06/2008: Green Lantern #32  --  64,839 (- 1.6%)
06/2008: Green Lantern #33  --  63,814 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.6%
1 year  : -22.1%
2 years : -20.5%
5 years :  n.a.

The numbers continue a gentle decline with the “Secret Origin” arc.

—–

27 - FINAL CRISIS: ROGUES' REVENGE
07/2008: Rogues' Revenge #1 of 3 -- 62,482

By all accounts, Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge seems to be a prologue to the latest Flash revamp: It’s by writer Geoff Johns and artist Scott Kolins, a creative team closely associated with a popular and commercially successful run on The Flash a few years back. And, of course, Johns is also the writer of the upcoming The Flash: Rebirth miniseries that’s supposed to re-re-resuscitate the franchise. (No, I’m not stuttering.) As an additional incentive, Rogues’ Revenge was also promoted with a 50/50 variant-cover edition.

Bearing all this in mind, 60K is an awfully modest number – it’s a smidge more than the first issue of Booster Gold sold last year. Plainly, neither Final Crisis nor The Flash seem to be in any kind of position to inspire retailers to order large amounts of spin-off books right now. The notion that not even Geoff Johns’ commercial Midas touch can reignite interest in The Flash, for that matter, suggests that what the franchise needs right now, above all, is some rest.

—–

28/34/36/39/40 - TRINITY
06/2008: Trinity #1  -- 70,435 
06/2008: Trinity #2  -- 63,596 (- 9.7%)
06/2008: Trinity #3  -- 60,979 (- 4.1%)
06/2008: Trinity #4  -- 58,758 (- 3.6%)
07/2008: Trinity #5  -- 54,681 (- 6.9%)
07/2008: Trinity #6  -- 53,299 (- 2.5%)
07/2008: Trinity #7  -- 52,407 (- 1.7%)
07/2008: Trinity #8  -- 51,376 (- 2.0%)
07/2008: Trinity #9  -- 62,252 (+21.2%)

Since there were five Wednesdays in July, DC’s weekly Trinity had five issues out that month. And the fifth of them, as you can see, evidently went up in sales by more than 20%. Which is, shall we say, somewhat unusual – it’s not impossible, mind you, but, at the very least, highly implausible.

As you may recall from past columns, now, DC are offering a special incentive to retailers on Trinity issues #1 through #13: Provided retailers order a specific minimum quantity of copies of those issues, they will be able to return them to the publisher at a later date and get their money back – minus a fee of 29 cents per copy. This is unusual in the direct market, where retailers are normally stuck with whatever they order from Diamond, no matter whether they’re actually going to be able to sell it or not.

Now, in order to account for those potential returns, Diamond have apparently been marking down the quantity of those respective issues on their Top 300 charts by – and that’s an educated guess: – 20%. And in order to identify books which have been marked down on the chart due to being returnable, they’ve been using two asterisks. With issue #9, they’ve now stopped doing that for Trinity, which suggests that the aforementioned special incentive for retailers ended with issue #8.

Except that it didn’t.

If you check with DC’s “Direct Channel” newsletter to retailers (if there’s any way for me to subscribe to it, by the way, please let me know), it plainly says that the incentive runs through issue #13, and not just through #8. Given the lack of asterisks and the implausibility of this kind of increase at this point in time, my guess is that they simply forgot to downgrade Trinity #9 sales, resulting in the apparent increase. For the sake of the average sales charts towards the end of the column, which already include the 20% of Trinity sales presumably missing in Diamond’s listings for issues #1-8, that’s what I’m assuming, but we should find out for certain in a few months. If the assumption is correct, at any rate, that means the sales decline for Trinity has been fairly average for a weekly, at any rate.

When people are moaning about the inaccuracy and unreliability and inconsistency of the Diamond charts, this is the sort of thing where they’re right, obviously. It’s a headache to sort through this stuff, and trying to explain it to anyone who understandably doesn’t spend hours looking at the figures makes one lose the will to live. I’m not holding my breath, but at least a little more transparency and consistency on Diamond’s part would be much appreciated here.

—–

29 - 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
---------------------------------------
07/2007: Superman/Batman #38 --  67,695 (- 6.8%)
08/2007: Superman/Batman #39 --  59,622 (-11.9%)
09/2007: Superman/Batman #40 --  57,410 (- 3.7%)
10/2007: Superman/Batman #41 --  54,928 (- 4.3%)
11/2007: Superman/Batman #42 --  54,341 (- 1.1%)
11/2007: Superman/Batman #43 --  53,489 (- 1.6%)
12/2007: Superman/Batman #44 --  53,057 (- 0.8%)
01/2008: Superman/Batman #45 --  52,119 (- 1.8%)
02/2008: Superman/Batman #46 --  52,009 (- 0.2%)
03/2008: --
04/2008: Superman/Batman #47 --  52,557 (+ 1.1%)
05/2008: Superman/Batman #48 --  52,845 (+ 0.6%)
06/2008: Superman/Batman #49 --  52,579 (- 0.5%)
07/2008: Superman/Batman #50 --  61,321 (+16.6%)
----------------
6 months: +17.7%
1 year  : - 9.4%
2 years : -33.8%

A desultory increase for the “anniversary” issue, boosted by a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition.

—–

35 - 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
-----------------------------
07/2007: Robin #164 -- 25,955 (-  1.3%)
08/2007: Robin #165 -- 25,397 (-  2.2%)
09/2007: Robin #166 -- 24,877 (-  2.1%)
10/2007: Robin #167 -- 24,625 (-  1.0%)
11/2007: Robin #168 -- 50,672 (+105.8%) [57,442]
12/2007: Robin #169 -- 48,665 (-  4.0%) [51,441]
01/2008: Robin #170 -- 30,048 (- 38.3%)
02/2008: Robin #171 -- 27,781 (-  7.6%)
03/2008: Robin #172 -- 26,912 (-  3.1%)
04/2008: Robin #173 -- 26,357 (-  2.1%)
05/2008: Robin #174 -- 26,209 (-  0.6%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Robin #175 -- 53,880 (+105.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 79.3%
1 year  : +107.6%
2 years : + 43.8%
5 years : +142.6%

As “The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul” did last year, “Batman RIP” more than doubles Robin sales. Of course, the July issue is also a multiple of 25, which usually gets you a little desultory increase as well.

—-

41 - 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
-------------------------------------
07/2007: Action Comics #851 -- 76,500 (+36.2%)
07/2007: Action Comics #852 -- 50,294 (-34.3%)
08/2007: Action Comics #853 -- 49,694 (- 1.2%)
08/2007: Action Comics #854 -- 48,455 (- 2.5%)
08/2007: Action Comics #855 -- 55,536 (+14.6%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: Action Comics #856 -- 53,815 (- 3.1%)
10/2007: Action Comics #857 -- 51,401 (- 4.5%)
10/2007: Action Comics #858 -- 54,596 (+ 6.2%) [59,031]
11/2007: Action Comics #859 -- 54,572 (- 0.0%)
12/2007: Action Comics #860 -- 56,254 (+ 3.1%)
01/2008: Action Comics #861 -- 56,093 (- 0.3%)
02/2008: Action Comics #862 -- 55,658 (- 0.8%)
03/2008: --
04/2008: Action Comics #863 -- 56,882 (+ 2.2%)
04/2008: Action Comics #864 -- 48,438 (-14.9%)
05/2008: Action Comics #865 -- 46,764 (- 3.5%)
06/2008: Action Comics #866 -- 50,158 (+ 7.3%)
07/2008: Action Comics #867 -- 49,363 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: -12.0%
1 year  : -22.1%
2 years : -15.9%
5 years : +54.5%

Sales appear to be back to a slow decline

—–

44 - 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
---------------------------------
07/2007: Superman #664 --  52,313 (- 2.0%)
07/2007: Superman #665 --  51,936 (- 0.7%)
08/2007: Superman #666 --  53,566 (+ 3.1%)
09/2007: Superman #667 --  48,608 (- 9.3%)
10/2007: Superman #668 --  47,948 (- 1.4%)
10/2007: Superman #669 --  47,271 (- 1.4%)
11/2007: Superman #670 --  48,407 (+ 2.4%)
12/2007: Superman #671 --  45,290 (- 6.4%)
01/2008: Superman #672 --  44,656 (- 1.4%)
02/2008: Superman #673 --  41,580 (- 6.9%)
03/2008: Superman #674 --  41,715 (+ 0.3%)
04/2008: Superman #675 --  54,855 (+31.5%)
05/2008: Superman #676 --  45,644 (-16.8%)
06/2008: Superman #677 --  54,634 (+19.7%)
07/2008: Superman #678 --  47,670 (-12.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 6.8%
1 year  : - 8.6%
2 years : -31.4%
5 years : +35.0%

Under new writer James Robinson, who took over in June, Superman numbers remain in the same spectrum as during the Kurt Busiek run.

—–

48 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 56,886
------------------------------------------
07/2007: Green Lantern Corps #14 -- 45,393 (+38.4%) [61,493]
08/2007: Green Lantern Corps #15 -- 51,572 (+13.2%) [57,751]
09/2007: --
10/2007: Green Lantern Corps #16 -- 60,862 (+18.0%)
10/2007: Green Lantern Corps #17 -- 59,223 (- 2.7%)
11/2007: Green Lantern Corps #18 -- 55,838 (- 5.7%) [59,049]
12/2007: Green Lantern Corps #19 -- 50,516 (- 9.5%)
01/2008: Green Lantern Corps #20 -- 44,607 (-11.7%) [48,577]
02/2008: Green Lantern Corps #21 -- 47,582 (+ 6.7%)
03/2008: Green Lantern Corps #22 -- 46,736 (- 1.8%)
04/2008: Green Lantern Corps #23 -- 46,780 (+ 0.1%)
05/2008: Green Lantern Corps #24 -- 46,948 (+ 0.4%)
06/2008: Green Lantern Corps #25 -- 47,399 (+ 1.0%)
07/2008: Green Lantern Corps #26 -- 46,098 (- 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.3%
1 year  : + 1.6%
2 years : -19.0%

The final chapter of the “Ring Quest” arc breaks the book’s lucky streak. But there’s really nothing to worry about: Sales are still up by more than 10,000 units on the pre-“Sinestro Corps War” level, and the next big storyline is on the horizon.

