DC Comics Month-to-Month Sales: March 2010

by Marc-Oliver Frisch

March brought jolly good sales for DC’s comic-book business!

In fact, even considering that it was a month with five delivery days for new comics instead of just four and, consequently, one extra week of re-orders, the numbers seem almost too good on a range of titles, but maybe I’m just paranoid.

In particular, DC’s Vertigo imprint is beginning to look more solid than it has in ages. Partly, that’s because Vertigo released a whopping 19 new comic books in March, a new record for them, but also because many of those books performed well.

The big launch of the month was American Vampire, of course, a new ongoing series co-written by Stephen King. It sold an estimated 33,762 copies, the highest first-month sales for Vertigo since Diamond started providing data on sales to retailers in March 2003. (Andy Diggle and Enrique Breccia’s Swamp Thing #1 came close: It moved 33,382 units in March 2004.)

More significantly for Vertigo’s long-term health, there are signs of moderate success with a number of other recent launches. Sales on titles like The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian and — to a lesser extent — Sweet Tooth indicate that the practice of publishing debut issues with low introductory prices is bearing fruit. The Fables spin-off Cinderella and the maxiseries Daytripper are also turning out to be solid sellers.

Blackest Night and its tie-ins keep the publisher’s DC Universe line in reasonably good shape in March, while the WildStorm imprint saw an increase of 35% in average comic-book sales. The latter is a mixed blessing, though. The spike is entirely due to a highly irregular three new issues of WildStorm top-sellers Astro City and Ex Machina, neither of which came out in April, and one of which has two more issues to go before reaching its conclusion.

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

—–

1 - BLACKEST NIGHT
07/2009: Blackest Night #1 of 8  -- 177,105          [206,534]
08/2009: Blackest Night #2 of 8  -- 146,092 (-17.5%) [155,512]
09/2009: Blackest Night #3 of 8  -- 140,786 (- 3.6%) [143,949]
10/2009: Blackest Night #4 of 8  -- 137,169 (- 2.6%)
11/2009: Blackest Night #5 of 8  -- 144,935 (+ 5.7%) [151,292]
12/2009: Blackest Night #6 of 8  -- 135,985 (- 6.2%)
01/2010: --
02/2010: Blackest Night #7 of 8  -- 130,613 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: Blackest Night #8 of 8  -- 135,061 (+ 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.1%

Thus ends Blackest Night, the most successful event comic-book series since Secret Invasion. Marvel’s current event miniseries Siege proves to be a consistent 100K+ juggernaut (see the Marvel column), but its first-month figures haven’t come close to those of Blackest Night.

That’s significant, because a little more than a year ago, the picture was quite a different one: Marvel’s Secret Invasion, which came out between April and December 2008, had first-month sales between 250,263 and 152,429. DC’s last event series Final Crisis, released from May 2008 through January 2009, had first-month numbers between 144,826 and 103,292. Blackest Night sits right in-between those two, whereas the most charitable estimates for Siege are currently well below Final Crisis.

On the surface, Marvel lost many readers between Secret Invasion and Siege, whereas DC gained a few between Final Crisis and Blackest Night. Beyond that, though, it seems worth pointing out Secret Invasion was the last event series that had an easy-to-understand, quick-to-relate-to premise — an invasion by shape-shifting aliens — that more casual readers would understand. I’m sure there are other factors at play, such as the economic crisis and the reception of Marvel and DC’s respective directions through 2009.

But ultimately, maybe the simple reason why no event series since Secret Invasion has been able to break the 200K barrier is that no event series since Secret Invasion was made so that anyone except the hardcore direct-market audience would find it appealing or accessible. A few years ago, with books like Civil War, Buffy, The Umbrella Academy or World of WarCraft, it looked like publishers were having some tangible success driving casual buyers into comics stores. In 2010, I’m not sure that momentum exists anymore.

Make no mistake: Blackest Night has been a huge success for DC. That said, though, there are signs that they happen to be the biggest fishes in a pond that’s been getting smaller again, rather than bigger.

As usual, there was a 1-for-100 variant-cover edition as well as a 1-for-25 one for Blackest Night #8.

—–

3 - GREEN LANTERN
03/2005: --
03/2006: Green Lantern #10  --  79,745 [87,143]
03/2007: Green Lantern #18  --  61,661
03/2008: Green Lantern #29  --  66,536
--------------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: Green Lantern #39  --  79,792 (+15.8%) [ 84,784]
04/2009: Green Lantern #40  --  76,665 (- 3.9%) [ 84,705]
05/2009: Green Lantern #41  --  81,491 (+ 6.3%)
06/2009: Green Lantern #42  --  84,131 (+ 3.2%)
07/2009: Green Lantern #43  -- 109,426 (+30.1%) [117,314]
07/2009: Green Lantern #44  -- 105,063 (- 4.0%) [109,599]
08/2009: Green Lantern #45  -- 102,431 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: Green Lantern #46  -- 103,666 (+ 1.2%)
10/2009: Green Lantern #47  -- 101,349 (- 2.2%)
11/2009: Green Lantern #48  -- 100,371 (- 1.0%)
12/2009: Green Lantern #49  --  97,285 (- 3.1%)
01/2010: Green Lantern #50  -- 106,444 (+ 9.4%)
02/2010: Green Lantern #51  --  95,509 (-10.3%)
03/2010: Green Lantern #52  --  97,369 (+ 2.0%)
-----------------
6 months: -  6.1%
1 year  :    n.a.
2 years : + 46.3%
5 years :    n.a.

As the main Blackest Night tie-in and the series where the story originated, Green Lantern has been profiting from the even quite a bit. The next several issues are linked to the follow-up maxiseries Brightest Day, so the numbers will be interesting to watch.

As usual, there was a 1-for-25 variant edition.

—–

4 - BATMAN AND ROBIN
06/2009: Batman and Robin #1  -- 168,604          [184,826]
07/2009: Batman and Robin #2  -- 117,986 (-30.2%) [129,086]
08/2009: Batman and Robin #3  -- 110,594 (- 6.3%)
09/2009: Batman and Robin #4  -- 106,925 (- 3.3%)
10/2009: Batman and Robin #5  -- 101,607 (- 5.0%)
11/2009: Batman and Robin #6  --  95,690 (- 5.8%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: Batman and Robin #7  --  87,780 (- 8.3%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #8  --  87,302 (- 0.6%)
02/2010: Batman and Robin #9  --  84,562 (- 3.1%)
03/2010: Batman and Robin #10 --  85,292 (+ 0.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 20.2%

The March issue was the beginning of a new story, drawn by Andy Clarke. It’s also touted as the beginning of the “Return of Bruce Wayne” story on the cover, which wasn’t mentioned in the advertising text. Combined with the extra month of re-orders, that’s explanation enough for the marginal increase.

There was a 1-for-25 variant, as usual.

—–

5 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 of 5   -- 60,123
03/2007: Green Lantern Corps #10 -- 34,227
03/2008: Green Lantern Corps #22 -- 46,736
------------------------------------------
03/2009: Green Lantern Corps #34 -- 54,162 (+21.4%)
04/2009: Green Lantern Corps #35 -- 58,769 (+ 8.5%)
05/2009: Green Lantern Corps #36 -- 61,591 (+ 4.8%)
06/2009: Green Lantern Corps #37 -- 63,574 (+ 3.2%)
07/2009: Green Lantern Corps #38 -- 82,415 (+29.6%)
08/2009: Green Lantern Corps #39 -- 84,241 (+ 2.2%)
09/2009: Green Lantern Corps #40 -- 83,112 (- 1.3%)
10/2009: Green Lantern Corps #41 -- 81,377 (- 2.1%)
11/2009: Green Lantern Corps #42 -- 80,391 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Green Lantern Corps #43 -- 77,774 (- 3.3%)
01/2010: Green Lantern Corps #44 -- 76,458 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Green Lantern Corps #45 -- 75,404 (- 1.4%)
03/2010: Green Lantern Corps #46 -- 76,720 (+ 1.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.7%
1 year  : +41.7%
2 years : +64.2%

Another major Blackest Night tie-in.

With “Brightest Day,” a new writer and an anniversary issue around the corner, this is another title whose sales won’t get much of a chance to settle down in the next few months.

This one had a 1-for-25 variant, too.

—–

13 - BATMAN
03/2005: Batman #638 --  59,797
03/2006: Batman #651 --  69,805
03/2007: Batman #664 --  80,497
03/2008: --
-------------------------------
03/2009: BfC #1 of 3 --  91,619 (-17.7%) [103,913]
04/2009: BfC #2 of 3 --  89,120 (- 2.7%)
05/2009: BfC #3 of 3 --  89,170 (+ 0.1%)
06/2009: Batman #687 --  96,913 (+ 8.7%)
07/2009: Batman #688 --  83,040 (-14.3%)
08/2009: Batman #689 --  78,392 (- 5.6%)
09/2009: Batman #690 --  77,001 (- 1.8%)
10/2009: Batman #691 --  71,431 (- 7.2%)
10/2009: Batman #692 --  70,322 (- 1.6%)
11/2009: Batman #693 --  68,983 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman #694 --  65,908 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Batman #695 --  63,467 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Batman #696 --  61,290 (- 3.4%)
03/2010: Batman #697 --  61,157 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: -20.6%
1 year  : -33.3%
2 years :   n.a.
5 years : + 2.3%

This is one of the books doing better than you’d expect, for no evident reason. Batman was losing more than 2,000 units per month with the last few issues, and it seems unlikely that a single extra week could have compensated for that.

Then again, maybe the current storyline is just catching on with readers, or the book is picking up steam in anticipation of issue #700.

—–

17 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
03/2005: JLA #112           --  64,790
03/2007: Justice League #6  -- 130,099 [131,754]
03/2008: Justice League #19 --  87,482
--------------------------------------
03/2009: Justice League #31 --  68,759 (- 1.4%)
04/2009: Justice League #32 --  66,021 (- 4.0%)
05/2009: Justice League #33 --  63,867 (- 3.3%)
06/2009: Justice League #34 --  61,115 (- 4.3%)
07/2009: Justice League #35 --  58,915 (- 3.6%)
08/2009: Justice League #36 --  57,549 (- 2.3%)
09/2009: Justice League #37 --  55,478 (- 3.6%)
10/2009: Justice League #38 --  61,012 (+10.0%)
11/2009: Justice League #39 --  89,376 (+46.5%)
12/2009: Justice League #40 --  68,672 (-23.2%)
01/2010: Justice League #41 --  62,262 (- 9.3%)
02/2010: Justice League #42 --  57,522 (- 7.6%)
03/2010: Justice League #43 --  56,461 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.8%
1 year  : -17.9%
2 years : -35.5%
5 years : -12.9%

25 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL SPECIAL
03/2010: JL: RaF Special #1 -- 50,360

28 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE
07/2009: Cry for Justice #1 of 6  -- 68,317          [72,719]
08/2009: Cry for Justice #2 of 6  -- 54,553 (-20.2%) [58,829]
09/2009: Cry for Justice #3 of 7  -- 54,726 (+ 0.3%)
10/2009: Cry for Justice #4 of 7  -- 54,386 (- 0.6%)
11/2009: Cry for Justice #5 of 7  -- 52,400 (- 3.7%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: Cry for Justice #6 of 7  -- 49,193 (- 6.1%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Cry for Justice #7 of 7  -- 49,769 (+ 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.1%

These few Justice League books were all written — or co-written — by James Robinson, as it were, and are all part of a storyline that sets up June’s Green Arrow relaunch.

That sounds a bit like buying rocket fuel to broil a wiener, but according to DC, it’s a very serious story with weight and emotion. (Critics use other words to describe it.)

Be that as it may, all the commotion likely explains the good numbers for Cry for Justice and the Rise and Fall Special. If Justice League proper profited from the proceedings, though, that’s not very flattering to its overall performance.

