Wonder Woman Sales Figures - Now to 1942

[AaronJ]

What's wrong with Vampirella? That first issue was damn fine and I'm looking forward to issue 2. its written by Eric Trautmann who co-wrote Checkmate with Rucka. Plus the character herself has been around for decades with a number of great creators working on her earliest adventures.

This new version of the book is pretty damned entertaining, as far as I'm concerned.

I just find it sad that one of the best books DC publishes, Power Girl, is languishing at #90. :(

[brettc1]

preliminary January 2011 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of Newsarama (no sales numbers yet), and across the board, all sales are supposed to be dismal. Although Wonder Woman is up several notches on the chart, so are most other regular monthly series as there were less "event books" to compete for sales this month, so the true info will really come when numbers are released:

32 WONDER WOMAN #606 $2.99 (with variant cover)

88 WONDER GIRL #1 $2.99

for comparison on other female-centric titles (the most seen in the top 100 in quite a while):

25 BUFFY #40 $2.99

39 BIRDS OF PREY #8 $2.99

51 X-23 #5 $2.99

57 BATGIRL #17 $2.99

65 SUPERGIRL #60 $2.99

67 SCARLET #4 $3.95

81 ZATANNA #9 $2.99

87 VAMPIRELLA #2 $3.99 (with variant covers)

90 POWER GIRL #20 $2.99

It seems to have held pretty steady - seven behind Buffy [back one place] but seven ahead of BoP [the same].

I do wonder how much of Buffy's numbers come from folks collecting both covers - every issue has two different versions.

On the other hand, WW has had variant covers for the last few months and BoP has not had any, so maybe that is artificially inflating the relative sales there, too.

[4PointOh]

What depresses me most about that list is how poor PG is doing. I really think it's one of the best books on the shelves. Ahh, well.

Power Girl was one of my least favorite characters, but I really like the work Winick and Basri are doing on the book.

[Groovie Mann]

33,601 units moved.

[Gaelforce]

So it took a 3800 reader hit? It's great that it's that high up in the rankings, but considering that there aren't any big crossovers/events and no one is re-launching all their Avengers/Bat titles...

I'm still enjoying it, tho'. Just hope DC doesn't decide it's 'hemmorhaging' too many readers and switch writers...again.

[AndyMangels]

Final January 2011 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of icv2:

Across the board, all sales are dismal. Although Wonder Woman is up several notches on the chart, so are most other regular monthly series as there were less "event books" to compete for sales this month. Wonder Woman is basically selling now the same numbers as it did in the early days of Gail Simone's run:

32 WONDER WOMAN #606 $2.99 (with variant cover) 33,601

88 WONDER GIRL #1 $2.99 17,412

for comparison on other female-centric titles (the most seen in the top 100 in quite a while):

25 BUFFY #40 $2.99 (with variant cover) 39,486

39 BIRDS OF PREY #8 $2.99 31,616

51 X-23 #5 $2.99 27,855

57 BATGIRL #17 $2.99 25,189

65 SUPERGIRL #60 $2.99 22,568

67 SCARLET #4 $3.95 22,011

81 ZATANNA #9 $2.99 18,482

87 VAMPIRELLA #2 $3.99 (with multiple variant covers) 17,531

90 POWER GIRL #20 $2.99 16,823

-------

Sales numbers in a comparative chart:

08/2009: Wonder Woman #35 -- 29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38 -- 26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Wonder Woman #43 -- 25,369 (+ 0.5%)
05/2010: Wonder Woman #44 -- 25,443 (+ 0.3%)
06/2010: Wonder Woman #600 -- 53,525 (+110.4%) [63,700] (with variants and second print)
07/2010: Wonder Woman #601 -- 39,672 (- 25.9%) (with variants)
08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012 (- 4.2%) (with variants)
09/2010: Wonder Woman #603 -- 38,852 (up 850 copies) (with variants)
10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 -- 37,405 (down 1,447 copies) (with variants)
12/2010: Wonder Woman #605 -- 35,495 (down 1,910 copies) (with variants)
01/2011: Wonder Woman #606 -- 33,601 (down 1,894 copies) (with variants)

-------

Comparisons to the last time that DC did a run of Variant covers on Wonder Woman:

