DC Sales, December 2005
Marc-Oliver Frisch
DC Comics didn't have any big launches in December 2005; it was a rather
uneventful month in terms of new titles, all of which were aimed at the lower
regions of the chart.
The highest-selling new DC Universe book in December was SUPERMAN SECRET FILES
2005, which showed up at No. 66 of the chart. Debuting outside of the Top 100
are a spin-off of a spin-off, the two-issue prestige-fomat series JLA:
CLASSIFIED: COLD STEEL; the sole survivor of 2004's Focus line, HARD TIME:
SEASON TWO, which is only nominally a DC Universe title; as well as Vertigo's
TESTAMENT #1 and WildStorm's TEAM ZERO #1.
In related news, another canceled DC title made its comeback in December with
FALLEN ANGEL #1 -- only this time, it's published by IDW, of course, so it's in
the "Other Publishers" section.
11 of DC's November releases in the Top 300 remained relatively stable,
deviating from the sales of their previous issues by less than 2.0%. Four
titles showed increases of more than 2.0% over their previous issues, two of
those more than 10.0%. The issue to show the biggest gains in December was HARD
TIME: SEASON TWO #1, which saw a sales increase of 49.6% over the final issue of
the book's previous run. The sales of 49 titles dropped by more than 2.0% since
their previous issues, meanwhile, 13 of those by more than 10.0%. The largest
issue-to-issue drop came from JONAH HEX, which lost 22.3% with its second issue.
Of DC Comics' 70 recorded new releases (Nov 2005: 80; Dec 2003: 78; Dec 2004:
78) which made the Top 300, 44 were DC Universe titles. (Nov 2005: 47; Dec
2003: 46; Dec 2004: 49.) The average new DC Universe release in December 2005
had a cover price of $ 2.94 (Nov 2005: $ 2.76; Dec 2003: $ 2.77; Dec 2004: $
2.88) and sold an estimated 44,993 copies. (Nov 2005: 42,342; Dec 2003: 29,263;
Dec 2004: 36,925.)
Via its Vertigo imprint, DC Comics released 9 new titles in December. (Nov
2005: 11; Dec 2003: 8; Dec 2004: 12.) The average new Vertigo release in
December 2005 had a cover price of $ 2.88 (Nov 2005: $ 2.90; Dec 2003: $ 3.01;
Dec 2004: $ 2.78) and sold an estimated 16,320 copies. (Nov 2005: 15,730; Dec
2003: 13,456; Dec 2004: 14,649.)
Through its WildStorm label, the publisher released 10 new titles in December.
(Nov 2005: 15; Dec 2003: 17; Dec 2004: 8.) The average new WildStorm release in
December 2005 had a cover price of $ 3.04 (Nov 2005: $ 3.39; Dec 2003: $ 3.31;
Dec 2004: $ 2.95) and sold an estimated 15,068 copies. (Nov 2005: 16,255; Dec
2003: 18,359; Dec 2004: 15,693.)
The average new DC Comics release recorded in the Top 300 in December 2005 had a
cover price of $ 2.88 (Nov 2005: $ 2.85; Dec 2003: $ 2.87; Dec 2004: $ 2.84) and
sold an estimated 33,163 copies. (Nov 2005: 30,654; Dec 2003: 23,920; Dec 2004:
27,895.) See below for a more detailed account of the changes.
Thanks to Milton Griepp and ICv2.com for the permission to use their figures.
An overview of ICv2.com's statistics can be found here:
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1850.html
-----
DISCLAIMERS
The numbers below are estimates for actual comic book sales in the North
American direct market, as calculated by www.ICv2.com according to the chart and
index information provided by Diamond Distributors.
ICv2.com's estimates are traditionally known to be somewhat lower than the
"actual" actual numbers, but they are consistent from month to month, so the
trends they show should be accurate.
If additional copies of an issue appeared on the chart after the issue's initial
month of release, you can see the total number of copies sold in parenthesis
behind those issues (e.g. "[36,599]").
Should more than one issue have shipped in a month which is relevant for one of
the long-term comparisons, the average will be used.
The titles released under the Johnny DC imprint and Mad Magazine mostly sell
through channels other than the direct market, so direct market sales don't tell
us much about their performance.
-----
(1) INFINITE CRISIS
10/2005: Infinite Crisis #1 (of 7) -- 249,265 -- [259,244]
11/2005: Infinite Crisis #2 (of 7) -- 207,564 (-16.7%) -- [211,441]
12/2005: Infinite Crisis #3 (of 7) -- 188,853 (- 9.0%)
The book's sales seem to be finding their level quickly. While it's still lost
more than 60,000 units between issues #1 and #3, the percentage drops are
actually more gentle than those of other recent high-profile DC launches.
Retailers seem to have a lot of confidence in the book so far, and it's
obviously a big money-maker for the company, especially given its cover price of
$ 3.99.
One also shouldn't underestimate the ongoing and very enduring boost INFINITE
CRISIS and its many precursors have been giving to the majority of DC's
mainstream titles, most notably SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN. INFINITE CRISIS
isn't just tremendously successful as a limited series, but as a crossover as
well.
On the other hand, December marked the first month since DC began the drum roll
for INFINITE CRISIS in which several titles didn't noticeably profit from taking
part in the crossover or its off-shoots, which might suggest that the interest
in INFINITE CRISIS -- at least so far as the crossover aspect is concerned --
has peaked for the time being. The coming months should bring more clarity in
the matter.
Like the two previous issues, INFINITE CRISIS #3 was shipped in two different
cover editions, for the record, one drawn by George Pérez, the other by Jim Lee.
Issue #2 made the chart again in December with 3,877 additional copies, issue #1
with 2,191.
(2) ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER
07/2005: All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder #1 -- 261,046 --
[306,976]
08/2005: --
09/2005: All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder #2 -- 178,592 (-31.6%) --
[184,962]
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: All-Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder #3 -- 162,993 (- 8.7%)
After a harsh but not unusual initial drop-off with its second issue, Frank
Miller and Jim Lee's ALL-STAR BATMAN now also appears to be leveling out
quickly, if the considerably smaller decrease with issue #3 is any indication.
Since the looser schedule has given retailers more time to adjust their orders
in this case, these numbers are likely closer to the actual demand for the book
than those of INFINITE CRISIS. After the controversy surrounding the book's
cotent and the somewhat disappointing November debut numbers of ALL-STAR
SUPERMAN, that may cause DC to breathe a sigh of relief.
In addition to ALL-STAR BATMAN #3, December also saw the release of ALL-STAR
BATMAN SPECIAL EDITION #1, a $ 3.99 book which reprints the raw pencils of the
title's debut issue along with Miller's script. It entered the chart at No. 59
and sold an estimated 32,611 copies, which takes the total numbers of ALL-STAR
BATMAN #1 to an estimated 306,976 copies.
Barring any additional copies on the January chart, this makes ALL-STAR BATMAN
the second-best-selling comic in the North American direct market in recent
memory. It's only outsold by BATMAN #619, the final chapter of the "Hush" story
by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, which initially shipped in three regular cover
editions in September 2003 and ended up with estimated total sales of 308,945.
Similar to INFINITE CRISIS, each issue of ALL-STAR BATMAN so far was also
published in two regular cover editions, in this case one by Lee, the other by
Miller.
(4) JUSTICE
08/2005: Justice #1 (of 12) -- 190,424 -- [219,643]
09/2005: --
10/2005: Justice #2 (of 12) -- 125,115 (-34.3%) -- [130,372]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Justice #3 (of 12) -- 113,369 (- 9.4%)
The bi-monthly JUSTICE by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Doug Braithwaite, echoing
the theme from ALL-STAR BATMAN, also displays a comparatively small drop-off as
retailers had plenty of time to adjust their orders for its third issue. (It
should also be noted that JUSTICE #1 was the only issue of the title so far to
be shipped in two cover editions, which has likely contributed to the
considerable sales decrease between the first two issues. The real drop-off,
therefore, was never as drastic to begin with in this case.)
In the meantime, the re-order activity for JUSTICE #1, which sold another 7,938
copies in December, remains strong even four months after the book's initial
release, suggesting that the title keeps picking up new readers. Given its
cover price of $ 3.50, JUSTICE can be considered another big earner for DC
Comics.
(5) SUPERMAN/BATMAN
12/2003: Superman/Batman #4 -- 102,725
12/2003: Superman/Batman #5 -- 96,420
---------------------------------------
12/2004: Superman/Batman #15 -- 119,926 (- 1.6%) -- [123,273]
12/2004: Superman/Batman #16 -- 115,657 (- 3.6%) -- [120,927]
01/2005: --
02/2005: Superman/Batman #17 -- 116,637 (+ 0.9%) -- [118,126]
03/2005: --
04/2005: Superman/Batman #18 -- 115,305 (- 1.2%)
04/2005: Superman/Batman #19 -- 114,258 (- 0.9%) -- [150,464]
05/2005: --
06/2005: Superman/Batman #20 -- 114,099 (- 0.1%)
07/2005: Superman/Batman #21 -- 108,341 (- 5.1%)
08/2005: --
09/2005: Superman/Batman #22 -- 103,245 (- 4.7%)
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Superman/Batman #23 -- 102,248 (- 1.0%)
----------------
6 months: -10.4%
1 year : -13.2%
2 years : + 2.7%
These numbers remain perfectly solid. Just above 100K is a very comfortable
baseline, obviously.
(8) GREEN LANTERN
12/2003: Green Lantern #172 -- 31,080
----------------------------------------------------
12/2004: Green Lantern: Rebirth #3 (of 6) -- 106,523 (+ 23.5%) -- [126,654]
01/2005: --
02/2005: Green Lantern: Rebirth #4 (of 6) -- 108,077 (+ 1.5%) -- [121,581]
03/2005: --
04/2005: Green Lantern: Rebirth #5 (of 6) -- 115,006 (+ 6.4%) -- [116,652]
05/2005: Green Lantern: Rebirth #6 (of 6) -- 114,354 (- 0.6%)
05/2005: Green Lantern #1 -- 168,353 (+ 47.2%) -- [180,483]
06/2005: Green Lantern #2 -- 117,816 (- 30.0%) -- [120,636]
07/2005: --
08/2005: Green Lantern #3 -- 108,511 (- 7.9%)
08/2005: Green Lantern #4 -- 96,932 (- 10.7%) -- [ 99,525]
09/2005: --
10/2005: --
11/2005: Green Lantern #5 -- 92,348 (- 4.7%)
12/2005: Green Lantern #6 -- 88,437 (- 4.2%)
-----------------
6 months: - 24.9%
1 year : - 17.0%
2 years : +184.6%
Sales are bottoming out, slowly but surely. It's been quite a fall since issue
#1, of course, but given that GREEN LANTERN currently still sells almost three
times as many copies a month as it did before the relaunch came up, I doubt
anyone involved is too unhappy.
(13) JLA
12/2003: JLA #91 -- 58,981
---------------------------
12/2004: JLA #109 -- 63,791 (+ 0.7%) -- [ 64,747]
01/2005: JLA #110 -- 64,094 (+ 0.5%)
02/2005: JLA #111 -- 64,540 (+ 0.7%)
03/2005: JLA #112 -- 64,790 (+ 0.4%)
04/2005: JLA #113 -- 64,002 (- 1.2%)
05/2005: JLA #114 -- 63,934 (- 0.1%)
06/2005: JLA #115 -- 95,375 (+49.2%)
07/2005: JLA #116 -- 87,644 (- 8.1%) -- [ 91,030]
08/2005: JLA #117 -- 87,995 (+ 0.4%) -- [ 89,163]
09/2005: JLA #118 -- 89,428 (+ 1.6%)
09/2005: JLA #119 -- 94,073 (+ 5.2%) -- [106,305]
10/2005: JLA #120 -- 82,892 (-11.9%)
10/2005: JLA #121 -- 78,869 (- 4.9%) -- [ 81,316]
11/2005: JLA #122 -- 80,866 (+ 2.5%)
12/2005: JLA #123 -- 76,899 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: -19.4%
1 year : +20.6%
2 years : +30.4%
The title's final storyline continues, as does the drop-off from the previous
storyline. JLA still sells about 13,000 copies more than it did prior to Geoff
Johns and Allan Heinberg's IDENTITY CRISIS tie-in arc which ran from issue #115
to #119, so DC can consider themselves perfectly happy with these numbers.
