by Paul O’Brien
Marvel Now rolls on into February. This month’s major events are the relaunch of UNCANNY X-MEN, the “Point One” prologue issue for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, the return of NOVA with Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, and a new take on SECRET AVENGERS. More generally, the first wave of relaunched titles have now been around long enough that we’re starting to get a sense of which ones are already settling down, and which ones aren’t.
Though DC had the top selling book of the month – JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA – Marvel still had the largest share of the North American direct market, leading DC by 38% to 33% in units and 35% to 29% in dollars.
(As always, bear in mind that the North American direct market is only one channel – the total audience for these stories will include digital sales, trade paperback sales, European sales, and so forth.)
Thanks as always to ICV2.com for permission to use these figures.
2,7. UNCANNY X-MEN
02/08 Uncanny X-Men #495 - 90,410
02/09 Uncanny X-Men #506 - 71,684
02/10 Uncanny X-Men #521 - 67,049
02/11 Uncanny X-Men #533 - 53,834
=====
02/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #6 - 59,834 ( -5.7%)
02/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #7 - 59,200 ( -1.1%)
03/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #8 - 57,568 ( -2.8%)
03/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #9 - 56,976 ( -1.0%)
04/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #10 - 56,906 ( -0.1%)
04/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #11 - 75,109 ( +32.0%)
05/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #12 - 69,265 ( -7.8%)
06/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #13 - 70,521 ( +1.8%)
06/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #14 - 67,793 ( -3.9%)
07/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #15 - 66,114 ( -2.5%)
07/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #16 - 63,835 ( -3.4%)
08/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #17 - 61,095 ( -4.3%)
09/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #18 - 59,794 ( -2.1%)
10/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #19 - 59,283 ( -0.9%)
10/12 Uncanny X-Men v2 #20 - 65,981 ( +11.3%)
11/12 ---
12/12 ---
01/13 ---
02/13 Uncanny X-Men v3 #1 - 177,463 (+169.0%)
02/13 Uncanny X-Men v3 #2 - 94,615 ( -46.7%)
6 mnth ( +54.9%)
1 year ( +58.1%)
2 year ( +75.8%)
3 year ( +41.1%)
4 year ( +32.0%)
5 year ( +4.7%)
Following a now-common Marvel strategy, the previous volume of UNCANNY X-MEN was immediately followed by ALL-NEW X-MEN, which is now joined by a new UNCANNY X-MEN. The idea is presumably that both books come across as continuations of the previous title, and both inherit its sales. And it seems to work, more or less. ALL-NEW X-MEN launched slightly higher than this – 182K on issue #1, dropping to 96K for issue #2 – but the difference isn’t much.
So presumably UNCANNY is on course to mirror ALL-NEW’s sales, at least as long as Marvel continue to give the impression that both titles are of equal significance.
5,6. SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN
02/08 Amazing #551 - 88,084
02/09 Amazing #587 - 60,118
02/10 Amazing #622 - 53,929
02/11 Amazing #653 - 53,103
=====
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 - 87,537 ( +46.2%)
12/12 Amazing #699 - 80,048 ( -8.6%)
12/12 Amazing #.1 - 71,344 ( -10.9%)
12/12 Amazing #700 - 260,309 (+264.9%)
01/13 Superior #1 - 204,609 ( -21.4%)
01/13 Superior #2 - 118,104 ( -42.3%)
02/13 Superior #3 - 101,811 ( -13.8%)
02/13 Superior #4 - 95,892 ( -5.8%)
6 mnth ( +58.0%)
1 year ( +82.4%)
2 year ( +80.6%)
3 year ( +77.8%)
4 year ( +59.5%)
5 year ( +8.9%)
The drops are getting smaller with each issue, and SUPERIOR looks set to settle down at a level significantly up from AMAZING’s regular territory in the high 50Ks. Considering that this is essentially just a very well promoted storyline within the same title, I’d call that an excellent result.
Earlier issues continue to rack up re-orders. Issue #700 adds a whopping 49,355 copies to reappear on the chart at number 35 – that’ll be due to the second printing which came out on February 6. Issue #1 adds 16,427, and issue #2 adds 5,558. Those numbers are all added into the figures above (which of course make the drops appear steeper).
8. UNCANNY AVENGERS 10/12 Uncanny Avengers #1 - 303,722 11/12 Uncanny Avengers #2 - 114,257 (-62.4%) 12/12 --- 01/13 Uncanny Avengers #3 - 92,165 (-19.3%) 02/13 Uncanny Avengers #4 - 87,539 ( -5.0%)
Again, the drops are getting noticeably smaller each month.
10,67. SECRET AVENGERS
02/11 Secret Avengers #10 - 49,717
=====
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%)
01/13 Secret Avengers #36 - 29,330 ( -4.6%)
01/13 Secret Avengers #37 - 32,139 ( +9.6%)
02/13 Secret Avengers v2 #1 - 85,267 (+196.4%)
6 mnth (+123.0%)
1 year (+116.8%)
2 year ( +71.5%)
The final issue of the outgoing series gets the now-familiar sales boost (it seems somebody really is collecting those final issue variants), and then sales shoot up for the relaunch. 85K puts the book in similar territory to the recent relaunches of X-MEN LEGACY (87K) and UNCANNY X-FORCE (86K), so about what you’d expect for a book occupying this position in one of Marvel’s main franchises.
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 - 90,161 ( -6.5%) 12/12 All-New X-Men #4 - 86,677 ( -3.9%) 01/13 All-New X-Men #5 - 81,846 ( -5.6%) 01/13 All-New X-Men #6 - 80,195 ( -2.0%) 02/13 All-New X-Men #7 - 85,234 ( +6.3%)
Issue #5 picks up reorders of 5,839, which are added into the numbers above, and bring that issue more into line with those around it. This means that in terms of first-month sales, the book has actually now risen for two issues running. Not common, and a very promising sign. In particular, there’s no obvious reason for the sales increase on issue #7 beyond simple interest in the series.
12,13. AVENGERS
02/11 Avengers v4 #10 - 63,924
=====
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 - 99,028 ( -47.0%)
01/13 Avengers v5 #3 - 92,165 ( -6.9%)
01/13 Avengers v5 #4 - 83,088 ( -9.8%)
02/13 Avengers v5 #5 - 82,452 ( -0.8%)
02/13 Avengers v5 #6 - 84,868 ( +2.9%)
6 mnth ( +37.7%)
1 year ( +61.1%)
2 year ( +32.8%)
Issue #5 has one extra variant compared to those around it, but there’s no immediately obvious reason for issue #6 to have started going back up again – it’s the origin of the new Captain Universe. Quite simply, the most obvious explanation here too is that the book has rapidly found its level.
