DC Comic Sales February

[Garrac]

I don’t want to say anything to upset Jamie Reyes fans (particularly when there is a lack of Hispanic representation in the DCU), but personally….

I preferred Blue Beetle as a street fighting hero dropping in on villains from his bug.

That doesn’t mean I’m advocating for Ted Kord, or Jamie Reyes to be replaced….I’d be happy with Reyes as a street fighting vigilante, but….I'm sure his fans wouldn’t.

I'm not a huge Jaime fan, but I can't recall a single time where Jaime has been a street fighter. His beetle is cosmic and alien, so his plots tend to be cosmic and alien related. What on his backstory implies he should do otherwise?

[skyvolt2000]

Important to note about Blue Beetle is that it basically is a issue 12 instead of 6. The team is the same as the Graduation mini and it basically continues it.
DC also sell better in trades than Marvel.

That is mainly one guy-Batman and Nightwing and Kami Garica era of books.

Now at any given time Blue Beetle, Harley, Flash, Shazam & Green Lantern (a toss up of Hal, John, Jessica & Simon lead books) will pop up.

While at Marvel while it's pretty much Peter and Miles and the Spider gang, Ms Marvel, Carol, Jane Foster, Hulk, Thor, GOTG, Moon Girl and depending on what Marvel show or movie comes out-those trades get boosts.

But pretty much Batman and Kami Garcia are the main DC trades that keep Marvel from dominating. Boom Studios and Image (Now with Transformers and GI JOe) notwithstanding.

[skyvolt2000]

I'm not a huge Jaime fan, but I can't recall a single time where Jaime has been a street fighter. His beetle is cosmic and alien, so his plots tend to be cosmic and alien related. What on his backstory implies he should do otherwise?

Maybe the New 52 or Rebirth versions did that but I don't know of a time Jaime went street level.

I would suspect it might have been the New 52 run as many complained about that book forgetting what made Jaime likeable in the first place.

I just never read those last two runs.

[Konja7]

I'm not a huge Jaime fan, but I can't recall a single time where Jaime has been a street fighter. His beetle is cosmic and alien, so his plots tend to be cosmic and alien related. What on his backstory implies he should do otherwise?

I think Captain Nostalgia means he liked Blue Beetle when he was a street fighting hero (which happened with Ted Kord as Blue Beetle).

However, he knows Jaime Reyes fans won't like that direction for the character.

[Robotman]

Sucks to see Blue Beetle so low, I guess americans hate reading peak

It may do better in trades.

Graduation Day didn’t sell very well in floppies but the tpb was one of the top sellers last year.

https://icv2.com/articles/markets/vi...graphic-novels

[Skytten]

That is mainly one guy-Batman and Nightwing and Kami Garica era of books.

Now at any given time Blue Beetle, Harley, Flash, Shazam & Green Lantern (a toss up of Hal, John, Jessica & Simon lead books) will pop up.

While at Marvel while it's pretty much Peter and Miles and the Spider gang, Ms Marvel, Carol, Jane Foster, Hulk, Thor, GOTG, Moon Girl and depending on what Marvel show or movie comes out-those trades get boosts.

But pretty much Batman and Kami Garcia are the main DC trades that keep Marvel from dominating. Boom Studios and Image (Now with Transformers and GI JOe) notwithstanding.

No DC in general sell better and longer for their trades. Obviously Batman and the Batfamily sell the best. I believe this was both said in the Bleeding Cool sales list and in the earlier this year comicbook shop summit. Marvels sell better because of their movies, but outside of them does worse.

[Leancarp900]

For the fun of it I decided to go back 5-10-15 years back and see how Top 100 rankings compare with the current one. Obviously market and data collection methodologies changed so this shouldn't be taken too seriously.
23 books in 2024. 36 in 2019. 38 in 2014. 32 in 2009.

