It is that time of the month when we get to check out the latest single-issue comic book sales rankings. Things are getting murkier in terms of actual unit numbers. So, we will have to settle with going to ICv2 for their Top 200 sales rankings. It is not as good as actual unit numbers, but we have to work with what we get.
Keep in mind, that the Top 200 single-issue comic sales charts are based on orders tracked by the ComicHub system at local comic book shops selling American comics. This includes over 3,000 stores selling American comics worldwide. As always, it is important to remember that these rankings are also not actual sales. These rankings only represent the number of units ordered by local comic shops.
If you want to see the sales numbers for the superhero and manga graphic novels for April 2022 then you can go here for that.
- The Battle For The Top 10
- The Battle For The Top 25
- The Battle For The Top 50
- The Battle For The Top 75
- The Battle For The Top 100
- Debut Issues
- Big Events
- Star Wars Franchise
- Spider-Man Franchise
- X-Men Franchise
- Hulk Franchise
- Avengers Franchise
- Batman Franchise
- Superman Franchise
- Wonder Woman Franchise
- Top Female Lead Titles
- Top Minority Lead Titles
- Dead Titles Walking
April 2022 Top 200 Single Issue Comic Rankings
The Battle for the Top 10
- Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Hulk #6 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman #122 (DC Comics)
- Justice League #75 (DC Comics)
- Moon Knight #10 (Marvel Comics)
- X-Men Red #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Devils Reign #6 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- Spider-Punk #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin #5 (Of 5) (IDW Publishing)
- Marauders #1 (Marvel Comics)
The months change but the results stay the same. Marvel Comics continues its complete domination of DC Comics in the Top 10. It just is not even a fair fight. Marvel Comics placed seven titles in the Top 10. This is actually a decline for Marvel Comics which placed eight titles in the Top 10 in March 2022. Still, this is a great result for Marvel Comics.
What continues to impress is that Marvel Comics is enjoying Top 10 success across a diverse selection of franchises. Marvel Comics placed titles from four different franchises including Spider-Man, Hulk, Moon Knight, and X-Men.
Once again, I have to give massive kudos to Marvel Comics for their insane success with the Moon Knight franchise. I would never have believed that Moon Knight would still be a Top 5 comic with the 10th issue! This is stunning. Moon Knight has never been a strong seller. Is the Moon Knight Disney+ show partly responsible for this increased interest in Moon Knight? It is very possible.
At any rate, Marvel Comics is putting on a clinic and seemingly can transform even minor franchises into consistent Top 10 hits. This stands in stark contrast to DC Comics’ complete failure to manufacture any franchise outside of a Bruce Wayne title into a consistent Top 10 hit.
DC Comics only placed two titles in the Top 10. This is the same as what DC Comics did in March 2022. The two titles consisted of one Bruce Wayne title and Justice League #75.
DC Comics has to be completely embarrassed that Justice League #75 only took fourth place. Justice League #75 is an issue that received massive mainstream hype and attention. Justice League #75 is an issue that delivered the deaths of DC Comics’ most iconic characters. And it still could not take first place. Instead, Justice League #75 got beat by Amazing Spider-Man, Hulk, and Batman.
This is horrendous. If an issue that has received such insane mainstream attention that also features the death of numerous iconic characters can only take the fourth position then there is little hope for DC Comics. What else could DC Comics do to generate interest in a title? DC Comics literally pulled out all the stops for Justice League #75. And they only got fourth place.
This result may also indicate that readers are beginning to tire of “shocking” deaths and obvious sales stunts like Justice League #75. Honestly, this was a surprising result for Justice League #75. I know that Amazing Spider-Man #1 was going to be tough competition. But, no title has gotten the type of mainstream coverage as Justice League #75. And there has never been a comic where DC Comics killed off iconic characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman all in the same issue.
So, I actually thought that Justice League #75 would be able to top Amazing Spider-Man #1. For sure I thought Justice League #75 would crush a random issue of Hulk or even an issue of Batman. I am curious to see how Justice League #75’s sales rank is a sign of how Dark Crisis will be received by readers.
IDW rounded out the Top 10 with one title. It is cool to see 1980s icons in the Turtles still showing that they can pop a big sales number.