14. NOVA
02/08 ---
02/09 Nova v4 #22 - 25,065
02/10 Nova v4 #34 - 23,014
=====
02/13 Nova v5 #1 - 80,857
3 year (+251.3%)
4 year (+222.6%)
15. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
02/09 Guardians v2 #10 - 27,648
02/10 Guardians v2 #23 - 22,807
=====
02/13 Guardians #0.1 - 80,344
3 year (+252.2%)
4 year (+190.6%)
There has always been a contingent of fans asking: why put big name creators on your biggest titles, when they might make more of a difference on the smaller ones? And it’s an entirely reasonable question. The standard answer is that Marvel think they get more bang for their buck from these guys on the higher-profile books, but by putting the likes of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness on NOVA, and Brian Bendis and Steve McNiven on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, Marvel are giving the other theory a fair try.
The result? Well, the numbers are in a different league to the previous runs from a few years ago, which should come as no surprise. So the big names (and the accompanying promotional support) are making a difference. On the other hand, an 80K launch puts NOVA below THUNDERBOLTS (83K), and at roughly the same level as November’s FF #1 (80,701). So lower than you might expect from these creators.
But, some might argue, that’s not the point. The best use of them is the book where they make the most difference by bringing in the most extra readers – and the major franchises sell a lot more to start with, whoever is working on them. So even if a Jeph Loeb AVENGERS book might sell more copies, he could well be making more difference to a book like NOVA.
16. NEW AVENGERS
02/08 New Avengers #38 - 104,140
02/09 New Avengers #50 - 106,831
02/10 New Avengers #62 - 76,405
02/11 New Avengers v2 #8 - 61,169
=====
02/12 New Avengers v2 #21 - 54,105 ( +2.3%)
02/12 New Avengers v2 #22 - 51,235 ( -5.3%)
03/12 New Avengers v2 #23 - 51,697 ( +0.9%)
04/12 New Avengers v2 #24 - 64,533 ( +24.8%)
04/12 New Avengers v2 #25 - 61,950 ( -4.0%)
05/12 New Avengers v2 #26 - 64,326 ( +3.8%)
06/12 New Avengers v2 #27 - 64,927 ( +0.9%)
07/12 New Avengers v2 #28 - 62,739 ( -3.4%)
08/12 New Avengers v2 #29 - 59,441 ( -5.3%)
09/12 New Avengers v2 #30 - 56,742 ( -4.5%)
10/12 New Avengers v2 #31 - 53,456 ( -5.8%)
11/12 New Avengers v2 #32 - 52,784 ( -1.3%)
11/12 New Avengers v2 #33 - 50,045 ( -5.2%)
11/12 New Avengers v2 #34 - 53,862 ( +7.6%)
12/12 ---
01/13 New Avengers v3 #1 - 116,280 (+115.9%)
01/13 New Avengers v3 #2 - 79,433 ( -31.7%)
02/13 New Avengers v3 #3 - 72,110 ( -9.2%)
6 mnth ( +21.3%)
1 year ( +33.3%)
2 year ( +17.9%)
3 year ( -5.6%)
4 year ( -32.5%)
5 year ( -30.7%)
This relaunch is only in its second month out. The drops are getting rapidly smaller, and it’s on course to settle at a level far above the previous volume. It’s not on course to return to the glory days of four or five years ago, though of course it’s no longer the lead Avengers book.
23. SAVAGE WOLVERINE 01/13 Savage Wolverine #1 - 102,530 02/13 Savage Wolverine #2 - 58,254 (-43.2%)
This seems to be the usual order of second issue drop for the major Marvel Now titles.
24. DEADPOOL
02/09 Deadpool v3 #7 - 44,082
02/10 Deadpool v3 #19 - 44,580
02/11 Deadpool v3 #33 - 28,649
=====
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 - 123,306 (+324.5%)
11/12 Deadpool v4 #2 - 72,057 ( -41.6%)
12/12 Deadpool v4 #3 - 60,215 ( -16.4%)
01/13 Deadpool v4 #4 - 57,061 ( -5.2%)
02/13 Deadpool v4 #5 - 57,312 ( +0.4%)
6 mnth (+101.0%)
1 year ( +40.8%)
2 year (+100.0%)
3 year ( +28.6%)
4 year ( +30.0%)
Another title that looks like it may have rapidly found its level, even posting a very small gain in February. It’s particularly impressive when you consider what a vast increase it is over the inherited sales.
26. UNCANNY X-FORCE
02/08 X-Force v3 #1 - 105,149
02/09 X-Force v3 #12 - 51,449
02/10 X-Force v3 #24 - 49,790
02/11 X-Force v4 #5 - 51,470
=====
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%)
01/13 X-Force v5 #1 - 86,187 (+80.5%)
02/13 X-Force v5 #2 - 56,713 (-34.2%)
6 mnth (+26.3%)
1 year (+12.0%)
2 year (+10.2%)
3 year (+13.9%)
4 year (+10.2%)
5 year (-46.1%)
By the standards of Marvel Now, that’s a comparatively modest second issue drop. The book could well be on course to win up in similar territory to the previous volume, but it was doing well enough before that that should be no cause for complaint.
27. INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK
02/08 Hulk #2 - 93,725
02/09 Hulk #10 - 77,217
02/10 Incredible Hulk #607 - 45,870
02/11 Incredible Hulks #622 - 30,404
=====
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%)
01/13 Indestructible #3 - 59,431 ( -6.6%)
02/13 Indestructible #4 - 56,214 ( -5.4%)
6 mnth ( +52.5%)
1 year ( +31.5%)
2 year ( +84.9%)
3 year ( +22.6%)
4 year ( -27.2%)
5 year ( -40.0%)
More of a slide in evidence here, but it’s still too early to know quite where this is heading. Sales remain comfortably ahead of the last few years. The previous relaunch, which started in similar territory, was already down at 42K by this point.
30. FEARLESS DEFENDERS
02/12 Defenders v4 #3 - 33,548 ( -13.8%)
03/12 Defenders v4 #4 - 29,789 ( -11.2%)
04/12 Defenders v4 #5 - 27,893 ( -6.4%)
05/12 Defenders v4 #6 - 25,518 ( -8.5%)
06/12 Defenders v4 #7 - 23,574 ( -7.6%)
07/12 Defenders v4 #8 - 22,504 ( -4.5%)
08/12 Defenders v4 #9 - 21,500 ( -4.5%)
09/12 Defenders v4 #10 - 20,220 ( -6.0%)
10/12 Defenders v4 #11 - 19,361 ( -4.2%)
11/12 Defenders v4 #12 - 18,588 ( -4.0%)
12/12 ---
01/13 ---
02/13 Defenders v5 #1 - 53,688 (+188.8%)
6 mnth (+149.7%)
1 year ( +60.0%)
Arguably more a recycled name than a continuation of the same property, but what the heck. Orders of 54K put the book in similar territory to SCARLET SPIDER (53K) and AGE OF APOCALYPSE (56K), so it’s not the greatest of starting points, but it’s good enough to give it a chance at finding an audience.
