by Marc-Oliver Frisch

For DC Comics, March was another slack month in the periodical business. More than ten ongoing titles were slated for cancellation across the publisher’s various lines, and numerous finite projects were in their final stages, with new ones waiting around the corner to replace them over the next several months. There were no major new releases in the DC Universe line of mainstream superhero titles in March, but DC suffered from late books again. With Action Comics, Batman and Justice Society of America, three of the company’s major titles failed to come out. The fact that sales of both the average DC Comics periodical and the average DC Universe periodical were the lowest they’d been in more than three years didn’t come as a great surprise, consequently. Over a five-year period, though, both averages remain slightly up.

At the publisher’s Vertigo imprint, which accounts for four of the ten titles due to be cancelled, writer/artist David Lapham’s ongoing series Young Liars debuted, while the WildStorm sublabel had the launch of two miniseries belonging to its troubled WildStorm Universe line of superhero titles. The average periodical sales of both imprints display massive losses in the neighborhood of 30 percent over the past five years. In response, Vertigo appears to be focusing more strongly on original graphic novels in the future, while more licensed and creator-owned projects are in the pipeline at WildStorm. 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.

—–

7 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
03/2001: JLA #52            --  67,382*
03/2002: JLA #64            --  61,871*
03/2003: JLA #79            --  61,589
03/2004: JLA #94            --  76,134 [77,822]
03/2004: JLA #95            --  69,898 [73,620]
03/2005: JLA #112           --  64,790
--------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -26.8%
1 year  : -32.8%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : +42.0%

The last two issues tied in with the Salvation Run miniseries that was announced as a major event last summer. Given that Salvation Run failed to deliver commercially, it’s not much of a surprise that there’s no discernible effect on Justice League sales.

Historically, these numbers are still sound, however, despite the recent decline since novelist Brad Meltzer ended his run back in August.

—–

15 - ALL STAR SUPERMAN
03/2006: All Star Superman #3  -- 110,585 [116,599]
-----------------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: --
09/2007: --
10/2007: --
11/2007: All Star Superman #9  --  78,706 (- 5.6%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: --
02/2008: --
03/2008: All Star Superman #10 --  73,574 (- 6.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -33.5%

The numbers aren’t bottoming out. At this stage, though, it’s unlikely that anyone’s losing sleep over it. All Star Superman has received critical praise from all kinds of outlets, and its various collected editions are probably going to be strong sellers for years to come.

As far as the periodical is concerned, I’d be surprised if the book continued after Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely have completed their twelve-issue run. The All Star label’s worth as a brand is nil, at best, and if DC find a comparably popular creative team, they’re probably better off starting fresh with a new title.

—–

17/23 - GREEN LANTERN
03/2001: Green Lantern #136 --  32,634*
03/2002: Green Lantern #148 --  33,452*
03/2003: Green Lantern #160 --  37,083 
03/2003: Green Lantern #161 --  36,596
03/2004: Green Lantern #175 --  29,780 [30,730]
03/2005: --
03/2006: Green Lantern #10  --  79,745 [87,143]
--------------------------------------
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%) [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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.9%
1 year  : + 9.2%
2 years : -15.6%
5 years : +82.7%

Sales are back in a slow decline. The next crossover is already on the horizon, though.

The slight increase for issue #28 is probably due to the fact that it shipped in the first week of March, which means that three weeks worth of reorders that normally wouldn’t have registered are included in the number – issue #27, by comparison, shipped in the last week of January.

—–

18/19/20/21 - COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS
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%)
08/2007: Countdown #39       -- 88,021 (+22.1%)
08/2007: Countdown #38       -- 87,260 (- 0.9%)
08/2007: Countdown #37       -- 86,405 (- 1.0%)
08/2007: Countdown #36       -- 85,536 (- 1.0%)
08/2007: Countdown #35       -- 84,350 (- 1.4%)
09/2007: Countdown #34       -- 82,537 (- 2.2%)
09/2007: Countdown #33       -- 81,744 (- 1.0%)
09/2007: Countdown #32       -- 81,097 (- 0.8%)
09/2007: Countdown #31       -- 80,127 (- 1.2%)
10/2007: Countdown #30       -- 78,222 (- 2.4%)
10/2007: Countdown #29       -- 77,755 (- 0.6%)
10/2007: Countdown #28       -- 77,003 (- 1.0%)
10/2007: Countdown #27       -- 76,401 (- 0.8%)
10/2007: Countdown to FC #26 -- 75,514 (- 1.2%)
11/2007: Countdown to FC #25 -- 74,668 (- 1.1%)
11/2007: Countdown to FC #24 -- 74,047 (- 0.8%)
11/2007: Countdown to FC #23 -- 73,241 (- 1.1%)
11/2007: Countdown to FC #22 -- 72,765 (- 0.7%)
12/2007: Countdown to FC #21 -- 71,524 (- 1.7%)
12/2007: Countdown to FC #20 -- 71,331 (- 0.3%)
12/2007: Countdown to FC #19 -- 70,805 (- 0.7%)
12/2007: Countdown to FC #18 -- 70,619 (- 0.3%)
01/2008: Countdown to FC #17 -- 69,587 (- 1.5%)
01/2008: Countdown to FC #16 -- 69,629 (+ 0.1%)
01/2008: Countdown to FC #15 -- 69,504 (- 0.2%)
01/2008: Countdown to FC #14 -- 68,770 (- 1.1%)
01/2008: Countdown to FC #13 -- 68,099 (- 1.0%)
02/2008: Countdown to FC #12 -- 68,249 (+ 0.2%)
02/2008: Countdown to FC #11 -- 67,833 (- 0.6%)
02/2008: Countdown to FC #10 -- 67,792 (- 0.1%)
02/2008: Countdown to FC #9  -- 67,383 (- 0.6%)
03/2008: Countdown to FC #8  -- 68,038 (+ 1.0%)
03/2008: Countdown to FC #7  -- 68,019 (- 0.0%)
03/2008: Countdown to FC #6  -- 67,895 (- 0.2%)
03/2008: Countdown to FC #5  -- 67,688 (- 0.3%)
----------------
6 months: -16.6%

Despite its failure as a pacemaker for the DC Universe line, Countdown sales remain remarkably stable. For the last four issues, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a small increase.

—–

32 - DETECTIVE COMICS
03/2001: Detective Comics #756 -- 43,963*
03/2002: Detective Comics #768 -- 41,277*
03/2003: Detective Comics #780 -- 39,085
03/2004: Detective Comics #792 -- 34,899
03/2005: Detective Comics #804 -- 39,388
03/2006: Detective Comics #817 -- 62,245 [70,241]
----------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.1%
1 year  : - 6.2%
2 years : -20.6%
5 years : +26.5%

Sales continue their slight decline. The March issue was another one by a fill-in writer.

—–

34 - TEEN TITANS
03/2001: Young Justice #31 -- 24,556*
03/2002: Young Justice #43 -- 24,128*
03/2003: Young Justice #55 -- 24,033
03/2004: Teen Titans #9    -- 69,056
03/2005: Teen Titans #22   -- 67,780
03/2006: Teen Titans #33   -- 67,208
------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 15.1%
1 year  : - 20.2%
2 years : - 26.9%
5 years : +104.3%

Teen Titans continues its slow sales decline. The five-year comparison is with its predecessor Young Justice.

—–

36 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL
03/2008: Superman/Batman Annual #2  -- 46,899

This special’s numbers are just slightly below those of the regular series (which was on a scheduled skip month in March), so they’re perfectly good.

—–

37 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 of 5   -- 60,123
------------------------------------------
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%) [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%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +36.6%
2 years : -22.3%

The book’s sales are still significantly up what it used to shift a year ago. Beginning with the “Sinestro Corps War” crossover last July, Green Lantern Corps has quite successfully managed to draft behind Green Lantern proper.

—–

39 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER SPECIAL
03/2008: New Frontier Special -- 43,247

Back in 2004, the original DC: The New Frontier limited series sold in the area between 30,000 and 25,000 units, so this is quite a step up. Now, on the one hand, you could argue that the increase is all the more impressive considering that this one-shot is more like a collection of “deleted scenes” than a sequel. But then again, it’s also been absorbed by the Justice League franchise now and is released as a tie-in with an animated film based on the miniseries, so perhaps a little boost was to be expected. Either way, these are decent numbers for a $ 4.99 one-shot.

—–

40 - SUPERMAN
03/2001: Superman #168 --  44,411*
03/2002: Superman #180 --  39,123*
03/2003: Superman #191 --  34,000
03/2004: Superman #203 --  83,096
03/2005: Superman #214 -- 100,943
03/2006: Superman #650 --  65,603 [77,783]
---------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.2%
1 year  : -27.0%
2 years : -36.4%
5 years : +22.7%

Superman sales have been erratic over the last six months, and March is no exception. If I had to guess, I’d say the marginal increase is due to the fact the original solicitation copy for issue #674 announced the introduction of a character from the Smallville TV show – a plot point which ended up not making it into the comic for some reason.

