Greetings, sales charts fans! It's time once again to look at DC's sales figures.
So much to say, but so little time to say it as this column is once again running late late late!
So vague bullet points:
- Vertigo ending next month
- Black Label rising
- Too many DCU events
- Giants coming
- 5G on the horizon
Next month we’ll have the M2M wake for Vertigo.
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.)
---
7 - DOOMSDAY CLOCK ($4.99)
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 (- 3.9%) [123,846]
04/2019: --
05/2019: Doomsday Clock #10 of 12 -- 117,419 (- 2.9%) [120,229]
06/2019: --
07/2019: --
08/2019: --
09/2019: Doomsday Clock #11 of 12 -- 115,817 (- 3.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 6.3%
1 year : - 16.0%
Penultimate issue—issue #12 is reportedly on schedule to come out in December.
---
16/31 - HARLEY QUINN & POISON IVY ($3.99/$4.99)
03/2018: H&I meet B&V #6 of 6 -- 20,730
---------------------------------------------
09/2019: H. Quinn & P. Ivy #1 of 6 -- 110,326 (+432.2%)
Regular: 65,452. Cardstock: 44,874. (1.5:1)
There were two cardstock variants by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau, in addition to the regular cover, which no doubt gave a big boost to the sales here. But still there is nothing in the recent sales history of the regular HQ series that would make one expect sales over 100K, even considering that this was billed as a follow-up to Heroes in Crisis.
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9 - DCEASED: A GOOD DAY TO DIE ($4.99)
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%)
Fill-in one-shot so that maybe you won’t notice the series is running a bit behind. But as a comic filling a hole on the schedule, this sells better than just about anything else DC could have published in its place.
---
10 - HARLEEN (Black Label) ($7.99)
09/2019: Harleen #1 of 3 -- 84,785
Black label series by fan favorite Stjepan Sejic. At eight buck a pop this is another win for Harley Quinn and DC’s new prestige format mature readers series plans.
---
13, 18/95 - BATMAN ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Batman #632 -- 71,236 [72,859]
09/2009: Batman #690 -- 77,001
09/2014: Futures End -- 142,980 [144,423]
09/2015: Batman #44 -- 114,409 [115,351]
09/2016: Batman #6 -- 138,853
09/2016: Batman #7 -- 135,585
09/2017: Batman #30 -- 100,083 [100,494]
09/2017: Batman #31 -- 98,594 [99,014]
--------------------------------
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%)
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 (- 12.5%)
09/2019: Batman #79 -- 84,117 (+ 3.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 1.5%
1 year : - 18.2%
2 years : - 17.2%
5 years : - 42.8%
10 years: + 7.2%
15 years: + 13.3%
Issue #79: Regular: 61,095. Cardstock: 23,022 (2.7:1)
King’s final Batman arc, “City of Bane,” continues. The large number of re-orders on last month’s #77 indicate that retailers may be under-ordering.
---
13 - BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT (Black Label) ($4.99)
05/2018: White Knight #8 of 8 -- 73,616 [74,420]
---------------------------------------
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%)
Following the typical limited series sales script.
---
34/119 - BATMAN/SUPERMAN ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Superman/Batman #12 -- 139,516 [173,643]
09/2009: Superman/Batman #64 -- 36,332
09/2014: Futures End -- 78,700 [88,580]
09/2015: Batman/Superman #24 -- 40,132 [40,271]
---------------------------------------
08/2019: Batman/Superman #1 -- 172,271 (+422.2%) [174,470]
09/2019: Batman/Superman #2 -- 62,050 (- 64.4%)
-----------------
5 years : - 30.0%
10 years: + 70.8%
15 years: - 64.3%
Regular: 43,107. Cardstock: 18,943. (2.3:1)
A large drop-off, even considering that the first issue had three covers and was returnable.
---
22, 46/163 - JUSTICE LEAGUE ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2014: Justice League #33 -- 79,447 [77,616]
09/2014: Futures End -- 104,246 [105,364]
09/2015: Justice League #44 -- 76,752 [80,630]
09/2016: Justice League #4 -- 104,003
09/2016: Justice League #5 -- 98,276
09/2017: Justice League #28 -- 49,298 [49,561]
09/2017: Justice League #29 -- 48,425 [49,033]
--------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 16.4%
1 year : - 32.3%
2 years : + 4.9%
5 years : - 43.5%
Issue #32: Regular: 37,956. Cardstock: 13,156. (2.9:1)
“Justice/Doom War”—the lynchpin of Year of the Villain—continues.