The Battle for the Top 25
- X-Men #10 (Marvel Comics)
- Flashpoint Beyond #0 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Venom #7 (Marvel Comics)
- Captain America #0 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman Beyond Neo-Year #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Thor #24 (Marvel Comics)
- She-Hulk #3 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman Catwoman #11 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Wolverine #20 (Marvel Comics)
- Strange #2 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman 89 #5 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Brzrkr #8 (Of 12) (Mature) (Boom! Studios)
- Batman Superman Worlds Finest #2 (DC Comics)
- Batman Killing Time #2 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- Sandman Universe Nightmare Country #1 (Mature) (DC Comics)
Marvel Comics placed fourteen titles in the Top 25. This is down by a large margin from the twenty-one titles that Marvel put in the Top 25 in March 2022. As usual, Marvel Comics pulls from a wide number of franchises to power their Top 25 success.
It is interesting to note that X-Men finally fell out of the Top 10. X-Men #10 took the number 11 spot. Now, to be fair, there were four #1 issues that popped into the Top 10 this month. So, let’s see if X-Men hops back into the Top 10 next month before we make any judgments about the direction of this title.
I was glad to see She-Hulk #3 getting a bounce and taking the number 17 spot. It is so much fun getting the real She-Hulk again after having to suffer through Jason Aaron’s version of She-Hulk. I am glad that readers are showing support for this direction for She-Hulk’s character.
In March 2022, Strange #1 took the number one spot in the sales chart. I told everyone to pump the brakes and not get too excited about this title. I had a feeling that Strange was going to take a big tumble in the sales chart. And I was right. Strange #2 plummeted all the way down to the number 20 spot. I would expect this title to drop out of the Top 25 with the next issue and drop out of the Top 50 by the fifth issue.
DC Comics placed nine titles in the Top 25. This is a huge improvement over the pathetic three titles that they placed in the Top 25 in March 2022. Of course, DC Comics’ success was powered by the Batman franchise. Six of the nine titles were Batman titles. Five of the six Batman franchise titles star or co-star Bruce Wayne. So, the story remains the same. Bruce Wayne has to shoulder the burden of dragging DC Comics carcass across the finish line each and every month.
Batman Superman Worlds Finest #1 came in at the number 3 spot in March 2022. Batman Superman Worlds Finest #2 fell down to the number 23 spot. This was a bigger drop than I expected. Poor DC Comics cannot catch a break.
IDW and Boom Studios rounded out the Top 25 with one title apiece.
The Battle for the Top 50
- Batman Beyond The White Knight #2 (Of 8) (DC Comics)
- Something Is Killing The Children #22 (Boom! Studios)
- Star Wars #22 (Marvel Comics)
- Black Panther #5 (Marvel Comics)
- X-Men ’92 House of XCII #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- What If Miles Morales #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Miles Morales Spider-Man #37 (Marvel Comics)
- Nice House On The Lake #8 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Amazing Spider-Man #93 (Marvel Comics)
- Spider-Gwen Gwenverse #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Spawn Scorched #4 (Image Comics)
- King Spawn #9 (Image Comics)
- Star Wars Darth Vader #22 (Marvel Comics)
- Saga #58 (Image Comics)
- X-Force #27 (Marvel Comics)
- Avengers #55 (Marvel Comics)
- Punisher #2 (Marvel Comics)
- Nightwing #91 (DC Comics)
- Alice Ever After #1 (Of 5) (Boom! Studios)
- Dark Knights of Steel #6 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- Black Widow #15 (Marvel Comics)
- Fantastic Four #42 (Marvel Comics)
- Gunslinger Spawn #7 (Image Comics)
- Star Wars Crimson Reign #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Carnage #2 (Marvel Comics)
Marvel Comics ruled the Top 50 with twenty-nine titles. This is actually down by a sizable number from the thirty-five titles that Marvel Comics placed in the Top 50 in March 2022. As always, Marvel Comics continued to pull from an incredibly diverse selection of franchises to power their Top 50 success.
Punisher is another new title that experienced a large drop in the sales chart. Punisher #1 came in at the number 2 spot in March 2022. However, Punisher #2 plummeted down to the #42 spot in April 2022. Punisher is already in trouble. This title should be out of the Top 50 by the third issue. It also could be out of the Top 75 by the fifth issue.
Carnage also suffered a monstrous drop. Again, the Spider-Man franchise is largely powered by Peter Parker and Venom. Carnage #1 took the number 5 spot in March 2022. However, Carnage #2 dropped like a rock all the way to the number 50 spot in April 2022. Evidently, readers were not excited by Ram V’s take on Carnage. It looks like Carnage may be out of the Top 75 with the third or fourth issue.