31. CAPTAIN AMERICA
02/08 Captain America v6 #35 - 86,038
02/09 Captain America v6 #47 - 62,850
02/10 Captain America #603 - 63,568
02/11 Captain America #615 - 41,935
=====
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%)
01/13 Captain America v8 #3 - 59,836 ( -7.1%)
02/13 Captain America v8 #4 - 53,112 ( -11.2%)
6 mnth ( +51.1%)
1 year ( +22.1%)
2 year ( +26.7%)
3 year ( -16.4%)
4 year ( -15.5%)
5 year ( -38.3%)
There’s no change in the variant covers here, so this seems to be a case where the percentage drops have just increased – not a great sign. The trend hasn’t really settled down yet, but at any rate, these are bigger drops than you’d be hoping for, four issues in.
33. THOR: GOD OF THUNDER
02/08 Thor v3 #6 - 98,315
02/09 Thor #600 - 96,718
02/10 Thor #607 - 66,973
02/11 Thor #620 - 42,106
=====
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%)
01/13 Thor v5 #4 - 50,478 ( -9.1%)
02/13 Thor v5 #5 - 51,861 ( +2.7%)
6 mnth ( +46.5%)
1 year ( +47.9%)
2 year ( +23.2%)
3 year ( -22.6%)
4 year ( -46.4%)
5 year ( -47.3%)
Here, in contrast, we have another book that shows signs of finding its level by going back up again, for no apparent reason beyond interest in the content.
38. IRON MAN
02/08 Iron Man v4 #26 - 36,607
02/09 Iron Man v5 #10 - 51,649
02/10 Iron Man v5 #23 - 50,027
02/11 Iron Man #501 - 41,517
=====
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%)
01/13 Iron Man v6 #5 - 50,899 ( -10.2%)
02/13 Iron Man v6 #6 - 46,206 ( -9.2%)
6 mnth ( +46.4%)
1 year ( +41.1%)
2 year ( +11.3%)
3 year ( -7.6%)
4 year ( -10.5%)
5 year ( +26.2%)
This one, though, isn’t looking quite so healthy. Granted, the 1:50 variant covers ended with issue #5, which goes some way to explaining the falls, but the book certainly doesn’t seem to be levelling out after six issues. It’s still got a good 15K leeway from its inherited sales.
39. CABLE & X-FORCE 12/12 Cable & X-Force #1 - 90,334 12/12 Cable & X-Force #2 - 57,719 (-36.1%) 01/13 Cable & X-Force #3 - 51,761 (-10.3%) 02/13 Cable & X-Force #4 - 46,104 (-10.9%)
This doesn’t seem to be levelling out either, and we’re reaching the point where 10% drops ought to be a little bit disconcerting.
41. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN
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%)
01/13 Wolverine/X-Men #23 - 43,963 ( -3.7%)
01/13 Wolverine/X-Men #24 - 44,716 ( +1.7%)
02/13 Wolverine/X-Men #25 - 45,057 ( +0.8%)
6 mnth (-22.9%)
1 year (-19.2%)
That’s two issues in a row that it’s gone up slightly (though admittedly there’s a variant on this one). The title may be settling down in the mid-40K range.
42. FANTASTIC FOUR
02/08 Fantastic Four #554 - 92,654
02/09 Fantastic Four #564 - 49,520
02/10 Fantastic Four #576 - 37,526
02/11 Fantastic Four #588 - 68,153
=====
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%)
01/13 Fantastic Four v5 #3 - 50,555 ( -13.5%)
02/13 Fantastic Four v5 #4 - 44,999 ( -11.0%)
6 mnth ( +23.3%)
1 year ( +6.1%)
2 year ( -34.0%)
3 year ( +19.9%)
4 year ( -9.1%)
5 year ( -51.4%)
Another book that’s still shedding readers more quickly than you’d expect by issue #4. We’re already back in the sales range from a year ago.
46. YOUNG AVENGERS 01/13 Young Avengers v2 #1 - 71,254 02/13 Young Avengers v2 #2 - 43,559 (-38.9%)
Pretty standard Marvel Now second-issue drop.
47,51. THUNDERBOLTS
02/08 ---
02/09 Thunderbolts #129 - 45,401
02/10 Thunderbolts #141 - 33,948
02/11 Thunderbolts #153 - 26,098
=====
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%)
01/13 Thunderbolts v2 #3 - 44,272 ( -13.0%)
02/13 Thunderbolts v2 #4 - 43,287 ( -2.2%)
02/13 Thunderbolts v2 #5 - 41,663 ( -3.8%)
6 mnth ( --- )
1 year (+113.6%)
2 year ( +59.6%)
3 year ( +22.7%)
4 year ( -8.2%)
5 year ( --- )
That’s more like it – this is the sort of drop I’d expect to see this far into a series, though the overall trend remains a bit unclear.
52. HIT-GIRL [Icon] 06/12 Hit-Girl #1 of 5 - 60,409 07/12 Hit-Girl #2 of 5 - 45,338 (-24.9%) 08/12 --- 09/12 Hit-Girl #3 of 5 - 42,678 ( -5.9%) 10/12 Hit-Girl #4 of 5 - 40,937 ( -4.1%) 11/12 --- 12/12 --- 01/13 Hit-Girl #5 of 5 - 39,569 ( -3.3%)
Fairly standard behaviour for a miniseries.
55. DAREDEVIL
02/08 Daredevil v2 #105 - 42,098
02/09 ---
02/10 Daredevil #505 - 38,693
02/11 Reborn #2 of 4 - 29,108
=====
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%)
01/13 Daredevil v3 #22 - 36,102 ( +0.7%)
02/13 Daredevil v3 #23 - 37,170 ( +3.0%)
6 mnth ( -1.7%)
1 year ( -1.9%)
2 year (+27.7%)
3 year ( -3.9%)
4 year ( --- )
5 year (-11.7%)
Climbing for the second month running, this looks to be at the very least a solid seller.
56. 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%)
01/13 Hawkeye v4 #7 - 37,000 (+10.6%)
02/13 Hawkeye v4 #8 - 36,898 ( -0.3%)
6 mnth (-23.7%)
A slight decline from last month’s hurricane special, but still the second-highest sale to date – something’s going right here.