It seems worth pointing out that issue #123 was another tie-in with INFINITE
CRISIS not labeled as such in the solicitations, continuing DC's bafflingly
inconsistent track record when it comes to identifying which comics actually
take part in their crossovers and which don't.
(22) TEEN TITANS
12/2003: Teen Titans #6 -- 69,255
----------------------------------
12/2004: Teen Titans #19 -- 62,585 ( +1.7%) -- [66,290]
01/2005: Teen Titans #20 -- 65,953 ( +5.4%) -- [67,781]
02/2005: Teen Titans #21 -- 66,861 ( +1.4%) -- [68,751]
03/2005: Teen Titans #22 -- 67,780 ( +1.4%)
04/2005: Teen Titans #23 -- 66,802 ( -1.4%) -- [68,675]
05/2005: Teen Titans #24 -- 69,046 ( +3.4%)
06/2005: Teen Titans #25 -- 70,542 ( +2.2%) -- [72,721]
07/2005: Teen Titans #26 -- 68,353 ( -3.1%)
08/2005: Teen Titans #27 -- 74,782 ( +9.4%) -- [75,996]
08/2005: --
10/2005: Teen Titans #28 -- 66,581 (-11.0%)
11/2005: Teen Titans #29 -- 69,558 (+ 4.5%)
12/2005: Teen Titans #30 -- 67,155 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 4.8%
1 year : + 7.3%
2 years : - 3.0%
Sales sag, presumably because the November issue was a follow-up to the popular
Red Hood storyline in Batman. TEEN TITANS is still firmly in its usual range,
however, so there's nothing to worry about.
(23) GREEN LANTERN CORPS: RECHARGE
09/2005: Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #1 (of 6) -- 80,718 -- [84,497]
10/2005: Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #2 (of 6) -- 68,925 (-14.6%) -- [71,414]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #3 (of 6) -- 64,490 (- 6.4%)
A regular limited series drop. Considering that the mother title was only
shifting around 30K in the not-too-distant past, a spin-off title selling twice
that number isn't bad at all, of course. DC have done an impressive job of
reinventing a consistent mid-level title as a top-selling franchise here, and
it's not surprising that GREEN LANTERN CORPS will return as an ongoing title
later this year.
(25) SUPERMAN
12/2003: Superman #200 -- 47,346
---------------------------------
12/2004: Superman #212 -- 100,244 (- 5.9%) -- [103,545]
01/2005: --
02/2005: Superman #213 -- 101,258 (+ 1.0%)
03/2005: Superman #214 -- 100,943 (- 0.3%)
04/2005: Superman #215 -- 112,593 (+ 11.5%) -- [116,198]
05/2005: Superman #216 -- 70,205 (- 37.7%)
05/2005: Superman #217 -- 65,321 (- 7.0%)
06/2005: Superman #218 -- 61,515 (- 5.8%)
07/2005: Superman #219 -- 71,036 (+ 15.5%) -- [ 84,145]
08/2005: Superman #220 -- 61,264 (- 13.8%)
09/2005: Superman #221 -- 69,065 (+ 12.7%)
10/2005: Superman #222 -- 67,638 (- 2.1%)
11/2005: Superman #223 -- 69,739 (+ 3.1%)
12/2005: Superman #224 -- 63,719 (- 8.6%)
-----------------
6 months: + 3.6%
1 year : -36.4%
2 years : +34.6%
Curiously, both issue #223 and #224 were INFINITE CRISIS tie-ins, and, for once,
were announced as such, too. So, why the sharp drop-off in December, then?
The only discernible difference between the two issues is that the former
features a prominent guest appearance by the new Supergirl. Which suggests
that, similar to Marvel's X-23, she may be one of the few characters whose mere
appearance causes retailers to ramp up their orders for the given book.
If that's the case, adding Supergirl to the gently but consistently declining
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES (which, by the way, didn't ship a new issue in December)
as a title character come March's "One Year Later" stunt might just do the trick
to restore interest in that title.
(27) BATMAN
12/2003: Batman #622 -- 91,899
-------------------------------
12/2004: Batman #635 -- 60,898 (- 4.5%) -- [ 63,067]
01/2005: Batman #636 -- 58,630 (- 3.7%) -- [ 60,528]
02/2005: Batman #637 -- 58,034 (- 1.0%) -- [ 60,246]
03/2005: Batman #638 -- 59,797 (+ 3.0%) -- [ 82,651]
04/2005: Batman #639 -- 62,344 (+ 4.3%)
05/2005: Batman #640 -- 66,640 (+ 6.9%) -- [ 71,120]
06/2005: Batman #641 -- 67,208 (+ 0.9%) -- [ 70,748]
07/2005: Batman #642 -- 65,435 (- 2.6%)
08/2005: Batman #643 -- 66,396 (+ 1.5%)
08/2005: Batman #644 -- 65,128 (- 1.9%)
09/2005: Batman #645 -- 65,984 (+ 1.3%) -- [ 67,712]
10/2005: Batman #646 -- 69,975 (+ 6.1%)
11/2005: Batman #647 -- 69,718 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Batman #648 -- 63,151 (- 9.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.0%
1 year : + 3.7%
2 years : -31.3%
The two previous issues were billed in the solicitation copy as tie-ins with
INFINITE CRISIS and VILLAINS UNITED, respectively, so over here the drop-off
doesn't come as a huge surprise.
(35) JSA
12/2003: JSA #55 -- 43,009
--------------------------
12/2004: JSA #68 -- 45,198 (- 5.3%)
01/2005: JSA #69 -- 43,650 (- 3.4%)
02/2005: JSA #70 -- 42,864 (- 1.8%)
03/2005: JSA #71 -- 42,874 (+ 0.0%)
04/2005: JSA #72 -- 43,472 (+ 1.4%)
05/2005: JSA #73 -- 51,326 (+18.1%)
06/2005: JSA #74 -- 51,609 (+ 0.6%)
07/2005: JSA #75 -- 55,410 (+ 7.4%)
08/2005: JSA #76 -- 51,928 (- 6.3%)
09/2005: JSA #77 -- 53,216 (+ 2.5%)
10/2005: JSA #78 -- 54,070 (+ 1.6%)
11/2005: JSA #79 -- 52,783 (- 2.4%)
12/2005: JSA #80 -- 50,862 (- 3.6%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.5%
1 year : +12.5%
2 years : +18.3%
The concluding chapter of the fill-in arc sees another drop, but a glance at the
long-term comparisons suggests that they probably won't be too concerned about
that, as long as it doesn't turn into a habit.
(37) WONDER WOMAN
12/2003: Wonder Woman #199 -- 29,224
------------------------------------
12/2004: Wonder Woman #211 -- 24,828 (- 3.4%)
01/2005: Wonder Woman #212 -- 25,610 (+ 3.2%)
02/2005: Wonder Woman #213 -- 24,728 (- 3.4%)
03/2005: Wonder Woman #214 -- 30,473 (+23.2%)
04/2005: Wonder Woman #215 -- 28,977 (- 4.9%) -- [30,436]
05/2005: Wonder Woman #216 -- 31,601 (+ 9.1%)
06/2005: Wonder Woman #217 -- 30,022 (- 5.0%) -- [31,687]
07/2005: Wonder Woman #218 -- 34,366 (+14.5%)
07/2005: Wonder Woman #219 -- 53,460 (+55.6%) -- [92,164]
08/2005: Wonder Woman #220 -- 38,370 (-28.2%) -- [51,212]
09/2005: --
10/2005: Wonder Woman #221 -- 52,894 (+37.9%)
10/2005: Wonder Woman #222 -- 47,065 (-11.0%) -- [49,101]
11/2005: Wonder Woman #223 -- 49,332 (+ 4.8%)
12/2005: Wonder Woman #224 -- 47,224 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: +57.3%
1 year : +90.2%
2 years : +61.6%
The book is still tying in with INFINITE CRISIS, but sales drop, anyway, for no
readily available reason. While that's unusual, WONDER WOMAN still sells
spectacularly well, as the long-term comparisons show, so there should be no
reason to worry.
(39) OUTSIDERS
12/2003: Outsiders #7 -- 47,052
--------------------------------
12/2004: Outsiders #18 -- 40,601 (- 2.8%)
01/2005: Outsiders #19 -- 39,528 (- 2.6%)
02/2005: Outsiders #20 -- 39,051 (- 1.2%)
02/2005: Outsiders #21 -- 40,032 (+ 2.5%) -- [42,077]
03/2005: Outsiders #22 -- 38,886 (- 2.9%) -- [41,716]
04/2005: --
05/2005: Outsiders #23 -- 40,617 (+ 4.5%)
05/2005: Outsiders #24 -- 51,313 (+26.3%) -- [54,734]
06/2005: Outsiders #25 -- 52,187 (+ 1.7%) -- [55,884]
07/2005: Outsiders #26 -- 43,226 (-17.2%)
08/2005: Outsiders #27 -- 44,021 (+ 1.8%)
09/2005: Outsiders #28 -- 44,222 (+ 0.5%)
10/2005: Outsiders #29 -- 47,611 (+ 7.7%)
11/2005: Outsiders #30 -- 44,682 (- 6.2%)
12/2005: Outsiders #31 -- 46,555 (+ 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -10.8%
1 year : +14.7%
2 years : - 1.1%
Although OUTSIDERS #30 was an INFINITE CRISIS tie-in, DC didn't advertise it as
such in the solicitations -- which, as we know by now, is quite common, for
reasons we are left to speculate on.
OUTSIDERS #31 was an INFINITE CRISIS tie-in as well, and this time DC actually
told people about it. The results are not surprising.
(40) JSA: CLASSIFIED
07/2005: JSA: Classified #1 -- 58,296 -- [86,498]
08/2005: JSA: Classified #2 -- 46,039 (-21.0%) -- [67,358]
09/2005: JSA: Classified #3 -- 54,932 (+19.3%) -- [63,922]
10/2005: JSA: Classified #4 -- 55,903 (+ 1.8%) -- [63,579]
11/2005: JSA: Classified #5 -- 47,380 (-15.3%)
12/2005: JSA: Classified #6 -- 45,317 (- 4.4%)
Sales are stabilizing again, which gives reason to be optimistic. Although the
current arc doesn't maintain the numbers of the immensely popular initial
storyline, these are still very good numbers for a JSA spin-off.
Nonetheless, as per definition, this doesn't tell us much about the mid-term
prospects of a book which constantly changes its creative team, of course.
(46) ACTION COMICS
12/2003: Action Comics #810 -- 29,509
-------------------------------------
12/2004: Action Comics #822 -- 38,110 (- 2.0%)
01/2005: Action Comics #823 -- 36,638 (- 3.9%)
02/2005: Action Comics #824 -- 37,432 (+ 2.2%)
03/2005: Action Comics #825 -- 40,877 (+ 9.2%)
04/2005: Action Comics #826 -- 54,769 (+34.0%) -- [58,294]
05/2005: Action Comics #827 -- 44,009 (-19.7%)
06/2005: Action Comics #828 -- 43,000 (- 2.3%)
07/2005: Action Comics #829 -- 62,994 (+46.5%) -- [76,896]
08/2005: Action Comics #830 -- 48,469 (-23,1%)
09/2005: Action Comics #831 -- 55,288 (+14.1%)
10/2005: Action Comics #832 -- 47,968 (-13.2%)
11/2005: Action Comics #833 -- 44,613 (- 7.0%)
12/2005: Action Comics #834 -- 42,425 (- 4.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.3%
1 year : +11.3%
2 years : +43.8%
With no trace of INFINITE CRISIS in sight in the solicitations, retailers keep
slashing their orders.
(47) ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
12/2003: Adventures of Superman #623 -- 26,835
----------------------------------------------
12/2004: Adventures of Superman #635 -- 34,438 (- 1.9%)
01/2005: Adventures of Superman #636 -- 39,253 (+14.0%) -- [41,487]
02/2005: Adventures of Superman #637 -- 33,265 (-15.3%)
03/2005: Adventures of Superman #638 -- 34,479 (+ 3.7%)
04/2005: Adventures of Superman #639 -- 49,295 (+43.0%) -- [53,427]
05/2005: Adventures of Superman #640 -- 37,045 (-24.9%)
06/2005: Adventures of Superman #641 -- 38,020 (+ 2.6%)
07/2005: Adventures of Superman #642 -- 58,774 (+54.6%) -- [75,814]
08/2005: Adventures of Superman #643 -- 46,537 (-20.8%) -- [56,727]
09/2005: Adventures of Superman #644 -- 49,237 (+ 5.8%) -- [52,813]
10/2005: Adventures of Superman #645 -- 51,033 (+ 3.7%)
11/2005: Adventures of Superman #646 -- 43,183 (-15.4%)
12/2005: Adventures of Superman #647 -- 42,235 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: +11.1%
1 year : +22.6%
2 years : +57.4%
Ditto, although the drop-off isn't quite as drastic here. ADVENTURES OF
SUPERMAN #647 was the second chapter in a two-part arc which promised to
conclude the book's own ongoing plots. In January, the book is back with
INFINITE CRISIS.
