Despite the debut of this year’s big blockbuster series Flashpoint, average DC comic-book sales were down in May. In part, that’s because Flashpoint itself came in 13,000 units below the magical 100K mark and ended up charting second after Marvel’s Fear Itself #2, which has to be quite a disappointment for DC. On the other hand, most of the rest of DC’s line didn’t join in the crossover until June, so the overall numbers may still pick up.
The other notable thing about DC’s May output is that there wasn’t a lot of it. The number of new comic books released by DC in May was 59, which, along with January 2004, holds the record for the fewest number of books released by the company since Diamond started publishing data on actual sales. Looking at the solicitations, it’s not hard to find the reason: None of the five Green Lantern film tie-in books scheduled for May came out (one of them still hasn’t been published as I’m writing this), while the launch dates of Static Shock and Batwoman were pushed back to September.
And, while we’re at it, the David Finch vehicle Batman: The Dark Knight remained in limbo in May. DC’s Web site currently lists issue #3 for July 13 and issue #5 for August, with no information on #4. So not even DC seems entirely sure what’s going on with the book.
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.
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2 - FLASHPOINT 05/2011: Flashpoint #1 of 5 -- 86,981
DC’s latest blockbuster series, by the big-ticket creative team of Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, falls short of 90,000 units. Now, of course, 100K+ juggernauts are a lot less common than they used to be. But comparing these numbers with those of the competition’s current flagship, it’s also quite clear that Flashpoint failed to mobilize retailers in May.
The first two issues of Marvel’s Fear Itself sold an estimated 129,000 and 96,000 copies in April and May, respectively, and they don’t even have Brian Michael Bendis’s name on the cover. It’s still early in the “big event” season, but for now, Flashpoint looks like a major disappointment, commercially.
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3 - GREEN LANTERN 05/2006: Green Lantern #11 -- 78,926 05/2007: Green Lantern #19 -- 62,439 05/2007: Green Lantern #20 -- 60,556 05/2008: Green Lantern #31 -- 65,874 05/2009: Green Lantern #41 -- 81,491 -------------------------------------- 05/2010: Green Lantern #54 -- 88,292 (-12.0%) 06/2010: Green Lantern #55 -- 85,930 (- 2.7%) 07/2010: Green Lantern #56 -- 84,164 (- 2.1%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: Green Lantern #57 -- 85,179 (+ 1.2%) 10/2010: Green Lantern #58 -- 81,626 (- 4.2%) 11/2010: Green Lantern #59 -- 76,173 (- 6.7%) 12/2010: Green Lantern #60 -- 76,360 (+ 0.3%) 12/2010: Green Lantern #61 -- 72,203 (- 5.4%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: Green Lantern #62 -- 71,517 (- 1.0%) 03/2011: Green Lantern #63 -- 75,632 (+ 5.8%) 03/2011: Green Lantern #64 -- 76,898 (+ 1.7%) 04/2011: Green Lantern #65 -- 75,780 (- 1.5%) 05/2011: Green Lantern #66 -- 75,371 (- 0.5%) ----------------- 6 months: - 1.1% 1 year : - 14.6% 2 years : - 7.5% 5 years : - 4.5%
6 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS 05/2007: Green Lantern Corps #12 -- 33,267 05/2008: Green Lantern Corps #24 -- 46,948 05/2009: Green Lantern Corps #36 -- 61,591 ------------------------------------------ 05/2010: Green Lantern Corps #48 -- 68,826 (- 4.6%) 06/2010: Green Lantern Corps #49 -- 66,652 (- 3.2%) 07/2010: Green Lantern Corps #50 -- 67,035 (+ 0.6%) 08/2010: Green Lantern Corps #51 -- 67,124 (+ 0.1%) 09/2010: Green Lantern Corps #52 -- 63,577 (- 5.3%) 10/2010: Green Lantern Corps #53 -- 60,808 (- 4.4%) 11/2010: Green Lantern Corps #54 -- 57,448 (- 5.5%) 12/2010: Green Lantern Corps #55 -- 54,387 (- 5.3%) 01/2011: Green Lantern Corps #56 -- 53,646 (- 1.4%) 02/2011: Green Lantern Corps #57 -- 52,770 (- 1.6%) 03/2011: Green Lantern Corps #58 -- 60,100 (+13.9%) 04/2011: Green Lantern Corps #59 -- 60,162 (+ 0.1%) 05/2011: Green Lantern Corps #60 -- 60,964 (+ 1.3%) ---------------- 6 months: + 6.1% 1 year : -11.4% 2 years : - 1.0%
The Green Lantern books were still dealing with the “War of the Green Lanterns” crossover, meanwhile. Sales are holding up nicely.
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8 - BATMAN, INC. 11/2010: Batman, Inc. #1 -- 95,587 12/2010: Batman, Inc. #2 -- 71,544 (-25.2%) [72,957] 01/2011: -- 02/2011: -- 03/2011: Batman, Inc. #3 -- 66,772 (- 6.7%) 03/2011: Batman, Inc. #4 -- 65,315 (- 2.2%) 04/2011: Batman, Inc. #5 -- 62,204 (- 4.8%) 05/2011: Batman, Inc. #6 -- 60,480 (- 2.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -36.7%
Cancelled with issue #10. The current plan is for Grant Morrison to wrap up his Batman saga with a 10-part maxiseries in 2012. Looking at these numbers, a steady art team and a regular schedule probably won’t hurt.
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12 - BATMAN AND ROBIN 05/2010: Batman and Robin #12 -- 84,843 (+ 1.0%) 06/2010: -- 07/2010: Batman and Robin #13 -- 85,804 (+ 1.1%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: Batman and Robin #14 -- 82,894 (- 3.4%) 10/2010: Batman and Robin #15 -- 80,173 (- 3.3%) 11/2010: Batman and Robin #16 -- 80,343 (+ 0.2%) 11/2010: Batman and Robin #17 -- 70,600 (-12.1%) 12/2010: Batman and Robin #18 -- 68,814 (- 2.5%) 01/2011: Batman and Robin #19 -- 61,785 (-10.2%) 02/2011: Batman and Robin #20 -- 60,642 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: Batman and Robin #21 -- 59,818 (- 1.4%) 04/2011: Batman and Robin #22 -- 59,076 (- 1.2%) 05/2011: Batman and Robin #23 -- 57,525 (- 2.6%) ---------------- 6 months: -23.8% 1 year : -32.2%
To be relaunched with a new #1 in September, by the same creative team that was meant to take over with issue #17 and ended up only doing #20 through #22 of the current run.
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14 - BATMAN 05/2006: Batman #653 -- 77,257 [ 78,435] 05/2007: Batman #665 -- 80,122 05/2008: Batman #676 -- 105,039 [122,877] 05/2009: BfC #3 of 3 -- 89,170 ------------------------------- 05/2010: Batman #699 -- 62,377 (+ 2.4%) 06/2010: Batman #700 -- 104,755 (+67.9%) 07/2010: Batman #701 -- 76,398 (-27.1%) 08/2010: Batman #702 -- 73,414 (- 3.9%) 09/2010: Batman #703 -- 77,033 (+ 4.9%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Batman #704 -- 65,212 (-15.4%) 12/2010: Batman #705 -- 63,262 (- 3.0%) 01/2011: Batman #706 -- 60,231 (- 4.8%) 02/2011: Batman #707 -- 58,803 (- 2.4%) 03/2011: Batman #708 -- 58,594 (- 0.4%) 04/2011: Batman #709 -- 56,578 (- 3.4%) 05/2011: Batman #710 -- 55,086 (- 2.6%) ---------------- 6 months: -15.5% 1 year : -11.7% 2 years : -38.2% 5 years : -28.7%
With the new #1 in September, Scott Snyder, who’s currently writing Detective Comics, and artist Greg Capullo will take over. An intriguing combination, which, in the absence of Grant Morrison, looks like a solid choice, both critically and commercially — see below.
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15 - THE FLASH 05/2007: Flash: FMA #12 -- 47,809 05/2008: Flash #240 -- 31,944 05/2009: Rebirth #2 of 5 -- 86,183 ----------------------------------- 05/2010: Flash #2 -- 76,560 (- 24.1%) 06/2010: Flash #3 -- 68,804 (- 10.1%) 07/2010: Flash #4 -- 64,832 (- 5.8%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: Flash #5 -- 62,063 (- 4.3%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Flash #6 -- 57,673 (- 7.1%) 12/2010: Flash #7 -- 56,304 (- 2.4%) 12/2010: Flash #8 -- 53,975 (- 4.1%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: Flash #9 -- 55,980 (+ 3.7%) 03/2011: -- 04/2011: Flash #10 -- 54,953 (- 1.8%) 04/2011: Flash #11 -- 54,633 (- 0.6%) 05/2011: Flash #12 -- 54,914 (+ 0.5%) ----------------- 6 months: - 4.8% 1 year : - 28.3% 2 years : - 36.3%
A Flashpoint tie-in wraps up the current run. The book returns in September, naturally.
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17 - GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS 08/2010: Emerald Warriors #1 -- 68,332 09/2010: Emerald Warriors #2 -- 56,289 (-17.6%) 10/2010: Emerald Warriors #3 -- 50,490 (-10.3%) 11/2010: Emerald Warriors #4 -- 46,319 (- 8.3%) 12/2010: Emerald Warriors #5 -- 44,077 (- 4.8%) 01/2011: Emerald Warriors #6 -- 43,471 (- 1.4%) 02/2011: Emerald Warriors #7 -- 44,828 (+ 3.1%) 03/2011: Emerald Warriors #8 -- 51,322 (+14.5%) [54,110] 04/2011: Emerald Warriors #9 -- 51,784 (+ 0.5%) 05/2011: Emerald Warriors #10 -- 52,971 (+ 2.3%) ---------------- 6 months: +14.4%
Sales remain on the rise thanks to “War of the Green Lanterns.”
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25 - JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 05/2007: Justice League #9 -- 129,285 05/2008: Justice League #21 -- 90,035 05/2009: Justice League #33 -- 63,867 -------------------------------------- 05/2010: Justice League #45 -- 62,465 (+ 0.2%) 06/2010: Justice League #46 -- 62,754 (+ 0.5%) 07/2010: Justice League #47 -- 60,368 (- 3.8%) 08/2010: Justice League #48 -- 60,733 (+ 0.6%) 09/2010: Justice League #49 -- 57,616 (- 5.1%) 10/2010: Justice League #50 -- 59,686 (+ 3.6%) 11/2010: Justice League #51 -- 50,887 (-14.7%) 12/2010: Justice League #52 -- 48,501 (- 4.7%) 01/2011: Justice League #53 -- 47,093 (- 2.9%) 02/2011: Justice League #54 -- 46,269 (- 1.8%) 03/2011: Justice League #55 -- 50,533 (+ 9.2%) 04/2011: Justice League #56 -- 47,179 (- 6.6%) 05/2011: Justice League #57 -- 46,729 (- 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 8.2% 1 year : -25.2% 2 years : -26.8%
To be relaunched by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee in August.
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32 - ACTION COMICS 05/2006: Action Comics #838 -- 62,702 05/2006: Action Comics #839 -- 61,898 [64,278] 05/2007: Action Comics #849 -- 53,610 05/2007: Action Comics #850 -- 56,166 05/2008: Action Comics #865 -- 46,764 05/2009: Action Comics #877 -- 41,772 ------------------------------------- 05/2010: -- 06/2010: Action Comics #890 -- 34,744 (+19.4%) [40,039] 07/2010: Action Comics #891 -- 35,328 (+ 1.7%) 08/2010: Action Comics #892 -- 36,401 (+ 3.0%) 09/2010: Action Comics #893 -- 33,948 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Action Comics #894 -- 42,291 (+24.6%) 11/2010: Action Comics #895 -- 33,089 (-21.8%) 12/2010: Action Comics #896 -- 32,357 (- 2.2%) 01/2011: Action Comics #897 -- 32,134 (- 0.7%) 02/2011: Action Comics #898 -- 31,935 (- 0.6%) 03/2011: Action Comics #899 -- 31,808 (- 0.4%) 04/2011: Action Comics #900 -- 60,152 (+89.1%) [73,004] 05/2011: Action Comics #901 -- 44,143 (-26.6%) ----------------- 6 months: + 33.4% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : + 5.7% 5 years : - 29.2%
Soon to be one of DC’s flagship titles, courtesy of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales. In the meantime, the “Reign of Doomsday” crossover is keeping the numbers at a higher-than-usual level. Also, issue #900 sold another estimated 12,852 units in May, putting the total to 73,004.
