amazing700ditko_02by Paul O’Brien

The second month of Marvel Now titles arguably makes for more interesting sales data than the first. We’re starting to get a sense of where some of the books that had huge launch numbers in November are actually going to settle down. And we’re also seeing how the second-tier Marvel Now books are going to fare, with this month seeing the launches of CABLE & X-FORCE, THUNDERBOLTS and AVENGERS ARENA, as well as the relaunch of AVENGERS itself.

As usual, Marvel had the largest share of the North American direct market, though not by the widest of margins – they led DC by 36% to 35% in terms of units, and 33% to 30% in dollars.

Thanks as always to ICv2.com for permission to use these figures.

1,14,18. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
12/07  Amazing #545 - 124,481
12/08  Amazing #581 -  68,905
12/09  Amazing #616 -  58,856
12/10  Amazing #650 -  55,996
=====
12/11  Amazing #675 -  54,652  (  -5.3%)
12/11  Amazing #676 -  54,001  (  -1.2%)
01/12  Amazing #677 -  57,186  (  +5.9%)
01/12  Amazing #678 -  54,252  (  -5.1%)
02/12  Amazing #679 -  52,564  (  -3.1%)
02/12  Amazing #.1  -  50,624  (  -3.7%)
02/12  Amazing #680 -  51,872  (  +2.5%)
03/12  Amazing #681 -  52,143  (  +0.5%)
03/12  Amazing #682 -  57,143  (  +9.6%)
04/12  Amazing #683 -  59,153  (  +3.5%)
04/12  Amazing #684 -  57,454  (  -2.9%)
05/12  Amazing #685 -  58,121  (  +1.2%)
05/12  Amazing #686 -  58,337  (  +0.4%)
06/12  Amazing #687 -  62,680  (  +7.4%)
06/12  Amazing #688 -  60,409  (  -3.6%)
07/12  Amazing #689 -  59,859  (  -0.9%)
07/12  Amazing #690 -  58,976  (  -1.5%)
08/12  Amazing #691 -  60,767  (  +3.0%)
08/12  Amazing #692 -  91,071  ( +49.9%)
09/12  Amazing #693 -  59,772  ( -34.4%)
09/12  Amazing #694 -  58,461  (  -2.2%)
10/12  Amazing #695 -  58,185  (  -0.5%)
10/12  Amazing #696 -  57,950  (  -0.4%)
11/12  Amazing #697 -  59,872  (  +3.3%)
11/12  Amazing #698 -  81,342  ( +35.9%)
12/12  Amazing #699 -  74,904  (  -7.9%)
12/12  Amazing #.1  -  66,245  ( -11.6%)
12/12  Amazing #700 - 200,966  (+203.4%)
                       6 mnth  (+232.7%)
                       1 year  (+267.7%)
                       2 year  (+259.9%)
                       3 year  (+241.5%)
                       4 year  (+191.7%)
                       5 year  ( +61.4%)

Three issues this month, including the much-hyped “final” issue #700, before the book relaunches as SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN in January. The death of Peter Parker (disclaimer: death may not be permanent) once again attracted a surprising amount of mainstream media coverage, particularly considering that it’s not been that long since they did this with Ultimate Spider-Man. But the results speak for themselves, with issue #700 achieving a number higher than any other Marvel Now book with the exception of UNCANNY AVENGERS #1.

Issue #699.1 tails in some way behind the other two issues, but that’s to be expected – it’s normal for Point One books, and besides, it’s really a prologue issue for January’s MORBIUS title.

2,6. AVENGERS
12/10  Avengers v4 #8  -  67,056
=====
12/11  Avengers v4 #20 -  57,145  (  +0.9%)
01/12  Avengers v4 #21 -  54,803  (  -4.1%)
02/12  Avengers v4 #22 -  52,683  (  -3.9%)
02/12  Avengers v4 #23 -  52,222  (  -0.9%)
03/12  Avengers v4 #24 -  52,242  (  +0.0%)
03/12  Avengers v4 #.1 -  52,164  (  -0.1%)
04/12  Avengers v4 #25 -  65,664  ( +25.9%)
05/12  Avengers v4 #26 -  67,744  (  +3.2%)
06/12  Avengers v4 #27 -  68,885  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Avengers v4 #28 -  63,169  (  -8.3%)
08/12  Avengers v4 #29 -  61,653  (  -2.4%)
09/12  Avengers v4 #30 -  58,609  (  -4.9%)
10/12  Avengers v4 #31 -  62,495  (  +6.6%)
10/12  Avengers v4 #32 -  56,204  ( -10.1%)
11/12  Avengers v4 #33 -  53,336  (  -5.1%)
11/12  Avengers v4 #34 -  57,315  (  +7.5%)
12/12  Avengers v5 #1  - 186,989  (+226.2%)
12/12  Avengers v5 #2  -  93,894  ( -49.8%)
                          6 mnth  ( +36.3%)
                          1 year  ( +64.3%)
                          2 year  ( +40.0%)

AVENGERS relaunches under Jonathan Hickman, and as the major book of the month, it gets one of the largest Marvel Now debut numbers (beating all of last month’s books). The combined effect of the usual second issue drop plus the aggressive deployment of variant covers leads to a hefty 50% drop for issue #2, but that still places the book significantly up on its inherited sales.

3,29. CABLE & X-FORCE
12/12  Cable & X-Force #1 - 90,334
12/12  Cable & X-Force #2 - 57,719  (-36.1%)

The first of two new X-Force books which seem to have no connection beyond sharing a name. This is the one with Cable leading a group of characters on the run. The other, a relaunch of UNCANNY X-FORCE, will be on the January chart.

Given the heavy use of variant covers on issue #1, the second issue drop is really not bad at all.

9,11. ALL-NEW X-MEN
11/12  All-New X-Men #1 - 181,693
11/12  All-New X-Men #2 -  96,436  (-46.9%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #3 -  83,798  (-13.1%)
12/12  All-New X-Men #4 -  80,665  ( -3.7%)

On its way out of the top ten already, which is a little bit of a surprise – but sales are leveling out at a number which is clearly going to be more than acceptable.

I’m treating this as a new title rather than as a continuation of previous flagship UNCANNY X-MEN (since there’s going to be another book of that title along in February), but for comparison, it was generally in the mid 50K range before the AVX crossover kicked in.

10,38. THUNDERBOLTS
12/07  ---
12/08  Thunderbolts #127  - 36,378
12/09  Thunderbolts #139  - 29,957
12/10  Thunderbolts #151  - 27,943
=====
12/11  Thunderbolts #167  - 21,167  (  -6.7%)
01/12  Thunderbolts #168  - 20,585  (  -2.7%)
01/12  Thunderbolts #169  - 20,316  (  -1.3%)
02/12  Thunderbolts #170  - 19,505  (  -4.0%)
03/12  Thunderbolts #171  - 19,073  (  -2.2%)
04/12  Thunderbolts #172  - 19,203  (  +0.7%)
04/12  Thunderbolts #173  - 19,017  (  -1.0%)
05/12  Thunderbolts #174  - 18,792  (  -1.2%)
06/12  ---
07/12  ---
08/12  ---
09/12  ---
10/12  ---
11/12  ---
12/12  Thunderbolts v2 #1 - 83,396
12/12  Thunderbolts v2 #2 - 50,897  ( -39.0%)
                            6 mnth  (   --- )
                            1 year  (+140.5%)
                            2 year  ( +82.1%)
                            3 year  ( +69.9%)
                            4 year  ( +39.9%)
                            5 year  (   --- )

A slightly odd one, this – the previous volume of THUNDERBOLTS was retitled DARK AVENGERS with issue #175 and is still continuing the same stories, while this is a completely new team reusing the Thunderbolts’ name. But with some hesitation I’m going to treat this as the successor to earlier versions of THUNDERBOLTS.

A launch number of 83K is in similar territory to what THOR managed last year, so a pretty clear indication that the Marvel Now! brand is elevating books that otherwise wouldn’t be expected to deliver sales in this range.

19,50. AVENGERS ARENA
12/12  Avengers Arena #1 - 64,626
12/12  Avengers Arena #2 - 43,014  (-33.4%)

Ah, the controversial one. This is a book which has divided opinion. Or at least, it’s a premise which divided opinion. Or maybe it’s an advertising campaign which has divided opinion. Regardless, there are opinions, and they are divided most sorely.

I’m treating this as a new title because, although it replaces AVENGERS ACADEMY on the schedule, the actual concept is drastically different. But for comparison, ACADEMY was selling in the low 20K range, and launched in June 2010 with an estimated 46K.