---
50/138 - ACTION COMICS ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Action Comics #819 -- 42,385
09/2009: Action Comics #881 -- 36,183
09/2014: Futures End -- 74,497
09/2015: Action Comics #44 -- 37,927 [38,130]
09/2016: Action Comics #963 -- 60,824
09/2016: Action Comics #964 -- 58,439
09/2017: Action Comics #987 -- 96,867 [97,491]
09/2017: Action Comics #988 -- 91,303 [94,925]
---------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 18.9%
1 year : - 12.6%
2 years : - 46.8%
5 years : - 31.3%
10 years: + 41.4%
15 years: + 20.7%
Regular: 35,696. Cardstock: 15,469.(2.3:1)
Action gets a big boost this month, most likely mainly due to the guest appearance of Naomi (though the cardstock variant my have helped a bit too).
---
24, 25 - DETECTIVE COMICS ($3.99)
09/2004: Detective Comics #798 -- 48,526
09/2009: Detective Comics #857 -- 57,063
09/2014: Futures End -- 96,081 [96,877]
09/2015: Detective Comics #44 -- 55,871 [56,177]
09/2016: Detective Comics #940 -- 80,897
09/2016: Detective Comics #941 -- 82,953
09/2017: Detective Comics #964 -- 53,552 [53,904]
09/2017: Detective Comics #965 -- 57,102 [59,375]
------------------------------------------
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 (- 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 91.3%
1 year : - 2.5%
2 years : - 11.3%
5 years : - 48.2%
10 years: - 12.0%
15 years: + 3.5%
Back down to where it was before the pre-100 ramp-up.
---
26 - LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: MILLENNIUM ($4.99)
08/2013: Legion of S-H #23 -- 14,600
-------------------------------------
09/2019: Millennium #1 of 2 -- 48,389 (+231.4%)
Prelude to the return of the Legion in November—retailers were mostly ordering blind here, especially considering this issue didn’t feature any actual Legion.
---
28 - SUPERMAN ($3.99)
09/2004: Superman #209 -- 116,827 [118,289]
09/2009: Superman #692 -- 37,695
09/2014: Futures End -- 77,949 [78,947]
09/2015: Superman #44 -- 43,921 [44,908]
09/2016: Superman #6 -- 76,124
09/2016: Superman #7 -- 72,867
09/2017: Superman #30 -- 47,664 [47,901]
09/2017: Superman #31 -- 46,868 [47,257]
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 2.2%
1 year : - 29.9%
2 years : + 0.6%
5 years : - 39.4%
10 years: + 27.0%
15 years: - 59.5%
A bit of a bump this month, possibly due to it being a Legion of Super-Heroes prelude?
---
56/162 - EVENT LEVIATHAN ($3.99/$4.99)
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%)
Regular: 34,185. Cardstock: 13,179. (2.6:1)
Event Leviathan also being an apt metaphor for the state of the DCU right now: too many events going on at the same time, with their tentacles everywhere.
---
29 - FLASH FORWARD ($3.99)
09/2019: Flash Forward #1 of 6 -- 46,176
Another Heroes in Crisis follow-up series, but this one featuring Wally West doesn’t do nearly as well as Harley & Ivy.
---
143/71 - CATWOMAN ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Catwoman #35 -- 37,784 [41,239]
09/2014: Futures End -- 56,939
09/2015: Catwoman #44 -- 21,507
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 2.9%
1 year : - 23.5%
5 years : - 25.0%
15 years: + 3.5%
Regular: 14,987. Cardstock: 27,700. (0.6:1)
Like last month, this month also has a cardstock variant by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau, and it is part two of last month’s fill-in. There’s really nothing to explain the reason for the 9% jump, other than retailers may have underestimated the draw of the variant last month and upped their orders this month accordingly.