—–

49 - TEEN TITANS
07/2001: Young Justice #35 -- 28,497*
07/2002: Young Justice #47 -- 24,102*
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
------------------------------------
07/2007: Teen Titans #49   -- 59,258 (- 2.5%)
08/2007: Teen Titans #50   -- 69,620 (+17.5%)
09/2007: Teen Titans #51   -- 57,851 (-16.9%)
10/2007: Teen Titans #52   -- 55,176 (- 4.6%)
11/2007: Teen Titans #53   -- 54,387 (- 1.4%)
12/2007: Teen Titans #54   -- 53,790 (- 1.1%)
01/2008: Teen Titans #55   -- 52,376 (- 2.6%)
02/2008: Teen Titans #56   -- 50,283 (- 4.0%)
03/2008: Teen Titans #57   -- 49,109 (- 2.3%)
04/2008: Teen Titans #58   -- 47,357 (- 3.6%)
05/2008: Teen Titans #59   -- 46,306 (- 2.2%)
06/2008: Teen Titans #60   -- 45,036 (- 2.7%)
07/2008: Teen Titans #61   -- 44,666 (- 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: -14.7%
1 year  : -35.5%
2 years : -37.3%
5 years : -29.4%

The numbers seem to be levelling out again, at long last.

—–

55/69/73/75/80 - JOKER'S ASYLUM
07/2008: The Joker #1   -- 38,948
07/2008: The Penguin #1 -- 33,469 (-14.1%)
07/2008: Poison Ivy #1  -- 32,628 (- 2.5%)
07/2008: Scarecrow #1   -- 31,406 (- 3.8%)
07/2008: Two-Face #1    -- 30,335 (- 3.4%)

Retailers treated the weekly Joker’s Asylum one-shots as a miniseries, by the looks of it, with numbers decreasing in chronological order.

These aren’t bad numbers for the token attempt to cash in on the latest Batman film. I’d expect the target audience to be more likely to pick up a paperback, but with books like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Umbrella Academy clearly profiting from their crossover effect in comics stores these days, who knows.

—–

60 - 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: --
-------------------------------------
07/2007: Wonder Woman #11  --  52,983 (- 2.7%)
08/2007: Wonder Woman #12  --  50,880 (- 4.0%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: Wonder Woman #13  --  48,385 (- 4.9%)
11/2007: Wonder Woman #14  --  53,090 (+ 9.7%)
12/2007: Wonder Woman #15  --  44,628 (-15.9%)
01/2008: Wonder Woman #16  --  42,897 (- 3.9%)
02/2008: Wonder Woman #17  --  41,948 (- 2.2%)
03/2008: Wonder Woman #18  --  40,771 (- 2.8%)
04/2008: Wonder Woman #19  --  39,489 (- 3.1%)
05/2008: Wonder Woman #20  --  38,116 (- 3.5%)
06/2008: Wonder Woman #21  --  37,086 (- 2.7%)
07/2008: Wonder Woman #22  --  36,514 (- 1.5%)
----------------
6 months: -14.9%
1 year  : -31.1%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +44.1%

Wonder Woman sales are bottoming out around 35K, it seems.

—–

65 - BOOSTER GOLD
08/2007: Booster Gold #1  -- 53,689          [57,811]
09/2007: Booster Gold #2  -- 47,102 (-12.3%)
10/2007: Booster Gold #3  -- 39,374 (-16.4%)
11/2007: Booster Gold #4  -- 37,683 (- 4.3%)
12/2007: Booster Gold #5  -- 38,228 (+ 1.5%)
01/2008: Booster Gold #6  -- 36,292 (- 5.1%)
02/2008: Booster Gold #0  -- 37,808 (+ 4.2%)
03/2008: Booster Gold #7  -- 36,140 (- 4.4%)
04/2008: Booster Gold #8  -- 35,982 (- 0.4%)
05/2008: Booster Gold #9  -- 35,030 (- 2.7%)
06/2008: Booster Gold #10 -- 34,435 (- 1.7%)
07/2008: BGold #1,000,000 -- 34,431 (- 0.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.1%

Holding level. The gimmick of tying in with past crossovers is still good for a few units.

—–

66 - BATGIRL
07/2001: Batgirl #18     -- 35,988*
07/2002: Batgirl #30     -- 35,144*
07/2003: Batgirl #42     -- 29,144
07/2004: Batgirl #54     -- 25,905
07/2005: Batgirl #66     -- 26,959
----------------------------------
07/2008: Batgirl #1 of 6 -- 34,411
----------------
5 years : +18.1%

Two years after the cancellation of her ongoing series, DC are testing the waters again for Batgirl, perhaps motivated by the character’s recent appearances in Batman and the Outsiders.

The numbers are about as expected – workable for a six-issue limited series, but not really strong enough to suggest that people were particularly screaming for a Batgirl series.

—–

67 - BATMAN AND THE 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
------------------------------------
07/2007: Outsiders #49     -- 33,110 (+ 0.4%)
08/2007: FoaK #1 of 5      -- 36,565 (+10.4%)
08/2007: FoaK #2 of 5      -- 35,087 (- 4.0%)
08/2007: FoaK #3 of 5      -- 34,702 (- 1.1%)
08/2007: FoaK #4 of 5      -- 34,125 (- 1.7%)
08/2007: FoaK #5 of 5      -- 33,694 (- 1.3%)
09/2007: Outsiders #50     -- 38,212 (+13.4%)
10/2007: --
11/2007: Bat Outsiders #1  -- 60,690 (+58.8%)
11/2007: Bat Outsiders #2  -- 42,827 (-29.4%)
12/2007: Bat Outsiders #3  -- 40,371 (- 5.7%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Bat Outsiders #4  -- 37,903 (- 6.1%)
03/2008: Bat Outsiders #5  -- 36,797 (- 2.9%)
04/2008: Bat Outsiders #6  -- 36,551 (- 0.7%)
05/2008: Bat Outsiders #7  -- 35,071 (- 4.1%)
06/2008: Bat Outsiders #8  -- 34,640 (- 1.2%)
07/2008: Bat Outsiders #9  -- 34,401 (- 0.7%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 3.9%
2 years : -18.0%
5 years : -19.9%

Bottoming out at 34,000. The book won’t start tying in with “Batman RIP” until the September issue.

—–

72 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
07/2007: The Brave and the Bold #5  -- 54,047 (- 2.8%)
08/2007: The Brave and the Bold #6  -- 52,011 (- 3.8%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: The Brave and the Bold #7  -- 48,693 (- 6.4%)
11/2007: The Brave and the Bold #8  -- 45,629 (- 6.3%)
12/2007: The Brave and the Bold #9  -- 43,475 (- 4.7%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: The Brave and the Bold #10 -- 39,124 (-10.0%)
03/2008: The Brave and the Bold #11 -- 37,751 (- 3.5%)
04/2008: The Brave and the Bold #12 -- 37,739 (- 0.0%)
05/2008: The Brave and the Bold #13 -- 35,814 (- 5.1%)
06/2008: The Brave and the Bold #14 -- 34,361 (- 4.1%)
07/2008: The Brave and the Bold #15 -- 32,688 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -39.5%

Readers keep running away from The Brave and the Bold in droves.

—–

81 - THE 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 [82,501]
----------------------------------
07/2007: All Flash #1   --  98,694 (+  2.7%)
08/2007: Flash #231     --  91,123 (-  7.7%)
09/2007: Flash #232     --  56,969 (- 37.5%)
10/2007: Flash #233     --  51,152 (- 10.2%)
11/2007: Flash #234     --  46,435 (-  9.2%)
12/2007: Flash #235     --  43,788 (-  5.7%)
01/2008: Flash #236     --  41,464 (-  5.3%)
02/2008: Flash #237     --  37,719 (-  9.0%)
03/2008: Flash #238     --  35,606 (-  5.6%)
04/2008: Flash #239     --  33,741 (-  5.2%)
05/2008: Flash #240     --  31,944 (-  5.3%)
06/2008: Flash #241     --  30,810 (-  3.6%)
07/2008: Flash #242     --  30,325 (-  1.6%)
----------------
6 months: -26.9%
1 year  : -69.3%
2 years : -60.7%
5 years : -26.2%

The book is finding its level around 30K.

—–

83/96 - 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
---------------------------------------
07/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #32 -- 29,826 (- 1.8%)
08/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #33 -- 29,315 (- 1.7%)
09/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #34 -- 28,294 (- 3.5%)
10/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #35 -- 27,370 (- 3.3%)
11/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #36 -- 26,814 (- 2.0%)
12/2007: Legion of SH #37     -- 45,803 (+70.8%)
01/2008: Legion of SH #38     -- 33,045 (-27.9%)
02/2008: Legion of SH #39     -- 31,123 (- 5.8%)
03/2008: Legion of SH #40     -- 30,377 (- 2.4%)
04/2008: Legion of SH #41     -- 28,939 (- 4.7%)
05/2008: Legion of SH #42     -- 27,940 (- 3.5%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Legion of SH #43     -- 27,531 (- 1.5%)
07/2008: Legion of SH #44     -- 29,954 (+ 8.8%)
----------------
6 months: -13.0%
1 year  : - 3.6%
2 years : -31.0%
5 years : +25.0%

The July issue was promoted with a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition, so that’s where the sudden increase comes from.