Two more chapters in this particular story came out in March, one without the words “Justice League” in the title, and both without the name James Robinson in the credits, which means they’re of an increasingly rare breed. See below.

All three issues were promoted with 1-for-25 variant editions.

—–

34/36 - DETECTIVE COMICS
03/2005: Detective Comics #804 --  39,388
03/2006: Detective Comics #817 --  62,245 [70,241]
03/2007: Detective Comics #829 --  52,943
03/2007: Detective Comics #830 --  52,395
03/2008: Detective Comics #842 --  49,425
-----------------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: Detective Comics #853 -- 104,107 (+83.8%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Detective Comics #854 --  72,808 (-30.1%) [79,573]
07/2009: Detective Comics #855 --  61,205 (-15.9%)
08/2009: Detective Comics #856 --  58,859 (- 3.8%)
09/2009: Detective Comics #857 --  57,063 (- 3.1%)
10/2009: Detective Comics #858 --  58,599 (+ 2.7%)
11/2009: Detective Comics #859 --  54,392 (- 7.2%)
12/2009: Detective Comics #860 --  52,295 (- 3.9%)
01/2010: Detective Comics #861 --  45,937 (-12.2%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Detective Comics #862 --  44,687 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Detective Comics #863 --  43,119 (- 3.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.1%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : - 11.2%
5 years : + 11.5%

The two issues that came out in March were writer Greg Rucka’s final work on the Batwoman character for the time being, as it turns out, while his “Question” strip will conclude in issue #865. Given that the solicitation copy for #866, released in late March, still urges readers to “come back next month for the return of The Question and Batwoman,” this looks like another rather sudden change of plans.

The numbers during Rucka’s tenure never quite gained a foothold. Then again, they’re still well within the book’s usual spectrum historically, and the departure of a critically acclaimed creator is rarely a sign that sales are about to improve.

—–

39/44 - ADVENTURE COMICS
08/2009: Adventure Comics #1  -- 56,706 (+72.6%)
09/2009: Adventure Comics #2  -- 47,296 (-15.9%)
10/2009: Adventure Comics #3  -- 44,431 (- 6.1%)
11/2009: Adventure Comics #4  -- 85,145 (+91.6%)
12/2009: Adventure Comics #5  -- 59,876 (-29.7%)
01/2010: Adventure Comics #6  -- 42,514 (-29.0%)
02/2010: Adventure Comics #7  -- 53,721 (+26.4%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #8  -- 39,351 (-26.8%)
03/2010: Adventure Comics #9  -- 37,515 (- 4.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.7%

43 - SUPERMAN: LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON
03/2009: WoNK #1  of 12 -- 50,050
04/2009: WoNK #2  of 12 -- 44,880 (-10.3%)
05/2009: WoNK #3  of 12 -- 42,153 (- 6.1%)
06/2009: WoNK #4  of 12 -- 41,620 (- 1.3%)
07/2009: WoNK #5  of 12 -- 39,939 (- 4.0%)
08/2009: WoNK #6  of 12 -- 39,218 (- 1.8%)
09/2009: WoNK #7  of 12 -- 37,697 (- 3.9%)
10/2009: WoNK #8  of 12 -- 36,672 (- 2.7%)
11/2009: WoNK #9  of 12 -- 35,286 (- 3.8%)
12/2009: WoNK #10 of 12 -- 33,868 (- 4.0%)
01/2010: WoNK #11 of 12 -- 32,728 (- 3.4%)
02/2010: WoNK #12 of 12 -- 32,407 (- 1.0%)
03/2010: LSoNK #1 of 3  -- 38,202 (+17.9%)
-----------------
6 months: +  1.3%
1 year  : - 23.7%

The two March issues of Adventure Comics begin a four-part run co-written by James Robinson that ties in with the Superman books. As you’d expect given the lackluster sales of the Superman line proper, it doesn’t seem to have made any difference commercially.

Meanwhile, Last Stand of New Krypton, also co-written by James Robinson and part of the same crossover, takes the place of World of New Krypton in March and April, as the not-very-popular current direction of the Superman books is starting to wind down. Retailers dutifully up their orders compared to the last few issues of the maxiseries, but you can’t blame them for not going overboard with enthusiasm, at this stage.

As usual, there were 1-for-10 variants for both issues of Adventure Comics and a 1-for-25 variant for Last Stand of New Krypton.

—–

42 - FIRST WAVE
11/2009: B/DS Special #1    -- 32,636
-------------------------------------
03/2010: First Wave #1 of 6 -- 38,365

First Wave is a new miniseries by Brain Azzarello and Rags Morales that teams Batman with pulp heroes Doc Savage and The Spirit, preparing the world for the launch of new ongoing titles for the latter two.

The fact that there’s a noticeable increase versus the one-shot from last November may mean that anticipation is building, or just that retailers order more copies of a $ 3.99 mini than they do of a $ 4.99 one-shot.

Either way, these are very decent figures for this type of thing, but perhaps not decent enough to suggest that there’s enough demand for two fairly generic — if visually recognizable — characters, one of which failed to sustain a monthly series less than a year ago.

There was a 1-for-10 variant.

—–

45 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
03/2005: JSA #71             --  42,874
03/2006: JSA #83             --  51,991 [ 58,624]
03/2007: Justice Society #4  --  84,449 [ 86,475]
03/2008: --
---------------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: Justice Society #25 --  65,713 (+  0.8%)
04/2009: Justice Society #26 --  81,200 (+ 23.6%)
05/2009: Justice Society #27 --  56,102 (- 30.9%)
06/2009: Justice Society #28 --  52,673 (-  6.1%)
07/2009: Justice Society #29 --  51,375 (-  2.5%)
08/2009: Justice Society #30 --  49,416 (-  3.8%)
09/2009: Justice Society #31 --  47,436 (-  4.0%)
10/2009: Justice Society #32 --  44,885 (-  5.4%)
11/2009: Justice Society #33 --  43,218 (-  3.7%)
12/2009: Justice Society #34 --  41,734 (-  3.4%)
01/2010: Justice Society #35 --  39,934 (-  4.3%)
02/2010: Justice Society #36 --  39,060 (-  2.2%)
03/2010: Justice Society #37 --  37,381 (-  4.3%)
----------------
6 months: -21.2%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -12.8%

Justice Society numbers keep sliding down. The book will be hijacked by the creative team of Justice League of America — yes, that means James Robinson — for the duration of a crossover.

While this will probably increase the numbers, it’s worth noting that books usually don’t even profit from crossovers when it’s the regular creators who execute them, so the point of the exercise, other than to reduce the number of DC Comics publications not written by James Robinson, seems questionable at best; putting out an extra issue of Justice League with the Justice Society as guest stars would probably have done the same.

——

48 - RED ROBIN
03/2005: Robin #136    -- 31,645
03/2006: Robin #148    -- 36,717 [42,442]
03/2007: Robin #160    -- 27,659
03/2008: Robin #172    -- 26,912
--------------------------------
06/2009: Red Robin #1  -- 64,261 (+102.8%) [71,925]
07/2009: Red Robin #2  -- 51,593 (- 19.7%) [54,544]
08/2009: Red Robin #3  -- 50,329 (-  2.5%)
09/2009: Red Robin #4  -- 47,945 (-  4.7%)
10/2009: Red Robin #5  -- 44,776 (-  6.6%)
11/2009: Red Robin #6  -- 42,409 (-  5.3%)
12/2009: Red Robin #7  -- 39,528 (-  6.8%)
01/2010: Red Robin #8  -- 37,869 (-  4.2%)
02/2010: Red Robin #9  -- 36,466 (-  3.7%)
03/2010: Red Robin #10 -- 36,708 (+  0.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.4%
1 year  :   n.a.
2 years : + 36.4%
5 years : + 16.0%

A crossover with Batgirl arrests the book’s decline.

—–

50 - JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL
03/2010: JL: RoA #1 of 4 -- 36,020

Contrary to what the title or the solicited cover of the first issue suggest, this is neither a story about British Premier League football nor a gently cautioning brochure on the pitfalls of archery, but, disappointingly, a miniseries growing out of — not being severed from — the reportedly very, very serious conclusion to Justice League: Cry for Justice.

It’s a pretty good number for a Green Arrow spin-off.

There was a 1-for-25 variant.

—–

52 - BATMAN: THE WIDENING GYRE
03/2009: Cacophony #3 of 3     -- 52,814 (- 5.2%)
04/2009: --
05/2009: --
06/2009: --
07/2009: --
08/2009: Widening Gyre #1 of 6 -- 52,191 (- 1.2%)
09/2009: Widening Gyre #2 of 6 -- 46,287 (-11.3%)
10/2009: --
11/2009: Widening Gyre #3 of 6 -- 43,336 (- 6.4%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: Widening Gyre #4 of 6 -- 36,729 (-15.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Widening Gyre #5 of 6 -- 34,338 (- 6.5%)
----------------
6 months: -25.8%
1 year  : -35.0%

Kevin Smith is off the rails again, in terms of the schedule. Issue #5 was last solicited for February, while the final issue has just been resolicited from April to July. Sales are pretty low at this stage, and unlikely to be improved by the delays. As usual, there was a variant edition — a 1-for-25 one as usual, I presume, even if it wasn’t specified in the advertising text this time.

Also out in March was Smith’s Green Hornet #1 from Dynamite, evidently produced from an old screenplay Smith wrote in 2004 that ended up not being used. It debuted with estimated sales of 54,122. Being a Dynamite release, the book was promoted with a million variant-cover editions, but for what it is, the numbers are still impressive — it beats Batman: Widening Gyre #1.

—–

55 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo)
03/2010: American Vampire #1  -- 33,762

There is a backup strip with a bona fide, unmitigated Stephen King writing credit in Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque’s American Vampire. Consequently, it’s not altogether surprising that this ends up being the best-selling Vertigo comic book since Diamond started providing data on sales to comics retailers seven years ago.

To be fair, the one that came closest, Swamp Thing #1 by Andy Diggle and Enrique Breccia from March 2004, probably beat it in the end, if you account for the fact that American Vampire was promoted with a 1-for-25 variant edition, but I’m sure that won’t cloud anyone’s happiness with these figures.

Vertigo were confident in this one: Instead of a cheap introductory cover price that would surely have sold more than a few extra copies, American Vampire carries a $ 3.99 price tag; and instead of the usual cheap introductory paperback collection nine months down the road, American Vampire gets a hardcover book that’s already been solicited for a September release.

It’s too early to tell whether that confidence is paying off, but the book’s debut sales give reason to be cautiously optimistic.

—–

58 - SUPERMAN
03/2005: Superman #214 -- 100,943
03/2006: Superman #650 --  65,603 [77,783]
03/2007: Superman #660 --  57,169
03/2008: Superman #674 --  41,715
---------------------------------
03/2009: Superman #686 --  44,976 (- 6.4%)
04/2009: Superman #687 --  43,041 (- 4.3%)
05/2009: Superman #688 --  41,642 (- 3.3%)
06/2009: Superman #689 --  40,366 (- 3.1%)
07/2009: Superman #690 --  39,472 (- 2.2%)
08/2009: Superman #691 --  39,106 (- 0.9%)
09/2009: Superman #692 --  37,695 (- 3.6%)
10/2009: Superman #693 --  35,395 (- 6.1%)
11/2009: Superman #694 --  34,430 (- 2.7%)
12/2009: Superman #695 --  32,482 (- 5.7%)
01/2010: Superman #696 --  31,940 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Superman #697 --  31,504 (- 1.4%)
03/2010: Superman #698 --  33,336 (+ 5.8%)
----------------
6 months: -11.6%
1 year  : -25.9%
2 years : -20.1%
5 years : -67.0%

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … well, it’s a flagging Superman comic-book series, isn’t it? The (James Robinson-written!) March issue saw a slight increase for being part of a crossover with Adventure Comics and Last Stand of New Krypton.