---
39 - THE GREEN LANTERN ($3.99)
09/2004: Green Lantern #181 -- 41,531 [46,196]
09/2009: Green Lantern #46 -- 103,666
09/2014: Futures End -- 77,372 [77,728]
09/2015: Green Lantern #44 -- 39,371 [39,501]
09/2016: Green Lanterns #6 -- 58,346
09/2016: Green Lanterns #7 -- 55,367
09/2017: Green Lanterns #30 -- 29,462 [29,578]
09/2017: Green Lanterns #31 -- 28,997 [28,858]
-----------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.3%
1 year : + 73.7%
2 years : + 40.5%
5 years : - 47.2%
10 years: - 60.4%
15 years: - 11.2%
Ending with issue #12 (for story reasons), to be followed by a Morrison-penned three issue Green Lantern: Darkstars series before resuming another GL series with Sharpe.
---
43 - BATMAN VS. RA’S AL GHUL ($3.99)
09/2019: Batman vs. RAG #1 of 6 -- 39,374
The latest in the line of Neal Adams’s Batman mini-series.
---
49, 51 - FLASH ($3.99)
09/2004: Flash #213 -- 44,124 [46,894]
09/2009: --
09/2014: Futures End -- 70,368 [71,351]
09/2015: Flash #44 -- 36,111 [36,657]
09/2016: Flash #6 -- 82,930
09/2016: Flash #7 -- 78,057
09/2017: Flash #30 -- 52,905 [53,367]
09/2017: Flash #31 -- 52,412 [52,231]
-------------------------------
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 (+ 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 6.9%
1 year : - 21.9%
2 years : - 31.5%
5 years : - 49.3%
10 years: n.a.
15 years: - 22.9%
Last month Flash had two cardstock covers, but this month there were none. Regardless, sales dropped to their lowest in the Rebirth era.
---
59 - 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%)
06/2018: Shazam! #6 -- 34,002 (- 3.8%)
07/2019: --
08/2019: --
09/2018: Shazam! #7 -- 31,834 (- 6.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.1%
Continues to be plagued by delays.
---
61, 62 - WONDER WOMAN ($3.99)
09/2004: Wonder Woman #208 -- 26,628
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806
09/2014: Futures End -- 69,497 [69,921]
09/2015: Wonder Woman #44 -- 36,151 [36,478]
09/2016: Wonder Woman #6 -- 74,856
09/2016: Wonder Woman #7 -- 70,118
09/2017: Wonder Woman #30 -- 40,955 [41,157]
09/2017: Wonder Woman #31 -- 41,647 [42,489]
-------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.7%
1 year : - 13.1%
2 years : - 28.0%
5 years : - 56.9%
10 years: + 4.6%
15 years: + 13.1%
Switches to monthly with a new creative team in November, with some kind of Legacy numbering happening in January as DC publishes Wonder Woman #750.
---
68 - GOTHAM CITY MONSTERS ($3.99)
09/2019: Gotham City Monsters #1 of 6 -- 28,082
Random six-issue mini-series—DC just can’t quit you!
---
70 - JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK ($3.99)
09/2014: Forever Evil -- 51,625 [59,026]
------------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 11.8%
1 year : - 38.9%
5 years : - 52.7%
---
72, 75 - 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
A slight uptick over last month’s YotV one-shots, with slightly more well-known villains.
---
77 - 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%)
---
122/245 - 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.0%
Regular: 18,453. Cardstock: 7,808.
---
78 - HARLEY QUINN ($3.99)
09/2014: Futures End -- 119,180 [123,158]
09/2015: Harley Quinn #20 -- 56,836 [58,652]
09/2016: Harley Quinn #3 -- 89,799
09/2016: Harley Quinn #4 -- 81,046
09/2017: Harley Quinn #27 -- 37,087 (- 0.5%)
09/2017: Harley Quinn #28 -- 36,193 (- 2.4%)
--------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 41.1%
1 year : - 12.6%
2 years : - 29.3%
5 years : - 78.8%
The sales on the regular HQ series must seem disappointing compared to those of the other two Harley-starring series that debut this month.