(48) JLA: CLASSIFIED
12/2004: JLA: Classified #2 -- 66,147 (-25.5%) -- [68,310]
01/2005: JLA: Classified #3 -- 60,225 (- 9.0%) -- [62,158]
02/2005: JLA: Classified #4 -- 53,606 (-11.0%)
03/2005: JLA: Classified #5 -- 51,390 (- 4.1%)
04/2005: JLA: Classified #6 -- 48,086 (- 6.4%)
05/2005: JLA: Classified #7 -- 45,788 (- 4.8%)
06/2005: JLA: Classified #8 -- 43,504 (- 5.0%)
06/2005: JLA: Classified #9 -- 42,798 (- 1.6%)
07/2005: JLA: Classified #10 -- 45,039 (+ 5.2%) -- [47,814]
08/2005: JLA: Classified #11 -- 43,582 (- 3.2%) -- [46,056]
09/2005: JLA: Classified #12 -- 43,714 (+ 0.3%)
10/2005: JLA: Classified #13 -- 43,832 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: JLA: Classified #14 -- 43,469 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: JLA: Classified #15 -- 41,951 (- 3.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.8%
1 year : -36.6%
The final issue of the Warren Ellis/Jackson Guice arc.
Although it dropped in December, the storyline produced remarkably stable
numbers, all told. Since the same principle as with JSA: CLASSIFIED applies,
however, all bets are off again for the next arc, which is by Gail Simone and
José Luis García-Lopéz.
(50) FLASH
12/2003: Flash #205 -- 34,931
-----------------------------
12/2004: --
01/2005: Flash #217 -- 49,771 (+14.1%)
01/2005: Flash #218 -- 41,668 (-16.3%) -- [43,914]
02/2005: Flash #219 -- 44,071 (+ 5.8%) -- [46,188]
03/2005: Flash #220 -- 46,851 (+ 6.3%) -- [48,659]
04/2005: Flash #221 -- 46,471 (- 0.8%) -- [47,704]
05/2005: Flash #222 -- 47,528 (+ 2.3%)
06/2005: Flash #223 -- 48,013 (+ 1.0%) -- [49,583]
07/2005: Flash #224 -- 48,062 (+ 0.1%)
08/2005: Flash #225 -- 50,242 (+ 4.5%) -- [52,386]
09/2005: Flash #226 -- 45,252 (- 9.9%)
10/2005: Flash #227 -- 46,666 (+ 3.1%)
11/2005: Flash #228 -- 45,861 (- 1.7%)
12/2005: Flash #229 -- 41,459 (- 9.6%)
----------------
6 months: -13.7%
1 year : n.a.
2 years : +18.7%
Sales keep sagging, which isn't entirely surprising, given that THE FLASH is
currently running a storyline by fill-in creators, leading up to a relaunch.
(51) DETECTIVE COMICS
12/2003: Detective Comics #789 -- 36,456
----------------------------------------
12/2004: Detective Comics #801 -- 42,775 (-18.3%)
01/2005: Detective Comics #802 -- 40,842 (- 4.5%)
02/2005: Detective Comics #803 -- 40,014 (- 2.0%)
03/2005: Detective Comics #804 -- 39,388 (- 1.6%)
04/2005: Detective Comics #805 -- 39,077 (- 0.8%)
05/2005: Detective Comics #806 -- 38,838 (- 0.6%)
06/2005: Detective Comics #807 -- 38,497 (- 0.9%)
07/2005: Detective Comics #808 -- 37,952 (- 1.4%)
08/2005: Detective Comics #809 -- 49,087 (+29.3%)
08/2005: Detective Comics #810 -- 48,270 (- 1.7%)
09/2005: Detective Comics #811 -- 38,772 (-19.7%)
10/2005: Detective Comics #812 -- 39,270 (+ 1.3%)
11/2005: Detective Comics #813 -- 38,338 (- 2.4%)
12/2005: Detective Comics #814 -- 37,145 (- 3.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.5%
1 year : -13.2%
2 years : + 1.9%
The conclusion to David Lapham and Ramon Bachs' year-long storyline (interrupted
by issues #809-810, which were parts of a crossover and by a different creative
team) sees sales drop a bit more than usual, but overall it's resulted in fairly
stable numbers throughout its run.
Next up for the book are a two-parter by a fill-in creative team and then, as
part of the "One Year Later" stunt, another crossover with BATMAN.
(53) NIGHTWING
12/2003: Nightwing #88 -- 28,976
---------------------------------
12/2004: Nightwing #100 -- 40,022 (+18.6%)
01/2005: Nightwing #101 -- 38,098 (- 4.8%) -- [41,243]
01/2005: Nightwing #102 -- 36,093 (- 5.3%) -- [40,271]
02/2005: Nightwing #103 -- 36,921 (+ 2.3%)
02/2005: Nightwing #104 -- 36,411 (- 1.4%)
03/2005: Nightwing #105 -- 38,958 (+ 7.0%)
03/2005: Nightwing #106 -- 38,772 (- 0.5%)
04/2005: Nightwing #107 -- 38,061 (- 1.8%)
05/2005: Nightwing #108 -- 37,019 (- 2.7%)
06/2005: Nightwing #109 -- 36,601 (- 1.1%)
07/2005: Nightwing #110 -- 38,175 (+ 4.3%)
08/2005: Nightwing #111 -- 36,146 (- 5.3%)
09/2005: Nightwing #112 -- 36,238 (+ 0.3%)
10/2005: Nightwing #113 -- 39,837 (+ 9.9%)
11/2005: Nightwing #114 -- 36,421 (- 8.6%)
12/2005: Nightwing #115 -- 35,674 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 2.5%
1 year : -10.9%
2 years : +23.1%
The final arc by the book's current creative team has NIGHTWING in a standard
decline, producing its lowest sales for the year. Come "One Year Later" and
issue #118, Bruce Jones and Joe Dodd will take over.
(62) GREEN ARROW
12/2003: Green Arrow #33 -- 36,934
----------------------------------
12/2004: Green Arrow #45 -- 30,997 (- 3.6%) -- [32,082]
01/2004: Green Arrow #46 -- 32,469 (+ 4.8%)
02/2004: Green Arrow #47 -- 31,553 (- 2.8%)
03/2004: Green Arrow #48 -- 31,668 (+ 0.4%)
04/2004: Green Arrow #49 -- 31,403 (- 0.8%)
05/2004: Green Arrow #50 -- 34,886 (+11.1%)
06/2004: Green Arrow #51 -- 31,346 (-10.2%)
07/2004: Green Arrow #52 -- 35,656 (+13.8%)
08/2004: Green Arrow #53 -- 32,474 (- 8.9%)
09/2004: Green Arrow #54 -- 34,331 (+ 5.7%)
10/2004: Green Arrow #55 -- 32,804 (- 4.5%)
11/2004: Green Arrow #56 -- 32,670 (- 0.4%)
12/2004: Green Arrow #57 -- 31,778 (- 2.7%)
----------------
6 months: + 1.4%
1 year : + 2.5%
2 years : -14.0%
Ditto. GREEN ARROW is another title that will apparently get a bit of a
makeover with "One Year Later," although current writer Judd Winick will stay on
board, in this case.
(63) SEVEN SOLDIERS: MISTER MIRACLE
09/2005: Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle #1 (of 4) -- 37,690
10/ 2005: --
11/ 2005: --
12/2005: Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle #2 (of 4) -- 31,506 (-16.4%)
The second-issue drop-off, which is stiff for a four-issue limited series, can
likely be attributed to the departure of original artist Paschalis Ferry.
MISTER MIRACLE is still not doing any worse than the other SEVEN SOLDIERS titles
have been doing lately, mind you.
(65) BIRDS OF PREY
12/2003: Birds of Prey #62 -- 30,529
------------------------------------
12/2004: Birds of Prey #77 -- 30,303 (- 2.6%)
01/2005: Birds of Prey #78 -- 29,456 (- 2.8%)
02/2005: Birds of Prey #79 -- 29,510 (+ 0.2%)
03/2005: Birds of Prey #80 -- 29,964 (+ 1.5%)
04/2005: Birds of Prey #81 -- 29,832 (- 0.4%)
05/2005: Birds of Prey #82 -- 29,855 (+ 0.1%)
06/2005: Birds of Prey #83 -- 38,067 (+27.5%)
07/2005: Birds of Prey #84 -- 29,982 (-21.2%)
08/2005: Birds of Prey #85 -- 32,076 (+ 7.0%)
09/2005: Birds of Prey #86 -- 31,270 (- 2.5%)
10/2005: Birds of Prey #87 -- 32,084 (+ 2.6%)
11/2005: Birds of Prey #88 -- 32,823 (+ 2.3%)
12/2005: Birds of Prey #89 -- 30,653 (- 6.6%)
----------------
6 months: -19.5%
1 year : + 1.2%
2 years : + 0.4%
Issue #88 was billed as a follow-up to the INFINITE CRISIS precursors VILLAINS
UNITED and IDENTITY CRISIS in the solicitations. The December issue seemed to
have no such connections in its favor, so the numbers take a decided step down.
Looking at the long-term comparisons, BIRDS OF PREY still sells firmly in its
usual range, though, remaining a reliable mid-level performer.
(66) SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2005
12/2005: Superman Secret Files 2005 -- 30,647
Great numbers for this sort of thing, particularly since the book doesn't seem
to be tied into current storylines.
(68) SEVEN SOLDIERS: BULLETEER
11/2005: Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer #1 (of 4) -- 33,660
12/2005: Seven Soldiers: Bulleteer #2 (of 4) -- 30,142 (-10.5%)
A fairly average drop.
(72) BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN
11/2005: Batman and the Monster Men #1 (of 6) -- 36,177
12/2005: Batman and the Monster Men #2 (of 6) -- 29,138 (-19.5%)
This would be a rather steep one, on the other hand. It will take another
couple of months to see how the book is really doing, but for now it seems
retailers order increasingly conservatively on anything mainstream that doesn't
tie in with INFINITE CRISIS.
(74) BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS
12/2003: Gotham Knights #48 -- 28,461
-------------------------------------
12/2004: Gotham Knights #60 -- 35,839 (+ 1.7%)
01/2005: Gotham Knights #61 -- 33,073 (- 7.7%)
02/2005: Gotham Knights #62 -- 32,789 (- 0.9%)
03/2005: Gotham Knights #63 -- 31,967 (- 2.5%)
04/2005: Gotham Knights #64 -- 31,746 (- 0.7%)
05/2005: Gotham Knights #65 -- 31,247 (- 1.6%)
06/2005: Gotham Knights #66 -- 31,870 (+ 2.0%)
07/2005: Gotham Knights #67 -- 30,630 (- 3.9%)
08/2005: Gotham Knights #68 -- 30,223 (- 1.3%)
09/2005: Gotham Knights #69 -- 30,438 (+ 0.7%)
10/2005: Gotham Knights #70 -- 30,299 (- 0.5%)
11/2005: Gotham Knights #71 -- 29,365 (- 3.1%)
12/2005: Gotham Knights #72 -- 28,854 (- 1.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 9.5%
1 year : -19.5%
2 years : + 1.4%
The book is back in a standard decline. It's axed with issue #74.
(75) ROBIN
12/2003: Robin #121 -- 30,483
-----------------------------
12/2004: Robin #133 -- 35,406 (- 1.5%)
01/2005: Robin #134 -- 32,850 (- 7.2%)
02/2005: Robin #135 -- 32,331 (- 1.6%)
03/2005: Robin #136 -- 31,645 (- 2.1%)
04/2005: Robin #137 -- 30,798 (- 2.7%)
05/2005: Robin #138 -- 29,935 (- 2.8%)
06/2005: Robin #139 -- 29,645 (- 1.0%)
07/2005: Robin #140 -- 28,909 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: Robin #141 -- 28,564 (- 1.2%)
09/2005: Robin #142 -- 28,822 (+ 0.9%)
10/2005: Robin #143 -- 34,141 (+18.5%)
11/2005: Robin #144 -- 32,314 (- 5.4%)
12/2005: Robin #145 -- 28,532 (-11.7%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.8%
1 year : -19.4%
2 years : - 6.4%
Uh-oh.
