DC COMICS MONTH-TO-MONTH SALES: OCTOBER 2006

by Marc-Oliver Frisch

A whole range of upper- and mid-level sellers in DC Comics’ mainstream superhero line line were missing in October: New issues of All-Star Batman, Justice League of America, Batman, Teen Titans, Supergirl, Superman, Blue Beetle and Aquaman were scheduled for an October release but failed to ship, while Superman/Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern were on hiatus. For the third consecutive month, the entire set of the weekly “event” title 52 made the Top 10, meanwhile. Grant Morrison and Jim Lee’s Wildcats #1 made its debut after a six-week delay, accompanied by the relaunches of The Authority, Gen13 and Deathblow. And co-writers Geoff Johns and Richard Donner and artist Adam Kubert took over Action Comics.

Other notable October releases from DC Comics: the introduction of a new creative team in Nightwing #125; the debuts of Tales of the Unexpected, The Omega Men, Vertigo’s Vietnam War story The Other Side and WildStorm’s horror film adaptation Nightmare on Elm Street; the first Superman/Batman Annual; the return of Warren Ellis’ Desolation Jones with a new artist; the long-awaited conclusions to both Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers and Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s Planetary; and, as a footnote, the original Vertigo hardcover Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, which led the “Graphic Novel” chart with better sales than most of Vertigo’s monthly titles can manage right now.

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.

2/3/4/6 - 52

05/2006: 52 Week 1  -- 140,971          [143,611]

05/2006: 52 Week 2  -- 128,393 (- 8.9%) [130,704]

05/2006: 52 Week 3  -- 123,982 (- 3.4%) [126,913]

05/2006: 52 Week 4  -- 121,440 (- 2.1%) [125,297]

06/2006: 52 Week 5  -- 111,895 (- 7.9%) 

06/2006: 52 Week 6  -- 110,028 (- 1.7%) [111,732]

06/2006: 52 Week 7  -- 110,188 (+ 0.2%) [112,618]

06/2006: 52 Week 8  -- 105,107 (- 4.6%) [108,775]

07/2006: 52 Week 9  -- 102,142 (- 2.8%)

07/2006: 52 Week 10 -- 100,779 (- 1.3%)

07/2006: 52 Week 11 -- 122,016 (+21.1%) [123,724]

07/2006: 52 Week 12 --  98,667 (-19.1%) [102,362]

08/2006: 52 Week 13 -- 119,507 (+21.1%)

08/2006: 52 Week 14 -- 118,259 (- 1.4%)

08/2006: 52 Week 15 -- 119,411 (+ 1.0%)

08/2006: 52 Week 16 -- 117,472 (- 1.6%) [118,624]

08/2006: 52 Week 17 -- 116,637 (- 0.7%) [118,775]

09/2006: 52 Week 18 -- 111,830 (- 4.1%)

09/2006: 52 Week 19 -- 111,611 (- 0.2%)

09/2006: 52 Week 20 -- 111,099 (- 0.5%)

09/2006: 52 Week 21 -- 110,350 (- 0.7%) [111,986]

10/2006: 52 Week 22 -- 108,624 (- 1.6%)

10/2006: 52 Week 23 -- 107,962 (- 0.6%)

10/2006: 52 Week 24 -- 107,413 (- 0.5%)

10/2006: 52 Week 25 -- 106,332 (- 1.0%)

The weekly assembly line “event” series continues to be a tremendous success. 52 so far in numbers: five months, 25 issues, and an estimated total of 2,871,985 copies sold in the North American direct market. Reportedly, a weekly follow-up series is already in the pipeline, so it seems that DC are viewing the book’s frequency as a major factor in its success.

8 - JUSTICE
10/2005: Justice #2  of 12 -- 125,115 (-34.3%) [143,781]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Justice #3  of 12 -- 113,369 (- 9.4%) [120,943]
01/2006: --
02/2006: Justice #4  of 12 -- 110,488 (- 2.5%) [125,006]
03/2006: --
04/2006: Justice #5  of 12 -- 110,157 (- 0.3%) [126,706]
05/2006: --
06/2006: Justice #6  of 12 -- 110,188 (+ 0.0%)
07/2006: --
08/2006: Justice #7  of 12 -- 106,866 (- 3.0%) [108,821]
09/2006: --
10/2006: Justice #8  of 12 -- 103,829 (- 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.8%
1 year  : -17.0%

Sales of the bi-monthly limited series are gently declining, but remain perfectly good.

14 - WILDCATS (WildStorm)
10/2003: Wildcats 3.0 #15 -- 14,445
10/2004: --
----------------------------------
10/2005: Nemesis #2 of 9 -- 16,829 (- 14.4%)
11/2005: Nemesis #3 of 9 -- 16,154 (-  4.0%)
12/2005: Nemesis #4 of 9 -- 15,428 (-  4.5%)
01/2006: Nemesis #5 of 9 -- 14,983 (-  2.9%)
02/2006: Nemesis #6 of 9 -- 14,572 (-  2.7%)
03/2006: Nemesis #7 of 9 -- 14,533 (-  0.3%)
04/2006: Nemesis #8 of 9 -- 14,410 (-  0.9%)
05/2006: Nemesis #9 of 9 -- 14,123 (-  2.0%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: --
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Wildcats #1     -- 82,528 (+484.4%)
-----------------
6 months: +472.7%
1 year  : +390.4%
2 years :  n.a.

The relaunch of the WildStorm Universe flagship title by the creative team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Jim Lee finally showed up on October 18, having missed its initial shipping date on September 6. It’s the highest-selling WildStorm issue by a wide margin since ICv2.com launched their current system of estimates back in March 2003, and probably then some. (So far, the record was held by The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 2 #6 from September 2003, which sold an estimated 56,948 units in its first month.)

That the resulting boost to Wildcats sales is enormous compared to the book’s other recent incarnations doesn’t come as a great surprise. Morrison and Lee’s “superstar” status in the industry aside, the creators and the publisher made it plain that the new title was going to take its cue from the book’s colorful and commercially highly successful early-nineties roots as WildC.A.T.s rather than from the more experimental tone of Wildcats Volume 2 and Wildcats Version 3.0. The intention behind the revamp, evidently, is to pull out all the stops and restore the flagging WildStorm line to commercial health.

While sales in excess of 80K are certainly a solid foundation to that end, it should be pointed out that a limited variant edition scheme was attached to Wildcats #1, so as to motivate retailers to order the book more generously than they might have done otherwise. This practice can currently be relied upon to yield higher numbers early on, but it usually also means that the sales of subsequent issues — no matter if supported by further variant cover editions or not — decline all the more sharply. Wetworks, for instance, which debuted last month and was supported with the same gimmick, saw a rather drastic second-issue drop in October (see below).

Further, it’s emphatically unclear at present whether Wildcats will come out with any regularity. Morrison, who is one of the architects of the logistically daunting weekly title 52, recently had some trouble finishing Seven Soldiers, resulting in a six-month delay for the final issue. And Lee is already hopelessly and embarrassingly behind on his other current assignment, All-Star Batman, the most recent issue of which shipped in May 2006. Wildcats #2, initially scheduled for November 2006, was recently resolicited for a March 2007 release. Now, according to Lee, that’s merely a hypothetical date resulting from Diamond’s solicitation deadlines, which allowed for no earlier placement: The book will actually come out earlier than that, Lee says. But, really, I’m not tempted to hold my breath.

Wildcats is off to a strong start, but there’s ample reason to be skeptical about its future.

15 - SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL
10/2006: Superman/Batman Annual #1 -- 81,928

The mother title, Superman/Batman, still fails to come out monthly, despite the recent creative team changes, so DC did the reasonable thing and scheduled a break for October.

Superman/Batman Annual #1, by writer Joe Kelly and artists Ed McGuinness and Ryan Ottley, is here to pick up the slack, meanwhile, and ends up selling about 9,000 units less than the most recent issue of the mother title. Given that it’s a filler story not produced by the book’s regular creators, that’s a very good number.

19 - ACTION COMICS
10/2003: Action Comics #808 -- 30,978
10/2004: Action Comics #820 -- 41,114
-------------------------------------
10/2005: Action Comics #832 -- 47,968 (-13.2%)
11/2005: Action Comics #833 -- 44,613 (- 7.0%)
12/2005: Action Comics #834 -- 42,425 (- 4.9%)
01/2006: Action Comics #835 -- 41,114 (- 3.1%)
02/2006: Action Comics #836 -- 51,722 (+25.8%) [55,331]
03/2006: Action Comics #837 -- 55,816 (+ 7.9%) [69,652]
04/2006: --
05/2006: Action Comics #838 -- 62,702 (+12.3%)
05/2006: Action Comics #839 -- 61,898 (- 1.3%) [64,278]
06/2006: Action Comics #840 -- 61,786 (- 0.2%) [63,676]
07/2006: Action Comics #841 -- 58,657 (- 5.1%)
08/2006: Action Comics #842 -- 57,964 (- 1.2%)
09/2006: Action Comics #843 -- 56,084 (- 3.2%)
10/2006: Action Comics #844 -- 78,869 (+40.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +64.4%
2 years : +91.8%

The widely publicized debut of the high-profile creative team of writers Geoff Johns and Richard Donner and artist Adam Kubert results in a solid increase, but falls somewhat short of expectations. In fairness, it’s worth mentioning that Action Comics #844 didn’t come with any additional sales-boosting gimmicks.

Quite possibly, the underwhelming response may be due to the fact that DC, in a rather puzzling move, didn’t release any information on the issue’s creators or content until some time after the solicitations for their other October-shipping titles were sent out. Initially, retailers had to place their orders based on a placeholder reassuring them that more details on Action Comics #844 would be made available in due time. Consequently, the currently available numbers may still represent the cautious reaction to the incomplete initial solicitation information.

For what it’s worth, DC recently announced a second printing, complete with a newly colored cover and a variant edition scheme. While these “sell-out” notifications rarely say anything more meaningful than that the company simply didn’t print more copies than were ordered in the first place, I’m inclined to give it a little more credit in this case. Either way, we’re going to find out in the next couple of months.