20. CAPTAIN AMERICA
12/07  Captain America v6 #33 -  78,279
12/08  Captain America v6 #45 -  71,186
12/09  Reborn #5              -  91,790
12/10  Captain America #613   -  42,871
=====
12/11  Captain America v7 #5  -  47,333  ( -12.6%)
12/11  Captain America v7 #6  -  47,753  (  +0.9%)
01/12  Captain America v7 #7  -  46,954  (  -1.7%)
02/12  Captain America v7 #8  -  43,487  (  -7.4%)
03/12  Captain America v7 #9  -  41,631  (  -4.3%)
04/12  Captain America v7 #10 -  41,474  (  -0.4%)
05/12  Captain America v7 #11 -  39,012  (  -5.9%)
05/12  Captain America v7 #12 -  38,800  (  -0.5%)
06/12  Captain America v7 #13 -  39,456  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Captain America v7 #14 -  36,812  (  -6.7%)
07/12  Captain America v7 #15 -  36,433  (  -1.0%)
08/12  Captain America v7 #16 -  35,155  (  -3.5%)
09/12  Captain America v7 #17 -  34,279  (  -2.5%)
10/12  Captain America v7 #18 -  38,318  ( +11.8%)
10/12  Captain America v7 #19 -  40,205  (  +4.9%)
11/12  Captain America v8 #1  - 123,667  (+207.6%)
12/12  Captain America v8 #2  -  64,377  ( -47.9%)
                                 6 mnth  ( +63.2%)
                                 1 year  ( +36.0%)
                                 2 year  ( +50.2%)
                                 3 year  ( -29.9%)
                                 4 year  (  -9.6%)
                                 5 year  ( -17.8%)

Another hefty drop for the second issue, but about on a par with the other major launches – this was always likely to be the result of using variant covers so extensively on the first issues.

22. INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK
12/07  Incredible Hulk #112  -  77,119
12/08  Hulk #9               -  87,786
12/09  Incredible Hulk #605  -  43,964
12/10  Incredible Hulks #618 -  34,868
=====
12/11  Incredible v4 #3      -  46,446  ( -42.0%)
01/12  Incredible v4 #4      -  45,876  (  -1.2%)
02/12  Incredible v4 #5      -  42,760  (  -6.8%)
03/12  Incredible v4 #6      -  40,522  (  -5.2%)
04/12  Incredible v4 #7      -  42,135  (  +4.0%)
05/12  Incredible v4 #.1     -  38,472  (  -8.7%)
05/12  Incredible v4 #8      -  42,076  (  +9.4%)
06/12  Incredible v4 #9      -  40,467  (  -3.8%)
06/12  Incredible v4 #10     -  38,122  (  -5.8%)
07/12  Incredible v4 #11     -  36,743  (  -3.6%)
08/12  Incredible v4 #12     -  36,860  (  +0.3%)
09/12  Incredible v4 #13     -  33,858  (  -8.1%)
09/12  Incredible v4 #14     -  33,887  (  +0.1%)
10/12  Incredible v4 #15     -  36,091  (  +6.5%)
11/12  Indestructible #1     - 118,200  (+227.5%)
12/12  Indestructible #2     -  63,653  ( -46.1%)
                                6 mnth  ( +67.0%)
                                1 year  ( +37.0%)
                                2 year  ( +82.6%)
                                3 year  ( +44.8%)
                                4 year  ( -27.5%)
                                5 year  ( -17.5%)

Similar story here. HULK has sold more than this within recent memory, but you have to go back to the brief period in 2008 when it was the hottest book in the line. Compared with more recent years, it’s way up.

25. DEADPOOL
12/08  Deadpool v3 #5  -  46,856
12/09  Deadpool v3 #18 -  45,914
12/10  Deadpool v3 #30 -  30,488
=====
12/11  Deadpool v3 #47 -  25,910  (  -1.3%)
12/11  Deadpool v3 #48 -  25,458  (  -1.7%)
01/12  Deadpool v3 #49 -  24,783* (  -2.7%)
01/12  Deadpool v3 #.1 -  24,783* (   --- )
02/12  Deadpool v3 #50 -  40,695  ( +64.2%)
02/12  Deadpool v3 #51 -  27,458  ( -32.5%)
03/12  Deadpool v3 #52 -  27,990  (  +1.9%)
04/12  Deadpool v3 #53 -  29,334  (  +4.8%)
05/12  Deadpool v3 #54 -  29,644  (  +1.1%)
05/12  Deadpool v3 #55 -  29,022  (  -2.1%)
06/12  Deadpool v3 #56 -  29,513  (  +1.7%)
07/12  Deadpool v3 #57 -  29,155  (  -1.2%)
07/12  Deadpool v3 #58 -  28,706  (  -1.5%)
08/12  Deadpool v3 #59 -  28,507  (  -0.7%)
09/12  Deadpool v3 #60 -  28,548  (  +0.1%)
09/12  Deadpool v3 #61 -  28,351  (  -0.7%)
10/12  Deadpool v3 #62 -  28,897  (  +1.9%)
10/12  Deadpool v3 #63 -  29,049  (  +0.5%)
11/12  Deadpool v4 #1  - 118,976  (+309.6%)
11/12  Deadpool v4 #2  -  67,421  ( -43.3%)
12/12  Deadpool v4 #3  -  60,215  ( -10.7%)
                          6 mnth  (+104.0%)
                          1 year  (+132.4%)
                          2 year  ( +97.5%)
                          3 year  ( +31.1%)
                          4 year  ( +28.5%)

Levelling out quite fast, and clearly set to land way up from the previous volume. It’s a hit.

26,31. IRON MAN
12/07  Iron Man v4 #24 -  38,834
12/08  Iron Man v5 #8  -  56,708
12/09  Iron Man v5 #21 -  49,986
12/10  Iron Man v5 #33 -  41,890
=====
12/11  Iron Man #511   -  35,402  (  -7.1%)
01/12  Iron Man #512   -  35,159  (  -0.7%)
02/12  Iron Man #513   -  32,748  (  -6.9%)
03/12  Iron Man #514   -  31,424  (  -4.0%)
04/12  Iron Man #515   -  32,409  (  +3.1%)
05/12  Iron Man #516   -  31,374  (  -3.2%)
05/12  Iron Man #517   -  31,536  (  +0.5%)
06/12  Iron Man #518   -  32,553  (  -3.2%)
06/12  Iron Man #519   -  32,518  (  -0.1%)
07/12  Iron Man #520   -  32,765  (  +0.8%)
07/12  Iron Man #521   -  32,172  (  -1.8%)
08/12  Iron Man #522   -  31,464  (  -2.2%)
08/12  Iron Man #523   -  31,568  (  +0.3%)
09/12  Iron Man #524   -  30,976  (  -1.9%)
09/12  Iron Man #525   -  30,885  (  -0.3%)
10/12  Iron Man #526   -  35,934  ( +16.3%)
10/12  Iron Man #527   -  36,981  (  +2.9%)
11/12  Iron Man v6 #1  - 116,529  (+215.1%)
11/12  Iron Man v6 #2  -  72,902  ( -37.4%)
12/12  Iron Man v6 #3  -  59,041  ( -19.0%)
12/12  Iron Man v6 #4  -  56,708  (  -4.0%)
                          6 mnth  ( +74.4%)
                          1 year  ( +60.2%)
                          2 year  ( +35.4%)
                          3 year  ( +13.4%)
                          4 year  (   n/c )
                          5 year  ( +46.0%)

Another one that seems to be levelling out quite fast now that the initial drops are out of the way – though it should be noted that it did ship two issues in December, and when that happens, retailers sometimes seem to make the larger cuts within a month. These figures are pretty similar to those for the book’s last relaunch back in 2008, which was at 58K with its fourth issue.

27. FANTASTIC FOUR
12/07  Fantastic Four #552  -  51,320
12/08  Fantastic Four #562  -  54,062
12/09  Fantastic Four #574  -  38,431
12/10  Fantastic Four #586  -  42,829
=====
12/11  Fantastic Four #601  -  51,080  ( -30.8%)
01/12  Fantastic Four #602  -  45,131  ( -11.6%)
02/12  Fantastic Four #603  -  42,419  (  -6.0%)
03/12  Fantastic Four #604  -  42,126  (  -0.7%)
04/12  Fantastic Four #605  -  42,372  (  +0.6%)
05/12  Fantastic Four #.1   -  39,475  (  -6.8%)
05/12  Fantastic Four #606  -  39,914  (  +1.1%)
06/12  Fantastic Four #607  -  40,453  (  +1.4%)
07/12  Fantastic Four #608  -  37,776  (  -6.6%)
08/12  Fantastic Four #609  -  36,496  (  -3.4%)
09/12  Fantastic Four #610  -  35,388  (  -3.0%)
10/12  Fantastic Four #611  -  45,322  ( +28.1%)
11/12  Fantastic Four v5 #1 - 114,532  (+152.7%)
12/12  Fantastic Four v5 #2 -  58,421  ( -49.0%)
                               6 mnth  ( +44.4%)
                               1 year  ( +14.4%)
                               2 year  ( +36.4%)
                               3 year  ( +52.0%)
                               4 year  (  +8.1%)
                               5 year  ( +13.8%)

The size of the drop is typical for a Marvel Now second issue, and sales remain significantly improved. It looks like the book will settle down to the levels it was achieving four or five years ago, but Marvel ought to be happy enough with that.

32. A PLUS X
04/12  Versus #1 of 6 - 111,913
05/12  Versus #2 of 6 -  98,819  (-11.7%)
06/12  Versus #3 of 6 -  94,528  ( -4.3%)
07/12  Versus #4 of 6 -  86,526  ( -8.5%)
08/12  Versus #5 of 6 -  78,380  ( -9.4%)
09/12  ---
10/12  Versus #6 of 6 -  75,298  ( -3.9%)
10/12  A+X #1         - 105,420  (+40.0%)
11/12  A+X #2         -  64,606  (-38.7%)
12/12  A+X #3         -  56,700  (-12.2%)
                         6 mnth  (-40.0%)

Still doing remarkably well for an anthology title in the modern market.

