Indie Month-to-Month Comics Sales: August 2011

By Paul Mellerick

The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles book supplants Walking Dead this month, while Kirkman also takes number three spot with his & Rob Liefeld’s Infinite. Further down the charts Kevin Smith’s Bionic Man gets off to a decent start and Terry Moore’s new series, Rachel Rising kicks off, while amongst the usual small drops there are a bunch of encouraging rises, some quite startling. The number 300 book was almost a thousand copies up on last month’s number 300 book, 4519 to 3531, and this month’s indie books sold almost a million copies in the USA. As usual, UK and European sales from Diamond UK are not reported in this chart.

This month Dark Horse were the number three publisher, with 5.78% dollar share and a 3.79 market share, followed by IDW with 4.79% dollar share and 3.74% market share, Image with a 4.67% dollar share and a 4.64% market share, Dynamite with a 2.23% dollar share and a 2.24% market share, and Boom with 1.24% dollar and 1.21% market share, their lowest in a while.

I’ve listed all non Marvel / DC books in the top 300.

Thanks to icv2.com and Milton Griepp for permission to use these numbers, which are estimates, and can be found here.

48. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing (IDW)
08/2011: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #1 - 34,803

The Eighties classic series returns with co-creator Kevin Eastman on writing duties for the first time since the Bodycount miniseries 15 years ago. Very much in the gritty style of the original series rather than the shinier kid-friendly Hero Turtles, this is a pretty good start for the book. Sadly it’s not available in the UK for licensing reasons, now that Nickelodeon owns the rights.

51. The Walking Dead (Image)
08/2006: The Walking Dead #30 - 20,540
08/2007: The Walking Dead #40 - 22,989
08/2008: The Walking Dead #51 - 23,121
08/2009: The Walking Dead #64 - 24,393
08/2010: The Walking Dead #76 - 26,553

====

09/2010: The Walking Dead #77 - 27,448 (+3.4%)
10/2010: The Walking Dead #78 - 27,947 (+1.8%)
11/2010: The Walking Dead #79 - 28,971 (+3.7%)
12/2010: -
01/2011: The Walking Dead #80 - 29,526 (+1.9%)
02/2011: The Walking Dead #81 - 30,750 (+4.1%)
03/2011: The Walking Dead #82 - 31,174 (+1.4%)
03/2011: The Walking Dead #83 - 33,686 [39,938](+28.1%)
04/2011: The Walking Dead #84 - 31,930 (-20.1%)
05/2011: The Walking Dead #85 - 37,552 (+17.6%)
06/2011: The Walking Dead #86 - 32,187 (-14.3%)
07/2011: The Walking Dead #87 - 32,126 (-0.2%)
08/2011: The Walking Dead #88 - 31,839 (-0.9%)
                6 month (+3.4%)
                1 year (+16.6%)
                2 year (+30.5%)
                3 year (+37.7%)

Walking Dead slips back into a gentle decline, but the upcoming second season of the TV show will no doubt give it another boost as the current storyline seems to be coming to a head. Meanwhile the weekly reprint title has dropped out of the chart altogether, but that was always likely as late adopters filled in the gaps in their collections. All 14 trades charted as well as the compendium, with the first and the latest both in the top ten.

69. Infinite (Image)
08/2011: Infinite #1 - 27,434

Launching at well over double the numbers of Kirkman’s last new title, Super Dinosaur, it seems that artist Rob Liefeld’s name still attracts a crowd.

121. Hellboy (Dark Horse)
08/2006: -
08/2007: Darkness Calls #5 – 24,743
08/2008: The Crooked Man #2 (of 3) - 25,555
08/2009: The Wild Hunt #5 (of 8) - 20,375
08/2010: The Storm #2 - 19,070

====

09/2010: The Storm #3 - 18,602 (-2.5%)
10/2010: Beasts of Burden/ Hellboy One-Shot - 17,618 (-5.3%)
11/2010: Double Feature of Evil - 20,436 (+16.0%)
12/2010: Sleeping & Dead #1 - 19,360 (-5.3%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Sleeping & Dead #2 - 17,160 (-11.4%)
03/2011: -
04/2011: Buster Oakley Gets His Wish - 19,049 (+11.0%)
05/2011: Being Human - 18,688 (-1.9%)
06/2011: The Fury #1 - 20,928 (+12.0%)
07/2011: The Fury #2 - 18,090 (-13.6%)
08/2011: Hellboy The Fury #3 - 19,674 (+8.7%)
                                     6 month (+14.6%)
                1 year (+3.1%)
                2 year (-3.4%)
                3 year (-23.0%)
                4 year (-20.5%)
                5 year (n.a.)

The Death of Hellboy and the end of Duncan Fegredo’s trilogy of tales pushes sales up a little. The news of Hellboy’s demise only came out shortly before the book did, orders would probably have been higher if they’d trumpeted it, but Mignola has always put the story first. Hellboy in Hell is coming next year.

127. Star Wars Dark Times (Dark Horse)
08/2009: Blue Harvest #0 - 18,601
08/2009: Dark Times #14 Blue Harvest pt 2 (of 5) – 18,477
06/2010: Dark Times #17 - 16,041

====

08/2011: Dark Times Out of the Wilderness #1 - 18,548 (+15.6%)
                                      6 month (n.a.)
                1 year (n.a.)
                2 year (+0.3%)

The latest of Dark Horse’s Star Wars relaunches gets off to a pretty decent start, carrying on the story from where it left off.

132. The Boys (Dynamite)
08/2006: The Boys #1 (DC) - 31,636
08/2007: The Boys #9 - 32,570
08/2008: The Boys #21 - 27,523
08/2009: The Boys #33 - 24,684
08/2010: The Boys #45 - 21,041

====

09/2010: The Boys #46 - 20,789 (-1.2%)
10/2010: The Boys #47 - 20,198 (-2.8%)
11/2010: The Boys #48 - 20,004 (-1.0%)
12/2010: The Boys #49 - 19,582 (-2.1%)
01/2011: The Boys #50 - 19,293 (-1.5%)
02/2011: The Boys #51 - 18,728 (-2.9%)
03/2011: The Boys #52 - 18,955 (+1.2%)
04/2011: The Boys #53 - 18,692 (-1.4%)
05/2011: The Boys #54 - 18,671 (-0.1%)
06/2011: The Boys #55 - 18,330 (-1.8%)
07/2011: The Boys #56 - 18,108 (-1.2%)
08/2011: The Boys #57 - 17,884 (-1.2%)
                           6 month (-4.5%)
                                    1 year (-15.0%)
                                     2 year (-27.5%)
                                      3 year (-35.0%)
                                     4 year (-45.1%)
                                      5 year (-43.5%)

Slowly drifting down as it approaches its end, somewhere around issue #75. Dreadful things start happening to the cast from here on in…

134. Kevin Smith's Bionic Man (Dynamite)
08/2011: Kevin Smith's Bionic Man #1 - 17,187

Well down on the Green Hornet launch figures, but this doesn’t have a movie behind it, so these numbers are pretty good.

150. Star Wars Knight Errant (Dark Horse)
10/2010: Knight Errant Aflame #1 - 18,363
11/2010: Knight Errant Aflame #2 - 14,956 (-18.6%)
12/2010: Knight Errant Aflame #3 - 13,963 (-6.6%)
01/2010: Knight Errant Aflame #4 - 13,101 (-6.2%)
02/2011: Knight Errant Aflame #5 - 12,803 (-2.3%)
08/2011: Knight Errant Deluge #1 - 15,448 (+12%)
                6 Month (+12%)

A nice boost to sales for the second series set in the Old Republic era. There’s a novel as well, published between the series and by the same writer, which has probably brought in a few more readers. However, these newer Star Wars mini-series are averaging 25% less sales than the Legacy ongoing was, so Dark Horse may have to rethink the franchise a little.

