Greetings, sales charts fans! It's time once again to look at DC's sales figures.
There’s a lot going on this month in DC sales!
Later on down in the listings we’ll discuss The Joker hitting it big, the new DC Giants, the debut of Hill House, and the massive surge in the number of titles DC is offering this month.
But perhaps the biggest news is the release of the final comics issues under the Vertigo imprint. Way back in 1993, DC consolidated most of their ‘Mature Readers’ titles into a new imprint: Vertigo. Initially the home to such comics as Doom Patrol, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, Shade the Changing Man, and (most notably) Sandman, the imprint soon branched out to take on creator-owned projects as well, such as Preacher, The Invisibles, 100 Bullets, Y: The Last Man, and Fables.
There are many reasons for the imprint’s decline, but I’d say that the chief reason was DC’s change in how they approached creator-owned contracts. After that top creators were no longer bringing their projects to Vertigo, opting instead for the greener pastures of Image, Oni, Dark Horse, and other publishers. Eventually founding Vertigo editor Karen Berger left DC, which led to Vertigo falling under the aegis of several different editorial hands.
But the argument I’ll make is that the DC imprint became toxic. Regardless of the actual quality of the titles, readers started to turn away from any title that fell under the Vertigo label. Excepting for the Sandman revival written by Neil Gaiman (Overture), everything that Vertigo tried to launch just died. Characters such as Swamp Thing and John Constantine were recalled back to the DCU in the wake of the New 52 initiative. Many titles had their sales drop out of the Diamond Top 300 after a few issues. And trade collection sales, once the bread and butter of Vertigo, dried up as well, with the bad aura of poor sales for the monthly comics translating to apathy to the collections.
So yes, Vertigo had to come to an end. In its place DC have various comics released under their Black Label line of mature reader books (which is also the new home for the Sandman Universe titles); and ’pop-up’ imprints such as Gerard Way’s Young Animal, Joe HIll’s Hill House, and Bendis’s Jinxworld. Former Vertigo comics—at least the most popular ones like Sandman, will still have their trade collections. Television and movies will continue to mine old Vertigo properties, such as upcoming adaptations of Y: The Last Man and Sandman. And the Vertigo DNA will continue on in projects from other publishers. It may have gone out with a whimper, but Vertigo really did change comics.
(For those keeping track at home, the final comic released under the Vertigo Imprint was Books of Magic #13.)
Finally, with all of the changes in DC’s publishing necessitate a change in how we categorize titles for the end-of-column summaries. Previously we had three or four categories—holdovers from previous administrations: DC Universe; Vertigo; All Ages, Digital First and ‘other’; and sometimes WildStorm. Keeping these categories intact made it possible to compare things over time. Over the past couple of years, with the rise of pop-up imprints, we’ve added Young Animal and Jinxworld to the Vertigo bucket, as these were basically the kinds of things that Vertigo would have published in the past when it was healthier.
With Vertigo now gone, what does that mean? Here are our categories going forward:
DC Universe: Includes every title that happens in the main DC Universe, and also Black Label titles that feature DCU characters.
Former Vertigo: Includes Sandman Universe, Hill House, Young Animal, Jinxworld, and Black Label comics that do not feature DCU characters.
Digital First, All-Ages, and Other: Includes comics published for an all-ages audience (including those featuring DCU characters), Hanna-Barbera, and digital first titles, licensed comics, and anything that doesn’t fit elsewhere.
WildStorm: This imprint appears to be dormant again as the planned WildCats series that was to follow The Wild Storm appears to have been scrapped. But if it ever returns, we’ll resurrect the category.
The DC Giants will caucus with whichever category they fit in; so those featuring DCU chapters will caucus with DC Universe, while Teen Titans Go!, Scooby-Doo, and DC Super-Hero Girls will caucus with Digital First, All-Ages, and Other.
Whew—it’s been a while since we’ve written such a long pre-amble! Lets get on to the sales!
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.)
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5, 115 - YEAR OF THE VILLAIN one-shots ($4.99)
08/2019: Black Mask #1 -- 26,733
08/2019: Sinestro #1 -- 26,379
09/2019: Lex Luthor #1 -- 27,563
09/2019: The Riddler #1 -- 27,053
10/2019: The Joker #1 -- 128,632
10/2019: Black Adam #1 -- 22,245
Well now that’s a bit of a surprise! After all of the previous YotV one-shots came in with underwhelming sales, The Joker hits big in October. No doubt a combination of a hit movie and rare comics work by filmmaker John Carpenter. But not to worry, this month’s other YotV one-shot, Black Adam, was a return to form sales-wise—so this is clearly related to the individual comic and not a sudden boost of interest in “Year of the Villain.”
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32/36, 45/42 - DCEASED ($3.99/$4.99, $4.99/$5.99)
05/2019: DCeased #1 of 6 -- 242,365 [249,146]
06/2019: DCeased #2 of 6 -- 152,407 (- 37.9%) [154,625]
07/2019: DCeased #3 of 6 -- 132,072 (- 13.9%) [133,118]
08/2019: DCeased #4 of 6 -- 119,786 (- 10.0%)
09/2019: Good Day to Die -- 90,017 (- 24.9%)
10/2019: DCeased #5 of 6 -- 107,472 (+ 19.4%)
10/2019: DCeased #6 of 6 -- 93,310 (- 13.2%)
Issue #5: Regular: 54,236. Cardstocks: 53,146. (1:1)
Issue #6: Regular: 46,439. Cardstocks: 46,871. (1:1)
Final two issues, both with two extra-priced variants. No doubt the higher sticker price didn’t help with the final issue’s falling below 100K, though oddly the more expensive carsick variant for issue #6 sold slightly more than the regular cover.
And don’t think that DC are going to let DCeased end here—a second series is coming out starting in February. No doubt DC will take all of the lessons of Marvel Zombies and eventually run DCeased into the ground too.
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13 - JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY (Black Label) ($5.99)
10/2019: Criminal Sanity #1 of 9 -- 89,667
17 - JOKER: KILLER SMILE (Black Label) ($5.99)
10/2019: Killer Smile #1 of 3 -- 77,410
Both returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
DC kicks off two new Joker-starring Black Label limited series in what they are now calling their ‘Prestige Plus’ format (i.e. the Batman: Damned format). Both series are bi-monthly (maybe it would make more sense to stagger them instead of releasing them in the same months?) Criminal Sanity has the added draw of Harley Quinn, who has her own animated series debuting in November and a movie out in early 2020, but at nine issues and a bi-monthly schedule it will take a year-and-a-half to complete.
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21/95, 24/93 - BATMAN ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2004: Batman #633 -- 69,946
10/2009: Batman #691 -- 71,431
10/2009: Batman #692 -- 70,322
10/2014: Batman #35 -- 118,860 [120,149]
10/2015: Batman #45 -- 109,367 [110,031]
10/2016: Batman #8 -- 129,837
10/2016: Batman #9 -- 126,090
10/2017: Batman #32 -- 108,945 [109,653]
10/2017: Batman #33 -- 97,839 [98,720]
--------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Batman #72 -- 80,585 (- 2.6%)
06/2019: Batman #73 -- 81,919 (+ 1.7%)
07/2019: Batman #74 -- 78,544 (- 4.1%)
07/2019: Batman #75 -- 100,161 (+ 27.5%) [101,650]
08/2019: Batman #76 -- 84,879 (- 16.5%) [87,181]
08/2019: Batman #77 -- 81,215 (- 4.3%) [92,546]
09/2019: Batman #78 -- 80,979 (- 10.7%) [82,641]
09/2019: Batman #79 -- 84,117 (+ 1.8%)
10/2019: Batman #80 -- 86,677 (+ 3.0%)
10/2019: Batman #81 -- 84,620 (- 2.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 2.8%
1 year : - 17.6%
2 years : - 17.8%
5 years : - 28.7%
10 years: + 20.8%
15 years: + 22.5%
Issue #80: Regular: 61,999. Cardstock: 24,678. (2.5:1)
Issue #81: Regular: 59,507. Cardstock: 25,113. (2.4:1)
Batman also had two cardstock variants this month—because why not keep going back to the well until it is bone dry?
