Christmas Covers - December 3

Green Lantern is attacked by lights from a Christmas tree on the cover of Green Lantern #36 (1993) by Gene Ha & Romeo Tanghal.

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Holiday-related comic book cover. (Click on the image to get a larger version.)

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.


Just 22 more 'get-ups' until Santa!

(2011: Judge Dredd #6)
(2010: Dennis the Menace Pocketful of Fun #42)
(2009: Marvel Age #85)
(2008: Looney Tunes #97)
(2007: Marvel Holiday Special 1994)
(2006: Tom-Tom and Itchi the Monk #2)
(2005: Marge's Little Lulu #18)
(2004: Superman #369)

(Polite Dissent's 2012 Comic Book Cover Advent Calendar)
(Bully the Little Stuffed Bull's A Hanna-Barbera Christmas)

Christmas Covers - December 2

Archie Andrews celebrates with Hope and Joy on the cover of Betty and Veronica #204 (2005) by Jeff Shultz.

For each day of December until Christmas I'm featuring a Holiday-related comic book cover. (Click on the image to get a larger version.)

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.


Just 23 more 'get-ups' until Santa!





(2011: Sonic X #15)
(2010: Quantum Leap #3)
(2009: Casper Giant-Size #2)
(2008: Sabrina's Holiday Spectacular #2)
(2007: Sabrina, The Teen-Age Witch #77)
(2006: Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series #111)
(2005: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-43)
(2004: Walt Disney's Christmas Parade #9)

(Polite Dissent's 2012 Comic Book Cover Advent Calendar)

Christmas Covers - December 1

It's time once again for our annual Christmas Covers event: twenty-five more comic covers with a holiday theme!

We begin our 2012 season with Spider-Man, The Thing, Iron Man, Thor, and The Hulk in a Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag on the cover of Marvel Treasury Edition #13 from 1976 by Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.

Come back tomorrow, and every day this month, for a new Christmas cover.

Just 24 more 'get-ups' until Santa!


(2011: Santa Claus Parade)
(2010: Archie's Holiday Fun Digest #6)
(2009: Holiday Comics #8)
(2008: Christmas Carnival)
(2007: Comic Cavalcade #5)
(2006: Justice League Unlimited #16)
(2005: Walt Disney's Christmas Parade #3)
(2004: Limited Collectors' Edition #C-34)

(Also see: Polite Dissent's 2012 Comic Book Cover Advent Calendar)  

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7)
2 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7) (Kindle)
3 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
4 (-1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
7 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
8 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
9 (+1). Darth Vader and Son
10 (-2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
11 (-). Building Stories
12 (+2). Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
13 (+4). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar
14 (-1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
15 (-3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
16 (-). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
17 (+5). The Walking Dead, Book 1
18 (-). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
19 (R). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
20 (R). Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me: A Graphic Memoir
21 (-2). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6) (Kindle)
22 (-7). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
23 (+1). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
24 (+5). Marvel Encyclopedia
25 (+18). How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You 2013 Wall Calendar
26 (+8). The Walking Dead, Book 2
27 (-4). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2
28 (-7). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
29 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
30 (+8). The Walking Dead, vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
31 (+11). The Walking Dead, Book 3
32 (R). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
33 (-6). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
34 (-3). Avengers vs. X-Men
35 (-7). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 (Kindle)
36 (+4). Big Nate Makes the Grade
37 (-11). Saga Volume 1
38 (N). 2013 Maxine Year-In-A-Box Calendar
39 (+2). The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
40 (-10). Adventure Time Vol. 1
41 (R). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (hardcover)
42 (+7). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
43 (R). The Dork Diaries Set
44 (+1). Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2) (Kindle)
45 (R). Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star
46 (R). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 1
47 (+3). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 2
48 (-15). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
49 (-13). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
50 (-18). Batman: The Killing Joke


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Yes, the seventh Wimpy Kid is still #1. Also on the overall books chart. Expect this to be the case for quite a while. How to Tell... is #28 overall; the Walking Dead Compendia are #34 & #35; Wimpy Kid 6 is #54; Walking Dead 17 is #83; Dork Diaries 5 is #94.
• The only debut this week is the 2013 Maxine Year-In-A-Box Calendar
• It's a relatively sedate chart this week. Despite the start of the holiday shopping season, very few books make huge jumps.
• DC only have two books in the top 50; Marvel only have one. By contrast, Image have thirteen.
• Dead Watch: Granted, of those thirteen, twelve are Walking Dead books. That's down two from last week, but four three of those twelve are in the top ten.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.

(Note, while the chart is being posted on Saturday morning this week, the chart positions are in fact from Friday morning.)


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7)
2 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7) (Kindle)
3 (+1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
4 (-1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
7 (-). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
8 (+2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
9 (+11). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
10 (-1). Darth Vader and Son
11 (-). Building Stories
12 (+1). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
13 (+1). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
14 (-6). Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
15 (-3). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
16 (-1). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
17 (+4). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar
18 (-). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
19 (-3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6) (Kindle)
20 (+2). The Walking Dead, Book 8
21 (-4). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
22 (+11). The Walking Dead, Book 1
23 (+2). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2
24 (-). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
25 (+5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
26 (-2). Saga Volume 1
27 (-8). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
28 (-5). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 (Kindle)
29 (+12). Marvel Encyclopedia
30 (+10). Adventure Time Vol. 1
31 (+11). Avengers vs. X-Men
32 (+13). Batman: The Killing Joke
33 (+17). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
34 (+4). The Walking Dead, Book 2
35 (R). The Book of Revelation
36 (-10). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
37 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
38 (-4). The Walking Dead, vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
39 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire
40 (+4). Big Nate Makes the Grade
41 (-5). The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
42 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 3
43 (N). How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You 2013 Wall Calendar
44 (R). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
45 (R). Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2) (Kindle)
46 (-11). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
47 (R). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
48 (R). Sailor Moon 8
49 (-3). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
50 (R). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 2


