Greetings, sales charts fans! It's time once again to look at DC's sales figures.
DC officially announced the end of the Vertigo imprint, as well as DC Ink and DC Zoom—starting in 2020, there will be just three labels: DC Black Label (for their mature readers comics); DC (for their Teen and above comics); and DC Kids (for kids and YA books). Within those labels there will still be imprints, such as Wonder Comics, Jinxworld, Young Animal, and (presumably) Sandman Universe, with likely more to come. But Vertigo will be no more.
Others have eulogized Vertigo elsewhere, and the impact it has had on comics, both at DC and across the industry. But it has become clear over the past few years that sales-wise, the once lauded Vertigo imprint has become poison. Retailers aren’t stocking the titles, readers aren’t demanding them, etc. Anything that wasn’t Sandman-related dies an early death, no matter often they tried to re-invent the label. And since Neil Gaiman isn’t going to return to pen an ongoing Sandman monthly anytime soon, it was time to shut the doors.
Warning: The commentary below may contain reasoned analysis, speculation (unfounded and otherwise), opinion, and/or snark. Those looking for a more straightforward analysis are directed to John Jackson Miller's excellent Comichron analysis, posted earlier this month
over at Comichron!
Please consider the fine print at the end of the column, as it explains several things about how these charts are compiled.
(Note that the percentage comparisons are done with total orders including reorder activity.)
---
0 - DC’S YEAR OF THE VILLAIN SPECIAL ($0.25)
05/2019: Year of the Villain #1 -- 1,400,000 **
This was the month that DC released their promotional-priced comic in advance of Free Comic Book Day (as they have done in recent years), this year with three stories promoting their upcoming "Year of the Villain" and Event Leviathan storylines. As usual Diamond doesn’t report these sales, so our estimate comes from Brian Bendis on the Word Balloon podcast. Also as usual, these promotional item numbers aren’t included in the chart-end summary. But here they are for your personal enjoyment!
---
1 - DCEASED ($3.99)
05/2019: DCeased #1 of 6 -- 242,365
Well that was unexpected. There really wasn’t anything in the tea leaves for DCeased—essentially DC’s version of Marvel Zombies—to sell this well. Though certainly a variety of variant covers, including several retailers taking advantage of retailer incentive covers, built up the sales to way above their natural level. There’s no way to know how many of these cops were actually sold, though if I had to guess I’d say that actual readership for this first issue was somewhere around 100K? We’ll have a better idea once we see what sort of attrition there is on future issues.
---
2 - DOOMSDAY CLOCK ($4.99)
05/2018: Doomsday Clock #5 of 12 -- 146,817 (- 1.8%) [159,809]
06/2018: --
07/2018: Doomsday Clock #6 of 12 -- 135,155 (- 9.0%) [145,372]
08/2018: --
09/2018: Doomsday Clock #7 of 12 -- 130,973 (- 5.2%) [137,874]
10/2018: --
11/2018: --
12/2018: Doomsday Clock #8 of 12 -- 123,768 (- 6.5%) [128,856]
01/2019: --
02/2019: --
03/2019: Doomsday Clock #9 of 12 -- 120,079 (- 6.0%) [121,156]
04/2019: --
05/2019: Doomsday Clock #10 of 12 -- 117,419 (- 3.1%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 20.0%
Still selling comfortably above 100K, even with continued lateness. DC have changed the expected collected being released in October from a complete collection to a volume one collection, so clearly even they think that lateness will be the norm going forward. Reorders for earlier issues continues to come in each month as well.
---
3 - BATMAN: LAST KNIGHT ON EARTH (Black Label) ($5.99)
05/2019: Last Knight #1 of 3 -- 113,287
Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo reunite for a Black Label Batman Book, with sales on par with where their New 52 Batman used to sell, and pretty darn good for a six dollar mature readers comic.
---
5 - THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS ($4.99)
12/2018: Batman Who Laughs #1 of 6 -- 220,055 [255,282]
01/2019: Batman Who Laughs #2 of 6 -- 116,827 (- 50.6%) [126,101]
02/2019: Batman Who Laughs #3 of 6 -- 101,771 (- 12.6%) [110,224]
03/2019: BWL: The Grimm Knight #1 -- 133,656 (+ 22.0%) [134,447]
04/2019: Batman Who Laughs #4 of 7 -- 103,645 (- 22.9%)
05/2019: Batman Who Laughs #5 of 7 -- 108,677 (+ 4.9%)
How good of a month are DC having when The Batman Who Laughs is only their fifth best-selling comic for the month? A pretty darn good month! And sales are actually up over the previous month, which is mostly unheard of for a miniseries. There are reorders for the fist three issues this month as well. Also, it has been expanded to seven issues, with the final issue serving as a bridge to the upcoming new Batman/Superman series.
---
8, 9 - BATMAN ($3.99)
05/2004: Batman #627 -- 76,885
05/2004: Batman #628 -- 74,348 [75,832]
05/2009: Battle Cowl #3 -- 89,170
05/2014: Batman #31 -- 107,499 [109,343]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Batman #52 -- 102,197
05/2017: Batman #22 -- 186,914 [187,142]
05/2017: Batman #23 -- 96,542 [97,465]
----------------------------------
05/2018: Batman #46 -- 100,140 (- 4.0%) [100,512]
05/2018: Batman #47 -- 101,566 (+ 2.2%) [102,740]
06/2018: Batman #48 -- 112,122 (+ 9.6%) [112,617]
06/2018: Batman #49 -- 121,836 (+ 9.3%) [123,047]
07/2018: Batman #50 -- 440,819 (+235.3%) [412,541]
07/2018: Batman #51 -- 111,549 (- 72.6%) [113,142]
08/2018: Batman #52 -- 102,344 (- 9.2%) [102,712]
08/2018: Batman #53 -- 99,191 (- 2.7%) [99,920]
09/2018: Batman #54 -- 94,985 (- 5.0%) [94,921]
09/2018: Batman #55 -- 105,609 (+ 12.5%) [106,808]
10/2018: Batman #56 -- 107,578 (+ 5.2%) [112,329]
10/2018: Batman #57 -- 95,296 (- 15.0%) [95,465]
11/2018: Batman #58 -- 94,930 (- 0.5%) [94,975]
11/2018: Batman #59 -- 93,029 (- 1.5%) [93,545]
12/2018: Batman #60 -- 91,275 (- 2.4%)
12/2018: Batman #61 -- 88,428 (- 0.5%) [90,830]
01/2019: Batman #62 -- 90,634 (- 0.2%)
01/2019: Batman #63 -- 83,659 (- 6.6%) [84,682]
02/2019: Batman #64 -- 93,400 (+ 10.8%) [93,863]
02/2019: Batman #65 -- 89,123 (- 4.0%) [90,125]
03/2019: Batman #66 -- 83,102 (- 7.8%)
03/2019: Batman #67 -- 84,463 (+ 1.6%)
04/2019: Batman #68 -- 87,557 (+ 3.7%)
04/2019: Batman #69 -- 88,666 (+ 1.3%)
05/2019: Batman #70 -- 83,518 (- 5.8%)
05/2019: Batman #71 -- 82,704 (- 1.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 11.8%
1 year : - 18.2%
2 years : - 41.6%
5 years : - 24.0%
10 years: - 6.8%
15 years: + 8.8%
On a twice-monthly schedule, the Tom King Batman is selling more copies each month that the Scott Snyder New 52 Batman did.
---
12 - HEROES IN CRISIS ($3.99)
09/2018: Heroes in Crisis #1 of 9 -- 140,699 [153,265]
10/2018: Heroes in Crisis #2 of 9 -- 88,547 (- 34.0%) [101,096]
11/2018: Heroes in Crisis #3 of 9 -- 83,794 (- 9.8%) [91,169]
12/2018: --
01/2019: Heroes in Crisis #4 of 9 -- 82,151 (- 4.7%) [86,921]
01/2019: Heroes in Crisis #5 of 9 -- 79,087 (- 6.1%) [81,638]
02/2019: Heroes in Crisis #6 of 9 -- 79,006 (- 0.8%) [80,993]
03/2019: Heroes in Crisis #7 of 9 -- 78,587 (- 1.5%) [79,783]
04/2019: Heroes in Crisis #8 of 9 -- 79,512 (- 0.3%)
05/2019: Heroes in Crisis #9 of 9 -- 77,582 (- 2.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.9%
Well, that’s over. Except the story will continue as Wally West stars in the upcoming Fast Forward mini-series.