—–

84 - GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY
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
-----------------------------------
07/2007: Year One #1 of 6 -- 37,090 (+ 5.9%)
07/2007: Year One #2 of 6 -- 32,222 (-13.1%) [34,962]
08/2007: Year One #3 of 6 -- 32,971 (+ 2.3%)
08/2007: Year One #4 of 6 -- 31,885 (- 3.3%)
09/2007: Year One #5 of 6 -- 31,504 (- 1.2%)
10/2007: Year One #6 of 6 -- 30,943 (- 1.8%)
10/2007: Arrow/Canary #1  -- 52,183 (+68.6%)
11/2007: Arrow/Canary #2  -- 42,827 (-17.9%)
12/2007: Arrow/Canary #3  -- 40,321 (- 5.9%)
01/2008: Arrow/Canary #4  -- 35,039 (-13.1%)
02/2008: Arrow/Canary #5  -- 36,662 (+ 4.6%)
03/2008: Arrow/Canary #6  -- 32,621 (-11.0%)
04/2008: Arrow/Canary #7  -- 32,033 (- 1.8%) 
05/2008: Arrow/Canary #8  -- 30,864 (- 3.7%)
06/2008: Arrow/Canary #9  -- 30,330 (- 1.7%)
07/2008: Arrow/Canary #10 -- 29,604 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months: -15.5%
1 year  : -14.6%
2 years : -18.1%
5 years : -34.6%

Continuing its slow downward slide.

—–

86 - 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
---------------------------------
07/2007: Nightwing #134 -- 30,228 (- 1.3%)
08/2007: Nightwing #135 -- 29,923 (- 1.0%)
09/2007: Nightwing #136 -- 29,256 (- 2.2%)
10/2007: Nightwing #137 -- 28,363 (- 3.1%)
11/2007: Nightwing #138 -- 46,757 (+64.9%) [52,282]
12/2007: Nightwing #139 -- 49,291 (+ 5.4%) [52,607]
01/2008: Nightwing #140 -- 32,305 (-34.5%)
02/2008: Nightwing #141 -- 30,980 (- 4.1%)
03/2008: Nightwing #142 -- 30,253 (- 2.4%)
04/2008: Nightwing #143 -- 29,914 (- 1.1%)
05/2008: Nightwing #144 -- 29,367 (- 1.8%)
06/2008: Nightwing #145 -- 29,435 (+ 0.2%)
07/2008: Nightwing #146 -- 29,494 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.7%
1 year  : - 2.4%
2 years : -30.7%
5 years : - 8.4%

The “Freefall” arc has sales edging upwards for another month – the title’s creative team must be doing something right. Next up is the book’s “Batman RIP” tie-in storyline, so – judging from the increases the crossover brought to Detective Comics and Robin sales in July – Nightwing should be fine for the next few months.

—–

90 - REIGN IN HELL
07/2008: Reign in Hell #1 of 8 -- 29,003

This title by Keith Giffen, Tom Derenick and an unlikely Bill Sienkiewicz was touted as a “major event” for the DC Universe version of hell. Looking at the numbers – and considering that the book was promoted with a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition – it seems retailers weren’t all that much excited by the prospect.

At this stage, this seems like the token superheroes-and-magic event in the DC Universe, much in the same way that Rann/Thanagar: Holy War below seems like the token superheroes-in-space event; they’re both feeding off the fact that their ancestors, Day of Vengeance and Rann/Thanagar War, were really popular back in 2005.

For the record, Reign in Hell was first solicited for June with a different creative team attached, then cancelled and rescheduled for July.

—–

91 - SUPERGIRL
07/2001: Supergirl #60 --  24,774*
07/2002: Supergirl #72 --  19,122*
07/2006: Supergirl #7  --  85,175
07/2006: Supergirl #8  --  76,942
---------------------------------
07/2007: Supergirl #19 --  48,576 (- 3.4%)
08/2007: Supergirl #20 --  46,862 (- 3.5%)
09/2007: Supergirl #21 --  44,656 (- 4.7%)
10/2007: Supergirl #22 --  41,758 (- 6.5%)
11/2007: Supergirl #23 --  45,460 (+ 8.9%)
12/2007: Supergirl #24 --  37,922 (-16.6%)
01/2008: Supergirl #25 --  36,459 (- 3.9%)
02/2008: Supergirl #26 --  34,186 (- 6.2%)
03/2008: Supergirl #27 --  32,596 (- 4.7%)
04/2008: Supergirl #28 --  31,379 (- 3.7%)
05/2008: Supergirl #29 --  30,192 (- 3.8%)
06/2008: Supergirl #30 --  29,553 (- 2.1%)
07/2008: Supergirl #31 --  28,813 (- 2.5%)
----------------
6 months: -21.0%
1 year  : -40.7%
2 years : -62.6%

The decline has slowed down somewhat in the last couple of months, but Supergirl numbers are still nothing to write home about.

—–

98 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
07/2007: Batman Confidential #7  -- 32,272 (- 3.6%)
08/2007: Batman Confidential #8  -- 30,077 (- 6.8%)
09/2007: Batman Confidential #9  -- 28,845 (- 4.1%)
10/2007: Batman Confidential #10 -- 28,724 (- 0.5%)
11/2007: Batman Confidential #11 -- 27,397 (- 4.6%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: --
02/2008: Batman Confidential #12 -- 27,208 (- 0.7%)
02/2008: Batman Confidential #13 -- 25,735 (- 5.4%)
03/2008: Batman Confidential #14 -- 25,330 (- 1.6%)
03/2008: Batman Confidential #15 -- 24,283 (- 4.1%)
04/2008: Batman Confidential #16 -- 24,038 (- 1.0%)
05/2008: Batman Confidential #17 -- 25,017 (+ 4.1%)
06/2008: Batman Confidential #18 -- 24,881 (- 0.5%)
07/2008: Batman Confidential #19 -- 25,037 (+ 0.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -22.4% 

Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire are holding the book’s sales steady around 25K with their Catwoman/Batgirl arc.

—–

101 - 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
-----------------------------
07/2007: Fables #63 -- 25,603 (-0.5%)
08/2007: Fables #64 -- 25,498 (-0.4%)
09/2007: Fables #65 -- 25,311 (-0.7%)
10/2007: Fables #66 -- 25,016 (-1.2%)
11/2007: Fables #67 -- 24,841 (-0.7%)
12/2007: Fables #68 -- 24,574 (-1.1%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Fables #69 -- 24,337 (-1.0%)
02/2008: Fables #70 -- 23,975 (-1.5%)
03/2008: Fables #71 -- 24,006 (+0.1%)
04/2008: Fables #72 -- 23,853 (-0.6%)
05/2008: Fables #73 -- 23,785 (-0.3%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Fables #74 -- 24,166 (+1.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : - 5.6%
2 years : - 3.7%
5 years : - 5.5%

The slight increase is probably due to the fact that Fables #74 came out in the first week of July and thus had – for the purposes of the Diamond chart, at any rate – four weeks more to collect reorders than issue #73, which came out in the last week of May.

Nonetheless, it’s well worth pointing out that Fables periodical sales have been remarkably stable over the past five years.

—–

102 - RANN/THANAGAR: HOLY WAR
05/2008: Holy War #1 of 8 -- 37,179
06/2008: Holy War #2 of 8 -- 26,446 (-28.9%)
07/2008: Holy War #3 of 8 -- 23,955 (- 9.4%)

That’s a steeper-than-average drop for a limited series. See comments on Reign in Hell.

—–

103 - THE X-FILES SPECIAL (WildStorm)
07/2008: The X-Files Special #0 -- 23,805

The tie-in to the latest X-Files film sells in the same general area as the debut of WildStorm’s Supernatural adaptation, which means it’s one of the publisher’s more successful comics of its kind. The book was promoted with a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition, and a six-issue miniseries is set to follow in October.

—–

104 - BATMAN: GOTHAM AFTER MIDNIGHT
05/2008: Gotham After Midnight #1  of 12 -- 29,570
06/2008: Gotham After Midnight #2  of 12 -- 24,259 (-18.0%)
07/2008: Gotham After Midnight #3  of 12 -- 22,663 (- 6.6%)

Average sales drops.

—–

105 - WORLD OF WARCRAFT (WildStorm)
11/2007: World of WarCraft #1  -- 44,508          [49,271]
12/2007: World of WarCraft #2  -- 32,740 (-34.9%) [36,340]
01/2008: World of WarCraft #3  -- 31,183 (- 4.8%)
02/2008: World of WarCraft #4  -- 28,982 (- 7.1%)
03/2008: World of WarCraft #5  -- 27,159 (- 9.4%)
04/2008: World of WarCraft #6  -- 26,271 (- 3.3%)
05/2008: World of WarCraft #7  -- 24,589 (- 6.4%)
06/2008: World of WarCraft #8  -- 23,310 (- 5.2%)
07/2008: World of WarCraft #9  -- 22,203 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: -28.8%

Still shedding readers by the boatload. As usual, there was a 50/50 variant-cover edition.

—–

108 - 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
-------------------------------------
07/2007: Birds of Prey #108 -- 28,025 (- 2.1%)
08/2007: Birds of Prey #109 -- 28,268 (+ 0.9%)
09/2007: Birds of Prey #110 -- 27,148 (- 4.0%)
10/2007: Birds of Prey #111 -- 26,400 (- 2.8%)
11/2007: Birds of Prey #112 -- 25,117 (- 4.9%)
12/2007: Birds of Prey #113 -- 24,717 (- 1.6%)
01/2008: Birds of Prey #114 -- 24,211 (- 2.1%)
02/2008: Birds of Prey #115 -- 23,157 (- 4.4%)
03/2008: Birds of Prey #116 -- 22,627 (- 2.3%)
04/2008: Birds of Prey #117 -- 22,181 (- 2.0%)
05/2008: Birds of Prey #118 -- 21,941 (- 1.1%)
06/2008: Birds of Prey #119 -- 21,593 (- 1.6%)
07/2008: Birds of Prey #120 -- 21,572 (- 0.1%)
----------------
6 months: -10.9%
1 year  : -23.0%
2 years : -33.1%
5 years : -22.7%

The book appears to be settling down between 21 and 22K.

——

111 - DC/WILDSTORM: DREAMWAR
04/2008: Dreamwar #1 of 6 -- 34,794
05/2008: Dreamwar #2 of 6 -- 24,732 (-28.9%)
06/2008: Dreamwar #3 of 6 -- 23,555 (- 4.8%)
07/2008: Dreamwar #4 of 6 -- 21,392 (- 9.2%)

Sales shouldn’t be dropping by 9% at this stage.