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Still number one on both the comics and the overall chart is the seventh Wimpy Kid volume (the Kindle edition is #32 on the Kindle store chart). The Walking Dead Compendia are #34 & #46 on the overall chart; How to Tell... is #39. Wimpy Kid 6 is #61 overall; Dork Diaries 5 is #73. 
• There's very little movement at the top of the chart, but there's plenty of churn in the middle and lower sections. 
• The only new title this week is the wall calendar of How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You.
• Dead Watch: Fourteen Walking Dead titles on the chart this week, up one from last week, and three in the top ten. 
• We're just a little over a week away from the mid-season finale of the television show, which occasion traditionally sees a big bump for WD trades. But this year it is smacking right up into the holiday buying season, so the WD surge will go head-to-head with the increase for comic strip collections (especially Calvin & Hobbes) as well as The Wimpy Kid and its ilk.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7)
2 (+1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 7) (Kindle)
3 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
4 (-2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (+3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
7 (+4). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
8 (-2). Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
9 (+8). Darth Vader and Son
10 (+5). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
11 (-3). Building Stories
12 (-2). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
13 (+7). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
14 (+8). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
15 (+9). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
16 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6) (Kindle)
17 (-5). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
18 (+11). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
19 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
20 (+6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
21 (+7). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar
22 (-4). The Walking Dead, Book 8
23 (+2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 (Kindle)
24 (+13). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
25 (-12). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2
26 (-3). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
27 (N). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes (paperback)
28 (+16). Saga Volume 1
29 (+7). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
30 (+2). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
31 (+3). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
32 (+11). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
33 (-3). The Walking Dead, Book 1
34 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
35 (-4). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
36 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
37 (+11). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
38 (+9). The Walking Dead, Book 2
39 (N). The Dork Diaries Set
40 (-19). Adventure Time Vol. 1
41 (R). Marvel Encyclopedia
42 (-35). Avengers vs. X-Men 
43 (-23). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
44 (+1). Big Nate Makes the Grade
45 (-5). Batman: The Killing Joke
46 (R). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
47 (R). Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star
48 (R). The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3) (Kindle)
49 (N). Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Box Set
50 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• The seventh Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is finally released this week, and stays comfortably on the top of the comics chart as well as being the #1 book overall. The Kindle edition, #2 on the comics chart, is the #21 book on the paid Kindle chart.  How to Tell If Your Cat... is #23 on the overall books chart; while the Walking Dead compendia are #43 & #50 respectively.
• All three of the debut titles this week are box sets: A paperback set of The Complete Calvin and Hobbes; a Dork Diaries set; and a Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind set. The holiday shopping season must be nigh upon us...
• Dead Watch: Thirteen Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, up one from last week.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
3 (-). The Third Wheel (Kindle) *
4 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-). Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
7 (R). Avengers vs. X-Men *
8 (-1). Building Stories
9 (+1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
10 (-1). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
11 (-). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
12 (+2). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
13 (+2). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2
14 (N). Grimmer Tales: A Wicked Collection of Happily Never After Stories
15 (+4). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
16 (+4). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6) (Kindle)
17 (-4). Darth Vader and Son
18 (-6). The Walking Dead, Book 8
19 (+2). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
20 (-4). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
21 (N). Adventure Time Vol. 1
22 (+2). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
23 (-5). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
24 (+9). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
25 (-17). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 (Kindle)
26 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
27 (N). Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me: A Graphic Memoir
28 (+7). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar
29 (-4). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
30 (-7). The Walking Dead, Book 1
31 (+1). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
32 (+13). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
33 (N). The Book of Revelation
34 (-6). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
35 (N). Walt Disney's Donald Duck Vol. 2: "A Christmas For Shacktown"
36 (-). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
37 (+7). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
38 (-21). Sailor Moon 8
39 (+9). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 2: Vs. The World
40 (-3). Batman: The Killing Joke
41 (N). Naruto, vol. 59: Nobody
42 (N). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5) (Kindle)
43 (-12). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
44 (-18). Saga Volume 1
45 (+1). Big Nate Makes the Grade
46 (-7). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
47 (-20). The Walking Dead, Book 2
48 (-14). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
49 (N). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4) (Kindle)
50 (-20). The Walking Dead, Book 3


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• For the second week in a row the new Wimpy Kid is at the top of the overall Amazon books chart, and thus stays at the top of the comics chart as well. It finally comes out this coming Tuesday, so we'll see how the release of the pent-up demand affects it chart standing. I wouldn't be surprised to see it stay at the top of the chart through the holidays, but there's also the anticipated boom in Walking Dead sales when the show ends the first half of its season in mid-December. It could make for an interesting battle. 
• The top ten stays mostly the same this week, except for the sudden re-appearance of Avengers vs. X-Men on the chart. Amazon is saying that it won't be released until November 21, but they shipped mine today...
• The top debut this week is Grimmer Tales, a book that was originally released back in 2009. I have no idea as to why it is suddenly popular enough to make it chart this week. Other new items include the first collection of Boom!'s Adventure Time comics; Ellen Forney's memoir Marbles; a graphic adaptation of The Book of Revelation; the second volume of Fantagraphics' Carl Barks' Donald Duck comics; the latest Naruto; and a couple more Kindle editions of Wimpy Kid books.
• Dead Watch: Twelve WD collections on the chart this week, same as last week...