33. THOR: GOD OF THUNDER
12/07  Thor v3 #5  - 101,551
12/08  Thor v3 #12 -  73,784
12/09  Thor #605   -  55,242
12/10  Thor #618   -  45,142
=====
12/11  Thor v4 #9  -  38,000  (  -6.6%)
01/12  Thor v4 #10 -  37,577  (  -1.1%)
02/12  Thor v4 #11 -  35,066  (  -6.7%)
03/12  Thor v4 #12 -  33,967  (  -3.1%)
04/12  Thor v4 #.1 -  33,533  (  -1.3%)
04/12  Thor v4 #13 -  34,500  (  +2.9%)
05/12  Thor v4 #14 -  32,550  (  -5.7%)
06/12  Thor v4 #15 -  33,674  (  +3.5%)
06/12  Thor v4 #16 -  31,798  (  -5.6%)
07/12  Thor v4 #17 -  30,879  (  -2.9%)
08/12  Thor v4 #18 -  35,392  ( +14.6%)
09/12  Thor v4 #19 -  30,289  ( -14.4%)
09/12  Thor v4 #20 -  30,172  (  -0.4%)
10/12  Thor v4 #21 -  34,550  ( +14.5%)
10/12  Thor v4 #22 -  35,328  (  +2.3%)
11/12  Thor v5 #1  - 110,443  (+212.6%)
11/12  Thor v5 #2  -  65,533  ( -40.7%)
12/12  Thor v5 #3  -  55,547  ( -15.2%)
                      6 mnth  ( +74.7%)
                      1 year  ( +46.2%)
                      2 year  ( +23.0%)
                      3 year  (  +0.6%)
                      4 year  ( -24.7%)
                      5 year  ( -45.3%)

Still finding its level, but very comfortably up from the last couple of years. The book was doing better under J Michael Straczynski, but that was when it was being pushed front and centre as the big comic of the day.

42. UNCANNY X-FORCE
12/08  X-Force v3 #10 - 58,801
12/09  X-Force v3 #22 - 51,859
12/10  X-Force v4 #3  - 55,520
=====
12/11  X-Force v4 #18 - 54,274  ( +6.5%)
12/11  X-Force v4 #19 - 55,333  ( +2.0%)
01/12  X-Force v4 #.1 - 50,399  ( -8.9%)
01/12  X-Force v4 #20 - 51,054  ( +1.3%)
02/12  X-Force v4 #21 - 50,654  ( -0.8%)
02/12  X-Force v4 #22 - 49,665  ( -2.0%)
03/12  X-Force v4 #23 - 48,867  ( -1.6%)
04/12  X-Force v4 #24 - 50,667  ( +3.7%)
05/12  X-Force v4 #25 - 50,851  ( +0.4%)
06/12  X-Force v4 #26 - 47,522  ( -6.0%)
07/12  X-Force v4 #27 - 46,325  ( -2.5%)
07/12  X-Force v4 #28 - 46,367  ( +0.1%)
08/12  X-Force v4 #29 - 45,159  ( -2.6%)
08/12  X-Force v4 #30 - 44,918  ( -0.5%)
09/12  X-Force v4 #31 - 44,061  ( -1.9%)
10/12  X-Force v4 #32 - 44,055  ( -0.0%)
11/12  X-Force v4 #33 - 43,589  ( -1.1%)
11/12  X-Force v4 #34 - 43,710  ( +0.3%)
12/12  X-Force v4 #35 - 47,736  ( +9.2%)
                        6 mnth  ( +0.5%)
                        1 year  (-12.0%)
                        2 year  (-14.0%)
                        3 year  ( -8.0%)
                        4 year  (-18.8%)

The end of Rick Remender’s run, with the now familiar increase in sales for the “final” issue. A new run started in January.

45. FF
12/11  FF #13   - 44,970  (  -9.1%)
01/12  FF #14   - 42,609  (  -5.3%)
02/12  FF #15   - 40,583  (  -4.8%)
03/12  FF #16   - 37,152  (  -8.5%)
04/12  FF #17   - 37,325  (  +0.5%)
05/12  FF #18   - 34,555  (  -7.4%)
06/12  FF #19   - 34,260  (  -0.9%)
07/12  FF #20   - 31,652  (  -7.6%)
08/12  FF #21   - 30,220  (  -4.5%)
09/12  FF #22   - 29,847  (  -1.2%)
10/12  FF #23   - 30,844  (  +3.3%)
11/12  FF v2 #1 - 80,701  (+161.6%)
12/12  FF v2 #2 - 46,096  ( -42.9%)
                  6 mnth  ( +34.5%)
                  1 year  (  +2.5%)

A fairly typical second issue drop – on the low side for a Marvel Now book, if anything, though it’s starting from a more realistic number than some of the others. So far, it’s comfortably ahead of the previous run.

47. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN
12/11  Wolverine/X-Men #3  - 58,438  (-29.9%)
01/12  Wolverine/X-Men #4  - 59,530  ( +1.9%)
02/12  Wolverine/X-Men #5  - 55,788  ( -6.3%)
02/12  Wolverine/X-Men #6  - 55,341  ( -0.8%)
03/12  Wolverine/X-Men #7  - 54,559  ( -1.4%)
04/12  Wolverine/X-Men #8  - 53,757  ( -1.5%)
04/12  Wolverine/X-Men #9  - 64,984  (+20.9%)
05/12  Wolverine/X-Men #10 - 63,650  ( -2.1%)
05/12  Wolverine/X-Men #11 - 64,936  ( +2.0%)
06/12  Wolverine/X-Men #12 - 64,838  ( -0.2%)
07/12  Wolverine/X-Men #13 - 62,689  ( -3.3%)
07/12  Wolverine/X-Men #14 - 61,029  ( -2.6%)
08/12  Wolverine/X-Men #15 - 58,441  ( -4.2%)
09/12  Wolverine/X-Men #16 - 55,857  ( -4.4%)
09/12  Wolverine/X-Men #17 - 54,768  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Wolverine/X-Men #18 - 52,331  ( -4.4%)
10/12  Wolverine/X-Men #19 - 50,008  ( -4.4%)
11/12  Wolverine/X-Men #20 - 48,432  ( -3.2%)
11/12  Wolverine/X-Men #21 - 48,244  ( -0.4%)
12/12  Wolverine/X-Men #22 - 45,658  ( -5.4%)
                             6 mnth  (-29.6%)
                             1 year  (-21.9%)

Continuing the title’s gentle slide, which seems to have set in after the AVENGERS VS X-MEN crossovers ended.

48. X-MEN LEGACY
12/07  X-Men v2 #194      -  78,114
12/08  X-Men Legacy #206  -  97,871
12/09  X-Men Legacy #219  -  60,587
12/10  X-Men Legacy #230  -  49,776
=====
12/11  X-Men Legacy #260  -  37,946  (  -9.6%)
01/12  X-Men Legacy #.1   -  37,160  (  -2.1%)
01/12  X-Men Legacy #261  -  37,577  (  +1.1%)
02/12  X-Men Legacy #262  -  36,461  (  -3.0%)
03/12  X-Men Legacy #263  -  35,999  (  -1.3%)
03/12  X-Men Legacy #264  -  35,953  (  -0.1%)
04/12  X-Men Legacy #265  -  35,712  (  -0.7%)
05/12  X-Men Legacy #266  -  43,199  ( +21.0%)
05/12  X-Men Legacy #267  -  46,279  (  +7.1%)
06/12  X-Men Legacy #268  -  49,163  (  +6.2%)
06/12  X-Men Legacy #269  -  46,923  (  -4.6%)
07/12  X-Men Legacy #270  -  44,914  (  -4.3%)
08/12  X-Men Legacy #271  -  37,206  ( -17.2%)
08/12  X-Men Legacy #272  -  37,120  (  -0.2%)
09/12  X-Men Legacy #273  -  36,020  (  -3.0%)
09/12  X-Men Legacy #274  -  35,168  (  -2.4%)
10/12  X-Men Legacy #275  -  38,726  ( +10.1%)
11/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #1 -  87,081  (+124.9%)
11/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #2 -  58,037  ( -33.4%)
12/12  X-Men Legacy v2 #3 -  45,407  ( -21.8%)
                             6 mnth  (  -3.2%)
                             1 year  ( +19.7%)
                             2 year  (  -8.8%)
                             3 year  ( -25.1%)
                             4 year  ( -53.6%)
                             5 year  ( -41.9%)

Hmm. X-MEN LEGACY is already back to the sales that the previous volume was achieving during the AVENGERS VS X-MEN crossover, and has an unusually high drop for the third issue. But then again, compared to its compatriots, it had an unusually low drop for the second, besides which the book is now a Legion solo title without big name creators attached, making this a very respectable number in absolute terms.

