by Marc-Oliver Frisch

The recovery of DC Comics average sales in the direct market continued in March, but that didn’t prevent the publisher from losing more market share — largely thanks, of course, to two surprise sales juggernauts from other publishers, Marvel Comics’ Captain America #25 and Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1. DC, meanwhile, are left with only one regular title selling in six-digit figures, Justice League of America, as well as last year’s bunch of new launches and revamps, which have largely failed to utilize the recent string of high-profile event storylines to their advantage.

Through plenty of fill-in issues, the publisher has managed to reduce the number of missing titles, but the situation remains far from ideal: Although a number of major titles appear back on track, many perennially delayed ones are still absent, and new ones begin to slip from their schedules. Via its Vertigo and WildStorm imprints, DC launched the ongoing Army@Love and the limited series Grifter & Midnighter, respectively. Neither sub-label looks very healthy right now. Oh, and Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Hellblazer got new writers or creative teams. See below for the details.

Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures. An overview of ICv2.com’s estimates can be found here.

—–

6 - 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
--------------------------------------
07/2006: Justice League #0  -- 162,378 (+118.4%) [169,199]
08/2006: Justice League #1  -- 212,581 (+ 30.9%) [238,353]
09/2006: Justice League #2  -- 143,412 (- 32.5%) [154,923]
10/2006: --
11/2006: Justice League #3  -- 140,939 (-  1.7%) [143,310]
12/2006: Justice League #4  -- 136,709 (-  3.0%) [139,123]
12/2006: Justice League #5  -- 132,460 (-  3.1%) [133,924]
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2006: Justice League #6  -- 130,099 (-  1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: -  9.3%
1 year  :    n.a. 
2 years : +100.8%

The book is sticking to the 130K area. These are remarkably good numbers, obviously. A five-part crossover with the similarly healthy Justice Society of America (see below) is around the corner, so sales will probably remain up for a while. As usual, there was a 1-in-10 variant cover edition.

After three unplanned skip months, it’s also worth mentioning that the book seems to be back on schedule; two issues shipped in April. DC may not have any other perennial 100K+ sales juggernauts left, but this one keeps delivering, at least.

—–

11/12/13/14 - 52
05/2006: 52 Week 1  -- 140,971          [143,611]
05/2006: 52 Week 2  -- 128,393 (- 8.9%) [130,704]
05/2006: 52 Week 3  -- 123,982 (- 3.4%) [126,913]
05/2006: 52 Week 4  -- 121,440 (- 2.1%) [125,297]
06/2006: 52 Week 5  -- 111,895 (- 7.9%) 
06/2006: 52 Week 6  -- 110,028 (- 1.7%) [111,732]
06/2006: 52 Week 7  -- 110,188 (+ 0.2%) [112,618]
06/2006: 52 Week 8  -- 105,107 (- 4.6%) [108,775]
07/2006: 52 Week 9  -- 102,142 (- 2.8%)
07/2006: 52 Week 10 -- 100,779 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: 52 Week 11 -- 122,016 (+21.1%) [123,724]
07/2006: 52 Week 12 --  98,667 (-19.1%) [102,362]
08/2006: 52 Week 13 -- 119,507 (+21.1%)
08/2006: 52 Week 14 -- 118,259 (- 1.4%)
08/2006: 52 Week 15 -- 119,411 (+ 1.0%)
08/2006: 52 Week 16 -- 117,472 (- 1.6%) [118,624]
08/2006: 52 Week 17 -- 116,637 (- 0.7%) [118,775]
09/2006: 52 Week 18 -- 111,830 (- 4.1%)
09/2006: 52 Week 19 -- 111,611 (- 0.2%)
09/2006: 52 Week 20 -- 111,099 (- 0.5%)
09/2006: 52 Week 21 -- 110,350 (- 0.7%) [111,986]
10/2006: 52 Week 22 -- 108,624 (- 1.6%)
10/2006: 52 Week 23 -- 107,962 (- 0.6%)
10/2006: 52 Week 24 -- 107,413 (- 0.5%)
10/2006: 52 Week 25 -- 106,332 (- 1.0%)
11/2006: 52 Week 26 -- 104,614 (- 1.6%)
11/2006: 52 Week 27 -- 104,265 (- 0.3%)
11/2006: 52 Week 28 -- 103,529 (- 0.7%)
11/2006: 52 Week 29 -- 102,699 (- 0.8%)
11/2006: 52 Week 30 -- 102,576 (- 0.1%)
12/2006: 52 Week 31 -- 100,596 (- 1.9%)
12/2006: 52 Week 32 --  99,634 (- 1.0%)
12/2006: 52 Week 33 --  99,441 (- 0.2%)
12/2006: 52 Week 34 --  98,379 (- 1.1%)
01/2007: 52 Week 35 -- 105,095 (+ 6.8%)
01/2007: 52 Week 36 --  96,815 (- 7.9%)
01/2007: 52 Week 37 --  96,612 (- 0.2%)
01/2007: 52 Week 38 --  95,945 (- 6.9%)
01/2007: 52 Week 39 --  94,865 (- 1.1%) [ 96,545]
02/2007: 52 Week 40 --  94,694 (- 0.2%)
02/2007: 52 Week 41 --  94,486 (- 0.2%)
02/2007: 52 Week 42 --  94,220 (- 0.3%)
02/2007: 52 Week 43 --  93,505 (- 0.8%)
03/2007: 52 Week 44 --  94,246 (+ 0.8%)
03/2007: 52 Week 45 --  94,085 (- 0.2%)
03/2007: 52 Week 46 --  93,513 (- 0.6%)
03/2007: 52 Week 47 --  92,676 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -15.8%

Sales remain thoroughly solid as the weekly 52 enters the home stretch. It may have dropped below the 100,000 unit mark, but it’s safe to say that the book is still vastly exceeding the most generous predictions.

—–

15 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
03/2001: JSA #22             --  35,729*
03/2002: JSA #34             --  40,219*
03/2003: JSA #46             --  43,494
03/2004: JSA #59             --  42,553
03/2005: JSA #71             --  42,874
---------------------------------------
03/2006: JSA #83             --  51,991 (-  4.1%) [ 58,624]
04/2006: JSA #84             --  53,245 (+  2.4%)
05/2006: JSA #85             --  52,620 (-  1.2%)
06/2006: JSA #86             --  50,338 (-  4.3%)
07/2006: JSA #87             --  49,583 (-  1.5%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: --
11/2006: --
12/2006: Justice Society #1  -- 102,990 (+107.7%) [108,140]
01/2007: Justice Society #2  --  86,180 (- 16.3%) [ 92,459]
02/2007: Justice Society #3  --  84,356 (-  2.1%) [ 86,014]
03/2007: Justice Society #4  --  84,449 (+  0.1%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : + 62.4% 
2 years : + 97.0%

As far as relaunches go, this one has been rather successful. The numbers are stabilizing unusually quickly, remaining significantly ahead of the book’s previous incarnation. Given that it’s still the same regular creative team, that’s quite impressive. Next up is a crossover with Justice League of America, which probably won’t hurt, either. (There was the usual 1-in-10 variant cover edition, and issue #3 sold another 1,658 copies in March.)

So far, so good.

—–

17 - BATMAN
03/2001: Batman #589 --  40,046*
03/2002: Batman #601 --  48,063*
03/2003: Batman #613 -- 135,242          [147,799]
03/2004: Batman #625 --  83,371          [ 84,753]
03/2005: Batman #638 --  59,797          [ 82,651]
-------------------------------
03/2006: Batman #651 --  69,805 (+ 5.1%) [ 79,616]
04/2006: Batman #652 --  72,889 (+ 4.4%) [ 82,438]
05/2006: Batman #653 --  77,257 (+ 6.0%) [ 78,435]
06/2006: Batman #654 --  76,525 (- 1.0%) [ 78,671]
07/2006: Batman #655 -- 113,567 (+48.4%) [123,903]
08/2006: Batman #656 --  95,982 (-15.5%) [ 99,024]
09/2006: Batman #657 --  91,357 (- 4.8%) [ 96,127]
10/2006: --
11/2006: Batman #658 --  94,349 (+ 3.3%)
11/2006: Batman #659 --  90,651 (- 3.9%)
12/2006: Batman #660 --  76,967 (-15.1%)
12/2006: Batman #661 --  75,512 (- 1.9%)
01/2007: Batman #662 --  72,499 (- 4.0%)
02/2007: Batman #663 --  83,167 (+14.7%)
03/2007: Batman #664 --  80,497 (- 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: -11.9%
1 year  : +15.3%
2 years : +34.6%

Enter the first problem child. Historically, Batman is undeniably doing relatively well, as the long-term comparisons show. It’s still a good 10K ahead of the numbers achieved with the help of the line-wide “One Year Later” stunt in March 2006, for that matter.

Then again, it’s a high-profile character done by a high-profile creative team. Despite regular artist Andy Kubert’s return, however, sales dropped again in March, suggesting that whatever momentum there was after Morrison and Kubert’s initial arc back in November has been killed by the shipping delays and the fill-in four-parter.

Tragically, the three-month breather afforded by the fill-ins doesn’t even seem to have served its purpose of getting the book back on schedule: Issue #665, originally solicited for April 25, has already been pushed back to May 16, and another fill-in artist is required for issues #667-668.

Make no mistake: The book is still doing well. But it’s not doing quite as well as it should be, and it doesn’t seem to be over its scheduling issues yet.

—–

19 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
03/2004: Superman/Batman #7  -- 108,791          [113,097]
03/2005: --
---------------------------------------
03/2006: Superman/Batman #24 -- 101,315 (- 0.9%) [103,757]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Superman/Batman #25 -- 103,702 (+ 2.4%) [110,845]
05/2006: Superman/Batman #26 -- 118,821 (+14.6%) [130,077]
06/2006: Superman/Batman #27 --  95,717 (-19.4%)
07/2006: Superman/Batman #28 --  92,603 (- 3.2%)
08/2006: Superman/Batman #29 --  90,665 (- 2.1%)
09/2006: --
10/2006: --
11/2006: Superman/Batman #30 --  84,008 (- 7.3%)
12/2006: Superman/Batman #31 --  81,716 (- 2.7%)
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2006: Superman/Batman #32 --  77,905 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  : -23.1%
2 years :   n.a.

Another high-profile mess. Issue #32 was originally solicited for December, and a guest writer has been brought in to finish the next arc. In fairness, two issues shipped in April, so it looks like the book is catching up with its schedule. But sales are still sliding down.

—–

27 - ACTION COMICS
03/2001: Action Comics #777 -- 33,086* 
03/2002: Action Comics #789 -- 34,293*
03/2003: Action Comics #801 -- 32,445
03/2004: Action Comics #813 -- 66,038
03/2005: Action Comics #825 -- 40,877
-------------------------------------
03/2006: Action Comics #837 -- 55,816 (+ 7.9%) [69,652]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Action Comics #838 -- 62,702 (+12.3%)
05/2006: Action Comics #839 -- 61,898 (- 1.3%) [64,278]
06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 (- 0.2%) [63,676]
07/2006: Action Comics #841 -- 58,657 (- 5.1%)
08/2006: Action Comics #842 -- 57,964 (- 1.2%)
09/2006: Action Comics #843 -- 56,084 (- 3.2%)
10/2006: Action Comics #844 -- 78,869 (+40.6%) [88,290]
11/2006: Action Comics #845 -- 66,742 (-15.4%) [71,135]
12/2006: --
01/2007: --
02/2007: Action Comics #846 -- 64,554 (- 3.3%) [66,349]
03/2007: Action Comics #847 -- 64,679 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: +15.3%
1 year  : +15.9%
2 years : +58.2%

Issue #847 was the first of a string of fill-ins. For those keeping count, it was initially solicited for February and meant to be a continuation of “Last Son,” the initial arc by the high-profile creative team of writers Geoff Johns and Richard Donner and artist Adam Kubert. There was also going to be a special “3-D” gimmick edition of the comic, shipped with 3-D glasses, presenting “portions of the content and the cover in 3-D.”

Given that Action Comics #847 ended up being a fill-in instead, none of that applies, of course, but the original plans may explain why sales went up from February’s chapter of “Last Son,” instead of down — it seems a number of retailers neglected to adjust their orders when the changes were announced.

Take a deep breath now, it’s getting complicated.

Remember the litany of content and shipping date revisions announced by DC in February as a means of getting Action Comics back on track? Well, forget about them. For my sins, they went and revised the revisions. The digest version: “Last Son” will now not be finished in issues #851-853, after all. Rather, according to information pieced together from the solicitations and from comments made online by Johns, it will only pay the book a quick visit in #851. After that, it’s shuffled off to Action Comics Annual #11, with no hint at a release date. Given that Action Comics Annual #10 was only released a couple of months ago, that apparently means they’re not expecting the story to be done until, remarkably, 2008.

After that, in addition to the previously announced makeshift stories assembled for Action Comics #847-850, another fill-in arc will follow. According to the solicitations, it will start with issue #852 and run for three issues. Of course, this in turn means that the next arc by the regular writers, previously announced to start with issue #854, will also have to be pushed back by at least one issue. Following the Wonder Woman fiasco, Action Comics is the second case of DC cutting their losses, abandoning the first arc of a high-profile creative team’s major revamp and leaving it unfinished — “until it’s done.”

“Last Son” keeps generating sales, meanwhile: A second printing of issue #845 sold another 2,407 copies in March, while #846 sold re-orders of 1,795. Overall, as with Batman, it should be pointed out that Action Comics is by no means doing badly at present. But given the name power of the regular creative team and the extent to which their story was hyped, the numbers are underwhelming. And, as with Batman, the hectic schedule changes and the endless fill-ins are likely to hurt whatever momentum it’s got left.

For what it’s worth, the current string of filler stories at least seems to be doing it’s job of getting the book out there regularly. Further down the line, it seems the Action Comics schedule is still a big, ugly mess, however.

