Batbooks Direct Sales Estimates: October 2010

[Joe Acro]

Below are sales numbers for the Batman family of titles as provided by ICv2.com. I have added calculations. Note that ICv2's numbers and the calculations therein are based on direct sales as provided by Diamond.

02 Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5........................86,006 (#4 88,020; decrease 2.29%)
06 Batman and Robin #15............................................... 80,173 (#14 82,894; decrease 3.28%)
17 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Batman and Robin #1......57,805
30 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Red Robin #1.................43,367
40 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Batgirl #1......................38,919
46 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Catwoman #1................36,211
47 Detective Comics #870.............................................. 35,674 (#869 37,394; decrease 4.60%)
50 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Oracle #1.....................35,328
51 Batman: Odyssey #4................................................ .35,307 (#3 40,046; decrease 11.83%)
56 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Ra's Al Ghul #1..............34,612
58 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Commissioner Gordon #1..33,176
59 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Outsiders #1.................33,053
63 Superman/Batman #77............................................... 31,741 (#76 32,003; decrease 0.82%)
67 Batman Beyond #5................................................ ....30,121 (#4 31,368; decrease 3.98%)
85 Red Hood: Lost Days #5.............................................22, 967 (#4 24,104; decrease 4.72%)
87 Batman: Hidden Treasures #1......................................22,507
90 Knight & Squire #1................................................ ....21,867
123 Outsiders #33............................................... ..........15,253 (#32 15,754; decrease 3.18%)
132 Batman Confidential #49............................................14, 112 (#48 14,329; decrease 1.51%)
202 Azrael #13............................................... ..............8,198 (#12 8,559; decrease 4.22%)
241 Batman: The Brave and the Bold #22...........................6,044 (#21 6,345; decrease 4.74%)
271 DC Comics Presents: Batman #1.................................4,643
284 DC Comics Presents: Batman/Catwoman #1..................4,076


Other books this month that contain Batman-related characters or material:
15 Justice League of America #50.....................................59,686 (#49 57,616; increase 3.59%)
74 Titans #28............................................... ................27,430 (#27 28,438; decrease 0.03%)
86 Time Masters: Vanishing Point #4.................................22,813 (#3 24,177; decrease 5.64%)
96 Secret Six #26............................................... ..........20,377 (#25 20,775; decrease 1.92%)
99 JLA/The 99 #1................................................ ..........19,995
107 Power Girl #17............................................... .........17,847 (#16 18,404; decrease 3.03%)
176 Tiny Titans/Little Archie #1.......................................9,968
207 Tiny Titans #33............................................... .......8,045 (#32 8,073; decrease 0.35%)

Like most everywhere, there's a general trend downward. The only comic with a Bat character (in this case Batman) to increase sales was Justice League. Cameo roles in Titans and Power Girl helped neither series. Overall, however, sales seem to be good.

[maniacthw]

Azrael falls yet again.

[The Lucky One]

No Road Home: Batgirl?

-D

[thwhtGuardian]

Azrael falls yet again.

They must like it in editorial though as its future issues are still being solicited.

[Joe Acro]

No Road Home: Batgirl?

-D
Ah, you're right. It's in there now.

Too many one-shots to keep track of.

[Captain Jim]

I'm surprised Knight and Squire didn't do better. I didn't have any interest in it personally, but there seemed to be a lot of interest here on the forum. I guess it didn't translate into sales.

[The Lucky One]

Ah, you're right. It's in there now.

Too many one-shots to keep track of.

Danke. :wink:

-D

[Desaad]

I'm surprised Knight and Squire didn't do better. I didn't have any interest in it personally, but there seemed to be a lot of interest here on the forum. I guess it didn't translate into sales.

What does and does not sell always mystifies me, but I will say that I learned to stop using 'board interest' as a good barometer of these things after the way Ultimate Spiderman was 'universally reviled' before it came out and yet did blockbuster sales.

This was a relatively no name pair of characters by a relatively no name writer and a seriously no name artist that tied into nothing, in terms of continuity. That's not a value judgement on the quality of any of the creators, or the potential of the characters, just a statement of the situation as I see it. So it's not terribly surprising that not so many people picked it up.

What's more, given the...well, it's an extremely british comic book, and it's hard for an american (or at least THIS american) to really get into it. Not a lot of drama or tension, jokey plots that occasionally dip into lectures on british culture or customs, etc. Long story short, it's fun, and that alone can mean death to a comic, but it's playing with things a lot of the consumer base doesn't understand so it's doubly doomed, I should think.

[RickIsley]

I wonder why there was a drop in sales for both ROBW and B&R. Are people growing tired of Morrison's long epic? Or maybe the delays had something to do with it.

[Kiryu]

I wonder why there was a drop in sales for both ROBW and B&R. Are people growing tired of Morrison's long epic? Or maybe the delays had something to do with it.

All comics decline over time. Notice there is a decrease on every none One-Shot and #1 listed.

I bet you that tread is almost universal down the month;y sales line with exceptions being for new story arcs and new creative teams showing up.