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35 - DETECTIVE COMICS 05/2006: Detective Comics #819 -- 65,800 05/2007: Detective Comics #832 -- 51,727 05/2008: Detective Comics #844 -- 48,394 05/2009: -- ----------------------------------------- 05/2010: Detective Comics #865 -- 41,501 (- 2.2%) 06/2010: Detective Comics #866 -- 46,178 (+11.3%) 07/2010: Detective Comics #867 -- 40,371 (-12.6%) 08/2010: Detective Comics #868 -- 38,682 (- 4.2%) 09/2010: Detective Comics #869 -- 37,394 (- 3.3%) 10/2010: Detective Comics #870 -- 35,674 (- 4.6%) 11/2010: Detective Comics #871 -- 36,941 (+ 3.6%) 12/2010: Detective Comics #872 -- 37,961 (+ 2.8%) [39,758] 01/2011: Detective Comics #873 -- 38,417 (+ 1.2%) 02/2011: Detective Comics #874 -- 39,106 (+ 1.8%) 03/2011: Detective Comics #875 -- 40,047 (+ 2.4%) 04/2011: Detective Comics #876 -- 40,133 (+ 0.2%) 05/2011: Detective Comics #877 -- 39,609 (- 1.3%) ----------------- 6 months: + 7.2% 1 year : - 4.6% 2 years : n.a. 5 years : - 39.8%
The book’s sales and critical reception over the last six months make a pretty good case for Scott Snyder as the new flagship writer of the line. Detective Comics, in turn, will be the new vehicle for Batman writer/artist Tony Daniel.
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38 - SUPERMAN 05/2006: Superman #652 -- 70,458 05/2007: Superman #662 -- 55,236 05/2008: Superman #676 -- 45,644 05/2009: Superman #688 -- 41,642 --------------------------------- 05/2010: -- 06/2010: Superman #700 -- 67,571 (+103.6%) 07/2010: Superman #701 -- 54,506 (- 19.3%) 08/2010: Superman #702 -- 50,023 (- 8.2%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: Superman #703 -- 50,460 (+ 0.9%) 10/2010: Superman #704 -- 46,741 (- 7.4%) 11/2010: Superman #705 -- 46,261 (- 1.0%) 12/2010: Superman #706 -- 43,027 (- 7.0%) 01/2011: Superman #707 -- 41,843 (- 2.8%) 02/2011: Superman #708 -- 40,639 (- 2.9%) 03/2011: Superman #709 -- 39,846 (- 2.0%) 04/2011: Superman #710 -- 39,644 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Superman #711 -- 38,471 (- 3.0%) ----------------- 6 months: - 16.8% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : - 7.6% 5 years : - 45.4%
To be relaunched by George Pérez, which probably explains why DC didn’t bother with a great change in direction when Straczynski quit his run halfway through.
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41 - BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY 05/2011: Arkham City #1 of 5 -- 36,597
46 - BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM 05/2011: Gates of Gotham #1 of 6 -- 32,432
Arkham City is a videogame tie-in promoted with a 1:10 variant edition, while Gates of Gotham, which comes with a 1:25 variant, promised to follow up on some plot points introduced by Morrison and prepare the ground for “several exciting storylines in 2011.” Retailers just shrugged and penciled in their number for “token completist miniseries,” evidently.
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48 - GREEN ARROW 05/2006: Green Arrow #62 -- 39,185 05/2007: Green Arrow #74 -- 30,751 05/2008: Arrow/Canary #8 -- 30,864 05/2009: Arrow/Canary #20 -- 21,445 ----------------------------------- 06/2010: Green Arrow #1 -- 54,400 (+ 86.7%) [57,554] 07/2010: Green Arrow #2 -- 44,118 (- 18.9%) 08/2010: Green Arrow #3 -- 46,308 (+ 5.0%) 09/2010: Green Arrow #4 -- 44,220 (- 4.5%) 10/2010: Green Arrow #5 -- 42,188 (- 4.6%) 11/2010: Green Arrow #6 -- 39,575 (- 6.2%) 12/2010: Green Arrow #7 -- 36,835 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Green Arrow #8 -- 35,307 (- 4.2%) 02/2011: Green Arrow #9 -- 33,922 (- 3.9%) 03/2011: Green Arrow #10 -- 33,085 (- 2.5%) 04/2011: Green Arrow #11 -- 32,669 (- 1.3%) 05/2011: Green Arrow #12 -- 31,742 (- 2.8%) ----------------- 6 months: - 19.8% 2 years : + 48.0% 5 years : - 19.0%
To be relaunched with the same writer in September, not surprisingly. Sales may not have leveled out yet, but they’re still spectacular compared to the previous volume.
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50 - BIRDS OF PREY 05/2006: Birds of Prey #94 -- 34,905 05/2007: Birds of Prey #106 -- 28,363 05/2008: Birds of Prey #118 -- 21,941 ------------------------------------- 05/2010: Birds of Prey #1 -- 50,428 (+135.4%) [54,965] 06/2010: Birds of Prey #2 -- 44,064 (- 12.6%) 07/2010: Birds of Prey #3 -- 43,420 (- 1.5%) 08/2010: Birds of Prey #4 -- 46,149 (+ 6.3%) 09/2010: Birds of Prey #5 -- 40,146 (- 13.0%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Birds of Prey #6 -- 34,440 (- 14.2%) 12/2010: Birds of Prey #7 -- 33,114 (- 3.9%) 01/2011: Birds of Prey #8 -- 31,616 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: Birds of Prey #9 -- 30,641 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: Birds of Prey #10 -- 30,777 (+ 0.4%) 04/2011: Birds of Prey #11 -- 30,270 (- 1.7%) 05/2011: Birds of Prey #12 -- 29,690 (- 1.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 13.8% 1 year : - 41.1% 5 years : - 14.9%
To be relaunched by a different creative team, surprisingly. Did Gail Simone return to the book knowing that she’d only have a year? I doubt it, and the numbers don’t suggest her run needed to be aborted, either. Frankly, this just looks like DC’s notoriously capricious editorial decided to do something else with Oracle, and Simone is rolling with the punches.
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51 - RED ROBIN 05/2006: Robin #150 -- 41,417 05/2007: Robin #162 -- 26,801 05/2008: Robin #174 -- 26,209 -------------------------------- 05/2010: Red Robin #12 -- 36,273 (+ 0.2%) 06/2010: Red Robin #13 -- 35,917 (- 1.0%) 07/2010: Red Robin #14 -- 35,652 (- 0.7%) 08/2010: Red Robin #15 -- 34,709 (- 2.7%) 09/2010: Red Robin #16 -- 33,753 (- 2.8%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Red Robin #17 -- 31,825 (- 5.7%) 12/2010: Red Robin #18 -- 30,873 (- 3.0%) 01/2011: Red Robin #19 -- 30,547 (- 1.1%) 02/2011: Red Robin #20 -- 30,149 (- 1.3%) 03/2011: Red Robin #21 -- 29,652 (- 1.7%) 04/2011: Red Robin #22 -- 31,786 (+ 7.2%) 05/2011: Red Robin #23 -- 29,097 (- 8.5%) ----------------- 6 months: - 8.6% 1 year : - 19.8% 5 years : - 29.8%
Sales return to normal after the crossover with Gotham City Sirens. Red Robin is cancelled with issue #26. Another odd decision, considering it was just shaping up to be a solid mid-level performer.
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54 - JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA 05/2006: JSA #85 -- 52,620 05/2007: Justice Society #6 -- 96,900 [99,784] 05/2008: Justice Society #15 -- 78,311 05/2009: Justice Society #27 -- 56,102 --------------------------------------- 05/2010: -- 06/2010: Justice Society #39 -- 36,630 (- 0.1%) 06/2010: Justice Society #40 -- 36,008 (- 1.7%) 07/2010: Justice Society #41 -- 48,858 (+ 35.7%) 08/2010: Justice Society #42 -- 48,420 (- 0.9%) 09/2010: Justice Society #43 -- 36,576 (- 24.5%) 10/2010: Justice Society #44 -- 35,483 (- 3.0%) 11/2010: Justice Society #45 -- 33,582 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: Justice Society #46 -- 31,497 (- 6.2%) 01/2011: Justice Society #47 -- 30,071 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: Justice Society #48 -- 29,139 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: Justice Society #49 -- 28,634 (- 1.7%) 04/2011: Justice Society #50 -- 32,251 (+ 12.6%) 05/2011: Justice Society #51 -- 28,256 (- 12.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -15.9% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : -49.6% 5 years : -46.3%
Cancelled with issue #54. In this case, it’s hard to argue with the decision — the numbers have been in free-fall ever since Geoff Johns and Alex Ross left, basically. Giving the franchise some rest doesn’t seem like a terrible decision, at this stage.
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57 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN 05/2006: Superman/Batman #25 -- 103,702 [110,845] 05/2006: Superman/Batman #26 -- 118,821 [130,077] 05/2007: Superman/Batman #35 -- 68,160 05/2008: Superman/Batman #48 -- 52,845 05/2009: Superman/Batman #60 -- 39,531 --------------------------------------- 05/2010: Superman/Batman #72 -- 32,047 (+ 1.1%) 06/2010: Superman/Batman #73 -- 31,425 (- 1.9%) 07/2010: Superman/Batman #74 -- 30,847 (- 1.8%) 08/2010: Superman/Batman #75 -- 34,324 (+11.3%) 09/2010: Superman/Batman #76 -- 32,003 (- 6.8%) 10/2010: Superman/Batman #77 -- 31,741 (- 0.8%) 11/2010: Superman/Batman #78 -- 31,337 (- 1.3%) 12/2010: Superman/Batman #79 -- 30,586 (- 2.4%) 01/2011: Superman/Batman #80 -- 30,363 (- 0.7%) 02/2011: Superman/Batman #81 -- 29,567 (- 2.6%) 03/2011: Superman/Batman #82 -- 28,913 (- 2.2%) 04/2011: Superman/Batman #83 -- 28,403 (- 1.8%) 05/2011: Superman/Batman #84 -- 27,991 (- 1.5%) ---------------- 6 months: -10.7% 1 year : -12.7% 2 years : -29.2% 5 years : -74.8%
Cancelled with issue #87. Sales have stabilized over the last year, to be fair, but let’s be honest: It’s now been five years, to the month, since the book had any reason to exist. For the first 26 issues it was Jeph Loeb and His Amazing Friends producing one of the industry’s top-selling blockbusters. And from the minute they left, it was blindingly obvious that DC wasn’t willing or able to keep up the star power — and didn’t have any other particularly specific plans for the book, either. It’s a mercy killing, and one that’s been long overdue.
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63 - BATMAN BEYOND 06/2010: Batman Beyond #1 of 6 -- 35,113 [42,283] 07/2010: Batman Beyond #2 of 6 -- 31,397 (-10.6%) 08/2010: Batman Beyond #3 of 6 -- 31,469 (+ 0.2%) 09/2010: Batman Beyond #4 of 6 -- 31,368 (- 0.3%) 10/2010: Batman Beyond #5 of 6 -- 30,121 (- 4.0%) 11/2010: Batman Beyond #6 of 6 -- 28,485 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: -- 01/2011: Batman Beyond #1 -- 35,880 (+26.0%) 02/2011: Batman Beyond #2 -- 28,956 (-19.3%) 03/2011: Batman Beyond #3 -- 28,295 (- 2.3%) 04/2011: Batman Beyond #4 -- 26,722 (- 5.6%) 05/2011: Batman Beyond #5 -- 25,413 (- 4.9%) ---------------- 6 months: -10.8%
Still not finding its level. The book ends with issue #8, for the time being, but evidently there are plans to bring it back.