---
16, 18 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99)
05/2004: Detective Comics #794 -- 34,875
05/2009: --
05/2014: Detective Comics #31 -- 54,518 [55,451]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Detective Comics #52 -- 43,961
05/2017: Detective Comics #956 -- 57,178 [57,440]
05/2017: Detective Comics #957 -- 56,344 [56,911]
-------------------------------------------
05/2018: Detective Comics #980 -- 51,162 (+ 1.0%) [51,263]
05/2018: Detective Comics #981 -- 50,757 (+ 0.4%) [51,477]
06/2018: Detective Comics #982 -- 51,763 (+ 0.8%) [51,904]
06/2018: Detective Comics #983 -- 52,016 (+ 1.0%) [52,399]
07/2018: Detective Comics #984 -- 51,879 (- 0.4%) [52,185]
07/2018: Detective Comics #985 -- 51,750 (+ 1.2%) [52,830]
08/2018: Detective Comics #986 -- 53,346 (+ 1.5%) [53,611]
08/2018: Detective Comics #987 -- 51,362 (- 4.4%) [51,248]
09/2018: Detective Comics #988 -- 51,405 (+ 1.1%) [51,817]
09/2018: Detective Comics #989 -- 50,479 (- 1.2%) [51,176]
10/2018: Detective Comics #990 -- 61,040 (+ 19.5%) [61,149]
10/2018: Detective Comics #991 -- 50,318 (- 16.8%) [50,891]
11/2018: Detective Comics #992 -- 51,002 (+ 0.8%) [51,285]
11/2018: Detective Comics #993 -- 48,971 (- 3.5%) [49,510]
12/2018: Detective Comics #994 -- 51,772 (+ 16.1%) [57,468]
01/2019: Detective Comics #995 -- 51,246 (- 4.7%) [54,772]
01/2019: Detective Comics #996 -- 52,263 (+ 1.6%) [55,645]
01/2019: Detective Comics #997 -- 53,071 (- 1.5%) [54,830]
02/2019: Detective Comics #998 -- 60,447 (+ 11.5%) [61,113]
02/2019: Detective Comics #999 -- 62,953 (+ 6.5%) [65,064]
03/2019: Detective Comics #1000 -- 526,941 (+782.6%) [574,279]
04/2019: Detective Comics #1001 -- 66,743 (- 87.7%) [70,710]
04/2019: Detective Comics #1002 -- 61,007 (- 11.5%) [62,611]
05/2019: Detective Comics #1003 -- 65,709 (+ 4.9%)
05/2019: Detective Comics #1004 -- 63,161 (- 3.9%)
-----------------
6 months: + 27.9%
1 year : + 25.4%
2 years : + 12.7%
5 years : + 16.2%
10 years: n.a.
15 years: + 84.8%
Still finding its post-anniversary level (including reorders for last month’s issues & issue #1000).
---
22, 23 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ($3.99)
05/2014: Justice League #30 -- 77,456 [78,419]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Justice League #50 -- 92,423 [100,106]
05/2017: Justice League #20 -- 56,119 [56,343]
05/2017: Justice League #21 -- 55,351 [55,682]
--------------------------------------
05/2018: No Justice #1 of 4 -- 86,775 (+106.5%) [89,909]
05/2018: No Justice #2 of 4 -- 68,812 (- 18.9%) [72,916]
05/2018: No Justice #3 of 4 -- 65,916 (- 4.6%) [69,584]
05/2018: No Justice #4 of 4 -- 64,342 (+ 1.3%) [70,513]
06/2018: Justice League #1 -- 200,235 (+188.6%) [203,492]
06/2018: Justice League #2 -- 86,001 (- 54.6%) [92,463]
07/2018: Justice League #3 -- 80,669 (- 12.4%) [81,002]
07/2018: Justice League #4 -- 77,023 (- 1.2%) [80,019]
08/2018: Justice League #5 -- 76,592 (- 3.3%) [77,340]
08/2018: Justice League #6 -- 75,156 (- 1.4%) [76,286]
09/2018: Justice League #7 -- 74,393 (- 1.9%) [74,820]
09/2018: Justice League #8 -- 76,360 (+ 4.3%) [78,012]
10/2018: Justice League #9 -- 72,687 (- 6.4%) [72,991]
10/2018: Justice League #10 -- 84,179 (+ 16.2%) [84,788]
11/2018: Justice League #11 -- 74,204 (- 12.3%) [74,385]
11/2018: Justice League #12 -- 70,105 (- 4.9%) [70,774]
12/2018: Justice League #13 -- 66,852 (- 5.5%)
12/2018: Justice League #14 -- 61,940 (- 5.5%) [63,198]
01/2019: Justice League #15 -- 60,326 (- 4.5%)
01/2019: Justice League #16 -- 59,577 (- 1.2%)
02/2019: Justice League #17 -- 57,105 (- 4.1%)
02/2019: Justice League #18 -- 55,988 (- 1.2%) [56,432]
03/2019: Justice League #19 -- 57,733 (+ 2.3%)
03/2019: Justice League #20 -- 64,675 (+ 14.4%) [66,034]
04/2019: Justice League #21 -- 55,245 (- 16.9%)
04/2019: Justice League #22 -- 56,094 (+ 1.5%)
05/2019: Justice League #23 -- 55,077 (- 1.8%)
05/2019: Justice League #24 -- 54,862 (- 0.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.3%
1 year : - 27.4%
2 years : - 1.9%
5 years : - 29.9%
It will be interesting to see if “Year of the Villain” moves the needle on Justice League sales upwards.
---
24 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ($3.99)
05/2004: Outsiders #12 -- 43,412
05/2009: Outsiders #18 -- 25,995
-----------------------------------------
06/2011: Batman & Outsiders #40 -- 16,265
-----------------------------------------
05/2019: Batman & Outsiders #1 -- 51,958 (+219.4%)
-----------------
10 years: + 99.9%
15 years: + 19.7%
That’s an okay debut for the long-gestating Outsiders book, but it’s less than half of what the recent Catwoman series debuted at. An ongoing Batman series should be expected to debut better, but with Last Knight on Earth also debuting this month, Outsiders may have gotten somewhat lost in the shuffle.
---
28 - SUPERMAN ($3.99)
05/2004: Superman #205 -- 208,105 [213,514]
05/2009: Superman #688 -- 41,642
05/2014: Superman #31 -- 40,534 [44,774]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Superman #52 -- 54,317 [63,989]
05/2017: Superman #22 -- 51,938 [52,173]
05/2017: Superman #23 -- 51,264 [51,634]
----------------------------------
05/2018: Special #1 -- 43,378 (+ 2.5%) [43,824]
06/2018: --
07/2018: Superman #1 -- 133,703 (+212.1%) [136,777]
08/2018: Superman #2 -- 77,464 (- 42.8%) [78,282]
09/2018: Superman #3 -- 67,405 (- 12.8%) [68,240]
10/2018: Superman #4 -- 67,197 (- 1.0%) [67,553]
11/2018: Superman #5 -- 54,727 (- 18.0%) [55,378]
12/2018: Superman #6 -- 52,414 (- 3.5%) [53,428]
01/2019: Superman #7 -- 50,713 (- 5.1%)
02/2019: Superman #8 -- 50,475 (- 0.5%)
03/2019: Superman #9 -- 48,919 (- 3.1%)
04/2019: Superman #10 -- 48,802 (- 0.2%)
05/2019: Superman #11 -- 47,933 (- 1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.4%
1 year : + 9.4%
2 years : - 7.7%
5 years : + 7.1%
10 years: + 15.1%
15 years: - 77.6%
---
30 - THE GREEN LANTERN ($3.99)
05/2004: Green Lantern #177 -- 33,391 [36,128]
05/2009: Green Lantern #41 -- 81,491
05/2014: Green Lantern #31 -- 43,769 [44,092]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Green Lantern #52 -- 32,936
05/2017: Green Lanterns #22 -- 32,686 [32,846]
05/2017: Green Lanterns #23 -- 32,251 [32,551]
-----------------------------------------
05/2018: Green Lanterns #46 -- 23,727 (- 1.8%)
05/2018: Green Lanterns #47 -- 23,789 (+ 0.3%)
06/2018: Green Lanterns #48 -- 23,994 (+ 0.9%)
06/2018: Green Lanterns #49 -- 24,157 (+ 0.7%)
07/2018: Green Lanterns #50 -- 25,389 (+ 5.1%)
07/2018: Green Lanterns #51 -- 24,316 (- 4.2%)
08/2018: Green Lanterns #52 -- 24,301 (- 0.1%)
08/2018: Green Lanterns #53 -- 23,923 (- 1.6%)
09/2018: Green Lanterns #54 -- 23,821 (- 0.4%)
09/2018: Green Lanterns #55 -- 23,444 (- 1.6%)
10/2018: Green Lanterns #56 -- 33,156 (+ 41.4%)
10/2018: Green Lanterns #57 -- 24,512 (- 26.1%)
11/2018: The Green Lantern #1 -- 113,651 (+317.5%) [102,343]
12/2018: The Green Lantern #2 -- 64,127 (- 36.0%) [65,522]
01/2019: The Green Lantern #3 -- 54,398 (- 17.0%)
02/2019: The Green Lantern #4 -- 50,176 (- 7.8%)
03/2019: The Green Lantern #5 -- 47,325 (- 5.7%)
04/2019: The Green Lantern #6 -- 49,256 (+ 4.1%)
05/2019: The Green Lantern #7 -- 45,338 (- 8.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 55.7%
1 year : + 90.8%
2 years : + 38.7%
5 years : + 2.8%
10 years: - 44.4%
15 years: + 25.5%
Looks like maybe it was just Adam Strange fans last month...