—–

112 - TANGENT: SUPERMAN'S REIGN
03/2008: Tangent #1 of 12 -- 32,378
04/2008: Tangent #2 of 12 -- 25,652 (-20.8%)
05/2008: Tangent #3 of 12 -- 22,858 (-14.2%)
06/2008: Tangent #4 of 12 -- 21,701 (- 5.1%)
07/2008: Tangent #5 of 12 -- 21,061 (- 3.0%)

Bottoming out.

—–

113 - BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM (Johnny DC)
07/2008: Billy Batson #1  -- 20,340

The latest Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.

—–

116 - TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE
07/2008: Two-Face: Year One #1 of 2 -- 19,719

Another film tie-in. The numbers are about as high as you’d expect in a month as cluttered as this one.

—–

122 - AMBUSH BUG: YEAR NONE
07/2008: Ambush Bug: Year None #1 of 6 -- 19,088

As far as slapstick books full of inside jokes go, Ambush Bug: Year One is doing pretty well, I’d say. These are much better numbers than I would have expected.

—–

125 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
05/2008: House of Mystery #1  -- 27,492
06/2008: House of Mystery #2  -- 19,485 (-29.1%)
06/2008: House of Mystery #3  -- 18,407 (- 5.5%)

The numbers are bottoming out quickly. There seems to be a good chance of House of Mystery finding its level above 15,000 units. That hasn’t happened in a while for a Vertigo series – especially one that’s not connected to an existing successful franchise.

—–

128 - 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
-------------------------------
07/2007: Catwoman #69 -- 19,387 (- 3.7%)
08/2007: Catwoman #70 -- 20,518 (+ 5.8%)
09/2007: Catwoman #71 -- 19,492 (- 5.0%)
10/2007: Catwoman #72 -- 19,473 (- 0.1%)
11/2007: Catwoman #73 -- 18,815 (- 3.4%)
12/2007: Catwoman #74 -- 18,623 (- 1.0%)
01/2008: Catwoman #75 -- 21,580 (+15.9%)
02/2008: Catwoman #76 -- 18,798 (-12.9%)
03/2008: Catwoman #77 -- 18,609 (- 1.0%)
04/2008: Catwoman #78 -- 18,553 (- 0.3%)
05/2008: Catwoman #79 -- 17,999 (- 3.0%)
06/2008: Catwoman #80 -- 17,797 (- 1.1%)
07/2008: Catwoman #81 -- 17,766 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: -17.7%
1 year  : - 8.4%
2 years : -34.9%
5 years : -23.1%

Cancelled with issue #82.

—–

133 - WILDCATS: WORLD'S END (WildStorm)
07/2001: Vol. 2 #25      -- 16,829*
07/2003: Version 3.0 #12 -- 15,437
07/2004: Version 3.0 #23 -- 13,481
----------------------------------
10/2006: Wildcats #1     -- 82,528
----------------------------------
07/2008: World's End #1  -- 16,895 (-79.5%)
----------------
5 years : + 9.5%

Wildcats: World’s End, by Christos Gage and Neil Googe, kicks off the latest line-wide WildStorm Universe revamp. This time, in addition to a 50/50 variant-cover edition, they’re providing free backup stories as an added incentive to buy the books, the first by Gage and Trevor Hairsine. And, yes, the last issue of Wildcats that shipped was the debut number of the book’s last iteration, by Grant Morrison and Jim Lee, back in October 2006.

Wildcats is the flagship of the WildStorm Universe line, so sales of the other titles – The Authority, Gen13 and StormWatch: PHD followed suit in August – can be expected to go downhill from here. Bearing this in mind, and bearing in mind that we can expected Wildcats numbers to drop significantly for the first few issues, this isn’t an encouraging start by any stretch of the imagination – which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one, at this point.

To its credit, Wildcats: World’s End outsells the bunch of limited series that set up the relaunch over the last few months (see below for The Number of the Beast. Far below). But that’s about the only positive thing that can be said about these figures, really.

—–

136 - MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
06/2008: Madame Xanadu #1  -- 22,073
07/2008: Madame Xanadu #2  -- 16,655 (-24.6%)

That’s a stiff drop. Issue #3 is the first without a 1-for-10 variant-cover edition, so it’s likely for Madame Xanadu to see another big step down the charts.

—–

144/147 - HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE
05/2008: Huntress: Year One #1 of 6 -- 21,279
05/2008: Huntress: Year One #2 of 6 -- 19,089 (-10.3%)
06/2008: Huntress: Year One #3 of 6 -- 16,589 (-13.1%)
06/2008: Huntress: Year One #4 of 6 -- 15,816 (- 4.7%)
07/2008: Huntress: Year One #5 of 6 -- 14,822 (- 6.3%)
07/2008: Huntress: Year One #6 of 6 -- 14,281 (- 3.7%)

Not much demand for this one.

—–

145 - JONAH HEX
07/2006: Jonah Hex #9  -- 20,385
--------------------------------
07/2007: Jonah Hex #21 -- 15,734 (- 2.6%)
08/2007: Jonah Hex #22 -- 15,362 (- 2.4%)
09/2007: Jonah Hex #23 -- 15,157 (- 1.4%)
10/2007: Jonah Hex #24 -- 14,749 (- 2.7%)
11/2007: Jonah Hex #25 -- 14,577 (- 1.2%)
12/2007: Jonah Hex #26 -- 14,088 (- 3.5%)
01/2008: Jonah Hex #27 -- 13,881 (- 1.5%)
02/2008: Jonah Hex #28 -- 13,614 (- 1.9%)
03/2008: Jonah Hex #29 -- 13,439 (- 1.3%)
04/2008: Jonah Hex #30 -- 13,253 (- 1.4%)
05/2008: Jonah Hex #31 -- 13,140 (- 0.9%)
06/2008: Jonah Hex #32 -- 12,969 (- 1.3%)
07/2008: Jonah Hex #33 -- 14,281 (+10.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.9%
1 year  : - 9.2%
2 years : -29.9%

Special guest penciler Darwyn Cooke gives Jonah Hex a neat little sales spike.

—–

149 - CHECKMATE
07/2006: Checkmate #4  -- 34,661
--------------------------------
07/2007: Checkmate #16 -- 20,225 (- 8.1%)
08/2007: Checkmate #17 -- 19,841 (- 1.9%)
09/2007: Checkmate #18 -- 18,742 (- 5.5%)
10/2007: Checkmate #19 -- 18,096 (- 3.5%)
11/2007: Checkmate #20 -- 17,663 (- 2.4%)
12/2007: Checkmate #21 -- 17,363 (- 1.7%)
01/2008: Checkmate #22 -- 17,087 (- 1.6%)
02/2008: Checkmate #23 -- 16,595 (- 2.9%)
03/2008: Checkmate #24 -- 16,147 (- 2.7%)
04/2008: Checkmate #25 -- 15,857 (- 1.8%)
05/2008: Checkmate #26 -- 15,167 (- 4.4%)
06/2008: Checkmate #27 -- 14,642 (- 3.5%)
07/2008: Checkmate #28 -- 13,921 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: -18.5%
1 year  : -31.2%
2 years : -59.8%

Cancelled with issue #31.

—–

152 - BATMAN: DEATH MASK
04/2008: Batman: Death Mask #1 of 4 -- 20,217
05/2008: Batman: Death Mask #2 of 4 -- 15,901 (-21.4%)
06/2008: Batman: Death Mask #3 of 4 -- 15,102 (- 5.0%)
06/2008: Batman: Death Mask #4 of 4 -- 13,770 (- 8.8%)

This one’s primarily aimed at bookstores, I reckon. Given the book’s 48-page, black-and-white format, I guess the periodicals have done alright for a standalone Batman story, though.

—–

153 - MANHUNTER
07/2005: Manhunter #12 -- 13,591
07/2006: Manhunter #24 -- 14,650
--------------------------------
12/2006: Manhunter #26 -- 23,767 (+56.6%)
01/2007: Manhunter #27 -- 17,842 (-24.9%)
02/2007: Manhunter #28 -- 17,182 (- 3.4%)
03/2007: Manhunter #29 -- 17,234 (+ 0.3%)
04/2007: Manhunter #30 -- 16,373 (- 5.0%)
--------------------------------
06/2008: Manhunter #31 -- 15,694 (- 4.2%)
07/2008: Manhunter #32 -- 13,740 (-12.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : - 6.2%

That’s decent, as far as second-issue drops are concerned, but the demand for Manhunter hasn’t increased since its last run.

—–

154/156 - BLUE BEETLE
07/2006: Blue Beetle #5  -- 35,490 (- 8.1%)
----------------------------------
07/2007: Blue Beetle #17 -- 16,128 (- 5.2%)
08/2007: Blue Beetle #18 -- 19,140 (+18.7%)
09/2007: Blue Beetle #19 -- 15,737 (-17.8%)
10/2007: Blue Beetle #20 -- 27,611 (+75.5%)
11/2007: Blue Beetle #21 -- 15,645 (-43.3%)
12/2007: Blue Beetle #22 -- 15,256 (- 2.5%)
01/2008: Blue Beetle #23 -- 14,961 (- 1.9%)
02/2008: Blue Beetle #24 -- 14,378 (- 3.9%)
03/2008: Blue Beetle #25 -- 14,304 (- 0.5%)
04/2008: Blue Beetle #26 -- 14,285 (- 0.1%)
05/2008: Blue Beetle #27 -- 13,802 (- 3.4%)
06/2008: -- 
07/2008: Blue Beetle #28 -- 13,620 (- 1.3%)
07/2008: Blue Beetle #29 -- 13,310 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -10.0%
1 year  : -16.5%
2 years : -62.1%

The arrival of a new regular writer didn’t make a difference to sales.

—–

155 - DC SPECIAL: CYBORG
05/2008: Cyborg #1 of 5 -- 18,783
06/2008: Cyborg #2 of 5 -- 14,960 (-20.4%)
07/2008: Cyborg #3 of 5 -- 13,490 (- 9.8%)

Dropping off the map.