DC Comics slotted thirteen titles in the Top 50. This was an improvement over the nine titles that DC Comics put in the Top 50 in March 2022. Nine of the thirteen titles are Batman franchise titles. Seven of the nine Batman franchise titles star or co-star Bruce Wayne.
Image Comics finally makes an appearance in the chart as they placed four titles in the Top 50. This is equal to what Image Comics did in the Top 50 in March 2022.
Boom Studios placed three titles in the Top 50 and IDW held steady at one title in the Top 50. IDW should thank the heavens for TMNT, because they have nothing else that is selling.
The Battle for the Top 75
- Knights of X #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Batman Beyond The White Knight #1 (Of 8) (DC Comics)
- Immortal X-Men #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Hulk #5 (Marvel Comics)
- X-Force Annual #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Nocterra #9 (Image Comics)
- Something Is Killing The Children #21 (Boom! Studios)
- Amazing Spider-Man #238 Facsimile Edition (Marvel Comics)
- Superman Son of Kal-El #10 (DC Comics)
- Joker #14 (DC Comics)
- Batman The Knight #4 (Of 10) (DC Comics)
- Little Monsters #2 (Image Comics)
- Hulk Grand Design Monster #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Captain Carter #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Deadpool Bad Blood #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Wonder Woman Historia The Amazons #2 (Of 3) (DC Comics)
- Robin #13 (DC Comics)
- Detective Comics #1059 (DC Comics)
- We Have Demons #2 (Mature) (Of 3) (Dark Horse Comics)
- Star Wars Bounty Hunters #22 (Marvel Comics)
- Elektra #100 (Marvel Comics)
- Silver Surfer Rebirth #4 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Eternals #11 (Marvel Comics)
- Silk #4 (Marvel Comics)
- Robins #6 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
Marvel Comics crushed the competition by placing forty-two titles in the Top 75. However, this is down from the forty-six titles that Marvel Comics put in the Top 75 in March 2022.
DC Comics placed twenty-one titles in the Top 75. This is an improvement over the sixteen titles in the Top 75 in March 2022. Fifteen of DC Comics’ twenty-one titles are Batman franchise titles. Ten of the fifteen Batman franchise titles star or co-star Bruce Wayne.
Image Comics put six titles in the Top 75. Boom Studios placed four titles in the Top 75. IDW and Dark Horse Comics had one title apiece.
The Battle for the Top 100
- A Town Called Terror #1 (Image Comics)
- Ghost Rider #2 (Marvel Comics)
- Doctor Strange Nexus of Nightmares #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Deathstroke Inc #8 (DC Comics)
- Alien #11 (Marvel Comics)
- Sabretooth #3 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- Hulk Grand Design Madness #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Shadow War Alpha #1 (One-Shot) (DC Comics)
- Catwoman #42 (DC Comics)
- Flash #781 (DC Comics)
- Saga #57 (Image Comics)
- Catwoman Lonely City #3 (Of 4) (DC Comics)
- West of Sundown #1 (Vault Comics)
- Trial of The Amazons Wonder Girl #2 (Of 2) (DC Comics)
- I Am Batman #8 (DC Comics)
- Wonder Woman #786 (Trial of The Amazons) (DC Comics)
- Godzilla Vs Power Rangers #2 (Of 5) (IDW Publishing)
- Blood-Stained Teeth #1 (Image Comics)
- Batgirls #5 (DC Comics)
- Action Comics #1042 (DC Comics)
- Dark Ages #6 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
- Captain Marvel Annual #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Flashpoint Batman Knight of Vengeance #1 (DC Comics)
- Green Lantern #12 (DC Comics)
- Punisher #1 (Marvel Comics)
Marvel Comics easily beat the competition by placing fifty titles in the Top 100. This is a drop from the fifty-six titles that Marvel Comics placed in the Top 100 in March 2022.
DC Comics put thirty-three titles in the Top 100. This was an improvement over the twenty-seven titles that DC Comics put in the Top 100 in March 2022. Twenty-one of DC Comics’ thirty-three titles are from the Batman franchise. Ten of the twenty-one Batman franchise titles star or co-star Bruce Wayne. The majority of the non-Bruce Wayne Batman titles are found between the number 75 spot and the number 100 spot.