Jan 2011 32 Wonder Woman #606 $2.99 33,601 (with variant cover)
Dec 2010 38 Wonder Woman #605 $2.99 35,495 (with variant cover)
Oct 2010 43 Wonder Woman #604 $2.99 37,405 (with variant cover)
Sept 2010 41 Wonder Woman #603 $2.99 38,852 (with variant cover)
Aug 2010 41 Wonder Woman #602 $2.99 38,012 (with variant cover)
July 2010 38 Wonder Woman #601 $3.99 39,672 (with variant cover)
June 2010 163 Wonder Woman #600 $4.99 10,175 (REORDERS or 2nd print, total numbers now 63,696) (with three variant covers)
June 2010 24 Wonder Woman #600 $4.99 53,521 (with three variant covers)
May 2010 82 Wonder Woman #44 $2.99 25,443
April 2010 78 Wonder Woman #43 $2.99 25,369
March 2010 85 Wonder Woman #42 $2.99 25,240
February 2010 71 Wonder Woman #41 $2.99 25,354
January 2010 78 Wonder Woman #40 $2.99 25,156

December 2009 80 Wonder Woman #39 $2.99 26,152
November 2009 74 Wonder Woman #38 $2.99 26,265
October 2009 77 Wonder Woman #37 $2.99 26,972
September 2009 87 Wonder Woman #36 $2.99 28,806
August 2009 74 Wonder Woman #35 $2.99 29,657
July 2009 66 Wonder Woman #34 $2.99 30,131
June 2009 61 Wonder Woman #33 $2.99 32,755 (with variant cover)
May 2009 50 Wonder Woman #32 $2.99 33,065 (with variant cover)
April 2009 78 Wonder Woman #31 $2.99 31,857 (with variant cover)
March 2009 51 Wonder Woman #30 $2.99 33,365 (with variant cover)
February 2009 49 Wonder Woman #29 $2.99 33,237 (with variant cover)
January 2009 52 Wonder Woman #28 (FOE) $2.99 32,622 (with variant cover)

[Groovie Mann]

Wish Zatanna was selling more but I ain't gonna stress. I love that book.

[nightforce]

I love Zatanna as well I think it is one of the best written books out now

[AndyMangels]

Comparative sales analysis for December (NOT January) up at THE BEAT (all comments theirs):

38 - WONDER WOMAN
12/2005: Wonder Woman #224 -- 47,224
12/2006: --
12/2007: Wonder Woman #15 -- 44,628
12/2008: Wonder Woman #27 -- 32,322
-------------------------------------
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Wonder Woman #43 -- 25,369 (+ 0.5%)
05/2010: Wonder Woman #44 -- 25,443 (+ 0.3%)
06/2010: Wonder Woman #600 -- 53,525 (+110.4%) [63,700]
07/2010: Wonder Woman #601 -- 39,672 (- 25.9%)
08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012 (- 4.2%)
09/2010: Wonder Woman #603 -- 38,852 (+ 2.2%)
10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 -- 37,405 (- 3.7%)
11/2010: --
12/2010: Wonder Woman #605 -- 35,495 (- 5.1%)
-----------------
6 months: - 33.7%
1 year : + 35.7%
2 years : + 9.8%
5 years : - 24.8%

Another book abandoned in mid-run by highly publicized writer J. Michael Straczynski. The solicitations list him as the sole series writer through issue #607, but he’s handed off his outline for the book to another writer as of the December issue. Sales, as unimpressive as they already are, still reflect the demand for the Straczynski run.

[brettc1]

Well there it is. Down 6500 in six months.

From DC's perspective this is a win, I guess. Every month that they sell more issues than #44 they are happy.

But at this rate the bold new direction will last for another twenty issues, and then will need to be replaced by a bolder newer direction.

Sigh.

[AndyMangels]

Comparative sales analysis for January (NOT February) up at THE BEAT (all comments theirs):

"DC kicks off the year with a new sales record: Average numbers of the DC Universe line dropped by 21% in January, to 24,321 — the lowest number in the history of these charts, by about 4,000 units.

Traditionally a weak month in the comic-book market, January 2011 was even more of a downer than usual for DC. With only five titles selling above the 50k mark, average comic-book sales of the company at large fell to 21,922, the lowest figure since March 2009, while average Vertigo sales clung to the 10,000-unit mark, as they’ve done for the last three years."