---
31 - DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL ($4.99)
08/2012: Detective Annual #1 -- 62,571
07/2013: Detective Annual #2 -- 52,245 (- 16.5%)
07/2014: Detective Annual #3 -- 44,128 (- 15.5%)
01/2018: Detective Annual #1 -- 44,882 (+ 1.6%) [45,688]
05/2019: Detective Annual #2 -- 44,927 (- 1.7%)
First month sales actually a tad higher than those for last year’s Annual.
---
35 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99)
05/2004: Action Comics #815 -- 49,483
05/2009: Action Comics #877 -- 41,772
05/2014: Action Comics #31 -- 41,081 [46,325]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Action Comics #52 -- 40,623
05/2017: Action Comics #979 -- 43,336 [43,709]
05/2017: Action Comics #980 -- 42,811 [43,712]
---------------------------------------
05/2018: Action Special #1 -- 47,236 (- 90.6%) [47,323]
06/2018: --
07/2018: Action Comics #1001 -- 79,327 (+ 72.2%) [81,646]
08/2018: Action Comics #1002 -- 61,916 (- 23.9%) [62,645]
09/2018: Action Comics #1003 -- 57,865 (- 7.4%) [58,555]
10/2018: Action Comics #1004 -- 60,420 (+ 4.4%) [61,281]
11/2018: Action Comics #1005 -- 49,149 (- 19.6%) [49,601]
12/2018: --
01/2019: Action Comics #1006 -- 46,140 (- 7.0%)
01/2019: Action Comics #1007 -- 44,405 (- 3.8%)
02/2019: Action Comics #1008 -- 44,084 (+ 0.5%) [44,622]
03/2019: Action Comics #1009 -- 43,014 (- 3.6%)
04/2019: Action Comics #1010 -- 42,317 (- 1.6%)
05/2019: Action Comics #1011 -- 42,207 (- 0.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.9%
1 year : - 10.8%
2 years : - 3.4%
5 years : - 8.9%
10 years: + 1.0%
15 years: - 14.7%
---
36, 39 - FLASH ($3.99)
05/2004: Flash #210 -- 45,354 [47,723]
05/2009: Rebirth #2 -- 86,183
05/2014: Flash #31 -- 34,240 [35,615]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Flash #51 -- 33,878
05/2016: Flash #52 -- 32,831
05/2017: Flash #22 -- 163,767 [163,963]
05/2017: Flash #23 -- 54,640 [55,746]
------------------------------
05/2018: Flash #46 -- 52,255 (+ 13.1%) [52,266]
05/2018: Flash #47 -- 53,222 (+ 9.8%) [57,401]
06/2018: Flash #48 -- 53,686 (- 6.4%) [53,718]
06/2018: Flash #49 -- 54,265 (+ 2.0%) [54,797]
07/2018: Flash #50 -- 58,311 (+ 6.8%) [58,541]
07/2018: Flash #51 -- 53,616 (- 5.4%) [55,355]
08/2018: Flash #52 -- 54,588 (- 0.8%) [54,924]
08/2018: Flash #53 -- 48,992 (- 10.1%) [49,357]
09/2018: Flash #54 -- 46,677 (- 5.2%) [46,770]
09/2018: Flash #55 -- 45,729 (- 2.0%) [45,822]
10/2018: Flash #56 -- 57,439 (+ 25.1%) [57,304]
10/2018: Flash #57 -- 44,251 (- 22.4%) [44,466]
11/2018: Flash #58 -- 43,008 (- 3.2%) [43,046]
11/2018: Flash #59 -- 42,020 (- 2.1%) [42,133]
12/2018: Flash #60 -- 42,212 (+ 0.2%)
01/2019: Flash #61 -- 40,596 (- 3.8%)
01/2019: Flash #62 -- 39,349 (- 3.1%)
01/2019: Flash #63 -- 38,263 (- 2.8%) [39,099]
02/2019: Flash #64 -- 67,712 (+ 76.5%) [69,029]
02/2019: Flash #65 -- 60,031 (- 9.7%) [62,360]
03/2019: Flash #66 -- 39,144 (- 37.2%)
03/2019: Flash #67 -- 38,520 (- 1.6%)
04/2019: Flash #68 -- 38,064 (- 1.2%)
04/2019: Flash #69 -- 37,484 (- 1.5%)
05/2019: Flash #70 -- 41,746 (+ 11.4%)
05/2019: Flash #71 -- 40,701 (- 2.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 3.2%
1 year : - 24.8%
2 years : - 62.5%
5 years : + 15.7%
10 years: - 52.2%
15 years: - 13.6%
“Flash: Year One” begins, along with a bit of a sales boost.
---
42 - BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II ($3.99)
05/2016: Batman/TMNT #6 of 6 -- 64,911
-------------------------------------------
04/2018: Batman/TMNT II #6 of 6 -- 30,170
-------------------------------------------
05/2019: Batman/TMNT III #1 of 6 -- 38,894 (+ 26.3%)
It’s up on the end of the previous series, but likely not for long.
---
43 - CATWOMAN ($3.99)
04/2004: Catwoman #31 -- 24,250
05/2014: Catwoman #31 -- 20,144
05/2015: --
05/2016: Catwoman #52 -- 16,146
----------------------------------
07/2018: Catwoman #1 -- 121,056 (+649.8%) [117,842]
08/2018: Catwoman #2 -- 64,721 (- 47.3%) [65,553]
09/2018: Catwoman #3 -- 55,068 (- 14.9%) [55,830]
10/2018: Catwoman #4 -- 72,130 (+ 31.0%) [72,244]
11/2018: Catwoman #5 -- 50,131 (- 30.5%) [50,313]
12/2018: Catwoman #6 -- 48,014 (- 2.0%) [49,326]
01/2019: Catwoman #7 -- 35,490 (- 28.1%)
02/2019: Catwoman #8 -- 32,360 (- 8.8%)
03/2019: Catwoman #9 -- 43,952 (+ 35.8%)
04/2019: Catwoman #10 -- 40,857 (- 7.0%)
05/2019: Catwoman #11 -- 38,860 (- 4.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.8%
5 years : + 92.9%
15 years: + 60.2%
---
47 - NAOMI (Wonder Comics) ($3.99)
01/2019: Naomi #1 -- 27,777 [40,137]
02/2019: Naomi #2 -- 15,838 (- 41.7%) [23,386]
03/2019: Naomi #3 -- 14,691 (- 8.0%) [21,509]
04/2019: Naomi #4 -- 19,282 (+ 28.4%) [27,619]
05/2019: Naomi #5 -- 36,953 (+ 33.8%) **
What to make of this month’s Naomi numbers? My initial thought was that, because there was a production problem and Diamond had to send out replacement copies for many copies of issue #5, that these numbers are greatly inflated as Diamond lumped in the initial and replacement copies. But if one looks at the dollar rank (#49), it is right in line with what one would expect for a comic selling at this level, so it would seem that all of these copies are actual sales to retailers and not replacement copies. And Naomi has been gaining substantial sales through reorders and second printings, so there is a lot of demand there. Meaning that the 37K figure for issue #5 isn’t completely out of the question, so for now I’m going to take it at face value, but with an asterisk...
---
50 - SHAZAM! ($3.99)
12/2018: Shazam! #1 -- 66,950 [74,218]
01/2018: Shazam! #2 -- 43,607 (- 35.7%) [47,741]
02/2018: Shazam! #3 -- 37,905 (- 19.1%) [38,605]
03/2018: Shazam! #4 -- 38,420 (+ 1.9%) [39,351]
04/2019: --
05/2018: Shazam! #5 -- 35,337 (- 10.2%)
Just imagine how well Shazam! would be selling if it could keep to a schedule?