23 - DETECTIVE COMICS
10/2003: Detective Comics #787 -- 37,878
10/2004: Detective Comics #799 -- 48,228
----------------------------------------
10/2005: Detective Comics #812 -- 39,270 (+ 1.3%)
11/2005: Detective Comics #813 -- 38,338 (- 2.4%)
12/2005: Detective Comics #814 -- 37,145 (- 3.1%)
01/2006: Detective Comics #815 -- 35,569 (- 4.2%)
02/2006: Detective Comics #816 -- 35,410 (- 0.5%)
03/2006: Detective Comics #817 -- 62,245 (+75.8%) [70,241]
04/2006: Detective Comics #818 -- 60,440 (- 2.9%) [68,189]
05/2006: Detective Comics #819 -- 65,800 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Detective Comics #820 -- 65,988 (+ 0.3%)
07/2006: Detective Comics #821 -- 67,345 (+ 2.1%)
08/2006: Detective Comics #822 -- 66,372 (- 1.5%)
09/2006: Detective Comics #823 -- 64,215 (- 3.3%)
10/2006: Detective Comics #824 -- 62,431 (- 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.3%
1 year  : +59.0%
2 years : +29.5%

The numbers are still slowly declining, but remain considerably above the level Detective Comics sold at prior to March’s “One Year Later” stunt. There’s no reason to be unhappy with the book’s sales.

24 - FLASH: THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE
10/2003: Flash #203     --  35,467
10/2004: Flash #215     --  44,024
----------------------------------
10/2005: Flash #227     --  46,666 (+  3.1%)
11/2005: Flash #228     --  45,861 (-  1.7%)
12/2005: Flash #229     --  41,459 (-  9.6%)
01/2006: Flash #230     --  40,571 (-  2.1%) [42,392]
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Flash: FMA #1  -- 120,404 (+196.8%) [126,741]
07/2006: Flash: FMA #2  --  77,487 (- 35.6%) [ 82,501]
08/2006: Flash: FMA #3  --  70,633 (-  8.9%) [ 72,067]
09/2006: Flash: FMA #4  --  66,663 (-  5.6%)
10/2006: Flash: FMA #5  --  61,576 (-  7.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : +32.0%
2 years : +39.9%

Flash keeps shedding units at an alarming rate, and online reactions to the book seem mixed at best. The current writers will be replaced in February’s issue #9, so DC probably concur. At this stage, though, it’s quite possible that the sales boost from June’s relaunch will have largely disappeared by then.

27 - THE AUTHORITY (WildStorm)
10/2003: Authority Vol. 2 #6  -- 27,415
10/2004: Revolution #1  of 12 -- 26,527
10/2005: Revolution #12 of 12 -- 18,256
---------------------------------------
10/2006: The Authority #1     -- 58,136 (+218.5%)
-----------------
1 year  : +218.5%
2 years : +119.2%

Writer Grant Morrison and artist Gene Ha are in charge of the latest attempt to relaunch The Authority. While the book easily outsells The Authority: Revolution, however, a comparison with The Authority Vol. 2 #1 from May 2003 looks rather more depressing: Back then, writer Robbie Morrison and artist Dwayne Turner managed to shift an estimated 44,351 units — and without the benefit of variant editions or line-wide revamps, mind you.

Now, 58,136 is more than that, obviously. But considering that the current creative team are plainly in a different league in terms of their popularity and the fact that two variant cover editions of the new issue #1 were made available to retailers who ordered a certain quantity of copies of the standard edition (ten were required for an edition with a “standard” variant cover, 50 for one with a “sketch” cover), it doesn’t seem like such a great achievement all of a sudden. The commercial failure of the book’s two previous volumes strongly suggested that the concept is way past its prime, and the latest numbers don’t really dispel the notion.

In addition to the disparaging sales drops new titles boosted with gimmicks such as variant covers tend to suffer from, the first issue of The Authority has received mixed reviews for Morrison’s experimental take. So, all told, this is another new WildStorm title with decent initial sales, but dubious prospects.

34 - GEN13 (WildStorm)
10/2003: Gen13 #14 -- 13,584
10/2004: -- 
----------------------------
10/2006: Gen13 #1  -- 47,535

Enter another new attempt to sell an old WildStorm property, this time by writer Gail Simone and artist Talent Caldwell.

It’s a very good start, compared with the previous volume. But, once again, the now familiar disclaimers regarding mixed reception and the implications of variant cover schemes apply.

37 - GREEN LANTERN CORPS
10/2005: GLC: Recharge #2 of 5   -- 68,925 (-14.6%) [71,414]
11/2005: --
12/2005: GLC: Recharge #3 of 5   -- 64,490 (- 6.4%) [65,669]
01/2006: GLC: Recharge #4 of 5   -- 59,952 (- 7.0%) [61,540]
02/2006: --
03/2006: GLC: Recharge #5 of 5   -- 60,123 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: --
06/2006: Green Lantern Corps #1  -- 76,686 (+27.6%)
07/2006: Green Lantern Corps #2  -- 56,886 (-25.8%)
08/2006: Green Lantern Corps #3  -- 51,485 (- 9.5%)
09/2006: Green Lantern Corps #4  -- 46,619 (- 9.5%)
10/2006: Green Lantern Corps #5  -- 43,546 (- 6.6%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  : -36.8%

Writer Dave Gibbons stepped in and provided the artwork as well for issue #5, but sales keep declining at an unhealthy pace.

39 - SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
10/2003: Legion #25           -- 27,954
10/2004: --
---------------------------------------
10/2005: Legion of SH #11     -- 34,113 (-  2.1%)
11/2005: Legion of SH #12     -- 33,541 (-  1.7%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Legion of SH #13     -- 32,730 (-  2.4%)
02/2006: Legion of SH #14     -- 32,513 (-  0.7%)
02/2006: Legion of SH #15     -- 31,649 (-  2.7%)
03/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #16 -- 47,426 (+ 49.9%) [54,788]
04/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #17 -- 44,827 (-  5.5%) [47,724]
05/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #18 -- 45,520 (+  1.6%)
06/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #19 -- 43,918 (-  3.5%)
07/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #20 -- 41,679 (-  5.1%)
08/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #21 -- 39,852 (-  4.4%)
09/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #22 -- 36,735 (-  7.8%)
10/2006: Supergirl & LoSH #23 -- 41,554 (+ 13.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.3%
1 year  : +21.8%
2 years :  n.a.

The sudden increase is due to a variant cover edition, one copy of which could be ordered by retailers for, you guessed it, every ten copies of the standard comic. It’s a nice increase, certainly, but it’s unlikely to have any beneficial effects on the performance of subsequent issues.

40 - SEVEN SOLDIERS
02/2005: Seven Soldiers #0 -- 53,217
------------------------------------
10/2006: Seven Soldiers #1 -- 41,354 (-22.3%)

Originally scheduled for April, the conclusion to Grant Morrison’s 30-issue crossover project finally appeared in October. Given that 15 months have passed since issue #0, this is a respectable number. The seven individual limited series sold between 43,647 (Seven Soldiers: Zatanna #1) and 27,873 (Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #4) units, for the sake of comparison.

44 - ION
04/2006: Ion #1  of 12 -- 66,453          [74,727]
05/2006: Ion #2  of 12 -- 55,532 (-16.4%) [57,415]
06/2006: Ion #3  of 12 -- 51,739 (- 6.8%)
07/2006: Ion #4  of 12 -- 49,981 (- 3.4%)
08/2006: Ion #5  of 12 -- 45,764 (- 8.4%)
09/2006: Ion #6  of 12 -- 41,832 (- 8.6%)
10/2006: Ion #7  of 12 -- 38,795 (- 7.3%)
----------------
6 months: -41.6%

The numbers are still declining too fast for comfort.

45 - NIGHTWING
10/2003: Nightwing #86  -- 29,579
10/2004: Nightwing #98  -- 43,618 
---------------------------------
10/2005: Nightwing #113 -- 39,837 (+ 9.9%)
11/2005: Nightwing #114 -- 36,421 (- 8.6%)
12/2005: Nightwing #115 -- 35,674 (- 2.1%)
01/2006: Nightwing #116 -- 35,113 (- 1.6%) [37,851]
02/2006: Nightwing #117 -- 35,489 (+ 1.1%)
03/2006: Nightwing #118 -- 42,525 (+19.8%) [51,775]
04/2006: Nightwing #119 -- 46,336 (+ 9.0%)
05/2006: Nightwing #120 -- 46,076 (- 0.6%)
06/2006: Nightwing #121 -- 44,974 (- 2.4%)
07/2006: Nightwing #122 -- 42,542 (- 5.4%)
08/2006: Nightwing #123 -- 40,111 (- 5.7%)
09/2006: Nightwing #124 -- 38,251 (- 4.6%)
10/2006: Nightwing #125 -- 38,470 (+ 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: -17.0%
1 year  : - 3.4%
2 years : -11.8%

Writer Marv Wolfman and artist Dan Jurgens take over, but all they manage is to arrest the book’s decline for the time being. It doesn’t look like retailers had a great deal of confidence in the creative team change.

46 - TRIALS OF SHAZAM
08/2006: Trials of Shazam #1  of 12 -- 50,621          [53,471]
09/2006: Trials of Shazam #2  of 12 -- 41,156 (-18.7%) [43,853]
10/2006: Trials of Shazam #3  of 12 -- 38,395 (- 6.7%)

Sales are bottoming out alright, and issue #2 sold another 2,697 units in October. In contrast to the five other titles promoted in DC’s low-priced 80-page one-shot DCU: Brave New World, Trials of Shazam is performing decently so far.

47 - OUTSIDERS
10/2003: Outsiders #5  -- 48,900 
10/2004: Outsiders #17 -- 41,814
--------------------------------
10/2005: Outsiders #29 -- 47,611 (+ 7.7%)
11/2005: Outsiders #30 -- 44,682 (- 6.2%)
12/2005: Outsiders #31 -- 46,555 (+ 4.2%)
01/2006: Outsiders #32 -- 44,027 (- 5.4%)
02/2006: Outsiders #33 -- 43,270 (- 1.7%)
03/2006: Outsiders #34 -- 47,286 (+ 9.3%) [51,527]
04/2006: Outsiders #35 -- 45,774 (- 3.2%)
05/2006: Outsiders #36 -- 45,705 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: Outsiders #37 -- 44,109 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Outsiders #38 -- 41,974 (- 4.8%)
08/2006: Outsiders #39 -- 40,524 (- 3.5%)
09/2006: Outsiders #40 -- 38,626 (- 4.7%)
10/2006: Outsiders #41 -- 36,672 (- 5.1%)
----------------
6 months: -19.9%
1 year  : -23.0%
2 years : -12.3%

The book’s sales decline accelerates. Over the last several months, something seems to be going horribly wrong with Outsiders. The book used to be one of DC’s most consistent performers since its launch in 2003, but now it has shedded almost 10,000 units in a period of six months.