Image Comics put nine titles in the Top 100. This is down from the twelve titles that Image Comics put in the Top 100 in March 2022.
Boom Studios had four titles in the Top 100. IDW put two titles in the Top 100. Dark Horse Comics and Vault Comics each put one title in the Top 100.
Debut Issues
1 Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Marvel Comics)
6 X-Men Red #1 (Marvel Comics)
8 Spider-Punk #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
10 Marauders #1 (Marvel Comics)
12 Flashpoint Beyond #0 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
14 Captain America #0 (Marvel Comics)
15 Batman Beyond Neo-Year #1 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
25 Sandman Universe Nightmare Country #1 (DC Comics)
30 X-Men ’92 House of XCII #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
44 Alice Ever After #1 (Of 5) (Boom! Studios)
51 Knights of X #1 (Marvel Comics)
65 Deadpool Bad Blood #1 (Marvel Comics)
76 A Town Called Terror #1 (Image Comics)
88 West of Sundown #1 (Vault Comics)
93 Blood-Stained Teeth #1 (Image Comics)
102 Rocketeer The Great Race #1 (Of 4) (IDW Publishing)
106 Image 30th Anniversary Anthology #1 (Of 12) (Image Comics)
110 Earth-Prime #1: Batwoman (Of 6) (DC Comics)
143 Immortal Red Sonja #1 (Dynamite Ent.)
150 Vampire Slayer (Buffy) #1 (Boom! Studios)
170 Lego Ninjago Garmadon #1 (Of 5) (Image Comics)
183 Black Caravan Prem David Byrnes Canceled #1 (Scout Comics)
186 Joneses #1 (AWA)
Spider-Punk #1 had a strong debut number taking the number 8 spot. I thought this issue was a terrible read. I am unsure what role this title is supposed to be filling in the Spider-Man universe. I have a feeling that Spider-Punk is going to drop like a rock with the second issue.
Marauders #1 also had a great debut number. I have never found this to be a good read. Therefore, I am going to bet that Marauders also suffers from a large drop in the sales charts.
X-Men Red #1 had a wonderful debut number at the number 6 spot. I like the creative team of Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli. I am feeling bullish about X-Men Red and think that this title should enjoy sales success.
Captain America #0 had a solid debut ranking coming in at the number 14 spot. However, I am still not bullish on the future of this franchise. I do not like the idea of having two Captain America’s operating at the same time. It dilutes the power of the brand.
Knights of X #1 had an awful debut coming in at the number 51 spot. This title is already dead on arrival. I do not understand why Marvel Comics continues to give Tini Howard work. Howard continually fails to generate anything resembling good sales numbers. I am bewildered why Marvel Comics’ editorial thinks Howard deserves to get more work at their company over other possible writers.
Earth Prime #1: Batwoman is dead on arrival. The debut issue came in at an embarrassing number 110 spot. I have no idea who in DC Comics thought this title was a good idea. I do not get the rationale behind a comic book based on a CW TV show that has been canceled due to awful ratings. Again, DC Comics’ editorial continues to mystify me.
Big Events
4 Justice League #75 (DC Comics)
7 Devils Reign #6 (Of 6) (Marvel Comics)
There is not much going on in the world of big events at the moment. Devils Reign concluded with an excellent sales rank coming in at the number 7 spot. Marvel Comics is surely delighted about how Devils Reign performed for them.
Star Wars Franchise
28 Star Wars #22
38 Star Wars Darth Vader #22 )
49 Star Wars Crimson Reign #4 (Of 5)
70 Star Wars Bounty Hunters #22
120 Star Wars Darth Vader #21 (Resolicitation)
132 Star Wars Bounty Hunters #21 (Resolicitation)
140 Star Wars High Republic #15 (Resolicitation)
171 Star Wars Doctor Aphra #19 (Resolicitation)
193 Star Wars Han Solo Chewbacca #1 (Resolicitation)
April 2022 was a quiet month for the Star Wars franchise. No Star Wars title managed to crack the Top 25. This was down from March 2022 when one Star Wars title made the Top 25. Three Star Wars titles made the Top 50. This was down from March 2022 when five Star Wars titles made the Top 50.