---
51, 55 - WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
05/2004: Wonder Woman #204 -- 30,377
05/2009: Wonder Woman #32 -- 33,065
05/2014: Wonder Woman #31 -- 30,655
05/2015: --
05/2016: Wonder Woman #52 -- 29,673
05/2017: Wonder Woman #22 -- 44,114 [44,183]
05/2017: Wonder Woman #23 -- 43,704 [44,124]
-------------------------------------
05/2018: Wonder Woman #46 -- 34,430 (- 0.9%)
05/2018: Wonder Woman #47 -- 33,848 (- 0.6%) [34,234]
06/2018: Wonder Woman #48 -- 34,418 (+ 0.9%) [34,545]
06/2018: Wonder Woman #49 -- 34,129 (- 0.4%) [34,424]
07/2018: Wonder Woman #50 -- 38,375 (+ 11.8%) [38,472]
07/2018: Wonder Woman #51 -- 50,901 (+ 39.9%) [53,808]
08/2018: Wonder Woman #52 -- 36,259 (- 32.1%) [36,514]
08/2018: Wonder Woman #53 -- 34,900 (- 2.6%) [35,553]
09/2018: Wonder Woman #54 -- 34,966 (- 1.0%) [35,191]
09/2018: Wonder Woman #55 -- 33,851 (- 2.9%) [34,162]
10/2018: Wonder Woman #56 -- 55,178 (+ 61.6%) [55,214]
10/2018: Wonder Woman #57 -- 42,217 (- 22.9%) [42,566]
11/2018: Wonder Woman #58 -- 44,467 (+ 6.2%) [45,188]
11/2018: Wonder Woman #59 -- 37,418 (- 15.5%) [38,212]
12/2018: Wonder Woman #60 -- 36,966 (- 3.2%)
01/2019: Wonder Woman #61 -- 36,413 (- 1.5%)
01/2019: Wonder Woman #62 -- 33,780 (- 7.0%)
01/2019: Wonder Woman #63 -- 34,963 (+ 3.2%)
02/2019: Wonder Woman #64 -- 45,866 (+ 31.2%)
02/2019: Wonder Woman #65 -- 46,007 (+ 2.6%) [47,052]
03/2019: Wonder Woman #66 -- 35,547 (- 24.5%)
03/2019: Wonder Woman #67 -- 33,665 (+ 16.6%) [41,434]
04/2019: Wonder Woman #68 -- 37,676 (- 9.1%)
04/2019: Wonder Woman #69 -- 34,990 (- 7.1%)
05/2019: Wonder Woman #70 -- 34,503 (- 1.4%)
05/2019: Wonder Woman #71 -- 32,792 (- 5.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.8%
1 year : - 2.0%
2 years : - 23.8%
5 years : + 9.8%
10 years: + 1.8%
15 years: + 10.8%
---
56 - SUPERMAN LEVIATHAN RISING SPECIAL ($9.99)
05/2019: Superman Leviathan #1 -- 32,549
Maybe using a $10 special as the lead-in to one of your big summer events isn’t the best idea?
---
60 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ($3.99)
05/2014: Justice League Dark #31 -- 25,337
------------------------------------------
07/2018: Justice League Dark #1 -- 60,318 (+160.3%) [64,590]
08/2018: Justice League Dark #2 -- 46,545 (- 25.7%) [47,986]
09/2018: Justice League Dark #3 -- 44,656 (- 4.9%) [45,632]
10/2018: Justice League Dark #4 -- 53,443 (+ 18.7%) [54,154]
11/2018: Justice League Dark #5 -- 43,953 (- 18.1%) [44,367]
12/2018: Justice League Dark #6 -- 41,720 (- 6.0%)
01/2019: Justice League Dark #7 -- 35,967 (- 13.8%)
02/2019: Justice League Dark #8 -- 33,554 (- 6.7%)
03/2019: Justice League Dark #9 -- 31,648 (- 5.7%)
04/2019: Justice League Dark #10 -- 32,439 (+ 2.5%)
05/2019: Justice League Dark #11 -- 31,871 (- 1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 28.2%
5 years : + 25.8%
---
64 - HARLEY QUINN ($3.99)
05/2014: Harley Quinn #6 -- 62,467 [66,742]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Harley Quinn #28 -- 43,858
05/2017: Harley Quinn #19 -- 41,552 [41,898]
05/2017: Harley Quinn #20 -- 40,596 [40,954]
--------------------------------------
05/2018: Harley <3 Joker #1 -- 41,247 (+ 31.4%) [41,278]
05/2018: Harley <3 Joker #2 -- 37,012 (- 9.6%) [37,309]
06/2018: Harley Quinn #43 -- 29,948 (- 19.7%) [29,945]
06/2018: Harley Quinn #44 -- 29,545 (- 2.8%) [29,112]
07/2018: Harley Quinn #45 -- 30,518 (+ 5.2%) [30,622]
07/2018: Harley Quinn #46 -- 29,343 (- 2.8%) [29,764]
08/2018: Harley Quinn #47 -- 29,144 (- 1.5%) [29,315]
08/2018: Harley Quinn #48 -- 28,705 (- 1.6%) [28,841]
09/2018: Harley Quinn #49 -- 29,293 (+ 1.7%) [29,343]
09/2018: Harley Quinn #50 -- 30,059 (+ 3.5%) [30,364]
10/2018: Harley Quinn #51 -- 30,709 (+ 1.3%) [30,755]
10/2018: Harley Quinn #52 -- 41,301 (+ 35.9%) [41,796]
11/2018: Harley Quinn #53 -- 27,903 (- 33.0%) [27,985]
11/2018: Harley Quinn #54 -- 28,028 (+ 1.4%) [28,386]
12/2018: Harley Quinn #55 -- 27,742 (- 2.3%)
12/2018: Harley Quinn #56 -- 26,491 (- 4.5%)
01/2019: Harley Quinn #57 -- 26,407 (- 0.3%)
02/2019: Harley Quinn #58 -- 36,010 (+ 36.4%)
03/2019: Harley Quinn #59 -- 44,298 (+ 23.0%)
04/2019: Harley Quinn #60 -- 28,968 (- 34.6%)
05/2019: Harley Quinn #61 -- 30,708 (+ 6.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 8.9%
1 year : - 21.9%
2 years : - 25.9%
5 years : - 54.0%
---
52 - YOUNG JUSTICE (Wonder Comics) ($3.99)
01/2019: Young Justice #1 -- 73,952 (+974,2%) [76,654]
02/2019: Young Justice #2 -- 37,081 (- 51.6%)
03/2019: Young Justice #3 -- 33,683 (- 9.2%)
04/2019: Young Justice #4 -- 31,319 (- 7.0%)
05/2019: Young Justice #5 -- 29,821 (- 4.8%)
---
76 - TEEN TITANS ($3.99)
05/2004: Teen Titans #11 -- 67,813
05/2009: Teen Titans #71 -- 34,110
05/2014: --
05/2015: --
05/2016: Teen Titans #20 -- 18,593
05/2017: Teen Titans #8 -- 43,385 [43,597]
-----------------------------------
05/2018: --
06/2018: TT Special #1 -- 32,702 (+ 52.4%) [40,205]
07/2018: Teen Titans #20 -- 67,978 (+ 78.5%) [71,257]
08/2018: Teen Titans #21 -- 32,095 (- 54.8%) [32,628]
09/2018: Teen Titans #22 -- 30,608 (- 4.6%) [30,765]
10/2018: Teen Titans #23 -- 36,902 (+ 20.6%) [37,016]
11/2018: Teen Titans #24 -- 27,192 (- 26.3%) [27,416]
12/2018: Teen Titans #25 -- 27,285 (- 0.5%)
01/2019: Teen Titans #26 -- 24,208 (- 11.3%)
02/2019: Teen Titans #27 -- 23,137 (- 4.4%)
03/2019: Teen Titans #28 -- 27,405 (+ 18.4%)
04/2019: Teen Titans #29 -- 27,137 (- 1.0%)
05/2019: Teen Titans #30 -- 26,502 (- 2.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 3.3%
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 39.2%
5 years : n.a.
10 years: - 22.3%
15 years: - 60.9%
84 - DEATHSTROKE ($3.99)
05/2015: --
05/2016: Deathstroke #18 -- 21,087
05/2017: Deathstroke #18 -- 22,742
05/2017: Deathstroke #19 -- 34,772 [34,760]
-----------------------------------
05/2018: Deathstroke #31 -- 35,805 (- 20.1%) [35,874]
06/2018: Deathstroke #32 -- 38,535 (+ 8.3%) [38,848]
07/2018: Deathstroke #33 -- 36,092 (- 7.0%) [36,134]
08/2018: Deathstroke #34 -- 35,168 (- 4.8%) [34,405]
09/2018: Deathstroke #35 -- 31,554 (- 7.7%) [31,761]
10/2018: Deathstroke #36 -- 27,299 (- 13.8%) [27,387]
11/2018: Deathstroke #37 -- 30,734 (+ 12.2%) [30,719]
12/2018: Deathstroke #38 -- 28,803 (- 6.2%)
01/2019: Deathstroke #39 -- 21,442 (- 25.6%)
02/2019: Deathstroke #40 -- 19,608 (- 8.6%)
03/2019: Deathstroke #41 -- 21,167 (+ 8.0%)
04/2019: Deathstroke #42 -- 26,054 (+ 23.1%)
05/2019: Deathstroke #43 -- 24,857 (- 4.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.1%
1 year : - 30.7%
2 years : - 13.5%
Teen Titans & Deathstroke finish their crossover.