New writer J. Michael Straczynski is waiting around the corner, of course. And DC, being DC, uses Free Comic Book Day to promote the last gasp of the current direction, rather than Straczynski’s run.

—–

61 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN
03/2005: --
03/2006: Superman/Batman #24 -- 101,315 [103,757]
03/2007: Superman/Batman #32 --  77,905
03/2008: --
---------------------------------------
03/2009: Superman/Batman #56 --  42,464 (- 3.4%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #57 --  41,743 (- 1.7%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #58 --  41,000 (- 1.8%)
04/2009: Superman/Batman #59 --  40,182 (- 2.0%)
05/2009: Superman/Batman #60 --  39,531 (- 1.6%)
06/2009: Superman/Batman #61 --  38,228 (- 3.3%)
07/2009: Superman/Batman #62 --  38,412 (+ 0.5%)
08/2009: Superman/Batman #63 --  37,467 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: Superman/Batman #64 --  36,332 (- 3.0%)
10/2009: Superman/Batman #65 --  34,585 (- 4.8%)
11/2009: Superman/Batman #66 --  52,143 (+50.8%)
12/2009: Superman/Batman #67 --  49,650 (- 4.8%)
01/2010: Superman/Batman #68 --  33,869 (-31.8%)
02/2010: Superman/Batman #69 --  33,224 (- 1.9%)
03/2010: Superman/Batman #70 --  32,196 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: -11.4%
1 year  : -24.2%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years :  n.a.

Business as usual for Superman/Batman, which means it’s proceeding with its usual downslide.

—–

64 - BATGIRL
03/2005: Batgirl #62     -- 28,750
----------------------------------
08/2009: Batgirl #1      -- 51,724 (+149.3%)
09/2009: Batgirl #2      -- 40,626 (- 21.5%)
10/2009: Batgirl #3      -- 37,011 (-  8.9%)
11/2009: Batgirl #4      -- 34,697 (-  6.3%)
12/2009: Batgirl #5      -- 32,482 (-  6.4%)
01/2010: Batgirl #6      -- 30,403 (-  6.4%)
02/2010: Batgirl #7      -- 29,524 (-  2.9%)
03/2010: Batgirl #8      -- 30,886 (+  4.6%)
----------------
6 months: -24.0%
5 years : + 7.4%

The crossover with Red Robin brings a modest increase.

—–

68 - SUPERGIRL
03/2006: --
03/2007: Supergirl #15 --  51,083
03/2008: Supergirl #27 --  32,596
---------------------------------
03/2009: Supergirl #39 --  33,713 (- 1.5%)
04/2009: Supergirl #40 --  34,080 (+ 1.1%)
05/2009: Supergirl #41 --  33,441 (- 1.9%)
06/2009: Supergirl #42 --  32,705 (- 2.2%)
07/2009: Supergirl #43 --  32,849 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Supergirl #44 --  33,819 (+ 3.0%)
09/2009: Supergirl #45 --  32,240 (- 4.7%)
10/2009: Supergirl #46 --  30,377 (- 5.8%)
11/2009: Supergirl #47 --  29,159 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Supergirl #48 --  28,176 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Supergirl #49 --  27,728 (- 1.6%)
02/2010: Supergirl #50 --  33,338 (+20.2%)
03/2010: Supergirl #51 --  29,845 (-10.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.4%
1 year  : -11.5%
2 years : - 8.4%

70 - ACTION COMICS
03/2005: Action Comics #825 -- 40,877
03/2006: Action Comics #837 -- 55,816 [69,652]
03/2007: Action Comics #847 -- 64,679
03/2008: --
-------------------------------------
03/2009: Action Comics #875 -- 47,079 (- 2.7%)
04/2009: Action Comics #876 -- 43,368 (- 7.9%)
05/2009: Action Comics #877 -- 41,772 (- 3.7%)
06/2009: Action Comics #878 -- 40,011 (- 4.2%)
07/2009: Action Comics #879 -- 38,324 (- 4.2%)
08/2009: Action Comics #880 -- 37,588 (- 1.9%)
09/2009: Action Comics #881 -- 36,183 (- 3.7%)
10/2009: Action Comics #882 -- 34,754 (- 4.0%)
11/2009: Action Comics #883 -- 33,386 (- 3.9%)
12/2009: Action Comics #884 -- 31,873 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Action Comics #885 -- 30,678 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Action Comics #886 -- 29,845 (- 2.7%)
03/2010: Action Comics #887 -- 29,460 (- 1.3%)
----------------
6 months: -18.6%
1 year  : -37.4%
2 years :  n.a.
5 years : -27.9%

Supergirl also took part in the crossover with Adventure Comics, et cetera, hence the slight sales increase versus the January issue.

Action Comics was not part of the crossover, but the numbers appear to have bottomed out nonetheless. A new creative team is taking over with issue #890, and contrary to what the solicitations said, writer Marc Guggenheim won’t be part of the makeover. Instead, Paul Cornell will be writing Action Comics regularly, and he hopes he’ll be able to use Superman one day, he says.

In other words: DC’s marketing strategy continues to involve Superman titles that don’t have Superman in them. Because it worked so well over the last year.

—–

76 - JSA ALL-STARS
12/2009: JSA All-Stars #1  -- 42,493
01/2010: JSA All-Stars #2  -- 32,601 (-23.3%)
02/2010: JSA All-Stars #3  -- 29,666 (- 9.0%)
03/2010: JSA All-Stars #4  -- 28,526 (- 3.8%)

Sales are finding their level fairly quickly; a good sign for the Justice Society spin-off.

—–

77 - GREEN ARROW
03/2005: Green Arrow #48  -- 31,668
03/2006: Green Arrow #60  -- 37,946 [43,045]
03/2007: Green Arrow #72  -- 31,144
03/2008: Arrow/Canary #6  -- 32,621
-----------------------------------
03/2009: Arrow/Canary #18 -- 22,699 (-  3.0%)
04/2009: Arrow/Canary #19 -- 21,933 (-  3.4%)
05/2009: Arrow/Canary #20 -- 21,445 (-  2.2%)
06/2009: Arrow/Canary #21 -- 20,807 (-  3.0%)
07/2009: Arrow&Canary #22 -- 20,571 (-  1.1%)
08/2009: Arrow&Canary #23 -- 19,452 (-  5.4%)
09/2009: Arrow&Canary #24 -- 18,780 (-  3.5%)
10/2009: Arrow&Canary #25 -- 18,013 (-  4.1%)
11/2009: Arrow&Canary #26 -- 17,384 (-  3.5%)
12/2009: Arrow&Canary #27 -- 16,904 (-  2.8%)
01/2010: Arrow&Canary #28 -- 16,482 (-  2.5%)
02/2010: Arrow&Canary #29 -- 16,600 (+  0.7%)
02/2010: Black Arrow #30  -- 42,014 (+153.1%)
03/2010: Green Arrow #31  -- 28,486 (- 32.2%)
----------------
6 months: +51.7%
1 year  : +25.5%
2 years : -12.7%
5 years : -10.1%

Thanks to the crossover with the Justice League books and a 1-for-25 variant edition, Green Arrow gets some much-needed attention in preparation of its relaunch.

I’m rather skeptical, given that none of the creators are household names and the story that got things off the ground was largely met with relentless ridicule.

Also, the cover price reverted back to $ 2.99 in March after nine issues, because the book lost the “Black Canary” backup strip. Given everything else that’s going on, there’s no way to tell whether this had any impact on the numbers, though.

—–

81 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS
03/2005: Birds of Prey #80  -- 29,964
03/2006: Birds of Prey #92  -- 36,808
03/2007: Birds of Prey #104 -- 28,464
03/2008: Birds of Prey #116 -- 22,627
-------------------------------------
06/2009: GC Sirens #1       -- 52,439
07/2009: GC Sirens #2       -- 39,518 (-24.6%)
08/2009: GC Sirens #3       -- 36,772 (- 7.0%)
09/2009: GC Sirens #4       -- 34,405 (- 6.4%)
10/2009: GC Sirens #5       -- 33,015 (- 4.0%)
11/2009: GC Sirens #6       -- 30,990 (- 6.1%)
12/2009: GC Sirens #7       -- 29,709 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: GC Sirens #8       -- 28,254 (- 4.9%)
02/2010: GC Sirens #9       -- 27,172 (- 3.8%)
03/2010: GC Sirens #10      -- 26,550 (- 2.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.8%
2 years : + 17.3%
5 years : - 11.4%

82 - BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM
06/2009: Batman: SoG #1  -- 57,650
07/2009: Batman: SoG #2  -- 44,240 (-23.3%)
08/2009: Batman: SoG #3  -- 40,353 (- 8.8%)
09/2009: Batman: SoG #4  -- 37,888 (- 6.1%)
10/2009: Batman: SoG #5  -- 34,533 (- 8.9%)
11/2009: Batman: SoG #6  -- 32,303 (- 6.5%)
12/2009: Batman: SoG #7  -- 30,290 (- 6.2%)
01/2010: Batman: SoG #8  -- 28,313 (- 6.5%)
02/2010: Batman: SoG #9  -- 27,023 (- 4.6%)
03/2010: Batman: SoG #10 -- 26,396 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -30.3%

The two Paul Dini Batman books keep descending the charts hand in hand. Usually, that’s an indication that retailers keep ordering them out of duty and inertia.

—–

83 - TEEN TITANS
03/2005: Teen Titans #22 -- 67,780
03/2006: Teen Titans #33 -- 67,208
03/2007: Teen Titans #44 -- 61,572
03/2008: Teen Titans #57 -- 49,109
----------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: Teen Titans #69 -- 35,375 (+ 0.8%)
04/2009: Teen Titans #70 -- 35,412 (+ 0.1%)
05/2009: Teen Titans #71 -- 34,110 (- 3.7%)
06/2009: Teen Titans #72 -- 32,512 (- 4.7%)
07/2009: Teen Titans #73 -- 30,990 (- 4.7%)
08/2009: Teen Titans #74 -- 30,380 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: Teen Titans #75 -- 32,808 (+ 8.0%)
10/2009: Teen Titans #76 -- 29,166 (-11.1%)
11/2009: Teen Titans #77 -- 46,239 (+58.5%)
12/2009: Teen Titans #78 -- 43,400 (- 6.1%)
01/2010: Teen Titans #79 -- 27,790 (-36.0%)
02/2010: Teen Titans #80 -- 26,537 (- 4.5%)
03/2010: Teen Titans #81 -- 25,758 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: -21.5%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -47.6%
5 years : -62.0%

Are the numbers bottoming out, now that the dust is settling and the book has a regular creative team again?

—–

85 - WONDER WOMAN
03/2005: Wonder Woman #214 --  30,473
03/2007: Wonder Woman #5   --  64,414
03/2008: Wonder Woman #18  --  40,771
-------------------------------------
03/2009: Wonder Woman #30  --  33,365 (+ 0.4%)
04/2009: Wonder Woman #31  --  31,857 (- 4.5%)
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32  --  33,065 (+ 3.8%)
06/2009: Wonder Woman #33  --  32,755 (- 0.9%)
07/2009: Wonder Woman #34  --  30,131 (- 8.0%)
08/2009: Wonder Woman #35  --  29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36  --  28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37  --  26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38  --  26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39  --  26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40  --  25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41  --  25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42  --  25,240 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: -12.4%
1 year  : -24.4%
2 years : -38.1%
5 years : -17.2%

Sales have been rock-solid for the last two months.

After issue #44, Wonder Woman hits #600 and gets a new creative team headed by J. Michael Straczynski.