48 - SECRET SIX
05/2006: Secret Six #1 of 6 -- 54,961          [57,425]
06/2006: --
07/2006: Secret Six #2 of 6 -- 47,346 (-13.9%)
08/2006: Secret Six #3 of 6 -- 44,507 (- 6.0%)
09/2006: Secret Six #4 of 6 -- 40,782 (- 8.4%)
10/2006: Secret Six #5 of 6 -- 36,628 (-10.2%)

Another title declining at a worrying rate. Secret Six started out with promising numbers, but it seems to have dropped off the radar since.

49 - TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
10/2006: Tales of the Unexpected #1 of 8 -- 35,486

This is a weird one. Nominally, Tales of the Unexpected is the revamp of an old 1950s mystery/fantasy title. What it boils down to in practice, though, is a Spectre limited series by the unlikely creative team of writer David Lapham and artist Eric Battle, following up on Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre and starring a character from Gotham Central.

The justification for reusing the old title comes from the back-up stories by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang, which feature forgotten concepts from DC’s repertoire with names like Genius Jones, Primate Patrol or Tracie 13.

It’s an odd package, but it’s doing quite well so far, even if another variant cover edition scheme is likely to have distorted the numbers.

51 - DEATHBLOW
10/2006: Deathblow #1  -- 34,056

The final new WildStorm Universe launch for October comes from writer Brian Azzarello and artist Carlos D’Anda. Deathblow‘s is the lowest-selling of the “WorldStorm” debuts so far, but then again, it’s Deathblow, so that doesn’t come as a great surprise.

Like the other new WildStorm Universe titles, the book is being supported with variant cover edition schemes which inflate its numbers. On balance, it appears to be doing perfectly fine at this stage, but you know the drill: We’ll find out whether these sales give a realistic impression of the market’s interest in the book soon enough.

55 - ROBIN
10/2003: Robin #119 -- 22,130
10/2004: Robin #131 -- 44,570  
-----------------------------
10/2005: Robin #143 -- 34,141 (+18.5%)
11/2005: Robin #144 -- 32,314 (- 5.4%)
12/2005: Robin #145 -- 28,532 (-11.7%)
01/2006: Robin #146 -- 29,499 (+ 3.4%) [31,851]
02/2006: Robin #147 -- 32,120 (+ 8.9%)
03/2006: Robin #148 -- 36,717 (+14.3%) [42,442]
04/2006: Robin #149 -- 37,173 (+ 1.2%)
05/2006: Robin #150 -- 41,417 (+11.4%)
06/2006: Robin #151 -- 38,921 (- 6.0%)
07/2006: Robin #152 -- 37,466 (- 3.7%)
08/2006: Robin #153 -- 36,608 (- 2.3%)
09/2006: Robin #154 -- 34,387 (- 6.1%)
10/2006: Robin #155 -- 32,951 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -11.4%
1 year  : - 3.5%
2 years : -26.1%

Sales keep declining and are now back where they were prior to March’s “One Year Later” issue.

In fairness, Robin numbers have been very erratic over the last three years due to a deluge of stunts and crossovers, and the book is still well within its usual range.

56 - GREEN ARROW
10/2003: Green Arrow #31 -- 39,525
10/2004: Green Arrow #43 -- 32,133
----------------------------------
10/2005: Green Arrow #55 -- 32,804 (- 4.5%)
11/2005: Green Arrow #56 -- 32,670 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Green Arrow #57 -- 31,778 (- 2.7%)
01/2006: Green Arrow #58 -- 30,990 (- 2.5%)
02/2006: Green Arrow #59 -- 31,250 (+ 0.8%)
03/2006: Green Arrow #60 -- 37,946 (+21.4%) [43,045]
04/2006: Green Arrow #61 -- 35,993 (- 5.2%) [40,621]
05/2006: Green Arrow #62 -- 39,185 (+ 8.9%)
06/2006: Green Arrow #63 -- 37,803 (- 3.5%)
07/2006: Green Arrow #64 -- 36,148 (- 4.4%)
08/2006: Green Arrow #65 -- 35,705 (- 1.2%)
09/2006: Green Arrow #66 -- 33,793 (- 5.4%)
10/2006: Green Arrow #67 -- 32,583 (- 3.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.5%
1 year  : - 0.7%
2 years : + 1.4%

See Robin: The decline continues, but the numbers remain within the book’s established spectrum.

57 - PLANETARY (WildStorm)
10/2003: Planetary #17 -- 34,939
10/2004: Planetary #21 -- 32,266
---------------------------------
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: --
01/2006: Planetary #24 -- 31,844 (+1.4%)
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: Planetary #25 -- 32,836 (+3.1%)
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: --
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Planetary #26 -- 32,283 (-1.7%)
--------------- 
6 months: -1.7% 
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : +0.1%

The final issue, more than seven years after Planetary #1 went on sale. Since the book returned from a long hiatus in 2003, the numbers have been thoroughly consistent.

60 - BIRDS OF PREY
10/2003: Birds of Prey #60  -- 30,515
10/2004: Birds of Prey #75  -- 32,091
-------------------------------------
10/2005: Birds of Prey #87  -- 32,084 (+ 2.6%)
11/2005: Birds of Prey #88  -- 32,823 (+ 2.3%)
12/2005: Birds of Prey #89  -- 30,653 (- 6.6%)
01/2006: Birds of Prey #90  -- 30,460 (- 0.6%)
02/2006: Birds of Prey #91  -- 29,835 (- 2.1%)
03/2006: Birds of Prey #92  -- 36,808 (+23.4%)
04/2006: Birds of Prey #93  -- 34,404 (- 6.5%)
05/2006: Birds of Prey #94  -- 34,905 (+ 1.5%)
06/2006: Birds of Prey #95  -- 33,954 (- 2.7%)
07/2006: Birds of Prey #96  -- 32,219 (- 5.1%)
08/2006: Birds of Prey #97  -- 31,578 (- 2.0%)
09/2006: Birds of Prey #98  -- 32,715 (+ 3.6%)
10/2006: Birds of Prey #99  -- 30,385 (- 7.1%)
----------------
6 months: -11.7%
1 year  : - 5.3% 
2 years : - 5.3%

The prelude to the book’s makeover with issue #100 sees an unusually large drop for Birds of Prey.

63 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER
08/2006: Martian Manhunter #1 of 8 -- 41,263
09/2006: Martian Manhunter #2 of 8 -- 32,624 (-20.9%)
10/2006: Martian Manhunter #3 of 8 -- 29,286 (-10.2%)

The numbers are still dropping way too fast.

65 - MYSTERY IN SPACE
09/2006: Mystery in Space #1 of 8 -- 46,610
10/2006: Mystery in Space #2 of 8 -- 28,781 (-38.3%)

Issue #1 came with a variant cover scheme, granted, but this second-issue drop is still not charming by any standard.

66 - THE ALL-NEW ATOM
07/2006: The All-New Atom #1  -- 49,969
08/2006: The All-New Atom #2  -- 38,239 (-23.5%)
09/2006: The All-New Atom #3  -- 33,254 (-13.0%)
10/2006: The All-New Atom #4  -- 28,450 (-14.5%)

This was the first issue without John Byrne providing the artwork, but it’s hard to tell whether that had any effect on sales, at this stage. The All-New Atom keeps shedding units like there’s no tomorrow.

68 - WETWORKS (WildStorm)
09/2006: Wetworks #1  -- 43,824
10/2006: Wetworks #2  -- 28,181 (-35.7%)

Both issues of the inaugural “WorldStorm” title came with sales-boosting variant cover schemes, but, not unusually, it didn’t prevent the numbers from crashing.

Wetworks is still selling at a comparatively high level for a WildStorm book, mind you, but unless the decline slows down considerably soon, that won’t be the case for long.

69 - SHADOWPACT
05/2006: Shadowpact #1  -- 50,279
06/2006: Shadowpact #2  -- 39,969 (-20.5%)
07/2006: Shadowpact #3  -- 36,341 (- 9.1%)
08/2006: Shadowpact #4  -- 33,383 (- 8.1%)
09/2006: Shadowpact #5  -- 29,983 (-10.2%)
09/2006: Shadowpact #6  -- 27,276 (- 9.0%)

Dropping way too fast.

74 - WORLDSTORM (WildStorm)
10/2006: WorldStorm #1 (of 1) -- 27,033

This is a ones-shot special including two short stories promoting the upcoming new WildStorm Universe books Tranquility and StormWatch: Post-Human Division, along with a bunch of adverts. The numbers are perfectly good for this sort of thing.

75 - Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo)
10/2003: Y: The Last Man #15 -- 27,319
10/2004: Y: The Last Man #27 -- 26,929
--------------------------------------
10/2005: Y: The Last Man #38 -- 26,535 (-0.4%)
11/2005: Y: The Last Man #39 -- 26,395 (-0.5%)
12/2005: Y: The Last Man #40 -- 26,006 (-1.5%)
01/2006: Y: The Last Man #41 -- 25,931 (-0.3%)
02/2006: Y: The Last Man #42 -- 25,775 (-0.6%)
03/2006: Y: The Last Man #43 -- 25,877 (+0.4%)
04/2006: Y: The Last Man #44 -- 25,985 (+0.4%)
05/2006: Y: The Last Man #45 -- 25,866 (-0.5%)
06/2006: Y: The Last Man #46 -- 25,881 (+0.1%)
07/2006: Y: The Last Man #47 -- 25,791 (-0.4%)
08/2006: Y: The Last Man #48 -- 25,829 (+0.2%)
09/2006: Y: The Last Man #49 -- 25,690 (-0.5%)
10/2006: Y: The Last Man #50 -- 26,802 (+4.3%)
---------------
6 months: +3.1%
1 year  : +1.0%
2 years : -0.5%

It’s the fiftieth issue, so there’s an obligatory increase. Overall, Y: The Last Man remains one of DC’s most consistent sellers in its final year.