—–

28/32 - 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
-------------------------------------
06/2006: Wonder Woman #1   -- 132,580 (+190.2%) [139,562]
07/2006: --
08/2006: Wonder Woman #2   --  84,618 (- 36.2%) [ 87,276]
09/2006: --
10/2006: --
11/2006: Wonder Woman #3   --  76,998 (-  9.0%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: --
02/2007: Wonder Woman #4   --  69,860 (-  9.3%)
03/2007: Wonder Woman #5   --  64,414 (-  7.8%)
03/2007: Wonder Woman #6   --  62,458 (-  3.0%)
-----------------
6 months:   n.a.
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : +108.2%

Speaking of big, ugly messes, this one seems to be sorted out, more or less, if you ignore that a major story arc is being left unfinished. Issue #5 was originally meant to be the conclusion to writer Allan Heinberg and artist Terry Dodson’s much-delayed reboot arc, but that’s now been put on hold indefinitely. Consequently, the issue ended up being a fill-in — in this case, a one-shot lead-in to an upcoming limited series. Given that the content change was made on relatively short notice, it’s likely that sales still reflect the orders for the original content.

Issue #6 marks the arrival of a new creative team, novelist Jodi Picoult and artist Drew Johnson. DC did their best to hype Picoult’s run, but retailers don’t seem impressed: All the new arc does to the book’s numbers is to slow down the ongoing decline somewhat. After Picoult’s five-part story is done, there will be two more fill-ins before a new regular creative team takes over.

You know this month’s recurring theme, at this stage: The book is doing relatively well, looking at the last several years, but as far as relaunches and high-profile revamps go, it’s a big embarrassment.

—–

29 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
02/2007: The Brave and the Bold #1  -- 92,091          [96,510]
03/2007: The Brave and the Bold #2  -- 64,357 (-30.1%)

Mixed signals: The book started out with excellent numbers, but this is a very steep second-issue drop. In part, to be fair, that’s because issue #1 came with a 1-in-10 variant cover edition and #2 didn’t; and the 4,419 additional units sold of #1 in March do suggest that there’s demand for the book. Still, a third of the debut issue’s sales has evaporated, and that’s not very encouraging.

—–

33 - 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 (- 7.9%) [ 87,143]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Green Lantern #11  --  78,926 (- 1.0%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Green Lantern #12  --  80,292 (+ 1.7%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Green Lantern #13  --  78,101 (- 2.7%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Green Lantern #14  --  72,894 (- 6.7%)
11/2006: Green Lantern #15  --  70,148 (- 3.8%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: Green Lantern #16  --  66,105 (- 5.8%)
02/2007: Green Lantern #17  --  62,018 (- 6.2%)
03/2007: Green Lantern #18  --  61,661 (- 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: -21.1%
1 year  : -22.7%
2 years :  n.a.

The book’s scheduling woes aren’t over. Contrary to the solicitations, artist Ivan Reis didn’t draw issue #18, and #19 has been pushed back to May. At least there wasn’t a big sales drop in March.

—–

34 - TEEN TITANS
03/2004: Teen Titans #9  -- 69,056
03/2005: Teen Titans #22 -- 67,780
----------------------------------
03/2006: Teen Titans #33 -- 67,208 (- 2.8%)
04/2006: Teen Titans #34 -- 82,503 (+22.8%) [90,051]
05/2006: Teen Titans #35 -- 72,954 (-11.6%)
05/2006: Teen Titans #36 -- 71,486 (- 2.0%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Teen Titans #37 -- 71,263 (- 0.3%)
08/2006: Teen Titans #38 -- 69,232 (- 2.9%)
09/2006: Teen Titans #39 -- 65,969 (- 4.7%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Teen Titans #40 -- 64,176 (- 2.7%)
11/2006: Teen Titans #41 -- 61,714 (- 3.8%)
12/2006: Teen Titans #42 -- 60,165 (- 2.5%)
01/2007: Teen Titans #43 -- 60,290 (+ 0.2%) [62,560]
02/2007: --
03/2007: Teen Titans #44 -- 61,572 (+ 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.7%
1 year  : - 8.4%
2 years : - 9.2%

Writer Geoff Johns’ final storyline keeps gaining steam, reversing the recent downward trend. A new creative team takes over with issue #47.

—–

37 - 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 (+  2.5%) [ 77,783]
04/2006: Superman #651 --  73,355 (+ 11.8%)
05/2006: Superman #652 --  70,458 (-  4.0%)
06/2006: Superman #653 --  69,079 (-  2.0%)
07/2006: Superman #654 --  69,526 (+  0.7%)
08/2006: Superman #655 --  66,976 (-  3.7%)
09/2006: Superman #656 --  64,288 (-  4.0%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Superman #657 --  62,327 (-  3.1%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: Superman #658 --  60,682 (-  2.6%)
02/2007: Superman #659 --  58,258 (-  4.0%)
03/2007: Superman #660 --  57,169 (-  1.9%)
----------------
6 months: -11.1%
1 year  : -12.9%
2 years : -43.4%

Another major title that’s recently undergone extensive scheduling and content changes. Issue #660, initially solicited for a January release, ended up being a hastily arranged fill-in.

But in this case, it’s not as jarring as with Action Comics or Wonder Woman. For one thing, the issue was always meant to be a filler story — the problem, in this case, was that the filler story originally scheduled to appear was already published in February’s issue #659, because the filler story set to appear in #659 was shelved by DC for undisclosed reasons, despite being finished. For another, the Superman fill-ins are all by the regular writer and occur in-between arcs, rather than in the middle of them. The regular storyline — and artist Carlos Pacheco — are currently set to return in May’s issue #662. The numbers keep declining, meanwhile.

—–

39/41 - 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 (+75.8%) [70,241]
04/2006: Detective Comics #818 -- 60,440 (- 2.9%) [68,189]
05/2006: Detective Comics #819 -- 65,800 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Detective Comics #820 -- 65,988 (+ 0.3%)
07/2006: Detective Comics #821 -- 67,345 (+ 2.1%)
08/2006: Detective Comics #822 -- 66,372 (- 1.5%)
09/2006: Detective Comics #823 -- 64,215 (- 3.3%)
10/2006: Detective Comics #824 -- 62,431 (- 2.8%)
11/2006: Detective Comics #825 -- 58,940 (- 5.6%)
12/2006: Detective Comics #826 -- 59,657 (+ 1.2%)
12/2006: Detective Comics #827 -- 55,031 (- 7.8%)
01/2007: --
02/2007: Detective Comics #828 -- 55,206 (+ 0.3%)
03/2007: Detective Comics #829 -- 52,943 (- 4.1%)
03/2007: Detective Comics #830 -- 52,395 (- 1.0%)
----------------
6 months: -18.0%
1 year  : -15.4%
2 years : +33.7%

The March issues were fill-ins; so, we recall, was issue #825, and another will follow in issue #832. They’re not much of an interruption, given that the regular writer largely sticks to one-shot stories, but sales clearly take a hit whenever it happens. The book is still doing well, but it’s obvious that the filler stories are hurting it.

—–

42 - SUPERGIRL
03/2001: Supergirl #56 -- 20,103*
03/2002: Supergirl #68 -- 19,547*
--------------------------------
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: Supergirl #6  -- 102,860 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Supergirl #7  --  85,175 (-17.2%)
07/2006: Supergirl #8  --  76,942 (- 9.7%)
08/2006: Supergirl #9  --  74,252 (- 3.5%)
09/2006: Supergirl #10 --  67,358 (- 9.3%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Supergirl #11 --  62,544 (- 7.2%)
12/2006: Supergirl #12 --  59,819 (- 4.4%)
12/2006: Supergirl #13 --  56,648 (- 5.3%)
01/2007: --
02/2007: Supergirl #14 --  52,977 (- 6.5%)
01/2007: Supergirl #15 --  51,083 (- 3.6%)
----------------
6 months: -24.2%
1 year  :   n.a.

Things are looking up: The decline is finally slowing down and the book is back on schedule. With issue #16, it’s joined by a new regular artist and, temporarily, a co-writer.

On the one hand, Supergirl has shed half of its audience over the past year. But then again, if it settles down around 50K, it’s still going to be a decent seller, and miles ahead of its previous incarnation, as the long-term comparisons show.

—–

51 - FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE
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]
----------------------------------
06/2006: Flash: FMA #1  -- 120,404 (+196.8%) [126,741]
07/2006: Flash: FMA #2  --  77,487 (- 35.6%) [ 82,501]
08/2006: Flash: FMA #3  --  70,633 (-  8.9%) [ 72,067]
09/2006: Flash: FMA #4  --  66,663 (-  5.6%)
10/2006: Flash: FMA #5  --  61,576 (-  7.6%)
11/2006: Flash: FMA #6  --  56,789 (-  7.8%)
12/2006: Flash: FMA #7  --  53,600 (-  5.6%)
01/2007: Flash: FMA #8  --  50,967 (-  4.9%)
02/2007: Flash: FMA #9  --  47,214 (-  7.4%)
03/2007: Flash: FMA #10 --  46,133 (-  2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -30.8%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : - 1.5%

It’s not exactly a trend reversal yet, but at least the writer change with issue #9 seems to slow the book’s sales decline somewhat. As far as relaunches go, this one’s plainly been a disaster; sales have crashed back to the level of the title’s previous incarnation, and it appears the target audience hates the book — and the new protagonist — with a passion.

After months of apathy, DC are now taking promotional steps to improve the book’s fortunes through a rush-solicited artist change and variant cover edition for issue #11, as well as a secret “special Flash promotion” they only tell retailers about for issues #13 and #14. While there’s a good chance that whatever gimmicks and stunts they’ve planned will provide a sales boost in the short term, the prospects of a healthy long-term series will surely depend on readers liking the title character.

—–

55 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
03/2004: The Authority #10    -- 21,943
03/2005: TA: Revolution #6    -- 20,229
---------------------------------------
10/2006: The Authority #1     -- 58,136 (+218.5%)
11/2006: --
12/2006: --
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2007: The Authority #2     -- 39,886 (- 31.4%)
-----------------
2 years : + 97.2%

Another fiasco. Wildcats and The Authority, both written by Grant Morrison, were meant to be the recently relaunched WildStorm Universe line’s two flagship titles, published bi-monthly and in alternating months. In reality, the first issues of both series were released in October, due to Wildcats being a month late. Months later, the second issue of Wildcats has yet to appear. Initially scheduled for November, it’s since been pushed back to March, then to the last week of May, and has now been taken off the schedule altogether, apparently.

The Authority hasn’t fared much better. The second issue, originally solicited for December, may finally be out, but the book’s current status is “on hiatus.” Given that the artist has been assigned to other projects in order not to have to sit around and twiddle his thumbs, it seems there’s a hold-up at the writing stage. According to artist Gene Ha, he and Morrison will finish their run with issue #4. Quite when that happens, though, is anyone’s guess; given DC’s recent policy shift when it comes to delays, it’s entirely possible for the series to move on without them, at this stage.

That’s a rather stiff second-issue drop, at any rate, but that’s not unexpected. It’s hard to view the WildStorm Universe relaunch as anything but a dismal failure.

—–

56 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
12/2006: Batman Confidential #1  -- 61,119
01/2007: Batman Confidential #2  -- 47,451 (-22.4%)
02/2007: Batman Confidential #3  -- 41,109 (-13.4%)
03/2007: Batman Confidential #4  -- 38,735 (- 5.8%)

Finding its level. The numbers don’t look enthusiastic, but the book is still a good 10K ahead of its predecessor, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.

—–

59 - SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL
11/2006: Superman Confidential #1  -- 60,157
12/2006: Superman Confidential #2  -- 46,765 (-22.3%)
01/2007: Superman Confidential #3  -- 41,346 (-11.6%)
02/2007: --
03/2007: Superman Confidential #4  -- 36,779 (-11.1%)

Over here, sales are not leveling out, on the other hand. And the book’s schedule is starting to look sketchy: Issue #5 has been pushed back from April to June, apparently.

—–

62 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 of 5   -- 60,123 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Green Lantern Corps #1  -- 76,686 (+27.6%)
07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 56,886 (-25.8%)
08/2006: Green Lantern Corps #3  -- 51,485 (- 9.5%)
09/2006: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 46,619 (- 9.5%)
10/2006: Green Lantern Corps #5  -- 43,546 (- 6.6%)
11/2006: Green Lantern Corps #6  -- 41,089 (- 5.6%)
12/2006: Green Lantern Corps #7  -- 38,737 (- 5.7%)
01/2007: Green Lantern Corps #8  -- 36,924 (- 4.7%)
02/2007: Green Lantern Corps #9  -- 34,897 (- 5.5%)
03/2007: Green Lantern Corps #10 -- 34,227 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: -26.0%
1 year  : -43.1%

The decline is finally slowing down. The book’s nosedive over the past year is not a charming sight, but it’s still selling decently for a Green Lantern spin-off, admittedly.

—–

66 - ION
04/2006: Ion #1  of 12 -- 66,453          [74,727]
05/2006: Ion #2  of 12 -- 55,532 (-16.4%) [57,415]
06/2006: Ion #3  of 12 -- 51,739 (- 6.8%)
07/2006: Ion #4  of 12 -- 49,981 (- 3.4%)
08/2006: Ion #5  of 12 -- 45,764 (- 8.4%)
09/2006: Ion #6  of 12 -- 41,832 (- 8.6%)
10/2006: Ion #7  of 12 -- 38,795 (- 7.3%)
11/2006: Ion #8  of 12 -- 36,541 (- 5.8%)
12/2006: Ion #9  of 12 -- 35,566 (- 2.7%)
01/2007: Ion #10 of 12 -- 33,719 (- 5.2%)
02/2007: Ion #11 of 12 -- 33,042 (- 2.0%)
03/2007: Ion #12 of 12 -- 33,020 (- 0.1%)
----------------
6 months: -21.1%

Virtually no change with the final issue. It’s another title spun out of Green Lantern, so this sales level is still perfectly alright.