Be that as it may, next issue is a double-sized special, the one after a fill-in whose contents have been swapped since it was first solicited, and issue #677 is the first by a new regular writer, so don’t expect the numbers to stabilize any time soon.

—–

44 - WONDER WOMAN
03/2001: Wonder Woman #168 --  25,309*
03/2002: Wonder Woman #179 --  27,506*
03/2003: Wonder Woman #190 --  25,615 [27,851]
03/2004: Wonder Woman #202 --  28,646
03/2005: Wonder Woman #214 --  30,473
-------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -35.7%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +59.2%

Sales are still declining a little too fast for comfort. Historically, Wonder Woman is still doing quite well, of course. Considering the fact that the current run launched with numbers well above 100k, though, it’s certainly done a miserable job of clinging on to its readers over the last couple of years. The big question is whether that’s anyone’s fault in particular, or whether the character simply doesn’t support a larger audience.

—–

48 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -41.3%

Now that penciler George Pérez has moved on, the numbers seem to be bottoming out, ironically, although I really doubt there’s a connection. It appears more likely that we’re simply getting closer to the baseline audience for “Mark Waid writing DC characters.”

—–

49 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS
03/2004: Outsiders #10     -- 43,511 [44,555]
03/2005: Outsiders #22     -- 38,886 [41,716]
03/2006: Outsiders #34     -- 47,286 [51,527]
------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.7%
1 year  : +13.0%
2 years : -22.2%

These numbers are still a little ahead of the book’s previous incarnation, but not much. If the relaunch was meant to permanently raise the profile, it’s failed.

—–

50 - 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%)
----------------
6 months: -23.3%

The increase from February’s pseudo-crossover disappears again, but Booster Gold is continuing to do quite well, all told.

—–

53 - THE FLASH
03/2001: Flash #172     --  26,891*
03/2002: Flash #184     --  26,939*
03/2003: Flash #196     --  28,577
03/2004: Flash #208     --  42,386 [44,679]
03/2005: Flash #220     --  46,851 [48,659]
----------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: Flash #231     --  72,898 (-  7.7%)
09/2007: Flash #232     --  56,969 (- 21.9%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -37.5%
1 year  : -22.8%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : +24.6%

To nobody’s surprise, the arrival of another supposedly regular writer doesn’t impress retailers. In retrospect, DC should probably have cancelled the book last summer to relaunch it after Final Crisis. Right now, things are looking bleak. There’s no end in sight for the rapid sales decline, and any major change in direction will automatically have to face an uphill struggle, because it would be the third one in as many years. In other words, anything they’re going to do to raise the book’s profile is going to look a bit desperate, at this stage, and that’s not the best basis for a healthy franchise.

—–

54 - TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE
01/2008: Teen Titans: Year One #1 of 6 -- 43,057
02/2008: Teen Titans: Year One #2 of 6 -- 35,761 (-17.0%)
03/2008: Teen Titans: Year One #3 of 6 -- 33,125 (- 7.4%)

An average limited series decline.

—–

56 - GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY
03/2001: Green Arrow #2   -- 65,972*
03/2002: Green Arrow #13  -- 72,638*
03/2003: Green Arrow #22  -- 51,744
03/2004: Green Arrow #36  -- 34,707
03/2005: Green Arrow #48  -- 31,668
03/2006: Green Arrow #60  -- 37,946 [43,045]
-----------------------------------
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%) [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%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.6%
1 year  : + 4.7%
2 years : -14.0%
5 years : -37.0%

As expected, Green Arrow/Black Canary sees another stiff drop now that there are no more variant cover editions to artificially boost the numbers. Sales are almost back where they were a year ago now, and the book has yet to find its level. In terms of relaunches, this is another one that’s looking rather shaky.

—–

57 - SUPERGIRL
03/2001: Supergirl #56 --  20,103*
03/2002: Supergirl #68 --  19,547*
03/2003: Supergirl #80 --  28,536 [30,404]
03/2006: --
---------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -27.0%
1 year  : -36.2%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : +14.2%

This book’s been in a free-fall from the moment the original creative team left back in 2006, with no signs of bottoming out. Given that the first six issues sold beyond the 100k mark, that’s quite a spectacular decline.

—–

58 - TANGENT: SUPERMAN'S REIGN
03/2008: Tangent #1 of 12 -- 32,378

That’s a rather modest number. For an esoteric series based on a bunch of one-shots from 1997, though, it doesn’t come unexpected.

—–

63 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
03/2002: Legion #6            -- 24,603*
03/2003: Legion #18           -- 23,180
03/2004: Legion #31           -- 24,870
03/2005: Legion of SH #4      -- 41,756 [43,408]
03/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #16 -- 47,426 [54,788]
---------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.4%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -36.0%
5 years : +31.1%

After the bizarre boost for issue #37, the numbers are now back where the previous regular creative team left off. It looks like retailers really went overboard with their orders for writer Jim Shooter’s debut issue.

—–

64 - NIGHTWING
03/2001: Nightwing #55  -- 34,988*
03/2002: Nightwing #67  -- 33,553*
03/2003: Nightwing #79 --  29,713
03/2004: Nightwing #91  -- 29,330
03/2005: Nightwing #105 -- 38,958
03/2005: Nightwing #106 -- 38,772
03/2006: Nightwing #118 -- 42,525 [51,775]
---------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.4%
1 year  : - 4.8%
2 years : -28.9%
5 years : + 1.8%

Sales are bottoming out in the book’s usual orbit around 30,000 units.

—–

66 - DEATH OF THE NEW GODS
10/2007: Death of the New Gods #1 of 8 -- 46,670
10/2007: Death of the New Gods #2 of 8 -- 35,681 (-23.6%)
11/2007: Death of the New Gods #3 of 8 -- 32,655 (- 8.5%)
12/2007: Death of the New Gods #4 of 8 -- 31,914 (- 2.3%)
01/2008: Death of the New Gods #5 of 8 -- 30,996 (- 2.9%)
02/2008: Death of the New Gods #6 of 8 -- 30,482 (- 1.7%)
03/2008: Death of the New Gods #7 of 8 -- 29,863 (- 2.0%)

Holding up nicely with its last few issues. The book remains the top-selling of the various Countdown spin-offs.

—–

72 - 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%)

World of WarCraft isn’t finding its level quite yet, but remains WildStorm’s bestselling periodical by 10,000 units. As usual, the book was promoted with a variant cover edition. In the light of these sales, it’s not surprising that they’ve got more adaptations of successful franchises from other entertainment media coming up.

—–

73 - ROBIN
03/2001: Robin #88  -- 26,138*
03/2002: Robin #100 -- 31,188*
03/2003: Robin #112 -- 23,113
03/2004: Robin #124 -- 29,096
03/2005: Robin #136 -- 31,645
03/2006: Robin #148 -- 36,717 [42,442]
-----------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 8.2%
1 year  : - 2.7%
2 years : -26.7%
5 years : +16.4%

Bottoming out around 26k, apparently.

—–

77 - SALVATION RUN
11/2007: Salvation Run #1 of 7 -- 40,531
12/2007: Salvation Run #2 of 7 -- 28,938 (-28.6%)
01/2008: Salvation Run #3 of 7 -- 26,828 (- 7.3%)
02/2008: Salvation Run #4 of 7 -- 25,899 (- 3.5%)
03/2008: Salvation Run #5 of 7 -- 25,790 (- 0.4%)

Well, at least the numbers are stabilizing.

—–

78/81 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.0%
1 year  : -36.0%

Declining, as usual.

—–

79 - DC SPECIAL: RAVEN
03/2008: Raven #1 of 5 -- 24,535

That’s a predictably poor number for a Teen Titans spin-off, given that the mother title itself has been in a rather stiff decline over the past year. Nonetheless, a second ongoing title debuted in April, with two more spin-off limited series following in May and September. Someone at DC thinks we need more Teen Titans comics.

—–

80/86 - COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE
08/2007: Countdown to Adventure #1 of 8 -- 42,883
09/2007: Countdown to Adventure #2 of 8 -- 34,561 (-19.4%)
10/2007: Countdown to Adventure #3 of 8 -- 31,018 (-10.3%)
11/2007: Countdown to Adventure #4 of 8 -- 28,633 (- 7.7%)
12/2007: Countdown to Adventure #5 of 8 -- 27,443 (- 4.2%)
01/2008: Countdown to Adventure #6 of 8 -- 25,243 (- 8.0%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: Countdown to Adventure #7 of 8 -- 24,292 (- 3.8%)
03/2008: Countdown to Adventure #8 of 8 -- 22,958 (- 5.5%)
----------------
6 months: -31.6%

Another Countdown spin-off with mediocre numbers.