76 - JSA: CLASSIFIED
10/2005: JSA: Classified #4  -- 55,903 (+ 1.8%) [63,579]
11/2005: JSA: Classified #5  -- 47,380 (-15.3%)
12/2005: JSA: Classified #6  -- 45,317 (- 4.4%)
01/2006: JSA: Classified #7  -- 42,857 (- 5.4%)
02/2006: JSA: Classified #8  -- 39,656 (- 7.5%)
02/2006: JSA: Classified #9  -- 39,104 (- 1.4%)
03/2006: JSA: Classified #10 -- 41,332 (+ 5.7%)
04/2006: JSA: Classified #11 -- 37,815 (- 8.5%)
05/2006: JSA: Classified #12 -- 37,446 (- 1.0%)
06/2006: JSA: Classified #13 -- 36,066 (- 3.7%)
07/2006: JSA: Classified #14 -- 33,832 (- 6.2%)
08/2006: JSA: Classified #15 -- 32,308 (- 4.5%)
08/2006: JSA: Classified #16 -- 32,173 (- 0.4%)
09/2006: JSA: Classified #17 -- 30,340 (- 5.7%)
10/2006: JSA: Classified #18 -- 26,783 (-11.7%)
----------------
6 months: -29.2%
1 year  : -52.1%

That’s a harsh drop, even by the book’s usual standard — especially in the middle of a two-part storyline.

77 - OMAC
07/2006: OMAC #1 of 8 -- 54,092
08/2006: OMAC #2 of 8 -- 42,011 (-22.3%)
09/2006: OMAC #3 of 8 -- 32,578 (-22.5%)
10/2006: OMAC #4 of 8 -- 26,745 (-17.9%)

Awful numbers.

79 - UNCLE SAM & THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
07/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #1 of 8 -- 40,736
08/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #2 of 8 -- 31,616 (-22.4%) [32,758]
09/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #3 of 8 -- 28,430 (-10.1%)
10/2006: Uncle Sam & FF #4 of 8 -- 26,527 (- 6.7%)

Sales are bottoming out, slowly but surely.

80/90 - THE BOYS (WildStorm)
08/2006: The Boys #1  -- 31,636          [36,173]
08/2006: The Boys #2  -- 26,165 (-17.3%) [32,075]
09/2006: --
10/2006: The Boys #3  -- 26,415 (+ 1.0%)
10/2006: The Boys #4  -- 24,848 (- 5.9%)

The book is finding its level quickly, evidently. Additionally, the first two issues each sold around 2,000 more units in October.

These are both promising signs for The Boys.

81 - CHECKMATE
04/2006: Checkmate #1  -- 49,156          [55,375]
05/2006: Checkmate #2  -- 41,773 (-15.5%)
06/2006: Checkmate #3  -- 37,551 (-10.1%)
07/2006: Checkmate #4  -- 34,661 (- 7.7%)
08/2006: Checkmate #5  -- 31,252 (- 9.8%)
09/2006: Checkmate #6  -- 28,887 (- 7.6%)
10/2006: Checkmate #7  -- 26,302 (- 9.0%)
----------------
6 months: -46.5%

Another problem child. The glut of Infinite Crisis spin-offs is taking its toll: There’s plainly more material out there than the target audience is willing to absorb.

84 - JLA: CLASSIFIED
10/2005: JLA: Classified #13 -- 43,832 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: JLA: Classified #14 -- 43,469 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: JLA: Classified #15 -- 41,951 (- 3.5%)
01/2006: JLA: Classified #16 -- 39,336 (- 6.2%)
02/2006: JLA: Classified #17 -- 38,014 (- 3.4%)
03/2006: JLA: Classified #18 -- 35,873 (- 5.6%)
03/2006: JLA: Classified #19 -- 35,300 (- 1.6%)
04/2006: JLA: Classified #20 -- 34,039 (- 3.6%)
05/2006: JLA: Classified #21 -- 33,800 (- 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #22 -- 34,023 (+ 0.7%)
06/2006: JLA: Classified #23 -- 33,564 (- 1.4%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #24 -- 31,697 (- 5.6%)
07/2006: JLA: Classified #25 -- 30,709 (- 3.1%)
08/2006: JLA: Classified #26 -- 27,816 (- 9.4%)
09/2006: JLA: Classified #27 -- 27,754 (- 0.2%)
10/2006: JLA: Classified #28 -- 26,003 (- 6.3%)
----------------
6 months: -23.6%
1 year  : -40.7%

The book is continuing to shed readers.

88 - FABLES (Vertigo)
10/2003: Fables #18 -- 26,350
10/2004: Fables #30 -- 25,390
-----------------------------
10/2005: Fables #42 -- 24,953 (-0.2%)
11/2005: Fables #43 -- 24,659 (-1.2%)
12/2005: Fables #44 -- 24,515 (-0.6%)
01/2006: Fables #45 -- 24,297 (-0.9%)
02/2006: Fables #46 -- 24,134 (-0.7%)
03/2006: Fables #47 -- 24,278 (+0.6%)
04/2006: Fables #48 -- 24,476 (+0.8%)
05/2006: Fables #49 -- 24,444 (-0.1%)
06/2006: Fables #50 -- 26,210 (+7.2%)
07/2006: Fables #51 -- 25,087 (-4.3%)
08/2006: Fables #52 -- 25,378 (+1.2%)
09/2006: Fables #53 -- 25,388 (+0.0%)
10/2006: Fables #54 -- 25,534 (+0.6%)
---------------
6 months: +4.3%
1 year  : +2.3%
2 years : +0.6%

Fables performs remarkably well, keeping up a slow climb.

Its latest spin-off, the original hardcover Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, leads October’s “Graphic Novel” chart with an estimated 15,289 units — which means it outsells the majority of monthly Vertigo titles.

Writer Bill Willingham’s brainchild has become Vertigo’s most successful franchise, where new content is concerned.

91 - BATMAN: THE MAD MONK
11/2005: Batman: Monster Men #1 of 6 -- 36,177
12/2005: Batman: Monster Men #2 of 6 -- 29,138 (-19.5%)
01/2006: Batman: Monster Men #3 of 6 -- 27,135 (- 6.9%)
02/2006: Batman: Monster Men #4 of 6 -- 26,320 (- 3.0%)
03/2006: Batman: Monster Men #5 of 6 -- 25,960 (- 1.4%)
04/2006: Batman: Monster Men #6 of 6 -- 25,650 (- 1.2%)
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: --
08/2006: Batman: Mad Monk #1 of 6    -- 29,169 (+13.7%)
09/2006: Batman: Mad Monk #2 of 6    -- 25,516 (-12.5%)
10/2006: Batman: Mad Monk #3 of 6    -- 24,298 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.3%

Bottoming out nicely.

92 - BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
10/2003: Batman: LotDK #172 -- 25,553
10/2004: Batman: LotDK #184 -- 41,170
-------------------------------------
10/2005: Batman: LotDK #196 -- 24,932 (- 1.1%)
11/2005: Batman: LotDK #197 -- 24,478 (- 1.8%)
12/2005: Batman: LotDK #198 -- 24,010 (- 1.9%)
01/2006: Batman: LotDK #199 -- 23,461 (- 2.3%)
02/2006: Batman: LotDK #200 -- 28,984 (+23.5%)
03/2006: Batman: LotDK #201 -- 24,516 (-15.4%)
03/2006: Batman: LotDK #202 -- 23,810 (- 2.9%)
04/2006: Batman: LotDK #203 -- 24,775 (+ 4.1%)
04/2006: Batman: LotDK #204 -- 24,155 (- 2.5%)
05/2006: Batman: LotDK #205 -- 24,421 (+ 1.1%)
05/2006: Batman: LotDK #206 -- 24,228 (- 0.8%)
06/2006: Batman: LotDK #207 -- 24,457 (+ 1.0%)
07/2006: Batman: LotDK #208 -- 23,974 (- 2.0%)
08/2006: Batman: LotDK #209 -- 24,101 (+ 0.5%)
09/2006: Batman: LotDK #210 -- 24,182 (+ 0.3%)
10/2006: Batman: LotDK #211 -- 24,236 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.9%
1 year  : - 2.8%
2 years : -41.1%

Continuing a slow climb. Writer Bruce Jones and artist Ariel Olivetti must be doing something right. Nonetheless, Legends of the Dark Knight will be canceled in January to make room for the new Batman: Confidential title.

94 - CATWOMAN
10/2003: Catwoman #24 -- 23,164
10/2004: Catwoman #36 -- 37,554
-------------------------------
10/2005: Catwoman #48 -- 21,104 (+ 2.0%)
11/2005: Catwoman #49 -- 21,257 (+ 0.7%)
12/2005: Catwoman #50 -- 24,136 (+13.5%) [26,170]
01/2006: Catwoman #51 -- 22,681 (- 6.0%)
02/2006: Catwoman #52 -- 21,954 (- 3.2%)
03/2006: Catwoman #53 -- 28,473 (+29.7%) [34,428]
04/2006: Catwoman #54 -- 28,922 (+ 1.6%)
05/2006: Catwoman #55 -- 30,184 (+ 4.4%)
06/2006: Catwoman #56 -- 28,942 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Catwoman #57 -- 27,302 (- 5.7%)
08/2006: Catwoman #58 -- 26,568 (- 1.0%)
09/2006: Catwoman #59 -- 25,324 (- 4.7%)
10/2006: Catwoman #60 -- 24,117 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: -16.6%
1 year  : +14.3%
2 years : -35.8%

Declining, but still within the usual range.

96 - OMEGA MEN
10/2006: Omega Men #1 of 6 -- 23,536

Writer Andersen Gabrych and artist Henry Flint revamp an old C-list concept. According to the advertising copy, The Omega Men is a “controversial and head-spinning science-fiction odyssey that synthesizes intolerant zealotry, quantum mechanics, and all-out action.”

Sales are surprisingly good for this sort of thing, actually. Given that many comics in the North American direct market feature head-spinning science fiction, quantum mechanics and all-out action and fail anyway, perhaps intolerant zealotry will be the new thing to watch.

101 - JACK OF FABLES (Vertigo)
07/2006: Jack of Fables #1  -- 27,097
08/2006: Jack of Fables #2  -- 23,554 (-13.1%)
09/2006: Jack of Fables #3  -- 22,373 (- 5.0%)
10/2006: Jack of Fables #4  -- 21,614 (- 3.4%)

The second ongoing Fables series is finding its level quickly. These are perfectly good numbers so far.