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19 - HARLEEN (Black Label) ($7.99)
09/2019: Harleen #1 of 3 -- 84,785 [89,987]
10/2019: Harleen #2 of 3 -- 65,720 (- 27.0%)
A perfectly fine second issue drop-off, especially considering the additional 5K of re-orders for the first issue.
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43/141 - THE BATMAN’S GRAVE ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2019: Batman’s Grave #1 of 12 -- 65,412
Regular: 46,730. Cardstock: 18,682. (2.5:1)
New maxi-series by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch. One has to wonder why DC didn’t let this run in the regular Batman title after the ousting of King. Okay, yes, they would’ve had to return Batman to monthly, but this kind of high-profile creative team on the regular title would likely have sent sales back up over 100K.
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20 - BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT (Black Label) ($4.99)
10/2017: White Knight #1 of 8 -- 86,791 [100,560]
---------------------------------------
07/2019: Curse Knight #1 of 8 -- 91,205 (+ 27.1%) [94,625]
08/2019: Curse Knight #2 of 8 -- 74,838 (- 20.9%)
09/2019: Curse Knight #3 of 8 -- 67,840 (- 9.4%)
10/2019: Curse Knight #4 of 8 -- 63,819 (- 5.9%)
-----------------
2 years : - 36.5%
Unlike its predecessor, this White Knight series is following the standard limited series sales script.
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25 - BATMAN ANNUAL ($4.99)
04/2012: Batman Annual #1 -- 101,394 [105,754]
07/2013: Batman Annual #2 -- 101,726 (- 3.8%)
12/2014: Batman Annual #3 -- 81,396 (- 20.0%)
07/2015: Batman Annual #4 -- 80,684 (+ 1.5%) [82,643]
11/2016: Batman Annual #1 -- 91,033 (+ 10.2%)
11/2017: Batman Annual #2 -- 75,928 (- 6.9%) [84,767]
12/2018: Batman Annual #3 -- 68,207 (- 15.6%)
10/2019: Batman Annual #4 -- 59,482 (- 14.4%)
Only one cover? How can a poor Batman Annual be expected to compete?!?
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28, 44 - TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE one-shots ($5.99)
10/2019: Batman: Knightfall -- 62,819
10/2019: Death of Superman -- 52,218
Both returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
Basically DC’s version of What If...?, going back to the 90s well on these well-trod stories from the past. All things considered these sell pretty good, with the expected advantage of Batman over Superman.
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31 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: --
10/2009: Superman/Batman #65 -- 34,585
10/2014: Batman/Superman #14 -- 52,270 [49,787]
10/2014: Batman/Superman #15 -- 50,226 [48,425]
10/2015: Batman/Superman #25 -- 37,566 [37,782]
---------------------------------------
08/2019: Batman/Superman #1 -- 172,271 (+422.2%) [174,470]
09/2019: Batman/Superman #2 -- 62,050 (- 63.3%) [64,022]
10/2019: Batman/Superman #3 -- 55,334 (- 13.6%)
-----------------
5 years : + 11.1%
10 years: + 60.0%
15 years: n.a.
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35 - SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE (Black Label) ($7.99)
06/2019: Superman Year One #1 of 3 -- 88,113 [92,376]
07/2009: --
08/2019: Superman Year One #2 of 3 -- 65,870 (- 28.7%)
09/2009: --
10/2019: Superman Year One #3 of 3 -- 53,196 (- 19.2%)
Unlike the first two issues, the final issue was not returnable. All in all a decent outing—and all of the issues came out in time! One expects that long-term this, like many of the ‘Prestige Plus’ Black Label projects, will see the bulk of its sales in collected editions.
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58/208, 59/196 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2014: Justice League #34 -- 75,400 [73,602]
10/2015: Justice League #45 -- 77,192 [78,416]
10/2016: Justice League #6 -- 89,073
10/2016: Justice League #7 -- 85,789
10/2017: Justice League #30 -- 48,477 [48,589]
10/2017: Justice League #31 -- 47,541 [47,772]
--------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Justice League #25 -- 57,023 (+ 3.9%)
06/2019: Justice League #26 -- 54,862 (- 7.5%)
07/2019: Justice League #27 -- 56,717 (+ 7.6%)
07/2019: Justice League #28 -- 55,538 (- 2.1%)
08/2019: Justice League #29 -- 52,641 (- 5.2%)
08/2019: Justice League #30 -- 53,432 (+ 1.5%)
09/2019: Justice League #31 -- 52,329 (- 2.1%)
09/2019: Justice League #32 -- 51,112 (- 2.3%)
10/2019: Justice League #33 -- 50,194 (- 1.8%)
10/2019: Justice League #34 -- 50,958 (+ 1.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 9.2%
1 year : - 35.9%
2 years : + 5.0%
5 years : - 31.3%
Issue #33: Regular: 38,492. Cardstock: 11,702. (3.3:1)
Issue #34: Regular: 38,026. Cardstock: 12,932. (2.9:1)
Justice League also had two cardstock variants this month—because why not keep going back to the well until it is bone dry?
Sales for the current Justice League series are tracking just a couple thousand higher per issue as the Rebirth series did at same point. That’s despite it being the lynchpin title for Year of the Villain.
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133/74 - HARLEY QUINN & POISON IVY ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2017: H&I meet B&V #1 of 6 -- 52,610 [52,691]
---------------------------------------------
09/2019: H. Quinn & P. Ivy #1 of 6 -- 110,326 (+432.2%)
10/2019: H. Quinn & P. Ivy #2 of 6 -- 55,678 (- 49.5%)
-----------------
2 years : + 5.7%
Regular: 19,993. Yardsticks: 30,623. (0.7:1)
Returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
Not one but two cardstock variants by Warren Louw (one each featuring the two main characters). (Last month’s twin cardstock variants were by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau.)
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40, 63/203 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99, $3.99/$4.99)
10/2004: Detective Comics #799 -- 48,228
10/2009: Detective Comics #858 -- 58,599
10/2014: Detective Comics #35 -- 57,385 [57,650]
10/2015: Detective Comics #45 -- 47,972 [48,220]
10/2016: Detective Comics #942 -- 81,432
10/2016: Detective Comics #943 -- 74,340
10/2017: Detective Comics #966 -- 56,801 [57,329]
10/2017: Detective Comics #967 -- 55,556 [56,215]
------------------------------------------
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 (- 2.4%) [64,124]
06/2019: Detective Comics #1005 -- 60,389 (- 5.8%)
06/2019: Detective Comics #1006 -- 59,309 (- 1.8%)
07/2019: Detective Comics #1007 -- 56,586 (- 4.6%)
07/2019: Detective Comics #1008 -- 57,311 (+ 2.5%) [57,990]
08/2019: Detective Comics #1009 -- 53,070 (- 8.5%)
08/2019: Detective Comics #1010 -- 52,563 (- 1.0%)
09/2019: Detective Comics #1011 -- 50,416 (- 4.1%)
09/2019: Detective Comics #1012 -- 50,034 (- 0.8%)
10/2019: Detective Comics #1013 -- 50,166 (+ 0.3%)
10/2019: Detective Comics #1014 -- 48,337 (- 3.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 26.1%
1 year : - 12.1%
2 years : - 13.2%
5 years : - 14.6%
10 years: - 16.0%
15 years: + 2.1%
Issue #1014: Regular: 36,243. Cardstock: 12,094.
Despite (or perhaps because?) of the cardstock cover, issue #1014 drops to the lowest sales level for ’Tec since Rebirth.