152. The Boys Butcher Baker Candlestickmaker (Dynamite)
08/2009: Herogasm #4 - 22,073
08/2010: Highland Laddie #1 - 18,629

====
09/2010: Highland Laddie #2 - 17,803 (-4.4%)
10/2010: Highland Laddie #3 - 16,555 (-7.0%)
11/2010: Highland Laddie #4 - 15,389 (-7.0%)
12/2010: Highland Laddie #5 - 14,855 (-3.5%)
01/2011: Highland Laddie #6 - 14,214 (-4.3%)

====

08/2011: Butcher Baker Candlestickmaker #1 - 16,118
09/2011: Butcher Baker Candlestickmaker #2 - 15,168 (-6.2%)

Those drops are accelerating compared to its parent title, but it’s still roughly within the same area as Highland Laddie. I believe this is the last mini-series before the main series ends.

153. Invincible (Image)
08/2006: Invincible #34 - 13,610
08/2007: Invincible #45 - 14,123
08/2008: -
08/2009: Invincible #65 - 15,621
08/2010: Invincible #74 - 15,735

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: -
11/2010: Invincible #75 - 17,029 (+8.2%)
12/2010: Invincible #76 - 15,577 (-8.5%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Invincible #77 - 15,515 (-0.4%)
03/2011: Invincible #78 - 15,808 (+1.9%)
04/2011: Invincible #79 - 15,558 (-1.6%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Invincible #80 - 15,563 (+0.0%)
07/2011: Invincible #81 - 15,207 (-2.3%)
08/2011: Invincible #82 - 15,105 (-0.6%)
                           6 month (-2.6%)
                                    1 year (-4.0%)
                                     2 year (-3.3%)
                                      3 year (-n.a.)
                                     4 year (+6.9%)
                                      5 year (+10.9%)

Very slight slippage, but as usual Kirkman’s other long running book is remarkably stable. The Invincible Compendium collecting the first 47 issues sold 1,132 copies, not bad at $65.

154. Star Wars: Invasion Revelations (Dark Horse)
08/2009: Invasion #2 (of 5) - 21,004
08/2010: -

====

07/2011: Revelations #1 - 17,254
08/2011: Revelations #2 - 14,829 (-14.1%)
                            6 month (n.a.)
                                    1 year (n.a.)
                                     2 year (-29.4%)

156. Star Wars Old Republic (Dark Horse)
08/2010: Old Republic #2 - 17,384

====

09/2010: Old Republic #3 - 16,705 (-10.3%)
10/2010: Old Republic #4 - 16,160 (-3.3%)
11/2010: Old Republic #5 - 15,660 (-3.1%)
12/2010: Old Republic #6 - 14,862 (-5.1%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Old Republic #1 - 17,642 (+18.7%)
07/2011: Old Republic #2 - 15,436 (-12.5%)
08/2011: Old Republic #3 - 14,741 (-4.7%)
            6 Month (n.a.)
            1 year (-15.2%)

161. Star Wars Jedi Dark Side (Dark Horse)
05/2011: Jedi Dark Side #1 - 18,949
06/2011: Jedi Dark Side #2 - 16,081 (-15.1%)
07/2011: Jedi Dark Side #3 - 15,232 (-5.3%)
08/2011: Jedi Dark Side #4 - 14,425 (-5.5%)

All three books seem to selling roughly the same, but it’s a long way behind what the last ongoing Star Wars book was selling when it was cancelled. With numbers like this I can’t see them lasting too many more mini-series.

155. Rocketeer Adventures (IDW)
05/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #1 - 19,927
06/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #2 - 14,912 (-25.2%)
07/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #3 - 15,062 (+1.0%)
08/2011: Rocketeer Adventures #4 - 14,749 (-2.1%)

The anthology book finishes fairly strongly, and included stories from Brendan McCarthy, Ashley Wood and Dave Gibbons.

162. Spawn (Image)
08/2006: Spawn #159 - 26,232
08/2007: Spawn #170 - 23,712
08/2008: Spawn #181 - 19,112
08/2009: -
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Spawn #199 - 18,076
10/2010: -
11/2010: -
12/2010: -
01/2011: Spawn #200 - 65,448 (+262.1%)
01/2011: Spawn #201 - 18,458 (-71.8%)
02/2011: Spawn #202 - 18,335 (-0.7%)
02/2011: Spawn #203 - 15,572 (-15.1%)
03/2011: Spawn #204 - 15,591 (+0.1%)
03/2011: Spawn #205 - 15,320 (-1.7%)
04/2011: Spawn #206 - 15,160 (-1.0%)
05/2011: Spawn #207 - 14,796 (-2.4%)
06/2011: Spawn #208 - 14,468 (-2.2%)
07/2011: Spawn #209 - 13,964 (-3.5%)
08/2011: Spawn #210 - 14,100 (+1%)
                           6 month (-23.1%)
                                    1 year (n.a.)
                                     2 year (n.a.)
                                      3 year (-26.2%)
                                     4 year (-40.5%)
                                      5 year (-46.2%)

A slight uptick in sales, for no apparent reason, no variants or anything and the middle of a storyline, but it may be an aberration. We shall see next month.

164. Haunt (Image)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Haunt #9 - 17,894 (-7.0%)
10/2010: Haunt #10 - 17,309 (-3.3%)
11/2010: Haunt #11 - 16,658 (-3.8%)
12/2010: Haunt #12 - 16,175 (-2.9%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Haunt #13 - 15,413 (-4.7%)
03/2011: Haunt #14 - 14,700 (-4.6%)
04/2011: Haunt #15 - 14,280 (-2.9%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Haunt #16 - 14,360 (+0.6%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Haunt #17 - 13,443 (-6.3%)
             6 month (-12.8%)
             1 year - (n.a.)

Rather a big drop at this stage, but Joe Casey & Nathan Fox come on the book with #19 while Capullo goes off to Batman and Kirkman switches to Infinite. Do you think Kirkman’s trying to do a book with each of the Image founders?

165. Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris (Dynamite)
03/2011: Dejah Thoris #1 - 18,432
04/2011: Dejah Thoris #2 - 14,286 (-22.5%)
05/2011: Dejah Thoris #3 - 14,215 (-0.5%)
06/2011: Dejah Thoris #4 - 13,584 (-4.4%)
08/2011: Dejah Thoris #5 - 13,331 (-1.9%)

Stabilising very well, and not far behind the main title, which didn’t ship this month, with the John Carter movie next year this is doing much better than I’d expect. It’ll be interesting to see whether Marvel’s upcoming John Carter book will cannibalise the audience.

169. Hero Comics (IDW)
08/2009: Hero Comics 2009 - 7,625
08/2011: Hero Comics 2011 - 12,668 (+66.1%)

A Charity book for the Hero Initiative, featuring a new short story by the Sandman creative team of Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg and Sam Kieth, sells a lot better than the last one. This is also a few thousand up on the similar Liberty Comics that Image publish to benefit the CBLDF.

172. Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters (IDW)
03/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #1 - 58,879 [69,662]
04/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #2 - 14,492 (-79.2%)
05/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #3 - 14,588 (+0.7%)
06/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #4 - 7,570 [14,890] (+2.1%)
07/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #5 - 13,750 (-7.7%)
08/2011: Godzilla Kingdom of Monsters #6 - 12,524 (-8.9%)

Those drops are getting worryingly large, this needs to stabilize pretty quickly.