102 - THE CREEPER
08/2006: The Creeper #1 of 6        -- 31,530
09/2006: The Creeper #2 of 6        -- 24,274 (-23.0%)
10/2006: The Creeper #3 of 6        -- 21,133 (-12.9%)

That’s another steep drop, particularly for a limited series.

106 - HAWKGIRL
10/2003: Hawkman #20  -- 28,007
10/2004: Hawkman #33  -- 22,704
-------------------------------
10/2005: Hawkman #45  -- 23,379 (+ 3.6%)
11/2005: Hawkman #46  -- 25,329 (+ 8.3%)
12/2005: Hawkman #47  -- 24,736 (- 2.3%)
01/2006: Hawkman #48  -- 24,259 (- 1.9%)
02/2006: Hawkman #49  -- 25,031 (+ 3.2%)
03/2006: Hawkgirl #50 -- 34,728 (+38.7%) [38,135]
04/2006: Hawkgirl #51 -- 30,657 (-11.7%)
05/2006: Hawkgirl #52 -- 29,898 (- 2.5%)
06/2006: Hawkgirl #53 -- 27,786 (- 7.1%)
07/2006: Hawkgirl #54 -- 25,201 (- 9.3%)
08/2006: Hawkgirl #55 -- 23,880 (- 5.2%)
09/2006: Hawkgirl #56 -- 21,560 (- 9.7%)
10/2006: Hawkgirl #57 -- 19,909 (- 7.7%)
----------------
6 months: -35.1%
1 year  : -14.8%
2 years : -12.3%

Sales keep spiraling downwards.

112 - NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (WildStorm)
10/2006: Nightmare on Elm Street #1 -- 18,736

When they solicited this book, interestingly, DC evidently hadn’t decided on a penciler yet, which suggests that a certain degree of haste may have been involved in its production. The numbers are respectable for a B-movie adaptation, at any rate, although there was, inevitably, a variant cover edition scheme.

113 - JONAH HEX
11/2005: Jonah Hex #1  -- 33,771
12/2005: Jonah Hex #2  -- 26,227 (-22.3%)
01/2006: Jonah Hex #3  -- 24,671 (- 5.9%)
02/2006: Jonah Hex #4  -- 23,569 (- 4.5%)
03/2006: Jonah Hex #5  -- 23,496 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Jonah Hex #6  -- 22,763 (- 3.1%)
05/2006: Jonah Hex #7  -- 21,910 (- 3.8%)
06/2006: Jonah Hex #8  -- 21,006 (- 4.1%)
07/2006: Jonah Hex #9  -- 20,385 (- 3.0%)
08/2006: Jonah Hex #10 -- 19,772 (- 3.0%)
09/2006: Jonah Hex #11 -- 18,957 (- 4.1%)
10/2006: Jonah Hex #12 -- 18,299 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months: -19.6%

Declining.

119 - FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN
10/2004: Firestorm #6      -- 28,034
------------------------------------
10/2005: Firestorm #18     -- 23,246 (+ 3.1%)
11/2005: Firestorm #19     -- 22,979 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Firestorm #20     -- 23,473 (+ 2.2%)
01/2006: Firestorm #21     -- 22,500 (- 4.2%)
02/2006: Firestorm #22     -- 21,104 (- 6.2%)
03/2006: Firestorm: NM #23 -- 25,109 (+19.0%)
04/2006: Firestorm: NM #24 -- 23,704 (- 5.6%)
05/2006: Firestorm: NM #25 -- 23,301 (- 1.7%)
06/2006: Firestorm: NM #26 -- 21,833 (- 6.3%)
07/2006: Firestorm: NM #27 -- 19,772 (- 9.4%)
08/2006: Firestorm: NM #28 -- 18,716 (- 5.3%)
09/2006: Firestorm: NM #29 -- 17,449 (- 6.8%)
10/2006: Firestorm: NM #30 -- 16,494 (- 5.5%)
----------------
6 months: -30.4%
1 year  : -29.1%
2 years : -41.2%

Sales are in terminal decline. The book goes on hiatus after the December issue and returns in February with a new creative team.

120 - DESOLATION JONES (WildStorm)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Desolation Jones #4  -- 17,611 (+ 1.4%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Desolation Jones #5  -- 17,160 (- 2.6%)
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: Desolation Jones #6  -- 17,369 (+ 1.2%)
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: --
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Desolation Jones #7  -- 16,245 (- 6.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.5%
1 year  :  n.a.

Danijel Zezelj replaces J.H. Williams III as the book’s artist, leading to a larger than usual sales drop for Desolation Jones.

121 - NEIL GAIMAN'S NEVERWHERE (Vertigo)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Neverwhere #5 of 9 -- 19,514 (- 9.8%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: --
02/2006: Neverwhere #6 of 9 -- 18,406 (- 5.7%)
03/2005: --
04/2006: --
05/2006: Neverwhere #7 of 9 -- 17,568 (- 4.6%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Neverwhere #8 of 9 -- 16,952 (- 3.5%)
08/2005: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Neverwhere #9 of 9 -- 16,070 (- 5.2%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.

Finishing with decent numbers.

123 - DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1  -- 18,705
12/2005: DMZ #2  -- 14,840 (-20.7%)
01/2006: DMZ #3  -- 14,503 (- 2.3%)
02/2006: DMZ #4  -- 14,778 (+ 1.9%)
03/2006: DMZ #5  -- 14,952 (+ 1.2%)
04/2006: DMZ #6  -- 15,212 (+ 1.7%)
05/2006: DMZ #7  -- 15,026 (- 1.2%)
06/2006: DMZ #8  -- 14,999 (- 0.2%)
07/2006: DMZ #9  -- 14,786 (- 1.4%)
08/2006: DMZ #10 -- 14,704 (- 0.6%)
09/2006: DMZ #11 -- 14,562 (- 1.0%)
10/2006: DMZ #12 -- 14,640 (+ 0.5%)
---------------
6 months: -3.8%

Rock-solid sales. DMZ has been orbiting the 15K mark since issue #2.

128 - HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
10/2003: Hellblazer #189 -- 15,898
10/2004: Hellblazer #201 -- 15,262
----------------------------------
10/2005: Hellblazer #213 -- 14,688 (- 0.2%)
11/2005: Hellblazer #214 -- 14,766 (+ 0.5%)
12/2005: Hellblazer #215 -- 14,405 (- 2.5%)
01/2006: Hellblazer #216 -- 14,590 (+ 1.3%)
02/2006: Hellblazer #217 -- 14,306 (- 2.0%)
03/2006: Hellblazer #218 -- 14,129 (- 1.2%)
04/2006: Hellblazer #219 -- 14,206 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: Hellblazer #220 -- 14,161 (- 0.3%)
06/2006: Hellblazer #221 -- 13,973 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: Hellblazer #222 -- 13,912 (- 0.4%)
08/2006: Hellblazer #223 -- 13,956 (+ 0.3%)
09/2006: Hellblazer #224 -- 13,704 (- 1.8%)
10/2006: Hellblazer #225 -- 13,629 (- 0.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.1%
1 year  : - 7.2%
2 years : -10.7%

Standard attrition.

131 - 100 BULLETS (Vertigo)
10/2003: 100 Bullets #47 -- 17,308
10/2004: 100 Bullets #54 -- 16,276
----------------------------------
10/2005: 100 Bullets #65 -- 14,744 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: 100 Bullets #66 -- 14,425 (- 2.2%)
12/2005: 100 Bullets #67 -- 14,165 (- 1.8%)
01/2006: 100 Bullets #68 -- 13,879 (- 2.0%)
02/2006: 100 Bullets #69 -- 13,708 (- 1.2%)
03/2006: 100 Bullets #70 -- 13,591 (- 0.9%)
04/2006: 100 Bullets #71 -- 13,514 (- 0.6%)
05/2006: 100 Bullets #72 -- 13,489 (- 0.2%)
06/2006: 100 Bullets #73 -- 13,407 (- 0.6%)
07/2006: 100 Bullets #74 -- 13,265 (- 1.1%)
08/2006: 100 Bullets #75 -- 13,322 (+ 0.4%)
09/2006: 100 Bullets #76 -- 13,082 (- 1.8%)
10/2006: 100 Bullets #77 -- 13,054 (- 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.4%
1 year  : -11.5%
2 years : -19.8%

Standard attrition.

132 - DEADMAN (Vertigo)
08/2006: Deadman #1  -- 21,980
09/2006: Deadman #2  -- 15,494 (-29.5%)
10/2006: Deadman #3  -- 12,936 (-16.5%)

Declining faster than it should.

134 - LOVELESS (Vertigo)
10/2005: Loveless #1  -- 22,483
11/2005: Loveless #2  -- 17,667 (-21.4%)
12/2005: Loveless #3  -- 16,280 (- 7.9%) [17,584]
01/2006: --
02/2006: Loveless #4  -- 16,765 (+ 3.0%)
03/2006: Loveless #5  -- 16,704 (- 0.4%)
04/2006: Loveless #6  -- 16,823 (+ 0.7%)
05/2006: Loveless #7  -- 15,961 (- 5.1%)
06/2006: Loveless #8  -- 14,915 (- 6.6%)
07/2006: Loveless #9  -- 14,434 (- 3.2%)
08/2006: Loveless #10 -- 13,860 (- 4.0%)
09/2006: Loveless #11 -- 13,256 (- 4.4%)
10/2006: Loveless #12 -- 12,617 (- 4.8%)
----------------
6 months: -25.0%
1 year  : -43.9%

The decline keeps accelerating. Not encouraging.

137 - THE OTHER SIDE (Vertigo)
10/2006: The Other Side #1 of 5 -- 12,336

No high-profile creators, no superheroes, and virtually no promotion: The Vietnam War drama by writer Jason Aaron and artist Cameron Stewart debuts with predictably mediocre sales.

141 - WARLORD
02/2006: Warlord #1  -- 27,443
03/2006: Warlord #2  -- 21,570 (-21.4%)
04/2006: Warlord #3  -- 19,993 (- 7.3%)
05/2006: Warlord #4  -- 18,480 (- 7.6%)
06/2006: Warlord #5  -- 16,070 (-13.0%)
07/2006: Warlord #6  -- 14,786 (- 8.0%)
08/2006: Warlord #7  -- 13,553 (- 8.3%)
09/2006: Warlord #8  -- 12,361 (- 8.8%)
10/2006: Warlord #9  -- 11,244 (- 9.0%)
----------------
6 months: -43.8%

Canceled with issue #10.