32 - WONDER WOMAN
01/2006: Wonder Woman #225 -- 42,661
01/2007: --
01/2008: Wonder Woman #16 -- 42,897
01/2009: Wonder Woman #28 -- 32,622
-------------------------------------
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Wonder Woman #43 -- 25,369 (+ 0.5%)
05/2010: Wonder Woman #44 -- 25,443 (+ 0.3%)
06/2010: Wonder Woman #600 -- 53,525 (+110.4%) [63,700]
07/2010: Wonder Woman #601 -- 39,672 (- 25.9%)
08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012 (- 4.2%)
09/2010: Wonder Woman #603 -- 38,852 (+ 2.2%)
10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 -- 37,405 (- 3.7%)
11/2010: --
12/2010: Wonder Woman #605 -- 35,495 (- 5.1%)
01/2011: Wonder Woman #606 -- 33,601 (- 5.3%)
-----------------
6 months: - 15.3%
1 year : + 33.6%
2 years : + 3.0%
5 years : - 21.2%

"Another editorial fiasco.

Contrary to what the solicitations continue to say through Wonder Woman #607, superstar J. Michael Straczynski hasn’t actually written the series since issue #604, so these sales still largely reflect his name recognition.

Like with Superman, the decision to have somebody else come in and flesh out Straczynski’s ideas rather than their own seems highly questionable, considering the commercial and critical reception of his run.

Either way, DC’s attempt to establish Wonder Woman as a major character turns out to have been a half-hearted mess, and they seem to have given up on the idea for the time being."

[AndyMangels]

Final February 2011 Sales Reports are in, courtesy of icv2:

Sales on Wonder Woman are still continuing to slip (but "only" by about 550 copies), but so are sales on everything (Batgirl slipped almost 1,000!). Still, these WW sales are back in the realm of Gail Simone's run, especially if one factors in that these are more heavily ordered to get the variant covers for hardcore collectors and variant chasers:

40 WONDER WOMAN #607 $2.99 (with variant cover) 33,053

for comparison on other female-centric titles:

46 BIRDS OF PREY #9 $2.99 30,641

66 X-23 #6 $2.99 27,156

74 BATGIRL #18 $2.99 24,390

84 SUPERGIRL #61 $2.99 22,048

85 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #19 $2.99 21,631

90 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #20 $2.99 20,822

Power Girl and Vampirella failed to make the Top 100, and Buffy, Scarlet, and Zatanna were not published.

-------

Sales numbers in a comparative chart:

08/2009: Wonder Woman #35 -- 29,657 (- 1.6%)
09/2009: Wonder Woman #36 -- 28,806 (- 2.9%)
10/2009: Wonder Woman #37 -- 26,972 (- 6.4%)
11/2009: Wonder Woman #38 -- 26,265 (- 2.6%)
12/2009: Wonder Woman #39 -- 26,152 (- 0.4%)
01/2010: Wonder Woman #40 -- 25,156 (- 3.8%)
02/2010: Wonder Woman #41 -- 25,354 (+ 0.8%)
03/2010: Wonder Woman #42 -- 25,240 (- 0.5%)
04/2010: Wonder Woman #43 -- 25,369 (+ 0.5%)
05/2010: Wonder Woman #44 -- 25,443 (+ 0.3%)
06/2010: Wonder Woman #600 -- 53,525 (+110.4%) [63,700] (with variants and second print)
07/2010: Wonder Woman #601 -- 39,672 (- 25.9%) (with variants)
08/2010: Wonder Woman #602 -- 38,012 (- 4.2%) (with variant)
09/2010: Wonder Woman #603 -- 38,852 (up 850 copies) (with variant)
10/2010: Wonder Woman #604 -- 37,405 (down 1,447 copies) (with variant)
12/2010: Wonder Woman #605 -- 35,495 (down 1,910 copies) (with variant)
01/2011: Wonder Woman #606 -- 33,601 (down 1,894 copies) (with variant)
02/2011: Wonder Woman #607 -- 33,053 (down 548 copies) (with variant)
-------

Comparisons to the last time that DC did a run of Variant covers on Wonder Woman:

Feb 2011 40 Wonder Woman #607 $2.99 33,053 (with variant cover)
Jan 2011 32 Wonder Woman #606 $2.99 33,601 (with variant cover)
Dec 2010 38 Wonder Woman #605 $2.99 35,495 (with variant cover)
Oct 2010 43 Wonder Woman #604 $2.99 37,405 (with variant cover)
Sept 2010 41 Wonder Woman #603 $2.99 38,852 (with variant cover)
Aug 2010 41 Wonder Woman #602 $2.99 38,012 (with variant cover)
July 2010 38 Wonder Woman #601 $3.99 39,672 (with variant cover)
June 2010 163 Wonder Woman #600 $4.99 10,175 (REORDERS or 2nd print, total numbers now 63,696) (with three variant covers)
June 2010 24 Wonder Woman #600 $4.99 53,521 (with three variant covers)
May 2010 82 Wonder Woman #44 $2.99 25,443
April 2010 78 Wonder Woman #43 $2.99 25,369
March 2010 85 Wonder Woman #42 $2.99 25,240
February 2010 71 Wonder Woman #41 $2.99 25,354
January 2010 78 Wonder Woman #40 $2.99 25,156

December 2009 80 Wonder Woman #39 $2.99 26,152
November 2009 74 Wonder Woman #38 $2.99 26,265
October 2009 77 Wonder Woman #37 $2.99 26,972
September 2009 87 Wonder Woman #36 $2.99 28,806
August 2009 74 Wonder Woman #35 $2.99 29,657
July 2009 66 Wonder Woman #34 $2.99 30,131
June 2009 61 Wonder Woman #33 $2.99 32,755 (with variant cover)
May 2009 50 Wonder Woman #32 $2.99 33,065 (with variant cover)
April 2009 78 Wonder Woman #31 $2.99 31,857 (with variant cover)
March 2009 51 Wonder Woman #30 $2.99 33,365 (with variant cover)
February 2009 49 Wonder Woman #29 $2.99 33,237 (with variant cover)
January 2009 52 Wonder Woman #28 (FOE) $2.99 32,622 (with variant cover)

[brettc1]

So basically, the numbers now are we we were midway towards the end of Rise of the Olympian, and are following the same trend.

Which means that in about April of May of next year we should expect a costume change and the announcement of a bold new direction.

I dont blame Phil Hester for this. I think his issues have been well written, but its built on a pretty shaky foundation. Many of us pointed out months ago that the logic of getting WW to sell more issues by making her more like Ms Marvel or She Hulk is rather dubious, considering these characters are lucky if they have their latest book last for 50 issues before it is cancelled again.

[bulldog_milt]

I think a lot of people are making a mistake here... They are comparing numbers (dollars) and not position within the top 100. The comic industry as a whole is shrinking, there are simply fewer people reading comics or even books for that matter than before. That means that as a whole we'll have fewer units sold. The price kept creeping up in the 90's and 00's so they could continue making the profit they were making as the number of total units decreased. We're never going to have another Death of Superman moment.

We should be looking at where WW falls in the DC books from month-to-month, as much as simply sales. If she went from being ranked in the low 40s to steadily ranked in the mid 30s then that is good; regardless of the actual number of sales. Quite frankly she is still rather high in when you take out non-DC books... That is good. Was she this high (position) two years ago? I don't remember...

Look at it this way... we all love to watch a race... It is neat to know what goes into it, but at the end of the day the fact the Green Lantern is #1 (regardless of whether it is the least sales of any #1 positioned book) means that GL is doing good.

[americanwonder]

... the fact the Green Lantern is #1 (regardless of whether it is the least sales of any #1 positioned book) means that GL is doing good.

Overall, I think you raise a good point in that it is imortant to look at these things in context, and overall sales trends are a big part of that context.

However, the #1 book barely selling 70,000 copies is not a good thing. Even the best selling Spider-Man book only sold 55,000. And that's a top ten book. GL may have the best seat (right now) on a sinking ship, but it's still a sinking ship. Comic shops are going to really struggle if this trend continues, and many will close. If sales don't make a big turnaround, and/or sales elsewhere (digital, gn/tpbs in bookstores, online, etc) don't make up for it, we aren't going to have much of a comic industry.