---
77 - BATGIRL ($3.99)
05/2004: Batgirl #52 -- 26,418
05/2014: Batgirl #31 -- 31,522 [31,369]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Batgirl #52 -- 26,492
05/2017: Batgirl #11 -- 23,338
-------------------------------
05/2018: Batgirl #23 -- 19,252 (+ 9.4%)
06/2018: Batgirl #24 -- 26,457 (+ 35.9%) [26,168]
07/2018: --
08/2018: Batgirl #25 -- 37,712 (+ 43.9%) [37,668]
08/2018: Batgirl #26 -- 25,947 (- 30.2%) [26,302]
09/2018: Batgirl #27 -- 28,843 (+ 11.0%) [29,201]
10/2018: Batgirl #28 -- 37,397 (+ 34.2%) [39,185]
11/2018: Batgirl #29 -- 35,356 (- 9.0%) [35,665]
12/2018: --
01/2019: Batgirl #30 -- 31,084 (- 12.8%)
01/2019: Batgirl #31 -- 33,287 (+ 7.1%)
02/2019: Batgirl #32 -- 29,839 (- 10.4%)
03/2019: Batgirl #33 -- 24,034 (- 19.5%)
04/2019: Batgirl #34 -- 28,271 (+ 17.6%)
05/2019: Batgirl #35 -- 26,340 (- 6.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.1%
1 year : + 36.8%
2 years : + 12.9%
5 years : - 16.0%
15 years: - 0.3%
Variant cover this month by Middleton. Yes, the variant cover artist means more to sales fluctuations on Batgirl than anything happening in between the covers. Which is a very sad state of affairs.
---
85 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY ($3.99)
09/2018: Justice League Odyssey #1 -- 57,114 [58,286]
10/2018: Justice League Odyssey #2 -- 46,662 (- 19.0%) [47,239]
11/2018: Justice League Odyssey #3 -- 35,727 (- 23.8%) [36,011]
12/2018: --
01/2019: Justice League Odyssey #4 -- 31,696 (- 12.0%)
01/2019: Justice League Odyssey #5 -- 28,776 (- 9.2%)
02/2019: Justice League Odyssey #6 -- 26,248 (- 8.8%)
03/2019: Justice League Odyssey #7 -- 24,378 (- 7.1%)
04/2019: Justice League Odyssey #8 -- 23,493 (- 3.6%)
05/2019: Justice League Odyssey #9 -- 24,512 (+ 4.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 31.9%
---
87 - AQUAMAN ($3.99)
05/2004: Aquaman #18 -- 25,357
05/2014: Aquaman #31 -- 32,076
05/2015: --
05/2016: Aquaman #52 -- 22,246
05/2017: Aquaman #22 -- 27,215
05/2017: Aquaman #23 -- 26,841
------------------------------
05/2018: Aquaman #36 -- 23,057 (- 2.3%)
06/2018: Aquaman #37 -- 24,076 (+ 4.4%)
07/2018: Aquaman #38 -- 24,836 (+ 3.2%)
08/2018: Aquaman #39 -- 30,311 (+ 22.8%) [30,490]
09/2018: Aquaman #40 -- 31,010 (+ 3.0%) [31,406]
10/2018: Aquaman #41 -- 35,121 (+ 11.9%) [35,155]
11/2018: Aquaman #42 -- 38,608 (+ 11.8%) [39,314]
12/2018: Aquaman #43 -- 30,920 (- 18.1%) [32,180]
01/2019: Aquaman #44 -- 26,416 (- 15.9%) [27,071]
02/2019: Aquaman #45 -- 26,291 (- 1.2%) [26,754]
03/2019: Aquaman #46 -- 24,566 (- 8.2%)
04/2019: Aquaman #47 -- 25,442 (+ 3.6%)
05/2019: Aquaman #48 -- 24,421 (- 4.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 37.9%
1 year : + 5.9%
2 years : - 9.6%
5 years : - 23.9%
15 years: - 3.7%
---
81 - NIGHTWING ($3.99)
05/2004: Nightwing #93 -- 30,816
05/2014: Nightwing #30 -- 43,923 [44,621]
05/2015: --
05/2016: Grayson #20 -- 23,762
05/2017: Nightwing #20 -- 37,646 [37,684]
05/2017: Nightwing #21 -- 37,309 [37,737]
----------------------------------
05/2018: Nightwing #44 -- 26,229 (+ 0.0%) [26,283]
06/2018: Nightwing #45 -- 26,242 (- 0.0%) [26,270]
07/2018: Nightwing #46 -- 26,899 (+ 2.5%) [26,931]
08/2018: Nightwing #47 -- 26,467 (- 1.8%) [26,440]
09/2018: Nightwing #48 -- 25,733 (- 2.7%)
09/2018: Nightwing #49 -- 25,475 (- 1.0%)
10/2018: Nightwing #50 -- 29,450 (+ 24.6%) [31,751]
10/2018: Nightwing #51 -- 35,026 (+ 11.4%) [35,379]
11/2018: Nightwing #52 -- 26,623 (- 24.5%) [26,705]
11/2018: Nightwing #53 -- 26,442 (+ 0.5%) [26,826]
12/2018: Nightwing #54 -- 28,269 (+ 5.4%)
12/2018: Nightwing #55 -- 26,060 (- 7.8%)
01/2019: Nightwing #56 -- 25,044 (- 3.9%)
02/2019: Nightwing #57 -- 26,845 (+ 7.2%)
03/2019: Nightwing #58 -- 25,433 (- 5.3%)
04/2019: Nightwing #59 -- 24,677 (- 3.0%)
05/2019: Nightwing #60 -- 24,233 (- 1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 9.5%
1 year : - 7.8%
2 years : - 35.7%
5 years : - 45.7%
15 years: - 21.4%
These are, historically speaking, low sales numbers for Nightwing. Maybe give him his memory back?
---
102 - CATWOMAN ANNUAL ($4.99)
05/2013: Catwoman Annual #1 -- 24,228
12/2014: Catwoman Annual #2 -- 17,056 (- 29.6%)
05/2019: Catwoman Annual #1 -- 21,885 (+ 28.3%)
The first Catwoman Annual in nearly five years comes in significantly lower than the main title. There was no variant cover...
---
117 - RED HOOD: OUTLAW ($3.99)
05/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #31 -- 21,257
05/2015: --
05/2016: Red Hood/Arsenal #12 -- 16,402
05/2017: Red Hood & Outlaws #10 -- 25,977
-----------------------------------------
05/2018: Red Hood & Outlaws #22 -- 18,989 (- 3.1%)
06/2018: Red Hood & Outlaws #23 -- 19,034 (+ 0.2%)
07/2018: Red Hood & Outlaws #24 -- 18,829 (- 1.1%)
08/2018: Red Hood & Outlaws #25 -- 21,874 (+ 16.2%)
09/2018: Red Hood & Outlaws #26 -- 24,688 (+ 12.9%)
10/2018: Red Hood: Outlaw #27 -- 30,343 (+ 24.3%) [30,688]
11/2018: Red Hood: Outlaw #28 -- 24,485 (- 20.2%)
12/2018: Red Hood: Outlaw #29 -- 23,836 (- 2.7%)
01/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #30 -- 20,247 (- 15.1%)
02/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #31 -- 19,546 (- 3.5%)
03/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #32 -- 18,389 (- 5.9%)
04/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #33 -- 24,706 (+ 34.4%)
05/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #34 -- 18,389 (- 23.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.9%
1 year : - 3.2%
2 years : - 29.2%
5 years : - 13.5%
Back to normal, with last month’s bump still a mystery.
---
118 - SUPERGIRL ($3.99)
05/2009: Supergirl #41 -- 33,441
05/2014: Supergirl #31 -- 22,783
05/2017: Supergirl #9 -- 22,605
----------------------------------
05/2018: --
06/2018: --
07/2018: --
08/2018: Supergirl #21 -- 28,507 (- 7.3%) [28,782]
09/2018: Supergirl #22 -- 22,113 (- 23.2%)
10/2018: Supergirl #23 -- 44,775 (+102.0%) [44,667]
11/2018: Supergirl #24 -- 21,295 (- 52.3%)
12/2018: Supergirl #25 -- 21,564 (+ 1.3%)
01/2018: Supergirl #26 -- 29,499 (+ 36.8%)
02/2019: Supergirl #27 -- 19,980 (- 32.3%)
03/2018: Supergirl #28 -- 32,370 (+ 62.0%)
04/2018: Supergirl #29 -- 19,550 (- 39.6%)
05/2018: Supergirl #30 -- 18,443 (- 5.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.4%
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 18.4%
5 years : - 19.0%
10 years: - 44.8%
---
121 - ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS ($3.99)
05/2017: Super Sons #4 -- 39,412 [40,134]
---------------------------------------
05/2018: Super Sons #16 -- 27,089 (- 2.1%) [27,458]
06/2018: --
07/2018: --
08/2018: Adventures #1 of 12 -- 36,795 (+ 72.3%) [47,323]
09/2018: Adventures #2 of 12 -- 26,500 (- 43.3%) [26,813]
10/2018: Adventures #3 of 12 -- 23,839 (- 11.1%)
11/2018: Adventures #4 of 12 -- 22,320 (- 6.4%)
12/2018: Adventures #5 of 12 -- 20,965 (- 6.1%)
01/2019: Adventures #6 of 12 -- 19,969 (- 4.8%)
02/2019: Adventures #7 of 12 -- 19,570 (- 2.0%)
03/2019: Adventures #8 of 12 -- 19,071 (- 2.5%)
04/2019: Adventures #9 of 12 -- 18,573 (- 2.6%)
05/2019: Adventures #10 of 12 -- 18,233 (- 1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.3%
1 year : - 33.6%
2 years : - 54.6%
Stabilizing in its final issues.