—–

67 - OUTSIDERS
03/2004: Outsiders #10 -- 43,511          [44,555]
03/2005: Outsiders #22 -- 38,886          [41,716]
--------------------------------
03/2006: Outsiders #34 -- 47,286 (+ 9.3%) [51,527]
04/2006: Outsiders #35 -- 45,774 (- 3.2%)
05/2006: Outsiders #36 -- 45,705 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Outsiders #38 -- 41,974 (- 4.8%)
08/2006: Outsiders #39 -- 40,524 (- 3.5%)
09/2006: Outsiders #40 -- 38,626 (- 4.7%)
10/2006: Outsiders #41 -- 36,672 (- 5.1%)
11/2006: Outsiders #42 -- 35,598 (- 2.9%)
12/2006: Outsiders #43 -- 34,243 (- 3.8%)
01/2007: Outsiders #44 -- 34,437 (+ 0.6%)
02/2007: Outsiders #45 -- 32,976 (- 4.2%)
03/2007: Outsiders #46 -- 32,577 (- 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: -15.7%
1 year  : -31.1%
2 years : -16.2%

The decline is coming to an end again, it seems.

—–

70 - SHAZAM: THE MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL
02/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #1 of 4 -- 35,970
03/2007: SHAZAM: Monster Society #2 of 4 -- 31,957 (-11.2%)

That’s a regular second-issue drop for a cardboard-cover miniseries. Although the book looks like it’s primarily aimed at different channels, it’s holding its own very well in the direct market.

—–

71 - 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 (+19.8%) [51,775]
04/2006: Nightwing #119 -- 46,336 (+ 9.0%)
05/2006: Nightwing #120 -- 46,076 (- 0.6%)
06/2006: Nightwing #121 -- 44,974 (- 2.4%)
07/2006: Nightwing #122 -- 42,542 (- 5.4%)
08/2006: Nightwing #123 -- 40,111 (- 5.7%)
09/2006: Nightwing #124 -- 38,251 (- 4.6%)
10/2006: Nightwing #125 -- 38,470 (+ 0.6%)
11/2006: Nightwing #126 -- 36,145 (- 6.0%)
12/2006: Nightwing #127 -- 34,889 (- 3.5%)
01/2007: Nightwing #128 -- 33,930 (- 2.8%)
02/2007: Nightwing #129 -- 32,651 (- 3.8%)
03/2007: Nightwing #130 -- 31,788 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -16.9%
1 year  : -25.3%
2 years : -18.2%

Still declining, slowly but surely, and the drops are adding up.

—–

72 - GREEN ARROW
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 (+21.4%) [43,045]
04/2006: Green Arrow #61 -- 35,993 (- 5.2%) [40,621]
05/2006: Green Arrow #62 -- 39,185 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Green Arrow #63 -- 37,803 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Green Arrow #64 -- 36,148 (- 4.4%)
08/2006: Green Arrow #65 -- 35,705 (- 1.2%)
09/2006: Green Arrow #66 -- 33,793 (- 5.4%)
10/2006: Green Arrow #67 -- 32,583 (- 3.6%)
11/2006: Green Arrow #68 -- 32,135 (- 1.4%)
12/2006: Green Arrow #69 -- 32,234 (+ 0.3%)
01/2007: Green Arrow #70 -- 31,798 (- 1.4%)
02/2007: Green Arrow #71 -- 31,470 (- 1.0%)
03/2007: Green Arrow #72 -- 31,144 (- 1.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.8%
1 year  : -17.9%
2 years : - 1.7%

Standard attrition. The book is axed with issue #75.

—–

76 - 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 (+23.4%)
04/2006: Birds of Prey #93  -- 34,404 (- 6.5%)
05/2006: Birds of Prey #94  -- 34,905 (+ 1.5%)
06/2006: Birds of Prey #95  -- 33,954 (- 2.7%)
07/2006: Birds of Prey #96  -- 32,219 (- 5.1%)
08/2006: Birds of Prey #97  -- 31,578 (- 2.0%)
09/2006: Birds of Prey #98  -- 32,715 (+ 3.6%)
10/2006: Birds of Prey #99  -- 30,385 (- 7.1%)
11/2006: Birds of Prey #100 -- 34,607 (+13.9%)
12/2006: Birds of Prey #101 -- 29,825 (-13.8%)
01/2007: Birds of Prey #102 -- 29,043 (- 2.6%)
02/2007: Birds of Prey #103 -- 28,327 (- 2.5%)
03/2007: Birds of Prey #104 -- 28,464 (+ 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: -13.0%
1 year  : -22.7%
2 years : - 5.0%

Stabilizing again, and still within its usual range.

—–

77 - 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 (+14.3%) [42,442]
04/2006: Robin #149 -- 37,173 (+ 1.2%)
05/2006: Robin #150 -- 41,417 (+11.4%)
06/2006: Robin #151 -- 38,921 (- 6.0%)
07/2006: Robin #152 -- 37,466 (- 3.7%)
08/2006: Robin #153 -- 36,608 (- 2.3%)
09/2006: Robin #154 -- 34,387 (- 6.1%)
10/2006: Robin #155 -- 32,951 (- 4.2%)
11/2006: Robin #156 -- 31,682 (- 3.9%)
12/2006: Robin #157 -- 30,556 (- 3.6%)
01/2007: Robin #158 -- 29,464 (- 3.6%)
02/2007: Robin #159 -- 28,210 (- 4.3%)
03/2007: Robin #160 -- 27,659 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: -19.6%
1 year  : -24.7%
2 years : -12.6%

The decline is slowing down again. It’s about time.

—–

80/81 - 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 (+0.6%)
04/2006: Fables #48 -- 24,476 (+0.8%)
05/2006: Fables #49 -- 24,444 (-0.1%)
06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210 (+7.2%)
07/2006: Fables #51 -- 25,087 (-4.3%)
08/2006: Fables #52 -- 25,378 (+1.2%)
09/2006: Fables #53 -- 25,388 (+0.0%)
10/2006: Fables #54 -- 25,534 (+0.6%)
11/2006: Fables #55 -- 25,635 (+0.4%)
12/2006: Fables #56 -- 25,892 (+1.0%)
01/2007: Fables #57 -- 25,744 (-0.6%)
02/2007: --
03/2007: Fables #58 -- 26,065 (+1.3%)
03/2007: Fables #59 -- 25,815 (-1.0%)
---------------
6 months: +2.2%
1 year  : +6.9%
2 years : +6.0%

The book catches up with its schedule after missing its February shipping date. On balance, sales are climbing again.

—–

82 - Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo)
03/2003: Y: The Last Man #9  -- 24,384
03/2004: Y: The Last Man #20 -- 26,454
03/2005: --
--------------------------------------
03/2006: Y: The Last Man #43 -- 25,877 (+0.4%)
04/2006: Y: The Last Man #44 -- 25,985 (+0.4%)
05/2006: Y: The Last Man #45 -- 25,866 (-0.5%)
06/2006: Y: The Last Man #46 -- 25,881 (+0.1%)
07/2006: Y: The Last Man #47 -- 25,791 (-0.4%)
08/2006: Y: The Last Man #48 -- 25,829 (+0.2%)
09/2006: Y: The Last Man #49 -- 25,690 (-0.5%)
10/2006: Y: The Last Man #50 -- 26,802 (+4.3%)
11/2006: Y: The Last Man #51 -- 25,606 (-4.5%)
12/2006: Y: The Last Man #52 -- 25,422 (-0.7%)
01/2007: Y: The Last Man #53 -- 25,375 (-0.2%)
02/2007: Y: The Last Man #54 -- 25,374 (-0.0%)
03/2007: Y: The Last Man #55 -- 25,300 (-0.3%)
---------------
6 months: -1.5%
1 year  : -2.2%
2 years :  n.a.

Doing its usual rock-solid performance. Unfortunately, only five more issues are left, and a replacement is nowhere in sight.

—–

85 - THE SPIRIT
11/2006: Batman/The Spirit -- 35,541          [39,666]
12/2006: The Spirit #1     -- 34,558 (- 2.8%) [36,900]
01/2007: The Spirit #2     -- 27,245 (-21.2%)
02/2007: The Spirit #3     -- 25,516 (- 6.4%)
03/2007: The Spirit #4     -- 24,383 (- 4.4%)

Leveling out, and still doing nicely. The Spirit #1 sold another 2,342 units in March.

—–

90 - UNCLE SAM & THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
07/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #1 of 8 -- 40,736
08/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #2 of 8 -- 31,616 (-22.4%) [32,758]
09/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #3 of 8 -- 28,430 (-10.1%)
10/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #4 of 8 -- 26,527 (- 6.7%)
11/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #5 of 8 -- 25,144 (- 5.2%)
12/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #6 of 8 -- 23,321 (- 7.3%)
01/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #7 of 8 -- 22,460 (- 3.7%)
02/2007: --
03/2007: Uncle Sam & FF #8 of 8 -- 22,507 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: -20.8%

The final issue brings a marginal increase. Although the decline since issue #1 hasn’t been pretty, the book finishes with fairly decent numbers, given the title characters.

—–

91 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER
03/2001: Martian Manhunter #33     -- 15,566*
--------------------------------------------
08/2006: Martian Manhunter #1 of 8 -- 41,263
09/2006: Martian Manhunter #2 of 8 -- 32,624 (-20.9%)
10/2006: Martian Manhunter #3 of 8 -- 29,286 (-10.2%)
11/2006: Martian Manhunter #4 of 8 -- 27,390 (- 6.5%)
12/2006: Martian Manhunter #5 of 8 -- 25,522 (- 6.8%)
01/2007: Martian Manhunter #6 of 8 -- 24,128 (- 5.5%)
02/2007: Martian Manhunter #7 of 8 -- 22,854 (- 5.3%)
03/2007: Martian Manhunter #8 of 8 -- 22,185 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -32.0%

Much of the same here.

—–

92 - JSA: CLASSIFIED
03/2006: JSA: Classified #10 -- 41,332 (+ 5.7%)
04/2006: JSA: Classified #11 -- 37,815 (- 8.5%)
05/2006: JSA: Classified #12 -- 37,446 (- 1.0%)
06/2006: JSA: Classified #13 -- 36,066 (- 3.7%)
07/2006: JSA: Classified #14 -- 33,832 (- 6.2%)
08/2006: JSA: Classified #15 -- 32,308 (- 4.5%)
08/2006: JSA: Classified #16 -- 32,173 (- 0.4%)
09/2006: JSA: Classified #17 -- 30,340 (- 5.7%)
10/2006: JSA: Classified #18 -- 26,783 (-11.7%)
11/2006: JSA: Classified #19 -- 25,663 (- 4.2%)
12/2006: JSA: Classified #20 -- 24,722 (- 3.7%)
01/2007: JSA: Classified #21 -- 24,476 (- 1.0%)
01/2007: JSA: Classified #22 -- 23,830 (- 2.6%)
02/2007: JSA: Classified #23 -- 22,730 (- 4.6%)
03/2007: JSA: Classified #24 -- 22,113 (- 2.7%)
----------------
6 months: -27.1%
1 year  : -46.5%

Declining. The two Classified titles are among DC’s worst long-term performers.

—–

93 - THE HELMET OF FATE
01/2007: HoF: Detective Chimp #1     -- 25,338
01/2007: HoF: Ibis the Invincible #1 -- 24,113 (-4.8%)
02/2007: HoF: Sargon the Sorcerer #1 -- 22,430 (-7.0%)
02/2007: HoF: Black Alice #1         -- 21,956 (-2.1%)
03/2007: HoF: Zauriel #1             -- 21,871 (-0.4%)

These one-shots have all done perfectly well. Doctor Fate, the book they were meant to lead up to, still hasn’t been resolicited.

—–

94 - JLA: CLASSIFIED
03/2005: JLA: Classified #5  -- 51,390
--------------------------------------
03/2006: JLA: Classified #18 -- 35,873 (- 5.6%)
03/2006: JLA: Classified #19 -- 35,300 (- 1.6%)
04/2006: JLA: Classified #20 -- 34,039 (- 3.6%)
05/2006: JLA: Classified #21 -- 33,800 (- 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #22 -- 34,023 (+ 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #23 -- 33,564 (- 1.4%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #24 -- 31,697 (- 5.6%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #25 -- 30,709 (- 3.1%)
08/2006: JLA: Classified #26 -- 27,816 (- 9.4%)
09/2006: JLA: Classified #27 -- 27,754 (- 0.2%)
10/2006: JLA: Classified #28 -- 26,003 (- 6.3%)
11/2006: JLA: Classified #29 -- 24,785 (- 4.7%)
12/2006: JLA: Classified #30 -- 23,644 (- 4.6%)
01/2007: JLA: Classified #31 -- 22,939 (- 3.0%)
01/2007: JLA: Classified #32 -- 23,091 (+ 0.7%)
01/2007: JLA: Classified #33 -- 22,504 (- 2.5%)
02/2007: JLA: Classified #34 -- 22,347 (- 0.7%)
02/2007: JLA: Classified #35 -- 21,998 (- 1.6%)
03/2007: JLA: Classified #36 -- 21,799 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -21.5%
1 year  : -38.7%
2 years : -57.6%

Standard attrition. The arc by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens has slowed the book’s decline considerably.

—–

95 - THE MIDNIGHTER (WildStorm)
11/2006: The Midnighter #1  -- 39,796
12/2006: The Midnighter #2  -- 30,464 (-23.5%)
01/2007: The Midnighter #3  -- 27,564 (- 9.5%)
02/2007: The Midnighter #4  -- 24,792 (-10.1%)
03/2007: The Midnighter #5  -- 21,452 (-13.5%)

Another hellish drop, and this one happens without any readily obvious reason. It’s not even close to cancellation territory yet, mind you. However, if this performance is anything to go by, it makes you shudder to think what’s going to happen after issue #6, once writer Garth Ennis moves on.

—–

96 - GEN13 (WildStorm)
03/2001: Gen13 #63 -- 20,844*
03/2002: Gen13 #75 -- 16,577*
03/2003: Gen13 #7 --  18,028
----------------------------
10/2006: Gen13 #1  -- 47,535
11/2006: Gen13 #2  -- 33,494 (-29.5%)
12/2006: Gen13 #3  -- 30,233 (- 9.7%)
01/2007: Gen13 #4  -- 27,615 (- 8.7%)
02/2007: Gen13 #5  -- 22,422 (-18.8%)
03/2007: Gen13 #6  -- 21,356 (- 4.8%)

The book seems to be finding its level. More than half the numbers from issue #1 are gone, but if the book settles down at around 20K, it’s still going to be doing very well by WildStorm standards. Among the eight new WildStorm Universe titles, this one seems to have the best long-term prospects, at present: It’s coming out monthly, it’s doing fairly well and the writer seems to be sticking around.