—–

82 - FABLES (Vertigo)
03/2003: Fables #11 -- 24,857
03/2004: Fables #23 -- 25,211
03/2005: Fables #35 -- 24,469
03/2006: Fables #47 -- 24,278
-----------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.2%
1 year  : - 7.9%
2 years : - 1.1%
5 years : - 3.4%

Rock-solid sales, as usual.

—–

84 - GOTHAM UNDERGROUND
10/2007: Gotham Underground #1 of 9 -- 31,003
11/2007: Gotham Underground #2 of 9 -- 26,537 (-14.4%)
12/2007: Gotham Underground #3 of 9 -- 25,386 (- 4.3%)
01/2008: Gotham Underground #4 of 9 -- 24,737 (- 2.6%)
02/2008: Gotham Underground #5 of 9 -- 24,098 (- 2.6%)
03/2008: Gotham Underground #6 of 9 -- 23,773 (- 1.4%)

This Countdown spin-off continues to bottom out.

—–

87 - BIRDS OF PREY
03/2001: Birds of Prey #29  -- 23,976*
03/2002: Birds of Prey #41  -- 33,250*
03/2003: Birds of Prey #53  -- 24,614
03/2004: Birds of Prey #65  -- 30,505
03/2005: Birds of Prey #80  -- 29,964
03/2006: Birds of Prey #92  -- 36,808
-------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -16.7%
1 year  : -20.5%
2 years : -38.5%
5 years : - 8.1%

Declining. A new writer is waiting to take over with issue #118. Considering it’s the same one who handled the recent fill-in arc, the creative change probably won’t have much of an effect on sales, though.

—–

91 - COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY
09/2007: Countdown to Mystery #1 of 8 -- 37,235
10/2007: Countdown to Mystery #2 of 8 -- 29,664 (-20.3%)
11/2007: Countdown to Mystery #3 of 8 -- 27,428 (- 7.5%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: Countdown to Mystery #4 of 8 -- 25,782 (- 6.0%)
01/2008: Countdown to Mystery #5 of 8 -- 22,979 (-10.9%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: Countdown to Mystery #6 of 8 -- 21,648 (- 5.8%)
----------------
6 months: -41.9%

Another Countdown spin-off with rapidly declining numbers.

—–

97 - SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL
03/2007: Superman Confidential #4  -- 36,779 (-11.1%)
04/2007: --
05/2007: --
06/2007: --
07/2007: Superman Confidential #5  -- 35,180 (- 4.4%)
08/2007: --
09/2007: Superman Confidential #6  -- 31,152 (-11.5%)
10/2007: Superman Confidential #7  -- 29,228 (- 6.2%)
10/2007: Superman Confidential #8  -- 26,535 (- 9.2%)
11/2007: Superman Confidential #9  -- 24,841 (- 6.4%)
12/2007: Superman Confidential #10 -- 23,172 (- 6.7%)
01/2008: Superman Confidential #11 -- 22,556 (- 2.7%)
02/2008: Superman Confidential #12 -- 21,015 (- 6.8%)
03/2008: Superman Confidential #13 -- 20,427 (- 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: -34.4%
1 year  : -44.5%

Declining.

—–

101 - CATWOMAN
03/2001: Catwoman #92 -- 23,251*
03/2002: Catwoman #5  -- 32,587*
03/2003: Catwoman #17 -- 23,532
03/2004: Catwoman #29 -- 23,811
03/2005: Catwoman #41 -- 22,029
03/2006: Catwoman #53 -- 28,473 [34,428]
-------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.5%
1 year  : - 8.1%
2 years : -34.6%
5 years : -20.9%

Cancelled with issue #82. For a character as prominent as Catwoman, these numbers are unacceptable, it appears.

—–

102/105 - COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS
10/2007: CP: Lord Havok #1 of 6 -- 29,423
11/2007: CP: Lord Havok #2 of 6 -- 24,196 (-17.8%)
12/2007: --
01/2008: CP: Lord Havok #3 of 6 -- 22,646 (- 6.4%)
01/2008: CP: Lord Havok #4 of 6 -- 19,683 (-13.1%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: CP: Lord Havok #5 of 6 -- 18,559 (- 5.7%)
03/2008: CP: Lord Havok #6 of 6 -- 17,368 (- 6.4%)

You know the drill. Countdown spin-off, bad numbers, nothing to see.

—–

103 - JLA: CLASSIFIED
03/2005: JLA: Classified #5  -- 51,390
03/2006: JLA: Classified #18 -- 35,873
03/2006: JLA: Classified #19 -- 35,300
--------------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: JLA: Classified #41 -- 21,134 (- 1.6%)
09/2007: JLA: Classified #42 -- 20,014 (- 5.3%)
09/2007: JLA: Classified #43 -- 19,742 (- 1.4%)
10/2007: JLA: Classified #44 -- 19,217 (- 2.7%)
10/2007: JLA: Classified #45 -- 18,818 (- 2.1%)
11/2007: JLA: Classified #46 -- 18,078 (- 3.9%)
11/2007: JLA: Classified #47 -- 17,832 (- 1.4%)
12/2007: JLA: Classified #48 -- 17,391 (- 2.5%)
12/2007: JLA: Classified #49 -- 17,114 (- 1.6%)
01/2008: JLA: Classified #50 -- 19,773 (+15.5%)
01/2008: JLA: Classified #51 -- 18,852 (- 4.7%)
02/2008: JLA: Classified #52 -- 18,662 (- 1.0%)
02/2008: JLA: Classified #53 -- 17,986 (- 3.6%)
03/2008: JLA: Classified #54 -- 18,529 (+ 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.8%
1 year  : -15.0%
2 years : -47.9%

Roger Stern and John Byrne turn off the light on JLA: Classified with a modest increase.

—–

106 - FREDDY VS. JASON VS. ASH (WildStorm)
11/2007: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #1 of 6 -- 23,306          [27,515]
11/2007: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #2 of 6 -- 15,291 (-34.4%)
12/2007: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #3 of 6 -- 15,348 (+ 0.4%) 
01/2008: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #4 of 6 -- 17,170 (+11.9%)
02/2008: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #5 of 6 -- 17,120 (- 0.3%)
03/2008: Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash #6 of 6 -- 17,096 (- 0.1%)

The second-bestselling WildStorm book in March has outsold the imprint’s other recent horror film adaptations by about 10,000 units. These are good numbers.

—–

107 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
03/2007: --
04/2007: Jack of Fables #9  -- 20,273 (+ 1.1%)
05/2007: Jack of Fables #10 -- 19,982 (- 1.4%)
06/2007: Jack of Fables #11 -- 19,797 (- 0.9%)
06/2007: Jack of Fables #12 -- 19,337 (- 2.3%)
07/2007: --
08/2007: Jack of Fables #13 -- 19,187 (- 0.8%)
09/2007: Jack of Fables #14 -- 18,728 (- 2.4%)
10/2007: Jack of Fables #15 -- 18,329 (- 2.1%)
10/2007: Jack of Fables #16 -- 17,743 (- 3.2%)
11/2007: Jack of Fables #17 -- 17,456 (- 1.6%)
12/2007: Jack of Fables #18 -- 17,242 (- 1.2%)
01/2008: Jack of Fables #19 -- 16,886 (- 2.1%)
02/2008: Jack of Fables #20 -- 16,650 (- 1.4%)
03/2008: Jack of Fables #21 -- 16,597 (- 0.3%)
----------------
6 months: -11.4%
1 year  :   n.a.

Solid numbers. The two Fables titles are now the only Vertigo periodicals selling above 15,000 units.

—–

111 - CHECKMATE
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.9%
1 year  : -19.7%

A new creative team takes over with issue #26, but these numbers don’t look promising.

—–

112 - JSA: CLASSIFIED
03/2006: JSA: Classified #10 -- 41,332
--------------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: JSA: Classified #29 -- 20,195 (- 2.6%)
09/2007: JSA: Classified #30 -- 19,382 (- 4.0%)
10/2007: JSA: Classified #31 -- 18,585 (- 4.1%)
11/2007: JSA: Classified #32 -- 17,756 (- 4.5%)
12/2007: JSA: Classified #33 -- 17,413 (- 1.9%)
01/2008: JSA: Classified #34 -- 16,852 (- 3.2%)
02/2008: JSA: Classified #35 -- 16,561 (- 1.7%)
03/2008: JSA: Classified #36 -- 16,132 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -16.8%
1 year  : -27.1%
2 years : -61.0%

Cancelled with issue #39.