—–

88 - TITANS
03/2009: Titans #11     -- 35,240 (- 3.1%)
04/2009: Titans #12     -- 36,014 (+ 2.2%)
05/2009: Titans #13     -- 34,343 (- 4.6%)
06/2009: Titans #14     -- 32,321 (- 5.9%)
07/2009: Titans #15     -- 46,189 (+42.9%)
08/2009: Titans #16     -- 31,408 (-32.0%)
09/2009: Titans #17     -- 30,154 (- 4.0%)
10/2009: Titans #18     -- 28,215 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Titans #19     -- 27,099 (- 4.0%)
12/2009: Titans #20     -- 25,887 (- 4.5%)
01/2010: Titans #21     -- 24,924 (- 3.7%)
02/2010: Titans #22     -- 24,489 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: Titans #23     -- 24,260 (- 0.9%)
----------------
6 months: -20.0%
1 year  : -31.2%

A tie-in with Justice League: Cry for Justice further slows the sales decline. Titans is now on hiatus until June.

—–

89 - SECRET SIX
03/2009: Secret Six #7      -- 24,365 (- 1.6%)
04/2009: Secret Six #8      -- 24,338 (- 0.1%)
05/2009: Secret Six #9      -- 27,116 (+11.4%)
06/2009: Secret Six #10     -- 24,272 (-10.5%)
07/2009: Secret Six #11     -- 24,357 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Secret Six #12     -- 24,161 (- 0.8%)
09/2009: Secret Six #13     -- 23,919 (- 1.0%)
10/2009: Secret Six #14     -- 23,345 (- 2.4%)
11/2009: Secret Six #15     -- 23,190 (- 0.7%)
12/2009: Secret Six #16     -- 22,638 (- 2.4%)
01/2010: Secret Six #17     -- 38,515 (+70.1%)
02/2010: Secret Six #18     -- 37,876 (- 1.7%)
03/2010: Secret Six #19     -- 23,181 (-38.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.1%
1 year  : - 4.9%

The numbers are back to their usual level after the Blackest Night tie-in.

Apart from the jumps and drops resulting from various crossovers, Secret Six sales have been perfectly solid.

—–

101 - POWER GIRL
05/2009: Power Girl #1  -- 47,322
06/2009: Power Girl #2  -- 36,756 (-22.3%)
07/2009: Power Girl #3  -- 35,163 (- 4.3%)
08/2009: Power Girl #4  -- 32,140 (- 8.6%)
09/2009: Power Girl #5  -- 29,497 (- 8.2%)
10/2009: Power Girl #6  -- 27,060 (- 8.3%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Power Girl #7  -- 22,533 (-16.7%)
01/2010: Power Girl #8  -- 21,760 (- 3.4%)
02/2010: Power Girl #9  -- 20,900 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: Power Girl #10 -- 20,801 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: -29.5%

Power Girl sales are holding level at 21K. A new creative team is waiting around the corner.

—–

103 - THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
03/2007: The Brave and the Bold #2  -- 64,357 [67,143]
03/2008: The Brave and the Bold #11 -- 37,751
---------------------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: --
05/2009: The Brave and the Bold #23 -- 22,312 (- 5.1%)
06/2009: The Brave and the Bold #24 -- 21,272 (- 4.7%)
07/2009: The Brave and the Bold #25 -- 21,234 (- 0.2%)
08/2009: The Brave and the Bold #26 -- 20,154 (- 5.1%)
09/2009: The Brave and the Bold #27 -- 26,904 (+33.5%)
10/2009: The Brave and the Bold #28 -- 23,176 (-13.9%)
11/2009: The Brave and the Bold #29 -- 21,287 (- 8.2%)
12/2009: The Brave and the Bold #30 -- 20,932 (- 1.7%)
01/2010: The Brave and the Bold #31 -- 21,406 (+ 2.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: The Brave and the Bold #32 -- 20,466 (- 4.4%)
----------------
6 months: -23.9%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -45.8%

Um, okay, so The Brave and the Bold wasn’t on hiatus in March, after all — DC just forgot to include the book in the online solicitations they sent out, evidently.

This sums up the publisher’s marketing strategy for the book quite nicely, come to think of it: It doesn’t exist. For a mainstream book written by Straczynski, these are rubbish sales, obviously. But considering the way Straczynski’s arrival has been handled, these sales are pretty much as expected.

—–

104 - BOOSTER GOLD
03/2008: Booster Gold #7  -- 36,140
-----------------------------------
03/2009: Booster Gold #18 -- 23,737 (-  4.0%)
04/2009: Booster Gold #19 -- 23,203 (-  2.3%)
05/2009: Booster Gold #20 -- 22,549 (-  2.8%)
06/2009: Booster Gold #21 -- 23,222 (+  3.0%)
07/2009: Booster Gold #22 -- 22,414 (-  3.5%)
08/2009: Booster Gold #23 -- 22,108 (-  1.4%)
09/2009: Booster Gold #24 -- 21,731 (-  1.7%)
10/2009: Booster Gold #25 -- 21,597 (-  0.6%)
11/2009: Booster Gold #26 -- 57,122 (+164.5%)
12/2009: Booster Gold #27 -- 40,256 (- 29.5%)
01/2010: Booster Gold #28 -- 21,967 (- 45.4%)
02/2010: Booster Gold #29 -- 21,020 (-  4.3%)
03/2010: Booster Gold #30 -- 20,187 (-  4.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.1%
1 year  : -15.0%
2 years : -44.1%

With its March issue, Booster Gold lost its backup strip and went back to a $2.99 cover price, with no effect on sales whatsoever. A new creative team is taking over in May.

—–

105 - FABLES (Vertigo)
03/2005: Fables #35 -- 24,469
03/2006: Fables #47 -- 24,278
03/2007: Fables #58 -- 26,065
03/2008: Fables #71 -- 24,006
-----------------------------
03/2009: Fables #82 -- 22,445 (-0.3%)
04/2009: Fables #83 -- 23,630 (+5.3%)
05/2009: Fables #84 -- 23,634 (+0.0%)
06/2009: Fables #85 -- 23,439 (-0.8%)
07/2009: Fables #86 -- 22,447 (-4.2%)
08/2009: Fables #87 -- 21,876 (-2.5%)
09/2009: Fables #88 -- 21,508 (-1.7%)
10/2009: Fables #89 -- 21,118 (-1.8%)
11/2009: Fables #90 -- 20,882 (-1.1%)
12/2009: Fables #91 -- 20,450 (-2.1%)
01/2010: Fables #92 -- 20,180 (-1.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Fables #93 -- 20,003 (-0.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.0%
1 year  : -10.9%
2 years : -16.7%
5 years : -18.3%

Fables #93 was a straggler from February, had guest art by David Lapham and two weeks to accumulate re-orders in March, but still barely scraped over the 20K mark.

This means Vertigo is about to lose its last consistent 20K+ comic-book series, for the time being. Of course, there’s every chance now that American Vampire might replace it.

—–

87 - THE OUTSIDERS
03/2005: Outsiders #22 -- 38,886 [41,716]
03/2006: Outsiders #34 -- 47,286 [51,527]
03/2007: Outsiders #46 -- 32,577
03/2008: Batsiders #5  -- 36,797
--------------------------------
03/2009: Outsiders #16 -- 27,977 (-  6.8%)
04/2009: Outsiders #17 -- 27,171 (-  2.9%)
05/2009: Outsiders #18 -- 25,995 (-  4.3%)
06/2009: Outsiders #19 -- 27,485 (+  5.7%)
07/2009: Outsiders #20 -- 24,323 (- 11.5%)
08/2009: Outsiders #21 -- 23,856 (-  1.9%)
09/2009: Outsiders #22 -- 22,775 (-  4.5%)
10/2009: Outsiders #23 -- 21,413 (-  6.0%)
11/2009: Outsiders #24 -- 50,918 (+137.8%) [55,704]
12/2009: Outsiders #25 -- 37,847 (- 25.7%)
01/2010: Outsiders #26 -- 22,626 (- 40.2%)
02/2010: Outsiders #27 -- 21,167 (-  6.5%)
03/2010: Outsiders #28 -- 19,632 (-  7.3%)
----------------
6 months: -13.8%
1 year  : -29.8%
2 years : -46.7%
5 years : -49.5%

Ouchsiders. The new creative team doesn’t seem to be catching on, to put it mildly.

—–

109 - SUPERMAN 80-PAGE GIANT
03/2010: Superman 80-Page Giant #1  -- 19,391

Another $ 5.99 anthology one-shot. Perfectly good numbers for this type of book.

—–

119 - JOE THE BARBARIAN (Vertigo)
01/2010: Joe the Barbarian #1 of 8 -- 25,543          [29,712]
02/2010: Joe the Barbarian #2 of 8 -- 17,512 (-31.4%)
03/2010: Joe the Barbarian #3 of 8 -- 17,672 (+ 0.9%)

Very encouraging sales.

And more evidence that the $ 1.00 debut issues are paying off for Vertigo.

—–

123 - BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL
03/2007: Batman Confidential #4  -- 38,735
03/2008: Batman Confidential #14 -- 25,330
03/2008: Batman Confidential #15 -- 24,283
------------------------------------------
03/2009: Batman Confidential #27 -- 19,934 (- 1.0%)
04/2009: Batman Confidential #28 -- 19,540 (- 2.0%)
05/2009: Batman Confidential #29 -- 18,867 (- 3.4%)
06/2009: Batman Confidential #30 -- 18,443 (- 2.3%)
07/2009: Batman Confidential #31 -- 19,225 (+ 4.2%)
08/2009: Batman Confidential #32 -- 18,545 (- 3.5%)
09/2009: Batman Confidential #33 -- 18,140 (- 2.2%)
10/2009: Batman Confidential #34 -- 17,097 (- 5.8%)
10/2009: Batman Confidential #35 -- 16,724 (- 2.2%)
11/2009: Batman Confidential #36 -- 16,664 (- 0.4%)
11/2009: Batman Confidential #37 -- 16,355 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #38 -- 16,132 (- 1.4%)
12/2009: Batman Confidential #39 -- 15,906 (- 1.4%)
01/2010: Batman Confidential #40 -- 17,241 (+ 8.4%)
02/2010: Batman Confidential #41 -- 16,856 (- 2.2%)
03/2010: Batman Confidential #42 -- 16,652 (- 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.2%
1 year  : -16.5%
2 years : -32.9%

The Sam Kieth arc (issues #40 through #43) keeps Batman Confidential sales rock-solid.

—–

130 - CINDERELLA: FROM FABLETOWN WITH LOVE (Vertigo)
11/2009: Cinderella #1 of 6 -- 20,337
12/2009: Cinderella #2 of 6 -- 16,598 (-18.4%)
01/2010: Cinderella #3 of 6 -- 15,827 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Cinderella #4 of 6 -- 15,421 (- 2.6%)
03/2010: Cinderella #5 of 6 -- 15,285 (- 0.9%)

The Fables spin-off maintains very decent numbers.

——

134 - DOOM PATROL
03/2005: Doom Patrol #10 -- 16,600
----------------------------------
08/2009: Doom Patrol #1  -- 28,267
09/2009: Doom Patrol #2  -- 22,001 (- 22.2%)
10/2009: Doom Patrol #3  -- 20,036 (-  8.9%)
11/2009: Doom Patrol #4  -- 53,748 (+168.3%)
12/2009: Doom Patrol #5  -- 35,348 (- 34.2%)
01/2010: Doom Patrol #6  -- 17,117 (- 51.6%)
02/2010: Doom Patrol #7  -- 15,689 (-  8.3%)
03/2010: Doom Patrol #8  -- 14,197 (-  9.5%)
----------------
6 months: -35.5%
5 years : -14.5%

This doesn’t look good at all, obviously.

