The Beat looks at DC Comics’ sales for February, and notes that the company basically is in a holding pattern awaiting “Final Crisis.”
“All-Star Batman and Robin” remains the company’s best-selling title, though is numbers are slipping, followed by Justice League, Justice Society, and Countdown.
Non-Marvel or DC books to chart in the top 50 include “Buffy,” “Project Superpowers,” and “Angel.”
The Beat has the analysis of Marvel’s February sales numbers, and I’ve got to join in with writer Paul O’Brien’s massive “huh?” over the way the chart shook out.
“X-Force” No. 1 debuts at No. 1; I don’t know when the last time the X-Force title outsold the main X-Men titles but I’d be willing to guess it was in the Rob Liefeld heyday of 1991.
In addition, the “Ultimates” team of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch take over “Fantastic Four.” This seemed to O’Brien, and other industry watchers, to be a sure No. 1 book — it instead hits the charts at No. 8, with estimated sales of 92,000.
“Fantastic Four” landed behind “New Avengers,” “Hulk,” “Thor,” “Ultimates” and one of this month’s three issues of “Amazing Spider-Man.”
“Thor” continuing to hold down the No. 4 spot overall (behind X-Force, New Avengers and one of the “Amazing Spider-Man” issues) is good news for the title. Writer J. Michael Straczynski is exploring some options at DC, but for the moment, the Asgardian hero and his Oklahoma setting appear to be connecting with readers.
Basically, we’re in the calm before the storm when “Secret Invasion” hits — as such, the chart is down a bit, but perhaps more interesting for it.
Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc., the primary comic-book distributor to comic-book shops, have announced the best-selling comic books and graphic novels for 2007. Marvel Comics tops both lists, as “Captain America” No. 25 was the best-selling comic book, and “Civil War” was the best selling graphic novel.
Of local interest, “Thor” No. 1, by J. Michael Straczynski, featuring the God of Thunder’s relocation to Oklahoma, was #4 on the list, behind issues #6 and #7 of the Marvel Comics crossover “Civil War.” “Dark Tower Gunslinger Born” No. 1, based on the Stephen King books, was No. 5. DC Comics’ highest-charting book was “Justice League of America” #7, coming in at #13.
The graphic novels were more evenly spread, with DC claiming 4 of the top 10. Marvel had 3, including #2 “Marvel Zombies” and #8 “Road to Civil War.”
DC had “Heroes” at #3, based on the TV series, the evergreen “Watchmen” at #4, Alan Moore’s “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier” at #7, and Brian K. Vaughan’s “Y: The Last Man Vol. 9 - Motherland” at #9.
Frank Miller’s “300″ finished the year at #5, and volumes six and seven of “Marvel Zombies” writer Robert Kirkman’s “Walking Dead” series rounded out the top 10 (at Nos. 6 and 10.)
We’ll have more in-depth analysis coming on this.
– Matt Price
Deadlines are coming in for everything today — Oklahoma Film Critics’ Circle voting, top 10 movies for the Oklahoman, top 10 comics and videogames for my weekly columns in the Oklahoman. It’s enjoyable in some ways, but it does make me wish that Hollywood and the video game industry spaced out their releases a little better. Video games will go weeks with no major releases, then slam everything out near the end of the year. And Hollywood tends to cluster potential award-winners in December.
Fortunately, comics don’t cluster their potential award-winners as badly. That said, Friday will be a madhouse of a release day, as everyone tries to push out inventory before the end of the year.
– Matt Price
“Exiles” wrapped up its run today with #100. The story will continue in “New Exiles” No. 1 by Chris Claremont and Tom Grummett. Marvel revealed the variant cover by Michael Golden today.
Information from Marvel:
Marvel is proud to reveal legendary artist Michael Golden’s new variant cover to the highly-anticipated New Exiles #1, ushering in a new era for fan-favorite team! Written by iconic X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, with art by Tom Grummett and a standard cover by superstar Greg Land, New Exiles #1 assembles a brand new team of heroes to protect the Omniverse. With new leaders, new worlds and new adversaries, this team of Exiles are about to face their greatest threat yet—that is, if they can survive each other first!
It’s an all-new, all-different group of Exiles—let’s hope they all survive the experience in New Exiles #1, featuring stunning covers by Greg Land and Michael Golden!
I remember in one of Tom Brevoort’s editorial simulations on his blog that “Exiles” had been a remarkably stable seller throughout the run. I wonder if this relaunch means the sales had been flagging slightly.
(I also seem to remember Dave Sim saying “Cerebus” sales peaked at No. 100, and while there’s certainly little “Exiles” had in common with “Cerebus,” there could be some conventional wisdom that relaunching after No. 100 may be a way to get two semi-artificial sales spikes.)
– Matt Price
