Re: DC Sales, October 2003

"Marc-Oliver Frisch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> DISCLAIMER: As some of you may have noticed, this month's estimates by
icv2.com
> seem to be unusually high, suggesting that all comics shipped in October
2003,
> no matter from which publisher, shifted about 10% more copies than you'd
> generally expect them to.  Since I don't buy that in the slightest and
think it
> would be pretty much pointless in most cases to run the numbers as
presented,
> I'll shamelessly improvise and be the nightmare of any self-respecting
> number-cruncher: I've taken the liberty of bumping 10% off any estimate
provided
> by icv2.com this month -- et voila, the numbers are right back where they
should
> reasonably be.

Thanks, chum. Even though it was nice to see all those increases -
ESPECIALLY on the not-so-great-selling books - it got kinda tiring to see...
:p

> (7) BATMAN
> 03/ 2003: Batman #613 -- 147,799
> 04/ 2003: Batman #614 -- 164,858 (+11.5%)
> 05/ 2003: Batman #615 -- 158,350 (-4.0%)
> 06/ 2003: Batman #616 -- 152,652 (-3.6%)
> 07/ 2003: Batman #617 -- 158,844 (+4.1%)
> 08/ 2003: Batman #618 -- 152,526 (-4.0%)
> 09/ 2003: Batman #619 -- 303,737 (+99.1%)
> 10/ 2003: Batman #620 -- 105,492 (-65.3%)
> 6 months: -36.0%
>
> The variant covers and a whopping 70,000 copies in reorders for #619 (see
> position 17 on the chart) make the drop-off seem larger than it really is.
>
> What's really going to be interesting is where it'll be going from here.

Considering it's STILL selling much higher than it was before Loeb and Lee
came onboard, DC (and all of us!) should be smiling very big smiles
nonetheless...

> (26) & (28) JLA
> 03/ 2003: JLA #79 -- 61,589
> 04/ 2003: JLA #80 -- 60,141 (-2.4%)
> 05/ 2003: JLA #81 -- 60,316 (+0.3%)
> 06/ 2003: JLA #82 -- 58,480 (-3.0%)
> 07/ 2003: JLA #83 -- 59,154 (+1.2%)
> 08/ 2003: JLA #84 -- 59,130 (-0.0%)
> 08/ 2003: JLA #84 -- 58,380 (-1.3%)
> 09/ 2003: JLA #86 -- 59,496 (+1.9%)
> 09/ 2003: JLA #87 -- 58,678 (-1.4%)
> 10/ 2003: JLA #88 -- 58,263 (-0.7%)
> 10/ 2003: JLA #89 -- 57,830 (-0.7%)
> 6 months: -3.5%
>
> Continuing its slow descent.  I doubt the next creative team (Denny O'Neil
and
> Eng Huat?) are going to change that, but we'll see.

It'll be interesting to see how ALL the rotating creative teams affect
sales.

> (49) SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT
> 07/ 2003: Superman: Birthright #1 -- 48,789
> 08/ 2003: Superman: Birthright #2 -- 42,461 (-13.0%)
> 09/ 2003: Superman: Birthright #3 -- 41,565 (-2.1%)
> 10/ 2003: Superman: Birthright #4 -- 40,435 (-2.7%)
>
> Still comfortable, but still a little disappointing, considering who the
> creators are.  Should I give this a try once it comes out as a paperback?

The weird thing about this series is that it seems to be establishing a new
origin, like Byrne did with Man of Steel, but DC's said nothing to that
effect. So I don't really know WHAT it's supposed to be.......a good story,
yes, but is it canon? Redefining canon?

> (58) SUPERMAN/ BATMAN SECRET FILES
> 10/ 2003: Superman/ Batman Secret Files 2003 -- 37,102
>
> (59) TEEN TITANS/ OUTSIDERS SECRET FILES
> 10/ 2003: Teen Titans/ Outsiders Secret Files 2003 -- 37,006
>
> The numbers are okay, but what's the point of these "Secret Files" books?
(No,
> that's not a rhetorical question -- I've just never bought one of these
things.)