Spider-Man Franchise
1 Amazing Spider-Man #1
8 Spider-Punk #1 (Of 5)
13 Venom #7
31 What If Miles Morales #2 (Of 5)
32 Miles Morales Spider-Man #37
34 Amazing Spider-Man #93
35 Spider-Gwen Gwenverse #2 (Of 5)
58 Amazing Spider-Man #238 Facsimile Edition
74 Silk #4
101 Spectacular Spider-Man #1 Facsimile Edition
108 Venom Lethal Protector #1 (Of 5) (Resolicitation)
116 Miles Morales Spider-Man #36 (Resolicitation)
123 Carnage #1 (Resolicitation)
136 Silk #3 (Resolicitation)
154 Spider-Gwen Gwenverse #1 (Resolicitation)
158 Amazing Spider-Man #92.1 Beyond (Resolicitation)
160 Venom #6 (Resolicitation)
190 Venom #5 (Resolicitation)
198 Amazing Spider-Man #92 (Resolicitation)
April 2022 was a bit weaker for the Spider-Man franchise. There were three Spider-Man franchise titles in the Top 10. There were three Spider-Man franchise titles in the Top 25. There were seven Spider-Man franchise titles in the Top 50. This is slightly down from March 2022, where there were three Spider-Man franchise titles in the Top 10, but there were eight Spider-Man franchise titles in the Top 25.
What if…Miles Morales #2 fell down to the number 31 spot. This was a twelve-spot drop from its debut at the number 19 spot. I would expect What if…Miles Morales to be outside of the Top 50 by the third or fourth issue.
Spider-Gwen Gwenverse #2 fell plummeted down to the number 35 spot. This is a large twenty-four spot drop from its debut at the number 11 spot. Personally, I find the entire Gwenverse concept to be completely stale and played out. So, I am not bullish at all on this title. I would expect Spider-Gwen Gwenverse to drop out of the Top 50 by the third or fourth issue.
X-Men Franchise
6 X-Men Red #1
10 Marauders #1
11 X-Men #10
19 Wolverine #20
30 X-Men ’92 House of XCII #1 (Of 5)
40 X-Force #27
51 Knights of X #1
53 Immortal X-Men #1 (Resolicitiation)
55 X-Force Annual #1
81 Sabretooth #3 (Of 5)
133 X-Men Unlimited Latitude #1 (Resolicitation)
145 X Deaths of Wolverine #5 (Of 5) (Resolicitation)
151 Wolverine Patch #1 (Of 5) (Resolicitation)
The X-Men maintained their status quo from March 2022 to April 2022. In April 2022, there were two X-Men franchise titles in the Top 10, four X-Men franchise titles in the Top 25, and six X-Men franchise titles in the Top 50.
In March 2022, there was one X-Men franchise title in the Top 10 and there were four X-Men titles in the Top 25, and seven X-Men franchise titles in the Top 50. It was largely the same result in the month-to-month comparison. It will be interesting to see how the X-Men franchise performs as Marvel Comics is slowly rolling out more and more new X-Men franchise titles.
X-Men ’92 House of XCII #1 had an average debut at the number 30 spot. It seems this title is destined to drop out of the Top 50 by the second or third issue.
I already addressed Knights of X #1’s awful debut outside of the Top 50 earlier in this article. I would expect Knights of X to drop out of the Top 75 by the second issue and then drop out of the Top 100 by the fifth issue.
I am a bit surprised, but happy to see that X-Force #27 was able to maintain a spot in the Top 50. I am also surprised by Sabretooth #3 finishing at the number 81 spot. I thought that Sabretooth had a better shot of remaining a Top 50 title considering the general badassery of the character. However, it looks like Sabretooth is going to finish up outside of the Top 100.
Hulk Franchise
2 Hulk #6
17 She-Hulk #3
54 Hulk #5 (Resolicitation)
63 Hulk Grand Design Monster #1 (Resolicitation)
82 Hulk Grand Design Madness #1
April 2022 was another excellent month for the Hulk franchise. Both Hulk and She-Hulk continue to perform incredibly well. Another testament to Hulk’s popularity is that the resolicitation for Hulk #5 almost cracked the Top 50! Marvel Comics is surely pleased with the state of the Hulk franchise these days.