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
3 (+13). The Third Wheel (Kindle) *
4 (-2). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (N). Totally MAD: 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
7 (-3). Building Stories
8 (N). Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 (Kindle)
9 (-3). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
10 (-3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
11 (-2). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
12 (-4). The Walking Dead, Book 8
13 (-2). Darth Vader and Son
14 (-4). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
15 (+19). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 *
16 (+3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
17 (N). Sailor Moon 8
18 (-3). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
19 (-1). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
20 (N). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6) (Kindle)
21 (-7). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
22 (-9). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
23 (+1). The Walking Dead, Book 1
24 (+12). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
25 (-3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
26 (R). Saga Volume 1
27 (+2). The Walking Dead, Book 2
28 (-5). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
29 (N). The Great Showdowns
30 (+13). The Walking Dead, Book 3
31 (-5). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
32 (-5). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
33 (-12). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
34 (-3). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
35 (+9). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar
36 (-1). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
37 (+3). Batman: The Killing Joke
38 (N). Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe *
39 (-11). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
40 (+8). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
41 (-11). Watchmen
42 (N). The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3) (Kindle)
43 (R). Marvel Encyclopedia
44 (-11). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
45 (-33). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
46 (-7). Big Nate Makes the Grade
47 (-). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
48 (N). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 2: Vs. The World
49 (R). Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale
50 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 4 (Kindle)


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• No surprise that the seventh Wimpy Kid stays at the top of the comics chart this week; it's also the #1 book overall on Amazon. Which means it rules over all, even the second Walking Dead Compendium at #30 overall.
• The big news this week is the availability of The Wimpy Kid on digital platforms, including Kindle. Which means that WK takes up even more slots on the comics chart this week than usual. There are eleven Kindle editions on the chart this week, led by WK and Walking Dead, currently the two biggest comics franchises.
• There still room for new print editions on the chart though, led by a top ten debut by a MAD Magazine 60-year retrospective. Other debuts include Sailor Moon 8, The Great Showdowns, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, and the second Scott Pilgrim color hardcover.
• Scott Campbell's The Great Showdowns was another of those that I was unclear on whether to consider it a comic or not. I ultimately decided to include it on the chart, though I can easily see where you might not...
• Dead Watch: Twelve WD collections on the chart this week, down three form last week, largely due to the new Wimpy Kid Kindle editions pushing some of the lower selling WD collections off the bottom of the chart.
• Saga, which was missing from the chart last week due to Amazon pulling it from sale, is now available again and dutifully hops right back up onto the chart.

Trick or Treat 4

Our fourth annual Happy Halloween Ten of a Kind! (With a shout-out to everyone's favorite Little Stuffed Bull)

(Trick or Treat 1 is here!) 

(Trick or Treat 2 is here!)  

(Trick or Treat 3 is here!)

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
4 (+3). Building Stories
5 (-1). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-1). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
7 (+3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
8 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 8
9 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
10 (+1). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
11 (+8). Darth Vader and Son
12 (-). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3
13 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
14 (-1). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
15 (-1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
16 (-7). The Third Wheel (Kindle)
17 (N). Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin vol. 2: Garma *
18 (-2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
19 (-2). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
20 (N). Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin vol. 1: Activation *
21 (-3). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
22 (-3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
23 (-). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
24 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 1
25 (+13). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+3). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
27 (-3). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
28 (+6). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
29 (+3). The Walking Dead, Book 2
30 (+5). Watchmen
31 (-4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
32 (-5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
33 (+3). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
34 (+16). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 *
35 (-7). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
36 (-6). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
37 (-16). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
38 (+2). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
39 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade
40 (-9). Batman: The Killing Joke
41 (+5) The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
42 (+1). Drama
43 (-1). The Walking Dead, Book 3
44 (N). Dilbert 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar *
45 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us
46 (R). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
47 (-14). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
48 (-3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
49 (-23). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
50 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 7


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Only minor movement at the top of the chart this week. The Third Wheel stays at #4 on the overall books chart; How to Tell If Your Cat... is #29; The second WD Compendium is #30; Building Stories is #58; and the first WD Compendium is #62.
• Two Mobile Suit Gundam manga pop onto the chart as pre-orders in the top 20, though they are not scheduled to be released until March & June of 2013. The only other new title this week is the 2013 Dilbert desk calendar.
• Dead Watch: Fifteen WD collections on the chart this week, down one from last week.
• Last week I noted that Saga had leaped into the top 20, but this week it has dropped off the chart as Amazon has marked it as 'Item Under Review' and it is currently not available...

As it Turns Out, Likely Never

Back in 2008, when Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man switched to a thrice-monthly publication schedule, I did a little math to figure out when the numbering of ASM would catch up with that of DC's Action Comics. Assuming continued thrice-monthly publication for ASM and monthly for Action, I determined that it would be in January 2020 with issue #1016.

But as it turns out, that's never going to happen. At some point ASM swtiched to twice-monthly publication, which would have slowed down the progression. But then last year DC cancelled all of their DCU titles and started everything over at issue #1, including the long-running Action. And now Marvel is cancelling Amazing with issue #700.

I suppose it's possible that at some point in the future DC will revert to the old numbering scheme for their titles. And I'd imagine that Marvel will at some point resurrect Amazing (I give it maybe a year...) If those scenarios happen (and if this blog is still around...) we'll recalculate.

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover!

Bucky Barnes takes on a gorilla with a gun on the cover of Winter Soldier #5 (2012) by Lee Bermejo.