Issue #1 shows up at number 285 with re-orders of 4,727. Since it’s a comic from six months ago, I’m assuming this is one of the occasional instances of Marvel dumping old stock, and I haven’t added it in to the figures above.
58. DEADPOOL: KILLUSTRATED 01/13 Killustrated #1 of 4 - 36,771 02/13 Killustrated #2 of 4 - 35,846 (-2.5%)
Wow. That’s a remarkably small second issue drop, even for a mini. And cutting back on the number of minis has certainly made it easier for the remaining books to stand out.
60. FF
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%)
01/13 FF v2 #3 - 41,108 ( -10.8%)
02/13 FF v2 #4 - 35,815 ( -12.9%)
6 mnth ( +18.5%)
1 year ( -11.7%)
Retailers seem to be chasing this one downwards too. Admittedly, the quirky FF seems like something that was always intended to be more of a cult title. Nonetheless, we’re rapidly on our way back to pre-relaunch sales here.
61. ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN
02/08 Spider-Man #119 - 58,045
02/09 Spider-Man #131 - 49,565
02/10 Spider-Man v2 #7 - 42,176
02/11 Spider-Man #153 - 43,986
=====
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%)
01/13 Spider-Man v3 #19 - 36,017 ( -2.5%)
02/13 Spider-Man v3 #20 - 35,461 ( -1.5%)
6 mnth (-16.8%)
1 year (-21.7%)
2 year (-19.4%)
3 year (-15.9%)
4 year (-28.4%)
5 year (-38.9%)
This has settled into the traditional gentle downhill slide.
63,65. AVENGERS ARENA 12/12 Avengers Arena #1 - 64,626 12/12 Avengers Arena #2 - 43,014 (-33.4%) 01/13 Avengers Arena #3 - 38,461 (-10.6%) 02/13 Avengers Arena #4 - 33,611 (-12.6%) 02/13 Avengers Arena #5 - 32,548 ( -3.2%)
Two issues this month, one with the big drop, the other not so much. There are precedents for this sort of thing on double-shipping titles, where retailers sometimes appear more likely to cut sales between months. (See the last couple of months of VENOM for an example.)
66. X-MEN
02/11 X-Men v3 #8 - 49,522
=====
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%)
01/13 X-Men v3 #40 - 28,515 ( -2.8%)
02/13 X-Men v3 #41 - 32,488 (+13.9%)
6 mnth ( -2.6%)
1 year (-12.0%)
2 year (-34.4%)
Final issue of the current run (and a fill-in to boot). The book is being relaunched around the theme of an all-female team.
70. X-MEN LEGACY
02/08 X-Men Legacy #208 - 88,132
02/09 X-Men Legacy #221 - 56,517
02/10 X-Men Legacy #233 - 51,344
02/11 X-Men Legacy #245 - 53,888
=====
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%)
01/13 X-Men Legacy v2 #4 - 37,673 ( -17.0%)
01/13 X-Men Legacy v2 #5 - 34,823 ( -7.6%)
02/13 X-Men Legacy v2 #6 - 31,074 ( -10.8%)
6 mnth ( -16.3%)
1 year ( -14.8%)
2 year ( -42.3%)
3 year ( -39.5%)
4 year ( -45.0%)
5 year ( -64.7%)
This book has now plunged comprehensively below the level of the previous volume – but then, it’s the same book in name only. Now reinvented as a Legion solo title, and without big name creators attached, it does have an excuse. Still, the size of the drops are definitely on the high side.
71. AVENGING SPIDER-MAN
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%)
01/13 Avenging Spider-Man #16 - 29,032 (-30.1%)
02/13 Avenging Spider-Man #17 - 30,783 ( +6.0%)
6 mnth ( -8.9%)
1 year (-32.5%)
Perhaps a little bit of spillover from the SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN storyline after all, thought’s hardly a huge impact.
74. 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%)
01/13 Avengers Assemble #11 - 31,027 ( -8.8%)
02/13 Avengers Assemble #12 - 29,475 ( -5.0%)
6 mnth (-18.4%)
These are rather steeper drops than you’d hope for this many issues into the new creative team’s run.
79. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE ANNUAL 02/13 Annual #1 - 27,028
Very close to the parent title.
81. 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%) 01/13 End of Days #4 of 8 - 27,770 ( -5.1%) 02/13 End of Days #5 of 8 - 26,777 ( -3.6%)
A pretty solid performance for an out-of-continuity mini; little wonder another DAREDEVIL mini has already been announced.
86. MORBIUS: THE LIVING VAMPIRE 01/13 Morbius v2 #1 - 43,883 02/13 Morbius v2 #2 - 25,735 (-41.4%)
Standard Marvel Now second-issue drop.
87. SCARLET SPIDER
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%)
01/13 Scarlet Spider #13 - 25,919 ( +0.6%)
02/13 Scarlet Spider #14 - 24,388 ( -5.9%)
6 mnth (-11.9%)
1 year (-27.8%)
This one has settled into the pattern of gentle erosion.
88. ASTONISHING X-MEN
02/08 ---
02/09 ---
02/10 ---
02/11 Astonishing X-Men #36 - 44,326
=====
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%)
01/13 Astonishing X-Men #58 - 25,159 ( -4.2%)
02/13 Astonishing X-Men #59 - 24,195 ( -3.8%)
6 mnth (-25.0%)
1 year (-20.6%)
2 year (-45.4%)
3 year ( --- )
4 year ( --- )
5 year ( --- )
As has this; the burst of attention from the gay wedding issues really hasn’t resulted in any long-term gain, it seems.
90. ULTIMATES
02/08 Ultimates v3 #3 - 97,210
02/09 ---
02/10 ---
02/11 New Ultimates #5 - 38,663
=====
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%)
01/13 Ultimates v5 #20 - 25,613 ( -5.0%)
02/13 Ultimates v5 #21 - 23,811 ( -7.0%)
6 mnth (-21.4%)
1 year (-29.7%)
2 year (-38.4%)
3 year ( --- )
4 year ( --- )
5 year (-75.5%)
Uh-oh. The drops are actually gathering pace on this one, and it’s not at a level where it has an awful lot of room for manoeuvre.
91. VENOM
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%)
01/13 Venom v2 #29 - 24,644 ( -3.6%)
01/13 Venom v2 #30 - 24,551 ( -0.4%)
02/13 Venom v2 #31 - 23,441 ( -4.5%)
6 mnth (-12.7%)
1 year (-29.3%)
The rather erratic drops are due to double-shipping, with the main drops happening on the first issue of each month. On the whole, it’s shedding readers slightly faster than you’d like to see.