173. Vampirella (Dynamite)
11/2010: Vampirella #1 - 29,215
12/2010: -
01/2011: Vampirella #2 - 17,531 (-40.0%)
02/2011: Vampirella #3 - 16,366 (-6.6%)
03/2011: Vampirella #4 - 15,765 (-3.7%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Vampirella #5 - 14,702 (-6.7%)
06/2011: Vampirella #6 - 13,649 (-7.2%)
06/2011: Vampirella #7 - 13,645 (-0.0%)
07/2011: Vampirella #8 - 13,019 (-4.6%)
08/2011: Vampirella #9 - 12,459 (-4.3%)
            6 month (-23.9%)

This doesn’t seem to be slowing down much either, but it’s still Dynamite’s number five book.

174. Red Wing (Image)
07/2011: Red Wing #1 - 16,464
08/2011: Red Wing #2 - 12,368 (-24.8%)

The first issue had a separately solicited variant which didn’t chart, so the sales would have been a bit higher than reported, making this a rather steep drop off.

175. Dollhouse Epitaphs (Dark Horse)
03/2011: Dollhouse Epitaphs Oneshot - 19,836
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: -
07/2011: Dollhouse Epitaphs #1 - 14,761 (-25.6%)
08/2011: Dollhouse Epitaphs #2 - 12,366 (-16.2%)

Fairly average second issue drop, but likely to be substantially behind the other two Whedon books, relaunching over the next two months.

176. Chew (Image)
08/2009: Chew #3 - 13,762
08/2010: Chew #13 - 12,756

====

09/2010: Chew #14 - 12,993 (+1.9%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: Chew #15 - 13,047 (+0.4%)
12/2010: Chew #16 - 12,473 (-4.4%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: Chew #17 - 12,165 (-2.5%)
04/2011: Chew #18 - 12,438 (+2.2%)
05/2011: Chew #27 - 12,561 (+1.0%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: Chew #19 - 12,510 (-0.4%)
08/2011: Chew #20 - 12,202 (-2.4%)
             6 month - (n.a.)
             1 year - (-4.3%)
             2 year - (-11.3%)

A bit of a drop, but overall it’s a very stable book. All three collections are inside the top 150.

178. Conan The Road of Kings (Dark Horse)
08/2006: Conan #31 - 30,887
08/2007: Conan #43 - 23,843
08/2008: The Cimmerian #2 - 25,762
08/2009: The Cimmerian #13 - 18,881
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: The Cimmerian #23 - 15,837 (-2.5%)
10/2010: The Cimmerian #24 - 15,490 (-2.2%)
11/2010: The Cimmerian #25 - 15,421 (-0.4%)
12/2010: The Road of Kings #1 - 16,099 (+4.4%)
01/2011: The Road of Kings #2 - 13,385 (-16.9%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: The Road of Kings #3 - 13,193 (-1.4%)
04/2011: The Road of Kings #4 - 12,827 (-2.8%)
05/2011: The Road of Kings #5 - 12,672 (-1.2%)
06/2011: The Road of Kings #6 - 12,523 (-1.2%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: The Road of Kings #7 - 11,955 (-4.5%)
                              6 month (n.a)
                    1 year (n.a.)
                                      2 year (-36.7%)
                                      3 year (-53.6%)
                                      4 year (-49.6%)
                                     5 year (-61.3%)

The biggest drop in a year, and the lowest point the series has ever been at saleswise. The most recent Chronicles of Conan collection sells 1,873 on the graphic novels chart.

182. BPRD (Dark Horse)
08:2006: Universal Machine #5 (of 5) - 15,655
08/2007: Killing Ground #1 (of 5) - 17,355
08/2008: The Warning #2 (of 5) - 16,729
08/2009: 1947 #2 (of 5) - 14,893
08/2010: Hell on Earth: New World #1 - 13,563

====

09/2010: Hell on Earth: New World #2 - 12,717 (-6.2%)
10/2010: Hell on Earth: New World #3 - 12,402 (-2.5%)
11/2010: Hell on Earth: New World #4 - 11,882 (-4.2%)
12/2010: Hell on Earth: New World #5 - 11,528 (-3.0%)
01/2011: Hell on Earth: Gods #1 - 12,820 (+11.2%)
02/2011: Hell on Earth: Gods #2 - 11,585 (-9.6%)
03/2011: Hell on Earth: Gods #3 - 11,565 (-0.2%)
04/2011: Dead Remembered #1 - 12,825 (+10.9%)
05/2011: Dead Remembered #2 - 11,714 (-8.7%)
06/2011: Dead Remembered #3 - 11,418 (-2.5%)
07/2011: Hell on Earth: Monsters #1 - 12,623 (+10.6%)
08/2011: Hell on Earth: Monsters #2 - 11,221 (-11.2%)
                              6 month (-3.1%)
                    1 year (-17.3%)
                                      2 year (-24.7%)
                                      3 year (-32.9%)
                                      4 year (-35.3%)
                                     5 year (-28.3%)

Back in slow decline after the bump from the new series. There was a variant on the first issue.

184. Hellraiser (Boom!)
03/2011: Hellraiser #1 - 13,850
04/2011: -
05/2011: Hellraiser #2 - 10,366 (-25.2%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: Hellraiser #3 - 9,974 (-3.8%)
07/2011: Hellraiser #4 - 11,096 (+11.2%)

A very good increase that would suggest that retailers had initially cut their orders faster than they should have. There’s been a variant on every issue.

186. Rachel Rising (Abstract)
08/2008: Echo #5 - 14,047
08/2009: Echo #14 - 10,663
08/2010: Echo #24 - 4,486

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Echo #25 - 8,694 (+93.8%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: Echo #26 - 8,722 (+0.3%)
01/2011: Echo #27 - 6,675 (-23.5%)
02/2011: Echo #28 - 7,995 (+19.8%)
03/2011: Echo #29 - 8,016 (+0.3%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Echo #30 - 8,340 (+4.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Rachel Rising #1 - 10,989 (+31.8%)
                              6 month (+37.4%)
                    1 year (+145.0%)
                                      2 year (+3.1%)
                                      3 year (-21.8%)

I’ve decided to continue on the numbering from Terry Moore’s previous series Echo, as Rachel Rising, a revenge thriller, launches very well, on par with Echo’s sales 2 years ago. It sold out, and there’s a second print which may chart next month. The complete Echo collection sold 1701 copies in the GN chart at a $40 price point.

188. Artifacts (Image)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Artifacts #2 - 13,147 (-29.7%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: Artifacts #3 - 11,844 (-9.9%)
12/2010: Artifacts #4 - 11,415 (-3.6%)
01/2011: Artifacts #5 - 11,788 (+3.3%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: Artifacts #6 - 10,910 (-7.4%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Artifacts #7 - 10,667 (-2.2%)
06/2011: Artifacts #8 - 10,343 (-3.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Artifacts #9 - 10,942 (+5.7%)
                              6 month (n.a.)
                    1 year (n.a.)

A very good jump, for no apparent reason. There were three covers solicited individually, so I’m assuming this number is for the three covers added together.

189. GI Joe (IDW)
08/2006: GI Joe: America’s Elite #14 (Devil’s Due) - 17,315
08/2007: GI Joe: America’s Elite #26 (Devils Due) - 15,354
08/2008: -
08/2009: GI Joe #8 – 18,750
08/2010: GI Joe #21 - 12,264

====

09/2010: GI Joe #22 - 11,887 (-3.1%)
10/2010: GI Joe #23 - 11,531 (-3.0%)
11/2010: GI Joe #24 - 10,985 (-4.7%)
12/2010: GI Joe #25 - 10,641 (-3.1%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: GI Joe #26 - 10,323 (-3.0%)
02/2011: GI Joe #27 - 10,102 (-2.1%)
03/2011: GI Joe Infestation #1 - 13,438 (+33.0%)
03/2011: GI Joe Infestation #2 - 12,427 (-7.5%)
04/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #0 - 12,353 (-5.9%)
05/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #1 - 13,703 (+10.9%)
06/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #2 - 11,640 (-15.1%)
07/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #3 - 11,377 (-2.3%)
08/2011: GI Joe Vol 2 #4 - 10,824 (-4.9%)
                              6 month (+9.2%)
                    1 year (-11.7%)
                                      2 year (-42.3%)
                                      3 year (n.a.)
                                      4 year (-29.5%)
                                     5 year (-37.5%)

Dropping close to where it was before the relaunch, can the market really support 3 GI Joe books? The most recent collection sold 894 copies in the GN chart.