—–

99 - SHADOWPACT
05/2006: Shadowpact #1  -- 50,279
06/2006: Shadowpact #2  -- 39,969 (-20.5%)
07/2006: Shadowpact #3  -- 36,341 (- 9.1%)
08/2006: Shadowpact #4  -- 33,383 (- 8.1%)
09/2006: Shadowpact #5  -- 29,983 (-10.2%)
09/2006: Shadowpact #6  -- 27,276 (- 9.0%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Shadowpact #7  -- 25,701 (- 5.8%)
12/2006: Shadowpact #8  -- 23,898 (- 7.0%)
01/2007: Shadowpact #9  -- 22,866 (- 4.3%)
02/2007: Shadowpact #10 -- 21,823 (- 4.6%)
03/2007: Shadowpact #11 -- 21,114 (- 3.3%)
----------------
6 months: -26.3%

Leveling out, it seems. This is a prime illustration of DC’s singular failure to capitalize on their recent succession of “event” titles and storylines: Despite a lot of goodwill from readers and retailers early on, nearly all of their new titles launched over the past year have proceeded to crash and burn spectacularly.

—–

103 - 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 (+29.7%) [34,428]
04/2006: Catwoman #54 -- 28,922 (+ 1.6%)
05/2006: Catwoman #55 -- 30,184 (+ 4.4%)
06/2006: Catwoman #56 -- 28,942 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Catwoman #57 -- 27,302 (- 5.7%)
08/2006: Catwoman #58 -- 26,568 (- 1.0%)
09/2006: Catwoman #59 -- 25,324 (- 4.7%)
10/2006: Catwoman #60 -- 24,117 (- 4.8%)
11/2006: Catwoman #61 -- 23,182 (- 3.9%)
12/2006: Catwoman #62 -- 22,305 (- 3.8%)
01/2007: Catwoman #63 -- 21,597 (- 3.2%)
02/2007: Catwoman #64 -- 20,767 (- 3.8%)
03/2007: Catwoman #65 -- 20,237 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -20.1%
1 year  : -28.9%
2 years : - 8.1%

The book’s sales have reached their lowest point since Diamond started providing information on actual sales four years ago, and possibly since its relaunch in 2001.

—–

104 - GRIFTER & MIDNIGHTER (WildStorm)
03/2007: Grifter & Midnighter #1 of 6 -- 20,156

Not bad for this sort of thing, especially given the lack of the usual sales-boosting gimmicks. The numbers are not remotely close to those of the two mother titles Wildcats and The Authority — or even to those of The Midnighter, for that matter. But let’s be realistic: It’s a generic, inconsequential crossover series. If anything, sales above 20K indicate that, surprisingly, despite the years worth of failed relaunches, WildStorm’s key properties still have a reliable fanbase to fall back on if you do them straight. (No pun intended, I should probably add.) If the book finishes above 10K, it can be considered a success.

—–

105 - MYSTERY IN SPACE
09/2006: Mystery in Space #1 of 8 -- 46,610
10/2006: Mystery in Space #2 of 8 -- 28,781 (-38.3%)
11/2006: Mystery in Space #3 of 8 -- 25,804 (-10.3%)
12/2006: Mystery in Space #4 of 8 -- 23,575 (- 8.6%)
01/2007: Mystery in Space #5 of 8 -- 21,612 (- 8.3%)
02/2007: Mystery in Space #6 of 8 -- 21,000 (- 2.8%)
03/2007: Mystery in Space #7 of 8 -- 20,116 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -56.8%

That’s an abysmal six-month drop-off. On the other hand, the book is still above 20K despite the obscure title character, so there are two ways to look at this.

—–

106 - CHECKMATE
04/2006: Checkmate #1  -- 49,156          [55,375]
05/2006: Checkmate #2  -- 41,773 (-15.5%)
06/2006: Checkmate #3  -- 37,551 (-10.1%)
07/2006: Checkmate #4  -- 34,661 (- 7.7%)
08/2006: Checkmate #5  -- 31,252 (- 9.8%)
09/2006: Checkmate #6  -- 28,887 (- 7.6%)
10/2006: Checkmate #7  -- 26,302 (- 9.0%)
11/2006: Checkmate #8  -- 24,899 (- 5.3%)
12/2006: Checkmate #9  -- 23,436 (- 5.9%)
01/2007: Checkmate #10 -- 22,032 (- 6.0%)
02/2007: Checkmate #11 -- 20,659 (- 6.2%)
03/2007: Checkmate #12 -- 20,116 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -30.4%

Another title spun out of the Infinite Crisis “event” series, with disastrous results. Still, sales appear to start finding their level, and the next three issues are part of a crossover with Outsiders, so we’ll see.

—–

111 - AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS
03/2003: Aquaman #4       -- 36,908
03/2004: Aquaman #16      -- 22,810
03/2005: Aquaman #28      -- 19,177
-----------------------------------
03/2006: Aquaman: SoA #40 -- 37,611 (+105.2%) -- [46,401]
04/2006: Aquaman: SoA #41 -- 37,567 (-  0.1%)
05/2006: Aquaman: SoA #42 -- 32,610 (- 13.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Aquaman: SoA #43 -- 30,584 (-  6.2%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Aquaman: SoA #44 -- 28,001 (-  8.5%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Aquaman: SoA #45 -- 23,540 (- 15.9%)
11/2006: Aquaman: SoA #46 -- 21,974 (-  6.7%)
12/2006: Aquaman: SoA #47 -- 21,197 (-  3.5%)
01/2007: Aquaman: SoA #48 -- 19,459 (-  8.2%)
02/2007: Aquaman: SoA #49 -- 17,939 (-  7.8%)
03/2007: Aquaman: SoA #50 -- 18,997 (+  5.9%)
----------------
6 months: -32.2%
1 year  : -49.5%
2 years : - 0.9%

The new creative team of writer Tad Williams and artist Shawn McManus brings a modest increase. There doesn’t seem to be much confidence in the book — hardly surprising, given the creators’ lack of a following in the direct market. Williams is an established fantasy novelist, though, so perhaps DC are hoping for his stories to have a second life in collected form. But, honestly, I very much doubt it. Unless there’s a major trend reversal soon, things are looking dire for this book.

—–

115 - TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
10/2006: Tales of the Unexpected #1 of 8 -- 35,486
11/2006: Tales of the Unexpected #2 of 8 -- 24,219 (-31.8%)
12/2006: Tales of the Unexpected #3 of 8 -- 21,166 (-12.6%)
01/2007: Tales of the Unexpected #4 of 8 -- 19,872 (- 6.1%)
02/2007: Tales of the Unexpected #5 of 8 -- 18,355 (- 7.6%)
03/2007: Tales of the Unexpected #6 of 8 -- 17,709 (- 3.5%)

Bottoming out. These numbers are nothing to write home about, but they’re not horrible for this type of thing.

—–

116 - BLUE BEETLE
03/2006: Blue Beetle #1  -- 50,678          [69,752]
04/2006: Blue Beetle #2  -- 43,770 (-13.6%) [50,190]
05/2006: Blue Beetle #3  -- 41,711 (- 4.7%)
06/2006: Blue Beetle #4  -- 38,622 (- 7.4%)
07/2006: Blue Beetle #5  -- 35,490 (- 8.1%)
08/2006: Blue Beetle #6  -- 33,181 (- 6.5%)
09/2006: Blue Beetle #7  -- 29,079 (-12.4%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Blue Beetle #8  -- 25,861 (-11.1%)
11/2006: Blue Beetle #9  -- 23,785 (- 8.0%)
12/2006: Blue Beetle #10 -- 21,358 (-10.2%)
01/2007: Blue Beetle #11 -- 19,865 (- 7.0%)
02/2007: Blue Beetle #12 -- 18,555 (- 6.6%)
03/2007: Blue Beetle #13 -- 17,653 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: -39.3%
1 year  : -65.2%

This one also seems to be finding its level. Looking at the nightmarish year-on-year comparison, it’s probably too little, too late.

—–

117 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM
07/2006: The All-New Atom #1  -- 49,969
08/2006: The All-New Atom #2  -- 38,239 (-23.5%)
09/2006: The All-New Atom #3  -- 33,254 (-13.0%)
10/2006: The All-New Atom #4  -- 28,450 (-14.5%)
11/2006: The All-New Atom #5  -- 25,569 (-10.1%)
12/2006: The All-New Atom #6  -- 22,852 (-10.6%)
01/2007: The All-New Atom #7  -- 20,996 (- 8.1%)
02/2007: The All-New Atom #8  -- 19,004 (- 9.5%)
03/2007: The All-New Atom #9  -- 17,572 (- 7.5%)
----------------
6 months: -47.2%

The book is still in terminal decline, with no end in sight. In what looks like a last-ditch effort to save the book from cancelation, issue #12 features the arrival of a new artist and begins a four-part storyline harkening back to the popular Identity Crisis series.

—–

118 - MANHUNTER
03/2005: Manhunter #8  -- 14,232
--------------------------------
03/2006: Manhunter #20 -- 16,090 (+24.1%)
04/2006: Manhunter #21 -- 14,950 (- 7.1%)
05/2006: Manhunter #22 -- 15,668 (+ 4.8%)
06/2006: Manhunter #23 -- 15,542 (- 0.8%)
07/2006: Manhunter #24 -- 14,650 (- 5.7%)
08/2006: Manhunter #25 -- 15,175 (+ 3.6%)
09/2006: --
10/2006: --
11/2006: --
12/2006: Manhunter #26 -- 23,767 (+56.6%)
01/2007: Manhunter #27 -- 17,842 (-24.9%)
02/2007: Manhunter #28 -- 17,182 (- 3.4%)
03/2007: Manhunter #29 -- 17,234 (+ 0.3%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : + 7.1%
2 years : +21.1%

Sales are holding level, which is a good sign. The DC website still claims that issue #30 will be the final one, and no further issues have been solicited to date, but Manhunter is meant to continue after another hiatus.

—–

119 - JONAH HEX
03/2006: Jonah Hex #5  -- 23,496 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Jonah Hex #6  -- 22,763 (- 3.1%)
05/2006: Jonah Hex #7  -- 21,910 (- 3.8%)
06/2006: Jonah Hex #8  -- 21,006 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Jonah Hex #9  -- 20,385 (- 3.0%)
08/2006: Jonah Hex #10 -- 19,772 (- 3.0%)
09/2006: Jonah Hex #11 -- 18,957 (- 4.1%)
10/2006: Jonah Hex #12 -- 18,299 (- 3.5%)
11/2006: Jonah Hex #13 -- 18,747 (+ 2.5%)
12/2006: Jonah Hex #14 -- 18,295 (- 2.4%)
01/2007: Jonah Hex #15 -- 17,987 (- 1.7%)
02/2007: Jonah Hex #16 -- 17,490 (- 2.8%)
03/2007: Jonah Hex #17 -- 17,081 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.9%
1 year  : -27.3%

A standard decline. Jonah Hex is now the lowest-selling ongoing DC Universe title that hasn’t been canceled yet.

—–

121 - WORLDSTORM (WildStorm)
10/2006: WorldStorm #1 -- 27,033
11/2006: --
12/2006: -- 
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2007: WorldStorm #2 -- 16,768 (-38.0%)

Originally, WorldStorm #1 was meant to be a one-shot introducing the new WildStorm Universe titles. Quite why they suddenly felt the world needed issue #2, lord only knows.

Generously labeled as a “collection of short stories” in the solicitation copy, the book has two stories and a poster. The major selling point here, I suppose, are the creators, most notably artist Phil Jimenez. Be that as it may, the numbers are perfectly alright. It’s outselling four out of the eight new WildStorm titles, for that matter.

—–

125 - HAWKGIRL
03/2002: Hawkman #1   -- 48,669*
03/2003: Hawkman #13  -- 31,173
03/2004: Hawkman #26  -- 28,363
03/2005: Hawkman #38  -- 19,727
-------------------------------
03/2006: Hawkgirl #50 -- 34,728 (+38.7%) [38,135]
04/2006: Hawkgirl #51 -- 30,657 (-11.7%)
05/2006: Hawkgirl #52 -- 29,898 (- 2.5%)
06/2006: Hawkgirl #53 -- 27,786 (- 7.1%)
07/2006: Hawkgirl #54 -- 25,201 (- 9.3%)
08/2006: Hawkgirl #55 -- 23,880 (- 5.2%)
09/2006: Hawkgirl #56 -- 21,560 (- 9.7%)
10/2006: Hawkgirl #57 -- 19,909 (- 7.7%)
11/2006: Hawkgirl #58 -- 18,634 (- 6.4%)
12/2006: Hawkgirl #59 -- 18,141 (- 2.7%)
01/2007: Hawkgirl #60 -- 17,893 (- 1.4%)
02/2007: Hawkgirl #61 -- 16,575 (- 7.4%)
03/2007: Hawkgirl #62 -- 16,164 (- 2.5%)
----------------
6 months: -25.0%
1 year  : -53.5%
2 years : -18.1%

Canceled with issue #66.

—–

127 - DEATHBLOW (WildStorm)
10/2006: Deathblow #1  -- 34,056
11/2006: Deathblow #2  -- 22,880 (-32.8%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: Deathblow #3  -- 18,813 (-17.8%)
02/2007: --
03/2007: Deathblow #4  -- 15,842 (-15.8%)

Sales aren’t bottoming out in any meaningful way, and the next issue is the first without a variant cover edition. Not encouraging.