2024 February:
3. Batman #142
4. Batman #143
9. Batman #144
16. Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #5 (Of 7)
26. Wonder Woman #6
28. Nightwing #111
29. Action Comics #1062
30. Batman Superman World’s Finest #24
37. Superman #11
39. Birds of Prey #6
42. Green Lantern #8
43. Titans #8
46. Poison Ivy #19
47. Batman and Robin #6
54 .Batman City of Madness #3 (Of 3) (Mature)
60. Detective Comics #1082
63. Red Hood the Hill #1 (Of 6)
76. Shazam #8
81. John Constantine, Hellblazer Dead in America #2 (Of 8) (Mature)
92. Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #1 (Of 5) (Mature)
93. Catwoman #62
98. The Flash #6
100. Green Arrow #9

2019 February:
1. Batman Who Laughs #3
2. Batman #64
3. Batman #65
5. Heroes In Crisis #6
8. Flash #64
12. Detective Comics #999
15. Detective Comics #998
16. Flash #65
18. Justice League #17
19. Justice League #18
21. Superman #8
22. Green Lantern #4
26. Wonder Woman #65
27. Wonder Woman #64
29. Action Comics #1008
38. Shazam #3
40. Young Justice #2
42. Harley Quinn #58
47. Justice League Dark #8
48. Catwoman #8
60. Batgirl #32
64. Wonder Twins #1
65. Nightwing #57
67. Female Furies #1
68. Aquaman #45
69. Justice League Odyssey #6
76. Teen Titans #27
78. Titans #34
80. Martian Manhunter #3
84. Supergirl #27
85. Man and Superman 100 Page Super Spectacular #1
88. Deathstroke #40
89. Adventures of the Super Sons #7
90. Red Hood Outlaw #31
95. Hawkman #9
100. Green Arrow #49

2014 February:
1. Batman #28
2. Forever Evil #5
5. Justice League #28
11. Harley Quinn #3
13. Batman Superman #8
14. Detective Comics #28
15. Justice League of America#12
22. Batman Jokers Daughter #1
25. Green Lantern Red Lanterns #28
31. Superman Wonder Woman #5
32. Batman And Two Face #28
44. Nightwing #28
47. Earth 2 #20
48. Forever Evil Arkham War #5
49. Batman The Dark Knight #28
51. Action Comics #28
52. Aquaman #28
53. Batgirl #28
54. Superman #28
55. Flash #28
57. Justice League 3000 #3
61. Wonder Woman #28
66. Justice League Dark #28
69. Green Lantern Corps #28
71. Green Lantern New Guardians #28
74. Wake #6
75. Batman Black & White #6
76. Teen Titans #28
77. Green Arrow #28
85. Worlds Finest #20
87. Catwoman #28
88. Forever Evil Rogues Rebellion #5
90. Supergirl #28
91. Red Hood And The Outlaws #28
92. Suicide Squad #28
93. Injustice Year Two #2
96. Superman Lois Lane #1
100. Batwoman #28

2009 February:
2. Batman #686
10. Justice League of America #30
11. Green Lantern #38
13. Justice Society of America #24
15. Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds #3
25. Action Comics #874
28. Superman #685
33. Green Lantern Corps #33
35. Superman Batman #55
36. Nightwing #153
40. Titans #10
41. Trinity #36
42. Trinity #37
43. Batman and the Outsiders Special #1
44. Trinity #38
45. Trinity #39
46. Teen Titans #68
47. Supergirl #38
49. Wonder Woman #29
50. Adventure Comics #0
56. Robin #183
60. Outsiders #15
73. Secret Six #6
74. Booster Gold #17
75. Rebels #1
77. Brave and The Bold #22
78. Green Arrow Black Canary #17
83. Fables #81
89. Terror Titans #5
90. Birds of Prey #127
99. Batman Confidential #26
100. Sandman Dream Hunters #4

Here is the February 2022 list, which might be a closer comparison:

3. Batman #120
16. Dark Knight's of Steel #4
21. Batman/Catwoman #10
24. Monkey Prince #1
27. Detective Comics #1051
28. Joker #10
36. Detective Comics #1052
37. Nightwing #89
38. Detective Comics #1053
51. Batman: The Knight #2
56. Superman: Son of Kal-El #8
58. Justice League #72
59. Detective Comics #1054
60. DC Vs Vampires #5
61. Justice League Annual #1
63. Harley Quinn The Animated Series The Eat Bang Kill Tour #6
64. Justice League Incarnate #4
66. Robins #4
69. I am Batman #6
71. Batgirls #3
75. Detective Comics #3
83. Robin #11
90. The Flash #779
91. Action Comics #1040
93. Human Target #5
96. Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #7

It had more titles in the top 100 (27) but it comes with the cavebeat that every title in the top 50 (except Monkey Prince which was a new #1) was directly related to Batman, which is not a sign of a very healthy business.