—–

159 - THE SPIRIT
07/2007: The Spirit #8     -- 21,984 (- 2.8%)
08/2007: The Spirit #9     -- 20,841 (- 5.2%)
09/2007: The Spirit #10    -- 19,962 (- 4.2%)
10/2007: --
11/2007: The Spirit #11    -- 18,892 (- 5.4%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: The Spirit #12    -- 18,894 (+ 0.0%)
01/2008: The Spirit #13    -- 17,475 (- 7.5%)
02/2008: The Spirit #14    -- 17,277 (- 1.1%)
03/2008: The Spirit #15    -- 16,038 (- 7.2%)
04/2008: The Spirit #16    -- 14,697 (- 8.4%)
05/2008: The Spirit #17    -- 14,057 (- 4.4%)
06/2008: The Spirit #18    -- 13,257 (- 5.7%)
07/2008: The Spirit #19    -- 12,709 (- 4.1%)
----------------
6 months: -30.1%
1 year  : -42.2%

Still declining too fast.

—–

162 - 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
----------------------------------
07/2007: Hellblazer #234 -- 13,112 (-0.7%)
08/2007: Hellblazer #234 -- 13,214 (+0.8%)
08/2007: Hellblazer #235 -- 13,153 (-0.5%)
09/2007: Hellblazer #236 -- 12,938 (-1.6%)
10/2007: Hellblazer #237 -- 12,703 (-1.8%)
11/2007: Hellblazer #238 -- 12,536 (-1.3%)
12/2007: Hellblazer #239 -- 12,344 (-1.5%)
01/2008: Hellblazer #240 -- 12,213 (-1.1%)
02/2008: Hellblazer #241 -- 11,998 (-1.8%)
03/2008: Hellblazer #242 -- 11,916 (-0.7%)
04/2008: Hellblazer #243 -- 11,958 (+0.4%)
05/2008: Hellblazer #244 -- 11,826 (-1.1%)
06/2008: Hellblazer #245 -- 11,897 (+0.6%)
07/2008: Hellblazer #246 -- 12,088 (+1.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.0%
1 year  : - 7.8%
2 years : -13.1%
5 years : -26.3%

Writer Jason Aaron leaves Hellblazer with 250 units more than he inherited.

—–

163 - SIMON DARK
10/2007: Simon Dark #1  -- 24,256
11/2007: Simon Dark #2  -- 18,492 (-23.8%)
12/2007: Simon Dark #3  -- 17,391 (- 6.0%)
01/2008: Simon Dark #4  -- 16,242 (- 6.6%)
02/2008: Simon Dark #5  -- 15,360 (- 5.4%)
03/2008: Simon Dark #6  -- 14,684 (- 4.4%)
04/2008: Simon Dark #7  -- 13,936 (- 5.1%)
05/2008: Simon Dark #8  -- 13,222 (- 5.1%)
06/2008: Simon Dark #9  -- 12,514 (- 5.4%)
07/2008: Simon Dark #10 -- 12,038 (- 3.8%)
----------------
6 months: -25.9%

Are Simon Dark sales finally bottoming out? The book is far below the usual cut-off point for DC Universe books, at any rate.

—–

165/168 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
12/2007: Northlanders #1  -- 19,805
01/2008: Northlanders #2  -- 15,945 (-19.5%)
02/2008: Northlanders #3  -- 14,699 (- 7.8%)
03/2008: Northlanders #4  -- 12,851 (-12.6%)
04/2008: Northlanders #5  -- 12,278 (- 4.5%)
05/2008: Northlanders #6  -- 12,009 (- 2.2%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Northlanders #7  -- 11,918 (- 0.8%)
07/2008: Northlanders #8  -- 11,477 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -26.6%

Northlanders #7 should have been out in June, but slipped into July due to being a week late.

In all likelihood, that’s also the explanation for the relatively small drop for issue #7 and the relatively large one for issue #8: Northlanders #7 just had more time to accumulate reorders than usual before registering on the chart.

—–

167 - DC SPECIAL: RAVEN
03/2008: Raven #1 of 5 -- 24,535
04/2008: Raven #2 of 5 -- 17,962 (-26.8%)
05/2008: Raven #3 of 5 -- 14,403 (-19.8%)
06/2008: Raven #4 of 5 -- 12,592 (-12.6%)
07/2008: Raven #5 of 5 -- 11,627 (- 7.7%)

Disastrous numbers, similar to DC Special: Cyborg. There’s not much demand for Teen Titans solo spin-offs.

—–

169 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM
07/2006: The All-New Atom #1  -- 49,969
---------------------------------------
07/2007: The All-New Atom #13 -- 16,982 (+ 0.8%)
08/2007: The All-New Atom #14 -- 17,894 (+ 5.4%)
09/2007: The All-New Atom #15 -- 17,266 (- 3.5%)
10/2007: The All-New Atom #16 -- 16,013 (- 7.3%)
11/2007: The All-New Atom #17 -- 15,529 (- 3.0%)
12/2007: The All-New Atom #18 -- 14,701 (- 5.3%)
01/2008: The All-New Atom #19 -- 13,861 (- 5.7%)
02/2008: The All-New Atom #20 -- 13,560 (- 2.2%)
03/2008: The All-New Atom #21 -- 13,048 (- 3.8%)
04/2008: The All-New Atom #22 -- 12,577 (- 3.6%)
05/2008: The All-New Atom #23 -- 12,071 (- 4.0%)
06/2008: The All-New Atom #24 -- 11,775 (- 2.5%)
07/2008: The All-New Atom #25 -- 11,467 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -17.3%
1 year  : -32.5%
2 years : -77.1%

Cancelled.

—–

171 - THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT
05/2008: The War That Time Forgot #1 of 8 -- 18,243
06/2008: The War That Time Forgot #2 of 8 -- 13,296 (-27.1%)
07/2008: The War That Time Forgot #3 of 8 -- 11,407 (-14.2%)

As of August, DC Comics and Diamond both agree that The War That Time Forgot is a 12-issue series. By the time we get there, it seems the numbers are going to be pretty ugly.

—–

177 - 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
----------------------------------
07/2007: 100 Bullets #84 -- 12,148 (- 2.6%)
08/2007: --
09/2007: 100 Bullets #85 -- 11,888 (- 2.1%)
10/2007: --
11/2007: 100 Bullets #86 -- 11,599 (- 2.4%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: 100 Bullets #87 -- 11,244 (- 3.1%)
02/2008: 100 Bullets #88 -- 11,077 (- 1.5%)
03/2008: 100 Bullets #89 -- 10,878 (- 1.8%)
04/2008: 100 Bullets #90 -- 10,856 (- 0.2%)
05/2008: 100 Bullets #91 -- 10,736 (- 1.1%)
06/2008: 100 Bullets #92 -- 10,797 (+ 0.6%)
06/2008: 100 Bullets #93 -- 10,796 (- 0.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.0%
1 year  : -11.1%
2 years : -18.6%
5 years : -36.9%

Holding level.

—–

179 - SUPERNATURAL: RISING SON (WildStorm)
07/2007: Origins #3         -- 14,812 (- 7.2%)
08/2007: Origins #4         -- 13,915 (- 6.1%)
09/2007: Origins #5         -- 13,034 (- 6.3%)
10/2007: Origins #6         -- 12,350 (- 5.5%)
11/2007: --
12/2007: --
01/2008: --
02/2008: --
03/2008: --
04/2008: Rising Son #1 of 6 -- 16,013 (+29.7%)
05/2008: Rising Son #2 of 6 -- 11,846 (-26.0%)
06/2008: Rising Son #3 of 6 -- 11,276 (- 4.8%)
07/2008: Rising Son #4 of 6 -- 10,676 (- 5.3%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -27.9%

A regular drop for a miniseries.

—–

180 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
02/2008: Tiny Titans #1  -- 15,238
03/2008: Tiny Titans #2  -- 11,432 (-25.0%)
04/2008: Tiny Titans #3  -- 11,197 (- 2.1%)
05/2008: Tiny Titans #4  -- 10,369 (- 7.4%)
06/2008: Tiny Titans #5  -- 10,909 (+ 5.2%)
07/2008: Tiny Titans #6  -- 10,636 (- 2.5%)

A Johnny DC book. See disclaimers.

—–

182 - HELLBLAZER PRESENTS: CHAS KNOWLEDGE (Vertigo)
07/2008: Chas Knowledge #1 of 5 -- 10,465

These aren’t stellar periodical sales, obviously. As a Hellblazer spin-off, the book should have a reasonably good chance at good sales as a paperback collection, though – or that’s the conventional wisdom, at least.

—–

185 - STORMING PARADISE (WildStorm)
07/2008: Storming Paradise #1 of 6 -- 9,965

Storming Paradise, by Chuck Dixon and Butch Guice, is a World War II fantasy exploring the notion of a US invasion of Japan. It feels oddly out of place at WildStorm, but then again, I doubt the numbers would have been much different if it were a Vertigo title.

—–

192 - DMZ (Vertigo)
07/2006: DMZ #9  -- 14,786
--------------------------
07/2007: DMZ #21 -- 12,433 (-2.1%)
08/2007: DMZ #22 -- 12,175 (-2.1%)
09/2007: DMZ #23 -- 11,858 (-2.6%)
10/2007: DMZ #24 -- 11,583 (-2.3%)
11/2007: DMZ #25 -- 11,277 (-2.6%)
12/2007: DMZ #26 -- 11,027 (-2.2%)
01/2008: DMZ #27 -- 10,662 (-3.3%)
02/2008: DMZ #28 -- 10,463 (-1.9%)
03/2008: DMZ #29 -- 10,266 (-1.9%)
04/2008: DMZ #30 -- 10,038 (-2.2%)
05/2008: DMZ #31 --  9,911 (-1.3%)
06/2008: DMZ #32 --  9,760 (-1.5%)
07/2008: DMZ #33 --  9,364 (-4.1%)
----------------
6 months: -12.2%
1 year  : -24.7%
2 years : -36.7%

That’s a comparatively harsh drop for DMZ.