—–

113 - THE SPIRIT
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -19.7%
1 year  : -34.2%

Well, this doesn’t look good. The Spirit is only nominally a DC Universe title, granted, and there may be a better-than-average chance for the material to sell once it’s been collected. But now that Darwyn Cooke – a cartoonist with a palpable fanbase of his own (with all due respect to the current creative team) – has moved on, it certainly doesn’t look like the world has been waiting for Spirit stories by anyone other than Will Eisner.

—–

116 - SUICIDE SQUAD: RAISE THE FLAG
03/2002: Suicide Squad #7       -- 16,418*
-----------------------------------------
09/2007: Raise the Flag #1 of 8 -- 29,506
10/2007: Raise the Flag #2 of 8 -- 22,774 (-22.8%)
11/2007: Raise the Flag #3 of 8 -- 19,774 (-13.2%)
12/2007: Raise the Flag #4 of 8 -- 18,025 (- 8.9%)
01/2008: Raise the Flag #5 of 8 -- 17,094 (- 5.2%)
02/2008: Raise the Flag #6 of 8 -- 16,152 (- 5.5%)
03/2008: Raise the Flag #7 of 8 -- 15,781 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -46.5%

Horrible numbers.

—–

118 - EX MACHINA (WildStorm)
03/2005: Ex Machina #9  -- 22,352
03/2006: Ex Machina #18 -- 21,081
---------------------------------
03/2007: --
04/2007: Ex Machina #27 -- 18,242 (- 1.8%)
05/2007: Ex Machina #28 -- 18,164 (- 0.4%)
06/2007: Ex Machina #29 -- 17,719 (- 2.5%)
07/2007: --
08/2007: --
09/2007: Ex Machina #30 -- 17,163 (- 3.1%)
10/2007: Ex Machina #31 -- 16,772 (- 2.3%)
11/2007: Ex Machina #32 -- 16,328 (- 2.7%)
12/2007: Ex Machina #33 -- 16,067 (- 1.6%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Ex Machina #34 -- 15,579 (- 3.0%)
03/2008: Ex Machina #35 -- 15,500 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -26.5%

Stabilizing around the 15,000 mark.

—–

121 - SHADOWPACT
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%)
08/2007: Shadowpact #16 -- 19,410 (- 1.4%)
09/2007: Shadowpact #17 -- 18,382 (- 5.3%)
10/2007: Shadowpact #18 -- 17,818 (- 3.1%)
11/2007: Shadowpact #19 -- 17,103 (- 4.0%)
12/2007: Shadowpact #20 -- 16,459 (- 3.8%)
01/2008: Shadowpact #21 -- 16,014 (- 2.7%)
02/2008: Shadowpact #22 -- 15,292 (- 4.5%)
03/2008: Shadowpact #23 -- 14,971 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: -18.6%
1 year  : -29.1%

Cancelled with issue #25.

—–

123 - 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%)

The numbers are bottoming out very slowly.

—–

126 - BLUE BEETLE
03/2006: Blue Beetle #1  -- 50,678 [69,752]
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.1%
1 year  : -19.0%
2 years : -71.8%

The March issue was the last one by series writer John Rogers. After three fill-in stories, a new regular writer will arrive with issue #29.

The most recent Blue Beetle paperback collection shipped with estimated first-month direct-market sales of 1,514. That’s below the most recent collections of Catwoman and The All-New Atom, both of which are cancelled. It may well be that Blue Beetle sells well at mainstream chain stores or that it’s being kept around simply because someone at DC really likes it, mind you. But it still seems worth mentioning that none of the available sales data suggests it’s doing well enough to be safe.

—–

128 - UNCLE SAM & THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
03/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #8 of 8 -- 22,507
04/2007: --
05/2007: --
06/2007: --
07/2007: --
08/2007: --
09/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #1 of 8 -- 23,731 (+ 5.4%)
10/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #2 of 8 -- 19,006 (-19.9%)
11/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #3 of 8 -- 17,157 (- 9.7%)
12/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #4 of 8 -- 15,832 (- 7.7%)
01/2008: Uncle Sam & FF #5 of 8 -- 14,989 (- 5.3%)
02/2008: Uncle Sam & FF #6 of 8 -- 14,126 (- 5.8%)
03/2008: Uncle Sam & FF #7 of 8 -- 13,706 (- 3.0%)
----------------
6 months: -42.2%
1 year  : -39.1%

A standard miniseries decline.

—–

131 - JONAH HEX
03/2006: Jonah Hex #5  -- 23,496
--------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -11.3%
1 year  : -21.3%
2 years : -42.8%

A standard decline. The most recent Jonah Hex paperback collection had estimated first-month direct-market sales of 2,456. That’s not stellar, but it’s better than usual for DC Universe periodicals selling in this area.

—–

133 - THE AUTHORITY: PRIME (WildStorm)
03/2004: The Authority v2 #10 -- 21,943
03/2005: Revolution #6 of 12  -- 20,229
---------------------------------------
03/2007: The Authority v3 #2  -- 39,886 (-31.4%)
04/2007: --
05/2007: --
06/2007: --
07/2007: --
08/2007: --
09/2007: --
10/2007: Prime #1 of 6        -- 21,992 (-44.9%)
11/2007: Prime #2 of 6        -- 17,717 (-19.4%)
12/2007: Prime #3 of 6        -- 16,623 (- 6.2%)
01/2008: Prime #4 of 6        -- 15,058 (- 9.4%)
02/2008: Prime #5 of 6        -- 14,099 (- 6.4%)
03/2008: Prime #6 of 6        -- 13,369 (- 5.2%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -66.5%
2 years :  n.a.

Awful sales, but they apparently won’t prevent WildStorm from relaunching the franchise once again later this year – wait for The Authority: World’s End, by creators with a reputation for solid but unspectacular genre work.

Being charitable, you could call The Authority the franchise that won’t die, but I think it passed that point acouple of years ago. The Dead Franchise That Walks seems more appropriate now.

—–

134 - YOUNG LIARS (Vertigo)
03/2008: Young Liars #1  -- 13,177

The new ongoing series by David Lapham launches in the same area as Scalped and Crossing Midnight. That’s not much of a surprise, and it continues the trend of Vertigo periodicals that are struggling from the word go. The launches lined up for the next few months seem a little more traditional and have creators like Matt Wagner and Bill Willingham in their corner, to be fair, so we may yet see a turnaround.

—–

135 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -24.4%
1 year  : -25.8%

Cancelled with issue #25.

—–

137 - 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%)

The first issue not promoted with a 1-for-10 variant cover edition sees a sharp drop. This strongly suggests that, contrary to a suspicion brought forward by series writer Brian Wood back in December, the sales data on the first three issues supplied by Diamond Comic Distributors did include variant cover edition sales, after all.

This doesn’t mean Wood’s own data is wrong, mind you. But whereas the Diamond data measures first-month sales in the North American direct market, Wood’s sales statements presumably cover total sales – which also includes sales after the first month of release, as well as sales to the United Kingdom. The discrepancy of 1,462 units in the sales for Northlanders #1 reported by Wood in December is easily accounted for by that difference.

—–

141 - SUPER FRIENDS (Johnny DC)
03/2008: Super Friends #1  -- 12,554

A new Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.

—–

142 - GEN13 (WildStorm)
03/2001: Gen13 #63 -- 20,844*
03/2002: Gen13 #75 -- 16,577*
03/2003: Gen13 #7 --  18,028
----------------------------
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%)
08/2007: Gen13 #11 -- 16,955 (- 4.3%)
09/2007: Gen13 #12 -- 16,112 (- 5.0%)
10/2007: Gen13 #13 -- 15,539 (- 3.6%)
11/2007: Gen13 #14 -- 14,831 (- 4.6%)
12/2007: Gen13 #15 -- 14,330 (- 3.4%)
01/2008: Gen13 #16 -- 13,618 (- 5.0%)
02/2008: Gen13 #17 -- 12,844 (- 5.7%)
03/2008: Gen13 #18 -- 12,396 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months: -23.1%
1 year  : -42.0%
5 years : -31.2%

Declining.

—–

144 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
03/2001: Hellblazer #160 -- 17,652*
03/2002: Hellblazer #172 -- 18,144*
03/2003: Hellblazer #182 -- 17,257
03/2004: Hellblazer #194 -- 14,957
03/2005: Hellblazer #206 -- 15,464
03/2006: Hellblazer #218 -- 14,129
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.9%
1 year  : - 9.8%
2 years : -15.7%
5 years : -31.0%

Standard attrition.

—–

148 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
02/2008: Tiny Titans #1  -- 15,238
03/2008: Tiny Titans #2  -- 11,432 (-25.0%)

Another Johnny DC book.

—–

151 - 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%)
----------------
6 months: -66.1%

At least the book is out of the double-digit drops.