—–

132 - WETWORKS (WildStorm)
09/2006: Wetworks #1  -- 43,824
10/2006: Wetworks #2  -- 28,181 (-35.7%)
11/2006: Wetworks #3  -- 24,493 (-13.1%)
12/2006: Wetworks #4  -- 23,267 (- 5.0%)
01/2007: Wetworks #5  -- 18,313 (-21.3%)
02/2007: Wetworks #6  -- 16,359 (-10.7%)
03/2007: Wetworks #7  -- 14,852 (- 9.2%)
----------------
6 months: -66.1%

The March issue was the first without series creator and penciler Whilce Portacio, but it doesn’t seem to be making much of a difference to the numbers; they’re still dropping way too fast for comfort.

—–

133 - ARMY@LOVE (Vertigo)
03/2007: Army@Love #1  -- 14,578

The latest ongoing Vertigo title is an over-the-top satire about US soldiers in the Middle East, written and drawn by Rick Veitch. You know the standard disclaimer by now: Collection sales are a significant factor in Vertigo’s business model. Nonetheless, after Crossing Midnight and Scalped, this is the third recent Vertigo launch which doesn’t crack 15K with its debut issue. Bluntly, Vertigo appear utterly unable to successfully launch a new concept into the market currently, even when established creators like Veitch or Mike Carey are involved. Regardless of collection sales, that has to be a major problem.

I note with interest that no new Vertigo launches are planned through July, apart from the miniseries Faker. Possibly, this means that they’re rethinking their strategy right now.

—–

136 - FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN
03/2005: Firestorm #11     -- 19,440
------------------------------------
03/2006: Firestorm: NM #23 -- 25,109 (+19.0%)
04/2006: Firestorm: NM #24 -- 23,704 (- 5.6%)
05/2006: Firestorm: NM #25 -- 23,301 (- 1.7%)
06/2006: Firestorm: NM #26 -- 21,833 (- 6.3%)
07/2006: Firestorm: NM #27 -- 19,772 (- 9.4%)
08/2006: Firestorm: NM #28 -- 18,716 (- 5.3%)
09/2006: Firestorm: NM #29 -- 17,449 (- 6.8%)
10/2006: Firestorm: NM #30 -- 16,494 (- 5.5%)
11/2006: Firestorm: NM #31 -- 16,068 (- 2.6%)
12/2006: Firestorm: NM #32 -- 15,255 (- 5.1%)
01/2007: --
02/2007: Firestorm: NM #33 -- 14,571 (- 4.5%)
03/2007: Firestorm: NM #34 -- 14,192 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -18.7%
1 year  : -43.5%
2 years : -27.0%

Canceled with issue #35.

—–

137 - CONNOR HAWKE: DRAGON'S BLOOD
11/2006: Connor Hawke #1 of 6 -- 23,191
12/2006: Connor Hawke #2 of 6 -- 18,195 (-21.5%)
01/2007: Connor Hawke #3 of 6 -- 16,175 (-11.1%)
02/2007: Connor Hawke #4 of 6 -- 14,413 (-10.9%)
03/2007: Connor Hawke #5 of 6 -- 13,580 (- 5.8%)

Horrible numbers for a limited series starring a reasonably established DC Universe character, even if it’s a third-stringer.

—–

139 - STORMWATCH: PHD (WildStorm)
03/2003: Stormwatch: TA #9     -- 16,500
----------------------------------------
11/2006: StormWatch: PHD #1    -- 29,975
12/2006: StormWatch: PHD #2    -- 21,605 (-27.9%)
01/2007: StormWatch: PHD #3    -- 18,371 (-15.0%)
02/2007: StormWatch: PHD #4    -- 15,893 (-13.5%)
03/2007: StormWatch: PHD #5    -- 13,475 (-15.2%)

The first issue without a variant cover edition results in another harsh sales drop. Regular artist Doug Mahnke leaves the book after issue #7.

—–

140 - 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 (- 1.2%)
04/2006: Hellblazer #219 -- 14,206 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: Hellblazer #220 -- 14,161 (- 0.3%)
06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: Hellblazer #222 -- 13,912 (- 0.4%)
08/2006: Hellblazer #223 -- 13,956 (+ 0.3%)
09/2006: Hellblazer #224 -- 13,704 (- 1.8%)
10/2006: Hellblazer #225 -- 13,629 (- 0.6%)
11/2006: Hellblazer #226 -- 13,388 (- 1.8%)
12/2006: Hellblazer #227 -- 13,231 (- 1.2%)
01/2007: Hellblazer #228 -- 12,956 (- 2.1%)
02/2007: Hellblazer #229 -- 13,032 (+ 0.6%)
03/2007: Hellblazer #230 -- 13,210 (+ 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.6%
1 year  : - 6.5%
2 years : -14.6%

The gentle climb continues as new writer Andy Diggle takes over.

—–

141 - DMZ (Vertigo)
03/2006: DMZ #5  -- 14,952 (+ 1.2%)
04/2006: DMZ #6  -- 15,212 (+ 1.7%)
05/2006: DMZ #7  -- 15,026 (- 1.2%)
06/2006: DMZ #8  -- 14,999 (- 0.2%)
07/2006: DMZ #9  -- 14,786 (- 1.4%)
08/2006: DMZ #10 -- 14,704 (- 0.6%)
09/2006: DMZ #11 -- 14,562 (- 1.0%)
10/2006: DMZ #12 -- 14,640 (+ 0.5%)
11/2006: DMZ #13 -- 14,228 (- 2.8%)
12/2006: DMZ #14 -- 13,731 (- 3.5%)
01/2007: DMZ #15 -- 13,340 (- 2.9%)
02/2007: DMZ #16 -- 13,199 (- 1.1%)
03/2007: DMZ #17 -- 13,081 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -10.2%
1 year  : -12.5%

Standard attrition.

—–

142 - 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 (- 0.9%)
04/2006: 100 Bullets #71 -- 13,514 (- 0.6%)
05/2006: 100 Bullets #72 -- 13,489 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: 100 Bullets #73 -- 13,407 (- 0.6%)
07/2006: 100 Bullets #74 -- 13,265 (- 1.1%)
08/2006: 100 Bullets #75 -- 13,322 (+ 0.4%)
09/2006: 100 Bullets #76 -- 13,082 (- 1.8%)
10/2006: 100 Bullets #77 -- 13,054 (- 0.2%)
11/2006: 100 Bullets #78 -- 12,954 (- 0.8%)
12/2006: 100 Bullets #79 -- 12,907 (- 0.4%)
01/2007: 100 Bullets #80 -- 12,651 (- 2.0%)
02/2007: 100 Bullets #81 -- 12,458 (- 1.5%)
03/2007: 100 Bullets #82 -- 12,260 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.3%
1 year  : - 9.8%
2 years : -17.9%

Slowly declining. The book is currently running late, and its schedule has been adjusted to bi-monthly for the immediate future, apparently.

—–

146 - WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY (WildStorm)
12/2006: Welcome to Tranquility #1  -- 24,352
01/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #2  -- 15,087 (-38.1%)
02/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #3  -- 12,334 (-18.3%)
03/2007: Welcome to Tranquility #4  -- 11,423 (- 7.4%)

Well, it’s bottoming out, slowly but surely. Let’s be blunt, though: For issue #5, which is the first without a variant cover edition, another stiff drop can be expected. The book has a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving 2007.

—–

149 - LOVELESS (Vertigo)
03/2006: Loveless #5  -- 16,704 (- 0.4%)
04/2006: Loveless #6  -- 16,823 (+ 0.7%)
05/2006: Loveless #7  -- 15,961 (- 5.1%)
06/2006: Loveless #8  -- 14,915 (- 6.6%)
07/2006: Loveless #9  -- 14,434 (- 3.2%)
08/2006: Loveless #10 -- 13,860 (- 4.0%)
09/2006: Loveless #11 -- 13,256 (- 4.4%)
10/2006: Loveless #12 -- 12,617 (- 4.8%)
11/2006: Loveless #13 -- 11,945 (- 5.3%)
12/2006: Loveless #14 -- 11,476 (- 3.9%)
01/2007: --
02/2007: Loveless #15 -- 11,103 (- 3.3%)
03/2007: Loveless #16 -- 10,787 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -18.6%
1 year  : -35.4%

Declining.

—–

150 - SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE: SLEEP OF REASON (Vertigo)
12/2006: Sleep of Reason #1 of 5 -- 17,472
01/2007: Sleep of Reason #2 of 5 -- 12,687 (-27.4%)
02/2007: Sleep of Reason #3 of 5 -- 11,618 (- 8.4%)
03/2007: Sleep of Reason #4 of 5 -- 10,610 (- 8.7%)

Dropping too fast for comfort.

—–

153 - OMEGA MEN
10/2006: Omega Men #1 of 6 -- 23,536
11/2006: Omega Men #2 of 6 -- 17,379 (-26.2%)
12/2006: Omega Men #3 of 6 -- 14,046 (-19.2%)
01/2007: Omega Men #4 of 6 -- 12,144 (-13.5%)
02/2007: Omega Men #5 of 6 -- 10,554 (-13.1%)
03/2007: Omega Men #6 of 6 --  9,740 (- 7.7%)

Predictably dire numbers for a book starring characters without a fanbase by creators without a fanbase.

—–

155 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
01/2007: Scalped #1  -- 13,644
02/2007: Scalped #2  -- 10,005 (-26.7%)
03/2007: Scalped #3  --  9,531 (- 4.7%)

Sales are finding their level quickly. That’s a good sign, certainly, but at this level it’s not quite enough to save the book, in the mid term.

—–

158 - 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 (+ 3.2%)
04/2006: JL Unlimited #20  -- 10,620 (+ 0.8%)
05/2006: JL Unlimited #21  -- 10,430 (- 1.8%)
06/2006: JL Unlimited #22  -- 10,430 (  n.a.)
07/2006: JL Unlimited #23  -- 10,255 (- 1.7%)
08/2006: JL Unlimited #24  -- 10,117 (- 1.4%)
09/2006: JL Unlimited #25  --  9,985 (- 1.3%)
10/2006: JL Unlimited #26  --  9,696 (- 2.9%)
11/2006: JL Unlimited #27  --  9,690 (- 0.1%)
12/2006: JL Unlimited #28  --  9,713 (+ 0.2%)
01/2007: JL Unlimited #29 --   9,273 (- 4.5%)
02/2007: JL Unlimited #30 --   9,123 (- 1.6%)
03/2007: JL Unlimited #31 --   9,072 (- 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.1%
1 year  : -13.9%
2 years : -25.5%
162 - 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 (- 2.7%)
04/2006: Teen Titans Go #30 -- 11,225 (- 0.3%)
05/2006: Teen Titans Go #31 -- 11,140 (- 0.8%)
06/2006: Teen Titans Go #32 -- 10,736 (- 3.6%)
07/2006: Teen Titans Go #33 -- 10,516 (- 2.1%)
08/2006: Teen Titans Go #34 -- 10,328 (- 1.8%)
09/2006: Teen Titans Go #35 --  9,940 (- 3.8%)
10/2006: Teen Titans Go #36 -- 10,214 (+ 2.8%)
11/2006: Teen Titans Go #37 --  9,642 (- 5.6%)
12/2006: Teen Titans Go #38 --  9,529 (- 1.2%)
01/2007: Teen Titans Go #39 --  9,425 (- 1.1%)
02/2007: Teen Titans Go #40 --  9,132 (- 3.1%)
03/2007: Teen Titans Go #41 --  8,895 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -10.5%
1 year  : -21.0%
2 years : -36.7%

Two Johnny DC titles. See disclaimers.

—–

163 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
03/2006: The Exterminators #3  -- 11,678 (- 6.3%)
04/2006: The Exterminators #4  -- 11,342 (- 2.9%)
05/2006: The Exterminators #5  -- 10,978 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: The Exterminators #6  -- 11,004 (+ 0.2%)
07/2006: The Exterminators #7  -- 10,743 (- 2.4%)
08/2006: The Exterminators #8  -- 10,299 (- 4.1%)
09/2006: The Exterminators #9  -- 10,177 (- 1.2%)
10/2006: The Exterminators #10 --  9,970 (- 2.0%)
11/2006: The Exterminators #11 --  9,973 (+ 0.0%)
12/2006: The Exterminators #12 --  9,636 (- 3.4%)
01/2007: The Exterminators #13 --  9,447 (- 2.0%)
02/2007: The Exterminators #14 --  8,965 (- 5.1%)
03/2007: The Exterminators #15 --  8,839 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: -13.2%
1 year  : -24.3%

Standard decline.

—–

164 - FRIDAY THE 13TH (WildStorm)
12/2006: Friday the 13th #1  -- 15,801
01/2007: Friday the 13th #2  --  9,555 (-39.5%)
02/2007: Friday the 13th #3  --  8,965 (- 6.2%)
03/2007: Friday the 13th #4  --  8,637 (- 3.7%)

Canceled with issue #6.

—–

168 - WILDSTORM FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT (WildStorm)
12/2006: Jim Lee           -- 9,074
01/2007: --
02/2007: --
03/2007: J. Scott Campbell -- 8,130 (-10.4%)

Alright for this sort of thing, I suppose.

—–

169 - NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (WildStorm)
10/2006: Nightmare on Elm Street #1  -- 18,736
11/2006: Nightmare on Elm Street #2  -- 11,709 (-37.5%)
12/2006: Nightmare on Elm Street #3  -- 10,129 (-13.5%)
01/2007: Nightmare on Elm Street #4  --  9,019 (-11.0%)
02/2007: Nightmare on Elm Street #5  --  8,408 (- 6.8%)
03/2007: Nightmare on Elm Street #6  --  8,050 (- 4.3%)

Axed with issue #8.

—–

170 - RED MENACE (WildStorm)
11/2006: Red Menace #1 of 6 -- 21,389
12/2006: Red Menace #2 of 6 -- 14,501 (-32.2%)
01/2007: Red Menace #3 of 6 -- 10,295 (-29.0%)
02/2007: Red Menace #4 of 6 --  8,550 (-17.0%)
03/2007: Red Menace #5 of 6 --  7,993 (- 6.5%)

Horrible sales, obviously.