(Standard disclaimer about machine gun-toting gorillas not really being monkeys applies.)

Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
4 (+8). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
5 (-). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
6 (-). The Walking Dead, Book 8
7 (-3). Building Stories
8 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
9 (N). The Third Wheel (Kindle)
10 (-1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
11 (+5). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
12 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
13 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (-3). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
15 (+3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
16 (+3). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
17 (-3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
18 (+2). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
19 (+5). Darth Vader and Son
20 (+22). Saga Volume 1 *
21 (-11). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
22 (+13). The Walking Dead, Book 1
23 (-8). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
24 (+8). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
25 (-3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
26 (-9). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
27 (-4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
28 (+21). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
29 (-4). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
30 (-4). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
31 (-10). Batman: The Killing Joke
32 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 2
33 (+3). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
34 (+10). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
35 (-4). Watchmen
36 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 1: Days Gone Bye
37 (-10). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
38 (-9). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
39 (-6). Big Nate Makes the Grade
40 (-10). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
41 (-13). The Hive
42 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 3
43 (-6). Drama
44 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 4 (Kindle)
45 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
46 (R) The Walking Dead, vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
47 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 4
48 (-1). Dork Diaries 3 (Kindle)
49 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 5 (Kindle)
50 (R). Superman: Earth One Vol. 2 *


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• After a week at #2, The Third Wheel moves back into the #1 slot (and is #4 on the overall Amazon books chart). How to Tell If You Cat... is #23 on the overall chart, just a shade ahead of the second Walking Dead compendium at #24.
• Dead Watch: The new season of the Walking Dead television show aired this past Sunday to stellar ratings, and also served to remind people that there are Walking Dead comics as well. Sixteen WD collections appear on the chart this week, double the number from last week.
• The Walking Dead surge didn't leave much room for new titles on the list; just one: the Kindle edition of The Third Wheel.
• In its second week on the chart, Vaughan & Staples' Saga makes an impressive leap up into the top twenty.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You
2 (-1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (-). Building Stories
5 (+1). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
6 (+2). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
7 (-2). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
8 (-1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
9 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
10 (N). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (Kindle)
11 (-1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
12 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
13 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (+3). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
15 (-4). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
16 (+15). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
17 (R). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
18 (+5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
19 (+2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
20 (-). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
21 (+6). Batman: The Killing Joke
22 (-8). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
23 (-7). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
24 (-5). Darth Vader and Son
25 (-7). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
26 (-11). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
27 (+1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
28 (N). The Hive
29 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
30 (+2). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
31 (-2). Watchmen
32 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 2 (Kindle)
33 (-11). Big Nate Makes the Grade
34 (N). Economix: How and Why Our Economy Works (and Doesn't Work)
35 (+1). The Walking Dead, Book 1
36 (+1). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
37 (-11). Drama
38 (N). Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 1: Knight Terrors (The New 52)
39 (-6). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
40 (-). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
41 (R). Dork Diaries 2 (Kindle)
42 (N). Saga Volume 1 *
43 (+5). V for Vendetta
44 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
45 (-11). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
46 (R). Dork Diaries 3 (Kindle)
47 (R). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
48 (N). How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You 2013 Wall Calendar
49 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 3 (Kindle)
50 (R). Batman: Hush



Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• The Oatmeal collection How To Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting To Kill You slides back up into the top position upon its release this week, due to its astounding #3 ranking on the overall Amazon book chart. It brings with it the debuts of its Kindle edition and its 2013 wall calender, as well as the re-appearance of the first collection (5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin...) in the top 20. So a pretty good week for Matthew Inman.
• Right behind it, The Third Wheel is #4 on the overall chart this week. The second Walking Dead Compendium is #25, and Building Stories is #64. On many weeks these rankings would be enough for the top comics slot.
• Other debuts this week are Charles Burns' The Hive; the non-fiction comic Economix; the first New 52 collection of David Finch's Batman: The Dark Knight; and the first volume of Vaughan & Staples' Saga.
• Dead Watch: With just a couple of days to go until the debut of the television show's third season, the number of Walking Dead collections on the chart remains at eight.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
3 (+2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (+2). Building Stories
5 (+2). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
6 (+5). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle)
7 (-5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
8 (+6). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
9 (-5). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
10 (-). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
11 (N). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
12 (-4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
13 (-5). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
14 (+11). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
15 (+11). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
16 (-7). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
17 (-5). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
18 (-5). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
19 (+5). Darth Vader and Son
20 (-). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
21 (+2). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
22 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade
23 (-8). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
24 (N). Sailor Twain; or, The Mermaid in the Hudson
25 (-8). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+3). Drama
27 (-8). Batman: The Killing Joke
28 (-10). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
29 (-8). Watchmen
30 (N). American Vampire Vol. 4
31 (-3). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
32 (-5). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
33 (-3). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
34 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
35 (R). Marvel Encyclopedia
36 (+10). The Walking Dead, Book 1
37 (-). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
38 (-3). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3: Knightsend
39 (N). Avengers vs. X-Men *
40 (+5). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
41 (R). Amulet #4: The Last Council
42 (-10). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
43 (N). Freakangels Complete Box Set
44 (-2). Sailor Moon 7
45 (-14). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
46 (+4). The Walking Dead, Book 2
47 (R). The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
48 (-15). V for Vendetta
49 (N). Criminal: The Deluxe Edition, Volume 2 *
50 (N). Berserk, Vol. 36




Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Some shuffling of the chairs, but the top ten remains mainly the same this week, with Wimpy Kid still at the top. On the overall Amazon books chart, the top 5 are: #5, #18, #34, #43, & #51; an extremely strong showing from the comics items.
• After being shut out of new titles last week, this week shows seven title making their debut on the top fifty chart, led by Hope Larson's adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time at #11. Other debuts are Mark Siegel's Sailor Twain; the latest collection of American Vampire; the collection of Marvel's event comic Avengers vs. X-Men; a box set of Warren Ellis's Freakangels; a hardcover Criminal collection; and the latest volume of Berserk.
• Dead Watch: Eight Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, same as last week.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+17). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
3 (+1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
4 (-2). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
5 (-2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
6 (+28). Building Stories *
7 (-1). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
8 (-1). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
9 (R). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
10 (-5). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
11 (+4). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle) *
12 (+4). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
13 (+1). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
14 (+3). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
15 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
16 (-8). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
17 (+8). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
18 (+5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
19 (+2). Batman: The Killing Joke
20 (-11). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
21 (+8). Watchmen
22 (-12). Big Nate Makes the Grade
23 (-10). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
24 (-2). Darth Vader and Son
25 (-7). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
26 (-14). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
27 (R). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
28 (-4). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
29 (-3). Drama
30 (-2). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
31 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
32 (R). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
33 (+16). V for Vendetta
34 (-14). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
35 (R). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3: Knightsend
36 (+5). Judge Dredd: Case Files 01
37 (-6). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
38 (+1). Batman: Earth One
39 (-4). The Complete Persepolis
40 (-3). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
41 (R). Dork Diaries 2 (Kindle)
42 (-18). Sailor Moon 7
43 (-10). Yotsuba&!, Vol. 11
44 (-3). American Born Chinese
45 (-). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
46 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 1
47 (R). Batman: Year One Deluxe
48 (-12). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
49 (R). Batman: Hush
50 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 2


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Three titles make huge leaps on the chart up into the top ten: The third volume of Avatar: The Promise; Chris Ware's upcoming Building Stories; and the strangely-missing-from-the-chart-last-week Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
• The top item on the chart, the seventh Wimpy Kid book, is #6 on the Amazon overall books chart. Avatar is #79 on the overall chart; How to Tell if Your Cat... is #114.
• A very rare occurrence this week as there are no new titles in the top fifty.
• Despite the new movie bombing mightily at the box office, a Judge Dredd collection is on the chart for the second week in a row, and even moves up a bit this week.
• Dead Watch: Eight Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, up two from last week as we are now just a bit over two weeks from the new season of the television show.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
3 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (-). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
5 (+2). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
6 (+6). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
7 (+4). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
8 (-3). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
9 (+4). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
10 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade
11 (+20). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
12 (+13). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
13 (+22). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
14 (-6). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
15 (+15). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle) *
16 (-7). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
17 (+10). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
18 (-4). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
19 (-). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
20 (-14). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
21 (-). Batman: The Killing Joke
22 (-5). Darth Vader and Son
23 (+3). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
24 (-6). Sailor Moon 7 *
25 (-2). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+7). Drama
27 (R). Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: "Only a Poor Old Man" (Vol. 1)
28 (-13). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
29 (-1). Watchmen
30 (+2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
31 (+13). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
32 (+17). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
33 (+8). Yotsuba&!, Vol. 11
34 (+13). Building Stories *
35 (-6). The Complete Persepolis
36 (-14). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
37 (+6). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
38 (+10). Batman: The Long Halloween
39 (-5). Batman: Earth One
40 (-2). Aquaman Vol. 1: The Trench (The New 52)
41 (N). Judge Dredd: Case Files 01
42 (R). Big Nate: Here Goes Nothing
43 (N). Dragonbreath #7: When Fairies Go Bad
44 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 7
45 (R). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
46 (R). Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star
47 (+3). American Born Chinese
48 (-2). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
49 (R). V for Vendetta
50 (R). The Complete Calvin and Hobbes



Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary: 

• It's a rather sedate week on the Amazon chart. The top four are the same as last week, and new books don't show up until near the bottom of the list: Judge Dredd Case Files at #41, and a new Dragonbreath at #43.
• Dead Watch: Six Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, the same as last week.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this evening. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+3). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
3 (+4). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
4 (+8). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
5 (-). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (-4). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
7 (+2). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
8 (-4). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
9 (+26). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
10 (+9). Big Nate Makes the Grade
11 (-). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
12 (+11). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
13 (+5). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
14 (+7). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
15 (-12). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
16 (-8). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
17 (+19). Darth Vader and Son
18 (+23). Sailor Moon 7 *
19 (+5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
20 (+11). Batman: Knightfall Vol. 3, KnightsEnd
21 (-11). Batman: The Killing Joke
22 (-9). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
23 (-1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
24 (N). A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel *
25 (+9). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
26 (+2). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
27 (+6). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
28 (-8). Watchmen
29 (-12). The Complete Persepolis
30 (N). Dork Diaries 5 (Kindle) *
31 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
32 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
33 (+5). Drama
34 (-9). Batman: Earth One
35 (+11). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
36 (N). Walter Koenig's Things to Come *
37 (-5). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
38 (N). Aquaman Vol. 1: The Trench (The New 52)
39 (N). The Complete Peanuts 1983-1986 Gift Box Set *
40 (N). Naruto, Vol. 58
41 (N). Yotsuba&!, Vol. 11
42 (N). The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science. Bad. TP *
43 (-27). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
44 (-18). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
45 (R). Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (The New 52)
46 (-32). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
47 (+1). Building Stories *
48 (-1). Batman: The Long Halloween
49 (-7). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
50 (-35). American Born Chinese




Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary: 