190. Baltimore (Dark Horse)
08/2010: Baltimore Plague Ships #1 - 12,099

====

09/2010: Baltimore Plague Ships #2 - 10,601 (-12.4%)
10/2010: Baltimore Plague Ships #3 - 9,823 (-7.3%)
11/2010: Baltimore Plague Ships #4 - 9,558 (-2.7%)
12/2010: Baltimore Plague Ships #5 - 9,142 (-4.4%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: Baltimore Curse Bells #1 - 10,797 (+18.1%)
            6 Month (n.a.)
            1 year (-10.8%)

Not a bad start for Mignola’s non-Hellboy universe book, but it probably won’t last too many series below this level.

192. Morning Glories (Image)
08/2010: Morning Glories #1 - 8,687 [14,104]

====

09/2010: Morning Glories #2 - 8,265 (-41.4%)
10/2010: Morning Glories #3 - 11,258 (+36.2%)
11/2010: Morning Glories #4 - 11,292 (+0.3%)
12/2010: Morning Glories #5 - 11,193 (-0.9%)
01/2011: Morning Glories #6 - 10,795 (-3.6%)
02/2011: Morning Glories #7 - 11,037 (+2.2%)
03/2011: Morning Glories #8 - 10,809 (-2.1%)
04/2011: Morning Glories #9 - 10,975 (+1.5%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Morning Glories #10 - 11,385 (+3.7%)
07/2011: -
06/2011: Morning Glories #11 - 10,653 (-6.4%)

Starting to drop down again as the questions pile up, possibly readers are starting to be put off by the lack of answers.

194. Severed (Image)
08/2011: Severed #1 - 10,573

Scott Snyder’s first creator-owned book launches with pretty good numbers, and has been very well-received, selling out and going to a second print.

196. Godzilla: Gangsters and Goliaths (IDW)
06/2011: Gangsters and Goliaths #1 - 13,292
07/2011: Gangsters and Goliaths #2 - 11,611 (-12.6%)
08/2011: Gangsters and Goliaths #3 - 10,525 (-9.3%)

The drops are slowing a little and this is only a couple of thousand behind the main title so I would think IDW are relatively happy with these numbers.

200, 201. Transformers Ongoing (IDW)
08/2008: All Hail Megatron #2 - 13,363
08/2009: All Hail Megatron #14 - 11,736
08/2010: Transformers Ongoing #10 - 11,951
====

09/2010: Transformers Ongoing #11 - 11,582 (-3.1%)
10/2010: Transformers Ongoing #12 - 11,166 (-3.6%)
11/2010: Transformers Ongoing #13 - 10,998 (-1.5%)
12/2010: Transformers Ongoing #14 - 10,573 (-3.9%)
01/2011: Transformers Ongoing #15 - 10,159 (-3.9%)
02/2011: Transformers Ongoing #16 - 10,265 (+1.0%)
03/2011: Transformers Ongoing #17 - 10,094 (-1.7%)
04/2011: Transformers Ongoing #18 - 9,813 (-2.8%)
05/2011: Transformers Ongoing #19 - 10,089 (+2.8%)
06/2011: Transformers Ongoing #20 - 10,232 (+1.4%)
07/2011: Transformers Ongoing #21 - 10,165 (-0.7%)
07/2011: Transformers Ongoing #22 - 9,884 (-2.8%)
08/2011: Transformers Ongoing #23 - 10,327 (+4.5%)
08/2011: Transformers Ongoing #24 - 10,097 (-2.2%)
                              6 month (-1.6%)
                    1 year (-15.5%)
                                      2 year (-14.0%)
                                      3 year (-24.4%)

It goes up a little, it goes down a little, but really amazingly stable over the last year.

204. Dungeons and Dragons Drizzt (IDW)
08/2011: Dungeons & Dragons Drizzt #1 - 9,855

The Forgotten Realms series’ popular Dark Elf gets a new mini from IDW. This is original stories rather than adaptations like the series that Devil’s Due published some years back. It’s selling about a thousand more than its parent title.

205. Warlord of Mars Fall of Barsoom (Dynamite)
07/2011: Fall of Barsoom #1 - 11,192
08/2011: Fall of Barsoom #2 - 9,812 (-12.3%)

Not too bad a second issue drop-off, but quite far behind the other two Warlord of Mars books.

206. GI Joe Real American Hero (IDW)
08/2010: Real American Hero #157 - 14,263
====

09/2010: Real American Hero #158 - 13,197 (-7.5%)
10/2010: Real American Hero #159 - 12,309 (-6.7%)
11/2010: Real American Hero #160 - 11,544 (-6.2%)
12/2010: Real American Hero #161 - 11,125 (-3.6%)
01/2011: Real American Hero #162 - 10,516 (-5.5%)
02/2011: Real American Hero #163 - 10,262 (-2.4%)
03/2011: Real American Hero #164 - 10,386 (+1.2%)
04/2011: Real American Hero #165 - 10,218 (-1.6%)
05/2011: Real American Hero #166 - 10,117 (-1.0%)
06/2011: Real American Hero #167 - 10,118 (+0.0%)
07/2011: Real American Hero #168 - 9,943 (-1.7%)
08/2011: Real American Hero #169 - 9,670 (-2.7%)
                              6 month (-5.8%)
                    1 year (-32.0%)

Those drops are speeding up again. See also Snake Eyes just below.

209, 211. Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie)
08/2006: Sonic #165 - 7,544
08/2007: Sonic #178 - 7,311
08/2008: Sonic #191 - 7,106
08/2009: Sonic #203 - 8,166
08/2010: Sonic #215 - 6,494 (-18.2%)

====

09/2010: Sonic #217 - 8,061 (+1.1%)
10/2010: Sonic #218 - 7,889 (-2.1%)
11/2010: Sonic #219 - 7,770 (-1.5%)
12/2010: Sonic #220 - 7,618 (-2.0%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Sonic #221 - 7,592 (-0.3%)
03/2011: Sonic #222 - 7,781 (+2.5%)
03/2011: Sonic #223 - 7,719 (-0.8%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Sonic #224 - 8,023 (+3.9%)
06/2011: Sonic #225 - 11,980 (+49.3%)
06/2011: Sonic #226 - 9,228 (-23.0%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Sonic #227 - 9,419 (+2.1%)
08/2011: Sonic #228 - 9,444 (+0.3%)
                              6 month (+24.4%)
                    1 year (+45.4%)
                                      2 year (+15.6%)
                                      3 year (+32.9)
                                      4 year (+29.2%)
                                     5 year (+25.2%)

Sonic is actually increasing sales after last month’s drop-off, probably from extra interest brought in by Sonic’s 25th Anniversary. Obviously this sells a lot outside of the direct market in the US as well.