[Captain Nostalgia]

For the fun of it I decided to go back 5-10-15 years back and see how Top 100 rankings compare with the current one. Obviously market and data collection methodologies changed so this shouldn't be taken too seriously.
23 books in 2024. 36 in 2019. 38 in 2014. 32 in 2009.

2024 February:
3. Batman #142
4. Batman #143
9. Batman #144
16. Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #5 (Of 7)
26. Wonder Woman #6
28. Nightwing #111
29. Action Comics #1062
30. Batman Superman WorldÂ’s Finest #24
37. Superman #11
39. Birds of Prey #6
42. Green Lantern #8
43. Titans #8
46. Poison Ivy #19
47. Batman and Robin #6
54 .Batman City of Madness #3 (Of 3) (Mature)
60. Detective Comics #1082
63. Red Hood the Hill #1 (Of 6)
76. Shazam #8
81. John Constantine, Hellblazer Dead in America #2 (Of 8) (Mature)
92. Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #1 (Of 5) (Mature)
93. Catwoman #62
98. The Flash #6
100. Green Arrow #9

2019 February:
1. Batman Who Laughs #3
2. Batman #64
3. Batman #65
5. Heroes In Crisis #6
8. Flash #64
12. Detective Comics #999
15. Detective Comics #998
16. Flash #65
18. Justice League #17
19. Justice League #18
21. Superman #8
22. Green Lantern #4
26. Wonder Woman #65
27. Wonder Woman #64
29. Action Comics #1008
38. Shazam #3
40. Young Justice #2
42. Harley Quinn #58
47. Justice League Dark #8
48. Catwoman #8
60. Batgirl #32
64. Wonder Twins #1
65. Nightwing #57
67. Female Furies #1
68. Aquaman #45
69. Justice League Odyssey #6
76. Teen Titans #27
78. Titans #34
80. Martian Manhunter #3
84. Supergirl #27
85. Man and Superman 100 Page Super Spectacular #1
88. Deathstroke #40
89. Adventures of the Super Sons #7
90. Red Hood Outlaw #31
95. Hawkman #9
100. Green Arrow #49

2014 February:
1. Batman #28
2. Forever Evil #5
5. Justice League #28
11. Harley Quinn #3
13. Batman Superman #8
14. Detective Comics #28
15. Justice League of America#12
22. Batman Jokers Daughter #1
25. Green Lantern Red Lanterns #28
31. Superman Wonder Woman #5
32. Batman And Two Face #28
44. Nightwing #28
47. Earth 2 #20
48. Forever Evil Arkham War #5
49. Batman The Dark Knight #28
51. Action Comics #28
52. Aquaman #28
53. Batgirl #28
54. Superman #28
55. Flash #28
57. Justice League 3000 #3
61. Wonder Woman #28
66. Justice League Dark #28
69. Green Lantern Corps #28
71. Green Lantern New Guardians #28
74. Wake #6
75. Batman Black & White #6
76. Teen Titans #28
77. Green Arrow #28
85. Worlds Finest #20
87. Catwoman #28
88. Forever Evil Rogues Rebellion #5
90. Supergirl #28
91. Red Hood And The Outlaws #28
92. Suicide Squad #28
93. Injustice Year Two #2
96. Superman Lois Lane #1
100. Batwoman #28

2009 February:
2. Batman #686
10. Justice League of America #30
11. Green Lantern #38
13. Justice Society of America #24
15. Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds #3
25. Action Comics #874
28. Superman #685
33. Green Lantern Corps #33
35. Superman Batman #55
36. Nightwing #153
40. Titans #10
41. Trinity #36
42. Trinity #37
43. Batman and the Outsiders Special #1
44. Trinity #38
45. Trinity #39
46. Teen Titans #68
47. Supergirl #38
49. Wonder Woman #29
50. Adventure Comics #0
56. Robin #183
60. Outsiders #15
73. Secret Six #6
74. Booster Gold #17
75. Rebels #1
77. Brave and The Bold #22
78. Green Arrow Black Canary #17
83. Fables #81
89. Terror Titans #5
90. Birds of Prey #127
99. Batman Confidential #26
100. Sandman Dream Hunters #4

Interesting looking at multiple lists.