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46 - EVENT LEVIATHAN ($3.99)
05/2019: Superman Leviathan #1 -- 32,549 [36,499]
06/2019: Event Leviathan #1 of 6 -- 81,408 (+123.0%)
07/2019: Event Leviathan #2 of 6 -- 58,667 (- 27.9%) [59,156]
08/2019: Event Leviathan #3 of 6 -- 49,885 (- 15.7%)
09/2019: Event Leviathan #4 of 6 -- 47,364 (- 5.1%)
10/2019: Event Leviathan #5 of 6 -- 45,057 (- 4.9%)
DC appear to be happy enough with these numbers that a follow-up Leviathan series is scheduled to start up in February.
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48 - SUPERMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: Superman #210 -- 113,480 [114,272]
10/2009: Superman #693 -- 35,395
10/2014: Superman #35 -- 53,692 [54,371]
10/2015: Superman #45 -- 42,693 [43,069]
10/2016: Superman #8 -- 69,905
10/2016: Superman #9 -- 67,321
10/2017: Superman #32 -- 46,571 [46,598]
10/2017: Superman #33 -- 45,544 [45,993]
----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Superman #12 -- 47,199 (- 1.5%)
07/2019: Superman #13 -- 51,944 (+ 10.1%)
08/2019: Superman #14 -- 46,099 (- 11.3%)
09/2019: Superman #15 -- 47,857 (+ 3.8%)
10/2019: Superman #16 -- 43,717 (- 8.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 10.4%
1 year : - 35.3%
2 years : - 5.6%
5 years : - 19.6%
10 years: + 23.5%
15 years: - 61.7%
Sales are down in the range where the Rebirth series ended, but that could change soon with the Big Reveal scheduled for December...
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51 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99)
10/2004: Action Comics #820 -- 41,114
10/2009: Action Comics #882 -- 34,754
10/2014: Action Comics #35 -- 45,152 [43,593]
10/2015: Action Comics #45 -- 36,560 [36,694]
10/2016: Action Comics #965 -- 55,678
10/2016: Action Comics #966 -- 53,467
10/2017: Action Comics #989 -- 88,083 [88,405]
10/2017: Action Comics #990 -- 80,955 [81,328]
---------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Action Comics #1012 -- 43,893 (+ 4.0%)
07/2019: Action Comics #1013 -- 43,763 (- 0.3%)
08/2019: Action Comics #1014 -- 41,801 (- 4.5%)
09/2019: Action Comics #1015 -- 51,165 (+ 22.4%)
10/2019: Action Comics #1016 -- 40,812 (- 20.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 3.6%
1 year : - 33.4%
2 years : - 51.9%
5 years : - 6.4%
10 years: + 17.4%
15 years: - 0.7%
Action returns to its regularly-scheduled sales pattern. That’s despite this issue also featuring Naomi, so I suspect retailers may have under-ordered here...
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52 - THE GREEN LANTERN ($3.99)
10/2004: GL Rebirth #1 -- 95,092 [178,414]
10/2009: Green Lantern #47 -- 101,349
10/2014: Green Lantern #35 -- 45,893 [46,401]
10/2015: Green Lantern #45 -- 38,406 [38,519]
10/2016: Green Lanterns #8 -- 52,025
10/2016: Green Lanterns #9 -- 49,434
10/2017: Green Lanterns #32 -- 28,775 [28,845]
10/2017: Green Lanterns #33 -- 28,238 [28,386]
-----------------------------------------
10/2018: Green Lanterns #56 -- 33,156 (+ 41.4%) [33,278]
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%)
06/2019: The Green Lantern #8 -- 44,066 (- 2.8%)
07/2019: The Green Lantern #9 -- 43,401 (- 1.5%)
08/2019: The Green Lantern #10 -- 43,132 (- 0.6%)
09/2019: The Green Lantern #11 -- 41,044 (- 4.8%)
10/2019: The Green Lantern #12 -- 40,437 (- 1.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 17.9%
1 year : + 39.9%
2 years : + 41.3%
5 years : - 12.9%
10 years: - 60.1%
15 years: - 77.3%
Final issue, to be followed next month by a Morrison-penned three issue Green Lantern: Darkstars series before resuming another GL series with Sharpe in February.
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53 - LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: MILLENNIUM ($4.99)
09/2019: Millennium #1 of 2 -- 48,389 (+231.4%)
10/2019: Millennium #2 of 2 -- 39,489 (- 18.4%)
That’s a pretty mild second issue drop—does it bode good things for the debut of the regular LoSH title in November?
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91/179 - BASKETFUL OF HEADS (Hill House) (Black Label) ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2019: Basketful Heads #1 of 7 -- 43,230
Regular: 25,301. Cardstock: 13,999. (1.8:1)
Returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
The debut title from the Joe Hill-curated Hill House imprint of horror comics, this one written by Hill himself. That’s a good debut, though buoyed by returnability and a cardstock cover, so it remains to be seen how will this title and the imprint in general will do long term. But so far a decent start.
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84,259, 70 - FLASH ($3.99/$4.99, $3.99)
10/2004: Flash #215 -- 44,024 [51,882]
10/2009: --
10/2014: Flash #35 -- 37,484 [38,886]
10/2015: Flash #45 -- 35,485 [36,011]
10/2016: Flash #8 -- 76,749
10/2016: Flash #9 -- 74,311
10/2017: Flash #32 -- 51,775 [52,231]
10/2017: Flash #33 -- 69,679 [74,173]
-------------------------------
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 (+ 0.9%) [42,117]
06/2019: Flash #72 -- 40,956 (- 2.8%)
06/2019: Flash #73 -- 38,853 (- 5.1%)
07/2019: Flash #74 -- 38,436 (- 1.1%)
07/2019: Flash #75 -- 41,571 (+ 9.5%) [42,078]
08/2019: Flash #76 -- 38,952 (- 7.4%)
08/2019: Flash #77 -- 38,019 (- 2.4%)
09/2019: Flash #78 -- 36,673 (- 3.5%)
09/2019: Flash #79 -- 35,660 (- 2.8%)
10/2019: Flash #80 -- 35,151 (- 1.4%)
10/2019: Flash #81 -- 34,063 (- 3.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 8.4%
1 year : - 32.0%
2 years : - 45.2%
5 years : - 11.0%
10 years: n.a.
15 years: - 33.3%
Issue #80: Regular: 26,402. Cardstock: 8,749. (3.0:1)
---
75 - FLASH FORWARD ($3.99)
09/2019: Flash Forward #1 of 6 -- 46,176
10/2019: Flash Forward #2 of 6 -- 33,646 (- 27.1%)
Returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
DC has been doing this semi-often as of late—making the second issue of a series returnable—which makes a certain amount of sense, seeing retailers from cutting their orders on a second issue so drastically. But it can only help so much.
---
79, 77 - WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: Wonder Woman #209 -- 25,964
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972
10/2014: Wonder Woman #34 -- 35,774 [34,757]
10/2014: Wonder Woman #35 -- 35,968 [36,676]
10/2015: Wonder Woman #45 -- 33,885 [34,251]
10/2016: Wonder Woman #8 -- 66,405
10/2016: Wonder Woman #9 -- 64,555
10/2017: Wonder Woman #32 -- 39,694 [39,991]
10/2017: Wonder Woman #33 -- 39,920 [40,237]
-------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Wonder Woman #72 -- 32,604 (- 0.6%)
06/2019: Wonder Woman #73 -- 31,459 (- 3.5%)
07/2019: Wonder Woman #74 -- 31,334 (- 0.4%)
07/2019: Wonder Woman #75 -- 32,823 (+ 4.8%)
08/2019: Wonder Woman #76 -- 31,526 (- 4.0%)
08/2019: Wonder Woman #77 -- 31,561 (+ 0.1%)
09/2019: Wonder Woman #78 -- 30,139 (- 4.5%)
09/2019: Wonder Woman #79 -- 30,103 (- 0.1%)
10/2019: Wonder Woman #80 -- 28,112 (- 6.6%)
10/2019: Wonder Woman #81 -- 28,711 (+ 2.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.8%
1 year : - 41.9%
2 years : - 29.2%
5 years : - 20.5%
10 years: + 5.3%
15 years: + 9.4%
Wonder Woman will be monthly for November - January, but returns to twice-monthly in February. I guess they’re hoping for a rebound in the wake of January’s issue #750 stunt, and in the lead-up to WW1984.