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67 - TEEN TITANS 05/2006: Teen Titans #35 -- 72,954 05/2006: Teen Titans #36 -- 71,486 05/2007: Teen Titans #46 -- 61,478 05/2007: Teen Titans #47 -- 63,673 05/2008: Teen Titans #59 -- 46,306 05/2009: Teen Titans #71 -- 34,110 ---------------------------------- 05/2010: Teen Titans #83 -- 24,960 (- 1.4%) 06/2010: Teen Titans #84 -- 24,593 (- 1.5%) 07/2010: Teen Titans #85 -- 24,248 (- 1.4%) 08/2010: Teen Titans #86 -- 24,971 (+ 3.0%) 09/2010: Teen Titans #87 -- 23,259 (- 6.9%) 10/2010: Teen Titans #88 -- 27,637 (+18.8%) 11/2010: Teen Titans #89 -- 26,444 (- 4.3%) 12/2010: Teen Titans #90 -- 25,997 (- 1.7%) 01/2011: Teen Titans #91 -- 25,443 (- 2.1%) 02/2011: Teen Titans #92 -- 26,170 (+ 2.9%) 03/2011: Teen Titans #93 -- 24,957 (- 4.6%) 04/2011: Teen Titans #94 -- 25,187 (+ 0.9%) 05/2011: Teen Titans #95 -- 24,738 (- 1.8%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.5% 1 year : - 0.9% 2 years : -27.5% 5 years : -65.8%
To be relaunched by Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth, of all people. If you were wondering when Bob Harras’ influence as editor-in-chief would be starting to show in DC’s output, you can probably stop now.
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69 - SUPERBOY 11/2010: Superboy #1 -- 39,701 12/2010: Superboy #2 -- 31,761 (-20.0%) 01/2011: Superboy #3 -- 29,550 (- 7.0%) 02/2011: Superboy #4 -- 27,448 (- 7.1%) 03/2011: Superboy #5 -- 27,215 (- 0.9%) 04/2011: Superboy #6 -- 30,490 (+12.0%) 05/2011: Superboy #7 -- 24,622 (-19.3%) ---------------- 6 months: -38.0%
Back in free-fall after the “Reign of Doomsday” crossover. In retrospect, this is another book that makes DC look bad. Why let critically acclaimed cartoonist Jeff Lemire helm an Eisner-nominated relaunch, only to start over yet again less than a year later? That would make sense if it had always been the plan, but the fact that there’s a crossover in the middle of the run doesn’t exactly support the notion that there was any degree of long-term planning involved in the upcoming relaunch.
When exactly were creators informed of the relaunch, anyway?
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71 - BATGIRL 05/2010: Batgirl #10 -- 28,641 (- 2.7%) 06/2010: Batgirl #11 -- 28,563 (- 0.3%) 07/2010: Batgirl #12 -- 28,011 (- 1.9%) 08/2010: Batgirl #13 -- 27,247 (- 2.7%) 09/2010: Batgirl #14 -- 26,861 (- 1.4%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: Batgirl #15 -- 25,827 (- 3.9%) 12/2010: Batgirl #16 -- 25,225 (- 2.3%) 01/2011: Batgirl #17 -- 25,189 (- 0.1%) 02/2011: Batgirl #18 -- 24,390 (- 3.2%) 03/2011: Batgirl #19 -- 24,821 (+ 1.8%) 04/2011: Batgirl #20 -- 24,310 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: Batgirl #21 -- 24,043 (- 1.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.9% 1 year : -16.1%
To be relaunched by Gail Simone, with Barbara Gordon in the leading role, as you may have heard.
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74 - BOOSTER GOLD 05/2008: Booster Gold #9 -- 35,030 05/2009: Booster Gold #20 -- 22,549 ----------------------------------- 05/2010: Booster Gold #32 -- 20,343 (+ 2.7%) 06/2010: Booster Gold #33 -- 19,895 (- 2.2%) 07/2010: Booster Gold #34 -- 19,592 (- 1.5%) 08/2010: Booster Gold #35 -- 19,104 (- 2.5%) 09/2010: Booster Gold #36 -- 18,504 (- 3.1%) 10/2010: Booster Gold #37 -- 17,806 (- 3.8%) 11/2010: Booster Gold #38 -- 17,276 (- 3.0%) 12/2010: Booster Gold #39 -- 16,686 (- 3.4%) 01/2011: Booster Gold #40 -- 16,324 (- 2.2%) 02/2011: Booster Gold #41 -- 15,864 (- 2.8%) 03/2011: Booster Gold #42 -- 16,093 (+ 1.4%) 04/2011: Booster Gold #43 -- 16,018 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Booster Gold #44 -- 23,332 (+ 45.7%) ---------------- 6 months: +35.1% 1 year : +14.7% 2 years : + 3.5%
The Flashpoint tie-in delivers, more or less. Still: cancelled with issue #47.
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76 - THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 05/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #18 -- 45,520 05/2007: Supergirl & LoSH #30 -- 30,767 05/2008: LoSH #42 -- 27,940 --------------------------------------- 05/2010: LoSH #1 -- 44,415 (+98.9%) [50,106] 06/2010: LoSH #2 -- 39,102 (-12.0%) 07/2010: LoSH #3 -- 36,360 (- 7.0%) 08/2010: LoSH #4 -- 34,239 (- 5.8%) 09/2010: LoSH #5 -- 32,417 (- 5.3%) 10/2010: LoSH #6 -- 30,246 (- 6.7%) 11/2010: LoSH #7 -- 26,439 (-12.6%) 12/2010: LoSH #8 -- 25,063 (- 5.2%) 01/2011: LoSH #9 -- 24,230 (- 3.3%) 02/2011: LoSH #10 -- 23,738 (- 2.0%) 03/2011: LoSH #11 -- 23,667 (- 0.3%) 04/2011: LoSH #12 -- 23,419 (- 1.1%) 05/2011: LoSH #13 -- 23,105 (- 1.3%) ----------------- 6 months: - 12.6% 1 year : - 48.0% 5 years : - 49.2%
78 - ADVENTURE COMICS 05/2010: Adventure Comics #11 -- 34,794 (- 7.4%) 06/2010: Adventure Comics #12 -- 34,663 (- 0.4%) 07/2010: Adventure Comics #516 -- 30,897 (-10.9%) 08/2010: Adventure Comics #517 -- 28,966 (- 6.3%) 09/2010: Adventure Comics #518 -- 27,028 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Adventure Comics #519 -- 25,346 (- 6.2%) 11/2010: Adventure Comics #520 -- 24,540 (- 3.2%) 12/2010: Adventure Comics #521 -- 23,787 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Adventure Comics #522 -- 22,821 (- 4.1%) 02/2011: Adventure Comics #523 -- 23,127 (+ 1.3%) 03/2011: Adventure Comics #524 -- 22,836 (- 1.3%) 04/2011: Adventure Comics #525 -- 22,946 (+ 0.5%) 05/2011: Adventure Comics #526 -- 22,271 (- 2.9%) ---------------- 6 months: - 9.3% 1 year : -36.0%
One of those franchises they keep bringing back out of tradition, no matter how dead they are. Do these numbers suggest that people are queueing up to buy Paul Levitz’s Legion comics? Not really. Will Paul Levitz get the chance to relaunch The Legion of Super-Heroes once again, come September? You bet.
—–
81 - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS 05/2010: GC Sirens #12 -- 26,029 (- 1.3%) 06/2010: GC Sirens #13 -- 25,867 (- 0.6%) 07/2010: GC Sirens #14 -- 25,315 (- 2.1%) 08/2010: GC Sirens #15 -- 24,589 (- 2.9%) 09/2010: GC Sirens #16 -- 23,821 (- 3.1%) 10/2010: -- 11/2010: GC Sirens #17 -- 22,107 (- 7.2%) 12/2010: GC Sirens #18 -- 21,344 (- 3.5%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: GC Sirens #19 -- 21,631 (+ 1.4%) 02/2011: GC Sirens #20 -- 20,822 (- 3.7%) 03/2011: GC Sirens #21 -- 20,807 (- 0.1%) 04/2011: GC Sirens #22 -- 24,438 (+17.5%) 05/2011: GC Sirens #23 -- 21,488 (-12.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.8% 1 year : -17.5%
Cancelled with issue #26.
—–
82 - SUPERGIRL 05/2006: Supergirl #6 -- 102,860 05/2007: Supergirl #17 -- 50,429 05/2008: Supergirl #29 -- 30,192 05/2009: Supergirl #41 -- 33,441 --------------------------------- 05/2010: -- 06/2010: Supergirl #53 -- 28,317 (- 4.0%) 07/2010: Supergirl #54 -- 26,941 (- 4.9%) 08/2010: Supergirl #55 -- 25,891 (- 3.9%) 09/2010: Supergirl #56 -- 25,034 (- 3.3%) 10/2010: Supergirl #57 -- 23,842 (- 4.8%) 11/2010: Supergirl #58 -- 25,412 (+ 6.6%) 12/2010: Supergirl #59 -- 22,606 (-11.0%) 01/2011: Supergirl #60 -- 22,568 (- 0.2%) 02/2011: Supergirl #61 -- 22,048 (- 2.3%) 03/2011: Supergirl #62 -- 21,786 (- 1.2%) 04/2011: Supergirl #63 -- 21,598 (- 0.9%) 05/2011: Supergirl #64 -- 21,411 (- 0.9%) ---------------- 6 months: -15.7% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : -36.0% 5 years : -79.2%
To be relaunched. Quite why DC think the market is waiting for that, I’m not sure, looking at the numbers. At least the preview information is hinting at a vaguely interesting direction.
—–
84 - TITANS 05/2008: Titans #2 -- 57,358 05/2009: Titans #13 -- 34,343 --------------------------------- 05/2010: VfH Special #1 -- 31,718 (+30.7%) 06/2010: Titans #24 -- 33,079 (+ 4.3%) 07/2010: Titans #25 -- 31,505 (- 4.8%) 08/2010: Titans #26 -- 32,800 (+ 4.1%) 09/2010: Titans #27 -- 28,438 (-13.3%) 10/2010: Titans #28 -- 27,430 (- 3.6%) 11/2010: Titans #29 -- 24,138 (-12.0%) 12/2010: Titans #30 -- 22,483 (- 6.9%) 01/2011: Titans #31 -- 21,749 (- 3.3%) 02/2011: Titans #32 -- 20,949 (- 3.7%) 03/2011: Titans #33 -- 20,723 (- 1.1%) 04/2011: Titans #34 -- 20,590 (- 0.6%) 05/2011: Titans #35 -- 20,553 (- 0.2%) ---------------- 6 months: -14.9% 1 year : -35.2% 2 years : -40.2%
Cancelled with issue #38.
—–
87/91 - DC UNIVERSE ONLINE: LEGENDS 02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #1 -- 36,517 02/2011: DCU Online: Legends #2 -- 28,953 (-20.7%) 03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #3 -- 24,824 (-14.3%) 03/2011: DCU Online: Legends #4 -- 23,001 (- 7.3%) 04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #5 -- 21,427 (- 6.8%) 04/2011: DCU Online: Legends #6 -- 20,461 (- 4.5%) 05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #7 -- 20,064 (- 1.9%) 05/2011: DCU Online: Legends #8 -- 19,471 (- 3.0%)
The twice-monthly videogame tie-in is cancelled with issue #14, evidently, though the solicitation copy suggests that some kind of follow-up was planned at the time the copy was written, at least.