92. PUNISHER WAR ZONE
02/08 Journal v2 #16 - 32,508
02/09 Punisher v7 #2 - 40,928
02/10 Punisher v7 #14 - 23,455
02/11 In the Blood #4 - 14,861
=====
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%)
01/13 War Zone v3 #3 of 5 - 23,863 ( -6.3%)
01/13 War Zone v3 #4 of 5 - 22,993 ( -3.6%)
02/13 War Zone v3 #5 of 5 - 22,824 ( -0.7%)
6 mnth ( +3.5%)
1 year ( +1.5%)
2 year (+53.6%)
3 year ( -2.7%)
4 year (-44.2%)
5 year (-29.8%)
Final issue of the current run.
93. ALPHA: BIG TIME 02/13 Alpha: Big Time #1 of 5 - 22,778
A spin-off for the character introduce a few months back in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It’s an okay number for a mini, but given the fanfare around Alpha’s introduction, I suspect Marvel might have hoped for a little more.
96,98. ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN
02/08 X-Men #91 - 49,062
02/09 ---
02/10 Ult. X #1 - 59,159
02/11 ---
=====
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%)
01/13 X-Men v2 #21 - 23,479 ( -5.3%)
02/13 X-Men v2 #22 - 22,456 ( -4.4%)
02/13 X-Men v2 #23 - 22,197 ( -1.2%)
6 mnth (-20.3%)
1 year (-31.4%)
2 year ( --- )
3 year (-62.5%)
4 year ( --- )
5 year (-54.8%)
More steady decline, and again the rates are a little steeper than you’d want.
97. 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%)
01/13 Winter Soldier #14 - 22,873 ( -4.5%)
02/13 Winter Soldier #15 - 22,199 ( -2.9%)
6 mnth (-15.4%)
1 year (-46.1%)
We’re at the level where a decline like this can’t be sustained for terribly long.
100. WOLVERINE MAX 10/12 Wolverine: Max #1 - 37,509 11/12 Wolverine: Max #2 - 27,217 (-27.4%) 12/12 --- 01/13 Wolverine: Max #3 - 24,058 (-11.6%) 02/13 Wolverine: Max #4 - 22,072 ( -8.3%)
The drops are getting smaller, and Max titles have in the past been given more leeway than Marvel Universe titles where sales are concerned.
101,104. X-FACTOR
02/08 X-Factor v3 #28 - 56,572
02/09 X-Factor v3 #40 - 31,943
02/10 X-Factor #202 - 30,981
02/11 X-Factor #215 - 25,298
=====
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%)
01/13 X-Factor #250 - 22,521 ( +6.2%)
02/13 X-Factor #251 - 21,096 ( -6.3%)
02/13 X-Factor #252 - 20,929 ( -0.8%)
6 mnth ( -8.1%)
1 year (-14.1%)
2 year (-17.3%)
3 year (-32.4%)
4 year (-34.5%)
5 year (-63.0%)
There are signs of a very slow erosion going on here, but X-FACTOR has shown a tendency to meander up and down slightly in the past.
105. 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%)
01/13 Gambit v5 #8 - 22,396 ( -6.6%)
02/13 Gambit v5 #9 - 20,851 ( -6.9%)
6 mnth (-35.5%)
This, on the other hand, is bleeding out, and will have to turn things around very quickly.
107. JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY
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%)
01/13 J/into Mystery #648 - 20,887 ( -7.2%)
02/13 J/into Mystery #649 - 20,064 ( -3.9%)
6 mnth (-10.2%)
1 year (-10.1%)
The trend is a little erratic here, but it’s clearly downward. I still can’t understand why they didn’t give the book a fresh #1 when it changed direction.
110. CAPTAIN MARVEL
02/08 Ms Marvel v2 #24 - 24,139
02/09 Ms Marvel v2 #36 - 25,864
02/10 Ms Marvel v2 #50 - 25,309
=====
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%)
01/13 Captain Marvel v6 #9 - 19,151 ( -4.1%)
02/13 Captain Marvel v6 #10 - 18,359 ( -4.1%)
6 mnth (-35.4%)
3 year (-27.5%)
4 year (-29.0%)
5 year (-23.9%)
Not looking healthy, but Marvel are giving it an upcoming crossover with AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, so it appears still to have publisher support.
111. DARK AVENGERS
06/12 Dark Avengers #175 - 39,532 (+110.4%)
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%)
01/13 Dark Avengers #185 - 19,229 ( -6.6%)
01/13 Dark Avengers #186 - 18,937 ( -1.5%)
02/13 Dark Avengers #187 - 18,213 ( -3.8%)
6 mnth ( -29.5%)
Cancelled with issue #190.
114. RED SHE-HULK
02/08 Hulk #2 - 93,725
02/09 Hulk #10 - 77,217
02/10 Hulk #20 - 51,962
02/11 Hulk #30 - 32,907
=====
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%)
01/13 Red She-Hulk #61 - 18,815 ( -9.5%)
02/13 Red She-Hulk #62 - 17,766 ( -5.6%)
6 mnth (-17.6%)
1 year (-18.3%)
2 year (-46.0%)
3 year (-65.8%)
4 year (-77.0%)
5 year (-81.0%)
Again, this surely can’t be sustainable.
115. 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%)
01/13 Age of Apocalypse #11 - 18,555 ( -4.0%)
02/13 Age of Apocalypse #12 - 17,643 ( -4.9%)
6 mnth (-30.5%)
Cancelled with issue #14.
125. SCARLET [Icon] 07/10 Scarlet #1 - 34,938 08/10 --- 09/10 Scarlet #2 - 27,312 (-21.8%) 10/10 --- 11/10 Scarlet #3 - 24,986 ( -8.5%) 12/10 --- 01/11 Scarlet #4 - 22,011 (-11.9%) 02/11 --- 03/11 Scarlet #5 - 20,473 ( -7.0%) ===== 02/13 Scarlet #6 - 16,528 (-19.3%)
I know! I’d forgotten about it too! And the two year gap doesn’t seem to have done wonders for sales.
136,140. 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%)
01/13 X-Treme X-Men v2 #9 - 15,529 ( -6.1%)
02/13 X-Treme X-Men v2 #10 - 14,813 ( -4.6%)
02/13 X-Treme X-Men v2 #11 - 14,623 ( -1.3%)
6 mnth (-16.9%)
Cancelled with issue #13.
139. POWERS: THE BUREAU [Icon]
02/08 ---
02/09 ---
02/10 ---
02/11 ---
=====
02/12 Powers v3 #8 - 13,561 ( -7.3%)
03/12 Powers v3 #9 - 12,792 ( -5.7%)
04/12 ---
05/12 Powers v3 #10 - 12,484 ( -2.4%)
06/12 ---
07/12 ---
08/12 Powers v3 #11 - 11,939 ( -4.4%)
09/12 ---
10/12 ---
11/12 ---
12/12 ---
01/13 ---
02/13 Bureau #1 - 14,698 (+23.1%)
6 mnth (+23.1%)
1 year ( +8.4%)
There were meant to be two issues in February, but issue #2 slipped to the first week of March. The delays seem to have taken their toll on interest in this book, but the new volume does get some boost.