---
80 - THE LAST GOD (Black Label) ($4.99)
10/2019: The Last God #1 -- 27,774
Only cardstock covers for this title. The Last God is exactly the sort of book that would have been a Vertigo title had Vertigo not been ending this month, so it will be interesting to see how it fares free of that imprint. Consider this our test-case to see just how much of an albatross the Vertigo name was.
---
83 - CATWOMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: Catwoman #36 -- 37,554 [40,226]
10/2014: Catwoman #35 -- 25,970
10/2015: Catwoman #45 -- 20,229
----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Catwoman #12 -- 41,167 (+ 5.9%)
07/2019: Catwoman #13 -- 38,879 (- 5.6%)
08/2019: Catwoman #14 -- 39,170 (+ 0.7%)
09/2019: Catwoman #15 -- 42,687 (+ 9.0%)
10/2019: Catwoman #16 -- 26,744 (- 37.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 34.5%
1 year : - 63.0%
5 years : + 3.0%
15 years: - 33.5%
This is the level that Catwoman sells at without an Artgerm variant, meaning a good 15K or so people were buying the previous issues just for the cover.
---
86 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ($3.99)
10/2014: Justice League Dark #35 -- 24,462
------------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Justice League Dark #12 -- 30,851 (- 3.2%)
07/2019: Justice League Dark #13 -- 31,480 (+ 2.0%)
08/2019: Justice League Dark #14 -- 29,754 (- 5.5%)
09/2019: Justice League Dark #15 -- 27,902 (- 6.2%)
10/2019: Justice League Dark #16 -- 26,190 (- 6.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.3%
1 year : - 51.6%
5 years : + 7.1%
---
89 - BATMAN/TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III ($3.99)
05/2019: Batman/TMNT III #1 of 6 -- 38,894 (+ 26.3%)
06/2019: Batman/TMNT III #2 of 6 -- 32,424 (- 16.6%)
07/2019: Batman/TMNT III #3 of 6 -- 29,545 (- 8.9%)
08/2019: Batman/TMNT III #4 of 6 -- 27,879 (- 5.6%)
09/2019: Batman/TMNT III #5 of 6 -- 26,630 (- 4.5%)
10/2019: Batman/TMNT III #6 of 6 -- 25,476 (- 4.3%)
I suspect this will be the last of these Batman/TMNT crossovers we’ll see for a while, as the law of demising returns definitely settled in with this third series. (At least from DC—IDW may have another of their version in their pocket...)
---
92 - SANDMAN UNIVERSE PRESENTS: HELLBLAZER (Sandman Universe) (Black Label) ($4.99)
10/2004: Hellblazer #201 -- 15,262
10/2009: Hellblazer #260 -- 10,767
10/2014: Constantine #18 -- 15,648
10/2015: The Hellblazer #5 -- 20,431
10/2016: The Hellblazer #3 -- 33,596
10/2017: The Hellblazer #15 -- 15,035
-------------------------------------
07/2018: The Hellblazer #24 -- 12,009
-------------------------------------
10/2019: Sandman Univ Pres -- 25,236 (+110.1%)
-----------------
2 years : + 74.2%
5 years : + 67.4%
10 years: +143.2%
15 years: + 71.6%
The first Sandman Universe issue to come out under Black Label instead of Vertigo, marking the end of one era and the start of another.
Sales-wise it does okay, ahead of the other SU titles this month but behind the debuts of most of them, as well as below the debuts of the various DCU versions over the past few years. Hellblazer gets another shot with another #1 next month, so we’ll see how it holds up.
---
112 - METAL MEN ($3.99)
05/2008: Metal Men #8 of 8 -- 13,859
-----------------------------------------
10/2019: Metal Men #1 of 12 -- 24,723 (+ 78.4%)
Returnable, so we’ve adjusted the estimated sales numbers derived from the Diamond-supplied sales index by 10%. For why we do this, please see the fine print at the end of the column.
Random twelve-issue mini-series—DC just can’t quit you! Oddly this didn’t come with some kind of chromium variant cover.
---
100 - SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN (All Ages) ($7.99)
10/2019: Superman Smashes #1 of 3 -- 24,375
Originally announced as a DC Zoom title, though now that DC has nixed that imprint in the bud it’s just coming out under the regular DC banner. Also unusual in that DC is serializing this instead of releasing it as an OGN like all of the other Zoom books. Sales here are largely immaterial as its eventual home is as a collected edition aimed at the kids market.
--
102 - HARLEY QUINN ($3.99)
10/2014: Harley Quinn #11 -- 68,557 [70,008]
10/2015: Harley Quinn #21 -- 55,272 [55,282]
10/2016: Harley Quinn #5 -- 69,237
10/2016: Harley Quinn #6 -- 64,710
10/2017: Harley Quinn #29 -- 36,113 [36,245]
10/2017: Harley Quinn #30 -- 38,403 [38,569]
--------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Harley Quinn #62 -- 27,547 (- 10.3%)
07/2019: Harley Quinn #63 -- 32,268 (+ 17.1%)
08/2019: Harley Quinn #64 -- 26,973 (- 16.4%)
09/2019: Harley Quinn #65 -- 26,082 (- 3.3%)
10/2019: Harley Quinn #66 -- 24,206 (- 7.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 16.4%
1 year : - 33.3%
2 years : - 35.3%
5 years : - 65.4%
Everything’s coming up Harley! Except for the ongoing title, which is faltering while the three limited series that she stars in are selling much higher.
---
103 - Facsimile Editions ($3.99)
08/2019: Batman #232 -- 21,178
08/2019: House of Secrets #92 -- 17,271
09/2019: Batman #181 -- 20,514
10/2019: Batman #251 -- 24,115
Why make new comics when you can sell reprints of old comics at today’s cover prices?
---
149/316 - YOUNG JUSTICE (Wonder Comics) ($3.99/$4.99)
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%)
06/2019: Young Justice #6 -- 28,182 (- 5.5%)
07/2019: Young Justice #7 -- 26,777 (- 5.0%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Young Justice #8 -- 26,261 (- 1.9%)
10/2019: Young Justice #9 -- 24,091 (- 8.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.1%
Regular: 18,078. Cardstock: 6,018. (3.0:1)
Most of this month’s YJ drop came from the cardstock cover, while regular cover sales stayed nearly the same as last month.
---
104, 137, 150, 157, 158 - Dollar Comics ($1.00)
09/2019: Batman #608 -- 19,610
09/2019: Crisis on ∞ Earths #1 -- 19,275
09/2019: Detective Comics #854 -- 17,014
09/2019: Harley Quinn #1 -- 15,660
10/2019: Joker #1 -- 23,869
10/2019: Watchmen #1 -- 19,156
10/2019: Swamp Thing #1 -- 17,849
10/2019: Superman #75 -- 17,139
10/2019: Batman #497 -- 16,571
These promotionally-priced reprints won’t be included in the summary charts at the end of the column, but we present their sales here for your enjoyment!
---
186/239 - RWBY (Digital First) ($3.99/$4.99)
10/2019: RWBY #1 of 7 -- 23,552
Regular: 13,646. Cardstock: 9,906. (1.3:1)
It’s been a while since DC launched a new Digital First title, this one based on the animated Web series from Rooster Teeth. The cardstock cover is by Jim Lee, which may explain why it sells relatively high-ish.