—–
90 - SECRET SIX 05/2006: Secret Six #1 of 6 -- 54,961 [57,425] 05/2009: Secret Six #9 -- 27,116 ------------------------------------- 05/2010: Secret Six #21 -- 22,334 (- 1.6%) 06/2010: Secret Six #22 -- 21,941 (- 1.8%) 07/2010: Secret Six #23 -- 21,554 (- 1.8%) 08/2010: Secret Six #24 -- 21,177 (- 1.8%) 09/2010: Secret Six #25 -- 20,775 (- 1.9%) 10/2010: Secret Six #26 -- 20,377 (- 1.9%) 11/2010: Secret Six #27 -- 19,963 (- 2.0%) 12/2010: Secret Six #28 -- 19,587 (- 1.9%) 01/2011: Secret Six #29 -- 20,327 (+ 3.8%) 02/2011: Secret Six #30 -- 19,763 (- 2.8%) 03/2011: Secret Six #31 -- 19,822 (+ 0.3%) 04/2011: Secret Six #32 -- 19,714 (- 0.6%) 05/2011: Secret Six #33 -- 19,733 (+ 0.1%) ---------------- 6 months: - 1.2% 1 year : -11.7% 2 years : -27.2% 5 years : -64.1%
Cancelled with issue #36. Another baffling decision. Granted, Secret Six doesn’t set the charts on fire, but its numbers have been very consistent, and it’s consistently well-received by reviewers, too. This is precisely the kind of book that could profit from a relaunch. But apparently not.
—–
94 - FABLES (Vertigo) 05/2006: Fables #49 -- 24,444 05/2007: Fables #61 -- 26,056 05/2008: Fables #73 -- 23,785 05/2009: Fables #84 -- 23,634 ------------------------------ 05/2010: Fables #95 -- 19,932 (- 0.2%) 06/2010: Fables #96 -- 19,842 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: -- 08/2010: Fables #97 -- 19,625 (- 1.1%) 09/2010: Fables #98 -- 19,594 (- 0.2%) 10/2010: Fables #99 -- 19,656 (+ 0.3%) 11/2010: -- 12/2010: Fables #100 -- 23,014 (+17.1%) 01/2011: Fables #101 -- 19,183 (-16.7%) 02/2011: Fables #102 -- 19,215 (+ 0.2%) 03/2011: Fables #103 -- 18,910 (- 1.6%) 04/2011: Fables #104 -- 18,811 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Fables #105 -- 18,749 (- 0.3%) ---------------- 6 months: n.a. 1 year : - 5.9% 2 years : -29.6% 5 years : -23.3%
Sales on Vertigo’s flagship title have been rock-solid over the last year, on balance.
—–
100 - ZATANNA 05/2010: Zatanna #1 -- 33,691 06/2010: Zatanna #2 -- 29,564 (-12.3%) 07/2010: Zatanna #3 -- 27,792 (- 6.0%) 08/2010: Zatanna #4 -- 27,203 (- 2.1%) 09/2010: Zatanna #5 -- 25,393 (- 6.7%) 10/2010: Zatanna #6 -- 23,427 (- 7.7%) 11/2010: Zatanna #7 -- 20,671 (-11.8%) 12/2010: Zatanna #8 -- 19,321 (- 6.5%) 01/2011: Zatanna #9 -- 18,482 (- 4.3%) 02/2011: -- 03/2011: Zatanna #10 -- 18,645 (+ 0.9%) 03/2011: Zatanna #11 -- 18,431 (- 1.2%) 04/2011: Zatanna #12 -- 18,432 (+ 0.0%) 05/2011: Zatanna #13 -- 18,259 (- 0.9%) ---------------- 6 months: -11.7% 1 year : -45.8%
Cancelled with issue #16.
—–
104 - POWER GIRL 05/2009: Power Girl #1 -- 47,322 --------------------------------- 05/2010: Power Girl #12 -- 20,681 (+ 0.0%) 06/2010: Power Girl #13 -- 20,583 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: Power Girl #14 -- 19,739 (- 4.1%) 08/2010: Power Girl #15 -- 19,091 (- 3.3%) 09/2010: Power Girl #16 -- 18,404 (- 3.6%) 10/2010: Power Girl #17 -- 17,847 (- 3.0%) 11/2010: Power Girl #18 -- 17,300 (- 3.1%) 12/2010: Power Girl #19 -- 16,763 (- 3.1%) 01/2011: Power Girl #20 -- 16,823 (+ 0.4%) 02/2011: Power Girl #21 -- 16,940 (+ 0.7%) 03/2011: Power Girl #22 -- 17,232 (+ 1.7%) 04/2011: Power Girl #23 -- 17,071 (- 0.9%) 05/2011: Power Girl #24 -- 17,208 (+ 0.8%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.5% 1 year : -16.8% 2 years : -63.6%
Cancelled with issue #27.
—–
107 - JSA ALL-STARS 05/2010: JSA All-Stars #6 -- 25,306 (- 4.8%) 06/2010: JSA All-Stars #7 -- 24,436 (- 3.4%) 07/2010: JSA All-Stars #8 -- 23,478 (- 3.9%) 08/2010: JSA All-Stars #9 -- 22,347 (- 4.8%) 09/2010: JSA All-Stars #10 -- 21,646 (- 3.1%) 10/2010: JSA All-Stars #11 -- 20,496 (- 5.3%) 11/2010: JSA All-Stars #12 -- 19,630 (- 4.2%) 12/2010: JSA All-Stars #13 -- 18,395 (- 6.3%) 01/2011: JSA All-Stars #14 -- 17,920 (- 2.6%) 02/2011: JSA All-Stars #15 -- 17,409 (- 2.9%) 03/2011: JSA All-Stars #16 -- 16,987 (- 2.4%) 04/2011: JSA All-Stars #17 -- 16,706 (- 1.7%) 04/2011: JSA All-Stars #18 -- 16,384 (- 1.9%) ---------------- 6 months: -16.5% 1 year : -35.3%
Cancelled.
—–
108 - AMERICAN VAMPIRE (Vertigo) 05/2010: American Vampire #3 -- 26,510 (- 1.0%) 06/2010: American Vampire #4 -- 25,977 (- 2.0%) 07/2010: American Vampire #5 -- 24,857 (- 4.3%) 08/2010: -- 09/2010: American Vampire #6 -- 23,349 (- 6.1%) 10/2010: American Vampire #7 -- 21,910 (- 6.2%) 11/2010: American Vampire #8 -- 19,850 (- 9.4%) 12/2010: American Vampire #9 -- 19,019 (- 4.2%) 12/2010: American Vampire #10 -- 17,761 (- 6.6%) 01/2011: American Vampire #11 -- 16,969 (- 4.5%) 02/2011: American Vampire #12 -- 16,522 (- 2.6%) 03/2011: American Vampire #13 -- 17,269 (+ 4.5%) 04/2011: American Vampire #14 -- 16,168 (- 6.4%) 05/2011: American Vampire #15 -- 15,876 (- 1.8%) ---------------- 6 months: -20.0% 1 year : -40.1%
Standard attrition.
—–
122 - CINDERELLA: FABLES ARE FOREVER (Vertigo) 11/2009: Cinderella: FFwL #1 of 6 -- 20,337 12/2009: Cinderella: FFwL #2 of 6 -- 16,598 01/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #3 of 6 -- 15,827 02/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #4 of 6 -- 15,421 03/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #5 of 6 -- 15,285 04/2010: Cinderella: FFwL #6 of 6 -- 14,956 --------------------------------------------- 02/2011: Fables Are Forever #1 of 6 -- 15,026 03/2011: Fables Are Forever #2 of 6 -- 14,029 (-6.6%) 04/2011: Fables Are Forever #3 of 6 -- 13,668 (-2.6%) 05/2011: Fables Are Forever #4 of 6 -- 13,377 (-2.1%)
Standard attrition.
—–
125 - THE OUTSIDERS 05/2006: Outsiders #36 -- 45,705 05/2007: Outsiders #47 -- 33,267 05/2008: Batsiders #7 -- 35,071 05/2009: Outsiders #18 -- 25,995 -------------------------------- 05/2010: -- 06/2010: Outsiders #30 -- 18,045 (- 5.5%) 07/2010: Outsiders #31 -- 17,173 (- 4.8%) 08/2010: Outsiders #32 -- 15,754 (- 8.3%) 09/2010: -- 10/2010: Outsiders #33 -- 15,253 (- 3.2%) 11/2010: Outsiders #34 -- 13,576 (- 11.0%) 12/2010: Outsiders #35 -- 13,133 (- 3.3%) 01/2011: -- 02/2011: Outsiders #36 -- 12,848 (- 2.2%) 03/2011: Outsiders #37 -- 20,074 (+ 56.2%) 04/2011: Outsiders #38 -- 13,092 (- 34.8%) 05/2011: Outsiders #39 -- 12,840 (- 1.9%) ---------------- 6 months: - 5.4% 1 year : n.a. 2 years : -50.6% 5 years : -71.9%
Axed with issue #40.
—–
137 - THE UNWRITTEN (Vertigo) 05/2009: The Unwritten #1 -- 26,915 [31,081] ------------------------------------ 05/2010: The Unwritten #13 -- 13,467 (- 0.3%) 06/2010: The Unwritten #14 -- 13,396 (- 0.5%) 07/2010: The Unwritten #15 -- 13,023 (- 2.8%) 08/2010: The Unwritten #16 -- 12,778 (- 1.9%) 09/2010: The Unwritten #17 -- 12,796 (+ 0.2%) 10/2010: The Unwritten #18 -- 12,273 (- 4.1%) 11/2010: The Unwritten #19 -- 12,036 (- 1.9%) 12/2010: The Unwritten #20 -- 11,684 (- 2.9%) 01/2011: The Unwritten #21 -- 11,443 (- 2.1%) 02/2011: The Unwritten #22 -- 11,371 (- 0.6%) 03/2011: The Unwritten #23 -- 11,319 (- 0.5%) 04/2011: The Unwritten #24 -- 11,028 (- 2.6%) 05/2011: The Unwritten #25 -- 11,137 (+ 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 7.5% 1 year : -17.3% 2 years : -58.6%
Holding level. Always good news.
—–
143 - I, ZOMBIE (Vertigo) 05/2010: I, Zombie #1 -- 33,025 06/2010: I, Zombie #2 -- 18,620 (-43.6%) 07/2010: I, Zombie #3 -- 16,898 (- 9.3%) 08/2010: I, Zombie #4 -- 15,772 (- 6.7%) 09/2010: I, Zombie #5 -- 14,839 (- 5.9%) 10/2010: I, Zombie #6 -- 13,782 (- 7.1%) 11/2010: I, Zombie #7 -- 12,800 (- 7.1%) 12/2010: I, Zombie #8 -- 12,038 (- 6.0%) 01/2011: I, Zombie #9 -- 11,536 (- 4.2%) 02/2011: I, Zombie #10 -- 11,182 (- 3.1%) 03/2011: I, Zombie #11 -- 10,874 (- 2.8%) 04/2011: I, Zombie #12 -- 10,727 (- 1.4%) 05/2011: I, Zombie #13 -- 10,567 (- 1.5%) ---------------- 6 months: -17.5% 1 year : -68.0%
Standard attrition.