---
182/165, 180/175 - SUPERGIRL ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2009: Supergirl #45 -- 32,240
09/2014: Futures End -- 55,706 [56,516]
09/2016: Supergirl #1 -- 99,272
09/2017: Supergirl #13 -- 33,750 [33,848]
----------------------------------
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%)
01/2019: 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 25.2%
1 year : + 9.5%
2 years : - 28.5%
5 years : - 57.2%
10 years: - 24.9%
Issue #33: Regular: 11,755. Cardstock: 13,040. (0.9:1)
Issue #34: Regular: 11,847. Cardstock: 12,362. (1.0:1)
Issue #33 was delayed from August due to being recalled and swapped out for a different regular cover and printing corrections. Both issues had cardstock covers by Derrick Chew, hence their being more popular with those buying Supergirl for the covers.
---
91 - 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%)
Issue #2 was returnable, while issues #1 & #3 were not. Doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference, as LL is following regular percentage drops for a new series.
---
97 - BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS ($3.99)
09/2004: Outsiders #15 -- 42,184
09/2004: Outsiders #16 -- 41,372
09/2009: Outsiders #22 -- 22,756
-----------------------------------------
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 years: - 0.2%
15 years: - 45.6%
---
144/252 - AQUAMAN ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Aquaman #22 -- 23,358
09/2014: Futures End -- 65,212 [65,628]
09/2015: Aquaman #44 -- 26,396
09/2016: Aquaman #6 -- 49,903
09/2016: Aquaman #7 -- 47,005
09/2017: Aquaman #28 -- 28,081 [28,538]
------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 7.5%
1 year : - 27.7%
2 years : - 20.4%
5 years : - 65.4%
15 years: - 2.8%
Regular: 14,897. Cardstock: 7,596.
Fun fact: Aquaman #52 from May 2016 (the final issue of the New 52 series) sold 22,246.
---
99 - TEEN TITANS ($3.99)
09/2004: Teen Titans #15 -- 63,136
09/2004: Teen Titans #16 -- 64,177 [66,695]
09/2009: Teen Titans #75 -- 32,808
09/2014: Futures End -- 62,915 [63,677]
09/2015: --
09/2016: Teen Titans #24 -- 19,540
09/2016: Rebirth #1 -- 93,411
09/2017: Teen Titans #12 -- 57,359 [67,763]
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.2%
1 year : - 28.0%
2 years : - 67.3%
5 years : - 65.2%
10 years: - 32.5%
15 years: - 65.9%
---
100 - 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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year : - 62.2%
---
102 - NIGHTWING ($3.99)
09/2004: Nightwing #97 -- 44,038 [44,961]
09/2014: Futures End -- 76,551 [76,961]
09/2015: Grayson #12 -- 32,284 [33,281]
09/2016: Nightwing #4 -- 70,652
09/2016: Nightwing #5 -- 76,932
09/2017: Nightwing #28 -- 32,874 [33,020]
09/2017: Nightwing #29 -- 51,102 [54,737]
----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.5%
1 year : - 15.1%
2 years : - 50.5%
5 years : - 71.8%
15 years: - 51.7%
A new low for first-month Nightwing sales in the Diamond era.
---
108 - 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%)
Limited series reprinting the Bendis/Derington stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Batman Giant.
---
110 - Facsimile Editions ($3.99)
08/2019: Batman #232 -- 21,178
08/2019: House of Secrets #92 -- 17,271
09/2019: Batman #181 -- 20,514
Why make new comics when you can sell reprints of old comics at today’s cover prices?
---
113 - INFERIOR FIVE ($3.99)
09/2019: Inferior Five #1 of 12 -- 19,964
Random twelve-issue mini-series—DC just can’t quit you!
---
178/248 - BATGIRL ($3.99/$4.99)
09/2004: Batgirl #56 -- 39,493 [42,088]
09/2009: Batgirl #2 -- 40,626
09/2014: Futures End -- 67,933 [68,525]
09/2015: Batgirl #44 -- 30,654 [30,882]
09/2016: Batgirl #3 -- 51,580
09/2017: Batgirl #15 -- 22,752
-------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 18.2%
1 year : - 32.7%
2 years : - 13.6%
5 years : - 71.3%
10 years: - 51.6%
15 years: - 53.3%
Regular: 11,985. Cardstock: 7,680. (1.6:1)
Last month’s cardstock variant was by Josh Middleton and it sold 13,618, nearly 6K more copies than this month’s by a different artist (with the regular covers selling almost identically). One might deduce that nearly a quarter of the audience last month was buying Batgirl only for the variant cover.