—–

154 - THE NEW DYNAMIX (WildStorm)
03/2008: The New Dynamix #1 of 5 -- 11,081
157 - THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AUTHORITY: JACK HAWKSMOOR (WildStorm)
03/2008: Jack Hawksmoor #1 of 6 -- 10,967

Two new WildStorm Universe limited series that are largely ignored by the market.

—–

159 - 100 BULLETS (Vertigo)
03/2001: 100 Bullets #22 -- 14,941*
03/2002: 100 Bullets #34 -- 17,072*
03/2003: 100 Bullets #42 -- 17,487
03/2004: 100 Bullets #49 -- 16,616
03/2005: 100 Bullets #59 -- 14,931
03/2006: 100 Bullets #70 -- 13,591
----------------------------------
03/2007: 100 Bullets #82 -- 12,260 (- 1.6%)
04/2007: --
05/2007: 100 Bullets #83 -- 12,475 (+ 1.8%)
06/2007: 100 Bullets #84 -- 12,148 (- 2.6%)
07/2007: --
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.5%
1 year  : -11.3%
2 years : -20.0%
5 years : -37.8%

Ah, Standard Attrition. Cheers.

—–

160 - THE MIDNIGHTER (WildStorm)
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%)
08/2007: The Midnighter #10 -- 15,654 (- 6.0%)
09/2007: The Midnighter #11 -- 14,349 (- 8.3%)
10/2007: The Midnighter #12 -- 13,741 (- 4.2%)
11/2007: The Midnighter #13 -- 12,996 (- 5.4%)
12/2007: The Midnighter #14 -- 12,358 (- 4.9%)
01/2008: The Midnighter #15 -- 11,929 (- 3.5%)
02/2008: The Midnighter #16 -- 11,309 (- 5.2%)
03/2008: The Midnighter #17 -- 10,854 (- 4.0%)
----------------
6 months: -24.4%
1 year  : -49.4%

Cancelled with issue #20.

—–

162 - DMZ (Vertigo)
03/2006: DMZ #5  -- 14,952
--------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.4%
1 year  : -21.5%
2 years : -31.3%

Slowly declining.

—–

178 - BAT LASH
12/2007: Bat Lash #1 of 6 -- 18,324
01/2008: Bat Lash #2 of 6 -- 12,428 (-32.2%)
02/2008: Bat Lash #3 of 6 -- 10,102 (-18.7%)
03/2008: Bat Lash #4 of 6 --  9,065 (-10.3%)

Horrible numbers.

—–

181 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC)
03/2002: JL Adventures #5  -- 18,821*
03/2003: JL Adventures #17 -- 14,566
03/2004: JL Adventures #29 -- 12,164
03/2005: JL Unlimited #7   -- 12,175
03/2006: JL Unlimited #19  -- 10,534
------------------------------------
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 #34  --  9,328 (+ 1.1%)
07/2007: JL Unlimited #35  --  8,998 (- 3.5%)
08/2007: JL Unlimited #36  --  9,043 (+ 0.5%)
09/2007: JL Unlimited #37  --  8,706 (- 3.7%)
10/2007: JL Unlimited #38  --  8,461 (- 2.8%)
11/2007: JL Unlimited #39  --  8,367 (- 1.1%)
12/2007: JL Unlimited #40  --  8,272 (- 1.1%)
01/2008: JL Unlimited #41  --  8,308 (+ 0.4%)
02/2008: JL Unlimited #42  --  8,144 (- 2.0%)
03/2008: JL Unlimited #43  --  8,659 (+ 6.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.5%
1 year  : - 4.6%
2 years : -17.8%
5 years : -40.6%

A Johnny DC book.

—–

183/185 - WILDSTORM: REVELATIONS (WildStorm)
01/2008: Revelations #1 of 6 -- 11,694
01/2008: Revelations #2 of 6 -- 10,877 (- 7.0%)
02/2008: Revelations #3 of 6 --  9,406 (-13.5%)
02/2008: Revelations #4 of 6 --  9,181 (- 2.4%)
03/2008: Revelations #5 of 6 --  8,481 (- 7.6%)
03/2008: Revelations #6 of 6 --  8,343 (- 1.6%)

If the world ends and nobody notices, did it still happen?

The second phase of the latest big WildStorm Universe revamp draws to a close. The third and final phase, a twice-monthly eight-issue series titled Number of the Beast, started in April.

—–

193 - TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC)
03/2004: Teen Titans Go #5  -- 15,274
03/2005: Teen Titans Go #17 -- 14,046
03/2006: Teen Titans Go #29 -- 11,260
-------------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: Teen Titans Go #46 --  8,427 (- 1.5%)
09/2007: Teen Titans Go #47 --  8,229 (- 2.4%)
10/2007: Teen Titans Go #48 --  7,927 (- 3.7%)
11/2007: Teen Titans Go #49 --  7,699 (- 2.9%)
12/2007: Teen Titans Go #50 --  7,966 (+ 3.5%)
01/2008: Teen Titans Go #51 --  7,602 (- 4.6%)
02/2008: Teen Titans Go #52 --  7,496 (- 1.4%)
03/2008: Teen Titans Go #53 --  7,325 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -11.0%
1 year  : -17.7%
2 years : -35.0%

Another Johnny DC book.

—–

195 - LOVELESS (Vertigo)
03/2006: Loveless #5  -- 16,704
-------------------------------
03/2007: Loveless #16 -- 10,787 (- 2.9%)
04/2007: Loveless #17 -- 10,334 (- 4.2%)
05/2007: --
06/2007: Loveless #18 --  9,906 (- 4.1%)
07/2007: --
08/2007: Loveless #19 --  8,851 (-10.7%)
09/2007: --
10/2007: Loveless #20 --  8,243 (- 6.9%)
11/2007: --
12/2007: Loveless #21 --  7,809 (- 5.3%)
01/2008: --
02/2008: Loveless #22 --  7,210 (- 7.7%)
03/2008: Loveless #23 --  7,038 (- 2.4%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -34.8%
2 years : -57.9%

Cancelled with issue #24.

—–

196 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.8%
1 year  : -26.5%

Any marginal increase is good news in so far as it’s not a drop. Whether or not there’s a genuine upward trend, though, we’re going to find out next month.

—–

203 - COUNTDOWN SPECIAL 80-PAGE GIANT
10/2007: The Flash        -- 16,381
11/2007: Jimmy Olsen      -- 12,106 (-26.1%)
12/2007: The Atom #1 of 2 --  9,404 (-22.3%)
12/2007: The Atom #2 of 2 --  9,005 (- 4.2%)
01/2008: The New Gods     -- 10,157 (+12.8%)
02/2008: OMAC             --  9,447 (- 7.0%)
03/2008: Eclipso          --  6,831 (-27.7%)

The lowest-selling of these reprint specials so far, but still alright for a $ 4.99 collection of old material.

—–

204 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
03/2006: The Exterminators #3  -- 11,678
----------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -15.5%
1 year  : -24.0%
2 years : -42.5%

Cancelled with issue #30.

—–

209 - BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC)
03/2001: Gotham Adventures #36 -- 12,554*
03/2002: Gotham Adventures #48 -- 12,016*
03/2003: Gotham Adventures #60 -- 12,817
03/2004: Batman Adventures #12 -- 12,189
03/2005: Batman Strikes! #7    -- 10,775
03/2006: Batman Strikes! #19   --  8,244
----------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.2%
1 year  : - 7.8%
2 years : -20.6%
5 years : -48.9%
210 - 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%)
06/2007: The LoSH in the 31st Century #3  --  9,252 (-16.8%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -14.0%

Two more Johnny DC books.

—–

215 - 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%)

The book hasn’t officially been cancelled yet as I’m writing this, but I wouldn’t get attached.

—–

216 - THE PROGRAMME (WildStorm)
07/2007: The Programme #1  of 12 -- 14,293
08/2007: The Programme #2  of 12 --  9,412 (-34.2%)
09/2007: The Programme #3  of 12 --  8,545 (- 9.2%)
10/2007: The Programme #4  of 12 --  7,717 (- 9.7%)
11/2007: The Programme #5  of 12 --  7,262 (- 5.9%)
12/2007: The Programme #6  of 12 --  6,856 (- 5.6%)
01/2008: The Programme #7  of 12 --  6,640 (- 3.2%)
02/2008: The Programme #8  of 12 --  6,221 (- 6.3%)
03/2008: The Programme #9  of 12 --  6,020 (- 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: -29.6%

Declining.