ROBIN #145 wasn't explicitly solicited or labeled as an INFINITE CRISIS tie-in,
granted, but the solicitation did state that it was going to be a follow-up,
which, so far, has usually been enough for at least modestly elevated sales.
Instead, we get the lowest ROBIN numbers of 2005.
Normally that wouldn't be too tragic, since sales are still at the lower end of
the book's usual range and ROBIN is marked for a makeover and creative shake-up,
anyway. However, issue #145 also featured a "special guest appearance" by
Shadowpact, who get their own ongoing title later this year, written by current
ROBIN author Bill Willingham. Suffice it to say, this drop doesn't suggest that
there's a lot of interest in the new title.
(77) BATGIRL
12/2003: Batgirl #47 -- 26,485
------------------------------
12/2004: Batgirl #59 -- 31,028 (- 0.1%) -- [32,423]
01/2005: Batgirl #60 -- 29,227 (- 5.8%)
02/2005: Batgirl #61 -- 28,796 (- 1.5%)
03/2005: Batgirl #62 -- 28,750 (- 0.2%)
04/2005: Batgirl #63 -- 28,123 (- 2.2%)
05/2005: Batgirl #64 -- 28,049 (- 0.3%)
06/2005: Batgirl #65 -- 26,796 (- 4.5%)
07/2005: Batgirl #66 -- 26,959 (+ 0.6%)
08/2005: Batgirl #67 -- 28,159 (+ 4.5%)
09/2005: Batgirl #68 -- 27,199 (- 3.4%)
10/2005: Batgirl #69 -- 26,870 (- 1.2%)
11/2005: Batgirl #70 -- 27,002 (+ 0.5%)
12/2005: Batgirl #71 -- 26,378 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: - 1.6%
1 year : -15.0%
2 years : - 0.4%
Standard decline. The book appears to be canceled with February's issue #73.
(78) JONAH HEX
11/2005: Jonah Hex #1 -- 33,771
12/2005: Jonah Hex #2 -- 26,227 (-22.3%)
That's not an encouraging drop, but then, JONAH HEX is still doing surprisingly
well, and in any event, we won't know whether the retailers guessed accurately
until the numbers for issue #4 arrive.
(79) Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo)
12/2003: Y: The Last Man #17 -- 26,697
--------------------------------------
12/2004: Y: The Last Man #29 -- 26,765 (-0.0%)
01/2005: Y: The Last Man #30 -- 25,744 (-3.8%)
02/2005: Y: The Last Man #31 -- 25,825 (+0.3%)
03/2005: --
04/2005: Y: The Last Man #32 -- 26,914 (+4.2%)
05/2005: Y: The Last Man #33 -- 26,883 (-0.1%)
06/2005: Y: The Last Man #34 -- 26,756 (-0.5%)
07/2005: Y: The Last Man #35 -- 26,449 (-1.2%)
08/2005: Y: The Last Man #36 -- 26,558 (+0.4%)
09/2005: Y: The Last Man #37 -- 26,638 (+0.3%)
10/2005: Y: The Last Man #38 -- 26,535 (-0.4%)
11/2005: Y: The Last Man #39 -- 26,395 (-0.5%)
12/2005: Y: The Last Man #40 -- 26,006 (-1.5%)
---------------
6 months: -2.8%
1 year : -2.8%
2 years : -2.6%
Standard attrition.
(87) HAWKMAN
12/2003: Hawkman #22 -- 26,779
------------------------------
12/2004: Hawkman #35 -- 21,357 (- 2.8%)
01/2005: Hawkman #36 -- 20,468 (- 4.2%)
02/2005: Hawkman #37 -- 19,929 (- 2.6%)
03/2005: Hawkman #38 -- 19,727 (- 1.0%)
04/2005: Hawkman #39 -- 19,620 (- 0.5%)
05/2005: Hawkman #40 -- 19,912 (+ 1.5%)
06/2005: Hawkman #41 -- 21,238 (+ 6.7%)
07/2005: Hawkman #42 -- 21,365 (+ 0.6%)
08/2005: Hawkman #43 -- 22,010 (+ 3.0%)
09/2005: Hawkman #44 -- 22,560 (+ 2.5%)
10/2005: Hawkman #45 -- 23,379 (+ 3.6%)
11/2005: Hawkman #46 -- 25,329 (+ 8.3%)
12/2005: Hawkman #47 -- 24,736 (- 2.3%)
----------------
6 months: +16.5%
1 year : +15.8%
2 years : - 7.6%
Although HAWKMAN #47 was touted as a follow-up to the RANN/THANAGAR WAR limited
series which trailed INFINITE CRISIS, sales seem to have reached the ceiling in
November, for the time being.
The book is still doing better than it did last year, however, and is going to
be revamped in a few months, so that's academic.
(88) FABLES (Vertigo)
12/2003: Fables #20 -- 25,640
-----------------------------
12/2004: Fables #32 -- 24,889 (-0.7%)
01/2005: Fables #33 -- 24,367 (-2.1%)
02/2005: Fables #34 -- 24,322 (-0.2%)
03/2005: Fables #35 -- 24,469 (+0.6%)
04/2005: Fables #36 -- 24,975 (+2.1%)
05/2005: Fables #37 -- 24,477 (-2.0%)
06/2005: Fables #38 -- 24,813 (+1.4%)
07/2005: Fables #39 -- 24,617 (-0.8%)
08/2005: Fables #40 -- 24,952 (+1.4%)
09/2005: Fables #41 -- 25,001 (+0.2%)
10/2005: Fables #42 -- 24,953 (-0.2%)
11/2005: Fables #43 -- 24,659 (-1.2%)
12/2005: Fables #44 -- 24,515 (-0.6%)
---------------
6 months: -1.2%
1 year : -1.5%
2 years : -4.4%
It may not exactly be news, but it should still be mentioned from time to time:
FABLES and Y: THE LAST MAN have been the publisher's most consistent direct
market performers for several years now.
(93) CATWOMAN
12/2003: Catwoman #26 -- 24,601
-------------------------------
12/2004: Catwoman #38 -- 25,108 (- 3.8%)
01/2005: Catwoman #39 -- 24,161 (- 3.8%)
02/2005: Catwoman #40 -- 23,103 (- 4.4%)
03/2005: Catwoman #41 -- 22,029 (- 4.7%)
04/2005: Catwoman #42 -- 21,029 (- 4.5%)
05/2005: Catwoman #43 -- 20,818 (- 1.0%)
06/2005: Catwoman #44 -- 21,574 (+ 3.6%)
07/2005: Catwoman #45 -- 20,848 (- 3.4%)
08/2005: Catwoman #46 -- 20,702 (- 0.7%) -- [21,718]
09/2005: Catwoman #47 -- 20,699 (- 0.0%)
10/2005: Catwoman #48 -- 21,104 (+ 2.0%)
11/2005: Catwoman #49 -- 21,257 (+ 0.7%)
12/2005: Catwoman #50 -- 24,136 (+13.5%)
----------------
6 months: +11.9%
1 year : - 3.9%
2 years : - 1.9%
The book gets the usual baffling sales boost that tends to come with
"anniversary issues" for no particular reason. Usually, this means that sales
will be right back where they were in January, but in this case, the title has
already been on a gentle climb over the last couple of months, so some of the
increase for issue #50 may be genuine.
(94) BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
12/2003: Legends of the Dark Knight #174 -- 24,794
--------------------------------------------------
12/2004: Legends of the Dark Knight #186 -- 27,812 (- 3.2%)
01/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #187 -- 26,853 (- 3.5%)
02/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #188 -- 26,400 (- 1.7%)
03/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #189 -- 26,257 (- 0.5%)
04/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #190 -- 25,935 (- 1.2%)
05/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #191 -- 25,936 (+ 0.0%)
06/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #192 -- 26,211 (+ 1.1%)
07/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #193 -- 25,755 (- 1.7%)
08/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #194 -- 25,290 (- 1.8%)
09/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #195 -- 25,206 (- 0.3%)
10/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #196 -- 24,932 (- 1.1%)
11/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #197 -- 24,478 (- 1.8%)
12/2005: Legends of the Dark Knight #198 -- 24,010 (- 1.9%)
----------------
6 months: - 8.4%
1 year : -13.7%
2 years : - 3.2%
That's a standard decline.
Although it sells a few thousand copies less than the canceled BATMAN: GOTHAM
KNIGHTS, LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT is being kept around when the "One Year
Later" stunt comes to pass, with no discernible changes in format.
(98) CAPTAIN ATOM: ARMAGEDDON (WildStorm)
10/2005: Captain Atom: Armageddon #1 (of 9) -- 40,662
11/2005: Captain Atom: Armageddon #2 (of 9) -- 26,402 (-35.1%)
12/2005: Captain Atom: Armageddon #3 (of 9) -- 23,480 (-11.1%)
The drops are decreasing awfully slowly, particularly for a limited series. To
be fair, the drop-off for issue #2 was to be expected, since #1 was released in
a variant edition with a cover drawn by Alex Ross, but there's no good excuse
for shedding 11% with its third issue.
(99) FIRESTORM
12/2004: Firestorm #8 -- 21,077 (- 4.7%)
01/2005: Firestorm #9 -- 19,993 (- 5.1%)
02/2005: Firestorm #10 -- 20,149 (+ 0.8%)
03/2005: Firestorm #11 -- 19,440 (- 3.5%)
04/2005: Firestorm #12 -- 18,984 (- 2.4%)
05/2005: Firestorm #13 -- 18,899 (- 0.5%)
06/2005: Firestorm #14 -- 18,375 (- 2.8%)
07/2005: Firestorm #15 -- 17,687 (- 3.7%)
08/2005: Firestorm #16 -- 17,688 (+ 0.0%)
09/2005: Firestorm #17 -- 22,553 (+27.5%)
10/2005: Firestorm #18 -- 23,246 (+ 3.1%)
11/2005: Firestorm #19 -- 22,979 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Firestorm #20 -- 23,473 (+ 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: +27.8%
1 year : +11.4%
Instead of switching creators again, revamping the book or just plain canceling
it with "One Year Later," DC are going with a fourth option: They're apparently
putting FIRESTORM in constant crossover mode with INFINITE CRISIS.
Well, for the time being, it clearly works. The numbers aren't setting the
charts on fire, of course, but FIRESTORM still got the highest sales for the
year with issue #20, so it must be doing something right.
Ultimately, though, tying in with the big crossover of the month -- even if it
happens seven months in a row -- is no alternative to a viable long-term
strategy, of course.
(102) BATMAN: JOURNEY INTO KNIGHT
08/2005: Batman: Journey Into Knight #1 (of 12) -- 39,565
09/2005: Batman: Journey Into Knight #2 (of 12) -- 30,900 (-21.9%)
10/2005: Batman: Journey Into Knight #3 (of 12) -- 28,214 (- 8.7%)
11/2005: Batman: Journey Into Knight #4 (of 12) -- 26,876 (- 4.7%)
12/2005: Batman: Journey Into Knight #5 (of 12) -- 23,227 (-13.6%)
Ouch. Another self-contained DC Universe title with madly plummeting sales.
(104) DANGER GIRL: BACK IN BLACK (WildStorm)
11/2005: Danger Girl: Back in Black #1 (of 4) -- 28,584
12/2005: Danger Girl: Back in Black #2 (of 4) -- 22,456 (-21.4%)
A steep drop for a limited series. On the other hand, BACK IN BLACK still sells
surprisingly well, given that creator and erstwhile superstar artist J. Scott
Campbell is nowhere to be seen. It's the best-selling WildStorm title in
December, for that matter.
(111) JLA: CLASSIFIED: COLD STEEL
12/2005: JLA: Classified: Cold Steel #1 (of 2) -- 20,543
This book is a two-part prestige format spin-off of JLA: CLASSIFIED, which,
retailing at $ 5.99 per issue, is featuring the JLA in super-powerful battle
armor that makes them look like the Transformers.