215. Snake Eyes Ongoing (IDW)
08/2009: GI Joe Origins #6 - 15,898
08/2010: GI Joe Origins #18 - 10,074

=====

09/2010: GI Joe Origins #19 - 11,171 (+10.9%)
10/2010: GI Joe Origins #20 - 9,482 (-15.1%)
11/2010: GI Joe Origins #21 - 8,970 (-5.4%)
12/2010: GI Joe Origins #22 - 8,597 (-4.2%)
01/2011: GI Joe Origins #23 - 8,136 (-5.4%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: Snake Eyes #1 - 12,197 (+49.9%)
06/2011: Snake Eyes #2 - 10,246 (-16.0%)
07/2011: Snake Eyes #3 - 10,001 (-2.4%)
08/2011: Snake Eyes #4 - 9,288 (-7.1%)
                              6 month (n.a.)
                    1 year (-7.8%)
                                      2 year (-47.9%)

As with Real American Hero, this GI Joe spin-off is shedding sales rapidly and is almost back to where it was before it was relaunched.

216, 222. Dungeons and Dragons (IDW)
08/2010: Dungeons and Dragons #0 - 23,657

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: -
11/2010: Dungeons and Dragons #1 - 15,462 (-34.6%)
12/2010: Dungeons and Dragons #2 - 11,623 (-24.8%)
01/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #3 - 10,112 (-13.0%)
02/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #4 - 9,761 (-3.5%)
03/2011: -
04/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #5 - 9,833 (+0.7%)
04/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #6 - 9,520 (-3.2%)
05/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #7 - 9,427 (-1.0%)
06/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #8 - 9,226 (-2.1%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #9 - 8,987 (-2.6%)
08/2011: Dungeons and Dragons #10 - 8,545 (-4.9%)
                              6 month (-12.5%)
                    1 year (-63.9%)

Not very healthy looking, it may be that IDW need to go back to mini-series again as the Drizzt mini has been more popular.

217. Dark Horse Presents (Dark Horse)
04/2011: Dark Horse Presents #1 - 15,107
05/2011: -
06/2011: Dark Horse Presents #2 - 11,315 (-25.1%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Dark Horse Presents #3 - 8,931 (-21.1%)

This looks like a big drop, but there were two other covers that failed to chart, and I suspect this is probably pretty stable. Also it’s a hefty eight bucks, so these numbers make them almost as much as the Serenity HC that’s number one on the GN chart.

218. Mega Man (Archie)
05/2011: Mega Man #1 - 12,586
06/2011: Mega Man #2 - 7,713 (-38.7%)
07/2011: Mega Man #3 - 4,845 (-37.2%)
08/2011: Mega Man #4 - 8,900 (+83%)

Looks like another situation where the retailers have cut their orders on the second and third issues and then found it to be much more popular than they expected. That’s an astonishing jump, especially considering there was a variant cover which didn’t chart and could add up to as much as 4,500 more copies. Sells outside of the direct market too.

219. Lady Death (Avatar)
12/2010: Lady Death #0 - 15,665
01/2011: Lady Death #1 - 14,023 (-10.5%)
02/2011: Lady Death #2 - 11,033 (-21.3%)
03/2011: Lady Death #3 - 10,801 (-2.1%)
04/2011: Lady Death #4 - 10,391 (-3.8%)
05/2011: Lady Death #5 - 9,656 (-7.1%)
06/2011: Lady Death #6 - 9,563 (-1.0%)
07/2011: Lady Death #7 - 8,945 (-6.4%)
08/2011: Lady Death #8 - 8,681 (-3.0%)
            6 month (-21.3%)

The drops are slowing up a bit, but readership has almost halved in less than a year.

223. The Goon (Dark Horse)
08/2008: The Goon #27 - 9685
08/2010: -

=====

06/2011: The Goon #34 - 9,203 (-16.3%)
07/2011: Criminal Macabre/Goon: When Freaks Collide - 9,704 (+5.4%)
08/2011: The Goon #35 - 8,528 (-12.1%)
            3 year (-11.9%)

Dropping, but retailers are probably still trying to figure out orders after the long hiatus.

225. Witchblade (Image)
08/2006: -
08/2007: -
08/2008: -
08/2009: Witchblade #129 - 13,324
08/2010: Witchblade #137 - 10,696

====

09/2010: Witchblade #138 - 10,521 (+27.5%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: Witchblade #139 - 10,113 (-3.9%)
12/2010: Witchblade #140 - 11,172 (+10.5%)
01/2011: Witchblade #141 - 9,768 (-12.6%)
02/2011: Witchblade #142 - 9,803 (+0.4%)
03/2011: Witchblade #143 - 9,394 (-4.2%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Witchblade #144 - 10,662 (+13.5%)
06/2011: Witchblade #145 - 8,996 (-15.6%)
07/2011: Witchblade #146 - 8,765 (-2.6%)
08/2011: Witchblade #147 - 8,487 (-3.2%)
            6 month (-13.4%)
            1 year (-20.7%)
            2 year (-36.3%)

Dropping a bit fast, but heading towards #150, Ron Marz’s final issue and the conclusion of the current storyline.

228, 277. War Goddess (Avatar)
08/2011: War Goddess #0 - 8,427
08/2011: War Goddess #1 - 5,789 (-31.3%)

Avatar’s new series featuring some of the characters from back when they were better known as an bad girl publisher rather than the horror books of today. Not a great start, and rather a steep drop-off for the first issue proper.

229. Planet of the Apes (Boom!)
04/2011: Planet of the Apes #1 - 9,333
05/2011: Planet of the Apes #2 - 7,369 (-21.0%)
06/2011: Planet of the Apes #3 - 7,804 (+5.9%)
07/2011: Planet of the Apes #4 - 6,907 (-11.5%)
08/2011: Planet of the Apes #5 - 8,386 (+21.4%)

This was a dollar book and got a decent rise, but considering it was released around the time of the new movie you’d think it would be a bigger increase. It seems like a stand-alone issue might have been a better idea than the fifth part of a storyline.

230, 263. Grimm Fairy Tales (Zenescope)
08/2006: Grimm Fairy Tales #8 - 5,433
08/2007: Grimm Fairy Tales #16 - 7,304
08/2008: -
08/2009: Grimm Fairy Tales #41 - 10,600
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Grimm Fairy Tales #50 - 13,931 (+45.2%)
10/2010: Grimm Fairy Tales #51 - 8,343 (-40.1%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: Grimm Fairy Tales #52 - 7,903 (-5.3%)
12/2010: Grimm Fairy Tales #53 - 9,146 (+15.7%)
12/2010: Grimm Fairy Tales #54 - 7,886 (-13.8%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #55 - 8,897 (+12.8%)
03/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #56 - 8,701 (-2.2%)
03/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #57 - 7,096 (-18.4%)
04/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #58 - 7,198 (+1.4%)
05/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #59 - 8,356 (+16.1%)
06/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #60 - 8,143 (-2.5%)
07/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #61 - 7,777 (-4.5%)
08/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #62 - 6,452 (-17%)
08/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales #63 - 8,086 (+25.3%)
08/2011: Grimm Fairy Tales Annual 2011 - 5349 (-33.8%)
            6 month (-27.5%)
            1 year (n.a.)
            2 year (-39.1%)
            3 year (n.a.)
            4 year (-11.7%)
            5 year (+18.8%)

The regular storyline takes a drop in issue sixth two but jumps up a bit for issue sixty three, a crossover in the Dream Eater Saga. The annual is part one of the Sinbad Crossover.

233. Suicide Girls (IDW)
04/2011: Suicide Girls #1 - 10,613
05/2011: Suicide Girls #2 - 6,851 (-35.4%)
06/2011: Suicide Girls #3 - 7,649 (+11.6%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Suicide Girls #4 - 7,902 (+3.3%)

This did pretty well, and will probably do well in the book market – the website has millions of subscribers.