—–

236 - CROSSING MIDNIGHT (Vertigo)
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%)
08/2007: Crossing Midnight #10 --  6,142 (- 3.3%)
09/2007: Crossing Midnight #11 --  5,870 (- 4.4%)
10/2007: Crossing Midnight #12 --  5,754 (- 2.0%)
11/2007: Crossing Midnight #13 --  5,519 (- 4.1%)
12/2007: Crossing Midnight #14 --  5,467 (- 0.9%)
01/2008: Crossing Midnight #15 --  5,255 (- 3.9%)
02/2008: Crossing Midnight #16 --  5,348 (+ 1.8%)
03/2008: Crossing Midnight #17 --  5,051 (- 5.6%)
----------------
6 months: -14.0%
1 year  : -29.8%
240 - THE UN-MEN (Vertigo)
08/2007: The Un-Men #1  -- 11,868
09/2007: The Un-Men #2  --  8,758 (-26.2%)
10/2007: The Un-Men #3  --  7,566 (-13.6%)
11/2007: The Un-Men #4  --  6,678 (-11.7%)
12/2007: The Un-Men #5  --  6,094 (- 8.8%)
01/2008: The Un-Men #6  --  5,525 (- 9.3%)
02/2008: The Un-Men #7  --  4,925 (-10.9%)
03/2008: The Un-Men #8  --  4,760 (- 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: -45.7%

Two more Vertigo books that have been cancelled. Crossing Midnight ends with issue #19, and July’s The Un-Men #12 begins a two-part story – presumably, this means they’ll call it a day with issue #13.

—–

251 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
03/2001: Scooby Doo #46  -- 4,693*
03/2002: Scooby Doo #58  -- 5,474*
03/2003: Scooby Doo #70  -- 5,964
03/2004: Scooby Doo #82  -- 5,377
03/2005: Scooby Doo #94  -- 4,772
03/2006: Scooby Doo #106 -- 4,419
---------------------------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.4%
1 year  : + 1.6%
2 years : + 1.0%
5 years : -25.2%
281 - LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC)
03/2001: --
03/2002: Looney Tunes #88  -- 3,182*
03/2003: Looney Tunes #100 -- 5,829
03/2004: Looney Tunes #112 -- 3,218
03/2005: Looney Tunes #124 -- 2,846
03/2006: Looney Tunes #136 -- 2,792
-----------------------------------
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%)
08/2007: Looney Tunes #153 -- 2,755 (- 3.8%)
09/2007: Looney Tunes #154 -- 2,740 (- 0.6%)
10/2007: Looney Tunes #155 -- ?
11/2007: Looney Tunes #156 -- ?
12/2007: Looney Tunes #157 -- 2,641
01/2008: Looney Tunes #158 -- 2,596 (- 1.7%)
02/2008: Looney Tunes #159 -- 2,606 (+ 0.4%)
03/2008: Looney Tunes #160 -- 2,807 (+ 7.7%)
----------------
6 months: + 2.5%
1 year  : + 3.8%
2 years : + 0.5%
5 years : -51.8%

Two more Johnny DC books.

—–

REORDERS:
n.a.

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+  8.2%: Robin
+  7.4%: Legion
+  3.6%: Green Arrow
+  3.4%: Nightwing
+  2.5%: Looney Tunes
+  1.4%: Scooby-Doo
-  0.1%: Detective Comics
-  0.5%: Justice League Unlimited
-  3.7%: Outsiders
-  4.2%: Batman Strikes
-  4.5%: Catwoman
-  5.2%: Fables
-  6.8%: JLA: Classified
-  7.9%: Hellblazer
-  8.5%: 100 Bullets
-  8.8%: Scalped
-  9.1%: Blue Beetle
-  9.7%: Ex Machina
- 11.0%: Teen Titans Go
- 11.3%: Jonah Hex
- 11.4%: Jack of Fables
- 13.4%: DMZ
- 13.9%: Checkmate
- 14.0%: Batman Confidential
- 14.0%: Crossing Midnight
- 14.0%: LoSH in the 31st Century
- 14.2%: Superman
- 14.9%: Green Lantern
- 15.1%: Teen Titans
- 15.5%: The Exterminators
- 16.6%: Countdown
- 16.7%: Birds of Prey
- 16.8%: JSA: Classified
- 18.6%: Shadowpact
- 19.7%: The Spirit
- 23.1%: Gen13
- 23.3%: Booster Gold
- 24.4%: Atom
- 24.4%: Midnighter
- 26.8%: JLA
- 27.0%: Supergirl
- 29.6%: The Programme
- 31.6%: Countdown to Adventure
- 34.4%: Superman Confidential
- 37.5%: Flash
- 41.9%: Countdown to Mystery
- 42.2%: Uncle Sam
- 45.7%: The Un-Men
- 46.5%: Suicide Squad
- 66.1%: Infinity Inc.

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 36.6%: Green Lantern Corps
+ 13.0%: Outsiders
+  9.2%: Green Lantern
+  4.7%: Green Arrow
+  3.8%: Looney Tunes
+  1.6%: Scooby-Doo
-  2.7%: Robin
-  4.6%: Justice League Unlimited
-  4.8%: Nightwing

-  6.2%: Detective Comics
-  7.8%: Batman Strikes
-  7.9%: Fables
-  8.1%: Catwoman
-  9.8%: Hellblazer
- 11.3%: 100 Bullets
- 15.0%: JLA: Classified
- 17.7%: Teen Titans Go
- 19.0%: Blue Beetle
- 19.7%: Checkmate
- 20.2%: Teen Titans
- 20.5%: Birds of Prey
- 21.3%: Jonah Hex
- 21.5%: DMZ
- 22.8%: Flash
- 24.0%: The Exterminators
- 25.8%: Atom
- 26.5%: Scalped
- 27.0%: Superman
- 27.1%: JSA: Classified
- 29.1%: Shadowpact
- 29.8%: Crossing Midnight
- 32.8%: JLA
- 34.2%: The Spirit
- 34.8%: Loveless
- 35.7%: Wonder Woman
- 36.0%: Batman Confidential
- 36.2%: Supergirl
- 39.1%: Uncle Sam
- 41.3%: The Brave and the Bold
- 42.0%: Gen13
- 44.5%: Superman Confidential
- 49.4%: Midnighter
- 66.5%: The Authority

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+  2.5%: Looney Tunes
+  1.0%: Scooby-Doo
-  1.1%: Fables
- 14.0%: Green Arrow
- 15.6%: Green Lantern
- 15.7%: Hellblazer
- 17.8%: Justice League Unlimited
- 20.0%: 100 Bullets
- 20.6%: Batman Strikes
- 20.6%: Detective Comics
- 22.2%: Outsiders
- 22.3%: Green Lantern Corps
- 26.5%: Ex Machina
- 26.7%: Robin
- 26.9%: Teen Titans
- 28.9%: Nightwing
- 31.3%: DMZ
- 33.5%: All Star Superman
- 34.6%: Catwoman
- 35.0%: Teen Titans Go
- 36.0%: Legion
- 36.4%: Superman
- 38.5%: Birds of Prey
- 42.5%: The Exterminators
- 42.8%: Jonah Hex
- 47.9%: JLA: Classified
- 57.9%: Loveless
- 61.0%: JSA: Classified
- 71.8%: Blue Beetle

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+104.3%: Teen Titans
+ 82.7%: Green Lantern
+ 59.2%: Wonder Woman
+ 42.0%: JLA
+ 31.1%: Legion
+ 26.5%: Detective Comics
+ 24.6%: Flash
+ 22.7%: Superman
+ 16.4%: Robin
+ 14.2%: Supergirl
+  1.8%: Nightwing
-  3.4%: Fables
-  8.1%: Birds of Prey
- 20.9%: Catwoman
- 25.2%: Scooby-Doo
- 31.0%: Hellblazer
- 31.2%: Gen13
- 37.0%: Green Arrow
- 37.8%: 100 Bullets
- 40.6%: Justice League Unlimited
- 48.9%: Batman Strikes
- 51.8%: Looney Tunes

—–

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

DC COMICS
03/2003: 24,279
03/2004: 32,727
03/2005: 27,349
03/2006: 36,077
---------------
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%)
08/2007: 34,885 (+ 1.6%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -18.3%
1 year  : -18.4%
2 years : -26.8%
3 years : - 3.4%
4 years : -19.3%
5 years : + 8.8%
DC UNIVERSE
03/2003: 28,965
03/2004: 39,727
03/2005: 34,864
03/2006: 44,854
---------------
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%)
08/2007: 46,717 (- 0.9%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: -22.7%
1 year  : -22.2%
2 years : -26.1%
3 years : - 4.9%
4 years : -16.6%
5 years : +14.5%
VERTIGO
03/2003: 15,517
03/2004: 16,445
03/2005: 13,094
03/2006: 15,812
---------------
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%)
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%
----------------
6 months: -11.2%
1 year  : -23.7%
2 years : -33.7%
3 years : -19.9%
4 years : -36.3%
5 years : -32.4%
WILDSTORM
03/2003: 18,214
03/2004: 16,833
03/2005: 12,798
03/2006: 14,210
---------------
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: +12.9%
1 year  : - 9.0%
2 years : - 9.6%
3 years : + 0.3%
4 years : -23.7%
5 years : -29.5%

—–
OTHER PUBLISHERS

6 - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Dark Horse Comics)
03/2001: Buffy #31 --  17,212*
03/2002: Buffy #43 --  16,149*
03/2003: --
-----------------------------
03/2007: Buffy #1  -- 109,919          [158,437]
04/2007: Buffy #2  --  96,409 (-12.3%) [132,378]
05/2007: Buffy #3  -- 106,634 (+10.6%) [125,078]
06/2007: Buffy #4  -- 102,430 (- 3.9%) [117,866]
07/2007: Buffy #5  -- 100,830 (- 2.0%) [109,322]
08/2007: --
09/2007: Buffy #6  --  96,556 (- 4.2%) [102,728]
10/2007: Buffy #7  --  94,144 (- 2.4%) [ 97,142]
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.9%
1 year  : -19.1%
5 years :  n.a.