• The seventh Wimpy Kid volume, The Third Wheel, remains at the top of the list. I expect we'll see it there for the remainder of the year, though a Walking Dead surge in October isn't out of the question.
• There are a lot of debut titles on the chart this week, led off by Hope Larson's upcoming adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Other debuts are the Kindle version of the fifth Dork Diaries; Walter Koenig's Things to Come; the first Aquaman collection of DC's new 52; another Peanuts box set; the latest volumes of manga titles Naruto & Yotsuba&!; and the first collection of Jonathan Hickman's The Manhattan Projects.
• Earlier in the week, both A Wrinkle in Time and Things to Come were up in the top 5 on the comics chart. This is a fairly typical result of a new title on the chart when it is in pre-order, especially when it is the result of some prominent publicity (e.g. on BoingBoing in the case of Wrinkle). This is a good time to remind readers that these charts are just a snapshot of a particular moment in time of the charts on Amazon, which change hourly.
• Dead Watch: Just six Walking Dead collections this week, down two from last week, but both of the Compendiums are in the top five.
• Bat Watch: Seven Batman books on the chart this week, down one from last week. We're now back to normal Batman chart levels, so I think we'll retire Bat Watch for the time being.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
3 (-). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
4 (+17). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves
5 (+12). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
6 (+5). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
7 (+5). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
8 (+5). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
9 (-3). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
10 (+10). Batman: The Killing Joke
11 (-3). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
12 (+11). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
13 (-8). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
14 (+2). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
15 (-5). American Born Chinese
16 (-12). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
17 (-8). The Complete Persepolis
18 (+22). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
19 (-5). Big Nate Makes the Grade
20 (-13). Watchmen
21 (+5). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
22 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
23 (+6). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
24 (-2). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
25 (+3). Batman: Earth One
26 (+1). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
27 (+16). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
28 (-13). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
29 (-5). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
30 (N). Economix: How and Why Our Economy Works (and Doesn't Work), in Words and Pictures
31 (R). Batman: Knightfall Vol. 3, KnightsEnd *
32 (-1). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
33 (+2). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
34 (-). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
35 (-2). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
36 (-11). Darth Vader and Son
37 (-7). V for Vendetta
38 (+1). Drama
39 (-20). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
40 (+10). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
41 (+6). Sailor Moon 7 *
42 (-10). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
43 (R). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
44 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 5
45 (R). The Walking Dead, Book 3
46 (R). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
47 (-11). Batman: The Long Halloween
48 (N). Building Stories
49 (-12). The Underwater Welder
50 (-12). Batman: Year One

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• The relative calm at the very top of the chart this week masks a lot of underlying volatility. As the start-of-the-semester class buying frenzy calms down we see the chart starting to right-size itself back towards a more general standing.
• The top debut this week is Michael Goodwin & Dan E. Burr's Economix (which earlier in the week was much higher that it current #30 slot). The only other debut is Chris Ware's upcoming Building Stories.
• Dead Watch: Eight Walking Dead collections on the chart this week; up two from last week, and the two compendiums move back up into the top ten.
• Bat Watch: Eight Batman books on the chart this week, same as last week.

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover!

Can Beppo the Super Monkey save Superman from Titano the Giant Ape? Find out in Superman Family Adventures #4 (2012) under a cover by Art Baltazar.

(Standard disclaimer about giant apes who are definitely not King Kong not really being monkeys applies.)

Image courtesy of the GCD. Click on the image for a larger version.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
3 (-). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
4 (+4). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
5 (+5). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
6 (-2). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
7 (+9). Watchmen
8 (+7). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
9 (-4). The Complete Persepolis
10 (+8). American Born Chinese
11 (+1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
12 (+8). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
13 (-6). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
14 (-1). Big Nate Makes the Grade
15 (+11). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
16 (+5). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
17 (-6). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
18 (+7). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
19 (+4). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
20 (-14). Batman: The Killing Joke
21 (-4). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves *
22 (+13). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
23 (-14). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
24 (-2). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
25 (-6). Darth Vader and Son
26 (+10). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
27 (+4). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
28 (-14). Batman: Earth One
29 (+3). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
30 (-6). V for Vendetta
31 (+3). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
32 (-5). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
33 (+5). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
34 (+14). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
35 (-2). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
36 (-6). Batman: The Long Halloween
37 (R). The Underwater Welder
38 (+3). Batman: Year One
39 (N). Drama
40 (R). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
41 (+8). Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (The New 52)
42 (N). Abina and the Important Men: A Graphic History
43 (R). The Walking Dead, Vol. 17: Something to Fear *
44 (R). Dork Diaries 2 (Kindle)
45 (-8). Big Nate: Here Goes Nothing
46 (N). Swamp Thing Vol. 1: Raise Them Bones (The New 52)
47 (N). Sailor Moon 7 *
48 (+2). Superman - Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel (The New 52)
49 (R). Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It's Necessary, How It Works
50 (-7). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• For a third week in a row, the pre-order for the new Wimpy Kid is at the top of the list. It's almost safe to say that it will be at the top of the list through the end of the year, but with a new season of The Walking Dead this fall, along with a new WD collection due out during that period, I suspect we'll have a battle on our hands later this year...
• Every week when I'm compiling this chart, I have to weed out the non-comics items that make it on to the Amazon Best Sellers chart (usually due to poor categorization on Amazon's part). Usually this is an easy decision to make (like when a Stephen King novel shows up on it), but decisions have to be made sometimes. I usually air on the side of inclusiveness and keep things like The Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries on the chart, though I know that others would disagree with calling those comics. This week I had to made a difficult choice regarding Billionaires & Ballot Bandits by Greg Palast. It's a 300 page book that includes a 48-page comic by Ted Rall. I went back-and-forth on including it, but ultimately decided not to, figuring that 250 pages of prose outweighed 50 pages of comics. But I can see how you might see otherwise. (For reference, it would have debuted at #34, just above The Wimpy Kid Box of Books.)
• The top debut this week is Raina Telgemeier's new YA graphic novel, Drama. Also debuting is Abina and the Important Men by Trevor Getz & Liz Clarke; the first New 52 Swamp Thing collection; and the latest Sailor Moon edition.
• Dead Watch: Six Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, up one from last week.
• Bat Watch: Eight Batman books on the chart this week, down three from last week. We're pretty much done with the Dark Knight Rises bump and Batman sales have returned to normal levels.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (-). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (+1). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
3 (+5). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
4 (+2). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
5 (+6). The Complete Persepolis
6 (-2). Batman: The Killing Joke
7 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
8 (+6). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
9 (-7). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
10 (+13). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
11 (-2). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
12 (-). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
13 (+16). Big Nate Makes the Grade
14 (-9). Batman: Earth One
15 (N). Big Nate Makes the Grade (Kindle)
16 (-1). Watchmen
17 (+32). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves *
18 (+13). American Born Chinese
19 (-2). Darth Vader and Son
20 (-10). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
21 (+14). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
22 (-4). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
23 (+13). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
24 (+9). V for Vendetta
25 (-5). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
26 (+6). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
27 (R). The Walking Dead, vol. 1 (Kindle)
28 (+20). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
29 (-7). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 1: Precious Little Life
30 (-1). Batman: The Long Halloween
31 (-12). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
32 (N). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
33 (-9). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
34 (-21). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
35 (-7). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
36 (-15). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
37 (N). Big Nate: Here Goes Nothing
38 (-). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
39 (+6). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
40 (-13). Batman: Hush
41 (-15). Batman: Year One
42 (-3). Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks
43 (-18). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
44 (R). Big Nate and Friends (Kindle)
45 (-4). Batman: Dark Victory
46 (-16). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Kindle edition)
47 (R). Dork Diaries 3 (Kindle)
48 (R). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
49 (R). Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (The New 52)
50 (-16). Superman - Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel (The New 52)