—–

192 - TOR
05/2008: Tor #1 of 6 -- 15,147
06/2008: Tor #2 of 6 -- 11,100 (-26.7%)
07/2008: Tor #3 of 6 --  9,504 (-14.3%)

Tor sales keep dropping swiftly.

—–

198 - INFINITY INC.
09/2007: Infinity Inc. #1  -- 33,400
10/2007: Infinity Inc. #2  -- 24,158 (-27.7%)
11/2007: Infinity Inc. #3  -- 18,776 (-22.3%)
12/2007: Infinity Inc. #4  -- 15,861 (-15.5%)
01/2008: Infinity Inc. #5  -- 13,951 (-12.0%)
02/2008: Infinity Inc. #6  -- 12,523 (-10.2%)
03/2008: Infinity Inc. #7  -- 11,328 (- 9.5%)
04/2008: Infinity Inc. #8  -- 10,649 (- 6.0%)
05/2008: Infinity Inc. #9  --  9,993 (- 6.2%)
06/2008: Infinity Inc. #10 --  9,500 (- 4.9%)
07/2008: Infinity Inc. #11 --  9,003 (- 5.2%)
----------------
6 months: -35.5%

Cancelled at issue #12.

—–

213 - YOUNG LIARS (Vertigo)
03/2008: Young Liars #1  -- 13,177
04/2008: Young Liars #2  --  9,917 (-24.7%)
05/2008: Young Liars #3  --  8,954 (- 9.7%)
06/2008: Young Liars #4  --  8,590 (- 4.1%)
07/2008: Young Liars #5  --  8,172 (- 4.9%)

The book hasn’t found its level yet.

—–

215 - LOST BOYS: REIGN OF FROGS (WildStorm)
05/2008: Reign of Frogs #1 of 4 -- 11,999
06/2008: Reign of Frogs #2 of 4 --  9,231 (-23.1%)
07/2008: Reign of Frogs #3 of 4 --  8,012 (-13.2%)

This one’s completely under the radar.

—–

222 - 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
----------------------------------------
07/2007: Batman Strikes! #35   --  7,222 (+ 1.5%)
08/2007: Batman Strikes! #36   --  7,511 (+ 4.0%)
09/2007: Batman Strikes! #37   --  6,833 (- 9.0%)
10/2007: Batman Strikes! #38   --  6,664 (- 2.5%)
11/2007: Batman Strikes! #39   --  6,464 (- 3.0%)
12/2007: Batman Strikes! #40   --  6,492 (+ 0.4%)
01/2008: Batman Strikes! #41   --  6,723 (+ 3.6%)
02/2008: Batman Strikes! #42   --  6,623 (- 1.5%)
03/2008: Batman Strikes! #43   --  6,544 (- 1.2%)
04/2008: Batman Strikes! #44   --  7,541 (+15.2%)
05/2008: Batman Strikes! #45   --  6,611 (-12.3%)
06/2008: Batman Strikes! #46   --  7,118 (+ 7.7%)
07/2008: Batman Strikes! #47   --  7,711 (+ 8.3%)
----------------
6 months: +14.7%
1 year  : + 6.8%
2 years : - 5.4%
5 years : -48.8%

A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.

—–

228 - CHUCK (WildStorm)
06/2008: Chuck #1 of 6 -- 10,513
07/2008: Chuck #2 of 6 --  7,411 (-29.5%)

A very large second-issue drop for a miniseries.

—–

231 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
07/2007: Scalped #7  --  8,303 (- 4.4%)
08/2007: Scalped #8  --  7,942 (- 4.4%)
09/2007: Scalped #9  --  7,678 (- 3.3%)
10/2007: Scalped #10 --  7,536 (- 1.9%)
11/2007: Scalped #11 --  7,323 (- 2.8%) 
12/2007: Scalped #12 --  7,048 (- 3.8%)
01/2008: Scalped #13 --  6,993 (- 0.8%)
02/2008: Scalped #14 --  6,903 (- 1.3%)
03/2008: Scalped #15 --  7,004 (+ 1.5%)
04/2008: Scalped #16 --  7,071 (+ 1.0%)
05/2008: Scalped #17 --  6,927 (- 2.0%)
06/2008: Scalped #18 --  7,020 (+ 1.3%)
07/2008: Scalped #19 --  7,221 (+ 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.3%
1 year  : -13.0%

The numbers for Scalped keep going up, and the increases keep getting larger. The July issue’s first-month sales are the book’s highest since November.

—–

232 - SUPER FRIENDS (Johnny DC)
03/2008: Super Friends #1  -- 12,554
04/2008: Super Friends #2  --  8,935 (-28.8%)
05/2008: Super Friends #3  --  8,037 (-10.1%)
06/2008: Super Friends #4  --  8,038 (+ 0.0%)
07/2008: Super Friends #5  --  7,141 (-11.2%)

Two Johnny DC titles. See disclaimers.

—–

238 - THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY: JACK HAWKSMOOR (WildStorm)
03/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #1 of 6 -- 10,967
04/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #2 of 6 --  8,771 (-20.0%)
05/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #3 of 6 --  7,996 (- 8.8%)
06/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #4 of 6 --  7,299 (- 8.7%)
07/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #5 of 6 --  6,920 (- 5.2%)

239/240 - THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST (WildStorm)
04/2008: The Number of the Beast #1 of 6 -- 12,734
04/2008: The Number of the Beast #2 of 6 -- 11,275 (-11.5%)
05/2008: The Number of the Beast #3 of 6 --  7,955 (-29.5%)
05/2008: The Number of the Beast #4 of 6 --  7,558 (- 5.0%)
06/2008: The Number of the Beast #5 of 8 --  7,543 (- 0.2%)
06/2008: The Number of the Beast #6 of 8 --  7,191 (- 4.7%)
07/2008: The Number of the Beast #7 of 8 --  6,890 (- 4.2%)
07/2008: The Number of the Beast #8 of 8 --  6,840 (- 0.7%)

Two WildStorm Universe limited series with abominable numbers.

—–

242 - BATMAN VS. SCARECROW
07/2008: Batman vs. Scarecrow -- 6,379

I’ve got no idea what this is, to be honest. It’s neither in the solicitation previews nor on DC’s website.

If I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably some kind of reprint to tie in with the film, but please correct me if I’m wrong.

—–

243 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
07/2006: The Exterminators #7  -- 10,743
----------------------------------------
07/2007: The Exterminators #19 --  8,454 (- 2.3%)
08/2007: The Exterminators #20 --  8,289 (- 2.0%)
09/2007: The Exterminators #21 --  7,950 (- 4.1%)
10/2007: The Exterminators #22 --  7,792 (- 2.0%)
11/2007: The Exterminators #23 --  7,461 (- 4.3%)
12/2007: The Exterminators #24 --  7,211 (- 3.4%)
01/2008: The Exterminators #25 --  7,096 (- 1.6%)
02/2008: The Exterminators #26 --  6,834 (- 3.7%)
03/2008: The Exterminators #27 --  6,717 (- 1.7%)
04/2008: The Exterminators #28 --  6,587 (- 1.9%)
05/2008: The Exterminators #29 --  6,397 (- 2.9%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: The Exterminators #30 --  6,369 (- 0.4%)
----------------
6 months: -10.3%
1 year  : -24.7%
2 years : -40.7%

Cancelled. The book had a long run for a new Vertigo property, by recent standards.

—–

244 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY (Johnny DC)
07/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #4  --  8,236 (-11.0%)
08/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #5  --  7,681 (- 6.7%)
09/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #6  --  7,362 (- 4.2%)
10/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #7  --  7,010 (- 4.8%)
11/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #8  --  6,886 (- 1.8%)
12/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #9  --  6,777 (- 1.6%)
01/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #10 --  6,674 (- 1.5%)
02/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #11 --  6,568 (- 1.6%)
03/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #12 --  6,331 (- 3.6%)
04/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #13 --  6,331 (  0.0%)
05/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #14 --  6,203 (- 2.0%)
06/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #15 --  6,565 (+ 5.8%)
07/2008: The LoSH in the 31st Century #16 --  6,289 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.8%
1 year  : -23.6%

A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.

—–

260 - TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: RAISING CAIN (WildStorm)
07/2007: TCM: About a Boy           --  7,205 (+ 4.1%)
08/2007: TCM: By Himself #1 of 2    --  6,380 (-11.5%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: --
11/2007: --
12/2007: --
01/2008: --
02/2008: --
03/2008: --
04/2008: --
05/2008: TCM: Raising Cain #1 of 3  --  7,242 (+13.5%)
06/2008: TCM: Raising Cain #2 of 3  --  6,296 (-13.1%)
07/2008: TCM: Raising Cain #3 of 3  --  5,769 (- 8.4%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -19.9%

The usual for WildStorm’s horror film adaptations.

—–

270 - AMERICAN SPLENDOR: SEASON TWO (Vertigo)
09/2006: American Splendor #1 of 4 -- 11,529
10/2006: American Splendor #2 of 4 --  9,202 (-20.2%)
11/2006: American Splendor #3 of 4 --  7,737 (-15.9%)
12/2006: American Splendor #4 of 4 --  7,104 (- 8.2%)
--------------------------------------------
04/2008: Season Two #1 of 4        --  7,469 (+ 5.1%)
05/2008: Season Two #2 of 4        --  6,142 (-17.8%)
06/2008: Season Two #3 of 4        --  5,729 (- 6.7%)
07/2008: Season Two #4 of 4        --  5,396 (- 5.8%)

Typical bookstore material.