The March issue was the beginning of a new arc not written by Joss Whedon, but sales went slightly up, anyway. Buffy appears to have found its level just below 90k now, no matter who’s writing it, which is fantastic news for everyone involved in the book. As usual, there was a variant cover edition to bolster the numbers.

—–

31 - ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL (IDW)
03/2006: Old Friends #4 of 5    -- 13,479 
-----------------------------------------
03/2007: Auld Lang Syne #5 of 5 --  6,351 (-  0.3%)
04/2007: --
05/2007: --
06/2007: --
07/2007: --
08/2007: --
09/2007: --
10/2007: --
11/2007: After the Fall #1      -- 47,563 (+648.9%) [65,293]
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%)
03/2008: After the Fall #5      -- 49,558 (+  2.4%)
-----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +680.3%
2 years : +267.7%

Sales on the Buffy spin-off keep increasing, and issue #3 sold another 4,162 units in March, as well. There were multiple variant cover editions, as usual.

Oddly, issue #6 is also listed on the March chart, with 4,399 units. Either that’s an error, or it’s one of those cases where a number of units was released early for a convention, or something in that vein.

—–

65 - STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse Comics)
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%)
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%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.2%
1 year  : - 7.6%

Rock-solid numbers, as usual.

—–

71 - THE BOYS (Dynamite Entertainment)
03/2007: --
04/2007: --
05/2007: The Boys #7  -- 31,616 (+16.9%) [37,255]
06/2007: The Boys #8  -- 30,639 (- 3.1%) [32,868]
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%)
----------------
6 months: -13.1%  
1 year  :  n.a.

The slow decline continues.

—–

85 - STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Dark Horse Comics)
03/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #3  -- 21,346
---------------------------------------
03/2007: --
04/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #15 -- 23,560 (+ 0.7%)
05/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #16 -- 23,572 (+ 0.1%)
05/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #17 -- 22,907 (- 2.8%)
06/2007: --
07/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #18 -- 22,713 (- 0.9%)
08/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #19 -- 22,396 (- 1.4%)
09/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #20 -- 21,836 (- 2.5%)
10/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #21 -- 21,879 (+ 0.2%)
11/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #22 -- 21,694 (- 0.9%)
11/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #23 -- 20,519 (- 5.4%)
12/2007: Star Wars: KotOR #24 -- 20,396 (- 0.6%)
01/2008: Star Wars: KotOR #25 -- 25,035 (+22.8%)
02/2008: --
03/2008: Star Wars: KotOR #26 -- 23,467 (- 6.3%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.5%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : + 9.9%

The second part of the “Vector” crossover didn’t do as well as the first, but still remained 3,000 units ahead of the book’s previous level. These are very good numbers.

—–

88 - THE WALKING DEAD (Image Comics)
03/2004: Walking Dead #5  --  8,829
03/2005: Walking Dead #16 -- 15,703
03/2006: Walking Dead #26 -- 19,385
03/2006: Walking Dead #27 -- 18,868
-----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: -  2.1%
1 year  : +  6.2%
2 years : + 18.2%

Well, it looks like 23k is the ceiling for The Walking Dead, for now. With issue #50 around the corner, that probably won’t last long, though. And, of course, the book is still Image’s bestselling title.

—–

94 - SPAWN (Image Comics/TMP)
03/2001: Spawn #108 -- 55,116*
03/2002: Spawn #120 -- 43,180*
03/2003: Spawn #123 -- 41,993
03/2004: Spawn #133 -- 35,774
03/2005: Spawn #144 -- 28,170
03/2006: Spawn #154 -- 26,966
-----------------------------
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%)
08/2007: Spawn #170 -- 23,712 (- 1.4%)
09/2007: Spawn #171 -- 23,768 (+ 0.2%)
10/2007: --
11/2007: Spawn #172 -- 23,628 (- 0.6%)
12/2007: Spawn #173 -- 23,136 (- 2.1%)
01/2008: Spawn #174 -- 22,667 (- 2.0%)
02/2008: Spawn #175 -- 22,338 (- 1.5%)
03/2008: Spawn #176 -- 21,104 (- 5.5%)
----------------
6 months: -11.2%
1 year  : -13.9%
2 years : -21.7%

Spawn saw a relatively harsh drop in March, for no readily apparent reason.

—–
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.

1 COMMENT

  1. It’s a shame people are moving away from Infinity Inc. I really like it a lot, and had hoped the new art team would turn it around.

  2. “As usual, there was a variant cover edition [on Buffy #12] to bolster the numbers.”

    While it seems clear that there are retailer incentives, etc., with regard to variant covers, I have to take issue with your wording here. Particularly on the media tie-in books, I see variant covers not so much a deliberate attempt to massage the order numbers, as a deliberate attempt to change the marketing. ICv2 covers direct-market sales, and I don’t expect you to comment on figures you don’t have, but the variant covers are photo covers, and seem deliberately cantered towards newsstand-rack recognition. Yes, this still means it’s designed to bolster sales, and will have some affect on direct-market walk-ins, but not quite in the way that your use of “numbers” indicates, I feel. A small thing, but I was moved to comment.

  3. I think you can add Gen 13 to the Wildstorm casualties, too….no issue has been solicited for after #20, which Simon Oliver stated was his last on the book.

  4. I continue to love this feature (and the Marvel thread as well).

    No matter the acuracy of the numbers – I find the trends fascinating. And often sad.

    Any chance you could start tracking the Faeber-verse titles? Dynamo 5 and the recently relaunched (sort of) Noble Causes might be interesting.

    Of course you are covering so many titles already I understand you not wanting to add others.

  5. ElScabro, your spelling and grammar skills are making your point wonderfully!

    Besides, the numbers aren’t even PW’s….they come from iCV2, Mr. Frisch just uses their numbers to track trends. Your complaint here makes no sense.

    MOF:
    I thought so, too, but it appears to be back in August, with issue #21 and a new creative team.

    Huh, really? I thought for sure it was done for. I can only hope the new team tosses out everything from this new run, as it’s been pretty terrible, and I say that as a fan of the franchise in general. I’m happy reading Dynamo 5, which does a better job of reminding me of why I liked Gen 13 in the first place

  6. So instead of being lazy and asking Marc-Oliver to compiles the numbers I grabbed them quickly myself (from icv2 just like does).

    Here is Dynamo 5 – which is mostly intersting due to the price change. I wonder if the quick cheap trade helped the sales bump for issue 8, or if it was due to the price change. I want to see more growth on this book.

    Dynamo 5
    ———–
    Date #
    ———–
    3/2007 1 6842
    4/2007 2 4947 (-27.70%)
    5/2007 3 6185 (25.03%)
    6/2007 4 6146 (-0.63%)
    7/2007 5 5957 (-3.08%)
    8/2007 6 5818 (-2.33%)
    9/2007 7 5679 (-2.39%)
    10/2007
    11/2007 8 5709 (0.53%) price drops to 2.99
    12/2007 9 5816 (1.87%)
    1/2008 10 5684 (-2.27%)
    2/2008
    3/2008 11 5625 (-1.04%) price back up to 3.50

  7. Here is the last 9 issues of Noble Causes. I wasn’t reading the book before the ‘relaunch’ so I don’t know why 24,25 and 26 jumped up in sales. Or why 23 was so low (maybe). 30 also had a little jump. I guess this book was pretty stable.

    The next issue will be interesting to see if the 5 years later relaunch, with a focus on similar Dynamo 5 storyline styles, and cheap phonebook style collections to allow one to cheaply read all the backstory.