---
123 - HAWKMAN ($3.99)
05/2004: Hawkman #28 -- 29,318
------------------------------
05/2018: --
06/2018: Hawkman #1 -- 42,123 (- 49.5%) [43,884]
07/2018: Hawkman #2 -- 30,781 (- 28.2%) [31,501]
08/2018: Hawkman #3 -- 27,331 (- 12.1%) [27,694]
09/2018: Hawkman #4 -- 24,687 (- 10.9%)
10/2018: Hawkman #5 -- 30,171 (+ 22.7%) [30,303]
11/2018: Hawkman #6 -- 21,818 (- 28.0%)
12/2018: Hawkman #7 -- 20,625 (- 5.5%)
01/2019: Hawkman #8 -- 20,198 (- 2.1%)
02/2019: Hawkman #9 -- 18,829 (- 6.8%)
03/2019: Hawkman #10 -- 18,269 (- 3.0%)
04/2019: Hawkman #11 -- 18,392 (+ 0.7%)
05/2019: Hawkman #12 -- 18,135 (- 1.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 16.9%
15 years: - 38.1%
Hitch’s final issue on art.
---
126 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER ($3.99)
05/2016: Martian Manhunter #12 -- 12,555
----------------------------------------------
12/2018: Martian Manhunter #1 of 12 -- 39,312 (+224.6%) [40,748]
01/2019: Martian Manhunter #2 of 12 -- 26,573 (- 34.8%)
02/2019: Martian Manhunter #3 of 12 -- 22,431 (- 15.6%)
03/2019: Martian Manhunter #4 of 12 -- 19,187 (- 14.5%)
04/2019: --
05/2019: Martian Manhunter #5 of 12 -- 17,958 (- 6.5%)
Not sure if last month was a planned skip month, but it hasn’t hurt sales too badly (yet—these things can sometimes take a month or two to be reflected in sales to retailers).
---
136 - WONDER TWINS (Wonder Comics) ($3.99)
02/2019: Wonder Twins #1 of 6 -- 27,584 [28,154]
03/2019: Wonder Twins #2 of 6 -- 19,892 (- 29.3%)
04/2019: Wonder Twins #3 of 6 -- 16,951 (- 14.8%)
05/2019: Wonder Twins #4 of 12 -- 15,643 (- 7.7%)
DC are happy enough with sales on Wonder Twins and Dial H for Hero that both series have been expanded to twelve issues. So there must be significant sales from other sources (digital?) because the sales showing on the DIamond-NA charts certainly wouldn’t give rise to such confidence.
---
140 - BATMAN BEYOND ($3.99)
05/2014: Universe #10 -- 13,869
05/2016: Batman Beyond #12 -- 18,133
05/2017: Batman Beyond #8 -- 24,093
------------------------------------
05/2018: Batman Beyond #20 -- 16,093 (- 1.5%)
06/2018: Batman Beyond #21 -- 16,049 (- 0.3%)
07/2018: Batman Beyond #22 -- 15,839 (- 1.3%)
08/2018: Batman Beyond #23 -- 15,743 (- 0.6%)
09/2018: Batman Beyond #24 -- 15,863 (+ 0.8%)
10/2018: Batman Beyond #25 -- 24,219 (+ 55.7%) [24,703]
11/2018: Batman Beyond #26 -- 18,652 (- 24.5%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Batman Beyond #27 -- 16,695 (- 10.5%)
01/2019: Batman Beyond #28 -- 16,018 (- 4.1%)
02/2019: Batman Beyond #29 -- 16,174 (+ 1.0%)
03/2019: Batman Beyond #30 -- 16,427 (+ 1.6%)
04/2019: Batman Beyond #31 -- 17,280 (+ 5.2%)
05/2019: Batman Beyond #32 -- 15,398 (- 10.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.4%
1 year : - 4.3%
2 years : - 36.1%
5 years : + 11.0%
And the renaissance is over.
---
151 - THE TERRIFICS ($3.99)
05/2018: Terrifics #4 -- 28,849 (- 7.1%) [29,568]
06/2018: Terrifics #5 -- 26,676 (- 7.5%) [27,029]
07/2018: Terrifics #6 -- 24,736 (- 7.3%)
08/2018: Terrifics #7 -- 22,825 (- 7.7%)
09/2018: Terrifics #8 -- 21,240 (- 6.9%)
10/2018: Terrifics #9 -- 25,545 (+ 20.3%)
11/2018: Terrifics #10 -- 19,035 (- 25.5%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Terrifics #11 -- 17,352 (- 8.8%)
01/2019: Terrifics #12 -- 16,657 (- 4.0%)
02/2019: Terrifics #13 -- 15,917 (- 4.4%)
03/2019: Terrifics #14 -- 15,294 (- 3.9%)
04/2019: Terrifics #15 -- 14,598 (- 4.6%)
05/2019: Terrifics #16 -- 14,022 (- 3.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.3%
1 year : - 52.6%
---
153 - THE DREAMING (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
09/2018: Dreaming #1 -- 37,258 [38,029]
10/2018: Dreaming #2 -- 21,559 (- 43.3%)
11/2018: Dreaming #3 -- 19,815 (- 8.1%)
12/2018: Dreaming #4 -- 18,185 (- 8.2%)
01/2018: Dreaming #5 -- 17,054 (- 6.2%)
02/2018: Dreaming #6 -- 15,989 (- 6.2%)
03/2018: Dreaming #7 -- 15,046 (- 5.9%)
04/2018: Dreaming #8 -- 14,409 (- 4.2%)
05/2018: Dreaming #9 -- 13,749 (- 4.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 30.6%
The top-selling of the Sandman Universe titles, and also the top-selling non-DCU title for May.
---
159 - FREEDOM FIGHTERS ($3.99)
12/2018: Freedom Fighters #1 of 12 -- 23,826 (+199.7%) [25,248]
01/2019: Freedom Fighters #2 of 12 -- 14,091 (- 44.2%)
02/2019: Freedom Fighters #3 of 12 -- 13,619 (- 3.3%)
03/2019: Freedom Fighters #4 of 12 -- 13,130 (- 3.6%)
04/2019: Freedom Fighters #5 of 12 -- 12,653 (- 3.6%)
05/2019: Freedom Fighters #6 of 12 -- 12,348 (- 2.4%)
Still a lot of standard attrition to go until issue #12.
---
166 - THE BOOKS OF MAGIC (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
10/2018: Books of Magic #1 -- 32,284 (+206.0%) [33,255]
11/2018: Books of Magic #2 -- 18,189 (- 45.3%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Books of Magic #3 -- 15,886 (- 12.7%)
01/2019: Books of Magic #4 -- 14,581 (- 8.2%)
02/2019: Books of Magic #5 -- 13,864 (- 4.8%)
03/2019: Books of Magic #6 -- 13,177 (- 5.1%)
04/2019: Books of Magic #7 -- 12,524 (- 5.0%)
05/2019: Books of Magic #8 -- 11,918 (- 4.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 34.5%
---
168 - LUCIFER (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
05/2004: Lucifer #50 -- 14,970
05/2016: Lucifer #6 -- 10,701
05/2017: Lucifer #18 -- 6,520
------------------------------
10/2018: Lucifer #1 -- 28,216 (+349.6%) [28,805]
11/2018: Lucifer #2 -- 16,871 (- 41.4%)
12/2018: Lucifer #3 -- 14,929 (- 11.5%)
01/2019: Lucifer #4 -- 14,474 (- 3.0%)
02/2019: Lucifer #5 -- 13,413 (- 7.3%)
03/2019: Lucifer #6 -- 12,721 (- 5.2%)
04/2019: Lucifer #7 -- 12,114 (- 4.8%)
05/2019: Lucifer #8 -- 11,611 (- 4.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 31.2%
2 years : + 78.1%
15 years: - 22.4%
---
174 - THE WILD STORM (WildStorm) ($3.99)
05/2017: The Wild Storm #4 -- 25,571
-------------------------------------
05/2018: The Wild Storm #13 -- 14,661 (- 12.8%)
06/2018: The Wild Storm #14 -- 14,107 (- 3.8%)
07/2018: The Wild Storm #15 -- 13,787 (- 2.3%)
08/2018: The Wild Storm #16 -- 13,712 (- 0.5%)
09/2018: The Wild Storm #17 -- 13,211 (- 3.7%)
10/2018: The Wild Storm #18 -- 13,021 (- 1.4%)
11/2018: --
12/2018: --
01/2019: The Wild Storm #19 -- 12,360 (- 5.1%)
02/2019: The Wild Storm #20 -- 12,312 (- 0.4%)
03/2019: The Wild Storm #21 -- 11,257 (- 8.6%)
04/2019: The Wild Storm #22 -- 11,353 (+ 0.9%)
05/2019: The Wild Storm #23 -- 11,244 (- 1.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 23.3%
2 years : - 56.0%
Ending (as planned) with issue #24. to be followed by a new WildCATs series in August.