---
109 - BATMAN VS. RA’S AL GHUL ($3.99)
09/2019: Batman vs. RAG #1 of 6 -- 39,374
10/2019: Batman vs. RAG #2 of 6 -- 23,088 (- 41.4%)
That’s a relatively large percentage drop for a second issue.
---
110 - BATMAN GIANT ($4.99)
10/2019: Batman Giant #1 -- 22,860
DC’s formerly Walmart-exclusive Giants have been relaunched with new #1s and are now available for sale through Diamond a couple of weeks or so after they show up on Walmart shelves (with different covers). Like the previous editions these are a mixture of new stories and reprints, though so far with this iteration we are getting one-off stories for the lead new material instead of serials. (Which makes sense given the spotty distribution of these things in Walmarts.)
Though billed as 100-page Giants, after you subtract the cover pages, advertisements and summaries it comes to to around 80 pages of comics. So far the Batman Giants have featured 24 pages of new material—one 16-page story and one 8-page story, with the rest being reprints, with the reprints including New 52 Batman, Rebirth Nightwing, and (starting in issue #2) the pre-New 52 Batwoman stories from Detective Comics.
Unfortunately these are being solicited without any indication as to their contents, either what the new stories are or what comics are being reprinted. So retailers are ordering blind, which cannot be helping sales at all. Obviously Batman is going to be the best-selling of the bunch.
---
111 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ($3.99)
10/2004: Outsiders #17 -- 41,774
10/2009: Outsiders #23 -- 21,400
-----------------------------------------
05/2019: Batman & Outsiders #1 -- 51,958 (+219.4%)
06/2019: Batman & Outsiders #2 -- 34,745 (- 33.1%)
07/2019: Batman & Outsiders #3 -- 30,639 (- 11.8%)
08/2019: Batman & Outsiders #4 -- 24,803 (- 19.0%)
09/2019: Batman & Outsiders #5 -- 22,712 (- 8.4%)
10/2019: Batman & Outsiders #6 -- 22,607 (- 0.5%)
-----------------
10 years: + 5.6%
15 years: - 45.9%
---
122 - LOIS LANE ($3.99)
07/2019: Lois Lane #1 of 12 -- 40,348
08/2019: Lois Lane #2 of 12 -- 27,578 (- 31.6%)
09/2019: Lois Lane #3 of 12 -- 23,728 (- 14.0%)
10/2019: Lois Lane #4 of 12 -- 21,280 (- 10.3%)
---
124 - WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL ($4.99)
09/2007: Wonder Woman Annual #1 -- 48,395
06/2015: Wonder Woman Annual #1 -- 29,189 (- 39.1%) [29,475]
05/2017: Wonder Woman Annual #1 -- 36,427 (+ 25.7%) [37,059]
06/2018: Wonder Woman Annual #2 -- 28,427 (- 23.1%) [28,514]
10/2019: Wonder Woman Annual #3 -- 21,104 (- 22.0%)
It’s the debut of the new WW creative team, and an Event Leviathan tie-in, and it’s met with a collective shrug.
---
125 - TEEN TITANS ($3.99)
10/2004: Teen Titans #17 -- 63,154 [67,926]
10/2009: Teen Titans #76 -- 29,166
10/2014: Teen Titans #3 -- 39,198 [39,624]
10/2015: Teen Titans #12 -- 26,796
10/2016: Teen Titans #1 -- 71,459
10/2017: Teen Titans #13 -- 32,058 [32,210]
----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Teen Titans #31 -- 24,208 (- 8.7%)
07/2019: Teen Titans #32 -- 27,905 (+ 15.3%)
08/2019: Teen Titans #33 -- 23,523 (- 15.7%)
09/2019: Teen Titans #34 -- 22,138 (- 5.9%)
10/2019: Teen Titans #35 -- 20,893 (- 5.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.0%
1 year : - 43.6%
2 years : - 35.1%
5 years : - 47.3%
10 years: - 28.4%
15 years: - 69.2%
---
126 - NIGHTWING ($3.99)
10/2004: Nightwing #98 -- 43,618
10/2014: Grayson #3 -- 52,849 [53,330]
10/2015: Grayson #13 -- 32,260 [32,786]
10/2016: Nightwing #6 -- 69,246
10/2016: Nightwing #7 -- 58,402
10/2017: Nightwing #30 -- 31,978 [31,912]
10/2017: Nightwing #31 -- 31,762 [31,887]
----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Nightwing #61 -- 22,621 (- 6.7%)
07/2019: Nightwing #62 -- 25,753 (+ 13.8%)
08/2019: Nightwing #63 -- 22,711 (- 11.8%)
09/2019: Nightwing #64 -- 21,736 (- 4.3%)
10/2019: Nightwing #65 -- 20,834 (- 4.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 15.6%
1 year : - 37.9%
2 years : - 34.7%
5 years : - 60.9%
15 years: - 52.2%
Another month, another new low for first-month Nightwing sales in the Diamond era.
---
128 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ODYSSEY ($3.99)
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%)
06/2019: Justice League Odyssey #10 -- 24,053 (- 1.9%)
07/2019: Justice League Odyssey #11 -- 23,346 (- 2.9%)
08/2019: Justice League Odyssey #12 -- 23,075 (- 1.2%)
09/2019: Justice League Odyssey #13 -- 22,012 (- 4.6%)
10/2019: Justice League Odyssey #14 -- 20,623 (- 6.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 12.2%
1 year : - 56.3%
---
130 - AQUAMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: Aquaman #23 -- 22,369
10/2014: Aquaman #35 -- 32,238 [32,684]
10/2015: Aquaman #45 -- 25,495
10/2016: Aquaman #8 -- 44,551
10/2016: Aquaman #9 -- 42,695
10/2017: Aquaman #29 -- 27,559
------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Aquaman #49 -- 23,284 (- 4.7%)
07/2019: Aquaman #50 -- 26,286 (+ 12.9%)
08/2019: Aquaman #51 -- 24,072 (- 8.4%)
09/2019: Aquaman #52 -- 22,493 (- 6.6%)
10/2019: Aquaman #53 -- 20,526 (- 8.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.3%
1 year : - 41.6%
2 years : - 25.5%
5 years : - 37.2%
15 years: - 8.2%
---
138 - SUPERGIRL ($3.99)
10/2009: Supergirl #46 -- 30,377
10/2014: Supergirl #35 -- 26,371
10/2016: Supergirl #2 -- 50,261
10/2017: Supergirl #14 -- 31,720 [31,748]
----------------------------------
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%)
01/2019: Supergirl #26 -- 29,499 (+ 36.8%)
02/2019: Supergirl #27 -- 19,980 (- 32.3%)
03/2019: Supergirl #28 -- 32,370 (+ 62.0%)
04/2019: Supergirl #29 -- 19,550 (- 39.6%)
05/2019: Supergirl #30 -- 18,443 (- 5.7%)
06/2019: Supergirl #31 -- 20,903 (+ 13.3%)
07/2019: Supergirl #32 -- 22,532 (+ 7.8%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Supergirl #33 -- 24,795 (+ 10.0%)
09/2019: Supergirl #34 -- 24,209 (- 2.4%)
10/2019: Supergirl #35 -- 19,102 (- 21.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 2.3%
1 year : - 57.2%
2 years : - 39.8%
5 years : - 27.6%
10 years: - 37.1%
No Derek Chew variant this month, so the 5,000 people buying Supergirl for the variant covers disappear.