—–

135 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo)
05/2009: The Unwritten #1  -- 26,915          [31,081]
06/2009: The Unwritten #2  -- 16,290 (-39.5%)
07/2009: The Unwritten #3  -- 17,028 (+ 4.5%)
08/2009: The Unwritten #4  -- 16,336 (- 4.1%)
09/2009: The Unwritten #5  -- 16,011 (- 2.0%)
10/2009: The Unwritten #6  -- 15,314 (- 4.4%)
11/2009: The Unwritten #7  -- 14,763 (- 3.6%)
12/2009: The Unwritten #8  -- 14,257 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: The Unwritten #9  -- 13,792 (- 3.3%)
02/2010: The Unwritten #10 -- 13,644 (- 1.1%)
03/2010: The Unwritten #11 -- 13,630 (- 0.1%)
----------------
6 months: -14.9%

The Unwritten sales keep sticking to the 16-17K mark, with virtually no change in March.

—–

140/145 - ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE (WildStorm)
06/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #1 of 4 -- 32,690
07/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #2 of 4 -- 29,721
08/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #3 of 4 -- 28,152
10/2005: The Dark Age/Book 1 #4 of 4 -- 27,367
-----------------------------------------------
11/2006: The Dark Age/Book 2 #1 of 4 -- 26,993
02/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #2 of 4 -- 23,412
04/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #3 of 4 -- 22,727
09/2007: The Dark Age/Book 2 #4 of 4 -- 19,764
-----------------------------------------------
05/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #1 of 4 -- 18,281 (- 7.5%)
06/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #2 of 4 -- 16,405 (-10.3%)
07/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #3 of 4 -- 15,291 (- 6.8%)
08/2009: The Dark Age/Book 3 #4 of 4 -- 14,684 (- 4.0%)
09/2009: Astra Special #1 of 2       -- 14,627 (- 0.4%)
10/2009: Astra Special #2 of 2       -- 13,847 (- 5.3%)
----------------------------------------------
01/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #1 of 4 -- 13,664 (- 1.3%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #2 of 4 -- 13,118 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: The Dark Age/Book 4 #3 of 4 -- 12,630 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -12.0%

There’s no second-issue drop for the final miniseries in the 16-part The Dark Age. Sales have dropped quite a bit since the storyline began in 2005, but at least there are signs that the numbers are bottoming out, now that the series is coming out more frequently again.

—–

148 - EX MACHINA (WildStorm)
03/2005: Ex Machina #9  -- 22,352
03/2006: Ex Machina #18 -- 21,081
03/2007: --
03/2008: Ex Machina #35 -- 15,500
---------------------------------
03/2009: --
04/2009: Ex Machina #41 -- 13,526 (- 3.9%)
05/2009: Ex Machina #42 -- 13,403 (- 0.9%)
06/2009: Ex Machina #43 -- 13,204 (- 1.5%)
07/2009: --
08/2009: Ex Machina #44 -- 12,796 (- 3.1%)
09/2009: Ex Machina #45 -- 12,832 (+ 0.3%)
10/2009: Ex Machina #46 -- 12,538 (- 2.3%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Ex Machina #47 -- 12,192 (- 2.8%)
01/2010: --
02/2010: --
03/2010: Ex Machina #48 -- 12,093 (- 0.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.8%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -22.0%
5 years : -45.9%

Two more issues to go, then WildStorm is short of its second-best-selling title. Apart from Astro City, the imprint seems to be a dead end for creator-owned books, at this stage.

—–

153/158 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
03/2007: --
03/2008: Jack of Fables #21 -- 16,597
-------------------------------------
03/2009: Jack of Fables #32 -- 13,595 (+ 0.1%)
04/2009: Jack of Fables #33 -- 19,242 (+41.5%)
05/2009: Jack of Fables #34 -- 19,420 (+ 0.9%)
06/2009: Jack of Fables #35 -- 19,571 (+ 0.8%)
07/2009: Jack of Fables #36 -- 15,256 (-22.1%)
08/2009: Jack of Fables #37 -- 14,508 (- 4.9%)
09/2009: Jack of Fables #38 -- 13,790 (- 5.0%)
10/2009: Jack of Fables #39 -- 13,161 (- 4.6%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Jack of Fables #40 -- 12,970 (- 1.5%)
12/2009: Jack of Fables #41 -- 12,559 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: Jack of Fables #42 -- 11,966 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: --
03/2010: Jack of Fables #43 -- 11,878 (- 0.7%)
03/2010: Jack of Fables #44 -- 11,472 (- 3.4%)
----------------
6 months: -15.3%
1 year  : -14.1%
2 years : -30.9%

The ongoing monthly Fables spin-off continues slipping down the charts.

—–

155 - AZRAEL
03/2009: Death's Dark Knight #1 of 3 -- 39,985
04/2009: Death's Dark Knight #2 of 3 -- 36,432 (- 8.9%)
05/2009: Death's Dark Knight #3 of 3 -- 35,916 (- 1.4%)
06/2009: --
07/2009: --
08/2009: --
09/2009: --
10/2009: Azrael #1                   -- 35,311 (- 1.7%)
11/2009: Azrael #2                   -- 21,392 (-39.4%)
12/2009: Azrael #3                   -- 17,757 (-17.0%)
01/2010: Azrael #4                   -- 14,703 (-17.2%)
02/2010: Azrael #5                   -- 12,856 (-12.6%)
03/2010: Azrael #6                   -- 11,825 (- 8.0%)
----------------
1 year  : -70.4%

A single-digit drop, at last, but it’s by no means reassuring. Issue #10 begins a four-part storyline by a new writer, so Azrael should be safe until issue #13, at least.

Then again, it’s not like DC haven’t changed their minds on that sort of thing a lot, recently.

—–

157 - JONAH HEX
03/2006: Jonah Hex #5  -- 23,496
03/2007: Jonah Hex #17 -- 17,081
03/2008: Jonah Hex #29 -- 13,439
--------------------------------
03/2009: Jonah Hex #41 -- 11,564 (- 0.6%)
04/2009: Jonah Hex #42 -- 11,551 (- 0.1%)
05/2009: Jonah Hex #43 -- 11,606 (+ 0.5%)
06/2009: Jonah Hex #44 -- 11,592 (- 0.1%)
07/2009: Jonah Hex #45 -- 12,588 (+ 8.6%)
08/2009: Jonah Hex #46 -- 12,466 (- 1.0%)
09/2009: Jonah Hex #47 -- 12,231 (- 1.9%)
10/2009: Jonah Hex #48 -- 11,281 (- 7.8%)
11/2009: Jonah Hex #49 -- 11,146 (- 1.2%)
12/2009: Jonah Hex #50 -- 15,131 (+35.8%)
01/2010: Jonah Hex #51 -- 11,184 (-26.1%)
02/2010: Jonah Hex #52 -- 11,213 (+ 0.3%)
03/2010: Jonah Hex #53 -- 11,565 (+ 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.5%
1 year  : + 0.0%
2 years : -14.0%

Issue #53 had guest art by Billy Tucci, which may explain the slight increase. Be that as it may, Jonah Hex sales have been extraordinarily solid over the last year. The March 2010 estimate varies from the March 2009 estimate by precisely one copy.

That’s consistency for you.

—–

159 - R.E.B.E.L.S.
03/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #2  -- 16,122 (- 32.1%)
04/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #3  -- 14,442 (- 10.4%)
05/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #4  -- 13,468 (-  6.7%)
06/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #5  -- 12,909 (-  4.2%)
07/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #6  -- 12,349 (-  4.3%)
08/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #7  -- 11,682 (-  5.4%)
09/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #8  -- 11,347 (-  2.9%)
10/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #9  -- 11,284 (-  0.6%)
11/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #10 -- 51,100 (+352.9%)
12/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 -- 31,489 (- 38.4%)
01/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #12 -- 12,428 (- 60.5%)
02/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #13 -- 11,836 (-  4.8%)
03/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #14 -- 11,362 (-  4.0%)
-----------------
6 months: +  0.1%
1 year  : - 29.5%

The numbers keep sliding back down after the crossover increase, but R.E.B.E.L.S. still remains a smidgen above its pre-“Blackest Night” sales.

—–

169 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
03/2005: Hellblazer #206 -- 15,464
03/2006: Hellblazer #218 -- 14,129
03/2007: Hellblazer #230 -- 13,210
03/2008: Hellblazer #242 -- 11,916
----------------------------------
03/2009: Hellblazer #253 -- 11,132 (-0.4%)
04/2009: Hellblazer #254 -- 11,053 (-0.7%)
05/2009: Hellblazer #255 -- 10,937 (-1.1%)
06/2009: Hellblazer #256 -- 10,898 (-0.4%)
07/2009: Hellblazer #257 -- 10,762 (-1.3%)
08/2009: Hellblazer #258 -- 10,665 (-0.9%)
09/2009: Hellblazer #259 -- 10,813 (+1.4%)
10/2009: Hellblazer #260 -- 10,767 (-0.4%)
11/2009: Hellblazer #261 -- 10,553 (-2.0%)
12/2009: Hellblazer #262 -- 10,334 (-2.1%)
01/2010: Hellblazer #263 -- 10,179 (-1.5%)
02/2010: Hellblazer #264 -- 10,025 (-1.5%)
03/2010: Hellblazer #265 -- 10,295 (+2.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.8%
1 year  : - 7.5%
2 years : -13.6%
5 years : -33.4%

Hellblazer #265 starts a two-parter drawn by Simon Bisley that gets it to bounce against the 10K barrier, evidently.

—–

174 - DAYTRIPPER (Vertigo)
12/2009: Daytripper #1  of 10 -- 12,010
01/2009: Daytripper #2  of 10 --  9,846 (-18.0%)
02/2009: Daytripper #3  of 10 --  9,577 (- 2.7%)
03/2009: Daytripper #4  of 10 --  9,872 (+ 3.1%)

Another Vertigo book with a slight sales increase, and this time there wasn’t even a cheap introductory issue to improve its chances. Daytripper creators Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon seem to be hitting a nerve with their melancholy slice-of-death saga.

—–

176 - GOD OF WAR (WildStorm)
03/2010: God of War #1 of 6 -- 9,842

The latest game adaptation from WildStorm shows no signs of breaking with the usual pattern.

—–

178 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo)
09/2009: Sweet Tooth #1  -- 18,657
10/2009: Sweet Tooth #2  -- 11,315 (-39.4%)
11/2009: Sweet Tooth #3  -- 10,363 (- 8.4%)
12/2009: Sweet Tooth #4  --  9,817 (- 5.3%)
01/2010: Sweet Tooth #5  --  9,787 (- 0.3%)
02/2010: Sweet Tooth #6  --  9,740 (- 0.5%)
03/2010: Sweet Tooth #7  --  9,718 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: -47.9%

Over the last four issues, Sweet Tooth sales have deviated by less than 100 units; another strong indicator that the $ 1.00 debut issues are doing their job.

—–

184 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo)
03/2009: House of Mystery #11 -- 12,785 (- 2.4%)
04/2009: House of Mystery #12 -- 12,636 (- 1.2%)
05/2009: House of Mystery #13 -- 14,358 (+13.6%)
06/2009: House of Mystery #14 -- 12,039 (-16.2%)
07/2009: House of Mystery #15 -- 11,809 (- 1.9%)
08/2009: House of Mystery #16 -- 11,572 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: House of Mystery #17 -- 11,142 (- 3.7%)
10/2009: House of Mystery #18 -- 10,922 (- 2.0%)
11/2009: House of Mystery #19 -- 10,478 (- 4.1%)
12/2009: House of Mystery #20 -- 10,175 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: House of Mystery #21 --  9,888 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: House of Mystery #22 --  9,401 (- 4.9%)
03/2010: House of Mystery #23 --  9,350 (- 0.5%)
----------------
6 months: -16.1%
1 year  : -26.9%

House of Mystery #23 had art by Sam Kieth, hence the lack of a bigger drop.