---
182 - DIAL H FOR HERO (Wonder Comics) ($3.99)
03/2019: Dial H for Hero #1 of 6 -- 21,832 (+ 96.9%)
04/2019: Dial H for Hero #2 of 6 -- 12,896 (- 40.9%)
05/2019: Dial H for Hero #3 of 12 -- 11,000 (- 14.7%)
See Wonder Twins above, but even moreso. For both I suppose there could also be reorders coming in below the top 500 threshold each month.
---
Coming in at #186 on the Diamond-NA chart is Dog Days of Summer, DC’s latest $10 themed anthology, with 10,431 in sales.
---
195 - FEMALE FURIES ($3.99)
02/2019: Female Furies #1 of 6 -- 26,515
03/2019: Female Furies #2 of 6 -- 13,585 (- 48.8%)
04/2019: Female Furies #3 of 6 -- 10,951 (- 19.4%)
05/2019: Female Furies #4 of 6 -- 9,772 (- 10.8%)
---
196 - HOUSE OF WHISPERS (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
09/2018: House of Whispers #1 -- 28,346 [29,282]
10/2018: House of Whispers #2 -- 16,763 (- 40.9%)
11/2018: House of Whispers #3 -- 14,943 (- 10.9%)
12/2018: House of Whispers #4 -- 13,619 (- 8.9%)
01/2019: House of Whispers #5 -- 12,505 (- 8.2%)
02/2019: House of Whispers #6 -- 11,566 (- 7.5%)
03/2019: House of Whispers #7 -- 10,874 (- 6.0%)
04/2019: House of Whispers #8 -- 10,155 (- 6.6%)
05/2019: House of Whispers #9 -- 9,646 (- 5.0%)
-----------------
6 months: - 35.4%
Still dropping faster than standard attrition.
---
203 - PEARL (Jinxworld) ($3.99)
08/2017: Pearl #1 of 6 -- 32,701 [33,643]
09/2017: Pearl #2 -- 16,808 (- 50.0%)
10/2017: Pearl #3 -- 13,760 (- 18.1%)
11/2017: Pearl #4 -- 11,693 (- 15.0%)
12/2017: Pearl #5 -- 10,584 (- 9.5%)
01/2018: Pearl #6 -- 9,988 (- 5.6%)
02/2019: --
03/2019: Pearl #7 -- 9,798 (- 1.9%)
04/2019: Pearl #8 -- 9,412 (- 3.9%)
05/2019: Pearl #9 -- 9,027 (- 4.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.8%
Ending with issue #12
---
220 - THE SILENCER ($3.99)
05/2018: The Silencer #5 -- 15,261 (- 5.5%)
06/2018: The Silencer #6 -- 13,868 (- 9.1%)
07/2018: The Silencer #7 -- 12,524 (- 9.7%)
08/2018: The Silencer #8 -- 11,802 (- 5.8%)
09/2018: The Silencer #9 -- 10,970 (- 7.0%)
10/2018: The Silencer #10 -- 15,439 (+ 40.7%)
11/2018: The Silencer #11 -- 10,018 (- 35.1%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: The Silencer #12 -- 9,231 (- 7.9%)
01/2019: The Silencer #13 -- 8,683 (- 5.9%)
02/2019: The Silencer #14 -- 8,302 (- 4.4%)
03/2019: The Silencer #15 -- 7,949 (- 4.3%)
04/2019: The Silencer #16 -- 7,901 (- 0.6%)
05/2019: The Silencer #17 -- 8,148 (+ 3.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.7%
1 year : - 46.6%
A bit of an adjustment bump for the penultimate issue.
---
228 - TEEN TITANS GO! (Digital-First) ($2.99)
05/2004: Teen Titans Go! #7 -- 14,731
05/2014: --
05/2015: --
05/2016: --
05/2017: --
--------------------------------------
05/2018: --
06/2018: Teen Titans Go! #28 -- 8,625 (+ 5.7%)
07/2018: --
08/2018: Teen Titans Go! #29 -- 9,049 (+ 4.9%)
09/2018: Teen Titans Go! #30 -- 8,867 (- 2.0%)
10/2018: --
11/2018: Teen Titans Go! #31 -- 8,597 (- 3.0%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Teen Titans Go! #32 -- 8,143 (- 5.3%)
02/2019: --
03/2019: Teen Titans Go! #33 -- 8,027 (- 1.4%)
04/2019: --
05/2019: Teen Titans Go! #34 -- 7,818 (- 2.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 9.1%
1 year : n.a.
2 years : n.a.
5 years : n.a.
15 years: - 46.9%
Ending with issue #36 in September.
---
242 - HIGH LEVEL (Vertigo) ($3.99)
02/2019: High Level #1 -- 16,824 [17,492]
03/2019: High Level #2 -- 8,155 (- 53.4%)
04/2019: High Level #3 -- 7,064 (- 13.4%)
05/2019: High Level #4 -- 6,577 (- 6.9%)
Ending with issue #6.
---
266 - SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP (All-Ages) (Hanna-Barbera) ($2.99)
05/2014: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #4 -- 8,159
05/2015: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #10 -- 6,566
05/2016: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #16 -- 8,400
05/2017: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #26 -- 5,998
-----------------------------------------
05/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #38 -- 5,823 (- 6.6%)
06/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #39 -- 6,947 (+ 19.3%)
07/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #40 -- 6,526 (- 6.1%)
08/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #41 -- 5,804 (- 11.1%)
09/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #42 -- 5,879 (+ 1.3%)
10/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #43 -- 6,281 (+ 6.8%)
11/2018: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #44 -- 5,580 (- 11.2%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #45 -- 5,814 (+ 4.2%)
01/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #46 -- 5,305 (- 8.8%)
02/2019: --
03/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #47 -- 5,088 (- 4.1%)
04/2019: --
05/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #48 -- 5,686 (+ 11.8%)
-----------------
6 months: + 1.9%
1 year : - 2.4%
2 years : - 5.2%
5 years : - 30.3%
Ending with issue #50 in September.
---
288 - AMERICAN CARNAGE (Vertigo) ($3.99)
11/2018: American Carnage #1 -- 12,891 [13,436]
12/2018: American Carnage #2 -- 7,434 (- 44.7%)
01/2019: American Carnage #3 -- 6,539 (- 12.0%)
02/2019: American Carnage #4 -- 5,673 (- 13.2%)
03/2019: American Carnage #5 -- 5,350 (- 5.7%)
04/2019: American Carnage #6 -- 5,111 (- 4.5%)
05/2019: American Carnage #7 -- 4,919 (- 3.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 63.4%
Ending with issue #9.
---
340 - LOONEY TUNES (All-Ages) ($2.99)
05/2004: Looney Tunes #114 -- 3,245
05/2009: Looney Tunes #174 -- 2,510
05/2014: --
05/2015: --
05/2016: --
05/2017: Looney Tunes #237 -- ????? (< 5,254)
-----------------------------------
05/2018: Looney Tunes #243 -- 3,037 (+ 6.0%)
06/2018: --
07/2018: Looney Tunes #244 -- 3,080 (+ 1.4%)
08/2018: --
09/2018: Looney Tunes #245 -- 3,346 (+ 8.6%)
10/2018: --
11/2018: Looney Tunes #246 -- 3,109 (- 7.1%)
12/2018: --
01/2019: Looney Tunes #247 -- 3,151 (+ 1.4%)
02/2019: --
03/2019: Looney Tunes #248 -- 3,027 (- 3.9%)
04/2019: --
05/2019: Looney Tunes #249 -- 3,284 (+ 8.5%)
-----------------
6 months: + 5.6%
1 year : + 8.1%
2 years : n.a.
5 years : n.a.
10 years: + 30.8%
15 years: + 1.2%
DC’s lowest-selling new issue for May.
---
Average Periodical Sales (not counting reprints, reorders shipping after the initial month of release, director’s cuts, and magazines; based on first-month sales only.)