234. Spongebob Comics (Bongo)
02/2011: Spongebob Comics #1 - 11,814
03/2011: -
04/2011: Spongebob Comics #2 – 8,930 (-24.4%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Spongebob Comics #3 - 8,514 (-4.7%)
07/2011: -
06/2011: Spongebob Comics #4 - 7,889 (-7.3%)

Not stabilizing very fast, but you would think this is getting distribution outside of the direct market.

235. Red Sonja (Dynamite)
08/2006: Red Sonja #13 - 28,996
08/2007: Red Sonja #25 - 20,764
08/2008: Red Sonja #36 - 14,834
08/2009: Red Sonja #47 - 11,709 (-2.4%)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Red Sonja #51 - 9,994 (+23.4%)
10/2010: Red Sonja #52 - 9,529 (-4.7%)
11/2010: Red Sonja #53 - 9,060 (-4.9%)
12/2010: -
01/2011: Red Sonja #54 - 8,826 (-2.6%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: Red Sonja #55 - 8,729 (-1.1%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Red Sonja #56 - 8,319 (-4.7%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: Red Sonja #57 - 7,888 (-5.2%)

The drops are increasing again. The newest trade sold 565 copies this month.

237. Locke & Key (IDW)
08/2010: Keys to the Kingdom #1 - 9,429 (+36.0%)
09/2010: -
10/2010: Keys to the Kingdom #2 - 7,303 (-22.5%)
11/2010: Keys to the Kingdom #3 - 7,225 (-1.1%)
12/2010: -
01/2011: Keys to the Kingdom #4 - 6,634 (-8.2%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: Keys to the Kingdom #5 - 6,879 (+3.7%)
04/2011: Keys to the Kingdom #6 - 6,769 (-1.6%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: -
07/2011: Clockworks #1 - 10,764 (+59.0%)
08/2011: Clockworks #2 - 7,686 (-28.6%)

A big drop off after the jump last issue, as the TV show seems to have died, but it’s still above the second issue of the last mini-series. All four collections chart in the GN chart.

238. Next Men (IDW)
12/2010: Next Men #1 - 13,204
01/2011: Next Men #2 - 8,882 (-32.7%)
02/2011: Next Men #3 - 8,568 (-3.5%)
03/2011: Next Men #4 - 8,395 (-2.0%)
04/2011: Next Men #5 - 8,525 (+1.5%)
05/2011: Next Men #6 - 8,387 (-1.6%)
06/2011: Next Men #7 - 8,090 (-3.5%)
07/2011: Next Men #8 - 7,817 (-3.4%)
08/2011: Next Men #9 - 7,651 (-2.1%)

This is the last issue for a while as Byrne does a book called Cold War, and then will relaunch as Next Men Aftermath and numbering from issue forty.

241, 262. Doctor Who Ongoing (IDW)
08/2009: Doctor Who #2 - 8,908
08/2010: Doctor Who #14 - 6,492 (+11.4%)

====

09/2010: Doctor Who #15 - 6,620 (+2.0%)
10/2010: Doctor Who #16 - 6,198 (-6.4%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: -
01/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #1 - 8,843 (+42.7%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #2 - 7,461 (-15.6%)
03/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #3 - 7,523 (+0.8%)
04/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #4 - 7,477 (-0.6%)
05/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #5 - 7,498 (+0.3%)
06/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #6 - 7,580 (-1.1%)
07/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #7 - 7,356 (-3.0%)
08/2011: Doctor Who Vol. 2 #8 - 7,480 (+1.7%)
08/2010: Doctor Who Annual 2011 - 6,453 (-13.7%)

The main book is remarkably stable, the annual sells a bit less but it still 600 or so up on last year’s annual.

242. Sergio Aragones Funnies (Bongo)
07/2011: Sergio Aragones Funnies #1 - 9,419
08/2011: Sergio Aragones Funnies #2 - 7,439 (-21.0%)

A fairly average drop-off but still doing quite well. As a Bongo book this probably gets distribution outside of the direct market.

244. Roger Langridge's Snarked (Boom)
08/2011: Roger Langridge's Snarked #0 - 7,159

I would imagine this is quite above what Langridge’s self-published books like Fred the Clown used to sell, and this is a pretty good number.

245. Sonic Universe (Archie)
08/2009: Sonic Universe #7 - 6,873
08/2010: Sonic Universe #19 - 6,814 (-0.4%)

====

09/2010: Sonic Universe #20 - 6,747 (-1.0%)
10/2010: Sonic Universe #21 - 6,843 (+1.4%)
11/2010: Sonic Universe #22 - 6,641 (-3.0%)
12/2010: Sonic Universe #23 - 6,480 (-2.4%)
01/2011: Sonic Universe #24 - 6,228 (-3.9%)
02/2011: Sonic Universe #25 - 6,464 (+3.8%)
03/2011: Sonic Universe #26 - 6,571 (+1.7%)
04/2011: Sonic Universe #27 - 6,636 (+1.0%)
05/2011: Sonic Universe #28 - 6,722 (+1.3%)
06/2011: Sonic Universe #29 - 6,917 (+2.9%)
07/2011: Sonic Universe #30 - 6,892 (-0.4%)
08/2011: Sonic Universe #31 - 7,038 (+2.1%)

Gaining a bit of a boost from the 25th anniversary.

247. Incorruptible (Boom)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Incorruptible #9 - 10,646 (-2.7%)
10/2010: Incorruptible #10 - 10,314 (-3.1%)
10/2010: Incorruptible #11 - 9,844 (-4.6%)
11/2010: Incorruptible #12 - 9,403 (-4.5%)
12/2010: Incorruptible #13 - 8,701 (-7.5%)
01/2011: Incorruptible #14 - 8,512 (-2.2%)
02/2011: Incorruptible #15 - 8,252 (-3.1%)
03/2011: Incorruptible #16 - 8,108 (-1.7%)
04/2011: Incorruptible #17 - 8,257 (+1.8%)
05/2011: Incorruptible #18 - 8,044 (-2.6%)
06/2011: Incorruptible #19 - 7,804 (-3.0%)
07/2011: Incorruptible #20 - 7,584 (-2.8%)
08/2011: Incorruptible #21 - 7,015 (-7.5%)

Dropping off quite fast, but it looks like it might be linking up a bit more closely with Irredeemable, its parent book.

249. Anne Rice Servant of The Bones (IDW)
08/2011: Anne Rice Servant of the Bones #1 - 6,884

Not a brilliant start, possibly the vampire genre is becoming a bit overloaded at the moment. Will probably do well in the book market though.

250. Green Hornet Year One (Dynamite)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Green Hornet Year One #5 - 11,208 (-10.5%)
10/2010: Green Hornet Year One #6 - 10,647 (-5.0%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: Green Hornet Year One #7 - 9,455 (-11.2%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Green Hornet Year One #8 - 8,503 (-10.1%)
03/2011: Green Hornet Year One #9 - 7,620 (-10.4%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Green Hornet Year One #10 - 7,300 (-4.2%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Green Hornet Year One #11 - 6,839 (-6.3%)

Ending with issue twelve, whether there’ll be a Year Two is another question.

251. Queen Sonja (Dynamite)
08/2010: -

=====

09/2010: Queen Sonja #9 - 9,176 (-2.7%)
09/2010: Queen Sonja #10 - 8,975 (-2.2%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: Queen Sonja #11 - 8,502 (-5.3%)
12/2010: Queen Sonja #12 - 8,231 (-3.2%)
01/2011: Queen Sonja #13 - 7,889 (-4.2%)
02/2011: Queen Sonja #14 - 7,636 (-3.2%)
03/2011: Queen Sonja #15 - 7,539 (-1.3%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Queen Sonja #16 - 7,287 (-3.3%)
06/2011: Queen Sonja #17 - 7,241 (-0.6%)
07/2011: Queen Sonja #18 - 6,869 (-5.1%)
08/2011: Queen Sonja #19 - 6,816 (-0.8%)

Only a mild drop this month.