I couldn't possibly begin to express in words my deep inner turmoil as I am
writing those lines, so instead I shall wipe that tear from my cheek, attempt to
pull myself together, and note in astonishment that these are actually pretty
good sales for... well, this sort of thing.
(115) AQUAMAN
12/2003: Aquaman #13 -- 22,414
------------------------------
12/2004: Aquaman #25 -- 21,107 (- 2.3%)
01/2005: Aquaman #26 -- 20,374 (- 3.5%)
02/2005: Aquaman #27 -- 19,459 (- 4.5%)
03/2005: Aquaman #28 -- 19,177 (- 1.5%)
04/2005: Aquaman #29 -- 19,046 (- 0.7%)
05/2005: Aquaman #30 -- 18,606 (- 2.3%)
06/2005: Aquaman #31 -- 18,402 (- 1.1%)
07/2005: Aquaman #32 -- 17,916 (- 2.6%)
08/2005: Aquaman #33 -- 17,621 (- 1.7%)
09/2005: Aquaman #34 -- 17,605 (- 0.1%)
10/2005: Aquaman #35 -- 22,644 (+28.6%)
11/2005: Aquaman #36 -- 18,022 (-20.4%)
12/2005: Aquaman #37 -- 19,640 (+ 9.0%)
----------------
6 months: + 6.7%
1 year : - 7.0%
2 years : -12.4%
The solicitation copy more or less described the December issue as a follow-up
to the INFINITE CRISIS precursor DAY OF VENGEANCE, and the actual cover turned
out to be carrying the "Infinite Crisis" stamp, so that would be where the
1,618-copy increase comes from.
It's all moot, however, since AQUAMAN is heading for a substantial makeover
anyway.
(120) GOTHAM CENTRAL
12/2003: Gotham Central #14 -- 17,635
-------------------------------------
12/2004: Gotham Central #26 -- 17,094 (- 3.3%)
01/2005: Gotham Central #27 -- 16,751 (- 2.0%)
02/2005: Gotham Central #28 -- 16,569 (- 1.1%)
03/2005: Gotham Central #29 -- 16,881 (+ 1.9%)
04/2005: Gotham Central #30 -- 16,465 (- 2.5%)
05/2005: Gotham Central #31 -- 16,380 (- 0.5%)
06/2005: Gotham Central #32 -- 16,694 (+ 1.9%)
07/2005: Gotham Central #33 -- 16,915 (+ 1.3%)
08/2005: Gotham Central #34 -- 19,215 (+13.6%)
09/2005: Gotham Central #35 -- 17,565 (- 8.6%)
10/2005: Gotham Central #36 -- 18,026 (+ 2.6%)
11/2005: Gotham Central #37 -- 20,832 (+15.6%)
12/2005: Gotham Central #38 -- 18,630 (-10.6%)
----------------
6 months: +11.6%
1 year : + 9.0%
2 years : + 5.6%
INFINITE CRISIS moves on, so sales are right back where they were in November.
Which is academic, because the book ends with February's issue #40.
(121) BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE
10/2005: Batman: Gotham County Line #1 (of 3) -- 24,533
11/2005: Batman: Gotham County Line #2 (of 3) -- 20,888 (-14.9%)
12/2005: Batman: Gotham County Line #3 (of 3) -- 18,585 (-11.0%)
That drop in December seems a little sharp. This was another prestige format
title.
(126) TESTAMENT (Vertigo)
12/2005: Testament #1 -- 16,893
These aren't great numbers, but that can't come as a great surprise to anyone.
This is what you get for new titles by non-superstar creators. The best bet any
new Vertigo title has these days, it seems, is the hope that it might turn out
to be a sleeper hit, or at least last long enough for the collections to catch
on sufficiently to keep it going.
On a sidenote, TESTAMENT may already have ensured its place in the history books
by virtue of being the first DC comic promoted with a pull quote by Timothy
Leary.
(128) LOVELESS (Vertigo)
10/2005: Loveless #1 -- 22,483
11/2005: Loveless #2 -- 17,667 (-21.4%)
12/2005: Loveless #3 -- 16,280 (- 7.9%)
The book is leveling out, but it's not in any hurry. To be fair, LOVELESS looks
like the kind of title that's going to do a significant share of its business
via the paperback collections.
(129) TEAM ZERO (WildStorm)
12/2005: Team Zero #1 (of 6) -- 15,933
Chuck Dixon takes a stab at mid-nineties nostalgia, following up on his old
Image/WildStorm series TEAM 7. There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest.
(130) WRAITHBORN (WildStorm)
09/2005: Wraithborn #1 (of 6) -- 22,118 -- [24,595]
10/2005: Wraithborn #2 (of 6) -- 17,319 (-21.7%)
11/2005: Wraithborn #3 (of 6) -- 16,300 (- 5.9%)
12/2005: Wraithborn #4 (of 6) -- 15,882 (- 2.6%)
Average limited series drops, but the book started out unexpectedly well for a
new concept. These numbers are as good as you could possibly hope for.
(131) WILDCATS: NEMESIS (WildStorm)
11/2003: Wildcats Version 3.0 #17 -- 13,822
----------------------------------------------
09/2005: Wildcats: Nemesis #1 (of 9) -- 19,663
10/2005: Wildcats: Nemesis #2 (of 9) -- 16,829 (-14.4%)
11/2005: Wildcats: Nemesis #3 (of 9) -- 16,154 (- 4.0%)
12/2005: Wildcats: Nemesis #4 (of 9) -- 15,428 (- 4.5%)
----------------
2 years : +11.6%
Average limited series numbers.
(133) SOLO
12/2004: Solo #2 -- 19,390 (-36.4%)
01/2005: --
02/2005: Solo #3 -- 15,553 (-19.8%)
03/2005: --
04/2005: Solo #4 -- 13,566 (-12.8%)
05/2005: --
06/2005: Solo #5 -- 14,262 (+ 5.1%)
07/2005: --
08/2005: Solo #6 -- 11,752 (-17.6%)
09/2005: --
10/2005: Solo #7 -- 14,961 (+27.3%) -- [17,108]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Solo #8 -- 15,264 (+ 2.0%)
----------------
6 months: + 7.0%
1 year : -21.3%
This was the Teddy Kristiansen issue, including stories written by Steven T.
Seagle and Neil Gaiman.
(136) DMZ (Vertigo)
11/2005: DMZ #1 -- 18,705
12/2005: DMZ #2 -- 14,840 (-20.7%)
That's not a very encouraging drop-off, but, again, that probably won't catch
anyone by surprise. Writer Brian Wood is an established indie presence with a
decent-sized fanbase and a solid, favorably reviewed and widely available body
of work to his name, however, so this might end up being another title sustained
by collection sales.
(137) THE AUTHORITY: THE MAGNIFICENT KEVIN (WildStorm)
09/2005: The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #1 (of 5) -- 18,443
09/2005: The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #2 (of 5) -- 17,453 (-5.4%)
10/2005: The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #3 (of 5) -- 16,192 (-7.2%)
11/2005: The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #4 (of 5) -- 15,178 (-6.3%)
12/2005: The Authority: The Magnificent Kevin #5 (of 5) -- 14,664 (-3.4%)
Average numbers. The gag has probably really, really run its course now.
(138) HELLBLAZER (Vertigo)
12/2003: Hellblazer #191 -- 15,283
----------------------------------
12/2004: Hellblazer #203 -- 15,304 (+ 0.3%)
01/2005: Hellblazer #204 -- 14,523 (- 5.1%)
02/2005: Hellblazer #205 -- 15,158 (+ 4.4%)
03/2005: Hellblazer #206 -- 15,464 (+ 2.0%)
04/2005: Hellblazer #207 -- 15,368 (- 0.6%)
05/2005: Hellblazer #208 -- 15,420 (+ 0.3%)
06/2005: Hellblazer #209 -- 15,149 (- 1.8%)
07/2005: Hellblazer #210 -- 14,801 (- 2.3%)
08/2005: Hellblazer #211 -- 14,727 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: Hellblazer #212 -- 14,714 (- 0.1%)
10/2005: Hellblazer #213 -- 14,688 (- 0.2%)
11/2005: Hellblazer #214 -- 14,766 (+ 0.5%)
12/2005: Hellblazer #215 -- 14,405 (- 2.5%)
---------------
6 months: -4.9%
1 year : -5.9%
2 years : -5.8%
Standard attrition.
(139) 100 BULLETS (Vertigo)
12/2003: 100 Bullets #48 -- 16,946
----------------------------------
12/2004: 100 Bullets #56 -- 15,590 (- 2.1%)
01/2005: 100 Bullets #57 -- 15,068 (- 3.5%)
02/2005: 100 Bullets #58 -- 14,926 (- 0.9%)
03/2005: 100 Bullets #59 -- 14,931 (+ 0.0%)
04/2005: 100 Bullets #60 -- 14,882 (- 0.3%)
05/2005: 100 Bullets #61 -- 14,927 (+ 0.3%)
06/2005: --
07/2005: 100 Bullets #62 -- 14,867 (- 0.4%)
08/2005: 100 Bullets #63 -- 14,793 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: 100 Bullets #64 -- 14,708 (- 0.6%)
10/2005: 100 Bullets #65 -- 14,744 (+ 0.3%)
11/2005: 100 Bullets #66 -- 14,425 (- 2.2%)
12/2005: 100 Bullets #67 -- 14,165 (- 1.8%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : - 9.1%
2 years : -16.4%
Ditto.
(141) MANHUNTER
12/2004: Manhunter #5 -- 15,352 (- 2.9%) -- [16,683]
01/2005: Manhunter #6 -- 14,335 (- 6.6%)
02/2005: Manhunter #7 -- 14,096 (- 1.7%)
03/2005: Manhunter #8 -- 14,232 (+ 1.0%)
04/2005: Manhunter #9 -- 13,603 (- 4.4%)
05/2005: Manhunter #10 -- 13,741 (+ 1.0%)
06/2005: Manhunter #11 -- 14,040 (+ 2.2%)
07/2005: Manhunter #12 -- 13,591 (- 3.2%)
08/2005: Manhunter #13 -- 22,110 (+62.7%)
09/2005: Manhunter #14 -- 17,162 (-22.4%)
10/2005: Manhunter #15 -- 14,345 (-16.4%)
11/2005: Manhunter #16 -- 14,257 (- 0.6%)
12/2005: Manhunter #17 -- 13,615 (- 4.5%)
----------------
6 months: - 3.0%
1 year : -11.3%
That's not encouraging.
(144) VIGILANTE
09/2005: Vigilante #1 (of 6) -- 24,533
10/2005: --
11/2005: Vigilante #2 (of 6) -- 18,712 (-23.7%)
11/2005: Vigilante #3 (of 6) -- 16,412 (-12.3%)
12/2005: Vigilante #4 (of 6) -- 13,344 (-18.7%)
Horrible sales, obviously. This book is completely off the map.
(146) BLOOD OF THE DEMON
03/2005: Blood of the Demon #1 -- 22,801
04/2005: Blood of the Demon #2 -- 18,404 (-19.3%)
05/2005: Blood of the Demon #3 -- 18,133 (- 1.5%)
06/2005: Blood of the Demon #4 -- 16,311 (-10.1%)
07/2005: Blood of the Demon #5 -- 16,581 (+ 1.7%)
08/2005: Blood of the Demon #6 -- 17,416 (+ 5.0%)
09/2005: Blood of the Demon #7 -- 19,248 (+10.5%)
10/2005: Blood of the Demon #8 -- 14,457 (-24.9%)
11/2005: Blood of the Demon #9 -- 13,971 (- 3.4%)
12/2005: Blood of the Demon #10 -- 12,813 (- 8.3%)
----------------
6 months: -21.5%
A very worrying drop, to say the least. With the exception of HARD TIME, which
is off in its own universe anyway, BLOOD OF THE DEMON is the lowest-selling
ongoing DC Universe title that hasn't been axed yet.
(147) TOP TEN: BEYOND THE FARTHEST PRECINCT (WildStorm)
08/2005: Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #1 (of 5) -- 17,216
09/2005: Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #2 (of 5) -- 15,533 (-9.8%)
10/2005: Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #3 (of 5) -- 14,499 (-6.7%)
11/2005: Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #4 (of 5) -- 13,797 (-4.8%)
12/2005: Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct #5 (of 5) -- 12,712 (-7.9%)
Average limited series numbers.