53,75. AVENGING SPIDER-MAN
12/11  Avenging Spider-Man #2  - 60,682  (-45.9%)
01/12  Avenging Spider-Man #3  - 52,371  (-13.7%)
02/12  Avenging Spider-Man #4  - 45,622  (-12.9%)
03/12  Avenging Spider-Man #5  - 40,877  (-10.4%)
04/12  Avenging Spider-Man #6  - 47,430  (+16.0%)
05/12  Avenging Spider-Man #7  - 38,012  (-19.9%)
06/12  Avenging Spider-Man #8  - 39,861  ( +4.9%)
07/12  Avenging Spider-Man #9  - 37,134  ( -6.8%)
08/12  Avenging Spider-Man #10 - 34,537  ( -7.0%)
08/12  Avenging Spider-Man #11 - 33,808  ( -2.1%)
09/12  Avenging Spider-Man #12 - 35,462  ( +4.9%)
10/12  Avenging Spider-Man #13 - 32,908  ( -7.2%)
11/12  Avenging Spider-Man #14 - 30,102  ( -8.5%)
12/12  Avenging Spider-Man #15 - 28,240  ( -6.2%)
12/12  Avenging Spider-Man #.1 - 41,504  (+47.0%)
                                 6 mnth  ( +4.1%)
                                 1 year  (-31.6%)

For once, a Point One issue selling way above the norm. That’ll be because it’s a tie-in to the SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN storyline.

57. ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN
12/07  Spider-Man #117   - 60,361
12/08  Spider-Man #129   - 51,071
12/09  Spider-Man v2 #5  - 45,849
12/10  Spider-Man #151   - 33,707
=====
12/11  Spider-Man v3 #5  - 48,308  ( -6.3%)
01/12  Spider-Man v3 #6  - 49,840  ( +3.2%)
02/12  Spider-Man v3 #7  - 45,266  ( -9.2%)
03/12  Spider-Man v3 #8  - 46,290  ( +2.3%)
04/12  Spider-Man v3 #9  - 43,724  ( -5.5%)
05/12  Spider-Man v3 #10 - 42,356  ( -3.1%)
06/12  Spider-Man v3 #11 - 42,549  ( +0.5%)
07/12  Spider-Man v3 #12 - 42,050  ( -1.2%)
08/12  Spider-Man v3 #13 - 42,642  ( +1.4%)
09/12  Spider-Man v3 #14 - 40,960  ( -3.9%)
09/12  Spider-Man v3 #15 - 40,435  ( -1.3%)
10/12  Spider-Man v3 #16 - 39,679  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Spider-Man v3 #.1 - 38,321  ( -3.4%)
11/12  Spider-Man v3 #17 - 38,481  ( +0.4%)
12/12  Spider-Man v3 #18 - 36,944  ( -4.0%)
                           6 mnth  (-13.2%)
                           1 year  (-23.5%)
                           2 year  ( +9.6%)
                           3 year  (-19.4%)
                           4 year  (-27.7%)
                           5 year  (-38.8%)

The standard gentle decline.

58. DAREDEVIL
12/07  Daredevil v2 #103 - 43,874
12/08  Daredevil v2 #114 - 44,351
12/09  Daredevil #502    - 38,680
12/10  Daredevil #512    - 40,317
=====
12/11  Daredevil v3 #7   - 38,824  ( +1.4%)
01/12  Daredevil v3 #8   - 43,494  (+12.0%)
02/12  Daredevil v3 #9   - 37,891  (-12.9%)
03/12  Daredevil v3 #10  - 38,137  ( +0.6%)
04/12  Daredevil v3 #.1  - 38,463  ( +0.9%)
04/12  Daredevil v3 #11  - 46,111  (+19.9%)
05/12  Daredevil v3 #12  - 39,231  (-14.9%)
05/12  Daredevil v3 #13  - 39,056  ( -0.4%)
06/12  Daredevil v3 #14  - 43,865  (+12.3%)
07/12  Daredevil v3 #15  - 38,469  (-12.3%)
08/12  Daredevil v3 #16  - 37,804  ( -1.7%)
08/12  Daredevil v3 #17  - 38,149  ( +0.9%)
09/12  Daredevil v3 #18  - 37,185  ( -2.5%)
10/12  Daredevil v3 #19  - 37,228  ( +0.1%)
11/12  Daredevil v3 #20  - 36,515  ( -1.9%)
12/12  Daredevil v3 #21  - 35,848  ( -1.8%)
                           6 mnth  (-18.3%)
                           1 year  ( -7.7%)
                           2 year  (-11.5%)
                           3 year  ( -7.3%)
                           4 year  (-19.2%)
                           5 year  (-18.3%)

On the whole, DAREDEVIL sales have proven remarkably solid, though there’s some erosion starting to be visible.

61,65. HAWKEYE
08/12  Hawkeye v4 #1 - 48,346
09/12  Hawkeye v4 #2 - 33,563  (-30.6%)
10/12  Hawkeye v4 #3 - 35,403  ( +5.5%)
11/12  Hawkeye v4 #4 - 34,208  ( -3.4%)
12/12  Hawkeye v4 #5 - 34,385  ( +0.5%)
12/12  Hawkeye v4 #6 - 33,440  ( -2.7%)

With sales refusing to budge from the 33-35K range since issue #2, this is looking like it could be one of those rare sales rocks that bucks the trend of erosion.

62. WOLVERINE
12/07  Wolverine v3 #60 - 63,194
12/08  Wolverine v3 #70 - 98,915
12/09  W: Weapon X #8   - 33,470
12/10  Wolverine v4 #4  - 52,812
=====
12/11  Wolverine v4 #20 - 37,360  ( -1.7%)
01/12  Wolverine #300   - 58,681  (+57.1%)
02/12  Wolverine #301   - 38,891  (-33.7%)
03/12  Wolverine #302   - 37,213  ( -4.3%)
03/12  Wolverine #303   - 36,368  ( -2.3%)
04/12  Wolverine #304   - 37,836  ( +4.0%)
04/12  Wolverine #305   - 37,440  ( -1.0%)
05/12  Wolverine #306   - 34,873  ( -6.9%)
05/12  Wolverine #307   - 34,485  ( -1.1%)
06/12  Wolverine #308   - 35,142  ( +1.9%)
07/12  Wolverine #309   - 33,148  ( -5.7%)
07/12  Wolverine #310   - 60,880  (+83.7%)
08/12  Wolverine #311   - 42,404  (-30.3%)
08/12  Wolverine #312   - 41,030  ( -3.2%)
09/12  Wolverine #313   - 39,262  ( -4.3%)
10/12  Wolverine #314   - 34,504  (-12.1%)
10/12  Wolverine #315   - 38,557  (+11.7%)
11/12  Wolverine #316   - 32,208  (-16.5%)
12/12  Wolverine #317   - 34,367  ( +6.7%)
                          6 mnth  ( -2.2%)
                          1 year  ( -8.0%)
                          2 year  (-34.9%)
                          3 year  ( +2.7%)
                          4 year  (-65.3%)
                          5 year  (-45.6%)

Final issue of the current run, and the sales increase is presumably connected with that, since the actual story is basically a fill-in arc. Two new Wolverine titles will launch to replace this one.

63. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
03/12  Avengers Assemble #1  - 100,883
04/12  Avengers Assemble #2  -  53,024  (-47.4%)
05/12  Avengers Assemble #3  -  43,886  (-17.2%)
06/12  Avengers Assemble #4  -  43,022  ( -2.0%)
07/12  Avengers Assemble #5  -  38,951  ( -9.5%)
08/12  Avengers Assemble #6  -  36,131  ( -7.2%)
09/12  Avengers Assemble #7  -  36,259  ( +0.4%)
10/12  Avengers Assemble #8  -  36,453  ( +0.5%)
11/12  Avengers Assemble #9  -  42,088  (+15.5%)
12/12  Avengers Assemble #10 -  34,035  (-19.1%)
                                6 mnth  (-20.9%)

Returning to regular sales levels after last month’s spike.

71. SECRET AVENGERS
12/10  Secret Avengers #8  - 54,048
=====
12/11  Secret Avengers #20 - 38,202  ( -7.3%)
01/12  Secret Avengers #21 - 38,082  ( -0.3%)
01/12  Secret Avengers #.1 - 35,320  ( -7.3%)
02/12  Secret Avengers #22 - 39,337  (+11.4%)
02/12  Secret Avengers #23 - 37,140  ( -5.6%)
03/12  Secret Avengers #24 - 38,359  ( +3.3%)
04/12  Secret Avengers #25 - 38,466  ( +0.3%)
04/12  Secret Avengers #26 - 54,854  (+42.6%)
05/12  Secret Avengers #27 - 49,851  ( -9.1%)
06/12  Secret Avengers #28 - 51,572  ( +3.5%)
07/12  Secret Avengers #29 - 41,653  (-19.2%)
08/12  Secret Avengers #30 - 38,243  ( -8.2%)
09/12  Secret Avengers #31 - 35,987  ( -5.9%)
10/12  Secret Avengers #32 - 35,346  ( -1.8%)
10/12  Secret Avengers #33 - 34,260  ( -3.1%)
11/12  Secret Avengers #34 - 32,146  ( -6.2%)
12/12  Secret Avengers #35 - 30,755  ( -4.3%)
                             6 mnth  (-40.4%)
                             1 year  (-19.5%)
                             2 year  (-43.1%)

Relaunches after issue #37.