—–

277 - THE VINYL UNDERGROUND (Vertigo)
10/2007: The Vinyl Underground #1  -- 10,823
11/2007: The Vinyl Underground #2  --  8,237 (-23.9%)
12/2007: The Vinyl Underground #3  --  7,432 (- 9.8%)
01/2008: The Vinyl Underground #4  --  6,854 (- 7.8%)
02/2008: The Vinyl Underground #5  --  6,384 (- 6.9%)
03/2008: The Vinyl Underground #6  --  6,035 (- 5.5%)
04/2008: The Vinyl Underground #7  --  5,862 (- 2.9%)
05/2008: The Vinyl Underground #8  --  5,572 (- 5.0%)
06/2008: The Vinyl Underground #9  --  5,445 (- 2.3%)
07/2008: The Vinyl Underground #10 --  5,238 (- 3.8%)
----------------
6 months: -23.6%

Cancelled with issue #12.

——

297 - THE NEW DYNAMIX (WildStorm)
03/2008: The New Dynamix #1 of 5 -- 11,081
04/2008: The New Dynamix #2 of 5 --  7,114 (-35.8%)
05/2008: The New Dynamix #3 of 5 --  5,164 (-27.4%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: The New Dynamix #4 of 5 --  4,356 (-15.7%)
07/2008: The New Dynamix #5 of 5 --  ?

This is another WildStorm Universe title. In fairness, it’s a new concept rather than the sixteenth attempt to revamp one of their existing properties; but these sales are still a disaster, by any standard.

After checking, it looks like issue #5 did come out in July, after all – it just didn’t make the Top 300 – and neither did WildStorm’s Casey Blue: Beyond Tomorrow #4 or Vertigo’s The Un-Men #12, incidentally. Now, that’s not entirely those titles’ own fault. July was a month with five Wednesdays and lots of output from the big publishers, so the chart is very crowded, and the cut-off point at an unusually high 4,256 units. (Back in June, it was at 2,549.)

So it’s probably safe to say that, despite their less than impressive sales, those three books would have made the chart in most other months.

For the purposes of the average sales statistics below, I’ll be charitable and presume that each of the three titles sold 4,256 units. The real averages may be a little lower, though.

—–

299 - 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
---------------------------------
07/2007: Scooby Doo #122 -- 4,424 (+ 0.2%)
08/2007: Scooby Doo #123 -- 4,641 (+ 4.9%)
09/2007: Scooby Doo #124 -- 4,401 (- 5.2%)
10/2007: Scooby Doo #125 -- 4,407 (+ 0.1%)
11/2007: Scooby Doo #126 -- 4,237 (- 3.9%)
12/2007: Scooby Doo #127 -- 4,293 (+ 1.3%)
01/2008: Scooby Doo #128 -- 4,147 (- 3.4%)
02/2008: Scooby Doo #129 -- 4,161 (+ 0.4%)
03/2008: Scooby Doo #130 -- 4,463 (+ 7.3%)
04/2008: Scooby Doo #131 -- 4,403 (- 1.3%)
05/2008: Scooby Doo #132 -- 4,309 (- 2.1%)
06/2008: Scooby Doo #133 -- 4,501 (+ 4.5%)
07/2008: Scooby Doo #134 -- 4,286 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.4%
1 year  : - 3.1%
2 years : -10.4%
5 years : -28.2%

And another Johnny DC book. See disclaimers.

—–

REORDERS:
236:  6,990 -- Batman #677
254:  6,029 -- Batman #676
266:  5,538 -- Final Crisis #2

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 79.3%: Robin
+ 49.1%: Batman
+ 48.0%: Detective Comics
+ 17.7%: Superman/Batman
+ 14.7%: Batman Strikes
+  6.8%: Superman
+  3.4%: Scooby-Doo
+  3.3%: GL Corps
+  3.3%: Scalped
+  2.9%: Jonah Hex
-  1.0%: Hellblazer
-  4.0%: 100 Bullets
-  5.1%: Booster Gold
-  5.6%: Green Lantern
-  5.8%: LoSH 31
-  8.7%: Nightwing
- 10.0%: Blue Beetle
- 10.3%: Exterminators
- 10.9%: Birds of Prey
- 12.0%: Action Comics
- 12.2%: DMZ
- 12.4%: JLA
- 13.0%: Legion
- 14.7%: Teen Titans
- 14.9%: Wonder Woman
- 15.5%: Green Arrow
- 17.3%: Atom
- 17.7%: Catwoman
- 18.5%: Checkmate
- 21.0%: Supergirl
- 23.6%: Vinyl Underground
- 25.9%: Simon Dark
- 26.6%: Northlanders
- 26.9%: Flash
- 28.8%: World of WarCraft
- 30.1%: The Spirit
- 35.5%: Infinity Inc.

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+107.6%: Robin
+ 40.4%: Detective Comics
+ 23.2%: Batman
+  6.8%: Batman Strikes
+  3.9%: Outsiders
+  1.6%: GL Corps
-  2.4%: Nightwing
-  3.1%: Scooby-Doo
-  3.6%: Legion
-  5.6%: Fables
-  7.8%: Hellblazer
-  8.4%: Catwoman
-  8.6%: Superman
-  9.2%: Jonah Hex
-  9.4%: Superman/Batman
- 11.1%: 100 Bullets
- 13.0%: Scalped
- 14.6%: Green Arrow
- 15.0%: JSA
- 16.5%: Blue Beetle
- 19.9%: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- 22.1%: Action Comics
- 22.1%: Green Lantern
- 23.0%: Birds of Prey
- 23.6%: LoSH 31
- 24.7%: DMZ
- 24.7%: Exterminators
- 27.9%: Supernatural
- 31.1%: Wonder Woman
- 31.2%: Checkmate
- 32.5%: Atom
- 32.5%: JLA
- 35.5%: Teen Titans
- 40.7%: Batman Confidential
- 42.2%: The Spirit
- 69.3%: Flash

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 52.3%: JSA
+ 43.8%: Robin
+  7.5%: Detective Comics
-  2.4%: Nightwing
-  3.7%: Fables
-  5.4%: Batman Strikes
-  6.2%: Manhunter
-  9.1%: Batman
- 10.4%: Scooby-Doo
- 13.1%: Hellblazer
- 15.9%: Action Comics
- 18.0%: Outsiders
- 18.1%: Green Arrow
- 18.6%: 100 Bullets
- 19.0%: GL Corps
- 20.5%: Green Lantern
- 29.9%: Jonah Hex
- 31.0%: Legion
- 31.4%: Superman
- 33.1%: Birds of Prey
- 33.8%: Superman/Batman
- 34.9%: Catwoman
- 36.7%: DMZ
- 37.3%: Teen Titans
- 40.7%: Exterminators
- 48.9%: JLA
- 59.8%: Checkmate
- 60.7%: Flash
- 62.1%: Blue Beetle
- 62.6%: Supergirl
- 77.1%: Atom

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+142.6%: Robin
+ 87.8%: Detective Comics
+ 57.6%: JSA
+ 54.5%: Action Comics
+ 44.1%: Wonder Woman
+ 42.4%: JLA
+ 35.0%: Superman
+ 25.0%: Legion
+  9.5%: Wildcats
-  5.5%: Fables
-  8.4%: Nightwing
- 19.9%: Outsiders
- 22.7%: Birds of Prey
- 23.1%: Catwoman
- 26.2%: Flash
- 26.3%: Hellblazer
- 28.2%: Scooby-Doo
- 29.4%: Teen Titans
- 29.6%: Batman
- 34.6%: Green Arrow
- 36.9%: 100 Bullets
- 48.8%: Batman Strikes

—–

Average Sales per Title
(not counting reprints, reorders 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: 41,406
---------------
07/2007: 35,617 (+ 4.7%)
08/2007: 34,885 (- 2.1%) 
09/2007: 32,332 (- 7.3%)
10/2007: 31,489 (- 2.6%)
11/2007: 29,427 (- 6.6%)
12/2007: 33,138 (+12.6%)
01/2008: 27,033 (-18.4%)
02/2008: 27,652 (+ 2.3%)
03/2008: 26,423 (- 4.5%)
04/2008: 28,051 (+ 6.1%)
05/2008: 27,075 (- 3.5%)
06/2008: 27,388 (+ 1.2%)
07/2008: 27,436 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.5%
1 year  : -23.0%
2 years : -33.7%
3 years : -24.6%
4 years : -10.2%
5 years : + 5.6%

DC UNIVERSE
07/2003: 31,686
07/2004: 34,975
07/2005: 45,385
07/2006: 51,714
---------------
07/2007: 49,149 (+ 2.4%)
08/2007: 46,717 (- 5.0%)
09/2007: 42,894 (- 8.2%)
10/2007: 39,409 (- 8.1%)
11/2007: 37,257 (- 5.5%)
12/2007: 40,074 (+ 7.6%)
01/2008: 33,654 (-16.0%)
02/2008: 35,994 (+ 7.0%)
03/2008: 33,151 (- 7.9%)
04/2008: 35,452 (+ 6.9%)
05/2008: 35,230 (- 0.6%)
06/2008: 35,831 (+ 1.7%)
07/2008: 35,553 (- 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 5.6%
1 year  : -27.7%
2 years : -31.3%
3 years : -21.7%
4 years : + 1.7%
5 years : +12.2%

VERTIGO
07/2003: 15,720
07/2004: 18,107
07/2005: 16,641
07/2006: 16,684
---------------
07/2007: 12,193 (- 4.2%)
08/2007: 10,817 (-11.3%)
09/2007: 11,806 (+ 9.1%)
10/2007: 10,678 (- 9.6%)
11/2007: 10,946 (+ 2.5%)
12/2007: 11,035 (+ 0.8%)
01/2008: 10,115 (- 8.3%)
02/2008: 10,885 (+ 7.6%)
03/2008: 10,484 (- 3.7%)
04/2008: 10,550 (+ 0.6%)
05/2008: 10,418 (- 1.3%)
06/2008: 10,491 (+ 0.7%)
07/2008: 10,821 (+ 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.0%
1 year  : -11.3%
2 years : -35.1%
3 years : -35.0%
4 years : -40.2%
5 years : -31.2%