—–

186 - NEMESIS: THE IMPOSTORS
05/2009: FCA: Escape #1 of 6 -- 28,668
06/2009: FCA: Escape #2 of 6 -- 20,576 (-29.2%)
07/2009: FCA: Escape #3 of 6 -- 15,294 (-25.7%)
08/2009: FCA: Escape #4 of 6 -- 12,950 (-15.3%)
09/2009: FCA: Escape #5 of 6 -- 11,613 (-10.3%)
10/2009: FCA: Escape #6 of 6 -- 10,519 (- 9.4%)
--------------------------------------
03/2010: Impostors #1 of 4   --  9,005 (-14.4%)
----------------
6 months: -22.5%

The numbers pick up where last year’s Final Crisis Aftermath series, by the same creators and starring the same character, left off.

—–

196 - WARLORD
04/2009: Warlord #1  -- 17,540
05/2009: Warlord #2  -- 13,390 (-23.7%)
06/2009: Warlord #3  -- 12,283 (- 8.3%)
07/2009: Warlord #4  -- 11,445 (- 6.8%)
08/2009: Warlord #5  -- 10,790 (- 5.7%)
09/2009: Warlord #6  -- 10,331 (- 4.3%)
10/2009: Warlord #7  --  9,892 (- 4.3%)
11/2009: Warlord #8  --  9,547 (- 3.5%)
12/2009: Warlord #9  --  9,102 (- 4.7%)
01/2010: Warlord #10 --  8,807 (- 3.2%)
02/2010: Warlord #11 --  8,532 (- 3.1%)
03/2010: Warlord #12 --  8,430 (- 1.2%)
----------------
6 months: -18.4%

Canceled with issue #18.

—–

197 - HUMAN TARGET
03/2005: Human Target #20     --  7,534
---------------------------------------
02/2010: Human Target #1 of 6 -- 13,690
03/2010: Human Target #2 of 6 --  8,403 (-38.6%)
----------------
5 years : +11.5%

The first issue had a 1-for-10 variant, whereas the second didn’t. Still, that’s still quite a terrible drop.

—–

200 - SPARTA, U.S.A. (WildStorm)
03/2010: Sparta, U.S.A. #1 of 6 -- 8,214

A new “creator-driven” series written by David Lapham and promoted with a 1-for-10 variant. It’s one of WildStorm’s better-selling books of that type in recent years.

—–

201 - MADAME XANADU (Vertigo)
03/2009: Madame Xanadu #9  --  9,798 (- 1.4%)
04/2009: Madame Xanadu #10 --  9,664 (- 1.4%)
05/2009: Madame Xanadu #11 -- 10,179 (+ 5.3%)
06/2009: Madame Xanadu #12 --  9,949 (- 2.3%)
07/2009: Madame Xanadu #13 -- 10,009 (+ 0.6%)
08/2009: Madame Xanadu #14 --  9,873 (- 1.4%)
09/2009: Madame Xanadu #15 --  9,733 (- 1.4%)
10/2009: Madame Xanadu #16 --  9,283 (- 4.6%)
11/2009: Madame Xanadu #17 --  8,856 (- 4.6%)
12/2009: Madame Xanadu #18 --  8,686 (- 1.9%)
01/2010: Madame Xanadu #19 --  8,439 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: Madame Xanadu #20 --  8,285 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: Madame Xanadu #21 --  8,191 (- 1.1%)
----------------
6 months: -15.8%
1 year  : -16.4%

The numbers seem to be bottoming out around 8,000 units.

—–

203 - MAGOG
09/2009: Magog #1  -- 26,352
10/2009: Magog #2  -- 16,193 (-38.6%)
11/2009: Magog #3  -- 12,915 (-20.2%)
12/2009: Magog #4  -- 10,700 (-17.2%)
01/2010: Magog #5  --  9,215 (-13.9%)
02/2010: Magog #6  --  8,548 (- 7.2%)
03/2010: Magog #7  --  8,119 (- 5.0%)
----------------
6 months: -69.2%

Magog #11 starts another five-part Kingdom Come sequel, written and drawn by Scott Kolins, according to the solicitations. Probably a last-ditch effort to stabilize the numbers.

—–

208 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC)
03/2008: Tiny Titans #2  -- 11,432
----------------------------------
03/2009: Tiny Titans #14 --  8,736 (+ 0.3%)
04/2009: Tiny Titans #15 --  9,207 (+ 5.4%)
05/2009: Tiny Titans #16 --  8,844 (- 3.9%)
06/2009: Tiny Titans #17 --  8,640 (- 2.3%)
07/2009: Tiny Titans #18 --  8,576 (- 0.7%)
08/2009: Tiny Titans #19 --  8,432 (- 1.7%)
09/2009: Tiny Titans #20 --  8,435 (+ 0.0%)
10/2009: Tiny Titans #21 --  8,259 (- 2.1%)
11/2009: Tiny Titans #22 --  8,100 (- 1.9%)
12/2009: Tiny Titans #23 --  8,017 (- 1.0%)
01/2010: Tiny Titans #24 --  7,844 (- 2.2%)
02/2010: Tiny Titans #25 --  8,566 (+ 9.2%)
03/2010: Tiny Titans #26 --  7,878 (- 8.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.6%
1 year  : - 9.8%
2 years : -31.1%

A Johnny DC title, see fine print.

—–

211 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo)
03/2008: Northlanders #4  -- 12,851
-----------------------------------
03/2009: Northlanders #15 --  9,443 (- 0.2%)
04/2009: Northlanders #16 --  9,323 (- 1.3%)
05/2009: Northlanders #17 --  9,239 (- 0.9%)
06/2009: Northlanders #18 --  8,877 (- 3.9%)
07/2009: Northlanders #19 --  8,722 (- 1.8%)
08/2009: --
09/2009: Northlanders #20 --  8,786 (+ 0.7%)
10/2009: Northlanders #21 --  8,360 (- 4.9%)
11/2009: Northlanders #22 --  8,136 (- 2.7%)
12/2009: Northlanders #23 --  8,069 (- 0.8%)
01/2010: Northlanders #24 --  7,935 (- 1.7%)
02/2010: Northlanders #25 --  7,807 (- 1.6%)
03/2010: Northlanders #26 --  7,824 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: -11.0%
1 year  : -17.2%
2 years : -39.1%

The book is finding its level, it seems.

The third Northlanders collection came out in March, with estimated first-month sales of 3,806 in the direct market, continuing a slight decline from the first (4,355) and second (4,117) volumes. This puts Northlanders in the midfield, after Fables, Jack of Fables and DMZ, and ahead of Air, Madame Xanadu and House of Mystery.

—–

213 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
03/2005: Revolution #6 of 12  -- 20,229
03/2007: The Authority v3 #2  -- 39,886
03/2008: Prime #6 of 6        -- 13,369
---------------------------------------
03/2009: The Authority v4 #8  --  9,990 (- 5.3%)
04/2009: The Authority v4 #9  --  9,748 (- 2.4%)
05/2009: The Authority v4 #10 --  9,531 (- 2.2%)
06/2009: The Authority v4 #11 --  9,204 (- 3.4%)
07/2009: The Authority v4 #12 --  8,918 (- 3.1%)
08/2009: The Authority v4 #13 --  8,648 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: The Authority v4 #14 --  8,394 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: The Authority v4 #15 --  8,174 (- 2.6%)
11/2009: The Authority v4 #16 --  8,066 (- 1.3%)
12/2009: The Authority v4 #17 --  7,829 (- 2.9%)
01/2010: The Authority v4 #18 --  7,952 (+ 1.6%)
02/2010: The Authority v4 #19 --  7,943 (- 0.1%)
03/2010: The Authority v4 #20 --  7,781 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.3%
1 year  : -22.1%
2 years : -41.8%
5 years : -61.5%

The best-selling WildStorm Universe title continues its slow fade.

—–

219 - MILESTONE FOREVER
02/2010: Milestone Forever #1 of 2 -- 9,792
03/2010: Milestone Forever #2 of 2 -- 7,221 (-26.3%)

That’s a pretty big drop-off for a two-part miniseries. Doesn’t look like there’s much demand for the Milestone characters right now, overall.

—–

224 - THE AUTHORITY: THE LOST YEAR (WildStorm)
10/2006: The Authority v3 #1     -- 58,136
03/2007: The Authority v3 #2     -- 39,886
------------------------------------------
11/2009: The Lost Year #3  of 12 --  8,988 (-77.5%)
12/2009: The Lost Year #4  of 12 --  7,999 (-11.0%)
01/2010: The Lost Year #5  of 12 --  7,541 (- 5.7%)
02/2010: The Lost Year #6  of 12 --  7,184 (- 4.7%)
03/2010: The Lost Year #7  of 12 --  6,942 (- 3.4%)

Last month’s bit on The Authority: The Lost Year was received as an appraisal of the series’ quality by one commenter, so let me clarify that it wasn’t meant to be.

For all I know, this is a fantastic book. It’s also a story that was launched on the strength of Grant Morrison’s name, however, and is now being executed by people who are not Grant Morrison. This doesn’t necessarily say anything about the book’s quality, but it certainly explains its reception and sales figures.

Also, it makes funny noises and has flies buzzing around it and the little children are starting to cry when it’s close and the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. Just saying.

—–

229 - DMZ (Vertigo)
03/2006: DMZ #5  -- 14,952
03/2007: DMZ #17 -- 13,081
03/2008: DMZ #29 -- 10,266
--------------------------
03/2009: DMZ #40 --  8,167 (-2.2%)
04/2009: DMZ #41 --  8,061 (-1.3%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: DMZ #42 --  7,927 (-1.7%)
07/2009: DMZ #43 --  7,806 (-1.5%)
08/2009: DMZ #44 --  7,654 (-2.0%)
09/2009: DMZ #45 --  7,589 (-0.9%)
10/2009: DMZ #46 --  7,399 (-2.5%)
11/2009: DMZ #47 --  7,187 (-2.9%)
12/2009: DMZ #48 --  6,977 (-2.9%)
01/2010: DMZ #49 --  6,872 (-1.5%)
02/2010: DMZ #50 --  7,262 (+5.7%)
03/2010: DMZ #51 --  6,840 (-5.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.9%
1 year  : -16.3%
2 years : -33.4%

After an anniversary issue bounce, sales are back to normal.

—–

231 - SUPERNATURAL: BEGINNING'S END (WildStorm)
05/2007: Origins #1         -- 21,128
06/2007: Origins #2         -- 15,955 (-24.5%)
07/2007: Origins #3         -- 14,812 (- 7.2%)
08/2007: Origins #4         -- 13,915 (- 6.1%)
09/2007: Origins #5         -- 13,034 (- 6.3%)
10/2007: Origins #6         -- 12,350 (- 5.5%)
-------------------------------------
04/2008: Rising Son #1 of 6 -- 16,013 (+29.7%)
05/2008: Rising Son #2 of 6 -- 11,846 (-26.0%)
06/2008: Rising Son #3 of 6 -- 11,276 (- 4.8%)
07/2008: Rising Son #4 of 6 -- 10,676 (- 5.3%)
08/2008: Rising Son #5 of 6 -- 10,110 (- 5.3%)
09/2008: Rising Son #6 of 6 --  9,590 (- 5.1%)
-------------------------------------
01/2010: Beginning's End #1 --  9,251 (- 3.5%)
02/2010: Beginning's End #2 --  6,922 (-25.2%)
03/2010: Beginning's End #3 --  6,764 (- 2.3%)

The TV-show adaptation seems to be bottoming out, for whatever that’s worth.