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• The pre-order for the new Wimpy Kid remains at the top for the second consecutive week, solidifying its place even in the face of the University Effect (where comics used for college classes shoot to the top of the list at the start of the semester).
• Falling victim to the University Effect is the pre-order for the new The Oatmeal collection (How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You). While I expect it to be back up near or at the top when it is released in October, for the time being it will have to live under books such as Persepolis and Maus.
• The top debut this week is the Kindle edition of Big Nate Makes the Grade (just 2 spots under its print counterpart). Other debuts are the pre-order for a new Dork Diaries, and another Big Nate cartoon collection.
• Bat Watch: Eleven Batman books on the chart this week, down three form last week, and many of those showing double-digit drops. Hard to tell if this is caused by distance from the movie or the University Effect (likely a combination), but it looks like Batman sales are back close to their traditional non-movie-influenced levels. (Which is still the best selling franchise that DC has.)
• Dead Watch: Just five Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, same as last week. The new season starts in October...

Monkey Covers

Sunday is Monkey Covers day here at YACB. Because there's nothing better than a comic with a monkey on the cover!

The Ultra-Humanite bares his sharp teeth as he looms behind our heroine on Amanda Conner's variant cover to Power Girl #2 (2009).

(Standard disclaimer about evil geniuses who put their brains in the skulls of genetically-modified apes not really being monkeys applies.)

Image courtesy of the Comic Book DB. Click on the image for a larger version.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this afternoon. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-1). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
3 (+2). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
4 (-). Batman: The Killing Joke
5 (+5). Batman: Earth One
6 (-). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
7 (-4). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
8 (+6). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
9 (+38). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
10 (+10). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
11 (+20). The Complete Persepolis
12 (+1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
13 (-4). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
14 (+9). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
15 (+3). Watchmen
16 (-5). Batman: The Long Halloween
17 (-1). Darth Vader and Son
18 (-3). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
19 (-7). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
20 (-3). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
21 (+8). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
22 (-15). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 1: Precious Little Life
23 (+3). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
24 (+26). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *
25 (-6). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
26 (-18). Batman: Year One
27 (-3). Batman: Hush
28 (+10). The Underwater Welder
29 (-2). Big Nate Makes the Grade *
30 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Kindle edition)
31 (+15). American Born Chinese
32 (-11). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
33 (+11). V for Vendetta
34 (-12). Superman - Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel (The New 52)
35 (R). Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
36 (-3). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
37 (-12). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 2: Knightquest
38 (+10). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
39 (R). Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks
40 (R). Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama
41 (-13). Batman: Dark Victory
42 (-6). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
43 (-9). Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition
44 (-5). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3 - KnightsEnd *
45 (R). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
46 (N). The Walking Dead Volume 17 *
47 (-12). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
48 (-8). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
49 (N). Amulet #5: Prince of the Elves *
50 (N). King City

Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• The two books at the top of charts switch places, putting the upcoming Wimpy Kid book ahead of the upcoming Oatmeal collection. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of such swapping over the next several weeks...
• There's a lot of movement on the chart this week, with eighteen books moving 10 or more slots either up or down.
• Bat Watch: Fourteen Batman books on the chart this week, down just one from last week.
• Dead Watch: Just five Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, up one from last week. That one is the debut of the 17th trade paperback collection. It's way down at the bottom of the chart now, but by the time it is published in early December expect to see it up close to the top.
• Only two other debuts this week, a new Amulet GN and the collection of Brandon Graham's King City, in the last two slots on the chart.