(157) TEEN TITANS GO (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Teen Titans Go #2 -- 21,679
-------------------------------------
12/2004: Teen Titans Go #14 -- 14,963 (- 2.1%)
01/2005: Teen Titans Go #15 -- 14,294 (- 4.5%)
02/2005: Teen Titans Go #16 -- 13,980 (- 2.2%)
03/2005: Teen Titans Go #17 -- 14,046 (+ 0.5%)
04/2005: Teen Titans Go #18 -- 14,152 (+ 0.8%)
05/2005: Teen Titans Go #19 -- 14,348 (+ 1.4%)
06/2005: Teen Titans Go #20 -- 14,114 (- 1.6%)
07/2005: Teen Titans Go #21 -- 13,440 (- 4.8%)
08/2005: Teen Titans Go #22 -- 13,166 (- 2.0%)
09/2005: Teen Titans Go #23 -- 12,933 (- 1.8%)
10/2005: Teen Titans Go #24 -- 12,994 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Teen Titans Go #25 -- 12,598 (- 3.1%)
12/2005: Teen Titans Go #26 -- 11,790 (- 6.4%)
----------------
6 months: -16.5%
1 year : -21.2%
2 years : -45.6%
A Johnny DC title. See disclaimers.
(159) HARD TIME: SEASON TWO
12/2004: Hard Time #11 -- 7,996 (- 3.5%)
01/2005: Hard Time #12 -- 7,792 (- 2.6%)
02/2005: --
03/2005: --
04/2005: --
05/2005: --
06/2005: --
07/2005: --
08/2005: --
09/2005: --
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Hard Time: Season Two #1 -- 11,658 (+49.6%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : +45.8%
The good news is, HARD TIME outsells the final issue of its previous run by
almost 50%. The bad news is, it's still not doing particularly well. "Season
One," for the sake of comparison, started out with estimated sales of 17,085
back in February 2004, dropping to 12,406 with its second issue.
In fairness, the Focus line received quite a bit of promotion back then -- by
the standards of North American direct market comics, at any rate. Still, this
isn't impressive by any stretch.
(160) MAJESTIC (WildStorm)
12/2004: --
01/2005: Majestic #1 -- 26,149 (+29.3%)
02/2005: Majestic #2 -- 19,569 (-25.2%)
03/2005: Majestic #3 -- 18,136 (- 7.3%)
04/2005: Majestic #4 -- 17,001 (- 6.3%)
05/2005: Majestic #5 -- 15,914 (- 6.4%)
06/2005: Majestic #6 -- 14,927 (- 6.2%)
07/2005: Majestic #7 -- 13,689 (- 8.3%)
08/2005: Majestic #8 -- 12,808 (- 6.4%)
09/2005: Majestic #9 -- 12,438 (- 2.9%)
10/2005: Majestic #10 -- 11,987 (- 3.6%)
11/2005: Majestic #11 -- 11,754 (- 1.9%)
12/2005: Majestic #12 -- 11,500 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: -23.0%
1 year : n.a.
Settling into a standard decline.
(165) LUCIFER (Vertigo)
12/2003: Lucifer #45 -- 13,353
------------------------------
12/2004: Lucifer #57 -- 12,441 (- 1.9%)
01/2005: Lucifer #58 -- 12,031 (- 3.3%)
02/2005: Lucifer #59 -- 11,984 (- 0.4%)
03/2005: Lucifer #60 -- 11,941 (- 0.4%)
04/2005: Lucifer #61 -- 11,771 (- 1.4%)
05/2005: Lucifer #62 -- 13,248 (+12.6%)
06/2005: Lucifer #63 -- 11,694 (-11.7%)
07/2005: Lucifer #64 -- 11,418 (- 2.4%)
08/2005: Lucifer #65 -- 11,347 (- 0.6%)
09/2005: Lucifer #66 -- 11,725 (+ 3.3%)
10/2005: Lucifer #67 -- 11,168 (- 4.8%)
11/2005: Lucifer #68 -- 11,036 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Lucifer #69 -- 10,881 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.0%
1 year : -12.5%
2 years : -18.5%
Standard attrition.
(167) JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Justice League Adventures #26 -- 12,627
------------------------------------------------
12/2004: Justice League Unlimited #4 -- 13,787 (-10.8%)
01/2005: Justice League Unlimited #5 -- 12,717 (- 7.8%)
02/2005: Justice League Unlimited #6 -- 12,205 (- 4.0%)
03/2005: Justice League Unlimited #7 -- 12,175 (- 0.3%)
04/2005: Justice League Unlimited #8 -- 12,145 (- 0.3%)
05/2005: Justice League Unlimited #9 -- 11,869 (- 2.3%)
06/2005: Justice League Unlimited #10 -- 11,634 (- 2.0%)
07/2005: Justice League Unlimited #11 -- 11,340 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: Justice League Unlimited #12 -- 11,181 (- 1.4%)
09/2005: Justice League Unlimited #13 -- 10,914 (- 2.4%)
10/2005: Justice League Unlimited #14 -- 10,706 (- 1.9%)
11/2005: Justice League Unlimited #15 -- 10,625 (- 0.8%)
12/2005: Justice League Unlimited #16 -- 10,774 (- 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: - 7.3%
1 year : -21.9%
2 years : -14.7%
(170) SILENT DRAGON (WildStorm)
07/2005: Silent Dragon #1 (of 6) -- 15,240
08/2005: Silent Dragon #2 (of 6) -- 11,978 (-21.4%)
09/2005: Silent Dragon #3 (of 6) -- 11,217 (- 6.4%)
10/2005: Silent Dragon #4 (of 6) -- 10,965 (- 2.3%)
11/2005: Silent Dragon #5 (of 6) -- 10,806 (- 1.5%)
12/2005: Silent Dragon #6 (of 6) -- 10,104 (- 6.5%)
Average limited series numbers. Given that both DC and Marvel seem to be
putting a lot of stock in artist Leinil Francis Yu's sales power, though, it's
worth pointing out that SILENT DRAGON sold at an awfully low level.
(179) SWAMP THING (Vertigo)
12/2004: Swamp Thing #10 -- 15,846 (- 5.6%)
01/2005: Swamp Thing #11 -- 14,300 (- 9.8%)
02/2005: Swamp Thing #12 -- 13,452 (- 5.9%)
03/2005: Swamp Thing #13 -- 12,707 (- 5.5%)
04/2005: Swamp Thing #14 -- 12,057 (- 5.1%)
05/2005: Swamp Thing #15 -- 11,542 (- 4.3%)
06/2005: Swamp Thing #16 -- 10,962 (- 5.0%)
07/2005: Swamp Thing #17 -- 10,345 (- 5.6%)
08/2005: Swamp Thing #18 -- 10,112 (- 2.3%)
09/2005: Swamp Thing #19 -- 9,726 (- 3.8%)
10/2005: Swamp Thing #20 -- 10,209 (+ 5.0%)
11/2005: Swamp Thing #21 -- 9,203 (- 9.9%)
12/2005: Swamp Thing #22 -- 8,892 (- 3.7%)
----------------
6 months: -18.9%
1 year : -43.9%
Still bleeding readers.
(183) ROBOTECH (WildStorm)
10/2005: Robotech: Prelude to Shadow Chronicles #1 (of 5) -- 11,735
10/2005: Robotech: Prelude to Shadow Chronicles #2 (of 5) -- 10,811 (- 7.9%)
11/2005: Robotech: Prelude to Shadow Chronicles #3 (of 5) -- 9,837 (- 9.0%)
12/2005: Robotech: Prelude to Shadow Chronicles #4 (of 5) -- 8,519 (-13.4%)
Disastrous numbers.
(184) BATMAN STRIKES! (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Batman Adventures #9 -- 12,884
----------------------------------------
12/2004: Batman Strikes! #4 -- 13,257 (-13.4%)
01/2005: Batman Strikes! #5 -- 11,808 (-10.9%)
02/2005: Batman Strikes! #6 -- 11,102 (- 6.0%)
03/2005: Batman Strikes! #7 -- 10,775 (- 3.0%)
04/2005: Batman Strikes! #8 -- 10,368 (- 3.8%)
05/2005: Batman Strikes! #9 -- 10,376 (+ 0.1%)
06/2005: Batman Strikes! #10 -- 10,048 (- 3.2%)
07/2005: Batman Strikes! #11 -- 9,796 (- 2.5%)
08/2005: Batman Strikes! #12 -- 9,528 (- 2.7%)
09/2005: Batman Strikes! #13 -- 9,284 (- 2.6%)
10/2005: Batman Strikes! #14 -- 8,950 (- 3.6%)
11/2005: Batman Strikes! #15 -- 8,840 (- 1.2%)
12/2005: Batman Strikes! #16 -- 8,462 (- 4.3%)
----------------
6 months: -15.8%
1 year : -36.2%
2 years : -34.3%
(221) SCOOBY DOO (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Scooby Doo #79 -- 5,716
---------------------------------
12/2004: Scooby Doo #91 -- 5,201 (- 1.5%)
01/2005: Scooby Doo #92 -- 4,872 (- 6.3%)
02/2005: Scooby Doo #93 -- 4,747 (- 2.6%)
03/2005: Scooby Doo #94 -- 4,772 (+ 0.5%)
04/2005: Scooby Doo #95 -- 4,800 (+ 0.6%)
05/2005: Scooby Doo #96 -- 4,718 (- 1.7%)
06/2005: Scooby Doo #97 -- 4,819 (+ 2.1%)
07/2005: Scooby Doo #98 -- 4,666 (- 3.2%)
08/2005: Scooby Doo #99 -- 4,654 (- 0.3%)
09/2005: Scooby Doo #100 -- 5,239 (+12.6%)
10/2005: Scooby Doo #101 -- 4,604 (-12.1%)
11/2005: Scooby Doo #102 -- 4,587 (- 0.4%)
12/2005: Scooby Doo #103 -- 4,490 (- 2.1%)
----------------
6 months: - 6.8%
1 year : -13.7%
2 years : -21.5%
(226) POWERPUFF GIRLS (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Powerpuff Girls #45 -- 6,819
-------------------------------------
12/2004: Powerpuff Girls #57 -- 5,463 (-2.2%)
01/2005: Powerpuff Girls #58 -- 5,089 (-6.9%)
02/2005: Powerpuff Girls #59 -- 4,904 (-3.6%)
03/2005: Powerpuff Girls #60 -- 4,975 (+1.5%)
04/2005: --
05/2005: Powerpuff Girls #61 -- 4,891 (-1.7%)
05/2005: Powerpuff Girls #62 -- 4,765 (-2.6%)
06/2005: Powerpuff Girls #63 -- 4,772 (+0.2%)
07/2005: Powerpuff Girls #64 -- 4,607 (-3.5%)
08/2005: Powerpuff Girls #65 -- 4,508 (-2.2%)
09/2005: Powerpuff Girls #66 -- 4,388 (-2.7%)
10/2005: Powerpuff Girls #67 -- 4,338 (-1.1%)
11/2005: Powerpuff Girls #68 -- 4,281 (-1.3%)
12/2005: Powerpuff Girls #69 -- 4,218 (-1.5%)
----------------
6 months: -11.6%
1 year : -22.8%
2 years : -38.1%
(258) LOONEY TUNES (Johnny DC)
12/2003: Looney Tunes #109 -- 3,465
-----------------------------------
12/2004: Looney Tunes #121 -- 3,088 (- 2.0%)
01/2005: Looney Tunes #122 -- 2,896 (- 6.2%)
02/2005: Looney Tunes #123 -- 2,838 (- 2.0%)
03/2005: Looney Tunes #124 -- 2,846 (+ 0.3%)
04/2005: Looney Tunes #125 -- 2,974 (+ 4.5%)
05/2005: Looney Tunes #126 -- 2,852 (- 4.1%)
06/2005: Looney Tunes #127 -- 2,991 (+ 4.9%)
07/2005: Looney Tunes #128 -- 2,722 (- 9.0%)
08/2005: Looney Tunes #129 -- 2,736 (- 0.5%)
09/2005: Looney Tunes #130 -- 2,659 (- 2.8%)
10/2005: Looney Tunes #131 -- 2,673 (+ 0.5%)
11/2005: Looney Tunes #132 -- 2,747 (+ 2.8%)
12/2005: Looney Tunes #133 -- 2,633 (- 4.2%)
----------------
6 months: -12.0%
1 year : -14.7%
2 years : -24.0%
(298) CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY
12/2003: Cartoon Cartoons #25 -- 2,500
-------------------------------------------------
12/2004: Cartoon Network Block Party #4 -- 2,393 (- 4.7%)
01/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #5 -- 2,140 (-10.6%)
02/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #6 -- 2,002 (- 6.5%)
03/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #7 -- 2,081 (+ 4.0%)
04/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #8 -- 2,039 (- 2.0%)
05/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #9 -- 2,059 (- 1.0%)
06/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #10 -- ?????