    Noble Causes
    ———–
    Date #
    ———–
    9/2006 23 3365
    10/2006 24 3752 (11.50%)
    11/2006 25 3982 (6.13%)
    12/2006
    1/2007 26 3596 (-9.69%)
    2/2007 27 3443 (-4.25%)
    3/2007 28 3405 (-1.10%)
    4/2007
    5/2007 29 3365 (-1.17%)
    6/2007 30 3371 (0.18%)
    7/2007
    8/2007
    9/2007 31 3365 (-0.18%)

  8. El Scabro, YOU ARE CRACKING ME UP! Normally I would ban such a troll, since it is the CUSTOM AT EVIL PUBLISHERS WEEKLY to silence all those who dare oppose our plans for global unification and socialized bingo. But I think I may just let this play out!

  9. ElScabro—Publisher’s Weekly isn’t producing this write up. They are merely putting it online for you to…PICK…at.

  10. Didn’t the first Shooter LSH issue have two covers? Would that partially explain the jump in orders?

  11. Kevin: I’m always a bit wary of the stuff that’s playing out below the 5,000 mark, because the percentage of sales on those titles that we’re not seeing (reorders shipped after the initial month of release) is likely much higher than for the better-selling books – not to speak of the vastly different business models between, say, DC and Image.

  12. Kevin: I tend to be wary of the stuff that’s playing out below the 5,000 mark. The percentage of sales on those titles that we’re not seeing (reorders shipped after the initial month of release) is likely much higher than for the better-selling books. Not to speak of the vastly different business models between, say, DC and Image.

  13. Any reason that #282-300 were not included in this report? Or why you stopped the “other publishers” listing at #94?

    I’m not asking for commentary on each and every title, but historical listings would be nice.

    (And thank you for the analysis you do supply! Fascinating reading!)

  14. It’s frightening to see a list where DC only has four series above 50k, and two of them are limited series ending soon.

  15. Ah, so that message DID go through, after all. Sorry.

    Mark: “Didn’t the first Shooter LSH issue have two covers? Would that partially explain the jump in orders?”

    Partially, sure. Compared to other books supported through that gimmick, I’d be surprised if it accounted for more than 25% of those extra 20,000 units for Shooter’s debut issue, though.

  16. Torsten: “Any reason that #282-300 were not included in this report?”

    There were no DC titles among them.

    “Or why you stopped the “other publishers” listing at #94?”

    Well, unless something in particular catches my eye, that section is usually limited to the Top 100.

  17. Have you made any attempt to try to estimate what Booster Gold’s numbers would be like without the crossover effects? Clearly issues 2, 5, and 0 are higher then they would be if they were a “typical” issue (2 was the pseudo Sinestro War crossover, 5 is a Killing Joke crossover, and 0 is a Zero Hour crossover.)

  18. “I’m always a bit wary of the stuff that’s playing out below the 5,000 mark,”

    That makes sense. I was just curious because Dynamo 5 has some decent buzz. I was hoping to see some sort of Invincible like climb (rather then standard attrition) and am even more curious if Noble Causes relaunch has worked in bringing some Dynamo 5 readers over.

    So I am glad I did the research, even if it apparently won’t represent re-orders at all (which I didn’t even look for).

  19. Does anybody know how many issues were sold of the #300 book? I know the number is available somewhere online, but my internet fu is weak.

  20. “Does anybody know how many issues were sold of the #300 book? ”

    I have 2,110. 100 more than in February, and 750 or so more than last March.

    That last bit notes something hidden in the numbers — the extent to which the same month last year was top-heavy with the big events. This month, the sales curve fell off much more gradually.

  21. “The average periodical sales of [Vertigo] display massive losses in the neighborhood of 30 percent over the past five years. In response, Vertigo appears to be focusing more strongly on original graphic novels in the future, […]”

    With that “In response” you are implying a connection that Karen Berger explicitly denied here

    http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154470

    “One concerned fan wondered if Vertigo’s focus on original graphic novels meant they will be moving away from publishing monthly titles. “Not at all,” Berger said. Comparing it to television and feature films, she explained that some stories are best told episodically, month to month, and then collected. Other stories work as a great big graphic novel. Vertigo is still “very committed to the monthly form,” and will continue to publish collected editions that reach audiences in bookstores and comic shops.”

    At an earlier panel, she said this
    http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154243

    “The final question was if the panelists see the audience for Vertigo comics, or comics in general, growing. Berger replied that Vertigo’s “backlist has become our frontlist,” as collections generate most of their sales. “Some monthlies sell well, some don’t,” but she confirmed that Vertigo is committed to monthly comics.”

    I found this quite interesting, as it pretty much confirms what has been suggested to you by me and others in the last months: The fact that “the average periodical sales of [Vertigo] display massive losses in the neighborhood of 30 percent over the past five years” is made up for by growing collection sales and thus no reason to assume Vertigo sales as a whole are diminishing. Sure, a lot of books are getting cancelled right now, but that’s just because many of these books lasted much longer than expected, as there actually were very few cancellations in the last two years. Besides, many new monthlies have already been announced, so that commitment to monthly comics is certainly evident.

    Please stop misrepresenting the truth so that it better fits this weird idea you so stubbornly cling to.

  22. Thok: “Have you made any attempt to try to estimate what Booster Gold’s numbers would be like without the crossover effects?”

    Well, I suppose those particular issues would have sold a few copies less. I don’t think the book would have ended up anywhere else than it is right now, though.

  23. It seems like GA/BC is a bit more than just a “shaky” relaunch given the hype of the wedding issues (fake-out) and the idea behind immortalizing a legendary comic book relationship into a joint title. It’s selling at or below the pre-relaunch numbers, in spite of adding BC. The title’s not benefiting from the incredible exposure the character is getting from Smallville, nor from the massive advertising heaped on it’s arrival last summer.

    I wouldn’t catergorize it as “dismal failure” just yet, but it certainly would fit in the failure category in that it was one of many horses that got backed last year which didn’t finish where it should have. The aimlessness of April’s issue will likely further impact sales next month.

    While none of that was surprising, I was surprised to see Wonder Woman decline with a Green Lantern tie-in plot point, and coming off a really nice preceeding arc. Reviews of Nightwing have also been very positive of late, it was also interesting to see a small decline there.

    I’m looking for the new movie and the RIP storyline to be a real shot in the arm for DC this summer.

  24. I’m looking for the new movie and the RIP storyline to be a real shot in the arm for DC this summer.

    Did Batman Begins have the effect on comic sales you’re expecting from The Dark Knight? I’d bet not. DC just needs to make sure Final Crisis and its tie-ins keep them on a high through the summer. If it disappoints the way Countdown did, although I doubt that will be the case, they could face some tough months.

  25. If you liked those Booster Gold crossovers, get ready for Booster Gold #1,000,000, coming in July!

    On mass-market sales, I happened to be in a couple of different grocery stores this week, and curiosity led me to check out their comics. Between the three stores I was at, you could get Superman Confidential, Superman, and Action Comics, as well as a smattering of Star Wars and Spider-Man titles. On the DC side, I saw nothing but Superman. I just wonder if anyone else has seen what’s for sale in their areas. I know Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc. have better selections than that.
    And I should note I’m not in the Southwest; maybe Blue Beetle is on sale in every 7-11 and Winn-Dixie from Fort Worth to Phoenix. I have heard people say Blue Beetle’s getting its sales from the mass market.

  26. >79 – DC SPECIAL: RAVEN
    >03/2008: Raven #1 of 5 — 24,535
    >
    >That’s a predictably poor number for a Teen Titans spin-off, given that
    >the mother title itself has been in a rather stiff decline over the past year.
    >Nonetheless, a second ongoing title debuted in April, with two more
    >spin-off limited series following in May and September. Someone at DC
    >thinks we need more Teen Titans comics.

    A couple of things to point out.

    1) This title came out more than 1 1/2 years late. It was originally announced for a fall of 2006 release (when it may actually have been able to capitlize on TT’s then popularity), but due to “artistic delays”, it didn’t come out until this spring. This delay along with the title’s horrible art (clearly not worth the extra time spent getting it out) have meant that this mini series was practically scuttled before the first issue was even released.

    2) Nevertheless, sales on Teen Titans, while not what they once were, still place it toward the top of DC’s roster. And sales on Teen Titans Year One are still much better than most mini series. (Still too early to know what sales are for Titans, but anecdotal evidence suggests the first issue didn’t too badly at the stores). Therefore, I wouldn’t say its completely without merit that DC thinks that there is a demand for Titans related spinoffs. While the Raven mini’s numbers are pretty bad, there are reasons why it may not be a good indicator of demand (or lack thereof) for Titans-related books. It’ll be more interesting to see how Cyborg and Terror Titans do; I suspect they’ll be much better received than Raven.