252. Simpsons Comics (Bongo)
08/2006: Simpsons Comics #121 - 10,347
08/2007: Simpsons Comics #133 - 9,366
08/2008: Simpsons Comics #145 - 8,867
08/2009: Simpsons Comics #157 - 7,565
08/2010: Simpsons Comics #169 - 7,396

====

09/2010: Simpsons Comics #170 - 7,320 (-1.0%)
10/2010: Simpsons Comics #171 - 7,429 (+1.5%)
11/2010: Simpsons Comics #172 - 7,429 (0.0%)
12/2010: Simpsons Comics #173 - 7,065 (-4.9%)
01/2011: Simpsons Comics #174 - 6,776 (-4.1%)
02/2011: Simpsons Comics #175 - 6,896 (+1.8%)
03/2011: Simpsons Comics #176 - 6,874 (-0.3%)
04/2011: Simpsons Comics #177 - 6,837 (-0.5%)
05/2011: Simpsons Comics #178 - 6,991 (+2.2%)
06/2011: Simpsons Comics #179 - 6,913 (-1.1%)
07/2011: Simpsons Comics #180 - 6,705 (-3.0%)
08/2011: Simpsons Comics #181 - 6,796 (+1.3%)

It’s been very stable for the last two years, and of course sells outside the direct market.

256. Elric: The Balance Lost (Boom!)
07/2011: The Balance Lost #1 - 9,893
08/2011: The Balance Lost #2 - 6,643 (-32.8%)

Quite a bad drop, but it’ll take a few issues before orders match sales more closely.

257, 278. Zorro Rides Again (Dynamite)
03/2011: Death of Zorro #1 - 9,220
04/2011: Death of Zorro #2 - 7,309 (-20.7%)
05/2011: Death of Zorro #3 - 7,187 (-1.7%)
06/2011: Death of Zorro #4 - 6,634 (-7.7%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Zorro Rides Again #1 - 6,569 (-1.0%)
08/2011: Zorro Rides Again #2 - 5,740 (-12.6%)

Zorro gets no gain whatsoever from the relaunch, and probably isn’t going to be riding for very much longer.

258. Caligula (Avatar)
03/2011: Caligula #1 - 6,712
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Caligula #2 -  6,543 (-2.5%)
07/2011: -
06/2011: Caligula #3 -  6,560 (+0.3%)

Absolutely rock solid.

259. Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Neverland (Zenescope)
08/2010: -

=====

09/2010: Neverland #5 - 7,753 (-11.8%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: -
12/2010: Neverland #6- 7,443 (-4.0%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Neverland #7 - 6,970 (-6.4%)
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: Tales from Neverland #1 - 7,058 (+1.3%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: Tales from Neverland #2 - 6,594 (-6.6%)
08/2011: Tales from Neverland #3 - 6,531 (-0.9%)

This has stabilized very quickly.

265. Fathom Blue Descent (Aspen)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: Fathom Blue Descent #1 - 12,178 (+13.5%)
10/2010: -
11/2010: -
12/2010: -
01/2011: -
02/2011: Fathom Blue Descent #2 - 8,588 (-29.5%)
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: Fathom Blue Descent #3 - 6,398 (-25.6%)

This seems like a big drop, but this is only one of two covers, the other failed to chart but could account for up to 4,500 more copies. There’s only one issue left.

268. Last Phantom (Dynamite)
08/2010: Last Phantom #1 - 12,887

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Last Phantom #2 - 9,859 (-23.5%)
11/2010: Last Phantom #3 - 9,157 (-7.1%)
12/2010:-
01/2011: -
02/2011: Last Phantom #4 - 8,543 (-6.7%)
03/2011: Last Phantom #5 - 7,643 (-10.5%)
04/2011: Last Phantom #6 - 6,902 (-9.7%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Last Phantom #7 - 6,470 (-6.3-%)
07/2011: -
06/2011: Last Phantom #8 - 6,172 (-4.6%)

The drops are finally slowing down a bit.

269. Fly (Zenescope)
06/2011: Fly #1 - 8,148
07/2011: Fly #2 - 6,133 (-24.7%)
08/2011: Fly #3 - 6,133 (0.0%)

Zenescope’s non-Grimm book has is in the very literal sense, completely stable. There were three covers altogether, the other two didn’t chart, but the previous two had four covers, so it’s very difficult to say what this actually sells. It’s probably a fair bit higher.

270. 50 Girls (Image)
06/2011: 50 Girls #1 - 9,121
07/2011: 50 Girls #2 - 6,880 (-24.6%)
07/2011: 50 Girls #3 - 6,127 (-10.9%)

Frank Cho and Doug Murray’s space book isn’t doing tremendously well, there’s only one issue left and I suspect it won’t get a second series.

271. Sinbad Grimm Fairy Tales Dream Eater One-Shot (Zenescope)
08/2011: Sinbad Grimm Fairy Tales Dream Eater One-Shot - 6,059

Well behind the Grimm Fairy Tales part of this crossover.

272. Veronica (Archie)

08/2010: -

======

09/2010: Veronica #202 - 6,167
10/2010: -
11/2010: Veronica #203 - ???? (???)
12/2010: Veronica #204 - ???? (???)
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: Veronica #205 - ???? (???)
04/2011: -
05/2011: Veronica #206 - ???? (???)
06/2011: Veronica #207 - 5,913 (???)
07/2011: -
06/2011: Veronica #208 (Veronica presents Kevin Kellar #2) - 5,981 (+1.1%)

Creeping upward, Archie’s first book with a gay lead character is doing well. I’d be very interested to see how this has been received in the megastore environment in the US, whether there has been any resistance from the notoriously conservative market.

273. ‘68 (Sixty Eight) (Image)
04/2011: 68 #1 - 6,149
05/2011: 68 #2 - 5,553 (-9.7%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: - 68 #3 - 5,954 (+6.7%)

Image’s Vietnam zombie book is picking up nicely, almost to the level it launched at, and I believe first and second issues have had 2nd printings.

274. Soulfire (Aspen)
08/2010: Soulfire Volume Two #7 - 5,969

=====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Soulfire Volume Two #8 - 5,666 (-5.1%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: -
01/2011: Soulfire Volume Two #9 - 5,675 (+0.2%)
02/2011: -
03/2011: Soulfire Volume Three #0 - 6,213 (+9.5%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Soulfire Vol 3. #1 - 7,048 (+13.4%)
07/2011: Soulfire Vol 3. #2 - 6,141 (-12.9%)
07/2011: Soulfire Vol 3. #2 - 5,895 (-4.0%)

Levelling out nicely, but as with most Aspen titles there was another cover that didn’t chart.

275. Executive Assistant Iris (Aspen)
08/2010: -

=====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Executive Assistant Iris #6 - 6,684
11/2010: -
12/2010: -
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Executive Assistant Iris Vol. 2 #0 - 6,929 (+3.7%)
07/2011: Executive Assistant Iris Vol. 2 #1 - 7,021 (+1.3%)
07/2011: Executive Assistant Iris Vol. 2 #2 - 5,843 (-16.7%)

Not too bad a drop, this had another cover that failed to chart, and is part of a series of mini-series focusing on other Executive Assistants, The Hit-List Agenda. None of them have charted either.

276. The Rinse (Boom)
08/2011: The Rinse #1 - 5,819

This is a new crime book from Gary Phillips and Marc Laming, who we haven’t seen since American Century. It launched with a dollar book, so these orders seem a little low, but I understand it’s seen brisk reorders amidst good reviews

279. Hack Slash / Eva (Dynamite)
05/2011: Monsters Ball #1 - 6,893
06/2011: Monsters Ball #2 -  6,093 (-11.6%)
07/2011: -
07/2011: Monsters Ball #3 -  5,726 (-6.0%)

The drops aren’t too bad, and this isn’t that far behind the parent title, which didn’t ship this month, although the last issue sold 8201.