I used to have an answer. Now.............I don't really know anymore. I
still buy them, and have since the beginning....but damned if I can really
find a good reason to justify them anymore....

> (62) FLASH
> 03/ 2003: Flash #196 -- 28,577
> 04/ 2003: Flash #197 -- 30,886 (+8.1%)
> 05/ 2003: Flash #198 -- 33,152 (+7.3%)
> 06/ 2003: Flash #199 -- 35,493 (+7.1%)
> 07/ 2003: Flash #200 -- 44,977 (+26.7%)
> 08/ 2003: Flash #201 -- 37,568 (-16.5%)
> 09/ 2003: Flash #202 -- 34,599 (-7.9%)
> 10/ 2003: Flash #203 -- 34,760 (+0.5%)
> 6 months: +12.5%
>
> Still comfortably above pre-anniversary levels.

Must......be......higher......!!

> (52) SUPERMAN
> 03/ 2003: Superman #191 -- 34,000
> 04/ 2003: Superman #192 -- 34,638 (+1.9%)
> 05/ 2003: Superman #193 -- 36,599 (+5.7%)
> 06/ 2003: Superman #194 -- 33,563 (-8.3%)
> 07/ 2003: Superman #195 -- 35,302 (+5.2%)
> 08/ 2003: Superman #196 -- 33,648 (-4.7%)
> 09/ 2003: Superman #197 -- 33,430 (-0.6%)
> 10/ 2003: Superman #198 -- 33,008 (-1.3%)
> 6 months: -4.7%
>
> Continuing to slip towards salvation.

Just think.......this is where BATMAN used to be..... ;)

>
> (69) JSA ALL-STARS
> 05/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #1 -- 43,558
> 06/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #2 -- 38,127 (-12.5%)
> 07/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #3 -- 37,105 (-2.7%)
> 08/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #4 -- 34,501 (-7.0%)
> 09/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #5 -- 33,079 (-4.1%)
> 10/ 2003: JSA All-Stars #6 -- 32,333 (-2.3%)
>
> Okay for a limited series, I guess.

Thankfully DC's still maintaining that the JSA doesn't need a ton of spinoff
miniseries.....this one's been okay, but I think the more they dilute it,
the more the main series will suffer.

> (70) GREEN LANTERN
>
> After Ron Marz, they allegedly have Grant Morrison, John Byrne, Geoff
Johns and
> Carlos Pacheco lined up to give the book CPR.

Count me in then. Winick lost me, never gave Raab a try (and from what I've
heard, I was wise not too), and Marz.........well, I'll see what's happening
after Marz before I pass judgment...

> (75) ACTION COMICS
> 03/ 2003: Action Comics #801 -- 32,445
> 04/ 2003: Action Comics #802 -- 32,126 (-1.0%)
> 05/ 2003: Action Comics #803 -- 32,118 (-0.0%)
> 06/ 2003: Action Comics #804 -- 31,494 (-1.9%)
> 07/ 2003: Action Comics #805 -- 31,959 (+1.5%)
> 08/ 2003: Action Comics #806 -- 30,852 (-3.5%)
> 09/ 2003: Action Comics #807 -- 30,858 (+0.0%)
> 10/ 2003: Action Comics #808 -- 30,361 (-1.6%)
> 6 months: -5.5%
>
> Leaking readers, slowly but certainly.

Can't believe they couldn't give Azzarello and Lee *this* book. Instead, we
get Austen.

But then, I've heard Metropolis is his best work, and he is paired up with
the hella-cool Ivan Reis, so maybe it will be good too...

> (83) BATMAN: CITY OF LIGHT
> 10/ 2003: City of Light #1 -- 27,681
>
> Burp.