Avengers Franchise
14 Captain America #0
16 Thor #24
29 Black Panther #5
41 Avengers #55
97 Captain Marvel Annual #1
146 Thor #23 (Resolicitation)
174 Captain Marvel #37 (Resolicitation)
194 Thor #22 (Resolicitation)
April 2022 was a big improvement over March 2022. There were two Avengers franchise titles in the Top 25, and four Avengers franchise titles in the Top 50. In March 2022, there was one Avengers franchise title in the Top 10, one Avengers franchise title in the Top 25, and one Avengers title in the Top 50.
Avengers #55 continues the trend of Marvel’s flagship team title continuing to be stuck at the bottom of the Top 50. This title is not doing horribly in the sales chart, but it is not doing well, either. Avengers continues to be completely ordinary. Which should be inexcusable for a title of its pedigree and importance to the 616 Universe.
I want to put a spotlight on Black Panther #5 and its number 29 spot ranking. This is unusually high. It is a massive jump over Black Panther #4 which came in at the number 67 spot in March 2022. I do not know what is going on with Black Panther, but there was something about issue #5 that sparked reader interest.
Captain Marvel continues to be the dog of the Avengers franchise titles. It should be considered a massive miracle that Captain Marvel Annual #1 even managed to barely sneak into the Top 100.
Batman Franchise
3 Batman #122
12 Flashpoint Beyond #0 (Of 6)
15 Batman Beyond Neo-Year #1 (Of 6)
18 Batman Catwoman #11 (Of 12)
21 Batman 89 #5 (Of 6)
23 Batman Superman Worlds Finest #2
24 Batman Killing Time #2 (Of 6)
26 Batman Beyond The White Knight #2 (Of 8)
43 Nightwing #91
45 Dark Knights of Steel #6 (Of 12)
52 Batman Beyond The White Knight #1 (Of 8)
61 Batman The Knight #4 (Of 10)
67 Robin #13
68 Detective Comics #1059
75 Robins #6 (Of 6)
84 Catwoman #42
87 Catwoman Lonely City #3 (Of 4)
90 I Am Batman #8
94 Batgirls #5
98 Flashpoint Batman Knight of Vengeance #1
103 Batman One Dark Knight #2 (Of 3) (Resolicitation)
104 Batman Urban Legends #14
109 Batman Superman Worlds Finest #1 (Resolicitation)
110 Earth-Prime #1: Batwoman (Of 6)
124 Harley Quinn #14
134 Future State Gotham #12
162 Detective Comics #1058 (Resolicitation)
184 Batman #121 (Resolicitation)
191 Batman Killing Time #1 (Of 6) (Resolicitation)
196 Detective Comics #1057 (Resolicitation)
Any title starring or co-starring Bruce Wayne remains a very strong seller for DC Comics. There is no doubt that Bruce Wayne continues to power the only sales success that DC Comics has each and every month.
The highest-ranking Batman franchise title not starring or co-starring Bruce Wayne was Flashpoint Beyond #0 in the number 12 spot. Flashpoint Beyond #0 stars another Wayne. Thomas Wayne. Readers cannot seem to get enough of Thomas Wayne as Flashpoint Batman.
The second-highest-ranking Batman franchise title not starring or co-starring Bruce Wayne would be Batman Beyond Neo-Year #1. Then the third highest-ranking Batman franchise titles not starring or co-starring Bruce Wayne would be all the way down at the number 43 with Nightwing #91.
Other than Dick Grayson, DC Comics has struggled to get any other member of the Batman franchise to have any success in the sales chart. Robin and Robin contuse to constantly finish outside of the Top 50. Batgirls is a dead title walking that keeps dropping in the sales chart with every month in its very short life. Catwoman continues to consistently fall outside of the Top 75. Harley Quinn continues to fall outside of the Top 100 every month.
Jace Fox as Batman over in I Am Batman continues to be dead on arrival. This remains an idea that appears to appeal to nobody outside of DC’s editorial staff. We already discussed the bizarre logic in rolling out an Earth-Prime: Batwoman comic based on a failed TV show. Earth-Prime: Batwoman is already dead on arrival.
There is no doubt that pairing minor characters with Bruce Wayne can lead to solid sales numbers. But, when these Batman franchise characters have to stand on their own it is only Dick Grayson who has proven to be a consistent Top 50 title each and every month.
Superman Franchise
23 Batman Superman Worlds Finest #2
59 Superman Son of Kal-El #10
95 Action Comics #1042
109 Batman Superman Worlds Finest #1 (Resolicitation)
173 Earth-Prime #2: Superman & Lois
The Superman franchise is as dead as a beached whale after a shark attack. There is nothing positive to see here. The only Superman franchise title doing well is one where Bruce Wayne and Kal-El are playing to warm feelings of nostalgia.