—–

232 - SCALPED (Vertigo)
03/2007: Scalped #3  --  9,531
03/2008: Scalped #15 --  7,004
------------------------------
03/2009: Scalped #26 --  6,866 (- 0.3%)
04/2009: Scalped #27 --  6,950 (+ 1.2%)
04/2009: Scalped #28 --  6,860 (- 1.3%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Scalped #29 --  7,078 (+ 3.2%)
07/2009: Scalped #30 --  7,059 (- 0.3%)
08/2009: Scalped #31 --  6,916 (- 2.0%)
09/2009: --
10/2009: Scalped #32 --  6,905 (- 0.2%)
11/2009: --
12/2009: Scalped #33 --  6,752 (- 2.2%)
01/2010: --
02/2010: Scalped #34 --  6,731 (- 0.3%)
02/2010: Scalped #35 --  6,443 (- 4.3%)
03/2010: Scalped #36 --  6,648 (+ 3.2%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : - 3.2%
2 years : - 5.1%

Scalped may not the best-selling Vertigo title by a long shot, but it’s the most consistent DC comic-book series. It’s lost less than 400 units over the last two years.

—–

234 - GREEK STREET (Vertigo)
07/2009: Greek Street #1  -- 20,422
08/2009: Greek Street #2  -- 11,996 (-41.3%)
09/2009: Greek Street #3  -- 10,628 (-11.4%)
10/2009: Greek Street #4  --  9,246 (-13.0%)
11/2009: Greek Street #5  --  8,610 (- 6.9%)
12/2009: Greek Street #6  --  7,802 (- 9.4%)
01/2010: Greek Street #7  --  7,335 (- 6.0%)
02/2010: Greek Street #8  --  6,872 (- 6.3%)
03/2010: Greek Street #9  --  6,603 (- 3.9%)
----------------
6 months: -37.9%

The $ 1.00 debut issue doesn’t seem to have had any effect on the periodical numbers here.

Also, the first Greek Street collection shipped in March, with estimated first-month sales of 3,430 in the direct market, which isn’t stellar compared to the first volumes of House of Mystery (4,011), Air (3,195) or Madame Xanadu (3,616).

The book doesn’t seem to be catching on.

—–

235 - DEMO (Vertigo)
11/2003: Demo #1  of 12      -- 4,529
12/2003: Demo #2  of 12      -- 3,115 (-31.2%)
01/2004: Demo #3  of 12      -- 3,170 (+ 1.8%)
02/2004: Demo #4  of 12      -- 3,220 (+ 1.6%)
03/2004: Demo #5  of 12      -- 3,301 (+ 2.5%)
05/2004: Demo #6  of 12      -- 3,514 (+ 6.5%)
06/2004: Demo #7  of 12      -- 3,882 (+10.5%)
07/2004: Demo #8  of 12      -- 3,803 (- 2.0%)
08/2004: Demo #9  of 12      -- 3,976 (+ 4.6%)
10/2004: Demo #10 of 12      -- 4,260 (+ 7.1%)
10/2004: Demo #11 of 12      -- 4,344 (+ 2.0%)
12/2004: Demo #12 of 12      -- 4,628 (+ 6.5%)
-------------------------------------
02/2010: Demo Vol. 2 #1 of 6 -- 8,317
03/2010: Demo Vol. 2 #2 of 6 -- 6,573 (-21.0%)

That’s a fairly stiff drop for a miniseries.

Of course, as Demo writer Brian Wood pointed out in the comments last month, the series is in black and white, which probably makes it a harder sell than his other Vertigo books DMZ and Northlanders. It’s certainly worth mentioning.

—–

236 - THE GREAT TEN
11/2009: The Great Ten #1  of 10 -- 13,159
12/2009: The Great Ten #2  of 10 --  8,760 (-33.4%)
01/2010: The Great Ten #3  of 10 --  7,458 (-14.9%)
02/2010: The Great Ten #4  of 10 --  6,812 (- 8.7%)
03/2010: The Great Ten #5  of 10 --  6,555 (- 3.8%)

The Great Ten is canceled with issue #9.

I repeat: Evidently, it is financially impossible for DC Comics to publish issue #10 of the 10-part series The Great Ten. Instead, they will stop at issue #9 of the 10-part series The Great Ten, which has not, however, been renamed The Great Nine as a result of losing the 10th and final issue of its formerly 10- and now 9-issue run.

—–

237 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
03/2006: Nemesis #7 of 9 -- 14,533
03/2007: --
03/2008: --
----------------------------------
03/2009: World's End #9  --  8,758 (- 3.1%)
04/2009: World's End #10 --  8,460 (- 3.4%)
05/2009: World's End #11 --  8,165 (- 3.5%)
06/2009: World's End #12 --  7,863 (- 3.7%)
07/2009: World's End #13 --  7,609 (- 3.2%)
08/2009: World's End #14 --  7,417 (- 2.5%)
09/2009: World's End #15 --  7,178 (- 3.2%)
10/2009: World's End #16 --  6,883 (- 4.1%)
11/2009: World's End #17 --  6,691 (- 2.8%)
12/2009: World's End #18 --  6,487 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: World's End #19 --  6,791 (+ 4.7%)
02/2010: World's End #20 --  6,669 (- 1.8%)
03/2010: World's End #21 --  6,491 (- 2.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.6%
1 year  : -25.9%
2 years :  n.a.

The other WildStorm Universe book that used to be one of the imprint’s flagship titles.

—–

243 - VICTORIAN UNDEAD (WildStorm)
11/2009: Victorian Undead #1 of 6 -- 11,422
12/2009: Victorian Undead #2 of 6 --  7,430 (-35.0%)
01/2010: Victorian Undead #3 of 6 --  6,663 (-10.3%)
02/2010: Victorian Undead #4 of 6 --  6,365 (- 4.5%)
03/2010: Victorian Undead #5 of 6 --  6,285 (- 1.3%)

Bafflingly high sales, still, for no readily apparent reason.

—–

244 - BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC)
03/2005: Batman Strikes! #7    -- 10,775
03/2006: Batman Strikes! #19   --  8,244
03/2007: Batman Strikes! #31   --  7,100
03/2008: Batman Strikes! #43   --  6,544
----------------------------------------
03/2009: Brave & Bold #3       --  8,184 (-  5.7%)
04/2009: Brave & Bold #4       --  8,381 (+  2.4%)
05/2009: Brave & Bold #5       --  7,994 (-  4.6%)
06/2009: Brave & Bold #6       --  7,614 (-  4.8%)
07/2009: Brave & Bold #7       --  7,441 (-  2.3%)
08/2009: Brave & Bold #8       --  7,153 (-  3.9%)
09/2009: Brave & Bold #9       --  7,064 (-  1.2%)
10/2009: Brave & Bold #10      --  6,646 (-  5.9%)
11/2009: Brave & Bold #11      --  6,438 (-  3.1%)
12/2009: Brave & Bold #12      --  6,342 (-  1.5%)
01/2010: Brave & Bold #13      --  6,129 (-  3.4%)
02/2010: Brave & Bold #14      --  6,084 (-  0.7%)
03/2010: Brave & Bold #15      --  6,208 (+  2.0%)
----------------
6 months: -12.1%
1 year  : -24.2%
2 years : - 5.1%
5 years : -42.4%

A Johnny DC title. See small print.

—–

255 - UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Vertigo)
03/2009: Unknown Soldier #6  --  8,177 (- 2.1%)
04/2009: Unknown Soldier #7  --  8,631 (+ 5.6%)
05/2009: Unknown Soldier #8  --  7,705 (-10.7%)
06/2009: Unknown Soldier #9  --  7,586 (- 1.6%)
07/2009: Unknown Soldier #10 --  7,256 (- 4.4%)
08/2009: Unknown Soldier #11 --  7,070 (- 2.6%)
09/2009: Unknown Soldier #12 --  6,865 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Unknown Soldier #13 --  6,636 (- 3.3%)
11/2009: Unknown Soldier #14 --  6,359 (- 4.2%)
12/2009: Unknown Soldier #15 --  6,134 (- 3.5%)
01/2010: Unknown Soldier #16 --  5,848 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Unknown Soldier #17 --  5,701 (- 2.5%)
03/2010: Unknown Soldier #18 --  5,611 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: -18.3%
1 year  : -31.4%

Bottoming out, evidently.

—–

258 - THE SHIELD
08/2009: RC: Shield #1  -- 19,088
09/2009: The Shield #1  -- 16,997 (-11.0%)
10/2009: The Shield #2  -- 10,401 (-38.8%)
11/2009: The Shield #3  --  8,546 (-17.8%)
12/2009: The Shield #4  --  7,316 (-14.4%)
01/2010: The Shield #5  --  6,444 (-11.9%)
02/2010: The Shield #6  --  6,010 (- 6.7%)
03/2010: The Shield #7  --  5,568 (- 7.4%)
----------------
6 months: -67.2%

Canceled with issue #10. Tough for The Great Ten.

—–

262 - AIR (Vertigo)
03/2009: Air #7  -- 10,290 (+35.3%)
04/2009: Air #8  --  7,216 (-29.9%)
05/2009: Air #9  --  7,115 (- 1.4%)
06/2009: Air #10 --  6,954 (- 2.3%)
07/2009: Air #11 --  6,793 (- 2.3%)
08/2009: Air #12 --  6,589 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: Air #13 --  6,476 (- 1.7%)
10/2009: Air #14 --  6,156 (- 4.9%)
11/2009: Air #15 --  5,921 (- 3.8%)
12/2009: Air #16 --  5,733 (- 3.2%)
01/2010: Air #17 --  5,573 (- 2.8%)
02/2010: Air #18 --  5,352 (- 4.0%)
03/2010: Air #19 --  5,268 (- 1.6%)
----------------
6 months: -18.7%
1 year  : -48.8%

Business as usual.

—–

267 - RESIDENT EVIL (WildStorm)
03/2009: Resident Evil #1 of 6 -- 15,759
04/2009: --
05/2009: Resident Evil #2 of 6 -- 10,366 (-34.2%)
06/2009: --
07/2009: --
08/2009: --
09/2009: --
10/2009: --
11/2009: Resident Evil #3 of 6 --  6,508 (-37.2%)
12/2009: --
01/2010: --
02/2010: --
03/2010: Resident Evil #4 of 6 --  5,074 (-22.0%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -67.8%

268 - CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2: GHOST (WildStorm)
11/2009: CoD:MW2: Ghost #1 of 6 -- 11,936
12/2009: CoD:MW2: Ghost #2 of 6 --  5,214 (-56.3%)
01/2010: --
02/2010: CoD:MW2: Ghost #3 of 6 --  4,938 (- 5.3%)
03/2010: CoD:MW2: Ghost #4 of 6 --  5,026 (+ 1.8%)

Two WildStorm game adaptations.

—–

271 - THE WEB
08/2009: RC: Web #1  -- 19,535
09/2009: The Web #1  -- 15,507 (-20.6%)
10/2009: The Web #2  --  9,421 (-39.3%)
11/2009: The Web #3  --  7,631 (-19.0%)
12/2009: The Web #4  --  6,653 (-12.8%)
01/2010: The Web #5  --  5,809 (-12.7%)
02/2010: The Web #6  --  5,276 (- 9.2%)
03/2010: The Web #7  --  4,981 (- 5.6%)
----------------
6 months: -67.9%

Canceled with issue #10.

Life’s just not fair if you’re in The Great Ten.