---
144 - BATMAN BEYOND ($3.99)
10/2014: Universe #15 -- 13,739
10/2015: Batman Beyond #5 -- 29,409 [29,626]
10/2016: Batman Beyond #1 -- 66,591
10/2017: Batman Beyond #13 -- 20,464
------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Batman Beyond #33 -- 14,889 (- 3.3%)
07/2019: Batman Beyond #34 -- 14,742 (- 1.0%)
08/2019: Batman Beyond #35 -- 14,094 (- 4.4%)
09/2019: Batman Beyond #36 -- 14,022 (- 0.5%)
10/2019: Batman Beyond #37 -- 18,467 (+ 31.7%)
-----------------
6 months: + 6.9%
1 year : - 25.2%
2 years : - 9.8%
5 years : + 34.4%
BB gets a boost from the debut of Batwoman Beyond. A second printing is on the way for November.
---
146 - BATMAN UNIVERSE ($4.99)
07/2019: Batman Universe #1 of 6 -- 35,826
08/2019: Batman Universe #2 of 6 -- 24,498 (- 31.6%)
09/2019: Batman Universe #3 of 6 -- 20,633 (- 15.8%)
10/2019: Batman Universe #4 of 6 -- 18,194 (- 11.8%)
Limited series reprinting the Bendis/Derington stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Batman Giant.
---
148 - BATGIRL ($3.99)
10/2004: Batgirl #57 -- 39,631 [41,136]
10/2009: Batgirl #3 -- 37,011
10/2014: Batgirl #35 -- 62,644 [66,304]
10/2015: Batgirl #45 -- 29,276 [29,715]
10/2016: Batgirl #4 -- 40,778
10/2017: Batgirl #16 -- 21,314
-------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: --
07/2019: Batgirl #36 -- 23,794 (- 9.7%)
07/2019: Batgirl #37 -- 22,430 (- 5.7%)
08/2019: Batgirl #38 -- 25,445 (+ 13.4%)
09/2019: Batgirl #39 -- 19,665 (- 22.7%)
10/2019: Batgirl #40 -- 18,076 (- 8.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 36.1%
1 year : - 53.9%
2 years : - 15.2%
5 years : - 72.7%
10 years: - 51.2%
15 years: - 56.1%
---
152 - RED HOOD: OUTLAW ($3.99)
10/2014: Red Hood & Outlaws #35 -- 19,837
10/2015: Red Hood/Arsenal #5 -- 21,025
10/2016: Red Hood & Outlaws #3 -- 41,971
10/2017: Red Hood & Outlaws #15 -- 23,680
-----------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #35 -- 18,067 (- 4.8%)
07/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #36 -- 21,308 (+ 17.9%)
08/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #37 -- 18,585 (- 12.8%)
09/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #38 -- 18,425 (- 0.9%)
10/2019: Red Hood: Outlaw #39 -- 17,614 (- 4.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 28.7%
1 year : - 42.6%
2 years : - 25.6%
5 years : - 11.2%
---
Coming in at #153 is Secrets of Sinister House #1, the latest in DC’s $10 anthology comics, with sales of 17,319.
---
156 - DEATHSTROKE ($3.99)
10/2014: Deathstroke #1 -- 54,059 [59,174]
10/2015: Deathstroke #11 -- 31,121 [31,649]
10/2016: Deathstroke #4 -- 46,773
10/2016: Deathstroke #5 -- 43,058
10/2017: Deathstroke #24 -- 21,970
-----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Deathstroke #44 -- 21,785 (- 12.4%)
07/2019: Deathstroke #45 -- 23,386 (+ 7.3%)
08/2019: Deathstroke #46 -- 20,113 (- 14.0%)
09/2019: Deathstroke #47 -- 18,422 (- 8.4%)
10/2019: Deathstroke #48 -- 17,203 (- 6.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 34.0%
1 year : - 37.2%
2 years : - 21.7%
5 years : - 70.9%
Ending with issue #50 in December.
---
162 - NIGHTWING ANNUAL ($4.99)
10/2013: Nightwing Annual #1 -- 36,108
12/2014: Grayson Annual #1 -- 32,251 (- 10.7%)
09/2015: Grayson Annual #2 -- 25,470 (- 21.0%)
06/2016: Grayson Annual #3 -- 20,972 (- 17.7%)
08/2018: Nightwing Annual #1 -- 22,685 (+ 8.2%)
10/2019: Nightwing Annual #2 -- 16,369 (- 27.8%)
---
164 - HAWKMAN ($3.99)
10/2004: Hawkman #33 -- 22,683
10/2016: Death of #1 -- 31,316
------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Hawkman #13 -- 17,524 (- 3.4%)
07/2019: Hawkman #14 -- 19,934 (+ 13.8%)
08/2019: Hawkman #15 -- 17,865 (- 10.4%)
09/2019: Hawkman #16 -- 16,492 (- 7.7%)
10/2019: Hawkman #17 -- 15,951 (- 3.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.3%
1 year : - 47.4%
15 years: - 29.7%
---
165 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ANNUAL ($4.99)
04/2007: Outsiders Annual #1 -- 30,711
10/2019: Bat & Out Annual #1 -- 15,914 (- 48.2%)
It’s been over twelve years since there was an Outsiders Annual; if I had to take bets, I’d lay even odds on there being at least another twelve years until we get another...
---
166 - SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN ($3.99)
07/2019: Jimmy Olsen #1 of 12 -- 33,960
08/2019: Jimmy Olsen #2 of 12 -- 21,880 (- 35.6%)
09/2019: Jimmy Olsen #3 of 12 -- 18,120 (- 17.2%)
10/2019: Jimmy Olsen #4 of 12 -- 15,820 (- 12.7%)
Nearly 16K of us are reading the best comic DC is currently publishing—the rest of you are missing out!
---
167 - SUPERMAN: UP IN THE SKY ($4.99)
07/2019: Superman Sky #1 of 6 -- 28,028
08/2019: Superman Sky #2 of 6 -- 19,961 (- 28.8%)
09/2019: Superman Sky #3 of 6 -- 17,391 (- 12.9%)
10/2019: Superman Sky #4 of 6 -- 15,817 (- 9.1%)
Limited series reprinting the King/Hope/Kubert stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Superman Giant.
---
168 - AQUAMAN ANNUAL ($4.99)
10/2013: Aquaman Annual #1 -- 35,403
07/2014: Aquaman Annual #2 -- 26,433 (- 25.3%)
11/2017: Aquaman Annual #1 -- 21,598 (- 18.3%)
10/2019: Aquaman Annual #2 -- 15,731 (- 27.2%)
‘Annual’ is stretching it a bit when it’s been nearly two years since the previous issue...
---
169 - GOTHAM CITY MONSTERS ($3.99)
09/2019: Gotham City Monsters #1 of 6 -- 28,082
10/2019: Gotham City Monsters #2 of 6 -- 15,534 (- 44.7%)
Close to a monster of a percentage drop.
---
171, 221 - DC GIANT one-shots ($4.99)
09/2019: Scooby-Doo 50th -- 8,290
10/2019: DC Villains #1 -- 15,304
10/2019: DC Ghosts #1 -- 10,838
While many of the new DC Giants are intended to be ongoings—some monthly-ish, some bi-monthly-ish, some ???—others are intended to be one-shots. The same rules apply: a mixture of new stories and reprints, and on sale at Walmart a couple of weeks or so before being available with a new cover via the direct market.
---
175 - FLASH GIANT ($4.99)
10/2019: Flash Giant #1 -- 14,666
188 - WONDER WOMAN GIANT ($4.99)
10/2019: Wonder Woman Giant #1 -- 13,254
195 - SWAMP THING GIANT ($4.99)
10/2019: Swamp Thing Giant #1 -- 12,964
219 - AQUAMAN GIANT ($4.99)
10/2019: Aquaman Giant #1 -- 10,894
Four more DC Giants to round things out this month. See the notes above for Batman Giant for the deets. DC are keeping to characters known from television and movies to headline these, which is probably a good move.