72. X-MEN
12/10  X-Men v3 #6  - 53,005 
=====
12/11  X-Men v3 #22 - 39,121  ( -2.0%)
01/12  X-Men v3 #23 - 38,719  ( -1.0%)
02/12  X-Men v3 #24 - 36,906  ( -4.7%)
02/12  X-Men v3 #25 - 36,488  ( -1.1%)
03/12  X-Men v3 #26 - 35,833  ( -1.8%)
04/12  X-Men v3 #27 - 36,843  ( +2.8%)
05/12  X-Men v3 #28 - 35,838  ( -2.7%)
05/12  X-Men v3 #29 - 35,483  ( -1.0%)
06/12  X-Men v3 #30 - 37,690  ( +6.2%)
06/12  X-Men v3 #31 - 35,789  ( -5.0%)
07/12  X-Men v3 #32 - 35,091  ( -2.0%)
08/12  X-Men v3 #33 - 33,695  ( -4.0%)
08/12  X-Men v3 #34 - 33,354  ( -1.0%)
09/12  X-Men v3 #35 - 32,049  ( -3.9%)
09/12  X-Men v3 #36 - 31,996  ( -0.2%)
10/12  X-Men v3 #37 - 31,611  ( -1.2%)
11/12  X-Men v3 #38 - 30,289  ( -4.2%)
12/12  X-Men v3 #39 - 29,326  ( -3.2%)
                      6 mnth  (-18.1%)
                      1 year  (-25.0%)
                      2 year  (-44.7%)

Relaunches after issue #41.

73. DAREDEVIL: END OF DAYS
10/12  End of Days #1 of 8 - 40,911
11/12  End of Days #2 of 8 - 32,072  (-21.6%)
12/12  End of Days #3 of 8 - 29,273  ( -8.7%)

Decent numbers for an out of continuity miniseries, though the high-profile creative team has to help.

78,80. ULTIMATES
12/07  Ultimates v3 #1  - 131,401
12/08  ---
12/09  ---
12/10  ---
=====
12/11  Ultimates v5 #5  -  36,396  ( -7.5%)
01/12  Ultimates v5 #6  -  34,865  ( -4.2%)
02/12  Ultimates v5 #7  -  33,863  ( -2.9%)
03/12  Ultimates v5 #8  -  32,222  ( -4.8%)
04/12  Ultimates v5 #9  -  31,336  ( -2.7%)
05/12  Ultimates v5 #10 -  31,257  ( -0.3%)
05/12  Ultimates v5 #11 -  31,344  ( +0.3%)
06/12  Ultimates v5 #12 -  30,845  ( -1.6%)
07/12  Ultimates v5 #13 -  32,380  ( +5.0%)
08/12  Ultimates v5 #14 -  30,311  ( -6.4%)
09/12  Ultimates v5 #15 -  30,382  ( +0.2%)
09/12  Ultimates v5 #16 -  30,533  ( +0.5%)
10/12  Ultimates v5 #17 -  29,382  ( -3.8%)
11/12  Ultimates v5 #18 -  29,072  ( -1.1%)
12/12  Ultimates v5 #.1 -  27,659  ( -4.9%)
12/12  Ultimates v5 #19 -  26,971  ( -2.5%)
                           6 mnth  (-12.6%)
                           1 year  (-25.9%)
                           2 year  (  --- )
                           3 year  (  --- )
                           4 year  (  --- )
                           5 year  (-79.5%)

Continuing the usual erosion.

81,83. SCARLET SPIDER
01/12  Scarlet Spider #1  - 53,410
02/12  Scarlet Spider #2  - 33,794  (-36.7%)
03/12  Scarlet Spider #3  - 32,616  ( -3.5%)
04/12  Scarlet Spider #4  - 33,097  ( +1.5%)
05/12  Scarlet Spider #5  - 30,932  ( -6.5%)
06/12  Scarlet Spider #6  - 30,722  ( -0.7%)
07/12  Scarlet Spider #7  - 29,140  ( -5.1%)
08/12  Scarlet Spider #8  - 27,690  ( -5.0%)
09/12  Scarlet Spider #9  - 27,140  ( -2.0%)
10/12  Scarlet Spider #10 - 31,786  (+17.1%)
11/12  Scarlet Spider #11 - 32,287  ( +1.6%)
12/12  Scarlet Spider #12 - 26,652  (-17.5%)
12/12  Scarlet Spider #.1 - 25,771  ( -3.3%)
                            6 mnth  (-16.1%)

Returning to normal sales levels after the “Minimum Carnage” crossover in October and November.

82. ASTONISHING X-MEN
12/07  ---
12/08  ---
12/09  Astonishing X-Men #33 -  57,592
12/10  ---
=====
12/11  Astonishing X-Men #45 -  31,392  ( -4.1%)
01/12  Astonishing X-Men #46 -  31,134  ( -0.8%)
02/12  Astonishing X-Men #47 -  30,490  ( -2.1%)
03/12  Astonishing X-Men #48 -  34,182  (+12.1%)
04/12  Astonishing X-Men #49 -  31,291  ( -8.5%)
05/12  Astonishing X-Men #50 -  61,866  (+97.7%)
06/12  Astonishing X-Men #51 -  82,654  (+33.6%)
07/12  Astonishing X-Men #52 -  35,766  (-56.7%)
08/12  Astonishing X-Men #53 -  32,268  ( -9.8%)
09/12  Astonishing X-Men #54 -  30,225  ( -6.3%)
10/12  Astonishing X-Men #55 -  29,060  ( -3.9%)
11/12  Astonishing X-Men #56 -  27,583  ( -5.1%)
12/12  Astonishing X-Men #57 -  26,263  ( -4.8%)
                                6 mnth  (-68.2%)
                                1 year  (-16.3%)
                                2 year  (  --- )
                                3 year  (-54.4%)
                                4 year  (  --- )
                                5 year  (  --- )

Gentle decline. With the relaunch of X-MEN, this book is now quite some way adrift of any of its sister titles.

85. VENOM
12/11  Venom v2 #10 - 29,465  ( -9.4%)
12/11  Venom v2 #11 - 28,658  ( -2.7%)
01/12  Venom v2 #12 - 28,728  ( +0.2%)
02/12  Venom v2 #13 - 33,174  (+15.5%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.1 - 27,520  (-17.0%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.2 - 27,155  ( -1.3%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.3 - 26,969  ( -0.7%)
02/12  Venom v2 #.4 - 27,135  ( +0.6%)
03/12  Venom v2 #14 - 28,926  ( +6.6%)
04/12  Venom v2 #15 - 28,858  ( -0.2%)
04/12  Venom v2 #16 - 28,440  ( -1.4%)
05/12  Venom v2 #17 - 30,157  ( +6.0%)
05/12  Venom v2 #18 - 28,309  ( -6.1%)
06/12  Venom v2 #19 - 28,702  ( +1.4%)
07/12  Venom v2 #20 - 26,941  ( -6.1%)
07/12  Venom v2 #21 - 26,534  ( -1.5%)
08/12  Venom v2 #22 - 26,734  ( +0.8%)
08/12  Venom v2 #23 - 26,854  ( +0.4%)
09/12  Venom v2 #24 - 30,080  (+12.0%)
09/12  Venom v2 #25 - 25,242  (-16.1%)
10/12  Venom v2 #26 - 31,711  (+25.6%)
11/12  Venom v2 #27 - 31,118  ( -1.9%)
11/12  Venom v2 #.1 - 25,727  (-17.3%)
12/12  Venom v2 #28 - 25,573  ( -0.6%)
                      6 mnth  (-10.9%)
                      1 year  (-13.2%)

As with SCARLET SPIDER, basically.

86. PUNISHER WAR ZONE
12/07  Journal v2 #14      - 38,471
12/08  Journal v2 #26      - 22,243
12/09  Punisher v7 #12     - 24,985
12/10  In the Blood #2     - 16,608
=====
12/11  Punisher v8 #6      - 23,971  ( -5.6%)
01/12  Punisher v8 #7      - 22,908  ( -4.4%)
02/12  Punisher v8 #8      - 22,488  ( -1.8%)
03/12  Punisher v8 #9      - 22,318  ( -0.8%)
04/12  Punisher v8 #10     - 32,412  (+45.2%)
05/12  Punisher v8 #11     - 23,303  (-28.1%)
06/12  Punisher v8 #12     - 23,329  ( +0.1%)
07/12  Punisher v8 #13     - 23,075  ( -1.1%)
08/12  Punisher v8 #14     - 22,046  ( -4.5%)
09/12  Punisher v8 #15     - 21,829  ( -1.0%)
09/12  Punisher v8 #16     - 21,565  ( -1.2%)
10/12  War Zone v3 #1 of 5 - 27,010  (+25.2%)
11/12  ---
12/12  War Zone v3 #2 of 5 - 25,471  ( -5.7%)
                             6 mnth  ( +9.2%)
                             1 year  ( +6.3%)
                             2 year  (+53.4%)
                             3 year  ( +1.9%)
                             4 year  (+14.5%)
                             5 year  (-33.8%)

Pretty standard for miniseries numbers.

87. ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN
12/07  X-Men #88    - 51,633
12/08  X-Men #99    - 44,360
12/09  ---
12/10  ---
=====
12/11  X-Men v2 #4  - 37,115  ( -6.4%)
12/11  X-Men v2 #5  - 35,153  ( -5.3%)
01/12  X-Men v2 #6  - 33,975  ( -3.4%)
02/12  X-Men v2 #7  - 32,353  ( -4.8%)
02/12  X-Men v2 #8  - 30,822  ( -4.7%)
03/12  X-Men v2 #9  - 30,080  ( -2.4%)
04/12  X-Men v2 #10 - 29,743  ( -1.1%)
05/12  X-Men v2 #11 - 28,711  ( -3.5%)
05/12  X-Men v2 #12 - 28,839  ( +0.4%)
06/12  X-Men v2 #13 - 29,159  ( +1.1%)
07/12  X-Men v2 #14 - 29,879  ( +2.5%)
08/12  X-Men v2 #15 - 27,847  ( -6.8%)
09/12  X-Men v2 #16 - 27,066  ( -2.8%)
10/12  X-Men v2 #17 - 26,503  ( -2.1%)
10/12  X-Men v2 #18 - 26,322  ( -0.7%)
11/12  X-Men v2 #.1 - 25,425  ( -3.4%)
11/12  X-Men v2 #19 - 25,419  ( -0.0%)
12/12  X-Men v2 #20 - 24,789  ( -2.5%)
                      6 mnth  (-15.0%)
                      1 year  (-33.2%)
                      2 year  (  --- )
                      3 year  (  --- )
                      4 year  (-44.1%)
                      5 year  (-52.0%)

More attrition.

89. GAMBIT
08/12  Gambit v5 #1 - 40,418 
08/12  Gambit v5 #2 - 32,336  (-20.0%)
09/12  Gambit v5 #3 - 28,530  (-11.8%)
10/12  Gambit v5 #4 - 27,828  ( -2.5%)
11/12  Gambit v5 #5 - 26,723  ( -4.0%)
11/12  Gambit v5 #6 - 25,522  ( -4.5%)
12/12  Gambit v5 #7 - 23,978  ( -6.0%)

This isn’t looking terribly healthy – drops of this size can’t be surely sustained for long when you’re nearing the 20K mark.

90. WINTER SOLDIER
02/12  Winter Soldier #1  - 50,932
02/12  Winter Soldier #2  - 41,164  (-19.2%)
03/12  Winter Soldier #3  - 34,923  (-15.2%)
04/12  Winter Soldier #4  - 33,519  ( -4.0%)
05/12  Winter Soldier #5  - 30,646  ( -8.6%)
06/12  Winter Soldier #6  - 30,386  ( -0.8%)
06/12  Winter Soldier #7  - 28,984  ( -4.6%)
07/12  Winter Soldier #8  - 27,317  ( -5.8%)
08/12  Winter Soldier #9  - 26,255  ( -3.9%)
09/12  Winter Soldier #10 - 25,811  ( -1.7%)
09/12  Winter Soldier #11 - 25,310  ( -1.9%)
10/12  Winter Soldier #12 - 24,807  ( -2.0%)
11/12  ---
12/12  Winter Soldier #13 - 23,951  ( -3.5%)
                            6 mnth  (-17.4%)

Continuing decline – this isn’t looking too sustainable either.

92. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY
12/11  J/into Mystery #632 - 24,159  (-11.0%)
01/12  J/into Mystery #633 - 23,869  ( -1.2%)
02/12  J/into Mystery #634 - 22,323  ( -6.5%)
03/12  J/into Mystery #635 - 21,617  ( -3.2%)
04/12  J/into Mystery #636 - 21,148  ( -2.2%)
05/12  J/into Mystery #637 - 24,378  (+15.3%)
05/12  J/into Mystery #638 - 23,766  ( -2.5%)
06/12  J/into Mystery #639 - 21,914  ( -7.8%)
06/12  J/into Mystery #640 - 20,714  ( -5.5%)
07/12  J/into Mystery #641 - 19,850  ( -4.2%)
08/12  J/into Mystery #642 - 22,336  (+12.5%)
09/12  J/into Mystery #643 - 21,109  ( -5.5%)
09/12  J/into Mystery #644 - 20,588  ( -2.5%)
10/12  J/into Mystery #645 - 20,705  ( +0.6%)
11/12  J/into Mystery #646 - 22,898  (+10.6%)
12/12  J/into Mystery #647 - 22,514  ( -1.7%)
                             6 mnth  ( +8.7%)
                             1 year  ( -6.8%)

The second issue of the Sif story at least sustains most of the modest sales increase that it achieved.

93,95. X-FACTOR
12/07  X-Factor v3 #26 - 74,699
12/08  X-Factor v3 #38 - 34,425
12/09  X-Factor #200   - 36,577
12/10  X-Factor #212   - 26,433
=====
12/11  X-Factor #228   - 23,461  ( -1.2%)
12/11  X-Factor #229   - 23,667  ( +0.9%)
01/12  X-Factor #230   - 25,707  ( +8.6%)
02/12  X-Factor #231   - 24,362  ( -5.2%)
02/12  X-Factor #232   - 24,173  ( -0.8%)
03/12  X-Factor #233   - 23,840  ( -1.4%)
04/12  X-Factor #234   - 23,821  ( -0.1%)
05/12  X-Factor #235   - 24,051  ( +1.0%)
05/12  X-Factor #236   - 24,031  ( -0.1%)
06/12  X-Factor #237   - 24,854  ( +3.4%)
06/12  X-Factor #238   - 23,607  ( -5.0%)
07/12  X-Factor #239   - 23,506  ( -0.4%)
07/12  X-Factor #240   - 23,223  ( -1.2%)
08/12  X-Factor #241   - 22,943  ( -1.2%)
08/12  X-Factor #242   - 22,782  ( -0.7%)
09/12  X-Factor #243   - 22,118  ( -2.9%)
09/12  X-Factor #244   - 22,193  ( +0.3%)
10/12  X-Factor #245   - 22,364  ( +0.8%)
11/12  X-Factor #246   - 22,165  ( -0.9%)
11/12  X-Factor #247   - 22,005  ( -0.7%)
12/12  X-Factor #248   - 21,664  ( -1.5%)
12/12  X-Factor #249   - 21,211  ( -2.1%)
                         6 mnth  (-10.1%)
                         1 year  ( -9.6%)
                         2 year  (-19.8%)
                         3 year  (-42.0%)
                         4 year  (-28.4%)
                         5 year  (-71.6%)

Eroding, but only very slowly. The upcoming anniversary issue, which launches the “Hell on Earth War” storyline, might help. (Marvel say Peter David had written far enough ahead that his health problems won’t force an interruption.)

98. RED SHE-HULK
12/08  Hulk #9          - 87,786
12/09  Hulk #18         - 53,222
12/10  Hulk #28         - 34,755
=====
12/11  Hulk #45         - 23,273  ( -5.4%)
12/11  Hulk #46         - 22,974  ( -1.3%)
01/12  Hulk #47         - 22,720  ( -1.1%)
02/12  Hulk #48         - 21,751  ( -4.3%)
03/12  Hulk #49         - 21,510  ( -1.1%)
04/12  Hulk #50         - 34,437  (+60.1%)
05/12  Hulk #51         - 22,085  (-35.9%)
05/12  Hulk #52         - 21,882  ( -0.9%)
06/12  Hulk #53         - 22,386  ( +2.3%)
06/12  Hulk #54         - 22,070  ( -1.4%)
07/12  Hulk #55         - 22,141  ( +0.3%)
08/12  Hulk #56         - 21,558  ( -2.6%)
08/12  Hulk #57         - 21,553  ( -0.0%)
09/12  ---
10/12  Red She-Hulk #58 - 31,136  (+44.5%)
11/12  Red She-Hulk #59 - 20,668  (-33.6%)
12/12  Red She-Hulk #60 - 20,798  ( +0.6%)
                          6 mnth  ( -5.8%)
                          1 year  (-10.6%)
                          2 year  (-40.2%)
                          3 year  (-60.9%)
                          4 year  (-76.3%)

Comparing this book’s sales with HULK feels a bit unfair, but then it did inherit the numbering. The sales obviously aren’t huge, but with a small uptick in December, they are at least steady.

100. DARK AVENGERS
06/12  Dark Avengers #175 - 39,532  
06/12  Dark Avengers #176 - 34,614  (-12.4%)
07/12  Dark Avengers #177 - 30,643  (-11.5%)
07/12  Dark Avengers #178 - 28,572  ( -6.8%)
08/12  Dark Avengers #179 - 25,835  ( -9.6%)
09/12  Dark Avengers #180 - 23,761  ( -8.0%)
09/12  Dark Avengers #181 - 23,044  ( -3.0%)
10/12  Dark Avengers #182 - 21,936  ( -4.8%)
11/12  Dark Avengers #183 - 21,109  ( -3.8%)
12/12  Dark Avengers #184 - 20,584  ( -2.5%)
                            6 mnth  (-40.5%)

Erosion, at a level that looks problematic.