—–
146 - JONAH HEX 05/2006: Jonah Hex #7 -- 21,910 05/2007: Jonah Hex #19 -- 16,473 05/2008: Jonah Hex #31 -- 13,140 05/2009: Jonah Hex #43 -- 11,606 -------------------------------- 05/2010: Jonah Hex #55 -- 11,327 (+ 0.2%) 06/2010: Jonah Hex #56 -- 13,441 (+18.7%) 07/2010: Jonah Hex #57 -- 12,318 (- 8.4%) 08/2010: Jonah Hex #58 -- 11,775 (- 4.4%) 09/2010: Jonah Hex #59 -- 11,444 (- 2.8%) 10/2010: Jonah Hex #60 -- 11,141 (- 2.7%) 11/2010: Jonah Hex #61 -- 10,796 (- 3.1%) 12/2010: Jonah Hex #62 -- 10,899 (+ 1.0%) 01/2011: Jonah Hex #63 -- 10,752 (- 1.4%) 02/2011: Jonah Hex #64 -- 10,255 (- 4.6%) 03/2011: Jonah Hex #65 -- 10,353 (+ 1.0%) 04/2011: Jonah Hex #66 -- 10,335 (- 0.2%) 05/2011: Jonah Hex #67 -- 10,288 (- 0.5%) ---------------- 6 months: - 4.7% 1 year : - 9.2% 2 years : -11.4% 5 years : -53.0%
Holding level. Sales have been remarkably consistent for years, so it makes sense for the book to be relaunched by the same creative team in September — albeit under a new title.
—–
150 - R.E.B.E.L.S. 05/2009: R.E.B.E.L.S. #4 -- 13,468 ----------------------------------- 05/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #16 -- 11,120 (- 1.3%) 06/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #17 -- 11,048 (- 0.7%) 07/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #18 -- 11,007 (- 0.4%) 08/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #19 -- 10,851 (- 1.4%) 09/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #20 -- 11,745 (+ 8.2%) 10/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #21 -- 11,262 (- 4.1%) 11/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #22 -- 10,797 (- 4.1%) 12/2010: R.E.B.E.L.S. #23 -- 10,619 (- 1.7%) 01/2011: R.E.B.E.L.S. #24 -- 10,354 (- 2.5%) 02/2011: R.E.B.E.L.S. #25 -- 10,351 (- 0.0%) 03/2011: R.E.B.E.L.S. #26 -- 10,257 (- 0.9%) 04/2011: R.E.B.E.L.S. #27 -- 10,014 (- 2.4%) 05/2011: R.E.B.E.L.S. #28 -- 10,000 (- 0.1%) ----------------- 6 months: - 7.4% 1 year : - 10.1% 2 years : - 25.8%
Cancelled.
—–
151 - STRANGE ADVENTURES (Vertigo) 05/2011: Strange Adventures #1 -- 9,999
A $ 7.99 one-shot by various critically acclaimed Vertigo talent. Given the cover price, 10K is a good number for this type of book, I’d say.
—–
153 - YOUNG JUSTICE (Johnny DC) 01/2011: Young Justice #0 -- 9,412 02/2011: Young Justice #1 -- 10,777 (+14.5%) 03/2011: Young Justice #2 -- 9,612 (-10.8%) 04/2011: Young Justice #3 -- 9,407 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: Young Justice #4 -- 9,729 (+ 3.4%)
A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers below.
—–
158 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo) 05/2006: Hellblazer #220 -- 14,161 05/2007: Hellblazer #232 -- 13,164 05/2008: Hellblazer #244 -- 11,826 05/2009: Hellblazer #255 -- 10,937 ---------------------------------- 05/2010: Hellblazer #267 -- 10,155 (-1.0%) 06/2010: Hellblazer #268 -- 10,221 (+0.7%) 07/2010: Hellblazer #269 -- 10,048 (-1.7%) 08/2010: Hellblazer #270 -- 9,928 (-1.2%) 09/2010: Hellblazer #271 -- 9,851 (-0.8%) 10/2010: Hellblazer #272 -- 9,650 (-2.0%) 11/2010: Hellblazer #273 -- 9,645 (-0.1%) 12/2010: Hellblazer #274 -- 9,342 (-3.1%) 01/2011: Hellblazer #275 -- 9,507 (+1.8%) 02/2011: Hellblazer #276 -- 9,466 (-0.4%) 03/2011: Hellblazer #277 -- 9,525 (+0.6%) 04/2011: Hellblazer #278 -- 9,417 (-1.1%) 05/2011: Hellblazer #279 -- 9,454 (+0.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 2.0% 1 year : - 6.9% 2 years : -13.6% 5 years : -33.2%
Holding level. Another rock-solid performer.
—–
159 - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS 11/2010: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 -- 16,122 12/2010: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #2 -- 11,227 (-30.4%) 01/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #3 -- 10,602 (- 5.6%) 02/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4 -- 10,124 (- 4.5%) 03/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #5 -- 9,934 (- 1.9%) 04/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #6 -- 9,680 (- 2.6%) 05/2011: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7 -- 9,453 (- 2.4%) ---------------- 6 months: -41.4%
Cancelled with issue #10, evidently.
——
162 - DOOM PATROL 05/2010: Doom Patrol #10 -- 12,334 (- 6.0%) 06/2010: Doom Patrol #11 -- 11,857 (- 3.9%) 07/2010: Doom Patrol #12 -- 11,267 (- 5.0%) 08/2010: Doom Patrol #13 -- 10,878 (- 3.5%) 09/2010: Doom Patrol #14 -- 10,780 (- 0.9%) 10/2010: Doom Patrol #15 -- 10,081 (- 6.5%) 11/2010: Doom Patrol #16 -- 9,955 (- 1.3%) 12/2010: Doom Patrol #17 -- 9,564 (- 3.9%) 01/2011: Doom Patrol #18 -- 9,375 (- 2.0%) 02/2011: Doom Patrol #19 -- 10,681 (+ 13.9%) 03/2011: Doom Patrol #20 -- 9,386 (- 12.1%) 04/2011: Doom Patrol #21 -- 9,435 (+ 0.5%) 05/2011: Doom Patrol #22 -- 9,299 (- 1.4%) ---------------- 6 months: - 6.6% 1 year : -24.6%
Cancelled.
—–
165 - WEIRD WORLDS 01/2011: Weird Worlds #1 of 6 -- 14,964 02/2011: Weird Worlds #2 of 6 -- 11,587 (-22.6%) 03/2011: Weird Worlds #3 of 6 -- 10,470 (- 9.6%) 04/2011: Weird Worlds #4 of 6 -- 9,665 (- 7.7%) 05/2011: Weird Worlds #5 of 6 -- 9,043 (- 6.4%)
The drop-off continues to be rather steep.
—–
173 - FREEDOM FIGHTERS 09/2010: Freedom Fighters #1 -- 19,378 10/2010: Freedom Fighters #2 -- 12,758 (-34.2%) 11/2010: Freedom Fighters #3 -- 11,186 (-12.3%) 12/2010: Freedom Fighters #4 -- 10,028 (-10.4%) 01/2011: Freedom Fighters #5 -- 9,437 (- 5.9%) 02/2011: Freedom Fighters #6 -- 9,050 (- 4.1%) 03/2011: Freedom Fighters #7 -- 8,886 (- 1.8%) 04/2011: Freedom Fighters #8 -- 8,601 (- 3.2%) 05/2011: Freedom Fighters #9 -- 8,425 (- 2.1%) ---------------- 6 months: -24.7%
Cancelled.
—–
175 - SWEET TOOTH (Vertigo) 05/2010: Sweet Tooth #9 -- 9,654 (+ 0.4%) 06/2010: Sweet Tooth #10 -- 9,570 (- 0.9%) 07/2010: Sweet Tooth #11 -- 9,478 (- 1.0%) 08/2010: Sweet Tooth #12 -- 9,246 (- 2.5%) 09/2010: Sweet Tooth #13 -- 9,097 (- 1.6%) 10/2010: Sweet Tooth #14 -- 8,933 (- 1.8%) 11/2010: Sweet Tooth #15 -- 8,750 (- 2.1%) 12/2010: Sweet Tooth #16 -- 8,602 (- 1.7%) 01/2011: Sweet Tooth #17 -- 8,522 (- 0.9%) 02/2011: Sweet Tooth #18 -- 8,466 (- 0.7%) 03/2011: Sweet Tooth #19 -- 8,532 (+ 0.8%) 04/2011: Sweet Tooth #20 -- 8,361 (- 2.0%) 05/2011: Sweet Tooth #21 -- 8,360 (- 0.0%) ---------------- 6 months: - 4.5% 1 year : -13.4%
Holding level. Another Vertigo title with very consistent sales.
—–
183 - XOMBI 03/2011: Xombi #1 -- 12,035 04/2011: Xombi #2 -- 8,345 (-30.7%) 05/2011: Xombi #3 -- 7,977 (- 4.4%)
Finding its level quickly now. Still, cancelled with issue #6.
—–
184 - TINY TITANS (Johnny DC) 05/2008: Tiny Titans #4 -- 10,369 05/2009: Tiny Titans #16 -- 8,844 ---------------------------------- 05/2010: Tiny Titans #28 -- 7,959 (- 3.2%) 06/2010: Tiny Titans #29 -- 8,195 (+ 3.0%) 07/2010: Tiny Titans #30 -- 8,038 (- 1.9%) 08/2010: Tiny Titans #31 -- 7,987 (- 0.6%) 09/2010: Tiny Titans #32 -- 8,073 (+ 1.1%) 10/2010: Tiny Titans #33 -- 8,045 (- 0.4%) 11/2010: Tiny Titans #34 -- 7,713 (- 4.1%) 12/2010: Tiny Titans #35 -- 7,515 (- 2.6%) 01/2011: Tiny Titans #36 -- 7,480 (- 0.5%) 02/2011: Tiny Titans #37 -- 7,426 (- 0.7%) 03/2011: Tiny Titans #38 -- 7,372 (- 0.7%) 04/2011: Tiny Titans #39 -- 7,445 (+ 1.0%) 05/2011: Tiny Titans #40 -- 7,847 (+ 5.4%) ---------------- 6 months: + 1.7% 1 year : - 1.4% 2 years : -11.3%
A Johnny DC book, see disclaimers.
—–
193 - DOC SAVAGE 05/2010: Doc Savage #2 -- 19,073 (-22.3%) 06/2010: Doc Savage #3 -- 16,153 (-15.3%) 07/2010: Doc Savage #4 -- 14,621 (- 9.5%) 08/2010: Doc Savage #5 -- 13,125 (-10.2%) 09/2010: Doc Savage #6 -- 11,838 (- 9.8%) 10/2010: Doc Savage #7 -- 10,050 (-15.1%) 11/2010: Doc Savage #8 -- 9,257 (- 7.9%) 12/2010: Doc Savage #9 -- 8,681 (- 6.2%) 01/2011: Doc Savage #10 -- 8,407 (- 3.2%) 02/2011: Doc Savage #11 -- 7,972 (- 5.2%) 03/2011: Doc Savage #12 -- 7,747 (- 2.8%) 04/2011: Doc Savage #13 -- 7,426 (- 4.1%) 05/2011: Doc Savage #14 -- 7,201 (- 3.0%) ---------------- 6 months: -22.2% 1 year : -62.3%
Cancelled with issue #17.
—–
199 - NORTHLANDERS (Vertigo) 05/2008: Northlanders #6 -- 12,009 05/2009: Northlanders #17 -- 9,239 ----------------------------------- 05/2010: Northlanders #28 -- 7,630 (- 0.7%) 06/2010: Northlanders #29 -- 7,498 (- 1.7%) 07/2010: Northlanders #30 -- 7,421 (- 1.0%) 08/2010: Northlanders #31 -- 7,376 (- 0.6%) 09/2010: Northlanders #32 -- 7,321 (- 0.8%) 10/2010: Northlanders #33 -- 7,169 (- 2.1%) 11/2010: Northlanders #34 -- 7,018 (- 2.1%) 12/2010: Northlanders #35 -- 7,061 (+ 0.6%) 01/2011: Northlanders #36 -- 6,806 (- 3.6%) 02/2011: Northlanders #37 -- 7,006 (+ 2.9%) 03/2011: Northlanders #38 -- 7,020 (+ 0.2%) 04/2011: Northlanders #39 -- 6,983 (- 0.5%) 05/2011: Northlanders #40 -- 7,055 (+ 1.0%) ---------------- 6 months: + 0.5% 1 year : - 7.5% 2 years : -23.6%
The numbers have been rock-solid at the 7K mark for the last six months, but according to writer Brian Wood, the book is cancelled with issue #50 due to low paperback sales.