It's series like this that make me wonder "WHY CAN'T THEY JUST PUT THIS IN
LOTDK?!?!?!"

> (86) HAWKMAN
> 03/ 2003: Hawkman #13 -- 31,173
> 04/ 2003: Hawkman #14 -- 29,998 (-3.8%)
> 05/ 2003: Hawkman #15 -- 29,899 (-0.3%)
> 06/ 2003: Hawkman #16 -- 29,481 (-1.4%)
> 07/ 2003: Hawkman #17 -- 29,276 (-0.7%)
> 08/ 2003: Hawkman #18 -- 28,557 (-2.5%)
> 09/ 2003: Hawkman #19 -- 28,988 (+1.5%)
> 10/ 2003: Hawkman #20 -- 27,449 (-5.3%)
> 6 months: -8.5%
>
> Where eagles dare used to be higher.

And with Johns and Rags confirmed as leaving with #25 (being replaced by
Jimmy Palmiotti, his co-writer from 12 Down, and Ryan Sook), I'm not sure
about this title's future......

>
> (87) LEGION
> 03/ 2003: Legion #18 -- 23,180
> 04/ 2003: Legion #19 -- 23,214 (+0.1%)
> 05/ 2003: Legion #20 -- 23,184 (-0.1%)
> 06/ 2003: Legion #21 -- 22,749 (-1.9%)
> 07/ 2003: Legion #22 -- 22,987 (+1.0%)
> 08/ 2003: Legion #23 -- 22,466 (-2.3%)
> 09/ 2003: Legion #24 -- 22,653 (+0.8%)
> 10/ 2003: Legion #25 -- 27,396 (+20.9%)
> 6 months: +18.0%
>
> Move on, nothing to see here.  Just an aniversary issue bump, is all.

We all know what the real reason for that +20.9% is....



Darkseid is.

:)

> (88) ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
> 03/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #614 -- 30,551
> 04/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #615 -- 29,707 (-2.8%)
> 05/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #616 -- 29,855 (+0.5%)
> 06/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #617 -- 29,183 (-2.3%)
> 07/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #618 -- 29,086 (-0.3%)
> 08/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #619 -- 28,145 (-3.2%)
> 09/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #620 -- 28,100 (-0.2%)
> 10/ 2003: Adventures of Superman #621 -- 27,291 (-2.9%)
> 6 months: -8.1%
>
> Leeeeakeeeerrrrr.
>
> (I'm thinking of getting the non-crossover-polluted issues of this one,
since
> I'm rather fond of Joe Casey's work, by the way.  Can anybody point me to
the
> right numbers?)

Honestly? Besides the Funky Flashman issue (#613), the only issues I own -
and have heard were halfway-decent - ARE the crossover issues...

> (98) FABLES
> 03/ 2003: Fables #11 -- 24,857
> 04/ 2003: Fables #12 -- 24,929 (+0.3%)
> 05/ 2003: Fables #13 -- 25,158 (+0.9%)
> 06/ 2003: Fables #14 -- 25,229 (+0.3%)
> 07/ 2003: Fables #15 -- 25,567 (+1.3%)
> 08/ 2003: Fables #16 -- 25,365 (-0.8%)
> 09/ 2003: Fables #17 -- 25,856 (+1.9%)
> 10/ 2003: Fables #18 -- 25,825 (-0.1%)
> 6 months: +3.6%
>
> It seems to be slowing down, but the numbers could be worse.  Much worse,
in
> fact.

And considering my right-hand scroller indicates we're almost halfway
through this, I'd say we're gonna see "much worse."