103. CAPTAIN MARVEL
12/07  Ms Marvel v2 #22     - 25,540
12/08  Ms Marvel v2 #34     - 29,770
12/09  Ms Marvel v2 #48     - 22,527
12/10  ---
=====
07/12  Captain Marvel v6 #1 - 41,582
08/12  Captain Marvel v6 #2 - 28,434  (-31.6%)
08/12  Captain Marvel v6 #3 - 27,649  ( -2.8%)
09/12  Captain Marvel v6 #4 - 24,799  (-10.3%)
10/12  Captain Marvel v6 #5 - 28,619  (+15.4%)
10/12  Captain Marvel v6 #6 - 23,103  (-19.3%)
11/12  Captain Marvel v6 #7 - 21,744  ( -5.9%)
12/12  Captain Marvel v6 #8 - 19,970  ( -8.2%)
                              6 mnth  (  --- )
                              1 year  (  --- )
                              2 year  (  --- )
                              3 year  (-11.4%)
                              4 year  (-32.9%)
                              5 year  (-21.8%)

Losing orders at an alarming rate, I’m sorry to say. This surely can’t go on.

104. MARVEL UNIVERSE VS AVENGERS
10/12  MU v Avengers #1 of 4 - 27,650
11/12  MU v Avengers #2 of 4 - 21,949  (-20.6%)
12/12  MU v Avengers #3 of 4 - 19,355  (-11.8%)

Considering it’s an out of continuity miniseries, really not bad at all.

105. AGE OF APOCALYPSE
03/12  Age of Apocalypse #1  - 56,426
04/12  Age of Apocalypse #2  - 39,263  (-30.4%)
05/12  Age of Apocalypse #3  - 32,085  (-18.3%)
06/12  Age of Apocalypse #4  - 30,469  ( -5.0%)
07/12  Age of Apocalypse #5  - 27,223  (-10.7%)
08/12  Age of Apocalypse #6  - 25,393  ( -6.7%)
09/12  Age of Apocalypse #7  - 23,618  ( -7.0%)
10/12  Age of Apocalypse #8  - 22,293  ( -5.6%)
11/12  Age of Apocalypse #9  - 20,630  ( -7.5%)
12/12  Age of Apocalypse #10 - 19,337  ( -6.3%)
                               6 mnth  (-36.5%)

Cancelled with issue #14. Presumably for real, with sales like this.

107. ULTIMATE COMICS IRON MAN
10/12  Iron Man v3 #1 of 4 - 27,744
11/12  Iron Man v3 #2 of 4 - 20,969  (-24.4%)
12/12  Iron Man v3 #3 of 4 - 18,992  ( -9.4%)

Somewhat under the radar.

120,122. X-TREME X-MEN
07/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #1 - 36,802
08/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #2 - 25,689  (-30.2%)
09/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #3 - 24,490  ( -4.7%)
09/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #4 - 22,584  ( -7.8%)
10/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #5 - 19,841  (-12.1%)
11/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #6 - 17,947  ( -9.5%)
11/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #7 - 17,602  ( -1.9%)
12/12  X-Treme X-Men #7.1  - 16,682  ( -5.2%)
12/12  X-Treme X-Men v2 #8 - 16,536  ( -0.9%)

Cancelled with issue #13.

123. CAPTAIN AMERICA AND…
12/11  ...Bucky #625       - 28,652  ( -6.0%)
01/12  ...Bucky #626       - 27,632  ( -3.6%)
02/12  ...Bucky #627       - 26,276  ( -4.9%)
03/12  ...Bucky #628       - 24,881  ( -5.3%)
04/12  ...Hawkeye #629     - 24,750  ( -0.5%)
05/12  ...Hawkeye #630     - 23,774  ( -3.9%)
05/12  ...Hawkeye #631     - 22,684  ( -4.6%)
06/12  ...Hawkeye #632     - 21,674  ( -4.5%)
06/12  ...Iron Man #633    - 21,822  ( +0.7%)
07/12  ...Iron Man #634    - 20,641  ( -5.4%)
08/12  ...Iron Man #635    - 19,639  ( -4.9%)
08/12  ...Namor #.1        - 19,152  ( -2.5%)
09/12  ...Black Widow #636 - 19,101  ( -0.3%)
09/12  ...Black Widow #637 - 18,722  ( -2.0%)
10/12  ...Black Widow #638 - 17,944  ( -4.2%)
11/12  ...Black Widow #639 - 17,190  ( -4.2%)
12/12  ...Black Widow #640 - 16,530  ( -3.8%)
                             6 mnth  (-24.3%)
                             1 year  (-42.3%)

Final issue.

145. FURY MAX
05/12  Fury Max #1 - 20,620
05/12  Fury Max #2 - 19,021  ( -7.8%)
06/12  Fury Max #3 - 17,152  ( -9.8%)
07/12  Fury Max #4 - 16,329  ( -4.8%)
08/12  Fury Max #5 - 15,646  ( -4.2%)
09/12  Fury Max #6 - 14,646  ( -6.4%)
10/12  ---
11/12  ---
12/12  Fury Max #7 - 14,345  ( -2.1%)
                     6 mnth  (-16.4%)

This book seems to be effectively in the “series of miniseries” format, though unusually it’s just continuing its numbering. The solicitation for issue #10 described it as the start of the “final arc”.

And bringing up the rear, the usual clutch of adaptations and all-ages books, none of which are expected to survive on the strength of direct market sales anyway.

219. CASTLE: A CALM BEFORE THE STORM
12/12  Castle #1 of 5 - 7,174

269. MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
04/12  MUU Spider-Man #1 - 10,886
05/12  MUU Spider-Man #2 -  7,581  (-30.4%)
06/12  MUU Spider-Man #3 -  6,756  (-10.9%)
07/12  MUU Spider-Man #4 -  6,447  ( -4.6%)
08/12  MUU Spider-Man #5 -  6,310  ( -2.1%)
09/12  MUU Spider-Man #6 -  5,873  ( -6.9%)
10/12  MUU Spider-Man #7 -  5,768  ( -1.8%)
11/12  MUU Spider-Man #8 -  5,588  ( -3.1%)
12/12  MUU Spider-Man #9 -  5,235  ( -6.3%)
                           6 mnth  (-22.5%)

273. MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS
04/12  MU Avengers #1 - 12,874
05/12  MU Avengers #2 -  6,733  (-47.7%)
06/12  MU Avengers #3 -  6,345  ( -5.8%)
07/12  MU Avengers #4 -  6,421  ( +1.2%)
08/12  MU Avengers #5 -  6,134  ( -4.5%)
09/12  MU Avengers #6 -  5,906  ( -3.7%)
10/12  MU Avengers #7 -  5,630  ( -4.7%)
11/12  MU Avengers #8 -  5,389  ( -4.3%)
12/12  MU Avengers #9 -  5,207  ( -3.4%)
                        6 mnth  (-17.9%)

289. MONSTERS INC
12/12  Monsters Inc #1 of 2 - 4,917

And failing to make the top 300, MARVEL’S IRON MAN 2 ADAPTATION #2 and the reprint book SPACEKNIGHTS #3.

6 month comparisons
===================

+232.7% - Amazing Spider-Man
+104.0% - Deadpool
+ 74.7% - Thor
+ 74.4% - Iron Man
+ 67.0% - Hulk
+ 63.2% - Captain America
+ 44.4% - Fantastic Four
+ 34.5% - FF
+  9.2% - Punisher
+  8.7% - Journey into Mystery
+  4.1% - Avenging Spider-Man
+  0.5% - Uncanny X-Force
-  2.2% - Wolverine
-  3.2% - X-Men Legacy
-  5.8% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk
- 10.1% - X-Factor
- 10.9% - Venom
- 12.6% - Ultimates
- 13.2% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 15.0% - Ultimate X-Men
- 16.1% - Scarlet Spider
- 16.4% - Fury Max
- 17.4% - Winter Soldier
- 17.9% - Marvel Universe Avengers
- 18.1% - X-Men
- 18.3% - Daredevil
- 20.9% - Avengers Assemble
- 22.5% - Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man
- 24.3% - Captain America And…
- 29.6% - Wolverine and the X-Men
- 36.5% - Age of Apocalypse
- 40.0% - A+X
- 40.4% - Secret Avengers
- 40.5% - Dark Avengers
- 68.2% - Astonishing X-Men

1 year comparisons
===================

+267.7% - Amazing Spider-Man
+140.5% - Thunderbolts
+132.4% - Deadpool
+ 60.2% - Iron Man
+ 46.2% - Thor
+ 37.0% - Hulk
+ 36.3% - Avengers
+ 36.0% - Captain America
+ 19.7% - X-Men Legacy
+ 14.4% - Fantastic Four
+  6.3% - Punisher
+  2.5% - FF
-  6.8% - Journey into Mystery
-  7.7% - Daredevil
-  8.0% - Wolverine
-  9.6% - X-Factor
- 10.6% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk
- 12.0% - Uncanny X-Force
- 13.2% - Venom
- 16.3% - Astonishing X-Men
- 19.5% - Secret Avengers
- 21.9% - Wolverine and the X-Men
- 23.5% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 25.0% - X-Men
- 25.9% - Ultimates
- 31.6% - Avenging Spider-Man
- 33.2% - Ultimate X-Men
- 42.3% - Captain America And…