—–

276 - SUPER FRIENDS (Johnny DC)
03/2008: Super Friends #1  -- 12,554
------------------------------------
03/2009: Super Friends #13 --  5,387 (- 0.1%)
04/2009: Super Friends #14 --  5,792 (+ 7.5%)
05/2009: Super Friends #15 --  5,513 (- 4.8%)
06/2009: Super Friends #16 --  5,548 (+ 0.6%)
07/2009: Super Friends #17 --  5,368 (- 3.2%)
08/2009: Super Friends #18 --  5,291 (- 1.4%)
09/2009: Super Friends #19 --  5,045 (- 4.7%)
10/2009: Super Friends #20 --  5,026 (- 0.4%)
11/2009: Super Friends #21 --  4,879 (- 2.9%)
12/2009: Super Friends #22 --  4,837 (- 0.9%)
01/2010: Super Friends #23 --  4,538 (- 6.2%)
02/2010: Super Friends #24 --  4,644 (+ 2.3%)
03/2010: Super Friends #25 --  4,678 (+ 0.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.3%
1 year  : -13.2%
2 years : -62.7%

285 - BILLY BATSON & THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM (Johnny DC)
03/2009: --
04/2009: Billy Batson #4  --  8,470 (-14.0%)
05/2009: --
06/2009: Billy Batson #5  --  7,869 (- 7.1%)
07/2009: Billy Batson #6  --  6,771 (-14.0%)
08/2009: Billy Batson #7  --  6,382 (- 5.8%)
09/2009: Billy Batson #8  --  5,858 (- 8.2%)
10/2009: Billy Batson #9  --  5,388 (- 8.0%)
11/2009: Billy Batson #10 --  4,993 (- 7.3%)
12/2009: Billy Batson #11 --  4,795 (- 4.0%)
01/2010: Billy Batson #12 --  4,371 (- 8.8%)
02/2010: Billy Batson #13 --  4,316 (- 1.3%)
03/2010: Billy Batson #14 --  4,227 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: -27.8%
1 year  :  n.a.

295 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
03/2005: Scooby Doo #94  -- 4,772
03/2006: Scooby Doo #106 -- 4,419
03/2007: Scooby Doo #118 -- 4,395
03/2008: Scooby Doo #130 -- 4,463
---------------------------------
03/2009: Scooby Doo #142 -- 3,863 (+ 0.1%)
04/2009: Scooby Doo #143 -- 4,610 (+19.3%)
05/2009: Scooby Doo #144 -- 4,062 (-11.9%)
06/2009: Scooby Doo #145 -- 4,093 (+ 0.8%)
07/2009: Scooby Doo #146 -- 4,110 (+ 0.4%)
08/2009: Scooby Doo #147 -- 4,111 (+ 0.0%)
09/2009: Scooby Doo #148 -- 4,103 (- 0.2%)
10/2009: Scooby Doo #149 -- 4,005 (- 2.4%)
11/2009: Scooby Doo #150 -- 4,044 (+ 1.0%)
12/2009: Scooby Doo #151 -- 3,906 (- 3.4%)
01/2010: Scooby Doo #152 -- 3,724 (- 4.7%)
02/2010: Scooby Doo #153 -- 3,780 (+ 1.5%)
03/2010: Scooby Doo #154 -- 3,846 (+ 1.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.3%
1 year  : - 0.4%
2 years : -13.8%
5 years : -19.4%

And a bunch of Johnny DC books.

The WildStorm game adaptations Dante’s Inferno #4 and Free Realms #7 also came out in March, but failed to make the Top 300 chart. As usual, for the purposes of the average sales figures below, this means that I’m presuming each of them sold as many units as the No. 300 comic, which was 3,704 in March.

—–

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+ 51.7%: Green Arrow
+  1.8%: JLA
+  1.3%: Superman: LSoNK
+  0.1%: REBELS
-  3.1%: Secret Six
-  4.1%: Blackest Night
-  4.8%: Hellblazer
-  5.5%: Jonah Hex
-  5.8%: Ex Machina
-  6.1%: Green Lantern
-  6.3%: Scooby Doo
-  6.6%: Tiny Titans
-  7.0%: Fables
-  7.1%: Booster Gold
-  7.3%: Authority
-  7.3%: Super Friends
-  7.4%: Supergirl
-  7.7%: GL Corps
-  8.2%: Batman Confidential
-  9.1%: JL: Cry for Justice
-  9.6%: Wildcats
-  9.9%: DMZ
- 11.0%: Northlanders
- 11.4%: Superman/Batman
- 11.6%: Superman
- 12.0%: Astro City
- 12.1%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 12.4%: Wonder Woman
- 13.8%: Outsiders
- 14.9%: Unwritten
- 15.3%: Jack of Fables
- 15.8%: Madame Xanadu
- 16.1%: House of Mystery
- 18.3%: Unknown Soldier
- 18.4%: Warlord
- 18.6%: Action Comics
- 18.7%: Adventure Comics
- 18.7%: Air
- 20.0%: Titans
- 20.2%: Batman and Robin
- 20.6%: Batman
- 21.2%: JSA
- 21.5%: Teen Titans
- 22.5%: Nemesis
- 22.8%: GC Sirens
- 23.1%: Detective Comics
- 23.4%: Red Robin
- 23.9%: Brave & Bold
- 24.0%: Batgirl
- 25.8%: Batman: Widening Gyre
- 27.8%: Billy Batson
- 29.5%: Power Girl
- 30.3%: Batman: SoG
- 35.5%: Doom Patrol
- 37.9%: Greek Street
- 47.9%: Sweet Tooth
- 67.2%: Shield
- 67.9%: Web
- 69.2%: Magog

—–

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 41.7%: GL Corps
+ 25.5%: Green Arrow
+  0.0%: Jonah Hex
-  0.4%: Scooby Doo
-  3.2%: Scalped
-  4.9%: Secret Six
-  7.5%: Hellblazer
-  9.8%: Tiny Titans
- 10.9%: Fables
- 11.5%: Supergirl
- 13.2%: Super Friends
- 14.1%: Jack of Fables
- 15.0%: Booster Gold
- 16.3%: DMZ
- 16.4%: Madame Xanadu
- 16.5%: Batman Confidential
- 17.2%: Northlanders
- 17.9%: JLA
- 22.1%: Authority
- 23.7%: Superman: LSoNK
- 24.2%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 24.2%: Superman/Batman
- 24.4%: Wonder Woman
- 25.9%: Superman
- 25.9%: Wildcats
- 26.9%: House of Mystery
- 29.5%: REBELS
- 29.8%: Outsiders
- 31.2%: Titans
- 31.4%: Unknown Soldier
- 33.3%: Batman
- 35.0%: Batman: Widening Gyre
- 37.4%: Action Comics
- 48.8%: Air
- 67.8%: Resident Evil
- 70.4%: Azrael

—–

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 64.2%: GL Corps
+ 46.3%: Green Lantern
+ 36.4%: Red Robin
+ 17.3%: GC Sirens
-  5.1%: Batman: Brave & Bold
-  5.1%: Scalped
-  8.4%: Supergirl
- 11.2%: Detective Comics
- 12.7%: Green Arrow
- 13.6%: Hellblazer
- 13.8%: Scooby Doo
- 14.0%: Jonah Hex
- 16.7%: Fables
- 20.1%: Superman
- 22.0%: Ex Machina
- 30.9%: Jack of Fables
- 31.1%: Tiny Titans
- 32.9%: Batman Confidential
- 33.4%: DMZ
- 35.5%: JLA
- 38.1%: Wonder Woman
- 39.1%: Northlanders
- 41.8%: Authority
- 44.1%: Booster Gold
- 45.8%: Brave & Bold
- 46.7%: Outsiders
- 47.6%: Teen Titans
- 62.7%: Super Friends

—–

5-YEAR COMPARISONS
+ 16.0%: Red Robin
+ 11.5%: Detective Comics
+ 11.5%: Human Target
+  7.4%: Batgirl
+  2.3%: Batman
- 10.1%: Green Arrow
- 11.4%: GC Sirens
- 12.8%: JSA
- 12.9%: JLA
- 14.5%: Doom Patrol
- 17.2%: Wonder Woman
- 18.3%: Fables
- 19.4%: Scooby Doo
- 27.9%: Action Comics
- 33.4%: Hellblazer
- 42.4%: Batman: Brave & Bold
- 45.9%: Ex Machina
- 49.5%: Outsiders
- 61.5%: Authority
- 62.0%: Teen Titans
- 67.0%: Superman

—–

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

DC COMICS
03/2005: 27,349
03/2006: 36,077
03/2007: 32,398
03/2008: 26,423
---------------
03/2009: 21,792 (- 5.6%)
04/2009: 27,373 (+25.6%)**
05/2009: 24,386 (-10.9%)
06/2009: 25,880 (+ 6.1%)**
07/2009: 30,905 (+19.4%)**
08/2009: 29,977 (- 3.0%)
09/2009: 28,493 (- 5.0%)**
10/2009: 27,525 (- 4.4%)**
11/2009: 28,913 (+ 5.1%)**
12/2009: 25,904 (-10.4%)**
01/2010: 25,657 (- 1.0%)**
02/2010: 26,199 (+ 2.1%)**
03/2010: 23,299 (-11.1%)**
----------------
6 months: -18.2%
1 year  : + 6.9%
2 years : -11.8%
5 years : -14.8%

DC UNIVERSE
03/2005: 34,864
03/2006: 44,854
03/2007: 42,634
03/2008: 33,151
---------------
03/2009: 31,336 (+ 3.7%)
04/2009: 38,150 (+21.8%)
05/2009: 33,163 (-13.1%)
06/2009: 36,329 (+ 9.6%)
07/2009: 41,218 (+13.9%)
08/2009: 37,300 (- 9.5%)
09/2009: 36,725 (- 1.5%)**
10/2009: 34,795 (- 5.3%)
11/2009: 38,488 (+10.6%)
12/2009: 35,473 (- 7.8%)**
01/2010: 33,698 (- 5.0%)
02/2010: 35,895 (+ 6.5%)
03/2010: 32,375 (- 9.8%)
----------------
6 months: -11.9%
1 year  : + 3.3%
2 years : - 2.3%
5 years : - 7.1%

VERTIGO
03/2005: 13,094
03/2006: 15,812
03/2007: 13,748
03/2008: 10,484
---------------
03/2009: 10,177 (-10.4%)
04/2009: 10,767 (+ 5.8%)
05/2009: 12,918 (+20.0%)
06/2009: 11,166 (-13.6%)
07/2009: 11,055 (- 1.0%)**
08/2009: 11,369 (+ 2.8%)
09/2009: 11,345 (- 0.2%)
10/2009: 10,551 (- 7.0%)
11/2009: 11,036 (+ 4.6%)
12/2009: 10,583 (- 4.1%)
01/2010: 11,267 (+ 6.5%)
02/2010:  9,256 (-17.9%)
03/2010: 11,394 (+23.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 0.4%
1 year  : +12.0%
2 years : + 8.7%
5 years : -13.0%

WILDSTORM
03/2005: 12,798
03/2006: 14,210
03/2007: 15,224
03/2008: 12,842
---------------
03/2009:  8,954 (+11.7%)
04/2009:  8,277 (- 7.6%)**
05/2009:  8,579 (+ 3.7%)
06/2009:  8,805 (+ 2.6%)**
07/2009:  8,519 (- 3.3%)**
08/2009:  7,977 (- 6.4%)
09/2009:  8,280 (+ 3.8%)**
10/2009:  9,769 (+18.0%)**
11/2009:  7,111 (-27.2%)**
12/2009:  7,260 (+ 2.1%)**
01/2010:  6,532 (-10.0%)**
02/2010:  5,692 (-12.9%)**
03/2010:  7,691 (+35.1%)**
----------------
6 months: - 7.1%
1 year  : -14.1%
2 years : -40.1%
5 years : -39.9%

—–
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 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.

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 calendar 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 a book’s initial calendar 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 between them will be used.

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

** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that month. In those cases, it’s assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.

For a more lyrical approach to discussing sales figures that covers all the essentials in a more condensed, less tedious fashion, finally, go right here.
—–
Marc-Oliver Frisch writes about comics at his weblog and at Comicgate. You can also follow him on Twitter.