—–

171 - DEADMAN (Vertigo)
03/2002: Deadman #4  -- 14,712*
------------------------------
08/2006: Deadman #1  -- 21,980
09/2006: Deadman #2  -- 15,494 (-29.5%)
10/2006: Deadman #3  -- 12,936 (-16.5%)
11/2006: Deadman #4  -- 11,294 (-12.7%)
12/2006: Deadman #5  -- 10,113 (-10.5%)
01/2007: Deadman #6  --  9,157 (- 9.5%)
02/2007: Deadman #7  --  8,342 (- 8.9%)
03/2007: Deadman #8  --  7,784 (- 6.7%)
----------------
6 months: -49.8%

Bottoming out, very slowly.

—–

175 - TESTAMENT (Vertigo)
03/2006: Testament #4  -- 13,074 (+ 1.9%)
04/2006: Testament #5  -- 12,770 (- 2.3%)
05/2006: Testament #6  -- 12,361 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: Testament #7  -- 11,770 (- 4.8%)
07/2006: Testament #8  -- 11,073 (- 5.9%)
08/2006: Testament #9  -- 10,462 (- 5.5%)
09/2006: Testament #10 --  9,629 (- 8.0%)
10/2006: Testament #11 --  9,059 (- 5.9%)
11/2006: Testament #12 --  8,690 (- 4.1%)
12/2006: Testament #13 --  8,320 (- 4.3%)
01/2007: Testament #14 --  7,960 (- 4.3%)
02/2007: Testament #15 --  7,618 (- 4.3%)
03/2007: Testament #16 --  7,422 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: -22.9%
1 year  : -43.2%

Declining.

—–

177 - TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (WildStorm)
11/2006: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #1  -- 15,605
12/2006: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #2  --  9,706 (-37.8%)
01/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #3  --  8,229 (-15.2%)
02/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #4  --  7,651 (- 7.0%)
03/2007: Texas Chainsaw Massacre #5  --  7,301 (- 4.6%)

Canceled with issue #6.

—–

178 - CROSSING MIDNIGHT (Vertigo)
11/2006: Crossing Midnight #1  -- 12,756
12/2006: Crossing Midnight #2  --  8,982 (-29.6%)
01/2007: Crossing Midnight #3  --  8,236 (- 8.3%)
02/2007: Crossing Midnight #4  --  7,568 (- 8.1%)
03/2007: Crossing Midnight #5  --  7,196 (- 4.9%)

Finding its level. So far, Vertigo have been generous with their last several launches, but they won’t be able to keep it up forever.

—–

179 - 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 (- 4.4%)
04/2006: Batman Strikes! #20   --  8,331 (+ 1.1%)
05/2006: Batman Strikes! #21   --  8,467 (+ 1.6%)
06/2006: Batman Strikes! #22   --  8,104 (- 4.3%)
07/2006: Batman Strikes! #23   --  8,154 (+ 0.6%)
08/2006: Batman Strikes! #24   --  8,139 (- 0.2%)
09/2006: Batman Strikes! #25   --  7,765 (- 4.6%)
10/2006: Batman Strikes! #26   --  7,560 (- 2.6%)
11/2006: Batman Strikes! #27   --  7,567 (+ 0.1%)
12/2006: Batman Strikes! #28   --  7,427 (- 1.9%)
01/2007: Batman Strikes! #29   --  7,330 (- 1.3%)
02/2007: Batman Strikes! #30   --  7,335 (+ 0.1%)
03/2007: Batman Strikes! #31   --  7,100 (- 3.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.6%
1 year  : -13.9%
2 years : -34.1%

Johnny DC.

—–

198 - NINJA SCROLL (WildStorm)
09/2006: Ninja Scroll #1 -- 16,819
10/2006: --
11/2006: Ninja Scroll #2 -- 12,143 (-27.8%)
12/2006: Ninja Scroll #3 -- 10,468 (-13.8%)
12/2006: Ninja Scroll #4 --  7,781 (-25.7%)
01/2007: Ninja Scroll #5 --  6,895 (-11.4%)
02/2007: Ninja Scroll #6 --  6,371 (- 7.6%)
03/2007: Ninja Scroll #7 --  5,949 (- 6.6%)
----------------
6 months: -64.6%

Still ongoing, amazingly — at least officially.

—–

222 - 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 (+ 2.2%)
04/2006: Scooby Doo #107 -- 4,359 (- 1.4%)
05/2006: Scooby Doo #108 -- 4,496 (+ 3.1%)
06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423 (- 1.6%)
07/2006: Scooby Doo #110 -- 4,781 (+ 8.1%)
08/2006: Scooby Doo #111 -- 4,492 (- 6.1%)
09/2006: Scooby Doo #112 -- 4,385 (- 2.4%)
10/2006: Scooby Doo #113 -- 4,339 (- 1.1%)
11/2006: Scooby Doo #114 -- 4,387 (+ 1.1%)
12/2006: Scooby Doo #115 -- 4,364 (- 0.5%)
01/2007: Scooby Doo #116 -- 4,285 (- 1.8%)
02/2007: Scooby Doo #117 -- 4,275 (- 0.2%)
03/2007: Scooby Doo #118 -- 4,395 (+ 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.2%
1 year  : - 0.5%
2 years : - 7.9%
247 - 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 (+ 6.1%)
04/2006: Looney Tunes #137 -- 2,558 (- 8.4%)
05/2006: Looney Tunes #138 -- 2,774 (+ 8.4%)
06/2006: Looney Tunes #139 -- 2,694 (- 2.9%)
07/2006: Looney Tunes #140 -- 2,680 (- 0.5%)
08/2006: Looney Tunes #141 -- 2,783 (+ 3.8%)
09/2006: Looney Tunes #142 -- 2,695 (- 3.2%)
10/2006: Looney Tunes #143 -- 2,741 (+ 1.7%)
11/2006: Looney Tunes #144 -- ?????
12/2006: Looney Tunes #145 -- 2,732
01/2007: Looney Tunes #146 -- 2,588 (- 5.3%)
02/2007: Looney Tunes #147 -- 2,553 (- 1.4%)
03/2007: Looney Tunes #148 -- 2,705 (+ 6.0%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.4%
1 year  : - 3.1%
2 years : - 5.0%
272 - CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY (Johnny DC)
03/2001: Cartoon Cartoons #3  -- 3,252*
03/2002: Cartoon Cartoons #10 -- 3,427*
03/2003: Cartoon Cartoons #16 -- 2,570
03/2004: Cartoon Cartoons #28 -- 2,334
03/2005: CN Block Party #7    -- 2,081
--------------------------------------
03/2006: CN Block Party #19   -- ?????
04/2006: CN Block Party #20   -- 2,055
05/2006: CN Block Party #21   -- ?????
06/2006: CN Block Party #22   -- 1,913
07/2006: CN Block Party #23   -- 1,976 (+ 3.3%)
08/2006: CN Block Party #24   -- 1,920 (- 2.8%)
09/2006: CN Block Party #25   -- 1,918 (- 0.1%)
10/2006: CN Block Party #26   -- 1,879 (- 2.0%)
11/2006: CN Block Party #27   -- ?????
12/2006: CN Block Party #28   -- 1,778
01/2007: CN Block Party #29   -- ?????
02/2007: CN Block Party #30   -- 1,697
03/2007: CN Block Party #31   -- 1,892 (+11.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.4%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : - 9.1%
281 - CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK (Johnny DC)
05/2006: CN Action Pack #1  -- ?????
06/2006: CN Action Pack #2  -- 1,844
07/2006: CN Action Pack #3  -- 1,908 (+3.5%)
08/2006: CN Action Pack #4  -- ?????
09/2006: CN Action Pack #5  -- 1,644
10/2006: CN Action Pack #6  -- 1,704 (+3.7%)
11/2006: CN Action Pack #7  -- ?????
12/2006: CN Action Pack #8  -- ?????
01/2007: CN Action Pack #9  -- ?????
02/2007: CN Action Pack #10 -- 1,564
03/2007: CN Action Pack #11 -- 1,666 (+6.5%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.3%

And the rest of the Johnny DC books.

—–

RE-ORDERS:
221:  4,419 -- The Brave and the Bold #1
259:  2,407 -- Action Comics #845 (2nd)
261:  2,342 -- The Spirit #1
277:  1,795 -- Action Comics #846
282:  1,658 -- Justice Society of America #3
288:  1,513 -- Justice #10

—–

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

DC COMICS
03/2003: 24,279
03/2004: 32,148
03/2005: 27,349
---------------
03/2006: 36,077 (+11.7%)
04/2006: 33,566 (- 7.0%)
05/2006: 42,860 (+27.7%)
06/2006: 40,778 (- 4.9%)
07/2006: 39,915 (- 2.1%)
08/2006: 42,497 (+ 6.5%)
09/2006: 34,920 (-17.8%)
10/2006: 33,406 (- 4.3%)
11/2006: 34,906 (+ 4.5%)
12/2006: 34,418 (- 1.4%)
01/2007: 29,706 (-13.7%)
02/2007: 31,051 (+ 4.5%)
03/2007: 32,398 (+ 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.2%
1 year  : -10.2%
2 years : +18.5%
3 years : + 0.8%
4 years : +33.4%
DC UNIVERSE
03/2003: 28,965
03/2004: 39,727
03/2005: 34,864
---------------
03/2006: 44,854 (+ 9.9%)
04/2006: 45,129 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: 56,982 (+26.3%)
06/2006: 51,088 (-10.3%)
07/2006: 49,638 (- 2.8%)
08/2006: 54,382 (+10.0%)
09/2006: 46,329 (-14.8%)
10/2006: 42,581 (- 8.1%)
11/2006: 45,399 (+ 6.6%)
12/2006: 44,641 (- 1.7%)
01/2007: 38,302 (-14.2%)
02/2007: 39,976 (+ 4.4%)
03/2007: 42,634 (+ 6.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.0%
1 year  : - 5.0%
2 years : +22.3%
3 years : + 7.3%
4 years : +47.2%
VERTIGO
03/2003: 15,517
03/2004: 16,445
03/2005: 13,094
---------------
03/2006: 15,812 (+ 5.2%)
04/2006: 15,473 (- 2.1%)
05/2006: 15,266 (- 1.3%)
06/2006: 14,965 (- 2.0%)
07/2006: 16,684 (+11.5%)
08/2006: 16,107 (- 3.5%)
09/2006: 15,399 (- 4.4%)
10/2006: 15,189 (- 1.4%)
11/2006: 13,773 (- 9.3%)
12/2006: 13,834 (+ 0.4%)
01/2007: 13,572 (- 1.9%)
02/2007: 11,855 (-12.7%)
03/2007: 13,748 (+16.0%)
----------------
6 months: -10.7%
1 year  : -13.1%
2 years : + 5.0%
3 years : -16.4%
4 years : -11.4%
WILDSTORM
03/2003: 18,214
03/2004: 16,833
03/2005: 12,798
---------------
03/2006: 14,210 (+ 4.4%)
04/2006: 16,036 (+12.9%)
05/2006: 12,737 (-20.6%)
06/2006: 15,056 (+18.2%)
07/2006: 12,778 (-15.1%)
08/2006: 14,741 (+15.4%)
09/2006: 13,285 (- 9.9%)
10/2006: 25,747 (+93.8%)
11/2006: 18,987 (-26.3%)
12/2006: 17,288 (- 9.0%)
01/2007: 14,525 (-16.0%)
02/2007: 14,105 (- 2.9%)
03/2007: 15,224 (+ 7.9%)
----------------
6 months: +14.6%
1 year  : + 7.1%
2 years : +19.0%
3 years : - 9.6%
4 years : -16.4%

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 15.3%: Action Comics
+  2.2%: Fables
+  1.3%: Cartoon Network Action Pack
+  0.4%: Looney Tunes
+  0.2%: Scooby-Doo
-  1.4%: Cartoon Network Block Party
-  1.5%: Y: The Last Man
-  3.6%: Hellblazer
-  6.3%: 100 Bullets
-  6.7%: Teen Titans
-  7.8%: Green Arrow
-  8.6%: Batman Strikes
-  9.1%: Justice League Unlimited
-  9.3%: Justice League of America
-  9.9%: Jonah Hex
- 10.2%: DMZ
- 10.5%: Teen Titans Go
- 11.1%: Superman
- 11.9%: Batman
- 13.0%: Birds of Prey
- 13.2%: The Exterminators
- 15.7%: Outsiders
- 15.8%: 52
- 16.9%: Nightwing
- 18.0%: Detective Comics
- 18.6%: Loveless
- 18.7%: Firestorm
- 19.6%: Robin
- 20.1%: Catwoman
- 20.8%: Uncle Sam
- 21.1%: Green Lantern
- 21.1%: Ion
- 21.5%: JLA: Classified
- 22.9%: Testament
- 24.2%: Supergirl
- 25.0%: Hawkgirl
- 26.0%: Green Lantern Corps
- 26.3%: Shadowpact
- 27.1%: JSA: Classified
- 30.4%: Checkmate
- 30.8%: Flash
- 32.0%: Martian Manhunter
- 32.2%: Aquaman
- 39.3%: Blue Beetle
- 47.2%: All-New Atom
- 49.8%: Deadman
- 56.8%: Mystery in Space
- 64.6%: Ninja Scroll
- 66.1%: Wetworks

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 62.4%: Justice Society of America
+ 15.9%: Action Comics 
+ 15.3%: Batman
+  7.1%: Manhunter
+  6.9%: Fables
-  0.5%: Scooby-Doo
-  2.2%: Y: The Last Man
-  3.1%: Looney Tunes
-  6.5%: Hellblazer
-  8.4%: Teen Titans
-  9.8%: 100 Bullets
- 12.5%: DMZ
- 12.9%: Superman
- 13.9%: Batman Strikes
- 13.9%: Justice League Unlimited
- 15.4%: Detective Comics
- 17.9%: Green Arrow
- 21.0%: Teen Titans Go
- 22.7%: Birds of Prey
- 22.7%: Green Lantern
- 23.1%: Superman/Batman
- 24.3%: The Exterminators
- 24.7%: Robin
- 25.3%: Nightwing
- 27.3%: Jonah Hex
- 28.9%: Catwoman
- 31.1%: Outsiders
- 35.4%: Loveless
- 38.7%: JLA: Classified
- 43.1%: Green Lantern Corps
- 43.2%: Testament
- 43.5%: Firestorm
- 46.5%: JSA: Classified
- 49.5%: Aquaman
- 53.5%: Hawkgirl
- 65.2%: Blue Beetle

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+108.2%: Wonder Woman
+100.8%: Justice League of America
+ 97.2%: The Authority
+ 97.0%: Justice Society of America
+ 58.2%: Action Comics
+ 34.6%: Batman
+ 33.7%: Detective Comics
+ 21.1%: Manhunter
+  6.0%: Fables
-  0.9%: Aquaman
-  1.5%: Flash
-  1.7%: Green Arrow
-  5.0%: Birds of Prey
-  5.0%: Looney Tunes
-  7.9%: Scooby-Doo
-  8.1%: Catwoman
-  9.1%: Cartoon Network Block Party
-  9.2%: Teen Titans
- 12.6%: Robin
- 14.6%: Hellblazer
- 16.2%: Outsiders
- 17.9%: 100 Bullets
- 18.1%: Hawkgirl
- 18.2%: Nightwing
- 25.5%: Justice League Unlimited
- 27.0%: Firestorm
- 34.1%: Batman Strikes
- 36.7%: Teen Titans Go
- 43.4%: Superman
- 57.6%: JLA: Classified

—–
OTHER PUBLISHERS

9 - BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (Dark Horse)
03/2001: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31 --  17,212*
03/2002: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #43 --  16,149*
------------------------------------------------
03/2007: Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1  -- 109,919

One of the two big surprise hits in March was Marvel’s Captain America #25. The other was Buffy #1. Writer Joss Whedon’s highly successful work on Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men and the announcement that this is the only place where Buffy fans can find “Season 8” of the show result in the best-selling direct market title from a publisher other than Marvel and DC (excluding promotional almost-freebies) since April 2003, when the debut issue of a Transformers book sold an estimated 111,355 units. (These numbers include those of the first reprint, which shipped on March 28.)