---
182 - THE TERRIFICS ($3.99)
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%)
06/2019: Terrifics #17 -- 13,486 (- 3.8%)
07/2019: Terrifics #18 -- 17,415 (+ 29.1%)
08/2019: Terrifics #19 -- 15,310 (- 12.1%)
09/2019: Terrifics #20 -- 14,581 (- 4.8%)
10/2019: Terrifics #21 -- 13,813 (- 5.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 4.6%
1 year : - 31.4%
---
194 - MARTIAN MANHUNTER ($3.99)
10/2015: Martian Manhunter #5 -- 18,416
----------------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Martian Manhunter #6 of 12 -- 16,295 (- 9.3%)
07/2019: Martian Manhunter #7 of 12 -- 15,064 (- 7.6%)
08/2019: Martian Manhunter #8 of 12 -- 14,432 (- 4.2%)
09/2019: --
10/2019: Martian Manhunter #9 of 12 -- 12,994 (- 10.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
Can Martian Manhunter stay over 10K until the end of its run? Taking another month off didn’t help matters any.
---
216 - THE DREAMING (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
10/2018: Dreaming #2 -- 21,559 (- 43.3%)
11/2018: Dreaming #3 -- 19,815 (- 8.1%)
12/2018: Dreaming #4 -- 18,185 (- 8.2%)
01/2019: Dreaming #5 -- 17,054 (- 6.2%)
02/2019: Dreaming #6 -- 15,989 (- 6.2%)
03/2019: Dreaming #7 -- 15,046 (- 5.9%)
04/2019: Dreaming #8 -- 14,409 (- 4.2%)
05/2019: Dreaming #9 -- 13,749 (- 4.6%)
06/2019: Dreaming #10 -- 12,983 (- 5.6%)
07/2019: Dreaming #11 -- 12,501 (- 3.7%)
08/2019: Dreaming #12 -- 11,803 (- 5.6%)
09/2019: Dreaming #13 -- 11,759 (- 0.4%)
10/2019: Dreaming #14 -- 11,077 (- 5.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.1%
1 year : - 48.6%
242 - LUCIFER (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
10/2004: Lucifer #55 -- 12,907
10/2016: Lucifer #11 -- 8,507
------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Lucifer #9 -- 11,201 (- 3.5%)
07/2019: Lucifer #10 -- 10,746 (- 4.1%)
08/2019: Lucifer #11 -- 10,495 (- 2.3%)
09/2019: Lucifer #12 -- 10,206 (- 2.8%)
10/2019: Lucifer #13 -- 9,829 (- 3.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.9%
1 year : - 65.9%
15 years: - 23.8%
247 - THE BOOKS OF MAGIC (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
10/2004: Life Wartime #4 -- 16,526
-------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: Books of Magic #9 -- 11,305 (- 5.1%)
07/2019: Books of Magic #10 -- 10,779 (- 4.7%)
08/2019: Books of Magic #11 -- 10,410 (- 3.4%)
09/2019: Books of Magic #12 -- 10,196 (- 2.1%)
10/2019: Books of Magic #13 -- 9,729 (- 4.6%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.3%
1 year : - 70.7%
15 years: - 41.1%
282 - HOUSE OF WHISPERS (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
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%)
06/2019: House of Whispers #10 -- 9,024 (- 6.4%)
07/2019: House of Whispers #11 -- 8,658 (- 4.1%)
08/2019: House of Whispers #12 -- 8,412 (- 2.8%)
09/2019: House of Whispers #13 -- 8,078 (- 4.0%)
10/2019: House of Whispers #14 -- 7,737 (- 4.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 23.8%
1 year : - 53.8%
The last of the Vertigo comics. Next month all of the Sandman Universe titles follow Hellblazer and shed their Vertigo imprint. Since Sandman was one of the initial titles that moved from the DCU to form Vertigo, it seems rather fitting that Sandman Universe is there at the end.
---
218 - 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%)
06/2019: --
07/2019: Freedom Fighters #7 of 12 -- 11,800 (- 4.4%)
08/2019: Freedom Fighters #8 of 12 -- 11,436 (- 3.1%)
09/2019: Freedom Fighters #9 of 12 -- 11,174 (- 2.3%)
10/2019: Freedom Fighters #10 of 12 -- 10,968 (- 1.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.3%
---
222 - DOOM PATROL: WEIGHT OF THE WORLDS (Young Animal) ($3.99)
10/2004: Doom Patrol #5 -- 23,982
10/2009: Doom Patrol #3 -- 20,024
10/2016: Doom Patrol #2 -- 41,642
10/2017: --
------------------------------------
10/2018: Doom Patrol #12 -- 13,448 (- 12.3%)
11/2018: --
12/2018: --
01/2019: --
02/2019: --
03/2019: --
04/2019: --
05/2019: --
06/2019: --
07/2019: Weight Worlds #1 -- 25,896 (+ 92.6%)
08/2019: Weight Worlds #2 -- 16,289 (- 37.1%)
09/2019: Weight Worlds #3 -- 15,473 (- 5.0%)
10/2019: Weight Worlds #4 -- 10,838 (- 30.0%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 19.4%
2 years : n.a.
10 years: - 45.9%
15 years: - 54.8%
That’s such a huge, unexpected drop it makes me wonder if perhaps a significant number of copies were delayed being sent to stores until November? We’ll know next month if that’s the case.
Weight of the Worlds will end after issue #7.
---
229 - INFERIOR FIVE ($3.99)
09/2019: Inferior Five #1 of 12 -- 19,964
10/2019: Inferior Five #2 of 12 -- 10,334 (- 48.2%)
Apparently DC can quit their random twelve-issue series, as Inferior Five has been announced as ending early with issue #6. Given these sales, one can see why they’d want to cut their losses on this one.
---
246 - WONDER WOMAN: COME BACK TO ME ($4.99)
07/2019: WW Come Back #1 of 6 -- 20,308
08/2019: WW Come Back #2 of 6 -- 13,386 (- 34.1%)
09/2019: WW Come Back #3 of 6 -- 11,120 (- 16.9%)
10/2019: WW Come Back #4 of 6 -- 9,735 (- 12.5%)
Limited series reprinting the Conner/Palmiotti/Hardin stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Justice League Giant.
---
253 - 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%)
06/2019: Wonder Twins #5 of 12 -- 13,994 (- 10.5%)
07/2019: Wonder Twins #6 of 12 -- 13,214 (- 5.6%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Wonder Twins #7 of 12 -- 9,055 (- 31.5%)
10/2019: Wonder Twins #8 of 12 -- 9,360 (+ 3.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 44.8%
A slight correction in the wake of last month’s huge decline.
---
254 - TITANS: BURNING RAGE ($4.99)
08/2019: Burning Rage #1 of 7 -- 14,900
09/2019: Burning Rage #2 of 7 -- 10,849 (- 27.2%)
10/2019: Burning Rage #3 of 7 -- 9,172 (- 15.5%)
Limited series reprinting the Jurgens/Eaton stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Teen Titans Giant.