144 - TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC)
10/2004: Teen Titans Go #12 -- 14,968
-------------------------------------
10/2005: Teen Titans Go #24 -- 12,994 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Teen Titans Go #25 -- 12,598 (- 3.1%)
12/2005: Teen Titans Go #26 -- 11,790 (- 6.4%)
01/2006: Teen Titans Go #27 -- 11,609 (- 1.5%)
02/2006: Teen Titans Go #28 -- 11,568 (- 0.4%)
03/2006: Teen Titans Go #29 -- 11,260 (- 2.7%)
04/2006: Teen Titans Go #30 -- 11,225 (- 0.3%)
05/2006: Teen Titans Go #31 -- 11,140 (- 0.8%)
06/2006: Teen Titans Go #32 -- 10,736 (- 3.6%)
07/2006: Teen Titans Go #33 -- 10,516 (- 2.1%)
08/2006: Teen Titans Go #34 -- 10,328 (- 1.8%)
09/2006: Teen Titans Go #35 --  9,940 (- 3.8%)
10/2006: Teen Titans Go #36 -- 10,214 (+ 2.8%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.0%
1 year  : -21.4%
2 years : -31.8%

A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.

146 - THE EXTERMINATORS (Vertigo)
01/2006: The Exterminators #1  -- 16,187
02/2006: The Exterminators #2  -- 12,459 (-23.0%)
03/2006: The Exterminators #3  -- 11,678 (- 6.3%)
04/2006: The Exterminators #4  -- 11,342 (- 2.9%)
05/2006: The Exterminators #5  -- 10,978 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: The Exterminators #6  -- 11,004 (+ 0.2%)
07/2006: The Exterminators #7  -- 10,743 (- 2.4%)
08/2006: The Exterminators #8  -- 10,299 (- 4.1%)
09/2006: The Exterminators #9  -- 10,177 (- 1.2%)
10/2006: The Exterminators #10 --  9,970 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: -12.1%

Sales are in a slow downward trend.

149 - JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC)
10/2003: JL Adventures #24 -- 13,283
10/2004: JL Unlimited #2   -- 16,598
------------------------------------
10/2005: JL Unlimited #14  -- 10,706 (- 1.9%)
11/2005: JL Unlimited #15  -- 10,625 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: JL Unlimited #16  -- 10,774 (+ 1.4%)
01/2006: JL Unlimited #17  -- 10,199 (- 5.3%)
02/2006: JL Unlimited #18  -- 10,206 (+ 0.1%)
03/2006: JL Unlimited #19  -- 10,534 (+ 3.2%)
04/2006: JL Unlimited #20  -- 10,620 (+ 0.8%)
05/2006: JL Unlimited #21  -- 10,430 (- 1.8%)
06/2006: JL Unlimited #22  -- 10,430 (  n.a.)
07/2006: JL Unlimited #23  -- 10,255 (- 1.7%)
08/2006: JL Unlimited #24  -- 10,117 (- 1.4%)
09/2006: JL Unlimited #25  --  9,985 (- 1.3%)
10/2006: JL Unlimited #26  --  9,696 (- 2.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.7%
1 year  : - 9.4%
2 years : -41.6%

Another Johnny DC title.

151 - BATTLER BRITTON (WildStorm)
07/2006: Battler Britton #1 of 5 -- 14,843
08/2006: Battler Britton #2 of 5 -- 12,631 (-14.9%)
09/2006: Battler Britton #3 of 5 --  9,985 (-21.0%)
10/2006: Battler Britton #4 of 5 --  9,234 (- 7.5%)

Dropping off the map.

152 - AMERICAN SPLENDOR (Vertigo)
09/2006: American Splendor #1 of 4 -- 11,529
10/2006: American Splendor #2 of 4 --  9,202 (-20.2%)

A harsh drop, but not unexpected in the direct market.

153 - TESTAMENT (Vertigo)
12/2005: Testament #1  -- 16,893          [18,166]
01/2006: Testament #2  -- 13,518 (-20.0%)
02/2006: Testament #3  -- 12,831 (- 5.1%)
03/2006: Testament #4  -- 13,074 (+ 1.9%)
04/2006: Testament #5  -- 12,770 (- 2.3%)
05/2006: Testament #6  -- 12,361 (- 3.2%)
06/2006: Testament #7  -- 11,770 (- 4.8%)
07/2006: Testament #8  -- 11,073 (- 5.9%)
08/2006: Testament #9  -- 10,462 (- 5.5%)
09/2006: Testament #10 --  9,629 (- 8.0%)
10/2006: Testament #11 --  9,059 (- 5.9%)
----------------
6 months: -29.1%

Declining.

160 - THE NEXT
07/2006: The Next #1 of 6 -- 22,713
08/2006: The Next #2 of 6 -- 15,875 (-30.1%)
09/2006: The Next #3 of 6 -- 10,570 (-33.4%)
10/2006: The Next #4 of 6 --  8,054 (-23.8%)

Horrible sales. At this point, you have to wonder who on earth ordered those 22,713 copies of issue #1, and what they were thinking.

167 - SKYE RUNNER (WildStorm)
04/2006: Skye Runner #1 of 6 -- 14,600
05/2006: Skye Runner #2 of 6 --  9,464 (-35.2%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Skye Runner #3 of 6 --  8,165 (-13.7%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Skye Runner #4 of 6 --  8,652 (+ 6.0%)
10/2006: Skye Runner #5 of 6 --  7,691 (-11.1%)
----------------
6 months: -47.3%

Contrary to what the solicitation copy says, there were no variant cover editions of Skye Runner #5.

169 - BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC)
10/2003: Batman Adventures #7  -- 13,788
10/2004: Batman Strikes! #2    -- 16,941
----------------------------------------
10/2005: Batman Strikes! #14   --  8,950 (- 3.6%)
11/2005: Batman Strikes! #15   --  8,840 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Batman Strikes! #16   --  8,462 (- 4.3%)
01/2006: Batman Strikes! #17   --  8,172 (- 3.4%)
02/2006: Batman Strikes! #18   --  8,626 (+ 5.6%)
03/2006: Batman Strikes! #19   --  8,244 (- 4.4%)
04/2006: Batman Strikes! #20   --  8,331 (+ 1.1%)
05/2006: Batman Strikes! #21   --  8,467 (+ 1.6%)
06/2006: Batman Strikes! #22   --  8,104 (- 4.3%)
07/2006: Batman Strikes! #23   --  8,154 (+ 0.6%)
08/2006: Batman Strikes! #24   --  8,139 (- 0.2%)
09/2006: Batman Strikes! #25   --  7,765 (- 4.6%)
10/2006: Batman Strikes! #26   --  7,560 (- 2.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.3%
1 year  : -15.5%
2 years : -55.4%

175 - KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG (Johnny DC)
09/2006: Krypto the Superdog #1 of 6 -- 10,369
10/2006: Krypto the Superdog #2 of 6 --  7,023 (-32.3%)

Two more Johnny DC titles.

177 - CLAW THE UNCONQUERED (WildStorm)
06/2006: Claw the Unconquered #1 -- 14,785
07/2006: Claw the Unconquered #2 -- 11,470 (-22.4%)
08/2006: Claw the Unconquered #3 --  9,320 (-18.8%)
09/2006: Claw the Unconquered #4 --  7,628 (-18.2%)
10/2006: Claw the Unconquered #5 --  6,643 (-12.9%)

Canceled with issue #6.

180 - WINTER MEN (WildStorm)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Winter Men #3 of 8 --  8,324 (- 6.1%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: --
02/2006: --
03/2006: --
04/2006: Winter Men #4 of 8 --  7,129 (-14.4%)
05/2006: --
06/2006: --
07/2006: --
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Winter Men #5 of 8 --  6,480 (- 9.1%)
---------------
6 months: -9.1%
1 year  :  n.a.

Out of sight, out of mind.

181 - ROKKIN (WildStorm)
07/2006: Rokkin #1 -- 10,846
08/2006: Rokkin #2 --  8,389 (-22.7%)
09/2006: Rokkin #3 --  6,852 (-18.3%)
10/2006: Rokkin #4 --  6,449 (- 5.9%)

197 - MANIFEST ETERNITY (WildStorm)
06/2006: Manifest Eternity #1 -- 11,387
07/2006: Manifest Eternity #2 --  8,415 (-26.1%)
08/2006: Manifest Eternity #3 --  6,690 (-20.5%)
09/2006: Manifest Eternity #4 --  5,655 (-15.5%)
10/2006: Manifest Eternity #5 --  5,213 (- 7.8%)

Both canceled with issue #6.

215 - SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
10/2003: Scooby Doo #77  -- 6,017
10/2004: Scooby Doo #89  -- 5,449
---------------------------------
10/2005: Scooby Doo #101 -- 4,604 (-12.1%)
11/2005: Scooby Doo #102 -- 4,587 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Scooby Doo #103 -- 4,490 (- 2.1%)
01/2006: Scooby Doo #104 -- 4,454 (- 0.8%)
02/2006: Scooby Doo #105 -- 4,326 (- 2.9%)
03/2006: Scooby Doo #106 -- 4,419 (+ 2.2%)
04/2006: Scooby Doo #107 -- 4,359 (- 1.4%)
05/2006: Scooby Doo #108 -- 4,496 (+ 3.1%)
06/2006: Scooby Doo #109 -- 4,423 (- 1.6%)
07/2006: Scooby Doo #110 -- 4,781 (+ 8.1%)
08/2006: Scooby Doo #111 -- 4,492 (- 6.1%)
09/2006: Scooby Doo #112 -- 4,385 (- 2.4%)
10/2006: Scooby Doo #113 -- 4,339 (- 1.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.5%
1 year  : - 5.8%
2 years : -20.4%

242 - LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC)
10/2003: Looney Tunes #107 -- 3,595
10/2004: Looney Tunes #119 -- 3,218
-----------------------------------
10/2005: Looney Tunes #131 -- 2,673 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Looney Tunes #132 -- 2,747 (+ 2.8%)
12/2005: Looney Tunes #133 -- 2,633 (- 4.2%)
01/2006: Looney Tunes #134 -- 2,601 (- 1.2%)
02/2006: Looney Tunes #135 -- 2,631 (+ 1.2%)
03/2006: Looney Tunes #136 -- 2,792 (+ 6.1%)
04/2006: Looney Tunes #137 -- 2,558 (- 8.4%)
05/2006: Looney Tunes #138 -- 2,774 (+ 8.4%)
06/2006: Looney Tunes #139 -- 2,694 (- 2.9%)
07/2006: Looney Tunes #140 -- 2,680 (- 0.5%)
08/2006: Looney Tunes #141 -- 2,783 (+ 3.8%)
09/2006: Looney Tunes #142 -- 2,695 (- 3.2%)
10/2006: Looney Tunes #143 -- 2,741 (+ 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.2%
1 year  : + 2.5%
2 years : -14.8%