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this morning. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (N). How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You *
2 (-1). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
3 (-1). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4 (-). Batman: The Killing Joke
5 (-3). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
6 (+1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
7 (N). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 1: Precious Little Life
8 (-2). Batman: Year One
9 (-4). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
10 (-7). Batman: Earth One
11 (-1). Batman: The Long Halloween
12 (+3). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
13 (-1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
14 (+3). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
15 (-1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
16 (+3). Darth Vader and Son
17 (-8). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
18 (-2). Watchmen
19 (+3). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
20 (-7). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
21 (-1). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
22 (+21). Superman - Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel (The New 52)
23 (+16). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
24 (+8). Batman: Hush
25 (-14). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 2: Knightquest
26 (+15). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
27 (N). Big Nate Makes the Grade *
28 (+1). Batman: Dark Victory
29 (-5). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
30 (-9). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Kindle edition)
31 (-3). The Complete Persepolis
32 (R). Batman: Year One (Kindle)
33 (+17). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale
34 (-11). Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition
35 (-5). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
36 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
37 (-11). Superman: Earth One
38 (-13). The Underwater Welder
39 (R). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 3 - KnightsEnd *
40 (+2). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
41 (+5). Big Nate: From the Top (Kindle)
42 (R). Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books
43 (N). Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All *
44 (-8). V for Vendetta
45 (N). Scott Pilgrim Color Hardcover Volume 2: Vs. The World *
46 (-8). American Born Chinese
47 (-29). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
48 (-17). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
49 (R). 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth
50 (-6). The Walking Dead, Book 8 *


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• Another new #1 this week: The new Oatmeal collection,  How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You, became available for pre-order and immediately shot into the top slot. It is currently #7 on the overall Amazon chart, which is pretty amazing.
• There's another top ten debut as well, with the first color hardcover edition of Scott Pilgrim entering at #7. Other debuts this week are a new Big Nate comic strip collection, a new Dork Diaries volume, and the second Scott Pilgrim color hardcover.
• Bat Watch: Although the top Batman books slip a bit, there are still fifteen on the chart, same as last week.
• Dead Watch: Only four Walking Dead collections on the chart this week. But there's only two months until the new tv season debuts, so look for a rebound just in time for the holidays.
• Speaking of the holidays, it looks like we're in for an epic showdown at the top of the list, with The Oatmeal, The Wimpy Kid, and The Walking Dead battling it out come November. Or will there be a dark horse in the mix with something like Avatar? (Pun more-or-less intended...)

Amazon Top 50

Here are the Top 50 Graphic Novels on Amazon this evening. All the previous caveats apply.


1 (+3). The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 7) *
2 (-). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
3 (-2). Batman: Earth One
4 (+1). Batman: The Killing Joke
5 (-2). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1
6 (+1). Batman: Year One
7 (-1). Dork Diaries 4 (Kindle)
8 (+18). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
9 (+3). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 2
10 (+4). Batman: The Long Halloween
11 (-). Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 2: Knightquest
12 (+1). Cabin Fever (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 6)
13 (+9). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2 *
14 (+1). The Walking Dead, Vol. 16: A Larger World
15 (-6). Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls (The New 52)
16 (+14). Watchmen
17 (+16). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History
18 (-10). The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 1
19 (-1). Darth Vader and Son
20 (-4). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1
21 (-11). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Kindle edition)
22 (-5). Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
23 (-3). Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition
24 (+3). Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
25 (+3). The Underwater Welder *
26 (+9). Superman: Earth One
27 (-4). Get Jiro!
28 (+14). The Complete Persepolis
29 (+12). Batman: Dark Victory
30 (+1). Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4)
31 (+6). The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
32 (-11). Batman: Hush
33 (-8). Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks
34 (R). The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book (revised and expanded edition)
35 (-11). Batman: Earth One (Kindle)
36 (R). V for Vendetta
37 (N). 99 Reasons to Hate Cats (Kindle)
38 (R). American Born Chinese
39 (R). Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
40 (+7). Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise, Part 3 *
41 (R). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
42 (-8). Dork Diaries 1 (Kindle)
43 (N). Superman - Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel *
44 (N). The Walking Dead, Book 8
45 (-5). Batman & Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill (The New 52)
46 (-8). Big Nate: From the Top (Kindle)
47 (R). Sailor Moon 6
48 (-16). The Walking Dead, Book 1
49 (N). X-Men: Days of Future Past
50 (R). The Complete Maus: A Survivor's Tale


Items with asterisks (*) are pre-order items.

N = New listing appearing on list for first time
R = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks


Commentary:

• We have a new number one: the pre-order for the seventh Wimpy Kid book (it won't be published until November) leaps over a few Batman books to land at the top of the chart. It is at #75 on the overall Amazon books chart.
• Bat-Watch: Despite losing the top spot, Batman titles continue to dominate: fifteen on the chart, and six of the top ten slots, including slots #2-6.
• The top debut this week is 99 Reasons to Hate Cats, an affordably-priced collection of panel cartoons for the Kindle; the first collection of Grant Morrison's New 52 Superman in Action Comics; a new Walking Dead hardcover; and X-Men: Days of Future Past (possibly due to rumors of it being the basis for the next X-Men movie)
• Persepolis moves into the top ten. Watchmen and Maus make big moves up the chart. American Born Chinese, Fun Home, and Understanding Comics all return. It a sure sign that college classes will be starting up again soon...
• Dead Watch: Just five Walking Dead collections on the chart this week, down one from last week.