This also puts a question mark next to lower-selling Vertigo series House of Mystery (see below) and Scalped (which didn’t come out in May).
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202 - THE SPIRIT 05/2007: The Spirit #6 -- 23,708 05/2008: The Spirit #17 -- 14,057 05/2009: The Spirit #28 -- 8,329 --------------------------------- 05/2010: The Spirit #2 -- 14,274 (- 28.1%) 06/2010: The Spirit #3 -- 13,030 (- 8.7%) 07/2010: The Spirit #4 -- 11,915 (- 8.6%) 08/2010: The Spirit #5 -- 11,015 (- 7.6%) 09/2010: The Spirit #6 -- 10,083 (- 8.5%) 10/2010: The Spirit #7 -- 9,233 (- 8.4%) 11/2010: The Spirit #8 -- 8,706 (- 5.7%) 12/2010: The Spirit #9 -- 8,297 (- 4.7%) 01/2011: The Spirit #10 -- 7,830 (- 5.6%) 02/2011: The Spirit #11 -- 7,417 (- 5.3%) 03/2011: The Spirit #12 -- 7,342 (- 1.0%) 04/2011: The Spirit #13 -- 7,041 (- 4.1%) 05/2011: The Spirit #14 -- 6,911 (- 1.9%) ----------------- 6 months: - 20.6% 1 year : - 51.6% 2 years : - 17.0%
Cancelled with issue #17.
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203 - HOUSE OF MYSTERY (Vertigo) 05/2008: House of Mystery #1 -- 27,492 05/2009: House of Mystery #13 -- 14,358 --------------------------------------- 05/2010: House of Mystery #25 -- 9,253 (+ 0.9%) 06/2010: House of Mystery #26 -- 8,742 (- 5.5%) 07/2010: House of Mystery #27 -- 8,481 (- 3.0%) 08/2010: House of Mystery #28 -- 8,238 (- 2.9%) 09/2010: House of Mystery #29 -- 8,087 (- 1.8%) 10/2010: House of Mystery #30 -- 7,913 (- 2.2%) 11/2010: House of Mystery #31 -- 7,610 (- 3.8%) 12/2010: House of Mystery #32 -- 7,348 (- 3.4%) 01/2011: House of Mystery #33 -- 7,227 (- 1.7%) 02/2011: House of Mystery #34 -- 7,092 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: House of Mystery #35 -- 7,170 (+ 1.1%) 04/2011: House of Mystery #36 -- 7,096 (- 1.0%) 05/2011: House of Mystery #37 -- 6,909 (- 2.6%) ---------------- 6 months: - 9.2% 1 year : -25.3% 2 years : -51.9%
Standard attrition.
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205 - THE ALL-NEW BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Johnny DC) 05/2006: Batman Strikes! #21 -- 8,467 05/2007: Batman Strikes! #33 -- 7,235 05/2008: Batman Strikes! #45 -- 6,611 05/2009: Brave & Bold #5 -- 7,994 ---------------------------------------- 05/2010: Brave & Bold #17 -- 6,103 (- 6.2%) 06/2010: Brave & Bold #18 -- 6,270 (+ 2.7%) 07/2010: Brave & Bold #19 -- 6,489 (+ 3.5%) 08/2010: Brave & Bold #20 -- 6,244 (- 3.8%) 09/2010: Brave & Bold #21 -- 6,345 (+ 1.6%) 10/2010: Brave & Bold #22 -- 6,044 (- 4.7%) 11/2010: All-New BBB #1 -- 8,408 (+ 39.1%) 12/2010: All-New BBB #2 -- 6,688 (- 20.5%) 01/2011: All-New BBB #3 -- 6,557 (- 2.0%) 02/2011: All-New BBB #4 -- 6,561 (+ 0.1%) 03/2011: All-New BBB #5 -- 6,463 (- 1.5%) 04/2011: All-New BBB #6 -- 6,324 (- 2.1%) 05/2011: All-New BBB #7 -- 6,869 (+ 8.6%) ---------------- 6 months: -18.3% 1 year : +12.6% 2 years : -14.1% 5 years : -18.9%
Another Johnny DC book.
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220 - DMZ (Vertigo) 05/2006: DMZ #7 -- 15,026 05/2007: DMZ #19 -- 13,116 05/2008: DMZ #31 -- 9,911 05/2009: -- -------------------------- 05/2010: DMZ #53 -- 6,759 (-1.0%) 06/2010: DMZ #54 -- 6,661 (-1.5%) 07/2010: DMZ #55 -- 6,581 (-1.2%) 08/2010: DMZ #56 -- 6,524 (-0.9%) 09/2010: DMZ #57 -- 6,333 (-2.9%) 10/2010: DMZ #58 -- 6,198 (-2.1%) 11/2010: DMZ #59 -- 6,046 (-2.5%) 12/2010: DMZ #60 -- 6,023 (-0.4%) 01/2011: DMZ #61 -- 5,855 (-2.8%) 02/2011: DMZ #62 -- 5,781 (-1.3%) 03/2011: DMZ #63 -- 5,877 (+1.7%) 04/2011: DMZ #64 -- 5,851 (-0.4%) 05/2011: DMZ #65 -- 5,865 (+0.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 3.0% 1 year : -13.2% 2 years : n.a. 5 years : -61.0%
The other Brian Wood title has also been one of DC’s more consistent performers of late. DMZ is heading for its natural conclusion with issue #72.
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241 - SCOOBY DOO: WHERE ARE YOU? (Johnny DC) 05/2006: Scooby Doo #108 -- 4,496 05/2007: Scooby Doo #120 -- 4,343 05/2008: Scooby Doo #132 -- 4,309 05/2009: Scooby Doo #144 -- 4,062 --------------------------------- 05/2010: Scooby Doo #156 -- 3,857 (+ 0.6%) 06/2010: Scooby Doo #157 -- ? 07/2010: Scooby Doo #158 -- 4,147 08/2010: Scooby Doo #159 -- 4,092 (- 1.3%) 09/2010: SD:WAY? #1 -- 6,186 (+51.2%) 10/2010: SD:WAY? #2 -- 4,926 (-20.4%) 11/2010: SD:WAY? #3 -- 4,861 (- 1.3%) 12/2010: SD:WAY? #4 -- 4,802 (- 1.2%) 01/2011: SD:WAY? #5 -- 4,540 (- 5.5%) 02/2011: SD:WAY? #6 -- 4,456 (- 1.9%) 03/2011: SD:WAY? #7 -- 4,522 (+ 1.5%) 04/2011: SD:WAY? #8 -- 4,599 (+ 1.7%) 05/2011: SD:WAY? #9 -- 4,838 (+ 5.2%) ---------------- 6 months: - 0.5% 1 year : +25.4% 2 years : +19.1% 5 years : + 7.6%
A Johnny DC title.
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264/272/273/278/289 - DC COMICS PRESENTS 10/2010: Green Lantern #1 -- 4,418 10/2010: Jack Cross #1 -- 3,662 10/2010: Batman/Catwoman #1 -- 4,076 10/2010: Brightest Day #1 -- 4,988 10/2010: Batman #1 -- 4,643 10/2010: Superman #1 -- 3,685 11/2010: Flash/GL #1 -- 3,664 11/2010: Batman #2 -- 3,643 11/2010: Brightest Day #2 -- 3,292 11/2010: Superman #2 -- 2,915 12/2010: Batman Beyond #1 -- 4,531 01/2011: Lobo #1 -- 3,280 01/2011: Sole Survivor #1 -- 2,768 01/2011: The Atom #1 -- 2,185 02/2011: GL: Fear Itself #1 -- 4,437 02/2011: Batman: Conspiracy -- 3,308 02/2011: Wonder Woman #1 -- 2,982 04/2011: Batman: Arkham #1 -- 4,143 05/2011: Son of Superman #1 -- 4,081 05/2011: GL: Willworld #1 -- 3,802 05/2011: Batman: Dark City -- 3,800 05/2011: LoSH #1 -- 3,597 05/2011: Flash #1 -- 3,298
Another bunch of $ 7.99 reprint books. These titles keep doing very well, especially compared to most “proper” paperback collections.
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291/294 - INFAMOUS 03/2011: Infamous #1 of 6 -- 4,608 03/2011: Infamous #2 of 6 -- ? 04/2011: Infamous #3 of 6 -- 3,246 04/2011: Infamous #4 of 6 -- 3,092 (-4.7%) 05/2011: Infamous #5 of 6 -- 3,177 (+2.8%) 05/2011: Infamous #6 of 6 -- 3,105 (-2.3%)
Another videogame adaptation concludes. Speaking of which, Deus Ex #4 also came out in May, but missed the Top 300 chart. As usual, for the average-sales charts below, I’m presuming it sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart, which in May was 2,913.