---
287 - 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%)
06/2019: Dial H for Hero #4 of 12 -- 9,963 (- 9.4%)
07/2019: Dial H for Hero #5 of 12 -- 9,277 (- 6.9%)
08/2019: Dial H for Hero #6 of 12 -- 8,743 (- 5.8%)
09/2019: Dial H for Hero #7 of 12 -- 8,096 (- 7.4%)
10/2019: Dial H for Hero #8 of 12 -- 7,421 (- 8.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 42.5%
---
312 - COLLAPSER (Young Animal) ($3.99)
07/2019: Collapser #1 of 6 -- 22,123
08/2019: Collapser #2 of 6 -- 9,626 (- 56.5%)
09/2019: Collapser #3 of 6 -- 7,371 (- 23.4%)
10/2019: Collapser #4 of 6 -- 6,181 (- 16.1%)
---
350 - SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (Hanna-Barbera) (All-Ages) ($2.99)
10/2004: Scooby-Doo #89 -- 5,449
10/2009: Scooby-Doo #149 -- 4,005
10/2014: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #50 -- ????? (< 6,298)
10/2015: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #62 -- 5,143
10/2016: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #74 -- 4,972
10/2017: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #86 -- 4,237
------------------------------------------------
10/2018: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #95 -- 4,402 (- 0.5%)
11/2018: --
12/2018: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #96 -- 4,214 (- 4.3%)
01/2019: --
02/2019: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #97 -- 4,112 (- 2.4%)
03/2019: --
04/2019: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #98 -- 4,332 (+ 5.4%)
05/2019: --
06/2019: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #99 -- 4,498 (+ 3.8%)
07/2019: --
08/2019: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #100 -- 5,955 (+ 32.4%)
09/2019: --
10/2019: Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #101 -- 4,649 (- 21.9%)
-----------------
6 months: + 7.3%
1 year : + 5.6%
2 years : + 9.7%
5 years : ?????
10 years: + 16.1%
15 years: - 14.7%
The lowest-selling new issue from DC in October.
---
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
10/2004: 30,125
10/2009: 27,525
10/2014: 31,598 **
10/2015: 25,681 **
10/2016: 41,277 **
10/2017: 34,805 **
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 35,745 (- 3.2%)
07/2019: 33,289 (- 6.9%)
08/2019: 33,608 (+ 1.0%)
09/2019: 32,017 (- 4.7%)
10/2019: 31,781 (- 0.7%)
-----------------
6 months: + 9.1%
1 year : - 3.1%
2 years : - 8.7%
5 years : + 0.6%
10 years: + 15.5%
15 years: + 5.5%
DC UNIVERSE
10/2004: 35,481
10/2009: 34,795
10/2014: 39,978
10/2015: 30,402
10/2016: 54,470
10/2017: 41,924
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 41,806 (- 3.6%)
07/2019: 38,444 (- 8.0%)
08/2019: 37,680 (- 2.0%)
09/2019: 36,611 (- 2.8%)
10/2019: 34,143 (- 6.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 1.0%
1 year : - 14.8%
2 years : - 18.6%
5 years : - 14.6%
10 years: - 1.9%
15 years: - 3.8%
’VERTIGO’ (Young Animal, Sandman Universe, Hill House, non-DCU Black Label)
10/2004: 17,102
10/2009: 10,551
10/2014: 9,066 **
10/2015: 10,771 **
10/2016: 14,526 **
10/2017: 6,998 **
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 8,584 (+ 1.5%)
07/2019: 12,955 (+ 50.9%)
08/2019: 10,410 (- 19.6%)
09/2019: 9,788 (- 6.0%)
10/2019: 16,848 (+ 72.1%)
-----------------
6 months: + 77.4%
1 year : - 1.9%
2 years : +140.8%
5 years : + 85.8%
10 years: + 59.7%
15 years: - 1.5%
---
DC COMICS - TOTAL SALES
10/2004: 1,988,252
10/2009: 2,422,204
10/2014: 2,970,204 **
10/2015: 1,951,793 **
10/2016: 3,508,534 **
10/2017: 2,679,977 **
------------------
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%)
06/2019: 1,787,229 (- 25.7%)
07/2019: 2,130,506 (+ 19.2%)
08/2019: 1,814,822 (- 14.8%)
09/2019: 2,145,167 (+ 18.2%)
10/2019: 2,764,956 (+ 18.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 82.5%
1 year : + 8.1%
2 years : + 3.2%
5 years : - 6.9%
10 years: + 14.2%
15 years: + 39.1%
There were a whopping 87 ‘new’ comics from DC in October, up from 67 in September and way up from 54 in August. Of those 87, six were reprints of comics previous published, and eight were mixtures of reprints and new material. All those comics led DC to their largest total unit sales in nearly two years (November 2017: 2.9 Million). Averages were down though, mainly due to the many DC Giants (which are presumably moving copies in Walmarts which don’t appear in the Diamond chart).
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: 34,143. Median: 23,088. No.: 75. Total: 2,560,749.
3.8 - Joker Year of the Villain
3.1 - DCeased (5)
2.7 - DCeased (6)
2.6 - Joker/Harley Criminal Sanity
2.5 - Batman (80)
2.5 - Batman (81)
2.3 - Joker Killer Smile
1.9 - Harleen
1.9 - The Batman’s Grave
1.9 - Batman Curse of the White Knight
1.8 - Tales of the Dark Multiverse Knightfall
1.7 - Batman Annual
1.6 - Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
1.6 - Batman/Superman
1.6 - Superman Year One
1.5 - Tales of the Dark Multiverse Death of Superman
1.5 - Justice League (34)
1.5 - Justice League (33)
1.5 - Detective Comics (1013)
1.4 - Detective Comics (1014)
1.3 - Event Leviathan
1.3 - Superman
1.2 - Action Comics
1.2 - The Green Lantern
1.2 - Legion Millennium
1.0 - Flash (80)
1.0 - Flash (81)
1.0 - Flash Forward
0.8 - Wonder Woman (81)
0.8 - Wonder Woman (80)
0.8 - Catwoman
0.8 - Justice League Dark
0.7 - Batman/TMNT
0.7 - Metal Men
0.7 - Harley Quinn
0.7 - Batman 251 FE
0.7 - Young Justice
0.7 - Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul
0.7 - Batman Giant
0.7 - Batman and the Outsiders
0.7 - Black Adam Year of the Villain
0.6 - Lois Lane
0.6 - Wonder Woman Annual
0.6 - Teen Titans
0.6 - Nightwing
0.6 - Justice League Odyssey
0.6 - Aquaman
0.6 - Supergirl
0.5 - Batman Beyond
0.5 - Batman Universe
0.5 - Batgirl
0.5 - Red Hood Outlaw
0.5 - Secrets of Sinister House
0.5 - Deathstroke
0.5 - Nightwing Annual
0.5 - Hawkman
0.5 - Batman and the Outsiders Annual
0.5 - Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen
0.5 - Superman Up in the Sky
0.5 - Aquaman Annual
0.5 - Gotham City Monsters
0.4 - DC Villains Giant
0.4 - Flash Giant
0.4 - The Terrifics
0.4 - Wonder Woman Giant
0.4 - Martian Manhunter
0.4 - Swamp Thing Giant
0.3 - Freedom Fighters
0.3 - Aquaman Giant
0.3 - DC Ghost Giant
0.3 - Inferior Five
0.3 - Wonder Woman Come Back to Me
0.3 - Wonder Twins
0.3 - Titans Burning Rage
0.2 - Dial H for Hero
‘Vertigo’ (Young Animal, Sandman Universe, Hill House, non-DCU Black Label): Average: 16,848. Median: 10,838. No.: 9. Total: 151,631.
2.6 - Basketful of Heads
1.6 - The Last God
1.5 - Sandman Univ. Pres. Hellblazer
0.7 - The Dreaming
0.6 - Doom Patrol Weight of the World
0.6 - Lucifer
0.6 - Books of Magic
0.5 - House of Whispers
0.4 - Collapser
Young Animal Average: 8,510 (2 titles). Sandman Universe Average: 12,722 (5 titles). Hill House Average: 43,230 (1 title). Other Black Label average: 27,774 (1 title).
Digital First, All Ages & Other: Average: 17,525. Median: 23,552. No.: 3. Total: 52,576.
1.4 - Superman Smashes the Klan
1.3 - RWBY
0.3 - Scooby-Doo Where Are You?
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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. DC Giants are released first to Walmarts and may receive a significant amount of sales through that outlet. For most Black Label, Young Animal, Sandman Universe, and related 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 National Association of Math Circles; 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.
This article was originally published November 25, 2019 on Yet Another Comics Blog.
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