07/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #11 -- 1,871
08/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #12 -- ?????
09/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #13 -- 1,887
10/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #14 -- 1,805 (- 4.4%)
11/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #15 -- 1,757 (- 2.7%)
12/2005: Cartoon Network Block Party #16 -- 1,781 (+ 1.4%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : -25.6%
2 years : -28.8%
RE-ORDERS:
( 59) 32,611 -- All-Star Batman Special Edition #1
(190) 7,938 -- Justice #1
(234) 3,877 -- Infinite Crisis #2
(272) 2,469 -- All-Star Superman #1
(282) 2,191 -- Infinite Crisis #1
It's well worth pointing out that uncharacteristically few DC titles from
previous months made the chart again in December, which could mean a range of
things.
The obvious explanation is that the Top 300 sales in December were simply too
high for more DC titles to make the chart again. After all, the chart's No. 300
book in November, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #526, still sold an estimated 1,674 copies.
While, based on past charts, it would certainly seem likely that many re-ordered
DC titles simply sold less than that number, this still wouldn't explain why not
at least a few more entered the Top 300. In October 2005, the No. 300 book sold
a comparable 1,658 copies, and yet there were 17 DC titles from previous months
which made the chart again. Even in November 2005, when the threshold for the
Top 300 was an estimated 1,757 copies, there were still 13, as opposed to
December's five.
Which leaves two other options.
One, DC's policy of not letting the audience know in advance which books are
going to participate in their recent mega-crossovers is bearing fruit, leading
retailers to boost their orders across the board. Rather than to err on the
side of caution, comic shops are anticipating further unannounced tie-ins by
ordering more than they might to begin with, so as not to minimize a loss of
customers due to unavailable product, thus eliminating the need for re-orders.
Two, the publisher has adopted a policy of "printing to order" on most of its
titles, similar to Marvel's controversial decision to do so in 2000. There have
been other hints on the charts in recent months which could be interpreted as DC
field-testing such a policy on a number of titles: unannounced crossover tie-ins
which, against the usual practice, didn't seem to lead to re-orders in
subsequent months, or new titles which significantly improved their performance
after their debut issue had shipped, but, unusually, didn't display any
noticeable re-order activity for it.
It's also imaginable that the two scenarios might go hand in hand, mind you, or
that one might lead into the other. The next few months worth of sales data
should show us a clearer picture of what's going on, at any rate.
6-MONTH COMPARISONS:
+ 57.3%: Wonder Woman
+ 27.8%: Firestorm
+ 16.5%: Hawkman
+ 11.9%: Carwoman
+ 11.6%: Gotham Central
+ 11.1%: Adventures of Superman
+ 7.0%: Solo
+ 6.7%: Aquaman
+ 3.6%: Superman
+ 1.4%: Green Arrow
- 1.2%: Fables
- 1.3%: Action Comics
- 1.5%: JSA
- 1.6%: Batgirl
- 2.5%: Nightwing
- 2.8%: JLA: Classified; Y: The Last Man
- 3.0%: Manhunter
- 3.5%: Detective Comics
- 3.8%: Robin
- 4.8%: Teen Titans
- 4.9%: Hellblazer
- 6.0%: Batman
- 6.8%: Scooby Doo
- 7.0%: Lucifer
- 7.3%: Justice League Unlimited
- 8.4%: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
- 9.5%: Batman: Gotham Knights
- 10.4%: Superman/Batman
- 10.8%: Outsiders
- 11.6%: Powerpuff Girls
- 12.0%: Looney Tunes
- 13.7%: Flash
- 15.8%: Batman Strikes
- 16.5%: Teen Titans Go
- 18.9%: Swamp Thing
- 19.4%: JLA
- 19.5%: Birds of Prey
- 21.5%: Blood of the Demon
- 23.0%: Majestic
- 24.9%: Green Lantern
1-YEAR COMPARISONS:
+ 90.2%: Wonder Woman
+ 45.8%: Hard Time
+ 22.6%: Adventures of Superman
+ 20.6%: JLA
+ 15.8%: Hawkman
+ 14.7%: Outsiders
+ 12.5%: JSA
+ 11.4%: Firestorm
+ 11.3%: Action Comics
+ 9.0%: Gotham Central
+ 7.3%: Teen Titans
+ 3.7%: Batman
+ 2.5%: Green Arrow
+ 1.2%: Birds of Prey
- 1.5%: Fables
- 2.8%: Y: The Last Man
- 3.9%: Catwoman
- 5.9%: Hellblazer
- 7.0%: Aquaman
- 9.1%: 100 Bullets
- 10.9%: Nightwing
- 11.3%: Manhunter
- 12.5%: Lucifer
- 13.2%: Detective Comics; Superman/Batman
- 13.7%: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight; Scooby Doo
- 14.7%: Looney Tunes
- 15.0%: Batgirl
- 17.0%: Green Lantern
- 19.4%: Robin
- 19.5%: Batman: Gotham Knights
- 21.2%: Teen Titans Go
- 21.3%: Solo
- 21.9%: Justice League Unlimited
- 22.8%: Powerpuff Girls
- 25.6%: Cartoon Network Block Party
- 36.2%: Batman Strikes
- 36.4%: Superman
- 36.6%: JLA: Classified
- 43.9%: Swamp Thing
2-YEAR COMPARISONS:
+184.6%: Green Lantern
+ 61.6%: Wonder Woman
+ 57.4%: Adventures of Superman
+ 43.8%: Action Comics
+ 34.6%: Superman
+ 30.4%: JLA
+ 23.1%: Nightwing
+ 18.7%: Flash
+ 18.3%: JSA
+ 11.6%: Wildcats
+ 5.6%: Gotham Central
+ 2.7%: Superman/Batman
+ 1.9%: Detective Comics
+ 1.4%: Batman: Gotham Knights
+ 0.4%: Birds of Prey
- 0.4%: Batgirl
- 1.1%: Outsiders
- 1.9%: Catwoman
- 2.6%: Y: The Last Man
- 3.0%: Teen Titans
- 3.2%: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
- 4.4%: Fables
- 5.8%: Hellblazer
- 6.4%: Robin
- 7.6%: Hawkman
- 12.4%: Aquaman
- 14.0%: Green Arrow
- 14.7%: Justice League Unlimited
- 16.4%: 100 Bullets
- 18.5%: Lucifer
- 21.5%: Scooby Doo
- 24.0%: Looney Tunes
- 28.8%: Cartoon Network Block Party
- 31.3%: Batman
- 34.3%: Batman Strikes
- 38.1%: Powerpuff Girls
- 45.6%: Teen Titans Go
OTHER PUBLISHERS
(60) CONAN (Dark Horse)
12/2004: Conan #11 -- 41,149 (-4.8%)
01/2005: Conan #12 -- 39,311 (-4.5%)
02/2005: Conan #13 -- 38,645 (-1.7%)
03/2005: Conan #14 -- 38,180 (-1.2%)
04/2005: Conan #15 -- 38,086 (-0.3%)
05/2005: Conan #16 -- 37,632 (-1.2%)
06/2005: Conan #17 -- 37,032 (-1.6%)
07/2005: Conan #18 -- 36,323 (-1.9%)
08/2005: Conan #19 -- 35,455 (-2.4%)
09/2005: Conan #20 -- 34,899 (-1.6%)
10/2005: Conan #21 -- 34,232 (-1.9%)
11/2005: Conan #22 -- 33,653 (-1.7%)
12/2005: Conan #23 -- 32,592 (-3.2%)
----------------
6 months: -12.0%
1 year : -20.8%
Sales keep leaking away, but that doesn't stop CONAN from once more being the
top-selling Top 300 title from a company other than Marvel and DC in December.
(73) SPAWN (Image/TMP)
12/2003: Spawn #131 -- 36,493
-----------------------------
12/2004: Spawn #141 -- 29,469 (- 4.3%)
01/2005: Spawn #142 -- 28,705 (- 2.6%)
02/2005: Spawn #143 -- 28,408 (- 1.0%)
03/2005: Spawn #144 -- 28,170 (- 0.8%)
04/2005: Spawn #145 -- 28,161 (- 0.0%)
05/2005: --
06/2005: Spawn #146 -- 28,093 (- 0.2%)
06/2005: Spawn #147 -- 27,495 (- 2.1%)
07/2005: --
08/2005: Spawn #148 -- 27,548 (+ 0.2%)
09/2005: Spawn #149 -- 26,790 (- 2.8%)
10/2005: Spawn #150 -- 40,152 (+49.9%) -- [42,529]
11/2005: --
12/2005: Spawn #151 -- 28,860 (-28.1%)
----------------
6 months: + 3.8%
1 year : - 2.1%
2 years : -20.9%
The "anniversary" increase from issue #150 is gone again. Well, most of it, at
any rate; SPAWN still sold better in December than in most other months of 2005.
(90) STREET FIGHTER II (Udon)
12/2003: Street Fighter #4 -- 27,606
----------------------------------------
12/2004: Street Fighter #12 -- 23,251 (- 4.3%)
01/2005: --
02/2005: Street Fighter #13 -- 22,981 (- 1.2%) -- [25,070]
03/2005: --
04/2005: Street Fighter #14 -- 23,472 (+ 2.1%)
05/2005: --
06/2005: --
07/2005: --
08/2005: --
09/2005: --
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Street Fighter II #1 -- 24,357 (+ 3.8%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : + 4.8%
2 years : -11.8%
Initially launched at Image, STREET FIGHTER was published through Devil's Due
Publishing for the remainder of its initial run. With the new launch, Udon --
the studio which creates the book -- are publishing it themselves.
As far as relaunches go, this isn't exactly impressive, obviously. On the other
hand, perhaps they may consider themselves happy that the title didn't lose
sales since last April.
(92) CONAN AND THE DEMONS OF KHITAI (Dark Horse)
10/2005: Conan and the Demons of Khitai #1 (of 4) -- 28,375
11/2005: Conan and the Demons of Khitai #2 (of 4) -- 25,810 (-9.0%)
12/2005: Conan and the Demons of Khitai #3 (of 4) -- 24,155 (-6.4%)
Standard limited series numbers, at a perfectly decent level.
(95) HUNTER-KILLER (Image/Top Cow)
02/2005: Hunter-Killer #1 -- 40,084 -- [44,838]
03/2005: --
04/2005: Hunter-Killer #2 -- 31,714 (-20.9%) -- [34,186]
05/2005: --
06/2005: --
07/2005: Hunter-Killer #3 -- 27,928 (-11.9%)
08/2005: --
09/2005: Hunter-Killer #4 -- 26,215 (- 6.1%)
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Hunter-Killer #5 -- 23,877 (- 8.9%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
The book shouldn't be shedding 9% at this stage. HUNTER-KILLER appears to be
drifting off people's radar.
(112) G.I. JOE: AMERICA'S ELITE (DDP)
12/2003: G.I. Joe #25 -- 36,300
-----------------------------------------------
12/2004: G.I. Joe #37 -- 23,086 (- 4.9%)
12/2004: G.I. Joe #38 -- 21,412 (- 7.3%)
01/2005: G.I. Joe #39 -- 20,696 (- 3.3%)
02/2005: G.I. Joe #40 -- 20,469 (- 1.1%)
03/2005: G.I. Joe #41 -- 20,570 (+ 0.5%)
04/2005: G.I. Joe #42 -- 20,860 (+ 1.4%)
05/2005: G.I. Joe #43 -- 21,038 (+ 0.9%)
06/2005: G.I. Joe #0 -- ??????
06/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #1 -- 27,125 (+28.9%)
07/2005: --
08/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #2 -- 22,130 (-18.4%)
08/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #3 -- 21,034 (- 5.0%)
09/2005: --
10/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #4 -- 21,398 (+ 1.7%)
11/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #5 -- 20,581 (- 3.8%)
12/2005: G.I. Joe: America's Elite #6 -- 20,139 (- 2.2%)
----------------
6 months: -25.8%
1 year : -12.8%
2 years : -44.5%
Well, it's back in a standard decline.