> (105) AQUAMAN
> 03/ 2003: Aquaman  #4 -- 36,908
> 04/ 2003: Aquaman  #5 -- 34,684 (-6.0%)
> 05/ 2003: Aquaman  #6 -- 33,213 (-4.2%)
> 06/ 2003: Aquaman  #7 -- 30,615 (-7.8%)
> 07/ 2003: Aquaman  #8 -- 29,628 (-3.2%)
> 08/ 2003: Aquaman  #9 -- 27,454 (-7.3%)
> 09/ 2003: Aquaman #10 -- 26,370 (-3.9%)
> 10/ 2003: Aquaman #11 -- 24,422 (-7.4%)
> 6 months: -29.6%
>
> Heading towards cancellation station, methunkest.

A pit-stop at New Creative Teamville (population: Will Pfifer and Patrick
Gleason) first, however.

> (135) GOTHAM CENTRAL
> 03/ 2003: Gotham Central  #5 -- 19,258
> 04/ 2003: Gotham Central  #6 -- 18,345 (-4.7%)
> 05/ 2003: Gotham Central  #7 -- 18,184 (-0.9%)
> 06/ 2003: Gotham Central  #8 -- 17,391 (-4.4%)
> 07/ 2003: Gotham Central  #9 -- 17,299 (-0.5%)
> 08/ 2003: Gotham Central #10 -- 17,022 (-1.6%)
> 09/ 2003: Gotham Central #11 -- 17,066 (+0.3%)
> 10/ 2003: Gotham Central #12 -- 17,205 (+0.8%)
> 6 months: -6.2%
>
> Two slight increases in two months.  We shall see.

Headed toward relaunch, I've heard. Why, I don't know, but I'm a fan
nonetheless.

> (144) H.E.R.O.
> 03/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #2 -- 20,381
> 04/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #3 -- 22,525 (+10.5%)
> 05/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #4 -- 21,023 (-6.7%)
> 06/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #5 -- 19,886 (-5.4%)
> 07/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #6 -- 19,366 (-2.6%)
> 08/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #7 -- 18,244 (-5.8%)
> 09/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #8 -- 17,557 (-3.8%)
> 10/ 2003: H.E.R.O. #9 -- 16,604 (-5.4%)
> 6 months: -26.3%
>
> Yeuch.

Haven't heard ANYTHING about this book like I used to..... and have yet to
read the TPB I bought a few weeks back...

> (149) HELLBLAZER
> 03/ 2003: Hellblazer #182 -- 17,257
> 04/ 2003: Hellblazer #183 -- 16,905 (-2.0%)
> 05/ 2003: Hellblazer #184 -- 16,931 (+0.2%)
> 06/ 2003: Hellblazer #185 -- 16,555 (-2.2%)
> 07/ 2003: Hellblazer #186 -- 16,405 (-0.9%)
> 08/ 2003: Hellblazer #187 -- 16,037 (-2.2%)
> 09/ 2003: Hellblazer #188 -- 15,897 (-0.9%)
> 10/ 2003: Hellblazer #189 -- 15,581 (-2.0%)
> 6 months: -9.7%
>
> Readers are going to hell.  Maybe Keanu Reeves can help.

Isn't their journey painful enough?! ;p

> (151) DEMON: DRIVEN OUT
> 09/ 2003: Driven Out #1 -- 19,988
> 10/ 2003: Driven Out #2 -- 15,370 (-23.1%)
>
> Driven Out, indeed.

Yeouch!

> (155) HARLEY QUINN
> 03/ 2003: Harley Quinn #30 -- 16,946
> 04/ 2003: Harley Quinn #31 -- 16,492 (-2.7%)
> 05/ 2003: Harley Quinn #32 -- 16,585 (+0.6%)
> 06/ 2003: Harley Quinn #33 -- 16,030 (-3.3%)
> 07/ 2003: Harley Quinn #34 -- 15,716 (-2.0%)
> 08/ 2003: Harley Quinn #35 -- 15,139 (-3.7%)
> 09/ 2003: Harley Quinn #36 -- 14,775 (-2.4%)
> 10/ 2003: Harley Quinn #37 -- 14,294 (-3.3%)
> 6 months: -13.3%
>
> Not around for much longer, I'd wager.