2 year comparisons
==================

+259.9% - Amazing Spider-Man
+ 97.5% - Deadpool
+ 82.6% - Hulk
+ 82.1% - Thunderbolts
+ 64.3% - Avengers
+ 53.4% - Punisher
+ 50.2% - Captain America
+ 36.4% - Fantastic Four
+ 35.4% - Iron Man
+ 23.0% - Thor
+  9.6% - Ultimate Spider-Man
-  8.8% - X-Men Legacy
- 11.5% - Daredevil
- 14.0% - Uncanny X-Force
- 19.8% - X-Factor
- 34.9% - Wolverine
- 40.2% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk
- 43.1% - Secret Avengers
- 44.7% - X-Men

3 year comparisons
==================

+241.5% - Amazing Spider-Man
+ 69.9% - Thunderbolts
+ 52.0% - Fantastic Four
+ 44.8% - Hulk
+ 40.0% - Avengers
+ 31.1% - Deadpool
+ 13.4% - Iron Man
+  2.7% - Wolverine
+  1.9% - Punisher
+  0.6% - Thor
-  7.3% - Daredevil
-  8.0% - Uncanny X-Force
- 11.4% - Captain Marvel/Ms Marvel
- 19.4% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 25.1% - X-Men Legacy
- 29.9% - Captain America
- 42.0% - X-Factor
- 54.4% - Astonishing X-Men
- 60.9% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk

4 year comparisons
==================

+191.7% - Amazing Spider-Man
+ 39.9% - Thunderbolts
+ 28.5% - Deadpool
+ 14.5% - Punisher
+  8.1% - Fantastic Four
   n/c  - Iron Man
-  9.6% - Captain America
- 18.8% - Uncanny X-Force
- 19.2% - Daredevil
- 24.7% - Thor
- 27.5% - Hulk
- 27.7% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 28.4% - X-Factor
- 32.9% - Captain Marvel/Ms Marvel
- 44.1% - Ultimate X-Men
- 53.6% - X-Men Legacy
- 65.3% - Wolverine
- 76.3% - Red She-Hulk / Hulk

5 year comparisons
==================

+ 61.4% - Amazing Spider-Man
+ 46.0% - Iron Man
+ 13.8% - Fantastic Four
- 17.5% - Hulk
- 17.8% - Captain America
- 18.3% - Daredevil
- 21.8% - Captain Marvel/Ms Marvel
- 33.8% - Punisher
- 38.8% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 41.9% - X-Men Legacy
- 45.3% - Thor
- 45.6% - Wolverine
- 52.0% - Ultimate X-Men
- 71.6% - X-Factor
- 79.5% - Ultimates

23 COMMENTS

  1. Marvel’s NOW Initiative, in my opinion, will probably fare better in the long run than DCs 52 for two reasons. A) Marvel didn’t reboot their continuity, thus they didn’t drive away long term fans. B) They shook things up enough and are offering enough new looks/books that they may draw in some new readers.

  2. Captain Marvel just needs to be a better book all around, I’m afraid. I like the character, but this book has been a dud.

  3. What are the chances Red She Hulk’s upswing will continue? I love it and hate that its on the verge of cancellation. Why is there no fan love for Jeff Parker?

    I didn’t realize how stable the Punishers numbers were. It could have had sales similar to X-Factor in the long run. I think Marvel was a bit hasty in cancelling it.

    I’ll be sorry to see Gambit, Winter Soldier and Capitan Marvel go.

  4. I’m not surprised at the big drop for FF. The art is uneven, to say the least, and the entire concept is bizarre.

  5. @Kentucky Fried Horse – I don’t doubt A) but I’m not sure about B). But we don’t know for sure either way.

  6. I was surprised Marvel beat DC this month by only 3 points in dollars. Overall, that can’t be good as DC is losing readers at a pretty good rate. The TP sales gaining over Dec holiday sales is pretty bizarre also. Usually TP sales are great in holiday season and the following year gets quiet as people pay off their holiday spending. Very strange numbers. Looks like Marvel’s reboot may not last as long as DC’s though. While they launch well with variant cover sales, I don’t see numbers big enough to get excited about here long term (months?)

  7. Sad to see FF and Journey Into Mystery not doing so well. Brilliant, quirky reads and fresh air compared to the rest of the Avengers/X line. Fingers crossed they survive.

    I don’t understand how Marvel has had number 1s in the 100Ks, only for them to almost halve for issue 2. What’s the point of using variants to inflate sales, to make it look like Marvel Now has been a success? Because when they stop the covers, that’ll be the real picture of sales, right?

  8. The art on FF is uneven? Every panel of every page of every issue is drawn and colored in the same style and at the same level of quality by the same artist/s.

    Or did you mean Fantastic Four? Because the art on that is…not Bagley’s best work.

  9. Perhaps “uneven” was the wrong word. Not to my liking might have been a more appropriate. I am not really sure what it is that I dislike. Maybe it crosses the line into just too cartoony for my tastes. That and often the characters seem to be depicted at odd angles. I will admit that the lengthy sequence with Darla in a towel in issue #3 was very well done (to be fair, though, when I read it I had been sick for three days with a severe cold, so I may not have been all there).

    I stand by my statement that FF’s concept is bizarre. I really enjoyed Volume 1 but three issues into Volume 2 and I have yet to really enjoy any of it, other than the aforementioned Darla-in-towel sequence.

  10. It’s a shame to see the numbers so low on Captain Marvel and Journey, those are both really good books. Considering the amount of online fan involvement on Cap though, I wouldn’t be surprised if digital makes up for a lot of it’s sales.

    As for Journey Into Mystery, maybe next issue’s obligatory Spider-Man cameo can save it.

  11. V Wiley, one of the big differences between Marvel Now and the New 52 is that DC did a reboot of their universe(a half @$$ reboot, but a reboot nonetheless) while Marvel is simply doing a relaunch of a lot of their line coming out of A vs. X.

  12. Thanks for including the volume numbers; it’s interesting to see how many reboots each title has had (seems 5-6 is pretty average for a major title)!

  13. I bought the first issue of FF and thought it was fine. But it has little retained from the previous series whose character I loved and there wasn’t anything about that first issue that grabbed me. I miss Hickman’s FF a whole helluva lot.
    Those annoying AVX crossover issues definitely killed Wolverine and the X-Men’s flow. More traditional action-oriented books can roll those mandated crossovers off their backs but more quirky books usually end up getting hurt by them.
    “I didn’t realize how stable the Punishers numbers were. It could have had sales similar to X-Factor in the long run. I think Marvel was a bit hasty in cancelling it.” Me neither! Seems like they definitely jumped the gun. What was the reason for it? Because he’s on the Thunderbolts? Because I don’t see why they couldn’t exist simultaneously.

  14. That is alot of 50% drops on the Marvel Now second issues! And yet the column writer is still quite optimistic!! haha… too funny! And both the Fantastic Four and FF are practically at their prelaunch figures.

    @Mesektet – I love Jeff Parker’s writing!! Still loving Dark Avengers, but I’m hoping he has some new projects coming up :-) Unfortunately I wont be picking up his Superman comic, because its an anthology title and I ain’t supporting that other writer! Sorry Jeff!! :-(

  15. ^Yeah, really. Marvel doesn’t seem to care how incongruous Wolverine’s many team and solo appearances are . . . But the Punisher as Rucka wrote him can’t exist as part of a team in another book? Weird. Especially weird because the end-cap mini-series of Rucka’s run won’t conclude until after Thunderbolts is at issue #5 or something. So, what’s the problem with publishing both versions of the character at the same time?

  16. Funny how everyone is calling for the demise of DC. Sure they are replacing titles often, but I see Marvel up only 3% over DC….and Marvel now is already losing momentum. At least DC is trying to launch some titles and take risk with projects like, IVampire, others….

    Seriously both Companies relaunches are a short term thing, DCs lasted 18 months, Marvels probably 6 months as it is not a full reboot. And they both rely too much on 1 major franchise (Batman and Avengers) – all I care about above all this, is ready some decent comics.

  17. @Rich H: “What’s the point of using variants to inflate sales, to make it look like Marvel Now has been a success? Because when they stop the covers, that’ll be the real picture of sales, right?”

    It’s late and I might not be reading you right, but the point is money! :-D It may not be healthy in the long run, but those 200K issues of Spider-Man sure do feel good to Marvel at the time! They are really getting out of bounds with the variants (for the same reason). I think the lowest threshold on Nova is 1:50. That’s great for Marvel’s bottom line, but I go to a LCS that has tried to stand out from the local chain by offering variants. He can’t do it with those kinds of numbers on anything less than a Spider-Man or something along those lines that sell to a lot of his customers already. I like the Marcos Martin variant of Nova, but he already told me, “Sorry, I won’t be getting it.”

  18. Oh, and just to be clear, I wouldn’t pay that kind of money for a variant anyway. I’m in for variants if they are cover or close to it, but not something that costs double digits (or more).

  19. Just checked January’s numbers on CC and…..Disaster!

    Avengers #4 at 83k
    All-New X-Men #5 at 76k
    Cable & X-Force #3 at 51k
    Fan 4 #3 & Thor #4 at 50k
    Thunderbolts #3 at 44k
    Arena #3 at 38
    X-Men Legacy #5 at 34k (Already lower than the previous volume ever got)
    Red She Hulk #61 at 18k

    All the books are well on their way to the numbers the had before the relaunch and some of them are even lower. FAIL!

    I’ll look forward to the Marvel execs trying to tell us how big a success Now! was.

    It would be interesting to see a comparison of the early issue drops between Now! & The new 52

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