WILDSTORM
07/2003: 16,911
07/2004: 17,670
07/2005: 15,134
07/2006: 12,778
---------------
07/2007: 11,234 (- 8.5%)
08/2007: 10,744 (- 4.4%)
09/2007: 11,379 (+ 5.9%)
10/2007: 11,960 (+ 5.1%)
11/2007: 15,109 (+26.3%)
12/2007: 15,601 (+ 3.3%)
01/2008: 14,033 (-10.1%)
02/2008: 13,155 (- 6.3%)
03/2008: 12,842 (- 2.4%)
04/2008: 12,156 (- 5.3%)
05/2008:  9,812 (-19.3%)
06/2008:  9,806 (- 0.1%)
07/2008:  9,875 (+ 0.7%)
----------------
6 months: -29.6%
1 year  : -12.1%
2 years : -22.7%
3 years : -34.8%
4 years : -44.1%
5 years : -41.6%

—–
OTHER PUBLISHERS

10 - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Dark Horse Comics)
07/2001: Buffy #35 --  16,580*
07/2002: Buffy #47 --  16,264*
07/2003: Buffy #59 --  14,777
-----------------------------
07/2007: Buffy #5  -- 100,830 (- 2.0%) [109,322]
08/2007: --
09/2007: Buffy #6  --  96,556 (- 4.2%) [107,551]
10/2007: Buffy #7  --  94,144 (- 2.4%) [101,979]
11/2007: Buffy #8  --  91,595 (- 2.7%) [ 96,975]
12/2007: Buffy #9  --  89,556 (- 2.2%)
01/2008: Buffy #10 --  88,474 (- 1.2%)
02/2008: Buffy #11 --  88,070 (- 0.5%)
03/2008: Buffy #12 --  88,930 (+ 1.0%)
04/2008: Buffy #13 --  83,580 (- 6.0%)
05/2008: Buffy #14 --  82,069 (- 1.8%)
06/2008: Buffy #15 --  80,464 (- 2.0%)
07/2008: Buffy #16 --  82,031 (+ 2.0%)
-----------------
6 months: -  7.3%
1 year  : - 18.6%
5 years : +455.1%

The good news for Buffy so far has been that the absence of Joss Whedon’s name in the credits hasn’t had much of an impact on the book’s numbers. The bad news for Buffy in July is that the return of Whedon’s name in the credits doesn’t have much of an impact on the book’s sales, either.

Given that the title is still doing very well – it’s the best-selling non-Big-Two Top 300 comic by almost 40,000 units – that’s bad news Dark Horse can live with, though, I presume.

As usual, Buffy the Vampire Slayer sales were boosted through a variant-cover edition in July.

—–

51 - ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL (IDW)
11/2007: After the Fall #1      -- 47,563 (+648.9%) [74,342]
12/2007: After the Fall #2      -- 44,792 (-  5.8%) [56,396]
01/2008: After the Fall #3      -- 46,013 (+  2.7%) [50,175]
02/2008: After the Fall #4      -- 48,407 (+  5.2%) [57,555]
03/2008: After the Fall #5      -- 49,558 (+  2.4%) 
04/2008: After the Fall #6      -- 46,645 (-  5.9%) [51,044]
05/2008: After the Fall #7      -- 45,430 (-  2.6%)
06/2008: After the Fall #8      -- 47,888 (+  5.4%)
06/2008: After the Fall #9      -- 47,081 (-  1.7%)
07/2008: After the Fall #10     -- 43,024 (-  8.6%)
-----------------
6 months: -  6.5%

59 - SPIKE: AFTER THE FALL (IDW)
07/2008: Spike: After the Fall #1 of 4 -- 36,874

Incidentally, Whedon went for the hat trick in July, delivering the direct market’s three best-selling books not by Marvel or DC.

Angel: After the Fall appears to be losing steam, but that’s relative if you consider that its first-month numbers haven’t even dropped by 5,000 units since it launched in November. And its spin-off Spike debuts with respectable numbers as well.

As you may have guessed, both books were promoted with a truckload of variant-cover editions, as usual.

—–

76 - CONAN (Dark Horse Comics)
07/2004: Conan #6                -- 48,339 [49,575]
07/2005: Conan #18               -- 36,323
07/2006: Conan #30               -- 31,095
------------------------------------------
07/2007: Conan #42               -- 24,288 (- 1.8%)
08/2007: Conan #43               -- 23,843 (- 1.8%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: Conan #44               -- 23,632 (- 0.9%)
10/2007: Conan #45               -- 23,504 (- 0.5%)
11/2007: Conan #46               -- 22,937 (- 2.4%)
12/2007: Conan #47               -- 22,140 (- 3.5%)
01/2008: Conan #48               -- 21,850 (- 1.3%)
02/2008: Conan #49               -- 21,690 (- 0.7%)
03/2008: --
04/2008: --
05/2008: Conan #50               -- 22,542 (+ 3.9%)
06/2008: Conan the Cimmerian #0  -- ?
07/2008: Conan the Cimmerian #1  -- 31,296 (+38.8%)
----------------
6 months: +43.2%
1 year  : +28.9%
2 years : + 0.7%

We don’t know what sales of June’s 99-cent teaser were like, but Dark Horse’s Conan relaunch seems off to a good start. The creative team is the same as on the previous series, so a 40% increase isn’t bad at all, I’d say.

There was a variant-cover edition for this one, as well.

—–

78 - PROJECT: SUPERPOWERS (Dynamite Entertainment)
02/2008: Project: Superpowers #1 of 6 -- 53,755
03/2008: --
04/2008: Project: Superpowers #2 of 7 -- 41,623 (-22.6%)
05/2008: Project: Superpowers #3 of 7 -- 36,884 (-11.4%)
06/2008: Project: Superpowers #4 of 7 -- 33,124 (-10.2%)
07/2008: Project: Superpowers #5 of 7 -- 30,555 (- 7.8%)

Retailers are still slashing their orders on Project: Superpowers, indicating that you probably won’t have much of a hard time finding issue #1. As always, many, many variant-cover editions were offered by the publisher so as to give sales a nudge.

—–

88 - STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse Comics)
07/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #2  -- 33,298
----------------------------------------
07/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #14 -- 31,652 (-1.6%)
08/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #15 -- 31,539 (-0.4%)
09/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #16 -- 31,240 (-1.0%)
10/2007: -- 
11/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #17 -- 31,197 (-0.1%)
12/2007: -- 
01/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #18 -- 31,038 (-0.5%)
02/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #19 -- 30,953 (-0.3%)
02/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #20 -- 29,896 (-3.4%)
03/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #21 -- 30,228 (+1.1%)
04/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #22 -- 30,205 (-0.1%)
05/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #23 -- 30,355 (+0.5%)
05/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #24 -- 29,601 (-2.5%)
06/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #25 -- 29,548 (-0.2%)
07/2008: Star Wars: Legacy #26 -- 29,123 (-1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.2%
1 year  : - 8.0%
2 years : -12.5%

Gently declining.

—–

89 - HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN (Dark Horse Comics)
07/2001: Conqueror Worm #3 of 4 -- 21,539*
07/2002: Third Wish #1 of 2     -- 24,075*
07/2005: The Island #2 of 2     -- 28,844
07/2007: Darkness Calls #4 of 6 -- 25,210
-----------------------------------------
07/2008: Crooked Man #1 of 3    -- 29,083 (+19.7%)
----------------
1 year  : +15.4%

It’s safe to say that Hellboy is firmly aimed at the book market, at this stage, but it continues to be a strong, consistent presence in the periodical market, as well.

—–

94 - 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
-----------------------------------
07/2007: Walking Dead #39 -- 22,487 (+ 1.3%)
08/2007: Walking Dead #40 -- 22,989 (+ 2.2%)
08/2007: Walking Dead #41 -- 22,681 (- 1.3%)
09/2007: Walking Dead #42 -- 23,107 (+ 1.9%)
10/2007: Walking Dead #43 -- 22,737 (- 1.6%)
11/2007: Walking Dead #43 -- 22,569 (- 0.7%)
12/2007: Walking Dead #45 -- 22,674 (+ 0.5%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Walking Dead #46 -- 22,870 (+ 0.9%)
03/2008: Walking Dead #47 -- 22,612 (- 1.1%)
04/2008: Walking Dead #48 -- 22,465 (- 0.7%)
05/2008: Walking Dead #49 -- 23,102 (+ 2.8%)
06/2008: --
07/2008: Walking Dead #50 -- 27,691 (+19.9%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 23.1%
2 years : + 35.8%

The “anniversary” number gets The Walking Dead its highest first-month sales yet. Back in May, a special edition of The Walking Dead #1 sold another 9,412 units, meanwhile – more than 2,000 more than it shifted the first time around.

—–

95 - THE BOYS (Dynamite Entertainment)
07/2007: --
08/2007: The Boys #9  -- 32,570 (+ 6.3%)
09/2007: The Boys #10 -- 32,077 (- 1.5%)
10/2007: The Boys #11 -- 30,852 (- 3.8%)
11/2007: The Boys #12 -- 29,754 (- 3.6%)
12/2007: The Boys #13 -- 29,195 (- 1.9%)
01/2008: The Boys #14 -- 28,559 (- 2.2%)
02/2008: The Boys #15 -- 28,347 (- 0.7%)
03/2008: The Boys #16 -- 27,886 (- 1.6%)
04/2008: The Boys #17 -- 28,057 (+ 0.6%)
05/2008: The Boys #18 -- 27,951 (- 0.4%)
06/2008: The Boys #19 -- 27,576 (- 1.3%)
07/2008: The Boys #20 -- 27,571 (- 0.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.5%
1 year  :   n.a.

There was a convention variant-cover edition of The Boys #20, but I’m not sure if those are counted in the figure we see here.

These are rock-solid numbers, at any rate.

—–
Disclaimers, et cetera

The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors. ICv2.com’s estimates are traditionally known to be somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it’s a “month-to-month” column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month. The estimates from March 2001 to February 2003 (marked with an asterisk) were for initial orders rather than actual sales, so they’re only roughly compatible with the subsequent figures.

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

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

Titles released under the Johnny DC imprint and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct-market sales don’t tell us much about their performance. For most Vertigo and some WildStorm titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well. To learn (a little) more about Vertigo’s collection sales, go right here.

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