I'm actually happy with the direction DC is taking lately (better writers of late/less bat titles)

Batman aside, I do think there has been a lot of damage done to the other top 5 over the years.

I personally feel that DC should stick with one version of a hero, who should be the one on the JLA (as the JLA is often the gateway to get people buying single titles)

Bring back the Justice League, rebuild the brands, work on the teams.......and bring in more good writers hired solely on merit and talent.

[Reddead]

Interesting looking at multiple lists.

I'm actually happy with the direction DC is taking lately (better writers of late/less bat titles)

Batman aside, I do think there has been a lot of damage done to the other top 5 over the years.

I personally feel that DC should stick with one version of a hero, who should be the one on the JLA (as the JLA is often the gateway to get people buying single titles)

Bring back the Justice League, rebuild the brands, work on the teams.......and bring in more good writers hired solely on merit and talent.

I don't think bringing back the JLA will necessarily boost the books. It would give DC another top-50 book but I don't think it actually boosts the solo books.

In fact, many of the JL members (GL, WW, Superman) are selling better now that there isn't one than back in 2020-2022 period that there was a JL title.

[Aahz]

In fact, many of the JL members (GL, WW, Superman) are selling better now that there isn't one than back in 2020-2022 period that there was a JL title.

But that might also come down to other factors like creative teams and directions.
I mean I don't think it is much of a surprise that "Superman: Son of Kal-El" wasn't selling on the same level as a regular Superman main book staring Kal-El.

And when it comes to Green Lantern, iirc neither Grant Morrison's nor Geoffrey Thorne's run were that well received.

[HsssH]

TO be fair-what else was being released at the time of those books.

Along with how many variants did a book have.

Marvel tossed out 12 new books in Feb 2019. All were in the top 100 above Wonder Twins.
2014 same thing Marvel tossed out 9 new books. Including Fantastic Four, Daredevil, She Hulk, Ms Marvel and New Warriors. All of them were top 100. She Hulk was number 62.

The point is just because a book is listed at a number that does not mean sales went down. It can mean other new books push them down and the numbers stated close to the same. Along with the chart position changing overtime.

In 2014 Batwoman had 20K and was 100. In 2019 that number would make her number 87. In 2020 she would be 90 and beating Aquaman.

I think that month to month comparisons are not very useful in general because something is going on all the time. For example 2009 Batman is Geiman's Whatever happened story. 2014 has Forever Evil. 2019 DC is double shipping most of their main books + Heroes in Crisis. 2024 has 3 Zdarsky Batman issues. How do we really compare the impact of these things? Thats not even going into things like variant covers and what other publishers were doing that month.

[Felipe Silveira]

60. Batgirl #32
53. Batgirl #28

Why doesn't Batgirl, Barbara, have a solo series? Who knows....

[El_Gato]

The question is why is DC performing so bad? Even the main characters.

Anyone has an idea?

The brand as a whole is in the gutter! From comics to animation to video games and especially films/shows, everything is tanking. Guess 10 years worth of the DCEU/Arrowverse killed the brand for an entire generation. Gunn has his work cut out for him

[Username taken]

I think people shouldn't put too much stock in ICV2's sales lists.

It's heavily affected by dates because it's based on actual PoS data.

Outside of the massive sellers like Batman and solid titles like Superman, a lot of titles yo-yo around these charts depending on the dates the books are sold.

[skyvolt2000]

I think people shouldn't put too much stock in ICV2's sales lists.

It's heavily affected by dates because it's based on actual PoS data.

Outside of the massive sellers like Batman and solid titles like Superman, a lot of titles yo-yo around these charts depending on the dates the books are sold.

It's bias because only certain stores are reporting much like the one Bleeding Cool uses. I know for that one not one store from my city is listed and I know maybe one or two are from my state.

Why is that important? Because how a book perform varies from state to state.