154. 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%)
01/13 Fury Max #8 - 13,703 ( -4.5%)
02/13 Fury Max #9 - 13,283 ( -3.1%)
6 mnth (-15.1%)
Ends with issue #13. And from here on, it’s the adaptation, the all ages books, and assorted other stuff not really aimed at the direct market.
160. DARK TOWER: SHEEMIE'S TALE
02/08 ---
02/09 Treachery #6 - 48,127
02/10 Jericho Hill #3 - 27,215
02/11 Little Sisters #3 - 17,748
=====
02/12 Way Station #3 - 14,302 ( -3.5%)
03/12 #4 of 5 - 13,987 ( -2.2%)
04/12 #5 of 5 - 13,823 ( -1.2%)
05/12 ---
06/12 Man in Black #1 - 14,672 ( +6.1%)
07/12 #2 of 5 - 13,831 ( -5.7%)
08/12 #3 of 5 - 13,677 ( -1.1%)
09/12 #4 of 5 - 13,240 ( -3.2%)
10/12 #5 of 5 - 13,310 ( +0.5%)
11/12 ---
12/12 ---
01/13 Sheemie's #1 of 2 - 12,985 ( -2.4%)
02/13 Sheemie's #2 of 2 - 12,723 ( -2.0%)
6 mnth ( -7.0%)
1 year (-11.0%)
2 year (-28.3%)
3 year (-53.3%)
4 year (-73.6%)
5 year ( --- )
223. ROAD TO OZ
02/09 #3 of 8 - 15,668
02/10 #4 of 8 - 13,364
02/11 #4 of 8 - 9,159
=====
02/12 #5 of 8 - 7,503 ( -2.5%)
03/12 ---
04/12 ---
05/12 #6 of 8 - 7,475 ( -0.4%)
05/12 #7 of 8 - 7,391 ( -1.1%)
06/12 #8 of 8 - 7,258 ( -1.8%)
07/12 ---
08/12 ---
09/12 #1 of 8 - 12,620 (+73.9%)
10/12 #2 of 6 - 7,930 (-37.2%)
11/12 #3 of 6 - 7,619 ( -3.9%)
12/12 ---
01/13 #4 of 6 - 7,314 ( -4.0%)
02/13 #5 of 6 - 6,944 ( -5.1%)
6 mnth ( --- )
1 year ( -7.5%)
2 year (-24.2%)
3 year (-48.0%)
4 year (-55.7%)
227. MARVEL'S IRON MAN 3 PRELUDE
01/13 Prelude #1 of 2 - 7,951
02/13 Prelude #2 of 2 - 6,858 (-13.7%)
271. 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%)
01/13 MUU Spider-Man #10 - 5,077 ( -3.0%)
02/13 MUU Spider-Man #11 - 5,086 ( +0.1%)
6 mnth (-19.4%)
276. 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%)
01/13 MU Avengers #10 - 4,951 ( -4.9%)
02/13 MU Avengers #11 - 4,940 ( -0.2%)
6 mnth (-19.5%)
289. CASTLE: A CALM BEFORE THE STORM
12/12 Castle #1 of 5 - 7,174
01/13 Castle #2 of 5 - 5,911 (-17.6%)
02/13 Castle #3 of 5 - 4,656 (-21.2%)
298. THOR ADAPTATION
01/13 Thor #1 of 2 - 5,068
02/13 Thor #2 of 2 - 4,209 (-16.9%)
6 month comparisons
===================
+149.7% - Defenders
+123.0% - Secret Avengers
+101.0% - Deadpool
+ 58.0% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 54.9% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 52.5% - Indestructible Hulk
+ 51.1% - Captain America
+ 46.5% - Thor
+ 46.4% - Iron Man
+ 37.7% - Avengers
+ 26.3% - X-Force
+ 23.3% - Fantastic Four
+ 23.1% - Powers
+ 21.3% - New Avengers
+ 18.5% - FF
+ 3.5% - Punisher
- 1.7% - Daredevil
- 2.6% - X-Men
- 7.0% - Dark Tower
- 8.1% - X-Factor
- 8.9% - Avenging Spider-Man
- 10.2% - Journey into Mystery
- 11.9% - Scarlet Spider
- 12.7% - Venom
- 15.1% - Fury Max
- 15.4% - Winter Soldier
- 16.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 16.8% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 16.9% - X-Treme X-Men
- 17.6% - Red She-Hulk
- 18.4% - Avengers Assemble
- 19.4% - MUU Spider-Man
- 19.5% - MU Avengers
- 20.3% - Ultimate X-Men
- 21.4% - Ultimates
- 22.9% - Wolverine & The X-Men
- 23.7% - Hawkeye
- 25.0% - Astonishing X-Men
- 29.5% - Dark Avengers
- 30.5% - Age of Apocalypse
- 35.4% - Captain Marvel
- 35.5% - Gambit
1 year comparisons
==================
+116.8% - Secret Avengers
+113.6% - Thunderbolts
+ 82.4% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 61.1% - Avengers
+ 60.0% - Defenders
+ 58.1% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 47.9% - Thor
+ 41.1% - Iron Man
+ 40.8% - Deadpool
+ 33.3% - New Avengers
+ 31.5% - Indestructible Hulk
+ 22.1% - Captain America
+ 12.0% - X-Force
+ 8.4% - Powers
+ 6.1% - Fantastic Four
+ 1.5% - Punisher
- 1.9% - Daredevil
- 7.5% - Oz
- 10.1% - Journey into Mystery
- 11.0% - Dark Tower
- 11.7% - FF
- 12.0% - X-Men
- 14.1% - X-Factor
- 14.8% - X-Men Legacy
- 18.3% - Red She-Hulk
- 19.2% - Wolverine & The X-Men
- 20.6% - Astonishing X-Men
- 21.7% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 27.8% - Scarlet Spider
- 29.3% - Venom
- 29.7% - Ultimates
- 31.4% - Ultimate X-Men
- 32.5% - Avenging Spider-Man
- 46.1% - Winter Soldier
2 year comparisons
==================
+100.0% - Deadpool
+ 84.9% - Indestructible Hulk
+ 80.6% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 75.8% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 71.5% - Secret Avengers
+ 59.6% - Thunderbolts
+ 53.6% - Punisher
+ 32.8% - Avengers
+ 27.7% - Daredevil
+ 26.7% - Captain America
+ 23.2% - Thor
+ 17.9% - New Avengers
+ 11.3% - Iron Man
+ 10.2% - X-Force
- 17.3% - X-Factor
- 19.4% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 24.2% - Oz
- 28.3% - Dark Tower
- 34.0% - Fantastic Four
- 34.4% - X-Men
- 38.4% - Ultimates
- 42.3% - X-Men Legacy
- 45.4% - Astonishing X-Men
- 46.0% - Red She-Hulk
3 year comparisons
==================
+252.2% - Guardians of the Galaxy
+251.3% - Nova
+ 77.8% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 41.1% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 28.6% - Deadpool
+ 22.7% - Thunderbolts
+ 22.6% - Indestructible Hulk
+ 19.9% - Fantastic Four
+ 13.9% - Uncanny X-Force
- 2.7% - Punisher
- 3.9% - Daredevil
- 5.9% - New Avengers
- 7.6% - Iron Man
- 15.9% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 16.4% - Captain America
- 22.6% - Thor
- 27.5% - Captain Marvel
- 32.4% - X-Factor
- 39.5% - X-Men Legacy
- 48.0% - Oz
- 53.3% - Dark Tower
- 62.5% - Ultimate X-Men