For the sake of comparison, issue #5 of the Buffy spin-off comic Angel: Auld Lang Syne, published by IDW and not written by Whedon himself, sold an estimated 6,351 units in March. So it’s no wonder that retailers were reportedly caught by surprise by the demand for the book despite already having ordered large quantities.

—–

65/68 - STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse)
06/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #1  -- 34,758         [36,375]
07/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #2  -- 33,298 (-4.2%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #3  -- 34,268 (+2.9%)
09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #4  -- 34,362 (+0.3%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #5  -- 34,362 (   0%)
11/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #6  -- 33,003 (-4.0%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #7  -- 34,249 (+3.8%)
02/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #8  -- 33,533 (-2.1%)
03/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #9  -- 33,084 (-1.3%)
03/2007: Star Wars: Legacy #10 -- 32,320 (-2.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.7% 

Slowly declining.

—–

83 - CONAN (Dark Horse)
03/2004: Conan #2  -- 52,157          [62,740]
03/2005: Conan #14 -- 38,180
----------------------------
03/2006: Conan #26 -- 31,573 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Conan #27 -- 31,710 (+ 0.4%)
05/2006: Conan #28 -- 31,675 (- 0.1%)
06/2006: Conan #29 -- 32,049 (+ 1.2%)
07/2006: Conan #30 -- 31,095 (- 3.0%)
08/2006: Conan #31 -- 30,887 (- 0.7%)
09/2006: Conan #32 -- 29,070 (- 5.9%)
10/2006: Conan #33 -- 29,137 (+ 0.2%)
11/2006: Conan #34 -- 28,144 (- 3.4%)
12/2006: Conan #35 -- 27,115 (- 3.7%)
01/2006: Conan #36 -- 26,245 (- 3.2%)
02/2006: Conan #37 -- 25,532 (- 2.7%)
03/2006: Conan #38 -- 25,236 (- 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: -13.2%
1 year  : -20.1%
2 years : -33.9%

Leveling out again.

—–

84/87 - SPAWN (Image/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 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: Spawn #155 -- 26,728 (- 0.9%)
05/2006: Spawn #156 -- 27,017 (+ 1.1%)
06/2006: Spawn #157 -- 26,325 (- 2.6%)
07/2006: Spawn #158 -- 26,875 (+ 2.1%)
08/2006: Spawn #159 -- 26,232 (- 2.4%)
09/2006: Spawn #160 -- 25,580 (- 2.5%)
10/2006: Spawn #161 -- 25,840 (+ 1.0%)
11/2006: Spawn #162 -- 25,069 (- 3.0%)
12/2006: Spawn #163 -- 24,922 (- 0.6%)
01/2007: Spawn #164 -- 24,534 (- 1.6%)
02/2007: --
03/2007: Spawn #165 -- 24,519 (- 0.1%)
03/2007: Spawn #166 -- 23,690 (- 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.8%
1 year  : -10.6%
2 years : -14.4%

Business as usual.

—–

88/114 - TRANSFORMERS: PRIME DIRECTIVE MOVIE PREQUEL (IDW)
02/2007: Transformers: Movie Prequel #1 --  26,477
03/2007: Transformers: Movie Prequel #2 --  18,039 (-31.9%)

A harsh drop-off, but issue #1 exists in seven different editions, whereas there are only three of #2, so perhaps that contributed to the loss.

(Issue #1 sold 23,658 units in March. I’ve added the 2,819 copies of the variant cover edition that shipped back in February.)

—–

97 - THE WALKING DEAD (Image)
03/2004: Walking Dead #5  --  8,829
03/2005: Walking Dead #16 -- 15,703
-----------------------------------
03/2006: Walking Dead #26 -- 19,385 (+ 0.3%)
03/2006: Walking Dead #27 -- 18,868 (- 2.7%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Walking Dead #28 -- 19,537 (+ 2.2%)
07/2006: Walking Dead #29 -- 20,385 (+ 4.3%)
08/2006: Walking Dead #30 -- 20,540 (+ 0.8%)
09/2006: Walking Dead #31 -- 21,368 (+ 4.0%)
10/2006: --
11/2006: Walking Dead #32 -- 21,191 (- 0.8%)
12/2006: Walking Dead #33 -- 21,235 (+ 0.2%)
01/2007: Walking Dead #34 -- 21,184 (- 0.2%)
02/2007: Walking Dead #35 -- 21,391 (+ 1.0%)
03/2007: Walking Dead #36 -- 21,291 (- 0.5%)
-----------------
6 months: -  0.4%
1 year  : + 11.3% 
2 years : + 35.6%

Despite the marginal drop, The Walking Dead made its Top 100 debut in March.

—–

98 - RED SONJA (Dynamite)
03/2006: Red Sonja #7  -- 34,560 (- 1.5%)
03/2006: Red Sonja #8  -- 34,700 (+ 0.4%)
04/2006: Red Sonja #9  -- 32,334 (- 6.8%)
05/2006: Red Sonja #10 -- 32,479 (+ 0.5%)
06/2006: Red Sonja #11 -- 31,176 (- 4.0%)
07/2006: Red Sonja #12 -- 33,252 (+ 6.7%)
08/2006: Red Sonja #13 -- 28,996 (-12.8%)
09/2006: Red Sonja #14 -- 25,891 (-10.7%)
10/2006: Red Sonja #15 -- 25,303 (- 2.3%)
11/2006: Red Sonja #16 -- 25,644 (+ 1.4%)
12/2006: Red Sonja #17 -- 23,552 (- 8.2%)
01/2007: Red Sonja #18 -- 23,040 (- 2.2%)
02/2007: Red Sonja #19 -- 22,322 (- 3.1%)
03/2007: Red Sonja #20 -- 21,275 (- 4.7%)
----------------
6 months: -17.8%
1 year  : -38.4%

Declining.

—–

229 - GODLAND (Image)
03/2006: -- 
04/2006: Godland #10 -- 4,147 (- 4.8%)
05/2006: Godland #11 -- 4,473 (+ 7.9%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Godland #12 -- 4,611 (+ 3.1%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Godland #13 -- 4,364 (- 5.4%)
11/2006: Godland #14 -- 4,029 (- 7.7%)
12/2006: --
01/2007: Godland #15 -- 4,024 (- 0.1%)
02/2007: Godland #16 -- ????? 
03/2007: Godland #17 -- 3,703 (- 8.0%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.

These numbers are of interest because issue #16 was priced at 60 cents, in order to attract new readers. So far, unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be the slightest effect on the book’s monthly sales, which suggests that the effort may have been a gigantic waste of money.

To be fair, retailers ordered #17 before #16 shipped, of course, so I’ll watch the numbers over the next couple of months. It should also be said that the collections are reportedly doing well.

—–
Disclaimers, et cetera

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

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

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

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

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

45 COMMENTS

  1. I enjoy your column a lot, although there are times that I wonder if the comments for certain titles get switched – such as, say, Gen13 and Mystery In Space.

    Mystery In Space’s decline is pretty decent…especially when you remember that the first issue carried a variant cover by comics legend Neal Adams, which inflated initial orders. Looking from issues 2 – 7, they dropped just 8 thousand readers, and the decline for the last two months was less than 5%.

    It’s settling into a 20K groove, which isn’t bad considering the $3.99 price tag, the lack of hype, and the “star” being a 4th-string DC character not used much since the 1950s.

    Gen13 on the other hand:

    The numbers are remarkably similar to MIS, despite Gen13 not having an inflated 1st issue due to a Neal Adams variant. Yet this book dropped 18% of orders in February, and another 4.8% in March. It’s lost half of its readership since launch, but it’s “finding its level”?

    Seriously – were these comments reversed somehow?

  2. Please Heidi get someone else to do these DC sales charts. These guys anti DC bias taints everything he says.

  3. Wow. I’ll state now that i’ve never been nor will i ever be a DC fan. But declining sales hurts the industry as a whole, and it looks horrible on DC’s end. I don’t think any about of pro-bias could make DC’s figures look better (sam silbert) and I just hope they can do something to drag their titles back up there.

  4. I think the Walking Dead is the first black and white comic to make it into the top 100 in ages.
    When was the last time a b&w comic sold this well?

  5. I want to like DC, I really do. But they don’t want to tell me why I should spend my money on their comics, rather then Marvel’s. Right now, I feel (as I look at how much money I have to spend on comics, which is very little) that Marvel’s worst book is better then DC’s best. I’m not saying this so that DC fans can hate me. If I wanted to do that I’d write something really good and call myself Chuck Austen. Like I said, I want to like DC, and I’d never tell them what (or what not) to write. I just want DC to keep me and my money in mind the next time they want to take a whole year up with a story arc, that goes accross all of their core books.

  6. Geez – I can’t believe how the kidults see this as a DCsuksMarvelrulz situation. In my mind this is merely a demonstration of how limited the Direct Market and the capes crowd are. Sorry kids, but if all you have to get excited about is how Roy Thomas, excuse me, Geoff Johns can sell 100K units, then time to give up the ghost, in my opinion.

    What’s more interesting to me is how “poorly” the Vertigo launches are doing. I use quotes, because creatively there’s some fine material being released, but why does DC/Vertigo think that anyone wants to buy comic booklets filled with ads breaking up the stories, especially since the stories are largely Graphic Novels being broken down into artificially structured chunks that more often than not hurt the stories being told. As someone who prefers to have stories in a complete package, I’m slightly concerned that DC/Vertigo will end series early and/or not complete the republishings into single volume sets a la Human Target or Deadenders. I hope the paperbacks of books like Scalped, DMZ, Exterminators and Testament do very well in their first months of distrubution so readers like me don’t get short shrift.

  7. “I can’t believe how the kidults see this as a DCsuksMarvelrulz situation.”
    I’ll say it again. I want to like DC. I don’t care who’s putting out the books. I have x amount of money to spend, and I want DC to think about that when they’re planning their next run of books. It’s only because I want to see them do well, that I say this. I am not part of any “capes crowed.” I am a business man, and I am looking at things from that point of view. Also, I teach art to over 150 kids, and NONE OF THEM care about DC comics. If these numbers are really that good, then you don’t need me or them. They or I don’t care for Roy Thomas or Geoff Johns’ work. Oh, and Marvel isn’t the only company getting my money.

  8. “Mystery In Space’s decline is pretty decent… especially when you remember that the first issue carried a variant cover by comics legend Neal Adams, which inflated initial orders. […] It’s settling into a 20K groove, which isn’t bad considering the $3.99 price tag, the lack of hype, and the “star” being a 4th-string DC character not used much since the 1950s.”

    Erm, that’s what I’m getting at when I write, “That’s an abysmal six-month drop-off. On the other hand, the book is still above 20K despite the obscure title character, so there are two ways to look at this.” And a 38.3% second-issue drop is extraordinarily steep by any standard, despite the variant cover edition for issue #1.

    “Gen13 on the other hand: […] Yet this book dropped 18% of orders in February, and another 4.8% in March. It’s lost half of its readership since launch, but it’s “finding its level”?”

    I’m pointing out that it lost more than half of its readership. The 18% drop after issue #4, as I said in the February column, was due to the fact that it was the first without a variant cover edition. The subsequent 4.8% drop in March is the smallest one yet for ANY of the WildStorm Universe titles in ANY month, hence my suggestion that it seems to be finding its level.

    So I don’t quite see your point, all told.

  9. Is it possible to get DC Direct numbers and do this same sort of analysis? There’s an entire group of consumers that would like to see those numbers.