Superman Son of Kal-El #10 finished outside of the Top 50. Again. This is a reoccurring theme. The weird direction for Kal-El over in Action Comics remains unpopular.
What is even more distressing is that there were no resoclitations for either Superman Son of Kal-El or Action Comics in the Top 200. There is just no real fan interest in the current direction of the Superman franchise. DC Comics needs to get serious and make a change at the editorial position and at the writer positions in connection with the Superman franchise. This current approach is just not working. There is no reason the Superman franchise should be in this pathetic state of affairs.
Wonder Woman Franchise
66 Wonder Woman Historia The Amazons #2 (Of 3)
89 Trial of The Amazons Wonder Girl #2 (Of 2)
91 Wonder Woman #786 (Trial of The Amazons)
115 Trial of The Amazons #2 (Of 2)
The Wonder Woman franchise is as much of a dumpster fire as the Superman franchise. There continues to be absolutely nothing positive to see here at all.
The trial of the Amazons has been a complete and total failure. The sales rankings are atrocious. Yara Flor continues to be dead on arrival as Wonder Girl. DC Comics already had Donna Troy and Cassandra Sandsmark. The decision to shove another Wonder Girl into this mess has proven both unpopular and unwise.
It is also worth noting that there are no resolicitations for a Wonder Woman title to be found in the Top 200. DC Comics must fire the current creative team and get new talent in on this franchise ASAP. It is obvious that the current creative team and the current editorial staff are clueless and incompetent. It defies all logic that Vita Ayala, Becky Cloonan, Stephanie Williams, and Michael Conrad keep getting work from DC Comics. Wonder Woman should never be allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair.
Justice League Franchise
4 Justice League #75
85 Flash #781
99 Green Lantern #12
149 Naomi Season 2 #2 (Of 6)
189 Aquamen #3
The bad news for DC Comics continues with the Justice League franchise. We already touched on what an embarrassment it must be for DC Comics to see Justice League #75 finish in fourth place despite the monstrous mainstream media coverage and the deaths of so many iconic characters.
I love Wally West, but Wally’s run as Flash has been a sales failure. This title struggles just to barely stay in the Top 100.
Green Lantern remains a complete mess. This title just barely managed to sneak into the Top 100. DC Comics has so thoroughly mismanaged the Green Lantern franchise. Hopefully, someone at DC Comics has an intelligent plan for this franchise spinning out of Dark Crisis.
Naomi Season 2 is a complete sales disaster and was dead on arrival with the debut issue. Nobody cares about this character. I am having a hard time trying to figure out why DC Comics thinks it is a good business strategy to keep slamming this round peg into a square hole.
Aquamen #3 is a total joke. This title barely made it into the Top 200! Again, why would anyone at DC Comics think this title is a good idea? Why would DC Comics’ editorial staff think that trying to have more than one Aquaman is going to lead to any kind of sales success? It is decisions and titles like this that make me wonder if there is anyone with any kind of business sense remaining at DC Comics.
It is also worth noting that there were no resolicitations for any of these titles in the Top 200.
The Top Female Lead Titles
- (17) She-Hulk #3 (Marvel Comics)
- (20) Strange #2 (Marvel Comics)
- (35) Spider-Gwen Gwenverse #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (46) Black Widow #15 (Marvel Comics)
- (64) Captain Carter #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (66) Wonder Woman Historia The Amazons #2 (Of 3) (DC Comics)
- (71) Elektra #100 (Marvel Comics)
- (74) Silk #4 (Marvel Comics)
- (84) Catwoman #42 (DC Comics)
- (87) Catwoman Lonely City #3 (Of 4) (DC Comics)
- (89) Trial of The Amazons Wonder Girl #2 (Of 2) (DC Comics)
- (91) Wonder Woman #786 (Trial of The Amazons) (DC Comics)
- (94) Batgirls #5 (DC Comics)
- (97) Captain Marvel Annual #1 (Marvel Comics)
- (110) Earth-Prime #1: Batwoman (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (124) Harley Quinn #14 (DC Comics)
- (149) Naomi Season 2 #2 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (161) Ms Marvel Beyond Limit #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
Only two female lead titles made it into the Top 25 and both of them were from Marvel Comics. Only four female lead titles made it into the Top 50 and both of them were from Marvel Comics. It is like DC Comics is not even trying.