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RE-ORDERS: 124: 12,852 -- Action Comics #900
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6-MONTH COMPARISONS + 35.1%: Booster Gold + 33.4%: Action Comics + 14.4%: Emerald Warriors + 7.1%: Detective Comics + 6.1%: GL Corps + 1.7%: Tiny Titans + 0.5%: Northlanders - 0.5%: Power Girl - 0.5%: Scooby-Doo - 1.1%: Green Lantern - 1.2%: Secret Six - 2.0%: Hellblazer - 2.8%: GC Sirens - 3.0%: DMZ - 4.5%: Sweet Tooth - 4.7%: Jonah Hex - 4.8%: Flash - 5.4%: Outsiders - 6.5%: Teen Titans - 6.6%: Doom Patrol - 6.9%: Batgirl - 7.4%: REBELS - 7.5%: Unwritten - 8.2%: JLA - 8.6%: Red Robin - 9.2%: House of Mystery - 9.3%: Adventure Comics - 10.7%: Superman/Batman - 10.8%: Batman Beyond - 11.7%: Zatanna - 12.6%: LoSH - 13.8%: Birds of Prey - 14.9%: Titans - 15.5%: Batman - 15.7%: Supergirl - 15.9%: JSA - 16.5%: JSA All-Stars - 16.8%: Superman - 17.5%: I, Zombie - 18.3%: All-New BBB - 19.8%: Green Arrow - 20.0%: American Vampire - 20.6%: Spirit - 22.2%: Doc Savage - 23.8%: Batman and Robin - 24.7%: Freedom Fighters - 36.7%: Batman, Inc. - 38.0%: Superboy - 41.4%: THUNDER Agents
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1-YEAR COMPARISONS + 25.4%: Scooby-Doo + 14.7%: Booster Gold + 12.6%: All-New BBB - 0.9%: Teen Titans - 1.4%: Tiny Titans - 4.6%: Detective Comics - 5.9%: Fables - 6.9%: Hellblazer - 7.5%: Northlanders - 9.2%: Jonah Hex - 10.1%: REBELS - 11.4%: GL Corps - 11.7%: Batman - 11.7%: Secret Six - 12.7%: Superman/Batman - 13.2%: DMZ - 13.4%: Sweet Tooth - 14.6%: Green Lantern - 16.1%: Batgirl - 16.8%: Power Girl - 17.3%: Unwritten - 17.5%: GC Sirens - 19.8%: Red Robin - 24.6%: Doom Patrol - 25.2%: JLA - 25.3%: House of Mystery - 28.3%: Flash - 32.2%: Batman and Robin - 35.2%: Titans - 35.3%: JSA All-Stars - 36.0%: Adventure Comics - 40.1%: American Vampire - 41.1%: Birds of Prey - 45.8%: Zatanna - 48.0%: LoSH - 51.6%: Spirit - 62.3%: Doc Savage - 68.0%: I, Zombie
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2-YEAR COMPARISONS + 48.0%: Green Arrow + 19.1%: Scooby-Doo + 5.7%: Action Comics + 3.5%: Booster Gold - 1.0%: GL Corps - 7.5%: Green Lantern - 7.6%: Superman - 11.3%: Tiny Titans - 11.4%: Jonah Hex - 13.6%: Hellblazer - 14.1%: All-New BBB - 14.9%: Birds of Prey - 17.0%: Spirit - 23.6%: Northlanders - 25.8%: REBELS - 26.8%: JLA - 27.2%: Secret Six - 27.5%: Teen Titans - 29.2%: Superman/Batman - 29.6%: Fables - 36.0%: Supergirl - 36.3%: Flash - 38.2%: Batman - 40.2%: Titans - 49.3%: JSA - 50.6%: Outsiders - 51.9%: House of Mystery - 58.6%: Unwritten - 63.6%: Power Girl
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5-YEAR COMPARISONS + 7.6%: Scooby-Doo - 4.5%: Green Lantern - 14.9%: Birds of Prey - 18.9%: All-New BBB - 19.0%: Green Arrow - 23.3%: Fables - 28.7%: Batman - 29.2%: Action Comics - 29.8%: Red Robin - 33.2%: Hellblazer - 39.8%: Detective Comics - 45.4%: Superman - 46.3%: JSA - 49.2%: LoSH - 53.0%: Jonah Hex - 61.0%: DMZ - 64.1%: Secret Six - 65.8%: Teen Titans - 71.9%: Outsiders - 74.8%: Superman/Batman - 79.2%: Supergirl
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Average Periodical Sales
(not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, Johnny DC titles and magazines)
DC COMICS 05/2006: 44,554 05/2007: 35,656 05/2008: 27,075 05/2009: 24,386 --------------- 05/2010: 27,785 (+17.0%)** 06/2010: 25,788 (- 7.2%)** 07/2010: 25,841 (+ 0.2%)** 08/2010: 23,331 (- 9.7%)** 09/2010: 23,212 (- 0.5%)** 10/2010: 23,756 (- 2.3%)** 11/2010: 25,497 (+ 7.3%)** 12/2010: 23,869 (- 6.4%)** 01/2011: 21,922 (- 8.2%)** 02/2011: 23,252 (+ 6.1%)** 03/2011: 23,976 (+ 3.1%)** 04/2011: 25,651 (+ 7.0%) 05/2011: 24,561 (- 4.3%)** ---------------- 6 months: - 3.7% 1 year : -11.6% 2 years : + 0.7% 5 years : -44.9%
DC UNIVERSE 05/2006: 59,505 05/2007: 49,161 05/2008: 35,230 05/2009: 33,163 --------------- 05/2010: 37,463 (+14.0%) 06/2010: 34,612 (- 7.6%)** 07/2010: 35,372 (+ 2.2%) 08/2010: 33,411 (- 5.5%) 09/2010: 32,042 (- 4.1%) 10/2010: 32,832 (+ 2.5%) 11/2010: 34,180 (+ 4.1%) 12/2010: 30,870 (- 9.7%) 01/2011: 24,321 (-21.2%)** 02/2011: 25,887 (+ 6.4%)** 03/2011: 26,720 (+ 3.2%)** 04/2011: 29,126 (+ 9.0%) 05/2011: 27,745 (- 4.7%)** ---------------- 6 months: -18.8% 1 year : -25.9% 2 years : -16.3% 5 years : -53.4%
VERTIGO 05/2006: 15,266 05/2007: 12,256 05/2008: 10,418 05/2009: 12,918 --------------- 05/2010: 11,756 (+ 8.7%) 06/2010: 10,995 (- 6.5% 07/2010: 9,515 (-13.5%) 08/2010: 9,094 (- 4.4%) 09/2010: 11,622 (+27.8%) 10/2010: 9,546 (-17.9%) 11/2010: 9,034 (- 5.4%) 12/2010: 11,193 (+23.9%) 01/2011: 10,145 (- 9.4%) 02/2011: 10,295 (+ 1.5%) 03/2011: 10,450 (+ 1.5%) 04/2011: 10,014 (- 4.2%) 05/2011: 10,668 (+ 6.5%) ---------------- 6 months: +18.1% 1 year : - 9.3% 2 years : -17.4% 5 years : -30.1%
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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 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.
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Marc-Oliver Frisch writes about comics at his weblog and at Comicgate. You can also follow him on Twitter.
“…and they don’t even have Brian Michael Bendis’s name on the cover.” – Hallelujah! ;)
Didn’t know that Northlanders was being cancelled, but with that and Secret Six getting the axe (or whatever other viking weapon you prefer to use in a figure of speech), plus DMZ nearing its pre-planned conclusion, DC Comics is doing its level best to take as little of my money as possible.
Ah well, hopefully The Unwritten will keep going for a while and Batwoman’s quality will live up to its creators’ potential.
I love reading your commentary, brother.
OMG, everything is cancelled! DC Comics is no more! Come on, Marc… ¬¬
“OMG, everything is cancelled! DC Comics is no more! Come on, Marc… ¬¬”
Well, aren’t they? I sure don’t see any issues of SECRET SIX or ZATANNA, among others, in the September solicitations.
Boo, hiss.
I went back and forth but ultimately decided to drop all DC titles starting with the relaunch. I was going to at least stick with the Batman and Superman lines but with Stephanie out as Batgirl and a new direction for Supergirl I just don’t feel much attachment to those books. I’m sure I’m in a very tiny minority and DC will probably pick up a fair number of new readers but for me the relaunch was the perfect jumping off point.
Amen Brother! Amen!
Wow! Only 59 titles? And the limbo titles only bring it up to approx 65. Still pretty low – I always thought they produced 80-90 a month and Marvel 90-100. That would be a great thing to include each month in both columns. It also shows how Marvel can take so much of the share each month, when their output is alot higher… which no one seems to really mention.
Yeah, those Flashpoint figure are pretty low. I thought it would easily crack 100k – its lower than Seige! – and wasn’t those figures the lowest to date? What did first and last month BN get? Did that start about 130k too? It’ll be fun to see the figures for issue 2 and all the tie ins – and if the reprint of issue 1 will at least bring it up to 100k too!
I really don’t get people decisions to stop reading because of the relaunch.
Sure some great series are ending – but more are continuing and/or starting up.
My DC buying will more than double come Sept. And DC would surely have the common sense (?!?) to add some of the consistant sellers to the second wave of titles. December maybe? I mean, they could of easily launched more than 52 titles – we all know that – my wallet is just glad they didn’t! haha…
I imagine most of the persons that are truly going to stop reading because of the relaunch have really been wanting to stop for a while but have been caught in the huge inertial flow that is comic collecting. I know in the 90s I kept buying the Superman titles probably a good 5 years after I really stopped liking the books.
Hmmm, got cut off.
Jeph Loeb taking over the main book was the kick in the pants I needed to stop–the relaunch is these readers’ kicks in the pants.
“I really don’t get people decisions to stop reading because of the relaunch.
Sure some great series are ending – but more are continuing and/or starting up. ”
Obviously some people disagree with your assessment of what makes for a great series. The only title I’m picking up out of the 52 is Batwoman, and I planned to do that since before it was even a part of this relaunch. None of the other books interest me, whether it’s because I didn’t enjoy previous work from a specific writer, the characters are ones I find uninteresting, or the book’s concept is unappealing.
Green Lantern Emerald Warriors also shifted from $3.99 to $2.99 and sales went up. I know it’s from War of the Green Lanterns, but still.
The Xombi sales are the most depressing. This book is AMAZING.
The year-on-year comparisons are brutal man.
I was picking up four DC books before the relaunch and I’ll still have four on my pull-list after it.
Really looking forward to the new Legion book by Nicieza as well as seeing Levitz continue. Can’t tell you how happy I was to hear that the LSH’s continuity is intact. It’s nice to not get screwed by a DC relaunch for once.
If my budget would allow it, I’d probably pick up a bunch of the new books. I think the relaunch is a cool idea and lots of the books look pretty interesting to me.
Gonna miss Power Girl though. That was a good comic.
I will miss ‘Secret Six’. It was a must read book for me.
Yeah i’d hold up before declaring disapointment with Flashpoint’s sales. The first issue has already sold out twice and it’s pretty clear from reports that it’s been underordered by retailers who apparently are confused about who Geoff Johns is and how well his events sell.
While it won’t be Fear Itself numbers when the reprint numbers are added in and thanks to the relaunch buzz the numbers will be right in line with something like SCW and Siege which Flashpoint is similar too. Remember it’s a Flash event a book that sells around 55k copies and has been notoriously late and cancelled this was never going to be Blackest Night.
But the main series and it’s tie-ins will do well for DC the buzz alone trumps anything Fear Itself has done and that’s 4 issues in.
Let’s all start buying two copies of Xombi.
In all seriousness it’s one of the msot amazing books in YEARS (probably since All Star Superman) – let’s do everything we can to make it stick around.
@Nick – from what you wrote it doesn’t sound like you’ve actually been reading DC titles, so your not getting them come Sept is a moot point.
DanielT sounds like he might have hit the nail on the head.
Its just that I’m curious about their thoughts behind it. Take Secret Six which is gonna be gone – the writer who made that series SO GOOD – Gail Simone – will still be writing 2 other series. Wouldn’t you give those a try? at least? Thats what I don’t understand. The fact that alot of the same writers and artists are here after the reboot should make you want to stay if you already like them.
And are they only saying they are stopping till they check em out on the racks, or read reviews? will they stop reading DC stories on internet sites because they will have no interest in the titles? Or come on and say – I used to read DC ….etc.
James said:
“Yeah, those Flashpoint figure are pretty low. I thought it would easily crack 100k – its lower than Seige! – and wasn’t those figures the lowest to date? What did first and last month BN get? Did that start about 130k too? It’ll be fun to see the figures for issue 2 and all the tie ins – and if the reprint of issue 1 will at least bring it up to 100k too!”
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I think that some people were kind of turned off by the alternate reality angle of Flashpoint. Also, consider that the Flash title was shipping late and probably not selling as well as DC expected. On the Marvel side had I known that Fear Itself was going to be very Thor-centric I probably would have passed on it. I really did not enjoy Matt Fraction on Thor and so far Fear Itself has been very underwhelming.
James said:
“I really don’t get people decisions to stop reading because of the relaunch.
Sure some great series are ending – but more are continuing and/or starting up.”
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I decided to drop DC for three reasons:
1) of the books I had been buying I really wasn’t enjoying too many of them. I was probably reading what I felt were the 35 “core” books and less than half of them were books that I was anxious to read.
2) Almost all of my favourite books are either disappearing (Secret Six, Power Girl, Zatanna) or being altered radically (Batgirl, Supergirl).
3) I was not enticed at all by the solicitations for any of the new books. There were some creators that I enjoy but they were on books that feature characters that I don’t like. The characters I do like mostly had creators that I do not.
I did second guess myself a bit after I put in my pre-order for September but after seeing exactly how much money I was spending on DC books and how little enjoyment I was getting out of them it was easy to drop them altogether.
I have also taken a hard look at my Marvel pulls and have been steadily dropping books. The $3.99 price tag in combination with Marvel double shipping many books has forced me to make some deep cuts. For example, Black Panther and Hulk are the latest casualties.
James said:
“Its just that I’m curious about their thoughts behind it. Take Secret Six which is gonna be gone – the writer who made that series SO GOOD – Gail Simone – will still be writing 2 other series. Wouldn’t you give those a try? at least? Thats what I don’t understand. The fact that alot of the same writers and artists are here after the reboot should make you want to stay if you already like them.”
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I may be in the minority here but I tend to follow characters over creators. If there’s a character that I love the writing/art has to be extremely bad for me to drop it. For example, I managed to ride out the Matt Fraction run on Uncanny X-Men.
Don’t be so sure all the books are actually cancelled.
DC Online Legends at this point LOOKS like its just taking Sept off to let all the focus be on the new 52 books. Same with Thunder Agents since Didio said at one of the retailer meetings the book would be back and Spencer is still on it.
Its also possible there may still be another issue of both Doc Savage and Spirit coming since J.G. Jones arc was originally set at 6 issues and he said DC was going to publish all of it.