---
115, 117, 131, 136 - 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
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!
---
123 - RED HOOD: OUTLAW ($3.99)
09/2014: Futures End -- 54,984 [55,765]
09/2015: Red Hood/Arsenal #4 -- 22,113
09/2016: Red Hood & Outlaws #2 -- 54,937
09/2017: Red Hood & Outlaws #14 -- 24,376
-----------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: + 0.2%
1 year : - 25.4%
2 years : - 24.4%
5 years : - 67.0%
---
124 - DEATHSTROKE ($3.99)
09/2015: Deathstroke #10 -- 31,241 [31,649]
09/2016: Deathstroke #2 -- 60,877
09/2016: Deathstroke #3 -- 54,908
09/2017: Deathstroke #23 -- 22,811
-----------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.0%
1 year : - 42.0%
2 years : - 19.2%
Ending with issue #50 in December.
---
127 - 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%)
A typical third issue percentage drop.
---
130 - 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%)
Limited series reprinting the King/Hope/Kubert stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Superman Giant.
---
134 - HAWKMAN ($3.99)
09/2004: Hawkman #32 -- 23,727
------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 9.7%
1 year : - 33.2%
15 years: - 30.5%
---
137 - DOOM PATROL: WEIGHT OF THE WORLDS (Young Animal) ($3.99)
09/2004: Doom Patrol #4 -- 26,099
09/2009: Doom Patrol #2 -- 21,982
09/2016: Doom Patrol #1 -- 83,848
09/2017: Doom Patrol #8 -- 17,483
------------------------------------
09/2018: --
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%)
-----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : n.a.
2 years : - 5.7%
10 years: - 25.0%
15 years: - 36.8%
Weight of the Worlds will end after issue #7.
---
149 - THE TERRIFICS ($3.99)
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 4.6%
1 year : - 31.4%
---
152 - BATMAN BEYOND ($3.99)
09/2014: Universe #14 -- 14,061
09/2015: Batman Beyond #4 -- 31,202 [31,518]
09/2016: Batman Beyond #16 -- 17,799
09/2016: Rebirth #1 -- 74,722
09/2017: Batman Beyond #12 -- 21,866
------------------------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.6%
1 year : - 11.6%
2 years : - 35.9%
5 years : - 0.3%
---
181 - 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%)
06/2018: Dreaming #10 -- 12,983 (- 5.6%)
07/2018: Dreaming #11 -- 12,501 (- 3.7%)
08/2018: Dreaming #12 -- 11,803 (- 5.6%)
09/2018: Dreaming #13 -- 11,759 (- 0.4%)
-----------------
6 months: - 21.8%
1 year : - 69.1%
Issue #13 was an old school Sandman-style fill-in, with a guest artist and a story only peripherally related to the man narrative.
---
187 - 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 14.9%
---
188 - 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%)
Limited series reprinting the Conner/Palmiotti/Hardin stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Justice League Giant.
---
192 - 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%)
Limited series reprinting the Jurgens/Eaton stories that originally appeared in the Walmart exclusive Teen Titans Giant.
---
201 - LUCIFER (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
09/2004: Lucifer #54 -- 13,007
09/2016: Lucifer #10 -- 8,891
------------------------------
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 19.8%
15 years: - 21.5%
202 - THE BOOKS OF MAGIC (Sandman Universe) (Vertigo) ($3.99)
09/2004: Life Wartime #3 -- 18,584
-------------------------------------
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 22.6%
15 years: - 45.1%
The last several months have seen Lucifer and Books of Magic being ordered nearly lock-step with each other.
---
222 - 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: --
07/2019: Wonder Twins #7 of 12 -- 9,055 (- 31.5%)
-----------------
6 months: - 54.5%
Back after a planned month off for round two, and the sales drop-off was not at all kind.