274 - CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY (Johnny DC)
10/2003: Cartoon Cartoons #23 -- 2,702
10/2004: CN Block Party #2    -- 3,043
--------------------------------------
10/2005: CN Block Party #14   -- 1,805 (- 4.4%)
11/2005: CN Block Party #15   -- 1,757 (- 2.7%)
12/2005: CN Block Party #16   -- 1,781 (+ 1.4%)
01/2006: CN Block Party #17   -- 1,797 (+ 0.9%)
02/2006: CN Block Party #18   -- 1,728 (- 3.8%)
03/2006: CN Block Party #19   -- ?????
04/2006: CN Block Party #20   -- 2,055
05/2006: CN Block Party #21   -- ?????
06/2006: CN Block Party #22   -- 1,913
07/2006: CN Block Party #23   -- 1,976 (+ 3.3%)
08/2006: CN Block Party #24   -- 1,920 (- 2.8%)
09/2006: CN Block Party #25   -- 1,918 (- 0.1%)
10/2006: CN Block Party #26   -- 1,879 (- 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.6%
1 year  : + 4.1%
2 years : -38.3%

282 - CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK (Johnny DC)
05/2006: CN Action Pack #1 -- ?????
06/2006: CN Action Pack #2 -- 1,844
07/2006: CN Action Pack #3 -- 1,908 (+3.5%)
08/2006: CN Action Pack #4 -- ?????
09/2006: CN Action Pack #5 -- 1,644
10/2006: CN Action Pack #6 -- 1,704 (+3.7%)

And four more Johnny DC books.

RE-ORDERS:
142 - 10,944 -- Justice League of America #1
163 -  7,916 -- Justice League of America #2
205 -  4,770 -- Batman #657
244 -  2,697 -- Trials of Shazam #2
259 -  2,210 -- The Boys #2
270 -  1,979 -- The Boys #1
290 -  1,636 -- 52 Week 21

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

DC COMICS
10/2003: 28,677
10/2004: 30,125
---------------
10/2005: 36,627 (+ 4.7%)
11/2005: 32,971 (-10.0%)
12/2005: 36,147 (+ 9.6%)
01/2006: 33,019 (- 8.7%)
02/2006: 32,292 (- 2.2%)
03/2006: 36,077 (+11.7%)
04/2006: 33,566 (- 7.0%)
05/2006: 42,860 (+27.7%)
06/2006: 40,778 (- 4.9%)
07/2006: 39,915 (- 2.1%)
08/2006: 42,497 (+ 6.5%)
09/2006: 34,920 (-17.8%)
10/2006: 33,406 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 0.5%
1 year  : - 8.8%
2 years : +10.9%
3 years : +16.5%

DC UNIVERSE
10/2003: 34,572
10/2004: 35,481
---------------
10/2005: 47,021 (+ 4.9%)
11/2005: 42,342 (-10.0%)
12/2005: 44,993 (+ 6.3%)
01/2006: 40,118 (-10.3%)
02/2006: 40,823 (+ 1.8%)
03/2006: 44,854 (+ 9.9%)
04/2006: 45,129 (+ 0.6%)
05/2006: 56,982 (+26.3%)
06/2006: 51,088 (-10.3%)
07/2006: 49,638 (- 2.8%)
08/2006: 54,382 (+10.0%)
09/2006: 46,329 (-14.8%)
10/2006: 42,581 (- 8.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 5.7%
1 year  : - 9.4%
2 years : +20.0%
3 years : +23.2%

With many of the publisher’s top-sellers failing to ship in October, it’s not surprising that sales of the average DC Universe title went down again.

This time, however, the company wasn’t as dependent on its DC Universe line as usual. Due to the relaunch of their major WildStorm Universe properties, the drop-off isn’t as drastic as it might have been.

VERTIGO
10/2003: 18,326
10/2004: 17,102
---------------
10/2005: 16,009 (+12.1%)
11/2005: 15,730 (- 1.7%)
12/2005: 16,320 (+ 3.8%)
01/2006: 15,036 (- 7.9%)
02/2006: 15,026 (- 0.1%)
03/2006: 15,812 (+ 5.2%)
04/2006: 15,473 (- 2.1%)
05/2006: 15,266 (- 1.3%)
06/2006: 14,965 (- 2.0%)
07/2006: 16,684 (+11.5%)
08/2006: 16,107 (- 3.5%)
09/2006: 15,399 (- 4.4%)
10/2006: 15,189 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.8%
1 year  : - 5.1%
2 years : -11.2%
3 years : -17.1%

With no major new launches in terms of monthly issues, average Vertigo sales continued to decrease in October.

WILDSTORM
10/2003: 17,857
10/2004: 20,052
---------------
10/2005: 17,215 (+25.6%)
11/2005: 16,255 (- 5.6%)
12/2005: 15,068 (- 7.3%)
01/2006: 17,505 (+16.2%)
02/2006: 13,610 (-22.3%)
03/2006: 14,210 (+ 4.4%)
04/2006: 16,036 (+12.9%)
05/2006: 12,737 (-20.6%)
06/2006: 15,056 (+18.2%)
07/2006: 12,778 (-15.1%)
08/2006: 14,741 (+15.4%)
09/2006: 13,285 (- 9.9%)
10/2006: 25,747 (+93.8%)
----------------
6 months: +60.6%
1 year  : +49.6%
2 years : +28.4%
3 years : +44.2%

The WildStorm Universe revamp and Planetary almost double the imprint’s average numbers. It’s unlikely that sales will remain at this level, certainly, but if they can manage to keep them closer to 20,000 units than to 10,000 in the long run, I imagine it would help a lot.

6-MONTH COMPARISONS
+472.7%: Wildcats
+  7.2%: Looney Tunes
+  4.3%: Fables
+  3.3%: Detective Comics
+  3.1%: Y: The Last Man
-  0.5%: Scooby-Doo
-  0.9%: Batman: LotDK
-  1.7%: Planetary
-  3.4%: 100 Bullets
-  3.8%: DMZ
-  4.1%: Hellblazer
-  5.3%: Batman: The Mad Monk
-  5.5%: Firestorm
-  5.8%: Justice
-  6.5%: Desolation Jones
-  7.3%: Supergirl and the LoSH
-  8.6%: CN Block Party
-  8.7%: JL Unlimited
-  9.0%: Teen Titans Go
-  9.1%: Winter Men
-  9.3%: Batman Strikes!
-  9.5%: Green Arrow
- 11.4%: Robin
- 11.7%: Birds of Prey
- 12.1%: The Exterminators
- 16.6%: Catwoman
- 17.0%: Nightwing
- 19.6%: Jonah Hex
- 19.9%: Outsiders
- 23.6%: JLA: Classified
- 25.0%: Loveless
- 29.1%: Testament
- 29.2%: JSA: Classified
- 35.1%: Hawkgirl
- 41.6%: Ion
- 43.8%: Warlord
- 46.5%: Checkmate
- 47.3%: Skye Runner

1-YEAR COMPARISONS
+390.4%: Wildcats
+218.5%: The Authority
+ 64.4%: Action Comics
+ 59.0%: Detective Comics
+ 32.0%: Flash
+ 21.8%: Supergirl and the LoSH
+ 14.3%: Catwoman
+  4.1%: CN Block Party
+  2.5%: Looney Tunes
+  2.3%: Fables
+  1.0%: Y: The Last Man
-  0.7%: Green Arrow
-  2.8%: Batman: LotDK
-  3.4%: Nightwing
-  3.5%: Robin
-  5.3%: Birds of Prey
-  5.8%: Scooby-Doo
-  7.2%: Hellblazer
-  9.4%: JL Unlimited
- 11.5%: 100 Bullets
- 14.8%: Hawkgirl
- 15.5%: Batman Strikes!
- 17.0%: Justice
- 21.4%: Teen Titans Go
- 23.0%: Outsiders
- 29.1%: Firestorm
- 36.8%: Green Lantern Corps
- 40.7%: JLA: Classified
- 43.9%: Loveless
- 52.1%: JSA: Classified

2-YEAR COMPARISONS
+119.2%: The Authority
+ 91.8%: Action Comics
+ 39.9%: Flash
+ 29.5%: Detective Comics
+  1.4%: Green Arrow
+  0.6%: Fables
+  0.1%: Planetary
-  0.5%: Y: The Last Man
-  5.3%: Birds of Prey
- 10.7%: Hellblazer
- 11.8%: Nightwing
- 12.3%: Hawkgirl
- 12.3%: Outsiders
- 14.8%: Looney Tunes
- 19.8%: 100 Bullets
- 20.4%: Scooby-Doo
- 26.1%: Robin
- 31.8%: Teen Titans Go
- 35.8%: Catwoman
- 38.3%: CN Block Party
- 41.1%: Batman: LotDK
- 41.2%: Firestorm
- 41.6%: JL Unlimited
- 55.4%: Batman Strikes!

OTHER PUBLISHERS

50 - STAR WARS: LEGACY (Dark Horse)
06/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #1 -- 34,758         [36,375]
07/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #2 -- 33,298 (-4.2%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #3 -- 34,268 (+2.9%)
09/2006: Star Wars: Legacy #4 -- 34,362 (+0.3%)

93 - STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC (Dark Horse)
01/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #1 -- 23,486         [25,140]
02/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #2 -- 21,203 (-9.7%)
03/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #3 -- 21,346 (+0.7%)
04/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #4 -- 22,581 (+5.8%)
05/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #5 -- 23,223 (+2.8%)
06/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #6 -- 23,424 (+0.9%)
07/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #7 -- 23,531 (+0.5%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #8 -- 24,374 (+3.6%)
10/2006: Star Wars: KotOR #9 -- 24,229 (-0.6%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.3%

The Star Wars franchise continues to do perfectly well for Dark Horse. There has been virtually no drop-off for Star Wars: Legacy since the first issue, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #9 actually outsells issue #1. Cover count: one for each.