Marvel Comics put seven titles in the Top 10 best-selling female lead titles. DC Comics managed just three titles in the Top 10. This is inexcusable considering that DC Comics has always been blessed with the best female characters in comic book history.
DC Comics needs to get serious about their female lead titles. There is no reason that Wonder Woman, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn should be so low on this list.
I do have to give Marvel Comics credit for sticking with the sinking ship that is Ms. Marvel. This character continues to be a spectacular sales failure, but Marvel Comics keeps sticking with her. That is dedication. I am sure Ms. Marvel will get yet another title soon despite there being no financial reason or reader demand for it.
The Top Minority Lead Titles
- (8) Spider-Punk #1 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (29) Black Panther #5 (Marvel Comics)
- (31) What If Miles Morales #2 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (32) Miles Morales Spider-Man #37 (Marvel Comics)
- (74) Silk #4 (Marvel Comics)
- (89) Trial of The Amazons Wonder Girl #2 (Of 2) (DC Comics)
- (90) I Am Batman #8 (DC Comics)
- (99) Green Lantern #12 (DC Comics)
- (110) Earth-Prime #1: Batwoman (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (113) Shang-Chi #11 (Marvel Comics)
- (119) Monkey Prince #3 (Of 12) (DC Comics)
- (149) Naomi Season 2 #2 (Of 6) (DC Comics)
- (161) Ms Marvel Beyond Limit #5 (Of 5) (Marvel Comics)
- (189) Aquamen #3 (DC Comics)
Only one minority lead title made it into the Top 25. Four minority lead titles made it into the Top 50. All of them are from Marvel Comics. Once again, Marvel Comics dominates DC Comics.
Marvel Comics and DC Comics each put five titles in the Top 10 best-selling minority lead titles. However, Marvel Comics had a clean sweep of the Top 5. However, DC Comics won the Top 15 by placing eight titles in the Top 15 while Marvel Comics placed seven titles in the Top 15. Yeah, it was extremely close, but let’s give DC Comics a win here. They need one!
In general, the sales rankings get pretty bad by the time you get to the fifth best-selling minority lead title. Both Marvel Comics and DC Comics need to reassess their approaches to these titles and figure out what is not working.
Dead Titles Walking
Titles outside of the Top 100 are usually selling under the 30,000 unit sales mark. These are the Marvel Comics and DC Comics titles that are dead titles walking.
Marvel Comics
112 The Thing #6 (Of 6)
113 Shang-Chi #11
161 Ms. Marvel Beyond Limit #5 (Of 5)
Marvel Comics only had three dead titles walking in April 2022. This was an improvement over March 2022 when Marvel Comics had a whopping twenty-five dead titles walking. There are two big reasons for the massive difference in numbers between March and April. One, many of the dead titles walking in March 2022 were the final issues of those titles. Second, Marvel Comics has had some shipping issues and many of the usual dead titles walking did not ship in April.
DC Comics
104 Batman Urban Legends #14
110 Earth-Prime: Batwoman #1 (Of 6)
111 Swamp Thing #12 (Of 16)
115 Trial of The Amazons #2 (Of 2)
119 Monkey Prince #3 (Of 12)
124 Harley Quinn #14
127 Suicide Squad #14
128 DC Vs Vampires #6 (Of 12)
131 Blue & Gold #8 (Of 8)
134 Future State Gotham #12
135 Rogues #2 (Of 4) (Mature)
137 Suicide Squad Blaze #2 (Of 3) (Mature)
149 Naomi Season 2 #2 (Of 6)
153 Refrigerator Full of Heads #6 (Of 6) (Mature)
155 Teen Titans Academy #14
163 One-Star Squadron #5 (Of 6)
173 Earth-Prime: Batwoman #2 (Of 6)
189 Aquamen #3
We finally come to the one category where DC Comics always beats Marvel Comics. Yay, DC Comics? DC Comics had eighteen dead titles walking. This is less than the twenty-eight dead titles walking that DC Comics had in March 2022. The big reason for the difference is that eight of DC Comics’ dead titles walking in March were those titles’ final issues.
All right, that is it for April 2022! Will Marvel Comics continue its domination of the Top 200 in May 2022? We will find out!
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