So we’ll see what’s really gone with the solicits that come out after SDCC.
Hey Blair – I do the same thing, and I think a lot of us do that. I won’t automatically buy a Batman or a Superman book, depending on the creators, but I am almost certainly not going to buy a Booster Gold or a Green Lantern book, I don’t care who’s writing or drawing it.
I like Batman and Superman. I like their traditional backstories, their usual core cast of characters, and I have nostalgic memories of being a kid in the 1980s watching old Superman and Batman movies and tv shows. Plus my dad was into Batman. So I gravitate towards them.
Nothing in this relaunch interests me, but to be honest, I haven’t been a regular buyer of DC comics for a good seven or eight years.
I still think Flash Point will pick up because I don’t think people realized how much of an impact it was going to have. I didn’t. I just assumed everything would go back to normal till I heard of the relaunch.
On the other hand, since the books are ending, I’ve stopped buying the extra fun issues I would pick up…like Red Robin and Gotham Sirens because why bother. They’re ending.
“Obviously some people disagree with your assessment of what makes for a great series.”
—wouldn’t it help to READ the new books before deciding that? carrying on over books that are not yet published is childish.
stamp your feet!!! hold your breath!!
Is it just me or is Wonder Woman not included in this list?
“The Xombi sales are the most depressing. This book is AMAZING.”
I wholeheartedly agree! Great writing, great characters, great art! So of course, it’s already been cancelled. Dan Didio is going around now telling everyone it was only a planned 6 issue mini series from the start. Right, Dan, right. I know that’s what Marvel originally had planned with Warren Ellis’ Druid “mini-series”, too. ;)
Blair (and those with similar feelings), I hope that all of the extra money you’re saving on (sight unseen) not buying any of the DC relaunch titles, you spend on some of the amazing non-Marvel/DC comics being published.
Titles like Atomic Robo, Skullkickers, Moriarity, Elric, Walking Dead, Terry Moore’s upcoming Rachel Rising, Hellboy, Invincible, Chew, Morning Glories, Witchdoctor, Locke & Key, Usagi Yojimbo, and on and on.
For Spike (and those who feel like you), All of those “extra fun” books you’re dropping prematurely will still be fun issues, and all of DC’s titles with ongoing storylines will be able to actually finish them before the relaunch. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face! (or throw out the baby with the bathwater, whichever you prefer!)
I suggest 2 rules for buying comics:
1. Read everything that you buy.
2. Buy only what you like.
If the relaunch is making you look at your list with a critical eye, and you realize it’s time to trim some fat, then that’s a good thing. It’s also an opportunity to find things that you might like even more.
The better comic stores will have people ready and able to help you find some new things that will fit your tastes. Ask them!
Re: September as jumping-off point…
I agree many of those who say they’re quitting are doing so because they were unhappy with the books already.
I think many of the others are doing so because maybe the one or four things they really, really liked are going away (Like, I don’t know, the Stephanie Brown-as-Batgirl-with-Oracle-as-mentor set-up of Batgirl, or the Dick Grayson/Damian team in Batman and Robin, or the way Gail Simone writes Ragdoll or Black Canary or whatever.
Personally, I’m interested in quite a few of the new books, but this seems like an IDEAL time–like, there will never, ever, ever be a better time–to switch to trades.
Basically though, DC is providing a nice, clean point for anyone thinking of stopping reading their books for any reason to do so, which is a side effect of trying to provide a nice, clean point for anyone thinking of starting reading their books to do so too.
I am SO hoping that Xombi makes it into the second wave of DC relaunches. It was my favorite Milestone book the first time around, and the new series was a breath of fresh air.
Seems like DC is letting the Vertigo line die on the vine.
Which is a shame because I’ve sold dozens of Northlanders vol.1, DMZ vol. 1 and Scalped, Unwriiten, Sweet Tooth, etc. and all of my customers who want great, well written non super-hero comics kept coming back for Volumes 2, 3, etc.
Why are the big 2 afaraid of having an original GN line where you have titles come out 3-4 times a year and have long shelf life for continued purchasing?
It’ll be better than this monthly collecting mentality.
@Spike: I agree that when FLASHPOINT was launched, people didn’t know why it was supposed to be important. But it seems to me that most of the attention has been on the relaunch itself, rather than the miniseries that leads into it. After all, isn’t the series effectively self-cancelling? How CAN it have any lasting impact beyond the bare fact of triggering a reboot, or possibly introducing a new character?
I, too, lament the fact that Simone’s Secret Six is not continuing in the relaunch.
I’m going to try “Suicide Squad”, but it’s going to have to be as good to continue on with it.
As far as the relaunch goes, I determined that even with series I currently get being cancelled (6, JSA, Zatanna, etc…), I will be getting 4 more DC books that I am now come September.
(Or at least *trying* 4 more books come September — how many of them stick will depend on how good they are…)
Caleb is 100 percent right. DC is basically saying “stop buying the monthly issues and either go digital or TPB.” Which is probably a solid idea anyways.
“@Nick – from what you wrote it doesn’t sound like you’ve actually been reading DC titles, so your not getting them come Sept is a moot point.”
That would be true if part of DC’s goal wasn’t to recover “lapsed readers,” which is something they have explicitly said that they’re trying to do.
“—wouldn’t it help to READ the new books before deciding that? carrying on over books that are not yet published is childish.
stamp your feet!!! hold your breath!!”
Just like any other form of media I could spend my money on, I’m evaluating whether I’d be interested in these comics based on past experience with the creators, characters, and concepts. That’s entirely in contrast to what a child would do, which is grab every new and shiny thing they see without really thinking about whether they’ll actually enjoy it.
@Brooklyn: What makes you think that “DC is letting the Vertigo line die on the vine”? Even after DMZ and Northlanders have finished, there will still be at least 8 ongoing titles, probably 9 if Spaceman has started by then. This number is a bit smaller than it was in the last few years, but still more than there was during most of Vertigo’s history.
Also keep in mind that Vertigo is now almost exclusively made up of creator-owned books, since a lot of concepts that were traditionally part of Vertigo are now part of the DCU again. Personally, I’m very excited about many of the DC Dark titles, and optimistic that they will be better than Xombi, which reads like a boring, watered-down version of a Vertigo book.
As for OGNs, Vertigo has been publishing lots of them in the last year (far more than the 3-4 times a year you request). Apparently, they sold rather poorly.
That raises questions about how DC will go about attracting new readers. Prose books are hawked mostly on the basis of the best-selling authors they’re by — and genre authors generally stay within their chosen genres. If comics creators are unknowns to non-readers and the characters are unknowns or associated with material for minors, what will DC advertise?
SRS
Normally I really enjoy reading these articles every month (or so), but the obvious hate for the relaunch in EVERY SINGLE COMMENTARY makes this unreadable. Very disappointed in the level of hate, might read the September DC column, but I’m done if it’s as negative as this one.
Why issue single comic books when the graphic novel collections sell?
1) Some people will buy the single issues but not the graphic novel. $/$
2) Some people will buy both. $+$
3) Sales of the non-returnable comic books will subsidize the cost of production of the GN, reducing the PNL risks of the graphic novel.
4) Critical reaction to the single issues will help the publisher gauge interest in the GN.
5) If the singles don’t sell, the GN, priced even higher, will sell even worse.
6) With a monthly schedule, creators can be encouraged to produce, whereas with a distant deadline, some professionals might lose track of time.
“Normally I really enjoy reading these articles every month (or so), but the obvious hate for the relaunch in EVERY SINGLE COMMENTARY makes this unreadable.”
Somebody needs a change in perspective, instead of being pandered to by the corporation. I found most of the comments spot on and realistic.
“—wouldn’t it help to READ the new books before deciding that?”
No, because that is the Pavlovian masturbatory response that the corporation expects you to buy into.
I want to add that after an initial dismissive attitude towards the relaunch I’ve come to think it’s probably a good idea. How effective it will be is a different question. I haven’t bought a DCU title in…a year? two maybe?…but I’ll definitely be getting Action and maybe JL Dark. Possibly Batman and Animal Man if I hear good things. OMAC if the art is great enough to overcome what will almost certainly be bad writing. So I guess the relaunch is only batting a potential .096 with me, but that’s better than the .000 it was before.
@Paul, well, if the Flashpoint stories were good, they’d have the impact of being a legacy to live up to. Cancellation or no.
DanielT, they’ve put out a couple of pages from OMAC so far:
http://insidepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Omac-1-interior-Keith-Giffen-2011-e1308871841846.jpg
I gotta say (I’m gonna get killed here for this) I’ve never been a Kirby fan, and while I used to love Keith, his stuff doesn’t blow me away much anymore; but this book has me excited! I just love the art I’ve seen so far, and the electric blue mohawk is crazy! I sorta hope they just go nuts on this book!
Thanks for the link, but I’ve been deliberately avoiding preview art for OMAC–I want to see it “live” on the page.
Here’s a thought – Don’t buy any of them at the start. Wait a few months and then go digital on the ones that sound promising.
@ Brian Jacoby
I’m already buying four of those books that you recommended but maybe I’ll try a few of the others in trade form with some of the extra cash I will have. Ultimately I am using the DC relaunch as a reason to get my budget under control. I’ve been overdue for some belt tightening and this is the perfect time to do so.
I completely agree with what you said about reading every book (I always do except for some of the handbooks) and buying what you enjoy. I was probably enjoying roughly 1/4 of the DC books I was buying so the relaunch seemed like a good time to drop the other 3/4. Unfortunately it looks like DC are cancelling or changing the books I was enjoying and the solicitations for the new books don’t really grab me. If the buzz for any of them is especially good I can always pick them up later.
I’m surprised Secret Six isn’t surviving the relaunch. They do seem ripe for one.
I have to join the camp of people who are generally quitting DC books come the relaunch for many of the reasons already stated.
For some, it is a convenient point to jump off books that jumped the shark. This applies to such things as Green Lantern, the Flash and really Geoff Johns in general.
For others, it is because they are cancelling or radically changing books I love. For instance, Batgirl, not only are they dropping one of my all time favorite characters from the title (maybe the universe) but they are also dropping one of my favorite writers (I adore Bryan Q. Miller on Batgirl).
Of the new books the only ones I intend to get are JLI, because I like Jurgens, I liked Gen Lost and I like Booster Gold; Catwoman, because I like the character and Judd Winick has been a consistently good writer for the past few years; Blue Beetle, because any book with Jaime and which basically retains the original appearance of a character deserves my support, at least for a trial; Batwoman, mostly JH Williams love and im willing to give it a shot.
Thats about it. I might get the new Hex book, or Snyder’s batman. Now that it looks like there are no pants on Wonder Woman I may consider getting it if the reviews are good.
The rest due to the solicits, ideas, creators or characters I have no interest in. Also the appearance redesigns alone are enough to wave me off some titles. Like Teen Titans and Secret Six.
In contrast, those books I listed as my total september books basically equals my normal weekly pull list from DC.
I agree with Blair. I follow characters, not creators. Therefore when the continuity or base structure of characters gets screwed with, I bow out. I buy 8 DC titles right now, come September I’ll be buying zero.
Consider this: I’m a HUGE Firestorm fan. You’d think I’d be jazzed that he’s getting his own book again, right? With Gail Simone involved no less, since I’ve been a Secret Six fan since forever. Wrong. Screwing with Firestorm’s origin and “reimagining” the character has caused me to drop DC.
Don’t care much for the DCU, although I’m really glad the rumours of returning Hellblazer to the DCU (and effectively cancelling or relaunching the title) turned out to be false.
Sad to see Swamp Thing will be launched as a DCU book though, as it’s more at home as a Vertigo title ever since Alan Moore’s run. Even though the previous relaunch was pretty terrible.
The Northlanders news is quite saddening. And IIRC not only DMZ but also Scalped will end its run pretty soon. And with Fables currently in somewhat of a dry spell the Vertigo line really is starting to look somewhat bleaker.
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