Isn't #37 the final issue? If not, I know it's gone by #40...

> (160) SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS
> 03/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #2 -- 21,476
> 04/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #3 -- 19,417 (-9.6%)
> 05/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #4 -- 17,910 (-7.8%)
> 06/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #5 -- 16,200 (-9.5%)
> 07/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #6 -- 15,804 (-2.4%)
> 08/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #7 -- 14,878 (-5.9%)
> 09/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #8 -- 14,494 (-2.6%)
> 10/ 2003: Superman: Metropolis #9 -- 14,009 (-3.3%)
> 6 months: -27.9%
>
> Chuck Austen sells comics like no one else, doesn't he?

Well, not for DC (sadly), but Marvel he does....


> (169) LUCIFER
> 03/ 2003: Lucifer #36 -- 14,052
> 04/ 2003: Lucifer #37 -- 13,889 (-1.1%)
> 05/ 2003: Lucifer #38 -- 13,847 (-0.3%)
> 06/ 2003: Lucifer #39 -- 13,692 (-2.6%)
> 07/ 2003: Lucifer #40 -- 13,722 (+0.2%)
> 08/ 2003: Lucifer #41 -- 13,447 (-0.2%)
> 09/ 2003: Lucifer #42 -- 13,582 (+1.0%)
> 10/ 2003: Lucifer #43 -- 13,355 (-1.7%)
> 6 months: -3.8%
>
>
> (170) GEN 13
> 03/ 2003: Gen 13  #7 -- 18,028
> 04/ 2003: Gen 13  #8 -- 17,227 (-4.4%)
> 05/ 2003: Gen 13  #9 -- 16,714 (-3.0%)
> 06/ 2003: Gen 13 #10 -- 15,860 (-5.1%)
> 07/ 2003: Gen 13 #11 -- 15,408 (-2.8%)
> 08/ 2003: Gen 13 #12 -- 14,521 (-5.8%)
> 09/ 2003: Gen 13 #13 -- 14,003 (-3.6%)
> 10/ 2003: Gen 13 #14 -- 13,313 (-4.9%)
> 6 months: -22.7%
>
>
> (173) HUMAN TARGET
> 08/ 2003: Human Target #1 -- 17,626
> 09/ 2003: Human Target #2 -- 14,401 (-18.3%)
> 10/ 2003: Human Target #3 -- 13,081 (-9.2%)
>
> These don't look good.

Lucifer will live on, I gather; Gen13 is returning back to the original cast
(per request of Jim Lee); Human Target.......may be one with the Source very
soon....

> (184) STORMWATCH
> 03/ 2003: Stormwatch  #9 -- 16,500
> 04/ 2003: Stormwatch #10 -- 14,241 (-13.7%)
> 05/ 2003: Stormwatch #11 -- 14,078 (-1.1%)
> 06/ 2003: Stormwatch #12 -- 13,507 (-4.1%)
> 07/ 2003: Stormwatch #13 -- 13,018 (-3.6%)
> 08/ 2003: Stormwatch #14 -- 12,314 (-5.4%)
> 09/ 2003: Stormwatch #15 -- 12,110 (-1.7%)
> 10/ 2003: Stormwatch #16 -- 11,541 (-4.7%)
> 6 months: -19.0%
>
> If it continues to drop at this rate, the Announcement won't be far away,
so,
> again: Go Buy It!

Buy it or the Communists will Murder You and burn your corpse with the
American Flag!!! ;p

> (276) LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION
> 10/ 2003: Looney Tunes: Back in Action -- 3,787
>
> It says "Movie" something in the chart.  Is this an adaptation of some
kind?

Um..............yes? You've been blessed by not knowing there's a Looney
Tunes movie (in theatres TODAY!)?

Thanks, Marc.

-- 
Sean

My webpage: http://www.Sean-Walsh.com
Quantum Piett! http://www.geocities.com/quantumpiett/
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