DC COMICS
05/2004: 32,096
05/2009: 24,386
05/2014: 31,764
05/2015: 31,237 **
05/2016: 24,532 **
05/2017: 32,122 **
---------------
05/2018: 29,876 (- 0.8%)
06/2018: 31,374 (+ 5.0%)
07/2018: 40,199 (+ 28.1%)
08/2018: 29,661 (- 26.2%)
09/2018: 33,904 (+ 14.3%)
10/2018: 32,789 (- 3.3%)
11/2018: 29,150 (- 11.1%)
12/2018: 36,514 (+ 25.3%)
01/2019: 27,526 (- 24.6%)
02/2019: 29,807 (+ 8.3%)
03/2019: 36,887 (+ 23.8%)
04/2019: 29,141 (- 21.0%)
05/2019: 36,909 (+ 26.7%)
-----------------
6 months: + 26.6%
1 year : + 23.5%
2 years : + 14.9%
5 years : + 16.2%
10 years: + 51.4%
15 years: + 15.0%
DC UNIVERSE
05/2004: 38,502
05/2009: 33,163
05/2014: 39,555
05/2015: 42,635
05/2016: 29,927
05/2017: 39,993
---------------
05/2018: 37,935 (+ 0.5%)
06/2018: 39,466 (+ 4.0%)
07/2018: 50,334 (+ 27.5%)
08/2018: 33,866 (- 32.7%)
09/2018: 40,021 (+ 18.2%)
10/2018: 40,096 (+ 0.2%)
11/2018: 35,313 (- 11.9%)
12/2018: 44,269 (+ 25.4%)
01/2019: 32,835 (- 25.8%)
02/2019: 34,801 (+ 6.0%)
03/2019: 46,190 (+ 32.7%)
04/2019: 34,471 (- 25.4%)
05/2019: 43,378 (+ 25.8%)
-----------------
6 months: + 22.8%
1 year : + 14.3%
2 years : + 8.5%
5 years : + 9.7%
10 years: + 30.8%
15 years: + 12.7%
WILDSTORM
05/2004: 15,505
05/2009: 8,579
05/2017: 25,571
---------------
05/2018: 11,091 (- 10.0%)
06/2018: 10,298 (- 7.1%)
07/2018: 10,067 (- 2.2%)
08/2018: 9,997 (- 0.7%)
09/2018: 9,671 (- 3.3%)
10/2018: 9,575 (- 1.0%)
11/2018: --
12/2018: --
01/2019: 12,360 (+ 29.1%)
02/2019: 12,312 (- 0.4%)
03/2019: 11,257 (- 8.6%)
04/2019: 11,353 (+ 0.9%)
05/2019: 11,244 (- 1.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : + 1.4%
2 years : - 26.0%
10 years: + 31.1%
15 years: - 27.5%
VERTIGO & JINXWORLD
05/2004: 17,376
05/2009: 12,918
05/2014: 11,778
05/2015: 10,616 **
05/2016: 5,734 **
05/2017: 9,315 **
---------------
05/2018: 5,837 (- 21.4%)
06/2018: 5,783 (- 0.9%)
07/2018: 5,366 (- 7.2%)
08/2018: 23,104 (+330.6%)
09/2018: 22,472 (- 2.7%)
10/2018: 17,168 (- 23.6%)
11/2018: 13,012 (- 24.2%)
12/2018: 11,983 (- 7.9%)
01/2019: 10,822 (- 9.7%)
02/2019: 10,732 (- 0.8%)
03/2019: 9,739 (- 9.3%)
04/2019: 9,496 (- 9.3%)
05/2019: 9,635 (+ 1.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.0%
1 year : + 65.1%
2 years : + 3.4%
5 years : - 18.2%
10 years: - 25.4%
15 years: - 44.5%
Vertigo average (6 comics): 9,737; Jinxworld average (1 comic): 9,027.
---
DC COMICS - TOTAL SALES
05/2004: 2,086,266
05/2009: 1,755,779
05/2014: 2,414,052
05/2015: 2,186,608 **
05/2016: 1,815,352 **
05/2017: 2,569,767 **
------------------
05/2018: 2,210,850 (- 9.4%)
06/2018: 2,321,651 (+ 5.0%)
07/2018: 2,452,128 (+ 4.5%)
08/2018: 2,135,622 (- 12.9%)
09/2018: 2,203,739 (+ 3.2%)
10/2018: 2,557,578 (+ 3.2%)
11/2018: 1,953,053 (- 23.6%)
12/2018: 1,898,752 (- 2.8%)
01/2019: 2,367,265 (+ 24.7%)
02/2019: 1,758,617 (- 25.7%)
03/2019: 2,213,196 (+ 25.8%)
04/2019: 1,515,307 (- 31.5%)
05/2019: 2,177,609 (+ 43.7%)
-----------------
6 months: + 11.5%
1 year : - 1.5%
2 years : - 15.3%
5 years : - 9.8%
10 years: + 24.0%
15 years: + 4.4%
More titles this month than last (59 vs. 52), but with a much better average sales per title. It’s a Doomsday Clock month—You can look at the charts above for average or total sales for DC and see which months Doomsday Clock was on sale.
(Reminder that these summary charts do not include the over one million copies of DC’s Year of the Villain Special.)
Sales Indices
=============
The Sales Index number is the ratio of that comic’s sales to the average sales of all comics in that category.
DCU: Average: 43,378. Median: 32,671. No.: 48. Total: 2,082,130.
5.6 - DCeased
2.7 - Doomsday Clock
2.6 - Batman The Last Knight
2.5 - Batman Who Laughs
1.9 - Batman (70)
1.9 - Batman (71)
1.8 - Heroes in Crisis
1.5 - Detective Comics (1003)
1.5 - Detective Comics (1004)
1.3 - Justice League (23)
1.3 - Justice League (24)
1.2 - Batman and the Outsiders
1.1 - Superman
1.0 - The Green Lantern
1.0 - Detective Comics Annual
1.0 - Action Comics
1.0 - Flash (70)
0.9 - Flash (71)
0.9 - Batman/TMNT III
0.9 - Catwoman
0.9 - Naomi
0.8 - Shazam!
0.8 - Wonder Woman (70)
0.8 - Wonder Woman (71)
0.8 - Superman Leviathan Special
0.7 - Justice League Dark
0.7 - Harley Quinn
0.7 - Young Justice
0.6 - Teen Titans
0.6 - Batgirl
0.6 - Deathstroke
0.6 - Justice League Odyssey
0.6 - Aquaman
0.6 - Nightwing
0.5 - Catwoman Annual
0.4 - Supergirl
0.4 - Red Hood Outlaw
0.4 - Adventures of the Super Sons
0.4 - Hawkman
0.4 - Martian Manhunter
0.4 - Wonder Twins
0.4 - Batman Beyond
0.3 - The Terrifics
0.3 - Freedom Fighters
0.3 - Dial H for Hero
0.2 - Dog Days of Summer
0.2 - Female Furies
0.2 - The Silencer
Vertigo & Jinxworld: Average: 9,635. Median: 9,646. No.: 7. Total: 67,447.
1.4 - The Dreaming
1.2 - The Books of Magic
1.2 - Lucifer
1.0 - House of Whispers
0.9 - Pearl
0.7 - High Level
0.5 - American Carnage
WildStorm: Average: 11,244. Median: 11,244. No.: 1. Total: 11,244
1.0 - The Wild Storm
Digital First & Other: Average: 5,596. Median: 5,686. No.: 3. Total: 16,788.
1.4 - Teen Titans Go!
1.0 - Scooby-Doo Team-Up
0.6 - Looney Tunes
---
The Fine Print (Disclaimers, et cetera)
The numbers above are estimates for comic-book sales in the North American direct market, as calculated by ICv2.com and Comichron, according to the chart and index information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors.
ICv2.com's and Comichron’s estimates are somewhat lower than the actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the trends they show are fairly accurate. Since it's a "month-to-month" column, the comments, unless otherwise noted, are on the most recent month.
Bear in mind that the figures measure sales of physical comics to retailers, not customers. Also, these numbers do not include many sales to bookstores, newsstands, libraries, other mass-market retail chains, or the United Kingdom. Re-orders are included, so long as they either reached stores in a book's initial calendar month of release or were strong enough to make the chart again in a subsequent month; or they show up in the year-end Top 1000. Keep in mind that sales for some titles may include incentives to acquire variants and not every unit sold is necessarily even intended to be sold to a customer.
If additional copies of an issue did appear on the chart after a book's initial calendar month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in brackets behind those issues (e.g. "[36,599]"). Likewise, any lower numbers due to returns or other factors returns will also be reflected in the brackets. Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of the long-term comparisons, the average between them will be used. Titles which are returnable have their numbers artificially adjusted down by Diamond. To make up for that this column increases the reported numbers for those titles by 10%. Which is likely also wrong, but it's a different and likely less wrong kind of wrong, and experience has shown that this leads to sales figures which are more consistent.
Titles released under the All-Ages line and magazines, such as Mad, mostly sell through channels other than the direct market, so direct-market sales don't tell us much about their performance. Likewise, Digital First comics are published online before print, and may do a significant amount of their sales in that arena. For most Vertigo titles, collection sales tend to be a significant factor, so the numbers for those books should be taken with a grain of salt as well.
Please keep in mind that raw sales numbers do not tell us about how profitable a book is for a publisher or for the creators.
Above all, do not allow sales numbers to dictate your purchasing and enjoyment of a particular comic. If you enjoy reading a comic series then go right on buying and reading that comic, no matter what the sales figures say.
** Two asterisks after a given month in the average charts mean that one or more periodical release did not make the Top 300 chart in that month. In those cases, it's assumed that said releases sold as many units as the No. 300 comic on the chart for that month for the purposes of the chart, although its actual sales are likely to be less than that.
Opinions expressed in this column are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer; The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists; or my former neighbor's dog Miles.
The author of this column does weekly snapshots of Amazon comic sales charts at http://yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com/ and tweets about comics and related subjects on Twitter at @davereadscomics (PM me there is you need to contact me). As always, we welcome your comments and corrections below. Please try to keep things civilized.