---
Coming in at #235 is the Scooby-Doo 50th Anniversary Giant, the first of DC’s new round of produced-for Walmart 100-page comics that mix new stores and reprints that are no-longer exclusive to Walmart and get released to the direct market a couple of weeks later with variant covers. Some, like this Scooby-Doo Giant, are intended as one-shots, while others will be ongoing with varying release frequencies. The sales here of 8,290 are more than double what the main Scooby-Doo title manages through Diamond (and we’ll have no real way of knowing how many copies of theses things sell through their primary sales channel in Walmarts).
---
238 - 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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 62.9%
Sam Humphries, Joe Quinones and friends are killing it on this comic—too bad not very many people are reading it (at least in physical floppies). This issue features guest art by Colleen Doran, Erica Henderson, Stacey Lee & Mike Oeming. (Please please please DC & Wonder Comics: let’s have more comics by Humphries & Lee featuring Guardian Angel and Futuristic Detective Flamingo!)
---
239 - 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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 25.7%
1 year : - 72.4%
I’m as shocked as anyone that House of Whispers is continuing past twelve issues, but here you go.
---
246 - TEEN TITANS GO! (Digital-First) ($2.99)
09/2004: Teen Titans Go! #11 -- 15,337
09/2014: --
09/2015: --
09/2016: --
09/2017: --
--------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: --
07/2019: Teen Titans Go! #35 -- 7,658 (- 2.0%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Teen Titans Go! #36 -- 7,727 (+ 0.9%)
-----------------
6 months: - 3.7%
1 year : - 12.9%
2 years : n.a.
5 years : n.a.
15 years: - 49.6%
Final issue, but a Teen Titans Go! Giant is on the horizon for November.
---
255 - 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%)
Seriously, did no one see the sales implications of titling a comic “Collapser”?
---
258 - SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP (All-Ages) (Hanna-Barbera) ($2.99)
09/2014: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #6 -- 8,333
09/2015: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #12 -- 15,426
09/2016: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #18 -- 7,913
09/2017: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #30 -- 5,760
-----------------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: --
07/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #49 -- 5,351 (- 5.9%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #50 -- 7,168 (+ 34.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 40.9%
1 year : + 21.9%
2 years : + 24.4%
5 years : - 14.0%
The final issue sees a sales jump with the return of Batman.
---
282 - 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%)
06/2019: High Level #5 -- 5,920 (- 10.0%)
07/2019: --
08/2019: --
09/2019: High Level #6 -- 5,435 (- 8.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 33.4%
While the Sandman Universe titles will stay under the Vertigo imprint for one more month, this is the last of the traditional comics for Vertigo. It is somewhat fitting then that this final issue is a couple months late, as it has been a recurring theme over the many years that the final issues of Vertigo comics end up slipping on the release schedule.
---
330 - LOONEY TUNES (All-Ages) ($2.99)
09/2004: Looney Tunes #118 -- 3,548
09/2009: Looney Tunes #178 -- ????? (< 4,095)
09/2014: --
09/2015: --
09/2016: --
09/2017: Looney Tunes #239 -- ????? (< 4,053)
-----------------------------------
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%)
06/2019: --
07/2019: Looney Tunes #250 -- 3,628 (+ 10.5%)
08/2019: --
09/2019: Looney Tunes #251 -- 3,258 (- 10.2%)
-----------------
6 months: + 7.6%
1 year : - 2.6%
2 years : ????
5 years : n.a.
10 years: ????
15 years: - 8.2%
DC’s lowest-selling new issue for September.