(-) FELL (Image)
09/2005: Fell #1 -- 22,580 -- [25,359]
10/2005: Fell #2 -- 17,158 (-24.0%) -- [19,741]
11/2005: Fell #3 -- 16,216 (- 5.5%) -- [18,218]
12/2005: --
No new issue of FELL shipped in December, but the re-orders and new printings
writer Warren Ellis talked about on his mailing list shipped in significant
enough quantities to make the chart: A second printing of issue #1 appears at
No. 254, selling 2,779 copies; a second printing of issue #2 appears at No. 262,
selling 2,583 copies; and re-orders of FELL #3, finally, showed up at No. 292,
shifting another 2,002 copies in December.
It rarely happens that any publishers other than Marvel or DC manage to crack
the charts after an issue's initial month of shipping, let alone with numbers in
the thousands, so this is a very promising sign for FELL.
(143) DOWN (Image/Top Cow)
11/2005: Down #1 (of 4) -- 17,172
12/2005: Down #2 (of 4) -- 13,508 (-21.3%)
That's a rather steep fall for a limited series.
(151) FALLEN ANGEL (IDW)
12/2004: Fallen Angel #18 -- 10,200 (- 1.4%)
01/2005: --
02/2005: --
03/2005: Fallen Angel #19 -- 10,937 (+ 7.2%)
04/2005: --
05/2005: Fallen Angel #20 -- 10,283 (- 6.0%)
06/2005: --
07/2005: --
08/2005: --
09/2005: --
10/2005: --
11/2005: --
12/2005: Fallen Angel #1 -- 12,176 (+18.4%)
---------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : +19.4%
Looking at the naked numbers, the book's relaunch hardly sets the charts on
fire; it's barely up on the final issue published by DC, for that matter.
But of course, the economics are rather different, in this case. For one thing,
while these numbers aren't much measured against DC's output, they actually make
FALLEN ANGEL publisher IDW's second-best-selling title in November. (ANGEL: OLD
FRIENDS, a BUFFY spin-off, sold more, charting with estimated sales of 17,164.)
For another, the book carries IDW's default price tag of $ 3.99, rather than the
standard $ 2.99 one, so it made them a little more money than the unit sales
would suggest at first glance.
Overall, while these relaunch numbers might have been viewed as a failure at DC,
you can see why IDW and writer Peter David are quite happy with them.
(162) THE GOON (Dark Horse)
12/2003: The Goon #4 -- 8,969
-----------------------------------------
12/2004: The Goon #10 -- 9,975 (-2.7%)
01/2005: --
02/2005: --
03/2005: The Goon #11 -- 9,227 (-7.5%)
04/2005: --
05/2005: The Goon #12 -- 9,443 (+2.3%)
06/2005: --
07/2005: The Goon #13 -- 9,573 (+1.4%)
08/2005: --
09/2005: The Goon #14 -- 10,287 (+7.5%)
10/2005: The Goon 25-Cent Comic -- ??????
11/2005: --
12/2005: The Goon #15 -- 11,171 (+8.6%)
----------------
6 months: n.a.
1 year : +12.0%
2 years : +24.6%
The book sees a nice increase after October's 25-cent issue. Naturally, THE
GOON was going up in sales anyway since last May, so we can't really tell
whether the promo stunt had any significant effect on the numbers of the monthly
issues.
(211) FEAR AGENT (Image)
10/2005: Fear Agent #1 -- 7,648
11/2005: --
12/2005: Fear Agent #2 -- 5,317 (-30.8%)
A horrible drop-off, but not unusual.
(215) LOCAL (Oni Press)
11/2005: Local #1 (of 12) -- 6,003
12/2005: Local #2 (of 12) -- 4,938 (-17.7%)
This one isn't quite as steep, but it's still nothing to write home about. Like
DMZ, LOCAL is reasonably sure to do well once it's collected, however, so we
shouldn't read too much into these numbers.
--
Marc-Oliver Frisch
POPP'D! >> http://poppd.blogspot.com
COMIKADO << http://comikado.blogspot.com
SUPERCRITICAL >> http://supercritic.blogspot.com
Down, in barrels!
--
[This is a Usenet message, posted to the rec.arts.comics.* groups.]
Stuart Moore
"Marc-Oliver Frisch" <Dersc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
This is indeed our short-term strategy: to draw people in with the
crossovers. And, as you've noted, to do this over a longer period of
time than usual (six issues total).
We actually do have a long-term strategy, and it's even simpler: make
the book really, really good -- AND comprehensible on its own -- so
people stick around after the crossovers.
Time will tell whether it's viable, of course, and whether we pull it
off. But that's the plan!
Best,
Stuart
Kurt Busiek
> We actually do have a long-term strategy, and it's even simpler: make
> the book really, really good -- AND comprehensible on its own -- so
> people stick around after the crossovers.
The first part of this cunning plan -- make book really good and
comprehensible solo -- is being achieved quite well. Let's hope the
second part follows.
FIRESTORM, of late, has been clever, funny, and has a nice sense of
scope; the big action stuff seems grounded in credible, involving
characters. It's got the virtues of a classic, well-crafted approach
while simultaneously feeling very modern.
I hope I get to keep reading it for a good long time.
kdb
Tony
--oh, so you and I are the two people buying (and enjoying this
book)...
Or do you get yours comped?
Tony
Kurt Busiek
I get it free, so the other guy must be someone else.
kdb
Jim Connick
"Kurt Busiek" <kurtb...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:2006012817475850073-kurtbusiek@aolcom...
*raises hand*
That'll be me. Been buying since Stuart Moore took over. Rather enjoying it
so far.
Murray
Kurt Busiek <kurtb...@aol.com> wrote:
It's me! I like the book (although the latest issue left me a little
cold... not enough Jason, not enough Jamal, bye bye Mick, Prof. Stein
being a little too cool and out there for my tastes)... but I'm liking
(and buying) the book!
murr
YKW '06
<stuart...@mindspring.com> wrote:
There =is=, of course, a way to move those figures closer to 30K =and=
stop all the complaining from, ahem, certain quarters. The latest issue
takes one step in that direction (and thank you very much, Mr. Moore!),
but the other step can still be taken without detracting significantly
from telling Jason's story...
--
------------------- ------------------------------------------------
|| E-mail: ykw2006 ||"The mystery of government is not how Washington||
|| -at-gmail-dot-com ||works but how to make it stop." -- P.J. O'Rourke||
|| ----------- || ------------------------------------ ||
||Replace "-at-" with|| Keeping Usenet Trouble-Free ||
|| "@" to respond. || Since 1998 ||
------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Marc-Oliver Frisch
: We actually do have a long-term strategy, and it's even simpler: make
: the book really, really good -- AND comprehensible on its own -- so
: people stick around after the crossovers.
But this is the Moolah & Ballyhoo column, you see. We got us no time for all
that bleeding-heart nonsense about "good" and "bad."
Stuart Moore
"Marc-Oliver Frisch" <Dersc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Stuart Moore wrote:
>
> : We actually do have a long-term strategy, and it's even simpler: make
> : the book really, really good -- AND comprehensible on its own -- so
> : people stick around after the crossovers.
>
> But this is the Moolah & Ballyhoo column, you see. We got us no time for all
> that bleeding-heart nonsense about "good" and "bad."
Oh, I know -- I was just gently tweaking you about all the strategy
talk. Sometimes quality does play a part in which books live or die.
Thanks to everybody who responded...especially Kurt, who's been very
supportive of us. Everybody buy AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS in March. But
you probably don't need me to say that, right?
Best,
Stuart
Tom Galloway
Stuart Moore <stuart...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>In article <444726...@individual.net>,
> "Marc-Oliver Frisch" <Dersc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Stuart Moore wrote:
>>
>> : We actually do have a long-term strategy, and it's even simpler: make
>> : the book really, really good -- AND comprehensible on its own -- so
>> : people stick around after the crossovers.
>>
>> But this is the Moolah & Ballyhoo column, you see. We got us no time for all
>> that bleeding-heart nonsense about "good" and "bad."
>
>Oh, I know -- I was just gently tweaking you about all the strategy
>talk. Sometimes quality does play a part in which books live or die.
Spoilers for the latest Firestorm follow:
To be honest Stuart, while I'm enjoying Firestorm, I do wish it would settle
down a bit. Jason's situation and supporting cast seems to be going through
major changes, well, about every two issues. Ronnie's back, nope he's gone.
Jason's working at STAR with a supporting cast...oops, that's gone now. He's
in an apartment with his best friend...who dies in this issue. Now Dr. Stein
is back (yeah, I know, he's always refered to as "Professor Stein". Which has
bugged me ever since I realized that "Doctor" is the lifelong title given
when someone gets their Ph.D. no matter what they do from then on, while
"Professor" is a specific job title that you don't keep when, well, you're
not actually teaching at a college. Which Martin seldom did during the course
of the previous series). It really is starting to feel like the book is
flailing around looking for a direction. Let's get Jason into a regular
living situation, whether school or job, give him a supporting cast that
sticks around for a while (which would seem at the moment to be his father,
neighbor, and Dr. Stein), and let him develop in a more constant situation.
tyg t...@panix.com
--
--Yes, the .sig has changed
Marc-Oliver Frisch
: Oh, I know -- I was just gently tweaking you about all the strategy
: talk. Sometimes quality does play a part in which books live or die.
No problem, that's how I took it. (And, for the record, I agree on the latter
part.)
Stuart Moore
t...@panix.com (Tom Galloway) wrote:
> Spoilers for the latest Firestorm follow:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To be honest Stuart, while I'm enjoying Firestorm, I do wish it would settle
> down a bit. Jason's situation and supporting cast seems to be going through
> major changes, well, about every two issues. Ronnie's back, nope he's gone.
> Jason's working at STAR with a supporting cast...oops, that's gone now. He's
> in an apartment with his best friend...who dies in this issue. Now Dr. Stein
> is back (yeah, I know, he's always refered to as "Professor Stein". Which has
> bugged me ever since I realized that "Doctor" is the lifelong title given
> when someone gets their Ph.D. no matter what they do from then on, while
> "Professor" is a specific job title that you don't keep when, well, you're
> not actually teaching at a college. Which Martin seldom did during the course
> of the previous series). It really is starting to feel like the book is
> flailing around looking for a direction. Let's get Jason into a regular
> living situation, whether school or job, give him a supporting cast that
> sticks around for a while (which would seem at the moment to be his father,
> neighbor, and Dr. Stein), and let him develop in a more constant situation.
>
> tyg t...@panix.com
I hear you. Things will settle down -- a bit -- after One Year Later, at
least in the sense that Jason will be in a specific geographical area
with a reasonably steady supporting cast. (I can't be much more specific
yet.) A lot of the past year has been about Jason dealing with all the
chaos of the DCU coming crashing at him -- at the same time he's getting
out of high school and having to cope with the real world. That phase of
his life is pretty much tied to INFINITE CRISIS, and we'll be throwing
him into a new, equally dangerous phase pretty soon. A lot of which,
incidentally, has already been set up in the book.
As for "Professor" Stein -- you're right, but it's just one of those
things. It's how Ron Raymond knew him, so it tends to be what the
Firestorm supporting cast calls him.
Thanks for the support; hope you like what's coming.
Best,
Stuart
Aaron *Brother Head* Moss
"Murray" <mur...@kw.igs.net> wrote in message
news:murrfox-AD58B2...@isis.cybersurf.net...
>> > --oh, so you and I are the two people buying (and enjoying this
>> > book)...
>> > Or do you get yours comped?
>>
>> I get it free, so the other guy must be someone else.
>
> It's me! I like the book (although the latest issue left me a little
> cold... not enough Jason, not enough Jamal, bye bye Mick, Prof. Stein
> being a little too cool and out there for my tastes)... but I'm liking
> (and buying) the book!
>
> murr
*Raises hand*
I'm also buying (and enjoying) Firestorm. I've been with it since issue 1
(also read and really enjoyed the original series.
The same as Kurt, I hope to keep reading this series for a loooong time.
--
Rev. Aaron *Brother Head* Moss
aka Minister Moss
TheBr...@brotherhead.com
**************************************
Visit my website at:
http://www.brotherhead.com
**************************************
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without laughter!
***************************************