    Thanks,

    Jim

  10. Christopher: DC publishes Darwyn Cooke drawing The Spirit and none of your art students care about *that* book? Seriously? Seems a bit surprising to me. (Also, you’d think that art students would have some kind of an interest in the Kuberts, for good or for ill…)

    I kind of agree with anonymous that it’s foolish for American comic publishers to continue with the monthly format. I read Y and Fables through trades. The cliffhanger moments work just as well (à la act breaks), but you can read a whole story at your own pace, and not at the publisher’s/creators’ often addled pace. I’ll say it time and again, but this is the way European comics are done: complete stories, that can continue in later issues, but stand alone perfectly well. Keeping classic stories in print helps a lot too to keep interest going. (But for that you need timelessness, good luck finding that these days)

    I am deeply troubled that there’s such little faith of retailers in Brave & the Bold. It’s Waid! It’s Perez! #2 featured both GL and Supergirl! How are people not interested? (I didn’t know there was a 1 in 10 variant for #1 either, never saw it. What was it like?) It’s even worse because it’s so genuinely good, superheroically speaking. I hadn’t expected such a sharp drop-off, especially with both Justice series doing so well (which is another surprise right there, go figure)

    Seeing the Trinity messes does make you wonder whether there’s any actual sabotage going on behind the scenes, heh. Things are certainly looking dire in the long run, if nobody manages to revert the damage (which I fear is done).

    DC’s losing me, and I don’t like it. My wallet will like it though, so that’s something…

  11. “(I didn’t know there was a 1 in 10 variant for #1 either, never saw it. What was it like?)”

    Correction: The variant wasn’t 1-in-10, but evenly split.

  12. “Is it possible to get DC Direct numbers and do this same sort of analysis?”

    You mean their merchandise arm? No, not that I know.

  13. Wow. I had no idea that DC’s reboot had been such a cock-up. I thought Marvel had the worse reputation for shipping late, but these figures seem to indicate otherwise.

    The shape the direct market is in, a book simply can’t afford to be published on an irregular schedule. Hopefully editors and publishers will study these figures and consider the importance of getting their creatives to deliver on time.

  14. “What’s more interesting to me is how “poorly” the Vertigo launches are doing. (…)I hope the paperbacks of books like Scalped, DMZ, Exterminators and Testament do very well in their first months of distrubution.”

    The paperback of DMZ has sold better than the comic book.

  15. You would think that with all of these “declines,” “disasters” and “fiascoes,” editorial heads would be rolling at DC. At the moment, their only successful series seem to be JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, 52 and JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA. Everything else seems to be outright tanking, dropping or barely holding its level.

  16. As I understand it:

    Comic book writers and artists, in general, want to get paid every month. So in order to be able to pay these writers and artists, DC has to sell something every month. Thus what could otherwise just wait to be a graphic novel has to get chopped up into monthly bites so that some money can come in to pay the writers and artists along the way.

    My understanding is that no comics company or creator is ready to change over to the system used by prose novels, which I believe is an advance payment based on anticipated sales, followed by more payment when the piece is finished. DC can’t up-front the money, and the writers and artists can’t wait till it’s done to get paid.

  17. the situation with the movie horror books is interesting: all of those properties were taken by their owner[s] from Avatar to Wildstorm only to get cancelled after 6 months.

    I suppose they did now better business than they did at Avatar, but wouldn’t they have survived longer if still being published by the latter?

    the movie studios tried to better expose their properties for a while but then they will probably go back to limbo again after this.

    I may be wrong and I’m not a numbers expert, but I’d like to see an analysis on this sometime.

  18. And a 38.3% second-issue drop is extraordinarily steep by any standard, despite the variant cover edition for issue #1.

    From what I’ve seen, a 25% drop is pretty normal, 30% is a little high. Is that a fair statement in your estimation?

    If so, compare MIS to a comparable mini-series, such as say Omega Men – the 2nd-issue drop was more standard there…but then…the first issue didn’t have a variant by Neal Adams. When you consider that the 2nd issues are ordered sight unseen, it’s likely that retailers simply wanted the Neal Adams cover.

    I’m pointing out that it lost more than half of its readership. The 18% drop after issue #4, as I said in the February column, was due to the fact that it was the first without a variant cover edition. The subsequent 4.8% drop in March is the smallest one yet for ANY of the WildStorm Universe titles in ANY month, hence my suggestion that it seems to be finding its level.

    So I don’t quite see your point, all told.
    I was unaware that the 18% drop on Gen13 was due to the loss of a variant cover. Going purely by the numbers presented, your analysis of Gen13’s is inconsistent with your analysis of similarly-performing titles.

    That was my point – but the data you presented in your response makes sense. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

  19. “Wow. I’ll state now that i’ve never been nor will i ever be a DC fan. But declining sales hurts the industry as a whole, and it looks horrible on DC’s end.”

    DC COMICS
    03/2003: 24,279
    03/2004: 32,148
    03/2005: 27,349
    —————
    02/2007: 31,051 (+ 4.5%)
    03/2007: 32,398 (+ 4.3%)

    If you’re going to naysay… oh, to hell with it. Twit.

  20. Well, it looks like the emergency measures to fix the scheduling are stemming at least the worst of the bleeding.

    The low numbers of the Vertigo books interest me too. Is Vertigo finally shifting its focus to the collected edition market in the same way Johnny DC does?

  21. Well as someone who just started buying DC trades again, I have to say that they have good entertaining stories. Fans are too event driven, they just buy whatever book has an event tag slapped onto it.

  22. Any chance of getting some comparison numbers for trades/collections? I’d like to see the trends in that regard.

    Otherwise, I really enjoy these, keep up the good work.

  23. “DC publishes Darwyn Cooke drawing The Spirit and none of your art students care about *that* book? Seriously? Seems a bit surprising to me. (Also, you’d think that art students would have some kind of an interest in the Kuberts, for good or for ill…)”

    No. They really don’t care, or care to know. These are kids. The next in line to write, draw, or buy the comics of years to come, The girls draw stories about pretty girls looking for love… and riding horses. The boy’s do stories of robots and dragons. Who’s doing it means nothing to them; only what it is and if it’s cool. They know only the possibilities in their imagination, with no limitations, and I’ll continue to encourage that. Isn’t that always how change comes about?. Stop fighting it and let it happen. That’s why we’re not getting any where, because we’re not letting change happen. Telling my students about the Kuberts is like trying to explain to them why the Beatles were so important to all the music that came after them, all the way up until today. They only want to hear the music of today. They’ll start liking stuff by old guys when they have their own kids.

  24. “02/2007: 31,051 (+ 4.5%)
    03/2007: 32,398 (+ 4.3%)

    If you’re going to naysay… oh, to hell with it. Twit. ”

    Er, not so fast there. Those numbers don’t prove your point at all. It’s entirely possible for the average sales per title to go up, but the total sales to go down. If DC cancelled some low-selling titles then the average would go up.

  25. “As I understand it:

    Comic book writers and artists, in general, want to get paid every month. So in order to be able to pay these writers and artists, DC has to sell something every month. Thus what could otherwise just wait to be a graphic novel has to get chopped up into monthly bites so that some money can come in to pay the writers and artists along the way.

    My understanding is that no comics company or creator is ready to change over to the system used by prose novels, which I believe is an advance payment based on anticipated sales, followed by more payment when the piece is finished. DC can’t up-front the money, and the writers and artists can’t wait till it’s done to get paid.”

    Yeah, sure – DC can’t afford to front the money. Where are you getting that information?

  26. “If you’re going to naysay… oh, to hell with it. Twit”

    Volume alone counts for the majority of that increase. Additionally, the rest of us are looking at where DC is going, not just at where they are now. They just used up their ‘once every 20 years’ magic bullet, and it didn’t help them much more than 1300 units, with big winners being a book that didn’t even change teams, one that everyone proclaims to hate, and a mini-series the sales of which we will never see again.
    When you look at the fall-out of that, you see what the rest of us are trying to say.

  27. “Is Vertigo finally shifting its focus to the collected edition market in the same way Johnny DC does?”

    The single issues are still quite necessary for Vertigo, be it only as loss-leaders. Without them, the imprint wouldn’t be workable at this time, as I understand it.

    It’s also worth pointing out that collections seem less significant for the Johnny DC books than mass-market chains.

  28. “Any chance of getting some comparison numbers for trades/collections? I’d like to see the trends in that regard.”

    Well, everybody would. The general consensus is that you need to subscribe to Bookscan in order to get a remotely meaningful picture. Over here, we only have access to the direct market numbers, which excludes bookstores and anything else that’s not the direct market.

  29. “What happened to Supergirl and the Legion?”

    Missed its shipping date by one week and slipped into April. So did AMERICAN VIRGIN and JACK OF FABLES, by the way.

  30. “The average of DC Universe titles in march is 42,634. Without 52 the average is 26,427.”

    Erm, not quite. Without 52, the average for the March ’07 DC Universe titles would be 38,101. There’s not much of a point to these sort of numbers games, though.

    And, of course, as Paul correctly says, averages are just averages. They don’t tell us anything about total unit or dollar sales, because they don’t include factors such as cover price or the number of titles released in a given month.

  31. ““Is Vertigo finally shifting its focus to the collected edition market in the same way Johnny DC does?”

    The single issues are still quite necessary for Vertigo, be it only as loss-leaders. Without them, the imprint wouldn’t be workable at this time, as I understand it.”

    Reaaaly… And on what are you basing your understanding? With the serial sales sinking, I would think it’s time to try a new model.

  32. “And on what are you basing your understanding?”

    On comments from people who know what they’re talking about. This isn’t the first time the topic comes up, after all.

  33. Sometimes people who “know what they’re talking about” don’t actually “know what they’re talking about.” They may also be speaking from bias or disinformation. Publishers like the fact that the serial publishing model puts all the financial risk on the direct market retailers. Creators believe publishers’ claims that they can’t get paid on the front-end for bookform. Retailers don’t know another system and have built up their businesses around a model which puts all kinds of financial risk on them (unsold back issues that they’ve already bought and paid for) and are don’t realize they can compete with big box stores on a bookform model because no big boxes can carry the variety of a good local retailer. In none of these cases does anyone ever present the numbers though. How about you – do you have any solid numbers to back up your assertions? Is your guess simply just as good as mine?

  34. Quote: “but why does DC/Vertigo think that anyone wants to buy comic booklets filled with ads breaking up the stories, especially since the stories are largely Graphic Novels being broken down into artificially structured chunks that more often than not hurt the stories being told…”

    Gee, I sure enjoy buying a monthly story and having it continued the next month. I’m kind of crazy that way, as I’ve been enjoying that format for a good two decades now. And I can’t recall a ad page ever once denying my enjoyment of that.

  35. Bring back Adventure Comics with a feature story (Ray Palmer, please) and a backup (say, Carter Hall?) and rescue two franchises in free fall. Hey, two more trade paperbacks waiting in the wings, Didio. Make it happen.

  36. Dale Eaglesham only did one fill-in issue of the old JSA series, so it’s not quite correct to say Justice Society has the “same creative team” as JSA did. Same writer, new regular artist. And I think best regular artist since Sadowski left.

  37. 29 – THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
    02/2007: The Brave and the Bold #1 — 92,091 [96,510]
    03/2007: The Brave and the Bold #2 — 64,357 (-30.1%)
    Mixed signals: The book started out with excellent numbers, but this is a very steep second-issue drop. In part, to be fair, that’s because issue #1 came with a 1-in-10 variant cover edition and #2 didn’t;

    — Actually, issue #1 didn’t have a 1:10 variant, but it did have 2 covers and could be ordered individually. Issue #2 featured only one cover.

  38. Quote: “My understanding is that no comics company or creator is ready to change over to the system used by prose novels, which I believe is an advance payment based on anticipated sales, followed by more payment when the piece is finished. DC can’t up-front the money, and the writers and artists can’t wait till it’s done to get paid.”

    The publishers will have to start doing this eventually when they switch over to TPBs exclusively, especially since TPBs are now outselling floppies. Of course it’ll be initially painful for everyone (except maybe the creators because they’ll have some money upfront), but in the long-term it’ll be better sales and exposure once more titles show up in Barnes & Noble and Chapters, sitting next to the 1/2 dozen huge shelves of manga.

  39. As a former die hard DC fan, these sales figures are not only saddening, they’re pathetic. Only in comics, can a company get away with publishing titles with such low circ figures.

    As for the comments, as a former diehard DC fan — not just ‘eh — I don’t think they’re biased at all, they’re real and sometimes, the truth hurts.

    But, this is what happens when you have a group leader who does not listen or care about their audience. Sadly, while Dan Didio may have plenty of ideas about DC’s characters, readers are obviously not sharing in the enthusiasm and neither are their creators. DC hyped high profile creator launches and failed at each and every one of them. None of these creators are delivering on a consistent basis and I don’t buy the ‘quality takes time’ excuse. These are creators who not only appear to be lacking in drive (as seen by their lack of delivery) but they have the attention spans of a mexican jumping bean. No sooner than a creator is announced, they’re then announced as absent or leaving the same title in 6 months. If your creators don’t care, readers won’t and its evident in sales.

    As for Dan Didio’s revamps, his relentless sociopathetic bloodbath of DC’s characters continues and as long as it does, readers will flee in droves. Death in comics is a quick sales jump but it says something to readers: our characters suck — if they didn’t, we wouldn’t need to kill them. People aren’t liking the replacements and Dan Didio’s sense of judgement is off, way off.

    As for George Perez and the Brave and the Bold? Yes, its Perez and its fun but its also the Brave and The Bold. Team up titles are notorious for being slow sellers so expecting B&B to be a top hit is as believable as Jason Rush was for a sucessful Firestorm. George Perez is an MVP. You don’t take your MVP and put him on a 2nd class book. And as much as I like B&B to think of it as anything more is living in a delusion. You have Supergirl, a character people hate and Blue Beetle in the 3rd issue — a character, while done well in the issue, is a character with a fan base of less than 20K/ George Perez belongs on a book like JLA, Legion or even Nightwing, a character HE created and brought to high profile way back when. EVen having George complete the Titans graphic novel would have been more profitable — he completed more than half the book and DC paid for it already. But ah, Didio knows best.

    Yeah, he launched a successful weekly comic but at what price? The quality, integrity and respectability of the entire DC line, which is now a failure in the eyes of many. So really, was it a success after all?

    How this guy keeps his job is beyond me. Ah, only in comics and only by a publisher who can get away with such shameful, pathetic figures. Remember the good old days, when books said ‘BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!’ Now, every book should be slugged, ‘BECAUSE DIDIO DEMANDED IT!’

Comments are closed.