282. Night of the Living Dead (Avatar)
03/2011: Death Valley #1 - 5,800
04/2011: -
05/2011: Death Valley #2 - 5,476 (-5.6%)
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2011: Death Valley #3 - 5,527 (+0.9%)

Slightly up, this is really very stable. There were multiple covers but I don’t know whether they’ve put the sales together, as it doesn’t state which cover this is.

283. Bart Simpson Comics (Bongo)
08/2010: Bart Simpson Comics #55 - 5,956

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Bart Simpson Comics #56 - 6,020 (+1.1%)
11/2010: -
12/2010: Bart Simpson Comics #57 - 5,622 (-6.6%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #58 - 5,478 (-2.6%)
03/2011: -
04/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #59 - 5,490 (+2.2%)
05/2011: -
06/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #60 - 5,589 (+1.8%)
07/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #61 - 5,502 (-1.6%)
08/2011: Bart Simpson Comics #61 - 5,462 (-0.7%)

This has been very stable over the last year, and sells outside the direct market.

284. Warehouse 13 (Dynamite)
08/2011: Warehouse 13 #1 - 5,380

Not an enormous start, but the TV show it’s base on is a very niche show. It’ll be a few months before orders reflect sales.

286. Darkwing Duck (Boom!)
08/2010: Darkwing Duck #3 - 6,355 (+17.7%)

====

09/2010: Darkwing Duck #4 - 6,658 (+4.8%)
10/2010: Darkwing Duck #5 - 6,527 (-2.0%)
11/2010: Darkwing Duck #6 - 6,565 (+0.6%)
12/2010: Darkwing Duck #7 - 6,330 (-3.6%)
01/2011: Darkwing Duck #8 - 6,020 (-4.9%)
02/2011: Darkwing Duck #9 - 5,813 (-3.4%)
03/2011: Darkwing Duck #10 - 5,822 (+0.2%)
03/2011: Darkwing Duck Annual #1 - 5,444 (-6.5%)
04/2011: Darkwing Duck #11 - 5,897 (+8.3%)
05/2011: Darkwing Duck #12 - 5,815 (-1.4%)
06/2011: Darkwing Duck #13 -  5,708 (-1.8%)
07/2011: Darkwing Duck #14 - 5,657 (-0.9%)
08/2011: Darkwing Duck #15 - 5,312 (-6.1%)

One of Boom’s last Disney licenses, this is ending in a few months time.

287. Butcher Baker Righteous Maker (Image)
03/2011: Butcher Baker #1 - 7,637
04/2011: Butcher Baker #2 - 5,098 (-33.2%)
05/2011: Butcher Baker #3 - 6,397 (+25.5%)
06/2011: Butcher Baker #4 - 6,016 (-6.0%)
07/2011: Butcher Baker #5 - 5,658 (-6.0%)
08/2011: Butcher Baker #6 - 5,256 (-7.1%)

This is still dropping off worryingly fast, which is a shame as it’s an enormously fun book.

288. Salem's Daughter (Zenescope)
07/2011: Salem’s Daughter One-Shot - 6,423 (-4.1%)
08/2011: Salem's Daughter Haunting #1 - 5,171 (-19.4%)

Quite a big drop for the first issue of the mini-series, after the Dream Eater crossover one-shot, but again there are other covers.

289. 30 Days of Night Night Again (IDW)
08/2010: -
======
05/2011: Night Again #1 - 8,472
06/2011: Night Again #2 - 7,055 (-16.7%)
07/2011: Night Again #3 - 5,730 (-18.8%)
08/2011: Night Again #4 - 5,157 (-10.0%)

The drops are slowing a little, but this isn’t a very promising start for the first ongoing 30 Days of Night series.

290. Vescell (Image)
08/2011: Vescell #1 - 5,094

Not a bad start for a book by two unknowns. It’s a sci-fi, rent-a-body detective book.

291. Damaged (Radical)
08/2011: Damaged #1 - 4,977

This is another one that had two covers, but the chart placing doesn’t specify whether it’s one cover or both. An okay start for a book destined for a collection and/ or movie option.

292. Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
08/2010: Usagi Yojimbo #131 - 3,583 (-26.1%)

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: Usagi Yojimbo #132 - 4,716 (+31.6%)
11/2010: Usagi Yojimbo #133 - 4,681 (-0.7%)
12/2010: Usagi Yojimbo #134 - 4,699 (+0.4%)
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: Usagi Yojimbo #135 - 4,683 (-0.3%)
04/2011: Usagi Yojimbo #136 - 5,137 (+9.7%)
05/2011: Usagi Yojimbo #137 - 4,803 (-6.5%)
06/2011: Usagi Yojimbo #138 - 4,778 (-0.5%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Usagi Yojimbo #139 - 4,769 (-0.2%)

Really, really stable, almost unchanged over the last year.

293, 294. Savage Dragon (Image)
08/2010: Savage Dragon #163 - 5,447 (-0.9%)

====

09/2010: Savage Dragon #164 - 5,312 (-2.5%)
10/2010: Savage Dragon #165 - 4,992 (-6.0%)
11/2010: Savage Dragon #166 - 4,943 (-1.0%)
12/2010: Savage Dragon #167 - 4,790 (-3.1%)
01/2011: Savage Dragon #168 - 4,880 (+1.9%)
02/2011: Savage Dragon #169 - 4,786 (-1.9%)
03/2011: Savage Dragon #170 - 4,853 (+1.4%)
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: Savage Dragon #171 - 4,888 (+0.7%)
07/2011: -
08/2011: Savage Dragon #172 - 4,717 (-3.5%)
08/2011: Savage Dragon #173 - 4,712 (-0.1%)

A bit of a drop off but really very solid overall.

295. Avengelyne (Image)
07/2011: Avengelyne #1 - 8,851
07/2011: Avengelyne #2 - 4,710 (-46.8%)

Ooh, that’s a very bad drop off, the retailers don’t seem to have very much faith in this comic at all. Owen Gieni’s art is very nice though. This is another one with two covers but nothing to say which or both are charting.

298. Strawberry Shortcake (Ape Entertainment)
08/2011: Strawberry Shortcake Berry Fun #1 - 4,851

I’m not sure whether Ape have had a book chart before, this is a good number, and no doubt this is being published with the book market in mind.

299. Chronicles of Wormwood (Avatar)
08/2010: -

====

09/2010: -
10/2010: -
11/2010: Last Battle #5 - 4,477 (-33.2%)
12/2010: -
01/2011: -
02/2011: -
03/2011: -
04/2011: -
05/2011: -
06/2011: -
07/2011: -
08/2010: Last Battle #6 - 4,532 (+1.2%)

Horribly late, this has finally stabilized in time for the last issue. Not sure if there’ll be much more of this one.

300. Blue Estate (Image)
04/2011: Blue Estate #1 - 5,926
05/2011: Blue Estate #2 - 5,694 (-3.9%)
06/2011: Blue Estate #3 - 5,323 (-6.5%)
07/2011: Blue Estate #4 - 4,950 (-7.0%)
07/2011: Blue Estate #5 - 4,514 (-8.8%)

Image’s odd crime book is dropping sales pretty fast, and accelerating.

======

All figures on this chart are estimates for comics sold by Diamond to direct market retailers. They include reorders that shipped in the same month. Books shipping in the first week of a month will have more time for reorders to appear than ones shipping in the last week of the month, when reorders will slip to the following month.