- 65.8% - Red She-Hulk
4 year comparisons
==================
+222.6% - Nova
+190.6% - Guardians of the Galaxy
+ 59.5% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 32.0% - Uncanny X-Men
+ 30.0% - Deadpool
+ 10.2% - Uncanny X-Force
- 8.2% - Thunderbolts
- 9.1% - Fantastic Four
- 10.5% - Iron Man
- 15.5% - Captain America
- 27.2% - Indestructible Hulk
- 28.4% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 29.0% - Captain Marvel
- 32.5% - New Avengers
- 34.5% - X-Factor
- 44.2% - Punisher
- 45.0% - X-Men Legacy
- 46.4% - Thor
- 55.7% - Oz
- 73.6% - Dark Tower
- 77.0% - Red She-Hulk
5 year comparisons
==================
+ 26.2% - Iron Man
+ 8.9% - Superior Spider-Man
+ 4.7% - Uncanny X-Men
- 11.7% - Daredevil
- 23.9% - Captain Marvel
- 29.8% - Punisher
- 30.7% - New Avengers
- 38.3% - Captain America
- 38.9% - Ultimate Spider-Man
- 40.0% - Indestructible Hulk
- 46.1% - Uncanny X-Force
- 47.3% - Thor
- 51.4% - Fantastic Four
- 54.8% - Ultimate X-Men
- 63.0% - X-Factor
- 64.7% - X-Men Legacy
- 75.5% - Ultimates
- 81.0% - Red She-Hulk
I think those Hawkeye #1 sales are legit. I went to order whatever the latest printing was, and saw that Diamond had first printings in stock and ordered those instead. Someone must have found a couple of boxes in the warehouse.
If the current volume of Uncanny X-Force levels out around the #s as the previous volume, that would be quite a feat — considering Remender’s X-Force was very Wolverine heavy.
It would also say some encouraging things about about the market/audience (supporting a book with two female leads in Storm/Psylocke) and the new creative team.
I would think those Hawkeye sales are legit, too, but for a different reason: the 4th printing was published February 6th, according to Marvel’s website.
http://marvel.com/comics/issue/47402/hawkeye_2012_1_aja_4th_printing_variant/aja_4th_printing_variant
And incidentally, that Scarlett comment made me laugh. =^)
Also, I really don’t understand why readers aren’t snatching up books by Joe Keatinge, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Joshua Hale Fialkov. I’m not expecting Spider-Man numbers, but Morbius, Alpha, Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble are fantastic books that might be getting lost in the Marvel Now shuffle. It’s a downright shame — hey, if Fialkov can make me like Alpha, he’s doing something right. And Kelly Sue makes me laugh out loud no fewer than ten times per issue.
Blah blah bitty blah. I’ll shut-up now.
Jonny – mostly due to the characters involved. I have no desire to read solo Morbius/Alpha/Captain Marvel comics. I might’ve given Avengers Assemble a try if it was using some unique characters, but I’m already reading other Avengers books (written by a proven writer like Hickman) who is using LITERALLY all the characters DeConnick is using in Assemble.
No writer can convince me to like Alpha. And while I do get Captain Marvel I sure do wish the art was better.
Glad to see some gains for Thor/DD/Wolverine and the X-Men. gives me hope that good books can be rewarded for being good.
Morbius has been pretty cool so far. Too bad that it doesn’t look like I’m going to get very many issues of it.
Carol Danvers (Ms Marvel) is the entire reason my 10 year old daughter likes superheroes and even she doesn’t like Capt. Marvel very much.
I’ve dropped Captain Marvel in February and I’m dropping Captain America this month.
Bendis’ GoTG will be at the same levels as DnA’s by issue 6.
Just look at the numbers for his Avengers Assemble.
And DnA didn’t get ANY of the attention Bendis got.
Another Axel Alonso bomb!
Hopefully true for Loeb’s Nova, but the only thing keeping people on that is McGuinness. What else is new.
I really don’t think there are enough Avengers and X-Men books these days. Can Marvel please add some more?!?
@ Dave – I dunno if I agree about GotG. While Bendis isn’t as good a writer as DnA, Bendis is a bigger name and McNiven is a bigger name than the array of no-name artists that version of the book had. Not a slam on the talent of the artists on that incarnation of the book. I love Pelletier and Walker’s art, but they have no ability to move sales.
@Dave: Bendis’ Avengers Assemble was sh*t. If the new Guardians of the Galaxy is as good as All-New X-Men, I suspect we might have a winner.
And don’t forget the forthcoming cosmic events that Marvel is teasing.
Sad to see the low numbers of Morbius and Captain Marvel. Both are very good books, and lots of people didn’t even give them a chance (especially in Morbius’ case).
Also, who the hell thought pairing Kieron Gillen with Greg Land on Iron Man would be a good idea? The book is very well written, so I would assume that the myth that Greg Land’s “art” sells lots of comic books on its own has been debunked.
“Not looking healthy, but Marvel are giving it an upcoming crossover with AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, so it appears still to have publisher support.”
Is it publisher support? Age of Apocalypse and X-Treme X-Men are both ending in a crossover with another not-so-hotly-selling book (in their case, Astonishing X-Men). I’m wondering if this is a tactic to nudge readers over to another book when theirs ends–Assemble would seem the most appropriate for Captain Marvel readers.
The numerous books bouncing back up surprise me, but are a really good sign.