82 - BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Dynamite)
08/2006: Battlestar Galactica #1 -- 38,095          [39,237]
09/2006: --
10/2006: Battlestar Galactica #2 -- 26,134 (-31.4%)

That’s a stiff drop-off, on the other hand. Cover count: seven.

64 - CONAN (Dark Horse)
10/2004: Conan #9  -- 44,633
----------------------------
10/2005: Conan #21 -- 34,232 (- 1.9%)
11/2005: Conan #22 -- 33,653 (- 1.7%)
12/2005: Conan #23 -- 32,592 (- 3.2%)
01/2006: Conan #24 -- 31,907 (- 2.1%)
02/2006: Conan #25 -- 31,675 (- 0.7%)
03/2006: Conan #26 -- 31,573 (- 0.3%)
04/2006: Conan #27 -- 31,710 (+ 0.4%)
05/2006: Conan #28 -- 31,675 (- 0.1%)
06/2006: Conan #29 -- 32,049 (+ 1.2%)
07/2006: Conan #30 -- 31,095 (- 3.0%)
08/2006: Conan #31 -- 30,887 (- 0.7%)
09/2006: Conan #32 -- 29,070 (- 5.9%)
10/2006: Conan #33 -- 29,137 (+ 0.2%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.1%
1 year  : -14.9%
2 years : -34.7%

The arrival of new regular writer Timothy Truman puts a halt to the book’s decline for the time being, if nothing else. Cover count: one.

86 - SPAWN (Image/TMP)
10/2003: Spawn #129 -- 38,211
10/2004: Spawn #139 -- 30,552
-----------------------------
10/2005: Spawn #150 -- 40,152 (+49.9%) [42,529]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Spawn #151 -- 28,860 (-28.1%)
01/2006: Spawn #152 -- 27,247 (- 5.6%)
02/2006: Spawn #153 -- 26,884 (- 1.3%)
03/2006: Spawn #154 -- 26,966 (+ 0.3%)
04/2006: Spawn #155 -- 26,728 (- 0.9%)
05/2006: Spawn #156 -- 27,017 (+ 1.1%)
06/2006: Spawn #157 -- 26,325 (- 2.6%)
07/2006: Spawn #158 -- 26,875 (+ 2.1%)
08/2006: Spawn #159 -- 26,232 (- 2.4%)
09/2006: Spawn #160 -- 25,580 (- 2.5%)
10/2006: Spawn #161 -- 25,840 (+ 1.0%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.3%
1 year  : -35.7%
2 years : -15.4%

Sticking to the orbit around 26K. Cover count: one.

89 - RED SONJA (Dynamite)
10/2005: --
11/2005: Red Sonja #3  -- 41,866 (-24.1%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Red Sonja #4  -- 41,856 (- 0.0%)
02/2006: Red Sonja #5  -- 38,798 (- 7.3%)
02/2006: Red Sonja #6  -- 35,031 (- 9.7%)
03/2006: Red Sonja #7  -- 34,560 (- 1.5%)
03/2006: Red Sonja #8  -- 34,700 (+ 0.4%)
04/2006: Red Sonja #9  -- 32,334 (- 6.8%)
05/2006: Red Sonja #10 -- 32,479 (+ 0.5%)
06/2006: Red Sonja #11 -- 31,176 (- 4.0%)
07/2006: Red Sonja #12 -- 33,252 (+ 6.7%)
08/2006: Red Sonja #13 -- 28,996 (-12.8%)
09/2006: Red Sonja #14 -- 25,891 (-10.7%)
10/2006: Red Sonja #15 -- 25,303 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: -21.8%
1 year  :   n.a.

Are the numbers finally beginning to stablize this time? It’s possible, but you can never tell. Cover count: six.

100 - HUNTER-KILLER (Image/Top Cow)
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Hunter-Killer #5 -- 23,877 (- 8.9%)
01/2005: --
02/2005: --
03/2005: --
04/2005: --
05/2005: --
06/2005: --
07/2005: --
08/2005: Hunter-Killer #6 -- 21,922 (- 8.2%)
09/2005: Hunter-Killer #7 -- 24,173 (+10.3%)
10/2005: Hunter-Killer #8 -- 21,770 (- 9.9%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
1 year  :  n.a.

Resuming its swift decline as last month’s variant cover artist Jim Lee is replaced with John Cassady. Cover count: two.

125 - JOHN WOO'S SEVEN BROTHERS (Virgin)
10/2006: John Woo's Seven Brothers #1 -- 14,546

182 - DEVI (Virgin)
07/2006: Devi #1 -- 5,917          [8,413]
08/2006: Devi #2 -- 5,529 (- 6.6%)
09/2006: Devi #3 -- 6,103 (+10.4%)
09/2006: Devi #4 -- 6,393 (+ 4.8%)

190 - SNAKEWOMAN (Virgin)
07/2006: Snakewoman #1 -- 6,360
08/2006: --
09/2006: Snakewoman #2 -- 5,079 (-20.1%)
09/2006: Snakewoman #3 -- 4,760 (- 6.3%)
10/2006: Snakewoman #4 -- 5,694 (+19.6%)

220 - RAMAYAN 3392 AD (Virgin)
09/2006: Ramayan 3392 AD #1 -- 6,358
10/2006: Ramayan 3392 AD #2 -- 3,952 (-37.8%)

The interest in Virgin’s books keeps increasing. John Woo’s Seven Brothers does amazingly well with its first issue, even accounting for the involvement of writer Garth Ennis and multiple variant covers. Ramayan 3392 AD sees a harsh drop-off, meanwhile, but based on the performance of Devi and Snakewoman, both of which have begun to climb the charts after initial drops, that may yet change.

Cover count: four for John Woo’s Seven Brothers, one each for Devi, Snakewoman and Ramayan 3392 AD.

136 - THE ESCAPISTS (Dark Horse)
07/2006: The Escapists #1 of 6 -- 21,748
08/2006: The Escapists #2 of 6 -- 12,862 (-40.9%)
09/2006: The Escapists #3 of 6 -- 12,543 (- 2.5%)
10/2006: The Escapists #4 of 6 -- 12,436 (- 0.9%)

We recall: Issue #1 came with a $ 1.00 cover price, hence the big drop-off for #2. The decline is grinding to a halt now, however, and the book is selling at a decent level.

163 - FALLEN ANGEL (IDW)
10/2003: Fallen Angel #4  -- 15,091
10/2004: Fallen Angel #16 -- 10,401
-----------------------------------
12/2005: Fallen Angel #1  -- 12,176 (+18.4%)
01/2006: Fallen Angel #2  --  9,588 (-21.3%)
02/2006: --
03/2006: Fallen Angel #3  --  9,570 (- 0.2%)
03/2006: Fallen Angel #4  --  9,110 (- 4.8%)
04/2006: --
05/2006: Fallen Angel #5  --  9,155 (+ 0.5%)
06/2006: Fallen Angel #6  --  8,043 (-12.2%)
07/2006: --
08/2006: Fallen Angel #7  --  8,475 (+ 5.4%)
08/2006: Fallen Angel #8  --  8,168 (- 3.6%)
09/2006: --
10/2006: Fallen Angel #9  --  7,954 (- 2.5%)
----------------
6 months:  n.a.
2 years : -34.7%

Sales are back in decline.

173 - SAVAGE DRAGON (Image)
10/2003: Savage Dragon #111 -- 10,409
10/2004: Savage Dragon #118 --  8,806
-------------------------------------
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: --
01/2006: Savage Dragon #122 --  7,180 
02/2006: Savage Dragon #123 --  7,103 (- 1.1%)
03/2006: Savage Dragon #124 --  6,778 (- 4.6%)
04/2006: Savage Dragon #125 --  6,990 (+ 3.1%)
05/2006: Savage Dragon #126 --  6,891 (- 1.4%)
06/2006: Savage Dragon #127 --  6,880 (- 0.2%)
07/2006: --
08/2006: --
09/2006: Savage Dragon #128 -- 10,150 (+47.5%)
10/2006: Savage Dragon #129 --  7,242 (-28.7%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.6%
1 year  :  n.a.
2 years : -17.8%

Issue #128 was a crossover with Mark Millar’s Wanted, complete with a variant cover edition by Wanted artist J.G. Jones, explaining the considerable increase in September. With the subsequent issue, the numbers are pretty much back to normal, although they remain slightly higher than they’d been for the rest of the year.

187 - CASANOVA (Image)
06/2006: Casanova #1 -- 9,749
07/2006: Casanova #2 -- 6,337 (-35.0%)
08/2006: Casanova #3 -- 5,874 (- 7.3%)
09/2006: Casanova #4 -- 5,984 (+ 1.9%)
09/2006: Casanova #5 -- 5,900 (- 1.4%)

Standard attrition.

214 - GODLAND (Image)
10/2005: Godland #4  -- 4,129 (+ 4.5%)
11/2005: Godland #5  -- 4,323 (+ 4.7%)
12/2005: --
01/2006: Godland #6  -- 4,522 (+ 4.6%)
01/2006: Godland #7  -- 4,435 (- 1.9%)
02/2006: Godland #8  -- 4,732 (+ 6.7%)
02/2006: Godland #9  -- 4,356 (- 8.0%)
03/2006: -- 
04/2006: Godland #10 -- 4,147 (- 4.8%)
05/2006: Godland #11 -- 4,473 (+ 7.9%)
06/2006: --
07/2006: Godland #12 -- 4,611 (+ 3.1%)
08/2006: --
09/2006: --
10/2006: Godland #13 -- 4,364 (- 5.4%)
----------------
6 months: + 5.2%
1 year  : + 5.7%

Sales remain within the usual range as the book returns from its hiatus. Godland #16 is going to be a 60-cent promotional issue, so the book’s numbers will be interesting to watch over the next few months.

216 - WASTELAND (Oni)
07/2006: Wasteland #1 -- 4,952
08/2006: Wasteland #2 -- 3,974 (-19.8%)
09/2006: Wasteland #3 -- 4,367 (+ 9.9%)
10/2006: Wasteland #4 -- 4,252 (- 2.6%)

Back in a slight decline.

—–

Disclaimers

The numbers below are estimates for comic book sales to retailers in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors. ICv2.com’s estimates are traditionally known to be somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show should be accurate.

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

The 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.

—–

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