---
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
09/2004: 31,690
09/2009: 28,493
09/2014: 46,869 **
09/2015: 26,092 **
09/2016: 51,379 **
09/2017: 34,005 **
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 35,745 (- 3.2%)
07/2019: 33,289 (- 6.9%)
08/2019: 33,608 (+ 1.0%)
09/2019: 32,017 (- 4.7%)
-----------------
6 months: - 13.2%
1 year : - 5.6%
2 years : - 5.8%
5 years : - 31.7%
10 years: + 12.4%
15 years: + 1.0%
DC UNIVERSE
09/2004: 36,445
09/2009: 36,725
09/2014: 63,401 **
09/2015: 30,645
09/2016: 64,037
09/2017: 41,756
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 41,806 (- 3.6%)
07/2019: 38,444 (- 8.0%)
08/2019: 37,680 (- 2.0%)
09/2019: 36,611 (- 2.8%)
-----------------
6 months: - 20.7%
1 year : - 8.5%
2 years : - 12.3%
5 years : - 42.3%
10 years: - 0.3%
15 years: + 0.5%
VERTIGO & YOUNG ANIMAL
09/2004: 17,046
09/2009: 11,345
09/2014: 10,022 **
09/2015: 15,814 **
09/2016: 16,825 **
09/2017: 8,577 **
---------------
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%)
06/2019: 8,584 (+ 1.5%)
07/2019: 12,955 (+ 50.9%)
08/2019: 10,410 (- 19.6%)
09/2019: 9,788 (- 6.0%)
-----------------
6 months: + 0.5%
1 year : - 56.4%
2 years : + 14.1%
5 years : - 2.3%
10 years: - 13.7%
15 years: - 42.6%
---
DC COMICS - TOTAL SALES
09/2004: 2,218,329
09/2009: 2,421,923
09/2014: 3,655,818 **
09/2015: 1,826,463 **
09/2016: 3,802,051 **
09/2017: 2,584,383 **
------------------
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%)
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%)
-----------------
6 months: - 3.1%
1 year : - 2.7%
2 years : - 17.0%
5 years : - 41.3%
10 years: - 11.4%
15 years: - 3.3%
There were 67 ‘new’ comics from DC in September, up from 54 last month and more than the 64 in July (which was a five-Wednesday month). Of those 67 ‘new’ comics, five were reprints of comics previously published, and another two were mixtures of new and reprinted material.
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: 36,611. Median: 27,308. No.: 56. Total: 2,050,206.
3.2 - Doomsday Clock
3.0 - Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy
2.5 - DCeased A Good Day to Die
2.3 - Harleen
2.3 - Batman (79)
2.2 - Batman (78)
1.9 - Batman Curse of the White Knight
1.7 - Batman/Superman
1.4 - Justice League (31)
1.4 - Action Comics
1.4 - Justice League (32)
1.4 - Detective Comics (1011)
1.4 - Detective Comics (1012)
1.3 - Legion of Super-Heroes Millennium
1.3 - Superman
1.3 - Event Leviathan
1.3 - Flash Forward
1.2 - Catwoman
1.1 - The Green Lantern
1.1 - Batman vs. Ra’s al Ghul
1.0 - Flash (78)
1.0 - Flash (79)
0.9 - Shazam
0.8 - Wonder Woman (78)
0.8 - Wonder Woman (79)
0.8 - Gotham City Monsters
0.8 - Justice League Dark
0.8 - YotV Lex Luthor
0.7 - YotV The Riddler
0.7 - Batman/TMNT III
0.7 - young Justice
0.7 - Harley Quinn
0.7 - Supergirl (33)
0.7 - Supergirl (34)
0.6 - Lois Lane
0.6 - Batman and the Outsiders
0.6 - Aquaman
0.6 - Teen Titans
0.6 - Justice League Odyssey
0.6 - Nightwing
0.6 - Batman Universe
0.6 - Batman 181 FE
0.5 - Inferior Five
0.5 - Batgirl
0.5 - Red Hood Outlaw
0.5 - Deathstroke
0.5 - Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen
0.5 - Superman Up in the Sky
0.5 - Hawkman
0.4 - The Terrifics
0.4 - Batman Beyond
0.3 - Freedom Fighters
0.3 - Wonder Woman Come Back to Me
0.3 - Titans Burning Rage
0.2 - Wonder Twins
0.2 - Dial H for Hero
Vertigo & Young Animal: Average: 9,788. Median: 10,196. No.: 7. Total: 68,518.
1.6 - Doom Patrol Weight of the World
1.2 - The Dreaming
1.0 - Lucifer
1.0 - The Books of Magic
0.8 - House of Whispers
0.8 - Collapser
0.6 - High Level
Vertigo Average: 9,135 (5 titles); Young Animal Average: 11,422 (2 titles).
Digital First & Other: Average: 6,611. Median: 7,448. No.: 4. Total: 26,443.
1.3 - Scooby-Doo 50th Anniversary Giant
1.2 - Teen Titans Go
1.1 - Scooby-Doo Team-Up
0.5 - 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 National Association of Personnel Services; 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 10, 2019 on Yet Another Comics Blog.
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