Let’s see where “Uncanny Avengers” goes after John Cassady leaves. I already dropped “Avengers,” which gave three stories in a row to spotlights on characters I didn’t know (which I would have accepted if I had been able to get to know them a little bit in previous issues) and also is featuring weird cosmic villains that I didn’t enjoy.
Interesting that Marvel is going with the “all-female team” idea on two separate books–Fearless Defenders and X-Men.
ThE SHINY NEW X-MEN, THE SPANKING NEW X-MEN, THE EXTRORDINARY X-MEN, THE ROCKING X-MEN, THE SHOCKING X-MEN, HULK AND THE X-MEN, SHE-HULK AND THE X-MEN, THE XTRA X-MEN, THE THE NEXT MEN (oh sorry, that one’s taken) ….
I would buy the hell out of a book called “THE XTRA X-MEN”.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with having a billion different teams (and team books) all named Avengers or X-Men. The problem is that so many of the same characters with no attempt whatsoever to reconcile the different storylines. I mean, All-New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men even have the same writer, and yet what’s going on with Cyclops in the two books doesn’t have any meaningful connection whatsoever.
If Marvel wants to fling those team titles around, go for it, but at least give each one its own cast and let the one team book and each character’s solo book define what that character is up to.
The problem is weakening of the brand name. Since the size of Marvel’s readership is limited–the company doesn’t market its comics to the general public–there are natural ceilings on the total number of comics Marvel’s customers will buy, and on the number of Avengers comics. If Avengers fans have to pick and choose the Avengers titles they buy, for whatever reasons, the power of the Avengers brand is weakened.
Brand extension can work, but there’s always the risk of cannibalization, as General Mills’ experience with Cheerios flavors shows.
SRS
I long for the day when it was just Avengers and West Coast Avengers.
I’m interested in the cosmic books for the first time, and I don’t even like Loeb. In spite of mixed reviews, I liked the first pair of issues. I hope they can get ROM! I’m also really liking All-New, and I’m sticking with Uncanny, though it’s not nearly as good.
Like briguyx, I wasn’t too hot for the first few issues of Avengers, but I’m really interested in seeing a piece of the New Universe being crossed into the Marvel Universe. I’m hoping this will sort of canonize the original New U as a parallel universe and maybe make the Warren Ellis stuff a second parallel universe (instead of a reboot, or whatever it was). I want to see Randy O’Brien and his antibodies, though that’s probably a longshot.
Marvel is teasing a major storyline with Iron Man, so maybe that will help give it a boost, along with his involvement with the Guardians.
“I hope they can get ROM!”
I have not bought a regular Marvel series in years but if they can get ROM…and it’s a continuation of the original book, not a reboot…I will buy it even if they charge $4 a pop.
Mike
I’m back in the Marvel fold for the first time in years but I think that the Remender version of Captain America (while trying to be a gonzo as Mad Bomb era Jack Kirby) is so far removed from what alot of readers want. It’s fun but as an opening arc, I can see where it will turn people off (epsecially the movie fans) I was a little kid when the second Kirby era happened and while alot of us wax nostalgically about that era now, it wasn’t so popular then. Captain Marvel’s art doesn’t appeal to me but I love the character and want to give Deconnick a fair chance but a comic book has to be appealing visually and while some fans may swoon over how nifty the art is, you shouldn’t get too experimental if you’re trying to reach a mass audience.
It figures the books I enjoy the most are the ones going down the charts. :) Captain America, Industructible Hulk and Iron Man all hooked me with their opening issues and I tried almost all the Now first issues. I like how Iron Man and Hulk are one and done or larger arcs that still feel like they are self contained.
Nova made me cringe since it basically ignores all that came before without actually doing that by making a new branch of the Nova Corps. While I think new pieces of cannon can be great I don’t think it works when it is used to get around having to work with what came before, at least to me. GotG makes me miss DnA’s run but I am still giving it a couple of issues to wow me at $3.99 a pop.
Captain America has another issue or two to move beyond the Z dimension story or it’s run will be on it’s way to my local college libraries special collection department.
Ras & MBunge – you might want to keep your eye on Age of Ultron. I may be wrong, but I have an inkling…
After collect every issue of the Fantastic Four and Iron Man starting from the early seventies, the current relaunches have made me drop them both. Just can’t get into them. Never thought it would happen but it didn’t make sense to keep buying them just because I have always have. Focusing now on filling holes in the original runs of both.
Last I checked Marvel isn’t interested in paying licensing fee’s for properties such as ROM. I wouldn’t hold your breath that he’s ever returning to Marvel comics, much less any comic book…
Snikt Snakt – there’ve been rumours of Marvel outright buying the character for a while, but todays news/ rumours over at Bleeding Cool would appear to blow my inkling out of the water anyway!
@Shawn Kane… good point about Capt America not appealing to people who might be interested, ‘cos of the movies. I’m one of them. I’ve never bought the solo Avengers book before. Having tried 2 of each… I just find them boring. They’re so focused on their respective storylines, not really on the characters themselves. The Capt America book has an Indiana Jones feel… which is okay… but the time jumps in the book don’t help you engage with Capt’s plight. Just feels empty.
I’m a big X-Men fan though. Lovely to see the books having such strong direction, no more boring Mutant Messiah stuff. Really loving Uncanny-X-Men. I like how it and All New showcase conflicting mutant philosophies. It’s the kind of racial politics that makes X-Men work IMHO.
Shame to read FF and Journey Into Mystery are sliding. JIM is hilarious, with beautiful art and character play. Kathryn Immonen is a great writer. I don’t get why this book wasn’t relaunched. Really deserves the spotlight.
You guys really banged this out quick! These Marvel Now books are stabilizing a lot faster than I would’ve expected. The ones that aren’t seem to fit with talk I hear in my local comicshop about their lack of popularity (IronMan, F4, Cpt Marvel), but I think Avengers Assemble and Journey to Mystery are just bad marketing. I’ve heard they’re good from some word of mouth but they leave my mind because I still associate one with Bendis and another with Loki.
A lot of good books are stabilizing or gaining, which is good news for my pull list. But I’m a little disappointed in Cap and JIM and Assemble still dropping. I can’t imagine they’ll lose to much more: if you like the Cap story, you’re not dropping that book now. JIM I hope they give a little extra leeway, or let the book relaunch with the current team and the Sif focus when it drops below 20K, because it is incredible; fun, wry, stupid-smart good. Assemble, it’s got more room, and I imagine word of mouth is going to help it from losing too much steam.
Legacy is also a great book, but not one I expect to keep a large readership. If it hangs in the mid 20’s it should be fine.
Seems like I’m on the wrong side of history, liking the quirky titles – JIM, FF, Avengers Arena and the new Captain America – and watching them all fail to grab the public. Come on, people, fantastic art and solid stories!
Comments are closed.