[DarkKnghtJared]

I wonder why there was a drop in sales for both ROBW and B&R. Are people growing tired of Morrison's long epic? Or maybe the delays had something to do with it.

I kinda doubt it--for one thing, I think most people know that this end of the epic is almost over. Also, those books being in the top 20 is still pretty damn good, so I doubt they're sweating over it.

[Ned McDodd]

What's more, given the...well, it's an extremely british comic book, and it's hard for an american (or at least THIS american) to really get into it. Not a lot of drama or tension, jokey plots that occasionally dip into lectures on british culture or customs, etc. Long story short, it's fun, and that alone can mean death to a comic, but it's playing with things a lot of the consumer base doesn't understand so it's doubly doomed, I should think.

even when it sounds strange, after this description, i'm honestly interested in the book. I guess i will pick up the trade then.

[Jackson Brody]

Knight and Squire's sales are going to fall further. I was really excited for it, but despite my faith in Paul Cornell, I was disappointed.

[Desaad]

All comics decline over time. Notice there is a decrease on every none One-Shot and #1 listed.

I bet you that tread is almost universal down the month;y sales line with exceptions being for new story arcs and new creative teams showing up.

Or event tie ins.

[earl]

Is it just me or are DC and Marvel publishing a crap load of comics right now?

23 Batman related titles in a month?

I got this Marvel preview and they are publishing over 100 new comics in November, not counting reprint stuff which was listed.

[nepenthes]

Below are sales numbers for the Batman family of titles as provided by ICv2.com. I have added calculations. Note that ICv2's numbers and the calculations therein are based on direct sales as provided by Diamond.

02 Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5........................86,006 (#4 88,020; decrease 2.29%)
06 Batman and Robin #15............................................... 80,173 (#14 82,894; decrease 3.28%)
17 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Batman and Robin #1......57,805
30 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Red Robin #1.................43,367
40 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Batgirl #1......................38,919
46 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Catwoman #1................36,211
47 Detective Comics #870.............................................. 35,674 (#869 37,394; decrease 4.60%)
50 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Oracle #1.....................35,328
51 Batman: Odyssey #4................................................ .35,307 (#3 40,046; decrease 11.83%)
56 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Ra's Al Ghul #1..............34,612
58 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Commissioner Gordon #1..33,176
59 Bruce Wayne: The Road Home--Outsiders #1.................33,053
63 Superman/Batman #77............................................... 31,741 (#76 32,003; decrease 0.82%)
67 Batman Beyond #5................................................ ....30,121 (#4 31,368; decrease 3.98%)
85 Red Hood: Lost Days #5.............................................22, 967 (#4 24,104; decrease 4.72%)
87 Batman: Hidden Treasures #1......................................22,507
90 Knight & Squire #1................................................ ....21,867
123 Outsiders #33............................................... ..........15,253 (#32 15,754; decrease 3.18%)
132 Batman Confidential #49............................................14, 112 (#48 14,329; decrease 1.51%)
202 Azrael #13............................................... ..............8,198 (#12 8,559; decrease 4.22%)
241 Batman: The Brave and the Bold #22...........................6,044 (#21 6,345; decrease 4.74%)
271 DC Comics Presents: Batman #1.................................4,643
284 DC Comics Presents: Batman/Catwoman #1..................4,076


Other books this month that contain Batman-related characters or material:
15 Justice League of America #50.....................................59,686 (#49 57,616; increase 3.59%)
74 Titans #28............................................... ................27,430 (#27 28,438; decrease 0.03%)
86 Time Masters: Vanishing Point #4.................................22,813 (#3 24,177; decrease 5.64%)
96 Secret Six #26............................................... ..........20,377 (#25 20,775; decrease 1.92%)
99 JLA/The 99 #1................................................ ..........19,995
107 Power Girl #17............................................... .........17,847 (#16 18,404; decrease 3.03%)
176 Tiny Titans/Little Archie #1.......................................9,968
207 Tiny Titans #33............................................... .......8,045 (#32 8,073; decrease 0.35%)

Like most everywhere, there's a general trend downward. The only comic with a Bat character (in this case Batman) to increase sales was Justice League. Cameo roles in Titans and Power Girl helped neither series. Overall, however, sales seem to be good.

I wonder where Odyssey will level out, it's been dropping pretty hard and fast, with 8 issues remaining.

Batman Confidential 49 has almost the smallest decrease of all the bat books, including the Morrison titles. Does this go to show that even one good issue can help hold a series? (49 was awesome and got a bit of attention online)

[Karl O'Neill]

Knight and Squire's sales are going to fall further. I was really excited for it, but despite my faith in Paul Cornell, I was disappointed.

From what I have heard about K&S, it seems like more of a vanity project for Paul. Did he really think americans were going to enjoy a mini series littered with british slang and jargon?

[Sean Walsh]

So we can agree that OUTSIDERS only exists because Didio's writing it, yes?

And oy, I really dislike those DC COMICS PRESENTS numbers. Granted, I'm not buying the Bat-editions that've been solicited so far, but I dread the other books (namely BRIGHTEST DAY) aren't much better. Which sucks, because I *love* this format.